by Rebecca Rose
The powerless phone mocked her resolve but didn’t weaken it. She would plug it back in. And when he called back Kathy would inform him that there would be a restraining order issued if he didn’t stop.
Feeling a sense of relief Kathy did just that. No more running, no more being the victim; even if she never thought of herself that way, sometimes she knew she acted like one.
The cell phone in her purse began to ring—the vibration causing the small bag to dance on her counter. “Hello?”
“Kathy?”
“Oh, hi, Dave. What’s up?” Relief washed over her voice with hearing his.
“Everything all right, Muffin? I tried the house phone but—”
“Sorry about that. I unplugged it.”
“Yeahhhh. Umm. That was me on the other line.”
Kathy’s mind blanked. “Oops.”
Dave’s laughter sang through the phone. “Oops? I thought you were talking to me. Everything okay?”
She gave a heavy sigh. “Yeah.”
“Really? There’s nothing you want to share? Or do you randomly yell at people on the phone? Because if that’s what you do, let me know. We could always use it as a form of foreplay.” With a devilish laugh, he added, “Then have makeup sex.”
“Is your head always in the gutter, Mr. Sanders?”
“Absolutely.”
“At least you’re honest. My ex-husband called.”
“Why?”
“Who knows? My parents gave him my number.”
“Why the hell would your parents give him your number?”
Kathy sat with a helpless plop on her sofa. “Who knows? I never know why they do the things they do.” She inhaled a deep breath and prepared herself to tell Dave the whole truth about her ex. “As for Todd, he’s trying to get back together with me. Apparently he’s dying and wants to make amends before he goes to the fiery depths. Personally I think he needs money for his medical expenses.”
There was a small growl on the other end of the line. “Have you ever given him money?”
“No! And I don’t care what his pathetic story is. He won’t get it and I want nothing to do with him.”
“Thank God because I’m not about to give you up!”
She needed to be honest with Dave and herself and wanted him to know exactly what her heart was telling her. “I couldn’t give you up, either.”
There was silence for a moment and then, “Kathy, you mean a lot to me and I think you should be careful. He seems like trouble.”
“He’s harmless.”
“I don’t like it, Kathy.”
The dryness in Dave’s voice brought a smile to her lips. “Interesting. Are you jealous, Dave?”
“Maybe.” He laughed. “Does it turn you on?”
“Maybe.” She licked her lips and wished he was there so she could do naughty things to him.
“We’re going out to eat tonight at the Blue Room. Seven o’clock. Wear something sexy with very little underneath it.”
“Mmm… very provocative. Any particular color, Mr. Sanders?”
“I love you in all colors.”
His low throaty response sent a breathtaking shiver through her body. “And what do you have planned for after this very expensive dinner?” She couldn’t wait to hear his response and bit her lower lip in the anticipation of it—the small amount of pain bringing her pleasure.
“You’re going to have to use your imagination.”
An intense heat traveled through her at the excitement of what was to come. “I’m going to need to buy a dress.”
“I can’t wait to see it.”
She swallowed hard. Was she going to be able to handle this man? “Dave?”
“Don’t be nervous, Muffin. It’s just me and you. And if you ever want me to stop, I will.”
“Okay.”
But she was as worried as a virgin on prom night anticipating becoming a woman. Even after Sophie’s help with picking out a backless deep red dress an hour later, Kathy began questioning what she was doing. She shaved everything that could possibly be, without going overboard. Then she moisturized her whole body with vanilla-scented lotion.
Anxious and jumpy she leaned over to pull up a thigh-high, lost her balance and, on a scream, went headfirst into the edge of her dresser. In a bra, panties, and with half a stocking on, her cheek sang. She sat where she landed with a hand to the already swelling area and laughed like a loon. This could only happen to her. She was just glad she didn’t kill herself. The morning paper would read: Woman Killed in Hosiery Accident. Aagggg!
Disorientated Kathy staggered to the kitchen and bumped into every wall along the way. Half a stocking dragged behind her because she feared bending over to pull it all the way up would make her head pulse more than it already was. She grabbed an ice pack from the freezer in hopes it would be her savior and stop the redness. About to go back to her room to finish dressing, she did an about-face, downed some pain pills, and found a mirror.
“The excuse ‘I’ve got a headache’ isn’t going to be used tonight,” she told herself.
Examining her cheek a little closer she began to laugh again. “Great. Now I’m going to look like my date beat me. So much for a romantic night of endless passion.” Touching the swollen area with gentle fingers she wondered if Dave would take one look at her and cancel. “Well, not if I have anything to say about it.”
Now more determined than ever, Kathy dressed the part of sex kitten. She did her best putting on makeup while holding the ice pack to her cheek. Considering she only poked herself in the eye twice, the ordeal was considered a success.
“Not bad,” she told herself in the mirror. Single-eyed, she managed to make sure her lips were the focal point of her face and not the darkening circle around her eye that she tried to cover up with concealer. Next she curled her hair into soft waves. After slipping on the five-inch black strappy heels, Kathy did a turn in front of the dressing mirror. She felt a little giddy, sexy, and ready to take Mr. Sanders on.
After cocking her head for a better examination in the mirror, a dizzying sensation bogged down her mind. With careful steps she sat on her bed just as the doorbell rang. A sigh of resolve passed her lips. “Time to face the music, Kathy. Or his utter shock when he sees what you did to yourself.”
By the clock on the wall Kathy realized Dave had come a half an hour early. Good thing she finished getting ready. Being late and ill-prepared always put her in a bad mood. But when she opened the door, it wasn’t Dave who stood there. Instead it was Detective Owen.
“Well this day just keeps getting better,” Kathy mumbled.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, Miss Smith, especially since you look like you’re headed out for the evening.”
“What can I do for you, detective?”
“I was wondering if we could go over the report you filed about the bar fight.”
“Now is not a good time.”
“It’ll only take a minute. I want to tie up some loose ends.”
Owen’s eerie eyes first gazed at her legs then leisurely drew up to her breasts and then her face. Kathy did all she could to not shiver and cover herself up. The man made her feel dirty.
“No,” she replied firmly. “If you need me to do that then you should have called and asked me to come to the station. I don’t appreciate you coming to my home.” Kathy raised her chin and attempted to close the door in his face when Owen slapped a palm on it.
“I’m only asking for a minute of your time.”
With a look of annoyance, she glared at Owen’s chubby hand. “I’m sorry but I’m on my way out. I’ll be down first thing Monday. Can I help you with anything else?”
His hand dropped while his eyes narrowed. “I underestimated you, Miss Moonshine.”
“Miss Smith. You say my former name like it’s some dark secret.” She waved her hands in the air. “Oooo.”
Owen’s lips twitched, then with a nod of his head he turned his back to her and walked away. “Have a
good time tonight, Karma. Hope that black eye won’t put a damper on it.”
She slammed the door then spied out the peephole. He was gone. On a sigh, Kathy went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea to calm her nerves. Damn him for getting her upset before her date with Dave! Wasn’t she already nervous enough?
Just to make sure the bruising wasn’t as bad as Owen made it out to be, Kathy went to the bathroom to examine herself in the mirror.
“Really? You had to be this clumsy today? Out of all the days?” The dark bloom on her cheek had expanded up the side of her face and now mixed with her eye makeup. She would either have to touch up the other eye and risk looking like a prostitute, or leave it alone and let the world know that she practically knocked her own butt out.
The kettle whistled loud and the screeching knocked around in Kathy’s head as she moved back into the kitchen. The rhythmic beat of her clicking heels echoed off the empty walls in her apartment. Growing up the way she did, Kathy always had very little and spending time in Dave’s home had her realizing how empty her apartment really was.
Opening a cabinet, she took down one of her four coffee cups to finish making her green tea. Leaving it to steep she took a survey of her barren place. White walls, no artful throw rugs placed or hung photos to make the place cozy. The only plant, which Sophie bought her after the divorce years earlier, sat on the tiny kitchen table that boasted two chairs. The one thing that made her home look lived in was the coffee machine sitting on the Formica counter. It was all very depressing. This isn’t a home. It’s a place to rest your head. She had no emotional attachment to it, no pull to be there when the day was too rough for words. It was all very sad, very lonely.
She sipped her tea and tried to talk herself into buying some curtains. Maybe something with bold colors and a crazy print. But Kathy couldn’t quite summon up any excitement over the prospect and decided she must really not want them, so why bother?
At the rap on the door a slow smile formed on her lips. Dave. It had to be him. If there was anyone else at that door, she would flip out.
Chapter Twelve
Dave couldn’t believe his clumsiness. First he cut his chin shaving, then he stubbed his toe on the corner of his bedroom door, which left him with a small limp. In the middle of it all, his parents announced they were staying another week. After some hemming and hawing Dave finally told them, without coming out directly and saying it, what he planned for the evening with Kathy. He then, not so politely, told them to get the hell out and stay at Jake’s. At least they didn’t put up a fight about it.
He adjusted the pants waist of his suit with one hand while he clutched the yellow daisies with the other. Maybe he shouldn’t have bought them, they were so cliché and he always strived not to be. But this is Kathy, he reminded himself. Nervousness and second guessing were getting the best of him. What had come over him from this morning? He had been so confident, so ready for this.
The sensation to turn and run was about to win over his eagerness to see her when the door opened. There she stood with tall heels, miles of leg, and—she turned during his survey—backless. The dress seemed to be completely nonexistent. She peered over her left shoulder at him and smiled.
“Dear Lord. Please don’t let me be dreaming. Tell me you’re real.” He swallowed hard to remove the lump in the back of his throat.
“I’m very real, Mr. Sanders. Do you want to come in?”
She grinned at him over her shoulder until, unable to control himself any longer, he grabbed her arm, spun her around, and pressed his mouth to hers. He wanted her to feel his frenzy; to need what he needed; be the only thing on her mind as she was for him.
Crushing her body to his, Dave moved them into the apartment and kicked the door shut. “Let’s just stay here,” he said, moving his lips to her ear.
“No way. You got me dressed up, you’re taking me out.” She leaned into him, “God, you always smell so good!”
He had planned to take her to dinner then spend a nice evening at his home; however, with her in his arms, nothing else seemed to matter.
“Okay, but we’re eating fast. And—what the hell happened?” He held her face in his hands. The mere idea that her skin had been marred, that someone might have done this to her, threw Dave into a mix of emotions he could barely control. He could taste the blood he desperately wanted from whatever or whoever did this to her. With hands that weren’t as gentle as he would have liked, Dave cupped Kathy’s face in them.
“It’s not that bad.”
“Muffin, you have a black eye. Have you put ice on it?” At her look of annoyance he said, “Don’t roll your eyes at me. I want to know what happened.”
She pulled away from him with a snap. “I’m a klutz, okay?”
“No, it’s not okay. Tell me what’s going on?” Dave led her to sit on the small, hard as brick couch. “Comfy,” he said offhandedly.
“I don’t come in here much.”
Dave surveyed the unadorned walls and barren windows. The room, much like what he’d seen in the entryway, looked sterile and unloved. A complete contrast to her office, which boasted adventurous pictures of her and Sophie, a few plants, and a candy jar full of trail mix. He always stole all the M&Ms but Kathy didn’t seem to mind. “Aren’t you afraid someone could be watching you?”
“I have the shades.”
Looking from the measly surroundings and to the woman next to him, Dave couldn’t help the chuckle that rose in his throat. “Your office has more decoration. Last time I was here the lights weren’t on.”
“No, they weren’t. Wish it was dark now, too.”
Dave took her hand in his. “I don’t. You look beautiful. Now how’d you get the shiner?”
“It’s really very embarrassing. Can we forget about it?”
“No.”
“At least until later? No one attacked me or anything. It was just stupid.”
How could he say “no” to her with those big brown eyes pleading? He was a goner. Sunk. Drowned. No life vest could save him. “Damn it. Okay. But you won’t get out of this again.”
Kathy glanced down at the crushed flowers sitting next to Dave. “Those for me?”
“Maybe.”
“Well if they’re not you better find yourself another date for tonight.”
He loved when she teased. The fact that she seemed to be doing it more often made him want to pull it out of her as much as he could. “What if I said they’re for a woman who I’ve dreamed about since the day we met? That I didn’t believe in love at first sight until I saw her across the room.”
“I’d say you’re an incredible romantic and full of shit.”
Dave shook his head while laughing. He told her the truth about his past and she accepted it—was even turned on by it. Then he comes clean about his feelings and she can’t trust it. “You’re the most incredibly confusing woman.”
He kissed her then, sweetly. All smoldering passion with the promise of love. How could he convince her that she belonged in his arms? Didn’t she feel it, too? His heart felt the need to explode from the love, fright, and pain she caused him. Yet he didn’t want the sensation to go away. It felt more like freedom than prison. Unexpected tears burned his eyes. What the hell is that? Never the crier, his mind baffled at the reaction. Pulling her into his arms he took in the sweet scent of her perfumed neck.
“You smell good enough to eat,” he told her while trying to give himself time to pull his thoughts together.
“You smell delicious and I can’t wait to taste you,” she replied.
On impulse Dave stood and held out a hand. “Let’s go before I drag you to the bedroom and never get to show you off. Every man and woman is gonna be jealous.”
She took a deep breath before placing her hand in his. “I don’t know what to say when you talk like that.”
“Don’t. Just kiss me.”
She did. And he felt their souls merge, even if only for a split second. “I’ll go grab a vase. Than
k you for the flowers.”
“Thank you for wearing that dress… Sophie?”
They were both laughing upon entering the kitchen. “Who else? I must have tried on hundreds of them and this one covered the most skin.”
“I love it.” Dave did a three-sixty turn in the tiny kitchen. “You really aren’t much for the decorating, are you?”
Kathy pulled out a chubby green vase with different colored polka dots. The whimsical item gave Dave a glance at the side she never seemed to want to people to know about.
“What’s the point? Sooner or later I’ll move and have to drag everything with me.”
She was filling the vase with water then placing it on the kitchen table next to her only plant when Dave realized how Kathy’s home was a showcase for her insecurities. If she spent the time and grew attached to where she was living, it would break her heart if she moved. Interesting because it also seemed to be the way she dealt with her relationships. But not this one, Dave promised, she and I are going to paint the walls and then cover them with memories.
Kathy turned to him and smiled. “I really love the flowers, thank you.”
“You’re very welcome… again.” He did a little bow and a giggle. “Is my lady ready to eat?”
Taking his offered hand, Kathy replied, “Why yes, my lord. I’m famished.”
* * *
She tried to think back, wondered if her brain had simply wiped any existence of it: did she ever enjoy a date before this one?
“What?” she asked, while swirling the wine.
“Nothing,” Dave said while still smiling at her.
“Now that’s just a lie. I’m sure your mother told you lying isn’t very nice.”
“She’s actually boxed my ears a few times because of it.”
The slow Italian music sang to them while the candlelight at the table made Dave look more handsome then any man she’d ever set eyes on. Kathy couldn’t wait to get her hands on him. They talked so easily and she started to wonder if maybe she was getting a little too obsessed. For cripes sake, she spent most of dinner turned on by the fact he was wearing a suit—and he looked delicious in it.
Shaking her head and clearing the fog, she asked, “Dave?”
