Point of Attraction

by Margaret Van Der Wolf

  “She’s mine, not yours.”

  “I know, I know,” he assured her, his hands up to keep her from him.

  She wanted to laugh, but knew better. Here they were, having an argument over Raggs; two grown people avoiding the real subject, her life, and his caring interference in it. She sighed and dropped into the nearby hair dryer chair. It was always a long run, talking with Nick. He just sucked the energy out of her.

  “Guys?” Emmee called back from the front of the shop. “Brandy and I are through for the night. Want us to lock you two in or do you want one of us to stay and referee?”

  Georgie glanced at Nick, saying, “No. We’re leaving too. Turn off the neon though. See you in the morning.”

  In the quiet of the empty shop, the clock on the wall ticked away the seconds of peace. Somewhere outside, a car honked while another beeped that unmistakable auto-lock or unlock.

  “Georgie Girl,” Nick started out. “You and Cassie are all the family I have. I wanted to see if Dudley Do-Right was as do-right as Cassie wants him to be.”

  “He is a classmate, Nick,” she pleaded with him to accept the fact, “a fellow writer. That is all.”

  “Okay. But I don’t think he’s the one who put the rose on your windshield.”

  She shrugged. “He told me he didn’t.”

  “He told you I asked him?”

  Georgie laughed as she went to the circuit box and turned off the lights. “Was he supposed to keep it a deep dark secret?”

  “Well, no,” he said, putting on his jacket. “But I didn’t think he’d go running to you right off the bat.”

  “He waited till morning. Is that okay?” She lowered the thermostat and grabbed her coat. “Why did you take credit for it?”

  “I didn’t take credit,” he defended. “If I remember correctly, I said oh, that rose. Though I do admit it didn’t hurt for you to think I did.”

  “You are such an...”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he said, motioning that he’d heard it all before.

  “How did you know where to find him?”

  “Policeman.” He put his finger to his head feigning deep thinking. “Let’s see. Where would you find a policeman? Ooh, a police station, maybe? That took a lot of gray matter.”

  “Did you tell him to ask me out?” She studied his face for any signs of a lie. “Tell me you didn’t do that.”

  “No, I did not tell him to do that,” he said, handing over her scarf and hat. “And if he asked you out, it was his own idea, and I will truly have to check him out. So does that mean you do have a date tonight? Do I eat dinner alone or are you going to invite me to come along?”

  “Yeah, I can see that happening,” she said, leading the way to the front of the shop. “He was coming over later, but he cancelled out. Said something was happening and he didn’t know how long it would take.”

  “Yup, going to have look into this puppy.”

  “And did you do this with April too?” she asked.

  “Oh, you bet’cha. You want to be a life’s partner to one of my girls, you had better be legit and very squeaky clean.” He put his helmet in the crook of his elbow.

  “And you get this info how?”

  “I’m a computer guy, remember?”

  “Nick!”

  “Come on, call Cassie and April,” he pleaded. “See if they want to have dinner with us. It’s Do-Right’s loss.”

  “Okay,” she gave in. There was no point trying to pry anything more from him. He was clamming up. She picked up the phone to call Cassie and April. When she hung up, she gave Nick a grin. “They’ll meet us at the Italian Garden.”

  After locking the door and giving it a tug, she looked toward her car. The rain had stopped, but the night air was damp. She shouldered her purse and pulled her scarf snuggly to ward off the cold. “Want to go in my car?”

  “Sure, I’m game. I have my helmet,” he said, tapping his knuckles on his head gear. “Lead the way.”

  “You ass,” she half laughed, and led the way between the parked cars for her Subaru. At least most of the traffic was at the other end of the Center near the restaurant and store. Just as she passed the rear end of the car facing her shop, Georgie heard the rev of an engine and turned. Headlights blinded her as the loud gunning roar came toward her.

  “Georgie!”

  Her name was a sharp shrill in her ears at the same moment she heard the clank clank of Nick’s helmet hitting the pavement. Her world went wild with a sharp yank at her neck, her feet slipping out from under her.

  Chapter ten

  Just as Georgie was yanked back, a dark car roared by, missing Georgie, but striking her purse. There was a sharp jerk to the shoulder strap. Georgie found herself slammed into Nick’s chest, then quickly set aside so Nick could step out and stare after the vehicle. The driver didn’t even stop to see if he had hit anyone. Nick looked both ways searching for another set of eyes to the event. His features pinched with a quick shake of his head, and came back. He cupped a hand on her shoulder, and she held out the broken purse strap.

  “You hurt?” he asked.

  Georgie shook her head, trying to catch her breath and make out what happened. Georgie realized Nick had snatched her clear of the car, by her coat collar.

  “I didn’t get a look at the plate,” he said. “He’s long gone. Sure you’re okay?”

  Still unable to speak, she nodded while staring at her purse and the torn strap. With trembling fingers, she felt the burning welts at the back of her neck where Nick’s fingernails had dug in as he pulled her to safety.

  “You scratched me,” she said, looking around, at Nick... at... nothing, just staring.

  He pressed her to his chest once more and patted her head. “Yeah, I scratched you.”

  He let go of her just long enough to pick up his helmet that had rolled and got snagged by the rear tire of a parked car. His arm was firm about her as he looked both ways before moving them across the parking lot to her car.

  “You didn’t by any chance recognize the car?” he asked. “SUV, dark.”

  She shook her head. “All I saw was headlights.” As she too looked both ways, she thought, a little late, Georgie, a little late on that. “I guess a black coat on a wet winter night is a bad idea.”

  “Going that fast in a parking lot is asinine!” he said. “Thought you said the shopping center had security.”

  “We do. Instant Reply Security. But they’re not on constant patrol, and I don’t think we’re the only center they guard.”

  Nick stopped, then quickly continued to her car. “You know,” he said, “I could swear I’ve seen that vehicle before. Something about it.” Giving her a little quick hug of assurance, his heavy hand then slipped away with a pat.

  Georgie dug into her coat pocket for her keys, and beeped open her car. When she reached for the door handle, she saw her hands were shaking, and the realization of just how close that speeding car had come to hitting her sunk in. She held out the broken strap to stare at it in the dark. Her kids would have been orphans. She would never have seen her grandchild, and everything blurred behind hot welling tears.

  “Give me the keys,” Nick said.

  Though she heard him, she couldn’t respond.

  “Georgie!”

  It was a sharp call, jerking her back to her old self, and her hand instinctively curled into a fist.

  “Okay, calm down here.” He waited, his hand out for her keys. “Georgie Girl, I’m not asking you to give up your freedom, space, or any other ridiculous thing that’s going on in your little square head. Let me drive until you calm down.”

  “Fine,” she said, handing over her keys, then went to the passenger side. She was alive. That’s what mattered. She was herself again. “But you better put the rear view mirror back to where it is now,” she told him, trying to sound hard, and failing miserably, she knew. “You can slide back the seat, but don’t touch the seatback. I’ve got it set just where I want it.”

  �
�Just get in the goddamn car.” He released the seat as far back as it would go to accommodate his long legs then slid in after tossing his helmet in the back. “How the hell did Sam ever put up with you?” he asked.

  The silence in the car was accented by the slamming of the doors, and broken by rain suddenly pouring down in a pounding force.

  “I can’t believe I said that,” Nick said, forehead pressed to his hands on the steering wheel. “I’m a fucking idiot!”

  “No, you’re not,” Georgie told him, and reached over to take his hand. “We’re both shaken up and a bit touchy, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, just a bit, I guess” he admitted with a half grin, and squeezed her hand hard before releasing it to insert the key in the ignition, but did not turn it on.

  It was a few minutes before the down pour ebbed.

  “Do you have to tell Cassie about this?,” Georgie asked, staring out at the “dark and rainy night,” almost laughing at the cliché, but didn’t. But she did let it lift her spirits. “You know how she gets.”

  “Oh, no. No, no, no.” He shook his head, with a choking laugh as he turned the key and the motor hummed. “I like living.” The old Nick was returning, assuring her they were both calming down. “If she finds out and I didn’t tell her, I’ll be toast.”

  She wanted to join him, laugh the whole thing off, but the truth of his statement kept any mirth to a tight strained smile. To not tell Cassie would be both their end.

  ~~0~~

  For a second, Georgie thought Cassie was going to reach across the restaurant table for Nick before they’d even finished their recount of the night’s incident.

  “Did you at least get a license number?” Cassie began her interrogation. “What make of car? SUV tells me nothing. Men are supposed to notice little things like that, especially you, Mr. Know-it-all.”

  “I was too busy pulling this one out of the way,” Nick said, pointing his thumb at Georgie, following with a shoulder nudge, then motioned Cassie to settle down. “All I saw was the back end of it. But I’m doing a search up here.” He tapped a finger to his head. “I’ll put it together.”

  “Yeah, well your hard drive needs updating.”

  “My hard drive is just fine, thank you very much,” Nick threw back. “I’ve heard no complaints.”

  “You are so vile.”

  Georgie and April just sat back, looked across the table at each other, and let the scene go on with a long practiced acceptance. April, like Georgie, learned quite some time ago... when Nick and Cassie entered into their war of words it was best to just let them get it all out. While arguing, they heard no one but each other.

  “They’ll wear themselves out soon,” Georgie said.

  April nodded, but said nothing. April was taller than Cassie, slender, wore no make-up, and a very laid back person. She was also one of the best architects to be had who could do the work on her own from the base of the building to its roof... if need be. But then, Cassie would only choose the cream of the crop, and April was that. Georgie sighed. Seventeen years ago, she and Sam attended Cassie and April’s union. Nick manage to fly in for the ceremony, then just as quickly had to leave, but only a sister came from April’s side. The rest of her family refused to acknowledge the event and commitment.

  As though their thoughts had met somewhere in the ambiance of the moment, April looked up, and met Georgie’s gaze. With a half smile and a hint of a roll of her brown eyes, April weaved her fingers through her short warm brown hair that Georgie kept highlighted with a soft blond, said “I need a hair cut.”

  “Sure,” Georgie said. “Just give me a call. Let me know when. Looks like you’re also ready for another highlight.”

  “April, your hair is short enough,” Cassie said. “How much shorter do you want it?”

  If nothing else, the war of words had come to a stop. April merely offered Cassie a side glance. “Have I ever told you how to wear your hair?”

  “I think we better order,” Georgie said, eyeing Nick, who, in turn, overtly rolled his eyes.

  “And you people wonder why I don’t marry,” Nick said, signaling the waitress.

  “I think you should tell M&M,” Cassie suggested, ignoring Nick’s remark, and Georgie glared back at her to stop before she got started. “Georgie...” It was almost a whine. “I think he should know.”

  Gratefully, the waitress came, bringing the conversation to a stop. They each gave her their order, but there was no mistaking who held the young waitress’s attention. Nick.

  “Anything from the bar while you’re waiting?” the waitress asked, but her attention never left Nick.

  “Coffee for me,” he said.

  “Nope. I’m driving,” April said.

  “Nothing for me,” Cassie said, then thought a moment and added, “Actually, I’d like some orange juice.”

  “Me too,” Georgie ended it, and hoped against hope the matter of calling Mason would be dropped.

  “So, who’s M&M?” Nick asked once the waitress left.

  So much for that hope, Georgie sighed, and sipped on her glass of water and waited. No one said anything and Nick looked to her for an explanation. Georgie shook her head with a quick hand wave of dismissal, and let her sight wander. This was always the way it was. Cassie flung doors open, but it was Georgie who was expected to walk through them.

  “She’s referring to Officer Montgomery,” Georgie finally told Nick. “She calls him M&M.”

  “M&M is Officer Montgomery?” April asked, her voice lifting in surprise, then shook her head in hopeless resignation. “God, Cassie, will you never get tired of meddling?”

  “This isn’t meddling,” Cassie defended, patting and squeezing April’s hand before Georgie found herself, once more, the center of her dear friend’s match making attention. “I think he’d want to know. Nick, you know it was a hit and run. Wouldn’t you report it? Come on. Back me up here.”

  “It was a careless speeder in a parking lot,” Georgie argued. “He didn’t hit me.”

  “Just because he missed you,” Nick said, “doesn’t make it less a hit and run. He must have heard that purse of yours when he hit it. If he is all that innocent, then why didn’t he stop? I have to agree with Cassie on this. I know I’d want to be told, and as interested as I think Dudley Do-Right is in you...” He let the words fade away, his eyes set on his finger toying with the napkin in his well practiced overdone innocence.

  “See?” Cassie said, appearing very pleased she was not alone, then pointed at Nick. “Dudley Do-Right. I like that. Very clever, Nicky.”

  Georgie chose not to comment on Nick’s quick thumbs-up and grin. Instead, she looked to April for her quiet logic. Someone had to see her side of this. It was totally ridiculous for Mason to be brought into this. The man had a job to do. He didn’t need this. But April met Georgie’s hopeful glance with an up-lift of eyebrows, then seemed to find her fork a more important focal point. Georgie’s hopes died. She was alone. April was siding with Cassie and Nick.

  “Traitor,” Georgie murmured.

  “I have to consider my happy home,” April shrugged, while rolling the fork between her fingers.

  “We have no make on the car, no license number,” Georgie continued her reasoning, then turned to Nick. “What exactly are we going to report? Dark SUV, one broken purse strap.”

  “I told you,” he said, voice low as he leaned into her. “I’m working on it.”

  “The person is probably as mortified as I was scared,” Georgie told them, then motioned that the waitress was coming with their coffee, orange juice and the appetizers.

  Though they ate their food in mild conversation, it was only because Nick was deep into himself the entire meal. Now and then he would give the proper response, but Georgie knew he was somewhere in his mind working on his puzzle. He was truly a human computer. It might take him a while, but whatever information he was seeking, Georgie knew he would eventually find it. She had long ago lost count of how many times he climb
ed the tree branch from his window and followed the limbs between houses to come pound on her window just to tell her the answer to a question she’d completely forgotten was asked. He’d grin, point to his head then at her. “Told you,” he’d say, and leave.

  “Call M&M,” Cassie said again, as they left the restaurant, and pulled her coat closer to ward off the cold breeze.

  “I’ll think about it,” Georgie relented, and shivered as she brought up the knitted scarf snuggly under her chin.

  April gave her a hug and whispered loudly enough to be heard, “Do us all a favor and at least call this M&M. Cassie will make our lives miserable until you do.”

  “Oh, will you stop?” Cassie said to April.

  Georgie smiled, but gave April a satirical guise. “They call that controlling.”

  “You have no idea,” April said, in her quiet manner while she searched her pant pockets and came up with her BMW keys jingling.

  “Okay, that’s it. Time to go.” Cassie hugged Georgie then Nick, and walked off. “Do it,” she said, turning to point at Nick. “You make sure she does.” When Nick didn’t answer, she stopped and waited. “Nick?”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I heard you, already. God, what a nag you’ve become. Take her away, April.”

  “You got it,” April said, and took Cassie by the arm to urge her away. “Come on.”

  ~~0~~

  “Where did you park your motorcycle?” Georgie asked, steering her Subaru into the Western Shopping Center entrance nearest her shop.

  “Behind Dare To Care.”

  “What? Why in back?”

  “Because you don’t leave something like that baby alone on a rainy night. It’s chained to the light post behind your trash dumpster, and out of sight, sort of.”

  Georgie parked so her headlights offered all the light Nick would need. She had to admit, whatever cloth he placed over baby made the motorcycle blend into the darkness. It was a darkness she often complained about to Center Management. It was an area not safe for female workers, or males, for that matter. It was too lonely and should have twice the amount of lighting. Instant Reply Security was not instant enough, and she would let neither Brandy nor Emmee park their cars back here.