The Devil To Pay (Hennessey.)

by Marnie Perry

  He smiled pleased; he knew that she was trying to discover when he would be leaving Eden. He said, ‘the wedding is in three days.’

  He saw the disappointment in her eyes and was sure she thought he might accompany her on the next leg of her tour.

  They were watching Gulfport coming closer; he turned to face the other way and leaned back on the rail. He decided to turn the screws a little and said, ‘but I think I’ll get there a little earlier, make sure my cousin doesn’t do anything stupid on his bachelor night. I should really leave tomorrow.’

  ‘Oh.' Was all she said but there was a wealth of meaning in that one small word.

  ‘I never really intended to stay this long in Mississippi; I intended to make my way slowly to North Carolina. But something happened and I was irresistibly compelled to stay.’

  ‘Oh what was that? The soft beds in the Horse and Hind? The karaoke? Annie Bloom’s warm welcome?’

  He looked sharply at her but her expression was impassive. He said, ‘well Annie Bloom does have that certain attractiveness and allure of the older woman, I was instantly drawn to her obvious experience.’

  Her head snapped round to look at him but in an imitation of her his face was also impassive. She looked at him with disdain then made a “huh” sound and said, ‘well it’s up to you of course, but personally I think she’d kill you.’

  His lips twitched as he said, ‘but what a way to go.’

  She looked away from him to conceal the laughter she felt rising in her. He watched as her shoulders began to shake then she turned to him and laughed out right and he joined in.

  She said, ‘you’re an awful man, making fun of that nice woman.’

  ‘Who said I was making fun?’ She pushed him and he staggered back a step then laughed again, ‘anyway you know damn well who I meant, so stop fishing.’

  Her face flushed and she said, ‘you’re daft.’

  ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘Daft, it’s another word for silly, an idiot, a nincompoop.’

  ‘I get your point. But daft, I like that, “full stop” and “daft,” that’s two sayings I’ve leaned since I met you, my vocabulary will be twice as big by the time we say goodbye.’ She smiled but to his great satisfaction there was undeniable regret in her eyes. He turned around and looked out across the sea to where Gulfport approached. He cast a glance in her direction and it was as though he could read her mind, although that wasn’t too hard she was in fact very easy to read. He knew she was thinking that when they docked he would go his way and she would go hers and they would never see each other again, or rather she was thinking she would never see him again. He deliberately let her stew for a few minutes then said, ‘do you fancy dinner some place?’

  He was gratified at the look of relief mingled with pleasure that was in the look she gave him. She immediately tried to cover it with humour but it was too late. ‘But what about Annie? She’ll be so disappointed that you won’t be spending your last night in Eden with her.’

  He shrugged, ‘I know, but what can a good looking man in demand do? He has to choose.’

  ‘She put her hand against her chest and fluttered her eyelashes and in a breathy voice said, ‘and you chose me, why, I don’t know what to say, this is so sudden, I’m overwhelmed.’ She fanned herself as if about to swoon.

  He pursed his lips and said, ‘all right, I know when I’m beaten, Miss. Over Actor.’

  She giggled and he felt that strange tickling sensation at the back of his neck he had experienced before when she giggled like that. He said, ‘so, what’s your answer?’

  ‘I’d love to have dinner with you, thank you. But…’ She hesitated.

  ‘But what?’

  ‘Well, and please don’t get annoyed, but you paid for dinner last evening and for the pub grub and also for everything today so please let me pay for dinner tonight. It’s not that I’m some sort of feminist who hates a man being in control. No, it’s just that I want to thank you for everything, for your company and for arranging this wonderful day. Please.’

  He looked into her eyes and she held her breath wondering whether he would get angry. He said, ‘I don’t want you to pay me back for today or any other time,’ then he smiled, ‘but I accept your offer to pay for dinner and thank you.’

  She let out a sigh of relief that he hadn’t acted as he had the other evening when she had offered to pay for dinner. She gave him a bright smile, ‘thanks.’

  He took a step closer to here so that she had to look up at him as he said, ‘there is a second condition though.’ Her eyes grew wary, excited, but wary, and her voice was a mere whisper as she asked, ‘oh, what’s that?’

  ‘That I choose where we eat.’

  The wary look had changed to disappointment he was gratified to see as she said, ‘fair enough.’

  He took a step nearer so that they were close enough to kiss and his voice was husky, ‘there is another condition, but it can wait until later.’ The look in his eyes left no room for misconception or doubt as to what he meant. The gnawing in her stomach grew in intensity and her skin became hot and clammy. She felt dizzy with anticipation and excitement and a certain apprehension.

  He knew what she was thinking; it was there in her expressive eyes. He wanted to laugh but controlled himself. His voice matched the meaning in his eyes as he said, ‘yes, it can wait, but not too long.’ She felt almost faint as she looked back unable and unwilling to break the intensity and significance of the moment. He broke it himself by taking a step back and saying rather abruptly, ‘I’ll pick you up at,’ he looked at his watch, ‘8.00 clock.’

  It wasn’t a question but she merely nodded her acquiescence. He smiled and just then they docked at Gulfport and he drove them back to Eden.

  CHAPTER 21.

  They had not spoken much on the drive back, Adela put it down to their both being tired and Hennessey would have agreed, but both would have been lying to themselves. If Adela had been honest with herself she would have admitted that she was nervous, nervous, apprehensive and downright fearful. But amongst all of these feelings there was also an excitement such as she had never felt before.

  She kept going over in her head, not so much what he had said, but the way he had said what he had about there being another condition but that it could wait, but not for too long. How could anyone put so much meaning into one simple sentence? And the way he had looked at her when he had said it, those remarkable blue eyes had been telling her that tonight he expected something to happen and she had better be ready. But was she? She liked him, oh how she liked him, she was drawn to him as she had never been to any man. Then again she had not known many men, a handful that’s all, and none who had had any interest in her in a romantic let alone a sexual way, and sexual was the way that Sterling Hennessey was interested in her; she was not so inexperienced she didn't know a sexual attraction when she met it.

  But what about romantically, did he see her as just a plaything, someone to have fun with for the time they were here together. Did he see there relationship as just two people alone and enjoying each other's company and sex would be the ultimate enjoyment? Adela could not see a man like him being interested in her for anything else but a night or two of uninvolved fun and games with no strings, no promises of anything more permanent.

  Yet she saw sex in a totally different way, she saw it as romantic, as an intimate, loving, beautiful act, a coming together of bodies and minds, a closeness as only two people who were emotionally involved could be. She was a romantic she knew that, in her mind she wanted Sterling Hennessey to make love to her, but in her heart she wanted the first man to show her the delights of love making, to take her to as yet unscaled heights, to be interested in more than a one night stand.

  She wanted love and commitment. She was asking for the moon, and she knew that Sterling Hennessey could as easily give her that as commitment and love.

  When he had been describing Dean the other night had he in fact been describing himself? She
recalled his reply to her accusation that he had. “Perhaps.”

  As for Hennessey he was pleased with the days events, he was pleased that she had reacted the way she had to his suggestive comments. Tonight he would show her what being a woman was all about, and not before time. He couldn’t help but feel excited, something he had not felt in a long time. Oh, not the feeling of excitement that comes with being with a woman sexually, but something different, a feeling you got only once in your lifetime, that of a first time, a first time for her, and in a strange and inexplicable way, it made it seem like the first time for him too.

  Her inexperience had awakened something deep within him. Maybe every man felt this way when he took a virgin to his bed, new, reborn somehow. He had had this feeling on the ferry when they had looked into each other’s eyes; he had seen excitement and anticipation as well as fear in hers. He shared her feelings of excitement and anticipation, but not the fear of course.

  He had not liked the other feeling that had washed over him, he couldn’t describe it and he couldn’t put a word to it, but it had momentarily taken control of him and that’s why he had snapped at her, why he had practically ordered her to be ready at eight. That she had meekly acquiesced made him feel better, had given him back control of her, and of himself.

  They were both so deep in thought that they had hardly noticed that they were in Eden. He parked outside his hotel and turned to her but she was looking directly ahead obviously still in a world of her own. He said, ‘well here we are, back in heaven, I mean Eden.’

  She turned to him and stared as though she couldn’t quite recall who he was for a moment. He said, ‘hello, earth to Adela Faraday.’

  She blinked then looked embarrassed, ‘oh sorry, I was away with the fairies for a moment.’

  He laughed, ‘careful they don’t take you somewhere you can’t get back from.’

  She laughed too but it was a little strained. He said, ‘see you at eight then?’

  She nodded. He opened his door and got out and once again he had her door open before she could open it.

  She said, ‘I have to find out how you do that before you leave.’

  ‘Ah, but just like Samson, once my secret is out I lose my powers.’

  She laughed again and this time it came more naturally. ‘I’d better go, it takes an age to prissy myself up.’

  ‘I’ll bet it takes you five minutes.’

  She feigned hurt feelings, ‘are you saying I don’t make an effort.’

  ‘I’m saying you don’t need to make an effort.’

  ‘Flatterer.’

  ‘Compliment seeker.’

  They both laughed and their previous good humour was restored, and the tension that had been present between them vanished.

  She said, ‘oh, is this place we’re going to tonight as posh as the last restaurant?’

  ‘No, just more expensive.’

  She stuck out her tongue and he said, ‘they don’t allow that kind of unladylike behaviour where we’re going, so try to keep your tongue to yourself.’

  This time he hadn’t meant to be suggestive but although she giggled her face turned pink anyway. He said, ‘it is a very nice place, no riff raff allowed, but it has a very relaxed atmosphere.’

  She said, ‘I look forward to it.’

  ‘Well you’d better go, ‘he tapped his watch, ‘four minutes and counting.’

  ‘I’m going, I’m going.’ And she went. He watched her walk down the street to the woods and continued to watch until she disappeared into the trees. He turned to go into the hotel when his attention was caught by two figures standing on the opposite sidewalk. Dean Maxwell and Sheriff Taylor were both looking at him and both wore expressions of displeasure, dislike and distrust. He stood a moment staring back then raised his hand and waggled his fingers at them. He knew it was stupid; the sheriff didn’t need a reason to tell him he was not welcome here, he had the authority to tell him to leave town. But he couldn’t help himself, they were such losers. The sheriff was a small fish in an even smaller pool. And Maxwell was a small town, small time would- be scholar.

  Both important in this tiny hick town, but outside they were nonentities and wouldn’t last five minutes in the real world. He despised them and all they stood for; he despised small towns and all they stood for.

  He turned and went into the hotel. His watch told him it was 6.55; he lay down on the bed smiling to himself. This had been a good day all round. She had talked to him, confided in him, laughed and joked with him. They were friends now and what did friends do? They trusted one another. Tonight he would make his first real move, he would compliment her, charm her, seduce her and then, yes, then? She was ready for it, primed for it, eager for it. She was wary yes, she was scared yes, but he would allay all her fears. He would not go too far, he would start something but not finish it, he would give her a taste of what she was missing. A taste of him. He would make her want more, much more. His smile grew wider as he got up to take a shower, a cold shower, after all, he didn’t want to start without her.

  ********

  In her cabin Adela was also showering and coincidentally her shower was cold too.

  She was angry with herself, angry because she was afraid, because she was confused, because she wanted something to happen between herself and Sterling Hennessey and because she didn’t. The wise thing would have been to decline his dinner invitation tonight and not see him again; after all he would be gone tomorrow what point would there be to anything that might happen between them. If something happened tonight he would just go on his way thinking that she was just an easy lay. Or if he was able to tell that she was a virgin he might think she had come to this country in search of a little more than adventure in the geographic sense.

  Oh what was she doing thinking like this, he might have no designs of any kind upon her, sexually or any other way. She was letting her imagination run away with her…again. She went to the wardrobe and took out the dress she had decided to wear tonight, not to revealing, not to sexy, not to anything, just plain and simple. She slipped it over her head impatiently. Anyway, no matter what his intentions towards her if she was unsure or unready she didn’t have to comply did she?

  At 7.54 the knock came on the door, she was sitting on the bed just slipping on her shoes and called ‘come in.’

  The door opened and Hennessey entered. She said, ‘hello, you’re early again.’

  He said nothing but stood and looked at her for a moment before walking purposefully over to her. It seemed to her that he did that in less than three strides; because one second he was by the door then he was right in front of her looking down on her as she sat on the bed, one shoe on her foot and one in her hand.

  She looked at him in surprise and tried to keep the smile she had greeted him with but it was difficult when he was looking decidedly annoyed. She asked rather nervously, ‘is…is something wrong?’

  Again he said nothing for several seconds then snapped, ‘yes, there is.’

  She wanted to stand up but his fierce gaze kept her seated. She opened her mouth to ask why he was so angry but he forestalled her. ‘What were you thinking?’

  ‘What…I don’t…

  Again he cut her off, ‘I could have been anyone knocking just then, someone with more than a nice dinner with a lovely lady on his mind and you just call out, ‘”Come in,” as though you were in a drawing room and expecting the vicar for tea and not a woman alone in a cabin in the middle of dense woods, with no one around. You wouldn’t have stood a snowball in hells chance of fighting off an intruder.’

  ‘But…

  ‘And please don’t tell me you left the door open while you showered and changed?’

  She sat there the shoe still in her hand completely stunned. ‘No, I only just opened it because I knew you would be here any minute.’

  He turned his back to her as though disgusted then swung round to face her again, this time his expression was more concerned than angry and his tone was milde
r than it had been, ‘you shouldn’t just have called “come in” like that, it’s not safe for a woman alone out here.’

  ‘I’m sure the Carters would come to my aid if…

  Once again he interrupted her and the disdainful, angry tone was back, ‘if, if they were in which they might well not be. Get real here will you, this is a dangerous place, you should know that better than most tourists.’

  Her face paled as she stammered, ‘why, bet…better than most tourists?’

  ‘Why? Oh maybe you’ve forgotten the little incident with the panther. You stroll through the woods as though out for a Sunday stroll in the local park with no idea that you might meet a wild animal like that, and yet you don’t seem to have learned your lesson about staying safe.’

  Her colour gradually returned as she realised he was not referring to Olivia and the two men. She felt like a child being reprimanded by a teacher. She should have felt resentful or annoyed with him, but she wasn’t, instead she felt an inexplicable warm feeling envelope her at his anger. He had berated her because he was concerned for her safety and that endeared him to her as very little else could. She had often wondered what it would have been like to have had a father to fuss and worry over her, to chastise her for riding her bike without due care, or not calling when she would be late home. But that never happened. Never in all her life until now, had a man told her off for not taking proper care of herself, and she felt as though she was in a warm cocoon of protection.

  She tried to keep the pleasure she felt from her voice as she said contritely, ‘you’re absolutely right, it was stupid of me, and I’m very, very sorry.’

  He continued to look down on her his expression still set and hard then he let out a prolonged sigh and said much more mildly, ‘I shouldn’t have yelled like that, it’s just that I worry about you being here all alone in the middle of nowhere. It’s all very well to have the sheriff as a personal friend but he can’t watch you 24/7. And you can’t rely on the Carters or your other neighbours to hear or see anything. You’re too isolated here; I wish you’d consider staying in the hotel for the rest of your stay.’