by Muncy, Janet
Thinking that she never had found the invitation that was responsible for her being out in this mess, she made a blinding dash toward the door of the elegant home. ‘If I can get to the covered porch I’ll not look so bad when they open the door,’ she reasoned, running and jumping over the large puddles. “Look out!” she screamed as a large black umbrella bolted out in front of her.
January groped wildly for something to hold onto, causing her ankle to turn with excruciating pain. Falling backward and unable to catch her balance from the blow, her feet flew out from under her, and she landed in the puddle she distinctly tried to avoid.
“What were you trying to do anyway?” Came the stranger’s voice as he stood over her holding out his hand to help her up.
“You...You idiot! You imbecile! How could you be so blind!” she shouted angrily spitting dirt and water out of her mouth after realizing who had caused the accident. “Now look at me!” she exclaimed. Her auburn hair now down in her face and her dress soaked with mud and water. “Get your hand away!” she slapped at him. “I can get up myself. Just get out of here and leave me alone.” She groaned trying to stand up. But the pain in her ankle was so bad she sat back down on the cold ground.
“Here let me help you,” he said, barely able to control the urge to laugh.“Haven’t you done enough damage for one evening? Just leave me alone!” she snapped ignoring his outstretched hand.
January was near tears as she shivered from the cold water she was emerged in. Trying to stand up again she managed to steady herself by putting the painful foot on the ground but was unable to put full pressure on it. Hearing his voice again only made her more angry.
“Why don’t you let me help you to the house?” He started to reach out to her again.
“I’m not going into their house in front of all those people looking like a soaked rat, you idiot.” She snapped at him again.
He shot her a cold look and started to turn away. “If you insist on helping yourself, by all means be my guest. I on the other hand am getting wetter as I stand here arguing with you. Good luck, Miss Manson.”
Surveying the damage again to her ankle she cursed. Without warning, someone picked her up and walked toward the other end of the drive.
“Put me down!” she ordered after discovering it was the stranger.
“No, not until you’re safely in my car.” He said with indifference.
“I don’t want to get in your car. Put me down.”
“I really don’t care what you want at this point, no female is going to make me feel like a heel, not even you, Miss Manson.” He stated, ignoring her squirming efforts.
Sitting her down heavily on the car seat, he slammed the door. He was almost to the other side when she opened the car door and started to get out. Misjudging the swollen ankle she put pressure on it and groaned in pain. By this time he was in the car reaching over the top of her and pulling her back inside.
“Don’t try that again Miss Manson, I am wet enough, and I don’t intend to come down with a bad cold.”
“Mr....Rich, I couldn’t care less if you caught a cold or anything else for that matter, just what do you intend to do with me?” She shouted.
Furious green eyes stared at her. “What I’d like to do with you is against the law, but what I’m going to do with you is take you back to the motel so you can get out of that wet dress, which I might add, is too reveling to be seen in public.” He said, through clenched teeth.
Quickly looking down at the front of the silky material, she realized the wet dress was nearly transparent. January swiftly put her arms over her breasts recognizing the devilish grin on the complacent man’s face. Turning to face the window, she avoided looking into his all too powerful eyes.
She was glad it was only a few miles to the motel. Sitting in the car with this man was almost unbearable. ‘Just what did he mean by, what he would like to do to me was against the law? Probably kill me, or maybe even rape me! Oh great, just what I need to think about in this car with a total stranger. What is the matter with me? I’m freezing, that’s what. Why doesn’t he turn on the heater?’ The sound of his voice brought her back to reality.
“What....what did you say?” She stuttered.
“I said, I understand you are a writer?”
“Among other things,” she snapped.
“I can believe that, but what other things are you talking about?” he looked at her with his eyes-brows raised.
“Nothing you’d be interested in.” She addressed him avoiding his gaze.
“You are probably right.” he grumbled under his breath as he moved the car into the nearest parking space.
“Stay in the car until I can help you out,” he ordered. He then moved swiftly around the car. Taking her arm causing the muscle to tighten under the pressure.
“Firm little thing aren’t you?”
“Not hardly,” she answered liking the feel of warmth his hand gave to her shivering body. “Oh!” she groaned as she stepped down on the swollen foot.
“Here, I’ll carry you. It’s easier than listening to your apparent discomfort.” He said, picking her up in his arms.
“I wouldn’t have this so called discomfort if it hadn’t been for you.” She mocked.
She let him carry her across the parking lot. The feel of his warm body next to hers was comforting.
“Miss Manson, I hate to disillusion you, but if you had been watching where you were going instead of jumping around the drive you wouldn’t have run into me. I must admit, you have a knack for not looking before you leap, so to speak.”
“Mr Rich I....”
“Oh shut up! And quit fighting me,” he interrupted with a growl.
“Put me down,” she raged. “I don’t have to listen to this kind of abuse. Did you hear me let me down!”
“I can’t help hearing you, you are screaming in my ear. Now stop squirming or I’ll drop you, now get your keys and unlock the door you are getting heavier every second.”
She had no choice but to get her keys and unlock the door. It opened with a bang as they stepped through. Tripping over the loose carpet, he stumbled inside the room. Gasping, January clung tightly to his neck, but before they realized what was happening they both had fallen on the bed, him on top of her.
“Get off me you big moose.” She shouted under his pressure.
“Big moose Hugh? Well, I just may stay here until you apologize for that remark!” He provoked holding her arms now over the top of her head.
“Let me up you overgrown bully, or I’ll scream rape.”
“Oh no you won’t.” He stated, covering her mouth with his own.
January tried to fight him, her hands beating wildly against his hard body as he pinned her firmly down. Her struggles became useless, and she was unable to budge the powerful man holding her captive. The feel of his warm body on top of her gave her a strange feeling of protectiveness. For a moment she had forgotten about the fight and laid there drinking in his manly odor. He slowly loosened his hold as he looked now into her blue eyes that seemed to shine silver from the dim light. He moved closer and softly touched her lips in an almost hesitant manner. When he discovered she would give him no more fight, his lips covered hers in a more demanding way.
January found herself returning his kisses with a feverish need that matched his. He rolled over, holding her against him, tasting and exploring her tender lips. He caressed her as his warm hand rubbed softly up and down her side feeling the firm yet soft curves of her body.
January felt his hand slide gently up her back, his breath was soft and warm as his eyes searched hers in urgent need. January’s thoughts were rushing around like they didn’t know which direction to go as his hand searched tenderly for the soft mounds of her breasts. A sound from outside the room brought her quickly back to her senses.
“Please wait,” she sighed breathlessly, trying to pull away from him. “I think you should leave. I don’t even know you.” she quickly sat up on the side of
the bed.
For a moment the stranger laid there unable to move for fear the sounds of rejection he heard were true. He wasn’t even sure what got into him. He had never done anything like that before. He had never pushed his way on a woman. There was just something about this woman, he couldn’t seem to get enough. He could see her faint outline from the dim light outside and wondered how she could change moods in seconds.
“Does it matter so much if we know each other? You are enjoying this as much as I am.” He tried reaching for her again gently.
“Yes, of course it matters.” January jerked away from him. “I don’t just make love to anyone I meet. They would need to be special, someone I was in love with, someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.” She tried to control the emotions he stirred within her.
January was taken back by his quick movements as he moved off the bed and toward the still open door.
“I’ll call the bakers and cancel.” He said as he grabbed the handle of the door more for support than anything.
“No! I...I’m sure the Bakers will be wondering where I am, I need to pick up my car anyway.” January said, trying to steady her voice.
“If you insist on going, but I think you should soak that swollen foot.”
“I insist,” January said, turning on the bedside lamp.
“Then I’ll pick you up in thirty minutes, can you be ready to leave that soon?”
“You don’t have to bother with me, I’ll take a cab over.”
“No bother. I’ll see you in thirty minutes.” He said, closing the door behind him.
The hot steamy water felt good on her cold body. Her physical attraction to the stranger was disturbing as a strong surge of desire swept through her. Shaking her head trying to rid herself of the pounding in her heart and the trembling of her knees, she rubbed the soap bar over her body quickly. How could she just lie there and let this man almost make love to her. Had she lost her mind. She realized it had been a long time since she had wanted to have those kind of feelings with a man. But a total stranger, it was crazy.
Stepping out of the shower, wrapping the bath towel around her she longed to be home. There she could find soft bath towels, her own bathroom and her own bed. It all sounded incredibly good, and the more she thought about it the more homesick she became. Still wrapped in her towel January picked up the telephone and dialed the club in Texas.
“Good evening, the Wei-station.” The familiar voice came over the line. “Hi Mary,” January responded with a smile.
“January! It’s so good to hear your voice when are you coming home?” Mary asked excitedly.
“Sunday, I’ll be arriving on the nine o’clock flight so don’t forget to pick me up okay?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be there with bells on.” Mary replied. “Have you met any good looking men up there?”
“Sure, and I’m bringing them all home to you,” January teased remembering the arrogant stranger.
“Well, forget that, I’ve met and fallen madly in love with the most handsome man you’ll ever want to meet.?” Mary said proudly.
“Oh? Who could that be? Is he someone who is a member of the club?”
“No, but I’ll tell you all about it when you get home, which I might add better be soon. You’re ruining my love life.” She laughed.
“How could I ruin your love life when I’m over a thousand miles away?”
“Because I spend all my time in this club and I can’t seem to find the time to spend with him, so get home fast.”
“Well, I’ll be home on Sunday, so don’t forget to pick me up and don’t work to hard, but make us a lot of money.” January said, hanging up the phone.
Chapter 5
January was about to slip the dress over her head when she heard the knock on the door.
“Who is it?” she called out slipping the dress down over her slim hips. A muffled sound came from the closed door as the knock became harder.
“Who?” she said again walking toward the door.
“Carl! Damn woman open the door. I’m drowning out here.”
January recognized the sound of the stranger’s voice as she open the door glaring at him. She placed her hands on her hips. “How was I supposed to know who Carl was? If you remember you never told me your name, so don’t go yelling at me.” She cursed.
“Now wait just a minute Miss Manson. You’ve abused me, embarrassed me, caused me to ruin a perfectly good suit, along with missing a seven course meal. Not to mention turning me on and off like a light switch, now, you’re yelling at me for trying to be a nice guy. I’m not sure how much more of this I can handle and keep my temper.” He glared at her, also putting his hands on his hips.
“You can handle? Listen Mr....what ever your name is, I didn’t plan any of this as my normal course of events for the evening,” she shouted in defense. “So, if you can’t handle it, there’s the door!” she pointed in the direction of the door that had been left standing open.
“Now hold on a minute,” He said, running his long fingers through his thick hair. “I’m just trying to help and you’re treating me like I just kidnapped your first born. Which I might add I wouldn’t do, now if you’re ready, then I’ll take you over to the Bakers and you’ll never have to speak to me again.”
“Well you’ll never have to worry about kidnapping my first born anyway because I never intend to have any to be kidnap. Besides I never wanted to speak to you in the first place.” She lied, trying to stuff her swollen foot into the seemly undersized shoe.
“Let me assure you then after tonight you’ll never have to worry about it.” He grabbed her jacket from the bed where she had laid it earlier. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” She snapped, leading the way to his car.
The rain had let up only a little, as they ran to the car, her limping slightly. The drive to the Bakers was strangely quiet. Each to their own thoughts. January’s being that the fresh fragrance of his cologne was playing havoc with her senses. Carl maneuvered the car into the drive and pulled up in front of the house.
“Were you really serious about never having any children?” Carl asked.
Totally taking January by surprise. She turned around and stared at him.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You said, you never wanted children, is that true?”
“Maybe some day, but I’m not in any hurry, I’m only twenty five years old, why would I want to have children anyway. I have a career to take care of, I certainly don’t want to have to deal with children right now.”
“Don’t you like kids?” His eyes seemed to narrow.
“Of course I like kids, I just feel now is not the time, and I would want to spend my time raising them, like my mother, but I have a career to think of and above all a husband to father those children.” January smiled.
Only Carl didn’t return her smile, he was to deep into his own thoughts, as January opened the car door and stepped out onto the covered porch. She then shut the door, and he drove down the drive.
‘So he doesn’t want to be seen with me either,’ she mumbled under her breath as she stepped up to the door.
The Bakers were glad she had decided to come back. It seemed Carl had phoned them earlier and told them of the mishap. Seeing her to the sofa and getting her a drink, Mr. Baker made her quite comfortable making light conversation about her books.
What seemed like several minutes later Carl was ushered into the room. Everyone seemed to know him quite well and greeted him warmly. Especially Rhonda Jackson the Mayor’s niece. January was slightly embarrassed by the way Rhonda seemed to hang all over him. January also noticed how much his attitude changed when he was around others. He was actually smiling and his face showed the appearance of someone she wouldn’t mind knowing.
Fascinated by the change in his attitude, she couldn’t take her eyes from him. His dark suit fit impeccably and the fact that his tall frame towered over everyone, seemed to set him apart from everyone in
the room. Or was it just her imagination. As his eyes met her’s she turned quickly away.
January was finding the room stifling with all the cigarette smoke and it was apparent the dull pain in her foot was becoming uncomfortable. Bidding her good-byes to the Mayor and his wife she made her way to the door to leave.
“January, are you leaving without saying good-bye?”
January stood there looking at Carl a full minute before answering. Taking in his massive chest that tapered down to his lean waist and slim hips. “I .. huh, didn’t want to interrupt.” She indicated toward Rhonda Jackson, who at that time was moving toward a group of gentlemen.
“Let me see you to your car,” Carl said, leading her out the door making no comment to her statement. January felt somewhat confused by his actions. He had made it a point to avoid her all evening, now he seemed to want her attention.
The rain had stopped, and the air was quite chilly, as she hugged her jacket closer to her.
“Are you cold?” Carl frowned at her.
“No..no, not really,” she lied.
Carl walked slowly beside her as she limped slightly toward her car. January inserted the key in the ignition, and the car groaned until finally it belched to life. January sighed with relief as she looked up at the concerned expression on Carl’s face.
For a moment he stood there smiling down at her. The scent of his cologne causing her sensitive nose to respond to the fragrance. Softly she inhaled a breath of the pleasant aroma, causing the material to tighten across her breast. January’s pulse began to race as he leaned down closer to her. His eyes roaming slowly over the low cut of her bodice. A tingle of excitement raced through her body. She became unable to move. Carl’s index finger traced the outline of her delicate jaw bone. Slowly but seriously slipping down toward the V of her bodice. January moaned faintly, sucking in her breath deeply as his fingers lightly touched her soft skin. Nervously she licked her lips waiting for his next move. He leaned down until his lips were but a breath apart from her’s. Then he gently touched his lips to hers. Moving away from her, he quickly shut the car door with a bang, then strolled back toward the house.
