by Alice Ward
Worth, however, was mine. I didn’t need to share him with anyone and most of all, not Mother. I didn’t doubt that his own family would pull at him from time to time, but as far as I could see up to this point, he didn’t allow much of that to happen.
We chose a canister set, white with multi-color flowers circling them. The woman was kind enough to pack them up in a box and Worth stored them in the car. He said we would rent a storage locker near our new home and begin to accumulate things we loved there. With that purpose in mind, we bought a padlock with two keys, one for us each. It was these simple things that really made me happy.
There were some saddle bred farms in the area and we drove by and even stopped alongside the road to watch the horses running in their pasture. We talked about the horses I would buy and the Steeplechase I wanted to build. I planned to study all the well-known courses in the meantime so that I would have a world-class field. I dreamed of hosting my own events in the future, and Worth said we should take the time to sketch out our farm on paper so we could make the plans to better scale.
To this end, we found a café in town armed with a sketchpad we bought at the art store next to it. We spread our sketching materials across a four-person table and prepared to set to work. I loved the idea of planning my future with Worth. He was brilliant, although he sometimes hid it well.
Worth got up to get us drinks and sandwiches. I’d spied the chicken salad on croissant when we walked in and that’s what I ordered with a serving of fresh fruit. I ordered a raspberry iced tea to which Worth rolled his eyes and I had to laugh.
I was using the ruler to proportionately measure out the lay of our land when a voice came up from my side.
“Well, look who’s here,” said Brandon, grinning widely.
“Brandon!” I was so surprised my voice was louder than I meant it to be.
“Auggie, imagine finding you here in this little café. Don’t you generally head toward the big city when you’re getting out?”
I just smiled. Internally, I was grasping for something redeemable to say.
“Mind if I join you?” Brandon slid off his light leather jacket and hung it over the back of one of the chairs. It set off his eyes which were now sparkling with innuendo and hope.
My eyes flared in alarm. “Brandon, nice to see you. Actually, I’m waiting for someone.” I knew I didn’t want to alienate him since he held the key to everything I wanted to accomplish at Sunset Village. Even so, I couldn’t very well explain all the drawings and of course, Worth, without some indication of what was going on.
A shadow crept up behind me and I turned my head enough to see Worth had returned and was holding a large tray with our food. I leapt to my feet. “Oh, here, let me help you,” I said, removing the drinks first to lessen the danger of them spilling. We sorted the food and Worth looked to Brandon.
“Worth, this is my friend, Brandon. You remember, we went to school together and he generously offered to help with the project at Sunset Village.”
Worth stuck out his hand in acknowledgment, “Brandon.”
Brandon’s face fell as he realized that he not only was imposing, but that he was face to face with the man I was interested in — the reason I hadn’t accepted his flirting. Brandon slowly reached out to take Worth’s hand and gave it a weak and brief shake. “Well, I can see I’m interrupting,” he began and I felt the pressure of my rejection pressing upon him.
“Of course you can join us,” I said quickly and gave Worth a look that begged him to play along. “As a matter of fact, it’s perfect timing. We were just sketching out the lay of the land with Sunset Village so I could pencil in where and what I wanted to build.”
“Oh… well, in that case, perhaps it is good timing because I planned to call you on Monday about that anyway.” He looked to Worth and I could see the veins in Worth’s neck pulsing as he forced a smile and offered Brandon a seat with a brief sweep of his hand.
“Can I get you something to eat?” Worth went so far to offer.
“A coffee would be great,” Brandon answered and I knew Worth was cringing inside and that Brandon had just moved a chess piece to endanger Worth’s queen.
Worth nodded, stood and moved off to get the coffee, but as he stood at the counter, he never took his eyes off us.
I hurriedly completed the squares I was drawing, trying to imitate the land of Sunset Village. Then I drew a rectangle in the center to represent the building itself.
“Let’s wait for Worth to come back,” I said.
“Who is he to you?” Brandon asked.
I had put myself in a trap and was squirming at that moment, trying to figure out how to free myself. I chose subterfuge.
“Worth’s family is friendly with my family; they go way back.”
I felt Worth standing next to me and looked up to see a completely bewildered look upon his face. I knew I was going to hear about this later. For now, I mustered on as best as I could.
“So,” I went on, “did you have news, Brandon?”
Brandon looked from Worth to me and hesitated. I nodded to him to go on and he finally began to talk. “I checked in with the facility administrator and it seems that they aren’t part of a chain, which is the good news. That means you don’t need to get approval any higher than the owner of that particular home, and you won’t need to ‘spread around the wealth,’ so to speak. What’s not as good news is that the facility is barely breaking even right now. They have grave concerns about the construction noises disturbing the residents and the maintenance of all that you’re planning to add on. So, they need some sort of guarantee that this won’t interrupt their day-to-day routine and environment, as well as a provision for the upkeep and maintenance for the additions. They barely have staff to keep what they have going.”
“Yes, I noticed that when I was there,” I said. “So, they’re not saying ‘no.’ They just need better planning and follow-through. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Pretty much,” Brandon answered and I looked to Worth whose face was dark, the muscle in his jaw still twitching. At the same time, Brandon was clearly enjoying himself. He loved the role of hero. “Don’t worry, Auggie,” he continued. “I’ve got you covered. I’m drawing up the papers to form the charity foundation and then will apply for tax-exempt status. We’ll make sure it’s well-funded before we turn over the first shovel of sod and will figure out something to keep the residents from being disturbed. Anyway, winter is coming soon, so there’s nothing that can be done for at least the next five months or so with regard to construction. I suggest you use that time to begin your fundraising. After all, people are looking for tax deductions this time of year. I think you said your dad was going to help get you started?”
I nodded and smiled. “Dad’s a good egg.”
Brandon saw that Worth was even darker, if anything, and he was eating it up. He scooted his chair closer to mine and chirped, “So, let’s see what kind of planning you had in mind.”
I hesitated only a second and then began stacking things up. “You know… I’m sorry, but I’m getting a monster headache. I think maybe we’ll continue this another time? Worth, would you take me home?” I didn’t dare look at Worth and I knew he hadn’t even begun his lunch.
“Oh, what a shame,” Brandon cooed. “But listen, Worth there hasn’t even begun eating. Why don’t I run you home, Auggie, and let Worth eat in peace?” Brandon stood up and slurped the end of his coffee. “See, I’m ready to go.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t,” I demurred.
“Oh, it’s no problem, none whatsoever. We can catch up on the ride back. I’ve wanted to get in touch with you for some time.”
Worth stood and picked up our food-laden plates, chucking them both into the garbage before slapping the empty tray on top of the trash bin. “We’re all done eating, Brandon,” he snarled the name. “I’ll take Auggie home and you don’t need to give it a second thought.”
Brandon looked at Worth’s expression and gav
e a cocky half-smile. “Like that, is it?”
“You got it,” Worth said simply.
Brandon shrugged and looked at me. “That okay with you, Auggie?”
I nodded immediately and Brandon smiled again, that knowing smile that said everything and yet revealed nothing about the extent of his speculations. “Good enough,” he said and stood there, tapping the back of his chair, waiting while we packed up our things. I guess he was using that time to rub it in a bit more and he knew very well that Worth and I would be having a fight about this when we left. He was getting in one last, subliminal punch at Worth, all the while pretending chivalry.
Worth’s entire body was stiff with anger, but he could say or do nothing. I felt my heart go out to him and knew it was all my fault.
Brandon stood next to the door, waiting for us and as we approached, he swung it open and stood back to let us pass. It was yet another subtle alpha move to indicate he was in control of the door and was allowing Worth to leave.
I was completely helpless. A skilled trial lawyer and a highly-educated psychologist; how could I even begin to compete? The headache was no longer a fabricated excuse. It was building in the stress center of my brain.
Brandon insisted on walking us out to Worth’s car. There was no opportunity to turn around and go back into the restaurant. I thought it couldn’t get worse, but it did.
Brandon piped up. “Auggie, I’m going to be tied up with a trial next week so I’ve got some papers at the office I’d like to get you to sign today. That way I can finish everything up and take it with me to the courthouse on Monday morning to file. I’ll drop by your house this evening and get that little detail taken care of.”
What could I say? Oh, the tangled webs…
“Brandon, I think my parents are having guests tonight.”
“Perfect! Always room for one more at the table, isn’t there? Dinner at seven, as always?”
I was breathless at his audacity. Worth, on the other hand, looked ready to kill him.
I smiled weakly and Brandon saluted the settled deal as he walked down the street, whistling. Worth opened my car door and I slid as gracefully as a sinking ship can manage into the seat.
Worth got in next to me. “You and I are going to have a little talk, young lady.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what, Auggie?” his voice was loud and angry.
“Don’t begin that interrogation attitude. I get it from my mother, but I will not tolerate it from you.” Okay, so perhaps I went a bit strong but sometimes the best defense is the unexpected offense. Regardless, we had better start this marriage thing out with an understanding about who was in charge of me.
Worth was furious and started the car, pulling out and doing a one-eighty degree turn from the parking space. We were headed back toward my house. I hung on to my seatbelt but was too frightened to say a word. He passed the sign for the city limit going a solid eighty. I couldn’t hold it back any longer.
“You have some anger issues, you know that?” I popped off at him.
Fifty feet later, I found myself sitting at the end of someone’s driveway. I’d never seen a car turn ninety degrees to a screaming stop like that before. I tried to open the door, but Worth had his finger planted firmly on the child-proof lock. I was trapped and began to panic. Worth was staring a hole into the side of my face.
Without warning, he slammed the car into reverse and retraced his path. We were now headed back toward Shelbyville. At least this time, I had the presence of mind to keep my mouth shut.
Two minutes later, we were pulling into the parking area of the bed and breakfast. Worth leapt from the car and before I could unbuckle my seatbelt, he had my door open and was pulling me out. He threw me over his shoulder like a bag of feed and strode into the door of the quaint inn. After tossing a five-hundred-dollar bill on the reception desk, he took the stairs two at a time. He threw me on the four-poster bed and slammed the door. The lock clicked a second later. How did he even know which room was ours? I barely had time to mentally condemn him for being a regular customer when he approached the bed and began tearing my clothes off… literally.
I began to fight, slapping him across the face and pushing at the arms that pinned me to the bed.
“Lie still,” he said in a low growl through gritted teeth.
Within seconds, I was naked, and so was he. His mouth came down on mine and it hurt, but it was a wonderful hurt; a possessive hurt that told me everything I might have ever questioned. He was erect and throbbing, entering me not forcefully, but with a smooth movement that allowed no foreplay. It, too, hurt, but it was the same wonderful, possessive pain as his kiss.
Worth lunged into me over and over and I cried with the joy of it. His face relaxed from the anger it had held to an adoration and triumph. He was the hunter and now he was taking possession of his prey — me. I let myself get swept away in the momentum of transitioning emotions. The tears streamed down my cheeks and through them, I kissed his face, his eyelids and finally his mouth. “I love you, I love you,” I murmured into his ear just before I pushed my tongue into it to hold the words in place in his mind.
“I love you too,” he rasped and took over my mouth, building us both to the summit. The world exploded and we fell into a fetal position, clinging to one another in desperation of losing the moment and the touch.
We lay this way for an hour, only a coverlet above our naked bodies had changed.
Worth held me tightly. “You swear to tell me the truth?” he whispered.
I nodded and folded into his body more closely.
“Who is he to you?”
“Just a friend from college. His family is connected and I thought if I could get him involved, there would be more donations,” I answered quickly, pushing the words out like a four-year-old who had been caught in the cookie jar.
“Does he know about me?”
“He was flirting with me the other day and I wouldn’t answer him about if I was seeing someone.”
“Why?”
“You and I are part of my private world. It’s no one’s business what you and I do,” I explained and felt the nod of agreement as his chin moved against the top of my head as I cuddled against his broad chest.
“Why did you tell him our families were old friends?”
“I found a picture in one of Mother’s old albums. There was a man I thought was you until I realized he was shorter and stockier. I knew it must be your father and they were all standing at one of Mother’s barbecues. She was famous for them. I quizzed her about it and she said your father and mine were acquaintances.” I felt Worth’s body stiffen, but was content to answer questions only.
“Why him?”
Confession time. “He’s easy to get to and has always had a thing for me. I knew I could get his cooperation and I guess you could say I’m using him for that. He’s my link to a great deal of other cooperative people.”
Again, I could feel Worth’s head nodding.
“One more question.”
I tipped my head so I could look him in the face.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, a glimmer of humor in his eyes telling me that the storm had passed. We were on the same footing now and would be, forever. In fact, I believed he approved of my using Brandon. Although, I can’t safely say he would feel the same if it was someone else.
“I’m starved,” I said.
Worth kissed me once more and in a single, smooth motion, rolled off the bed and began dressing. “Your clothes are ruined. I’ll be back. Take a nap,” he ordered and for once in my life, I did as I was told.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Auggie
I hadn’t been asleep long when there was a knock at the room door. I gathered up the sheet around me and inched it open. There was a young woman standing there and she had shopping bags in both hands and surrounding her feet. “The gentleman said I should deliver these to you,” she said. I nodded and stood back to open the door. She b
rought them all in and laid them on the bed. “Have fun,” she said. “You’re a lucky gal.”
Worth, it seemed, was bent on spoiling me. I pulled clothes out from between tissue paper and found several expensive, as well as casual, outfits with underthings and even some nice jewelry to match. There were shoes and stockings and everything fit perfectly. He was a good judge of size, it seemed.
I was dressed and had remade the bed by the time he came back. I kissed him for the gifts and cleared the table by the window for the food. As I unpacked it, he dragged over chairs and hung his jacket up in the closet. He saw all the clothing and turned around, “Did I do okay?”
“More than okay,” I answered. “As the girl said when she delivered it, I’m a lucky gal.”
“See that you remember that,” he said, grinning.
We feasted and I fed him grapes like Cleopatra. We kissed and even fondled one another a bit. It was lovely and the sun began to set before I suddenly remembered Brandon.
“I can’t let him show up without Mother expecting him. He’s certain to tell her where he saw me and who I was with.”
“It’s going to come out eventually, Auggie.”
I shook my head. “You don’t know Mother. This isn’t the sort of thing she wants to hear from relative strangers, no matter the standing of his family. In fact, that would make it worse. I’m not going to give her something more to bitch about. There’s no choice, I have to go home.”
“Now?” I heard the disappointment in his voice.
“I know. It’s my fault and you can take it out on my hide later on, but for now, please humor me. Take me home in time for dinner so I can intercept Brandon.”
“What about me?” the storm was gathering in his face again.
“You’re invited as well, of course.”
“How is that different from her finding out about us from someone else?” he posed the question.
