“How long did you have to come here for?” Blake prompted her back to the present.
“Every Saturday, for a couple of months. My father finally began to believe my continued pleas of innocence. He started checking into things. We discovered that a few of the kids had cell phone video footage. He found it online when someone posted about their friend who was also in the mall. I didn’t know her. But the video showed the person taking the jewelry and hiding it in her purse.”
Blake leaned forward. Ellie hadn’t told this story in years, and it no longer carried the anger it once had. She hated the injustice of the system, but had learned about horses in the time she spent with them.
“To be fair, the girl did look like me. She even had on the same color shirt I was wearing that day. My father hired a lawyer, and we got the kids at school to watch the video and see if anyone recognized it or the girl. She was identified and I was released. My record was expunged, and I loved my father even more for what he’d done.”
“What about the other girl? What happened to her?”
“You’re concerned about the other girl?” Ellie had no censure in her voice. She even admired Blake for thinking of someone else. “You met her Saturday night.”
He frowned.
“Vera Gordon, the perky redhead with the big smile who stood with the girls I introduced.”
Comprehension came over Blake, and she saw the recognition in his face. Ellie also understood he was remembering not only her perkiness, but the fact that her smile and cup size were both large.
“You two are friends?”
“Not exactly. We’re not enemies, though. Vera never stole anything again. She apologized to me, and after her community service was done, she went on to teacher’s college. She now teaches high school English, and at night she has an English-as-a-second-language class.”
“It seems like community service works out for some kids,” Blake said.
“Some, but not all.”
“Like that kid over there?” He indicated a boy sitting alone. He was about seventeen, with torn jeans, a T-shirt too large for his lanky frame and hair that could stand a good barber.
“What’s his story? He’s been following me around all day with his eyes, the kind that look at you and avoid you at the same time.”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you go ask him?” Ellie said.
“I think I will.”
* * *
Blake was ready to go to the kid when he rose from the table, but Ellie stopped him. She pointed out that the showers were free if he wanted one and asked if he had brought a change of clothes. Blake had his gym bag in the car, and he always kept two sets of exercise clothes and a pair of slacks in it. Often he needed to drop into a store or pick something up on his way to his condo. And if he just happened to run into an impromptu game, he wouldn’t ruin his clothes.
Freshly laundered, with his hair still wet, Blake returned to the central hall. The boy was in the same place, as if he was waiting for something to begin or for someone to give him the next instruction. His body language said he was ready to argue over why he should do anything they asked him.
Blake put his boxed lunch down on a wooden table next to the kid. As usual, the kid glanced away, refusing to make eye contact.
“Hello,” Blake greeted him. “Mind if I join you?”
The kid said nothing, only pulled his baseball cap with the San Francisco Giants logo stitched above the lid down lower on his head, blocking half his face.
“Is that your favorite team—the Giants? Ever been to a game?”
The kid threw him a glance that, even though it didn’t connect, said he had to be joking.
“My company occasionally gets tickets. Maybe when the season begins, I’ll send you a couple.”
At that, the young man turned his full attention to Blake. “Why would you do that?” His voice was deep, gruff and challenging.
“No reason other than giving you a chance to do something you’d enjoy.”
“You don’t know me or what I enjoy. And nobody does nothing for nothing.” The kid rolled his eyes, coming short of sucking his teeth in that dangerous leave-me-alone manner. Blake recognized it. Even though his parents owned a chain of department stores and money was never an issue in his family, they were not granted carte blanch. Blake had had his share of playground fights, heard the taunts and insults because someone else’s perception of him was lacking, or because they were jealous of something he had.
Blake nodded. “You’re right, nobody does nothing for nothing.” He refused to correct the young man’s grammar. He thought that was a front, too. “It’s usually true, but sometimes people are just being nice. There are times when we get more than we can use, and someone who’d love to go has a conflict. Rather than waste the ticket, we give it to someone who will enjoy the game. Don’t you agree that’s better than letting the seat go empty?”
Blake waited for an answer. The young man repositioned himself in his seat, but to Blake, it was a squirm.
“I guess,” he finally said. He hunched one shoulder as if he didn’t care. Blake knew that was a defense mechanism. He’d done it himself when he was trying to hide the importance of something.
“I’ll tell you what—if we have extra tickets, I’ll contact Ms. Hamilton, and maybe we can get you to a game. Deal?”
“Man, you sure you want to do that?”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?” Blake asked.
Again he dropped his eyes. He sat like that for a long moment. Then he looked up. “You know why we’re all here, right?” His voice held less volume, but no less strength.
“Ms. Hamilton told me most of you have had some trouble with the law and you’re doing community service to satisfy your punishment.”
“Did they tell you what I did?”
Blake shook his head.
“I shoplifted.”
“Apple told me he did the same. I don’t condone it, but doing community service in this environment seems like a pretty good way of changing—”
“I stole from you,” he interrupted. They stared at each other for several seconds.
“From me?”
“From your store.”
“You know who I am?” Blake asked.
He nodded.
Now Blake understood why he didn’t want him to see his face. He thought Blake would recognize him. Little did he know, few security issues ever reached him.
“I picked up a pair of tennis shoes on my way out the door,” the young man continued. “The sign said they were over three hundred dollars.”
“And you were caught,” Blake stated.
“On camera. Security guards stopped me as I rounded the outside corner, and I ended up here.” He looked around the room.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“So you know who I am and who you offered Giants tickets to.”
Blake smiled. The kid had character hidden inside him. Blake knew it. He’d interviewed countless people over the years, and thanks to his dad, he’d learned to determine the important things about a man. It wasn’t his skills or what his résumé said, it was who he was deep down inside, and despite the theft and what had led this young man to this horse farm, he was the kind of person Blake liked to work with.
“Now that I know what I’m getting, do we have a deal?”
The kid smiled. “Deal.”
Blake offered his hand and they shook. “There’s just one thing you haven’t told me,” Blake said.
“What’s that?”
“Your name.”
Another smile from the young man. “William Jerome,” he said. “My friends call me Will.”
“My friends call me Blake.”
Chapter 5
Those hills seemed to call to Ellie as she drove back toward the busy parts of San
Francisco. The day had been satisfying and inspiring. She hoped Blake had enjoyed himself. He appeared to. And he’d connected with one of the boys. Blake might not know it, but his few minutes today could have an impact on that kid’s future. She hoped so. It wasn’t often they got to see the results of their efforts. Edna and Claude kept in touch as much as they could with some of them, but there were many others who left and went on with their lives in other directions.
The skyline of San Francisco came into view. Ellie took in a breath at its beauty. It was a perfect way to end the day. The sun was still high in the sky, and the air was clear for miles.
Ellie pulled into a visitor’s spot, where photos were often taken by tourists who ventured this far, and got out of her car. Like the tourists, she took her cell phone out and captured a few photos. She wanted to be reminded of this day. It was one for the memory book. Of course, she had no real memory book, only her head, with days she collected to bring out and remember in the future.
Today had been one with Blake. She knew days with him were limited. She couldn’t see him for anything other than an occasional charity event once their challenge was over. He had to take her to a charity event next, and then it would be over.
She snapped another photo, but the camera moved and the image was blurry. As she deleted it, she heard another car and turned around.
It was Blake’s Jeep. He unfolded his long frame from the cab and came toward her.
“Are you all right?” he asked, concern on his face.
“Yes.”
“I saw your car.” He looked back at the sporty Mercedes. “I thought you might be having car trouble.”
He was right in front of her now. Ellie wondered why the air seemed to change whenever he was near her.
“There’s nothing wrong. I stopped to admire the view.” She glanced at it. “This is a really beautiful spot.” Ellie breathed the words as she surveyed the city in the distance. It was windy, and all of San Francisco basked in the summer sun before her.
“You’ve been up here before?” Blake seemed surprised.
“It’s not on the tourist route.” She smiled. “I have been up here, but usually behind the wheel of a car. It was necessary to look out for other cars or kids instead of the view. This is the first time I’ve stopped. Look at how the light changes the color of the buildings.”
Some of them were golden, and others took on a copper hue. The water in the bay was a brilliant gray.
Blake came to stand next to her. They watched the sweeping panorama of high-rise buildings and several shades of grass and trees that seemed to run over the hills to reach the concrete jungle before them.
Ellie turned and perched on the fence. It was several yards from the edge of the hill, so even if she fell, she wasn’t in danger.
“I want to thank you for today,” she told Blake, who now wore comfortable-looking shorts, a T-shirt and flip-flops. He looked nothing like the man she’d seen at the gala or the one who arrived at the farm earlier today. But the outfit hugged his broad shoulders and arms. His legs were powerfully built. Obviously, working out was part of his agenda. And the sex factor couldn’t be ignored. Ellie could feel her nipples hardening from the thought of how his arms would feel around her.
“I enjoyed it in the end. Of course, I can do without cleaning out another horse stall for a long time—like forever.” He emphasized the single word as if it were two words.
She laughed, “We didn’t really give you the worst job there was.”
“There’s something worse?” His brows went up.
“Don’t ask what.”
He gazed at her until it became a stare. Ellie’s throat closed, and even if she could think of something to say, she wouldn’t have been able to utter a word.
The wind blew Ellie’s hair. Both she and Blake reached to push it out of her eyes. Their hands touched. Blake didn’t let go, and Ellie’s eyes locked onto his. The air between them crackled with electricity.
Using one finger, Blake brushed her hair behind her ear. Then he pulled her hand down, and released it as both of his slipped around her waist, pulling her down from the fence and into contact with him. All the air seemed to leave Ellie’s body. She wet her lips. Blake’s focus moved to her mouth. Her knees felt like melted ice cream. She was sure she’d fall without his support. She liked the strength of his arms, the way he held her, even the smell of the soap he’d used in the shower.
“I’ve dreamed of holding you like this since the gala,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
They had danced together, but Ellie didn’t think this was the time to remind him of that.
Then his face blurred as it came closer to hers. Her eyelids fluttered closed as Blake’s mouth touched hers. His lips were soft, seeking, teasing. He moved his head from one side to the other, kissing her on the left and right sides of her mouth. Ellie could feel the heat rising in her face, feel the pounding of her heart. Her neck and ears were hot enough to melt. And the wind must have picked up, because she suddenly heard it roaring.
Her arms circled Blake’s neck, and her body melted into his. His arms banded her waist, then traveled smoothly up her back. His mouth crushed hers as if it were hungry for the sweetness only she could provide. Desire and wonder flooded through her as something so elemental, so right, pulsed within her. She’d been kissed before. But she’d wanted Blake to kiss her. It was their first, although she was unsure if there would ever be a second. But this was not a first kiss, not an initiation or a getting-to-know-you sampling of need. This was an elemental consummation of a brand. Blake was claiming her, making her his, speaking only to her, and his message was clear. She might never see him again, but she would from now on compare every other man to him and find them wanting.
Ellie tried to breathe, but Blake held her captive. Finally, she had enough room to open her mouth and take in a gulp of air. He allowed it only for a second, before his tongue rushed in to capture the opening. She felt the wetness of it as it filled her, as it dragged her to a place she had yet to visit. She wanted to go there, wanted to know where this would lead, and if the promise of his mouth was as good as it felt.
He shifted, and his legs, which she’d thought of as powerful, molded themselves against hers. Her pants were little protection against the heat they generated. The sensation was erotic and brought his tight erection into contact with the vortex of her legs. His arms moved down her back, taking her hips and grinding them into his.
Ellie would have cried out if she had the breath. The wind twisted about them, pulled her hair out toward its edges, while leaving the two of them at the center of their world.
Let it continue, Ellie begged the universe. For just a moment or a lifetime longer, she didn’t want to break contact. This small piece of land was their entire universe, and she wasn’t ready to return to the world at large. Apparently, neither was Blake. He gathered her closer—if that were possible. The kiss went on until they had to stop for breath or pass out.
When he lifted his mouth, Ellie’s head fell onto his shoulder. Her chest heaved as she forced breath in and out of her lungs. Blake did the same thing. They held each other, supporting themselves until strength returned to their arms and legs. Minutes ticked by. Finally, Ellie pushed herself free. She wobbled for a second, disoriented. Blake didn’t move. They faced each other, neither apparently able to confront what had just happened to them.
They didn’t know each other, didn’t even like each other, but they’d kissed as if they had to, as if they needed each other to go on living, as if it were the last thing they would ever do in this life.
Blake reached for her hand. Without a word, they walked to their cars. Silence accompanied them. He opened her car door and she slipped inside. He followed her down the hills until she turned left to go to her house, and he went in the opposite direction, toward his condo.
They’d parted, E
llie thought, but somehow she had left part of herself with him.
And she carried the feel of his hands and the taste of his mouth with her.
* * *
Ellie could not let that happen again. Getting out of her car, she nearly ran into her house and slammed the door shut. Blake wasn’t behind her, but she felt his presence on every inch of her body. How could she let him kiss her like that? How could she kiss him back? This couldn’t happen. She closed her eyes against the moisture that had gathered there.
This could not happen, she told herself again. She needed to stay away from Blake Thorn. She could go with any of the others, with reservations of course, but she could do it. The weight of everything she knew about their past didn’t exist for Blake, yet it was as heavy as a boulder on her shoulders.
Suddenly she wondered if he’d been acting. Did Blake really know who she was? Ellie dropped her head. Of course he didn’t. If he had, he was in the wrong city in California. Hollywood should have his name. Ellie stepped away from the door, confident that there were no ghosts on the opposite side. The ghosts were already here, and had been for ten years.
She was putting problems where none existed. At least for the moment, they didn’t exist. But as time went by, as she spent more of it in Blake’s company, he was bound to remember something. And it was her fault. She’d goaded him into these tests of charity work, and look who was the fool. Blake had excelled in the work they had assigned him. He’d spent time with a troubled youth and got him to talk and accept the work he had to do to complete his service.
There was more, Ellie reminded herself. She had to go with him to the next charitable function. It was his choice as to what they did next. It meant she had to be with him, close to him and do whatever job he chose for her. One thing she wouldn’t do again was stop on the way home. Seeing that view was like looking at a painting. And the parking lot was right there. If she hadn’t pulled into it... If Blake hadn’t recognized her car... Too late for ifs, she told herself. She had, he had and the result was a kiss. A ravaging connection between two human begins. It was almost life changing. She wouldn’t allow that again.
Love in San Francisco ; Unconditionally Page 6
