Behind Closed Doors (19 page)

She took a sip before answering. “I wanted a small town but didn’t want to leave Ohio. The why to Springfield specifically is simple . . . I love my apartment.”

Her smile was polite, but he sensed that she was hiding something. Although he was curious, he reminded himself that this was their first date, and if he wanted a second, pushing her might not be in his best interests. His mother hadn’t raised him to be rude.

“Jan and Charles spent a lot of time and money restoring that old house. They gutted the entire interior, putting in all new woodwork, walls, modern kitchens and baths. They always knew they wanted to rent out the top floors, so they went into the renovations with that in mind. Chris did most of the interior work, while I handled the outside. It really is a work of art.”

“You did all the landscaping?”

“Yep.” He smiled.

“It’s beautiful. I love the rose bushes in the backyard.”

“I’m glad you like them, but I can’t take all the credit there. Jan loves her roses. She used to have her backyard lined with them at their old house. Did you know they were our neighbors growing up?” She nodded. “Anyway, she insisted I give her space for her roses at this new house even though it was impossible to have the layout and the multitude she had before.”

“I’ve seen her outside fussing over them a few times. I’d say you did well. She seems happy.”

He smiled. “I do my best. Jan’s a special lady.”

“Yes, she is.”

The conversation drifted to some of Trent’s childhood memories of Jan and his brothers, and before they knew it, their server appeared with their food.

“Wow. This is really good,” she said, taking another bite.

“Told you,” Trent said, stuffing his tortilla full of steak, onions, peppers, rice, and beans.

After sharing a desert of fried ice cream, Trent asked if she’d like to take a walk in the park. Dayton was hosting one of its free summer concerts at Five Rivers. Even if the music wasn’t appealing, it was a beautiful night, and he wasn’t ready to take her home just yet.

The night air was warm as they walked side by side down the street and into the park, and he reached for her hand as they moved toward the music. The park was full of people, and he didn’t want to lose her. Of course, there was the added bonus of physical contact too.

She seemed to hesitate, but didn’t pull away. It was only when they’d reached the edge of the pavilion and he’d moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her that she stiffened and pulled away.

He dropped his arms and walked back to her side. “Is there something wrong?”

“What?”

The band had just started an upbeat song that was going to make conversation difficult, so he motioned with his head, once again reaching for her hand. She took it and followed him away from the crowd.

Once they were a safe distance away, he led them to a nearby bench and she sat down, smoothing her dress.

“Elizabeth I don’t want to be presumptuous, but I like you. I thought that you liked me too.”

She sighed, continuing to smooth out the non-existent wrinkles. “I do like you, Trent.”

He waited for her to continue. She didn’t. “So what’s the problem?”

She could have acted as if she had no clue what he was talking about, but thankfully she didn’t. “I’m sorry. It just . . . I can’t explain it, but it almost feels as if I’m . . . cheating.”

Trent’s shoulders stiffened as he sat up straighter. “I didn’t think you were still married.” He quickly glanced down at her left hand. No. No ring.

She pushed her hair back from her face and turned to him. “I’m not.”

“Then I don’t understand,” he said.

She smiled shyly. “It doesn’t make sense, I know.”

“Elizabeth, if you feel that way then there has to be someone whom you feel you’re wronging. If there isn’t anyone else then . . .” 

She didn’t answer right away. Her eyes drifted absently across the lawn not looking at anything specific as she continued to pick at the hem of her dress.

“There
is
someone.” She nodded, confirming his suspicions.

Trent was quiet as he thought about it. Then it hit him. “Chris.”

She sighed and he knew he’d hit the nail on the head. For some reason, confirming that she was pining after his brother didn’t give him any satisfaction. What he didn’t understand was why she was out on a date with him tonight.

Trent looked around them. Most of the people here tonight were couples having a romantic evening under the stars just as he’d hoped he and Elizabeth would be. Unfortunately, reality was not playing that game.

“Do you love him?” Why he asked he didn’t know, but for some reason it seemed important.

She paused before answering. “I-I just . . .” 

Trent nodded. It might not be what he wanted to hear, but at least she was being honest.

He stood abruptly, trying to brush off the disappointment and waited until she looked back up at him. “Just promise me you won’t break his heart.”

She swallowed hard, and he could see the tears in her eyes. “I promise.”

The car ride home was filled with an awkward silence Elizabeth had no idea how to fill. Every time she thought of something to say, she thought better of it. Hindsight was twenty-twenty. She should never have agreed to this date given her feelings for Chris.

Trent’s question kept replaying in her mind.
Do you love him?

She had answered as honestly as she could, given that she didn’t know what she felt for Chris. It was certainly strong. Stronger than what she’d felt for Jared. Even with him all hot and cold, he’d showed more care for her well-being than Jared ever had.

She wondered what that meant for her future. Although Chris had kissed her twice, he’d shown no interest in having a relationship with her. Every time she got close, he pulled away.

Of course that could be because he knows you murdered your husband
.

When they reached her place, Trent came around to help her out and walked her to the door, waiting patiently while she dug in her purse for her keys. “Thank you for a lovely evening, Trent. Dinner was great. I had a nice time.”

“So did I.” He smiled.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

He held up his hand. “It’s okay. You can’t help the way you feel. I’m just glad you told me now and not after I made a fool out of myself by asking you out again.”

She chuckled.

“Friends?”

She nodded. “I’d like that.”

Trent gazed up at the sky for a moment before returning his attention to her. “If you really care for Chris, don’t give up on him. He’s a good guy.”

“I know,” she said. “It’s . . . complicated.”

He shrugged. “Life is complicated. You just have to decide what’s important enough to fight for.” Another awkward silence fell between them. “I should probably head home,” he said, stepping back. “Goodnight, Elizabeth.”

He got into his car, and she waved before inserting her key into the door and stepping inside, waiting in the foyer until she heard the truck engine start and then fade away before setting the main alarm and walking up the stairs.

She was so lost in her thoughts about Chris that she failed to see him sitting at the bottom of his steps, and she gasped. His shoulders were hunched over as if carrying a heavy weight, his face twisted in pain.

She took a step forward, reaching out to him.

Suddenly, Chris’s expression hardened as he pushed himself up off the step and came toward her. She was caught unprepared and fell hard against the wall behind her.

By the time she found firm footing again, her heart was pounding in her chest. Panic set in from the feeling of his large body suddenly towering over her, pressing her into the wall. Chris’s hands had surrounded her face, and he’d caged her in. She opened her mouth to protest when his lips crashed onto hers, silencing her.

His mouth was hard and demanding against her own. She only hesitated for a second before kissing him back, her conversation with Trent fresh in her mind.

Without warning, Chris pulled back. “Promise me you will never go out with him again.”

She nodded mute.

That seemed to be all it took as his mouth descended on hers once more. She felt that warmth spread through her body as she had every time he’d kissed her. This time she didn’t hesitate to return his kiss. She rejoiced in the fact that for this moment at least, Chris wasn’t pushing her away, and she was going to enjoy it.

His hands pressed against her sides again on their way down. Then, before she could register what was happening, he was lifting her off the ground.

He groaned, burying his face in her neck. His hot breath felt good against her skin, and she felt her body reacting.

The next thing she knew, they were climbing. With each step, her anxiety grew. Could she do this? Is that what he wanted? Is it what she wanted?

Her body rigid, she held tightly to his broad shoulders. When they reached the top, she expected Chris to put her down. Instead, he only readjusted his hold on her, bringing her into closer contact with is body. He felt good, but she couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking. His hands were still holding her firmly. He had to feel all the flaws she hid beneath her cloths.

Chris planted a hard kiss on her lips before he started to walk again. She buried her face in his neck, and combed her fingers through his hair as she tried to calm herself.

She both heard and felt him kick a door closed as the muscles in his body shifted. Then moments later, she was falling.

She landed softly on top of his mattress, staring up into his eyes as he crawled toward her.

She watched him with wide anxious eyes.

He paused.

In the hours she’d been gone, he’d felt miserable, an ache settling in his chest that he couldn’t get rid of. When he’d seen her standing there, looking down at him in that dress, instinct had taken over.

It wasn’t pretty, and he wasn’t exactly proud of it, but the first thing to cross his mind had been to make her forget his brother. Trent was a great guy, and while he loved his brother and would fight tooth and nail to defend him at any other time—Elizabeth was an entirely different matter. In this one instance, he would fight Trent with everything he had in order to have her.

But no matter the need he had boiling inside of him to take her, to make her forget Trent, he didn’t want to hurt her. He knew her past, and the last thing he wanted was for her to fear him. She was too important. If he’d figured out nothing else in the hours she’d been gone, he’d figured out that much.

He closed his eyes, breathing deep and trying to calm himself.

His fingers brushed her hair away from her face. Two minutes ago, she’d been right there with him in the moment. Now, she looked more like a scared rabbit, ready to dart into the nearest hole and hide. “Are you okay?”

Her response wasn’t immediate, but eventually she nodded.

Needing to see her face better, he reached to turn on the light. But her whispered
please
caused him to pause.

“You don’t want me to turn on the light?” She shook her head. “Why not?” Her eyes closed, but she didn’t answer.

His eyes closed and his head fell to her shoulder in defeat. He wanted her. Man, did he want her. But she had to want it too.

With a deep breath, he pushed himself up on his arms and away from her.

It was the feel of her hand on his cheek that caused him to open is eyes again. “Please,” she whispered, “don’t stop.”

“What’s wrong?” His voice was a little harsher than maybe it should be, but he was hanging on by a thread. The woman he’d been fantasizing about ever since she’d cross his path was lying beneath him, her skirt riding up, revealing the creamy skin of her thighs. He wanted to feel that skin wrapped around his waist as he found ways to show her the way he felt about her. Instead, he was trying to figure out why her words were telling him one thing and her body another.

“I’m just . . . nervous.”

He scoffed. “You have nothing to be nervous about. Trust me.”

There was a long pause before she nodded and said, “Okay.”

Chris framed her face with his hands, watching her closely for any sign of doubt or indecision on her part. “You’re sure?”