Authors: Danielle Sibarium
“Ha, ha. What the hell are you doing?” I snapped.
“What do you say we ditch the party and do something crazy?” He had the devil in his eyes.
“Like?”
“Run away for the weekend.”
“And what elope?” It was the most sarcastic thing I could think of.
“Why not?
I said it would be crazy,” he smiled, and gave my thigh a squeeze.
I felt my pulse quicken and swallowed hard wondering if this was the reason he’d been acting so strange. I dismissed it immediately. Anyone discussing a commitment that serious couldn’t possibly take it so
glib. Especially not Carter.
“My mother would kill me and my father would kill you.”
“I’m willing to take the risk.”
“Wouldn’t it have been easier to just say ‘No.’ when I asked you to come
to the party?”
“If I had any idea where it was or who was giving it I would have,” he retorted, putting the car in gear. “Let’s take a road trip. We could drive
to Boston for lobster bisque.”
“And get there when everything is closed.”
“You’re such a pessimist. Why am I only realizing how deep this runs now?”
“Pessimist?
You’re the one convinced you’re going to have a terrible time.”
I couldn’t understand what was causing him to act so strange. From the moment he picked me up he’d been coming up with one excuse after another
to put off going to the party.
First he needed to stop off for coffee. Then he insisted half a tank of gas just wouldn’t do. His car had much better mileage on a full tank. Cash! He had none and hated to ever be without it. When he made mention of a few groceries he forgo
t to buy, I put my foot down.
I recognized the stall tactics, but had no idea why he felt the need to use them.
He gave no good reason for it.
"Why don't you just tell me why you don't want to go?"
"What? I want to go, you're the one that doesn't want to go. And I don't appreciate you projecting your feelings onto me. Why don't we forget the whole thing and spend a quiet evening at home?"
I ran my hand through my hair, hoping I didn't mess it up, as I let out a loud sigh of frustration. I’d n
ever seen this side of Carter.
“Why can’t you blow the party off?” he asked.
“Because I said I was going. I can’t just not show.” I paused. “And the Christmas party is where the bonuses are given out.”
“I’m sure you’ll get your bonus whether you show up or not," he scoffed.
“I’m going. That’s all you need to know.”
“Fine.”
Carter did nothing to try and hide his irritation.
“Fine.”
I looked out the window at the passing trees. My nostrils flared while I attempted to recompose myself. They did that when I was angry and I had no idea how to control it.
I liked Carter, liked him a lot. Too much I thought. I knew my feelings for him bordered on something much stronger, something that terrified me.
Until now. But nothing was written in stone. I could change the direction of the night and our relationship.
“You know what? If you drop me off I’ll be fine by myself.”
Carter snickered, as if he had me on a rope. “How would you get home?”
“I could hitch a ride with someone. If I’m stranded I'll just ask Dr.
Penbrook to drive me home after the party.”
I noticed his grip on the steering wheel tightened. I stared at his white knuckles, wondering where this reaction came from. What was wrong with him? And why did his whole body tense? Even the hair on his head seemed to stiffen as he sat there and seethed.
Chapter 16
Carter
She hit me where it hurt. Like she brought a sledgehammer down right between my legs. How did she know where my vulnerability lie? Anger I wasn't sure I could control swelled up like a rock in my throat. I wanted to punch someone in the face. Actually I was all too aware of whom I wanted to punch in the face, but then I'd embarrass Elizabeth and probably lose her forever. Maybe that would be for the best. Already she had me doing things that went against my grain.
I played the scene in my head. I envisioned the old man in his Porsche humming softly to the romantic music playing over the radio, glancing a
t Elizabeth every now and then.
My Elizabeth.
I could see her leaning back against the soft leather seat, giddy and tipsy from the party, her large brown eyes inviting. The doctor’s gaze would fall from her face, taking in every inch of her, noticing her black velvet skirt riding up on her thigh, much like I noticed now. And just like I felt a pulsing desire for her, so would he. His hand would glide from the shift stick onto her leg caressing it gently.
And what if she welcomed his advances? I wanted to throw up. No. There was no way in hell I'd allow Elizabeth to stay without me. I took a deep breath trying to clear my head of the sickening image. I couldn't let her know what the thought
of his hands on her did to me.
My voice cracked as I spoke. “You’re stuck with me.”
“Then lighten up.” she ordered.
If only it were that simple. I took my eyes off the road to look at her. Her golden brown eyes held me captive. I couldn’t refuse her anything when I looked past her long dark lashes into those huge brown eyes. If I could, I certainly wouldn’t be teetering on the verge of disaster. The disaster
she
was leading me into I reminded myself.
I wondered how she would react when she learned the truth. I never meant to lie. Technically I didn’t. I just o
mitted a few facts, that's all.
By the time I realized the physician Elizabeth worked for was Dr. Steven
Penbrook we'd already been dating for three weeks. In light of the last few years, three weeks was like an eternity. More than that, she already broke through the Teflon coating around my heart. I'd just have to explain when I found out who she worked for she already knew I had a deep seeded hate for doctors. I didn't think she needed to know more than that.
At the time I told myself it wouldn't matter. I knew I'd never come face to face with him. I'd never allow that to happen. Only now it
was
happening. And I was doing it voluntarily. Sort of.
I knew from the beginning, continuing to see her meant digging my own grave. The longer we dated, the deeper I dug. For some reason I couldn’t understand I kept allowing her to stir up a frenzy of need in me, when I knew deep down I needed to end it. Although I tried, I
just couldn’t let go of her.
No matter how much I wanted to deny it, as I drove I had to face the facts. Elizabeth shattered the world I'd been living in for the past five years. She invaded my life and overran my thoughts. I broke my dating rules for her, the very rules I implemented to keep me safe. I never called a girl two days in a row and never went out with the sa
me woman more than three times.
Three dates bought me enough time to use my charm, get what I wanted, and get out. It was a short enough time that didn't connote commitment, love, or any of the things long term relationships bring with them, but long enough to have some fun. Three dates was long term enough for me. Except with Elizabeth those three dates expired in the first week.
Three dates weren't nearly enough with her. I looked forward to speaking to her on the phone, not just texting here and there. I wanted to spend every free minute with her and managed to see her almost every night over the past two months.
When Elizabeth mentioned the Christmas party, and invited me as her guest, I automatically said ‘Yes.’ I assumed it was a friend’s party since she neglected to mention the host or location until I picked her up. I knew inevitably once we arrived at her boss’s house ever
ything would change. It had to.
“What if we . . .” I gave one last attempt to sway her. Elizabeth needn’t say a word, she just looked at me, her eyes stern. “Okay, ok
ay.”
I sat silent in the driver’s seat trying to make sense of what I was doing. I couldn’t. The whole situation was preposterous. I chided myself for becoming so smitten with her
I couldn’t take a firm stance.
Or perhaps she
roiled up something inside me? Maybe enough time had gone by for me to want to face my past with Elizabeth at my side. I continued on, lost in my world of turmoil and uncertainty.
While we both sat stirring in our own juices, neither of us realized Elizabeth hadn’t given me the address or directions to the house. I knew instinctively which dark and windin
g roads led to our destination.
I turned onto the cul-de-sac and slowed the car feeling time slip away from me. I owed her an explanation. That much I knew for certain. Try as I might to search for words to enlighten and explain I turned up short. My mind could focus on nothi
ng but the tension between us.
Elizabeth gasped as we approached the large house. “Wow,” she said softly.
I could see how impressed she was by the glamour and glitz of the house; it made me nervous. Still I tried to regain her attention.
“Liz . . .” I cleared my throat, “I need to . . . I mean I want to . . .”
She sat still open mouthed in awe taking in the sight before her, not hearing me at all. “It’s beautiful.”
The house did look beautiful, especially at night. Landscape lights highlighted the unusual trees and art pieces put together in the gardens around the walkway of pavers leading to the front door. As the foreground to the night sky abundant with stars, the large brick house looked magnificent.
The house looked like a Christmas showcase, straight from a magazine. We could see the double spiral staircase through the large foyer window, the banisters donned in illuminated garland and red bows. Two three foot trees were lighted on either side of the double door entrance, while mechanical carolers stood sentry waiting for an audience to sing for.
I knew I had to try once more. If Elizabeth was going to find out, and I had any chance of forgiveness, it h
ad to come from me.
I took her hand, hoping she’d look at me. “Elizabeth, there’s something . . .”
“Not now,” she interrupted pulling away.
Frustrated, I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel before moving. By the time I got around to her door she’d already let herself out. Ordinarily she’d wait for me to get the door. I enjoyed holding doors for her. She seemed surprised and pleased when I showed her my courteous side. Not tonight. Tonight all bets were off.
“I can’t imagine living in a house this big,” she said heading toward the front door. “So much to clean and decorate. So many rooms.”
I grabbed her elbow gently and turned her to face me. “Wait.”
Elizabeth stepped in close to me. Her eyes lost the icy, stubborn look they held in the car. They were now soft and playful as they twinkled in the moonlight.
“C’mon, we’ll have a good time. I promise,” she stepped up on her tiptoes and gently brushed her lips against mine, leaving me bewitched once again. I wanted to stay out there in the moonlight and avoid everything that was about to happen, I just wanted more time with her. But it wasn't to be had. Elizabeth turned
and headed for the front door.
“Don’t make promises you can’t kee
p,” I muttered under my breath.
Her lips curled up into a smile, “Who
says I can’t.”
Elizabeth held an element of magic that for a moment convinced me everything was going to be okay. I swallowed hard and ran my fingers through my hair as Elizabeth pressed the doorbell. The front door opened and in an instant the magic was gone.
Chapter 17
Elizabeth
I took in the sight of the stunning young woman in the black cocktail dress that opened the door. I wondered if Carter too noticed the plunging V-neck of her dress. She was beautiful, I had to give her that, even if a bit showy.
The woman's large, round eyes took their time soaking us in. The deep, vibrant blue color deepened as they sparked with recognition. At first I thought she must remember me from the office. But as I made a mental note that I hadn't seen her high cheek bones and blonde silk hair before, I realized her attention was focused solely on Carter.
I watched the woman’s full pouty lips turn up ever so slightly in the corners. I glanced at Carter rubbing his hands nervously on his trousers. Things were beginning to make sense. Carter obviously had a relationship with the doctor’s lovely, young daughter. That's what he'd been trying to tell me.
“Look what the cat dragged in.” Leaning seductively against the side of the door, she held the knob in one hand, the other arm rising up along the door’s edge, exposing her very large diamond engagement ring.
Carter cleared his throat, “Hi, Jamie.”
“You know each other?” I asked, angry with myself for asking such a ridiculous question. Obviously they knew each other. I’d never seen so much nonverbal communication take place between two people.
“Yep.” Carter answered, his voice cracking. “Jamie and I go way back.”