Henry held up his hand. “Please don’t go to any trouble. Can we go somewhere more private to talk?”
Her squared shoulders dropped while she hung the last wet garment. She even smiled at him.
“Let’s go inside and have some lemonade,” she said.
He followed, wondering what caused the sudden change. Moments ago, she’d appeared steamed enough to hang him from the clothesline by his collar. Maybe she understood his situation. He grinned for the first time all day. Sadie was still his, and with luck, he’d get more than lemonade in the house.
When she chose two glasses from the cupboard, he clasped her shoulder.
“Thanks but I’m really not thirsty. Can we talk in your room?”
“Of course.”
When she closed the door behind them, he inwardly winced at how small and shabby it was. His cottage was a palace compared to this. Business notes were scrawled across her walls, reminding him of the time she’d borrowed the books. He’d been so impressed by her dedication and admired her more each day.
She clasped her hands behind her. “Did you want something?”
Why was she acting so strange? Her anger outside hadn’t been easy to face, but he’d expected it.
“Yes, I want to make sure you understand I did what I had to do today.”
“I understand.”
Then why were her eyes so cold and her voice so dead? Her strange reaction chilled his heart to a block of ice. He’d much rather receive her anger—hot, vibrant, and all Sadie.
“Do you need to do anything besides talk?”
His cock raised its head inside his trousers. It obviously didn’t care about her change of mood. The perspiration molding her cotton blouse to her rounded arms and breasts only increased his appetite.
Then he recalled how frail her mother had looked sitting in her chair, her bent fingers resting on her knees. Sadie might hate him, but she still needed his money.
“I’ve always wanted you, but not this way.” He took a step back. “Not if you don’t want me.”
She crossed her arms. “I’m afraid that’s not going to happen anymore.”
He let out a heavy sigh. “What you saw was an act. Don’t you realize I was only pretending to be one of them?”
“I can pretend, too,” she said, squaring her shoulders. “Pretend I still love you.”
“I still do love you, Sadie.”
She snorted. “Then prove it by quitting.”
“I could have gotten out of today’s rally by pretending to be sick, but I want to save that excuse for when it really counts. You know how the mayor’s son is.”
“And you did it all for Rockfield’s, right?”
“Exactly,” he replied.
“The company is the most important thing in your life, isn’t it?” She pursed her lips. “More important than me.”
The woman was impossible. He got the urge to turn her over his knee and spank her.
“I make sacrifices for my family. Rockfield’s is part of that.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Damn it, Sadie. Some things are more important than your vanity.”
When she slapped his face, he caught her wrist. “Now that’s the Sadie I know and love.”
She ripped her arm from his grip and unbuttoned his trousers. His cock surged to life again as he wondered what she planned to do to him. By the time she gripped his bare erection, he was harder than stone and sweating harder than when he’d worn the robe.
One stroke—maybe two—and he’d come all over her. Her fingers slipped to the base of his shaft and skimmed over his balls. They tightened into knots, ready to explode. She turned her hands over and slid them underneath until she supported him with her warm palms.
He loved her hands, so quick and capable they could shuck an oyster or milk every drop out of him in seconds. When she lightly squeezed his testicles, he moaned, no longer caring if Mrs. Johnson might overhear. He’d never expected a day that had begun so miserable to turn out so pleasant.
But Sadie’s smile sent a cold chill down his spine. There was no love in it. Not even pleasure. Entrusting her with the most delicate part of his anatomy when she was so angry wasn’t such a good idea.
But when sharp edges dug into his tender flesh, his breath hitched. Her nails weren’t as short as they looked…
“That’s right. You like pain, don’t you?” she whispered in his ear.
He swallowed hard. “Show me how angry you are, Sadie. I deserve every bit of it.”
“What you deserve is to have your ass beat, Henry Rockfield.”
“Do it. Please.”
Fluid seeped from the tip of his penis as he exposed his buttocks by pulling his trousers and underpants down.
With one hand still cupping his balls, she reached behind him. The scalding strike across his bare skin dragged a raw groan from his throat.
“When I asked the other workers about the tallies, several of them felt cheated,” she said. “Did you fire Mr. Short?”
Did she have to ask him that when he was in such a delicate position?
“No, he denied it when I talked to him.” And apologized…
“Of course he did,” she said with a smirk.
Two more hard slaps set his entire backside on fire, fueling a climax he could no longer control. When she slipped her hands under his sac again, needling him with her fingernails, semen exploded down his shaft with cannonball force.
She rolled him in her palms while his pearly fluid coated her dark wrists.
“For a fellow with such big balls, Mr. Rockfield, you sure don’t have any.”
Without another word, she pulled her hands out of his trousers, wiped herself with a nearby towel—which she then threw at him—and left the room.
* * *
On Monday, one week later, Sadie worked in her office while Henry spent the day on the water again. Why wouldn’t he leave the Klan? Not just for her but because it was the right thing to do? Images of their past lovemaking taunted her. How beautiful he’d made her feel in his cottage. How he’d cured her seasickness on the boat trip to Crisfield.
For the hundredth time, she unfolded her damp hanky. She’d cried so much today, she couldn’t concentrate at all. How much longer could she stand to work for him?
Maybe she should get a cleaning job so she’d never be tempted to stroke his wild forelock again. Never see his warm blue eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiled at her. The only thing keeping her here was Mama.
If only she and Henry weren’t different colors. Although he meant well, good intentions weren’t enough. He needed to stop running away from conflict. They should never have fallen in love. Life had been simpler out on the boat, suspended between two segregated shores.
Disgusted by the soggy hanky, she caught her fresh tears with her hands. Then she thought of the weighman cheating the workers, including her mother. Something Henry refused to do anything about. As if staying a member of the Klan in name only wasn’t bad enough. Deep down, wasn’t he one of them? Weren’t all white men around here, except for Caleb?
Setting her jaw, she opened the desk drawer and pulled out a termination notice. She filled in Dan Short’s name and dated it. Next, she opened the file of purchase orders, displaying Henry’s signature. She’d successfully forged it once and could again.
Her fingers trembled as she held the pen, knowing her action would end their love forever. Some things were more important than love. Besides, their brief romance was already dead. A bit of ink dripped on the page because she hesitated, remembering how he’d once made her feel like a desirable woman. She would treasure that memory, no matter what happened.
With careful concentration, she lowered the pen and signed his name.
* * *
Henry came off the water Tuesday evening to find Dan Short and Jonathan Carter sitting in his office. Judging by their stony expressions, they weren’t very happy. His stomach sank. What now?
It had been a lousy day. After his boat engine conked out, he’d had to be towed back to the plant. He was grounded until it could be fixed. All he wanted was a hot bath and sleep. Worst of all, Sadie had barely spoken two words to him this week.
Why did she make him choose between her and duty? Didn’t she realize how badly he wished he could go along with her wishes? He’d give anything to feel her breasts pressed against his chest. To grip her shapely hips.
Working together every day with their dead love lying between them would kill him. Maybe he should work on finding her and her mother nice jobs somewhere else.
He sat down behind his desk. “Can I help you gentlemen?”
Short slapped a piece of paper in front of him. “What is the meaning of this?”
When Henry read the termination notice, shock constricted his chest with the force of a boa constrictor. His signature mocked him from the bottom of the page. He sure as hell hadn’t signed it.
Sadie…
How could she do this to him? She knew how important it was not to anger the Klan. And where in the hell was he supposed to find a replacement for the weighman on such short notice?
Should he tell the truth and blame it on her? She probably deserved it, but the crime would go hard on her. They’d throw her in jail, or worse. The only thing he could do was mop up her mess.
He’d deal with her later.
“The shucking tallies have been inaccurate,” he said.
“Do you have proof of this?” Jon Carter demanded.
“I’ve interviewed the workers, sir.”
“And you believe a bunch of coloreds over my word?” Dan scoffed.
“He’s becoming one of them.” Jon stood and planted his hands on Henry’s desk. “Either you give Dan his job back or you won’t have a plant left to run.”
Images of the past plant fire flashed through his mind. The Klan’s arson had almost shut down the entire Rockfield’s operation. Then he thought of Sadie’s mother’s twisted joints. His own ached as he squeezed his fingers against his palms. His balls hurt even worse because he imagined them in Sadie’s grip. Heard the scorn in her voice when she implied he wasn’t a man.
He
was
a man, damn it. Why couldn’t everyone get along so he didn’t have to prove it every time he took a breath? He concentrated on keeping his legs from trembling when he stood.
“I run this company, Mr. Carter, and I insist on accuracy and fairness.” He wiped the sweat from his brow. “However, I realize termination might have been too harsh. After all, you’ve provided years of service.”
Jonathan’s gray eyes softened as he tore the notice in half. “I’m glad you see it our way.”
“I don’t choose sides,” Henry said, facing the weighman. “I will tally oysters beside you for a few days. If our totals agree, consider the matter closed. If not, then I’ll write up a new termination.”
The thought of dealing with numbers for a whole week made his head ache, but if it kept the peace, it would be worth it.
When the men finally walked toward the door, Henry released the breath he’d been holding. But Jonathan paused in the doorway to stroke the frame.
“You all did a nice job of rebuilding this office. It would be a real shame if it burned again, wouldn’t it?” He flashed him a grin. “Have a good evening.”
After they finally left, Henry shook so hard he could hardly stand. He waited until the two men left the plant before he called Sadie into his office.
He slammed the door behind her. “You’ve done it now, Sadie.”
“He deserved to be fired. I only did what you should have done.”
“Sit down.” The force in his voice surprised even him.
She obeyed but gazed at him with mutinous, unflinching eyes. For a moment, loss and even a little fear flashed through them, but he couldn’t afford to weaken now.
“If you ask Caleb,” he said, dropping into his chair, “he’ll tell you it takes a lot to anger me. Well, woman, you’ve done it.”
She still didn’t say a word.
He pointed to his chest. “I’m in charge of this plant. Not you. If you forge my signature again without my permission, I’ll deliver you to the Klan myself. Am I clear?”
She stood and clapped.
“What’s that for?” he snapped.
“I believe you’re beginning to grow into those large balls of yours, Mr. Rockfield.”
“Sit down,” he ordered. “I’m not through with you yet.”
Again, she obeyed. Maybe there was hope for taming her yet.
“The termination notice is torn up. I had to compromise by looking over Mr. Short’s shoulder for a while.”
“Maybe I spoke too soon about your balls,” she muttered.
“The mayor’s son threatened to burn the plant again.” He smacked the edge of the desk. “Then none of us would have jobs. Is that what you want?”
When the phone rang, he grabbed it and growled, “Rockfield’s.”
“Come to Pearl Point right away.” The unusual quaver in Caleb’s voice made Henry forget about the Klan.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“The baby is coming.”
Chapter Fifteen
When Sadie and Henry arrived at Pearl Point, she dashed out of his car as soon as the wheels stopped. They hadn’t spoken a word the whole way here. At the plant, he’d stood up to her in a way she’d never expected. While his dominance sent tingles of anticipation down her arms, it also unsettled her stomach.
He was one of them. Their love had ended almost before it began. A tender green shoot killed off by a spring frost. She should have known better than to expect a future with a Klansman. A quick, passionate affair was the best she could’ve hoped for, and that’s exactly what she’d gotten.
But she had no time to dwell on the failures in her life. Pearl needed her. She would offer a strong, comforting hand no matter how much she crumpled on the inside.
When they knocked on the front door of Caleb’s cabin, Leroy answered. The worry in his eyes pushed Sadie’s shredded nerves closer to the edge. Behind him, Caleb was pale, and his hair stuck up in spikes where he’d run his fingers through it.
“How is she?” Sadie asked.
“Something’s wrong.” His face crumpled. “What if she loses the baby? What…what if I lose her?”
Henry’s eyes widened. Clearly, he’d never seen Caleb as anything but strong, either.
“Does she need to go to the hospital?” he asked.
“It’s too late,” Caleb replied. “The baby is already coming. Besides, the white hospital wouldn’t take her.”