Page 33 of Bryce

He stayed where hewas, figuring that she would not appreciate him chasing after her.Bending his head, he covered his face with his hands and took severaldeep breaths. She would find that he was not about to give up.

*****

She busied herselfand avoided him. And told herself that she was not being a coward.She was just being sensible. She was going to have to be thepractical one here, that much was obvious. What he had told her wasutter nonsense, she thought furiously as she banged pots and pans onthe counter.

He had left herwithout a word and now expected her to believe that after all thistime he had feelings for her. As if she was naïve enough tobelieve that. She wanted him to leave. She would tell him that he wasno longer welcome here.

As soon as she wasfeeling up to face him again. In the meantime, she would keep herdistance. Jessica could serve him his meals and deal with his rooms.

She had other gueststo deal with and! With a sound of triumph, she reached for the phone.She would show him. William had been inviting her to the movies forthe past two weeks and she had been turning him down.

“Hi, William?”She almost wept when she heard his steady voice.

“I was hopingyou would be available tonight. I find myself at loose ends.”She listened - her eyes bright with purpose. “You are? Good.Pick me up at seven. Of course. Looking forward to seeing you.”She hung up and felt better than she had felt in several minutes.This was just what she needed.

*****

The dress was new,the burnt orange color highlighting her complexion. Determined tolook her best, she had left the kitchen to Jessca, skirting thedining area and taking the back steps to go to her room. Jessica hadtold her that he had taken the meal in his suite, and she toldherself she was happy for it.

Smoothing a hand overher generous hips, she stared at her image critically. The materialwas clingy and light, shifting whenever she moved. And low enough toshow a hint of cleavage. It came just above her knees, and she waswearing boots that met the hem of the dress.

Her hair was loose,the coils cascading down her back. Her makeup was flawless, and shefleetingly wondered if she was going to this much trouble for asimple few hours at the theater. But she wanted to feel like a woman.Wanted to soothe her shattered nerves.

Giving herself onelast look in the mirror, she went to get her jacket and purse. Aglance at her watch, showed her that William, who was always punctal,would be pulling up just about now.

She almost lost hernerve when she reached the top of the stairs and saw him coming up.

He stopped, blue eyeswandering over her face and touching on her lips. The jolt that wentthrough her, angered and distressed her enough to have her chinlifting.

“Going out?”He asked mildly as he watched her descending the stairs.

“I have adate.”

“I see.”He stood where he was, not moving even though he was blocking her. “Ibelieve he just pulled up. Dark blue Honda?”

“Yes. William.”

“You lookstunning.”

“I…,”she floundered for a minute and did not know what to say. “Thanks.”

He nodded. “Enjoyyour evening.”

She stood there whilehe brushed past her and bounded up the stairs.

And felt the unbiddenanger stirring inside her. It had not affected him one bit, shethought furiously. She had told him she was going out with anotherman, and he had been fine with it. To hell with him!

*****

He was far fromalright. From his window, he could see the driveway and watched withclenched fists as the bastard greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.He wanted to rip his arms off for touching her. She was doing all ofthis to get back at him. he had told her what he felt, and she waspunishing him by going out with that handsy bastard.

Leaning against thewindowpane, he took several deep breaths to steady himself. She hadavoided him for the rest of the day. He knew her enough to realizewhat she was doing but had never expected her to go this far.

He told himselfearlier that he was giving her time to calm down before he confrontedher. Even if he had to kick down her door to get her attention.

Damn her! He thoughtbitterly. Damn her for making him feel this way. Christ Almighty, heneeded her. The yearning inside him was getting worse by the minute.

He watched the taillights until they disappeared around the bend and still he stoodthere as if willing her come back. Should he have changed things? Orgo on pretending that all he wanted from her was friendship?

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