Scarlet Fever - Hill Country 2 (8 page)

He watched her spread the bridal gown out, so that the skirt lay in her lap.
 
Opening a round tin, she took out a needle and thread and began to sew on teeny-tiny seed pearls.
 
“What do you do for fun?” she asked him out of the blue.

“I like to go out to dinner and a movie,” he answered off handedly, without thinking.
 

“Is that what you’d do on a typical date?”
 

He couldn’t believe she was asking these leading questions.
 
“A typical date.
 
It could be dinner and a movie or dancing at a club or a picnic at the lake.
 
I’ve been on many typical dates.
 
How about you?
 
Tell me what you normally do on a date.”
 
He watched her work, mesmerized by her nimble little fingers and the way she held her tongue at the corner of her mouth as she worked.

“I’ve never been on a date.”
 
She didn’t pause or blink or hesitate.

“You’re kidding.”
 
The thought that she had never been asked out, escorted to a restaurant, taken care of, coddled or spoiled, just broke his heart.
 
He had a lot of things to make up for.
 
Time was wasting away.

“Think about it.
 
I had a club foot until I was almost seventeen.
 
All of the guys grew up knowing me as the cripple girl.
 
It’s like when a fat kid suddenly slims down, it really doesn’t matter, no one will ever see them any other way but fat.”

“I can’t believe your dad did you that way.”

“Mom and dad were strange.
 
Haven’t you wondered why our mother isn’t coming to the wedding?”

“No, not really.
 
We’ve never discussed it.”
 
Alex took a deep breath and dove in.
 
“Will you go on a date with me, Scarlet?”

“No.”
 
It wasn’t said harshly, just conversationally.

“Why?”
 
Not that he was taking ‘no’ for an answer.

“Because, you feel sorry for me.
 
That’s why.
 
A pity date would be worse than no date at all.”
 

Alex didn’t know what to say.
 
So he just told the truth.
  
“I don’t like the way you’ve been treated.
 
In fact, it infuriates me.
 
I’d like a few minutes alone with every guy that has ever hurt you, including your Dad.
 
The pitiful thing is, I’m one of them.
 
I hurt you too.
 
And if I could turn back time, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
 
When you greeted Bobby, so casually and naturally, I wanted to die.
 
Looking back at our first few minutes together, shame just eats me up.
 
A date with you would make me the happiest man in the world.
 
And pity wouldn’t have anything to do with it.”

Scarlet’s hands stilled.
 
“I don’t know what to say.”

“Say, yes,” he coaxed, tenderly.

“I can’t.
 
There are things that you don’t know.”

“Tell me.
 
There’s nothing that we can’t work out, if we try.”
 
He wanted to go to her, but he held himself back.

“Some things can’t be fixed, Alex.
 
And I’m not talking about anything you’ve done or said.”
 
She met his eyes.
 
“We’re OK.
 
As far as I’m concerned, out first meeting today is irrelevant.
 
You are important to my sister.
 
I’m thankful that she has a family like the three of you.
 
She’s very blessed.”

“Tell me what’s wrong.
 
I promise, before God, that I’ll make everything right for you.
 
Let me try, Scarlet.
 
Please, let me try.”

With tears in her eyes, she looked at Alex’s beautiful face.
 
“I wish you could.
 
You don’t know how much I wish you could.”

They sat companionably. She hadn’t said yes to the date.
 
But, then she hadn’t really said no, either.
 
Instead, she had issued some kind of a mysterious challenge.
 
And he was just the man to pick up the gauntlet and run with it.

“Tell me what else you do for fun,” she pressed.

“I like to play touch football, swim, rock climb, and horseback ride.
 
Basically, if it’s outside I enjoy it.”
 

Scarlet got a little warm, imagining Alex exerting himself in a sexy, athletic manner.

Whew!
 
She was so into her musings, that she missed his question.
 
“What did you say?”

“What’s the matter, babe?
 
Are you picturing me all hot and sweaty?”

“Yeah, but you knew that.” She said blushing.

Alex was thrilled.
 
She was opening up to him, settling down, even flirting a little.
 
“I like to hear you say it.
 
Turnabout is fair play, what do you like to do for fun?”

She stopped sewing and stared him down.
 
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Try me.”

“When it’s late, and dark, I go out into the night…”
 
She whispered, building up the story.
 
Then she laughed.
 
“To the cemetery – with my camera.”
 
At his confused look, she clarified.
 
“I ghost hunt.”

“Ghost hunt?
 
Like on the Sci-Fi Channel?”
 
He couldn’t believe it.

“Yes, but I don’t have their level of equipment.
 
I have basic stuff; digital camera, camcorder with night vision, recorders for EVP.”
        

“EVP?”
 
He was really listening and he wasn’t laughing.
 
Ooh, her insides were getting all melty.
 

“Electronic Voice Phenomenon.
 
That’s picking up voices on the recorder that you don’t hear in real time with your natural ears.
 
Does this freak you out?”

“No, not at all.
 
In fact, I find it fascinating.”
 

She believed him.
 
“If you’re interested I’ll show you photographs that I’ve taken, tell you a few war stories.”

“I would love to hear your stories and see your evidence.
 
But, tell me.
 
Why do you do it?
 
It seems like a strange thing for a young woman to be interested in.
 
What’s the attraction?”
 
He watched her closely.

Tonight seemed a night for truth.
 
So, here goes.
 
“I’m trying to prove to myself that there’s something else out there after we die.
 
I don’t really buy the traditional concept of heaven, so I’m searching.”

Alex found everything about Scarlet fascinating.
 
He hung on her every word. She worked tirelessly sewing on the minute pieces of finery.
 
At eleven thirty, Ethan slipped into the room.
 
“Hey, the dogs are going crazy out back.
 
Walk with me and let’s see if those pesky coons are back.”

Alex didn’t want to leave, but duty called.
 
“I’ll be right back.”

Scarlet just smiled at him.
 
She looked like she was about to give out.
 
Ten, or so, minutes later, Alex returned.
 
He wasn’t surprised to find her sound asleep, cuddled over into a corner of the chair.
 
Carefully, he lifted the wedding gown from her lap and spread it over a nearby chair.
 
He didn’t even consider waking her; he did exactly what he wanted to do.
 
With one hand at her back, and one under her thighs, he lifted her into his arms.
 
Pulling her close to his chest, he stared down at her face.
 
She didn’t awaken; instead, she turned into him like a moth to a flame.
 
One hand flattened on his chest, moving up to encircle his neck.
 
Alex tightened his hold on her, pulling her closer in his arms.
 
She reacted instinctively, her mouth seeking out the warm skin of his throat.
 
Alex stopped walking, reveling in her reaction to his nearness.
 
Breathing became secondary, as he focused on the touch of her lips on his skin.
 
A moan of desire rumbled in his chest, and he felt her jerk.

She was awake.
 

Scarlet opened her eyes.
 
Holy Mother of God!
 
Had she lost her mind?
 
Her lips were on Alex’s throat and she was doing a fairly decent vampire imitation.
 
Heavens to Betsy!
 
She was
this
close to giving him a hickey!
 
Mortified, she sought a place of refuge.
 
Burying her face in his chest, she hid from him in embarrassment.
 
“Good Lord, Alex!
 
I’
m
drooling
on you.
 
I am
so
sorry!
 
I thought I was dreaming.”
               

♥ ~
Chapter III
~ ♥

   
“Dream some more, baby.
 
I love how your lips feel on my skin.”
 
Alex marveled at her reaction.
 
Even in her withdrawing, she had turned to him.
 
He purposely strode to the wing that housed their bedrooms.
 
Passing up her room, instead, he carried her to his own bed and laid her down.
 
“Sleep with me, Scarlet.”
 
His eyes smoldered with a dark promise.
  

She sat up, unsure and a bit alarmed.
 
“Alex, I don’t know.”

“I said sleep, sweetheart.
 
I just want to hold you.
 
You’ve got on more clothes than the Flying Nun.
 
Please, let me lay down with you.”
 
He began to undress and she couldn’t take her eyes off of him.
 
He was magnificently and wonderfully made.
 
Tearing her eyes away, she took off her robe, folding it and laying it on the floor next to the bed.
  
     

Undressing completely, except for his briefs, he pulled back the covers.
 
She eased up in the bed, far enough, so she could slide under the covers, too.
 

“What if Annalise comes looking for me?”

“Ethan will keep your sister occupied.
 
Come here.”
 
He held out his arms and she went to him.
 
Laying her head on his shoulder, she molded her body to his.
 
Tentatively, she tested where to lay her hand.
 
Finally, she gave in to her desire, and let it settle on his chest.
 
“Put one of your legs up over mine.”
 
She did as he asked, and discovered that they fit together, perfectly.
 
A deep sigh of contentment slipped through her lips.
 
Alex gave in to temptation and laid his lips on the top of her head, inhaling the clean sweet smell of her hair.
 
“Now, we can rest.
 
I don’t understand it, sweetheart, but I couldn’t bear the thought of you sleeping anywhere but with me.”