Seaspun Magic (12 page)

Arianne kept mulling over the various ideas, hoping a solution would eventually come up. Whenever she thought about Leo she forced him out of her mind by pondering career choices, and this was such a big dilemma that the ploy sometimes worked.

More often than not, though, her thoughts kept circling around to him. She had come to admire him so much she could hardly believe the low hit-and-run tactics he had used. Could he have been frightened away by her sixth sense and that of her son? Graphic displays of it sometimes scared people half to death. She searched her memory, but there wasn't a smidgen of evidence to support this theory. He had seemed curious, intrigued, fascinated, but hadn't pried when faced with her reluctance to divulge particulars.

Her mother kept saying she should marry someone with the sight, like herself, and in that way remove the difficulty it caused. There certainly was good sense in that advice....

Even though Leo had admitted the ESP was a little scary sometimes, he seemed to take it all in stride. His spirit was too tough to be frightened away; she was sure of it. Even if her gift had given him a bit of a shock, there was a resilience about him that was as engaging as it was reassuring. Dammit, she was crazy about a man who thought so little about her that he could simply run out on a moment's notice!

Pacing restlessly around her living room evening after evening, Arianne tried to concentrate on a sound plan for the future, but more often than not, kept concentrating on what had gone wrong between her and her lover. Leo.. .aggressive, definite about what he wanted, and yet so gentle, sensitive and considerate. So quick to laugh, so cheerful. He really seemed to enjoy life, and she had enjoyed hers more for knowing him. How she missed him! The days were dreary without him and the nights endless.

She wasn't the only one who missed him, either. Rae kept looking for him and asking for him. In the mornings, after his breakfast, he kept running into the dining room, expecting to find Leo there. It hurt her to see his disappointment. It was hard to comfort the little boy in his sad confusion. And while she could amuse him, she couldn't toss him up in the air the way Leo had and she wasn't much at playing rough and tumble on the living-room carpet, either.

Sure, Leo had said he would be back soon, but she didn't believe it. As Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday went by she knew she had been right. Not even a phone call. One could always manage a phone call.. .if one cared enough.

She couldn't call him, because she knew next to nothing about his circumstances. He lived somewhere in L. A. He owned a travel agency and a small bookstore. He had family back in Brooklyn. He wore expensive clothes, but drove a rundown car. He was rather a mystery…

***

She had become used to having dinner late. Friday evening, when she was dining on a meal of cheese and crackers—loneliness was not good for her appetite—the door knocker sounded and she all but spilled her glass of milk in irrepressible excitement. It had to be Leo. She flew down the hall.

Her disappointment was shattering when she saw only Larry Barnes on the other side of the oval glass. But she had time to steel her expression and put on a welcoming smile.

"Hi, Arianne! I dropped Don off next door and the lovebirds were getting me down, so I thought I'd drop in on you. I'm not interrupting? You're not going to kick me out, too, are you?"

Arianne smiled a little more widely and invited the officer in.

"Jill told me your B-and-B guest is gone. What was his name?"

"Leo Donev."

"Oh, yes, foreign, isn't it? I'll bet you're relieved he's finally gone."

"I'm not used to having guests," Arianne replied impartially.

"I'm relieved he's finally gone! I didn't like the thought of him here... of you all alone with that stranger."

Arianne considered that the officer was a stranger to her, as well, but didn't mention it. She merely smiled faintly, hung up his jacket and ushered him into her living room. It was nice to have some company, after all.

"What was it he did?"

"He owns a bookstore in Los Angeles. May I offer you a little brandy?" She poured some for Larry, but didn't take any herself. A bite of cheese and two crackers were hardly sufficient to cushion something like brandy.

Larry savored a sip of the amber spirit and viewed the bottle with reverence, remarking about its exotic label and age.

"Leo liked it," she explained.

"I'll bet he did! This doesn't come cheap! Come here and sit down, Arianne. I want to ask you out, and it would be so much easier if you were here beside me." Larry flashed her a white grin and held out his hand.

He was sitting on the couch, where Leo used to sit. She sat on the arm of the chair by the fire, declining his invitation to join him, and his hand dropped.

"There's a good movie playing here in town," he continued unperturbed. "Why don't you come with me tomorrow night? I'll have you home early, if you like. If you don't like, we'll go out for dinner afterward. Jill already agreed to baby-sit."

As far as he was concerned, it was a fait accompli. Arianne wanted to say, "No, get the hell out of my house!" She didn't know exactly why she wanted to say that. Most likely, it had to do with the fact that she wanted to be with another man…

"It's a comedy, Arianne." Larry went on to inform her what kind of comedy it was and who was starring in it.

While he was chatting, she was thinking about Leo. He was gone and never coming back. Somewhat recklessly she decided to take Larry up on his offer. After all, why shouldn't she go out to see a movie? At least she wouldn't have to sit all by herself, with only Jinx to keep her company as they watched sparks fly up the chimney.

"Yes, all right. I'd love a movie. And dinner sounds like fun," she agreed, composed and cool, her black eyes on him.

The officer swallowed. "Great. Terrific." He smiled widely, gazing back at her, swirling the brandy absent-mindedly around and around in the snifter. "Jill said you'd like the show. She was saying how happy you were to be rid of Leo whatsit?"

"Donev."

"Right. She thought he might have imposed on you...."

Arianne wondered what on earth he meant by that. She raised her dark, defined eyebrows slightly.

"I guess I'm jealous. Thinking of him here with you."

His fawning eyes were all over her. A faint frown chased over her forehead, "I can take care of myself," she commented quietly.

"You can? How? Listen, darling, you should know karate, or better yet, get yourself a watchdog. Living all by yourself way out here..."

"Jill's doing the same, right next door," Arianne pointed out, beginning to dislike the conversation. Had she agreed to that movie too quickly?

"Yeah, but, ah... you're not exactly big and strong the way she is. She said you didn't like the B-and-B trade. I sure am glad about that!" he exclaimed fervently.

He really was very attractive, and his smile more so. After her ego had been broken into a thousand pieces, this unexpected attention was rather pleasant, even if she didn't particularly like the conversation. She began to wonder if she had anything to fear from him....

Quickly she dismissed the notion. He didn't look like the bullying type. And all she was committed to was a movie and dinner. If he proved too boring for mere companionship it would be the last movie and dinner she would have with him. Still, the way he was looking at her... She knew very well he had more than companionship on his mind. Maybe the movie and dinner tomorrow night would have to be the end whether he was boring or not. She didn't feel able to start a relationship, not with him, when she was yearning for somebody else, and she probably wouldn't yearn for him in any case.

"He was with you how long, four weeks?"

"Um, yes." Arianne wondered at his interest in Leo. Was he really so jealous so fast? He hardly knew her!

"Lucky devil! He's gone for good, has he?"

"I suppose so."

"What was the matter with him?"

"Headaches, bad recurring headaches." Even after he had deserted her she was still lying for him! "I believe his doctor thought they were stress induced. That, and too much reading, or something..."

"Hm. What did he do with himself all day?"

"He was out most of the time. His doctor wanted him to get plenty of fresh air and exercise, so I guess he hiked all over the place."

"Seems a little strange, doing nothing but walking the beach and hiking for four weeks."

"Well, I don't know, I've never suffered from bad headaches. They—they lasted for days, apparently." Arianne made this up to put a stop to Larry's speculation. She wished he would stop digging her about her lover. Her former lover.

"What you need around here is somebody like me." Larry smiled confidently, with an inveigling twinkle in his brown eyes. "I'm very good at taking care of beautiful young women, and I'd like very much to take care of a particular one...." He paused meaningfully.

Surprised by this overflow of affection so soon, she murmured, "But you hardly know me, Larry, you're moving a little fast."

"I don't think so. You had me wound right around your little finger the first time I laid eyes on you...." His voice trailed away tantalizingly.

She shook her head. "But, Larry…"

"Don't start with the buts, not yet, not now, Arianne, darling. Get to know me first. If you need time, I'll give it to you. I've got all the time in the world to convince you."

"But—"

"I won't hurry you into anything you're not ready for, darling. Trust me."

"You don't know what you're getting into—"

He wouldn't let her finish a sentence. Eagerly he argued, "You bet I do! And I am absolutely terrific at teaching little boys how to fish, or how to throw a baseball, kick a football, you name it!"

"All I'm agreeing to, Larry, is a movie and dinner!"

"That's all I want. I just had to make sure you knew how I felt, where I stood. I didn't want there to be any misunderstanding about.. .my intentions." Again he paused significantly, his gaze riveted hopefully on her face.

To have a handsome officer at her feet—practically kneeling at them—was something entirely new to her. She had to admit it felt nice to be adored, especially after the abrupt rejection she'd suffered last week. Cynically she thought most of Larry's talk was a bunch of malarkey, but all the same, the attention was pleasant. And maybe his praises were only flattery, but they didn't hurt a deflated vanity, buried for two years in the backwoods.

Larry Barnes left as soon as he'd finished his brandy. He didn't touch her, much less try a kiss or anything along those lines. Arianne was relieved. Maybe, just maybe, he would be some fun. She could use a spot of fun.

***

The following evening really was enjoyable. Larry couldn't have behaved better. He didn't push himself on her nor was he obnoxious in any way. Light, amusing, friendly, he made great company. He was well-educated and well-read; he could talk about almost anything intelligently. And his sociable air and slick manner as well as his bending over backward just to please her, were a balm to her ravaged system.

He took her home after their dinner and didn't try to invite himself in for a nightcap. Arianne's relief was heartfelt. She agreed to go out with him again, and was further delighted when he didn't try to press a good-night kiss on her.

On Sunday morning over a cup of coffee in Jill's kitchen—she'd gone over to collect Rae—she was still feeling buoyed by her evening out.

"So who do you like better, now that you've had a chance to get to know Larry—Leo or him?" Jill smiled slyly.

"Well, it's hard to compare the two. They're totally different. And Leo was hardly a social acquaintance."

"Yes, but I thought there for a while you were getting rather too fond of him," Jill probed, running her fingers through her short-cropped dark hair. "I mean, I know you were happy to see him go, but you did seem to get along so well."

"Oh, we did," Arianne said casually. "Otherwise I would have asked him to go after that first week."

"Anyway, I'm glad you decided to give Larry a chance. I don't know him very well—just through Don—but he does seem an awfully nice sort. And at least he's not going anywhere. Gosh, you should count yourself lucky. Do you know how many girls in town would just love it if that hunk of a man so much as looked at them?"

"He does seem to be very nice," Arianne agreed, remaining noncommittal.

"'Nice'?" Jill exclaimed, "You call gorgeous 'nice'? Arianne, he's manna from heaven! Don't forget where you are, girl! You're not in the Gorgeous Available Males capital of the world!"

"Speaking of gorgeous and available, how are things going with Don?" Arianne decided it was high time to change the subject.

"I don't know." Jill sighed rather wearily. "You know what I think, don't you, about guys who just want a good time. And that's what I'm beginning to think his game is. He's not serious about me and never will be, not with Erin and Lucy in the wings."

"Oh...I'm sorry."

Jill shrugged quickly. "I've learned to live with it, Arianne. His attitude certainly doesn't catch me by surprise! Sure, there are a few nice guys around—like Larry—but for the most part they're a bunch of creeps. I've never met one that wasn't selfish and all wrapped up in himself!" Her tone was hard and bitter. "Even my husband, the
father
of my children. Even he couldn't handle the responsibility! So how can I expect anyone else to?"

"You mean he didn't love them?"

"Oh, he was good for a kiss and a hug. But in the long stretch, no. He didn't want to stick around to feed them and clothe them and do all the ordinary everyday things. I know we don't often talk about our pasts, but, Arianne, among creeps he was a prime specimen! He was always fooling around on me. He was always off drinking, gambling, throwing his money away on everything but me and the kids. I'm better off without him, I really am. No husband is better than a part-time one!"

"Uh, yeah, I guess you're right."

"God, was he a bastard! Do you know what he used to do? He used to—"