Sooner or Later (34 page)

He checked the time, it was almost seven. He needed to shower, change, put gas in the car: he could be at Ellie’s Place before nine. Taking the cell phone from his pocket, he began to dial her number, then changed his mind. He liked to surprise her, just to see her face light up when she saw him. It gave him a little buzz of hope for the future.

The day had been warm but with nightfall, the temperature dropped and the mist slunk in, creeping over the dead, silent ocean, wreathing in halos around the streetlights and rolling its ghostly fingers along the boulevards. Because of it, Dan took longer than he’d expected to drive from Running Horse to Santa Monica. It was nine-thirty when he finally pulled the car into a spot opposite the cafe, directly behind a black BMW convertible.

The street was quiet for a change, but lights still glowed welcomingly from Ellie’s Place. Feeding quarters into the meter, he walked across the road and pushed open the door.

The old-fashioned bell tinkled sweetly, reminding him of the local candy store where he’d spent part of his fifty-cents allowance, every Saturday morning, when he was around five years old. Only two tables were occupied, and there was no sign of Ellie or Maya.

He went to the back, pushed open the kitchen door and stuck his head around it. Ellie was cleaning up the big stoves and he could see Jake outside, catching a quick cigarette. There was no sign of Chan and Terry, and he guessed they’d already left.

Ellie hadn’t heard him, and he watched her for a second. There was a look of sadness on her face, and a weary slump to her shoulders that told him the truth about how she was really feeling, despite her brave words on the phone. His heart ached for her as he called her name.

It was there, that instant look of surprise, the warm megawatt smile that lit up her whole face. When Ellie smiled, her entire body contributed to it, sending out little vibes of pleasure. He thought it was worth a two-hour drive in the fog just to see it.

“Hi there,” she said, “this is a surprise.”

“I hoped you were going to say ‘an unexpected pleasure.’” He dropped a kiss on her smiling mouth.

“That too,” she agreed.

The new kid with the bleached-blond hair, who looked like a budding rock star, eyed them curiously from the sink where he was busy rinsing dishes. They looked good together, he thought. Kind of like they belonged.

“You must be hungry.” Ellie was already taking out pots and pans. “I’m cooking tonight, just tell me what you’d like.” She enjoyed having him on her turf, on her terms. It put her on her mettle.

“Scrambled eggs and a toasted bagel would be fine,” he said.

She smiled at him, remembering the first day he’d come into the cafe. Her Ufe had changed so drastically since then, it seemed light-years away. She thanked God that he’d wandered into her place, instead of one of the other dozens of cafes along Main Street. Chance was a fine thing, sometimes.

“I can’t do the bagel, but I can promise you some very good rosemary bread., Are you sure that’s all you want?”

He couldn’t think of anything better than eggs prepared by Ellie. “No, it’s not all.” He caught her hand in his. “I want you to join me for supper.”

“I think I might be able to manage that,” she said lightly, dropping his hand to get fresh free-range eggs from the refrigerator, tripping over her feet again and losing her shoe.

“Cinderella?” He was down on one knee, laughing at her as she balanced on one foot.

“Cinderella was never as clumsy as this.” She sighed, clutching the carton of eggs to her chest.

At the sink, the kid thought this was better than a movie. Even Jake was leaning against the door watching them. Dan could almost see him framing them for the camera lens, ready to direct: their next action.

“Would you like a glass of wine?” She was busy beating the eggs and he shook his head, fascinated by the economy of her movements as she worked. Even fixing scrambled eggs was no haphazard throw-it-all-in-the-pan deal for her. She was all professional, knew exactly the quantities to use of eggs and butter and milk. Scrambled eggs Ellie-style would turn out the same every time. Big meal or small, she was an excellent chef.

Ellie hadn’t eaten, but now that Dan was here, she
fixed eggs for them both, gave him the basket of bread to carry, then followed him into the cafe with the steaming plates.

“Bon appétit, m’sieur,”
she murmured. Suddenly hungry, she tucked into the eggs.

“Good,” Dan mumbled, his mouth full. “These are truly great.” She smiled her thanks across the table. “So tell me, Ell, how are you really?”

She lifted her shoulders, looking weary. “It’s tough to sleep. You know, that old three-in-the-morning guilt trip, the ‘if onlies’ …”

“Whatever you’re thinking, it wasn’t your fault.”

“I guess not.” She sounded uncertain, shifting the eggs around her plate with the fork. Looking at the mist pressing at the cafe window, the specter of nightly loneliness crushed her again, like a weight. “Want to come home and have coffee with me?”

He nodded. “Sure.”

Jake was taking care of the other tables; they were just leaving, paying their checks. “I’ll close up for you, Ellie,” he called from the counter. “Take it easy for once, go home.” He’d seen how stressed she was, and thought it was a good thing that at least tonight, she had company. In his opinion, loneliness never solved anything. Trouble shared was trouble solved, as any good L.A. psychiatrist would tell you, while charging a small fortune for the privilege. As he knew, only too well.

Ellie beamed her thanks as they carried their plates into the kitchen. “Would you stay on and help Jake?” she asked the kid stacking one of the big industrial dishwashers.

“Sure, Ellie.” He had a date at Victor’s Club on Abbot Kinney, but, for a budding rock star like him, he knew the girl would wait.

Outside, the dense fog pressed up against their faces
and visibility was down to about ten yards. Definitely not a good driving night.

Ellie had taken the Cherokee out of the lot earlier and parked half a block from the cafe. “Why don’t you follow me,” Dan called, striding across the road to his car as she walked the half block to hers. “It’ll be safer that way.”

The black BMW was still parked in front of him, and he saw the man sitting in it, in the darkness. Wondering briefly what he was up to, he edged the Explorer out from behind him, waited for Ellie to catch up, then drove slowly down the silent fog-bound road.

Ellie’s cozy little lamp-Lit house was an exotic oasis appearing like a mirage, out of the fog. Vanilla-scented candles flickered on the mantel and soft string music played gently in the background, the Henry Mancini orchestra with the soft, warm voice of Johnny Mathis. Ellie was pouring fragrant hot coffee. She put the mug on the low table in front of Dan.

He was sitting next to her on the sofa, his head thrown back, listening to the music.

She studied the strong planes of his face; the taint bluish hint of stubble on his recently shaved chin; the way his hair sprang so vigorously from his forehead. His muscular body looked relaxed, and dark hair crowded the shirt open at his throat. His hands were beautiful, wide, long-fingered, and with no dirt under the nails. She smiled, imagining how he must have scrubbed them after working in the fields alongside Ortega and the team of Mexican workers all week. He was such a physical man, and she liked that about him. But even a strong man looked vulnerable, somehow, with his eyes closed, his face unguarded.

Pleased he was able to be that way with her, relaxed, easy, she said, “Black, no sugar.”

“Finally, I think you know me.” His eyes were still closed.

“Finally, I think I do.”

There was something in her voice, a silkiness he’d never heard before. Opening his eyes, he looked directly into her.

Reaching out, she ran her fingers gently through his hair. Now that she had him here, she couldn’t bear to let him go. “I was thinking,” she said, phrasing it carefully so he wouldn’t get the wrong meaning, “you can’t possibly drive home in this fog. It’s way too dangerous.”

“True,” He nodded, his eyes still fixed on her.

“Then it’s my turn to offer hospitality. I have pillows, blankets, you’ll be comfortable, here on the sofa.”

“True.” He nodded again.

She was drowning in the deep blueness of his eyes, lured by his mouth … Getting a grip on herself, she stood. “I’ll just go get the blankets.”

He caught her arm, pulled her down on the sofa again. “Stop running from me, Ellie.”

She could feel the warmth of his hands on her shoulders where he held her. His mouth approached hers and her eyes closed in anticipation. His lips were firm, gentle on hers, a butterfly wing of a kiss … nothing to shake her to her roots … nothing at all to worry about…. She felt herself relaxing in his arms.

Dan dropped those gentle kisses across the sliding curve of her cheekbone, over her eyelids, unmade-up and delicate as the paper-white narcissi he’d sent her; on the tip of her nose where the freckles were so close together, it looked like a Siamese kitten’s. Heat flared in his groin, he wanted her so badly, but he knew she was only seeking comfort from him; she was wary of love. His tongue found the uptilted corner of her mouth, licked, tasted …

“Delicious,” he breathed in her ear, “better than
tarte tatin.”

Pleasure flickered, flame like, in her belly. Her mouth opened under his, and she linked her hands around his neck, pressing him closer, his thick dark hair was soft in her entwining fingers. The kiss deepened, she felt as though the breath were being sucked from her body, leaving her soft, helpless.

“We really shouldn’t,” she murmured in between kisses, feeling his heart beating against hers.

“Give me one good reason why not.” He was nibbling her earlobe, then his mouth trailed down her throat, found the pulse fluttering there, lingered over it, then moved on to explore the smooth hollows near her collarbone.

Ellie shivered with pleasure. There’s nothing wrong with taking a lover, she told herself. They were both grownups, both dedicated to their work. There was no commitment on either side, and after all, they could still be friends…. She felt herself yearning toward him, wanting him….

Opening her eyes, she looked dreamily into his. “After all,” she whispered huskily, “we’re not involved….”

“Mmmm, uh-uh … Certainly not, involved.” She saw the question in his eyes, and he saw the answering heat in hers, the longing. Taking her hand in his, he guided her up the creaking stairs.

Ellie’s legs refused to hold her, and she sank onto the bed. It wasn’t only that it had been a long time since she’d made love, it was that she’d never felt like this before. This kind of melting tenderness combined with the heat that his eyes and his hands generated, wherever they touched, wherever they lingered.

Dan tugged the T-shirt over her head, unhooked the
flimsy white lace bra, paused for a moment, glorying in the perfection of her high rounded breasts. Gently, he circled her nipples with his tongue, felt her arch with pleasure, heard her sigh. His hands smoothed the delicate skin of her back, gripped the beautiful curve of her rib cage, encircled her breasts as he devoured them. She was so sweet, so pliant under his searching hands … he was on fire for her but he took his time, gentling her into it….

She pulled off her jeans, and his heart stuck somewhere in his throat as he looked at her, so slender, so strong, so beautiful in the tiny slip of white lace that covered her nakedness. Her glossy red hair tumbled over her breasts as she lifted herself on her elbows, watching as he stripped off his clothes.

He lay next to her, ran his hand the length of her body. His palms were hard, rough, the hands of a man who worked in the fields alongside his workers, building his dreams with them, his hopes, his future … a future that would not contain her. Ellie thrust the thought away as quickly as it came. Right now nothing mattered except his mouth searching every curve of her body, his hands holding her, lifting her to him, his tongue seeking out magical places. She was floating somewhere outside herself, brimming with pleasure. Shuddering, she cried out his name….

His eyes demanded hers as he slowly lowered himself into her. She moved against him, fitting together with him as though they had been made for exactly this moment, moving to his rhythm, crying out her pleasure.

Her hands skimmed his damp flesh, and she wrapped her legs round him, urging him deeper, then she was tumbling from that great height, heard herself moan, cry out for him, shameless in the urgency of her need. And then they were falling together into that silvery space
where spent passion let them lie, still entwined, for that peaceful shaky moment, still as one.

The blissful weight of him pressed her into the soft bed, his heart thundering over hers. Ellie never wanted to move, she wanted this moment to last forever, surely it could never be so good again….

Levering himself up on his hands, Dan smiled at her. Her tumbled hair spread in ripples of bronze across the pillows, her opal eyes were still dark with remembered passion, and her skin felt like molten satin. He lowered his mouth to hers, kissed her lingeringly. He wanted to tell her he loved her, but remembering the wariness in her eyes, he knew he would only scare her off. “You’re beautiful,” he said instead.

“You too.” She smiled as she ran her fingers through his curling, dark chest hair. “Was it better?”

He looked puzzled. “Better than what?”

“Than the
tarte tatin.”

With a great shout of laughter, he rolled from her. “No comparison, Chef. But then, I heard you were multitalented.”

“You too,” she said with a playful little smile. Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, she stepped close to him, her smooth, slender body stretched against his as she slid both arms round his neck and kissed him. “Thank you,” she whispered in his ear. Then picking up the pink robe from the chaise, she wrapped it round her nakedness.

Dan stared at her astonished. The robe was obviously old and the pink clashed terribly with her roan-pony hair. In an instant, she’d gone from passionate woman to vulnerable girl, comfortable in her schoolgirl robe.