VANCE (2 page)

“They’re not old and they’re not ugly,” I reply with feeling, forgetting myself for a moment. Though I didn’t like gossiping about guests, I suddenly have the overwhelming need to share what I know about the unusual couple and Jules will make an eager audience. I lean over the desk and lower my voice. “She’s really snooty, but he’s nice.”

My mind replays our short encounter, and my stomach flutters as I picture his glittering eyes and beautiful smile. Jules makes some kind of hooting noise, bringing me back to reality.

“Uh-oh, I recognise that look,” she croons. “You got the hots for him.”

“I do not!” I exclaim, feeling my face flush. Suddenly I am a fourteen year old girl, rather than an up and coming professional in the hospitality industry.

Jules waggles her finger at me. “You can’t hide it from me girl. He rings your bell, there’s no doubt about it. If you don’t mind me saying it’s about time too. When is the last time you has a boyfriend? I is beginning to think you were more into girl-on-girl action. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Actually, one night when me and my friend Debbie got really drunk I let her – ”

“I’m not a lesbian,” I say quickly, before Jules can go into the gory details, “and I don’t have the hots for Vance.”

“Vance,” Jules let the name roll around her mouth. “You know his first name. That means it’s real serious. Sometimes I don’t even get that far in a relationship.”

“Of course I know his first name, it’s on the database,” I retort, feeling exasperated.
 

Whatever feelings I have for Vance, I don’t want them to become common knowledge, especially by Jules. It will be all over Twitter before the hour is out. “Look, I don’t have the hots for him, but he is good looking. Now, you should get back to work Jules. Dolores will be having a fit.”

“Okay, okay, I’m going,” Jules replies in a resigned voice. She starts trudging back toward the kitchen, before pausing and turning back to me, a devilish gleam in her eyes. “Hey, we’re on the same shift, wanna go out tonight?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I reply, caught out by the question. “I’m pretty tired.”

“Come on,” urges Jules. “The other girls are working, and I wanna get listed. We can find you a man too. Then you wouldn’t have to chase after a guy that’s spoken for.”

Her comment stings, and I nearly lash out at her. But Jules does have a point. It has been a long time since I’d been involved with anyone, and mooning over a married man is just a waste of time. I debate whether to take up Jules’ offer. Usually, I am more of a homebody and Jules can be pretty wild when she is out
 
Not that she is particularly tame when she is at work, but it is nice of her to offer. I don’t have many friends, and most of the people I know are from High School and I haven’t exactly been little Miss Popular back then or now, especially after what happened with Dominic. I make a split decision.

“Okay, I’ll come out tonight, but only for one drink.” I cringe inside at how much of an old maid I sound, but I can’t help it. My confidence is very fragile, and too many knocks will shatter it completely. Beyond the cosy old world charm of the Cherry Tree, is a mean little town with some pretty mean little residents. I’m not quite ready to face them or my demons head on.

“That’s brilliant Holly!” Jules exclaims. “You’re a pal. Stick with me kid, and you’ll get yourself an orgasm tonight without having to get out the Rampant Rabbit again.”

She leaves before I even have time to piece together a response.

Chapter 2

The rest of my shift is pretty uneventful, and the Drakes don’t surface from their room again whilst I am on the desk. I spend a large part of my shift torturing myself by imagining all of the things they could be getting up to, and frequently fantasising about what Vance looks like under his expensive clothes. The warm glow he’d stirred in me doesn’t fade away, though I am mad with myself that I can’t get him out of my head. I’d vowed I would never let another guy touch my emotions so powerfully, and it is so frustrating that a playboy with a pretty face can so easily undermine my resolve.

So, by the time my shift ends, I am actually almost looking forward to going out with Jules. A change of scenery might get my mind off Vance and put me back on an even keel.
 

Because I can’t afford to run a car, and the Cherry Tree is only a half an hour walk to where I live, I usually head back through town on foot. Pikeshaw, the town I’d been born and raised in, is a pretty ordinary, out-of-the-way place. Nestled amongst the mountainous grandeur of West Virginia, it is a sprawl of office buildings, industrial units and sleepy suburbs. It had once been a thriving community but now most people my age see it as a dead end town. They want to get away as soon as they can and make it big in the cities.

Not me though. I prefer the general quietness, and on my days off I normally go hiking in the forests or sketch the landscapes. I have always been into art and nature, and I find it very relaxing. I know to others I come across as more of a retiree rather than a woman in my twenties, but I can’t help the way I am. To me, spending my life jumping in and out of disastrous relationships and sharing all my dramas on social media isn’t the way to go.

As I think about the Drakes with their expensive clothes and fancy car, I begin to wonder if I am missing out on something. I clamp down on my longings angrily. I’d had enough excitement with Dominic to last me a lifetime.

Painful memories began to surface, and I manage to make myself utterly miserable by the time I arrive at the olive green craftsman bungalow I share with my Aunt Shelley. Captain Razzamataz scampers into the hallway as I open the front door. I bend down and pat his orange-furred head and he purrs with pleasure.

“Hey, baby,” I croon to him, closing the door and following the cat as he bounds off toward the kitchen. “You want something to eat?”

Captain Razzamataz meows, ignores the plate of food already set out for him and waits by the treat draw instead. He isn’t supposed to have too many, but I just can’t resist those big green eyes of his.
 

“Aunt Shelley,” I call out, after I’ve given Razzamataz his treats. “You there?”

I head into the living room to find her playing Wii tennis,with a look of fierce concentration on her face. “Shush!” she says. “I’m concentrating.”

Though Aunt Shelley is nearly ninety, she can still move with all the agility of Captain Razzamataz. She’d come to live with me after Mom died, and thought ostensibly I am supposed to be looking after her, she is more than capable of looking after herself, and me for that matter.

“Sorry,” I say. “I just wanted to let you know I’m going out later with Jules.”

“Good,” Aunt Shelley grunts, mid swing. “I can invite Frank over.”

I frown. “Who’s Frank? I thought you were dating Jim this week.”

“Dumped him,” Aunt Shelley replies, executing a killer serve, “got no stamina. Frank can go for hours on the Wii.”

“That sounds . . . great,” I say, making a face. “I’m going to have a bath.”

“I’ll fix you some spaghetti and meat balls,” Aunt Shelley replies. “Don’t come home until you’ve found a boyfriend.”

“I’ll try real hard,” I drawl. “Just for you.”

I leave Aunt Shelley to her exertions and head to my bedroom. Slipping off my clothes and putting on a bath robe, I head into the bathroom to run the water. A soapy bubble bath is just what I need, and my aching body responds eagerly to the caress of the hot water. As I sink into its deep embrace my mind relaxes as well. Vance returns to my thoughts, and I close my eyes picturing every perfect detail of him. His glacial eyes sparkle before me, and the thought of his roguish smile sends a tremor down my spine. I imagine his toned, moccasin dark body pressed against mine and those full, luscious lips brushing against my own quivering mouth. I widen my legs and my breathing hitches, as tingly heat laps through me. I bite my lip against the maelstrom of sensations Vance has unleashed deep inside my being. I haven’t felt like this about a man in a long, long time, and I am both intoxicated and frightened at the prospect.

As my head clears, Estelle Drake sashays straight through my erotic musings, bringing with her the cold spectre of reality. It is just my luck that I’d met the man of my dreams, and he just so happened to be married. But that couldn’t be helped. Maybe Jules and Aunt Shelley are right, perhaps I do need a man.

I finished my bath, wrap my fluffy robe around me and get to work on drying my hair and applying make-up. A little while later Aunt Shelley calls me to the kitchen for dinner. After I’d eaten, I start to plan my outfit.
 
I decide to go with my white dress with the black polka dots, along with the black tights and suit jacket. With the outfit I opt for my dark red heels. I wear my hair loose, and the ensemble makes me feel quite the sexual goddess when I check myself out in the mirror. Dressed like this, maybe tonight will be my lucky night.

As soon as I the thought enters my head, I feel the sharp knife of anxiety twist in my gut. What if I do meet the man of my dreams tonight, and he falls for me? It would only be a matter of time before he discovers my past, and all of my problems and dumps me. I don’t think I could handle having my heart trampled over again. I guess I could just go with the flow and pick up a man just for pleasure. I consider the idea for a moment. It seems to work for Jules, but it just doesn’t appeal to me. I am all for women taking charge of their sex lives and going after what they want, but I want to make a deeper connection with a man, not just enjoy the physical act for its own sake. I huff in frustration and my shoulders slump. Personal stuff is just too damn complicated. I much prefer focusing on my career prospects.
     

But I am still determined to put all that emotional junk to one side tonight and relax. I check my phone and see I’ve had a text from Jules. She wants me to meet her at the Reptile Club at eight. I feel a little disappointed at her choice of venue. The Reptile is a bit of a dive, and attracts its fair share of barflies and sleazy men. I’d spotted Harvey in there a couple of times in the past.

Still, I am committed now, and there am no way to back out of it. At around half seven, I make sure I am still looking a million dollars and set off into town.

Chapter 3

Just as I was afraid of, the night turns into something of a disaster. The Reptile is packed even though it is a Wednesday, and Jules drinks far too much. Music blares, hammering into my skull and Jules spends most of the night dancing on the bar with some of her wild friends who have come out to join her at the last minute. They are something of a clique, and don’t really speak much to me, so I am left alone to fend off the unwanted advances from several middle-aged men. I stick it for an hour or so, before I decide enough is enough and decide to go home. I manage to communicate my intentions to an inebriated Jules and escape before she can stop me.

The air outside is refreshingly cool, a healing tonic after the noise and heat of the Reptile. It is pretty quiet, and the taxi rank is only a short distance away. I decide to make for it and get a ride home. Jeb will be working tonight, and I’ll make sure he goes back to the Reptile Bar in a little while to collect Jules. It is a regular routine when I go out with her, and Jeb will make sure she goes back with him no matter how much she might protest. I don’t trust the clique to look out for her, so it gives me some peace of mind to know she’ll at least get home in one piece.

Hanging by the door to the bar is a young punk I’d spotted inside earlier. He is smoking, and everything about him screams wannabe gangster. He’d eyed me up when I’d been standing at the bar, and I’d steadfastly ignored him. He notices me again.

“Hey,” he calls out, “you not going yet, are ya?”

“Yes,” I say stiffly. “I have work in the morning.”

“Hey, hold up,” he says quickly moving to catch up with me. He moves round so he is blocking me from my destination. Whiskey fumes come off his breath in thick waves. “Don’t go yet, babe. It’s still early.”

“Sorry, but I have to,” I reply, trying to remain polite. I make a mental note to have Jeb come round straight away and collect Jules. I don’t want her getting hit on by a creep like this.

“Come on, babe. Stay for another drink. We can have a party on our own,” the punk insists. He is pressing in close, and his hand grips my arm.

“Please, let me go,” I say, feeling the rising tide of panic. We are only a few feet from the bar. Maybe if I scream loud enough someone will come out and investigate.

“Don’t be like that,” the man says with an edge of menace in his voice. “I’m just being friendly.”
 

I become aware of the purr of an engine, and suddenly spot a blue sports car pull up alongside us.

“Holly?” Vance Drake’s rich voice drapes the air like silk. I turn to see him looking at me from the open driver’s window. “Everything okay here?”

A surge of relief goes through me, and I hold myself back from rushing over to the car. “I’m on my way home,” I say. I shoots a glance at the punk. “Well, I’m trying to at any rate.”

Vance nods. “Get in. I’ll give you a ride.”

“Hey man, I’ll walk her home,” the other man butts in. His hand on my arm tightens, an ugly look twists his face. “Beat it. We don’t need you spoiling the party.”

“Let me go!” I hiss, my legs trembling with fear. “I just want to go home!”