Dream

Chapter 12

The car ride back to the house was silent. They had left shortly after the auction and as Lucy settled into the car she realized how exhausted she truly was. She rested her head against the headrest and watched the darkened scenery fly by her window. Her hand rested on the pearls at her neck and she loved the way they absorbed the heat from her skin, it was as if they were a living thing. She would be sad to return them when they arrived at the house.

"They suit you," Zebadiah said as he glanced over at her from the corner of his eye.

Lucy turned and looked at his strong hands on the wheel of the car, controlling it effortlessly. "They would suit any woman," she said.

"Did you have a good time?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you," she said politely as her gaze traveled up to gaze at his profile, focusing more attention than she should have on his lips as she remembered his light kiss. It had only been a brief kiss, but it had touched her soul. She moved her hand from the pearls to her lips as she remembered it, and she missed Zebadiah's quick glance in her direction at the movement.

Their conversation exhausted, they rode in silence all the way to the house and the atmosphere between grew tense the closer they got to their destination.

When they arrived, Zebadiah came around to her side of the car and opened the door, extending his arm to her once more. She took it, knowing that it was the last time he would need to touch her.

Lucy ignored the sudden feeling of homecoming as they entered the house, and she headed for the stairs, eager to be out of the overwhelming presence of the man beside her.

"I'll only need a minute," she assured him as she headed towards the room where her stuff had been left. Nothing had been moved and she took her time taking off the beautiful dress and shoes, saving the pearls for last. When she was dressed in her own clothes once again, she took a moment to look at herself in the mirror. Even though she had shed the clothes she still looked different.

Giving herself a mental shake, she picked up her backpack and the pearls which had grown cold then moved across the hall.

Zebadiah was standing with a drink in his hand looking out of the veranda door, and Lucy took a moment to enjoy the gentle breeze that that flowed from one end of the room to other. As if he had sensed her, he turned and let his gaze wander over her changed appearance.

"I left the dress and shoes in the other room," she said, holding out her hand that held the pearls. "I didn't want these to get lost."

"The dress and shoes are yours Lucy, in fact take any of the dresses you want." He didn't reach for the pearls. "Would you like a drink?" he asked.

"No, I have to drive home, and I have no use for the dress, but I do appreciate the offer." She shook her hand with the pearls at him hoping he would get the hint and take the strand.

He studied her for a moment before moving towards the opposite side of the room where his desk sat. When he reached it, he leaned against it, stretching his legs out in front of him, regarding his feet. Lucy noted that he had lost his jacket and bowtie, and his sleeves had been rolled up to show his powerful forearms. He set his drink off to one side and crossed his arms across his chest, turning his gaze back towards Lucy.

"I bought the pearls for you Lucy,"

"No, thank you," she said, holding them out once more. She had the sudden feeling that her wonderful night was about to be ruined.

"I have another proposition for you," he stood suddenly, and Lucy took a step back. "I would like to continue what we started tonight. You attend events with me and...spend time with me when it suits us both."

"Spend time? What does that mean?" Lucy asked, wanting clarification. She wasn't averse to attending other events with him if he wanted.

"I'm attracted to you Lucy and I think we could enjoy one another's company." He took a step towards her and she took a step back.

"You're talking about sex, you want us to have an affair, but only when it suits us?" She felt her entire body go cold. She had a sneaking suspicion that the Monroe curse had once again reared its ugly head.

The Monroe curse was one that affected only the women in the family. They fell in love with impossible men, men that had no interest in a permanent relationship, men that had no trouble taking until there was nothing more to take, and then leaving without a backwards glance.

It was not what she had been expecting after her romantic vision, and the reality of it was like a slap in the face. She heard a door somewhere in the house slam and then another one, and Zebadiah jerked in response to the sudden sound.

Lucy tilted her head looking at him. "It's just the wind," she insisted, knowing it was no such thing. The house was just as insulted by his proposition as Lucy was, perhaps even on her behalf.

"And the pearls," she held up the strand, "they're to be a sort of payment in kind?" Their beauty was suddenly tarnished in her eyes.

Zebadiah's eyes narrowed at something in her tone. "No, they're a gift, no matter what your answer is, I bought them for you."

"No, thank you, to both the pearls and proposition." She walked towards the desk setting the pearls down. "Tell me Zeb, what is so wrong in simply dating someone? Granted, it's a little old fashioned but it's worked for generations."

"Dating generally leads women towards the idea of marriage, and marriage is not an option for me. I like to keep things clear so that no one gets hurt." He moved away from Lucy towards the window as if her nearness upset him.

Lucy didn't dare say that she was already hurt by his offer. He didn't understand that if she agreed to it, everything everybody in town had ever thought or said about her would suddenly be true.

"Things are never as easy as that, and someone always gets hurt in the end," she insisted, turning to leave.

She leaned down to pick up her bag and when she stood, looking back at him, her heart stopped. She recognized this moment. The blood rushed to her ears and she dropped her bag rushing towards Zebadiah. Lucy caught him on the side of his body causing him to spin, he hadn't expected the hit and he grabbed Lucy in surprise as they both lost their balance.  As soon as she had rammed her body forcibly into his she heard the glass shatter and then felt a stinging pain in her arm as they landed on the floor with Zebadiah's massive body on top of Lucy.

After a moment, when he could breathe again, he lifted his head and looked down at Lucy, who had closed her eyes at the searing pain in her arm. Once he had assured himself that she was still in one piece, his gaze drifted to the broken window behind them, trying to determine what had just happened. As he realized that they still might be in a dangerous situation his hands went towards Lucy to move her, and as he grabbed her by the arms he felt a sticky wetness and looked down to see that they were both covered in blood.