A New Day (4 page)

    
Tasha breathed deeply, and smiled involuntarily.   It was so good to be away from college, on the beach enjoying peace and quiet.  The thought surprised her;  she’d never needed to seek solitude before.

     “
Feeling better?” Gary asked gently. 

     “
Yes.”  she sighed gratefully.  “I simply dread being stuck inside a stuffy house on a summer evening.”

     “
Me, too.”  Gary admitted.  “Perhaps we can make a habit of this.  If you can tolerate my company, that is.” 

    
Tasha’s heart quickened triumphantly.  He was attracted to her!  He had as much as admitted it!  She took the bit in her teeth and ran with it.

     “
I’m sure that won’t be too difficult.”  she purred, smiling sweetly and making sure both of her dimples jumped into play.

    
But Gary had turned to look out over the water, and he missed her expression entirely.  Peeved, Tasha scowled, and set her teeth.

     “
I’ve always just loved the beach.”  she forced herself to say dreamily.  She stopped walking, and gripped his arm fiercely.  “Gary, take me walking on the beach every night!  Say you will!  Please?” she asked dramatically.

    
Gary’s lips twitched, but he managed to make his answering smile nice.  “Any time I’m able, I’ll be happy to.” he promised.  “But I thought you were planning to be quite busy with Jim Phillips?” he asked nonchalantly.

    
Tasha’s elation was complete.  He was jealous!  And he was playing directly into her hands.  She loved it!  “Oh.  Jim’s a nice boy, but he’s awfully shy.  I tend to admire men who are strong and really take charge.”  she said in a soft voice.  Her doe eyes looked with apparent admiration up into Gary’s. 

    
He looked at her for a moment in surprise, and then puzzlement clouded his eyes.  Finally, he looked away, feeling definitely disturbed.

     “
You stupid oaf!“
she thought gleefully.  “
You’ll be sorry you treated me so poorly before I’m done with you!  Treat me like a servant and a child, will you?  I’ll tear your heart to shreds and then hang you out to dry!”

     “
So, you’ve just completed two years of college?” he asked conversationally. 

     “
Mmm, hmm.”  she answered softly.

     “
What now?  Are you going to finish your four-year degree?”

     “
No, I don't think so.  I hated the first two years.  I see no reason to torture myself for another two.”

     “
What, then?” he asked with genuine interest.

    
She looked up at him, turning her eyes artfully.  “Oh, I don’t know.  I haven’t really thought past this summer.  I’ll just have to see what happens.”

    
"Now's when it would get interesting, actually.  You'd get to choose your major, and study something you're really interested in."

    
"Maybe." she sighed in bored voice.

    
They walked in silence for awhile.  Tasha was getting used to the feel of his strong, warm forearm under her fingers.  He was feeling very warm and cuddly to her, tonight.  They seemed to want to stroll at just the same speed.  And he
was
incredibly handsome with the moonlight playing off his golden brown hair.

    
What an interesting creature he was!  Tasha was certain he would make a very fascinating subject to toy with.  Oh, what fun it was going to be, to torment him!

    
Gary could see the wheels turning in her head, and wondered what she was up to.  She was suspiciously docile tonight.  But, he told himself he was probably imagining things.  She couldn’t be all bad.  Could she?  He sighed deeply, and shook his head.

     “
Penny for your thoughts.”  she said hopefully.

    
He chuckled.  “Actually, I was just marveling at the way we’re getting along.  This afternoon, we were at each other’s throats.”

    
She tipped her head, and looked up at him thoughtfully.  “Strange, isn’t it?” she asked sweetly.  “Maybe you and I are going to be very good friends, after all.”

     “
Could be.”  he answered brusquely. “I guess I’d better head back.  I’m getting pretty tired.”

     “
Sure.  Why don’t we just sit for a few minutes?” she offered.  Her eyes offered him a lot more than a rest.

    
Gary couldn’t possibly have hidden his grin, so he let it shine.  “All right.”  he said agreeably, wondering what in the world she had up her sleeve, now.

    
They found a log at the water’s edge that was big enough to sit up on comfortably, and keep their feet dry.  Tasha sensed that Gary was the kind who’d hate a gabby woman, so she let him take the lead.  She contented herself by pressing close against him, and putting her head on his shoulder.

    
Gary looked at her as if she’d grown two heads, but he restrained himself from pulling away.  Good heavens, she couldn’t possibly think he was some kind of sap she could manipulate, did she?  Hadn’t she taken the hint that he wasn’t into playing games?

    
When he couldn’t stand it anymore, Gary stood up and reached a hand to Tasha. 

     “
So soon?” she pouted prettily.

     “
I feel ready to tackle the walk now.” he said, a mite shortly.

    
Tasha set her firm, little mouth and jumped down to her feet.  She was determined to make the brute’s blood boil before this was all over!

    
The walk home was silent and slightly uncomfortable, but Tasha’s humor was restored by the time they got to the house.  It was just going to take a little time, that’s all. 

    
At the foot of the stairs, she turned so quickly that he ran smack into her, front to front.  She slipped her arms around his broad, strong shoulders.

     “
Gary, thank you so much for a
lovely
evening.”  she said gratefully.  “I was certain to be bored to
death
without you.”

     “
I’m very glad you enjoyed it, Tasha.”  he said cautiously, crossing his arms in front of him.  It took some doing, with her standing so close.

    
Tasha ran her hands lightly over the firm muscles of his forearms, and turned her soulful green eyes up to stare meaningfully into Gary’s. 

     “
Really, Gary, you’re a darling.  I’m so glad we’ve learned to appreciate one another.” she whispered.  She edged so close to him that he could feel the considerable heat from her body.  She waited with upturned face, for too long a moment. 

    
When she realized he didn’t intend to kiss her, her eyes filled with big, hot tears.  “Don’t you
like
me, Gary?” she stammered, flinging herself away from him in humiliation.

     “
Tasha”, his voice chastised from behind her.  “You can be a very nice girl.  Why do you have to resort to these crazy games?”

    
She sniffed and turned to look at him.  “Nobody cares.  Not even my daddy.  My mother left, and I’ve never seen her since.”

     “
You can’t let your life continue to revolve around your parents’ divorce, Tasha.  Channel your energy into building a happy, successful life for yourself, instead.”  He turned her gently around, and smiled at her red eyes and nose.  “You don’t need so much attention, anymore.  You’re grown up enough to stand on your own two feet.”

     “
Of course I am!  I don’t need anybody, or anything!” she sneered.  “I happen to be independently wealthy.  Or didn’t you know?”

    
Gary laughed softly in reply.  “We always need other people, Tasha.  Having money has nothing to do with our need for companionship.  The trick is to discover who to trust, and build relationships with.”

    
She snorted.  “People just want to use me!  Either they’re after my money, or else they want to get lucky.”

     “
Well; maybe you just need to find a new circle of friends.” he suggested gently. 

     “
I just tried,  but you don’t seem to want me, either.”  she said coldly.

     “
I never kiss on the first date.”  he answered teasingly.

    “
Oh.  You are
despicable
!  You’re the most infuriating man I’ve ever met!”  she seethed.

     “
That’s entirely possible.  I suggest you sleep on it, and see how you feel in the morning.”             

     “
You!  You pompous creep!  If I dream, Gary Taylor, it certainly won’t be about
you
!” she stormed.  If looks could kill, he’d have been in shreds.  She tossed her head, and flew up the stairs to the house.

    
Gary stood grinning after her.  Slowly, he mounted the stairs and let himself into the house.  He sat in a chair in the dark for a moment; then sighed, and went on up the stairs to his room.  He was very tired.  Tasha was exhausting to contend with. 

    
His steps were silent on the plush hall carpeting.  He stopped to listen, hearing something that made him uneasy ... but he couldn’t place the sound.  Then he heard more clearly, and looked at the carpet, unable to believe his ears.

    
Tasha was crying.  Very quietly.  It wasn’t her usual ploy for attention.  The muffled sobs were of a quality that tore at his heart.  His lips thinned in consternation.  Had he been too rough with her?  The Lord only knew what was under that brittle exterior of hers. 

    
He felt shaken, to think that perhaps he’d truly wounded her in some way.  He’d only meant to call her bluff, and shake some sense into her.  But perhaps, he mused, she had behaved in the only way she knew.

    
Gary hesitated, then walked on by her door to his own.  He was awake for several hours, thinking about it.  Was there hope for a girl like Tasha?  Somehow, he wanted to think so.  He liked her, despite her tantrums and spoiled ways. 

    
He didn’t appreciate the behavior, but there was a spark inside her that reached out to him.  She was witty, and intelligent, and physically very lovely.  If she could just put her attributes to good use, what a girl she’d be! 

    
He smiled, and closed his eyes. 

     “
Lord, I lift Tasha up to You.  She needs You desperately, Jesus.  Save her, Lord.  I ask You to give her grace, Father.  Show us how to intervene on her behalf, Lord.  Show us how to reach into her heart and touch the places that are wounded.”

     “
Heal her heart, Lord.  I call upon your angels to keep watch over her, and to lead her in the right direction.  Put her feet on the path, Lord.  And put those people in place who can support her.”

     “
I thank you, Lord, for bringing her to us.  Let us help her.  Give me the words to say, and teach us the right way to be Your witness to her.  I thank You, Lord.  In Jesus’ name.” he said softly.

    
He sighed.  She was an enigma to him.  Her dusky eyes and trembling red lips came into his mind to haunt him.  He began to recall the feel of her soft, warm body against his, the musky scent of her perfume as she asked for the kiss that he wouldn’t give. 

    
He groaned.  It wasn’t a sexual arousal that was tearing at him, despite her obvious charms.  He had definitely felt a male reaction, but he’d instantly dealt with that, and put it away from him.

    
It was her wounded, torn little heart.  It was his sense that she was truly, completely unloved.  He knew that the Lord was telling him that she’d been reaching out to him tonight desperately, in the only way she knew how.  And he’d summarily rejected her. 

    
He felt extremely convicted.  A warmth grew in his heart for Tasha that he could only label as love.  He fought against it strenuously.  It was against
everything
in his nature to love Tasha Charles in any way, shape, or form.  She was trouble, any way you sliced it!

    
But, it was already too late.  He knew without a shadow of a doubt that a divine love for her had been placed in his heart by the very hand of God.  The realization of what it could mean, came in the form of a deep ache. 

     “
Oh, God.” he protested.  “Don’t let me be vulnerable to that little viper.” he pleaded. 

    
There was no response.  The presence of the Lord had come and done the work intended; and then He’d gone again, that quickly.  Gary could hardly complain.  He’d asked for divine intervention for Tasha.  He’d gotten it.