Dorothy Garlock (25 page)

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you how many girls I’ve taken out this past year.” His smile was wicked.

“I’d believe you. I saw you with one of them the other day.” April wished the words back as soon as they left her mouth.

“Yeah? When was this?” They had reached her car. He backed her up against the door and put his hands on each side of her, caging her in. His eyes were strangely grave.

“It was a few days ago. I came out of the clinic, and you were leaning against her car, talking to a very pretty dark-haired girl.”

“That was Ruby, Jack’s girl. Why didn’t you come out and meet her?”

“I didn’t want to interrupt. Anyway, I was in a ...hurry.” April stammered, annoyed with herself. She pushed on his chest. “You look like a Chicago gangster in that hat.”

“I thought I looked dashing.” A smile lit his handsome face again. “How many Chicago gangsters have you seen?”

“None. But I’ve seen plenty of Kansas City gangsters, and I imagine they’re not much different.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a gangster. But I saw a killer over in Rainwater, Oklahoma. He turned out to be a relative of sorts.”

“You’re kidding. Aren’t you?”

“No ma’am, I’m not. I’ll tell you about it some dark night when we’re sitting in the car after I’ve kissed you senseless.” His blue eyes shone with amusement. He opened the car door and helped her into the car, then went around and slid behind the wheel. He gave her his special smile, the one that crinkled the corners of his eyes and curled his lips, the one that made him look sleepy, dangerous and . . . something else. She wasn’t sure what.

“Mind if I drive?” he asked and started the car.

She laughed. “What if I said yes, I mind?”

“I’d say it’s too late, babe.”

“Where are we going?”

“To Mason, if it’s all right with you. They have two picture shows. We’ll have a choice of which show we want to see.”

“That’s fine with me. Do we have enough gas? I’ve not bought any since I’ve been here.”

“We have plenty. Wally and I changed the oil and checked the tires. Fool that I am, I didn’t leave much chance of us getting stuck out on some dark road.”

She laughed at his irritated expression. “I’ll stop by in a day or two and pay him.”

Joe gave her a sidewise glance but said nothing. She had an allure that baffled him, challenged him more than any woman ever had. He turned on the headlights and drove out of town. Once the lights of the town were left behind, he reached for her.

“Come over here and help me drive.”

“There isn’t room for both of us behind the wheel.” “Want to bet? I’d put you on my lap, if I could.” His hand tugged on her arm, and she moved over until her shoulder brushed his.

“I’ve not ridden in this car with someone other than my grandfather driving.”

“Closer.” His voice was low-pitched and urgent.

She disliked the command so charmingly uttered, but she moved, the gearshift jabbing at her knees. Her pounding heart numbed her senses. She wavered only temporarily, torn by doubt and self-recrimination, before settling her thigh snugly against his, calling herself weak and cowardly, wondering how she could be so foolish to yield so easily to his charm.

How could I allow myself to want to be close to him, touch him, have him smile at me?

“Now, tell me about the relative in Rainwater. I thought all the Joneses were upright and respectable.”

“We are, darlin’. We are,” he drawled. “My brother Jack is now a real sworn-in policeman; my pa is a model citizen; my sisters are married to fine, upstanding, dependable men. As for myself, I’m—”

“—the town rake!” she murmured sweetly, gazing at him with lifted brows.

“There you go. Complimenting me again.”

“There’s a black sheep in every family. I have one in mine.” “I don’t want to talk about the black sheep. I’m too happy just to be ...alone in the dark with you.” He put his arm around her and tucked her shoulder beneath his. “I’m good at driving with one hand.”

“I imagine you’ve had plenty of practice.” Her voice held a small annoyance.

“Not as much as I’d like, but I plan to become an expert,” he whispered and pulled her closer.

He was so delightful to be with that the car ate up the miles to Mason before she knew it. It had seemed much farther the night she came here with Jack. When they drove into town, Joe had to remove his arm from her shoulders so he could shift the gears, and she moved slightly away from him.

“Shall we go by the shows and see what’s on before we go to the restaurant?”

“We don’t have to do both—have dinner
and
see a show.” “Yes, we do. This is a real date. I want you to know that I know how to treat a lady.” He turned down Main Street and slowed in front of the blazing lights of the Tower Theatre. “It looks like
The Thin Man
, with William Powell and Myrna Loy. Have you seen it?”

“No. Have you?”

“I seldom go to a show. This is going to be a real treat, sitting in the dark, holding your hand.”

“Be serious,” April said as the car moved on down the street and stopped where neon lights spelled out
CAPITAL THEATRE
. She read the billboard: “
It Happened One Night
, with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. Oh . . . Clark Gable—he’s sinfully handsome!” She turned to look at Joe and found his face close to hers.

“I don’t like him. I like Claudette Colbert,” he said with a pout. “But I guess I can put up with him for an hour or two. Shall we see this one? I’ll go see when the next show starts.” At her nod he pulled the car to the curb and stopped. “Don’t drive off without me,” he said as he got out. When he returned, he took her hand before he spoke. “The next show starts at eight. We’ve got plenty of time, but I’m afraid it’ll go all too fast.”

When they entered the restaurant, April thought surely that this was the fanciest one in town. The walls were white with touches of gold here and there. Green plants were tastefully arranged in the corners and along the window ledges. The tables were covered with snowy-white cloths. A small vase of flowers sat in the center of each. Ceiling fans spaced throughout the room stirred the air lazily. Well-dressed patrons dined quietly.

The man who showed them to their table looked like a movie star in his black suit, white shirt and bow tie and dark slicked-down hair. After leaving the menus on the table he bowed slightly from the waist and backed away.

April glanced down at the prices on the menu and gasped. She glanced at Joe and found him looking over the bill of fare as if he frequented expensive restaurants every day. She folded the menu and laid it aside.

“You’ve decided?” he asked.

“On the chicken and dumplings.” It was one of the two cheapest choices listed.

“Sure you wouldn’t like to have a steak or one of these fancy French dishes?”

“Absolutely sure. I’ve been hungry for chicken and dumplings. I’ve been after Sparky to put it on his menu.”

“I thought you ate your meals at Mrs. Poole’s.”

“I do sometimes.”

The waiter returned, and Joe ordered for both of them. He had chosen ham and sweet potatoes. April mentally figured how much this date would cost Joe. The meals and the theater tickets would ruin a five-dollar bill, and he had filled her tank with gas. That would be another dollar. She felt guilty because she knew that she must make more money at her nursing job than he did. But it would never do with a man like Joe even to discuss what this date was costing him.

So what to do?
Be suitably impressed and make sure that he enjoys himself as much as possible.

The dinner was delicious. They smiled at each other across the table and spoke of nonsensical things. Her admiration for him grew. She realized that Joe Jones was the kind of man who could fit into any society, rich or poor, educated or ignorant, shy or outgoing. He was completely comfortable with himself.

April enjoyed the movie. She thought that Joe enjoyed it, too. She heard him chuckle from time to time. He pulled her arm through his, held her hand and toyed with her fingers, which was distracting. All too often she caught him looking at her instead of the movie screen. When it was over, they filed out of the theater with the other talking and laughing patrons.

“Now for the good part,” Joe said as he helped her into the car.

“Good part? I thought the movie was the good part.” “Not on your life, sugarfoot,” he said as he slid under the wheel. “The good part is when we get back to Fertile, park and neck.”

April laughed. “You’re the limit.”

Joe drove slowly back to Fertile, his arm holding her close. They talked about the movie.

“Hanging that blanket up between them was silly.” Joe glanced at her, expecting an argument.

“I suppose you liked that part the best.”

“No, I liked it best when she was standing along the road showing her leg so they could get a ride.”

April burst out laughing. “I should have known.”

The banter went back and forth until they reached town. “Why don’t we drive on out to your father’s or wherever you’re going to stay and I’ll drive myself home?”

“I’m spending the night on Doc’s daybed. I’ll go home in the morning, unless you want to go have breakfast with me.”

“Thank you, no. I plan to sleep until noon.”

“Not going to church?” He stopped the car on the edge of town.

“Will my reputation be ruined if I don’t?”

“Not with me. And that’s all that should count.” He put his hat on the seat on the other side of her. “Can I take that thing off your head? It looks pretty . . . but for what I have in mind it might get in the way.”

“Should I be frightened at . . . what you have in mind?” Her heart was racing, her senses in tumult, as she removed the turban.

“Maybe. I have this powerful urge to kiss you.” His voice was low, rich and deep.

She didn’t know what to say for a moment. “No,” she finally said, trembling slightly. “I’m not scared.”

His face was close, his voice low and heated, “Then let me kiss you . . .”

She was lost. His mouth was delicate at first, offering butterfly kisses on her lips and cheeks, on her earlobes and temples, on the warm pulse of her throat, then settled on her mouth with infinite possession, making her feel lusciously heated. She kissed him back, and a new tremulous feeling flared deep in the pit of her stomach. Pleasure inundated her senses, warmed her blood, and she felt overwhelmingly happy.

He lifted his head, almost drawing a moan of protest from her, and tilted her head back. She saw the sensuous curve of his mouth, then he was kissing her again. Her eyes drifted shut. His lips were soft, shaping hers. Both of her hands were clinging to his shoulders. He covered one with his and moved it down to press her palm against the heavy thump rocking his chest.

“Scared yet?” he murmured against her lips.

“Huh-uh.” It was all she managed to say before he was kissing her again.

“You should be.” The faintly muttered words came when he lifted his head again. He wrapped both arms around her, his heart thundering against her own. “Ah, sweetheart, I’m right on the verge of falling in love with you.”

“Oh, no. You mustn’t!” She could barely speak.

His mouth found hers again. He gently caught her lower lip between his teeth and applied delicate pressure.

“Why not? Couldn’t you ever love me in return?” His voice was suddenly rough, anxious.

She said the first thing that came into her mind and hoped that she sounded casual. “I don’t know you well enough.”

“What don’t you know?” His tone was concerned, his gaze perplexed.

Instead of answering his question, she said, “People don’t fall in love after a couple of dates.”

“Some do.”

“Not me. I’m too realistic for that.” Biting her lip, she pushed herself out of his arms. “It must be after midnight. We’d better be getting on.”

Joe started the car and turned on the headlights. He drove slowly along the road that ran parallel with the river.

“I really had a good time . . .”

“So did I.” His grin was back, but his mind was riveted on her words.
Not me. I’m too realistic for that.
He felt a heaviness in his chest. He forced a lightness he didn’t feel when he said, “We’ll do it again sometime.”

He didn’t seem to expect a reply. She looked out at the rolling river, wondering what she could say to keep the evening from ending on a less-than-happy note. She wanted to cry. Wrapped in her own thoughts, she was startled when he put his foot on the brake and stopped abruptly.

“Godamighty! Look at that. The river is up over Callahan’s dock, which means it’s over the banks in the low lands. It’s rained up north, and the fools downriver haven’t taken out that rock pile.” Joe moved the car along slowly. “The bank is lower here than anywhere along the river for ten miles in either direction. It’s not been over Callahan’s dock since the flood of the early twenties.”

“Does that mean it’ll flood now?”

“Looks like it. Doc’s worried about the water wells and . . . folks down here.” As he spoke, they could see flashes of lightning in the northern sky. “I’ll wake up Doc, then go tell Jack and Corbin. Jack is staying at the hotel until he gets settled in a room.”

“Leave me here at Doc’s. There might be something I can do,” she said as they approached the clinic. “Then take the car and do what you have to do.”

“What I want to do is kiss you again.” He turned to her after he had shut off the motor.

“And I want you to,” she said softly and never meant anything so much in her life. She wanted to feel the pleasure again, the strength of his arms around her, the hardness of his chest against her breasts, the sweetness of his mouth.

One hand slid up her back to close lightly over the nape of her neck. She felt his heart hammering, his breath soft on her hair. She had never felt this connection with anyone else, this rightness, as she leaned into him.

“Honey . . . sweetheart. You’re so damned sweet I can’t resist you.”

The kiss lasted for a long while, a fragile kiss, tender at first and then not tender at all. She felt a warm glow inundate her senses, and inexplicable joy. When he lifted his head, she wasn’t ready for the kiss to end.