Dusky Rose (2 page)

Laura's hands had sought the security of his shoulders in an attempt to break her fall and now they clung to his neck like a vine seeking the strength of a towering oak.

Her heart beat wildly as she slowly lifted her face and their eyes met with a driving intensity that created sparks in the silent air around them. She felt his powerful arms move to encircle her in an iron grip as he brought his lips down to meet hers with a penetrating force that sent cascades of excitement racing through her body. Laura knew that she should push him away, but her lips responded to his with a will of their own, encouraging the passion which her mind sought to deny. His arms held her so close that she was unable to separate her own quickening pulse from the deep throbbing beats of his swiftly racing heart. She felt herself becoming completely limp beneath the masterful probing of his sensuous lips.

Her head was spinning madly as she felt his lips soften and gently release hers. Then the pressure of his arms slackened as he nestled her in the crook of his elbow while his eyes traveled the length of her quivering body.

"I guess introductions are in order," he said, smiling wickedly down at her in that arrogantly relaxed manner she had already come to think of as his. "My name's David."

Laura finally regained enough composure to work her way out of his arms. He straightened as she moved away and she could see that he was at least a foot taller than her own five-foot-two. Her voice was low and breathless and she turned her flushed face away from his as she gathered her thoughts to speak.

"I'm Laura Canaday… I don't know what happened to me… I'm not usually in the habit of kissing strangers."

"Please don't apologize," David said, smiling broadly. "It was my pleasure and I can't help feeling that you enjoyed it too."

Once again David's bold manner had Laura completely at a loss and she began to collect her gardening supplies. She tried desperately to calm herself as she placed the tools in the large wicker basket beside her. Laura thanked David when he reached down and handed her the small copper misting can which had been the cause of her embarrassment, but she could not lift her eyes to meet his.

"Don't tell me you're going to carry that heavy basket all the way back to your flower shop? And the ladder, too?"

"No, I'll just slide them over to the maintenance closet at the end of the corridor. I keep them there until I need them again."

"Well," David said, "I guess I'll be leaving too. It was nice meeting you."

Laura said "Good-bye" without lifting her eyes, but she couldn't help noticing how eager he seemed to get away from her. She was flooded with shame as she realized that the kiss which had affected her so strongly had been of very little importance to him; the thought left her suddenly chilled with loneliness.

Laura put her supplies into the closet and walked toward the exit. As she signed out of the building, she searched for David's name in the log book at the security guard's desk, but the guard's hand covered the page and obscured her view. The realization that she didn't even know David's full name only increased her inexplicable sense of loss.

She left the Lattimer Building and looked up and down the deserted streets, hoping to catch a last glimpse of the man who had kissed her with such untamed passion just minutes before. But he was nowhere in sight and, as Laura walked slowly back to the flower shop, a painful emptiness expanded to fill her heart.

She opened the door of the shop and the tinkling bell announced her presence to her sister, Midge, who was deeply engrossed in arranging a bouquet of spring flowers in a white, milk glass bowl.

She looked up as Laura walked through the door, then put down the flowers she was holding and walked quickly toward Laura.

"Laura, what's happened? You're pale as a ghost." Placing her arm around Laura's shoulder, she walked her to the back of the shop, where they sat down on the small red velvet chairs Midge used to seat clients planning weddings or large banquets.

"Everything is all right," Laura said. "I'm fine, really. It's just that there was a mailroom worker in the Lattimer Building and… he sort of unnerved me a bit."

Midge raised her eyebrows questioningly at Laura. "What happened? Was he rude to you? You never know what to expect from some of these young fellows."

"He wasn't that young. I'd say he was about thirty-five, and he wasn't really rude to me." Laura blushed as she thought that she could hardly call him rude, considering her own behavior.

"It's just that he started talking to me while I was working and it made me nervous."

"Well, as long as nothing really happened, just try to forget it and put it behind you."

Laura heard what her sister had said and thought,
If only I could put it behind me; but that was easier said than done
. Shivers of fear and delight ran up her spine as she thought about David, yet he had been able to leave without giving her even a backward glance.

"Laura, stop daydreaming," Midge said. "I've just finished my last flower arrangement of the day. Let's deliver it and head for home. Remember, Steven has arranged a date for you with another accountant from his office and you promised that you'd try to be pleasant. It's just not normal for an attractive, twenty-two year old girl to stay home alone every night reading horticultural books. You're never going to meet a man if you spend all your time around plants."

Laura laughed lightly as she thought about the exciting man she had, in fact, met while she was working with her plants. Although the episode had obviously meant nothing to David, Laura knew that she would never forget the way his lips had burned into hers and the strange security she had felt within his powerful arms. None of the men Midge had ever introduced her to had made her feel that way, but she certainly wasn't about to tell Midge what had really happened this morning. Her cheeks flushed as she remembered that kiss.

That evening, Laura dressed in a beige suede pant-suit which had the soft appearance of lustrous velvet. The brown turtleneck sweater beneath her suit was accented by a variety of simple gold chains in differing lengths. Her hair softly framed her face and turned under to rest casually on her shoulders.

As usual, Laura was finished dressing before Midge, so she answered the door when Steven rang the bell. Steven Garrigan was a tall, fairheaded man with a lanky build that give him a gangling, boyish appearance. He was an accountant with Johnston Brothers, a large firm that had offices in most of the world's major cities. He was a serious and hard worker, and seemed slated for rapid advancement with the firm. He planted a brotherly kiss on Laura's cheek and said, "Isn't Midge ready yet?"

Laura shook her head, "I guess you'd better get used to Midge's lateness if you're going to marry her; it's about the only bad habit she has."

Steven smiled. "Maybe she'll change after we're married." Then he turned to the stocky man with glasses, who had been waiting patiently behind him. "Say, I'm forgetting my manners. Laura, this is Roger Addison. We work together at Johnston Brothers and he's been very anxious to meet you."

"I can't tell you how happy I am to meet you. Steven has told me a lot about you and I can see that he wasn't exaggerating."

Laura blushed at Roger's compliment. Then she led the two men into the living room which, like the rest of the apartment, was furnished with used furniture that Laura and Midge had found at second-hand furniture stores. Each piece had been carefully selected and refinished until the room had the warm look that only thoughtful planning could produce.

Roger and Steven waited until Laura had seated herself, then sank into the soft cushions of the crewel covered couch.

Laura had just suggested that Steven mix some drinks for Roger and himself when Midge emerged from the bedroom. Her short black hair clung to her head in tight little curls, giving her a pixie-like appearance. She was dressed in an emerald green corduroy pantsuit which emphasized her flashing green eyes. Laura could see the look of approval on Steven's face as he kissed Midge softly on the cheek. She knew that Midge, with her tactful manner and businesslike mind, would make the ideal wife for Steven. They looked so perfectly content together that Laura felt a small twinge of envy sneaking into her heart.

After the men had finished their drinks, they all left the apartment and walked to the corner, where they caught the cable car to Fisherman's Wharf. They laughed as they hung onto the poles outside the car while it chugged up toward Nob Hill. Laura thought that the joy of riding the cable cars was one of the things she would always love about San Francisco. It gave the city a unique ambience that made it seem more European than American.

The cable car finally clanged to a halt across from Ghirardelli Square and the two couples swung down from the outside ramps. Then they watched as a horde of new riders turned the cable car around before boarding it for a trip in the opposite direction.

Laura sighed as she watched it move away. "San Francisco is such an exciting city; I'm glad we moved here, Midge."

Midge smiled as she hooked her arm into Steven's. "I'm glad to hear you say that, Laura. I often feel that you're homesick for the open spaces of Carmel."

"I often am," Laura said. "Sometimes, when I'm on Montgomery Street, surrounded by those dreary skyscrapers, I feel like I'm suffocating. But when I'm down here by the water, with the cable cars clanging, I feel that San Francisco is paradise."

The two couples started to walk toward Fisherman's Wharf where Steven and Midge had a favorite Italian restaurant. Roger put his arm around Laura's shoulder to shield her from the strong evening breezes that were blowing in from the bay and she relaxed, enjoying the cozy warmth of his heavy tweed jacket. Still, she couldn't keep from comparing him to the mysterious David, who was definitely the most exciting man she'd ever met.

The tantalizing odor of garlic and tomatoes teased Laura's nose as Roger led her through the restaurant door. The melodious tones of a lively tarantella drifted between the pungent scents of the food, creating a friendly atmosphere of Mediterranean warmth. Mario, the owner, greeted them pleasantly and led them to a quiet booth at the back of the room.

When they left the restaurant, more than an hour later, the fog had become so thick that it was impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. Laura shivered against Roger as they hurried through the misty haze to the cable car station.

The trip back home on the cable car was fun, although it had gotten too cold to ride on the outside and they huddled together, sharing the front cubicle with the conductor. Laura said goodnight to Roger, and she honestly meant it when she thanked him for a very pleasant evening.
Midge is right
, she thought,
I should try to go out on dates more often
. This evening had been more fun than she had experienced in a long time. Roger didn't make her blood tingle the way David had done, but she really hoped that he would call her and invite her out again.

Sunday was a quiet day and she was truly pleased when Roger phoned and invited her to join him for dinner.

She showered quickly and changed into a simple black knit jersey dress. The simple gold chain around her neck emphasized her glowing tan and her high-heeled sandals made her legs look long and slender beneath the clinging softness of her dress. Laura could see the approval shining in Roger's eyes as she opened the door.

He wore a dark blue business suit and a striped tie, and Laura had the feeling that he was probably the kind of man who wore a suit and tie whenever he left the house.

They walked to the corner and hailed a cab. Roger, like many other residents of San Francisco, found it impractical to own a car in the city and relied on taxis and cable cars for transportation.

Laura relaxed as the taxi moved through the city toward the Embarcadero, an area of old warehouses which had been renovated and turned into small restaurants and shops. Now it was a favorite attraction for natives as well as tourists and there were always crowds of people moving through its picturesque streets.

The taxi left them off at the entrance to one of the city's newer hotels. Roger and Laura rode the outdoor, all-glass elevator to the penthouse floor where the restaurant was situated. Roger had made reservations and they were immediately shown to a table by the window. The scene below changed constantly because the entire top floor of the hotel revolved slowly while the diners sat at their table.

"Would you like a drink before dinner?" Roger asked as the waiter approached their table.

"No, thanks. Alcohol makes me sleepy. If I were to order a before dinner cocktail, there's a good possibility that I'd fall asleep during dinner and you'd have to carry me home."

Roger chuckled, "Well, since the restaurant is famous for its food as well as its view, we wouldn't want that. However, the idea of carrying you home intrigues me."

They were both laughing by the time the waiter approached the table to take their order. While they were waiting for their dinner to arrive, Roger asked Laura if she wanted to dance. The music was soft and low, exactly the right type for the dimly lit restaurant. Laura glided about the dance floor, enjoying herself more than she had in a long time. Roger wasn't a spectacular dancer, but neither did she need to feel embarrassed at her choice of partner.

The music stopped and the couples on the dance floor moved apart to applaud the musicians before returning to their tables. Laura turned toward the bandstand and found herself staring into a pair of wickedly dark eyes. Before her stood David, looking at her with that maddening smile on his lips. He gave her a short wave and let his eyes casually roam the length of her body. Neither of them spoke, but Laura could feel herself trembling at the passionate desire his eyes were communicating to her.

Laura quickly shifted her eyes and glanced at the girl standing next to David. His arm circled the waist of a stunning blonde, tall and with the most perfect features imaginable. Every hair was in place and her clothing was obviously expensive and so perfectly fitted that the woman looked as if she had just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Laura's brown hair was falling loosely about her face and her mental comparison of herself with David's companion made her feel small and dowdy, even though she was wearing her most sophisticated outfit.