Exploits (20 page)

I scramble. He doesn't mess around. Straight to business. I dash into his room and grab my smokes and lighter. I hurry to meet him back in the entrance hall. My eyes savouring the moment of a
tall, hot man, in black jeans watching me. He could even be a model, he's got the build and the height. I still don't know anything about him. As I reach him, he slips an arm around my waist, holding me tightly against him for a moment, before guiding me with strange familiarity out of the front door and down the steps to his waiting car.

That small gesture lets me know we're okay. That whatever happened earlier wasn't my fault, or affecting him and how he feels about me. I smile, thrilled as the door is opened for me. I stare at the sunglasses and wish I could see his eyes. I can't define the drive home. He was withdrawn. Quiet. It still feels stilted and awkward.

I reason that what's done is done. I'll probably never see him again. No point in making anyone feel uncomfortable. He halts the vehicle in front of my door and I unclip the safety-belt and smile at the sunglasses, perfectly outlining an aristocratic nose poised above delectable sensual lips. I smirk slightly at the stubble. Somehow, he doesn't do scruffy.

"Thanks."

I don't try to kiss him, or touch him, or make false promises. As I turn to open the door, his hand shoots out and grabs mine. I pause and watch him, guarded. He slips the sunglasses onto his head and stares hard at me.

He kisses my hand, holds onto it, "I had fun."

I smile back, "Me too." I step out and whisper, "Bye."

I don't wait for a response. I shut the door and walk to my front door. I unlock it, walk through it, raise my hand at the hunkamasaurous staring at me through an open window, sunglasses back in place, wave briefly and shut the door.

I slide down it and sit on the carpet, wondering what the hell I've just done. I want to jump with unrestrained joy at finding Mr Perfect. But Lindsay and Ted just ruined it all. Now I'm completely unsure and I just know that Lindsay will have my head on the office block tomorrow. But why? Why introduce me to Marty, leave me alone with him, if she didn't want us to ever hook up? Surely it was a possibility?

Tired, I walk straight to the bathroom and start running a bath. It’s time to wash off his kisses.

* * * * *

I'm listening to music, SBI have the perfect song – the candles lit, feeling relaxed and safe, when my doorbell sounds at exactly seven o’clock. I look through the spy hole and whoever it is, is tall. I can't see who it is because the light bulb is obviously gone outside the door.

Worried, I open it. Instantaneously my heart is in my throat, a happy smile lighting up my face, my eyes glowing at a mischievously smiling Marty on the other side of my repaired security gate.

Sweet lust-dust this man is uncut temptation begging to be shot straight into my veins. He's lounging casually against the wall, a tub of ice-cream in each hand. He exudes ‘cool cat’. He holds up one hand, then the other, "I didn't know if you preferred vanilla or chocolate, so I got both."

A laugh bubbles up out of me, as I unlock the gate and let him in. My heart is bouncing off the walls like a squash ball at this unexpected surprise.

He pauses in front of me and lowers his head. No resistance here. I kiss him back eagerly. Hmm, he doesn't stop. He just follows hot breath and warm lips with more warm lips and pressure. Each kiss longer than the last. He's still holding ice-cream in each hand but wow, whatever kissing class he went to, he got his Master's degree: Professor Kiss. He could conquer the world with his kisses. Maybe he's a Casanova? My laugh ruins the moment. He grins at me, his eyes dancing with dark mystery as he nudges his head at my kitchen, "In here?"

I nod, and watch his suave stroll into the room close to the front door. Those jeans just suction over his derriére like ganache on twin cupcakes. Yummy doesn't do him justice. I lock the door and gate, and move to wrap my arms around his waist, my head tilting back as I join him in my tiny kitchen a fifth the size of his. "This is a nice surprise."

His happy smile just warms me to my toes, melting my nervous system on its way down. He's teasing as he lowers his nose closer to mine, a smile dancing at the corners of his mouth, "Good thing you were home."

Oh slurp! He wraps his arms around me and just lifts me right up off the floor to kiss me. I can't describe it to you. But his embrace, the way I feel with him, the way I respond just to his presence, before he's even touched me, I feel home. He makes me believe in soul mates and happy endings. Gary was never like this. I never, ever, felt this happy or safe, with Gary. I didn't react this way to Gary. Marty has a gentleness inside him. He's tender and warm whilst simultaneously being reassuring and confident. I let him prop me against the counter top to rain kisses down my neck, his hands already feel familiar. I know it's early but I swear I'm feeling love for this man.

He pulls away, smiling at me. I can't help but react in kind. He fumbles through the drawer next to my leg and pulls out two spoons. "Chocolate or vanilla?"

I shake my long hair across my shoulders as my head moves in disbelief, "Chocolate."

He grins and lifts me off the counter with one arm. Go Mr Perfect! He laces his long fingers through mine and picks up the chocolate tub and walks me back to the lounge. It's as if he's always known me. He manages to make himself perfectly at home. He flops down onto the carpet, reaching his long arm up, hooking my hand and tugging me down to join him. He says nothing. His eyes warm, flirtatious, naughty, playful. He pops the lid off the tub and dips a spoon into it. Chuckling, he wipes the cold wet chocolate across my mouth, holding me down with one hand, he starts kissing and licking the chocolate off my lips.

I collapse, relaxed next to him, giggling
happily as I let Mr Perfect make chocolate ice-cream instantly, and forever, a memorable experience. It didn't take him long to find out I was ticklish. Lying on the floor looking up into his dark reflecting eyes, happy to just be with him, my wavy blond hair splayed around me, he starts tickling my knees, then my waist and hip bone. I am squealing and laughing a belly laugh so loud I'm sure the neighbours can hear me. He is just
scrumptious.
I'm squirming to get away from his hands, he's laughing at my giggling, the two of us making a real ruckus, when my bloody doorbell ding-dong's an intrusion into perfection.

Breathless, I crawl away from his hands on my blue jeaned knees, before standing up, cheeks flushed, a happy smile smirking across my face, I open the door without looking first. My heart instantly plummets as I stare into the disapproving faces of Graham and Cindy. I swallow heavily, my breathing has vanished as I stare at the past invading my future, waiting to be let in. How the hell do they know where I live?

Graham looks past me, to Marty lying with his shoes kicked off, still sprawling on my floor, watching him with unfeigned interest. Graham's grey eyes swivel to mine, "Hello, Stefanie."

He could have been the schoolmaster and me the naughty child with that tone. Marty notices and sits up, pulling his shoes back towards him, as I nod woodenly and look to Cindy, who's now glaring at me.

"We thought we'd come over to say hi. We were worried about you being all alone."

Graham adds coldly, "But you aren't alone. That didn't take you long."

"Aren't you going to invite us in?"

I look at Cindy and sigh heavily.
Fuck
. Here goes nothing.

I unlock the gate and stand aside, "Come on in."

I look to Marty, who's giving me his ‘I sense all’ reassuring warm glances, sensing my discomfort and their disapproval.

"Marty, this is Cindy and Graham." Then to them "Guys, this is my friend Marty."

What the hell am I going to say? He isn't my boyfriend yet. I'm not sure if we're even dating. But a friend, yes, I think so.

Graham squares up, he's thick set but much shorter than Marty, he shakes Marty's hand, "Hi."

Cindy just shoots him the once over and comments sarcastically, "Nice to meet you."

I stare at them, they are unwelcome. "We were busy, I wasn't expecting company."

Cindy doesn't mess around, she flicks her long curly blonde hair a-la-bitch mode and stares at me. "So, is this your new boyfriend?"

I look at Marty, I want to laugh so badly. He grins at me and shrugs. I look back down at the impertinent haughtiness confronting me, "I hope so."

Well, that just snapped something in Graham, he shoves a finger into Marty's chest, "Who the hell are you? Couldn't wait?"

He glares at me then, "I never figured you were such a slut." He grabs Cindy's hand, "Come on, we're leaving."

I'm appalled, embarrassed. Somehow they have ruined a delightful evening.

Marty shoots me a wink, "Don't bother. I should go." He smiles at me, "I'll call you."

Before I can say three "ums" he's gone. I stare at Cindy and Graham and I am livid.

Cue song: Andrew Chester, ‘Understand’.

"Who the hell do you think you are? Gary can date, but I can't?"

Graham glares down his nose at me, "Gary did well to get rid of you. Now I understand his problem perfectly. Cindy insisted that we had it all
wrong. But you aren't pining over Gary one bit. Slut."

I feel as if he slapped me.
Fuck you.

"Just go."

Cindy stares coldly through me, "
Fine
. I thought you needed a friend. I can see I was wrong. GOOD BYE, STEFANIE."

And, self-righteous and pompous, she struts out of the still open door.

The vacuum after this awful confrontation just sucks the joy out of my home as the quiet pervades. I slide down the closed door, wondering how I'm always the one to blame? I stare at the two spoons and the open tub of chocolate ice-cream sitting, waiting, in the middle of the room. I smile. Then I start crying. Did they ruin it? Will he run from me now knowing that kind of baggage is just waiting to jump on us?

I lost track of time. I was sitting in the half dark, smoking moodily, feeling depressed, when thumping started again on my front door. What now?

I drag myself off the sofa and fling open the door.

"Neville?"

"Thank God!"

"What?"

"Open this door!"

I unlock the gate and he pounces in, looking half mad and deranged. He looks around behind himself nervously before shutting and locking the door.

He grabs my hand and squeezes it, "Are you okay?"

Adrenalin starts coursing through me. "Yes. Why?"

"Gary is furious!"

What?

"Why?"

"Stefanie, you can't stay here. He wants you dead.
Tonight
."

My legs lose their rigidity and I wobble weakly to a sitting position, looking up at Neville seeming terrified, wild and insistent.

He leans over me and emphasises, "He's taken a hit out on you."

My heart is racing as fast as my thoughts. I'm afraid, scared, angry, everything all at once.

"Pack things! Quickly! You're coming home with me."

Oh no! No fucking way.

I shake my head. I'd do anything, in fact I'd rather be dead than be alone with Neville.

"What happened?"

He stares at me as though my head is sprouting carrots, "Cindy and Graham left here and went straight to Gary's. I was there. You have to leav
e.
NOW."

I hate that little snitch bitch. Some friend! I could SCREAM.

Shaking my head, "Thanks for worrying Neville, but I'm not leaving. I've got work tomorrow and I'm done being afraid of Gary. I won't let him control my life any longer."

He falls to his knees, grabbing both my hands in his, pleading, "Pleeeease Stefanie. I can't lose you. I only just found you."

Oh fuuuuuck.
Shivers of revulsion charge my spine.

"You should go. If he finds you here, all hell will break loose."

He stares at me in disbelief. "Do have a death wish? Aren't you hearing me?"

Sigh. I'm drained, exhaustion claiming my rationale.

"Neville,
fuck
Gary. I'm not afraid of him. And I'm sleeping in my own bed tonight."

He grabs me and engulfs me in a suffocating hug against his cold, black, leather jacket. He pulls away and I can see tears unshed, glistening his eyes. He's really worried. He believes Gary will do it.

He stands and pulls me up with him. His hand holding onto mine. He whispers, "I love you."

Oh God. No. Don't
do
this to me.

I smile and pat his hand patronisingly, "I know. Now go."

He kisses the top of my head, hugging me again as though I'm already a corpse. "Please be careful."

It was a faint pleading whisper.

I nod, showing him to the door insistently, "I will. Thanks for the warning."

He pauses outside my door as if in two minds about leaving.

I take charge, "Goodnight Neville."