Love and Other Wicked Games (A Wicked Game Novel) (13 page)

“That would be helpful, since a rally doesn’t sound like the conventional sort of manner in which a gentleman calls on a lady.”
Did I really just said that?
She looked at his face. Yes, it appeared she did.

“No, it definitely is not.” He paused and twisted his lips. “Is that something you would like? For me to call on you?”

“Is that an option?” Ellie looked down at the floor. What was she doing?

“That’s not what I asked,” Cal responded as he continued to smile roguishly. “And who said anything about me being a gentleman, or behaving like a gentleman? Where’s the fun in that?”

“I—well—” Ellie cleared her throat.

“We certainly wouldn’t be here if I was.”

“I suppose not.”

“And you still haven’t answered my question.”

Ellie cleared her throat and crossed her arms. She was afraid to answer. It was obvious that he enjoyed her company, at least here within the refuge of this room. But this room was not the real world and she had no idea what might possibly happen once they walked out that door. Maybe their connection would be more powerful than ever, or maybe they would never feel connected again. That was a terribly sad thought.

“Perhaps we should get through this rally—whatever it is—first.”

Cal smirked. “Fair enough.”

“So, what is it then? This rally you speak of. Judging from the sort of activities you’ve included me in thus far I’m assuming it will be ever so exciting and scandalous.”

“Oh yes. Ever so much.”

“I hope you’re right, because you’ve set my expectations of you incredibly high. And I must say that should this friendship continue you’ll have quite a job in keeping me satisfied.”

Cal chuckled softly and made a quiet
hmm
in his throat. “I imagine I will. But I don’t foresee that being an issue.”

“Is something funny about that?”

“Not at all.”

“I’m very particular.”

“I know. Most women are.” Cal crossed his arms with another smirk. “And you, even more so. I can tell… and I like it.”

“What does this have to do with a rally?”

“Absolutely nothing at all.”

“Then what are you talking—” Ellie was struck with the realization that he had been teasing her again. She desperately wanted him to explain himself but she was afraid of what she might do if she knew the answer. And she was more afraid that she would enjoy every moment of it. She cleared her throat, forcing herself to move on before the fire inside of her burned out of control. “I’d like my question answered. What’s a rally?”

“Alright then. As you wish.” Cal rubbed his hands together vigorously. “I’m sure you already know from the protests you’ve witnessed that the mill workers themselves are tired of the way they are forced to work and live. Until recently though, none of them ever thought there was anything they could do about. That was just the order of things and the way the world worked. And if there was ever going to be any change it would not come at their hands but at the hands of someone else, someone ‘more important’—say a mill owner—”

“Well, that isn’t bloody going to happen…”

“Of course,” Cal qualified with a clear of the throat. Ellie thought she heard his voice catch but he carried on before she could even wonder what it was about. “But as you’ve seen with all these protests lately, people are beginning to see things differently. They’re no longer willing to wait around for someone else to save them. They’re ready to save themselves.”

Ellie tilted her head. “Huh. I hadn’t thought about it that way.”

“But that’s a mighty big job for one person, is it not?”

“I’d say so.” Ellie felt a sudden rush of excitement as the pieces began to come together in her head. “So the workers are starting to come together.”

“Exactly. There’s strength in numbers, in more ways than one. Together they can find support and help one another in their fight, but together they can also find common goals. They can develop a plan to address their shared grievances and what they want—” Cal shook his head. “No, not what they want: what they need—both from their job and their employers.”

“What they deserve. As human beings,” Ellie added.

“Exactly,” Cal said again, reaching out to give Ellie’s hand a squeeze.

“So, this rally then, it’s one of their gatherings?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not a protest is it?”

“No, no. Nothing like that. This one isn’t for the general public. This is just for the workers and their allies. An informal gathering for support and planning.”

“And I’m sure they can use all the support they can get.” Ellie clasped his hand now too. “Alright. Yes. This sounds wonderful. More than wonderful even. I’d love to go.”

“Brilliant.” He grinned at her in a way that told Ellie he was relieved, as if he had been holding his breath waiting for her answer and hoping he would see her again after all this was over.

The thought filled her with happiness and excitement, but she couldn’t ignore that something about this situation was beginning to nag at her.

“However…” Ellie sighed and carefully placed her hands on her lap trying to figure out exactly what it was she wanted to know.

“What is it?”

“How is it… how is it that you know about this informal workers’ rally? And what exactly is the purpose of us going anyway? I mean I’m sure they will be grateful for our support and it’s bound to be informative and interesting and—and—”

“Oh. That.” Cal inhaled and exhaled slowly, as if he was trying to buy time. He was looking slightly sick again. “I suppose I have to tell you then, don’t I?”

“Tell me what? Are you finally going to tell me what all this is about?”

Cal continued to breathe deeply.

“What is it?”

“I—well, I—I am—” Cal cleared his throat.

“Goodness. You’ve turned as white as a bed sheet.” Ellie reached out and touched his forehead. He flinched a little, which surprised her. Ellie got the feeling that he hadn’t thought this all the way through and now he was scrambling to come up with an answer to give her. “Well, not these sheets but you know what I mean—and you’re all clammy. Are you—”

“I… know some people. Some influential people.” Cal said forcefully, almost too forcefully. He took a few more slow deep breaths until the color returned to his face and he no longer looked like he was going to pass out.

“Well, that wasn’t so difficult now was it?” Ellie pondered him a moment. He appeared to actually be telling her the truth. How much of the truth though, well, that was an entirely different matter. “Which influential people?”

“Just some people.” He paused. “Some people who have the ability to help change the lives of these workers.”

Now Ellie felt slightly sick. “Mill owners?”

Cal didn’t answer.

“Which mill owners?”

He still didn’t answer.

“You sure like your secrets, don’t you?”

“Not at all actually. But I like you enough to keep them.”

His smile was earnest again and his hand covered hers with a protective warmth. She wanted to feel this way forever.

“So,” he prompted after a while.

“So… you know these people, people who can possibly help the workers.” Ellie bit her lip, trying to process everything, but this whole situation, combined with the growing emotions in the center of her chest, was making rational thought nearly impossible. “I’m sorry but I don’t quite understand what that has to do with you or me or going to this rally.”

“Oh, it has everything to do with us and this rally.”

“How so?”

“It will be a fountain of information for one thing.”

“About what?”

“Well, the workers and their plights to begin with: what they want, what they need, their grievances.”

“And how does that help? I was under the impression that the mill owners don’t care one way of the other as long as they make their money. So, how is gathering this information about the workers going to make any bit of difference?”

“You’re correct.” Cal’s eyes glistened once more. “The mill owners don’t care about the workers. To them and their investors and shareholders, mills have one purpose and one purpose only: to make them money …and lots of it. So the plight of the workers, their complaints, their desires… all completely irrelevant. But that doesn’t mean that change is impossible. We just need to speak in the right language. As you said, the mill owners don’t care one way or another as long as they make their—”

“Money.” Ellie jumped up. “Now I understand…”

“Exactly. Their money. What they’re most afraid of is losing money. They’re afraid that making changes will be too costly and will destroy their companies and investments. They’re so afraid that they won’t even consider letting anyone investigate it. In fact, they spend quite a deal of time thwarting any investigations into the topic before anyone ever has a chance to find out anything meaningful. So the inquiries have to be performed in secret. But even still there are risks…” Cal’s eyes were serious again. “Which is why I must ask that you never tell anyone about any of this. If you want to be involved you must promise to keep everything secret, everything I tell you and everything we do… This situation is… delicate…”

“I promise,” Ellie said immediately and then paused. Her heart sank remembering the reason they were in this room in the first place. “Are you in danger?”

“No. No, Ellie. It’s not like that.”

“Then what
is
it like?”

He shook his head.

“Fine. If you won’t answer then I’ll answer for you. Investigating, finding answers: that’s what you’ve been doing,” she stated matter-of-factly. “And that’s why you’re running.”

Cal rose from the bed and came to her. He clasped one of her hands in his and placed his other hand on her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb once more. She leaned her head into the motions.

“I could say you’re too smart and too sweet and too caring, but I won’t. Because that would imply it’s a bad thing.”

“It’s not?”

“No.” He smiled at her once more before he dropped his hand. “Now where were we?”

Ellie cleared her throat and tried to think but her brain was in a fog. This was something she was coming to realize. She might be smart, but whenever they touched, her brain turned to mush. “Something about investigations and money?”

“Ah. Yes. The mill owners and their investors are terrified of losing money but their fears are simply unfounded. Whether they choose to acknowledge it or not, making changes does not have to be the death of their companies. I dare say, if done right, that making changes might actually
help
the companies, not just the workers. But information is needed in order to prove that. And once I have that information I can formulate a plan of action for changes in such a way—”

“That the changes won’t destroy the companies or the investments… They’ll have no good reason not to make the changes if it can be proved. Especially if you can prove it will be better for them…” Ellie let her mouth gape. “Bloody brilliant. Turn the obstacle into the catalyst and beat them at their own game. Whose idea was that? Was that your idea? It was your idea, wasn’t it?”

Cal shrugged. He sat back down on the bed and crossed his arms looking rather pleased with himself. “What can I say? I’m brilliant.”

“You are. You
clever
man,” she nodded as she sat back down next to him. “And completely full of yourself,” she added with a playful shove of his shoulder.

“Hey now,” Cal reached out to her shoulder as well but unlike her, he didn’t let go once he’d shoved her. “You set me up. That wasn’t very nice.”

Ellie looked down at the hand that was now burning a hole straight through her clothes and into her skin. “
That’s
not very nice,” she mumbled, though she hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

“What? Oh.” He looked at her shoulder in a way that said he hadn’t even realized he was still touching her, as if it was something that had just happened naturally. It appeared to fluster him a bit.

“I didn’t say it was wrong or bad. I said it wasn’t…
nice
. There’s a difference.” Oh, Lord. What was she doing? Who was she and what had she done with Ellie?

Cal raised his eye brows but didn’t say a word. Instead, he ran his palm leisurely over her shoulder, down across her shoulder blade, and to the small of her back where he let it rest. He paused for a moment, then pulled her in closer. Ellie squeaked and he grinned.

“Will it be safe?” she suddenly asked him.

His eyes lit up something wild. “Will
what
be safe?”

“The rally. Will it be safe?”

“Ah. The rally.” He bit his lip again and tilted his head. “I’ll protect you.”

“Maybe I’ll protect you.”

“I don’t need protecting.”

“Well, neither do I.”

Cal leaned towards her and spoke softly into her ear. “But what if a smart-mouthed rake tries to accost you?”

“I think I’ll have had sufficient practice by then to refuse his advances. Should I—should I—” Ellie exhaled shakily. “Should I choose to, that is.”

“But you won’t, will you?”

“Maybe—Maybe I would.”

“Would you?”

Cal pressed his cheek against hers. The rough hairs of his face scraped her skin, making it tingle. She felt his teeth grate against the top of her ear and then her earlobe, ever so slightly, before soft lips brushed along the line of her neck just barely making contact with her skin. They tickled the petite hairs that were already sticking up. Tiny convulsions began to shake in her belly and move lower and lower down her body. She inhaled sharply with a tiny gasp. He responded by pressing his hand more firmly into her back, the weight of it heavy and strong. They leaned their bodies against each other. She rubbed her cheek against his, wanting. He smelled of musk and earth and mystery.

“What about now? Would you still refuse?” His breath was warm yet she shivered. The words danced on her skin.

“No,” she purred. “Not now.”

He pressed his lips to her face; carefully, slowly, just in front of her ear, warm energy growing and building to a peak. And then, just as her heartbeat rose up into her throat, just as the shivers reached a sensitive and secret place, just as every cell of her body lit up like the stars in the night sky … he pulled away and looked around the room. He used his thumb to wipe away the chilly marks he’d left on her face. “No. Not now, indeed.”