Over the Fence (16 page)

“We’re meeting tomorrow,” Eva said. “Now tell me what I need to do.”

Nightfall came while Eva and Caro set up the bar for the evening. It was still oppressively hot, and Eva was glad to have worn her minidress. The bodice clung tightly to her upper body, but the skirt was wide and swung airily over her thighs. Opting to wear sneakers proved to have been a good choice. She wouldn’t have made it for an hour running across the pavement in high heels. But the hard surface didn’t matter with these shoes. After finishing the bar prep, she and Caro walked outside to get a breath of fresh air. It was dark now and the first hard-core drinkers would show up soon. “Should we pull up the sides of the tent?” Eva asked.

“Need some help?” David appeared out of nowhere. “Though I would leave the sides of the tent down.” He pointed into the coal-black night. “A storm’s coming from the west.”

“How do you know that?” Eva asked. “It’s night.”

“Right before it got dark, black clouds covered the sky.”

Caro groaned. “Does this mean I have to pack everything back up?”

“Maybe it’ll pass,” David said.

“We never have that kind of luck.” Caro put her hands on her hips. “You want to be our first paying customer?”

“Why not?” David stepped up to the bar and looked at the list of beverages. “A gin and tonic would be nice.”

Eva leaned on the counter. “I’ll take the same.”

“This one’s on me,” Caro said.

“And the second one’s on me,” David said, giving Caro some money. “Do you want one, too?”

“Of course.” Caro gave David some change back and mixed up the drinks.

To drown out the brass band, Eva turned on the stereo. “Is that all right?”

Caro and David both nodded. “Anything’s better than another tune from the brass band,” David said.

Caro laughed. “That’s why I insisted on bringing the stereo.”

Eva started laughing, too. “I thought I was the only one who couldn’t stand those damned horns!”

“Hey, we might be country people, but we still know what’s good,” Caro protested as she put the glasses on the counter. “At least in this respect!”

“Eins, zwei, drei, g’suffa!”
Eva shouted.

“Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi!”
Caro yelled back.

“Hey, did you two get a head start on drinking tonight?” David asked, looking at them with amusement. “What do I have to do to join your club? Sing a drinking song?”

“Let’s hear it!” Eva spluttered.

David shook his head. “Instead of singing, how about if all the drinks tonight are on me?”

“We can live with that,” Eva said and raised her glass high.

“Welcome to the club,” Caro said, clicking her glass with David’s.

The rising wind drove some of the visitors into the tent bar. While Caro served the guests, Eva stood next to David and watched. Several of the female guests were looking at her, and though Eva couldn’t hear what they were saying, it was obvious they were talking about her and David. Either David didn’t seem to notice or he just didn’t care. Though the occasional soccer mom would come over to talk and flirt with him, he maintained his cool and cracked some jokes until the women went back to their husbands.

“You know everybody here, don’t you?” Eva asked, after a man walked past David and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

“That’s because of soccer. The first few years here were hell. I was treated like an outsider. It changed when Jonas started playing club soccer. Since I was pretty athletic and the village was looking for a coach, I began to coach the team.”

After the gin and tonic, Eva felt bolder and grinned broadly at him. David looked at her quizzically.

“Don’t you notice at all how some of these women make eyes at you?” The comment just slipped out.

“Well, as long as they’re just looking and not touching, I take it as a compliment. And it doesn’t happen that often,” David countered.

“So how many of their phone numbers do you have?” Eva continued.

“I have all their phone numbers.”

David’s eyes sparkled as Eva choked on her gin and tonic. “All their numbers?”

“I’m their children’s coach, remember? I have to have their contact info in case somebody gets hurt.” David ordered two more drinks from Caro.

As he held out Eva’s freshly filled glass, he looked deep into her eyes. “You think I’m a player, don’t you?”

Eva gulped. The thought had crossed her mind. “Even if I did, it’s really none of my business.”

“Even though it’s none of your—” David stopped and inhaled noisily. “Even at the risk of you not believing me, I have to tell you: I’ve never cheated on Stefanie.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Eva asked quietly.

“Because I need you to know,” David answered. “And because the gin and tonic is giving me some courage.” He put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

Eva stiffened and David immediately let go. She knew she was under scrutiny out here. Even though a hug meant nothing, the local gossip mill would play up the gesture until the entire village believed they were having an affair. Eva looked around.

“It doesn’t matter to me what people think or what they say,” David whispered in her ear. “And it should matter even less to you because you don’t live here.”

“Please don’t do that anyway,” Eva said, trying to restrain herself. His proximity made her uncertain. She could still feel where he had touched her. Eva’s hands were shaking. She couldn’t trust herself in his presence.

Suddenly the lights went out, followed by the loud boom of thunder.

“Everyone, please remain where you are,” Caro called out.

Eva felt David near her and all of the hairs on the back of her neck suddenly stood up. He was right in front of her. She felt his warm breath on her cheek. His hand stroked her face delicately. Eva put her hand over his and enjoyed the warmth flooding over her. No, she could no longer trust herself. Right now, she wanted nothing more than for him to kiss her.

David didn’t disappoint her. He lifted her chin and kissed her lips tenderly. When he stopped, Eva sighed softly, which David took as a sign to give her another kiss. She wanted to move closer, but she didn’t for fear of the lights coming on again. If that happened, everyone would see what had begun under cover of darkness. She gently pushed David away. “Not here,” she whispered in his ear.

A split second after Eva distanced herself from him, the emergency generator started up and the lights came on again.

“OK, people,” Caro announced. “The unit will turn off again in thirty minutes. I’ll need that time to pack everything up, so the party is over. Have a safe trip home.”

Most of the guests moved outside, grumbling. The storm was in full swing. The wind shook the walls of the tent and rain pounded the top.

David began to collect the empty glasses, and Eva started washing them. Caro dried them and put them in the open boxes, cringing at every bolt of lightning. Eva’s mind was in an uproar. She scrutinized the guests as they left, thinking everyone knew what was going on between her and David.

“This weather’s not fit for man or beast!” a guest slurred.

“Everybody has to go home,” David said. “You’ll have to leave. Unless you want to help us . . .”

Obviously, the guest had no desire to pitch in. He held up his hand awkwardly to wave good-bye and walked out into the night.

They were able to pack everything up before the generator cut off. Soon afterward, the power came on again and the streetlights illuminated the pouring rain outside. David helped Caro close up the tent and cover the generator.

“Thanks so much!” Caro said. “Without your help, this would have taken me forever.” She looked at them both. “We’ll be soaked to the bone by the time we get home.”

Eva hugged Caro. “I’ll call you.”

“It’s been a pleasure to meet you,” David said to Caro, who cringed when the thunder boomed again. “You want us to walk with you?”

Caro shook her head. “No. I’m going to run! Thunder and lightning always scare the hell out of me. Plus, my place isn’t far at all.”

“Are you sure?” Eva asked.

“Definitely sure! Have a great evening!” Caro took off at a run.

David put his arm around Eva. “You’re shivering. Are you scared of the lightning?”

Eva shook her head. Her shivering had nothing to do with the weather.

“Then let’s go. You must be cold.” He pulled her closer to him as they walked down the street.

Eva wasn’t cold. Her body now tingled with heat.

Bright flashes of lightning illuminated the sky as the warm summer rain pelted down on them. When they turned onto their street, Eva regretted that she would be home soon.

She saw her parents’ car in front of the house. But she didn’t recognize the other car in the driveway, which had a bright rental car logo on the back window.

“Your father has visitors?”

“Seems like it.” Her voice sounded a bit sullen.

David held the gate open for her, but she stopped and turned toward him. He reached out and lifted Eva’s chin and looked deep into her eyes. Eva thought he was going to kiss her again, but instead he took a step back.

“Would you like to come to my house for a cup of tea?” He hesitated for a moment. “We can stick your dress in the dryer, and I can give you one of my T-shirts to wear so you don’t freeze.”

Eva looked into his chocolate-brown eyes, and even though she knew she shouldn’t, she nodded and heard herself say she would love to.

David smiled and put his arm around her again. He led her to his house, and they walked through the front door together. He turned the lock, then flipped on the light.

They left large puddles on the tile. Eva took off her soaked canvas shoes, and when she saw herself in the hall mirror, she laughed. “I look like a drowned rat.” Her hair stuck to her head and neck, and the red dress was drenched.

“You look wonderful,” David said. He walked up behind her and kissed her on the neck. Eva leaned into him, enjoying the tingling sensation.

“We should get out of these wet clothes,” David said, interrupting the wonderful moment. “Come with me,” he whispered and pulled her with him until she was standing in a bedroom. It must have been his room because there was no double bed, only a rather spacious single bed. The room didn’t indicate the presence or influence of a woman, and it was too soberly decorated to be Jonas’s room.

David opened the closet and took out two T-shirts. Eva noticed that only David’s things were inside. He held the shirts up. “Which one do you like better?”

“You have your own bedroom?” Leonie had already told her that, but she wanted to hear it from him.

David looked confused but then nodded. “Yes, for many years now.”

Encouraged by his proximity and the fact that she was standing in his bedroom, she dared to ask the next question. “Where is Jonas?”

“He’s spending the night in a friend’s RV,” David answered, still holding up the T-shirts.

She took a step toward him and looked in his eyes. She interpreted the brief flicker as an invitation. David let the shirts fall to the floor, and he took a step toward Eva. For a moment, everything else disappeared and they only saw each other. Then he pulled her into his arms. Their first kisses were restrained and cautious.

David stopped and stroked her wet hair away from her forehead and looked deeply into her eyes. Then he kissed her neck. His kisses wandered down to her cleavage. He pulled her to him and unzipped her dress. The dress fell to the floor, and Eva stood before him in her underwear. His probing eyes embarrassed her.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered before he kissed her again. Eva’s body shivered in delight.

David gently stroked her back. He undid her bra and kissed her hungrily. Eva pressed herself against him and kissed him back just as fervently. She unbuttoned his shirt and stroked his chest, kissed his neck, and then moved down his body, lingering on his nipples, nibbling on them. He inhaled sharply, and she stripped his shirt off.

David lifted her up and carried her to the bed, continuing to kiss her neck. The sensuousness of his lips on her skin caused a tingle of excitement to run up and down her spine. She pulled him to her and kissed him. Their tongues explored each other tenderly at first, then stormily. She gently bit his lip, and a groan rang out from his throat, encouraging her even more.

David’s breath on her neck sparked an unprecedented passion in her. As he moved closer to her to touch her thigh, she noticed his huge erection. She lost the last small vestige of self-control and pulled him down to her. They kissed each other tentatively at first, then wildly.

Then David pulled away. “Do you want this as much as I do?” he asked.

In answer, she pulled him closer and wrapped her legs around his waist. She could feel his erection against her. He smiled at her. Seeing his muscular upper body only increased her desire and she unbuttoned his jeans.

After they’d quenched their initial lust, they made love again, tenderly, without haste. Eva enjoyed his every touch—even his smallest gesture was a gift—and she felt a passion she’d never experienced before.

They caressed each other without saying a word until Eva fell asleep in David’s arms in the wee hours of the morning.