Summer Magic (18 page)
Authors: Sydell Voeller
"Lisa?"
Dr. Woodstock's voice was gentle, nudging her back.
Dr. Woodstock's voice was gentle, nudging her back.
She got to her feet and rested her hand on the counter top to steady herself.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Woodstock, but I've made up my mind.
I know now there can be no turning back."
"I'm sorry, Dr. Woodstock, but I've made up my mind.
I know now there can be no turning back."
*****
"Hey, babe!
Where’re you headed?"
Where’re you headed?"
Lisa hesitated, then slowed her pace.
Who was that?
It was the end of another long day. She was heart-broken and weary.
All she wanted to do was phone her brother, tell him about her plans to leave, and turn in for the night.
For two whole days now, she and Michael hadn't exchanged one word.
Who was that?
It was the end of another long day. She was heart-broken and weary.
All she wanted to do was phone her brother, tell him about her plans to leave, and turn in for the night.
For two whole days now, she and Michael hadn't exchanged one word.
"I said, where you headed?"
The voice grew more insistent.
The voice grew more insistent.
She turned around and recognized the good-looking stunt motorcyclist who'd sized her up that night she and Michael were walking to his trailer.
"Come here.
Talk to me.
What's going on?"
He jerked his head to one side, sending her a self-assured smile.
Talk to me.
What's going on?"
He jerked his head to one side, sending her a self-assured smile.
She smiled back at him, suddenly flattered.
"I...I was just about to go off to
my trailer to make an important phone call on my cell." Her smile grew wider.
Why not give Michael a taste of his own medicine?
Why not show him?
Far be it from her to sit around all teary-eyed, pining after the likes of the super star himself.
"I...I was just about to go off to
my trailer to make an important phone call on my cell." Her smile grew wider.
Why not give Michael a taste of his own medicine?
Why not show him?
Far be it from her to sit around all teary-eyed, pining after the likes of the super star himself.
The guy sauntered up to her, giving her the once-over. "Ah, I’m sure your call can wait.
It can’t be
that
important.
Like some company tonight?"
It can’t be
that
important.
Like some company tonight?"
"Well...sure.
But I...I don't believe we've met.
At least not officially."
He was even better looking up close--a trifle taller than Michael perhaps and his hair was close-cropped, a shade darker with a tawny cast.
Tonight he wore tight-fitting jeans and a white T-shirt with the Jessell and Stern logo.
But I...I don't believe we've met.
At least not officially."
He was even better looking up close--a trifle taller than Michael perhaps and his hair was close-cropped, a shade darker with a tawny cast.
Tonight he wore tight-fitting jeans and a white T-shirt with the Jessell and Stern logo.
He chuckled, crossing his muscular arms across his thick chest, causing the shirt to strain.
"No, I guess we haven't met.
But believe me, Lisa Prentice, I've been keeping close tabs on you."
"No, I guess we haven't met.
But believe me, Lisa Prentice, I've been keeping close tabs on you."
"Oh, have you?" she asked coyly, flashing him her most stunning smile.
"So what's your name?"
"So what's your name?"
"Patrick.
Patrick O'Banion."
Patrick O'Banion."
"Hmm, an Irishman, no less."
"Uh-huh.
Second generation."
His green eyes laughed down at her with a teasing awareness.
"So you like Irishmen, eh?"
Second generation."
His green eyes laughed down at her with a teasing awareness.
"So you like Irishmen, eh?"
"Well..." she stalled with her answer in an effort to flirt back.
"Not even a wee bit?"
"I adore Irishmen."
"Good.
At least we've got that much straight.”
He paused.
“I hope you're not planning on tying up with Figaro tonight."
At least we've got that much straight.”
He paused.
“I hope you're not planning on tying up with Figaro tonight."
"No.
Why?"
Why?"
"I just saw him and that new showgirl pretending they were hard at work.
The rest of the flyers were nowhere in sight."
The rest of the flyers were nowhere in sight."
She set her jaw, struggling to hold her suspicions at bay.
Were Michael and Rita doing more than just practice? Or was Patrick lying in hopes of furthering his own agenda? With difficulty she shrugged it off and met Patrick's smile again.
Were Michael and Rita doing more than just practice? Or was Patrick lying in hopes of furthering his own agenda? With difficulty she shrugged it off and met Patrick's smile again.
He sidled up to her a little closer.
"Wanna go for a ride?
On my bike?"
"Wanna go for a ride?
On my bike?"
She remembered the way during performances he'd zoomed through the air over a low string of barrels.
If he meant that, he was out of his head.
"Y...your motorcycle?" she stammered.
If he meant that, he was out of his head.
"Y...your motorcycle?" she stammered.
"No, my dirt bike.
I've got two, one for each of us. How 'bout you and me kickin' up a little dust in that big field behind the back lot?"
I've got two, one for each of us. How 'bout you and me kickin' up a little dust in that big field behind the back lot?"
"Well..." she stalled some more.
"I've never driven anything other than a car before--and a hot cycle when I was a little kid.
But I have carved down some pretty wild slopes when I was into snowboarding," she added, not wanting to sound like a complete coward.
No point telling him about the accident though.
"I've never driven anything other than a car before--and a hot cycle when I was a little kid.
But I have carved down some pretty wild slopes when I was into snowboarding," she added, not wanting to sound like a complete coward.
No point telling him about the accident though.
"No sweat.
You can sit nice and snug behind me and let me do the driving."
He cocked his head to one side.
"Besides, it's early.
Nobody around here turns in before midnight.
After we're done riding, maybe we can head out for a beer.
I know of a cool little pub down the road."
You can sit nice and snug behind me and let me do the driving."
He cocked his head to one side.
"Besides, it's early.
Nobody around here turns in before midnight.
After we're done riding, maybe we can head out for a beer.
I know of a cool little pub down the road."
"All right.
Let's go."
Let's go."
On their way back to Patrick's truck and trailer where he stored his bikes, they came up behind Estelle, Claudette, and Olivia, who were sauntering along, absorbed in conversation.
As far as Lisa could tell, they had no inkling she and Patrick were behind them.
It felt strange, though, to be with Patrick instead of Michael.
As far as Lisa could tell, they had no inkling she and Patrick were behind them.
It felt strange, though, to be with Patrick instead of Michael.
“Killer work-out...”
“Michael's almost got Rita flying triples..."
At first Lisa could only catch snatches of the conversation between the two sisters who were positioned on either side of their mother.
At first Lisa could only catch snatches of the conversation between the two sisters who were positioned on either side of their mother.
So Patrick was right, Lisa realized with a sinking feeling.
Michael had ended the practice early in order for Rita and him to work out alone.
Deep inside, she had hoped Patrick was lying.
Michael had ended the practice early in order for Rita and him to work out alone.
Deep inside, she had hoped Patrick was lying.
"I don't like this one bit..." Olivia Figaro's voice, louder now, pulled Lisa from her thoughts.
The woman shoulders were slumped as the three quickened their pace. "Michael's working himself to a frazzle," she continued.
"My son's exhausted and pale.
Are you kids sure a fourth flyer is really necessary?
Does Michael need to spend so much time coaching Rita?"
The woman shoulders were slumped as the three quickened their pace. "Michael's working himself to a frazzle," she continued.
"My son's exhausted and pale.
Are you kids sure a fourth flyer is really necessary?
Does Michael need to spend so much time coaching Rita?"
"Yes, Mom," Claudette answered levelly, her voice empty of all feeling. "We're sure."
"Sis," Estelle said, sending Claudette a furtive look. "Don't you think it's time--"
She tossed a glance over her shoulder, then bit off her words.
She tossed a glance over her shoulder, then bit off her words.
The color drained from her face when she caught sight of Patrick and Lisa striding behind them.
*****
In the moonlit lot next to the fairgrounds, Lisa sat close behind Patrick on his dirt bike, roaring across the rolling terrain.
Full tilt, they mounded the next crest, then dipped again, spewing a trail of dust behind them.
Full tilt, they mounded the next crest, then dipped again, spewing a trail of dust behind them.
What an absolute thrill, Lisa thought as the shadowy landscape whizzed by.
The whine of the engine, the rush of adrenaline, the heady sensation of freedom and speed!
The only thing that would make it better would be if Michael could see her right now...which might not be too unlikely if Estelle had decided to tell him.
The whine of the engine, the rush of adrenaline, the heady sensation of freedom and speed!
The only thing that would make it better would be if Michael could see her right now...which might not be too unlikely if Estelle had decided to tell him.
They rode on and on.
Patrick gunned the engine as he cut a wide swath in the dirt before he clamored to a stop.
Patrick gunned the engine as he cut a wide swath in the dirt before he clamored to a stop.
Laughing, Lisa tossed back her head and adjusted her helmet.
"Oh, please!
Just one more time, Patrick!
Please don't stop now!"
"Oh, please!
Just one more time, Patrick!
Please don't stop now!"
He angled a look over his shoulder, grinning broadly. "Like that, babe?"
"I loved it!"
"All right!
Here we go again.
Hold on tight!"
Here we go again.
Hold on tight!"
"Lisa Prentice!"
Michael shouted from the edge of the field.
Lisa struggled to hold back a smile.
It was working...just as she'd hoped.
Michael's voice grew louder as he strode directly towards them.
"What are you trying to do, Lisa?
Kill yourself?"
Michael shouted from the edge of the field.
Lisa struggled to hold back a smile.
It was working...just as she'd hoped.
Michael's voice grew louder as he strode directly towards them.
"What are you trying to do, Lisa?
Kill yourself?"
"What's the matter?" she asked.
"Patrick's a pro.
He's not going to let us crash."
"Patrick's a pro.
He's not going to let us crash."
"He's a dare-devil biker," Michael insisted, tight-lipped.
"Hey, man, lay off.
You heard the little lady!" Patrick glowered as he swung his leg over the side of the bike and got to his feet.
You heard the little lady!" Patrick glowered as he swung his leg over the side of the bike and got to his feet.
"
You
lay off, O'Banion," Michael shot back.
You
lay off, O'Banion," Michael shot back.
"Get out of here, Figaro.
Lisa's mine tonight!"
He planted his feet wide, his stance unmistakably defensive.
Lisa's mine tonight!"
He planted his feet wide, his stance unmistakably defensive.
"Michael!
Patrick!
Stop--this minute," Lisa broke in desperately, just as Patrick took a swing at Michael, but missed by a narrow margin.
She'd just wanted to stir up a little jealousy in Michael--not have them punch each other out.
Patrick!
Stop--this minute," Lisa broke in desperately, just as Patrick took a swing at Michael, but missed by a narrow margin.
She'd just wanted to stir up a little jealousy in Michael--not have them punch each other out.
"Please!
Both of you!"
she hollered, her voice rising. "Stop right now."
Both of you!"
she hollered, her voice rising. "Stop right now."
"Lisa, come on," Michael ground out, righting himself as he tugged at her hand. "But Patrick and I aren't done yet!
We're still--"
"Yeah, get out of her face, Figaro," Patrick interrupted.
"Who invited you here in the first place?"
"Who invited you here in the first place?"
"Lisa, please."
Michael's voice was steeped with forced control.
"Let's go.
Now."
Michael's voice was steeped with forced control.
"Let's go.
Now."
A pang shot through her.
She longed to do as he asked, but her pride held fast.
Hesitantly she met his gaze.
His eyes were steady and uncompromising.
She knew in an instant she could resist him no longer.
She longed to do as he asked, but her pride held fast.
Hesitantly she met his gaze.
His eyes were steady and uncompromising.
She knew in an instant she could resist him no longer.
"You win, Michael," she said in barely a whisper, yanking off her helmet and handing it to Patrick.
She turned back to him a second time, but already Michael was hurrying her away.
"Patrick, I'm sorry, but thanks anyway.
It was fun."
She turned back to him a second time, but already Michael was hurrying her away.
"Patrick, I'm sorry, but thanks anyway.
It was fun."
"Yeah Lisa, babe.
Come look me up when you change your mind," he hollered after them, his voice fringed with sarcasm.
Come look me up when you change your mind," he hollered after them, his voice fringed with sarcasm.
By the time they'd reached his trailer, Michael was still gripping her hand so tightly, he'd caused it nearly to go numb.
"Lisa, what in the heck's come over you, going off with O'Banion like that?
As soon as Rita and I were done rehearsing, Estelle found me.
She told me she'd seen you with him."
"Lisa, what in the heck's come over you, going off with O'Banion like that?
As soon as Rita and I were done rehearsing, Estelle found me.
She told me she'd seen you with him."
She squirmed beneath his angry gaze.
"What are you worried about, Michael?
Riding on Patrick's dirt bike was perfectly safe.
It was even his idea I wear a helmet, just like he was."
"What are you worried about, Michael?
Riding on Patrick's dirt bike was perfectly safe.
It was even his idea I wear a helmet, just like he was."
She couldn't help wondering about the motivation fueling Michael's anger.
Jealousy as she'd hoped?
Or had she simply assaulted his male ego?
Jealousy as she'd hoped?
Or had she simply assaulted his male ego?
"Helmet or not helmet, O'Banion's still a dare-devil stunt man," Michael said hotly.
"And a pretty sleazy one at that."
"And a pretty sleazy one at that."
"What are you talking about?"
"Haven't you heard?
He was fired today.
He's been ordered out of here first thing tomorrow."
He was fired today.
He's been ordered out of here first thing tomorrow."
"Why?"
"Unethical conduct.
Pilfering.
A whole list of stuff. Management has been keeping an eye on him for a long time. Finally they got enough evidence on him."
She gave an indifferent shrug, though her insides were churning.
What if she
had
gone off later tonight with Patrick?
What if she
had
gone off later tonight with Patrick?
"So you rescued me, Michael," she said.
"I assure you, though, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
"I assure you, though, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
"Maybe you are.
But meanwhile, I need to talk to you." He dug inside his hip pocket and produced the key to his truck.
But meanwhile, I need to talk to you." He dug inside his hip pocket and produced the key to his truck.
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