Without You I Have Nothing (11 page)

_{Shaken and tearful
Jennifer returned to the stage.}

_{“Peter, we’ll do the
infamous kissing scene from the top. I’ll be the heroine and if you dare kiss
me, there’ll be a new fight scene.}

_{“Jennifer, watch the
new heroine struggle.”}

_{“Come, a kiss to seal
the bargain!”  Peter took the director as if he was a lightweight to bend him
back in the classic pose and to a casual onlooker they would have been kissing.
The director’s arms beat against the villain’s back and one leg shook in the
air as if the heroine were struggling violently.}

_{“My God, it’s like
being in the clutches of a Kodiak bear. No wonder you reacted the way you did,
Jennifer,” was the director’s wry comment before calling each woman to stand in
as the heroine and run through the same scene.}

_{“Hey!  You're not
supposed to wrap your arms around the villain’s neck and kiss him as though
he’s a long lost lover,” he admonished actress after actress.}

_{Jennifer was green. Her
jealousy was almost enough to rip the villain from the stand-in and scream,
“He’s mine - that’s my Peter.”}

_{Finally, the director
pulled Jennifer to one side.}

_{“Be calm. Struggle as
much as possible and then twice as much again. Punch his back and wave your
free leg in the air. Struggle!  Struggle hard!  However, when he kisses you,
put as much passion in your kiss as you possibly can. Don’t let him escape -
put twice as much passion into your kiss and then stand back to watch the
result. Don’t be frightened - we’ll protect you from the big lug.”}

_{Jennifer took to the
stage and immediately the cast could hear the change in the villain. “A tasty
morsel,” meant so much more and she didn’t have to see his stance.}

_{Then those words
echoed. “Come, a kiss to seal the bargain!”}

_{She felt Peter’s arms
go around her and she felt safe. Slowly he bent her back and she remained as
still as possible. Gradually she began struggling violently, seeming to gain
strength although remaining under the villain’s power as she held the pose. She
watched as, even more slowly, his lips closed on hers. Her mouth opened, her
tongue began a love dance with his and she allowed her fire to scorch him as
her two fists pounded his back.}

_{He tried to make his
passion dampen her apparent resistance and his eyes attempted to bore into hers
but her eyelids closed and the kissing went on.}

_{Slowly he realized
her hands were pushing him away and suddenly she was standing before him,
glaring. Swept away by the passion of the moment he missed his cue.}

_{Speechless and
bewildered, the villain failed to hear the prompter’s words although five times
she repeated the phrase. He stood staring sightlessly into space before realizing
where he was as he stammered the next lines.}

_{Roaring with
laughter, clapping and shouting their delight, the cast stamped their feet.}

_{“Come on, villain,
what did the heroine do to you?  You thought you were smart eh. Good for you,
Jennifer, go for him. Rattle his chain again, Jennifer.”}

_{Breathless, confused
and embarrassed, still shaking his head, Peter sat down.}

_{Slowly Jennifer
approached him. “Drive me home tonight and pick me up for all rehearsals,
please, Peter. Forgive my silliness.”}

_{There was no further
talk of resigning from the cast.}

_{When Saturday night
arrived, unable to contact Jennifer and needing some respite from work Peter
accepted an invitation to meet Ted and Bob at the club.}

_{He remembered
mentioning the dance and inviting Jennifer but she had abruptly and rudely cut
him off.}

_{In his ignorance he believed
that he most certainly did not have to rely on Jennifer Blake for company. There
would be plenty of girls at the dance willing to be his partner.}

_{Bob was not visible
but Ted was leaning over a dark haired woman.}

_{She seemed vaguely
familiar and, before Peter could turn away, Ted waved, calling him across. “Ah,
Peter, so glad you changed your mind and came. We were wondering if you would
be here. Take Ruth off for a dance while I find Bob.”}

_{Smiling, Ruth took
his hand and led him off. “We had a fantastic time at the trots.”  Her words
were to Peter but her eyes followed Ted. She was smitten.}

_{“Ted knows so many
people. We won so much. Where did you and Jennifer go?  You left early and
Jennifer has been terribly evasive lately. Karen and I want to know what you
two did.”}

_{It was easy to evade
her questions as she prattled on. All Peter wanted was for the music to end so
he could deliver her back to Ted. Then he could prowl and tonight he was
hunting and would be no gentleman.}

_{Bob and Karen, Ted
and Ruth, Peter and his hostility all made a cozy little group.}

_{“What’s wrong,
Peter?  Lost your bet?”  Bob grinned and bent to whisper in Karen’s ear.}

_{“There’s someone
here, you know.”  Ted’s smirk told Peter nothing.}

_{Peter turned away to
watch the dancers whirling and twisting in the latest craze. The crowd thinned
and he stiffened. Two dancers had taken command of the floor. The redheaded
young woman’s skirt flew high above her waist as she flashed under, over and
through the legs of her partner. So engrossed were the two, they were unaware
the other dancers had stopped to watch their performance.}

_{It was Jennifer. Peter
stared horrified. This was the woman who reacted so badly to a mere kiss and who
had fended him off on the phone.}

_{Bob slapped Peter on
the back. “It looks as though your friend does have fire. You were right,
that’s no Ice Maiden. My God, look at her,” and leaning closer so that neither
Ruth nor Karen could hear him he continued. “I should have tried harder. Bet
you had a good time after the casino. No wonder you left early.”}

_{Peter didn’t have to
look at Bob to know his eyes filled with more than admiration. “Shut your
bloody mouth. Shut up.”}

_{Peter’s snarl was
short and angry, brooking no denial and Bob turned back to the others. None of
them dared to intrude into his mood again. They worried that he would vent his
pique on them.}

_{“Hello, fancy meeting
you here!”  Jennifer stood at Peter’s elbow her face flushed with the exertions
of the dance. Wiping perspiration from her face with a delicate lace
handkerchief she continued, “You didn’t tell me this was your scene. I thought
you’d be home playing...”}

_{The look on Peter’s
face frightened her so she stopped short.}

_{“Your date certainly
can dance,” was Peter’s snarling reply.}

_{The music restarted
and before the pimply faced, disreputable youth dragged her off, Peter stood
between them.}

_{“If you hurt Jennifer
in any way you’ll answer to me.”  Peter allowed his voice to show that he
wanted to snap this youth into two.}

_{Turning to Jennifer,
he stated loudly and clearly, “Bet he gets invited in for coffee. Or will it be
more than coffee?”}

_{Jennifer turned white.
Trembling and crying, she shrugged herself free of the young man’s hand. Her
thoughts screamed in her head. ‘What have I done?  I don’t want you to leave. I
need you. This man is not my date – he merely asked me for a dance. I came here
to…’}

_{Unable to hear her
thoughts Peter hung his head in sudden shame. He put up no resistance as
security escorted him from the premises.}

_{He hurt. He hurt so
much.}

_{He would not stay to
see Jennifer enjoying herself with some other man. To watch her in someone
else’s arms would cause a violent explosion.}

_{“God, what brought
that on?” was Bob’s comment. “I really thought he was going to take that fellow
apart. What happened to our friend?”}

_{The cool of the
evening did nothing to bring him to his senses and driving the car only gave
him time to brood. He seemed to be driving aimlessly until the workshop loomed
into view.}

_{Zombie-like,
soul-dead Peter donned his overalls and began dismantling the latest damaged
car.}

_{Jennifer could go to
hell. He would get this car ready for painting. The parts were there. Then he
could do some work on the race car. His mind, overloaded with anger, love and
disappointment, closed down as he worked on the car slowly turning to the job
in hand.}

_{Then his mind turned
to the race car. ‘There must be a way of lightening the chassis and getting a
few more revs out of that motor. Bob did enjoy the winner’s rostrum and it is
up to me to give Bob the best. I need no one.’}

_{Every slam with the
hammer crashed into that little man’s face as he danced with Jennifer and in
the glare of the welding flame Peter could see Jennifer’s face vibrant with
enjoyment. The vigorous actions of cutting, welding and hammering the torn,
twisted metal began to purge his soul and the angry hurt began to drain into
just a deep black void as he became more engrossed in the job.}

_{The shrill ringing of
the phone disturbed him. He tried to ignore it but it just drilled into his
consciousness until finally he picked it up.}

_{“Peter, can you help
me?”  Mrs. Williams, one of his customers, sounded relieved. “I'm at the club
and my car won’t start. Since that episode after rehearsals, I'm frightened of
going into any car park to catch a cab. I'm so sorry to have to call you, but I
had no one else I could call.”}

_{“That’s okay. I’ll be
there in ten minutes. Wait inside the main doors by the security stand and I’ll
flash the lights three times. You’ll be safe. I’ll get your car running during
the week and have an apprentice drive it home for you. Now wait there and stop
worrying.”}

_{His thoughts in
turmoil Peter groaned, ‘Oh for God’s sake, why?  Why me?  I’d drive to the moon
for Jennifer but it’s not her calling. It’s Mrs. Williams. Why me?  Just
because I rescued her that infamous night doesn’t mean I'm her white knight
forever!’}

_{The car lights
flashed three times and Susie Williams wasted no time sliding into the
passenger’s seat. Her short blonde hair reflected the latest hairstyle. Her
sheer, skin-tight blouse and brief, flared skirt displayed her feminine charms
to advantage.}

_{“I hoped you were
working - you're always working. You're a life saver and I do appreciate your
help.”  Under the illumination of the interior light, her blue eyes gleamed and
she lightly drew the tip of her tongue across her lipstick as if checking its
taste but Peter ignored her response as he began driving her home.}

_{“Come in and let me
get you a drink. At least I can do that as thanks.”}

_{Peter’s thoughts
reflected his sorrow. ‘How different to Jennifer. Why?  Why doesn’t Jennifer
unwind?  She could just bend a little. I wouldn’t hurt her.’}

_{No sooner had they
entered her apartment than Susie poured a long fruit juice for both of them,
and Peter, standing so close, could not help noticing her warmth and softness
as she stared up into his eyes. Her lips slightly parted as if demanding a kiss
when she proffered the glass.}

_{‘Hell, why not?  I
owe Jennifer nothing. She is enjoying that creature’s arm about her. I wonder
if she also enjoys his kisses. Why shouldn’t I do the same?’  The thoughts
flashed through his mind as he bent to accept Susie’s offer. Fire coursed
though his veins as her free arm wrapped itself around his neck trying to
arouse him even more.}

_{Yet the taste was
wrong and the smell was wrong. This was not his Jennifer.}

_{“I'm sorry, Mrs.
Williams.”  Peter drew back, aghast. After all, she was a married woman and a
customer. “I’ll finish this drink and go.”}

_{“I'm Susie. Call me
Susie and don’t apologize. After all, you did rescue me after that rehearsal
without pausing to think. Those men could have killed you. I was grateful for
that then and I'm grateful again now. Don’t apologize. I enjoyed that. You
taste so...”}

_{She licked her lips
as though cream covered them and preened herself like a cat before a warm
winter’s fire. “You taste so powerful and so male. Sit over here and don’t be
in such a hurry to leave.”  Susie sat on the divan and patted the seat beside
her.}

_{Desperate to cling to
his code of chivalry, Peter allowed excuse after excuse to tumble out.}

_{“My overalls are far
too dusty, I’ll shed dust everywhere. I must get back and finish the job. You're
far too beautiful for this poor, crass man who couldn’t do justice to your
beauty and... and... and...”}

_{Stammering and
blushing he hoped Susie would allow him to leave. “No, I’d better go.”  Peter
had no experience of what to do in this situation. ‘What the hell is expected
of me?’}