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Ruby
I flip the lock on the door and turn the sign to ‘Closed’. It’s Friday night, and we’ve had a great day. There were a lot of people stopping by the bakery on the way out of town. Something must be in the air, because it feels like everyone is clearing out. Halloween is tomorrow night so maybe people have plans. There aren’t many places to stay that are close to the national park, so anyone visiting for the day would have to leave in the early evening in order to make it to the next town at a decent hour.
Gwen and I made lots of goodies all morning, and almost everything sold. I wanted to take Gwen up on her offer to go get a drink tonight, and I’m even more excited because it’s been a day to celebrate. There still weren’t any locals, but I’m trying not to dwell on it or let it get me down. Gwen keeps telling me to be patient.
I take one last look out the window before reaching up to pull the shade. I see Dominic talking to someone across the street. Almost as if he senses my stare, he turns, meeting my eyes. From this distance I can barely make him out, but suddenly I see his eyes brighten. It’s almost like they’re glowing. They’re doing that weird thing they did last night. I swear, the sunsets in this place cause people’s eyes to go funny.
The more I stare at him, the stronger the pull is to him. I don’t understand what is wrong with my body. All day it has felt as if my skin has been charged with electricity. I’m so sensitive and tingly all over. I kept rubbing my arms, feeling the hairs on them rise up like I was chilly, but I didn’t feel cold. I’m having the same feeling now. Something inside me wants to open the door and bolt into Dominic’s arms.
I shake off the idea and pull the shade fast, shielding me from his view. I turn around and smile at Gwen behind the counter. Maybe she knows what’s going on.
“Does it feel to you like everyone is getting out of town?”
She makes a non-committal humming sound and goes back to wiping down the counters.
“Seriously. It feels like something’s in the air. Didn’t you notice how all the tourists just bolted this afternoon? It’s almost like something is pushing them out.”
She looks up from the counter and shrugs her shoulders. “I think people are just trying to get out before the weekend. I’m planning on getting out of here first thing in the morning.”
“Really? Why? You didn’t say anything earlier.”
“Oh, no big reason. Just going to visit a friend in Bryson Peak. And it’s that time of the month.” She mumbles the last part under her breath and turns to head to the back.
God, her periods must be bad if she’s got to go stay with a friend when she gets it. Oh well, not my business.
I walk to the back with her and help clean up the kitchen. Once we’re finished, we close the register, lock up the back, and go upstairs to my apartment to get ready.
“God, I would love a place like this,” Gwen says when she walks in.
“I’m actually hoping I can get a new place soon. This just isn’t as isolated as I wanted. Hey, maybe if it works out you can rent it. You live with your brother, right?”
“Oh my God, that would be amazing! I would love to have a place of my own. The way he hovers over me is ridiculous.”
“Well, I’ll keep that in mind if I decide to move.” I go over to my closet and start flipping through clothes. I look over and see Gwen stripping down, clearly not shy about her body. I wouldn’t be either if I had her figure. Big perky boobs with a slim body; who would want to cover that up? Hell, I’d probably run around naked if I were her. “What did you bring to wear?”
“I wanted to go with something fun so I brought my leather pants and spiked heels. I’ve got two shirts, but I don’t know which one to wear.”
“I’ll probably just wear a dress,” I say, going through my rack of clothes. “I’m so short most pants are too long. Which one do you think?” I pull out two dresses, one navy and one dark purple.
“Oh, the navy would look great with your hair,” Gwen says, standing there naked and holding up two shirts. “Should I go with the crop top to show off my belly, or with the tank top to show off my tits?”
I can’t help giggling, thinking she’s really wanting to get wild tonight. I bet her brother doesn’t even know she’s going out. “Go with the stomach. If mine was flat I don’t think I’d ever wear a whole shirt again. I would just cut the bottoms off all of them.”
“Are you kidding me? I’d kill for your curves. Men love a woman they can hold on to. Meanwhile, I have zero ass and chicken legs.”
I just shake my head, smiling. “I guess we all want what we don’t have.”
I go to the bathroom, choosing to be a bit more modest. My navy dress is perfect for a cool fall night. It has a cowl neck and hangs off one shoulder, showing off my neck and collarbone. It clings to my body and comes down to about mid-thigh. I’ve got knee-high dark brown boots to wear with it, so it’s comfortable, but I still feel cute.
Thankfully, my curly red hair is somewhat manageable today and hangs down my back without looking ratty. I apply a little make-up, thinking I might as well go all out and put on bright red lipstick.
Once I’m finished I step out of the bathroom, and Gwen whistles at me. I feel my face heat, and I’m sure my cheeks are as red as my hair.
“Thanks,” I manage to mumble as I look Gwen up and down. She straightened her blonde locks and put on some heavy eye make-up. Her cropped shirt reads ‘I Love Dracula’ across the chest, and her black leather pants fit her like a second skin. She’s got on a pair of blood red spiky heels that I would kill myself in, but she looks like a rock star in them. “Damn, girl. You’re smoking hot!”
“Thanks, chica. I doubt I’ll find the one tonight, but it can’t hurt to try.”
“The one? You mean you’re looking for a husband?”
“Something like that.” She winks at me, grabbing her clutch off my bed. “You ready?”
We choose to walk to the closest bar so we don’t have to drive. We head out the front door and walk about a block to the Wolf’s Den.
Gwen seems to have a bounce in her step, and I look over at her and see her beaming.
“Are you excited about going to the Wolf’s Den?” I ask.
She flips her blonde hair over her shoulder and giggles. “Oh girl, you have no idea. You’re going to love it.”
“Have you been there a lot?”
“No, my brother would kill me if he knew I was going here tonight.”
r /> I smile, already having that suspicion. “Then why do you think I’ll love it?” I ask as we get to the front door of the bar.
Gwen reaches over, grabbing the handle and opening the door for me. “Just trust me. You’ll have a good time.”
“Have a good night,” I say for the fifth time in a row. As soon as we walked in, Gwen sat me down at the bar and told me she was going to shoot pool. I can see her from here, and she waves over at me every now and then before going back to her game with a few guys. I thought this was supposed to be a girls’ night, but instead I’m kind of on my own. I say ‘kind of’ because every minute since I’ve been here, men have been coming up to say hello. I’m surprised at the attention, but I’m even more surprised at how fast they get up and leave when I tell them I own the bakery.
I’ve been slowly drinking a beer, not really wanting to get too tipsy on my own. I know Gwen is here, and she seems to know everyone, but I don’t know how much longer I can take this. As I think about getting up, I feel someone else sit down beside me.
“I own the bakery, so go ahead and go.”
“I’m well aware, and I’m not going anywhere.”
At the sound of Dominic’s voice, my body goes soft. It’s like his presence melts everything away, and I’m just a puddle of need. What is going on with me? Every time I’ve thought about him today, I’ve gotten these crazy hot flashes and an ache between my legs. I swear to God, it’s like I’ve been close to cumming all day.
I turn on my bar stool, and when I do he moves as well so my legs are between his, and we are facing one another. He leans in close and squeezes his legs so they’re pushing mine together. I feel some of the ache between my legs lessen. It helps my need slow down, but it also makes it deeper, as if my desire is growing stronger.
This is the first time he’s touched me, and I feel his heat work its way up my legs, into my stomach and to my chest. My whole body is warming from his touch, and I close my eyes, thinking maybe I’ve been drugged.
