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She’d argued with heractualdate for the dance—Jerry Rogers. They weren’t an official couple or anything, but he’d asked and she’d accepted. He’d tucked a flask into his jacket and sampled it liberally all night. He’d gotten more and more handsy with her as the night went on. She knew why—she’d made the mistake the year before of sleeping with another football player. It hadn’t exactly been a stellar first-time experience, made worse by the fact that he bragged to his pals about their sweaty, uncomfortable fumbling around in the guy’s basement. She’d finally convinced herself it didn’t matter if kids were whispering about her. She’d held her chin high and looked down at everyone as iftheywere the ones in the wrong, not her. They couldn’t hurt her if she didn’t let them.
But she didn’t want to miss her senior year homecoming dance, so she’d accepted Jerry’s invitation. He seemed like a good kid, and it wasn’t like they had to pretend to be in some lovey-dovey relationship. She’d found a navy blue bridesmaid dress at the secondhand shop and her grandmother had shortened it and made a few alterations so that it fit like a glove. Grandma told her she looked like Audrey Hepburn.
When Jerry first saw her, he’d looked as if he’d just won first prize in some contest. He wouldn’t leave her alone. Pinching her ass, groping her chest, leaving a trail of wet sloppy kisses on her shoulder. When he’d tried pulling her behind the bushes near the steps to the gymnasium, she’d swung her purse at him. It was a glittery cocktail bag on a narrow chain. It had a hard plastic case, and it impacted Jerry’s nose with a loud whack. When he realized he was bleeding, he’d taken a threatening step toward her. That’s when Gordy had stepped between them.
She didn’t know what he’d said to his football teammate, but it was enough to send Jerry stumbling away, muttering curse words. Gordy asked if she was okay, and the kindness of his words had broken through her icy shields. She’d started to cry, and he’d led her to his car. They drove around for a while, then parked and talked for hours.
And somehow, her head had ended up on his shoulder, with his arm around her. They’d kissed. And sweetly, tenderly, slowly...they’d made love right there in his mom’s car. It wasn’t sweaty or awkward at all.
“The girl I remember from that night...” Gordy was now at her side, his hand touching her arm, pulling her closer. “Was vulnerable and real. She dropped all those protective walls and let me in, if only for that one, perfect time.”
Vickie slid into Gordy’s arms as easily as she might shrug on a warm winter coat. Once again, fifty-some years after the first time, her head rested on his shoulder and her eyes closed. She inhaled and held on, reveling in the scent of him—man and spice.
She’d been afraid back then, too. Not of Gordy, but of what people might say, what dating him for real might do to her plans to conquer the world with her class and her wit.
She’d wantedto be like Grandma’s idols—Bacall, Kelly, Hepburn—and the classy socialites they portrayed on the screen. A rough-edged linebacker wasn’t part of the plan. She’d explained it to him then, and that memory made her cringe. She must have sounded like such a bitch. But he’d just given her that laid-back, slanted smile and told her he understood.
She sighed softly. “It really was pretty perfect, wasn’t it? And then I tossed you aside. How could you possibly forgive me for being such a snob?”
Gordy rested his cheek against her hair. “That snob routine was your armor. It wasn’tyou.And you were right—I didn’t fit into the neat little life of your dreams. You wereBreakfast at Tiffany’sand I wasOn the Waterfront.” His arms wrapped around her and she snuggled even closer. “You weren’t the only one with big dreams back then. I got that football scholarship to Syracuse and thought I’d go straight into the pros from there.” His chest rumbled with low laughter.
“Reality smacked me in the face when I busted up my knee two years later. The pros were out for me, and I was a slacker in the classroom. So I came home to Rendezvous Falls to work for my dad, and found you married to Stanley Noor and living in that big stone mansion near the college. You were barely twenty-three and already on the fanciest charity committees in town, hostessing your little white glove tea parties just the way you’d dreamed of doing.”
Vickie heard the edge in his voice. She pulled back and looked up into his gray-blue eyes. “So youwereangry with me.”
“Nah.” He grinned. “Well, maybe a little. Moreenviousthan angry. You’d chased after your dream and caught it, just like that. And me? I’d chased and failed.” He kissed her temple, leaving his lips against her skin. “But I got over it. I built a good life. Had a good marriage. Raised good sons. And I watched you shine like the star you are.” He kissed her temple again. “And now I’m holding you in my arms again, so one of my goalsdidcome true.”
She put her head back on his shoulder and they stood there in silence. Outside, a soft breeze was coming in off Seneca Lake, making her wind chimes play a sweet, tinkling melody. Birds were singing, someone’s dog was barking in the distance. A Jet Ski sped by on the water, sounding like an angry hornet.
She’d been afraid so many times in her life, fretting about what people would think. But right now she was standing in her kitchen, held close by a man who’d made it very clear he wanted her—just the way she was. And suddenly she wasn’t afraid anymore. Not of him. Not of what he wanted. She kissed the base of his neck, feeling the pulse in his throat as it picked up speed.
“I think we should...uh...you know...” She kissed his neck again, but he pulled away and tipped her chin up with his fingers so they were staring into each other’s eyes.
“You gotta say it. Tell me what you want. Do you want me to take you to dinner first? Share a little candlelight and champagne tonight before we—”
“No. I want younow. Before I change my mind.”
His eyebrows rose. “Now?Victoria Pendergast, are you seducing your contractor on a work morning?”
“It might just be now or never, Gordy. What’s it going to be?”
He cupped her face in his hands. “Hey, I didn’t mean to make it sound like I was pushing you. I just wanted us to talk about it. We don’t have to—”
“Is that a no then?” She pulled her shoulders back and pushed his hands away, her pride stung. “Guess you should get back to wo—”
His mouth fell on hers, swallowing the rest of her snark. And taking all the air from her lungs. She grabbed at him as if he were a life raft, pressing her fingers into his shoulders. She returned the kiss and their mouths did an intoxicating dance. His fingers slid down to grip her bottom and hold her hard against him.
“I could never say no to you, woman.” He spoke the words against her lips, then tipped his head back, staring up at the ceiling with a wide grin. “I’m justdamnglad I stopped at the pharmacy on the way over.”
“For what? Condoms?” Lord knew,shedidn’t have any around.
“I always have one or two of those handy—a habit since high school.” He caught her up in a short, intense kiss. “But I stopped to pick up a refill on my pills, so...if you’ll let me run out to the truck...we can definitely do this.”
It took a moment before she figured out what he was saying.
“Are you talking about little blue pills?”
His shoulder lifted. “Neither one of us is the same as we were in Mom’s Buick, babe. I may need a little help, but trust me, in an hour I’ll be good to go. And in the meantime...” His eyes darkened with desire. “I promise you won’t be bored.”
