THE CHRONICLES OF STELLA RICE: APRIL Read online

  “But why are you on the deck?”

  He sat erect, swiveled around so he could set his bare feet on the boards, and gave me a confused look. “You mean you really don’t know who I am?”

  “Duh!” Not the wittiest response, I admit that now, but I was under duress.

  “I’m your temporary landlord. Meagan suggested I come by this morning and meet you. I understand your boyfriend has taken ill and was unable to accompany you.”

  Still not entirely convinced, I took a small step onto the deck. “Meagan told you that?”

  “She did.”

  “And why, pray tell, would she do that? My love life is none of your business.”

  “Not to put too fine a point on it, but I’d suspect it’s because I’m single.” He gazed into the sky, giving me a full on view of his long, slender throat, bronzed a burnished gold like the rest of his body. To judge from his smile, he was rather pleased with himself.

  I wasn’t, however. I was beginning to get a clearer picture of the situation and I didn’t like it. “I’m not interested. I don’t even know you.”

  “Meagan said you studied Biblical History at Hopkins,” he continued, completely ignoring me.

  “Near Eastern Studies if you want to be precise.”

  “With a minor in music.”

  I nodded. “And what’s it to you?”

  Setting my Coke on the deck—no, I hadn’t forgotten about that—he glided to his feet and approached. “We’ve just met. Surely you couldn’t have developed such a negative opinion of me so fast.”

  I took a step into the doorway. “I’m not interested in male companionship,” I said, genuinely disgusted by what Meagan had done. “I have a boyfriend.” Yeah, I know. I’d just been dumped, but admitting that to this man who’d been cajoled into keeping me company for the week would have been too humiliating for words.

  When he saw me retreat, he came to a halt. “Mmm. So you’re one of those, are you?”

  “One of what?”

  “I could tell the moment I saw you. You’re too uptight to have a good time and too insecure to ever take chances.”

  I gaped. For long moments I was unable to form an appropriately cutting response.

  Stupidly, I found the next words spilling from my mouth before I could stop them. “Insecure? Insecure? I own my own business for crying out loud. How many insecure people do you know who could do that?”

  He gave me another flash of teeth and shrugged. “I know. You’ve a Masters from Hopkins, yet you fritter away your hours typing resumes for stiffs in suits. You graduated Magna Cum Laude, yet you’re not smart enough to know you should be doing something else with your life. And you’re so beautiful you could have nearly any man you want, yet you squander away your time with your two gay boyfriends. Are you purposely trying to ruin your life?”

  Again, my mouth seemed to pop open of its own accord. A perfect stranger was standing on the deck, judging me. “And I’ll bet that you’re nothing but a two-bit gigolo. You’re handsome and almost certainly rich, and you’ve probably never been out with a woman with an IQ above fifty.”

  His eyebrow arched and his grin broadened. “Am I that transparent, then?”

  I nodded, then laughed at the crudity of this entire exchange. I couldn’t believe this creature’s arrogance. “You don’t know me, yet you come here and wait on the deck for me…what did you think would happen? Did you think I’d take one look at you and invite you to my room?”

  Not offended in the least, he nodded. “That’s the usual way of it. Though first, I had to assure myself you were as attractive as Meagan claimed. I’m very selective you understand.” He scanned my body again. “But you’ll do nicely. Very nicely I dare say. For such an uptight woman, you’ve a body formed for debauchery.” I glanced down at myself as he plowed on. “I’ve been in town since March, celibate for longer than I care to recall…so would you like to better our acquaintance now or later?”

  “How ‘bout when hell freezes over.” I stepped into the kitchen and shoved the door as hard as I could, hoping to slam it in his face. Unfortunately, he got his foot wedged in the doorframe before I could.

  “Are you turning me down?” He asked, genuinely surprised.

  “Yes! I don’t know you. And I don’t want to know you.”

  Again, he smiled. His blue eyes glimmered as he met my gaze and I wondered briefly if there was anything I could say that would offend this man. “You’ll change your mind,” he advised.

  “I won’t.” I gave the door another shove and experienced a twinge of satisfaction when he grimaced at the pain. “Move your foot so I can shut the door.”

  “By the end of the week, Stella, I’ll have you in my bed.”

  I snorted. “Is that a threat?”

  “Think of it as a—”

  “If you say a promise—”

  “A bet. I bet you that by the end of the week, you won’t be able to keep your hands off of me.”

  “I bet by the end of the week I won’t even remember your name.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. “Stella Rice!” he declared after he managed to get control of himself again. “You may be a prude, but I like you. I’m glad you came. Things are finally getting interesting around here.”

  I eyed him. “You’re an idiot.”

  He slid his hand through the small space in the door. “If I win the bet, you have to admit how irresistible I am.”

  “And if I win?”

  “Name your price?”

  I knew that naming some sexual activity would be tantamount to admitting I’d toyed with the idea of having sex with him, so I settled on something decidedly non-sexual. “I want you to buy me one hundred bottles of Diet Coke with Lime to replace the one you drank.”

  He laughed again. “Shall we shake on it, then?”

  “Kiss my ass.”

  Deciding to leave the door partially open, I whirled around and retreated. As I crossed the kitchen he called out, “Bare it!”

  And thus was my first meeting with Nigel Browning.

  Chapter Four

  9:27 p.m.

  I lay on my bed in the dark, gazing out the windows at the moon while Jake droned on in my ear.

  He’d left a message on my cell sometime this morning, informing me of his intent to call tonight and his assumption that my phone would be back on by then. I was sorely tempted to leave it off, but I’d had the day to consider my life and what I wanted out of it. What I wanted was Jake and Dev.

  Despite what that annoying creature had said to me earlier, Jake and Dev were more than my gay lovers. I felt close to them, especially to Dev. I wasn’t ready for that connection to be severed.

  With the calm only time can bring, I decided I’d give a go at fixing things with my estranged boyfriends. Step one, was answering Jake’s call and convincing him that he and Dev should come see me.

  “Fourteen days, Stella. You couldn’t go fourteen days without sex.”

  Sighing, I rolled onto my stomach and rested my cheek against the pillow. “I don’t see why I should have.”

  “Because I said so.”

  “Sorry, but that wasn’t a good enough reason for me…or for Dev.”

  I noted how Jake’s tone darkened when he spoke again. “Suddenly you’re an expert on what Dev wants?”

  “I didn’t say I was an expert on Dev. All I’m saying is that it’s not fair for you to issue some lordly decree and just expect Dev and me to fall into step. We have feelings too.”

  “I never said otherwise.”

  I had to bite my pillow to keep back a growl of absolute frustration. The man seemed intent on arguing with me. “I don’t want to argue, Jake. I want to see you. Come to North Carolina. It’s not the same without you and Dev.”

  “No.”

  I dropped my voice an octave and did my best sexy vixen voice, which, judging from the results, wasn’t all that great. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

  “I don’t doubt you woul
d, but I’d rather wait. It’ll be much more satisfying to make you come to me and beg.”

  Despite the warmth spreading throughout my body and the hungry spasms happening between my legs, I scoffed at this arrogant statement. “I don’t beg, Jake. And I won’t start for you.”

  “Oh, you’ll beg. You’ll do whatever I want you to do. You won’t be able to stop yourself, Stella. Submission is in your blood. You crave to be dominated the way some people crave cigarettes.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “You know it is. And when you’re in my room, on your knees, at my feet, I think I’ll make you lick my toes the way you did Dev’s.”

  I realized quite suddenly that not only was Jake miffed, he was nearly out of his mind with jealousy. The only thing I couldn’t figure out was if he was jealous of me or of Dev.

  “I didn’t lick his toes, I sucked them. There’s a difference.”

  “Only in your mind, baby.”

  I grunted.

  “Enjoy your vacation Stella. When you get home we’ll talk.”

  10/11/05, 1:32 p.m.

  I clutched the club for dear life, praying this time my aim would prove sure.

  “You really suck at this, Stella,” Gerard announced to everyone in listening range.

  I glanced at him over my shoulder and sneered. In his blue khaki shorts and white shirt, he looked rather preppy. Unfortunately, the façade was ruined by the tangled mass of his hair. It hadn’t looked so bad when we left the house, but the wind had been merciless today.

  “You can’t talk to Stella like that,” Katarina said, quickly coming to my defense. “There are plenty of things she’s good at. Miniature golf just isn’t one of them.” As she spoke, her blonde ponytail bobbed in the breeze.

  “Et tu, Katarina,” I murmured under my breath.

  “Maybe you should try holding the club like this.” Ann did her best Tiger Woods stance. “You’d get more control.”

  I continued to mutter. Why was this so friggin’ hard? All I had to do was drive the damn ball up a hill, past a few wooden obstructions barring the way, and time the ball so it would slip past the blades of the windmill and into the hole. This wasn’t brain surgery.

  “Hey babe, I’m just trying to help.”

  Meagan was too busy staring at Peter to offer any advice. She shrugged prettily, then gave me a smile. I could almost see the steam rising off of Peter as he gazed adoringly at her.

  His smooth brown skin seemed to glow whenever he was within twenty feet of Meagan. He wore an almost constant smile and he seemed completely oblivious to all the admiring glances other women were throwing in his direction. Why Meagan doubted he’d accept her declaration of love with a profession of his own, I didn’t know. Clearly the man was besotted.

  I pulled the club back and swung hard. The ball rocketed up the incline, past the wooden obstacles, only to bounce off the damned blade of the windmill and roll a bazillion and two feet from the intended target.

  Damned, stupid game. Who the hell played miniature golf anymore, anyway?

  In a fit of rage I flung my golf club across the course and stomped my foot. “I give up.”

  Nobody said anything for a moment.

  It was Meagan who approached quietly, hooking her arm in mine, and leading me off the course. Silent as a mouse, she took me into the cabana area where the noise of kids playing video games and adults munching snacks would be loud enough to drown out whatever she was about to say to me. I knew she was about to say something unpleasant. And as a matter of fact, I had plenty of unpleasant things of my own to say to her.

  Nigel Browning.

  She settled me at a small booth by the window where I could look out and see the others continue the game. Ann was up and she’d gotten the ball past the stupid windmill on her first try.

  “You need a milk shake,” Meagan was saying. “Chocolate?”

  I looked at her, saw the concern in her eyes, and tried to force myself to settle down. “Yeah, that would be good.”

  Five minutes later, with two milkshakes set on the table before us, Meagan began to prod at me, as only a good friend is courageous enough to do. “What’s wrong, Stella?”

  “Nigel Browning. Why on earth did you send that man to the house yesterday?”

  “I thought you two would have a lot in common. He’s big on history, just like you. I figured since Jake and Dev weren’t able to come he’d be a nice diversion.”

  “Well he’s not. He’s an arrogant ass. Why did you tell him so much about me?”

  “He’s a nice guy, Stella. He’s successful, handsome, intelligent…why wouldn’t I tell him about you?”

  “You told him that I’m wasting my life typing resumes and that I’m dating two gay men?”

  Her eyes widened. “I didn’t. I’d never say that. I told him you have a Masters from Hopkins and own a business support services company. I only told him about Jake and Dev…” she sighed. “I don’t know why I told him about Jake and Dev. Maybe I wanted him to know he’d have to work double hard to impress you.”

  Feeling annoyed and unreasonable, I was unwilling to be soothed. “Why would you try to set me up with some strange ass man when I can hardly handle the ones I already have?”

  Meagan studied the straw poking out of her shake for a long moment, then looked up at me. “All right,” she said patiently. “This isn’t about Nigel. You wouldn’t be so pissed off about some guy you just met. Why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you?”

  I shoved my untouched milkshake across the table like a petulant child. I didn’t want to talk about Jake and Dev. I was angry enough already; talking would make me feel worse. “I don’t want to talk, Meagan. Let’s just go back outside and finish the game.”

  “I am not going anywhere near you when you have a club in your hand as long as you’re in this state of mind.” She tried a smile, but when I didn’t respond, she leaned over the table. “What’s wrong, Stella? Come on, babe, you’re killing me. What did Jake do to do you?”

  “Jake?”

  “I know this is about him.” She lifted her shake and took a few sips. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s not as if I had to read your mind or anything. Think about it. He doesn’t even call to let you know he and Dev aren’t coming to North Carolina, you go up to your room every night after dinner…to call him…what’s he saying to you?”

  Sighing, I shook my head. “Jake’s pissed at me. His punishment is this.” I threw my hands up to signify everything around me.

  “In English, please?”

  “He didn’t come with me to North Carolina. And he wouldn’t let Dev either.”

  “What?” She put her shake down so hard the table shook.

  “The only reason I found out is because I called Dev to see how he was doing. Dev hadn’t even known Jake said he was sick.”

  “But why?”

  “Oh, you’re gonna love this. Jake is pissed because Dev and I…” I glanced around the colorful cabana at the children running around and decided I’d have to be discreet. “You know…without Jake. Remember? I told you. It happened last month.”

  She frowned, searching her mind for the information. Abruptly she met my gaze. “Oh, that. How’d he find out?”

  “Dev let it slip.”

  “So just ‘cause you and Dev had sex, Jake refused to come with us? He’s punishing you like your five years old, Stella. That’s crazy.”

  “Dev says Jake’s worried Dev and I are getting too close, which I think may be true.”

  She reached for my hand across the table and squeezed. “I’m sorry babe.”

  “Jake says he’ll forgive me when I come to his house and beg. Can you believe that?”

  “And what did you say?”

  I didn’t want to admit that I hadn’t said anything, so I repeated my last words to Dev instead. “I told him to fuck off.”

  She nodded her approval. “Good for you. You don’t have to put up with that crap. There are plenty more men
out there. Men like Nigel.” She shook my hand and winked, lasciviously.

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m not even a little interested in that man.”

  “Why not? Have you gotten a good look at him?”

  “He’s an arrogant ass. I’m tired of arrogant men.”

  “He owns three houses in the Outer Banks, has a home in England. He’s very successful.”

  “At what? I mean, what exactly is it that he does?”

  Meagan shrugged this off as unimportant. “He’s a real estate developer.”

  Tiring of this conversation, I decided it was time for a change of subject. “I don’t want to talk about my love life, Meagan. Tell me what you have planned for Peter.”

  “I’m worried about you, Stella.”

  “Don’t be. I’m hurting now, but I’ll bounce back. I always do.”

  We stared at each other for a moment, then Meagan nodded. “If you want to talk—”

  “I know. Now tell me, when are you going to make your profession of love?”

  Warming to the subject, Meagan sat back in her seat. Her eyes brightened at the thought of Peter, and though she tried heartily to keep the Kool-Aid grin from her lips, she failed. “On Saturday Nigel is having a par…no groaning. Are you listening?” After I nodded, she resumed. “Nigel is having a small get together at his house. Nothing major, just a few business associates and locals that he’s befriended while here. I figure if you guys go to the party that would leave Peter and me some private time. I’m going to make dinner, light some candles on the deck, then tell him over dessert.”

  The image her words evoked was romance at its best. A dinner on the beach with the ocean a stones throw away; the smell of the water would be thick on the air. I knew Meagan enough to know she’d play music. Maybe Paul Taylor or Kim Waters. But beneath the smooth jazz would be the sound of waves crashing in the near distance.

  Feeling the smallest twinge of jealousy, I nodded. “That sounds perfect.” And I meant it. “But why are you waiting till our last night here? Why not do it tonight?”