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The Tessarae Inn |
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Poseidon Rising CHAPTER 6 Chad pulled Blair to him. He held her tightly. “I’m in love with you and you know that. It may make it easier for you to pretend that I’m some kid who doesn’t know what he’s feeling but you know better.” Blair tried to pull away but he held her in place. “He’s back, he’s alive, he’s safe and, if you let yourself, you can move on. I may look like I have nothing right now but I have plans. I will take care of you. And I’m man enough to put my cards on the table face up.” “It’s not as easy as that. You don’t understand. You have no idea what this is really about.” Chad released her abruptly and stepped back. He tightened his lips and tilted his head up slightly. He stared at her then finally broke his gaze, walked behind the bar and starting wiping the surface. She followed him and rested her elbows on the bar as she leaned toward him. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.” He stopped wiping the bar, lifted his head in slow increments and looked at her. “Maybe not but at some point you had to know that the reason you spent every damn Saturday night with me was because I matter to you.” “Of course, you matter. That’s not what I’m saying.” His eyes flickered and he swallowed hard. He leaned forward and placed in hands on the bar. “Chose me. I’ll never leave you. I’ll never hurt you.” Blair straightened up and moved back a step. Chad did not break his gaze. “You are the closest thing to perfect that I’ve ever seen. And when I finally do make love to you…” Blair felt herself taking short shallow breaths as she looked at him. He was looking at her with such intensity she felt lost in his eyes--momentarily caught in the space between real and fantasy. “I promise, you will forget how wanting to be touched by him felt.” The moment passed. She looked away. “I don’t want to forget.” He frowned and took a step further away from her. “I don’t want to forget because that means I have to remember. I cut him out of my life, out of my heart, out of my memories. The problem is that there was not much left once I did that. I can’t love you because I don’t have the capacity to love anyone like that anymore.” She could see the lines of protest marshalling on his face. She looked away, grabbed her purse and coat. “I have to go.” Chad slammed his right palm onto the bar top. “What was all of this about then? You felt something. I know you did.” She stopped, turned and faced him with the index finger and thumb of her right hand close together. “This was about that little piece that was left. I gave you everything I had to give.” “Everything?” “One night a week, one drink, one dance.” “I don’t believe that’s all. Stay with me tonight.” She shook her head. “You were right before. Momentary lapse in judgment.” She walked away but once outside she stood for a moment and watched Chad through the window. His back was turned and he was leaning against the bar. She could see the frustration he felt in his posture and in the line of his shoulders. How had she let this happen? If he only knew how much she wished she were capable of feeling what he wanted her to feel. ========== Todd watched Blair walk to her car. This was a fairly safe neighborhood but why was she so willing to take a chance? The reckless part of her had always thrilled him but when she was hurting she took foolish chances. He had done this to her. Again. He watched until she reached her car safely and drove away then he walked into the bar. Chad turned around. “We’re closed.” “You need to learn to lock your doors. There’s no telling who could stumble in here right off the street.” Chad’s eyes narrowed into slits. He moved around the bar. “You’re Todd Manning.” “Got it right the first time. And we need to discuss some things.” “Like what?” “Well, first of all, like how you need to keep your hands off my wife.” “Or, what?” Todd glared at him and tried to calm himself. He needed to step lightly. “Do you know who I am?” “How could I not know who you are? I’ve watched your wife cry for months over you. I saw the wounds etched in her eyes. I know she bought into this club as some kind of shrine to you. So yeah, I know who you are but I don’t give a damn about you.” Todd balled his hands into fists and stepped forward, but Chad raised his hand with his palms facing him and backed away. “I’m not going to fight you. What would I look like beating up on some old guy who’s still probably recovering from injuries? I’d look like a jerk.” “Old? Doesn’t seem to bother you where my wife is concerned. How old are you anyway? What Junior High or something?” Chad walked behind the bar. He put a shot glass on the bar and poured himself a glass of bourbon. “I’m twenty-two. And I haven’t been near a Junior High School in a long time but I have spent the last couple of years in a graduate program at LU.” He took a sip of his drink. “You remember Llanview U., don’t you?” Todd felt a surge of heat start in his chest and shoot upward to his head. So the puppy dog had fangs, but puppy teeth were like baby teeth, they broke easily. “What makes you think you have anything to offer my wife?” “What did you have to offer her in the beginning?” “Money. My babe likes money.” “Then I’ll make some money. And I’ll earn a lot of it. Whatever makes her happy.” “Not that simple, Grasshopper. You don’t know anything about my wife.” “I know that I love her.” Chad crossed his arms over his chest. “I know if you thought she was coming back to you, you wouldn’t be here. I know that damn much.” “Then you don’t know anything.” Chad glared at him. “All Hail Poseidon Rising,” he said in a booming fake stage voice. Todd took a step back. Chad lowered his voice to a rumble. “But you’re back on land now and don’t expect me to let her go just because you’ve miraculously risen from a watery grave.” Todd felt the energy from the coiled darkness within him threatening to overwhelm his reason. Why did every damn thing have to be so complicated? All he wanted was to get his life back on track. Why in the hell would Blair go and fall in love with some kindergartener just because he was dead for a few months? Todd walked toward the end of the bar, pivoted, picked up a bar stool and hurled it full force into the glass shelves full of liquor bottles and multiple colored lights. Chad jumped over the bar as the shelves crashed into a colorful array of abstract shapes and sharp edges. “Next time,” yelled Todd, “that will be your big ass head.” Chad looked at the wreckage with a wide-eyed stare as glass continued to crash and the air became thick with the smell of liquor. Todd smirked when he saw the expression on Chad’s face. You’re playing with the big dogs now. “Send me the bill,” said Todd as he brushed imaginary lint from his jacket. “I have the means and the will to pay for my reckless behavior.” He locked his gaze on Chad’s face. “Do you?” |