The Gypsy Ribbon. Shannon MacLeod

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      As the after-dinner coffee was being served, some of the party began saying their good nights while others made further plans for the evening. Beth stared into her cup, not knowing what to expect next. You’re being totally stupid if you think for one moment you’ve got a snowball’s chance in summer with this man. Shouldn’t even bother getting your hopes up, her inner voice advised. You should leave now before it gets worse. When James excused himself from the table for a moment, she made her decision to cut her losses and run.

      With a furtive look around, she shot to her feet and grabbed her purse. She walked up to the head of the table and leaned over to whisper in Lily’s ear, “This has been wonderful, but I think I’m ready to call it a night.”

      At once, Lily’s brows knit together with concern. “Are you feeling okay?”

      Beth gave her a weak smile. “I’m fine, m’dear. Just a little tired.” And a lot allergic to getting her hopes up only to have her heart broken. She waved good night and continued quickly past the lingering partygoers toward the door, not looking back.

      The late April night was balmy and the beautiful moon almost full, brightly illuminating the parking lot as she streaked across it. She made it all the way to her car and was fumbling in her purse for her keys when a low, teasing voice from directly behind her said, “Leaving without even saying good night? I am devastated.”

      Startled out of her wits she whirled abruptly, a gasp on her lips. He leaned casually on the car next to hers, legs crossed at the ankles while he regarded her with a bemused expression. “James! I’m sorry, I just…I mean, I didn’t see…Um…good night.”

      He closed the distance between them. “The night’s only just beginning,” he purred. “Why don’t you join me for a drink back at my hotel? They’ve got a nice bar there from what I understand…”

      Beth shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Maybe another time.”

      James moved in even closer and with one long finger traced her flushed cheek. “Perhaps we could just skip the drink,” he whispered.

      Beth inhaled sharply at the electrifying contact. Apparently encouraged by her reaction, he slipped an arm around her waist and gently pulled her close. With the other hand he cupped her chin and tilted her face to meet his. He lowered slowly and the instant before their lips made contact, Beth shook her head frantically and stammered, “I…I…have to…to go. Right now.”

      Pulling free from his embrace, she yanked the car door open and piled inside. Before he could utter a single word of protest to stop her, she started the car and peeled out of the parking lot into the night.

      * * * *

      James stared after the receding brake lights in complete and utter confusion. He had been drawn to Beth the moment he laid eyes on her and when he found out just who she was, his delight had doubled. There was something different about her, something he knew without a doubt he wanted to know better. While seated beside her in the restaurant, a faint vision flickered before him. Instead of heading for the bar as he had told her, he went straight out the front door of the restaurant to wait by her car as his intuition pressed him to do.

      It was all so confusing. She was interested in him, he knew she was, then to turn around and try to sneak away was almost more than he could get his head around. It’s almost like…he scratched his head in consternation until a conversation he had a month or so before came creeping back. As funny as it sounds, it would be nice to hear no from a woman once in a while.

      With a vicious curse on his lips he stalked back into the restaurant. Bursting through the doors of the banquet room, he found Ian and Lily in animated conversation with Dan, Meg, and Lily’s father Robert Evans. James strode directly to Ian and without ceremony cuffed him hard on the shoulder. “You, I want to talk to. Now.” Within moments, the two men were facing off in the hallway again.

      “What kind of bur do you have up your ass?” Ian sighed wearily.

      “What the hell did you say to her?” James demanded. “She just up and left all of a sudden like. She wasn’t even going to say good night or anything. I asked her back to my hotel for a drink and she lit out of here like she was running for her feckin’ life.”

      It was an obvious struggle for Ian to keep his face neutral. “Are you meaning Beth? I didn’t say anything to her. I do remember telling you that comment about wanting to be told no by a woman was going to bite you in the ass, though. Shut you down cold, did she?” James growled but Ian blissfully ignored the warning. “And how long has it been since a woman turned down the grand and mighty James Kelly?” he teased, but then relented and spoke more kindly. “Did you ever stop to think just maybe she’d be worth a little extra effort?”

      James frowned as he regarded his brother. “I find it hard to believe you didn’t have those big mitts of yours in this.” He snorted. “But I reckon I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. What do you suggest I do?”

      “Just talk to her. Take her out. Ask her about her. Christ, have you forgotten how to do this?” Ian grabbed him by the arm, dragged him back into the banquet room and directly over to Lily. “Lily my sweetheart, would you please talk some sense into this wee fool? He is treading heavily upon my last intact nerve.”

      Lily smiled sweetly, pulled a chair next to her and patted it. “Come sit by me, James,” she said.

      * * * *

      By the time Beth pulled into her apartment complex, her breathing and pulse rate were almost normal again. She knew it wasn’t her he was attracted to. She just happened to be the only unattached female there. He just wanted someone for the night. She turned that truth over and over and over until the truth of it finally started to sink in.

      “Damnation!” Growling because someone had taken her parking space–again–she hiked across the large parking lot in stiletto heels. She let herself in the front door and relaxed as the feeling of comfort and familiarity swept over her. Her small second floor apartment was just like her, a little odd and eclectic, decorated with things she found attractive, even if they didn’t always quite fit together.

      She flopped down on the couch, kicked off her shoes and pulled the Tarot cards back out of the wooden box, giving them a quick shuffle. Spreading the deck out face down on the table, she asked her question aloud. “What should I know about James Kelly?”

      She pulled one card. “The Knight of Wands. Well, now I know who that is.”

      Sighing, she pulled out another card, the Seven of Wands. “Persistence, okay, he’s persistent. What is he after, though?”

      She glared at the third card and directed her next question to the deck itself. “I’m sorry, didn’t you hear my question?”

      Beth looked at the card again, and shook her head in confusion. “The King of Cups? Now what the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

      She jerked in surprise when her cell phone rang, but answered it immediately when she recognized the number. “Hey chickadee, is the party over already?”

      Lily laughed. “Almost. I’ve got a special request,” she said, “but I wanted to call and ask you about it first.”

      “What kind of request?” Beth СКАЧАТЬ