Eye of the Tiger

She had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing, and his twinkling eyes very nearly threw her off balance.

“Well, that surely beats the backseat of a luxury car, wouldn’t you think…?” she asked with blatant mockery.

He sighed. “You won’t quit, will you? I don’t suppose you’d believe me if I told you I was so out of my head at the time that I wasn’t even thinking about anyone but you?”

“Right the first time,” she said, grinning carelessly. “Do you want a ham sandwich or don’t you?”

He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and took his time lighting it. “I’m going to get around that wall you’ve built, one way or the other. You can make change on that.”

“Better buy a rocket launcher and a couple of grenades,” she told him. “You’re going to need them.”

“You may, if Romeo gets a foot in the door,” he said grimly. “Don’t worry your father, will you? He broods.”

“He’ll have to give me up one day,” she remarked.

“You aren’t thinking that Granger might propose, for God’s sake?” he burst out, laughing coldly. “Marry a sweet little nobody like you? Fat chance, honey.”

“I’m not your honey,” she shot back.

“You were,” he said, his voice rough and soft all at once, his eyes intent. “You were the sweetest honey I ever tasted.”

“The beehive is out of order,” she replied stiffly. “You’ll have to appease your appetite elsewhere.”

“There isn’t anywhere else,” he said absently, watching her as the cigarette smoldered in his hand, its glowing tip as red as his waving hair. “There hasn’t been for a long time.”

“I don’t believe in fairy tales,” she said. “If you’re quite through, I have things to do.”

He shrugged. “Turned out into the cold,” he said, watching her. “Heartless woman.”

“It’s spring, and it isn’t cold. And you’re one to be accusing someone of not having a heart.”

“You don’t think I have one, Eleanor?” He laughed. “You might be surprised at the bruises on it.”

“I would, if there were any.”

“Nurses are supposed to have compassion,” he reminded her.

“I have, for those who deserve it. I have dishes to wash, sandwiches to make….”

“Wash your damned dishes, and forget making any sandwiches for me,” he muttered, turning to go. “The way my luck’s running lately, you’d probably make mine with a live pig.”

She heard the door close and went back to her soapy water. It took a long time for her heart to calm down, and she thanked providence for removing his disturbing presence. She didn’t want to remember that night. Why couldn’t he go away and let her forget it? Just the sight of him was a constant reminder, an eternal opening of the wound. She closed her eyes and went quickly about her tasks.

Chapter Three (#ulink_71c0ab6c-4410-5145-ae0e-25dee4082c92)

Early Saturday morning, Eleanor left her father sleeping soundly and drove to the Red Barn to get biscuits and coffee for herself and Darcy. The older nurse with whom she worked was still in her housecoat when Eleanor reached her small efficiency apartment downtown.

Darcy blinked, yawning, her pale brown eyes bloodshot, her round face blank. “Coffee and biscuits,” she murmured dreamily, closing her eyes to smell. “Wonderful!”

Eleanor laughed, following her friend into the apartment. The furniture was in about the same shape as that in Eleanor’s house, and she felt comfortable here. Not that Darcy would ever have put on airs, even if she’d had gobs of money. The two of them had become friends years before in high school. Darcy had done her nurse’s training in Lexington, while Eleanor had gone to Louisville. But now they found themselves working at the same hospital, and it was as if the four-year absence had never been. They were as much alike as ever and had fallen back into their easy, close relationship with no trouble at all. Only Darcy had known just how deeply in love Eleanor had been with Keegan, although Eleanor hadn’t told even her best friend the full extent of her stupidity. But Darcy knew why Eleanor had left town when Keegan announced his engagement because Eleanor had cried on her shoulder for hours afterward.

They sat at Darcy’s small white kitchen table and ate the fluffy sausage biscuits, washing them down with coffee. It was just after nine, and the city hadn’t started to buzz yet. Soon, however, the downtown traffic would be murder.

“I needed that. Thanks!” Darcy smiled.

“Oh, anytime.” Eleanor grinned. “Now, about that dress…”

Darcy burst out laughing. “You shrewd operator! Okay, come on in here and let’s look it over.”

It was a dream of a dress, silk chiffon that fell in soft folds around Eleanor’s slender body, a pale gray that emphasized her dark eyes and soft brown hair. She smiled at her reflection, liking the demure rounded neckline and the transparent sleeves that gathered at the cuff.

“It’s heavenly.” She sighed. “You’re sure you want to risk this with me?”

“I got it at a nearly new shop. It’s a designer model, only worn twice. Here are the shoes and bag.”

The shoes had small Queen Anne heels and straps around the ankles. They were elegant, like the tiny gray leather purse that finished the outfit.

“Wow, is that me?” Eleanor laughed at her reflection.

“Well, almost,” Darcy murmured. “Sweet, your hair is dreadful. I have to get a cut today—suppose you come with me?”

Eleanor looked at the soft waves falling around her shoulders and tugged at a strand of hair that seemed more like wire. “Dreadful is definitely the word all right. Can we get an appointment for me at such short notice?”

“They take walk-ins anytime,” Darcy assured her. “And some new makeup. And for God’s sake, honey, a bra that has a little support.”

Eleanor sighed, nodding. “I never buy under things until the old ones lose their elastic and have holes.”

“You need taking in hand.” Darcy shook her head. “Pretty lacy under things give you confidence. You could use a little of that!”

“I guess I could, at that. Okay. Let’s renovate me.”

The two of them walked to the hairdressing parlor, and the operator gave Eleanor a cut that suited her face: softly waved and very short. She looked different already, and when they went into a department store where Eleanor was shown how to apply new makeup, the transformation was complete.

“Mmmmm,” Eleanor said with a smile, looking at her face in the fluorescent mirror. “Is that me?”

“It sure is, honey.” Darcy laughed. “I’ve been wanting to do that for months. You used to be so particular about your appearance, but lately you’ve just let yourself go.”

“I guess I have,” she agreed. She touched her hair. “What a difference. Wade is going to love this.”

Darcy pursed her lips. “That party’s really got you perking, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, it has,” she admitted as they went through the women’s department browsing through the latest styles. “Not that I’m trying to break into high society. That would be ridiculous. I just want to do something different, you know? My life is deadly dull. I feel like I’m growing old second by second.”

“That’s a laugh. You’re the youngest person I know at heart. Just like your dad. How is he, by the way?”

“Getting back in shape slowly but surely, and trying to get me married off.”

“Same old Dad.” Darcy laughed.