“You can imagine what I was thinking,” he said. “That this seems like a great time for a break!”
There was a moment of stunned silence, then a burst of laughter. Everyone applauded.
As the crowd began to circulate through the room, Arizona moved to the stage stairs. Chloe, Cassie and Charity stood up. Chloe glanced toward Arizona, but before she could move toward him, he was surrounded by adoring fans.
It had been like this every night since the lecture series began. The giant ballroom filled to capacity, the mesmerized audience, Arizona the center of attention. Last night, after the lecture, when he’d led her to his bed and held her gently, he’d asked if she was angry with him.
“I don’t mean to ignore you,” he’d told her.
She’d explained that she understood completely. When he made the audience laugh or gasp or applaud spontaneously, he was just sharing his gift. She wasn’t thrilled with the pretty young women who seemed to stand so close, but there wasn’t much she could do about that. He’d responded by tickling her until she begged for mercy, all the while telling her she should know better than to think he would be interested in anyone but her. They’d ended up lost in passion.
Later, alone in her own bed, she’d thought about what he’d told her. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to think he wouldn’t be interested in anyone but her. However, she had her doubts.
“I’m going to force my way into that crowd,” Cassie said as she eyed the group of people around Arizona. “Tonight is the last night of the series. I want to tell him how much I’ve enjoyed myself. He’s leaving in a couple of days and I might not get to see him again.”
“I’ll join you,” their aunt said. “What about you, Chloe?”
“No, thanks. I think I’ll head the other way and get something to drink.”
She started to make her way through the crowd. As she did, bits of conversation drifted toward her.
“Oh, John, he makes it sound so exciting. Do you think we could go to South America?”
“Of course, Lily. Let’s call the travel agent first thing in the morning.”
A little farther down she heard another couple planning a photo safari to Africa. So it went until she broke free of the crowd and found herself in the relative calm of the ballroom’s foyer.
When she was in front of the bar, she reached for her small handbag.
“Can I buy you a drink, pretty lady?”
She spun toward the familiar voice and saw Arizona standing next to her. Despite all the time they’d been spending together and the fact that she’d been seeing him every day for more than two weeks, he still had the ability to make her toes curl.
“How did you escape?” she asked. “Last time I saw you, you were holding court with at least a dozen loyal fans. Including my sister and aunt.”
“I spoke to them, told everyone else I needed a couple of minutes to rest, then used a side door to sneak down the back corridor away from the crowd.” He nodded at the bartender. “What would you like?”
She gave her order. He took a glass of water for himself, then led her over to a couple of chairs in the corner of the foyer.
“I think it’s going well,” he said.
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “There’s an understatement. You have them completely in the palm of your hand. But that’s not a surprise. I’ve seen it happen every night.” She met his gaze and smiled. “I’m impressed, as usual.”
“Thank you. I’ve been to some interesting places and people like to hear about my adventures. I’m lucky.”
It was more than luck, she thought. “You don’t just tell them what happened to you, you also inspire them. I would say at least half the people in that room are talking about taking a trip somewhere they wouldn’t have gone before hearing you. Maybe you should talk to the airlines about getting a finder’s fee or something.”
He chuckled. “Like a travel agent. There’s a thought.” He shifted his chair closer to hers and slipped his arm around her. “The truth is many of them will change their minds when they find out how much it’s going to cost, or when they get the list of vaccinations required for the travel. But some will go and seeing the world will change their lives.”
“Always a good thing,” she said, then wondered if she was wrong to want to stay here, in Bradley. Had she discovered her true self or was she simply afraid? Aunt Charity had called her a coward. She didn’t want to believe that about herself, but what other explanation was there?
“It’s not just travel that changes a person,” he said, then leaned toward her and kissed her cheek. “You’ve changed me. I’m a better man for having known you.”