Lily White Lies(52)

Once I had finished in the bathroom, I decided to find Cory with the hopes of her filling me in on the parts of last night that now escaped me. The aroma of fresh coffee invited me downstairs. I paused briefly at the top of the stairs, bracing myself for the descent. I winced once and then began to make my way down slowly.

There was a fire in the fireplace and twice as many flower arrangements in the living room as there had been in the bedroom. The rumble of thunder outside was so loud I reflexively grabbed the back of the couch as if it would steady my wobbly legs.

I called out, “Cory,” and waited for her reply. Several minutes went by and I called out again. “Cory, where are you?”

“My guess would be Upper Darby.”

Instantly sobered by the deep, male voice, I whirled around to find myself staring straight into the chest of my dance partner from last night.

“You... it’s you...”

While I stammered out meaningless syllables that only resembled speech, he reached around me, causing my words to back up in my throat.

He picked up a quilt from the back of the couch and placed it around my shoulders. It was at that moment when I realized that in a sleeveless, cotton nightgown; I wasn’t as dressed as I should be in his company.

Without thanking him, I mumbled, “Cory isn’t here?”

“That would be correct.”

I let him lead me without protest through the house to a chair at the kitchen table.

“How did I... you... we get here?”

He picked up two mugs of coffee and turned to face me. “That would be courtesy of your friends and a very nice limo.”

I took a deep breath and pulled the quilt tightly around my shoulders. Confusion, embarrassment and even anger danced in my head and if it weren’t for my hung-over state drowning out my coherent thoughts, I think I would have broke into tears right in front of the man I barely knew.

Realizing the implications of my situation, I knew my face reddened when I meekly asked, “Did anything... I mean, you know, did we...”

He hesitated long enough to heighten my discomfort, and then answered, “If nothing else, I’m a gentleman.” Pausing briefly, he playfully added, “Besides, when we do, I’d like you to remember it and you were in no condition to remember anything last night.”

“When we do?” I used the table to support my weight as I stood. “Just wait one-minute, Popeye. I don’t know how you managed to talk my friends into this arrangement but I’ll be damned if you’ll talk me into anything that easily.”

Having made it to the doorway, I turned and made my way back to the table in order to continue my verbal assault.

“When we do? I can’t believe you. Talk about arrogance... you think you can get me to sleep with you just because you’re good-looking and... and... good-looking. Maybe I like what lies a little deeper when it comes to men and...”

Without saying a word, he stood and placed his hands on my shoulders, guiding me back to my seated position.

“Are you through?”

My ranting had deepened the throbbing in my head and I offered no more than a shrug.

“First of all, ‘when we do’ was an attempt at humor... obviously a poor attempt and for that I apologize. Secondly, as far as talking your friends into this setup... there was no talking about it. I was duped, the same as you.”

I tried to reason his words without much luck. I think he took pity on my dazed state and offered an explanation.

“I believe we were set up by your friends, Cupid and company.” My head was still processing a little slow. My quizzical expression prodded him to continue. “Cory hired me for your party. I was told that you would be coming here for a weekend getaway after the party and since I was on-duty and unable drink, as an added service she asked me to come along to carry you into the house.”

“And you just... what? Decided you’d stick around once she left, or did you sneak back later?”

Leaning back in his chair and clasping his hands behind his head, he said, “Not exactly. I carried you in while your friends carried your things. When we returned to the car, Charlotte said she had forgotten your purse and asked if I’d run it in. That’s when they ditched me.”

In a state of disbelief, I stared at a gouge in the wooden table while he continued to sit in his relaxed position.

“How can you be so calm? Did they say anything about when they’d be back?” Thinking aloud, I answered my own question. “I guess not. How could they do this? They don’t know you, what if you were some sort of psycho or rapist or something. They’ve really gone too far this time.”

“Let me put your mind at ease. I’m as sane as you are and I’ve never found force necessary to have sex, so you’re safe.”