Page 6 of The Mating Frenzy
“Waste of valuable time,” her father had alwaysharped.
When she was ten, Ella secretly watched “Miracle on 34thStreet” at a school friend’s house. The little girl who didn’t believe in Santa gave her a sense ofassurance.
She could identify with Susan. There was no Santa Claus. And when in the movie Susan started to believe, Ella dissed her. What a wuss, thinking of imaginary men who gave out gifts a certain time of theyear.
All magic was bad. There was no such thing as good magic orfantasy.
Her parents wholeheartedly approved of her studies in ancient languages and history. They’d even hunted down and purchased rare, used books for her todevour.
And yet after she turned 21, she found herself daydreaming more. It was as if, having denied fantasy and creativity as a child, her naughty imagination pushed to the surface in fullforce.
On these solitary walks through the woods with her pet, she imagined there was another, magic world out there, and she was not such an oddball. Maybe she’d even flirt with the idea that she wasspecial.
Then the phone would chirp, and reality would kick her in the back of the knees. Likenow.
“Your boss called and needs you in the restaurant two hours early. You need the overtime, Ella. I don’t know how we’re going to pay the mortgage thismonth…”
Stomach twisting in knots, she closed her eyes. Damn, she was so tired. Working all morning, no time for lunch. Ella had only wanted to spend a precious hour before her third job alone, exploring the river and the forest that beckoned to her in an odd way more and more lately. This ungated complex seemed almost magical, and filled her with an odd yearning she could notidentity.
But duty and bills came first. “Okay, Mom. I’ll come home. I can dress and be there intime.”
“Ella, I’m sorry. If I could, I would work my fingers to the bone. But you know what the doctor said. Please Ella, you don’t want to getfired…”
Of course not.Because then we’ll be on the streets, as you keep reminding me. Guilt pierced her. It wasn’t her mother’s fault that her dad had died, leaving them in debt. Or that her mother’s frail health prevented her from getting ajob.
When she spoke, her voice was gentler. “Don’t worry, Mom. See yousoon.”
Ella pocketed her cell and rubbed her hands against her jeans. Mom was a hot mess these days, and constantly worried about money. Then again, when was her mother not a hot mess since Dad had died five yearsago?
She raised you. The least you can do is help supporther.
But would she ever have a real life of her own? Be free to explore the world, meet people? Men, perhaps? Ella couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a full day off. It was almost as if each time she caught a break, something happened to send them sliding back down all overagain.
Ridiculous. It’s yourimagination.
Ella poured a bunch of kibble on the ground for the stray cat. She turned to walk back to her bike, parked on the main road when she noticed Darcy hadvanished.
Heart racing, she walked along the riverbank. Darcy could be anywhere, with all these delicious places to hide. Or maybe Darcy was searching for that litter ofkittens.
“Darcy!”
Uh-oh. Technically, she trespassed on this property. If the caretaker came along and saw her, and ordered heroff….
Ella hooked a right around a building and jerked to an abrupthalt.
A naked man stood in herway.
She squeezed her eyes shut. Opened them. Still here, with a confused look on his handsome face. He looked about herage.
Every cell tingled with awareness. She felt as if all her nerves had been fired up and she could not move, could not speak, only stand staring in fascinated hunger at his magnificentbody.
Dimly she became aware that if he were fully clothed, she’d have the same reaction. If the entire world stopped revolving, she would not notice. It made no sense. She liked men, and had seen one or two naked, but none had made her feel this alive, this femalebefore.
Her lady parts tightened in anticipation, as if he wasn’t merely standing there, but was going to do something more. Like seduce her. Lay her down upon the soft, green grass and mount her like abeast.
Breathing hard, she forced herself to calm down. Ella jerked her gaze down to his legs. Big feet, with nice toes, limbs strong and athletic, dusted with darkhair.
She closed her eyes and opened them to study hisface.
