Part 17 (1/2)
”All right,” she said, looking over the group of students gathered in front of the wall. ”Everything's set for tomorrow. Has everyone got their gear lined up?”
A couple of students mumbled yes. Courtney Roland, the rangy blonde, gave a no-nonsense nod of her head. Ned Wheaton grinned like a fool.
”We're all really excited about the trip,” said Winnie Caruthers, the brunette. ”We're supposed to meet in the lobby at eight, right, then caravan out to Snoqualmie Pa.s.s?”
Autumn nodded. ”The drive isn't far and we can take fewer cars that way. I'll drive. Anyone else want to volunteer?”
”I'll drive,” said Ben. His second car was a four-wheel-drive extended-cab pickup, a new GMC he had recently purchased to haul his kayaking gear.
”We can take my car,” offered Ned.
”Josh Kendall will be going with us,” Autumn said. ”As you know, Josh is a certified guide with tons of experience. He's really itching to get you guys up on the rocks.”
Ben could think of another, more interesting itch he would rather be scratching with Autumn but he kept the thought to himself. Besides, he was really enjoying the sport and he was as eager as Josh to get outdoors and try some of the moves he had been learning.
They spent the morning session climbing, Autumn working them hard enough to get them ready, but not so much they would be exhausted when they tackled bouldering problems tomorrow. When the cla.s.s was over, Ben waited until the others had left before he approached Autumn, who was packing up her gear. He was pretty sure what her att.i.tude would be.
”Good cla.s.s,” he said lightly.
”Thanks.”
”I thought I'd let you sleep in,” he said, trying to snag her attention, which she kept fixed on the canvas bag in front of her. ”Give you a chance to get some rest.”
Autumn made no reply so Ben caught her hand, which was white with chalk. Her fingers were rough and calloused from climbing the wall and the time she spent on the side of a real mountain. It should have been a turnoff but instead it reminded him how strong she was, the way her finely toned body moved in such perfect rhythm with his.
Autumn pulled her hand away. ”What do you want, Ben?”
”I want you to look at me and tell me you don't regret what happened last night.”
She glanced up at him for an instant, then looked away. ”I don't regret it. Not exactly.”
”I suppose that's something.”
She did look at him then. ”Look, Ben. I've really got to run. I've got a couple of lessons this morning, then I'm driving up to Burlington to see my dad.”
”He's all right, isn't he? You said he was released from the hospital-”
”He's fine. I just thought I'd check on him. I've got the afternoon off and it isn't that long a drive.” Her russet eyebrows lifted. ”Unless you need me to help you make some more of the calls on the DMV list.”
”Pete's taking care of it. If he turns up anything, I'll want you to go with me to check it out, but until then there's nothing more we can do and no use worrying about it.”
She frowned. ”You don't really think he'll find anything, do you?”
They had spoken to every owner of a white Chevelle in the state. There were forty-nine other states. The task was daunting and not very hopeful. ”Like I said, Pete's taking care of the Was.h.i.+ngton list.”
”So you're going with us tomorrow?”
”I plan to. I'll have my cell phone with me. Pete can find me if he needs me.”
”We might be out of range.”
He almost smiled. Instead, he reached over and touched her cheek. ”If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to get rid of me.”
The cat-eyes s.h.i.+mmered with uncertainty. ”Look, Ben. Last night was great but-”
”But you aren't interested in a repeat performance. Is that what you were going to say?”
”I just...I don't want to get in over my head.”
He didn't tell her he was already in way over his head-had been since the first time he had watched her climb that wall. He didn't understand it, wasn't sure what was going on, but something was and he wasn't about to ignore it.
”I won't press you, Autumn. Both of us have a lot on our minds right now, but I'm not letting you pretend what happened between us wasn't special because it was and I think you know it.”
She nervously bit her lip. She tried to zip the bag. Her hand was trembling and the zipper stuck. Ben took hold of the canvas tote and closed it for her.
”I've really got to go, Ben.”
”You sure you don't want me to come with you? I'd be happy to drive you.”
She quickly shook her head.
”Fine. Then I'll see you in the morning.”
Autumn looked like a rabbit released from a hunter's snare. He would have asked to see her tonight, but he could tell she wasn't ready and as he had said, he didn't want to press her.
It wasn't until six o'clock that night, as he was sitting behind his desk going over a column of figures on his computer, that he realized he couldn't have seen her even if she had agreed.
Not until his secretary, Jenn Conklin, gave a quick knock on the tall mahogany door and stepped into his office. ”It's getting a little late. You haven't forgotten your dinner engagement have you? The country club with Sam and Beverly Styles?”
Christ. He had forgotten completely. He tossed the pencil down on the desk. ”I always check my calendar. I guess I had something else on my mind.” And Ben knew exactly who that something else was.
”You'll have to hurry or you aren't going to make it.”
”Thanks, Jenn. You're a gift from G.o.d.” Wrapping things up as quickly as he could, he grabbed his suit coat and headed for the door.
”Have fun,” Jenn said as he walked past, casting him a know-it-all glance.
How she always seemed to guess which women he had slept with, Ben couldn't say. What she didn't know was that he had no desire to sleep with Beverly Styles, wouldn't have done it the first time if Bev hadn't insisted on coming up to his penthouse for a nightcap after their evening together. Since Sam was a friend, he'd had no notion of seduction, but he wasn't a saint and Bev was an attractive, sensual woman, a divorcee who knew exactly what she wanted.
Well, it wasn't going to happen tonight. There was only one woman he wanted and that one wasn't eager to let him back into her bed.
He sighed as he waited for the valet to bring his car from the underground lot. He'd make the evening as short as possible then go home.
Ben found himself smiling. Tomorrow he'd see Autumn and renew his campaign.
All the way up the freeway to Burlington, Autumn thought of Ben McKenzie.
She hadn't been physically attracted to a man in years, not since Lucas Noland, a climber she had met on a trip to the Colorado Rockies. Luke was handsome and amazingly athletic and they seemed to click from the moment they met. She had briefly recalled her disastrous, month-long dating, one-night disaster with Ronnie Hillson but Luke was a different kind of guy-an honest guy-and she believed she could handle a short-term affair.
She deserved to have a fling, she'd thought. Just this once. She would enjoy the two weeks they had together and expect nothing more from him.