and along came SPIDER ( A Martina Spalding Thriller ) (Spider Series Book 1) (7 page)

CHAPTER
ELEVEN

At six sharp, Marti
pushed through the Saturday night crowd at Hannity’s, her eyes searching ahead
for Parker McLean on her way to the rear, where she expected to find him.  And
directly to her back was Gloria, with a firm grip on Martina’s hand, as she pulled
her blindly along.  They were both in shapely full length pastel evening
dresses, with sleeves.  They looked lovely and much alike with the exception
that Gloria, by necessity, again wore her sunglasses, which rendered her near
sightless in the dimly lit establishment. 

Seeing them coming,
Parker darted from the very last booth, decked out in his Sunday best three
piece suit.  It was charcoal in color, but to set it off, he wore a very loud
red tie and a huge, almost beaming, smile.  Seeing it prompted Martina to beam
in return, as she hurriedly approached, a groping Gloria appearing to be
dragged behind.

Surprisingly, Parker
pulled her in and planted a kiss on her cheek before saying, “You are so
beautiful.  And Gloria…”  He ended it there, but so she wasn’t made to feel
like a third thumb, he took her hand up for a kiss as well.

Marti thought that was
so admirable of him, and she gloried in the sight of how it appeared to make
Gloria feel accepted in her time of depression.  “Thank you, Parker,” she couldn’t
help but say.  “You look so nice!”

“Thank you,” Parker
returned.  “But don’t get the wrong idea.  At heart I’m really a jeans and tee
shirt kind of guy.”

“Me too,” Gloria tossed
in, feeling accepted now, “but it is nice to put on the dog every once in a
while, right?”

“It is,” they all
agreed and happily slid into the booth, Martina to the inside of Parker and
Gloria opposite the two of them, which was fine with her.  This way she
wouldn’t need to crane her aching neck, or twist her tortured body, to address
either of them.

Once they were served
drinks, Parker his usual Budweiser and Martina and Gloria each a glass of red
wine, Parker made an announcement.  “I have reservations for seven thirty at
Chouteau’s, overlooking the river.  I hope you both like French food?”

“I don’t know about
Martina, but I love it,” Gloria offered.

“That’s a wonderful
choice, Parker,” Marti offered, feeling good about the evening already.

“I especially love
Chouteau’s,” Gloria added.  “My husband and I went there oft…”  She paused and
studied the attentive faces across from her.  “I’m sorry.  I guess I shouldn’t
be having this wine.  Apparently I’m already goofy.”

This brought laughter
from Parker but only sympathy from Marti, who reached out and took Gloria’s
hand in hers.  “It’s okay, honey,” she said, as tears appeared from beneath
Gloria’s sunglasses.  “It’s okay!”

Parker took note of
this and said, “Did I miss something?  I’m sorry if I…”

“No, Parker, you did
nothing wrong,” Martina was quick to say.  “It’s just that Gloria has had a
difficult experience.  She’ll be fine in a few days.”  Actually, Marti wasn’t
being truthful.  Physically she may mend in weeks, but mentally the scars from
the beating she took may be with her forever, she knew.

“My ex-husband beat
me,” Gloria came out with it.

“Bad?” Parker focused
on her.

With that, Gloria
removed her sunglasses, revealing the liver colored bruising around both her
eyes.

“My God!” Parker drew
back and made a painful face.  “Where’s the sonofabitch now?  Did you have him
arrested?”

“No,” Gloria said and
replaced the glasses.  “No cops!”

“Gloria is afraid he
may….” Marti started.

“Look!” Parker cut her
off, feeling the urge to be macho.  “I need to know this asshole’s name.  Where
can I find him?”

“You know what,” Gloria
said shaking her head, “I think I’d better go home.  No way am I going to allow
this to spoil the evening for the two of you.  I couldn’t bear it.”  She
reached for her purse at her side and began to slide out of the booth.

“Wait, Gloria,” Marti
said, holding up a hand.  “Look, Parker, I think Gloria is right.  Perhaps we
can do this another time, okay?”

“No, you two go ahead. 
I shouldn’t have come in the first place.”  Gloria got to her feet and headed
for the door.

“Let me out, Parker!”
Marti said franticly.  “I can’t let her go out there alone.”

With that, Parker
hastily got to his feet. “Come on, I’ll give you a lift.”  He dropped a five
dollar bill on the table, took Martina by the hand and wormed his way through
the packed crowd toward the door.  Where the sea had parted for the shapely
Gloria, he found the going more tedious.

Once on the sidewalk
out front, they spotted Gloria already a half block up and running as best she
could in the tight gown and spike heels. 

Briefly analyzing the
situation, Martina said, as she slipped off her heels, “Just go, Parker.  I’ll
catch up with her.”  With that, she hitched the pink dress up to her hips and
took off on a dead run.

Spellbound at the
sight, Parker couldn’t help but wonder what may have been, had Martina shown up
alone and things gone smoothly… frightened now that he may not get another
chance.  Keeping an eye on Martina until she caught up with Gloria, he then
turned back to Hannity’s and entered.  What a gazelle, he mused.  What a nymph!

Gloria cried most of
the way home.  Not for herself and her pitiful state, but because the evening
had gone so terribly wrong for her dear friend.  “It’s all my fault!” she
insisted numerous times before reaching her building and sitting down on the
front steps to rest her aching body.

“No, Gloria!” Marti sat
down beside her.  “Don’t blame yourself!  It just wasn’t meant to be, that’s
all.  Besides, I saw something in Parker tonight I don’t think I like.”

“The suit?”  Gloria
focused on her and began to laugh.

“No.”  Marti locked
onto her eyes behind the sunglasses to check the seriousness behind her words. 
“What’s wrong with the suit?”

“Well,” Gloria turned
away to see cars traveling past on the street, “he obviously bought it at
Sears.  If it weren’t for the red tie, I would have thought he was dressed for
a funeral.  Come on…a charcoal three piece… on a Saturday night date?”

Marti shrugged, not
wanting to go there.  Actually, she had thought Parker very handsome in the
suit.  “No, it was how he immediately pounced on the idea of going after your
ex for what he did to you.  I don’t know why men think they have to be that
way?  He doesn’t even know you, and as much as I’d like to think it’s just that
he’s caring, I think it’s something else.  Something that I don’t like.”

“I can tell you what it
is in a word:
testosterone
.”  Gloria
giggled.  “Gotta love it!  That’s what puts the bull in the beast, Martina.” 
She laughed some more.

“Well, I still don’t
like it!”  Marti was firm in her observation.

“If you ever hope to
get properly laid, you better hope the fellow has a bit of that in him or you
may as well bang your little brother,” Gloria opined.

Martina naively
pondered that for a moment then said, “I don’t have a little brother.”  That
brought spontaneous laughter from the both of them.

At that moment, a shiny
new, blue, 1955 Chevy half ton pickup truck, with white sidewall tires pulled
up to the curb and from it stepped Parker McLean, shy of the suit jacket, vest,
and tie.

“Parker!”  Gloria elbowed
Martina and shouted gleefully, as if he were a long absent boyfriend.

Parker came around the
truck and rather meekly approached them.  “Lenny at Hannity’s told me where you
two live.”

“Yay, Lenny!”  Gloria
tossed a fist into the air.  There was no doubt she was in a different frame of
mind now.

“I just came by to see
if you both like barbeque.  I know this little joint outside of town that
serves up the best you’ll ever sink your teeth into.”

“I’m game,” Gloria
said, knowing Martina would never go without her.  Hopefully this would serve
to save the day for her and Parker.  She did so want her friend to have a man
in her life.  And, as far as Parker went, he was on the high side of the curve when
it came to those she’d known of the opposite sex.  Hell, he may even turn out
to be good in bed, to boot.  Wouldn’t
that
be an added bonus… for her friend?

“Can you wait until we
change?” Marti asked, getting to her feet.

CHAPTER
TWELVE

Parker stopped by his
house on the way to change into jeans and western boots, as well.  Martina and
Gloria waited in the truck as he did so, and from what they could see through
the windows, it was only him that roamed around inside.

“Does he live alone?”
Gloria asked.

“So he said.”

“Never married?”

“Nope!”  Marti turned
to her.  “Why all the questions?”

“Just making sure he’s
right for you.”

“Don’t you think I
should be the judge of that?”

“You know, Martina, no
woman ever forgets her first.”

Marti’s mouth fell
open, trying to make sense of that.  “What are you trying to say, Gloria?  That
I can’t decide for myself?  That I’ll be blind to his virtues and vices?”

“You may think you’re
not, but believe me, you are!  Virgins often let desire override better
judgment.  The new heifer in the pasture generally takes the first bull to come
along.”

“So how do you know all
of this stuff?  Were you raised on a farm?” Marti asked.

“No, but like you, I
was a heifer once,” Gloria laughed and Martina joined in.

“So, is he?”

“So, is he what?”

“Come on, Gloria!  Is
Parker the one… or not?”

“I don’t know yet,”
Gloria said, casting a smile Martina’s way.  “But I will, before the night is
over.  I’m a fast study of body language.  It tells a lot about a person.”

“Just exactly what are
you looking for?”

“Charm, mostly.  But
not too much charm.  Too much charm means he’s in it just for himself.  Once
finished with you, he couldn’t care less whether you live or die…he’s out of
there.”

“I think Parker is
charming,” Marti said.  “But not overly so.  I mean, he’s not sickening with
it.  But he is charming.”

“How about hip action? 
Have you ever danced with him?”

“Oh, come on, Gloria! 
Jeeze!  Now I know you’re pulling my leg.”  Martina laughed.

“Hip action is very
important.  You want to be satisfied, don’t you?”

“It’s just the first
time, for Christ’s sake!” Marti said.  “It’s clinical.  I’m sure I’m not going
to have an orgasm or anything.  I’ve done my research.”

“I did…” Gloria said
boldly.  “But I made the guy do lots of foreplay before I gave in.  He later
became my first husband.  He had great hip action… but little else… zero
personality.  Poor man…”

“Oh, here he comes!”
Martina said, in a loud whisper.  “Shhhh!  I don’t want him to think we’re
talking about him.”

“We’re not!”

“We were!”  Marti then
put a smile on her face and turned to the door as it opened.  “Wow!  Do you
look nice,” she said, eyeing him in his tight jeans and colorful western shirt,
a ten-gallon black hat on his head.

“Thanks, Doc,” he said
and slid under the wheel.

“Is that Old Spice?  My
dad wears that.”  The smell made her briefly homesick and a bit melancholy.

“It is,” Parker said
and started the truck.  “But if your dad wears it, maybe I ought to switch. 
How about Aqua Velva?  Do you like that?”

Thinking this all so
silly, Gloria said, “I like the smell of the man.  But then, I’m a bit
primitive.”

Not knowing what to
think of that, Martina said, “Stick with the Old Spice, Parker.”

They arrived at their
destination after near an hour drive, shortly before nine.  By the sound of the
music resonating from inside the place more resembled a country honkytonk than
a barbeque.  At least judging from the rusty tin clad exterior, Marti observed
as they walked across the gravel lot toward the entrance.

“I’m famished,” Gloria
said weakly from behind.

“Oh, honey!” Marti
doubled back for her.  “We’ll be eating soon, okay?”  She took her arm and fell
in behind Parker, leading the way.  “How are you holding up, otherwise?”

“I’m better.  Thanks
for asking.”

“Wonderful!”  Marti’s
mind had been so occupied with the pros and cons of taking the naughty plunge
with Parker, and in doing so shamefully had ignored the possible medical needs
of her friend.  While she was riding center seat in the truck on the way here,
Parker’s hand had brushed the inside of her leg several times, while working
the floor shift.  Each time that’d happened, a desire shot through
her — toes to scalp — some of which lingered yet.  But
as far as Gloria was concerned, she’d brought one of the Plaximin
along — with some aspirin — if any unbearable amount of
pain should return.  Thankfully, though, it appeared the worst of it was over
for her now.  It had been two hours since Gloria had taken just two aspirin.

The buffet line inside
the packed restaurant, due to the hour, was minimal.  As was the
spread — a single tray with a length of brown butcher’s paper atop
it was to suffice as the serving platter for them all.  After consulting with
the ladies as to their likes, Parker had it loaded with sliced beef brisket,
pulled pork, ribs, and link sausage from the selection before them.  Single
servings of potato salad, baked beans, and numerous slices of bread were
added.  Plates, silver, and napkins were collected further up the line before
moving on to a table in another room, where a country band played.

No sooner had they
seated themselves than a waiter showed up to take their drink orders.  It ended
up to be beers all around after Parker said, “What’s barbeque without beer?” 
Gloria wasn’t much of a beer drinker, but even she thought the combination was
delightful.

Once everyone had their
fill, there was still a goodly amount of meats left on the tray.  Gloria took
it upon herself to wrap it in the butcher paper on the tray and ask for a bag
to put it in.  “Thank you, Parker.  That was delicious.”  She gave him her best
smile, as it was, with the sunglasses covering a goodly portion of her face.

“My pleasure,” he
returned.  “Since you have been so tidy with the leftovers, Gloria, why don’t
you take that home with you?” he offered.

“Well, aren’t you a
darling.  I’m delighted.”  She smacked her hand and blew him a kiss. 

“Yes, thank you,
Parker,” Marti said, and to top Gloria, she leaned over a planted a kiss firmly
on his lips.

“Wow!” Parker said.  “If
that’s all it takes to get such attention, we’ll need to do this more often.”

Then, when the band
started playing Blue Skirt Waltz, he asked Martina if she wanted to dance.  She
readily accepted and glanced to Gloria before heading to the dance floor,
wondering if she would take note of Parkers hip action while out there.  But
then, she soon discovered she didn’t need Gloria’s opinion of that.  Parker was
a wonderful dancer, and the hip action was superb.  “You’re a regular Arthur
Murray, aren’t you,” Marti offered, in the way of a compliment.

“I have an older
sister,” he said.  “You’re quite good yourself.”

“I have an older
father.”  Marti laughed.  “The poor man had to teach me, since I was a
wallflower, and the boys in the neighborhood would have nothing to do with me.”

“I find that hard to
believe, Doc.” Parker smiled down at her beautiful face.

“It’s true!  I was such
a gangly youth the kids at school took to calling me Spider.”

“How cruel!”

“Yes, it was.”

“Well. I guess you
showed them.  You must have been slow to mature?”

“Yes, I guess I was.”
Marti said.  But he didn’t know the half of it.  Twenty-five and still a
virgin!  Disgraceful!

After two more waltzes,
they returned to the table to find Gloria with a fresh glass of wine and
appearing quite dejected.  Being the gentleman he was, Parker wondered if
perhaps he should ask Gloria to dance and suggested it to Martina.  “Oh, would
you?  She must feel left out.  Poor thing!”

Gloria, however,
declined.  “I don’t believe my wretched body is quite up to that yet.  Thank
you for asking, though.  That was sweet.”

“Honey, would you like
to go home?” Marti asked.

“And throw a wrench in
your plans, twice in one night?  Not on your life.”

“Are the pains
returning?” Marti persisted.

Seeing where this was
going, Parker suggested, “Why don’t we have one for the road, then call it a
night.  It is a long ride home.”

“You don’t need to cut
it short on my account,” Gloria tossed in.  “Once I’m home, you two can go off
and do whatever it is you have a mind to do, to each other.”  She punctuated
that with a sheepish smile, while glaring at the two of them.

This left puzzled looks
on both the faces across the table.  “Gloria!”  Martina’s mouth gaped in
disbelief.

“Oh, quit!” Gloria
laughed.  “You both know what you want.  Why don’t you just admit it to each
other and get on with it?  Life’s short.  Time’s a wastin’.”  She took the last
gulp from her wine.

“Oh, God!  Whatever am
I going to do with you?”  Marti couldn’t help but giggle briefly before
glancing to Parker, who was smiling broadly.