Body Rides (7 page)

She reached through a doorway and flipped a light switch, then turned toward him.

For the first time, he was able to get a look at her in good light. Her face was filthy, smudged with dirt and blood, and more beautiful than he had imagined. He had never seen such eyes. They were shocking. A rich, blue-green color unlike any eyes he had ever seen before.

She had hair like a pixie. Short, golden, but wildly mussed.

Her shirt was unfastened partway down. It showed her throat, the curves of her collar bones, and a narrowing strip of tanned skin down the middle of her chest. The skin there looked shiny with sweat. A few inches below her throat was a smear of blood.

In several places, her blood had soaked through the shirt. Some of the blood, Neal realized, might be his own. The rips and dirt, and likely some of the blood, had probably been the result of his rough fall in the field.

Most of the blood, though, had to be Elise’s.

Her legs looked as if someone had rubbed them, thigh to knee, with wet red hands.

‘I’ll have to find you something to wear,’ she said. ‘Your shirt’s ruined.’

‘That’s all right. I’ll . . .’

‘What
happened
to you, anyway?’ she asked.

‘Huh?’

‘You’re a wreck, too.’

He looked down at himself. He was a little surprised to find that he was bare to the waist. He had a few scratches on his chest and belly. And some reddish areas that would soon become bruises. Nothing serious. His shorts were filthy in front, but not torn. Layers of skin had been scraped off both his knees. His elbows were probably as bad as his knees, but he didn’t bother to look at them.

‘I took a little fall,’ he explained.

‘I didn’t see it.’

‘On my way over to you.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Hey, it’s nothing. Really. You’re the one who got messed up.’

She shrugged. ‘You really should take a shower,’ she said. ‘Wait here a second.’

She hurried past him, disappeared briefly into her bedroom, and returned with a white terry-cloth robe. She held it out to him. ‘You can put this on after you’re done, and I’ll run your things through the wash.’

‘It’s really not necessary.’

‘You’ll feel a lot better once you’re all nice and clean.’

‘I don’t . . .’

‘Please.’

He sighed. ‘Well . . . okay.’ He took the robe from her.

‘Good. When you’re finished, just make yourself at home. There’s a bar in the den.’ She nodded down the hall. ‘Go ahead and make yourself a drink if I’m not out yet.’

‘Do you want me to look the place over first? Make sure nobody’s . . . you know, lurking around?’

‘Don’t bother. Unless you want to. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. Two attackers in one night? What’re the odds?’

‘Not very great,’ Neal admitted. ‘Unless the guy had an accomplice.’

‘I didn’t see one.’

‘People like him usually work alone. Not always, but usually.’

‘I’m not worried. If you’re worried, though, feel free to look around. My house is your house. In the meantime, though, I have
to get cleaned up.’ She turned away and headed for her bedroom. Not looking back, she raised a hand and said, ‘Later.’ Then she was gone.

Neal stood in the hallway, holding the robe, listening. When he heard the water start to run, he figured that Elise was safe: nobody, at least, had jumped her in the master bathroom.

He entered the guest bathroom, shut the door, and hung the robe on a hook.

The doorknob had a lock button.

He thumbed it down.

Just in case, he thought.

He looked at himself in the enormous mirror over the sink and counter, and shook his head.

You’re nuts if you think she’ll try to come in
.

Am I? he wondered. I’m not such a bad-looking guy, we’re about the same age, she obviously likes me, and I
did
save her life.

He started unloading his pockets onto the counter by the sink.

She won’t come, he told himself. For one thing, I told her all about Marta. For another, I’m not in her class. Financially
or
physically. Not even close. Gals like her don’t get involved with guys like me.

She’s awfully grateful, though. Who knows? Maybe my reward will be a visit while I’m showering
.

Done emptying his pockets, he took off his shoes and socks, his shorts and briefs.

It seemed odd to be naked in a stranger’s house.

We’re not exactly strangers, he told himself. I did save her life.

He could hear the faint, rushy sound of water from the other bathroom.

She’s naked, too, he thought. We both are.

Separated only by a few walls and doors.

He pictured her standing under the other shower, water cascading down her body, her skin agleam.

What would she do if I went to her?

He smirked and shook his head.

No way, he thought. And if she tries coming to me, she’ll have to pick the lock.

When Neal was done showering, he couldn’t hear water from Elise’s bathroom. He dried himself, keeping the towel away from the abrasions on his knees and elbows. He used toilet paper to pat those areas dry. The wounds seemed a little leaky, but not bad.

A gentle knocking on the door made him flinch.

‘It’s me,’ Elise said.

He snatched the robe off the hook.

‘When you’re done,’ Elise continued, ‘just leave your clothes in there, and I’ll …’

Robe on, he said, ‘Just a second.’ He shut the robe and tied its cloth belt. ‘You can have them now.’ He opened the door.

Elise smiled. ‘Good timing,’ she said. She looked wonderfully fresh and clean. Her short hair, damp and shiny, was neatly combed. Her face was a little flushed from the shower. She wore blue satin pajamas. Here and there, small drops of moisture had seeped through the top. ‘What?’ she asked.

He shrugged. ‘Nothing. You look . . . like nothing ever happened to you.’

‘You should see all the bandages under my p.j.s. Here, let me in and I’ll pick up your stuff.’

‘I’ll do it,’ he said.

‘No, no. Go on to the bar and make yourself something. I already turned the lights on for you. Next room down the hall. You can’t miss it. I’ll be along in a couple of minutes. Make me a vodka and tonic, okay?’

‘Well . . .’ He wondered if there might be an inconspicuous way to rescue his briefs from the small heap of clothes on the bathroom floor. Sort of embarrassing to think of Elise picking them up.

‘Chop-chop, move it or lose it.’

‘Let me get my socks and underwear,’ he muttered.

‘They’ll be safe with me. I promise. Out of my way, buddy.’

Blushing, Neal smiled and shook his head and stepped past her. She entered the bathroom.

Okay, he told himself. No big deal. Forget it.

The next room down was lighted, just as she’d said. An L-
shaped counter occupied a corner near the sliding doors to the pool. It had four padded stools in front of it.

Neal stepped down off the hallway and walked toward the bar. The carpet felt soft and thick under his bare feet.

Ahead of him, a wall of glass faced the pool area. He couldn’t see the pool, though. He couldn’t see much of anything out there. The glass, like a black mirror, reflected the living room and Neal walking in the white, terry robe.

He looked a little transparent. So did everything else.

He didn’t enjoy the view.

He wondered if someone might be on the other side of the glass, staring in.

Turning away from the glass, he gave the den a casual scan. It had a long, oak coffee table, a large sofa that looked very comfortable, several lamps and a few reclining chairs. Most of the wall space consisted of bookshelves. Across the floor from the sofa was a television with a screen that looked about four times larger than the screen of Neal’s TV.

Man, he thought, what would it be like to watch some videos on
that
baby!

That’s a reward I might be tempted to accept.

But I won’t, he told himself. I won’t accept anything. Wouldn’t be right.

Before stepping behind the bar, he grabbed the handle of the sliding door and pulled. The door skidded sideways.

My God, he thought. Doesn’t she lock anything? She’s lucky she’s lasted
this
long.

He shut the door and locked it.

Then he stepped around the bar. Behind it were shelves of drinking glasses and bottles, a sink, and a small refrigerator. He took down a couple of glasses. In the freezer compartment of the refrigerator, he found ice cubes.

What a set-up, he thought. What a house. Must be incredible to live like this.

What the hell, he thought. You, too, might have a place like this someday. All it’ll take is a little luck, a little hard work, a major miracle . . .

From somewhere near the other end of the house came a faint, low humming sound. The washing machine starting, he supposed.
He made a vodka and tonic for Elise, and the same for himself. He had just squeezed a wedge of lemon into each drink when she arrived.

‘All set,’ she said, stepping down into the den. ‘Did you find everything you needed?’

He lifted both glasses.

‘Great.’ She walked toward the bar, her bare feet silent on the carpet. Neal saw the way her breasts were moving inside her satin pajama shirt, and looked away.

My God, he thought, if Marta ever found out about this . . .

Not that I’ve done anything wrong.

Just that it would
seem
so bad.

Elise stopped at the other side of the bar. As she reached for one of the drinks, her sleeve slipped away from her wrist.

She wore a brilliant, gold bracelet.

It looked heavy and very expensive.

Though Neal only caught a glimpse of the bracelet, it appeared to have a reptile design – a slender body in the shape of a lizard, or maybe an alligator or snake.

‘Thank you, sir,’ she said as she took the drink.

‘Thank
you
. Your stuff.’

‘What’s mine is yours.’

‘No. Huh-uh.’

‘Oh yes it is. Everything. From now on.’

‘I don’t want anything of yours,’ he told her. ‘Really.’

‘You don’t have to take anything you don’t want,’ she told him. ‘But everything is yours.’

He shook his head.

She smiled. ‘Anyway, don’t worry about it. Why don’t you come over here and sit down?’

Carrying his drink, he stepped around the bar. He followed Elise to the sofa. She sat on it, switched the glass to her other hand, and patted the cushion by her side. ‘Right here,’ she said.

Neal sat beside her, but a little farther away than she’d indicated.

She turned toward him, lifting her arm onto the back of the sofa and sliding her right leg onto the cushion. She bent her leg at the knee, and tucked its foot beneath her left knee.

She raised her glass. ‘A toast,’ she said. ‘To a fate worse than death, and the fellow who saved me from it.’

‘Well . . .’

She clinked her glass against his, then took a drink. ‘Mmmm. Very good.’

Neal tasted some of his, then took a large swallow. He sighed. ‘Does hit the spot,’ he said.

‘Now, down to business.’

‘There isn’t any business, Elise. Really. I don’t want a reward. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time, and things worked out. I’m really
glad
I saved you. I mean, I think you’re . . . a very nice woman.’

She grinned. ‘Nice?’

‘Hell, you’re terrific.’

‘Thank you.’

‘So, I mean, saving you was its own reward. You know what I mean?’

‘I know. But I’m not going to let it go at that.’

‘You can’t make me take anything.’

‘I’m not going to try. I already told you that. But everything is yours, when you want it. And I intend to write a will . . .’

‘No, don’t. My God.’

‘That’s all right, I don’t plan to die in the near future.’

‘You can’t put me in your
will
.’

‘Sure I can. And I
will
. That’s why they call it a “will.”’

‘No, jeez.’

‘Don’t sweat it, I might even outlive you. How old are you, anyway?’

‘Twenty-eight.’

‘I’m thirty-two, so . . .’

‘You are?’

‘I know, I’m well preserved.’

‘My God. I would’ve thought twenty-five.’