Page 85 of West Wind
He marched down the stairs and back into the parlor, Annie hanging from his shoulder, his arms around her knees, her derriere in the air. He stopped in front of a blushing Dr. Smith.
“Good night, Doc,” he growled. The doctor gathered his composure and bid them all a hasty good evening.
Shelley deposited Annie unceremoniously on the serpentine couch and stood spread-legged in front of her, blocking her only avenue of escape.
“What’s this nonsense about birds and cats?” he snapped.
“Jesus, Trav.” Bart attempted to grab him from behind. “Leave her alone.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Stay out of this.”
“I don’t think I—” his brother began.
“Or I’ll wipe the floor with your pretty face, I swear I will.”
“Stop it!” Annie ordered harshly. “Bart, I’ll be all right. I... I overreacted.”
“To what?” Shelley looked down at her and practically yelled. “One minute everything’s fine, and the next minute you’re telling me that you’re not a bird, and you’ve got tears in your eyes. You know how much I hate that.”
“Bart, can you leave us alone?” Annie asked, her eyes never leaving Shelley.
Bart left the room, leaving the door open.
Annabelle stared into Shelley’s eyes, wishing that she could read his mind. When she’d realized, as she lay in his bed in his childhood home, that he hadn’t known her true identity until that night at the Filmores’, that night she’d seen him turn from a warm lover to a distant stranger, she’d believed he was incapable of deceit.
“You were the one person in the world I never expected to lie to me,” she said sadly. “That’s what hurts the most.”
“I didn’t—”
“Do you love her?” she asked, resignation in her voice. “Is that why... I mean…”
“Thea?” Shelley sat next to her. “Is that what this is about?”
“Did you… did you sleep with her?” she stared down at the folded hands in her lap.
“What?”
“It’s a simple question.” She looked at him then. “Did you sleep with her?”
“What the hell kinda question is—”
“Did you?”
Shelley squirmed on the couch. “I don’t see—”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” She stood and turned to face him. “I hope the two of you will be very happy.”
Shelley grabbed her arm and pulled her back down beside him. “All right. Once. Five years ago. She was married, and I’m not proud of that, but…”
“She said…” Annabelle began.
Shelley sighed heavily. “You can’t believe a word Thea says. She’s a manipulator, always has been. I just didn’t see it until I met you. Truth is…” He hesitated. Annabelle could read the indecision in his eyes, the uncertainty. “Since I met you I can’t even think about another woman.”
She wanted to believe him but a question remained heavy in her heart. “You kissed her. I went outside to look for you, and the two of you were kissing.”
He smiled; she answered with a glare. He was amused! How dare he? “Well what would you think if I… damn you, wipe that grin off your face.”
Shelley leaned closer and tried to kiss her, but she moved her head to one side. He took her face in his hands and kissed her pursed lips.
