3. Isla
Isla
That night, Isla couldn’t sleep. It was the protective glint in Dorian’s eyes. Maybe it was a girl’s fantasy, but she could swear she saw it. He took Lanny down with one hand…it was the fastest thing I’ve ever seen…I can’t stop…thinking about that…
She stood before her window, staring at her reflection.
She was bottom-heavy, with heavy breasts and a noticeable tummy.
Not unattractive by any means. She undid her ponytail, and her locks cascaded down her shoulders, making her look softer.
She hated looking at herself, but this time, she imagined him looking at her, seeing what she prayed a man would notice.
After a moment of checking herself out on all sides, she went to bed, imagining being wrapped in those powerful arms. Her heart skipped, imagining being engulfed in that spicy cologne, and fiercely protected again.
She had always wanted to be wanted, but not in the lustful way the younger men looked at her.
She wanted to be wanted, totally. Completely.
Flaws and all. She wanted to be desired, to have someone dive into her as well as her feelings and insecurities.
She ran her fingers down her thighs, teasing the idea of playing with herself before bed…but thought about how awkward it would be to see him the next day…if she saw him at all. She rolled on her left side and drifted off to sleep, thinking about him.
Hours later.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Her eyes slowly opened, scanning for her phone. She found it where she left it, on the nightstand. She picked it up and silenced the alarm. “Okay, okay…I’m up…”
She made herself a light breakfast of yogurt and avocado toast and a strong cup of tea. She usually played the TV in the background. But not today. Something told her she needed to be focused. She finished, deposited her dishes in her sink, and went back to her bedroom to get dressed.
She put on a pair of green leggings and a white long-sleeve shirt, then put her name tag on. She quickly brushed her long, dirty blonde hair and tied it back into a loose ponytail. Then, she put on pink lipstick and a light blush. She was ready.
Finally
She went out, locked her front door, then went to her car. She opened it and backed out, then drove off to work. She was fortunate it was a short ride away, but she couldn’t help but feel a gnawing feeling in her gut. Something was wrong.
She pulled into Hoshams’ Hardware and parked. Then got out, grabbing her comfortable shoes from the backseat. She swapped out of her house shoes and walked inside.
Her trip to the back counter was oddly tense. Rick and Bella turned to her with a worried gaze. “Good morning,” Isla said.
“Morning,” they said in unison.
She signed into the payroll book and walked up front to her post. As she got settled Bella walked up to her. “Isla.”
Isla turned to her. “Oh, hi again.”
Bella blew out a sigh. “I have some unfortunate news.”
Isla’s eyes went wide. “You’re firing me, aren’t you?”
Bella blinked. “No! No, good god no.”
Isla breathed. “Thank god…what is it?”
Bella blew out a sigh. “They found Lanny in the woods this morning.”
Isla let out a snarky laugh. “Drunk again?” Bella’s eyes remained still. She was serious “Oh…shit…what happened?”
“He’s dead, Isla.”
Isla put her hands over her mouth. “What?”
“So far, the police are saying he got mauled by a bear. It was… gruesome.”
Isla tried to get over her shock. “...do you have the picture?”
Bella stared at her in shock. “Isla!”
“Just professional curiosity…you know I’m a crime nut,” she said.
Bella tossed her dark crimson hair back. “Okay, but don't say I didn’t warn you…” She pulled it off her phone. “I’m surprised you can look at things like this…” She handed the phone to Isla.
Isla gasped at first. Holy shit…this is gruesome…but…that doesn’t look like a bear…those are way too clean…he would have been ripped apart…this is…different…Just then it hit her. Oh my god…was that…no…it can’t be…
She handed the phone back. “That’s the most blood I’ve ever seen.”
Bella blew out a sigh and patted her arm. “Just try to focus on work, okay?” Isla nodded and Bella walked to the back.
The day went by quickly for Isla, but as three o'clock hit. She found it slowed. She had an hour left. Then. He came in. Dorian.
Dorian was fresh in a new button-up shirt.
This time, it was a light blue. It was tucked, showing his gut, his arms, and his massive chest. She always fluttered when she looked at him, but this time.
The flush was different. A mix of fear and resentment.
But she wanted to hear him speak again. “Hello, Dorian. Welcome back.”
Dorian gave her a nod. “Good afternoon,” he said. “How are you today?”
“I’m okay…um…” His gaze was intense as usual. Scanning her. Piercing right through her. Seeing the frightened girl beneath the practiced retail facade. “Did you hear about Lanny?”
Dorian tilted his head, his expression turning from indifferent to confused. “Who?”
Isla swallowed hard. “The guy who was harassing me yesterday,” she whispered.
Dorian nodded. “Oh, the swine. Right. So what happened to him? Pulled over or something?”
She shook her head. “No…he’s dead.”
Dorian’s eyes went wide for a moment, but he looked on with mock concern. “Oh. Well then–”
Isla leaned in. “It looked like he was drunk and stumbled into the woods, and some bear attacked him.”
Dorian shook his head. “That’s a shame.”
She noticed the lack of empathy in his voice. “You don’t sound too upset.”
His bewildered look remained. “Why should I? As far as I’m concerned, he was a sexist pig. The bear probably did us a favor.”
She gasped. “Dorian!”
His expression turned playful. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I hate to see anyone die, but it seems like he did it to himself. Bears are unpredictable.”
She noted the way his pupils dilated at the talk of it. It was interesting to him. He was involved. It was almost like he…liked it. Those eyes were enthralling. She leaned in more. “Dorian…I…think maybe he was killed there…but not by a bear.”
He could feel her breath on him, sweet and minty. “Oh? What makes you think that?”
She had his full attention, and it was dominating. He also leaned in, meeting her eyes. “Because…it looked too clean…Bears usually rip their victims apart…”
Dorian offered a slow nod, his eyes scanning her face. “Really now?” He drawled.
His proximity was pure heat. Sweat formed on her brow, her breath catching as she tried to pull away from his gaze. “Yes…” she said weakly.
A genuine smile creased his lips. “You know you're stuff. I like that.”
She flushed deeper. “Thank you…um…what brings you in today?”
He looked up, leaving her eyes, and looked across the store. “Ice pick.”
She swallowed hard. “Oh…um, down this center aisle.” She gestured.
His eyes followed her pointing finger and then back to her eyes. “Show me?”
She nodded and led him down the center aisle. Placing her hand on it. “Right here…”
He approached her. Slowly. Methodically. He stood only a foot away. Leaning down and taking the ice pick. “It's perfect for my project.”
Isla shuddered. Her body went hot. Too hot. His proximity was suffocating. “Wh-what project?”
His eyes lit up. “Something very special.”
She nodded and started back to the front counter. To her shock. His arm caught hers. Stopping her in her tracks. “Yes?” She squeaked.
He needed her again. His presence was still suffocating. “I think you'd appreciate it. Would you like to see it?”
She swallowed hard again. “Yes…I would…”
He raised his hand, making her flinch for a slight second before gently lifting her chin. “Six this evening,” he purred. “I'll pick you up here.”
She looked directly into his eyes. “Yes…Dorian…”
He gently cupped her cheek. “I look forward to it.” He placed the ice pick on the counter and she rang it with trembling hands.
“That’s…$10.59…Dorian.”
He slid out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it to her. “Keep the change,” he said. He took the pick and put it in his pocket, then sauntered out the door.
Her heart pounded in her chest. Fear, desire, apprehension, it all whirled together.
What if he is the one who killed him? What if–She caught herself.
She knew she couldn’t think like that. She finished off the day and went home to change.
She picked a navy blue dress that brought out her eyes, and her curves.
She hated her tummy in the dress, but it made her feel pretty all the same.
She drove back to the store and waited until six.
She tried to listen to music, but nothing helped.
Her mind was racing. But at six on the dot, he arrived.
His truck was pulling alongside her. She turned and saw him.
He had his hair slicked back, held with some product, at least from the gleam off it.
He wore a different shirt; it was an all-black button-up. She swallowed hard as he stepped out of the truck. He wore black jeans also, and brown boots. Something about him screamed power. She turned off her car and stepped out. Taking a breath, she walked around and met him in his passenger seat.
He offered another smile. It was nice to see, but she’d seen it so rarely she couldn’t tell what it was from. Excitement or something else. “You look…handsome,” she said. “Very handsome…”
He ran his fingers over his grey goatee. “Thank you, Isla,” he said. “You look lovely.” She flushed, and he opened the door. “Please.”
She slid into the seat and he closed the door. Then, he closed the distance to the driver’s seat and closed the door. Then backed out. He drove off, taking her to his place in the north. “You have a nice truck…” she said, desperately trying to make conversation.
“Thank you,” he said. “It suits me.”
She watched the sun set in the distance as they drove. After a few more moments of silence, he pulled into a dirt road and went down it. “Wow…you live a ways away…”
He cut her a smirk and kept driving, his eyes darting between her and the road. He pulled into a gravel driveway before a large log cabin. “Wow…” she breathed.
He parked, then quickly left the truck, moving to let her out. He led her by the small of her back to the front door. His hand felt large, dominant on her back, but it was also steadying. He slid a key into the lock and turned, opening the door.