Chapter 20
Denise
“You OK?”
Isaac’s question draws me out of my thoughts. I turn away from the passing scenery of farmland stretching toward the horizon as we drive home from the party. Well, it wasn’t really a party. It was more of a small gathering around my dad’s bed as we ate slices of his birthday cake.
“Just thinking about the amount of pain Dad must have suffered from the fall. Broken ribs and a collapsed lung.” I grimace. “God. It hurts to even imagine.”
“At least his doctor said he has a high chance of a full recovery. That’s remarkable for a guy in his sixties.”
“It was sad to see him lying there in bed, looking so helpless, though. Before I left home, he was always moving around, doing something.”
“He’ll be back to himself in no time.”
I nod in agreement. “Gayle is doing a great job taking care of him.”
We settle into a comfortable quiet. The hum of the engine and the soft music on the radio lulls my mind. My thoughts drift to that moment after Isaac pulled into Dad and Gayle’s driveway.
Gayle rushed out of the house like she was being chased and pulled me into a tight hug the second I stepped out of the car.
She was crying when she released me, touching my face, stroking my hair, and squeezing my shoulders like I was a mythical creature made real in front of her.
I teared up too, all the anger I harboured against her disappearing like vapour in the open.
More tears came the moment I saw my dad.
He’s always had a tall, broad-shouldered frame, but the man propped up in bed looked so small and frail.
His face lit up when I entered the room.
Even though he once told me to never return, and even though it seemed to physically hurt, he raised his arms, inviting me for a hug.
“I’m glad you convinced me to go,” I say. “Dad and I had a good talk.”
“Why didn’t you accept the gift?”
My eyes widen. “He told you about that?”
“Yes, so I could convince you to take it. Take the money, Denise.”
I purse my lips, hooking my thumb under my seatbelt and tugging it.
“It doesn’t feel right. That money was supposed to pay for college, and I didn’t go. I ran away and disappointed him.”
“If that were the case, he would’ve spent it. But he saved it for you. So take it and use it. Not all at once. Maybe look into some smart investments.”
I smile. “My landlord, my life coach and now my financial advisor? How many hats are you planning to wear for me?”
“As many as you want me to. Or nothing at all, if that’s what you prefer.”
He throws a quick, suggestive smirk at me before returning his attention to the road. I scoff and cross my arms, looking out the window again, trying very hard to resist the delicious mental image of him naked.
* * *
It’s just after six, but it’s already dark by the time we arrive home.
“I have a surprise for you,” Isaac says as he shuts off the car.
He exits, and I follow him, my movements slowing as he heads up his porch stairs. When he notices I’m hanging back, he turns to me.
“You coming?”
My grip on my handbag’s strap tightens. “I’m thinking about yelling stranger danger.”
He smiles. “No strangers here. You’re not in any danger either.”
“Then why does this feel like a trap? Why can’t you bring the surprise out here?”
“What are you afraid of?”
I purse my lips. “I’m not afraid. I’m suspicious.”
He stares at me for a moment, then continues up the porch stairs and unlocks his front door. He steps inside and faces me, holding the door open.
Don’t go.
My feet move forward anyway, as if Isaac has telekinetic powers, pulling me toward him with just his stare. He shuts the door once I’m inside, the thud loud and final. The following click as he locks the door makes me tense.
Satisfaction gleams in Isaac’s eyes, like a predator delighted its prey has walked right into danger without a fight. When he takes off his shoes, I follow suit, nervous yet curious about what’s going to happen next.
He takes my hand and leads me away from the front door. I don’t resist at first until he sets foot on the stairs. I pull free from his grip and step back.
“I knew it! I knew this was a trap!”
“It’s not a trap. The surprise is upstairs.” He pauses, a slow smile curving his lips. “In my bedroom.”
I give him an incredulous look. How is he so shameless about his dirty intentions?
“I’m not stepping one foot up those stairs, Isaac. Not even a toe!”
“Alright.”
He moves fast, grabbing me and slinging me over his shoulder like a farmer carrying a sack of harvested produce. I squirm and kick as he carries me up the stairs.
“Put me down!”
“Be still, or you’ll fall and hurt yourself.”
I continue struggling and he smacks my ass. It’s not painful, but I let out a scandalized squeak and go limp. Am I a traitor to women? Instead of being indignant that a man disregarded my wishes in favour of his and struck me when I disobeyed him, my face is warm because I liked the spank.
Isaac sets me on my feet when we’re in his bedroom. His hands on my waist, there’s only an inch of space between us. I’m certain he’s going to kiss me, and my heart beats faster as I wait for him to do it. But he moves his hands to my upper arms and turns me around.
“There’s the surprise.”
His dresser is in front of me. I scan the surface, hyperaware of his touch and his presence so close behind me. This is my second time in his bedroom, so I’m not familiar with the usual layout, but everything looks like they belong. Nothing stands out.
I shake my head. “I don’t see it.”
He pushes me closer to the dresser.
“Look at the watch box.”
The lid is up, several pieces sitting in their slots. I don’t condone what Matt did, but I understand why he stole one. They all have that tantalizing shine only money can buy.
But one grabs my attention. Black strap, silver case, the word STEINHART in silver on the black dial. I recognize it even though I’ve never seen it before. It matches the description Isaac sent me that day I went to the pawn shop.
That’s the watch Matt stole.
I spin to face him. “How did you get it back?”
“I bought it.”
Confused, I’m about to ask him how he got the first buyer’s information from the pawn shop owner, but comprehension kicks in.
He’s the one who bought it before I could.
“But... how did you know where to get it?”
“You said the shop was close to your work. There were only two possibilities on the map.”
I back up a step, glaring at him. “This is the worst surprise ever.”
“I never promised it’ll be a good one. Did it upset you?”
“Of course it did! You just showed me you had the watch all along, after I wasted my time trying to get it back for you, and got stressed out when I couldn’t.”
“I got it before you could so you wouldn’t waste your hard earned money fixing Matt’s mess.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me that night? Oh, I know why. So you could blackmail me for sex!” My hands clenched at my sides, I glance at the door, ready to escape. “I can’t believe you would do something like that. It would’ve been better if you let me believe the watch was gone for good.”
He shakes his head. “I didn’t blackmail you for sex. I tried to make you admit you wanted me. Yeah, I could’ve let you believe the watch was gone, but showing it to you was the right thing to do, even if it made you upset. Because it would make you upset.”
My eyes are wide, my voice faint.
“You wanted to get me angry?”
“Yes.” His voice is silken as he moves closer. I retreat until the dresser blocks me from going any further. “That way, I can make it up to you. I’ll do anything.”
I said those last three words to him the day he showed up in the basement demanding Matt return his watch.
I’m still ticked off at him for his deception, but with him standing so close, I see why those words tempted him and he took advantage of the opportunity.
Anything means all the things I fantasized about this week, things I shouldn’t want from him.
Temptation whispers in my ear, asking me if it would be so bad if I give in.
After all, I was ready to do it before. But when you make a mistake, you’re supposed to learn from it, not repeat it.
I move to the side, determined to flee Isaac’s bedroom with my morals intact.
He steps in my way and grabs my waist before I can get past him.
“Isaac—”
In one fluid motion, he pulls me against him, his hand at the back of my neck, his lips claiming mine. His kiss is demanding, wiping out resistance and reason. I’m barely aware of him turning me and walking me backward.
My legs meet the side of his bed. He uses his body to push me onto it.
His arm still around me, he drags me to the middle of the mattress, trapping me under him.
We’re breathing hard, and I can think again now that our kiss is broken.
I squirm under him, pushing on his shoulders.
My god. He’s so big and hard, it’s like I’m trying to move a mountain.
“Do you know why you always fight me?” he asks.
“Because this is wrong and one of us needs to think with our head and not with what’s in our pants?”
“No, because you like it when I force you.”
I scoff. “How could I like that?”
“You want this as much as I do, but you’re too afraid and ashamed to admit it.
” Isaac lowers his head, dragging his lips along my jaw, wisps of his breath tickling my skin as he speaks.
“You pretend to put up a fight so you don’t feel guilty when you give in to me.
Then you can lie to yourself that you didn’t want to do it, but you did because you had no choice. ”
“That’s not true!” I say, my voice too high and shaky.
He presses a kiss to my chin. “If you need my help selling the lie, I can tie you down to the bed so you can’t escape.”
“I’ll scream.”
“Yes, when you come on my face.”