NO ILLUSIONS
by
Cassandra Ormand
Trade Paperback ISBN: 1-931062-18-8
(Gemstar Ebook ISBN: 1-931062-08-0)
EXCERPT:
Ellee shoved the register tapes and the receipts into her bag, then piled the money in behind it. "I'll take them home with me and do it later. I'm too distracted right now."
Wes smiled. "Thanks, Ellee. I owe you one."
"You owe me a bunch," she growled. Then, feeling guilty for being so testy, she leaned over and gave him a hug. "Sorry, Wes. I guess I'm feeling premenstrual tonight."
He squeezed her a little too tightly, and then gently pushed her away.
"Stick around for awhile?" Wes asked, then silently damned himself for making it sound like a plea.She smiled. "Sure."
"Come on, I'll buy the beer.""Can I have a Kahlúa instead?" she begged, as they made their way back downstairs. Wes knew she never touched beer.
He laughed and pushed her on ahead of him into the bar. Lisa was on sentry duty near the door, probably counting every second that Wes spent with Ellee, but she tried to look disinterested as they brushed past her."Looks like business is picking up. You got tables to wait?" Wes prompted.
"I'm waiting on Cammie to make a Tornado Alley Twister," she said, gazing back at him with unabashed attraction."The bar is way over there on the other side of the room," he reminded her.
Forgetting about Lisa's come-hither looks, he followed Ellee to her favorite table in the farthest corner of the room. Why the hell she always wanted to hide herself was beyond him. Ellee was a knockout. She wasn't skinny like all those Hollywood wannabes, but nice and rounded in all the right places. She was every bit a size twelve and practically dwarfed Lisa in height, but she was put together very well, perfectly proportioned. She held herself tall and carried herself with a regal air. She looked just as good in jeans as she did in those tailored business suits she had in the back of her closet. She was high class with a down-home sensibility that attracted men like lovesick magnets.
The bar was already starting to fill up. Wes glanced around in approval. He would turn a nice profit tonight. It sure beat the hell out of waiting around for a fishing charter back home in Queensland, trying to make ends meet between tours. The bar had steady proceeds, turned a nice profit, and was affording him a nice cushion in his bank account. It felt good to have roots for a change. He'd spent too many years bucking the settled life. He often wondered why he'd bothered. Back then, when he'd been running his chartering service, out there on the sea with his boat, he'd thought he was some sort of free spirit. Now he knew all that was just a lie. He'd discovered that he was much happier with a deeper commitment. He felt just as free and peaceful here at Cap's.
He glanced at Ellee. She was watching the people on the dance floor, patiently waiting for Bev to come around to their table. Wes took a moment to study her profile. He liked to watch her when she wasn't looking, when she was relaxed and there were no barriers up. Ellee had a thing about letting people in. She'd been hurt in the past, and she was scared of being hurt again. It kept her from getting too personal with people. All except Wes. She had let him in. As much as she could anyway.
Wes motioned for Bev to come over, and ordered a beer for himself and a Kahlúa for Ellee. They both rarely drank, but occasionally shared a round or two. Always low-key. Always safe. Controlled. Just the way Ellee liked it.Ellee hadn't even finished her first drink before some yahoo was trying to pick her up. Despite Wesley's presence, a half-inebriated fellow came along and started begging her to dance with him. According to his over-exuberant musings, the fellow had seen her there before, teaching some of the line dances, which Wes had taught her. The bloke persisted until Ellee finally gave in to his pleas for another lesson.
Wes watched her lead the guy out to the dance floor and start a nice number. He felt like a pressure cooker that was about to blow, and he didn't like the feeling. He could easily snap the man in half, and it took all his effort not to go off in a rage and break something, preferably the guy's face. Instead, he casually walked over and switched the jukebox to a country song, a nice two-step.
Ellee's partner faltered to a halt when he heard the change in music. She grinned. She knew Wes was about to cut in. He always did.
"Excuse me, mate," she heard him boom from somewhere behind her. "I believe the little lady is going to need my expertise with this one."
With a good-natured shrug, the man stepped off the dance floor. But he watched in envy as Wes swept Ellee into his arms and began twirling her around the floor.
Ellee kept perfect time with Wes, weaving in and out of his arms as he led her through an intricate two-step. She was up to the task. After all, she'd had a good teacher and plenty of practice.
She was happy when she was dancing with Wes. He was a fine dancer. The best. He knew how to give a lady a good time. She always felt particularly feminine when they were together, dancing, laughing, and talking. Being around Wes made her feel alive, like the world was a good place to be and all was well.When the song ended and the music changed to a slow dance, she automatically found her way into Wesley's arms. He held her a little too closely. At first, she melted into his arms, let him hold her close, secure in their friendship. They danced well together. Always had. Like they were made for one another.
Wes closed his eyes and lived in the moment, pure, unadulterated Ellee. He could feel the heat of her through her soft, silk blouse. She relaxed against him, her body tucked into his. She was tall for a woman, nearly 5' 8", but she still had to tuck her head under his chin to dance with him.
Wes loved every minute of it. Ellee made him feel like a giant of a man, like the great protector, immensely masculine, and invincible. He was starting to feel downright syrupy when she suddenly dragged him to a halt and pulled out of his reach. She stared up at him for a moment, her eyes luminous as the music swelled around them.
"I have to go," she croaked. Then she left him standing there on the dance floor, his arms empty.
Wes watched her push through the crowd and disappear out the door, and felt another crack form in his cool exterior. Slowly, he became aware of the other dancers around him. The noise level of the bar suddenly seemed deafening. He wondered that he hadn't noticed it before.
As he stood there, feeling empty, Lisa appeared at his elbow."I'll dance with you, Wes," she offered.Wes stared vacantly at her for a moment, then shook his head. "Thanks, Lisa, but I think I'll just take a walk."
He needed some fresh air and a moment to cool his heels. He waded through the people in the bar and pushed his way out the front door, pausing for a moment to look around the parking lot. Ellee's Jeep was already gone. She'd certainly hurried home. He glanced to the north, toward Ellee's house. He could just barely see the shine of the yard-lights she always left on.Feeling angry, he jogged across A1A and trotted down the boardwalk to the beach below. At the bottom of the stairs, he kicked off his deck shoes and set out across the sand. Without bothering to roll up the legs of his jeans, he walked straight to the water's edge and let the surf tickle his bare toes as he stared at the brilliant specks of light in the night sky.A light touch on his hand startled him. He glanced down to see Cap standing next to him, looking up at him in canine concern."Hey, mate. Did you come to keep the old fool company?"
Cap whined softly and held up a paw. Wes gave it a shake, then sat down in the sand beside the dog and wrapped an affectionate arm around his ruff."We'll just watch the stars together, you and me," he said to the dog. "Just you and me."
He sighed heavily. Wes had a secret that no one knew except him and Cap. He was in love with Ellee. She loved him, too. As a friend. But that wasn't enough. It would never be enough. And the fact that he couldn't have her was tearing him up inside.