Corn, Cows, and the Apocalypse (Part 1) (10 page)

-Shopping Around-

             
When I came out of the dressing room, Garrett had found a chair he could lounge in.  My selection of blue jeans and sweatshirt made him wrinkle his nose.  “I thought the intention was to buy you something pretty?”

             
“You can buy me something pretty, but I still need dry clothes to wear home so I don’t freeze to your motorcycle seat.”

             
“Fair enough, why don’t you try on a dress next?”

             
I wrinkled my nose this time.  “I don’t like dresses.”

             
“And yet when I first met you, you were wearing one.” 

             
“That’s different.  I was…drunk.”

             
“Oh, I see.  If I remember correctly it didn’t fit you that well.”

             
“It fit too well.”  I mumbled ripping the tag from my sweatshirt. 

             
“Pick out a new one, one that you can breathe in.”  I perked an eyebrow at him.  He shrugged.  “Humor me.  I need a little entertainment.  A fashion show hardly compares to football, but beggars can’t be choosers.”

             
I looked around the room and found a display of dresses.  I nodded to them.  “You can’t choose football, but I’ll let you choose the dress.”

             
He smirked.  “The blue one.”  He said without even looking over to the rack. 

             
I tracked down a blue dress in my size and tried it on.  It wasn’t my style, in that it wasn’t machine washable, but it did look good on me.  It was a nice length and the low back offered the opportunity to go braless.  Every woman’s dream.  

             
I came out and twirled for Garrett.  “That’ll do.” 

             
I resisted the urge to say anything, but I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his failed attempt at flattery.  He either wasn’t as keen on the blue dress as he thought he would be, or he just didn’t want to let me know it. 

             
“Now try on the pink one.”

             
I glanced over at the dress rack.  “There are no pink ones.”

             
“On that rack.”  He motioned to my other side. 

             
I shook my head.  “That’s not a dress, that’s a negligee.”

             
“I don’t speak French.  Will it fit?”

             
“Why would I get a satin nightgown?  They’re hot in the summer and freezing in winter.”  I asked crossing my arms.  I was almost positive this was him flirting, but he might have just wanted to amuse himself with a live Victoria Secret commercial.

             
“Don’t you want something to wear when Devin gets back?  I assume you want to finish that night you started with him at the fire.  The night I came into town.” 

             
I shrugged and went back into the dressing room to change.  For some men there was a fine line between flirting and teasing, this was leaning toward teasing and I wasn’t going to play along.  I had plenty of things to make fun of myself for, I didn’t need his help. 

             
“Or did I read that wrong?”  He asked from outside.  “I’m not the best at interpreting women, but I kind of got the impression you liked him.”

             
“We aren’t a couple or anything.  Devin isn’t that type of guy.”

             
“Yeah, I know he studs out, but that doesn’t answer my question.  Is he your stud?”

             
I debated on telling him it was none of his business, but since he was making it his business, perhaps he had a reason to know.  “No, he’s not.”

             
The pink nightgown dropped over the top of the door onto my head.  “You want him to be though, don’t you?”

             
“I don’t know.  It’s complicated.”  I slipped into the nightgown even though I knew I would never wear it.  “Why do you care?  Since when do you follow soap operas?”

             
“Are you trying that on or not?”

             
“Yes, hang on.”  I adjusted the fabric so it didn’t cling too tightly to anything that didn’t need emphasis and opened the door without leaving the dressing room.  “There, happy?”

             
He was back in his chair, leaning his face into his hand like he was bored to death.  After a moment of gawking he took in a deep breath and shook his head.  “No, you’re right.  You don’t want that.”

             
I slammed the door and changed back into my jeans and sweatshirt.  When I came out with my wet clothes in hand and no dress, Garrett went back in to grab it.  I glared at him.  “I’ll never wear that.”

             
“Yes, you will.”  He said hooking me around the back and ushering me to the front counter.

             
“No, I won’t.”

              Garrett slipped behind the counter and folded the dress neatly into tissue paper before putting it into a bag.  “One night when Devin is back, you’ll get the nerve up to knock on his door.  He won’t be able to resist you in this.”

             
“Says the man with the high compliment of, “that’ll do.””

             
He handed me the bag and came back around the counter.  “It will do, for Devin.”  He leaned against the counter next to me like I was stupid for not understanding what he meant.

             
I furrowed my brow.  “I’m missing something.  You don’t like the blue dress personally, but you think Devin will.”

             
“Well, that’s what this is about isn’t it, attracting Devin?”  I looked down at the bag like it was a trap waiting to be unleashed. 

             
“I thought this was about you sucking up so I don’t punch you in the jaw again.” 

             
“Sure, coming to get the dress was about that.  Getting you out of the house to depressurize your steam was about that.  The choice of dress is about attracting attention.  Whose attention depends on what you buy?”

             
I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn’t figure out how to ask what I wanted to ask without making it entirely obvious what I was asking.  Garrett patiently watched me, waiting for my gaping mouth to serve some purpose.  He on the other hand wasn’t flustered in the least by the topic of conversation. 

             
“Who…”  I tried, but stopped.  “Why do you think Devin would like the blue one?”

             
“Because he likes a dolled up woman.  He likes dresses, perfume, make-up, and all that bullshit.”

             
“Do you think Devin would like the pink one?”  Garrett shook his head slowly with just a hint of severity in his eyes.  “Would anyone like the pink one?”  He nodded his head slowly refusing to grant me any help in translating his message.  “You didn’t like the pink one.”

             
“I didn’t say that.  I said you don’t want the pink one.  Unless I read you wrong.  I’m not very good at reading women, as I said.”  I opened my mouth to say something, but he grabbed the bag from me.  “I’ll put this in my satchel.  Bag up those wet clothes before you bring them out.” 

             
I stood by the counter after he left trying to figure out how blue and pink had become such a difficult decision. 

-
Cupid’s Arrows-

             
Despite Garrett’s obvious hint about choosing him over Devin, he hadn’t made any attempts to seduce me beyond being a little less brusque.  I had all out refused to do anymore training, but he talked me into working on my archery skills.  Since I was already good at that, I didn’t feel like it would be too much trouble. 

             
Famous last words.

             
“Five!  Eight!  Twelve!  Six!  Two!  Faster Lenore!”

             
“I’m dizzy!”  I said after the second attempt at the two o’clock target went into the cab of a rusted out car instead of in the circle drawn of the door.  I put the bow down and closed my eyes. 

             
“Lenore.”  My name was more often a scold than an address from him. 

             
“I can’t go that fast.”

             
“Turn your head first and then your body.”  He said manually turning my neck and then forcefully turning my hips.  It made me falter, but he held me up. 

             
“Okay!”  I ground out and took a few deep inhalations that didn’t help the dizziness but kept me from punching him again.

             
“Are you ready?”  He said walking out in front of me. 

             
“I think so.”

             
“Are you ready?!” 

             
“Yes!”  I yelled.  “Are you going to move, so I don’t hit you?”

             
“If you’re as good as you claim, then you shouldn’t hit me.”

             
“Are you willing to bet your life on that?”

             
“Yes.”  He said without hesitation.  I frowned at him for the overconfidence.  “Nine!” 

             
He continued to yell out numbers and I proceeded to pull arrows and fire.  I slowed when I had to hit a target near him, but the extra half second insured a bull’s-eye.  I managed to increase the speed between the targets while still getting a good aim.  When all the arrows were used we collected them again.

             
“You are pretty good.”  Garrett said as we came back to my mark.

             
“Ooh, a compliment; are you sure my ego won’t burst my head.  I’m actually surprised you haven’t erupted into flames for offering it.”

             
“That’s funny, Lenore.”  He said placing the arrows in my quiver.

             
“Is it?  I can’t tell tin man.” 

             
“Just because I don’t guffaw like a jack ass, doesn’t mean I don’t have a sense of humor.  Line up to the twelve o’clock target.”

             
“Guffaw!”  I snorted while adjusting my position.  “Shit I’d be happy with a smile.”

             
“I said line up.”  Garrett jerked my hips to a closed stance despite my preference for an open stance.  “What is this day one of archery class?”

             
“Yes, sir.”  I saluted.  “Would you like me to lick your boots, sir?”

             
Garrett repositioned in front of me and offered a fake smile.  “How’s that?”

             
“It’ll due.”

             
“Damn you are spicy today.  Anything in particular bothering you today, other than my demeanor.”  He raised his hand to his ear when I didn’t say anything.  “So, nothing else is bothering you other than me just being me.”  I shook my head.  “How about this Lenore?  How about you straighten your damn shoulders, shoot that target,” he pointed to the target like I might have been confused about it, “with every last arrow as straight and true as you are capable.”

             
“That’s it?  Just shoot my arrows at one target.  What’s the catch?”

             
“The catch is I’m going to be distracting you.  Don’t pay attention to me, just shoot.  If you go outside the target line even once, then you cook and clean tonight.  Deal?” 

             
“Deal,” I said without concern for losing.  “Just tell me when.”

             
Garrett moved around behind me and gave me the go ahead. I managed to get two clean shots off as he clapped his hands by my ears.  He pulled a cluster of hair from my head, but I hit my target.

             
For an arrow or two he did nothing and I braced myself for something painful.  When I felt him press his body against mine I floundered for a moment.  “Keep shooting.  Pause and you forfeit.”  Garrett warned.

             
I shot true even when his hands reached under my shirt to caress my stomach.  He pinched me hard, but I ignored it.  I could see his plan and I wasn’t going to let him distract me with pleasure or pain. 

             
I cleared my mind of assumptions and pressed on to finish my task.  When he kissed the back of my neck, I nearly fell over from shock, but the arrow made it to the target.  Barely. 

             
His hand went farther up my shirt, not bothering to stop at just threating the gates of the castle.  “What…”  Was all I really got out.

             
“Keep shooting.”  He whispered as he pinched my nipples. 

             
I couldn’t believe how far he was taking it.  I also couldn’t believe that I was letting him.  Cooking and cleaning didn’t suck enough to be manhandled in this way.  My arrow hit the bull’s-eye, which surprised even me. 

             
“That’s good Lenore, three more arrows.  Do you want to quit?” 

             
I grabbed for another arrow and his hands went back down my shirt.  I hit the target.  He skirted the waistband of my jeans, but he kept his hands above the denim as he traveled down.  I hit the target, but just.  I reached for the last arrow and I could feel my hands shaking.  I was fully aware that I was taking a little longer with the last arrow. 

             
I aimed as his hands gripped my thighs just out of reach of where I now wanted them.  I held my breath for the aim and out of anticipation.  He released me just before I released the arrow.  The sudden lack of support behind me made me realize how much I was leaning against him.  The arrow faltered as much as I did and landed in the grass behind the target. 

             
“Oh, so close.”  Garrett smiled at her.  “You were this close.”  He offered nearly closed fingers for effect.  “How unsatisfying for you?” 

             
I’m not sure what glaring expression I wanted to offer, but the smile on his face which was at my expense was snuffing out my anger with another emotion.  I nodded.  “Yeah.”  I headed to the house, not bothering to collect my arrows. 

             
“We aren’t done.”  Garrett called after me. 

             
“Yes,” I turned to face him so he could see how serious I was, “we are.  I’ll fix dinner and I’ll clean up, but I want you out of my house tomorrow morning.  I can tolerate the bruises.  I can live with the cold, incommunicative personality, but I won’t stand for this teasing game.  I’m not lonely enough for that.” 

             
He didn’t offer the sheepish look I expected.  He just looked stoic as usual.