a real profession of any kind. I was actually astounded. And totally excited.
Five
I realized I’d been a little too excited over finding out about Chase’s hidden, respectable side when I woke up in his bed the next morning.
He was gone, but the indentation of his head on the pillow next to mine said it all. I didn’t see a note, and I was embarrassed not to have woken up when he left. In my defense, it had been a hard day, and I sleep like the dead on a regular basis anyway.
But now it was morning. Chase lived in the dungeon located between the big tree swing and the Dutchman’s Stage. It was two-story, with a mock jail on the ground floor and his living quarters in the top.
There wasn’t time for me to pick up a new costume when we’d finally gotten back yesterday. Weeknights and Sunday, the Village closed at six p.m., staying open Friday and Saturday until ten. Except for the King’s Feast after the Village closed on Sundays. There was nothing open when we got back. Mary had walked back to Wicked Weaves, and I’d followed Chase to the dungeon. I think there was talk of him having a Corona or two sitting in his fridge, and I was incredibly thirsty.
I put my dirty costume back on, even though it made my skin crawl. It was early yet, according to the horse with the clock embedded in its side on Chase’s dresser. I walked around the small rooms looking at his stuff. I’d known him for a long time, but I felt like I didn’t really know him at all. Especially after last night.
He obviously liked horses. He had a collection of them scattered through his place. I looked at the suit he was wearing yesterday. It was still in a puddle of clothes I vaguely remembered taking off of him. Guess he forgot to take it back to Milton last night. I liked that idea. It meant he was focused on me.
My memory didn’t stop there, and I was sure it showed in my face when he walked back through the door a few minutes later. “Coffee? Cinnamon roll?” He grinned as he said it. Apparently there were no misgivings on his part about last night.
“I should go. I have to turn in my costume, and I don’t think Mary would be happy if I have to work with her as a strumpet or a fairy.” I tried to stalk by him without looking up, but Chase is a big guy with broad shoulders. I think that’s why they’d made him bailiff. He would’ve made a good bouncer.
“You promised me we weren’t going to go through this.” He put the cinnamon rolls and two cups of coffee on the dresser by the bed.
“Through what?” I tried my best to look completely unaffected by anything that had happened. I probably fell short, considering I couldn’t find one of my shoes, and my blouse was stained. And why is it there’s never a hairbrush when you need one? I’m not one of those pretty sleepers who can wake up looking like Miss America.
“Jessie, we both know this has been a long time coming.” He smiled and took my hand. “I’m surprised you held out this long.”
I snatched my hand back. “Held out how long?”
“ This long. I mean, there’s you and me, and what happened between us last night was incredible. We were perfect together.”
I looked him over. “Would you say that’s a ten on your scale?”
Something in my tone must have seeped into his incredibly thick head. “I know we’re not going to do this. I know we can have something special together.”
“It was very special for last night, if you know what I mean.” I held my head up and swept my filthy linen skirt around toward the door. “I don’t know what I expected from you.”
“Can’t we talk about this?”
I grabbed a cup of coffee. “I have to get to work. Thanks for everything. I’m sure it was as wonderful for me as it was for you.”
I walked regally out the door, down the stairs, and out into the cobblestone street. I felt confident he’d come after me, and we’d work everything out. It had been a special night. Why did morning
Five
I realized I’d been a little too excited over finding out about Chase’s hidden, respectable side when I woke up in his bed the next morning.
He was gone, but the indentation of his head on the pillow next to mine said it all. I didn’t see a note, and I was embarrassed not to have woken up when he left. In my defense, it had been a hard day, and I sleep like the dead on a regular basis anyway.
But now it was morning. Chase lived in the dungeon located between the big tree swing and the Dutchman’s Stage. It was two-story, with a mock jail on the ground floor and his living quarters in the top.
There wasn’t time for me to pick up a new costume when we’d finally gotten back yesterday. Weeknights and Sunday, the Village closed at six p.m., staying open Friday and Saturday until ten. Except for the King’s Feast after the Village closed on Sundays. There was nothing open when we got back. Mary had walked back to Wicked Weaves, and I’d followed Chase to the dungeon. I think there was talk of him having a Corona or two sitting in his fridge, and I was incredibly thirsty.
I put my dirty costume back on, even though it made my skin crawl. It was early yet, according to the horse with the clock embedded in its side on Chase’s dresser. I walked around the small rooms looking at his stuff. I’d known him for a long time, but I felt like I didn’t really know him at all. Especially after last night.
He obviously liked horses. He had a collection of them scattered through his place. I looked at the suit he was wearing yesterday. It was still in a puddle of clothes I vaguely remembered taking off of him. Guess he forgot to take it back to Milton last night. I liked that idea. It meant he was focused on me.
My memory didn’t stop there, and I was sure it showed in my face when he walked back through the door a few minutes later. “Coffee? Cinnamon roll?” He grinned as he said it. Apparently there were no misgivings on his part about last night.
“I should go. I have to turn in my costume, and I don’t think Mary would be happy if I have to work with her as a strumpet or a fairy.” I tried to stalk by him without looking up, but Chase is a big guy with broad shoulders. I think that’s why they’d made him bailiff. He would’ve made a good bouncer.
“You promised me we weren’t going to go through this.” He put the cinnamon rolls and two cups of coffee on the dresser by the bed.
“Through what?” I tried my best to look completely unaffected by anything that had happened. I probably fell short, considering I couldn’t find one of my shoes, and my blouse was stained. And why is it there’s never a hairbrush when you need one? I’m not one of those pretty sleepers who can wake up looking like Miss America.
“Jessie, we both know this has been a long time coming.” He smiled and took my hand. “I’m surprised you held out this long.”
I snatched my hand back. “Held out how long?”
“ This long. I mean, there’s you and me, and what happened between us last night was incredible. We were perfect together.”
I looked him over. “Would you say that’s a ten on your scale?”
Something in my tone must have seeped into his incredibly thick head. “I know we’re not going to do this. I know we can have something special together.”
“It was very special for last night, if you know what I mean.” I held my head up and swept my filthy linen skirt around toward the door. “I don’t know what I expected from you.”
“Can’t we talk about this?”
I grabbed a cup of coffee. “I have to get to work. Thanks for everything. I’m sure it was as wonderful for me as it was for you.”
I walked regally out the door, down the stairs, and out into the cobblestone street. I felt confident he’d come after me, and we’d work everything out. It had been a special night. Why did morning
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