MysticDancer - Thanks for the compliments on the story! I'm happy you're enjoying it as well as the news characters I've created.
Here's the new chapter! Sorry about the delay hawaiianbelle and anyone else who might've been waiting. I'll try to update again next week.
Chapter Nine
Pete quickly headed in the direction of the exit. Normally, he would visit the Jockey Club in the late evenings, after the club had closed. Then he and Asa meet to discuss his progress with Sean, but after his earlier discovery, Pete decided to take a risk, coming to see Asa a few hours before their scheduled meeting. Unfortunately, when he arrived at the club, entering through the servant's hallway like he always did, he learned that Asa had to leave town, suddenly, on urgent business. Now, feeling a little antsy about his not so wise decision to come there, he was trying to leave before he was spotted by someone who knew he didn't have the wealth to afford a membership. Relieved when he saw the door that would lead him out the way in which he came, Pete slowed his pace and was just inches from the door when…
"Mr. Dixon? What are you doing here?" a voice said
Dreading to face the person who he knew the voice belonged to, Pete stood there a moment, wishing he'd left sooner.
"Vivian" he finally said, feigning excitement as he turned to face her. "What a nice surprise."
"Thank you, but why are you here?" she persisted
"I had a meeting." he said, hiding the uneasiness he felt at her inquiry
"Here?" she asked, skeptical, knowing that only members could use the Jockey Club for meetings and other business or personal gatherings.
"Yes" Pete answered, well aware of where Vivian was going with her question "The person I was meeting with is a member here…So how about you?" he asked, deflecting the attention from himself. "I don't recall the Jockey Club being open to women."
Vivian had to smile at Pete's apparent ignorance to her father's assets and power.
"My father owns half the interest in this place" she explained "Hence I can come and go as I please."
"Oh, I'm sorry…" he said, pretending to have no idea that her father owned a portion of the club "I didn't know."
"It's alright." she said "You wouldn't know, unless you were a member here."
There was an awkward silence between them. Vivian was bewildered that Pete had not tried to engage her like he had done in the past. Perhaps he was in a hurry, but it almost seemed as if he was no longer intrigued by her.
"So where are you headed?" she asked, not ready for their encounter to end
"Home" he answered, wanting very much to turn away and get out of there, but managing to retrain himself due to the rudeness of such an act. "It's been a long day."
"Hmm, it sounds as if you don't have any plans"
"Well…" Pete began as he looked around apprehensively, concerned that someone might see him talking with Vivian.
"…so why don't you join me for dinner?" she said boldly, interrupting his response
Pete was shocked by Vivian's forwardness. She seemed to be a woman well aware of her place and thus, would not even consider asking a man to dinner. What had come over her, he thought. A few weeks ago, he would've been pleased with this kind of progress, but now that he had discovered all he needed to know about Sean, he had no real use for her, unless he used her to get more money out of Asa. He could threaten to enlighten Vivian about his plot to destroy Sean Logan – a man she still cared deeply for, but Pete didn't even want to do that. He was tired of this whole pointless mess and wanted to complete his job, collect his payment and move on, perhaps away from Lexington. And he most certainly did not want to accept Vivian's invitation, but knew that it would be impolite to turn her down, especially after he clearly indicated that he had no plans for the evening.
"Alright" he finally answered, forcing a smile "Where are we going?"
"Why my home of course." Vivian said with a laugh, puzzled by him thinking they'd be going some place else
"Vivian I couldn't dine at your home…it would be rude of me to show up without your father inviting me."
"Oh nonsense," Vivian said casually "My father is away on business and William, my brother, is in Europe, so I have the house to myself and can invite whom I please to dinner."
"Vivian, it would be even more inappropriate for me to dine there with all of the men in your family away."
"It's no different than you asking me to dinner in Winchester, without obtaining permission from my father."
Pete thought he had Vivian with the inappropriateness of him visiting the home with the men away, but her response was irrefutable. He didn't like the idea of dining at Asa's home at all. It was too risky. He could arrive from out of town at any time and would be livid if he found Pete having dinner there, but Pete couldn't very well have dinner with Vivian in public. The word would get back to Asa in no time about such a deed and then he'd be ruined.
"Alright" Pete answered excitedly, convincingly, but still worried about his choice "I will join you for dinner, at your home."
"Great!" Vivian said gleefully "My cook makes a wonderful peppered roast…" she continued as Pete escorted her from the building. Though he was not pleased about what his evening would entail, he was happy to be finally exiting the Club.
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Marita sat curled up on the couch with a book in hand and a cup of tea steaming on the table nearby. She had everything in place for a quiet night of reading. However, she could not focus. She had spent the past ten minutes reading the same line over and over again, because her thoughts kept drifting to Sean. It had been three days since she lunched with him in the park, and just like she knew would happen, if she chose to join him that day, things had become more tense between them. There was not a word uttered when they walked back from the park, and when they reached the office, Marita quietly engaged herself in the ledgers and Sean quickly excused himself siting an important errand he had to run. During the days that followed, they continued to keep distant from one another, only speaking when there was business to discuss and going to great lengths to ensure that they spent no alone time together. Marita hated the tension between them and wanted to talk it out with Sean, but didn't know what she could say. She'd made it clear weeks ago that there was no chance for them and that they needed to move on with their lives. And though they'd nearly kissed in the park, Sean had quickly restrained himself, respecting what she'd declared she wanted. That was why there was now this huge wall between them, because Sean was trying to do what she'd asked. The thing was, Marita didn't want them to move on, she never wanted it, but she always thought that would be best, but now, she wasn't so sure and the letter she'd finally received from Cherry's Preparatory School, stating her expected start date, wasn't easing her confusion. Sighing, Marita closed her book, realizing that she wasn't going to get any reading done that night. She was too distracted by the situation with Sean. Getting up from the couch, she took her tea into the kitchen and disposed of it, as she was returning to the sitting area to retrieve her book, there was a knock at the door. Startled that someone would be paying a call so late, Marita peeked out the front window, which gave a side view of the steps and front door, to see who it was. To her surprise, it was Sean. Instantly, there came an excitement in her heart she could not ignore. Why would he be coming by at this hour? She wondered nervously as she wrapped the robe that hung over her gown a little tighter, attempting to cover any bare skin that might be showing. She then removed the lamp from the peg on the wall and headed for the entrance.
When the door opened, Sean was taken aback by the vision before him. He knew that it was late and that Marita may be in bed, but he never expected to see her this way. Her hair was loose, flowing beautifully around her face and the fire from the light she held left a glow in her eyes that stirred a yearning deep within him. The gown and robe she wore revealed nothing, but still caused a sensual innocence to enumerate from her. Sean stood there a moment, speechless, embarrassed by his impure thoughts and consequently unable to remember what he came there to say…
"I'm sorry…" he said, finally finding his tongue "for coming over so late…"
"It's okay..." Marita heard herself say, she too was caught up in the moment, mesmerized by Sean's relaxed attire. He was wearing what looked like a pair of old work pants that were rolled up around his ankles, his shirt was unbutton just enough for her to see his tanned, smooth chest, and his eyes seemed bluer, more magnificent than she'd ever seen them.
"… Is there something wrong?" she continued, trying to maintain some control over her swelling emotions.
"Yes…no" Sean said, lightly shaking his head "Can we talk?"
"Of course" Marita said, covering the anxiety she felt about him visiting at such a late hour and them being alone in such a private setting. "Do you want some tea?" she asked before they ventured further into the house.
"No thank you" Sean said
"We can go in here." She said, leading him into the sitting room. As Sean entered the room, he smiled at it's cozy feel. It was just big enough for a couple of end tables, two straight chairs near the small fire place and a couch, which he recognized as a former decorative piece of his home.
"The couch still looks like new" he said, remembering that his mom had given it to the Peters when she was redecorating their family room.
"I know" Marita smiled as she looked upon it "I think it might be ageless."
"Yeah" he laughed lightly
Silence.
"Do you want to sit?" Marita asked as she set the lamp on a nearby table
"No," he said "What I have to say won't take long."
"Alright"
Marita waited patiently for him to begin. She was a bit relived that he had decided to make things brief. She didn't think either of them could handle being alone in such unconstrained circumstances for an extended period of time.
"I want to thank you… for the incredible job you've done on the hospital project." He finally said as he gazed at her "I couldn't have made things run so smoothly if it weren't for you."
"Well I'm just glad I could help" Marita said as she lowered her eyes, attempting to escape his heated gaze.
"I also want to say that I'm sorry…for being so…distant the past couple of days, it's just…"
"Don't apologize" Marita interjected "we've all been busy, trying to meet Clancy's deadline, preparing for the groundbreaking ceremony and…" she wanted to mention what had happened in the park but still found that she did not know what to say.
"And?" Sean questioned softly, confused by her pause
"And…I heard from Cholena." Marita said, but immediately scolded herself for not saying what was in her heart. "They…they want me to report in three weeks." She continued sadly
Sean closed his eyes against the pain that ripped through his heart. "Why so soon?" he whispered
"Orientation…pre-planning for the fall term…"
"Hmm" Sean sighed as he turned away, gazing down at the embers long dead in the fireplace
Marita's heart broke at the pain she was causing him and was disappointed at her cowardice in not being honest with him about her feelings. Fighting the doubt threatening to consume her she realized that though she'd started things off wrong, it still wasn't too late for her to open her heart, let him know what she wanted.
"Sean…" she whispered, ignoring the logic screaming in her head. " I don't want to go."
"What do you mean?" he replied, as he turned to face her not knowing why he'd asked that question. He knew exactly what she meant, but he didn't know how else to respond.
"I mean…" she began " I mean that after spending these past few weeks… working so closely with you…I don't want to go… I never wanted to go…"
"Marita…" Sean whispered as he slowly made his way across the room "I've been feeling the same way…I was just too afraid to say anything… I didn't want to scare you."
"You wouldn't have scared me" Marita said softly as she gazed into his smoldering eyes.
"Marita…" he whispered lovingly as he cupped her face "I need you so much."
Unable to restrain his mounting desire, Sean pulled her to him, kissing her with such slow, passionate tenderness that Marita could only moan at the pleasure his touch sent through her. She swiftly wrapped her arms around him, needing so desperately to feel him closer…Sean wanting to accommodate her embrace, slid his hands from her face and wrapped his arms tightly around her. Instantly, he could feel the curves of her body through the thin fabric of her robe and gown. He groaned at the electrifying sensations her closeness ignited. Gradually leaving her mouth, he proceeded to kiss her chin and neck, gently pushing aside the coverall that was obstructing him from her soft skin; they slowly backed up, then carefully lowered themselves to the couch. Sean again returned to the taste of Marita's lips while her hands ventured inside the collar of his open shirt, caressing his strong neck and shoulders. They continued to kiss on and on, losing track of time, and the place in which they had chosen to surrender to their desire. They were completely immersed in the fire that had been incited between them, the love that had long been denied.
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A half a mile away, Ned, Isaac and Clay trotted towards the Logan ranch. They were tired from the long journey, but were some what energized by the idea that they would be home in minutes. Ned and Isaac were both pre-occupied with what they had discussed before leaving Arlington. When Ned had asked what they should do about Sean and Marita's relationship, Isaac was at a loss, at first, but reasoned that though Sean had apparently broken his engagement to Vivian, due to his feelings for Marita, Marita had still decided to move to Cholena. He concluded that there was no chance that she and Sean could pursue a relationship beyond friendship with her moving away. Ned had agreed, and they both decided to keep their discovery to themselves. They felt that there was no point in alarming Sean and Marita to what they knew, if the two weren't planning to pursue such an impossible relationship. To confront them would only lead to more grief and humiliation. But despite him and Ned coming to that understanding, Isaac was still eager to get home, he was nervous about leaving Sean and Marita virtually alone together at the ranch. Ned had assured him that the kids would never do anything inappropriate and Isaac knew that Sean would never compromise Marita in such a manner, nevertheless he would feel so much better when he was home, and in a position to watch over his daughter.