Heart of Stone

Dinner

Ryan sat in his car, staring through the windshield as he watched Eloise Winter stride across the parking lot and hop into her suburban. He gripped the steering wheel as his eyes tracked her, his knuckles turning white. Why was he always so stupid around her? Every single time he ran into her, the words jumbled in his mouth. His body felt uncoordinated and she looked at him with such disdain.

After the awkwardness wore off, anger always took its place. She did this to him. She made a fool of him. Women wanted him, chased after him. He was wealthy and attractive, there was no reason why any woman would deny him, except Eloise. Eloise Winter looked down on him. Eloise Winter thought she was better than him.

"You fucking bitch." He whispered to himself. "You fucking bitch!" He yelled through his teeth, violently hitting the side of his steering wheel.

'I'll get you. Just you wait.' He promised her silently.

Eloise dropped Violet off at home, only driving away once she was sure someone would help her with the groceries. When she arrived home again, she gathered her own groceries and went inside. As she was putting everything away, her phone began vibrating on the counter.

Pausing, she picked it up and looked at the caller ID. Furrowing her brows, a note of anxiety sprung in her. Caroline Pearson, Alexander's mother. Why was her mother-in-law calling her? Had she seen them together at the banquet last night? Did she somehow know?

Swallowing, Eloise hesitated with her finger over the phone screen. She hadn't heard from Caroline in years. She knew it had to be something concerning Alexander, otherwise she wouldn't have called. Unable to bring herself to answer it, she tossed her phone lightly onto her marble counter top with a sigh. She went back to putting away her groceries and the phone stopped vibrating. A few moments later, it gave a short vibration to indicate the caller had left a message.

Taking a deep breath, she sat on a bar stool and picked up her phone to play the message.

"Hello, Eloise. This is Caroline Pearson, Alexander's mother. I know it's been a long time since we've spoken but I wanted to reach out and see how you were doing. As I'm sure you're aware, Alexander has returned home. I understand if you may not want to talk to me, but I thought it might be a good idea to arrange a meeting between you and Alexander. He should be here at the house for dinner tonight if you'd like to attend. Feel free to come any time after 5 o'clock. Thanks, bye-bye."

Eloise scrubbed a hand down her face. She wasn't even sure she remembered what their address was, since she had never been there. There wasn't a wedding so there was no reception, there was no family mingling, and there certainly was no mother-in-law to measure up her worth to her oldest son. In a way, she was grateful; less pressure on her to fit in with his family and please his mother. She was uncertain whether she wanted to change that now.

Could she even face Alexander after the night they'd had? What would he think of her? Would he think that she had planned it as some type of ploy or revenge? Would that intoxicated, heavy passion become discolored by anger at feeling deceived?

Images from that night began to fly through her mind. The way his dark eyes had smoldered at her, devouring every inch of exposed skin. His big, warm hand around her throat, pinning her to the bed and taking control of her body. The explosion of stars behind her eyes as they went tumbling over the edge together. With a sudden jolt, she realized she craved more. There was no way she could face him at the dinner table with his mother and other family members with those memories so fresh in her mind.

Running her fingers through her hair, she retreated to her bedroom to change into her gardening clothes. She threw on a pair of blue jeans and an off white button up left open over a black tank top. Slipping her shoes on, she grabbed her gardening gloves and a hat before heading out the back door.