New York, Summer, 1921 . Your new neighbor across the lake is the mysterious bachelor , Dutch. His reputation for excess and extravagant parties precede him in the prohibition era. But after an invitation to one of his soirees, you discover your...
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"Don't call me that," you hissed, struggling to stand as lady like as possible. Tom watched you with an amused look on his face. Your knees wobbled as you tried to keep your skirt from riding up.
"Sorry...darling," he said with a smirk.
You scowled and snatched your stockings from his hands.
"You're infuriating," you muttered as you walked past him. You caught a whiff of his scent again and felt your heart do a leap. You advised yourself to keep your cool. You didn't want him to see the effect he had on you. Even after all this time, just being in his presence, it felt like he never left. His smile enchanted you and his touch was alluring, but it was his eyes that always held you captive, weakening any resolve, just as they did now, hypnotizing you.
Tom eyes remained on you. They watched as you took a seat on the bench near the end of the dock. They pierced you while you worked on redressing yourself. They gazed at you bending over to stick a toe in your stocking. There was no escaping that smoldering stare.
Your nerves started to set in, numbing your fingertips as you pulled your stockings on. It was difficult to remain decent with his stare so intently focused on your bare legs.
"Would you kindly turn around," you said in a haughty tone. You looked up at him to show you were genuine in your request for privacy. But that turned out to be a mistake. His eyes clapped onto yours and you were instantly bewitched. How soft they seemed, yet behind them laid that childish glint, perpetually mischievous.
Tom put his hands in his pockets and gave a defiant shake of his head.
"No," he said.
You tilted your head up at him, shocked at his impertinence.
"No?" you repeated.
He smirked at you again.
"It's not something I haven't seen before, darling." he cocked an eyebrow at you. You felt a flush come to your face and immediately lowered your head in the hopes he wouldn't notice. But it was difficult getting anything past Tom. He was more clever than many gave him credit for.
"I'm not your darling," you said softly and somewhat sadly. That probably didn't get by him either.
"Indeed not. You're Richard's darling now, aren't you?" he replied with the sting of bitterness.
You felt it's bite and it lit a rage inside of you. You stood up and glared at him, fists clenched. How dare he mention anything about you and Richard?! He was the one that left, never to return. He was the one that made promises that he broke.
"I am Richard's fiancé and you'll remember that when you speak to me," you seethed frost and fire through your lips. What gull?! Did he expect you to wait for him forever? Were you some silly school girl clutching at an impossible dream that true love would find his way back to you? That he would fight all the odds just to fall into your arms once more? It was a ridiculous notion.
