Act of Attraction - a Forbidden Novella

Chapter 6 - First Thought

 "You all done for tonight?" the caretaker's voice startled me out of my deep thoughts as I made my way downstairs again to reach the back door to leave the venue. He was standing next to Steve at the bottom of the steps, who looked to be leaving as well. "Yes... for tonight," I mumbled as I moved through the outside door before Steve's voice caught my ear.

"Hey man, wait up." He jogged up to my side and fell into step along side me. "Was that Cora I saw leaving in such a hurry?"

"Yes, it was."

Steve grinned at me. "What did you do to upset her? I'll kick your ass if I lose my stage manager due to your antics."

I lifted my hands to him in a defensive gesture. "Geeze, do you have such a low opinion of me? I didn't do anything... bad." I grinned back at my friend. Steve knew me well, after all. "In fact, I think she's a real gem. I wouldn't mind getting to know her better."

Steve looked at me pensively as we continued our walk. "Yes, she is quite a gem and we are lucky to have her, but why the sudden interest in our stage manager?"

I covered my reasons for the questions with a cocky grin. "Oh you know me, I like good-looking ladies and Cora is no different."

Steve laughed a short laugh. "As long as all you do is flirt and nothing more, Ronan. Cora's been through hell and doesn't need any more complications in her life."

"I'm not planning on being a complication, Steve, just a bit of fun perhaps. She intrigues me, keeps me at arm's length and yet I know she's attracted to me." I sighed a heavy sigh as I worked my fingers through my long fringe in a perturbed manner. "It's kind of frustrating, to tell you the truth. I've never had this much trouble getting a girl to fall for me."

"Ah, but our Cora is not just any girl or like any of your other conquests, my friend. She's pure woman, one with responsibilities and values..." Steve looked at me pointedly before adding: "One with a husband and major issues. And isn't she slightly older than your usual conquests?"

I faltered in my steps at the word and felt my heart dip to my shoes. "Wait, what? A husband? I didn't know she was married. And age is of no relevance when it comes to beauty, my friend."

"Yeah, sure. No-one here really knows that she's married except me and maybe her backstage team, but that's just since I've known her for so long. Sad story really. About 6 months ago Mark, that's Cora's husband, was on his way to work, when a truck slid on a wet road and hit his car on the driver's side. He was hurt pretty badly, had a broken shoulder bone and some head trauma. He'd been in and out of a coma for about a month. When he finally woke up, he couldn't feel his legs. The doctors found that his back was also badly injured in the crash and that he might not be able to walk again. Cora was devastated by it all and had pretty much secluded herself from the world because of it. She only went to her work and the hospital, though I doubt he even knew she was there in the beginning, he was so doped up against the pain. I've known them both for years, so seeing her in such a sad, lonely state month after month urged me to dangle this production in front of her. I knew how much she loved being involved in stage productions and she used to be in high demand as a stage manager for amateur theater productions." Steve sighed heavily. "I just felt it was time for her to get her life back on track, even if it meant a nudge or two from me."

I thought about that statement for a second. "What about the husband? Is there any hope he will be able to walk again?"

"There's always hope, Ronan, and he's actually doing very well in physiotherapy. They are taking it slow, to be sure that his recovery is done right. He's still in the hospital for now, but from what I've heard, if he keeps working at his recovery like he is now, he might be going home soon. I know Cora misses him. She's had to cope on her own for a long time now. I just hope their marriage can survive this blow. They were only married for a few years when this happened."

I said goodbye to my friend as we reached his car and I went on towards mine, smiling to myself. I was not done with Cora yet, not after those incredible kisses we shared tonight. And even if she was married, she needed the comfort I was about to give her. 

 She just needed to accept the fact.