Moonlight Masquerade (Edilean 8)

“Gas. My sister never fills the tank.”

“I can give you a ride home,” he said and did his best not to sound excited.

Sophie got out of the car and looked around at the empty lot, but not at him. She seemed to be fighting some inner demons. “No thanks. I’ll walk to the filling station.”

There was only one in town and the next one was thirty miles away. “Don’t they close at nine?” He watched as her shoulders slumped and he wanted to pull her into his arms and say that he’d take care of everything. For the last three years there wasn’t a second when he’d felt in charge of any situation. It was his father’s company, his father’s house, his father’s money, his father’s rule. That this young woman needed him even for something as simple as transportation made him feel good.

“How about if I drive you home and tomorrow you can get your car filled and—?”

“And the maid will make breakfast?” Sophie said. “If she gets groceries, that is, because there’s nothing in the house, and I’m sure neither Arnie nor Lisa went. They—”

She broke off because Carter put his hand on her upper arm and guided her to his dark green Jag.

“Wait a minute!” she said as she pushed his hand away. “You can’t make me—”

“Would you stop it!” Carter said, and there was anger mixed with frustration in his voice. “You’ve been treating me like it’s known that I’m some despoiler of women. I’ve been back here for three years. Have you ever heard even one bad word about me?” He was glaring at her.

“No,” she said, “but . . . ”

“But what?”

Sophie didn’t have an answer for him. “All right,” she said at last. “Give me a ride home. Arnie can get gas in the morning.”

Carter opened the door for her and she got in. “No,” he said. “First we’re going to get your groceries.” He shut the door.

It had been the best “date” Carter had ever been on. In college and afterward, he’d been out with girls who expected him, a Treeborne, to give them the best of everything. Wine, food, entertainment. They demanded the top. Maybe this constant expectation was the reason he’d never been serious about a woman. The most he’d ever lasted with one was six months.

Going to the grocery with Sophie had been enlightening. He’d assumed that he’d pay. Actually, he’d envisioned telling her that she could buy anything she wanted. Would she be like those women on the TV shows and grab three baskets and fill them with hams and turkeys? If she did, maybe later she’d be so grateful that they could make use of the backseat of his car.

But when they were inside the grocery and he put some raspberries in the cart, Sophie took them out.

“They’re too expensive,” she said.

“That’s all right,” he’d said with a smile, “I’ll pay for everything. Get whatever you want.”

Sophie gave him a look that was so cold he felt his ears turning red. “I want whatever I can afford,” she said through her teeth.

Carter had been so shocked that he’d just stood there staring at her.

“Why don’t you go wait in the car?” she said quietly so none of the other customers could hear. It was late and there were few people in the store, but they were all curious to see a Treeborne in there. “Better yet, leave and I’ll call a taxi.”

“I heard he has the flu,” Carter said, referring to the one and only taxi driver in town.

Sophie didn’t laugh but pushed the cart around him.

He stopped in front of it. “How about if I promise to behave?”

“Can you?” Sophie asked.

“I’ll be your slave and you can teach me.”

Sophie frowned as she turned away. “Then get half a dozen lemons and a dozen of those apples. No! Not those. The little ones. Don’t you read prices?”

“No. Can’t say that I do,” he said as he took the plastic bag Sophie handed him. “Except in jewelry stores. I have to be careful there. Some of those little stones can bankrupt a man.”

Sophie did give a bit of a smile. “That’s been my experience too. Get an acorn squash.” When Carter hesitated, she leaned across him to point.

“Which one is it?” he asked. “These?”