She was grateful for the work she had to do that week in conjunction with the park’s closing. Were it not for that to occupy her mind, she would have had to deal with her conflicting feelings concerning Tyler Scott.
He spoke with her several times a day on the telephone, and it alarmed her to realize that she began to look forward to those intrusions. He was continually popping into her office on one pretext or another. Hailey hoped that his attention wasn’t being noticed, but apparently it was. She was barraged by questions.
“What’s Mr. Scott going to do about enlarging the parking lot?”
“What’s Mr. Scott going to put in that area they’re clearing out?”
She always knew the answers, too, and that in itself was a clue as to how interwoven their lives had become. He often used her as a sounding board for his ideas. Her opinion was valued. He asked for her suggestions and weighed them carefully.
She had dinner with him and Faith every night. It had almost become a matter of form. One night, after an especially arduous day, they treated themselves to a swim in the pool at the Glenstone. One evening they cooked hamburgers on Hailey’s outdoor grill. Another night they stayed in the park until it closed and, under duress, Hailey rode the Sidewinder for the first time.
Much to Hailey’s relief, Tyler wasn’t as overt in his sexual pursuit as he had been. Or was she relieved? Each time she caught him watching her, the flame of desire in his eyes was all too evident and never failed to kindle a response in her.
Yet he treated her like a friendly companion. He touched her often and openly, but courteously, not sensuously. She denied the vague disappointment she felt each evening when he kissed her good night with brotherly fondness and nothing more.
Only once during the week did he let her know that, far from cooling, his desire was simmering dangerously close to the surface.
He had called her office early one morning and asked her to meet him at the Cave. “Hurry, before the park opens. I want to tell you about an idea I have.”
She rushed through the employees’ compound and within minutes was at the turnstile of the popular ride. Round wooden tubs took a water route through a man-made cave in which animated characters cavorted, frightening and entertaining spectators. The Cave was well-frequented during the summertime because it provided a respite from the heat. And it was especially popular with teenagers because its cool interior was dark and conducive to romance.
Tyler was waiting for her at the entrance of the ride, chatting amiably with the young woman who was operating it. “Good morning, Miss Ashton,” he said, tongue-in-cheek, when she approached.
“Good morning, Mr. Scott,” she replied. “What did you want to see me about?”
“I have an idea that needs your sound judgment. I’ve told Linda not to let anyone in until we come out.” Instead of getting into one of the tubs that were towed by underwater cables through the shallow canal, he opened a camouflaged door to let them into the interior workings of the ride. He switched on a flashlight as he pulled Hailey through the door.
“Do you know where you’re going and what you’re doing?” she asked warily as he led her into the stygian darkness.
“Sure. I checked it out yesterday. Just stay on the path. Oh, and be sure to watch for spiders.”
“Spiders!” she shrieked.
He laughed as he squeezed her hand. “Only kidding. The kids who work in this place traipse through here like it was nothing. But do watch your head. Some of the overhead beams are low.” They walked around the motorized miniature men who were eerily still now. “The word around the compound is that this is a terrific place to take your coffee break.”
“You’re kidding,” Hailey said. “Why would anyone want to come in here unless it was absolutely necessary?”
“To watch lovers making out. You’d be surprised what two innovative people can do in those tubs. The ride takes seven minutes. A lot of frustration can be worked off in seven minutes.”
Hailey was laughing in spite of herself. “I don’t believe any of this. Who told you?”
“Well, they didn’t actually tell me. I overheard two of the boys talking in the wardrobe room the other day. I came in here yesterday to see for myself, and they were right. It’s quite a sideshow!”
He stopped to face her now. The flashlight was held down at his side, giving them a dim circle of illumination. “So let me guess your great idea,” she said saucily. “You want to sell tickets to lecherous old men to come in here and watch teenagers neck.”
He snapped his fingers loudly. “That’s even better than the one I had.” He laughed then and embraced her in a bear hug. “Actually, I was thinking of something to cool people off rather than to warm them up.”
“It’s already cool in here.”
“But I want to make it cooler.”
“How?”
“I was in a shopping center in Dallas last year at Christmas. Every hour on the hour, for about five minutes, it snowed!”
“Snowed? You mean—”
“Yes. No matter what the weather was like, great big flakes of snow would fall on the whole mall area. They had this machine that made the snow and blew it out. So here’s my idea. I’d like to revamp this ride. Take out the stuff that’s been in here for several years and put in a snowscape. Have our merry little men building snowmen, skiing, etc., and—”