Simply Being Belle (20 page)

***

Belle hurried out
of Dare’s office and bid Patricia goodbye.  It was unnerving finding herself in
close proximity to both Dare and Paul—one her former love interest and one her… 

Was Dare her
current love interest?  She sighed heavily as she left the firm and hurried to
her car.  There, she belted in, but didn’t immediately start the ignition. 
Instead, she studied herself in her rearview mirror.  She gave her reflection a
long-searching look.  Was she in love with Dare?  Could she read the emotion in
her own eyes?  She wondered, could she read it in his eyes? 

She drove to yet
another meeting—this one with a landscaper.  Jacob had asked her to pick up a
bid from the man.  She did so, and then glanced at her watch.  It was well
after three, and while she could find any number of project-related items to round
out the rest of her day, she opted to head for home.  She was feeling tired,
and decided she hadn’t been spending near enough time with her animals. 

At home, she
hurriedly slipped out of her work clothing and into comfortable shorts and a t-shirt,
and dashed out to the back porch.  She let the dogs outside, along with the
kitten, and after checking her answering machine, headed out back to join
them.   

After a rousing
game of fetch with the Tri and Cy, she scooped up the kitten and headed for a
lounge chair beneath the apple tree.  She sat down and laid back, deciding to
take a short break.  Just a short one.  She tipped her head back and soon, the
soft sounds of nature lulled her to sleep.

When Dare arrived
at Belle’s and rang the doorbell a few minutes after seven, he had been alarmed
initially when she hadn’t answered the door.  Fortunately, the dogs had heard
him, and he heard them barking from the side gate.  He strode along the side of
the house and easily jumped the fence when he spotted Belle lying in the
lounger beneath the apple tree.

He placated the
rowdy pups with soft words, and they calmed down quickly, trotting alongside
him as he strode over to Belle.  He glanced down at her sleeping face.  She was
beautiful, her long lashes fanning out over her high cheekbones and her full lips
pursed ever-so-slightly.  He realized she must have been exhausted to have
fallen asleep in her backyard, and to have slept through the commotion from the
dogs. 

He felt a tinge of
sympathy for her, but quickly brushed it aside.  She’d made her bed when she
took on a project like Elm Place.  He realized hearing Paul talk about her
earlier—describing her tendency to move from one project to the next—and
especially hearing  him allude to their past relationship—had upset him.  He
wasn’t sure what to think about the other man’s assertions.  Based on what he’d
observed of Belle, most rang true.  At least the part about her being a
workaholic.

He sighed heavily,
as he watched her gentle breathing.  He felt a jolt of attraction for her, and
nearly groaned aloud.  What did he want from her?  He knew the answer to that
question the instant it popped into his head.  He wanted a future with her. 
The thought of the two of them, carving out a life together, caused a feeling
of warmth to surge through him.    

He watched her for
a moment longer and then leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips.  Her
eyelids fluttered open.  She grinned warmly when she saw him towering above
her.  That was a good sign, he decided.  He stretched a hand to her and helped
her up.  She was unsteady on her feet initially, and he pulled her against
him.  He cocked his head to meet her gaze.

“How long have you
been sleeping?” he asked softly.

She yawned,
checked her watch, and winced.  “Since about four.”

He kissed her
then, lightly on the lips, exerting an exquisite pressure.  She leaned against
him, letting the pleasure of his kiss radiate through her, waking her like no
alarm clock could do.  When they parted, she caught her breath and watched him
through now wide-open eyes.  “Wow!” she said.

“You’ve really
been sleeping since four.  You’re overdoing it with this Elm Place business,”
he observed with a wince.

She shook her
head, smiling uncertainly into his eyes.  “I don’t think so.  I’m enjoying it.”

He cocked an
eyebrow.  “Are you?”

“Yes.”

“Will you ever
slow down?” he asked.

She watched him, sensing
much behind the question, and her brows furrowed into a frown.  “When the work
is done, I’ll slow down.”

“The work is never
done, sweetheart,” he said tiredly.

She took a step or
two away from him, sensing the change in his mood.  “What is this about, Dare?”
she asked, watching him expectantly.  “You know our work often requires hours
beyond the customary nine to five.  If you don’t know that, you’ll know it soon
enough, working at Preston and Dunne.”

He nodded, then
glanced around the yard—buying time, she suspected.  “I don’t know if it’s all
worth it,” he said suddenly.  “It doesn’t leave time for…”

“For what?” she
prompted softly.

He snared her
gaze, looking miserable and uneasy.  “Us.”

“We’ll … make
time,” she said, watching him.  And they would, she decided with a certainty
that surprised even her. 

He raked a hand
through his hair and dropped onto the lounger, his feet planted on the ground
and his elbows resting on his knees.  He glanced up, snaring her gaze.  “Like
you made time for Paul?”

Belle felt as if
she’d been punched in the stomach.  She shook her head, eyes wide with shock. 
“
What
?”

“Paul told me he
wanted to marry you, but broke off the relationship because you didn’t have
time for him…”

“What?” She shook
her head.  “
He
broke it off?”  She laughed without humor and harrumphed
in disgust.  “Paul didn’t break it off.  I did.  I realized I didn’t love him,
nor did I respect his sneaky, underhanded ways.  He’s determined to make
partner and will do whatever necessary to achieve that goal.  He’s a
win-at-any-cost kind of man, and certainly not someone I want imparting values
to my future children.”

Dare seemed taken
aback.  Had she said she broke up with him?  And had she just alluded to future
children?  The latter part was a good sign—a good sign, indeed.  Perhaps they
were on the same page, after all.

“You’d be
well-advised
not
to listen to Paul,” she continued in an angry tone.  “And
you’d be wise to watch your back when he’s around—and he usually is—typically
hiding behind a file cabinet or with his ear pressed to your door.”  She gave
an angry snort.  “I may be a slow learner when it comes to men, but I finally
figured that guy out!”

Dare watched her,
sensing she’d spoken the truth, and he winced.  He wasn’t worried about Paul. 
He’d met countless lawyers just like him.  He could handle him. 

Handling Belle,
and the ruckus he’d just created, was the business at hand.  He reached a hand
to her, wanting to touch her, to make things right.  She stepped back, away
from his outstretched hand, and he retreated for just a moment.

“I’m … sorry,
Belle,” he said.  “I guess…”

“What?” she said
sharply.

He shook his
head.  “I don’t know.”  He grinned sheepishly.  “He really didn’t seem like
your type.  Will you come here, please?”

She tried to keep
her voice cool when she spoke.  “And what is my type, do you think?”

He grinned. 
“That’s easy.  Me.”

Belle measured him
with a look, and he chuckled.  He surprised her when he suddenly leaned
forward, grasped her arm, and pulled her onto his lap. 

“I’m angry with
you right now,” she told him, putting up a token struggle and fighting the
smile that quirked her mouth.

“I’m sorry,” he
said in a light tone.  “Maybe this will help.”

He planted a
lingering kiss on her lips, and then trailed a line of kisses down her throat. 
Her body tingled, alight with the fire of his tender assault.  Despite the
onslaught of pleasure, she realized she needed to keep her wits about her.  She
and Dare needed to talk.  She slipped from his embrace and stepped a few feet
away from him.

He watched her, the
disappointment registering on his face.  “Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy that? 
I know you did.”

“You are so sure
of yourself,” she replied with a faint smile.

“I want to be sure
of us,” he told her then, his eyes pinning hers in a silent communication.

“What … what
exactly do you want?” she asked then.

The silence
lingered as he seemed to be considering his words.  “I want … you,” he said
finally, raking a hand through his hair.  “I know that for certain, but I don’t
know if I want …”

“What?” she
prompted, taking a step closer to him and skimming her fingers along his cheek
and jaw.

He covered her
hand with his, then glanced up and met her gaze.  “I don’t know if I want to
continue at Preston and Dunne.  The work seems so … hollow—after my time at
Legal Aid.”

She nodded,
conveying her understanding with sympathetic eyes.  When Dare drew her to him,
she wrapped him in an embrace.  She knew then, that like she had several years
ago, Dare had a decision to make.

***

As per usual, the
work at Elm Place felt all-consuming.  Belle realized she had bitten off quite
a lot when she’d taken on the project, but certainly not more than she could
chew.  She knew Dare might disagree with that assessment. 

How many times
during the past couple weeks had she begged off a date with him?  Too many, she
realized.  But she wasn’t the only one guilty of standing someone up.  He had
also cancelled on several occasions due to his workload, and it had proven a
minor miracle when they finally managed a late night dinner together.  Of
course, the two had yawned their way through it. 

Dare had confided
in her again during the dinner that he wasn’t happy at Preston and Dunne, and
that he missed Legal Aid more and more.  Belle had conveyed her understanding,
wondering if he might be considering leaving the law firm her grandfather had
founded.  She wouldn’t blame him if he did, but, where would he go?

Since Legal Aid
had a no fraternization policy, he couldn’t work there alongside her, due to
their relationship.  They simply wouldn’t hire him.  He would have to consider
another place of employment if he left Preston and Dunne.  She wondered if his
discontent at work had gone that far as yet.

Unlike him, Belle
found her new job description fulfilling.  As she and Jacob Biggs readied Elm
Place for occupancy, she felt more and more gratified with each step of
completion.  She thoroughly enjoyed each phase of the construction process,
feeling as if she were learning so many new and useful things.   

It was Friday
night and she and Dare had planned to spend the evening together, as well as
the next day.   Belle glanced at the clock.  He was late.

As if on cue, the
phone rang.  “Belle,” Dare said with a sigh, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to
make it tonight.”  He explained he was heavily embroiled in a big case and
expected he’d have to remain at work until late that night.

She was disappointed,
but attempted to sound upbeat.  “That’s okay.  Are we still on for tomorrow?”

He sighed again.  “Miles
and Monica are finally moving out tomorrow,” he told her, sounding exhausted,
but relieved at the prospect of their long overdue departure.

“I thought they
moved out last weekend.  Wasn’t their new place ready a couple weeks ago?”

“Yes.  However,
Monica wasn’t happy with the paint job in the living room and kitchen, and
insisted the work be redone.”

“What?” Belle
gasped.  “And the owner agreed to repaint?”

“Money talks,” he
said succinctly.  “Oh, and then, she decided she wasn’t happy with the existing
garden tub in the master bathroom, and wanted a Jacuzzi tub instead…”

“Don’t tell me the
landlord agreed to those changes…”

“Money talks,” he
quipped again. 

“Aren’t she and
Miles going to hire movers?” Belle asked then.   

“She’s afraid
they’ll damage her possessions, and since she’s not especially concerned about
the state of my back, well…”  He laughed.  “I guess it’s a small price to pay
to get them out of my place.”

The two had signed
off since Dare needed to get back to work and Belle had realized she faced a
quiet Friday night at home.  The prospect wasn’t all together unwelcome, since
she knew her animals missed her desperately.  She spent so little time at home
these days.

She suddenly
wondered, how would she manage to continue her work at Elm Place while working
at Legal Aid at the same time?  She sighed heavily.  She just would, that’s
how.

***     

Dare showed up at
Belle’s place Saturday afternoon, sweaty, exhausted, and eyes glowing with
pleasure.  He caught her up in a hug.  “Monica and Miles are gone.  Finally. 
Praise be to the heavens!”

“Were they that
bad?” she asked, laughing.  She wrinkled her nose.  “Hey, you need a shower.”

“Hey, I’d hug you,
sweaty or otherwise,” he said with mock-indignation.  “What’s a little sweat
between...?” 

His words hung in
the air.  What were they exactly?  Girlfriend and boyfriend?  The terms seemed
almost juvenile.  What he felt for Belle was intense, serious, conjuring up images
of them growing old together.  In his mind’s eyes, he saw them side by side in
rocking chairs on Belle’s porch, surrounded by children, grandchildren, and a
menagerie of pets.  The image brought a smile to his lips. 

Belle watched him
curiously, noting the emotions criss-crossing his face.  “You need a bigger
porch,” he said absently, and she chuckled.