Scarlet Fever Read online

  “Yes, but I don’t have their level of equipment. I have basic stuff, digital camera, camcorder with night vision, recorders for EVP.”

  “EVP?”

  “Electronic Voice Phenomenon. That’s picking up voices on the recorder that you don’t hear in real time with your natural ears. Does this freak you out?”

  “No, not at all. In fact, I find it fascinating.”

  She smiled at him. “I can’t believe you’re being so nice about this. You’re really listening, and you’re not laughing. Most people don’t want to hear me talk about it. They don’t believe me. If you’re interested I’ll show you photographs that I’ve taken, tell you a few war stories.”

  “I would love to hear your stories and see your evidence. But, tell me. Why do you do it? It seems like a strange thing for a young woman to be interested in. What’s the attraction?” He watched her closely.

  “Tonight seems like a night for truth. So, here goes. I’m trying to prove to myself that there’s something else out there after we die. I don’t really buy the traditional concept of Heaven, so I’m searching.”

  Alex found everything about Scarlet fascinating. He hung on her every word. She worked tirelessly sewing on the minute pieces of finery. At eleven thirty, Ethan slipped into the room. “Hey, the dogs are going crazy out back. Walk with me and let’s see if those pesky coons are back.”

  Alex didn’t want to leave, but duty called. “I’ll be right back.”

  Scarlet just smiled at him. She looked like she was about to give out. Ten, or so, minutes later, Alex returned. He wasn’t surprised to find her sound asleep, cuddled over into a corner of the chair. Carefully, he lifted the wedding gown from her lap and spread it over a nearby sofa. He didn’t even consider waking her, he did exactly what he wanted to do. With one hand at her back, and one under her thighs, he lifted her into his arms. Pulling her close to his chest, he stared down at her face. She didn’t awaken, instead, she turned into him like a moth to a flame. One hand flattened on his chest, moving up to encircle his neck. Alex tightened his hold on her, pulling her closer in his arms. She reacted instinctively, her mouth seeking out the warm skin of his throat. Alex stopped walking, reveling in her reaction to his nearness. Breathing became secondary, as he focused on the touch of her lips on his skin. A moan of desire rumbled in his chest, and he felt her jerk.

  She was awake.

  Scarlet opened her eyes. Holy Mother of God! Had she lost her mind? Her lips were on Alex’s throat and she was doing a fairly decent vampire imitation. Heavens to Betsy! She was this close to giving him a hickey! Mortified, she sought a place of refuge. Burying her face in his chest, she hid from him in embarrassment. “Good Lord, Alex! I’m drooling on you. I am so sorry! I thought I was dreaming.”

  “Dream some more, baby. I love how your lips feel on my skin.” Alex marveled at her reaction. Even in her withdrawing, she had turned to him. He purposely strode to the wing that housed their bedrooms. Passing up her room, instead, he carried her to his own bed and laid her down. “Sleep with me, Scarlet.” His eyes smoldered with a dark promise.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Sleep with him? Did she hear right? She sat up, looking unsure and a bit alarmed. “Alex, I don’t know.”

  “I said sleep, sweetheart. I just want to hold you. You’ve got on more clothes than the Flying Nun. Please, let me lay down with you.” He began to undress and she couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He was magnificently and wonderfully made. Tearing her eyes away, she took off her robe, folding it and laying it on the floor next to the bed.

  Undressing completely, except for his briefs, he pulled back the covers. She eased up in the bed, far enough, so she could slide under the covers, too.

  “What if Annalise comes looking for me?”

  “Ethan will keep your sister occupied. Come here.” He held out his arms and she went to him. Laying her head on his shoulder, she molded her body to his. Tentatively, she tested where to lay her hand. Finally, she gave in to her desire, and let it settle on his chest. “Put one of your legs up over mine.” She did as he asked, and discovered that they fit together, perfectly. A deep sigh of contentment slipped through her lips.

  Alex gave in to temptation and laid his lips on the top of her head, inhaling the clean sweet smell of her hair. “Now, we can rest. I don’t understand it, sweetheart, but I couldn’t bear the thought of you sleeping anywhere but with me.”

  “It feels heavenly, being here with you like this.” She pushed her body into his, seeking to get as close to him as possible. “Safe and secure.”

  Scarlet could feel the laughter deep in his chest. “Not exactly the emotions that I want to elicit from a beautiful woman, but, with you? I’ll take what I can get.” He allowed his hand to rub up and down her back. She wouldn’t know it, not tonight, but this was going to be the sweetest torture imaginable. His shaft was swollen to unbelievable proportions and it literally ached to be buried deep inside of her. But, as far as he could tell, she was blissfully unmoved. She was exhausted. So, tonight he would give her comfort, warmth and security.

  Even if it killed him.

  When Alex awoke, he was alone. Scarlet was gone. He threw off the covers and stripped off his under shorts. Heading for the shower, he was anxious to do what had to be done, then go and find her when in she walked. No knock. No inquiry. She walked in like she owned the place.

  And she did.

  “Oh, my sweet Lord.” she breathed. “Forgive me for barging in…” her voice trailed off into nothingness. She just stared.

  It was morning. He had spent the night, closely intertwined with a woman that he found unbelievably attractive and nature had taken its course.

  Alex looked around for something to cover up with. Shocking her would only set their relationship back. He made a grab for his shorts, but she stopped him. “Please don’t. You’re so beautiful. Please, don’t hide from me.” Slowly, she walked toward him. “I don’t mean to stare, but I’ve never seen a man before. Only in pictures, and I had no idea.” Her words only served to increase his size.

  He stepped toward her, unashamed. She held out her hand, almost touching him. Then, as if awakening from a dream, she seemed to realize where she was and the unbelievable thing she was doing. Red heat flashed up into her face, and she whirled around as if to leave. “Stop, Scarlet. It’s okay, honey.”

  “Let me go, Alex. I wasn’t thinking. I had no right to walk in on you like this.”

  She wouldn’t look at him. “I just came to ask you if I could use your laptop to access my recipe files.”

  Alex pulled her back against him. “No need to be embarrassed. There’s nothing here that doesn’t belong to you, babe. Where do you think this hard-on came from?” He whispered to her gently. “Snuggling up to your sweet body all night took its toll.” He stepped closer to her, letting her feel his massive erection as it nudged her backside. She didn’t move away, in fact she leaned back into him.

  “I am acting so totally out of character. You must think I’m terrible.”

  “Does this feel like I think you’re terrible?” He let his hips press rhythmically into her tight little ass.

  “No, it doesn’t.” Before she could stop herself, she turned into his embrace, wrapped her arms around his neck and held up her lips to be kissed.

  Sending a prayer heavenward, he took the gift that she offered. With a moan of satisfaction, he covered her mouth with his own. She whimpered with joy as he feasted on her lips. “Oh, Alex, this is like tasting chocolate for the first time.”

  He laughed, truly happier than he had been in a long time. Having her in his arms felt momentous to him, like this was his last first kiss. Accepting his tongue, she learned quickly, giving him back equal portions of passion and pleasure. His cock was nestled between them, and it was all he could do not to rub up and down on her, seeking any sort of relief he could find.

  “Scarlet! Scarlet! Where are you Scarlet?” Annalise’s voice broke their reverie.
r />   “Damn!” Alex pulled his mouth from hers, letting his forehead rest against the top of her head. “Tonight, I think we’ll sleep in my RV. I don’t think I’ll survive anymore interruptions.”

  “I need to tell you things.” She couldn’t tear her mouth away from his face, she kissed his jaw line, his chin, her breathing as erratic as his.

  “Nothing you could possibly say would change my mind about how I feel about you.” He spoke into her neck, dragging his mouth across her skin, feverishly scraping his teeth along the collarbone.

  “Telling you is going to be so hard,” she clung to him like a drowning person to a life preserver.

  “Scarlet! Are you in there?” Annalise tapped on Alex’s door. With a grin, he put a finger over her lips, telling her with his eyes not to respond.

  When they heard her footsteps fading into the distance, he pulled her close once again, but this time in a fierce hug. “I’ve got to get covered up before your sister decides to join us. And yes, you can use my laptop—among other things.” Rubbing back and forth sensuously across her belly, he let her know how much he wanted her. “Run out and pacify your sister, then come back and make yourself at home.” He pointed at his desk and the computer that sat in the middle of it. Holding her by the shoulders, he stole one more tender kiss, and then with a growl of frustration, he went for the shower.

  * * * *

  What am I doing? What was I thinking? Scarlet chastised herself as she made her way down the hall toward the kitchen. She couldn’t believe that she, Scarlet Rose Evans, Administrator of the First Lutheran Church had just left the company of a naked man with the most magnificent penis she could have ever imagined. She didn’t know they came that big! All she could think of was how it would feel for Alex to make love to her.

  But she had to tell him about her kidney disease. It wouldn’t be fair if she didn’t. She had no idea how he would react. How would a man feel about making love to a woman who might not live very long? Talk about a mood killer! Shaking her head, she tried to banish the doubts. Although, she wouldn’t blame him if he did decide that he couldn’t bring himself to be with her.

  “There you are! Where have you been?” Annalise nailed her with a stare. A blush rushed up her cheeks before she could get herself under control. “I knew it! You were with Alex!”

  Ethan was coming in the back door and Scarlet was doing everything she could to shush her sister up. “It wasn’t like that. We haven’t…”

  “Ethan!”

  “Please don’t tell him, Annalise. We haven’t slept together, yet. I mean, we’ve slept together, but we haven’t had sex.” Scarlet was desperate to shut Annalise up. She didn’t want it to get back to Alex that she had been discussing what went on behind closed doors. Finally, it seemed that she got through to her sister. “I’ve got to go into town and buy supplies for the wedding cake. Any suggestions of a good store?”

  “Go into Austin. Alex will take you. There’s a great organic grocery and some really good specialty stores that will have exactly what you need.” All of this was said with a sneaky grin on her face. Annalise was enjoying Scarlet’s discomfort.

  “I have no intention of asking Alex to give up a day to take me shopping! Look, I’m about to make a list of things I need, then I’ll go on my own.” Scarlet escaped the knowing looks of her sister and went to her room to retrieve her papers. As she fled to the safety of Alex’s room, her Bucket List fell to the floor. Hastily picking it up, she stuffed it back within the confines of the spiral notebook and did not give it another thought.

  This time she knocked. She had learned a lesson, and what a lesson it was. To tell the truth, it was a lesson that she would like to repeat—over and over again.

  The door flew open and a hand came out and grabbed her, pulling her into the room and straight into his arms. He picked her up and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. She giggled with delight. “You didn’t look to see who you were grabbing. What if it had been someone else?”

  “Good thing it was you, I would have hated to kiss one of my brother’s like that.” He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the desk. Sitting down in the swivel chair, he held her on his lap. “Now, what do you need to look up?”

  “Cake and icing recipes and to check and see what size tips I need to make the roses and hydrangeas.” She quickly accessed a folder that she kept in her e-mail account. “Can I print this page?”

  “Sure.” He was busy planting soft, little kisses on the exposed skin at her neck. Reaching around her, he deftly hit send. “When you get ready to go pick up this stuff, I’ll take you.”

  Turning to look him in the face, she checked his expression carefully. “Seriously, you don’t have to go. Just map-quest me the street the stores are on and I’ll be fine.”

  “I want to spend the day with you. Come on.” Gladly following, she grabbed the print-out, but left the notebook where it lay.

  Riding to Austin with him had been wild. They had laughed at childhood memories and he had enjoyed sharing with her points of interest and historical markers. When they arrived at the store, he had helped her gather everything she would need. Now, they were ready to check out and she realized that money might be an issue. She juggled the numbers in her head. It was going to be close. The items she would need to buy today would come close to costing two hundred dollars. Before checking out, Scarlet asked Alex to hold her buggy while she made a quick trip to the restroom. Using the payphone outside the facilities, she cancelled the hotel reservations she had made for the week following the wedding. Without hesitation, she forgot about the Alamo, Enchanted Rock and all of the other places she had hoped to mark off of her bucket list. These changes would free up enough funds to purchase the ingredients, the pans and the decorating items.

  Annalise hadn’t thought twice about Scarlet paying for the cakes, after all she knew that Scarlet had two full-time jobs. What Annalise didn’t know was that the medicine Scarlet took ate up almost all of her salary. Scarlet had also paid for the material for both dresses. And, honest to God, she didn’t mind. This was possibly the last thing she would be able to do for her sister and she was glad to do it. Tradition dictated that the bride’s family pay for the wedding and she was the only family Annalise had—except for their mother, and frankly, she didn’t count.

  Returning to Alex, who had been waiting patiently, she headed to the check-out counter. Thankfully, the charges went through on her card and they loaded up. “What else do you want to do while we’re in Austin?”

  She looked at him, her eyes twinkling. “Annie’s ice cream?”

  There were five Annie’s Ice cream shops in Austin, so Alex had no trouble finding one. “What flavor, babe?”

  “The darkest chocolaty chocolate you can find.” He laughed at her request, but did his best to fulfill it. “Now what?” He was being so sweet.

  “Will you drive by the capitol building?” She knew there would be no overnight trip to Austin after the wedding, so this would have to do.

  “Do you want to park and take a tour?”

  “No, driving by will do.” He did, and Scarlet got up on her knees, so she could see as much of the beautiful building as she could. “It’s gorgeous.” Alex seemed to enjoy seeing his hometown through her eyes. He drove by the beloved University’s forty-acres, pointing out the infamous tower and the huge football stadium where Bobby played. They couldn’t drive down Sixth Street, but he showed her what he could and she enjoyed every second, mostly because she was with him. It was at that moment it hit her. Her days with Alex were numbered. Her days were numbered, period. Total dismay clutched her insides like a vise. She wrapped her arms around her middle and tried to hide her sudden inability to breathe.

  “What’s wrong? Are you hurting somewhere?” Alex looked at her with concern, putting on the brakes, almost coming to a stop. “Do you need to get out of the car? Did the ice cream make you sick?”

  “No, somebody just walked over my grave.” She really didn’t kn
ow what that meant, but it sounded good. Attempting to steady her nerves, she focused on the billboards that lined I-35. One caught her eye. “Look, Alex. A Civil War battle display is going to come to Austin!” The Civil War was one of her greatest interests. “I wonder what that’s about.”

  “Are you intrigued by the Civil War?” Alex looked at her sort of funny.

  “Obsessed. I read everything I can get my hands on about it. I even have a few artifacts.”

  Alex ran his eyes up and down her body. “Are you for real?” he asked her, fascinated.

  “What do you mean?”

  “We have so much in common, it’s sort of scary. I love the Civil War. The display that’s coming to the capitol next month is one of my pet projects. I’m on the Austin Historical committee and the Civil War is my main focus. The display you saw advertised is concerning one of the last battles that took place in the war, and it happened at the Palmetto Ranch near Brownsville.”

  “John Salmon Ford was the commander. He was a Mexican War veteran, former captain of the Texas Rangers and one time mayor of Austin.” Her recitation of those little known facts amazed Alex.

  “Will you marry me?” He was joking, maybe.

  “Don’t tempt me,” she laughed. “You’ll never guess what I have in my collection. Not in a million years.”

  “What’s that?” He stared at her face so hard, she was afraid he’d run off the road.

  “I have a presentation sword that was given to Lt. Col Porter Cox in recognition of his killing of Bloody Bill Anderson.”

  He was suitably impressed. “I know who Bloody Bill was. He sometimes rode and fought with Quantrille’s Raiders. How in the world did you get your hands on that? It must have cost a fortune!”

  “I don’t have any money,” she scoffed. “This little old man at church was a first-class Civil War collector. He had no family, and I adopted him, more or less. I visited him every day and when he got sick, I helped take care of him. We spent many hours discussing the siege of Vicksburg, Sherman’s march to the sea, Gettysburg—everything you can think of—and when he passed away, he left me the sword.”