Courtship of the Recluse

Someone knocked on her door and she wiped her eyes and blew her nose before responding.

"Who is it?"

"Claudette." The voice was strangely timid.

Cynthia hesitated. Was Claudette here to gloat? If she was, she had picked a poor time. This time there would be no holding back. Claudette was going to get a piece of her mind.

"Come in."

Claudette pushed the door open slowly and demurely made her way across the room. She sat on the edge of the bed, contemplating Cynthia with a compassionate expression.

"I'm sorry. I guess I was wrong about both of you."

She was wrong, all right - and she had no idea how wrong she was. Claudette hadn't interrupted Cade making a pass. In fact, she had been nothing more than a spectator for a convincing role Cade was playing. And worse yet, Cade had thought she was going along with his skit.

Claudette folded her hands in her lap. "If you want to get away from here, I'd hire you. We have a beautiful house and lots of parties. You wouldn't be so lonely there."

It was in her mind to tell Claudette to take a long walk off a short pier, but a cool voice interrupted them at that moment.

"Head hunting, Claudette?" Cade was standing in the doorway, coffee mug in hand.

Claudette stood and smiled down at Cynthia. "I'm serious, Cynthia. If you decide you want to go, you can leave with us tomorrow morning." She brushed past Cade, giving him a stern look as she left the room.

Cade wandered across the room and stared out the patio doors, sipping from the coffee mug. For a long time he simply stood there, and when he finally spoke, his voice was controlled.

"I want to apologize for forcing myself on you and I want to assure you that it will never happen again. I took all my frustration and anger out on you. I was way out of line."

"You didn't have to prove anything to me, you know. I didn't believe Claudette."

He glanced around sharply. "Then you're the only one. People are always willing to believe the worst about others. I'm not sure who started that story, but it floated around here for my last two years of high school. It looks like Claudette is determined to keep it alive."

"So you kissed me in front of her. That way she would know you liked women."

He frowned. "No, I didn't even know Claudette was standing there until you slapped me. Then I wondered if you were putting on a show for her to prove nothing was going on between us." He shook his head. "If the show had been for Claudette, would I have been so rough?"