reason she brings out the worst in me.”
“First impressions aren’t always sound, you should know that. All I’m saying is to give the girl a chance.”
“And all I’m saying to you is keep your hands off her. She’s trouble.” Reuben could see Daniel bristling. He’d never given orders before. “She’d chew you up and spit you out in two minutes. I hope you listen.” He placed a gentle hand on Daniel’s shoulder to take the sting out of his words. “Come on, we can at least get started by carrying in some of these hatboxes.”
No sooner had the front door closed behind them than they heard Bebe shout from upstairs. “Only one bathroom? You mean we all have to share it, to take turns?”
They were just in time to see Mickey throw her hands in the air and stalk to her room. “I’m going to change my clothes and I’ll be down to help shortly,” she called over her shoulder.
“Don’t bother, we’ll take care of it…get some rest,” Reuben said. He and Daniel dumped the hatboxes in the middle of Bebe’s room. “Come on, we’re not doing it all.” Reuben told her sourly. “They’re your trunks.”
Bebe turned to follow Reuben and almost fell. He swung around, grabbed her, and carried her to the bed, where he dumped her in a heap. “It might be a good idea to take off those shoes. You’ll kill yourself on the stones and gravel.” He waited a moment until the outrage on her face had faded. She had nice legs, that much he noticed, and she smelled rather good, flowery and sweet. When she made no move to take off the bright red heels, he left to ask Mickey for a pair of serviceable shoes Bebe could wear temporarily. He handed them to the girl, who contemplated them with disgust.
“These are at least three sizes too big. Whose are they?” she demanded. “And they’re the ugliest things I’ve ever seen.”
“They’ll serve the purpose for the moment,” Reuben snapped. “You’d do well to pay attention to the way a real lady dresses—and I’m talking about your aunt. If you want to pretend to be grown-up, then behave like a grown-up.”
“Just how old are you?” Bebe demanded sarcastically.
“I’m four years older than you. I’ll be twenty-one in another month. Is there anything else you want to know?”
“Yes,” Bebe sneered. “How does it feel to be twenty years old and a gigolo?” The minute the words were out of her mouth she was sorry.
“What did you say?” Reuben said through clenched teeth.
“No-nothing. I’m sorry,” Bebe muttered. God, if she’d been home and said the same thing to one of her brother Eli’s friends, she’d be missing her front teeth and have two black eyes. “I said I was sorry. Let’s just drop it.”
“You ever say that to me again, you’ll regret it,” Reuben said coldly.
Daniel stared at them, his mouth dropping in surprise. Something fluttered in his chest. You didn’t ever cross Reuben Tarz.
Twelve trips later, Reuben was about to close the barn door when Bebe approached him, hands on hips, lips pulled back angrily. “What about my trunks? You aren’t going to leave them here, are you? They’ll smell and get all black and moldy.”
“As a matter of fact, I am leaving them here. If you want to carry them to the house and up that narrow stairway, then do it. Nothing will happen to your trunks here.” The urge to slap this petulant brat was so strong, Reuben had to clench his fists to keep from doing just that.
“You…you…you’re hateful!” Bebe cried. “How can my aunt stand you? She doesn’t look desperate for companionship. My father—”
“Your father has nothing to do with this conversation, so let’s leave him out of it. I’d like to close the barn door if you don’t mind.” What he really wanted to do was put his hands around her neck and strangle her.
Bebe felt tears sting her eyes. She wanted to reach out to the young man with the cold eyes and say she was sorry; they got off to a bad start and…it was all her fault. And she would have said those things if Reuben hadn’t reached out to take her arm and lead her from the shadowy barn. She completely misread his intention, thinking he was going to strike her.
“Take your hands off me! When I want to be manhandled, it won’t be by someone like you.” She felt a second prick of fear when Reuben turned to her, back stiff and gray eyes dark with anger. “You should do something about that temper of yours,” she blurted out, “before it explodes and hurts the people around you.”
Reuben turned and began to walk away.
“You’ve just met me and already you hate me,” Bebe yelled after him. “I’ve seen you fighting with yourself not to pound away at me. I’m tired, I’m hungry, and I need a bath. I’d like to call a truce.”
An alien sound escaped Reuben’s lips, but he kept on walking.
Bebe was right behind him. “Did you hear what I said? What’s wrong with you? You’re still angry, and that’s stupid. You’re not grown-up at all, because if you were, you’d be able to handle any situation, and that includes this one. You’re a boy trying to act like a man and probably fucking my aunt!”
Reuben pulled up short, and Bebe slammed against his back. She tried to back away, but he reached for her. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was aware of her slender shoulders, her sweet scent. But overpowering everything was an anger so intense that he actually felt the beginning of an erection. It stunned him. “You,” he said slowly, enunciating each word carefully, “disgust me. And if you were the last woman on earth, I wouldn’t fuck you. The man hasn’t been born who would want anything to do with you.” With that, he gathered every ounce of strength he could muster to drop his hands and stalk back to the house.
Bebe took off the oversize shoes and raced after him. “If you think you’re getting the last word, you’re mistaken. I find you incredibly arrogant and obnoxious, and my aunt must be insane to have anything to do with you. You’re nasty, you’re inconsiderate, and you are so hateful you make me want to puke.” She made a gagging sound in her throat. “Furthermore, I wouldn’t let you touch me if you got down on your knees and begged me. You, Reuben Tarz, disgust me!”
She gave Reuben a shove that sent him sprawling in the dirt and then fled to the house, certain he would follow and beat the living daylights out of her. She was sobbing as she gathered her things together for the bathroom, and it wasn’t until the door was locked behind her that she felt safe.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. What was wrong with her? Why was she always doing the wrong thing at the wrong time? Maybe she deserved Reuben’s words in some way. She knew better, and still she’d gone ahead and baited him. Why couldn’t she ever keep her mouth shut? Obviously Reuben had a vicious temper and knew how to be as nasty as she. But she’d also seen a glimmer of something in his eyes, something she’d seen in other young men’s eyes, back in California: arousal.
“Lights! Camera! Action! Cut!” she muttered, her tearful face turning thoughtful. She stepped into the hot tub. Later she would think about her next performance, but not until she was sure where she’d gone wrong in the barn.
A warm bath always made everything right. Bebe hummed the words to a popular song as she lathered herself. When she was soaped from head to toe, she craned her neck to examine herself in the
