Silver Linings

still talking about his schemes and ambitions half an hour later when they left the tavern and started back down the street. He was a little surprised to have gotten through the meal without having to bash a few heads, but he wasn't complaining. Obviously everyone had figured out right away that Mattie was not available, he thought proudly. Probably had something to do with the way she was focusing so completely on him.
    “I'll pour you a drink now,” Hugh said magnanimously when they reached the privacy of Mattie's room. “Sit down.”
    Sitting down meant sitting on the bed. There were no chairs in the room. Mattie obediently kicked off her red heels, leaned her delightfully bare back against the old wicker headboard, and stretched her legs out in front of her. “When will you tell Aunt Charlotte you won't be accepting any more free-lance jobs for Vailcourt?”
    “The way things are going, I'll be in a position to do that in another six months or a year,” Hugh said as he poured a shot of rum into two glasses. “It's going to be good out here, Mattie. You'll see. Abbott Charters is going to work. A year from now I'm going to start work on a house. I've already picked out a chunk of property that overlooks the prettiest little cove you've ever seen.”
    Footsteps sounded outside in the hall. They went past the door and stopped at the next room. Evangeline Dangerfield's door opened. There was a murmur of voices and then silence. Hugh sat down beside Mattie on the bed and went on talking about his dream house. Mattie sipped at her rum.
    A short time later the unmistakable squeak of bedsprings could be heard through the thin walls. Hugh ignored the sound as he described the veranda he was going to build around his spectacular dream house. Mattie took another sip of rum.
    A man's guttural shout of sexual release rumbled through the walls. Mattie bit her lip as her eyes met Hugh's and then slid away. She giggled.
    Hugh pretended to ignore the second set of footsteps in the hall while he explained that his beautiful dream house would be open to the island breezes on three sides.
    When the third set of footsteps went past the door on the way to Evangeline's room, Mattie wriggled a little on the bed. “Hard way to make a living,” she observed, yawning.
    “Yeah.” Hugh was finally beginning to have a problem concentrating on what he was talking about. The rhythmic squeak of bedsprings and the noisy sounds of masculine climax kept interfering with his train of thought. Mattie's yawn had done interesting things to the top of the little red dress.
    “I guess I'd better stick to running an art gallery,” she said, easing herself down onto the pillows. She put her glass on the table beside the bed. “I don't think I'd have the energy for Evangeline's kind of work. Do you know. Hugh, I am absolutely exhausted all of a sudden.”
    “You've been through a lot today,” he started to say sympathetically. Then he realized her eyes were closing. “Hey, Mattie?”
    “Good night, Hugh. Be sure and turn off the light and lock the door when you leave.” With a soft little murmur, she went to sleep.
    Hugh sat watching her for a long time while he finished his drink. He hadn't gotten around to telling her about the bedroom in his dream home, he realized. It was going to be a big room with a big bed and a view of the sea. He was sure she was going to like it.
    The bedsprings next door began to squeak again.
    Hugh put down his glass, stood up, and slowly undressed down to his briefs. Then he pulled down the bedspread and eased Mattie under the sheet. He thought about undressing her but finally decided the red slip of a dress was a perfect nightie.
    He went over to his shopping bag and found his revolver. Then he turned out the light and slid under the sheet beside Mattie. He put the revolver under the pillow.
    Hugh folded his arms behind his head and listened to the endless parade of footsteps in the hall. He began to wonder if he was going to stay in this painfully aroused condition all night long.
    When one particular set of footsteps stopped outside Mattie's door instead of going on to Evangeline Dangerfield's room, Hugh was still awake.
    He sighed and quietly reached under the pillow for the gun.

CHAPTER

Six

    Hugh felt Mattie move beside him as the door opened. She turned in her sleep, her leg sliding along his, her hand settling on his bare chest. He could feel his body's instantaneous response all the way down to his