按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Gradually； she began to understand why； in some of the many books she had read； Santa Barbara had been called one of the most beautiful places on earth。 She had lived there nearly all her life； but because she had cowered in the Devon house with Violet and； on venturing out； had looked at little more than her own shoes； she was seeing the town for the first time。 It both charmed and thrilled her。
At one o'clock； in Alameda Park within sight of the pond； she sat on a bench near three ancient and massive date palms。 Her feet were getting sore； but she did not intend to go home early。 She opened the paper bag and began lunch with the yellow apple。 Never had anything tasted half as delicious。 Famished； she quickly ate the orange； too； dropping the pieces of peel into the bag； and she was starting on the first of the oatmeal cookies when Art Streck sat down beside her。
〃Hello； prettiness。〃
He was wearing only blue running shorts； running shoes； and thick white athletic socks。 However； he clearly hadn't been running； for he wasn't sweating。 He was muscular with a broad chest； deeply tanned； exceedingly masculine。 The whole purpose of his attire was to display his physique； so Nora at once averted her eyes。
〃Shy？〃 he asked。
She could not speak because the bite she had taken from the oatmeal cookie was stuck in her mouth。 She couldn't work up any saliva。 She was afraid she would choke if she tried to swallow the piece of cookie； but she couldn't very well just spit it out。
〃My sweet； shy Nora；〃 Streck said。
Looking down； she saw how badly her right hand was trembling。 The cookie was being shaken to pieces in her fingers； bits of it dropped onto the paving between her feet。
She had told herself that she would go for a daylong walk as a first step toward liberation； but now she had to admit there had been another reason for getting out of the house。 She had been trying to avoid Streck's attentions。 She was afraid to stay home； afraid that he'd call and call and call。 But now he had found her in the open； beyond the protection of her locked windows and bolted doors； which was worse than the telephone； infinitely worse。
〃Look at me； Nora。〃
No。
〃Look at me。〃
The last of the disintegrating cookie fell from her right hand。
Streck took her left hand； and she tried to resist him； but he squeezed； grinding the bones of her fingers； so she surrendered。 He put her hand palm down on his bare thigh。 His flesh was firm and hot。
Her stomach twisted； and her heart thumped； and she did not know which she would do first…puke or pass out。
Moving her hand slowly up and down his bare thigh； he said； 〃I'm what you need； prettiness。 I can take care of you。〃
As if it were a wad of paste； the oatmeal cookie glued her mouth shut。 She kept her head down； but she raised her eyes to look out from under her brow。 She hoped to see someone nearby to whom she could call for help； but there were only two young mothers with their small children； and even they were too far away to be of assistance。
Lifting her hand from his thigh； putting it on his bare chest； Streck said； 〃Having a nice stroll today？ Did you like the mission？ Hmmm？ And weren't the yucca blossoms pretty at the courthouse？〃
He rambled on in that cool； smug voice； asking her how she had liked other things she'd seen； and she realized he had been following her all morning； either in his car or on foot。 She hadn't seen him； but there was no doubt he bad been there because he knew every move she had made since leaving the house； which frightened and infuriated her more than anything else he had done。
She was breathing hard and fast； yet she felt as if she could not get her breath。 Her ears were ringing； yet she could hear every word he said too clearly。 Though she thought she might strike him and claw at his eyes； she was also paralyzed； on the verge of striking but unable to strike； simultaneously strong with rage and weak with fear。 She wanted to scream； not for help but in frustration。
〃Now；〃 he said； 〃you've had a real nice stroll； a nice lunch in the park； and you're in a relaxed mood。 So you know what would be nice now？ You know what would make this a terrific day； prettiness？ A really special day？ What we'll do is get in my car； go back to your place； up to your yellow room； get in that four…poster bed…〃
He'd been in her bedroom！ He must have done it yesterday。 When he was supposed to have been in the living room fixing the TV； he must have sneaked upstairs； the bastard； prowling through her most private place； invading her sanctuary； poking through her belongings。
〃…that big old bed； and I'm going to strip you down； honey； strip you down and fuck you…〃
Nora would never be able to decide whether her sudden courage arose from the horrible realization that he'd violated her sanctuary； whether it was that he had spoken an obscenity in her presence for the first time； or whether both； but she snapped her head up and glared at him and spat the wad of uneaten cookie in his face。 Flecks of spittle and damp spatters of food stuck on his right cheek； right eye； and on the side of his nose。 Bits of oatmeal Clung in his hair and speckled his forehead。 When she saw anger flash into Streck's eyes and contort his face； Nora felt a surge of terror at what she'd done： But she was also elated that she had been able to break the bonds of emotional paralysis that had immobilized her； even if her actions brought her grief； even if Streck retaliated。
And he did retaliate swiftly； brutally。 He still held her left hand； and she
was unable to wrench free。 He squeezed hard； as he had done before； grinding her bones。 It hurt； Jesus； it hurt。 But she did not want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry； and she was determined not to whimper or beg； so she clenched her teeth and endured。 Sweat prickled her scalp； and she thought she might pass out。 But the pain was not the worst of it； the worst was looking into Streck's disturbing ice…blue eyes。 As he crushed her fingers； he held her not merely with his hand but with his gaze； which was cold and infinitely strange。 He was trying to intimidate and cow her； and it was working… by God； it was…because she saw in him a madness with which she would never be able to cope。
When he saw her despair； which evidently pleased him more than a cry of pain could have done； he stopped grinding her hand； but he did not let go。 He said； 〃You'll pay for that； for spitting in my face。 And you'll enjoy paying for it。〃
Without conviction； she said； 〃I'll plain to your boss； and you'll lose your job。〃
Streck only smiled。 Nora wondered why he did not bother to wipe the bits of oatmeal cookie from his face； but even as she wondered about it she knew the reason： he was going to make her do it for him。 First； he said； 〃Lose my job？ Oh； I already quit working for Wadlow TV。 Walked out yesterday afternoon。 So I'd have time for you； Nora。〃
She lowered her eyes。 She could not conceal her fear； was shaken by it until she thought her teeth would chatter。
〃I never do stay too long in a job。 Man like me； full of so much energy； gets bored easy。 I need to move around。 Besides； life's too short to waste all of it working；