“What do you want?”Lesley frowned.She liked it better when they didn’t talk to each other.The fuse to her temper was never shorter than when she had to deal with him.
“Nothing,” he denied.He was dressed casually in jeans and a sweater.Lesley was forced to admit he looked ruggedly handsome.
He slipped his hands into his pockets and leaned a shoulder against the doorframe.
“However, I’d be interested in knowing what you’re up to.”A slow smile moved across his mouth.“You look ridiculous.”
Her blue eyes were wide and confused as Cole continued to stare at her flushed face with lazy interest.
“You know what your problem is, Cole Daniels?”Cool challenge narrowed her eyes.“You’re suffering from a spiritual disease.”
“A what?”
“You heard me.A disease.I’ve tried everything I know to get along with you.I want you to know that I’m praying for you.”Without another word she jumped into the car, yanked it into reverse and backed out of the driveway.
Resentment burned through her blood.Even when she was halfway to the church, Cole’s affront hadn’t cooled.Maybe if she’d been paying closer attention to what she was doing, Lesley decided later, she might have avoided the accident.
A small dog darted into the street, and Lesley swerved to avoid hitting the animal.Her car jumped the curb and tilted headfirst into the ditch.
For a stunned, breathless second she didn’t move.It had all happened so quickly.Lesley sat in a world of unreality.This couldn’t really have happened—not to her, not on the way to church dressed up as a pillar of salt.
She didn’t move for several moments, then gradually stretched her arms.Nothing seemed to be hurt.All she felt was numb.
Opening the car door, she climbed out to assess the damage, which seemed only minimal: a scratched bumper.Surprisingly, no one had rushed to her aid to make sure she was unhurt.But since it was Halloween, most kids were circulating or collecting candy on the more populated blocks.
A car approached in the distance.In the dark, it was impossible to see who it was.
She straightened and gave a small wave, hoping someone would stop and help her out of the ditch.
A horrid suspicion formed in her mind as the car drew closer.Cole Daniels.
He pulled up alongside of her and rolled down his window.
“You all right?”
“Fine.Not a scratch on me.”Nervously she laughed off his concern.
Cole tilted his head to one side.“Seems like you’ve got yourself into a mess here.”
“I know.”What did he want her to do, beg for his help?She’d rot first.
“I can see that you’re probably suffering from...what did you say I had?Oh yes.”He tipped back his hat with his index finger.“Spiritual disease.That’s what you called it.”
“B-but-” she stuttered.
“I want you to know I’ll be praying for you.”With that he rolled up his window and drove away.
Chapter Three
Lesley stared after Cole in shocked disbelief.“I can’t believe that man,” she muttered incredulously.As his car advanced down the street, Lesley became more scornful.He wouldn’t really leave her, would he?All he wanted was the satisfaction of having her beg.But she refused to play his game.
Both arms hugging her waist, she shuffled her feet anxiously.“It’s all your fault anyway,” she shouted into the empty street after Cole, willingly placing the blame on him.
A couple of minutes passed, and still the street remained deserted.She could be stuck out here all night.Even the few houses in the immediate vicinity didn’t have any lights on.The inhabitants were probably gone for the evening, so it wouldn’t do any good to trek up and see about using the phone.
Another few moments, and Lesley looked around her helplessly.If Cole happened to drive by again, she’d be more apt to smile sweetly.
“Darn!”She kicked at the radial tire, stubbed her toe and wanted to cry with frustration.Everything was going wrong.Everything!What was she supposed to do?Walk down HarrisonAvenue garbed in a white sheet as a pillar of salt?That would cause quite a stir.She’d be the laughingstock of Coeur d’Alene.
