Free The Rain Began to Fall by A. K. Hartline Page B

that he might come over. There was the chance he might realize
the situation and stay away, but she gave that idea little merit. Given the
general atmosphere of the evening, she thought it more likely he was charged
enough to push the envelope, and Gene was angry enough to push back. She had to
get Gene out of there to prevent the possibility of a collision. Things could
get messy.
    “I’m leaving,” she
told him abruptly. “If we’re going to continue this argument, we’re not doing
it out here.”
    “Leigh, wait…” he
implored, but she quickly got into her car, started it and pulled off with a
screech. Totally perplexed, he stood still and looked around the area for a
moment, wondering who her “friend” was. Male or female? Several people were
staring at him, and he couldn’t have felt more out of place. He went quickly to
his car and gave chase.
    Kyle watched as they
drove off. He had seen Leigh with a man when he drove back down, deduced it was
her fiancé, especially when he noticed the Jaguar, and stayed away. He knew she
was leaving quickly to avoid any confrontation, and he imagined her fiancé’ had
been plenty upset to discover his bride to be out here with the undesirables.
    The racing was
done for the evening, as Wade had blown a head gasket, preventing the showdown
between them. They agreed to get it on as soon as his Impala was ready to roll
again, Wade hurling predictions to anyone that would listen that Kyle didn’t
stand a chance. He climbed into his car and drove away, and on the road back to
his apartment, he imagined all of the hoops her beau would jump through to hang
onto her. But what man wouldn’t? Yes, he would do everything to keep her. And,
smiling, Kyle knew he would do anything to have her.

CHAPTER 7

 
    The lights were
turned down low, and music played softly on the stereo in Gene’s spacious
downtown apartment.  He was at the wet bar, preparing two glasses of Dom
Perignon champagne. He glanced over at Leigh, who was on the couch with her
knees tucked up, her arms folded around them. Her head lay back as she stared
at the ceiling, her long hair spilling over the edge, cascading down the
backside of the sofa. He stopped in mid pour into the second glass, admiring
her great beauty from his vantage point.  As he corked the bottle, his
mind wandered back to the events of the prior evening on Summerville road. He
had been so angry with her, and had really lost his cool. After a high speed
chase he had caught up with her at home, and had gotten quickly out of his car
to approach her, but she would have none of it. She had shot into the house
like a bullet, slamming the door and leaving him standing alone in the
driveway. If that’s how you want it ! he had spitefully thought at the
time, growing angry all over again and squealing the tires as he sped away.
    But this morning,
he had awoken with a sinking feeling in his stomach, and he had called her as
soon as possible, begging her to meet with him this evening. Leigh’s anger did
not subside through the night, however. After leaving him on the sidewalk, she
had gone straight to her room. There, lying on her bed, she thought long and
hard about the events of the exciting, tumultuous day long into the night. She
was surprised with herself, and somewhat pleased, that she had not allowed him
to steam roll her. Something inside of her had clicked, and the look on his
face had been priceless!  But why had he gone so far over the line? When had he assumed it was okay to unload on me like that ? she
wondered. She knew if they were going to make it from here, some things had to
change. There was no way she would put up with that kind of behavior when they
were married.
    lt was 2 am when
she had finally fallen asleep, and she was awakened by her phone ringing at 10
am. It was Mindy calling about their planned trip to the bridal store. Leigh
had entirely forgotten about it, but not that Mindy had blabbed to Gene about
where she was last