"No one else would invade my personal space uninvited like you do." Evelyn felt the heat of Michael Thorp's body at her back. The man smelled of expensive cologne and money, and as cliched as it sounded, there was no other way to describe it.
"I'm glad to hear it."
"That wasn't a compliment." Evelyn's pointed response made Michael laugh. It was a warm, raspy, masculine sound filled with genuine amusement.
No matter how much he exasperated her, Evelyn could not deny Michael's charm. The summer after the conclusion of their junior year in high school she accepted his invitation to spend a day 'visiting his world'. She and Leonard had broken up over his plan not to return to school for his senior year. Evelyn knew that Leonard was not a higher education type of guy, but she believed he should at least finish high school, especially with only one more year to go. So, she'd accepted Michael's invitation and spent the day seeing parts of the area she didn't even know existed.
Michael managed to convince Evelyn to end the day by riding his family's property on the back of a gorgeous cream-colored stallion. He'd helped Evelyn into the saddle and climbed up behind her. Michael reached around her for the reins and spent the ride acting as her tour guide, his breath warm in her ear. He'd ended the day with a kiss that Evelyn could not deny curled her toes.
Two days later, Leonard showed up at Evelyn's house to inform her of his change of heart regarding senior year. She never knew how, but Evelyn suspected he'd found out about her date with Michael Thorp. And despite the enjoyable time she'd had with Michael, Evelyn accepted Leonard's unspoken apology and never looked back.
To his credit, Michael respected her marriage to Leonard. He was polite when they met and did not attempt to engage Evelyn in prolonged conversation. But when Leonard unexpectedly died, Michael allowed her a year of mourning before he began to press his suit. Evelyn's reminders of the little detail of his wife were met with a nonchalant shrug. If patterns held, tonight would be no different.
Casually she turned to face him. The move seemed to amuse Michael. Evelyn realized that he had figured out the reason for her action - it succeeded in putting a small cushion of space between them.
Determined to press his advance, Michael stepped once again into Evelyn's personal space. He moved with the confidence and grace that only the very wealthy possessed. His tailored suit rested as comfortably on his shoulders as did his wealth. And despite herself, she was grudgingly impressed.
Evelyn quickly became aware that Michael's deliberate breach of her comfort zone had begun to attract the attention of the committee members and other early bird classmates. She struggled with whether to prudently step back or show her defiance of his tactics by remaining where she was.
She chose defiance.
"The reunion doesn't start for another forty minutes or so. What are you doing here so early, Michael?"
"Checking on things." He looked around the room at the band finishing their set-up on the stage, the tasteful and expensive (she now realized) decorations hung overhead, and the committee members bustling about the room pretending not to watch them. "I underwrote this little soiree," Michael explained softly.
Of course, Evelyn thought. She thought that the committee had been suspiciously liberal in spending money during the planning of tonight's gathering. "Was that your idea or Darla's?"
"Hers, of course. My wife wouldn't pass up an opportunity to remind people about my money." Michael turned his attention back to Evelyn. "But I didn't mind. Financing the reunion gave me my own opportunity to spend a bit of one-on-one time with you."
Evelyn deliberately ignored that last part. "Speaking of your wife... where is Darla? Shouldn't you be with her?"
The handsome multi-millionaire shrugged. "Darla is at home putting the finishing touches on her appearance. She's preparing to make an entrance and wants to be sure she looks better than the rest of you." Michael gave Evelyn a slow, thorough perusal from head to foot. He did not hurry, but took his time and allowed his expression to show his appreciation of the view. "Now that I've seen you, I should call her and tell her she's wasting her time. With you, at least."
"Please don't involve me in whatever this is between you and your wife." Evelyn emphasized the word. "I don't appreciate it."
The corner of Michael Thorp's mouth curved up into a little half smile. The years had been quite kind to him. His face was smooth and unlined, just an older version of the handsome boy she knew in high school. "This," he said softly, "has nothing to do with anyone else but the two of us."
"There is no two of us."
Michael stared into Evelyn's eyes. His gaze was dark and dangerous. "Before this night is over," he promised, "there will be."
Evelyn could only gape at the audacity of the man as Michael strode arrogantly away. For an entire lifetime, his wealth had afforded him whatever he desired. Evelyn wondered if she was merely the solitary thing he had been denied. She was halfway tempted to concede to his campaign if only to bring about the inevitable loss of interest that would undoubtedly follow his success.
"You know he'd only hurt you, right?" Cliff Vernon startled her. Evelyn hadn't heard his approach. "You are just another acquisition he is looking to make. That's all you've ever been to him."
Evelyn sighed, not at the possible truth of Cliff's words, but at the motive behind them. Like Michael Thorp, Cliff had made his romantic interest in Evelyn clear almost from the first moment they met. And again like Michael, he never really accepted that Evelyn had chosen to give her heart to Leonard Jones. "I appreciate your concern, Cliff, but you don't have to worry about me." She gave him a polite smile. "But I thank you for being such a friend."
End Note:
Michael Thorp - Kiefer Sutherland
Darla Granville Thorp - Meryl Streep
