“Do they teach charm in the south, or do you just come by it naturally?” I ask him, feeling warmth radiating from his body.
“Why, do ya find me charmin’?” he asks, stopping before we reach the tent to smile down at me again.
About to answer him, I feel a fluttering sensation in my stomach again. Looking around at once, I notice a figure materializing out of the shadows of the large willow tree. Startled, I shy nearer to Russell.
When the figure becomes recognizable as Reed walking toward us out of the darkness of the trees, I grudgingly admit to myself that he has an incredibly sexy way of walking—it’s effortless, fluid. I wonder if he knows how attractive he is just walking, I think, watching him near Russell and me. Some guys adopt a swagger to look more like players, but this is no swagger; this is raw, aggressive power that is restrained just enough for me to admire the strength it takes to control it.
“Genevieve, may I have a word with you?” Reed asks with cool politeness, nearing us on the path. I feel an inexplicable pull toward him that makes me want to comply with his request. Watching Reed’s eyes flicker to Russell, I see his body grow still.
“Ah, sure, Reed, what’s on your mind?” I ask him, trying to focus on something other than how amazing he looks coming out of the darkness.
If I have surprised him by knowing his name, he isn’t showing it as he looks past me to Russell, saying, “The conversation that I have in mind is best executed in private.”
It is a not so subtle hint to Russell to shove off. Russell’s posture changes immediately; standing up straighter, Russell begins paying closer attention to Reed. They seem to be assessing one another, sizing each other up.
“Well as you can see, I’m kind of busy right now. Maybe we can set up an appointment later for this private discussion,” I reply because his interruption is so rude. “You might want to set one up for Russell, too, because he indicated earlier he has a proposal to run by you.”
I’m gratified to hear the smothered intake of breath from Russell as he gets the joke I have just made. You don’t fancy him now, I’ll bet, I think wryly.
A look of frustration crosses Reed’s face as it becomes clearer to him that I’m not going to give him my attention now. “When?” Reed asks me abruptly.
“I’m not sure right now. Can I get back to you later?” I ask him slowly.
Clenching his teeth, Reed looks at Russell again, but longer this time as his eyebrows come down slowly into a frown. “Am I interrupting your reunion?” Reed asks us in a thoughtful tone.
“Our what?” Russell asks, looking at me to see if I understand what Reed is saying. Shaking my head, I shrug at Russell.
“It is important that we talk now, Genevieve,” Reed says, dissing Russell by failing to acknowledge him.
My eyes narrow as I say, “I so don’t get you, Reed. When I was in the auditorium, you wanted me to go away, and now that we’re here, you want to talk. What do you want to talk about?” I ask him. I feel like he is about to accuse me of doing something wrong. I think that that clipboard he had earlier must have gone to his head.
“I want to talk about you leaving tonight,” Reed replies coldly, staring at me.
“My leaving…why, have the buses left already? Did we miss the ride back?” I ask him anxiously.
Reed almost looks bored. “I was actually talking about you leaving school. Genevieve, please try to keep up. You cannot really be this naŃ—ve,” Reed replies, studying me with a cold detachment. I feel my heartbeat picking up as I try to stop the blush from creeping into my cheeks.
Before I can say anything, Russell asks, “Why would she leave school?”
Still holding my hand, Russell takes a step forward, putting himself just slightly in front of me. It was subtle, but I notice it, and looking at Reed, I can tell that he notices it, too. It seems to be making Reed angry. Never having been in a situation like this, I’m at a loss as to what to do next.
Reed frowns at Russell. “This is between Genevieve and me. If you choose to follow her elsewhere, that is your concern, but she is not staying here,” Reed replies as if he is bored with this conversation and ready for us to go.
“And if she decides to stay, what do ya plan on doin’ ‘bout it?” Russell asks Reed calmly, sounding almost friendly…almost.
Reed’s expression turns serious. “That would be an unfortunate decision for her to make,” he replies in a serious tone, watching Russell close.
Taking a step toward the tent, I tug on Russell’s hand in mine, saying, “Let’s go find the bus. We don’t want to miss it.”
“You go on,” Russell says, refusing to move with me. “Reed and I are just gonna have a little man-to-man, then I’ll meet ya on the bus,” he replies, not taking his eyes off of Reed.
My heartbeat pounds in my ears. “This is stupid,” I say to Russell, trying not to show my growing panic. “He can’t make me leave, so this is pointless. Let’s just go.”
Russell glances at me. “Yer right, he can’t make ya go, but intimidation is another story. Ya weren’t thinkin’ ‘bout intimidatin’ Genevieve, were ya, Reed? ‘Cuz that would be unfortunate,” Russell says in a low, dangerous tone, smiling at Reed smoothly.
Reed’s eyes zero in on our hands clasped together. Then he seems to come to a decision in the next moment as he addresses Russell directly. “You will go to the buses and board one. You will not attempt to communicate with anyone or try to get off the bus until you reach the school. Go now,” Reed orders, using his voice that slithers and hisses.
After tightening his grip on my hand, Russell begins to drag me along the path to the tent. He is moving stiffly, almost involuntarily, like he is trying to fight himself every step of the way.
Something like a growl of frustration comes from Reed before he adds, “Release Genevieve.”
Russell immediately lets go of my hand. He continues on ahead of me, still walking stiffly, not anything like the natural grace that is innate to him.
“Russell, wait!” I say breathlessly, but he doesn’t even look back at me.
In less than a moment, Reed is standing next to me. His voice, silky and sexy again, lacks any undertone as he says, “I have to admit, Genevieve, that boy is determined to protect you. I didn’t think he would have the mental toughness to resist me, but he surprised me when he tried to drag you off with him.”
“What did you do to him?” I ask with what I hope sounds more like indignation, than a high-pitched squeak of fear.
Standing next to me, Reed tilts his head to the side as if listening to something intently. “Your heart is beating so fast, Genevieve…are you afraid?” he ends in a question, seemingly amazed when I just stare at him, my heart still racing. “Calm down, Genevieve. I just want to reason with you. I am sure that you can see that this is not the right place for you.”
“Calm down! Are you serious?” I ask, trying to keep my voice low and even. “I’m sorry, Reed, do I seem tweeked to you?” I snap. What was that? I feel like I just swallowed an entire bottle of cough syrup and am now having a nightmarishly absurd trip.
The hysteria I have been holding off until now begins to grip me. “How did you just make Russell leave?” I ask in a near whisper. Reed frowns, but doesn’t answer. Backing away from him as I gesture with my thumb, pointing it back over my shoulder, I say breathlessly, “I’m gonna go now…I’m sorry this conversation isn’t reading on my awesomeness scale…so later.”