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THREE WEEKS OF HEDONISM

A FORBIDDEN ROMANCE
 S.E. LAW
S.C. ADAMS
Copyright © 2022 by S.E. Law and S.C. Adams
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without
written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a
book review.
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 SUBSCRIBE NOW

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 CONTENTS

About This Book

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Epilogue

Sneak Peek: Big Neighbor Daddy

About S.E. Law
About S.C. Adams
 ABOUT THIS BOOK

It was three weeks of pure hedonism in his arms. Ed’s my

mom’s high school boyfriend, but he became something
much, much more.

Susie: I needed a place to stay when the dorms shut for winter
break, so my mom called in a favor from her old high school flame,
Ed Turnbull. It’s a terrible idea, I know. Not only are we strangers,
but Ed’s also gorgeous when we finally meet. The older man’s got
big hands, a broad chest that makes me drool, and a certain
something that I’ve glimpsed coming out of the shower. Even better,
I’ve decided to tease him … by wearing tiny short shorts and flimsy
tank tops while parading around his apartment!

Ed: This is sheer torture. What was Nanette thinking? My old

girlfriend sends her DAUGHTER to stay with me for three weeks over
Christmas break. Not only that, but Susie’s buxom, sassy, and so
goddamn young, not to mention a f*cking tease. She thinks she’s
going to get away with it, but she’s not because I’m a red-blooded
man with needs … and those curves were made to be
worshipped until Susie’s pregnant with my baby!

This is a follow up to Claiming His Babysitter. When our

story begins, our heroine’s in a bad place. The dorms are
closed and she’s literally a homeless waif, begging for mercy
from the older man. But nothing in life is free (that’s a
theme in my books!) and Ed demands something for putting
a roof over Susie’s head – her innocence, not to mention a
sweetness that makes him crazy with need. Strap on your
seatbelts because you’re in for a wild ride! No cheating, no
cliffhangers, and always a HEA for my readers.
 1

Susie

I love my mother, Nanette. She gave me life. She raised me, fed
me, made sure there was a roof over my head. All in all, she’s a
great person.
But man, is it exhausting to talk to her.
“Mom, I don’t see why you insist on trashing my clothes during
every conversation.”
My mother huffs indignantly. “I’m not trashing anything, sweetheart,
I’m just making a friendly suggestion, that’s all. All I’m saying is that
it wouldn’t hurt to put a little effort into your wardrobe. After all,
how are you going to find a husband to provide for you if all you
wear are t-shirts and jeans? They’re so stained and old, and you
look like a ragamuffin.”
I look down at my outfit, but the thing is that we’re on a video call,
so she can’t see below my shoulders. Where is Nanette even getting
these comments? I could be sitting here in my panties, for all she
knows. But I put on a patient face.
“Maybe I don’t need a husband to provide for me. That’s why I’m at
college, remember? So I can provide for myself like a strong,
independent woman who’s able to stand on her own two feet.”
My mom scoffs, waving one bejeweled hand in the air.
“Nonsense, Susie. You’re in college to prove a point, and you’ve
proven it, okay? I know that you’re smart and you don’t have to
hammer it in with every conversation. But you have to get real,
sweetheart! No man wants to be seen with someone who could be
mistaken for a hobo, and a dirty one at that. Now, start putting on
those skirts I bought you, and maybe a corset too. Then, spend
some wandering the halls of the law school and try to strike up a
conversation with one of the male law students. They would make
for great husbands, I’m sure.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, but I don’t want to find a rich husband. This
isn’t the seventeenth century, Ma. I’d rather get married for love.”
Nanette’s snort is quite unladylike.
“Love doesn’t exist, darling. Trust me. I’ve tried.”
I roll my eyes.
“Being on your fourth husband doesn’t automatically make you a
love expert. Or an anti-love expert, come to think of it.”
Nanette flips a coil of long, blonde hair over her shoulder.
“No, but it proves a point. Your father and I were barely married two
years before he took off, so I had to survive. I know what love is,
and what it isn’t too, and trust me, do you really want to live in a
cardboard box with the man of your dreams? That’ll get old really
fast, I assure you.”
I sigh.
“You kicked Dad out,” I remind Nanette. “You didn’t think he was
doing enough to support us.” After all, when Kevin wanted to spend
more time with me and less time working long hours, Nanette
decided he wasn’t good enough for her anymore. Fortunately, my
dad was tenacious and I have a good relationship with him to this
day, but I often have to remind my mother that it’s not that my dad
chose to leave. She wanted him out to make room for husband
number two, who was supposedly the heir to a massive candy
fortune. While dating, he conveniently omitted that he’d been
disinherited not one year earlier, and it was only after they tied the
knot that Nanette found out Lawrence was practically a pauper.
“Once you have a nice husband of your own, you’ll know what I’m
talking about,” Nanette says airily. “I just don’t want you to make the
same mistakes I did.” But before I can say anything, she keeps
talking. “I’ll send you one of my gowns,” Nanette enthuses. “How
about the pink one with the crystals on the bodice? You loved that
one. Didn’t you wear it to a school dance last year?”
“Yeah, because it was a PROM DRESS, Mom. Normal people don’t
wear that shit on a regular basis.”
My mom tsks.
“Young lady, your language is atrocious. Besides, when have I ever
taught you to be normal? I bet you’d land a nice law student easily
with that gown. I’m sending it to you by courier.”
“Please don’t. I won’t wear it. Seriously, do you expect me to parade
around the law school in that pink poof? I’d be so humiliated!”
“But darling,” my mom protests. “You were so cute in it! You looked
just like a delicious cupcake.”
I roll my eyes because thinking back on senior prom makes my old
life seem so juvenile. What was I thinking, wearing that rose-colored
monstrosity anyways? Ugh, I’ll never live it down. But I change the
subject before Nanette can press her case any further.
“So I’m looking forward to meeting Bernard over winter break,” I
say. “It’ll be nice to finally meet your fourth husband.”
After all, Mom and her billionaire fourth husband, Bernard Goulding,
eloped after just a month of courtship. Nobody knew, but the
wedding made Page Six, and a friend was the one who brought it to
my attention. After all, the photos in Page Six were comical. Mom
was dressed in a slim-fitting white cocktail dress, and she literally
towered over her tiny, elderly husband who gripped a cane in one
hand. I merely shut my eyes and shook my head. But Nanette
sounds confused.
“What do you mean, darling? When are you meeting Bernard?”
I furrow my brows. “Well, I figured I’d spend some time with you
over Christmas break. I could see his house, meet the husband, et
cetera. Right?”
Nanette clucks her tongue and shoots me a disappointed look. “I’m
sorry honey, but not this year. Bernard’s manor is being renovated so
it’s not a good time.”
I cringe at the word “manor,” but I suppose it’s the appropriate word
seeing that the monstrosity allegedly has seven bedrooms, six full
baths, a movie theater, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, and a
solarium, not to mention a home library and home gym.
“Okay, so there are renovations, that’s fine. You know I’m not picky
about where I sleep, so I could even stay in the staff quarters if
necessary. I’ve been living in the dorms for the last few months,
remember? It’s totally fine.”
Nanette clucks sadly.
“Yes, but the thing is that Bernard and I are going on an Arctic
cruise because the renovations are getting serious between
Christmas and New Year’s. We wanted to be out of the house,
obviously, so that the dust and demolition don’t disturb his lungs.”
I stare at Nanette through the phone screen.
“Wait, what? You’re going on vacation and you didn’t even mention
it to me?”
My mom merely shrugs.
“Well, it’s our honeymoon, sweetheart, so I didn’t think to mention
it. Everyone honeymoons, after all.”
I stare at her some more.
“Yes, but you went to Paris on your honeymoon. I got a postcard
with a picture of a baguette on it.”
My mom nods.
“Wasn’t that postcard so cute? I swear, Paris has all the best
bakeries, although of course, I can’t eat at them. Too much butter,
and I want to watch my waistline. But yes, this Arctic Circle cruise is
a second honeymoon of sorts. There’s no need to be a brat about
this, Susie. Why don’t you stay in the dorms over break? You’ll get to
hang out with your friends, and Bernard and I will be sure to send a
nice gift. That makes it better, right?”
I stare at her unnaturally unlined face.
“The dorms are closed over winter break, Nanette. They don’t let
any students stay here, period. There is no food, no electricity, no
lights, no running water.”
Nanette looks totally confused, her red lips pursed together.
“The dorms close? What kind of college am I paying for, pray tell?
Isn’t it their job to keep students housed and fed? So what is this
thing about closing?”
Actually, my dad is the one paying my tuition, but I bite my tongue
because I don’t need to argue with my mother right now.
“Listen, I didn’t know about them closing either until they sent out a
letter last week. Anyways, I have to be out by next Friday because
that’s when they lock up.”
Nanette looks flummoxed.
“Can you stay with your dad?”
I shake my head.
“No, because Kevin’s in Dubai on a contract assignment right now.
So absolutely not.”
Nanette is getting irritated now.
“I wish you’d mentioned this earlier, Susie. We can’t cancel our
cruise because we’ve already paid in full. Besides, Bernard wants
sexy time with me, and I’m looking forwards to it too. We’ve booked
the Emperor’s Suite, which has a private whirlpool bath and spray
jets in the shower,” she winks.
Vomit comes up in the back of my throat because I don’t want to
imagine that old man naked, much less having sex with my mom. I
swallow hard and fix her with a look.
“Yeah, but I can still stay at the manor even if you’re not there,
right? I mean, that thing is huge so I’m sure there’s space in a guest
room or maid’s room.”
Nanette shakes her head.
“Oh no, we’re re-doing the whole thing, darling. It’s utterly
uninhabitable. You can’t live there.”
I stare at her pretty features again.
“Mom, there has to be a pool house or a shed I could sleep in. Like I
said, I’m not picky. I can fall asleep anywhere, even in the stables. I
just need somewhere to stay until classes start again in a couple
weeks, that’s all.”
My mom sighs. “I don’t see how your poor planning has to be my
problem,” she says in a petulant voice. “Why didn’t you say
something earlier? You knew the dorms were closing, so you should
have made other arrangements. I can’t go rescuing you every time
you’re in trouble, Susie.”
I swallow the urge to scream.
“I’m sorry, but I genuinely didn’t know until a week or so ago.
Besides, you and Bernard live less than twenty minutes from
campus. It’s fine. Seriously, even the stable will do. I can sleep with
Bernard’s horses on a pile of straw.”
My mother scoffs.
“Will you stop being so dramatic?” she whines. “Seriously Susie, it’s
very unbecoming.”
I stare at Nanette again because she’s the one who’s unbecoming.
Honestly, what parent doesn’t look out for their child? But Nanette
has always been selfish, and I shouldn’t be surprised at this late
stage. Honestly, sometimes I genuinely wonder how my mom and I
can be related. I mean, I actually care about other people, while
Nanette’s constantly walking, talking, and thinking only about
herself. If it weren’t for my birth certificate with her name on it, I’d
think I was adopted.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Susie,” my mom continues in an
exasperated tone. “You can’t stay at the manor because like I said,
it’s a head to toe renovation and there’s literally nowhere for you to
stay. Not even a closet.”
I blow out a breath because obviously, unless they’re razing this
place down to the ground, that can’t be true. But I decide to give
up.
“Well then I don’t know what to do, Mom, because I can’t stay
here.”
Nanette’s starting to look bored as she examines her long, red nails.
“Well, don’t you have a friend or someone you could stay with? I
mean, you have to have met at least one person at school you like.
Or maybe you could sneak around and stay in the dorms anyway.
How often do they check them?”
I stare at her.
“No, because they’re going to be cleaning and stuff, so I’m sure
dorm staff would notice if I was secretly living here. Plus, the dining
halls are closed, so how would I get food? I don’t have a kitchen in
my room, and you know I can’t afford to eat out every single day.”
Nanette merely yawns.
“Then a friend will have to do. Call one of them and ask to spend a
few weeks. It’ll be so much fun! Girls’ night every night, imagine
that!”
I stare at her some more, hardly able to believe her words.
“Nanette, I’ve made some friends on campus, but I’ve only been at
Coleman U for a few months. I’m a freshman, and I certainly don’t
know anyone well enough to ask if I can crash with them for three
weeks. I mean, if I were a Syrian refugee or a Ukrainian orphan,
then yes, maybe I’d ask. But otherwise, no.”
My mother sighs dramatically, her lips pulling down in a frown.
“This is putting me out, Susie. What am I supposed to do here? You
know I can’t ask Bernard to make an exception for you when he
doesn’t even know you.”
I mumble under her breath that it’s her fault, and Nanette perks up,
her blue eyes sharp. “What’d you say?”
I sigh. “Nothing. I’m sorry that this is hard for you, but it’s hard for
me, too. I wasn’t expecting it to be so difficult to find a place to stay
because honestly, I thought Bernard’s mansion was a sure thing.”
Nanette merely rolls her eyes before sitting up straight and smiling.
Oh shit. I can practically see the light bulb going off over her head,
and from experience, I know that it’s not a good sign.
“What is it, Mom?” I ask in a weary voice.
She grins, her red lips splitting into two. “Ed Turnbull lives in
Coleman. You can stay with him! I’m sure it’s no trouble.”
I squint.
“Yeah, but who is Ed?” I ask. “I’ve never heard of him before.”
My mom trills with laughter.
“He’s my boyfriend from high school, so of course you’ve never
heard of him. Goodness, high school was a long time ago, wasn’t it?
But he lives in Coleman and I bet he’d be happy to have you live
with him until classes start again.”
My jaw drops. “You can’t be serious. I’ve never heard of this person,
and you haven’t talked to him in a while from the sound of it. What
makes you think he’d put me up for three weeks?”
Nanette merely scoffs.
“You’re always such a worry wart. Leave it to me. He had such a
huge crush on me back then, and I bet nothing’s changed.”
Okay, my mom is clearly delusional.
“Mom, it’s been twenty years since you were in high school.
Everything’s changed. He could be a father of five living in a two
bedroom—”
“Which would be perfect, because I bet one of them is a daughter
your age!”
I stare.
“Does he have a daughter my age?”
Nanette tries to think.
“No, I don’t think so. We’re friends on Facebook and I think Ed’s
single. But I’ll have to stalk his profile to make sure. Anyways,”
Nanette says brightly, “it’s perfect. You and Ed will get along like two
peas in a pod.”
I shake my head, a bad feeling rising in my chest.
“Wouldn’t it be easier for me to get a hotel or something? I mean,
Bernard has lots of money right? Couldn’t he pay for it? Or give me a
loan or something?”
Nanette shakes her head regretfully.
“No, I can’t ask Bernard for money because he doesn’t know you
from a bum on the street. You’ve never met,” she says.
I stare.
“Yes, but I’m your daughter. Surely, that gives me a leg up.”
Nanette merely shrugs.
“Bernard has a lot of people asking him for money all the time, and I
don’t want my family to be one of those hanger-on types, always
with a hand out. No, you should stay with Ed.”
I squint at Nanette.
“Mom, are you really going to have me crash with your ex-boyfriend
from high school? For three weeks, even though you barely know
him now? I mean, it sounds crazy, right? Especially since he has no
idea I’m coming.”
Nanette scoffs again, waving a bejeweled hand.
“No, no it’s fine. Ed will definitely say yes because he’s such a softie,
and I was so kind to him in high school. I’m sure he remembers,
even if it’s twenty years later. Don’t you worry, it’ll all work out. Just
pack your bags and I’ll tell him you’re coming.”
“Mom, wait…”
“I’ll text you the details!”
Then, Nanette hangs up before I can get another word in, and I’m
left staring at the wallpaper on my phone screen. Is she fucking
serious? I mean, this guy could be a serial killer, and we wouldn’t
know.
My stomach turns with a bad feeling. Something isn’t right about all
this, but what choice do I have? Between sleeping on the street,
staying in a shelter, or taking refuge with my mom’s ex-boyfriend, I
guess I’ll have to choose the boyfriend. I just hope we stay out of
each other’s way until the three weeks is up, and this nightmare
ends.
 2

Susie

I finish packing the last of my bags and zip them up angrily. Then
I swing a duffel over my shoulder before grabbing my roller
board and snap the lock to my dorm room shut. Goddamn. I
can’t believe this is happening. The dorm’s already deserted because
I’ve put off leaving until the last possible moment, and the halls are
eerie as I stride down their quiet lengths.
But beggars can’t be choosers, so I grit my teeth while looking down
at my phone. My mom sent me Ed’s address, but it’s not a personal
home address. Instead, I guess I’m supposed to meet him at his
work because the address is for a company called EarthMatters in
downtown Coleman. After some Googling, it was easy to ascertain
that actually, Ed Turnbull is EarthMatters’ CEO.
Well, hopefully he’s busy doing CEO things so that we can stay out
of each other’s way. I already have a plan: I’m going to go to cafes
and libraries every day so that I’m never home. That way, Ed won’t
have to look at me, and I won’t have to look at him either. It’ll be a
détente until this hellish situation ends.
With heavy feet, I trudge to the downtown area just off-campus,
and it’s a nice little neighborhood actually. We’re a college town, so
there’s nothing fancy, but there’s a grocery store, a movie theater,
and a hair salon that gives cheap fifteen dollar cuts. Oooh, here’s the
Ben & Jerry’s. I’ve always loved their ice cream, and I’m going to
treat myself to a scoop of Cherry Garcia once this hellish situation
passes.
Finally, I drag my roller-board and stop in front of a small storefront.
It’s not really a store because when I peer in through the front
window, all I see are desks, chairs, as well as posters on the walls
for environmental agencies like Greenpeace and Earth Now. Okay,
that makes sense since EarthMatters is also dedicated to our planet’s
protection. But the problem is that all the lights are off, and it’s only
5 p.m. Where is everyone? Where is Ed, for that matter? Wasn’t he
supposed to meet me here?
Dang it. I shiver despite my heavy winter coat because I knew this
was going to happen. Did my mom forget to tell Ed that I was
coming? That would be just like Nanette, and even worse, there’s no
way to reach her now because she’s somewhere in the Arctic, and I
guess they don’t have cell service there. Am I going to have to head
to the shelter? I suppose I have enough money for one night at a
motel, but only one night.
My backpack gets heavy on my shoulder and I set it down on the
sidewalk. Again, the storefront is dim, and the sidewalks are
deserted because most kids have already left for winter break.
Feeling desperation rise in my chest, I try the door, wondering if
maybe everyone’s in the back, but it’s locked up tight.
Then, I sit down on the front step and bury my head in my hands,
hot tears beginning to sting my eyes. This is a disaster! I’m
homeless for the next three weeks and my only shot at having a roof
over my head is now gone. What am I going to do for three weeks
in the middle of winter?
A few people walk by, bundled up against the cold wind, and I can
feel the concerned looks that come my way. I’m obviously
distraught, and even if I’m not making any noise, my head is buried
in my arms as hot tears flow down my cheeks. To my chagrin,
something clinks on the sidewalk and I lift my head slightly to see
that a young boy has dropped a quarter there. OMG, I look so awful
that even children are concerned.
Okay, that’s it. This is getting too pathetic. I have two feet and I can
walk to a shelter. I stand and dust off my jeans before grabbing my
phone and shooting off an angry text to Nanette. Of course she
won’t get it, but at least it makes me feel better. Then, I begin to
run through my options. My dad’s a no-go because he’s also
unreachable in Dubai right now. All my friends are gone for the
holidays, and again, I don’t know anyone well enough to beg to stay.
With a huff, I gather up my backpack and suitcase, figuring I can at
least make it work for a night or two on my emergency credit card. I
have no idea how I’ll pay the debt off, but that’s a problem for future
Susie to figure out.
But to my chagrin, when I look for cheap motels online, there are no
vacancies. How is this even possible? Coleman’s not exactly a
happening town, but then again, we only have a few tiny bed and
breakfasts that probably only have ten rooms each. Apparently, a lot
of people are visiting Coleman for the holidays, which means I might
be shit out of luck. What the hell.
I gnaw on my lip. This is a disaster. Why couldn’t my mom and
Bernard just help me out? It isn’t like it was going to be any skin off
their nose. In fact, they could have just bought me ticket on the
Arctic cruise as well. Or a ticket to Hawaii. Or a ticket to anywhere.
But I know they’re not the only ones to blame because I really
should have seen this coming. For some reason, I didn’t know that
the dorms closed for the holidays. Did the school send emails?
Newsletters? Text even? Regardless, I missed it somehow so I had
no time to prepare. Now, the girl with no safety net is truly finding
out how cruel life can be.
I scroll through my contacts with desperation but once again, I’m hit
with the crippling realization that I’m all alone. My old high school
friends have gone their own ways, and I don’t know my college
friends well enough to ask for this kind of favor. Oh shit. What do I
do? I suppose the homeless shelter is my only choice, but to be
honest, I’m scared of going there. I’ve heard shelters experience a
lot of crime, and that women are sometimes taken against their will
even though the shelter’s supposed to be safe. Maybe I should just
try my luck on the street, even if it’s bone-cold.
Just as I’m swinging my duffel over my shoulder again, determined
to find a nook or cranny to hide in, the front door to EarthMatters
opens. I spin around. Oh thank God, I’m saved!
But then, the air exits my lungs because a gorgeous man stands
there, looking at me with suspicious eyes. He’s got night-black hair
that waves from a proud forehead, patrician features, and the build
of an Olympic swimmer with broad shoulders and long legs. This guy
could easily pick me up and carry me away.
But it’s the blue gaze that gets me because he’s throwing me a
suspicious look.
“Hi!” I say with a bit too much cheer. “Are you Ed Turnbull?”
He squints, his mobile mouth turning down at the corners. “Yeah,
that’s me. Why, who are you?”
I try to smile brightly. “I’m Susie Pelham, Nanette Pelham’s daughter.
Didn’t she tell you I was coming?”
The guy looks confused, and that’s when I realize that my worst
nightmare has come true: Ed Turnbull has no idea why I’m standing
on his doorstep like a bedraggled rat. I knew my mother was going
to screw this up, and now, I’m seething with rage at the terrible
position she’s put me in.
 3

Ed

T he girl’s absolutely gorgeous, even if she’s biting her lip and

shooting me worried looks. The strange woman’s eyes are
chocolate brown and beseeching. She’s got long chestnut locks
cascading over her shoulders, although at the moment, there’s a
winter beanie jammed over those luscious locks. Even crazier, her
curves are perfect. Although her winter coat is loose, I can see that
the woman has wide hips, thick thighs, and likely a big bosom that
gets her plenty of attention.
But what is she doing here on my doorstep? And how does she
know who I am?
I’ll be honest: my first, terrified thought was that this girl was
coming to tell me I’m her father and she’s been looking for me her
whole life. I’m hoping that’s not the case because while I’ve had a
few one-night stands in the past, they were a long time ago. Then
again, she’s old enough that it could have been one of my one-night
stands way back when. Oh shit. I wouldn’t mind having kids, but not
this way. Besides, she’s too gorgeous and the twitch in my cock tells
me that it’s wrong, especially if she’s my long-lost daughter.
I stamp my feet briefly because it’s way too cold to be standing out
here goggling at each other. Even crazier, my mystery woman has a
backpack slung over her shoulder and a suitcase parked on the
sidewalk. What does she want with me?
I run the name Nanette Pelham through my mental database, but it
comes up empty. But then, something connects in my brain.
“Do you mean Nanette Bison?” I ask in a slow voice. “I knew a
Nanette back in high school, but that was a long time ago.”
The girl nods fervently.
“Yeah,” she manages. “Nanette Bison is my mother. Well, Bison is
her maiden name. She goes by Pelham now, which is my father’s
last name. I mean, I’m not sure what she goes by now because I
think she found it was too expensive to keep legally changing her
name every time she got married. She’s on her fourth husband, just
FYI,” the woman says in an apologetic tone.
I let out a long, silent sigh of relief because at least it’s clear that I’m
not this woman’s long lost father. Last time I checked, my last name
is definitely not Pelham, so that’s a bit of good news. Still, what is
Nanette’s daughter doing here?
“So, you’re Nanette’s kid. Is she okay?” I ask, keeping my voice
calm.
The pretty brunette nods, her brown curls bobbling.
“Oh yeah, she’s fine. She’s cruising the Arctic right now with her
fourth husband,” Susie confides.
“Okay,” I say. “So she’s not here. But why are you?” I ask. “Or is this
just a coincidence of some sort? Am I being pranked?”
Susie bites her lip, the plush pout growing pinker and enlarged.
Then she meets my gaze, her chocolate eyes nervous.
“Didn’t my mom tell you her plan?”
I can tell by her tone that she’s hesitant about revealing it. Rightfully
so, because Nanette was wild back in the day, and my guess is she
hasn’t changed her ways. I fix Susie with a look.
“I can’t remember the last time I spoke to your mother, but it was
probably at graduation to be honest. So no, I have no idea what
master plan you’re referring to.”
Susie nods again.
“Right, because it’s still in Nanette’s head,” she mutters under her
breath. Then, she looks up at me, clearly worried.
“I was hoping you’d catch on without me saying it, but I guess that’s
too much to wish for,” she says in a bleak tone. “Basically, my mom
didn’t tell you that she wants me to stay with you over winter break.”
My jaw drops to the ground.
“Um no, she definitely didn’t mention that. In fact, I haven’t even
talked with Nanette in ages. I feel like we had a short conversation
over Facebook maybe two weeks ago, but she said nothing about
this.”
Susie’s face falls.
“Oh.”
I squint.
“But why aren’t you staying with her? I mean, this is a little weird,
right? I realize that I’m in Coleman and my guess is that you attend
Coleman U,” I say, staring at the logo emblazoned on her duffel.
“But doesn’t Nanette have a place where you can crash?”
Susie takes a deep breath and looks straight into my eyes.
“No, because they’re on an Arctic cruise right now and because my
mom just married husband number four, I guess they want some
private time. Plus, apparently his giant house is being renovated top
to bottom, so I can’t stay there. The dorms are closed, so she
promised me that she’d reach out to you.”
I shake my head.
“Figures. That sounds like classic Nanette.”
The pretty woman nods furiously.
“Yeah, right? I’m so sorry my mom didn’t call you first. You must
think I’m crazy for just showing up here like this, but I swear, she
promised she would bring it up with you. I don’t mean to intrude.”
Susie looks like she’s going to cry, and something in my heart
softens. After all, I know her mother all too well, and this is
definitely on her mom, and not her.
“It’s okay, really,” I say in an awkward tone. “It’ll be fine.”
The woman wipes at her nose and sniffles.
“No, it’s not. Nanette does this all the time because she just doesn’t
get it. It sucks because she has her moments when she really sticks
her neck out for me, and I hoped this would be one of them, but I
guess that was too much to hope for. Ugh. Now what am I supposed
to do?”
Tears shimmer in her eyes as her voice wavers, and I put a hand on
her shoulder. I can already feel my heart beginning to crack because
clearly, the little ragamuffin has nowhere to go.
“Take a breath. It’s getting dark, and I’m not going to let you sit out
here on your own. Come inside and we can talk about this.”
Susie takes a step back, waving both hands in front of her face. “No,
no, it’s okay. I’m not your problem and I’ve already taken enough of
your time, Mr. Turnbull. I’ll figure out next steps on my own. Don’t
worry, things will be fine.”
Then, the pretty brunette grabs hold of her suitcase and starts to roll
it away, but I stop her.
“No, it’s fine,” I say, placing my big hand over her small one on the
handle of the suitcase. A spark leaps between us, and suddenly, I
know my actions are right. “It’s late. It’s dark and freezing cold. I’d
never forgive myself if I let the daughter of an old friend sleep on
the streets when it’s just one night.”
Of course, Susie staying with me isn’t a great solution, but it’s the
only one I can think of right now. Besides, it seems cruel to turn her
away when she’s clearly on edge.
“I don’t know,” the young woman murmurs, staring at the sidewalk.
“No, it’s fine,” I soothe. “I live right above this office, so if you still
want to make a run for it after we talk, that’s totally an option. But
first, at least let me offer you some hot soup.”
She bites her lip, but then nods. “Okay, I’ll come up with you, Mr.
Turnbull. Thanks, I appreciate it. I’m going to get through to Nanette
asap and make sure she knows the disaster she’s caused.”
“One step at a time,” I grin. “Believe me, I have some choice words
for her myself.” Then, I turn and unlock the door to EarthMatters
once more before gesturing to a set of stairs leading to the second
floor. “After you, mademoiselle.”
That gets a smile from the pretty brunette.
“What do you do here again?”
I nod as we begin clambering up the stairs.
“I’ll tell you about EarthMatters some other time. It’s an
environmental advocacy group, and I can talk your ear off about it,
but not now. Right now, we just need to get some hot soup in your
belly. And in mine,” I add with a grin.
With that, Susie smiles as we stop at the door to my apartment, the
tension dissipating somewhat from her shoulders. As I open the
door, the curvy girl brushes by me and the delicious scent of
strawberry hits my nostrils. My body stiffens instantly with arousal,
and I unconsciously tug my jacket down to hide the hardness at my
groin. Oh shit. Susie Pelham’s just stepped into my life, and now, it’ll
never be the same.
 4

Susie

M y cheeks are bright red as I follow Ed up the stairs to his

apartment. He’s being kind enough, but every ounce of my
body shakes with humiliation and embarrassment. I want to
scream at Nanette before wringing her neck because once again, my
mom has put me in a bad spot. It’s taking all of my control not to
turn tail, and in fact, there are only two things keeping me plowing
forward: the fact that I have nowhere else to go, and the fact that
my mom’s ex-boyfriend is super hot.
It’s odd that Nanette never mentioned this fact but then again, why
would she? My mom’s got a taste for money, so her dates just have
to be loaded even if they look like trolls. But Ed is a thousand times
more gorgeous than I expected. To be honest, I thought I was going
to meet a middle-aged dumpling of a man, with a paunch and soft
dad body. But instead, my mom’s high school boyfriend looks like a
rugged logger with his thick, dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and broad
shoulders that look like they could hoist a tree. It’s embarrassing,
but my nipples are hard when he opens to the door to his apartment
on the second floor.
“Welcome,” he says with a grin. “It’s small and humble, but it’ll do
for now.”
I step inside, and actually, the space is nice. It is small, with just one
bedroom I can see off to the right. The living room and kitchen are
separated only by a half-wall, which has been converted into a
breakfast bar of sorts. But it’s comfortable and welcoming. Ed’s
furniture appears to be mostly wood upholstered with huge,
mismatched cushions. There’s a scratched up table tucked into a
corner with bright red chairs, and everything looks welcoming. To be
honest, I much prefer Ed’s place to my mom’s usual houses. All that
expensive furniture looked like it belonged in a magazine, and
weren’t for actually sitting on.
“It’s not much,” Ed grins. “But it’s a place to live, and it keeps me
close to my work. Maybe too close,” he quips with a smile.
I shake my head.
“No, it’s wonderful, really. I can tell a human being lives here and
not robots or automatons. You know how magazine spreads are.
They always look over-designed, and like it’d be a crime to actually
sit down and watch TV.”
With that, Ed throws his head back and laughs uproariously, flashing
bright white teeth.
“Well, that’s true.”
I nod.
“No, I’m serious. If you look at design magazines, half the time there
isn’t even a TV in the spread. Like do these people not watch TV? Or
do they watch everything on their phones? I have no idea.”
My handsome host merely chuckles again before dragging my
suitcase into the bedroom and propping it up inside the door.
I chase after him shaking my head. “No, no, not going to happen. I
can’t take your bedroom because it would be wrong. You had no
idea I was coming. I can make do on the couch, it’s totally fine.”
Ed shoots me an amused look, those blue eyes gleaming.
“It’s fine, really, Susie.”
But I shake my head furiously before yanking my suitcase out of the
room and wheeling it next to the couch.
“I’ll sleep out here tonight,” I babble. “Honestly, it’s fine because I’ve
slept on lots of couches before and this is exactly the right length for
me. You would be cramped if you spent the night here!”
But Ed merely shakes his head.
“No, it’s okay, Susie. I’m not letting you sleep on the couch. You’re
my guest so it’s not right.”
I blink.
“But I’m not really your guest because this is an unexpected visit,
and you don’t know me at all. Hell, I could be lying about being
related to Nanette.”
He grins, the smile soothing my soul.
“Are you? Lying I mean?”
I smile back at his humor.
“No, of course not.”
Ed chuckles. “Then it’s settled. You can sleep in the bedroom
tonight. Honestly, it’s not a big deal because I usually fall asleep on
the couch watching TV anyways, so it won’t be any different than
my regular routine.”
I bite my lip and glance between the couch and the bed. It would be
nice to have somewhere comfortable to rest, and he’s being so
generous …
“Okay, if you’re sure,” I murmur. “I’ll take the bed, but if you get
uncomfortable at all in the middle of the night, please wake me up
and kick me out.”
Ed grins again.
“Deal. Why don’t you get settled, while I make us some dinner?” the
handsome man asks, strolling over to the kitchen.
I stare.
“You cook?”
He winks while opening one of the cabinets and pulling out a box of
pasta.
“Sure do, pretty girl. This man cooks most of his own meals,
although I have to say that I do enjoy the burgers at Patsy’s once in
a while.”
I nod.
“OMG, I love those burgers too! But is there anything I can do to
help?”
Ed shakes his head.
“Nope. You just get settled as I whip up some spaghetti Bolognese.
It’s delicious, I promise.”
My stomach gurgles at that moment, loud enough for him to hear,
and we both laugh.
“Okay, sounds good,” I say. “But let me know if you need help.”
He nods and grins, and then begins running water into a large pot.
With that, I turn and shut the door to the bedroom before plopping
down on the mattress, somewhat breathless. Surprisingly, being in
Ed’s apartment feels comfortable, like I’m an invited guest and not
some random girl who showed up on his doorstep. Even more, I’m
excited to get to know the gorgeous man. He’s kind, interesting,
generous, and there’s something mysterious lurking behind those
bright blue eyes. But what could it be? With another giggle, I stand
up and start getting unpacked. I suppose it’s my job to find out.
 5

Ed

I strain the spaghetti into the sink and toss it back into the pan
before mixing in some ground beef and steaming red sauce.
“It’s not much,” I tell Susie. “I’m usually here on my own so my
cooking’s never been fancy.”
She smiles gently.
“No, it’s totally fine and I appreciate the effort. You didn’t have to
cook at all, like I said. I can just eat a granola bar or something.”
That makes me huff.
“Hell no because who can survive on granola bars? I’d probably
collapse from hunger or even worse, get up in the middle of the
night like a ravenous beast before raiding the fridge.”
Susie giggles.
“Would you eat peanut butter straight from the jar?”
I wink at her.
“Yeah, because that’s my regular MO. I do that even when I’m not a
ravenous beast.”
Susie laughs again, and the sound warms my belly because I want
her to be happy. It’s weird because I just met the woman half an
hour ago, but it’s important to me that she’s safe and comfortable.
Cool it, the voice in my head warns. You could be getting taken as a
patsy. But I shush the voice because I’m having a good time, and
besides, I am hungry. “Spaghetti’s ready, if you’d like to join me at
the table,” I call.
Susie immediately flips off the TV and seats herself at the small
kitchen table I have tucked into the corner. It’s rickety and old, but it
does the trick. Then, I set two steaming plates of pasta on the table,
as well as some salad, dressing, and even a side of corn. Susie sniffs
appreciatively.
“OMG, this smells amazing. Thank you again, Ed.”
“Of course,” I say in a gruff tone, seating myself. “Dig in, honey.”
We begin to eat, and I have to say that the pasta hits the spot. The
tomato sauce and ground beef stick to my ribs, making for a hearty
meal. Plus, Susie’s hungry too judging from the way she’s attacking
her noodles, so I let her focus on eating for a bit. But then we hit a
mid-way point and she looks up at me, smiling while putting her fork
down.
“So what is EarthMatters about, Ed?” she asks in a soft voice. “Just
wondering.”
I grin ruefully while twirling pasta on my fork. “It’s an environmental
consulting firm actually. We help companies find ways to be more
environmentally friendly because it’s in vogue these days. Then, we
use the money from that to combat policies that hurt our cause.”
Susie nods.
“Wow, so you’re like a super-hero defending our planet.”
I chuckle. “Well, I don’t know about that, but environmental
protection is something I’m passionate about, and has been for a
long time. When I was ten or so, my mom brought home a blue
recycling bin, and I became quite the Nazi about everyone doing
their part. My family said I’d terrorize them if the recyclables weren’t
sorted and cleaned right.”
Susie giggles then.
“OMG, really?”
I grin again.
“Hell yeah. It’s only gotten worse over time too. Now, I have three
different recycling bins, as well as a compost pile.”
Susie’s eyes go wide.
“In an apartment though? I thought compost piles had to be
maintained outside.”
I shrug.
“Not necessarily. There’s a special pail I use, and it’s tucked under
my kitchen sink. It works and there’s no smell or anything.”
Susie nods, marveling with wonder.
“That’s amazing. Maybe I can even get one for my dorm room,
although of course, we do most of our eating in the dining hall.”
I grin.
“Then I’d just stick with that. There’s no sense in having a compost
pile if it’s only the occasional apple core. But yeah, maybe the
cafeteria has a compost pile. A lot of large institutions do now.”
Susie nods.
“I’ll ask and see.”
We go quiet for a few moments and I watch Susie surreptitiously
over the rim of my glass. It’s hard to believe this young woman is
related to my high school girlfriend because Nanette had a
flirtatiousness about her that never quit. Even when we were
together, I’d catch her talking to other guys in the hallway, pressing
her books to her enormous chest while twirling a strand of blonde
hair around one finger.
But Susie seems to be the opposite. She’s quiet and reserved,
shooting me shy looks from beneath her long lashes on occasion.
But now that I’m getting a chance to really look at her, I can see
some similarities. Both mother and daughter have full, pouty lips,
creamy skin, and large busts. Of course, Nanette wore tight-fitting
sweaters to show it off while Susie’s dressed in a baggy sweatshirt,
but it’s clear that they’re similarly endowed. My cock twitches again
in my pants, and mentally, I command it to go down. Thank god for
this table otherwise I’d be scaring my guest. But Susie merely turns
to me and smiles sweetly.
“Do you find it stifling to work where you live? Does it become hard
to unwind, seeing that you’re so close to your office all the time?”
I blink a few times as my thoughts of Susie’s body are replaced by
this question. Then I nod in what I hope is a casual manner.
“Sometimes, yes. I do definitely try to get some separation but yeah,
when you live right above your workplace, things can get a little too
close for comfort. I’m a workaholic, though, so being this close to
my job can be helpful at times too.”
Susie nods thoughtfully. “Yeah, I can understand that. I’m a
freshman at Coleman University, so sometimes it seems like work
and personal life just blur into one. But I guess that’s what college is
about, right?”
I grin.
“Yeah, pretty much. But how do you create boundaries? Maybe I can
learn from you.
Susie giggles.
“Through a couple of different ways. I try to study outside of my
dorm so that there’s separation from where I sleep from where I hit
the books. The library or cafes are good spots to put my head down
for some serious work. Then, I try to take walks just to de-stress,
and tend to have “study friends” and “real friends.” They don’t
always overlap, believe it or not.”
I nod.
“Yeah, people definitely have diverse college experiences with lots of
different groups of friends. But tell me, do you have a major yet?”
Susie shakes her head.
“Nope, I’m undecided. I keep taking general education requirements
and a couple other random classes, but I haven’t figured out my end
goal yet. Of course, Mom would prefer I find a nice doctor or lawyer
candidate and drop out entirely. As you can tell, Nanette is all about
me getting my M-R-S degree.”
I chuckle with amusement. “Yeah, that definitely sounds like the
Nanette I remember from high school, but you know you don’t have
to listen to her, right? Your college experience should be an
experience of your choosing, and if being an introvert is what you
want, then you should do it.”
Susie smiles ruefully.
“Thanks, because it’s nice to hear that from someone, and I do
study a lot. I guess it shows that I’m the nerdy type, right? Then
again, I just wish Nanette appreciated that more because imagine
how many parents would be thrilled if their kid actually wanted to hit
the books. Mom, on the other hand, just has such different priorities,
and I try not to let her comments get to me.”
I nod with approval.
“Good. You seem to have a strong head on your shoulders.”
Susie smiles gently.
“Well, I’m glad you approve, Mr. Turnbull.”
A warm feeling crawls across my chest, and quickly, I tamp it down
even as I steal another look at the girl’s big bosom. Shit, I need to
stop because I’m old enough to be this woman’s father. To make
things worse, I even dated her mother in high school, so I definitely
shouldn’t be looking at Susie like this.
I clear my throat and try to keep the conversation kosher.
“So you said you like to study?” It’s a lame question, but it’s the best
I can do right now, and fortunately, Susie lights up.
“I do. Nerdy, right? But I’ve always been good when it comes to
academics, and it’s continued through college. I’m doing well on my
exams and quizzes, and hope to pull off a 4.0 this semester. Grades
haven’t come out yet, but I think there’s a real possibility.”
I let out a whistle, leaning back in my chair.
“Wow, that’s impressive. I mean, I’m no dunce but I think think the
highest I ever got was a 3.6 one semester, and that was my
freshman year as well.”
Susie nods as her eyes shine.
“Honestly, I’m just really good at taking tests and stuff. And I study
hard. Those are the only reasons I’m doing well.”
I nod.
“You’re very modest, but you should be proud of yourself,
sweetheart. A 4.0 is nothing to scoff at.”
Susie laughs lightly. “Well, I haven’t gotten it yet, so I may have
spoken too soon. But I’ll let you know what happens,” she winks.
Then, we’re quiet for a few moments before she clears her throat.
“So yeah, thanks for letting me crash with you tonight, Ed. I really
appreciate it, and I’ll slip out tomorrow morning and find somewhere
new. There are plenty of local places I can stay at, like AirBnB and
hostels and such.”
I nod, keeping my expression neutral.
“No, it’s fine. No need to leave in a rush because like I said, we’ll
figure it out. Let’s talk again in the morning.”
“Okay,” Susie agrees, although she doesn’t sound so sure. But I
know there’s no way she can escape without waking me up first
because I’ll be on the couch, and as a light sleeper, even the
smallest noise with rouse me from my rest. Plus, I understand what
it’s like being a broke college kid. I don’t know that Susie’s
technically broke, but she’s definitely in a strange spot, and there’s
no need for her to tiptoe out like an unwelcome guest. I lean back
and smile reassuringly.
“You’re welcome to stay,” I reiterate again in a low voice. “Make
yourself comfortable, hon. It’s fine.”
Susie nods this time, looking more at ease.
“Thanks, Ed. I appreciate it.”
With that, we chat a bit more and then dinner’s wrapped up. Susie
takes our plates and rinses them in the sink before dropping them in
the dishwasher. I try to help, but she insists that it’s the least she
can do, especially since I prepared the meal. Then, with one last shy
glance my way, the beautiful brunette heads to the bedroom.
“I know it’s only eight, but it’s been a long day and I’m really beat.
Do you mind if I turn in early?”
I nod.
“Of course not, sweetheart. The bathroom is right across from the
bedroom if you need it, and I’ll be out here, probably just watching
TV. Do you mind if I catch a show? I’ll keep the volume low.”
She blushes.
“Of course not. This is your place, and besides, I’m used to dorm-
living, which means sleeping through anything and everything.
Thanks again, Ed, and good night.”
“Good night,” I echo, and then with one last smile, the pretty
brunette steps into the bedroom, closing the door quietly behind her.
There’s a bit of shuffling as she gets ready for bed, and then silence
as the lights go out.
Meanwhile, I flip on the TV and begin aimlessly surfing through
different shows. Yet none of them catch my attention because right
now, I’m wondering what Susie’s doing. She’s lying on the mattress
of course, but is she actually asleep? It would make sense, seeing
that she’s had a harrowing day.
Still, I can’t help but imagine what she’s wearing. Does she have a
big comfy sleepshirt that skims the tops of her thighs? Or does she
wear booty shorts that show off that big bottom? Maybe she’s the
feminine type and wears a saucy negligee with lots of straps and a
g-string. Then, I snort. How many women wear g-strings to bed?
But I love the fantasy anyways, and groaning to myself, I flick off
the TV and settle in for a desperate night. After all, a luscious
woman is a mere fifteen feet away, and I desperately want to be in
bed with her, despite it being utterly wrong.
 6

Ed

I wake up to the delicious aroma of coffee wafting through my

apartment and startle, surprised. But then I sit up and find Susie
tinkering in the kitchen, filling two mugs with steaming joe and
adding just a dash of cream and sugar to one mug.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, did I wake you?” she says with an innocent smile
when I poke my head above the back of the couch “I had to get up
and make coffee because I can’t survive without it.”
“Don’t worry,” I grunt, my voice still raspy from sleep. “I need it too.
The caffeine’s like heroin in my veins.”
Susie giggles, her laughter melodious.
“How do you take yours?”
“Just black is fine.”
The sweet girl sashays over wearing tiny shorts and a crop top to
hand me one of the mugs. My eyes devour her form before I
manage to yank them away, but it’s not before I’ve seen how those
big breasts press at the thin fabric, her wide hips and thick thighs on
display. Fuck. It’s only 8 a.m. and yet I’m already horny as hell.
Unobtrusively, I pull a pillow over my lap, as if to balance my elbows
on the soft surface.
“I’m glad you decided to stick around,” I say in a gruff tone.
Susie blushes. “Thanks. I figured I should.”
I nod.
“After coffee, we can grab some bagels and start this adventure.
What do you think? Do you want to look at some apartments
together?”
After all, I can’t just turn her out on her ass with no place to go.
What kind of man would that make me? Susie nods gratefully, and
then we get dressed to head out to a bagel shop down the road
called Bagel Boss that has the best lox in the neighborhood. While
we wait for our bagels, I pull up the AirBnB app on my phone and
start searching for suitable apartments.
“We can go visit some of these places, and see which one is the best
for you. Then we’ll book it.”
“Don’t you have to book first before they send you the exact
location?” she asks, puzzled.
I nod.
“Yeah, but I know this area really well, so I can tell where they are
based on the photos. To be honest, I even recognize some of these
buildings because Coleman isn’t that big, so we can stand on the
sidewalk and check out the exteriors. We won’t be able to go inside
of course, but the pictures will be fine for the most part. That, and
the reviews from other customers. Having a good user rating is so
crucial.”
Susie bites her lip and hope crosses her face. “Okay, yeah that
sounds good.”
After polishing off our bagels, we walk to the first apartment, which
is just a few blocks away. It’s a ramshackle two story, and the listing
says there’s an apartment on the second floor, not dissimilar to mine.
We both stare at the clapboard exterior, which looks a bit rundown,
to tell the truth.
“So the description says this in-law unit has a private entrance, so
you’d be able to come and go as you please. There’s a dishwasher
inside too, as well as laundry.”
Susie’s expression is shuttered.
“Very nice,” she says in a soft voice. But she doesn’t add anything
else, so I merely smile.
“Let’s go see the next one,” I suggest. “We need to view at least a
couple just to get the lay of the land.”
Susie nods, and we walk to another apartment available on the app.
This one is in a big, brick building right near campus with a huge
pine tree in front and needles scattered all over the front yard.
“Dang, I had no idea there’d be so many fallen needles even in the
winter,” I say with a rueful smile.
Susie laughs.
“They’re probably behind on yard-work.”
I grin.
“You think? But yeah, if I had to guess I’d say this place is being
subletted out by someone who went home for break, judging from
that Coleman U pennant in the window,” I surmise.
She nods, agreeing.
“It must be so nice to have somewhere to go,” Susie murmurs
before catching herself and blushing. “This is a pretty building.”
“It is. I have two more to show you.”
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This speech was to Jeremy as though a dagger of ice had been
driven into his heart, and the room swayed round him. But he
betrayed no trouble in his expression, took a firm grip on his mind
and laughed with the inn-keeper at the idea. All the rustics joined in
his laughter, nudged one another, went forward with their interrupted
drinking, and murmured,
“That’s a good ’un!”
When the merriment had a little subsided, he asked as casually as
he could manage whether the Welshmen had been there that day.
All at once began to tell him how a party of soldiers speaking a
strange, hardly recognizable tongue, had entered the village early in
the morning. Their leader, who could just make himself understood in
the eastern speech, had held an inquisition and had terrified the
inhabitants almost out of their wits. They had also emptied a barrel of
beer, and made off with a sucking-pig and a good many fowls before
riding away. The villagers, it seemed, had been too much concerned
in keeping out of their way to be certain what direction they had
taken; but Jeremy gathered that they had scattered, some going
towards Houghton Bridge, some towards Pulborough, some towards
Duncton.
“Too bad,” said Jeremy sympathetically, his wits working at high
speed and warning him to be cautious. “What do you suppose they
were looking for?”
“Some tale about an old man and a young man and a young
woman,” the inn-keeper grumbled. Jeremy nodded negligently in
reply, and the inn-keeper went on, “And what might you be wanting
yourself?”
Jeremy explained that he had been unexpectedly overtaken by
darkness on the way to Arundel, and that he was looking for a bed. A
friend, he said, was waiting just outside the village for his report:
anything would do, he added, desiring to be plausible. He and his
friend were easily served and used to roughing it: a truss of hay in a
loft or a corner in a shed under a cart would be enough for them.
“We can do that for ’ee,” replied the inn-keeper hospitably, and
Jeremy, thanking him, said that he would fetch his friend and return
at once. When they returned, he observed, as he slid through the
door, he hoped the whole company would still be there to drink to
their health. He left the inn a popular and unsuspected person. But
when he was a few yards away from it he began to run, and he
blundered desperately through the darkness till he came to Eva and
her father, the old man still lying prone, the girl crouched by his side
under the hedge.
“Eva——” he began, panting.
“Have you found a place, Jeremy?” she cried anxiously. “I think we
could get him there now. His breathing’s easier, and——”
Jeremy took her by the shoulder and spoke calmly. “Listen,” he said.
“We can’t go into that village or any other. There’s been a party of
the President’s men there to-day looking for us, and they’re still
about somewhere.”
She turned her shadowed face up to him and listened attentively
without opening her lips. “There’s only one thing we can do,” he went
on with the same coolness. “We must get up at once on to the
downs and leave the horses here. I used to know them pretty well
and we ought to have something like a chance of hiding there if they
chase us. We can crawl right along, never getting far from cover and
only just crossing roads, till we’re near Portsmouth. There’s no help
for it, Eva. They’re looking for us: you know what that means.”
For a moment it seemed that she would rebel; and then she bowed
her head and put her hand in his. “Very well,” she said in a quiet
voice. “We must do as you think best.” Jeremy had the impression
that, from some divine and inconceivable height, she was humoring
his childish attachment to this bauble of her life. Instinctively he took
her in his arms and kissed her and felt the passionate response of
her whole body. In the next second they were again practical and
cold, taking from the saddle-bags and hanging about them such of
their store of food as still remained. Then they lifted the Speaker
between them and found that there was just enough strength left in
his limbs to carry him along if he was strongly supported on both
sides. A few yards away from them a narrow track, trodden in the
chalk, glimmered faintly; and they turned into it, making a slow and
labored progress up the side of the hill.
 CHAPTER XVI
THE ROMAN ROAD

1
THAT night was one of the cold and starry nights which sometimes
fall on the downs in the middle of summer. As they began to climb up
the slope, the earth seemed to be returning in warm, almost tangible
waves, the heat it had received during the day from the sun. But
when they got clear of the gloomy beech groves on the lower slopes,
when the uneven track had failed them and left them in the middle of
a great sweep of open grass, this ceased, and the air grew gradually
cooler. Presently the wind, which had fallen at dusk, rose again,
coming from another direction, faint but chilly. The motion of the air
could hardly be felt, yet it had in it some quality which touched and
stayed the blood and enervated the spirit. These hours of darkness
promised, before they were done, to reduce the fugitives to a lower
state of wretchedness than they yet had suffered.
When they had stumbled for some time up the steeply rising hill-side
which bore only small and scattered patches of gorse and juniper,
Jeremy realized that they were now as far from the road as they
needed to be, and that it would be impossible for them to walk on
much longer. He looked about him for some shelter in which they
might pass the night and not be immediately obvious to any searcher
when day broke. But he could see none; and he began to be
troubled in his mind, for he dared not halt lest exhaustion should pin
them in the open where they stood. He scanned eagerly every patch
of bush that they passed; but all were too thin and too much
exposed. At last on his left he thought he saw a line dark against the
dark sky, which might perhaps be a wood. He pulled gently at the old
man’s arm and directed their steps towards it. When they came
close it proved to be a thick grove of bushes and low thorn trees,
running on either hand out of the narrow limits of their sight.
“This will do well enough,” he said in the murmured voice of pre-
occupation; and Eva assented with a single word.
They pushed their way through the close growth, and came suddenly
on a steep bank three or four yards from the edge of the thicket.
“This will do!” Jeremy cried in a heartier tone; and he explained that
he wished to be well hidden by bushes, but not so much shut in that
in the morning they could not get a clear view of the country around
them. But, while he was explaining all this, Eva was gently laying
down the Speaker, so that his head rested against the bank, and
making for his head a pillow out of her cloak. Jeremy silently gave
her his own cloak, with which she covered the sleeping or comatose
old man. When she had finished she stood up, shivered slightly, and
folded her arms as if to retain the last vanishing sparks of warmth in
her body. Jeremy, standing also, quiet and somber, felt a wave of
inexpressible emotion rise in his heart at the sight of her slender and
shadowy figure.
“Eva ... Eva ...” he murmured, and she came into his arms as though
that had been the homing-cry. They had no words to use with one
another. They kissed once, and then stood locked in his embrace,
Eva’s face pressed into his shoulder, one of his broad hands on her
hair, the other at her waist. After a little while he pressed her head
gently backwards, bent the supple waist and lowered her on to the
ground as tenderly as she had lowered her father. She suffered what
he did without speaking or resisting, and allowed him to move her
head so that it rested on a thick tuft of grass, and to wrap her riding
skirt tightly about her ankles. For a moment after he had done the
silence endured, and Jeremy thought that, even thus, after the
fatigues of the day, she would not find it hard to sleep. But when she
saw him standing, square, black and aloof, between her and the
stars, she called out to him softly,
“Jeremy! Jeremy! come down to me!” He knelt by her side, and laid
one hand on her arm, conscious, as he made it, of the clumsiness
and inexpressiveness of the gesture. “Lie down by me,” she went on.
“The night will be cold, and we shall keep one another warm.”
After the first exquisite exhilaration of finding himself at her side, limb
to limb, cheek to cheek, clasped in her arms as she in his, the faculty
of reckoning minutes and hours vanished from his mind. This
seemed to him an image of the eternal night which descends on all.
He had a vision of a shrouded figure pacing an endless corridor and
pausing for the length of a human life between one step and the
next. Only the slow, unintermittent rhythm of the girl’s breathing
suggested to him that time passed. He stirred slightly in her arms: he
wished to look up at the sky.
At their heads stood a low hawthorn, beaten, stunted, and
misshapen by many fierce winds, which threw out its sprawling
branches over them; and close to their side was a thick overhanging
clump of gorse. Between the two swam vaguely the North Star; and
his eyes strayed from this to the Great Bear, whence he found or
guessed the other constellations, riding the night sky, remote,
brilliant and serene. It seemed to him that what spirit he had left
ceased to be human and was sucked up into the fellowship of those
bright indifferent lights, and the vast spaces which separated them.
He began to amuse himself by calling back to mind as much as he
could remember of that ancient and ridiculous science, astronomy.
Odd facts floated into his thoughts concerning the weight of the
stars, the speed of a ray of light, the nature of gravitation. He
recalled epoch-making and cataclysmic discoveries, all records of
which were now very likely erased from the annals of mankind. He
wondered idly what had become of So-and-so who had been forever
busy with the perihelion of Mercury, and of Such-and-such who had
exhibited strange frenzies when you mentioned to him the name of a
noted Continental astronomer. He recollected queer empty wrangles
about the relation between the universe we can see or conceive, and
the infinite, inconceivable universe, of the existence of which our
minds mysteriously inform us. He was fascinated by the recurrence
in his thoughts of a theory that our system, and all the stars we can
see, are but one minute and negligible organism, moving regularly
through space.... He was trying to form some image of what this
must mean, when he felt himself recalled, as though to another life,
by a voice that was infinitely distant, infinitely faint, and which had
once held an infinite significance for him. It was a struggle to come
back to this forgotten point in time and space: he struggled....
The girl was speaking. “Jeremy,” she repeated, louder, “I am not
asleep.”
He came back, awoke into the real world with a shock like that of a
diver coming out of the sea, and found that still the same night was
in progress, that nothing around him had changed, and that he was
very cold. They had both of them given up their cloaks to the old
man and had nothing to cover them. The wind, so faint and tenuous
that it was impossible to tell whence it came, crept insidiously
through or over everything that might have served them for a shelter.
The thin air surrounded and drenched them with its enervating chill,
taking away from them almost even the strength for speech. But
Jeremy answered,
“Nor am I, dearest. I was thinking.”
They lay silent for some time. Then Eva began again, “Do you know
where we are?”
“I don’t at all. I didn’t think to ask the name of the village. We must be
somewhere on the downs between Bury and Duncton, but I couldn’t
see whereabouts in the darkness. Anyway, in the morning we must
make towards the west.”
Silence again.
But the effort of recalling these facts had drawn Jeremy back to
human life; and presently he said with simplicity, “I love you ... I love
you....” She answered him, and they talked, telling one another of
their feelings, exploring strange paths, making strange discoveries,
each taking turns to draw the other aside, like two children together
in a wood, one of whom points out the flowers, while the other, finger
on lip, calls for silence to listen to the birds. As they talked in soft
murmurs they forgot the cold and the passage of time: it was the
longest converse they had ever held in intimacy. Thus it was not the
gray light of morning stealing over the hill-side but the Speaker, who
suddenly began to be restless and to cough and moan in his sleep,
that first drew their attention from themselves.
Eva started hurriedly out of Jeremy’s embrace and went to the old
man. He was in the grip of another attack; and his contorted face
showed that he was suffering deeply. Jeremy followed her, and stood
helplessly by while she arranged more comfortably the folded cloak
under his head and drew over his body the wrappings which, as
constantly, with aimless violent movements of his arms he threw off
again. Then, as suddenly as the attack had begun, it seemed to
pass. The old man grew calm and allowed himself to be covered. He
settled on his back, folded his arms across his breast and threw back
his head; and his breathing became more gentle. Jeremy discovered
with a shock that the sunken and brilliant eyes were open and were
intensely fixed on his. He opened his mouth to say he knew not
what, but the Speaker had begun in a faint but distinct whisper.
“Jeremy, we were beaten——”
It was as though he had returned to the last moment of the battle, as
though the three days of his aberration had not been, and he was
saying now what he might have said then. But to Jeremy there was
nothing but injustice in this long-suspended comment. He forgot
where they were and what was their condition; and words of hot
anger rose in his mouth. He was deceived for a moment by the
serenity and calmness of the Speaker’s voice into thinking that this
was indeed the man who had tyrannically driven them all into
disaster by his ungovernable will.
“You——” shaped itself on his lips, never spoken; for the girl plucked
in terror at his arm and at the same moment he stopped, jaw
dropping, eyes starting and hands hanging as though the tendons of
the wrists had been cut. For the old man was dead.
Eva threw herself down beside the body and pressed her lips on her
father’s cold forehead. Then realizing that what she had dreaded
was true, that the final event had taken place, she slipped helpless to
one side, sobbing violently with dry eyes and convulsed mouth.
Jeremy looked from the dead man to the grief-racked girl, impotent
and abased. This was the end of the old man’s schemes and efforts,
his life-long devotion, his last sufferings—this cold and miserable
death, in the beginning of the morning, on a bare hill in the country
that was no longer his own to scheme for. In the contemplation of the
body Jeremy felt for a moment relieved of human desires,
contemptuous of what demanded so much pains for so small a
reward.
But while he stood thus he realized for the first time how light it had
grown. All the down was dimly revealed, the sun was on the point of
rising, and faint mists, curling off the fields, obscured the distances.
But close at hand the grove in which they had hidden, and the bank
against which they had rested, were plainly shown. Again a sense of
staggering recognition invaded Jeremy’s brain, and he did not know
in what world or what time he was living. Then in a flash he was
enlightened.
“The Roman road!” he exclaimed, forgetting the dead and living
companions who lay at his feet. For the long bank, overgrown and
almost hidden, extending into the mist on either side, was the Stane
Street, running over the downs like an arrow to Bignor Hill. A pure
wonder overcame Jeremy, and he went nearer to the road, touched
the high unmistakable stony mound and followed its trace with his
eyes. He remembered it, having tracked it without any difficulty from
near Halnaker Hill through the Nore Wood, past Gumber Farm and
past this very place, no longer ago than—no longer ago than the
year 1913. The month had been September, and blackberries had
been very thick in the hedges. He was bewildered and the waking
earth turned dizzily round him, while the tragedy in which he had just
taken a part and which was perhaps to continue, sank into the
category of small and negligible things. It seemed to take its place
with the road and everything else in a fantasy of idle invention.
He recovered himself when Eva touched him lightly on the arm. She
was self-possessed again, save that she was trembling violently and
that her beautiful face was drawn and pale. He wished to explain to
her what had thus struck him dumb, but she whispered,
“Look! Look down there!”
The sun was now just up, the mists were fast clearing, and the open
spaces and long shadows of the hill-side and the plain were very
distinct. As he followed her pointing finger, he saw a line of little
figures, a mile away, spread out as though they were beating the
ground, advancing slowly up the hill.
“The Welsh!” he uttered, somberly and without agitation. This was
what he had known and expected, and his heart did not beat a
fraction the faster for it. When he looked at Eva, she too was calm,
almost rigid, waiting for his next word.
“We must creep up through the bushes,” he whispered, as though
the enemy had been already within earshot. “Perhaps we can get
away from them in the woods up there.” She nodded, and while he
unstrapped his pistols and saw that they were loaded, she bent over
her father, disposed his limbs and covered his face with her cloak.
Then she put her hand in Jeremy’s, saying only,
“We must leave him. We could do nothing for him.”
Without another glance at the dead man, they began to hurry,
bending almost double, beside the bank of the road, stumbling over
roots and avoiding the swinging bushes as best they could. Once or
twice they had to dash across open spaces where the ancient road
had disappeared, gaps kept clear by old cart-tracks or a shepherd’s
path; and once, where the bushes clustered too thickly, they had to
leave shelter and run for a hundred yards in the bare field.

2
As they ran, hand in hand, torn and impeded by the briars, growing
more and more exhausted, Jeremy owned to himself, without a
conscious shaping of the thought, that they were lost, that they had
too small a start of their pursuers, and that these pursuers were
acting in a careful and methodical way, which was an ill omen. But
he was dazed and rendered distraught by the surroundings of their
flight. With one part of his mind he felt no more than the animal’s
impulse to run for safety, carrying his mate with him. With the rest he
was revolving loosely the odd chance that had landed them thus in
familiar country and by the side of this great deserted causeway, a
remnant of antiquity on which he had once looked with the feelings
of awe and wonder that these people now bestowed on the vestiges
of his own days. It was to this side of him that the landscape was
growing increasingly familiar, seeming to drag him back into his own
natural century, away from all the violent and incredible events of the
last few weeks, away from the bravely struggling girl at his side.... He
felt her pull on his hand grow heavier, felt that she was stumbling
more and more. Then the Nore Wood showed, obscure and gloomy
ahead of them, and at the same moment Jeremy glanced through a
gap in the bushes and saw, at the bottom of a gentle slope, Gumber
Farm, the old weathered building with its small windows and the well
in front of it, and a woman standing in a half-opened door, emptying
out a bucket on the ground. Why run so painfully, he wondered,
through a world that could not but be a dream? He halted suddenly
and dragged Eva back. A few hundred yards in front of them, at the
point where the Stane Street entered the wood, was a soldier on
horseback, a dark, motionless, watchful figure, the long barrel of his
pistol lying in the crook of his arm and shining in a stray beam of the
sun.
“No good going on,” he panted. “We must lie close somewhere for a
bit.” Eva said nothing and he saw that her face was white, her lips
pressed together closely, her eyes half shut. Her free hand was
clasped to her side, she was bending backwards from the waist, and
her breath came and went in short convulsive gasps.
Near them, starting out of the growth on the old road and running
down the slope of the hill, was another black hedge which seemed to
lead to a little wooded knoll. Without speaking, Jeremy pulled Eva
towards it, and keeping close in the shelter of the bushes they
reached it without hearing any cry that showed they had been
discovered. They scrambled to the top, which was some twenty feet
above the level of the neighboring fields, and lay for a few moments,
face downwards, exhausted and oblivious among the gorse and
bracken. Then Jeremy recovered, sat up and surveyed their position.
They were well hidden, and, by peering through the branches, they
could watch all the country for some distance round. His hopes
began to revive a little. They might even, with great good fortune, lie
here unperceived while the trackers passed by: at the worst the
cover was enough to help him to offer some encouragement to Eva.
And his chief thought was to restore her, to see her breathe easily
again, and the color come back to her cheeks, to stanch the blood
that trickled from a deep scratch on her forehead, to kiss and hold
her torn hands. If the very worst should happen and they were found
—— His thoughts broke off and he looked at her in agony, fearing to
meet her eyes. She too had sat up and was fumbling in the bosom of
her dress, as though looking for something.
When she saw that he was gazing at her she smiled faintly and said
in a natural tone, “At any rate we can rest now.” Then she began to
rearrange her skirts, to put the tumbled folds into place, as well as
the great rents in them would allow, and to smooth the disordered
strands of her hair.
“Rest. Yes, we can rest,” he answered somberly. And then he
thought how adorable she looked and, bending over towards her
without rising, took her in his arms and kissed her; and she returned
his kisses. Presently they released one another, and Jeremy
murmured, almost in a whisper,
“How quiet it is! You wouldn’t think there was any one in the downs
but us.” And as she made no reply he went on, “Do you know what
that bank was? It was a road built by the Romans more than two
thousand years ago. Travelers and regiments of soldiers used to
march over it, though it’s so lonely now.” He broke off and stared
abstractedly at the ground. “That seems a strange thing to talk about
just now when we ... when we....” He stopped altogether. She came
closer to him, put her arm round his shoulder and drew his head
down on her breast. Then she began gently to stroke his hair and
there was infinite solace in her touch. He wondered whether he
ought to discuss with her what they should do if they were
discovered; but the pain of that thought was so great that it drove
him back before he even felt it. He dared not ... he dared not ... he
owned his cowardice. He let it go, closed his eyes and abandoned
himself to the sweetness of her caresses.
Once more time vanished and became an unreal thing. It seemed an
eternity before he opened his eyes again; but when he did so, lazily,
it was to see the black remorseless figures of the pursuers spread
out in a long crescent in the field below, half a mile away. Every
muscle in his body stiffened, he felt his lips curling back from his
teeth like those of a fighting animal, and he sat up abruptly and
grasped his pistol. They were coming quite close, and they were
searching all the hill-side with methodical care, advancing with
regular and terrifying deliberation. Perhaps they had been led thus
far by foot-prints and broken branches and rags left fluttering on the
thorns, and now were casting about for further signs.
Jeremy turned and again took Eva into his arms, and pressed his
mouth on hers. The kiss continued, seemed endless, was intolerably
sweet and bitter, a draught not like any he had ever known. Then he
broke away, saw with minute care to the readiness of his pistol, and
bent forward, watching intently the approaching Welshmen. Eva,
sitting a little behind him, again slipped her hand into his and held it
with a firm clasp which, though he could no longer see her, conveyed
to him all her sweetness and her love. Thus they waited without
moving, they did not know how long, while the trackers advanced,
vanished in a fold of the ground, began to emerge again. Then one
of them uttered a harsh piercing view-halloo, that echoed horribly
through the empty fields and sky; and in the next moment Jeremy
felt Eva’s hand tighten on his convulsively and then a weight behind
it, dragging it back. He forgot the enemy, forgot his resolution to kill
as many as he could of these hateful savages before he was himself
destroyed. But when he swung round the girl had fallen on her back,
and was staring upwards, her eyes and her lips quite peaceful, the
pallor on her face no longer that of fear and exhaustion, but now the
serene and even pallor of death. In her free hand lay open the little
metal box which once she had taken from her foolish waiting-maid;
and it was empty.
Jeremy did not rave or cry out, but an immense weariness overcame
him, in which those who were approaching slipped altogether from
his thoughts. Was it for this, he wondered, staring vacantly at the
familiar English country around him, that he had come so far and
done and suffered so much? All were gone now, all were enveloped
in a common darkness, those friends of his earlier life and his new
friends, the old, vehement Speaker, poor Roger Vaile, and, last and
dearest of them, the Lady Eva, to find whom a century and a half
asleep in the grave had been a slight and welcome preparation.
What was he doing here? The Welsh were coming, the Welsh had
sacked London, they had taken England in their ravening jaws. He
had a vision of the world sinking further below the point from which in
his youth he had seen it, still on a level with him. Cities would be
burnt, bridges broken down, tall towers destroyed and all the wealth
and learning of humanity would shiver to a few shards and a little
dust. The very place would be forgotten where once had stood the
houses that he knew; and the roads he had walked with his friends
would be as desolate and lonely as the Stane Street of the Romans.
Even all this story, his victory and his defeat, his joy and his sorrow,
would fade out of the memory of man. But what did it all matter to
Jeremy Tuft, who, wonder and portent that he was, strange
anachronism, unparalleled and reluctant ambassador from one age
to the next, had suffered in the end that common ill, the loss of his
beloved? He raised the pistol to his head and fired.
THE END
 FOOTNOTE
[A] A phrase which gained currency in 1919 or earlier,
and which was formed on the analogy of P.B.I., used, to
describe themselves, by the infantry in the Great War.
 TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been
standardized.
Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.
 *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PEOPLE
OF THE RUINS ***

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