Chapter 5: Champagne and roses....

Wynter fussed with the table cloth, smoothing invisible wrinkles and checking to make sure that the vase of wild roses was set precisely in the centre of the table and that each piece of the silver flatware was gleaming in the soft candle light. This was Ray’s home coming after a long stint in the hospital and she wanted it to be perfect.
The sound of Shannon’s curses floated down the stairs and Wynter chuckled to herself. It was Shannon’s idea to make the dinner a formal one complete with a celebratory bottle of champagne and hors d’oeurvres. A knock at the door had her glancing at the antique clock on the mantle and frowning. It was too early for Ray to be home yet....
Opening the door she was surprised to see Tanner standing there sans uniform. Hands jammed in his jean pockets he looked at her with troubled blue eyes from under his battered ball cap. “Can we talk?”
Wynter hesitated. He looked so damn appealing in his black t-shirt that as she wanted to grab him and pull him close for a toe curling kiss...While she was lost in her lustful thoughts however Tanner had taken note of her thigh skimming dress and the lit candles inside.
“Sorry, didn’t realize that you have company. We can do this later....” he said stiffly and turned to leave.
“Wait!” said Wynter reaching out to touch his shoulder. He stayed very still but remained back on to her. “Would you look at me please?” she asked. She could feel his muscles bunch under her fingers and she withdrew them. “Rayne is coming home tonight...Shannon and I are throwing him a special dinner...”
He looked at her sharply over his shoulder while still keeping his back to her. “Like I said; we can do this later” he said and began to walk back to his Jeep.
“Or you could join us.....” even as she said so she knew what his answer would be.
“Thanks but I’m a little underdressed” he said as he climbed in and proceeded to drive away.
Feelings of disappointment and guilt warred within her as Wynter stepped inside and closed the door with deliberate care. From upstairs she could hear Shannon singing along with the radio but she didn’t really want to interrupt the primping process to dissect what had just happened between Tanner and herself.
The smell of smoke wafted into the hallway and she cursed vehemently as she rushed into the kitchen. Yanking open the oven door more smoke billowed out and she waved it away with one mitted hand. Reaching in she pulled out what was once a tray of mini quiches but they had metamorphosed into dark shrivelled lumps of uneatable rubbery goo while she was distracted by a pair of pretty blue eyes...Looking around she saw nowhere to put them on the clutter filled counters so she opened the back door and stepped outside with the intensions of dumping it in the compost pile however she was slapped back by unseen hands the moment she stepped onto her lawn.
Dropping the tray with a clatter she tried to ward off her attackers. She could hear the material of her dress rip as they swarmed her and she cried out as they yanked her hair out of the bun she had worked so hard on making. Rage filled her and she slapped at them which only served to make them more vicious. They knocked her down to her knees. Covering her head Wynter tried to make herself as small as possible as they bit and scratched her. Then they started to pull her along, dragging her across the backyard towards the woods.
Terrified Wynter reached out to grab something, anything which she could cling to and save herself. There was no such anchor to be found and all she ended up grabbing were fists full of grass and dirt. Clawing at the ground she screamed for help as the tree line loomed ever closer....
Then she was sputtering as she was doused in water. Holding her hands up against the spray she suddenly realized that they were gone. “Are you ok?” asked Tanner dropping the garden hose and running over to her. Wynter was at a loss for words and could only dumbly stare at him as he started to check her injuries. “Your bleeding but nothing seems too bad...Christ! Is that a burn?” He looked at her with such concern that Wynter couldn’t help herself; she kissed him.
It started off soft and sweet then it turned into raw need. Soon they were plastered against each other; hands groping and breath catching as just the right spot was hit... Then it was over...Both had pulled away from the other before it went too far. Wynter looked away and tried to straighten what was left of her dress while Tanner searched for his cap. The sound of laughter came from the woods making them look back at it wearily. “Maybe we should move...” suggested Tanner and Wynter nodded in agreement.
As he helped her to her feet an awkward silence fell between them but it didn’t last long as Wynter in her nervousness had to fill it. “So why’d you come back? I’m grateful to ya for it but...the way you had left I figured that you wouldn’t be coming back at all...”she stole a sideways glance at him and saw that he was frowning. “And how’d you know how to chase them off like that?”
“Fairies don’t like running water and I just happened to spot the hose...” he jerked his shoulder “It did the trick”
“Well thanks....” said Wynter trying to catch his eye but he was avoiding looking at her. “I’m not sorry for kissing ya so don’t expect an apology ‘cause yer not getting one....” she said with annoyance.
“What?” said Tanner focusing on her but before she could answer he continued “Look I have something I gotta do...Meet me at Mike’s tomorrow night? I’ll explain things there.” Without waiting for an answer he walked away from her.
Bewildered Wynter watched him go. When he was out of site she stepped inside the relative safety of her kitchen where she came face to face with Shannon. “Holy Mary mudder of God! What happened to you?” she demanded taking in the state of Wynter’s soaking form and ripped dress.
“Not now” was all Wynter could manage to say. Heading to her room she sensed Shannon was following her and sighed. “I need some time alone Shan...”
“But...” protested Shannon however the look upon Wynters face was enough to quell her for the moment but she intended to get the full story out of her friend by the end of the night...even if she had to ply Wynter with wine to loosen her stubborn tongue she would find out what had gone on and how come a certain Mountie was not staying for dinner....
She counted to ten before flinging the bathroom door open. “Hey!” screamed Wynter as she grabbed a towel to cover herself up with. “Shannon! I told you....”
“Yeah, yeah” said Shannon with a wave of her hand as she spotted the scratches bruises and burns that marred Wynter’s skin her flippancy turned to concern. “What the hell happened? Don’t brush me off either, ‘cause I’ll smack you one up the side of yer head!”
“I was attacked; Tanner saved me. End of story. Can I shower now?” she asked.
“Attacked? Attacked by what? And shouldn’t Tanner have called for back up...or least stayed to make sure you’re all right...You are all right, ain’t ya?” questioned Shannon.
“I’ll be fine if you ever let me have my shower and some peace” replied Wynter in exasperation.
“You don’t have to play the tough girl fer me....” said Shannon looking in Wynter’s eyes for confirmation that she was indeed fine.
“It’s more for my benefit...I’ll be all weak and girly later...Charlie should be dropping Rayne off any minute and I need to be ok for him...I need to clean myself up and clear my head so that I can be ok for him. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
“Yis...Don’t let the door hit me in the arse on the way out” smiled Shannon.
“Exactly...now get out” said Wynter giving Shannon a friendly shove out the door before slamming it shut and locking it. Pleased with herself Shannon walked back downstairs to wait for Rayne.
As soon as she had locked the door Wynter wished she had allowed Shannon to stay and keep her company...Part of her was tempted to call her back but her pride won out. Sure she was a bit like a martini at the moment...shaken and dirty...but she would not allow her fear to get the better of her. It just wasn’t in her to cower...even when there was good reason to do so....
Letting the hot water sooth her jagged nerves Wynter recalled the way Tanner had come to her rescue...his touch...The look on his face when he had left...How had he known about the fact that they hated running water? What could he possibly have to tell her? Was it an excuse to sleep with her? Did she want to sleep with him? “That’s a stupid question” she said to herself as she rinsed the shampoo out of her hair and giggled.
As she finished she could hear Shannon and Ray talking with each other. Smiling to herself she got dressed and went down to join them. No matter how hard she tried however she couldn’t shake off what had happened to her that afternoon nor could she drown out the questions about Tanner that were shouting in her head.
“I need to take a drive and clear my head” she found herself announcing to the others and without further explanation she got up and left them to enjoy the remains of dinner on their own.