Two weeks later, the bruising and swelling had subsided enough for Peyton to return to work. She’d actually gone back three days after Conway assaulted her in the parking lot but stayed out of sight of the guests and members. The tape on her nose was gone, and the bruises under her eyes had turned from colorful shades of purple and green to slight smudges of yellow.
“Leigh cancelled her lessons,” Marcus said, turning the pages in the appointment book. “She didn’t reschedule.”
“She probably won’t,” Peyton said before she realized that her comment would elicit questions from her brother.
“Is there something you’re not telling me, Peyton?” Marcus asked, his eagle eyes never missing anything.
Peyton fidgeted. What she and Leigh had done involved much more than socializing. She didn’t want to put her brother in an awkward position, one she herself was ashamed to be in. She should have had better control when it came to Leigh. She knew better and understood the problems her actions could cause Marcus. She should have kept her distance, but the chemistry between them was explosive, and she’d been without that spark for far too long. Regrettably, she had a burning need to touch that flame again.
But all that didn’t matter. Leigh was out of her life, and Peyton saw no need to bring it all up. “No. I’m just still a little tired, I guess.”
Marcus looked at Peyton so hard she was afraid he could read her mind. Finally, he asked, “Are you good to make a cart run?”
“Yeah. I’m fine,” Peyton lied. Maybe a little fresh air and sunshine would do her good.
“Leigh must feel her game has improved. She’s out there now with some guy named,” Marcus flipped the page back in his reservation book, “Larry Taylor.”
* * *
“Nice drive.” Larry complimented the way Leigh’s ball sailed into the air and landed perfectly in the middle of the fourth fairway. Their scheduled game had been changed twice, and they’d finally teed off an hour ago on a bright, sunny Saturday morning.
“Thanks,” Leigh said, absentminded. She hadn’t slept much the past few nights in anticipation of today, and it wasn’t because she was playing a round of golf with her boss. They would be at Copperwind, and Peyton would be here. She worked every Saturday, and Leigh had been looking for her the entire morning. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to see her.
Her game today was respectable, but clearly Larry was a much better golfer than she was. Leigh remembered everything Peyton had taught her without overanalyzing it, and her game was solid. Very much unlike her game with Stark and her life since meeting Peyton.
“So, tell me, Leigh. How are you settling in?” Larry asked, referring to her new job.
“Good,” she fibbed. “It’s pretty much what I expected, but I think I’ve adjusted quickly.” Fib number two. “How do you think things are going?”
“You’re doing great. I’ve asked around over the past few weeks, and they all said the same.”
“Would they say any different?” Leigh wondered out loud.
“Why do you ask?”
Leigh looked over Larry’s shoulder and saw Peyton’s cart approach. Her body instinctively remembered how it felt to be held in her strong arms, caressed by her gentle hands, driven to ecstasy by her skillful mouth. She flushed all over, and her heart rate picked up.
She had less than a minute to decide. She’d thought about it for weeks and hadn’t yet reached any conclusion until this very moment.
“Good morning,” Peyton said, only glancing at Leigh. “Can I get you two something to drink?”
Leigh’s heart skipped at the warm timbre of Peyton’s voice. She remembered another time when it had whispered in her ear, “Come for me.” But her attention was immediately drawn to the remnants of bruising on Peyton’s face. Her sunglasses hid most of them, but Leigh knew every inch of Peyton’s face, and there was no hiding it from her. Somehow, she managed to ask for a bottle of water, when she really wanted a shot or two of Canadian Club.
Peyton was counting change from Larry’s twenty-dollar bill he’d handed her for their two waters when she said, “I need to tell you something, Larry. Peter Stark is a problem.”
“I beg your pardon?” Larry said, after almost choking on his swallow of water. Peyton stopped counting his change and stared at her.
“Peter is a problem,” she repeated, more confident now that she’d gotten the first words out of her mouth. “He’s homophobic, probably a racist, and he’s definitely an ass.”
“I think you’d better explain,” her boss said seriously. He took his change from Peyton and thanked her.
“When he and I golfed in that tournament benefitting the foster kids, he made some very inappropriate, disparaging, insulting comments about a woman.” Leigh proceeded to tell Larry, almost word for word, what Stark had said to, and about, Peyton. Larry was pale when she finished.
“I should have said something right then, but I admit I was a bit intimidated by him and was so shocked to hear that kind of talk come out of his mouth, I didn’t do anything. That’s the biggest mistake I’ve ever made in my life. I will never again not speak up when something is wrong, no matter who it concerns, and I’m doing so now.”
Larry stared at Leigh, and it was a long moment before he said anything. Peyton was still standing across from them.
“Do you have anyone to corroborate this accusation?”
Leigh looked at Peyton, who was eyeing her seriously. She gave her a nod so imperceptive Leigh almost missed it. Her resolve was solid.
She turned back to Larry, looking him straight in the eye. “Yes, I do.” She hesitated another second before plunging on. “If he thinks that way about lesbians, then he thinks that way about me, and I refuse to be spoken about like that again.”
Leigh wasn’t in the closet at work, but she also never openly spoke about her private life. First, because there was nothing to tell, and second, because it wasn’t anyone’s business. This was a game changer for her.
Larry studied her as if judging her authenticity. Finally, he said, “I believe you. I may need the names.”
Leigh was overcome with waves of relief. She honestly didn’t know if he would believe her or take the side of his long-time employee. Her respect for him skyrocketed.
“I’ll have them on your desk first thing Monday morning.”
* * *
“Peyton, can I talk to you for a minute?” Leigh wasn’t sure if Peyton would stop or simply keep walking into the clubhouse. When she turned to look at her, Leigh was suddenly more than a little nervous.
“I’ll get you the names,” Peyton said, her voice flat.
“What?”
“The names. Of the others in your group who heard what Stark said.”
It took a moment for Leigh to attach Peyton’s comment to a question. She finally got it. “That’s not what I want to talk to you about.” Before she could say anything, Peyton removed her sunglasses, her look hard.
“My God, Peyton. Are you okay?” Leigh asked. She started to touch the discolored skin but stopped herself. “What happened?”
“Conway. But it doesn’t concern you.” Peyton’s voice was cold and emotionless.
Leigh didn’t know what to say. She’d made it clear that it wasn’t any of her business, as Peyton had so accurately said. She’d lost track of what she wanted to talk to Peyton about. Peyton waited, impatience written on her face and in her body language.
“I’m sorry,” Leigh said. “I’m sorry for everything. For the way Stark spoke to you, the way I didn’t stand up and tell him to shut the fuck up. The way I reacted when I…when you…”
“Don’t apologize, Leigh. I don’t want or need you to.” Peyton’s voice was harsh. “I also don’t need your pity. I’m a big girl, an even bigger one because of what I did. I took responsibility for my actions, paid the price, and am moving on with my life.” Peyton hesitated, her eyes dark with uncertainty, pinning Leigh with their intensity. “With or without you.”
Leigh was stunned. When did this happen? When had a romp of casual, no-strings-attached sex become a lifeline she didn’t want to lose?