We last read Chapter 25, in which Beth meets Conner at a restaurant in town, for what might be a dinner meeting, or might be a date. Conner lets her know that Xavier Wheldon, CEO of StarPrime, has responded to their request for a meeting by agreeing to meet, but only with Beth. Wheldon also wants the meeting to occur at the Pegasus Club, his majestic lodge near the power plant. Conner expresses his worry and displeasure over the conditions, but Beth assures him she will be fine.
During dinner, Conner also tells Beth of his success in tracking down the suspended police officer, who, prior to his suspensions, found high-end 5.56mm rounds in the woods on Wheldon’s land, near the power plant, and near the body of the shooting victim. When the officer encountered Wheldon’s guards near the shooting scene, they wouldn’t let him inspect their M16 rifles, so he sought permission from Chief Biggins to request a search warrant. Biggins suspended the officer the next day, and never followed through with applying for a warrant.
As dinner continues, Beth tells Conner what she learned from her friend at the Pentagon — that Wheldon served in the military with his brother, who was killed in the line of duty. Beth also shows Conner the photos of the tower on Wheldon’s land. She considers trying to get a closer look at the tower during her upcoming meeting with Wheldon, to learn why someone is shooting at people who get near the tower.
Unbeknownst to Beth or Conner, Raven Tristan followed Beth to the restaurant. Tristan decides she will find a good time to break into Beth’s apartment, to learn more about our protagonist.
This is the second story, so if you want to start from the very beginning, you can jump over to book 1, and begin with the Prologue of Sapphire Angel, Superheroine. Or to start at the beginning of book 2 (this story), click over to the Prologue of Power Play.
Thanks for reading!
"So how are you still single?" Conner asked her as he set down his fork, his meal finished. Beth flushed red yet again. She thought back to their first extended conversation, in the car on the way to the scene of the shooting, when he had needled her about being single, and had implied it was due to her frosty demeanor. She couldn't bring herself to talk of John's death, and certainly couldn't tell him she was Sapphire Angel.
"I guess I've just been too busy with my work," she stammered as a pang of guilt hit her. It hadn't been a year since John's passing and here she sat on a date. No, it wasn't a date. Or was it? She looked down at her nearly empty wineglass, unable to remember how many glasses she had imbibed. If the dizziness was a sign, it had been too many.
"What about you?" she asked, trying to change the focus away from her. "You've never mentioned another girl, either. So you're single, too, unless you're the world's crappiest boyfriend. Why is that?"
Conner shrugged. "I guess I'm not ready to settle down yet. There are a lot of fish in the sea, and I want to make sure I catch the right one."
"Catch? You make it sound like women are just trophies to you."
"Your words, not mine. My parents set a crappy example. From them, I've seen what happens when people rush into a relationship with the wrong person. There's nothing wrong with dating different people and seeing what's right."
The waitress brought the check, and Beth wasn't sure if she was relieved or disappointed. Conner had his annoying traits, but she couldn't deny the attraction she felt for him. She still wasn't sure how much of the annoying part was just bluster, and how much was his true personality.
She reached for her bag to find some cash, but Conner stopped her.
"Something tells me you don't like people paying for you, but I've got this one."
A slight smile crossed her face. Actually, she had no such qualms about a man picking up a check. Her father had taught her that a man should always offer to pay if she was on a date. But this wasn't a date! Conner wouldn't be paying if he didn't view it as a date, would he?
She didn't have time to dwell on the question since Conner had already laid cash out on the table, and had risen to his feet and stood next to her seat.
"I'm not parked too far away," he said. "Think you can make it?"
"Do I think I can make it?" she asked, her defenses going up. "Why would I need to make it to your car?"
"Because I've now discovered your first flaw. You're a lightweight with alcohol. There's no way I'm letting you drive home in this condition."
Beth started to object, but stopped herself as the room spun. He was right. She was in no shape to drive. And in no shape to visit Wheldon's tower as Sapphire Angel tonight. Damn that wine.
She pursed her lips, narrowed her eyes, and looked up at Conner with an accusing gaze. He held up his hands defensively.
"I'm not the one who drank the wine," he said with an offended tone. "I'm just driving you home. No funny business. You couldn't keep up with me, anyway."
Perhaps if she had been sober, his comment would have offended her. In her current state, though, Beth held up her hand to stifle a giggle.
Conner helped her to her feet and took her arm to guide her toward the door. She was thankful for the assistance, as the room bobbed under her feet.
True to Conner's word, his car was parked at a meter just a few steps away from the front of the restaurant. It was a Toyota SUV, and he had to help her up into the seat. As she climbed up, she grasped his arm and he guided her waist, and a charge ran through her. Just like that, though, the touch was over. Conner shut her door and moved around to the driver's seat.
The drive home was a blur to Beth. She suddenly felt exhausted and struggled to keep her eyes open. Conner was talking about her meeting tomorrow with Wheldon, but she barely heard him. She was conscious enough to bark out an occasional direction, but otherwise said nothing.
When they pulled up to the curb in front of her townhouse, Conner hopped out of the vehicle first, and hurried around to her door. She was already opening it by the time he got there, and had started to step down. The step didn't go very well, and she stumbled forward, directly into Conner.
He caught her, and she felt his breath on the side of her face. They remained pressed against one another for a moment longer than necessary, before they both pulled away and stepped backward.
"Uh, sorry. I mean, thanks," she breathed, gazing up at him.
He smiled softly. "Let's get you inside."
They walked up the sidewalk to her front door, Conner guiding her just as he had done in the restaurant.
When they reached the door he asked, "Will you be okay from here?" He sounded uncertain, which was disconcerting to Beth. Conner was always anything but uncertain. She nodded.
Conner took a deep breath. "Okay. Please be careful tomorrow when you meet with Wheldon. And let me know right away how it goes."
Beth nodded as she looked up at him again. She wanted to ask him to come in with her. That wasn't her, though. Beth Harper didn't end first dates in bed with someone. This wasn't a date, she reminded herself.
"I'll be fine," she said, and tore herself away from his gaze, not trusting herself. She fumbled with her key and unlocked the door. She wanted at least a kiss from him, but she didn't know if he wanted the same, and she didn't want to regret her choices the next day either. So Beth opened the door, stepped inside, mumbled the words "Good bye" and "Thanks for dinner," and closed the door.
From the end of the block, Raven Tristan sat in her car with the headlights off and watched Harper and Bennett's farewell, shaking her head in disgust. Perhaps it was because she knew her own limitations with the opposite sex, but Tristan felt annoyed whenever she saw a man throwing himself at a beautiful woman. The worst part was Harper seemed oblivious to it. Tristan shook her head in irritation. The girl had a naïveté that would have been charming if it weren't so hard to believe. How could someone so beautiful be so oblivious to the interest she caused in men?
Tristan's annoyance with Harper hardened her resolve. The next step of her investigation could wait no longer. Tomorrow she would see the inside of Harper's home.
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Beth seems pretty incapacitated as a result of the wine. Tristan could probably break in now and she wouldn’t be able to do a dang thing about it. Wouldn’t it be hilarious if she did break in tonight and we got to see a fight scene between Tristan and an inebriated Sapphire Angel? 🤣