1
She jounced along wordlessly, in some ways enjoying being carried like this but in others wanting more than anything to be away from his arms and away from him as well. She had finally put her arm around his neck to help him support her and had expected a smug smile in return but got only a curt, "thanks." It was seven blocks to her house and he carried her effortlessly - and wordlessly. She wished he’d say something so she could reply because she had already generated a page full of questions but wasn’t about to start this conversation herself. He had found HER and not vice versa.2
At last they were at her house and, inwardly, she was pleased that he had remembered where it was but gave no outward sign of her feelings. He went up the two steps to the porch, grabbed the handle and was beginning to push the door open when he stopped.3
"Who’s the little gnomy character?" he asked, gesturing with his head toward the small figure hanging there on the porch.4
"Ferdinand," she answered brusquely, not sure what to expect next. "Don’t you like him?"5
He looked for a moment. "Well, no one hangs a gnome on their porch unless that gnome is pretty special." Without turning his head he rolled his eyes down toward hers. "Right?"6
Somehow he had put her on the defensive and that had not been her plan at all. "Maybe," she said, wishing he wasn’t still holding her in his arms. Something was happening inside her, a certain breathlessness that she didn’t like at all, but recognized for what it was.7
"Well, from anyone else, I’d say that was strange. From you . . . " He paused and a smile spread across his face. "Just thinking about you driving that Corvette and scaring me to death and trying to put that together with Ferdinand, hanging here." He looked her straight in the eye. "Any more of these guys around? I’d expect this one needs some company."8
Feeling her chest tighten even more, she looked away. "Well, there’s Troy – he’s the gay one. And Homer and John Belue," she said, unable to keep from smiling at the thought that she was talking about a gay gnome to a world famous man who had barely missed setting a new world record in the decathlon.9
"Well, I’ll have to meet them all now," he said, shaking his head.10
Stepping through the door, he plopped her gently on the couch, then knelt in front of her. Something inside of her said to pull the ankle away from his gentle hands, but she didn’t do it, a little disgusted with herself that she was enjoying his touch. She liked to be in control and wasn’t sure that she was now.11
"That hurt much?" he asked, not raising his head.12
"No, not much," she answered softly, much softer than she had planned.13
"This?"14
"No."15
"Good," he said finally, still holding her ankle. But this time he raised his head and held her eyes with his. "Two or three days and you should be fine I think."16
The fact that he continued to hold her ankle told her more than anything he could have said, yet she had a head full of questions and they weren’t going to stay inside much longer – it just wasn’t her nature to hold it in.17
And he, sensing what was happening inside her head, swung up and around so that he was sitting next to her on the couch. "You’re wondering why I’m back here and particularly why I was running down that street." He waited for her response but all she did was look at him with raised eyebrows.18
"Well, the reason," he continued, "is that I’ve been sitting there for three evenings, waiting for you to run and I was just about to give up and come knock on your door when you finally showed up." He was hoping to surprise her and could see that it had worked. "Yep," he said matter-of-factly. "I haven’t forgotten you in the two years I was away . . ." He paused. "And I was hoping you hadn’t forgotten me."19
No, she hadn’t forgotten him although in two years there had been others. Two who had believed her when she told them not to fall in love with her and two who hadn’t. Of the latter two, one had moved away and one still hung around, pouting and moping when he couldn’t get what he wanted from her but still unwilling to let loose, no matter what she said. The former two were still, well, ‘entertaining’, each in his own way and she enjoyed hanging out with them when she had the chance. But, only this one caused her to . . . well . . . lose her breath.20
So, now this was the guy she wondered about. He was definitely the marrying type, but she hadn’t wanted to marry him, only to stay home and care for his sick mother. That wasn’t her idea of what marriage was all about and, right or wrong, that was where she had been. Now, why was he back? And looking for her as well. And, the biggest question of all, would she really be willing to marry someone. Then, she stopped herself and wondered why her mind and imagination were racing so far ahead of where they normally were.21
As if reading her mind, he began. "Mother died six months ago," he said softly, and she couldn’t help but feel sorry for this big, strong, world renowned athlete whose voice cracked when he spoke of his mother’s death. "Then, one more torn muscle in my shoulder and I sat down and evaluated, packed up and headed here. I’ve got no real home of my own so mom’s place is the closest there is. And, as soon as I thought of that, I thought of you."22
"Why me," she asked, a hint of cynicism coloring her voice.23
"Maybe it was the way you drove my Corvette," he quipped. "Or maybe it’s because you’re so different than anyone I’ve known before or since. Maybe it’s because I tried . . . and lost, and my male pride just won’t let it go." He looked at her and shrugged his shoulders.24
"How’s your shoulder?" she asked.25
"Getting better every day," he said, instinctively putting his hand to his right shoulder. "But, to answer your real question, it’ll never be good enough to compete again – I’ve officially retired." He took a deep breath, watching her carefully for her reaction.26
But, she wasn’t about to reveal any feelings yet since she didn’t really know how she felt. This was all happening a little fast and had caught her off-guard, something she really didn’t enjoy and wasn’t used to. Yet, that was the way it had been before with the D-man and she didn’t know why she’d expect it to change now. She stared at him, sitting there comfortably beside her on the couch, relaxed and looking confident as usual and she wondered if that was really the way he felt or was it just the image he projected, a learned trait that he used to impress people and win their favor. Her brain reeled as she fought to understand.27
In the meantime he sat there, smiling, his arm over the back of the couch, praying that she couldn’t see the rapid pounding of his heart through the thin t-shirt. He loved the new look – the short blond hair and those haunting gray eyes that he had never been able to get out of his mind. For two years he had seen those eyes in his mind’s eye, staring back at him and he had dreamed of the day when he could return, praying that she would still be there – and available. Now he was here, and so was she, and he was doing everything he could to stay cool and not spoil the moment.28
"Dinner? he said, taking her hand in his.29
"On one condition," she responded. "That you don’t fall in love with me."30
"Won’t be that kind of a dinner," he laughed heartily. "I was thinking of something way more casual." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and inside, she trembled, not sure that either of them could live up to her exhortation.31
"Okay," she replied but my ankle’s too sore to drive that Corvette and that makes me mad."32
"Want me to carry you out there?"33
"Noooo," she exclaimed, "but I expect you will anyway," as he scooped her up and headed for the car, he thinking MacDonalds drive-thru and her, recognizing the look, thinking, anything but that.34
Author notes
The story continues - A nervous D Man and a breathless Lady.
[Original photo by DHPhotography]
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Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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wowsers, They are gonna fall inlove aren't they?? Come on you can tell me. At first when I started reading this I thought the D-man was a rapist, but I guess I got that all wrong now didn't I? lol
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Very cute.. this is getting good. Missing a quotation mark near the end..
"Okay," she replied but my ankle’s too sore to drive that Corvette and that makes me mad."
"but my ankle's..." etc.
I think Don't know for sure. Hm. Check it out, consider it, whatever lol great work again Paul.
Becca -
You were doing soooo well until you put a McDonalds drive thru in there!!!!!!!!
M -
Okay, I read this, and I absolutely love the coy way she's trying to keep him at arm's length. His personality is witty and reassured. I like the characters.
I do love the way you write your stories. I have such a hard time with more than just a few consecutive chapters, then I lose my path. Great work, as usual, Paul. Hugs, Patricia -
I didn't read this yet, just tell me if you get this message. Patricia
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WOW... This is awesome!!! I really like this chapter!!! You're doing a great job on this story!!!
Hugs,
Beth -
i'm gonna have go back and read this all, but this chapter is great...very intrigueing and i have to agree that those guys are very very annoying...anyhoo good job Mr.Rowley...
God Bless
tyler -
Uh huh... he's getting under her skin again! I feel it coming.
Actually, she has never been able to exorcise him from her mind and her heart. Those type of guys are sooo darn annoying!
I do love this series Paul. You have done such a marvelous job here. I would love to see this published. I surely think it deserves a greater and more appreciative audience than you are getting here. Okay father of my daughter... get back to the keyboard. I must know where this is going and where it ends!
♥ Kimberly
Edited on Jul 16, 10:01 because ''.
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