1
Layton Reinhardt deposited her in the passenger seat of the black corvette, gently and effortlessly after the two block walk. She hated passenger seats – she was not a good passenger at all. It drove her crazy to have others drive, a quirk she’d had since she had started driving over ten years ago now. She squirmed and twisted, needed something to hold in her hands to play with, jerked and became irritable. She couldn’t help it nor fight it – it just happened.2
"Yeah, I know," he had said. "You hate to ride but you’ve got no choice now, so cool it." He came around the car and climbed through the door.3
Smart ass, she thought. That was easy for him to say. But, she didn’t say it, even though she normally would have. She was holding back, but why? He started the car and put it in gear.4
"Smart ass," she said.5
"What?" He turned to look at her, the car still sitting still.6
"For that last thing you said," she replied, eye to eye with him.7
Each held the other’s eyes for long seconds until a broad smile slowly crossed his face.8
"Oh," he said, laughing. "That’s interesting."9
"What’s interesting?" Her eyes narrowed and her voice was sharp and clipped.10
"What I was thinking," he responded gently.11
Suddenly memories from two years ago flooded back to her, of responses just like this one that had infuriated her at first, but had finally earned a grudging admiration from her as she learned to accept them. It was his way of keeping her off balance in the continuing struggle these two seemed bent on engaging in. And, the twinkle in his eyes told her that he remembered too, and was enjoying it. It lit her fire, and she now knew that he enjoyed seeing her burn, enjoyed being able to do that, almost at will - and enjoyed seeing her slightly off balance.12
"Just drive the damn car," she snapped out, trying to act angry but not at all sure she was succeeding.13
"Yes, ma’am, whatever you say," he responded and let out the clutch and they were off. "Don’t expect me to be driving like you did, so just close your eyes and enjoy this ride." He giggled and shook his head.14
"Ass," she mumbled and settled down in the seat, her legs twitching and her hands itching to have hold of that steering wheel. "Freaking ankle," she yelled, and he jerked, the Corvette swerving slightly.15
"Lady," he said, trying to sound stern.16
"Just shut up and drive – I’ll be fine," she said gruffly, looking straight ahead out the windshield as the wind gently tossled her hair and he watched her out of the corner of his eye.17
"Oh crap," he suddenly said.18
"What now?"19
He looked over at her. "I almost forgot but caught it before I blundered."20
"What?" she asked again.21
"Where do you want to eat?" he said, a humble tone to his voice.22
She smiled. "Why are you asking me," she said, coyly.23
"Rub it in, I guess I deserve it. I almost forgot that you eat vegan. I’d have stuck a Big Mac in front of you."24
"Well, if you’d have ordered for me you wouldn’t have had to worry because I’d have been gone before the food got there." She said it matter-of-factly, as though anyone should have known that about her.25
"Yep," he said. "I expect so. Where to?"26
"Well, I’m not totally self-centered you know. What if YOU don’t like the food at the place I suggest?" She looked at him out of the corner of her eye but he was watching the road and didn’t notice.27
"Ha!" he exclaimed. "The food I don’t like hasn’t been created yet . . . except maybe sweet potatoes. They make me sick."28
"Okay then, how about Subway?"29
"Cool." He drove for a minute or so. "Despite the fact that I’m male, I’m gonna need directions here."30
"Despite? Bad choice of words there, Mr. Reinhardt. Because of would fit much better."31
She briefly told him how to get to Subway, then settled back in the seat. Why not, she thought. What the hell!32
"Did you really think about me for these two years or is that just a bunch of BS you’re using, now that you’re home here?"33
He didn’t look at her, nor did he smile. There was a seriousness suddenly hovering around him that made the little hairs on her arms and neck stand straight up. And suddenly she wasn’t so sure she should have asked the question, but not for the reason she might have expected. She could see in his face that he was serious, even before he answered, and that thought terrified her. And, with that thought, her chest tightened and her breath left her completely and she felt like she might suffocate right there in the front seat of his Corvette.34
"No BS," he answered. "Not my style and I expect that you know that. But, I also appreciate why you asked. I sure did. I looked forward all that time to the thought of seeing those gray eyes and that pony tail one more time. And one out of two isn’t bad." Now he turned to look at her. "When did you cut your hair?"35
"I’m not sure but I think it was about May of last year or so. It’s been a little longer since, and a little shorter." She paused and smiled. "And a whole lot redder for a while."36
"Here I was, somewhere in the world – who knows where, thinking about this gorgeous blond with a pony tail – and she’s got short red hair and I don’t even know it."37
She heard the word gorgeous very clearly and once more her heart thumped and her breathing nearly ceased. She liked to tell herself that being thought of as gorgeous wasn’t really that important, but she still enjoyed hearing it.38
"Thanks," she said as loud as her breathless lungs would allow.39
"You say thanks?" he asked, looking over at her.40
She nodded, not trusting her voice this time, and digging her fingernails into the palms of her hands to try to bring herself to her senses.41
"For what?" he asked very innocently.42
"You said I was gorgeous."43
"Oh." A brief pause. "You surely know that already and I’m not the first to say it to you."44
"A girl still likes to hear it – from someone else. Like parents hearing good things about their kids from an outsider. Just makes you feel good."45
"Well, it’s true." He smiled broadly. "Glad I made you feel good. It was actually pretty easy." He turned back to his driving.46
She leaned her head over so that the wind would blow across her face and hair. Did he make her feel good? Is that what this breathlessness was – feeling good. If so, then she was feeling very, very good. Or was it fear and terror that was gripping her? Not fear of him but fear of herself. Fear of the battle that could rage inside her, the need to break down those walls at war with the overwhelming desire to build them even higher. Without looking, she pictured the guy sitting next to her in this Corvette that was moving so slowly that it was all she could do to contain herself, and wondered where he fit in. Was he the one to swing the sledge that smashed the walls forever, or the guy carrying the load of bricks to builder it ever higher? Time would tell – and she hoped it would be soon – this breathlessness was making her light headed.47
Author notes
The Lady begins to face her feelings about the D Man, and he begins to tell her about his own.
[Original Photo by DHPhotography]
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I have to admit that this one got a few giggles out of me. i just love the way you have given this whole story so much life and character and pulse. You have really presented everything with such detail and special care that everyone that reads this will be able to see and identify with the characters in some shape or form. I don't know how anyone could read this series and not like it.
♥ Kimberly -
That chapter was really funny!! I love whe she called him a smart ass, it actually made me laught out loud, and had all three cats looking at me weirdly, or maybe it's just me. This is an amazing story with incredible detail. I knew you were really good, but I didn't know you were this good. Can't wait to read the next chapter.
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Okay overall this completely drew me in.. Who hasn't been left longing and wondering about the what if's of love? Hence why women read Romance novels.. They want the fairy tale ending.. Great work really I enjoyed all three parts.. Take Care, be safe, Catressa
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Remember how just a few days ago we were talking about the option on the site that lets you hide profanity and replaces it with the word bunny? I forgot I still had that on after our conversation because I'd wanted to see how it worked.. took me a good 10 minutes to figure out why she called him a smart bunny.. when I realized it should have been smart ass and I hadn't turned off that option. Smart Becca, eh?
Another quotation missing I think..
He looked over at her. I almost forgot but caught it before I blundered."
"I almost forgot.."
Once again I'm not entirely sure on that.. just thought I'd mention it. This is continuing to develop well.. can't wait for the next one!
Becca -
Oh - I want him! Where is he??
Gat
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