Chapter 5

Gemma

This was turning out to be a weirder day than I had expected it to be. I was in a Mercedes, with a man I had just met, admitting to him the one big ambition of my life. A man who had a name, uncannily similar to one of the wealthiest men in this country. Vincent Stoltz had just found the cure to Coeliac Disease. I had been reading about it in medical journals for the past few weeks with mild curiosity. Other than their names, the pharmaceutical billionaire and this guy driving me to work couldn’t possibly have anything in common, I figured. He was way too young, and way too good looking to be a scientific and business genius.

“And what is it that you do?” I asked him, trying to change the topic. Although I had initially met him with some annoyance, I knew I should be grateful to him for giving me a ride to work. He had no reason to even stop and offer to help. Now that I had the time to think about it, I knew he had done a good deed.

I had been bowled over by his unbelievably handsome looks, and I didn’t trust him because of the car he was driving. There was something fairytale-like about this man and the way we had bumped into each other. Almost too good to be true. The fact that I was confused, angry and desperate didn’t help either. I had ended up taking out my frustration on this kind stranger, when I should have been thanking him instead.

“Family business,” Luke said, looking ahead as he drove. I saw him in profile, how sharp his nose was, how his thin lips looked strong and kind at the same time. His neck was long, too, just like every other part of his body. Then my gaze dropped to the bulge in his pants. I was quick to look away. Focus, Gemma! Don’t bullshit yourself. You can fantasize about him in the privacy of your own room.

“What kind of business?” I asked him, in a rush. He looked over at me and smiled. There were those dimples again! They were maddening.

“A little bit of this and that,” he replied, shaking his head gently.

I slid down a little in my seat, enjoying the comfort of his soft tan leather seats. I had never been inside a car like this before. Even the cup holders between us looked like they were plated in platinum. Whatever business his family ran, they were doing quite well for themselves.

“So, what brings you here?” I asked, forcing myself to say something.

“A retreat, with my department heads. Just a week to get away from the usual grind and get some meetings done,” Luke explained. I noticed how large his hands were again, as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. He was driving at medium speed, like he was in no hurry to get anywhere. I had forgotten that I was still late for work.

“And have you lived here all your life?” he asked me.

I nodded. “Born and raised, never lived anywhere else,” I said, my words choking a little in my throat. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to notice it.

“It’s a beautiful place to grow up,” he said, looking out at the mountains. I couldn’t agree with him, even though I knew what he was saying was true. I was lucky to have grown up here. But the grass was always greener, wasn’t it? I said nothing.

“Where do you want to go to med school?” he asked, and I gulped. I hadn’t thought that far. Just getting through this college, managing my bills, supporting my parents at the same time… those were my primary concerns. Every time I fantasized about escaping this town, I knew that I had no actual practical plans in place.

“Turn here at the next right,” I said, instead of replying to him. I was thankful for the diversion. I didn’t want to have to admit to him that I was beginning to believe I couldn’t ever go to med school. Not in the next ten years at least.

Luke turned right and continued driving, a little slower now that we were off the highway.

“Even the little shops and buildings here look serene, like little toy houses,” he commented, smiling out at the streets. I didn’t see the beauty in them anymore; they all looked drab and boring to me. He was enjoying looking at them though, and I was enjoying looking at him. Where did they make men like him?

“And the next left,” I said just in time, distracted by the way his biceps flexed under his shirt. He was right, his flexing muscles were distracting indeed, and also quite impressive. It almost brought a smile to my lips.

“Right there, that place, you can stop here,” I said, pointing to the diner.

“Mike’s Diner,” Luke read when he saw the sign and began to slow down.

“Yeah, Big Mike got creative with the name,” I said, getting ready to jump out of the car.

He laughed at that, bringing the car to a halt now, several feet away from the entrance to the diner.

“Thank you, Luke. Thanks for the ride. I hope you have a relaxing and productive vacation here,” I said, pushing the car door open. It opened smoothly and with ease. I had forgotten that I wasn’t opening my own beaten car door that needed a sharp thrust and a jiggle to get it to work.

Luke was unbuckling himself from his seat as I stepped out of the car. He had that same handsome smile on his face as I realized he was getting out as well.

“You’re very welcome, and now that I’m here at a diner, I realize that I’m quite hungry. So, you’re not getting rid of me just yet,” he said, as I watched him with surprise. I was really hoping he would leave now, leave me alone with my thoughts. So that I wouldn’t be so preoccupied by his perfect looks and steaming hot body.

But there was to be no respite for me; he was following me into the diner.