Chapter 3
Emma
The next day, after the drive down the mountain, I took a short nap and awoke around 10:00 AM. The sun was shining through the curtains, casting a light over my bed. Smiling as I stretched under the sheets, I was happy to wake up in the familiar surroundings of my own room in my soft, oversized bed.
My mind drifted to Ryan and the sexual attraction I had for him. I didn’t know anything about him, and yet I still wanted to jump him. Not normal for me, but admittedly exciting. I thought about how aroused I felt when he ran his hand down my back. I took the fantasy a little further in my mind and allowed my own hand to slowly travel south underneath my underwear and between my legs.
***
I gave Sierra a hug. "Sure wish you were able to bring Mamma a cup of coffee." I got out of bed and took a shower.
Charlotte had planned a cookout for later in the day, other than that, all I wanted to do was enjoy a lazy afternoon. I grabbed a cup of coffee and stepped outside with Sierra. I hung my new feeder on a tree outside my back door and was even more pleased with my purchase when I saw the sun’s reflection bouncing off the glass mosaic tiles, creating a kaleidoscope of colors.
Sitting on my patio swing, I thought about Ryan. Well, not so much Ryan but my sexual intensity toward him. I wondered if it was possible to feel that type of chemistry and sustain a relationship with someone.
Around noon the phone rang.
"Emma." I heard the unforgettable, deep voice on the other end and knew it was Ryan.
"I am at a restaurant called the Dusty Boot. How soon can you be here?"
The Dusty Boot was around the corner from me. How did he know I lived nearby? I remembered I had written Greenwood Village by my number on the napkin last night. Which now, looking back on it, felt a bit desperate.
"What? Who is this?" I asked, playing coy.
Ryan chuckled. I'm sure he saw right through my act.
"I'm in Denver and thought you might be hungry. Can you get a babysitter for Sierra? And if so, how long till you get here?"
Not sure how to respond and not wanting to answer with regard to Sierra, I said, "Be there in fifteen," and hung up.
Ryan was in Denver. It made sense; he would have had to take Interstate 25 on his way to Colorado Springs and I-25 runs straight through Denver. Was he just stopping in Denver for lunch on his way, or did he have ulterior motives? Was I willing to sleep with him? I decided to wait and see how this played out before thinking about that.
First, I called my neighbor Randy to see if he could watch Sierra for me. Randy and his partner, John, loved Sierra. They often helped me out with her if I was going to be late getting home. Then I threw on a sexy, short sundress, some sandals, put on some pale pink lipstick, and ran a brush through my blond hair, which always appeared a little disheveled. I quit fighting it a long time ago, and most of the time I had a slight bedhead thing going on. Ten minutes later I was out the door.
I spotted Ryan from the sidewalk. He was sitting at a table outside on the restaurant’s patio. He watched me as I walked toward him. His intensity made me a little uncomfortable. Several women at the surrounding tables were watching Ryan. Crap, what was I doing? This guy could be with any woman he wanted.
As I got closer to the table, I saw Ryan shake his head as he spoke to the waiter. "What the hell am I doing?" he asked. The waiter glanced up as I arrived and gave me a half-smile, the knowing smile that implied he was privy to some secret. "I think your selection is excellent," he said to Ryan.
"What was he talking about?" I asked.
"The waiter? He was commenting on my choice of appetizers and women." Ryan grinned. "I took the liberty of ordering you a glass of chardonnay. Damn, you are beautiful," he added, staring at me with a sincerity that sent goose bumps down my arms.
"Why thank you, Sir Ryan." I blushed. "I thought you were on your way to Colorado Springs?"
His eyes, flickering with excitement, traveled up and down my body, assessing me.
"Plans changed," he said matter-of-factly.
The thought crossed my mind that perhaps I should have told someone I was meeting him here. What did I know about this man?
"Hope you're as hungry as I am," he said. I had a distinct feeling he wasn't talking about food.
"And if I had preferred red wine instead of chardonnay?" I said, trying to be difficult.
"I would order you a glass of red, but I doubt you prefer red. I believe it was chardonnay you were drinking last night?”
He was right, and I was impressed that he remembered what I had been drinking the night before. "What is it that brings you to my neck of the woods?" I asked.
He let a slow, sly grin cross his face that tore at both my heart and my loins. "I woke up this morning, found a note in my jeans pocket, and thought it's been awhile since I've been to Denver."
I was pretty sure his plans didn’t include traveling the rest of the way to Colorado Springs after lunch. We were both aware that sex—in particular, sex with me—was what brought him to Denver. I tucked that thought away somewhere in the back of my mind where the agenda wouldn't seem so obvious.
“So, Ryan, where do you live and what do you do for a living?” I asked, attempting to lighten the mood.
Ryan’s eyes drifted away from mine. He stared off into the distance, and his body language changed. He took a sip of his wine and turned his attention back to me.
“I live in Chicago, but as a consultant, I travel a lot for work.” He appeared tense and offered no further information. Instead, he changed the subject. “That’s a great dress, and I was right. You're sexy with or without the heels.”
“Thanks.” I laughed nervously.
Our waiter delivered the appetizers.
Ryan tilted his head as he looked at me. He must have known I was nervous. “What do you like to do when you’re not attending weddings in Estes Park?” Ryan asked.
“I like being outdoors, for one. I’m a programmer and spend a lot of hours behind a computer screen, so when I’m not at work, I enjoy the fresh air. Running, hiking, swimming, or even just sitting in my backyard.”
Using his forefinger and thumb, he ran his hand over the light stubble on his chin. "Everything you named is pretty much a solitary activity."
"I’ve never thought of it like that before, but I guess you are right. I don’t really like competitive sports. What about you, what do you enjoy doing? Besides sex,” I added and wished I could have taken it back as soon as I said it.
He broke into that half-smile I was starting to love. "I do enjoy sex. Especially when it is elevated by having a strong chemistry with someone."
So he did feel it. The intensity went both ways. Crap, I could feel my face growing hot. This blushing shit has got to stop!
“Aside from sex, I also enjoy hiking and the outdoors. I love experiencing new adventures. And, in the last few hours, I’ve discovered that women who blush really excite me.” He laughed.
I reached for an appetizer. I couldn’t believe I was eating a fried pickle and thinking about sex.
“I recently went hiking in New Zealand to see the Sutherland Falls,” he continued. “It was such a rush. You would have loved it. The roaring sound of the water, steam rising as the water hits the rocks.” Ryan went on to describe Sutherland Falls passionately for several minutes.
I had never given waterfalls much thought in the past, but listening to him describe the power and the beauty made me want to visit one and experience it in the same way he did.
His eyes were so vivid they would flicker, and his smile—not the half-smile he exhibited when being playful or sexy but a broad, infectious smile that showed the slight wrinkles around his eyes and lit up his face—exposed a happiness that was hard to put into words. His passion for the things he loved was conveyed through an excitement that reminded me of a child coming down the stairs on Christmas morning to see that one special toy they had dreamed about all year sitting under the tree. I found myself easily drawn to his enthusiasm.
"That’s amazing, I doubt if I will get to New Zealand anytime soon, but I’m sure the next time I see a waterfall, I will view it in a new light."
“Who’s your favorite author?” he asked. Ryan seemed genuinely interested in the person I was. Had I misjudged his motive for his sudden stopover in Denver?
“Hmm, that’s a tough one. I don’t know if I have a favorite, but Richard Bach comes to mind. I loved Illusions and Jonathan Livingston Seagull.”
“I’m going to guess that means you’ve probably also read Hesse’s Siddhartha?”
“Yes, loved it. I guess I have a type of book.”
“Steppenwolf?”
“Read it, but it’s a little dark. So have you read both Bach and Hesse?”
“I have, but it was years ago. I’ll read most anything, science fiction, history, and the Wall Street Journal. I’m a little bit of a nerd.” He smiled.
“A very sexy nerd,” I blurted without thinking. I was only human. I’d been watching those deep emerald eyes and staring at his strong face for a couple of hours.
He reached across the table and took my hand. “So you think I’m sexy?” That cocky half-smile was back.
Once again, I felt the heat across my cheeks. “You enjoy making me blush, don’t you?”
He pushed his chair next to mine and lightly kissed me. A simple touching of our lips and my body went into overdrive. I was more comfortable with Ryan today than the previous night. We laughed easily. Nothing embarrassed him. He even sang the lyrics of some songs to see if I knew them. His singing voice was just as sexy as his speaking voice. Ryan's confidence came off as cocky but not obnoxious.
He had offered no information regarding his occupation except that he was a consultant. He seemed uneasy with questions regarding his personal life. I decided to avoid them, at least for now. I didn’t ask, and he didn’t volunteer. I had learned a little more about who he was as a person, and I was intrigued.
Then I heard the annoying beeping of my phone. The calendar alert was going off, reminding me of Char's get together.
"Oh shit!" I said as I glanced at my phone.
"Oh shit?" he repeated and raised one eyebrow.
"Charlotte, the girl with me last night … I'm supposed to be at her house in thirty minutes for a barbecue. Bob, her fiancé, is an excellent cook, and he's grilling."
"Well then, let's go. Since your car isn't here, I'll drive."
"Really?" I said, sounding a little exasperated. I was relieved that he was coming, but the fact that I hadn't invited him to Char's didn't appear to make much difference to him.
Ryan put his arm around me. "Since you’re sitting here with me, I assume you don’t have a plus one, and hopefully your friend won’t mind. I'm not ready for today to end and neither are you. Let's go or we'll be late. We should stop and get some wine or something on the way," he said as he led me out the door.
He was right. I didn’t want the day to end, and I was glad he invited himself. I should have called Char and warned her, but I didn't have the time or the words.
When we arrived, Bob greeted us at the door. "Hello, Em." He hugged me and turned to Ryan to shake his hand. Bob looked a little uncomfortable, and Ryan had a confused look on his face. How lame of me not to introduce them. "Bob, this is Ryan, a … um … friend of mine. Ryan, Bob is Charlotte's fiancé."
"Well, come on in. Char, Em's here!" Bob shouted, looking out at the patio. "Go on out. Char's been waiting for you. Ryan, why don't you help me out with the drinks," Bob said, leading him into the kitchen.
I met up with Char outside, but before I had a chance to tell her about Ryan, another couple we knew joined us. A few minutes later, Ryan and Bob were walking toward us.
Charlotte's face froze as she recognized him. Facing me, she mouthed, "What the hell?"
I shrugged. "Charlotte, you remember Ryan?"
"Why yes I do. What an unexpected pleasure," she said. Bob raised a speculative eyebrow at Char.
"Emma, would you mind helping me in the kitchen for a moment?" Grabbing my arm, she whisked me down the hall.
"What the hell? What gives? How did this happen? Dish, girl! What is going on?" She blurted, all in one breath.
"He called this afternoon, said he was at the Dusty Boot, and we've been hanging out since. Sorry I didn't warn you, but I didn't have time. He invited himself here."
"Oh, this is yummy! Where does he live? What does he do? He is so freakin’ good looking!"
"He said he lives in Chicago, and he is some type of consultant. Other than that, I have no details about his personal life."
"What? You've been with him all day and didn’t asked him any of the important stuff? At least give me his last name so I can go Google him!"
I stared at her with an apologetic expression.
"Come on, Em! You didn't even ask him his last name?" Char was becoming visibly annoyed.
"Shh, keep it down. No, I didn't, and I need you to respect me on this and not ask him anything personal."
Char gazed at me, her expression mirroring her skepticism, "What's going on?"
"I'm not sure yet. Please, have faith in me, okay? We can talk about all this later."
I left the kitchen. I didn't turn around to look, but I was sure she was behind me, frowning. I knew none of this made any sense to her. As my closest friend, I also knew she would respect my request no matter how absurd. It didn’t make any sense to me either. I was pretty sure Ryan’s goal was to get me into bed, and honestly, with the attraction I felt for him, I wanted the same thing. The difference was I wanted Ryan in my bed for longer than just one night.
Earlier when I asked him about where he lived and his job, his reaction was distant and tense, and not very informing. Yet when he talked about his interests, he was animated, warm, and insightful. Something wasn’t right, I knew that, but I still felt compelled to continue.
Bob and Ryan hit it off like they were old buddies. They spent most of the day talking. Every time I looked over at them, they were laughing and joking. I was glad they were getting along. Men and women were so different. Men didn't need each other's entire life story to get along, just beer and an interest in sports.
Every once in a while, Ryan broke away from Bob and joined me. His social skills well-honed; he was great at casual conversation with strangers. Something akin to butterflies fluttered around in my stomach every time he put his arm around me. Usually, I was the levelheaded one who poked fun at other women who used such inane analogies and read ridiculous sappy love stories. I never had a lot of respect for overly emotional females. A guy was just a guy, right? I might have misjudged those women.
Char had invited a single friend of Bob's, Brandon, hoping we would hit it off. I spent a little time talking to him since I was the main reason he was invited. Brandon was sweet and nice looking in an ordinary way—ordinary next to Ryan. I wouldn’t swear to it, but I thought I caught a hint of jealousy in Ryan’s eyes.
As Ryan and I got ready to leave, Char pulled me aside.
"Ryan’s charming and hot as hell. I might even like him, except something’s off. He hasn’t laid his cards out on the table. And you haven’t pushed for more information, which pisses me off and worries me. Be careful and call me!"
I kissed her on the cheek. "You’re a good friend. Don’t worry, I got this."