“So, let me know if you want my ring size.”
My grin involuntarily stretched across my face and he returned the gesture. I loved Gael’s smile. It reached his eyes.
“I will. With my Aunt Leelyn being a historian, I get preserving things like your recipe. My Aunt Leelyn found a journal from my great-great-great-grandmother, Sophia. I read part of it before I came down here. It’s what prompted me to order the beef stew. Sophia had eaten something similar. Strange, I know. Anyway, I’m rambling now. But, I think it’s special you guys have kept the recipe a family tradition all these years. I bet you’ve been offered money for your recipe.”
Gael watched me keenly. “I like when you ramble.”
And I like that he likes that I ramble. More so than I should.
He kept staring at me and looked like he was going to say something else when someone called his name from the other side of the restaurant. Gael let out a breath. “It was nice meeting you, Ashlin. The bartender for the next shift just arrived, and duty calls in the kitchen. Consider this meal on the house. Comes with the listening ear. I hope to see you around sometime soon.”
He winked and strode off with a sexy gait. I needed to smack myself for how I was acting. He had simply been a nice guy. I finished my margarita and laid down a twenty for a tip.
Leaving the restaurant, I meandered for hours, walking the riverfront and going through different stores. My life had changed drastically and I was ready to embrace it. There was a loneliness within me, knowing I didn’t have any family anymore, but I couldn’t let it consume me or I’d wallow in it and never escape the sadness.
Push forward, don’t look back, embrace change, everything happens for a reason.
That had been my motto for as long as I could remember after my parents died. The moment my father had pulled the trigger, something changed within me, not allowing me to dwell too long on what could have been.
I was lost in my thoughts, looking at the charcoal cobblestone street, when I ran into someone.
“Shit.”
There was a mess of limbs as we tumbled down. Strong arms came around me and only my right shoulder hit the ground. I felt safe in these arms.
I tried to sit up and the vice grip around me relented. “Are you okay?”
That warm voice was familiar as I glanced up. It was the same warm, brown eyes that had turned my insides into liquid lava earlier. Gael.
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” Gael asked while looking me over for any signs of distress.
Lifting me up, we stood on the sidewalk. “I’m fine. I’m more worried about you, Ashlin, but I think I managed to break the fall. I was leaving for the evening.”
He remembered my name. I wanted to swoon and at the same time slap myself for being so ridiculous. A few people walked by Gael and exchange hellos as I stood there and smiled politely. “Thank you for breaking the fall. I was lost in thought and wasn’t paying attention. I’m really sorry.”
The sun sat as the bit of daylight shone bright behind Gael, illuminating his physique. “It’s really okay. Do you want a ride home?”
The chill of the night started to set in. “No, it’s okay. I’ll walk.”
“It’s late, let me at least take you to the cab line.”
“Okay.”
I turned and walked when Gael came up beside me and put his hand on my lower back. My body instinctively wanted to lean in and relish the feeling of security he gave. Instead, I kept the appropriate distance and continued to walk.
“The cabs are right up this way. What are you plans tonight?”
I nodded. “Thanks. I need to finish going through some more of my aunt’s things before I start working again tomorrow. I’m a habitual organizer. I like everything having a place.”
Feeling Gael’s hand flex on my back, he asked, “What do you do?”
I liked how heat radiated out from his touch along my lower spine, warming me.
“I’m a web designer, which works out pretty well considering I’ve relocated from New York to Georgia in a matter of days. Tomorrow, I plan on working. For lunch, I think I’m going to Oglethorpe Park. Sophia had been there in the one of the journal entries I’d read. I thought it would be a neat place to read the next entry.”
I stopped, realizing I was rambling on for no reason. Gael seemed to bring that out in me, the desire to tell him everything which was not normal for me.
More people greeted him as we walked. “Why haven’t you finished the journal when obviously it’s intrigued you?”
The street lights came on and it added to the old-timey feel. “I think because it gives me a connection with my Aunt Leelyn, and I’m not ready for that to end. I want to prolong it and give myself something to look forward to each day as I try to figure out what my next move is.”
“That makes sense.”
We climbed some steps and more people said hello to Gael. “Why does everyone know you?”
He shrugged. “I’ve had the restaurant for a few years and grew up here. Savannah may get numerous tourists, but it still has that small town feel with the locals. We know what’s going on in each other’s lives.”
We approached the place to catch the cabs. I turned to Gael. “Well, thank you for dinner, lending an ear, and breaking the fall for me when I ran you over. I think that about covers my afternoon of humiliation.”
He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and I stood there, momentarily stunned at how incredible the brief contact of his lips felt. Gael spoke as he pulled away and his breath tickled my ear. “I’d say without a doubt you were the most beautiful thing that happened to me today. Thank you. I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.”
I was at a loss again and I fumbled for the taxicab door, ungraceful-like and murmured my address to the driver. As the cab took off, I chanced a glance at Gael. He looked at me and my breath caught with his intense gaze as he stood on the sidewalk. I was locked in his trance and he in mine until the cab turned and broke it for us.
Taking a deep steadying breath, I closed my eyes and thought back on the image of Gael on the sidewalk staring at me.
Whatever had happened in that moment had been strong and unexplainable, unlike anything I had felt before. I hoped he was right in saying we would see each other again … soon.
MY CELL PHONE woke me up the following morning. With one eye open, I saw Amelia’s name flash across the screen. She had texted late last night that their plane had been delayed.
“Hello?” My voice was groggy and heavy with sleep as I tried to clear my throat.
“What the hell, Ashlin? Why did you not tell me about your Aunt Leelyn?” Amelia’s voice came through loud and clear from the other end of the line. Obviously, she had a jump on the morning and had already had her cup of coffee. Amelia had always been an early bird.
I sat up. “I didn’t want to ruin your honeymoon. There wasn’t anything you could do and I knew you would fly back early. How was the honeymoon?”
“It was wonderful, but we’ll catch up on that later. I would have come back in a heartbeat. Are you okay? Do you need me to come to Savannah? Are you still in Savannah? Harris didn’t give me any details when he called. Was Harris good to you through the ordeal? I’ll crack his nuts and roast them over an open fire if he pulled that asshat business routine.” Amelia was feisty and, on more than one occasion, had wanted to set Harris straight.
I needed a cup of coffee to continue this conversation. Amelia’s questions were coming at me from every direction. I should have known Harris would try something like this. Pissed me off that he involved a friend of mine. He couldn’t even take the time to attend her wedding!
Trudging downstairs, I answered Amelia. “I’m doing okay, and there’s no need to come to Savannah. You just got back from your honeymoon. And Harris had his sweet supportive moments but then turned into a complete asshole, so I ended up breaking up with him after the funeral.”
The line went silent, so I continued on. I’m sure Ameli
a never thought the day would come. “It was time, actually way past overdue, for Harris and me to go our separate ways. I had planned on breaking it off with him the night Aunt Leelyn died, but I had to focus on the funeral. When he turned back into his jackass self after the funeral, I ended it.”
“I know that was a hard step, but I’m proud of you, Ashlin. Harris changed, or the real version of him emerged. I hate being the friend who is glad you dumped him, but I am. How are you doing?”
I could sense the conviction in Amelia’s voice as she spoke. Making it to the coffee machine, I turned it on and waited for it to heat up.
“I know. I’m doing okay with everything … considering. I spent the first few days bawling my eyes out. When I started going through Aunt Leelyn’s stuff, it seemed to be therapeutic. All the memories comforted me. I know she loved me and I loved her. I’ll still have sad days and miss her, but I have to keep moving forward.”
The fresh cuts to my heart stung thinking about all that had happened and the loss. I took a deep breath. “What did Harris tell you?”
Amelia snorted. “He was being a slimy bastard. Called all nice and cordial. The asshole. Anyway, he called your best friend to let me know the news. Thought maybe you could use a pick me up and some additional support. Said he would fly me down there to help you out and get you back home sooner so he could be with you.”
I rolled my eyes at the absurd picture Harris had painted to Amelia. “Well, that’s not the case. For now, I’m going to stay here until I figure out my next move.”
“What do you need me to do?” Amelia had been my best friend through college. We had been roommates in the dorms and bonded instantly.
Thinking for a second, I remembered all my to-do’s. “Would you mind getting some more of my clothes and shipping them down here? Nothing that Harris has bought, just my stuff. I’ll let him know you’ll be stopping by, if you’re okay with it. Or rather, I’ll let his secretary know, since that’s who I was directed to during business hours the last time I tried to call him at work.”
There were some cupboards opening on the other end of the line before Amelia spoke. “Fucking bastard. Of course, I don’t mind. And I’ll even leave that bastard’s nuts intact when I go.”
I chuckled. “Thank you, Amelia. I appreciate it. I’ll copy you on the e-mail to his secretary.”
“You’re welcome. Please let me know if you need me to come down. I’ll wait to hear back on when I can go get your things. I love you, Ashlin. I’m here for you if you need anything. I need to go get Steven up. I promise to call you back and fill you in on the honeymoon later.”
It warmed my heart that I did still have someone left who meant the world to me. “I love you, too. I know you’re always there for me. Take care of that new husband of yours. Talk to you in a bit.”
“Bye, sweetie.”
With that, I hung up the phone and kept making my coffee, having abandoned it while talking with Amelia. It was strange Harris acted like we were still together—though not surprising. Walking over to my laptop, I opened up my e-mail to inform Harris’ secretary, Lucinda, that Amelia would be picking up some of my things.
I hit send and not a moment later, I received a text from Harris.
Harris: Call me.
Me: I’m working, Harris. We’ve said everything we needed to say.
My phone rung right as I was about to start working. My hopes of brushing Harris off were not going to work today. I needed to go ahead and bite the bullet. There were still several things I needed to get from his place.
I hit Answer.
“Hello, Harris.”
“It’s about damn time you stopped being so stubborn and talked to me. Why the hell does Amelia need to come get all of your clothes?” His tone was cold and only reaffirmed my decision. I can’t believe I stayed miserable for so long through the last year.
Squeezing the bridge of my nose, I replied, “Harris, I’m not taking any of the gowns or jewelry you got me. I only need my clothes. Don’t make this more difficult than it has to be.”
Astounded, he asked, “You aren’t coming back to New York?”
“No, not right now. I’m about to start working. I still have Aunt Leelyn’s house to go through, then I don’t know what I’ll do. I figure we’ll need to work with your PR team on how you want to announce our breakup.”
It sounded like a chair pushed back from the other end. “Why haven’t you called since your bags were delivered? I gave specific instructions for you to read my note and call me. Are you seeing anyone, Ashlin?”
I rolled my eyes at his commands. It was evident he tried to hold back his full on ice mode he adopted. Wanting to keep things decent between us, I only answered the last question, even though, honestly, it wasn’t his business anymore. “No, I’ve been working and cleaning.”
He gave a tired sigh like he used to do when he wanted to spend time together and something kept us apart. This was what I had hated about being with him. The ambiguity. Most of the time, I felt whiplashed about our relationship, which wasn’t a good thing. “Okay, I’ll have some of your stuff properly packed and overnighted to you. No need for Amelia to come by.”
“I’ll pay you whatever it costs you to send.” I hated having to spend money on someone else packing my stuff, but at this point I wanted my clothes.
Harris took a deep breath. “Don’t be ridiculous. You do need clothes while you’re there, temporarily. I’ll get it done. Call me tomorrow when you get them.”
Instead of arguing, I took the high road. At times, I thought I would have better success arguing with a fence post.
“Thank you, Harris. Have a good day.”
“You, too.”
We hung up and I relaxed back into my chair. If we were able to be this civil through the transition of the breakup, that would be a good thing. But, I wasn’t naïve and didn’t think Harris had finished playing this hand.
By the sheer fact of him sending only some of my clothes, he was going to make this hard. Brushing all those thoughts aside, I turned my focus to my web design. I’d take a break at lunch to start reading another journal entry.
I had spent the last hour talking to Amelia about what an incredible time she and Steven had on their honeymoon in Barbados. The day was beautiful as I walked the few blocks down to Oglethorpe Park for lunch. A light breeze blew. One of my favorite things about Savannah was the moss that hung from the trees. It gave off that old-timey feel around all the modernization that tried to choke out the historical roots of my beloved city.
Entering the park, I heard birds singing. The heat in Savannah could be brutal and I think we welcomed the milder weather. It was refreshing and renewing. I found a bench in front of one of the paths. I had brought a ham sandwich and water to eat lunch there. As I ate, I imaged Sophia sitting on this very park bench listening to her mom prattle about money. The oppression Sophia must have felt, not being able to be true to the person she was, had to have been suffocating.
Thinking about being trapped in a marriage to Harris would have smothered the light out of my soul. I know it would have been a slow death. But then to feel that spark, that energy with someone was exhilarating—to know there was someone who could stoke the fire of your very being was intoxicating. My thoughts automatically turned to Gael. I didn’t even know his last name, but that same feeling that Sophia had written about had coursed through my veins.
My mind told me that it was because it was the first time I had been free from my self-induced relationship cage. However, my heart said that wasn’t the case. What did my heart know? It had led me astray the last time I tried to trust it with Harris. Clearing my head from any of those thoughts, I dug Sophia’s journal out of my satchel.
As I was opening the journal, a shadow loomed over me and I looked up. It was the man I had been thinking about not two seconds ago. Goose bumps formed on my arms and I was thankful that I had on a long sleeve T-shirt.
“Hey there.” Gael’s mouth turned
upward as he gazed at me in his running clothes.
I smiled back. “Hey there.”
“Are you stalking me for that recipe?” Gael’s voice was deep and slightly out of breath. His shirt clung to him and I could see the faint outline of abs. I shifted in my seat and tried to look at Gael’s face instead.
I would not look at how his running shorts hung off his hips. Nope. And I would not imagine what it would be like to see him shirtless. Nope. And I definitely would not think of thoughts about how incredibly manly he looked. Nope.
Shit, I am in trouble if I can’t get my thoughts together.
Clearing my throat, I tried to break this crazy electric charge that was happening. “Maybe you’re stalking me because you want that ring.” Quirking my eyebrow, I hoped that it hid how insanely attracted I was to Gael.
He chuckled and the vibrations did something to me. I knew we had chemistry the night before, but seeing him like this, out in the open, slightly sweaty, was a new level of hot. I noticed he had a sweatshirt in his hand. Before he sat, he put it on and nodded to my hands. “Is that the journal you were talking about yesterday?”
My throat bobbed as I gulped. While he had been putting on his shirt, I’d seen a sliver of his chiseled abdomen.
I looked down as I ran my hand over Sophia’s name. “It is. I was about to read the next entry before I have to go back home to work some more.”
Gael moved closer to me and I could practically feel him up against me. I had to fight the instinct to move closer to him. Even sweaty, the man smelled amazing. All musky. Focus. Focus. Focus. I’m here to read the journal.
“What were their names?”
Glancing up at Gael, he seemed to have a real interest in what I was doing. “My great-great-great-grandmother was Sophia Marie Montgomery and the guy she met was Daniel Stowe. They lived here in Savannah.”
Predestined Hearts Page 5