by Kandi Kayne
“To the park that’s attached to my place. That okay with you?”
“We’re not going into your house, right?”
“Nope. This is a picnic date. We’re roughing it.”
I nodded. “Sounds fine to me.”
A little while later we pulled up into his driveway. He continued around the edge of it and took a right turn where it branched off and led to a large garage. It was big enough for ten cars or maybe more. We parked at the edge of a paved area that was used to turn cars around. As I got out, he went into the trunk, taking out a large wicker basket and a blanket.
He joined me on my side of the car, gesturing with a jerk of his head. “Follow me.”
I went along dutifully behind him, enjoying the rear view my position offered me. He had a nice round butt, well-muscled and tight like an athlete’s or a dancer’s. My face got a little warm when I pictured it naked and on top of me, pumping up and down, flexing with the thrusts of his cock inside me. Holy crap! What am I doing! This is a no touching, no sex date! Think unsexy thoughts, think unsexy thoughts… “So, Alex … ummm … where exactly are we going?” I wiped the sweat off my upper lip, taking a deep calming breath and forcing myself to focus on the view that didn’t include his butt.
The property was heavily treed in this area with large pines that left murderously sharp pinecones on the ground. I could hear them crunching beneath our feet. A picnic on top of these wouldn’t be the most comfortable event I’d ever attended.
“Just a little farther,” Alex said. “I promise, you’ll like it. It’s worth the walk.”
“Okay, I’ll take your word on that.” I concentrated on avoiding as many of the sharp pinecones as I could, not convinced they wouldn’t poke through the soles of my thin sandals at some point.
Eventually the pines gave way to oaks with huge branches that spread out far and wide. All of them had bunches of Spanish moss hanging down from them, giving them almost a mystical air. The sounds of civilization had faded out to nothing; now the only thing I could hear was our footsteps and the occasional call of a bird.
As we rounded a bend in the path we were on, a small lake came into view. On the edge of it was a dock with a couple of canoes sitting on it.
“Wow,” I said, staring at the sparkling water. The surface looked like it was covered in diamonds. “It’s beautiful.”
Alex had reached the location of our picnic apparently because he put the basket down and got busy with unfolding and spreading out the blanket. “Yep. This is my favorite place on the property.”
I raised an eyebrow at that. I would have expected his favorite place to be the bedroom.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he warned. “I’m not superman.”
I wasn’t so sure I agreed with that statement, but I didn’t argue. I walked over to help him straighten out the far corners of the blanket. “You come here a lot?” I was wondering how many other girls had enjoyed the view with him.
“I haven’t lately, but I used to, yes.”
“How come not lately?” I looked first at him and then out at the lake. If I lived here, I’d come to this place every day with a chair and a book. My troubles were literally fading away right out of my head, being replaced by feelings of serenity and appreciation for nature’s beauty.
“I’ve been too busy with work and shoring up holes in my campaign to spend any time relaxing.”
“That’s too bad.”
“The campaign will be over soon, and I’ll be able to come out more often. Take a breath now and again.”
“Are you planning on losing?” I asked, surprised at his defeatist attitude.
“No, not at all. I still have a chance of winning, especially with you on my team. But even if I win, I plan on taking time every day to chill out. I can’t be an effective leader if I’m constantly stressed.”
“That’s true,” I said, wondering if he’d really take the time to do that if he won. He didn’t seem the type to slow down once he got started.
He gestured to the blanket. “Have a seat. We can have a drink before I give you a little tour.”
I sat down across from him and watched as he took out a bottle of wine and uncorked it. He had two plastic wine glasses that were fit into neat little elastic bands on the inside of the basket. The pink wine came out cold, making the glasses mist a little.
He handed me one and took the other for himself. Holding it up, he made a toast. “Here’s to a revitalized campaign and a clean slate.”
I touched my glass to his. “A clean slate for whom?”
“For both of us.” He took a sip and gulped it down. “Do you like it?” He gestured to my wine.
I took a sip and swallowed it, ultra conscious of the fact that he was staring at me. It was a totally innocent look, but he was so amazingly beautiful it was hard not to want to read something extra into his expression. Why does he want to be with me when he could be with anyone?
“Well?” he prompted. “Yes or no?”
“Yes or no what?” My face turned red. I could feel the heat rising up my neck.
“Do you like the wine?” He got a bemused smile on his face, probably wondering what the heck my problem was.
“Yes. It’s very … fruity. I like that.”
“It’s great on warmer days like this.” He looked around. “I love it when the sun stays out later in the day like this. It feels like summer can last forever.”
Rays of light were shining through the massive oaks, leaving dappled spots of sun on the ground around us. “Wouldn’t that be nice? No more winters, no more rain, no more going back to school.”
“No more going back to school for you after a few weeks, though, right? Or are you planning on going for your masters?”
“No. I’m done for now. I need a break. Besides, you said you were going to hook me up in New York, right?” I looked at him, wondering if now was when he was going to tell me he’d only been joking or that he’d changed his mind. I could hardly blame him for thinking that way if he did.
“Yes, I did say that. And I meant it. But I’m hoping I can convince you to stay here.”
I frowned. “Why would you want to do that?”
He tipped his glass back and finished off his wine, setting the glass down on the blanket when he was done. Lying back on his folded hands, he stared up into the tree branches and answered me. “Because I like having you around. I like spending time with you.” He turned his head and looked at me. “Maybe I’m just fooling myself, but I thought I was getting the impression that you enjoyed being with me, too.”
I shrugged and looked away, reaching out to grab a long dry pine needle to wrap around my finger distractedly. “I do like spending time with you. A lot. I just don’t think it’s something I should get too used to, you know?” I turned back to him, trying to read his expression. My heart spasmed painfully in my chest.
He rolled over onto his side, propping his head up on his hand. “No, I don’t know. Why can’t we let ourselves get used to it? Explain it to me.”
“Because we’re just … too different.” I couldn’t think of anything more convincing than that.
“How so? We both like picnics. We like good food, wine. We like politics and the fine art of seducing the public over to our way of thinking. I’ll bet you like to travel.” He leaned over and tickled my leg once before taking his hand back. “And we both like sex.” He winked. “See? We’re compatible in all the right ways.”
“I hope there’s more to me than that just stuff.” Hearing it made me feel kind of shallow.
“I’m sure there is. And I’m betting I’m going to like getting to know more about you, about what makes you tick, what you like and don’t like. But I can’t do that if you don’t let me in. And I can’t do it if you disappear to New York.”
“I don’t understand. Are you asking me to stay? Why would you do that?”
He tipped over onto his back. “Argh, yes, I’m asking you to stay!” He was staring up at the
trees. “Why? Why is she making this so difficult? I’ve asked her several times, I’ve made her offers I thought she couldn’t possibly refuse, and yet here she is, asking me this question.”
I leaned over and shoved his shoulder. “Shut up.”
“And now she’s telling me to shut up, too. The abuse I take from this woman …”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m not abusing you. I’m just confused about this whole thing, and honestly …” I hesitated because I was about to bare my soul and I fully expected it to hurt. “… I just don’t understand why you’d want to be with me when you have people like Jaqcueline at your doorstep all the time.”
Alex rolled back over to his side and place his warm hand over my foot. He massaged it lightly as he explained. “I was with Jacqueline for only a short time before I realized what kind of person she is. She’s much like many other women I’ve been with: shallow, materialistic, out for themselves. I knew she’d only want to be with me as long as the money and prestige were there. And I admit, having a person like me for those things is an ego boost. But every guy gets to a point in his life when he looks around and asks himself if this is what he really wants … if this is all life has to offer.” He squeezed my foot once and then stopped moving his hand altogether. “I did that. I did that just after I broke things off with her, and then I met you.” He leaned over and kissed my smelly foot. “What can I say? You got me. Hook, line, and sinker.” He fell onto his back and put his hands behind his head again, back to staring up at the trees.
I was more than a little shocked at his confession. I didn’t know that much about men; my experience was limited to guys in their late teens and early twenties and he was almost in another generation. But still, it made sense, especially when I took his personality into consideration. A guy like him could never be content with faking it. He was all about feeling genuine emotions and not being afraid of them either.
“What did I do to make you feel that way?” I asked. I wasn’t fishing for compliments. All I could think about was our first meeting. How does an easy escort convince a guy he’s ready for a more “real” relationship?
He looked at me, upside down, and smiled. “I think about that night a lot, you know.”
“You do?” My face got hot again.
“Yeah, I do.” He looked up at the sky. “You were standing there, looking so nervous, wearing that dress. I thought you were going to fall over in those heels when I walked up to you.”
I laughed. “I probably was. Jessica made me wear them.”
“I could tell it wasn’t really your scene. Something about the way you stood there, your chin up like you were scared but you weren’t going to let anyone take you down, it made me want to go over there and act like Sir Galahad or something.” He laughed softly. “It’s not normally my thing. I used to avoid girls like you on principle alone.”
“Oh yeah? Why?” I wasn’t sure if I should be offended or flattered.
“Because. I’m not the kind of guy normally who has patience for innocence or inexperience.”
“Oh,” I said, dropping my gaze away from him. Embarrassment was taking over now.
“I’m not saying you’re an amateur or anything. Don’t look like that. What I’m saying - pretty badly I know - is that you’re a good girl. The kind of girl you don’t just play around with. Do you know what I mean? I normally only date women who don’t bring complications along with them.”
“Complications?”
“Yeah. Like love and a future beyond the next few dates.”
He said love! But that doesn’t mean that he means me. He’s just speaking in general terms. I cleared my throat. “Oh. But you say I’m complicated?”
He sighed loudly. “Hell yes, you’re complicated. Now my whole life is suddenly very complicated.” He sat up and then stood, wandering a few steps towards the water. He looked back at me. “Want to go out in a canoe for a little bit?”
I shrugged, thinking a change of scenery might lighten the mood. His confessions were making me feel so many conflicting emotions, I no longer felt like I could even guess what was going to happen next with us. “Sure.” I hadn’t been canoeing since day camp when I was about ten. I took his offered hand and stood.
I watched as he dragged the canoe to the edge of the dock and then pushed off. It bobbed in the water a few times before settling down. Alex held his hand out to me. “After you.”
I took his hand and stepped gingerly into the middle of the boat, having a minor heart attack when it tipped sharply to the right.
“Get both feet in and squat down. Bring your center of gravity lower,” he instructed.
I did as he said, and the boat calmed down. He stripped off his shirt and got in without any drama, settling himself down on the bench in the back. “Grab that oar up there. You’re going to help steer. I’ll do most of the work.”
I nearly choked at the vision I’d gotten of his half-naked body before he stepped into the boat behind me. I’d kind of forgotten just how beautifully formed he was, and seeing him like that was giving me a minor heart-attack. Breathe. Just breathe.
“I haven’t done this in a long time,” I said, picking up the oar and resting it across my knees. I looked over my shoulder, unable to keep from admiring the bulging of his muscles as he stroked his oar through the water, first on one side of the canoe and then the other. Soon we were moving swiftly away from the dock. I turned back to the front, watching the boat create a small V of ripples as it was powered forward by the strong man behind me.
“I used to do crew in college, but I prefer canoeing,” he said.
I nodded. “I can picture you on a crew team.”
“We did pretty well. I was mostly in it for the workout, though. I’m lazy like that. I hate going to the gym - I get bored. I like to be entertained while I get fit.”
My mind strayed over to our workouts, and I rolled my eyes. Get your head out of the gutter, girl! Just talk to him! “Me too. I run sometimes, but I never get that runner’s high I hear about.”
“It’s a myth,” he said, a smile in his voice. “It’s a grand conspiracy by the running shoe manufacturers, trying to get us to buy their products.”
I nodded. “Yeah. That sounds about right.”
We cruised along the edge of the lake in silence. Several small cranes were in the water, each with one leg bent up. They poked their beaks in now and again, getting whatever they could find out of the water or mud at their feet.
“It’s so beautiful,” I said, not realizing I’d said it out loud until he responded.
“Yes, it is. I think in another life I would have enjoyed working outdoors.”
“Doing what?” I reached over and let my hand trail in the water. It was cool to the touch and smelled of algae.
“I don’t know. Forest ranger? Gardener?”
I laughed. “Yeah, right. I can totally picture it. You in a business suit trimming rose bushes.”
“Hey, I have gardening clothes,” he said in mock offense.
“Sure you do.”
“You’ll see,” he said mysteriously.
“When?” I rose to the bait he’d dangled in front of me.
“When you agree to move in with me. I’ll give you half my closet.”
We’d moved to the center of the lake, and he stopped using his oar. I turned around carefully to face him, only screaming once when I thought I was going to fall overboard. “You can’t be serious about that, Alex.” I was practically pleading with him to be reasonable.
“Why not?” He smiled at me.
“Lots of reasons.”
“Give them to me.”
“You hardly know me, for one.”
Speaking softly he said, “I’d argue that I know you better than anyone ever has before.” He gave me a look that made me shiver with pleasure.
“Maybe in some ways but not others,” I disagreed.
“Well, what better way to get to know you in those other ways than to live with
you?”
“And you have a campaign going on right now.”
“May I remind you, I’m single. So having a girlfriend and having her move in is not a scandal.”
My voice came out as a squeak. “Girlfriend?”
“Yeah. What do you say? Wanna be my girlfriend?” He sounded like he was trying to be casual, but I could have sworn I detected a hint of vulnerability there. Could that be true?
I tried not to smile. I really did. But it was impossible to stay serious and angry over someone asking me to go steady. Especially when it was someone like Alex.
“Well? I’m waiting,” he said. “Cut me loose if you’re going to cut me loose … but remember … I have the good oar, and we’re in the middle of the lake.” He held it up for my inspection, a challenge in his eye.
“I’m not going to cut you loose,” I said with almost no volume to my voice.
“What was that? I couldn’t hear you.”
“I said, I’m not going to cut you loose.” No matter how stupid it was for this to continue, I didn’t have the strength to stop it from happening. Besides, he was a grown man. If he wanted to do something stupid like ask some girl he hardly knows to be his girlfriend, I wasn’t going to complain. Jessica was right. I needed more adventure in my life.
“I still didn’t hear that. Could you say it one more time?”
I laughed. “I know you heard me. Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend!”
He grinned hugely. “Seriously?”
“Yes. Seriously.”
“And you’ll move in with me?”
“Maybe.”
“No, maybe’s no good. I want a real answer. Yes or no.”
I took a deep breath. “My answer is no, then. For now. I just need more time on that, okay? Just a little more.” I needed to wrap my head around the idea that we’d be committing on a level I’d never been to before except with my best friend, and she didn’t really count.
He put his oar down in the bottom of the boat. “I’m coming over there to kiss you. Maybe I’ll be able to change your mind with a little tongue action.”