Bonita had pulled on the shirt River had been wearing last night. It swished around her mid-thigh as she walked out to the living room.
She saw River absorbed with whatever it was he was scribbling into his notebook. He looked so sexy and serious, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans, his bare feet on the table in front of him. His hair was still tousled from sleep and he had that next day scruff on his cheeks that gave him a hard edge.
Lord, help me.
“Bonita,” he said in surprise. She watched as he subtly slid the notebook to his side, out of view. “Do you want a cup of coffee? Here let me; I need a top-off anyway.”
He picked up his own mug and made his way to the kitchen, obviously trying to lead her away from the couch where the notebook was.
Odd.
She shrugged and followed him. He was entitled to whatever secrets he still had. After all, she hadn’t told him everything about Darryl, including the roses he had sent. By now it seemed unnecessary, since it had been a whole two weeks with no follow-up to that first bouquet.
He pulled a mug out of his cupboard and filled it, adding two spoonfuls of sugar.
“Dark and sweet, for my dark and sweet,” he said winking.
“So corny,” she said smiling over the rim as she took a sip.
He refilled his glass then sat at the little table in the kitchen, an obvious invitation for her to join him.
“So when are you going to tell your parents about me?” he asked.
She nearly choked on the sip she had just taken. “Whoa. There’s a way to wake me right up.”
River laughed. “Sorry, the thought just occurred to me. I mean it has been a few weeks.”
“Have you told yours about me?”
River’s head tick-tocked from side to side pondering that. “Well, let’s see…. My mother is still in India at some yoga retreat where internet and cell phone access is strictly verboten, so I can’t even Skype. Something about the bad energy.
“My father is…well, he is. He cares when the topic is about him or his business. I could bring home a purple cow and all he would care about is how he could use it to his advantage. His way of telling me he gives a shit about me is throwing money at me.”
“Ohhh…poor baby,” Bonita mocked.
He gave her a wry grin, then it faded. “Seriously, you’re lucky you have parents who care about you. Parents who actually get worried when you don’t call. Who care about who you date.”
She put her mug down and reached out her hand to take his, feeling awful. “I’m sorry, you’re right,” she said. “My parents are great…despite everything.”
She blinked away, realizing she was revealing too much. Her eyes caught the notebook on the couch and lingered. When she looked back, she could see he had followed the direction of her gaze.
“As for telling them, well, I was going to do it when I go home for Thanksgiving next week.” She took a deep sigh and a large sip. “It’s probably something best done in person.”
“Is it because I’m white?” he asked looking at her with slightly annoyed curiosity.
Her eyes flashed up. “Oh, no…no?” she said in a tone that was more of a question. “Mostly, well, your father….”
She watched his expression darken. She could commiserate with being associated with who your father was. It reminded her of something.
“Just a heads up, when you meet them, we never had sex. We’re saving it for marriage, okay?”
He gave her a grin. “Is that you’re way of proposing?”
She blinked as she realized what she had just said. Then laughed, kicking him lightly with her bare foot.
“So no premarital sex, huh?” he mused. “So what’s a church girl like you doing committing that sin so very often,” he leaned in closer to her with a wicked grin, “and so very well?”
She laughed. “Unfortunately, I have the same failings as most holier than thou types: I pick and choose. How many of us have you seen eating shrimp or lobster after all? I mean, I get the saving yourself bit. I’ve always wanted to save it for someone special. I guess I just felt something in you.”
She widened her eyes as she thought about it. “It was sooo soon after I met you though; I don’t know what came over me.”
River took the mug from her hands then pulled her up out of her seat, setting her down on his lap.
“I know what came over you,” he said looking into her eyes. “It’s the same thing that came over me.”
He kissed her and she put her arms around him, falling into it.
River enjoyed it for a bit, lingering over the taste of her. Then he pulled away, looking down at her. She had that sexy bed hair he loved. He also loved it when she wore his clothes, especially when it left enough skin for him to play with. His fingers trailed over her silky thighs as she smiled.
Then he saw her eyes dart to the sofa where his notebook lay. A sigh went through him. It wasn’t the first time she’d caught him writing in it, or that she’d made eyes at the trunk he kept locked up.
No secrets.
He knew there was something she was still keeping close to the vest with regard to her family and Darryl. He trusted her enough to know that she had her reasons.
On the other hand, there was really no reason for him to keep his secret hidden. She deserved to know the truth, the truth about what she was signing herself up for. River had no intention of being some straight-laced, corporate tycoon like his father.
“You want to know what’s up with the notebook, don’t you?”
Her eyes flicked to his in wide-eyed surprise. “No, I…I just—”
“It’s okay,” he said. “I want to show you. But I want to show you properly. Get dressed, we’re going on a field trip.”
28
By now Bonita was used to not asking, just trusting River. Part of the fun was the adventure of not knowing where he was taking her.
She was wearing her jeans that she’d worn over to his place last night along with the faux UGGs. It had been a cozy night in, with Chinese food and The X-Files marathon so she’d worn only a t-shirt under her coat. Now she was wearing his flannel shirt as well to keep out the chill in the air as it blew past her on the back of his bike.
River had made her close her eyes while he hurriedly stuffed some things into his backpack and then handed her his second helmet.
When townhouses turned into row houses then detached homes as they made their way through Inwood and officially out of New York City, she began to wonder.
Well after an hour they were lost amid nothing but trees and her butt was getting numb from sitting on the back of the vibrating bike for so long. She was just about to tap his waist for a break when he turned off the main road. After about five minutes they arrived at a camp ground resort: Green Vistas.
Just when I thought you couldn’t surprise me, River.
As he parked the bike and leaned it on the kickstand for her to get off, she wrinkled her brow in confusion behind the helmet. Pulling it off her head, she held it on her hip and gave River a stare that asked: Okay, what’s the punchline?
He pulled his own helmet off, laughing. “Oh come on, Bonita, have I ever let you down?”
“I have to give that to you at least,” she said, half her mouth going up in a smile. She placed the helmet on the handlebar and pulled the backpack he’d asked her to carry off of her shoulders. “So is this part of the surprise?”
“Indeed,” he said grabbing for it after putting his own helmet down.
Bonita laughed and pulled it out of his reach. “Is that so? I think I may take a little peek.”
She laughed harder, running away as he made another grab for it. “Hmm, I wonder what secrets River has been hiding from me,” she taunted, pausing to open the zipper an inch.
“Get back here you little minx,” he said in a gruff voice that was betrayed by the smile on his face. He made a dash for her and she leapt away at the last moment.
“You’ll have to be faster th
an that, River!” she laughed, opening the backpack another inch.
“How about this?” he said, predicting where she was about to run and grabbing her around the waist. She squealed, wriggling as he spun her around. After a minute he stopped, but didn’t put her down. Instead he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “If I put you down, will you give it to me?”
“I dunno,” she pondered. “I’m awfully curious.”
“Have it your way,” he said, then carried her awkwardly around the waist in front of him as he made his way toward the small lodge in front where the reception desk was.
“River!” she laughed, kicking her legs out and wriggling even more. His firm embrace didn’t so much as budge and she could feel his chest vibrating with a chuckle.
She was still laughing and kicking as he backed into the door and spun her around toward the front desk. A stern faced woman who was having none of it stood behind the counter giving them a frown. She gave a loud cough indicating her lack of amusement.
“Hello Mabel,” he said cheerfully.
The frown remained. “Mr. Wright.”
River finally put her down, with a sheepish smile. “Well, I’m back once again. I’ve brought a friend.”
“Indeed.” She gave Bonita a sardonic once over, then returned to River.
“Is my usual available?”
“Yes, and it will be $60 as usual. Of course any friends you have staying with you will be an additional $10 per person,” she gave River a suspicious glare that indicated she thought he was just the type to have multiple “friends” join him in his room.
“It’ll just be us, Mabel,” he assured her with a placating grin.
“Hmm,” she said, not entirely convinced. “Check out is at 3 p.m. Payment is due upon—”
“Mabel,” he interrupted. “How often have I been spending the weekends here? Are you going to give me the spiel each time? I’m pretty sure I have it set to memory by now.”
“The day that I stop giving it is the very day you check out late, expecting me not to charge you. I’ve seen it all Mr. Wright, and you are no exception. I wasn’t born yesterday, so if you will?”
River threw up his hands in surrender with a smile. Bonita couldn’t keep from smiling herself as she watched this little back and forth. It was obvious that River liked pushing the woman’s buttons. It was just as obvious that she was both quite used to it and completely unaffected by it.
Mabel went through the checking-in spiel as the two of them stood there like schoolchildren being lectured to by the world’s strictest schoolmarm. Bonita still had no idea what they were doing here, but so far she was enjoying it.
Credit card info given and key in hand, River thanked Mabel and took Bonita’s hand leading her back out to the front to get their helmets. He made sure to pluck the backpack out of her hand when she wasn’t paying attention, earning him an angry yelp from her.
“You snooze, you lose, Pretty,” he said over his shoulder with a grin. For good measure he placed his arms through both straps and put the pack on his back as he collected their helmets, giving Bonita hers to carry.
As they made their way up to “his usual” cabin, #11, River reached out to grab her hand. She kept it away from him with a playful pout and he reached out to grab her around the shoulders and bring her in, making her laugh.
“Don’t be mad,” he said into her head. “It’ll be worth it, or at least I think so.”
She let him embrace her, still completely in suspense as they hiked their way up to the furthest cabins. When they finally reached theirs he let go of her to unlock the door and let her enter first.
Bonita stepped in with wary curiosity. The room was basic and a bit dated with wood paneling and laminate tile floors, but it was sparkling clean. There was a small table in the kitchenette and double bed. Bonita was beginning to wonder what all the fuss was about when she saw the view out the back window.
“My goodness,” she said in awe as she walked over to take in the miles and miles of green forest below them. “This is a stunning view.”
“Yeah, I got the idea to come up here from an author I like, Jake Steele. Apparently he wrote his first book while staring out at that view. I have to say, it’s damn inspirational.”
“Book?” she said spinning around to face him. Now she was beginning to catch on. “You’re writing a book?”
He gave her a half grin. “Yeah, a series hopefully. I kind of had the idea for it way back in high school. I revived it earlier this year just for shits and giggles. Then I gave it to my friend Reggie, he writes graphic novels, and he passed it on to his agents, who passed it on to the right people.”
“It’s a graphic novel?” she asked, wondering if, on top of everything else, River could draw.
He laughed. “Ha, no,” he said raising a conceding eyebrow. “Just an ordinary book. I’m not that much of a Jack of all trades. But the story is, well let me just show you.”
He shrugged off his backpack and opened it up to reveal several bound notebooks, about twenty in all. He pulled them out and set them on the little table in the kitchenette.
“I wanted you to get the full experience so I brought you here. Besides Reggie, you’re the only other person who knows. Next year they’ll be publishing this first book,” he blew out of his mouth and raised his eyebrows as if overwhelmed by it. “Frankly, I—well, I just wanted to share it with you, so I can at least stop sneaking around with it while you’re in my apartment.”
Bonita smiled and came over to wrap her arms around his waist. “That is so amazing, River. Why in the world would you hide something like this? Afraid it might taint your bad boy image?” she teased.
He gave a small, embarrassed laugh. “It just means a lot to me; more than anything I’ve done. Hopefully, you’ll see when you read it for yourself. I want your honest opinion.”
He pulled away from her and reached back in to his backpack. “As such, I will be getting my exercise in exploring this amazing place while you discover what it is I’ve been up to. I’ll be back in an hour or so to see what you think. I’ll pick up some food and stuff while I’m out. ”
He pulled out his head phones and iPhone and walked back over to her to kiss her on the forehead. “I’m kind of relieved this has finally come out. I want to be able to share everything with you.”
“I’m glad you told me,” she said gratefully. “But I’m really anxious to see what it’s all about, so go!” She laughed as she pushed him out the door.
“Okay, okay,” he said laughing as well. “Remember, I want your honest opinion!”
“Yeah, yeah,” she smiled, shutting the door after him. She watched through the side window as he put his headphones on and wandered off. Then she eagerly turned to the pile of notebooks on the table.
Two hours later she was sitting up on the bed, her back against the headboard reading notebook number 11 and still completely and utterly mesmerized by River’s work. The story was about an orphan boy named Rebel, about 11 years old, who was a musical savant. He soon discovers that his musical abilities were a result of being from an alien planet, placed on Earth with other alien children, all connected by music, as part of an intricate plan to prevent intergalactic annihilation. It was like Harry Potter meets Star Wars meets The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
She didn’t even hear when River returned, carrying a bag that smelled of burgers and fries and a tray holding two sodas.
“Good so far?” he said, causing her to jump. He laughed as he brought the food in, closing the door behind him.
“You scared me,” she said, putting her hand against her chest.
“So,” he began, not looking at her as he unpacked the food on the little kitchen table. “What did you think?”
Where to begin?
“It’s—it’s amazing, River,” she said in awe.
He stopped unpacking the food to look at her. She could see his eyes boring into her, analyzing her face to see if she was just stroking his ego.
“You continue to amaze me,” she said.
She felt his body relax under her as he let out a breath, laughing with relief. “I guess maybe Reggie was right about it being a quality product.”
“Of course he was! I could even see it as a movie. I just wish it had come out when I was 12 years old. Even as an adult I love it.”
“I also noticed the introduction of Belle,” she added with a sly smile. “A little obvious, no?”
“Well, I did have a perfect muse,” he said, grinning down at her.
“A man who can write, ride a motorcycle, speak French…. Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me right now?” she purred.
“Well, I have an idea of what you’re doing to me,” he said back to her. He grabbed her ass and lifted her up so that her body pressed into his, giving her a damn good idea of what she was doing to him.
29
Instead of carrying her over to the bed he carried her over to the picture window facing the open view of the forest below them. There were no other cabins or trails in sight so they had absolute privacy.
River was certain that was the only thing that kept Bonita from objecting when he set her against the window sill that was wide enough to perch on and pulled his shirt off.
Maybe I am a bad influence after all, he thought with a grin.
As he quickly pulled off his boots, he pondered the pride he felt that Bonita was now in on the world he had created via pen and paper. Although he knew it was his ego speaking to him, the fact that she loved it made him want her all the more. He had been full of apprehension when he left, caring more about Bonita’s opinion of the series even more than he had Reggie’s or his new agent’s. Somewhere in his mind he knew that meant that she was special in a way that no other person had ever been.
He grinned as he watched her struggle with the legs of her jeans. He eventually reached out to grab one leg and do it himself. River planted the sole against his stomach and went to work on length of it, dragging them down her thigh and calf.
So Wrong Page 16