Time Twist

by Jeanie R. Davis

  He looked up, his eyes wide in surprise. He caught her hand as if he wished to pull her around the table, but let it go. Heat had spread through her body but cooled when contact was broken. She was disappointed, but pretended not to care.

  After playing a few more words, he ruled the board.

  “I don’t believe you’ve never played this game before.” She cocked her head and narrowed her eyes. “I think you’re a ringer.”

  “A what?”

  “Oh, don’t play dumb with me. If you know all those words that sound made up, I’m sure you know what a ringer is.”

  “What, like someone who rings a bell?” His face creased in confusion.

  Ari tried but couldn’t smother a laugh. “Whatever, Christopher. I’m not buying your innocent act.” He shrugged, looking completely clueless.

  They both leaned over the table to pick up the pieces of the game at the same time. Christopher’s hand landed on Ari’s. Neither one moved. Ari’s hand sparked with electricity beneath his. She finally raised her eyes. He was doing it again—giving her that look that said she was the most important person in the world. Warmth flooded her body. With his free hand, he ran his thumb along her jawline, then let it linger. His face was so close, she was breathing his cologne. Heart thumping wildly, she couldn’t move. Perfect time for a kiss. He leaned forward, paused, as if he’d reconsidered, smiled, and gave her hand a squeeze. She so wanted him to pull her around the small table and into his arms, but he relinquished her hand and finished cleaning up the game. Ah! Would he never kiss her? Perhaps he was too much of a gentleman.

  She helped, acting as if nothing had passed between them. Something had passed between them, though—a roomful of fireworks. Perhaps she was the only one to feel it. No, she’d seen that look before. It happens right before a kiss.

  A few minutes later, before he tugged the door closed behind him, he poked his head back in. “Lunch tomorrow?”

  Ari nodded. The door shut, but she remained standing for a moment.

  I need Maggie.

  She grabbed a blanket and sat in her comfy recliner to call her friend. The aroma of popcorn still lingered. She lifted her hand to her nose. She wanted to remember the musky smell of Christopher.

  After telling Maggie all about her week of lunches with the handsome Brit, Maggie responded with, “Lunch every day, huh? Has he kissed you yet?”

  “No. He nearly did tonight. There’s definitely chemistry there. But maybe he just wants to be friends.” She paused for a few seconds, then went on. “I don’t know what it is, but something seems to be holding him back. Who knows? I’m really comfortable when I’m with him, and I’m more than ready for that first kiss.” She let out a sigh.

  “He’s nuts if he lets you slip away. I’m sure things will progress. Ironic, isn’t it?”

  “What’s ironic?” Ari pulled the blanket up to cover her arms.

  “It’s usually you keeping the boys at bay. I’m sure you just need more time together.”

  ****

  Arianna felt nervous excitement as she pulled into the parking lot at Abby’s Diner on Friday. Christopher had asked if she wanted to try a different restaurant, but Abby’s food made her mouth water just thinking about it.

  She saw him through the window. He winked at her. A shiver ran down her spine. She mouthed, “Order me the meatloaf.”

  His forehead wrinkled. “Again?” he mouthed back.

  She made her way through the sea of diners and scooted into the booth across from him. “Yes, again. It’s the best meatloaf I’ve ever had.”

  The waitress snapped her gum and tapped her pen on her tablet. Christopher held up two fingers. “Make that two specials.”

  Arianna kicked him under the table. “You, too? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.”

  “The pot calling the kettle black. That’s an old English saying I’ve not heard in a while.”

  “Well”—she cleared her throat—“in America it means you can’t make fun of me for ordering meatloaf when you’ve already ordered it.”

  “That’s very specific. I will try to remember it.” He smiled. She melted.

  Those dang dimples were going to be the death of her. She ducked behind her menu to hide her huge grin.

  She felt a tug and realized the waitress was talking. “I’ll take that off your hands, unless you aren’t finished ordering.” Gum smacked as Ari reluctantly gave up the menu and no longer had a way to hide.

  While they waited for their food to arrive, Ari began asking questions. She wanted to understand this man she was falling for. “Why did you leave London to move to Pueblo, Colorado?”

  Fumbling with his napkin, he replied, “I actually moved from London to Denver four years ago to join the police force there.”

  “Were you a police officer in London?”

  “Not exactly, but I was in the legal profession.”

  Arianna’s curiosity was piqued and she pressed on with more questions until she realized that Christopher’s demeanor had changed. The sparkle in his eyes had vanished and his answers became clipped and curt. She felt a wall being erected between them, and the comfortable feeling she had experienced throughout the week disappeared. She tried changing the subject, but it was too late. Before she knew it, Christopher looked at his watch and stood to leave.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Christopher suppressed the urge to phone Ari, though he sorely wished to. He couldn’t undo the conversation—or rather, his reaction to their lunchtime conversation. Why must he always flee when things coasted out of control in his head? Because he’d been on his own for over four years now, not having to explain his situation to anyone, that was why.

  Leather furniture emitted a comfortable smell in his apartment. He didn’t have much, just a sofa and some chairs in the living areas, but he had what he needed. He paced the floor in his small kitchen, mentally kicking himself every few steps. He knew he’d been playing with fire when he’d invited Ari to lunch one day after another, but he couldn’t get enough of her. Charming and beautiful in a refreshing way, she seemed so different from the other women he’d met in this century. The vision of her blue-green eyes, dancing cheerfully whenever she smiled, refused to loosen its grip on his consciousness. Electricity pulsed through him at the thought. Her fragrance—orange blossoms and sweet spices—so natural, so enticing. Not to mention her hair. He had no idea what kind of shampoo she used, but its tropical scent smelled fresh and clean, driving him crazy with desire.

  He closed his eyes. How he’d wanted to kiss her Thursday night after they’d played that silly game. A longing sigh escaped him. He had nearly given in to temptation. Those full red lips were almost impossible to resist. Another current rushed through his body just imagining their warm softness and how he longed to kiss them.

  He’d worked hard all week long to avoid broaching the subject of his history or anything else of a personal nature. He knew once the subject came up, he must lie or change the topic of conversation. Then it happened, a flame from the fire he’d been playing with reached out and singed his face. Ari had meant well. He knew that. She simply wanted to know him better, but that couldn’t happen. He hadn’t wished to hurt her feelings when she’d questioned him about his past, but he also didn’t want to lie. Therefore, he’d had no choice but to flee. He’d never forget the sad confusion on her face when he’d summoned the waitress over to hurry the check along. He should have said something—anything about his past. He cringed, recalling the conversation—or lack of it.

  I’m an idiot.

  And things had been going so well. He’d not been this happy since arriving in Colorado. He sat at his table, head buried in his hands. He supposed they could never go as well as he’d like them to in the end. Still, she was different. She might believe him if he were to tell her the truth.

  He would call her. Tell her everything. Lifting his phone, he scrolled until he found her number, then he let his finger hover over the screen. What if he did tel
l her everything, threw it all out there for her to accept or reject—and she reacted with the latter? Was he ready for that kind of devastation? His hand hovered for the longest time.

  He set the phone on the table and walked away.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “All right already.” Arianna pulled her feather pillow over her head to hide from the blinding morning rays that sliced through the shutters.

  Monday came too soon. The birds chirped happily outside her open window. They must have had a better weekend than she did. She gave up the notion of sleeping a few more minutes, sat up and slammed the window shut. The sooner she got to work, the better.

  After a quick shower, she grabbed a protein bar, climbed into her car and turned the key. The engine sputtered a few times, let out a puff of acrid smoke, then died. With a groan, she laid her head against the steering wheel.

  Normally, she had plenty of work that could be done at home on her laptop, but today furniture was scheduled to be delivered. She must be onsite before it arrived.

  She could call a tow truck to have her car taken to a shop, but then would need a ride to the Somers’. She bumped her head against the steering wheel a couple of times in frustration. She only knew one person in the whole city, and after his abrupt departure from Abby’s on Friday, she wasn’t sure he’d be receptive to a cry for help.

  After pondering the situation for only a few more minutes, she rummaged through her purse and found the card Christopher had given her at their first meeting.

  The phone rang once, twice, then his deep, British voice answered. “Hello.”

  Hearing him sent chills through her. She let out a breath and forced herself to remember their not-so-pleasant lunch. She explained the situation, apologizing profusely for any inconvenience, before he cut her off.

  “Slow down, Arianna. Of course I will come get you. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

  Relief spread through her entire body. Maybe he wasn’t angry with her for—she frowned—she didn’t know what; it just felt like he had been. She had to tamp down rising frustration.

  As promised, Christopher arrived minutes later, dressed in his uniform and wearing a reassuring smile.

  He seemed to be back to his old self again, or possibly his new one. She realized, despite all their time spent together, she didn’t know Christopher very well, and it took a lot of energy to get him to open up—energy she realized she may not possess.

  They had to wait for a tow truck to pick her car up before they could head to the Somers’ house, so they took a seat on her sofa, facing a picture window. Her small apartment had the bare essentials, but being a decorator, she couldn’t help but add a picture here, pillows there, and, of course, scented candles. The place needed some color and aroma. Ari justified that inspiration wouldn’t happen in a basically beige room.

  After some small talk and an awkward silence, she decided to take a timid step into his personal territory again. She wouldn’t ask about England; that seemed to be a sensitive subject. She’d just ask about his family. She had nothing to lose. Things were already strange between them.

  She pulled a pillow onto her lap. A form of security. “Tell me about your family, Christopher.”

  He blanched, clearly taken aback by the question, but quickly recovered. “Well, I have two siblings, a sister and a brother. Then, of course, there is my mother.”

  “What about your father?”

  “He’s been gone for a while now.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Ari laid a gentle hand on his arm.

  Christopher waved her apology away as if the statement didn’t warrant her pity. She slid her hand back into her lap and clutched the pillow.

  She needed to move on to a more pleasant subject, especially since further questions on the current topic would likely reopen her own healing wounds. “What do you like to do in your free time?”

  Without hesitation, he answered, “Ride my horse, Maida Vale. I keep her stabled south of here.”

  “You have a horse?” Ari imagined Christopher’s perfect form astride a black stallion. He looked stunning—in her mind, of course.

  “Don’t you?”

  She turned to face him, wondering if he was serious. He quirked a grin and patted her on the leg. “Where do you ride?” she asked.

  “Mostly on the outskirts of town. I’ve spent many a day riding in the area of your job. There are a lot of good trails out there. What about you, Arianna—what do you do for fun?”

  She should have had an answer ready, but instead, had to think about it. “Well, I like to read. Um, and work—I guess that’s not a hobby. I used to like shopping with my mom.” Oops. She wished she could scoop those last words up and put them right back in her mouth.

  “Used to? You no longer enjoy shopping with your mother, then?” He raised his eyebrows.

  Ari paused for a moment before she responded. “Uh, what I mean, I guess”—she looked anywhere but at Christopher, whose intense gaze had now settled on her—“is, I used to like shopping with my mother.” She swallowed. “She—and my father and brother—died in a car accident two and a half years ago.” She couldn’t act as nonchalant as he had. Tears burned in her eyes as she tried unsuccessfully to keep them from falling.

  Christopher’s mouth turned down and his forehead creased. He looked mortified and apologetic. Taking her hand into one of his, he wiped her tears away with the other. “Oh, Ari,” he said in a low voice, “I am so sorry. I didn’t know. I never would have—”

  She cut him off and shook her head. “Of course you didn’t know. I never meant to bring it up because of this.” She motioned to her face with her free hand. “This is what happens when I do. Somehow, I know they’re not gone forever. I feel it when I visit the cemetery each Saturday when I’m in Denver.” The tears came faster, splashing onto her leg.

  He found a box of tissues on the table next to the sofa and handed her one. After she wiped her eyes, he pulled her close, put his arm around her and stroked her hair as she lay against his shoulder. “I’m so sorry,” he repeated.

  Arianna realized she’d kept her memories so securely sequestered, the mere mention of her loss had unleashed years of pent-up emotion. While she didn’t like allowing so many tears to escape, she felt relieved, at least a little.

  Just as she began to get herself under control, the tow truck arrived.

  She didn’t want to leave the comfort of Christopher’s arms. It had felt good to talk about the people missing from her life, but not forgotten—even if it had brought on the waterworks. She reluctantly stood, answered the door, gave the tow truck driver the keys and some instructions and sent him on his way.

  Once it was just the two of them again, she faced him. “I don’t know whether to apologize or thank you. I’m sorry your shoulder is all wet.” She smiled through watery eyes. “But, thank you for listening.”

  He pulled her into a hug. Arianna breathed in his musky cologne and wished she could stay in his arms all day—it felt so right. “Don’t worry about my shirt, and I am happy to listen any time you need to talk.” He bent down and kissed the top of her head, giving her goosebumps.

  She raised her head. The way he gazed at her made her heart thud in her chest. He moved his hand gently up her back and into her hair. Fireworks shot through her body. He bent his head toward hers and she closed her eyes, relishing in the moment and the thrill of anticipation. She could feel his breath on her face.

  Chapter Seventeen

  His phone rang, breaking the spell.

  He loosened his grip on her and answered, “This is Officer Flemming. …Yes, I will be available for a meeting at that time.” He hung up, disappointed, but knew it was for the best.

  “Sorry about that. I guess I’d best drive you to work, so I can get to the station.”

  Ari peeked at her watch. “Yes, I’m expecting a furniture delivery in an hour.”

  Christopher let Ari do all the talking on the way to her jobsite. She didn’t add much
to her sad tale. When they arrived, he ignored her protests and walked her to the door. “I’ll pick you up when you’re finished here, since your car will still be in the shop.”

  “Thank you. I’m sorry to be such a pain. I guess I need to make more friends in Pueblo so I’m not completely reliant on you.”

  His heart pinched at the thought of Arianna calling anyone else for help. “I don’t mind.”

  His work meeting was scheduled for after lunch, so he took the long way to the station, cranked up the air conditioner and aimed it at his soggy shoulder.

  Grinding his teeth, he recalled how callously he’d mentioned losing his father. At least I still have my family—out of reach, but living.

  He couldn’t believe she had never said anything about losing her parents and brother before now. It had to have been devastating. Yet, she’d finished college and was doing well on her own. He shook his head. Only four years ago—yet, several lifetimes ago—any single female, without royal blood, in her situation, would have ended up as a servant or governess for an aristocrat’s family—if they were lucky. Others would end up in a poorhouse, or worse, forced to work in a brothel. Times had sure changed in two hundred years. He pulled his squad car into the parking lot. One thing was certain—Arianna Miller was the most amazing woman he’d ever met. He glanced down at his phone, which, finally back in civilization, had sprung to life, and remembered the near kiss. “You, phone of mine, are not my friend right now. But, it’s probably best to keep a safe distance, I suppose.”

  He looked up a local florist, dialed the number, and ordered a dozen yellow roses to be sent to Arianna’s jobsite. He couldn’t take away her pain, but he could try to cheer her.

  “Sir, what do you want the card to say?” the voice on the other end of the phone asked.

  Christopher thought for a moment. Ari, your smile is like sunshine to my soul. I hope it returns soon. That sounded nice. He opened his mouth to direct the florist to pen it, but he paused. Too intimate. “Just write, ‘Ari, have a nice day. Yours, Christopher’.”