by Claire Angel
“We still have time before dinner is ready. Do you think that it’s possible to get the grand tour?” I asked him. He was grabbed my hand leading me away from the door.
“I’ve never calculated how many acres I actually have. It’s in the excess of 50 and that’s being conservative.” He said not bragging. There was something refreshing about his humility.
He brought me over to the horses and motioned for one of his trainers to come over with some treats that we could feed them together. He chose the most docile of all of them and personally saddled it with his hand outstretched for me to climb aboard.
“Isn’t there anything that I should know before I do this? I don’t want to break my neck the first time out ruining any chance that I would want to do it again,” I warned with my fingers visibly trembling of the prospect of getting on top of that magnificent beast.
“White Thunder is a pussycat. Just remember to make sure that you show him that you’re the one wearing the pants. Don’t feel intimidated. They sense these things. Do you trust me to make sure nothing happens to you?” He asked still holding out his hand waiting for me to take it.
“This might have been a bad idea. Are you sure that what you have on the stove isn’t going to burn without you there to attend to it?” I queried hoping that he would see my awkwardness and react accordingly.
“There are no bad ideas. You were strong enough to face me for the first time. You’ve always been stronger than you give yourself credit for. I see the bravado in your eyes. You want to do this, but something is holding you back. Fear is only there to make you feel alive,” He advised.
“You make a good argument. I try to live my life without regrets. This shouldn’t be any different than trying a new food that is a fusion of some old favourites,” I said taking a deep breath and putting my safety in his hands literally and figuratively.
I yelped with surprise when I found myself on top of the horse. I grabbed the reins and held them tightly with my fingers turning white with the effort.
“Give him a kick with your heels. You’re not going to hurt him.”
“Don’t you think this is cruelty to animals?” I asked while looking at the world from a different angle.
“I will be here every step of the way.” He confided making me feel that there was no reason to suspect him of ulterior motives.
“I’m holding you to that.” I said looking at him with my eyes narrowed.
I slapped my heels and the white steed began to trot around the perimeter of the fence. Edward was watching and I tried to remain calm but it wasn’t easy.
I loved the freedom and the connection that I made with the animal. It was a simpatico relationship built on trust and admiration. I smiled and the animal began to move a little quicker bouncing me up and down.
My high heels were discarded near the fence and my dress had risen to expose my long legs. I was having the time of my life with the wind blowing through my hair and the sound of birds in the trees cheering me on.
I got a little bit more brazen and bold. The speed increased and the animal was kicking up dirt with its hooves. The thunderous roar in my ears was followed by the earth underneath me becoming a blur of motion.
“Slow it down a little.” He screamed over the blood pumping through my veins.
I didn’t want to appear cowardly. I was strong and I didn’t need a man to come to my rescue. How could I ever look at him again without feeling like I had let him down in some way?
“Tell him that. He doesn’t seem to want to listen to me,” I said with my heart in my throat.
I started laughing for no apparent reason completely unhinged and afraid for my life.
I heard the sound of another horse approaching and I glanced over my shoulder to witness a heroic effort on his part. He was a Stetson white hat on his head. He came astride and matched the pace of the other animal. He actually leaped from that horse to put his hands around me from behind.
This guy was a horse whisperer and was able to make me feel like I was in capable hands. The other horse separated and went back to where it came from with the trainer waiting with a carrot in his hand.
The loud crunching followed and we came to a stop.
“This shouldn’t stop you from doing this again. With a few pointers, I’m sure that you will become a natural. I can be your teacher,” He said before jumping down from the animal.
“I’m not easily intimidated. I have a tendency of getting back up when I am knocked down. The one thing my father did right was made me tough enough to endure just about anything,” I panted out of breath.
I was trying to catch my second wind.
“You were doing great until you got overconfident. You need to take baby steps before you learn to run,” He said touching my back with my body bent.
I had my hands on my knees.
“I have a habit of jumping feet first into anything I do. There is no halfway. I have to commit to it fully or there’s no point in trying it. I would like to see you do better under similar circumstances,” I taunted with my hair matted to my forehead.
“I would say for your first time that you exceeded my expectations. That concludes the entertainment portion of the evening. Come with me and I will show you the bathroom where you can freshen up,” He uttered with concern.
The ranch style home was designed for comfort. The six-car garage was separate from the residence. One of those doors opened and a black Wrangler Jeep came out a blur of hair flying by.
There was enough horsepower underneath the hood of that vehicle. It was made to exceed the owners’ expectations. It was meant to take a beating and keep going in the harshest terrain.
It was the most sought-after vehicle on the market today. Those that owned one claimed they would never go back to something else for as long as they lived.
“I’ve never met a man anxious to cook for me.” I said with my heart a flutter.
“I find enjoyment in cooking and there’s nothing wrong with that. There are several renowned chefs that have revolutionized the industry. I take inspiration from them. My guilty pleasure is watching cooking shows late at night when everybody else is in bed,” He said ushering me into the house through the double doors into a grand entrance.
There was no shortage of wood in the design. The exposed beams made from discarded barns were a unique feature. The sliding barn door on hinges at every entrance into every room was something that had become all the rage. He disappeared through one of those doors and closed it behind him to keep what he was doing a secret.
I noticed these painting on the wall by the staircase. One painting is a pair of eyes. It’s creepy, but very compelling. I see another one with a girl with long wavy hair in a grey t-shirt and jeans. I had to take a second look. The girl was eerily similar to me.
Does he think about me?
Is this painting a way to immortalize the time we spent together?
I’m not what I should think. I’m flattered. I had no idea that I was someone he thought about. It touches to me know that I was never forgotten after that night.
The hallway led to a modern bathroom with a claw tub and this standalone shower with two heads on either side. It was big enough for at least four people comfortably. I didn’t see any taps on the sink and I looked around for the hidden camera.
I put my hand underneath the faucet and it was motion activated. The basin was something seen in any homes and gardens layout. I looked at myself in the round mirror with copper accents.
I had to continually remind myself that I wasn’t the same little girl afraid of my own shadow. She was still inside me whispering that I should run for the nearest exit. I let the cool water run through my fingers.
I’d found my independence by walking away from my father before he could do any more damage psychologically. I was no longer apprehensive about trying new things.
He was the exception to the rule. This was a man who worked hard and played even harder.
I used th
e supplied white terry cloth towels to pat my hands dry. I was determined to remain detached. I walked out of the bathroom and found him holding court by the door leading to the kitchen.
He pushed it open quietly on the track provided and I was accosted by several different flavours mingled into a taste sensation that I was happy to be a part of.
“I’ve been experimenting with a new recipe. I didn’t even ask if you like lamb,” He questioned with his eyes waiting for my response.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how you prepared it. Do I get the faint whiff of a red wine sauce?” I asked with him pointing to his nose.
“Not many can make the distinction between a white wine and red wine sauce. Being worldly afforded you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture. It must’ve been quite a shock to see how the other half lived. Some don’t even have running water or adequate Medical care,” He said with a blank look.
“People take for granted those little things like having food and a roof over their heads. I have made it my personal mission to open up their eyes to their plight. They may not like what they are seeing, but at least they will never be able to stick their head in the sand again,” I hesitated to see how he was going to respond in kind.
He brought me to this custom made long banquet table with two settings. The fine china was delicate. There was one romantic candle in the middle of the table with the scent of cinnamon burning from the wick.
“Have a glass of wine and I will be right back with the appetizer,” He said while bowing and pretending to be my indentured servant.
Chapter 7
~Edward~
I was happy with how everything was turning out. The lamb was falling off the bone. It didn’t seem like a long time, but three years felt like a lifetime since I last saw her. I was determined not to make any rash judgments or mistakes.
The red wine sauce over the meat with a touch of mint was perfectly timed to come out of the oven. I was trying to make the right impression with her lips beckoning me from across the room. The appetizer was a Greek Salad with croutons and black olives.
“I’ve always been a sucker for anything that was Greek.” She said with a flush of embarrassment that appeared on her chest.
I knew that I shouldn’t make snide comments, but I couldn’t help myself. “Greek is my favorite. I get all excited thinking about it.” I hinted with the unspoken fine print in my words.
“I’m not going to justify that with a response. Some things change and others stay the same,” She remarked with a black olive playing over her lips holding it in between two fingers.
The appetizer was soon finished and I went into the kitchen with the empty plates. I came out and served the main course on a silver platter. The steaming contents had her mouth-watering with anticipation.
I put the lamb on her plate followed by vegetables that were in season lightly sautéed in a garlic butter. The mashed potatoes with a slight pinch of garlic had her digging in.
I stood behind her watching the swell of her breasts feeling guilty by my fascination of seeing them up close and personal. It would’ve been a pleasure to reveal those orbs in all their glory.
One bite and she was looking up at me with this expression of euphoria.
I sat down on the other side and began to cut through the lamb chop like a knife through butter. It was better than I intended and certainly did show my talent in the best light possible.
“This must be your secret weapon,” She whispered with a fork full of mashed potatoes ready to be consumed.
“I know you might not believe this, but this is the first time that I’ve ever cooked this meal for anyone including my sister. I wanted to try something special. Don’t read anything into it. I’m trying to make up for my past shortcomings,” I said giving her a reason to trust me despite my past transgressions.
“Any other woman would be jumping into your lap in gratitude. There’s a small part of me that wants to do the same thing, but it wouldn’t be ladylike.” She said with a seductive tone that made me believe there was hope for something that was not on the menu.
We finished and I heard her sigh of contentment putting a smile on my face. I got up and collected the plate, but I couldn’t stop staring at her body in that dress. It was a decadent example of how to seduce a man without saying a word.
“I hope you have room for dessert. I’m making Bananas Foster from scratch. I just hope that I don’t burn down the place in the process of making it. You could join me in the kitchen unless you think it would be too hot for you to handle,” I joked teasingly hoping that she was woman enough to stand up to the challenge.
“If I can’t stand the heat then maybe I should stay out of the kitchen. I would really like to see you in your element,” She said with her hands grabbing for a napkin to dab the juices from her lips.
I ushered her forward and then I spun her to face me with my hand on the small of her back. She stared at me and wasn’t quite prepared for the tables to be turned.
The hand on the small of her back went all the way up to the back of her neck. I was locked and loaded with my lips pursed and I wasn’t going to wait.
There was no time like the present.
I tried to kiss her and she denied me. I wasn’t sure what was going on. I retreated back into the kitchen where I felt comfortable. I had this fire in my soul and I couldn’t contain it. I was wrong to try and initiate anything so soon.
I went into the kitchen to prepare everything that we were going to need for the dessert. I kept looking at the door wondering when she was going to make her appearance.
Was I trying to ignite a spark that wasn’t there?
I turned up the heat on the burners and she came through the door looking a little flustered. It felt like the walls were caving in. She was in my blood boiling underneath my skin.
“What are you looking for from this?” I asked with my heart in my throat and my hand itching to get underneath her dress.
“I wish I knew. I appreciate the patience and you have certainly earned some brownie points by being a good host. You’re attempt to kiss me was unexpected. It was spontaneous completely out of the blue.” She replied
“I’ve been thinking about that kiss that we had three years ago. I have craved the taste of your lips and I haven’t thought of anything else.” I implied that no other woman was ever going to measure up and the real thing was better than any kind of substitute.
“You’re not the only one.” She said with reckless abandon.
I would’ve said and done anything to make her mine.
The flames that were created from the liquor burning off in the pan were nothing compared to the heat generated between the two of us. We sat in the kitchen staring at each other and eating that dessert until there was nothing left.
“Where do we go from here?” She inquired while licking the fork clean with long swipes of her tongue giving me explicit naughty ideas.
“Where would you like this to go?” I hinted that it was up to her. We went to the living room and sat down.
“I missed you. I somehow knew that we would meet again. I have been waiting eagerly for you to come here today.” I tried to express my feelings to her.
She kissed me and I was completely at a loss for words as it was unexpected. I kissed her back and I put my hand in her hair with the other on around her waist.
I was pushing my tongue inside her mouth. She was a little awkward, but her enthusiasm more than made up for it. I guided her with my tongue and she followed. I slipped my hand into her dress to feel her bare skin. This sent a shiver down her spine and I could feel her trembling in my arms.
“This is your first kiss?” I asked eager to know what her response was going to be.
“No…it’s my second.” She said blushing and reminding me that day in California.
I smiled and kissed her again. I could feel the heat passing through us.
I heard someone clearing their throat. We turned and found
both Frank and Leila looking at us. We pretended nothing was happening, but they weren’t buying it. The sexual tension was all around us.
“It looks like you have some company. Is this business or pleasure?” Frank asked with a huge smirk on his face.
“I would say a little of both. We were enjoying our time together before we were rudely interrupted. I thought I said that I was going to need the house,” I said looking at Grace with a shrug off my shoulders.
“Don’t worry. We are leaving and you two can go back to doing whatever you were doing.” Leila said.
“I’m sorry. This is Leila, my sister and Frank, you already know,” I said.
“Not as well as you know Edward. I’m sure.” Frank teased.
Grace began to laugh at the underlying meaning behind what Frank said. She took their teasing with a generous spirit. “I have some work early in the morning,” She said.