Romance: Seducing The Quarterback

by Stacie Duncan

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” He gazed at me with concern, then took another sip of his drink. I nodded my head solemnly and only looked up when the bartender set my lemonade in front of me.

  “It’s okay. I mean…” I didn’t know what to say, and I started to feel like I shouldn’t have left the house. “It’s hard, but I know that I have to move on with my life.” As soon as I spoke I was hit with a strong wave of nausea. Christopher sipped on his drink, oblivious to my internal churnings. I sipped my lemonade and then took a deep breath.

  “You know.” Christopher took a sip of his drink. “I’ve been intrigued by you ever since I saw you step foot inside Avalanche.” He smiled, his hand still on top of mine. “I think you’re beautiful, and I’d like you to come visit my ranch one day soon.” His dark hair and green eyes still had me captivated, even though I’d been looking at his face for the last hour.

  “Thanks. I’ll have to think about it.” I took another sip of my lemonade and then swung my feet back and forth under my bar stool. So far, it was a smooth date. We definitely had chemistry between each other but as soon as I thought about the possibility of a kiss, I immediately saw Joey’s face in my mind, and it filled me with sadness.

  Christopher ordered another Jack and Coke as I sipped slowly on my lemonade. I looked at my watch and decided to get home since I had to be up early for a breakfast shift at Avalanche. “Thanks for the nice date.” I got up and wrapped my scarf around my neck, then offered to pay for my lemonade. Christopher chuckled and then pulled out a wad of twenties from his pocket.

  “I’m more than happy to pay for your lemonade, Alyssa.” He grinned and then stood up from his seat. We walked out of Moose Creek Tavern together, gazing up at the moon that had just poked out from beyond the horizon. I was eager to get home, so I picked up the pace as we walked toward my truck.

  “Let me know when we can get together again.” Christopher leaned forward, and placed his lips on mine. He kissed me in what felt like a whirlwind of a moment, and I backed away in surprise. He grinned and then turned to walk away as I climbed into the cab of the truck. I started the ignition and watched as he walked away.

  I had no sooner pulled out of the lot when I heard a rumbling noise underneath the truck. I slowed down and the sound continued. Then the steering got difficult and a loud thud resounded from the passenger side. A flat tire? At night and with no spare? I rolled my eyes and then did my best to pull over next to a snow bank. I threw down the lights and climbed out to check. Sure enough, the passenger side tire in the front was completely flat.

  I stood there for a few minutes trying to decide what to do. Walking to Avalanche was out of the question because it was at least fifteen miles away. I thought about calling Rebecca but remembered that she had a class at nights, and my neighbor was probably out in the barn getting his horses fed for the night. I mulled over as many other options as I could, and then folded my arms across my chest. I had nobody to help me, and once again I realized how much I missed Joe.

  Chapter 9

  Just as I was about to fish around in my purse for Christopher’s phone number, a pair of headlights landed on my face. They got bigger and brighter, then disappeared completely. The engine from their vehicle shut off, and a man climbed out from behind the wheel. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a deep voice. He wore a checkered flannel coat a pair of black wading boots.

  “Got a flat, huh?” He approached me slowly and looked at the tire.

  “It sure looks like it.” I placed my hands on my hips and stared at the flattened rubber.

  “You’re Alyssa, right?” He looked at me, then looked back at the tire.

  “Yes. Have we met?” I studied his face for a second, trying to decide if I knew him.

  “No. But I come into Avalanche a lot, and I’ve seen you a lot waiting tables. I was there one night when you were chatting with Christopher.” He nodded his head and continued to stare at the tire.

  “I see.” I smiled and then looked at him to see if he had any suggestions for fixing the flat.

  “In fact, I was there the night he asked you out, because I heard him talking to a few of our buddies afterward.” He walked around to the back of the truck and then frowned. “No spare, huh?” He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose and then ran his hands through his hair.

  “No. I don’t have a spare.” I shook my head. “Are you friends with Christopher?” the conversation had piqued my interest.

  “Oh yeah. Me and him go way back. Both of us are from ranching families.” He looked at me with curiosity and then thrust out his hand. “I’m Rick.” He smiled and I placed my hand in his. “Nice to finally meet you.” He stared at me for a few minutes and then looked away.

  “I don’t suppose you’ve got a free hand to help me with this do you?” I looked at Rick with hope. “And possibly a free tire?” I laughed at myself for not being prepared to handle a flat. What was I thinking driving around in Montana with no spare tire? Most of the roads were gravel, stone, or a combination of the two. Flats were common.

  “I actually have a spare in the back of my truck. I can help you out. Don’t worry.” Rick pushed his glasses back up the bride of his nose and then left to get the tire and the tools. I stared up at the moon, wondering how I could have been such a fool to travel in such an unprepared fashion. Rick came back with a tire and a toolbox, then sat down on the passenger side and got to work.

  “Thanks for your help.” I wasn’t an overly religious person, but I did find it peculiar that Rick had appeared out of thin air during my time of need.

  “You’re welcome.” Rick positioned his wrench so that he could get the tire in, then paused. “You know, I hate to say this, Alyssa, but…” His voice trailed off and I frowned. What was he about to tell me? “A flat tire is the least of your worries.” He pushed his glasses up his nose again. I stared at him with suspicion.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I put my hands on my hips and inched a little closer.

  “It means…” He tightened the lug nuts and then leaned forward to make eye contact. “…that you’re asking for trouble with Christopher Marlow.” He raised his eyebrows, tightened the nut, then slapped his hands on his pants. “You’re all set here.” He got up from his crouching position and then started to walk away.

  “Hey, wait.” I looked at him with confusion. “What are you telling me this for? Why is Christopher trouble?” I couldn’t let Rick leave without filling me in on whatever he knew. It was as if he had just dropped off a treasure chest, but not the key to unlock its bounty.

  “Let’s just say that he’s got a reputation.” Rick nodded his head and thoughtfully ran his hands through his beard. I bit my lower lip, not happy with the sounds of this.

  “What kind of reputation? Please tell me what you know, Rick.” I could hear the subtle desperation in my voice.

  “Alyssa. I don’t want to get you upset, and I know that we just met, but…” He looked away, and I could tell that he was uncomfortable telling me much more than what he already had. “Christopher is not such a nice guy, that’s all. You should just be careful.” He pursed his lips and then turned around to walk away. I grabbed him by the shoulder and he stopped.

  “Look. I only went on one date with him. Tell me what you know about him so I can decide if he’s worth it. Please. What do you have to lose?” I shrugged and then adjusted my scarf to keep the chill away from my neck.

  “Meet me for a coffee tomorrow and I’ll tell you whatever you want.” He cocked his head to the side and I paused. Coffee? Was this another date? I didn’t know what Rick’s intentions were, but I did know that I wanted more information about Christopher.

  “When and where?” I placed my hands on my hips and tossed my hair over my shoulder. The air had gotten so bitterly cold that I could see my breath when I spoke.

  “Three o’clock at Bozeman Café down on Glacier Avenue.” Rick spoke matter-of-factly and I nodded my head.

  “You
got it.” I smiled and then sighed. “This better be good.” I gave him a playful wink and then fished around for my keys. Rick turned to leave and I opened the door to my truck. “Hey, Rick.” I called out and he stopped. “Thanks for fixing my tire. I appreciate it.” I smiled and then hopped into the cab and started the ignition. Rick just smiled and walked away.

  Chapter 10

  I worked my usual shift at Avalanche then walked home to change. I still hated my job as much as I did when I first started, but now that I was making some money, it didn’t seem to be so difficult to drag myself in. I got home with just enough time to get changed and motor down to Bozeman Café. When I stepped inside, Rick was already seated at a booth.

  “Hi there.” I sat down and then unwrapped my scarf from around my neck. Rick smiled and passed me a menu.

  “I know I invited you for coffee, but this place has amazing blueberry crepes, in case you’re interested.” He winked and then folded his hands on the table, looking me square in the eye as he did.

  “Well, I’m glad that I came here to meet you. I guess we should cut to the chase while we’re deciding on food.” I raised my eyebrows, intent on finding out as much as I could in as little time as needed.

  “Yes. Of course.” Rick nodded his head and then looked up as the waiter came to our table. “Hello. I’d like an espresso and a short stack of blueberry pancakes.” He handed the waiter his menu and then looked at me to order. I had been having a rather nausea-free day, so I opted for a plate of French toast and an orange juice.

  “You know, a few of the waitresses over at Avalanche told me to watch out for Christopher. They seemed to insinuate that he was a player.” I figured I might as well tell him what I already knew.

  “They were telling you the truth.” Rick confirmed the accusations, then added more. “He’s also been known to rough up his women.” He took a sip of his water and then studied my face to see how I reacted. “He beat up his last girlfriend because she wouldn’t go to some bonfire at Glen Lake Park.” Rick shook his head and then got quiet.

  “This is all very surprising.” I wasn’t even sure of how to react. I couldn’t picture Christopher being violent, and it hurt to hear that he wasn’t possibly the man that I’d been led on to believe that he was.

  “You know, Alyssa.” Rick looked me in the eyes and then got quiet when the waiter reappeared with our pancakes and French toast. “Wow. This looks amazing.” He smiled and then nodded his head at the waiter. My eyes widened when I saw how large the portions were. Since I was eating for two, this posed no problem at all.

  “What were you starting to say?” I felt like I was being impatient with how quickly I wanted Rick to disclose his information, but I sensed that he knew quite a bit about Christopher, and I wanted to find out all that I could.

  “What I was going to tell you was that I think you could do much better than Christopher.” He took a sip of his espresso and I could tell by his lingering gaze that he wanted me to consider him one of the better men he referred to. I lifted a forkful of French toast to my lips and then chewed the sweet, cinnamon flavored bread while Rick watched me in silence.

  “I get the feeling that you’ve got your own intentions, Rick.” I couldn’t help but give him a flirtatious smile when I made my statement, and he gave me a playful smile right back.

  “I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that I’m interested. I mean, come on. Who wouldn’t be interested in you? You’re pretty, you’re unique and you’re patient. I watched you trying to assess that tire for a good ten minutes.” Rick chuckled and then took another bite of his pancakes.

  “Thanks for the compliments.” I sipped my orange juice and then looked out the window. I felt a little overwhelmed with everything Rick had just told me. I had the feeling that he wasn’t just playing around, either. “I should probably get going soon.” I looked at him with an apologetic smile. “I’ve got a lot of housework to do.” I know it sounded like a pathetic excuse, but it was true. Rick nodded his head, took some cash out of his pocket to pay the bill, then reached for my hand.

  “Come by my place before you go home. I’ve got an extra tool-kit and another spare tire that you can keep.” He smiled and then finished off his pancakes and reached for his coat. I gave him a playful smile. It was a good ploy. I had to give him that. Without even thinking, I followed him out, got in my truck, and drove behind him until we reached Arapahoe Drive. His house sat alone, at the top of a hill, surrounded by pine trees.

  “I must be crazy to come here after just meeting you once.” I cocked my head and then watched as he opened the door and motioned for me to enter.

  “It’s not crazy at all. You’re a woman, and you’ve got intuition. I think we both know that there’s a little…” He paused and then chuckled. “There’s a little chemistry between us, right?” He pushed his glasses up his nose and then waited for me to walk inside. I grinned and then stepped into his living room which was decked out in a variety of unique art pieces, wood carvings and black and white photographs.

  “Nice place. It feels very cozy.” I looked around and then breathed in the faint scent of amber that seemed to emanate from the air. Rick smiled and then gestured for me to sit on the couch.

  “Get comfortable. I’m going to grab that tool-kit and tire from the shed. I have tea in the kitchen if you’d like to help yourself, and I have a stack of National Geographic magazines if those are of interest to you.” He motioned to a large wicker basket and then disappeared through the door. I leaned forward and picked one out of the basket.

  “I must be losing my mind. Seriously.” I flipped through the magazine and then landed on a page that featured a picture of the Grand Canyon. I studied the landscape for a few minutes and then fought back a tear. Joe and I had gone to the Grand Canyon for one of our anniversaries. I still couldn’t believe that he was gone. Equally troubling was the fact that I had just dated two different men in the span of three days, and was now sitting inside one of their homes.

  I closed the magazine and stared blankly out the window. Rick had a view of the mountains and the meandering creek below. I took a deep breath and then closed my eyes. What was I doing? When was I going to tell anyone else that I was pregnant? Did I even have any business dating when I knew that I’d never love the way I did with Joe?

  I sat with my questions for what felt like an eternity. When I opened my eyes, Rick was standing before me with a glass of water and a handful of wildflowers. He smiled and handed them to me, just as the sun set behind the mountains. I stared at him for a few seconds, then leaned forward and kissed him square on the lips.

  Chapter 11

  “You know. I’ve been wondering what your lips tasted like since the first time I saw you at Avalanche. Looks like I just found out.” Rick smiled and gently backed away. “Let me show you the rest of my place.” He took me by the hand and led me through his dining room, then around a corner and into a huge bedroom that overlooked Paradise Valley.

  “This is an incredible place. Your views are amazing.” I smiled and he pulled me closer.

  “Not as good as the view I have looking at you.” He ran his hand over my hair and then drew me into his chest. I could feel his heat beating and it filled me with a rush of excitement. I closed my eyes just as he leaned in and kissed me. It was peculiar that I found myself enjoying the kiss, rather than wishing it away with thoughts of Joe. I wrapped my hands around his neck and rocked slowly back and forth.

  “Come over here.” Rick guided us toward his king-sized bed and then propped himself on the edge. He pulled my sweater over my head, then ran his hands over my breasts. I could smell his clean-soap scent, and it made me even more attracted to him. “This is the best afternoon I’ve had in ages.” Rick grinned and unzipped his jeans, and I watched with anticipation as he tossed them to the floor.

  The sun had tucked behind the clouds and a few oddly shaped shadows danced across the floor. I slid out of my pants and then inched up onto the bed with a flirtat
ious smile. Rick wasted no time following me and before I knew it we were both lying on our sides, caressing each other and kissing with reckless abandon.

  “I would have never expected this.” I laughed as Rick played with my hair. “I really did just plan on having breakfast and going home.” I leaned my head back on the pillow and Rick ran his tongue down my neck. It sent Goosebumps down my spine. “What a pleasant surprise.” I grinned, then curled my toes as he kissed my ears, my face, then my stomach.

  “Let me make love to you, Alyssa.” Rick backed up and then looked at me with a serious expression. I smiled and bit my lip. Was this the right thing to do? We had just met the other day. I knew that if I allowed it, my mind would travel with unbridled anxiety into places I’d rather not go. I gave myself a break and ignored the chatter, then pulled Rick on top of me, ready to honor his request.

  He wasted no time sliding into me, and I clutched his waist with my hands. It had been so long since I’d felt anyone on my body, that it was almost too much stimulation for me to handle. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation that came from his powerful manhood. He moved with a gentle force, and I found myself crying out with pleasure as he brought me to the brink of ecstasy.

  My orgasm came too quickly, but his followed only seconds behind me, and we both lied motionless on the bed with giant smiles on our faces when it was over. “I hope you know that there’s more from where that came from.” Rick traced my face with his finger, then rolled over and looked me in the eyes.

  I lied there in silence for a few seconds, then sighed and faced him with a shy smile. “I really liked that.” I leaned in and kissed him on the nose. Without his glasses he looked even younger, but either way he was handsome. I slid off the bed and then reached for my sweater and my pants. “And now, I really need to get that housecleaning taken care of.” I winked and then got dressed.