Divine Mortals

by Allison, J

  “Good Evening,” Robert answered formally sounding so far removed from the rancher I was used to, he looked and sounded like he belonged.

  The main reception area was incredible, and decorated beautifully, huge paintings hung on the walls and soft lighting reflected around the room. Two stunning women were standing behind a large granite topped desk, a spectacular arrangement of white lilies to one side of them.

  Robert led me to the counter, I was beginning to feel out of my depth, for a ranch worker Robert seemed at ease.

  The blonde behind the counter came over quickly, I watched with amusement as she appraised Robert with her eyes, although I couldn’t be angry at her, in fact I couldn’t blame her, tonight he was breath taking.

  “Good Evening Sir, Welcome to Red Peak, How may I help?” Her voice dripped honey and suggestion, Robert was apparently oblivious to this, his expression never changing under her admiring gaze.

  “We have a reservation for dinner, we’re joining another couple.”

  My eyes flew to his, we were joining another couple, who else was coming? Before I could ask the receptionist was speaking again,

  “Certainly,” she drawled, “The rest of your party are already through in our Observation Restaurant, if you follow the hallway off to your left you will arrive in the Restaurant and our Maître d will seat you.”

  “Thank you.” Robert squeezed my hand and we headed towards the wide arched hallway that she had indicated. I had not said a word since entering the Lodge, Robert looked down at me as we walked slowly along the long high ceilinged hallway.

  “She was very pretty,” I mused, not looking at him.

  “Was she,” his voice was disinterested and I looked up at him, narrowing my eyes.

  Robert smiled as he saw my expression,

  “I see only you tonight Ava.” He gave me a cheeky wink.

  I blushed, “You don’t scrub up so bad yourself.” I answered, a little abashed, pausing for a moment I tried to quell the butterflies in my stomach before continuing.

  “Who’s the other couple?” I asked innocently, we were almost at the end of the hallway.

  “Well…” Roberts grin was infectious and his eyes were glowing as he looked down at me, “I was thinking you were probably a little scared tonight, what with Sally being upset with us.”

  “Me. Upset with me, she thinks you’re heaven on earth!”

  “Well whatever way you want to see it, but I decided I couldn’t have you feeling uncomfortable all night, and…”

  My heart rate sped again as I looked back at him, how did he do that, all he had to do was look at me, I was sure I would wake up one morning and this amazing guy will have been some wonderful dream.

  We came to the end of the hallway and into a large and expensively elegant reception area beyond, a young dark skinned man in a tuxedo greeted us, arms outstretched; cutting Robert off before he could finish his sentence.

  “Welcome,” he shook Roberts hand energetically before taking mine and kissing it, I dipped my eyes, feeling my cheeks burn for what must be the thousandth time tonight, I really wasn’t used to this sort of treatment. Robert smiled smugly as he watched my reaction, he found my discomfort at compliments amusing, I resisted the urge to poke my tongue out at him.

  “My name is Pierre,”

  Pierre, it was my turn to smirk, how cliché, Robert saw my reaction and smiled.

  “Your table is right this way, the rest of your party have only just arrived,” Pierre had an accent, although I couldn’t place it, but I was pretty damn sure it wasn’t French.

  I looked around, finally taking in our surroundings, the room was magnificent, the walls on the entire south side consisted of glass, from floor to ceiling, the roof was also completely glass and arched up to a high point yards above our heads. The view stretched down the valley in both directions and across to the mountains opposite, it was mind blowing and easy to see why this was called the Observation Restaurant. Robert pulled gently on my hand as Pierre crossed the huge dining room ahead of us, showing us to our table, bringing my thoughts back to the company we would be keeping tonight.

  We were lead around the side of a partition to a small intimate table next to the glass, James and Sally were there, both looking intently at the menu.

  Suspicions confirmed.

  20.

  Sally was the first to look up.

  “Hi,” I smiled, trying my best to look as friendly as possible, hesitating only slightly.

  “Hi.” her answer was cautious but not angry, her eyes flicked quickly to our hands where Robert still had a firm grasp of mine.

  “Hey you guys,” James was his usual happy enthusiastic self. Robert gave them both a wide grin, directed in particular towards Sally, I watched her smile back, you couldn’t resist when Robert turned the charm on. I wondered if he really was as ignorant of his effect on people as he made out to be.

  Pierre pushed my chair in behind me and laid a napkin on my lap.

  “Would you like to order drinks?” he asked politely,

  Sally and James both ordered a coke, I asked for an Orange Juice and Robert ordered the same.

  “You look nice Ava,” Sally ventured, breaking the tense silence, “I love that color.”

  “Thanks,” I gushed a little too enthusiastically, jumping at the chance to break the ice.

  “I love your gown too, it’s gorgeous.” Sally was wearing a strapless midnight blue satin dress, it matched the dark color of her eyes and bought out the gorgeous color of her honey blonde hair.

  “Thanks, I’ve had it for months, Mom and I found it a while ago and I just had to get it for tonight, I’ve been dying to wear it.”

  “Well it suits you.” I beamed, I noticed James and Robert had struck up a conversation already, something to do with sports, Robert was normally so reserved around others but I was happy to leave them to chat, I needed to continue trying to repair my friendship with Sally. I took advantage of the boys being otherwise occupied to try and apologize again.

  “Sally, I need to say sorry to you,” I grabbed her hand from where it was resting on the table, ever aware, I noticed Roberts eyes flit briefly to me before he was again listening intently to James.

  Sally smiled too, this time it was genuine.

  “You don’t need to say anything Ava,” She looked a little embarrassed, “I shouldn’t have reacted as I did, Robert actually told me how awful you felt when he called to arrange tonight and I realized how stupid I’d been.”

  I was astounded and more than speechless, Robert had spoken to her about me, what had he said?

  “Oh,” I tried to hide my surprise, I glanced quickly towards Robert, his eyes tightened a little but he was not looking at either Sally or I, plenty of time to ask him about that later.

  “Thanks Sal, I just want you to know I didn’t plan anything like this it just sort of, happened, Wow,” I laughed, “How much of a badly clichéd comment was that.”

  “Everything happens for a reason,” Sally smiled, “You probably deserve something nice this year anyway.”

  I knew that Robert would be hearing everything we discussed even while maintaining a conversation with James. I let go of Sallys hand and decided to change the subject.

  “So what should I expect tonight?” I asked, bringing the conversation back to the impending dance.

  Sally spent the rest of the time before our meals arrived telling me about the Ranchers Ball.

  Robert and James joined our conversation, my hand was cocooned in heat as Roberts fingers slipped into mine under the table. God if only Sally knew what he was, she would freak out. My mind wandered back to our night in the hammock, the night he told me.

  “Ava?” Roberts voice was urgent, I snapped back to the present realizing too late that all three of them were looking at me strangely.

  “Sorry, what?”

  “Wow you were miles away,” James joked, “Sal just asked you three times if you wanted dessert and you were in la la land.
”

  “Oh sorry,” I mumbled, trying to gather my thoughts once more, “No thanks I’m fine, dinner was huge.”

  Sal and James continued to order their dessert from a waiter that I hadn’t even seen arrive, Robert leaned towards me, his breath warm on my neck, his gorgeous smell making my head spin.

  “Are you alright?” he whispered, his eyes searching mine.

  I nodded, “Definitely.”

  He pulled away a little still looking slightly confused by my vacant episode.

  James interrupted his brooding, asking him a question I didn’t catch, whatever it was Sally seemed interested as well and I was free to slip back to my thoughts.

  Robert had been raised by foster parents, Okay I got that, he’d been in Huntington for the last three years working for my Grandparents. He had some sort of crazy gifts that even he didn’t realize the full extent of, this had been made terrifyingly clear after our ‘flying’ episode at the river.

  He must know more about his own existence, how could there be so much unanswered. I felt his eyes on me and I raised my own slowly until I met his gaze, his deep bottomless brown eyes burned into me, he was trying to figure out my thoughts.

  I rearranged my features into something I hoped resembled the more normal looking me, not the thoughtful brooding me, he raised his eyebrows, his own eyes full of questions, I had him well and truly confused.

  Dessert passed quickly, Sally was pretty much back to her old self, chatting easily and laughing a lot, however I did notice her tense a little every time Robert touched me or leaned in to whisper in my ear but I ignored those reactions and much to my relief she really seemed to be enjoying James’s company. I crossed my fingers that it would work out for them.

  Robert was the perfect gentleman, making conversation with James as well as he could, after all James was still in school and Robert had been working for the last three years, they didn’t particularly have similar interests let alone personalities. Robert was athletic and universally handsome; James was more the modern city guy, however misplaced that might be in Huntington.

  After dessert was cleared we made our way back to the main foyer, Robert paid for our meal much to my dismay, I hadn’t intended to freeload.

  “Shit.” James’s expression at our ride was instant and total worship, he circled the car fully twice before hitting Robert with a number of automobile related questions.

  Sally and I stood back shaking, our heads at their first real shared interest for the night.

  “See you soon,” Sally waved as they climbed into James’s small hatchback.

  “See you there.” I replied, turning back towards the shiny black vehicle Robert had ‘acquired’ for the evening. His warm arm slipped around my waist, drawing me closer.

  “I want to show you something before we head down, do you mind?”

  I could never deny him anything when we were together, he seemed to bewitch me with his gaze, I found it hard just to think straight whenever we touched.

  “I don’t mind.” I whispered, instantly scolding myself, was there really any need for me to wear my heart so obviously on my sleeve?

  Robert led me behind the car towards a stand of pine trees at the edge of the parking lot, as we reached their cover Robert threw a quick glance over his shoulder, satisfied we were alone he pulled me beneath the thick canopy, the lodge instantly disappearing behind us.

  Picking me up easily he set off at a run, that terrifying pace that felt so horrifyingly like flying, which turned my body to Jell-O and set my heart thumping. My head spun and I felt a terrible sense of nausea, oh god what would I do if I was sick down the front of my dress? Perhaps I should have asked what he wanted to show me before giving myself so easily to him.

  But in Roberts usual style he never tripped or faltered, I didn’t feel anything touch me except his warm arms and the caress of the evening breeze and I took his closeness as an excuse to bury my face in his neck, inhaling the scent of him, trying to calm myself.

  All too soon he stopped, I peered over his shoulder, we were at the hill top, the very peak of valley, the trees had disappeared, only sparse bushes dotted the hillside at this altitude, the air was cooler up here and I felt goose bumps rise along my arms.

  Robert put me down gently, steadying me with his arm, I tested my heels in the soft ground, I didn’t want to sink.

  “Look…” his voice sung, I turned in his arms facing back the way we had come.

  My breath caught in absolute awe.

  The sun was setting in an amazing show of pink and gold across the sky, reflecting down the valley and off the river that snaked along its edge, glittering like quicksilver where the sun hit it. I could see hundreds of miles in each direction, it was the most breathtaking view I had ever seen.

  “It’s beautiful,” I breathed, the mountain peaks were so close to us here and it was deathly quiet in the pre-evening light, I was in awe of the picture set out before us.

  “Well it’s not bad,” Robert laughed gently, “Beautiful though I would reserve to describe something else,” his eyes turned back towards me and I felt myself blush.

  Seeing my reaction his laughter came a little louder,

  “Your cheeks match the sky.”

  “Hey!” I joked, punching him softly in the arm, Robert grabbed my fist before I could withdraw from the blow, threading his fingers through mine and bringing them down to hang gently in the space between us.

  “You’re the one I’ve been waiting for.” he breathed.

  The entire world seemed to stand still, this simple sentence blew away everything that was spread out around us. The sunset now seemed like a trifling unimportant painting. His words replayed over and over in my head, a million times, in just a matter of seconds, the instinct to pinch myself was strong.

  His kiss stopped my thoughts in their tracks, his soft lips slowly caressing mine, I knotted my hands in his hair, pulling him closer to me. Roberts arms circled my waist drawing me in and crushing me against him. I didn’t want this to end, this moment, here at the top of the valley, I was sure nothing would ever, could ever, match this. His lips moved away from mine, gently skimming along my jaw towards my ear, I looked over his shoulder and froze, I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

  “Ahhh Robert…”

  “MMMmmmm?” his didn’t take his lips from my neck, the feeling was staggering, a small part of my brain was begging me not to care and I was close to doing just that until I opened my eyes again, I couldn’t risk falling this time.

  “Don’t let me go,” I whispered,

  “I don’t plan on it.” He chuckled briefly before his lips began doing amazing things to me again, I had to fight to keep my thoughts in line.

  “Houston we have lift off,” I tried and failed at humor, the quiver in my voice made it sound very wrong.

  “Ava what are you talking about?” he murmured, his lips working back towards my own.

  “Ahhh Robert, Don’t let go of me now, I’ll fall.”

  Instantly his hands grasped me tighter making me squeak, his head flew up and I felt him look over my shoulder towards the ground that was now about eight feet below my yellow heels. At almost the same time as he moved we slowly started to descend back towards earth and within a matter of seconds I felt my feet hit solid ground again.

  Relief flooded through me, it took all my will power not to bend down and kiss the earth beneath us. I stepped back from him a little, he wasn’t looking at me, he was looking at the ground, his forehead creased deeply in confusion.

  “Robert?”

  It took him a while to register my voice, he was so deep in whatever thoughts were running through his mind that he didn’t seem to hear me. Slowly his head came up and his eyes met mine. I couldn’t read his expression, it was like the first night I had questioned him at my grandparents, he wore a mask, hiding everything he felt.

  “You really are going to have to sort that,” I laughed, trying to show him that I didn’t mind, at least
this time we had managed a safe landing.

  “Either that or I’ll need to start wearing a parachute when you kiss me.”

  This finally broke through his walls and I saw a smile pull gently at the corner of his mouth.

  “Maybe until I figure out what’s going on I shouldn’t kiss you.”

  I laughed out loud, as if I would be able to resist kissing him ever again, even if it did mean risking my general safety, I noticed a little late he wasn’t laughing, he was serious.

  “No deal!” I spoke quickly, this time he did smile.

  “Ava,” he was still trying to stifle a grin at my outburst, “I can’t risk the unknown with you, not until I know how to control this…” his hands waved above him, “this thing!”

  “Flight?”

  “It’s not flight!” he almost snapped, I was a little taken back.

  “Sorry,” he apologized instantly, looking ashamed at his outburst, “I didn’t mean to be short tempered with you, I’m just frustrated is all. Until now I’ve known the extent of what I can do, and well now…” he grasped at the next sentence, his eyes betraying the feelings of despair that simmered just below the surface, “now I don’t.”

  “That’s okay,” I stepped in, taking his hands in mine, “We can figure it out together,” I pressed my lips into his warm neck kissing him softly, he quivered slightly and I smiled to myself. We would figure this out together, because now we had each other and that was more than he had probably had in a long time.

  Robert carried me back down to the car with the same ease and care as our trip to the summit.

  We walked casually from the trees, I hoped no one was watching, I could just imagine the gossip if anyone had seen us disappear into the bushes and then reappear half an hour later.

  Robert opened the door for me like he had earlier and I found myself back in the flashy BMW. He slid into the drivers seat silently and before I could blink we were heading back down the winding valley road towards town.

  Robert was completely pre occupied as we drove, I glanced at him every now and then, watching a complete mix of emotions cross his features.