by Sara Mullins
“Yup, you’re right.” Nicole paused for a minute then stared at the clock again. “Alright, wish me luck. I better get going.”
“You don’t need it,” Becky insisted.
Nicole smiled at everyone, grabbed her purse, and headed to the door. She stepped out into the beautiful sunshine. The weather was damn near perfect. She put on her sunglasses and started walking toward the diner. She glanced over at the shop to look for him and continued until she arrived at the door. Nicole paused, inhaled, then grabbed the handle and started to open it. Somehow, it seemed to have lost weight since the day before. Then she noticed the hand on the other side of the door pushing it out. And there he was.
“Come on in, I got our booth saved,” Mark exclaimed.
“Thanks,” Nicole said. “Have you been waiting long?”
“Nah, I just got here. Quick warning, though; I’m pretty sure the same lovely waitress is working again.”
“Oh joy,” Nicole exclaimed.
They walked over to the booth and sat down in the same spots they were in the day before.
“I can tell you one thing,” Mark announced as he opened his menu. “I am definitely getting the mushroom and swiss patty melt today.” He cracked the sweetest grin at her across the table.
“Great choice. It was really good.”
The moody waitress walked over and took their drink order, but without the added dose of grouchy attitude this time. Mark and Nicole both raised their eyebrows in shock after she walked away. “Whaddya know?” Mark asked.
She returned in no time with their drinks and they each proceeded to order the patty melt. “I’ll get that right out, guys.”
Mark immediately started chugging the Mountain Dew like he hadn’t had anything to drink all day. “Sorry, I’m so thirsty,” he said.
“You don’t have to apologize to me,” Nicole replied. She paused for a moment, then decided to jump right in and start the conversation. “So . . . how was your morning?” She awkwardly asked the only thing she could think of.
“It was alright, I guess. Kinda felt like it dragged on forever, though.”
“I know what you mean,” she said. He smiled at her across the table and she looked down to avoid blushing. “Well, I feel like I got to do most of the talking yesterday. Tell me more about yourself. I mean, I know you’re from Kentucky and you are here working for your uncle, but that’s about it. You have any other family here? What do you like to do?”
“Let’s see. My parents and brothers still live in Kentucky. I have two brothers. They are what you would call ‘troublemakers’,” he said, laughing. “Mom and dad are doing good. She stays at home on the farm and he drives a truck.”
“Sounds like a great family.”
“Yeah, they are.” He took another drink then continued. “I don’t always see eye to eye with my brothers, especially Jeremy. But I will always love them ’cause they’re my brothers, ya know?”
“Yup, I think it’s a rule, actually.”
He laughed then continued. “Uh, what else? Well, I pretty much enjoy just about anything outdoors – camping, fishing, and all that stuff. But I love working on cars. I guess that’s why I like working at the shop so much. It’s not as fun as working on my own car, but it’s a paycheck and I enjoy it.”
“I can understand that. But that’s pretty cool that you get to do what you love. A lot of people can’t say that,” Nicole said.
“That’s true, I guess. I’d love to open up my own shop one day. That’s my goal, anyway.”
“You should do it, that would be awesome.”
“One day I will. I’m trying to save money right now, but when the time is right, I’ll go for it,” Mark said.
They chatted for a few minutes until their sandwiches came out, then they ate and talked like they had known each other forever. The clock was now in fast-forward mode for Nicole. She swore it was speeding up exponentially. It would soon be time for her to return to work and she had no idea what to expect next. When would she see him again? Maybe she shouldn’t see him again. All she knew was she’d had a great time and it all seemed too good to be true, which was what scared her the most.
The waitress started to walk over with their checks and Nicole reminded him that she was going to pay for his lunch. “Okay, fine,” he gave in reluctantly. “But just this once,” he said, winking at her.
“Oh, it’s fine, I’m a big girl,” she insisted. She gave the waitress some cash and Mark laid some on the table. The waitress quickly returned with her change and receipt and told them to have a good day.
Mark looked at Nicole and thought about what he wanted to say and realized that he was running out of time to say it. “So, what do you like to do, you know, when you aren’t at work?”
“Ha! Well, I was dead serious when I said I just go to work, come back and sit at home and talk to my cat,” she said.
“I see, ‘cause I was wondering if you would like to do something with me Saturday if you, uh, aren’t too busy with the cat?”
“Hmmm, I guess I can check with him and get back to you,” she informed him. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Cool, what would you like to do?” Mark asked.
Nicole thought about it for a minute. There wasn’t a whole lot to do in Carolina. Something as simple as going to the theater meant driving about forty-five minutes away. “When I was a little girl, my dad used to take me and my sister out on my grandpa’s pond. He had an old fishing boat. We would go out for hours and fish. It was so peaceful. I haven’t gone fishing since he died. Would you like to do that?”
“That sounds perfect. There’s a big pond on my uncle’s property. Actually, it’s more like a small lake, but we can go there if you want.”
“I would really like that,” Nicole said.
“Alright, I’ll pick you up Saturday morning then. As long as you’re okay with that.”
She hesitated for a moment. “Sure, that’ll work.”
“We can meet somewhere if you’d rather,” he suggested.
“No, it’s okay. That will work.”
“Cool. What time do you want me to pick you up?” he asked.
“Does ten work?” she asked.
“Sounds great to me. Where do you live?”
“Two-five-six Willow Drive.”
“Ah, okay, I know where Willow Drive is. I’ll be there at ten. You be ready for the ultimate fishing trip,” he added, with his typical irresistible charm.
“I’ll be waiting,” she replied, having no better answer to give him. His handsome smile left her speechless. She lowered her gaze and reached for the door. They both left the restaurant and went their separate ways, just as they had done the day before.
Chapter 5
Nicole floated through the rest of the week in a daydream. Work was a breeze, except for the constant comments and questions from her coworkers, Sherrie in particular. The biggest challenge was fighting the excitement enough to be able to fall asleep. She lay there night after night staring at the ceiling, with nothing but her thoughts for company. She wondered if this guy was for real. Maybe he was as sweet and sexy as he seemed. The thoughts and questions flooded her mind, but she convinced herself that it was worth the risk.
On Saturday morning, Nicole woke up to a gorgeous day. She brewed some coffee, grabbed some cereal, then sat on the porch with Salem sprawled out on her lap. She glanced at her phone on several occasions, waiting for the time to speed up. Minutes never lasted as long as they did when she was waiting to see him. As the time of his arrival finally approached, she decided to head in to get ready. She took a quick shower and threw on her most comfortable pair of jean shorts and a tank top. She dried her long, brown hair and pulled it into a cute ponytail. And, last but not least, came the flip-flops. They were completely worn down and past their expiration date, but she wouldn’t give them up.
Nicole walked out to the shed in the back yard. The old door was still speckled with the remnants of forty-year
-old red paint. She stepped inside and let her eyes adjust to the change in light. The musty smell was almost overwhelming. She grabbed the fishing pole that was standing in the back corner and turned to head out just as the faint sound of tires could be heard coming up the driveway.
Nicole closed the shed and hurried through the back door of the house. She made a quick stop in front of the mirror to verify that her appearance was acceptable, then made her way to the front window to look outside. Mark was driving an old, black pickup truck that he had fixed up to look new. It was completely fitting for his dark and sexy image. He even had a self-assured way about him when he was behind the wheel. Nicole tried not to stare out the window too long, but it was hard to control. You’re so pathetic, she told herself.
Mark parked the truck, climbed out, and started walking toward the house. Nicole glanced around one more time to make sure everything looked tidy, then she opened the door.
“Good morning, I see you found me.”
“Yes . . . I did,” he said slowly, seemingly distracted by the cute cut-off jean shorts. Raising his eyes back to hers, he said, “I love this place.”
“Thanks. I like it, too. I hope he’ll let me buy it from him one day.”
“That’d be awesome.”
“Would you like to come in? I need to run back in and grab my pole and stuff,” Nicole said.
“Yeah, thanks,” he said politely. She let him in the door, and he was immediately impressed. “This is really nice.”
She chuckled for a second. “Well, it’s not always this clean, trust me. I made a little more effort than I normally would. But thank you, I appreciate the compliment.”
By this point, Salem had discovered the sound of a new voice in the house. He made his way out of the bedroom to check out the stranger. “And that must be Salem,” Mark said, looking down at the cat.
“Yeah, that’s my little devil cat,” she said. “Sorry if he’s a jerk. He isn’t very nice to . . .” her voice faded off as she watched Salem walk over to Mark. The feline proceeded to strut back and forth across the back of his legs, “. . . people he doesn’t know. Well, okay then, he’s proving me wrong. He seems to like you.”
“He’ll probably change his mind once he gets to know me,” he said. “Or once he meets Bentley.”
Nicole laughed and couldn’t help but melt inside, watching Salem be so friendly. She was convinced that it had to be a good sign. “Do you need anything before we head out?” she asked him.
“Nah, I’m fine, thanks.”
“Okay. Uh, I’m gonna use the restroom real quick before we go. I’ll be right back.”
“Alright.”
She made her way to the bathroom to take care of some last-minute checks, then flipped off the light and grabbed her pole and her bag, which she had stocked with bottled water and snacks. When she walked back into the living room, he was looking out the window. Salem had disappeared. Mark heard the rustling sound of her bag on her shoulder and turned to face her.
“Ready to go?”
“Yup, let’s do it,” she replied.
They walked out and she turned to lock the door. Then she made her way to the truck and climbed in on the passenger side. “What kind of music do you like?” he asked her.
“Well, I will listen to about anything, but classic rock is my favorite.” He turned and grinned at her. She looked back at him and smiled. “What?” she asked.
“Nothing, I just didn’t expect that.”
He started the truck, tuned in to the local rock station, and headed down the driveway. They rode along the Indiana country back roads and discussed the great weather and their favorite bands. Eventually, he slowed down and turned into a long gravel driveway. Mark parked the truck and climbed out to approach the locked gate in front of them. He tugged at the keys in his pocket, then unlocked and removed the chain and pushed the gate doors back. He climbed back in the truck and they started forward.
To her, it seemed as if the gravel drive was a mile long. It ran between a cornfield and a beanfield for a while, then it disappeared into a densely wooded area. Nicole didn’t know if she should be excited or concerned about heading into the woods with a guy she barely knew. But then the trees cleared, and she was facing the most beautiful pond she had ever seen. It looked like someone had painted it there. To the left, there was a flat, grassy clearing that stretched as far as a football field. She could see a dock straight ahead with a fishing boat tied off to it. The wood had aged a little, but it still looked amazing. On the far side of the water stood three gorgeous weeping willows. They danced and swayed back and forth with grace in the breeze. A flock of geese was pecking at the grass in the shade of the willows. Cattails lined the right side of the pond. This hidden paradise was stuck in an Indiana cornfield, and no one even knew it was there.
Mark parked the truck under a maple tree and shut it off.
“This is amazing. Seriously, it is gorgeous. Your uncle hit the jackpot on this one,” Nicole said.
“Yeah, I agree. I love it here. I probably spend more time here than he does, to be honest with you,” Mark said with a chuckle. “I keep it mowed for him and he gives me unlimited access. Pretty good deal, I think.”
“Hell yeah, it is!”
“Are ya ready?” he asked eagerly.
“Let’s go.”
They hopped out of the truck and walked back to the tailgate. Mark let the gate down and unloaded a cooler. “I brought some drinks and sandwiches if you want any.”
“Thanks. I grabbed a few snacks, too,” she said, picking up her bag.
“Awesome, thanks.”
They collected up their gear and headed toward the boat. Mark loaded everything and climbed in, then he held out his hand to help Nicole get in. He sat in the back and took the oars. Nicole sat down in the front and held up her fishing pole, inspecting it to ensure it was ready to go. She’d had the pole since middle school, but it was still in great shape. He rowed the boat across the pond until they entered the shade of the willow trees. Nicole heard a group of bullfrogs having a conversation over in the cattails. The geese grew a little restless when the boat entered their comfort zone. They kept a close watch but held their ground nonetheless.
“This is a good spot to start,” Mark told Nicole. “I usually get a lot of bites here and it’s nice and shady.”
“It’s perfect,” Nicole replied. She enjoyed the sound of the frogs and the scent of the water and vegetation. Her senses were overwhelmed by everything around her. She was reminded of the times she had spent with her father.
“Are you alright?” he asked, noticing the blank look on her face.
“Yeah, I’m great. It’s just hard to believe I’m on a boat again.”
“I understand. No matter what’s going on in your life, out here it all fades away,” he said.
She smiled at him and he looked back at her. For a moment, even the beauty around them disappeared and they only saw each other. She looked away and glanced down at her toenails, which she now realized she had failed to groom.
He reached down and grabbed the bait. “Here ya go,” he said, handing her the bowl.
“Aww, that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever gotten me,” she said.
“Hey, nothing but the best from Mark Taylor.”
They laughed and each one of them grabbed a worm. She quietly fished from one end of the boat and him on the other. More than ten minutes passed and neither of them got so much as one bite.
“I know you probably think I’m nuts, but I swear this is a good spot.”
“No, I totally believe you,” Nicole replied with a smirk.
And with that, Nicole’s bobber disappeared for a second then popped back up out of the water. “Hey, you got a bite,” Mark told her, gesturing toward the bobber.
“Oh crap, really?”
“Yeah, it just went under,” he said.
Nicole watched for a moment then the bobber started bouncing again. She knew to be patient. The fish was onl
y taking nibbles. The bobber dipped again, this time under the water completely. Nicole flicked the pole just enough to give the line a little jerk. The fish was hooked. She slowly reeled it in to reveal a decent-sized bass.
“Nice one,” Mark exclaimed. She took the hook out and held it up next to her face and smiled for the camera that wasn’t there. “Cute,” he said, laughing.
She leaned over and released the fish back in the water then re-baited the hook. “I guess this spot will do,” she told him.
“Yeah, maybe for you.”
“Hey, what can I say? Nothing but the best from Nicole Turner,” she joked.
“Yeah, yeah.” He laughed.
They spent the morning together enjoying each other’s company. Both of them lost track of time and neither one of them had a care in the world.
“Alright, I hate to ask, but can we head to shore? I really need to, you know, go to the bathroom,” Nicole begged finally.
“Sure thing and you are in luck. On the backside of the pond, there’s a little, um, cabin-like shack that has a bathroom in it. It’s not much, but . . .”
“No, that’s great. I thought I was gonna have to go behind that big oak over there,” she replied in relief.
He laughed and started rowing to shore. They pulled the boat up about halfway onto land and, just as he had helped her climb in, she helped him climb out. He walked her up to the cabin, which was, as he had said, more like a shack. Nicole was pleasantly surprised, though, when she walked in. There wasn’t much to it; a woodstove, a pull-out couch and a small bathroom, but it was clean and quite cozy. There were a few old photographs on the wall that were framed in the most beautiful wood.
“Well, here it is. It’s enough to stay out here for the night if someone wanted to. The bathroom is right here,” he said, pointing to the right.
“Thanks.”
When she walked out again, he was looking at the pictures on the wall. She walked up and stood next to him. “This is my uncle here, holding the fish,” he said, looking at the picture in front of her.
“That’s so cool,” she replied. “Who’s he standing with?”