19. Night Garden
19
NIGHT GARDEN
Ford
After dinner, Mara didn’t linger. She seemed preoccupied, lost in thought. She had a lot to process now that she knew I wanted to turn Ghost into a movie. If it panned out, we’d have plenty of time together.
As I watched her car’s taillights disappear, I couldn't help but replay the evening in my head, that kiss lingering on my lips, and the conversation echoing in my mind. There was something different about Mara, something that made me want to take my time with her.
Our kiss replayed in my mind, and I couldn't help but smile. It had been amazing, and I wanted more. But I also wanted to take things slow with her. I didn't want to scare her off with my intensity.
I paced around the living room, trying to shake off my restlessness. Mara was different from anyone I'd ever met. She wasn't just a challenge to conquer, but someone I wanted to know on a deeper level. Her intelligence, loyalty, and unique quirks had captivated me.
But I needed to be patient. Mara had her own life and her own dreams, and I didn't want to bulldoze them. I thought about the doorbell interrupting our kiss, and how it had cut the tension in the air.
Maybe it was a sign to slow down, to savor every moment instead of rushing to the finish line. I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of calm wash over me.
Yes, Mara was worth the wait. And I was willing to take all the time she needed.
Mara had me feeling things I hadn’t felt in years, stirring up memories of what love looked like—real love. My parents had that once-in-a-lifetime kind of love, and I thought I’d found it with Chelsea, but that hadn’t been the case. Maybe that’s why I’d become so jaded.
Until Mara.
I flicked off the kitchen lights and stepped outside into the darkness. The sky was cloudy, and I couldn't see the stars, but that didn't matter. All I could see was Mara's face, and I knew she was something special. Despite everything she'd been through, she was still fighting. And the more I got to know her, the more I admired her.
She’d done everything she could to make sure her brother’s talent and dreams weren’t forgotten, even at the price of setting aside her own goals. She’d never give up on him.
If that doorbell hadn’t interrupted us—well—my imagination didn’t have to work hard to fill in the rest. The way her lips had parted under mine, how her body had pressed closer. A fire was building between us, a slow burn. Lips, tongues, hands—we’d have been obsessed with one another. I’d have run my fingers through that gorgeous dark hair, trailed kisses down her neck, unbuttoned her dress, and kissed those amazing breasts. Would we have made it upstairs, or would we have thrown caution out the window—the one with no curtains, I suddenly realized—and made love right there on the sofa?
I stopped the film reel running through my mind. I wanted to savor the moment when it truly happened rather than fantasize about it.
Besides, I needed curtains, even in my fantasies. No way would I put Mara at risk.
Take it slow. I sensed it would be a mistake to rush things. Mara had plans for the future that didn’t include me. I’d need to prove to her I wouldn’t derail them.
As the wind rustled the leaves and the cool night air brushed against my skin, I couldn't help but reflect on what I'd learned about Mara tonight. She was a woman of contradictions - ballsy and hard-hitting on the surface, yet harboring immense pain underneath. I'd always admired women like that, but the fragility she'd revealed to me was unexpected.
She trusted me enough to share some of her deepest insecurities, and the realization humbled me. I would never betray that trust. I'd go to the ends of the Earth to protect her.
As I thought about her, I realized that my feelings for Mara had taken on a life of their own. She'd made her way deeper into my heart than I'd ever realized.
Then, it hit me - the reason why Ghost meant so much to her. She'd suffered a deep wound when she lost her brother, and Ghost was her way of keeping his memory alive. Her tearful joy at the news that I wanted to turn it into a movie was all the proof I needed. It gave me a glimpse of the passion and drive that lay beneath her tough exterior.
Ghost of a Chance. The name resonated with me, and I wondered how I hadn't picked up on it sooner. But I knew that Mara wouldn't give up on it - not in a million years.
With a newfound sense of clarity, I pulled out my phone and sent a text to my assistant.
Me: Any news from his agent on those rights?
Wendy: Still waiting, but I’ll follow up tomorrow.
Me: Thanks, keep me posted.
Turning away from Mara and that deliciously tempting kiss had been damned hard. I’d had to keep reminding myself that I wanted more from her. Much, much more.
Was I falling for this woman?
Slow down. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
Good advice. Too bad I wasn’t going to follow it. I was already way ahead of myself when it came to Mara Stellar.
With a sigh, I turned my back on the night and headed back inside.
I’d do some research now. I wanted to create an academy award-winning sort of outing for Mara.
An amazing day. One she wouldn’t soon forget. One that would leave her wanting even more. Wanting me.
Wanting us .