Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
T hey collected the car from the valet, who Ray tipped very well, and he took off west toward Lakewood.
“So where are we headed?” She was nervous that they appeared to be going on a date. She hadn’t been on one in at least three years. Not since before she’d started seeing Kevin. She hoped never to see him again, the lying dirtbag.
“This is a little hole-in-the-wall burger joint. They have the best food. I thought we’d get a couple of burgers and maybe some shakes, then after we eat, I’ll take you to one of my favorite spots to see the city.”
She grinned. “Sounds good. I could definitely eat a burger. Lunch was a long time ago.”
“I know. I feel the same way. We probably should have eaten the hors d’oeuvres that were served, but I didn’t think we’d be leaving. I’m glad you agreed to go with me though.”
“So am I.”
He drove west on Colfax Avenue to a small non-descript building on the north side of the street. The restaurant was called Jerry’s Place.
“This is actually a neighborhood bar more than a restaurant, but they have great burgers. They make their own buns, toast them and then make the sandwich.” He kissed his fingers and made a “muah” sound. “The result is perfection. Come on. I’ll get your door.”
He helped her exit the car and then put out his arm for her.
She took it and they walked into the building. “I actually grew up in west Lakewood. I know of Jerry’s Place though I’ve never been here. I’m discovering since I came back there are a lot of places I’m not familiar with. I’ve been gone for more than ten years. Since starting college really. I would come home on weekends in college…mostly to do laundry.” She laughed. “But once I started working as a vet, I’ve only been home for the holidays.”
“You’ll love this place. Trust me.”
“I do.” Why is it I do trust him? I don’t know him, but there is something there that I can’t explain. I just know I need to be careful. I can’t fall in love again with someone who can just discard me.
The interior was dark, just like a bar, but there were lights over each booth that lined the outside of the room, so the menu could be read. It looked like there were mostly families or couples in here. The only people just drinking were those sitting at the bar and there wasn’t even half-a-dozen of them.
An older woman with silver hair stood behind the bar which had a mirror behind the liquor on the shelves. “Ray. Good to see you, son. You’re a little overdressed since it’s not St. Paddy’s day, but come on over here.” She slapped the bar in front of her.
Ray helped Lyris onto a barstool and then turned to the bartender after he’d sat on the stool next to her. “How are you doing, Joanie? I haven’t been in for a while. Too much going on.”
“Same ole, same ole,” replied Joanie. “Who’s your friend?” She jutted her chin toward Lyris.
“She’s my new vet, Lyris Jennings.” He turned to Lyris. “Meet Joanie St. James, the force behind Jerry’s Place and the best cook in the world.” He leaned over and whispered. “Don’t tell Amy I said that.”
Lyris laughed. “Your secret is safe with me.” She gazed over at Joanie. “Nice to meet you.”
“You, too, hon. What can I get you folks?”
“Two Jerry’s cheeseburgers with the works, fries, onion rings, and I’ll have a beer.” Ray turned to Lyris. “I hope you don’t mind that I ordered for you. I just want you to have the best experience, and I know what’s good. I’ve been coming here for more than fifteen years. I was almost too young to drink when I started coming. But the food is great, so I keep coming back.”
“That’s fine. I’ll have a Coke, if you have it. Pepsi, if you don’t.”
Joanie nodded. “We have Coke. Even in the bottles, if you’d like.”
Lyris grinned. “That would be fantastic.”
“Okay, I’ll be back in a bit with your drinks. Let me get the burgers on the grill first.”
“No hurry,” said Ray.
Joanie headed for the kitchen.
“So, what do you think?” Ray asked.
Lyris looked around and then nodded. “I like it. It’s a great place.” She turned back and looked at the two of them in the mirror behind the bar. “We are really over dressed for this place though. I think next time we should wear jeans.” She realized what she said and didn’t know how to take it back.
Ray grinned. His forearms rested on the edge of the bar. “I’m glad you’re open to there being a next time. I’d like that. I have a lot of places I’d like to show you. Maybe after the race on Saturday, you, Maddy, and I can go somewhere together. There’s always Gunther Toody’s. It’s one of Maddy’s favorites because they have great malts there. It’s hard to find a place that makes a good malt.”
“Oh, I love their malts. I’m not really a shake fan, and before you ask.” She held up a hand, palm out. “I don’t know why, I’m just not.”
Ray raised his hands to his shoulders, palms out. “I won’t mention it again.”
Joanie returned with their drinks.
After taking a long drink of her Coke, Lyris sighed. “Ah, there is nothing like the burn from a real Coke when you drink it too fast.”
Right after that Joanie served their meals.
Lyris took a bite. The burger was hot, juicy and cooked medium, just like she liked it and the cheese was melted not just tossed on before serving, like most of the burger chains do. “Mmm, this is the best burger I think I’ve ever had.”
“Told you they were fantastic.” He dabbed at the corners of his mouth with a napkin.
They ate in silence.
She was nearly half done with the burger and fries when she put it on the plate. “I’m stuffed but I want to continue eating.”
“We’ll get a to-go container and take it home. They reheat in the microwave just fine. Thirty seconds and you’re good.”
After they finished their drinks, they took the containers Joanie handed them, put their leftovers in and headed out.
Ray put the food in the back seat and then slid behind the wheel.
Lyris buckled her seatbelt and turned to Ray. “Where to now? It’s still early.”
He lifted a brow. “You’re not tired?”
She grinned and shook her head. Her hands were lying clasped in her lap. “Nope. I’m having a great time.”
“Okay, I said I’d take you to one of my favorite places, so let’s go there.” He started the engine, put the car in gear, and drove off, heading west on Colfax Avenue.
He drove all the way into Golden and then turned left at the light.
It looked like they were going into a residential neighborhood. But he drove right through.
The next thing she knew, they were on a winding road that led up the mountain.
On one of the curves, Ray pulled off to the side, killed the engine and got out. He came around and helped Lyris out, too.
She was glad of the assistance because she didn’t enjoy trying to balance in her shoes on the uneven dirt.
“Look at that.” He waved his arm in a wide arc in front of him.
She looked, and the view was amazing. Spreading out in front of her for as far as the eye could see, were the lights of Denver and the suburbs. “It’s beautiful.”
“This particular curve is called Windy Saddle. There are a couple of other places to pull off on the way up, but this has the best view. See that brightest line of lights heading east? That’s Colfax Avenue. And the dimmer line just south a little bit is Sixth Avenue.”
“I know those are the two main roads in and out of Denver going east and west but I’ve never been this way before. I’ve been to Golden before for the Coors Brewery tour but never been up here.”
“The road is called the Lariat Trail. In the early 1900s, this was the only way to get up here. On the way up, you saw the giant M right?”
“I did.”
“That’s for the Colorado School of Mines. They had to put a fence around it because the kids would climb up and do graffiti on the rocks.”
She rubbed her arms up and down. “I wish I’d brought a jacket or shawl. It’s much colder up here.”
“Here, take this.” He removed his jacket and put it around her shoulders. His movement stilled, and he looked at her.
She appreciated the immediate warmth from the jacket. And his cologne surrounded her. The scent calmed her. The light provided by the full moon was lovely, but not enough for her to see his eyes.
Slowly, he lowered his head until his lips were just a breath away. “May I?”
Lyris answered by wrapping her arms around his neck and letting her lips meld with his.
The kiss was hot and thorough. The spark traveled through her like lightning making her knees weak.
Ray pulled her close to his body as he ravaged her lips.
She loved the way her soft curves fit perfectly to the hard planes of his body.
When he pulled back, he was out of breath.
So was she, and yet she was exhilarated. She’d never had a first kiss like that one. Never had one that left her legs a little shaky and her lungs gasping for air. Heck, she’d never had a kiss like that one…ever.
After she’d caught her breath, she looked up. “Wow!”
He grinned. “Yeah, wow!” Ray didn’t release his hold.
And she kept her arms around his neck.
They stood there, for she didn’t know how long before he gave her a light kiss. “We should get home.”
She nodded, but her head was all she moved. “You’re right, we should.”
“I hear a but there.” Ray lifted one eyebrow and smiled.
“But I really want to kiss you again. I’d like to know if that was an anomaly.”
He lowered his forehead to hers. “Oh, honey, that was no anomaly. That kiss was all us. We fueled it, and I don’t see it getting anything but better.” He didn’t wait for a response, but took her lips in another soul-searing kiss.
This time she pulled back before she could make a mistake and ask him to make love right now on the grass by the side of the road. She straightened a bit to provide a break between two opposing thoughts. What was the matter with her? She’d never wanted to do that. Never in her life…but now, if he asked, she would. She’d strip off the dress and be ready.
Luckily, he didn’t ask.
“Let me help you into the car. I can’t wait to see all that leg.” He separated from her but kept an arm around her waist.
“Next time, I’m wearing sneakers,” she grumbled. “These are too dangerous.” She saw his face in the car’s overhead light as she sat, pulled her legs around, and placed the skirt of her dress into the car.
“Yeah, but they make your legs look great.” He waggled his brows and then chuckled.
“Well, there is that.” She laughed because she couldn’t help herself, and she was sure that was what he was after. Something to break the tension. But Lyris was just as tense and just as ready to jump his bones.
He went around the front of the car and then slid behind the wheel. He put it in gear and continued up the mountain.
“Aren’t we going home?”
“Yes, but we’re returning by the highway. It’s a lot faster than the twists and turns of the Lariat Trail.”
The car passed the sign for Buffalo Bill’s Grave and Museum.
“So, is he really buried there?”
“Yes. He’s encased in concrete with his wife and horse. Folks from Cody, Wyoming used to come and steal his body, so when Golden got it back, they placed it in concrete so it couldn’t be stolen again.”
Lyris laughed. “That’s just too ridiculous to be anything but true.”
Ray raised his hand and placed two fingers together. “Scout’s honor. That’s the story I was told. I worked there as a teenager. The drive was long, but it was a fun place to work.”
He drove I-70 to Highway 76 and on that to the turn for the ranch.
Ray drove to the guesthouse, rather than have her walk from the main house.
He walked her to the door. “I had a great time tonight. Thank you for attending the gala with me.”
Lyris smiled. She’d left the outside light on and saw the sexy look in his eyes. He was going to kiss her again, and she was very glad.
Ray lowered his head and took her lips with his.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. The feeling was as if they belonged there, and she didn’t disagree.
The kiss was just like the first one, but better, because they both knew what they were doing. Although Lyris wanted to go to bed with him, she knew she couldn’t. He was her employer. She might not be a direct employee, but he was still her boss. When she couldn’t breathe anymore, she pulled back.
He raised his left hand and ran gentle fingers down her cheek. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
She smiled. “You might have mentioned it, but it does my ego good to hear the compliment again.”
Smiling, he lowered his head again and kissed her softly. “If I kiss you again, I’ll want to come in, and neither of us is ready for that.”
“You’re right. I need to say goodnight and get some sleep. I have to finish my physicals and vaccinations tomorrow and morning comes early around here.”
“I want to talk about us, too. I can’t really get involved with you because you’re my employee.”
“I know. That would be true if I was actually your employee, but I’m an independent contractor, remember?” But he’s still paying you money for your expertise. He’s still your employer. Remember? Should I do this? I’ve never had this kind of feeling before. This connection. What can I do?
His eyes brightened. “That’s right you are.” Then he smiled so his whole face was affected. “I guess we can date after all, and I definitely want to. How about you?”
She tightened her arms and pressed closer. “How about another kiss and then we say goodnight? Something for both of us to dream about tonight, hmmm?” For now, I’ll enjoy his kisses and tonight I’ll dream of him. I’ll decide later what I should do.
He didn’t answer but took her lips with a fiery passion.
She loved how he kissed her. The feeling really was as if she’d never been kissed before, not even by her fiancé.
When they broke apart, Ray stepped back.
“Well, goodnight. I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow. Amy always does something special on Sundays.”
She held his hand, needing to touch him. “I thought that was just because I was here, last Sunday. Sort of like a welcome.”
“Well, it kind of was, but she always makes Sundays special. You’ll see.”
“Until tomorrow then.” She turned to unlock the door and go into the house.
Ray waited until she was inside.
Lyris waved goodnight and closed the door, leaning back against it. She’d never had such a great date, and it was casual, which made her like it even more. Oh, they’d been dressed fancy, but the places and the atmosphere were casual. Now she wondered when they would go out again and where they would go. Would he go for fancy or keep it relaxed? Should she even go out with him? She got her heart broken badly the last time she’d dated. He was her employer’s son. She thought they had something special, but money won out and he’d dumped her. By text, no less. Would that happen again?