Chapter 8
Juliet opened the door to find Ryder standing on her porch with a bunch of daisies in his hands. He wore a deep navy sports coat and a light blue shirt that highlighted his eyes. A gust of wind tousled his sandy blond hair. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
Taking the bouquet from him, she lowered her face and sniffed the fresh, slightly sweet scent. “My favorite. Come in. Let me put these in water.”
She could feel him watching her as she filled a vase at the sink. When she turned around, he said, “That dress is gorgeous on you.”
“I hope I’m not overdressed.”
“You’re not. We’re going to The Lakeside Grill.”
The ride there was companiable. At one point, he asked, “Did the boys get off all right?”
“Yeah, they like staying with Michael’s family. His parents make them feel closer to him.”
“They should remember their father.”
“Billy wanted to wait until you arrived, I think to remind you to be nice to me. But I put my foot down.”
“I’ll be nice, of course.” His hand went to her knee. “Always, from now on.”
When they reached the restaurant, he exited the car, gave the keys to the valet and assisted her out. As they walked to the front door, he leaned in and said, “We’ll make new memories here.”
“I suppose we could.”
He glanced at her, obviously disappointed. But she couldn’t assure him that they would indeed begin again because she didn’t yet believe it.
The host took their coats and once ensconced at a private table, he smiled over at her.
“What?” she asked.
“Thank you.”
“For?”
“Giving me another shot.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Do you want a drink?”
“Some white wine would be fine.”
The waiter approached and he ordered Chardonnay for her and a scotch for him. A bit nervous, she talked about the boys until the drinks came.
He held up his glass. “To a new beginning.”
She hesitated. “I hope so.”
They clinked glasses. Sipped. “How are things at the collective? And new incidents?”
“Not since the ceiling fell. But the police decided to put new locks on everybody’s residence. Mine was done first.”
His eyes twinkled. “By Captain Jeff.”
She chuckled. “On his orders, I think.”
His face darkened. “You’re not going to date him, are you?”
“I’d never mix the personal and professional. The collective needs him.” She sipped her wine. “Tell me about what you’re working on."
"We’re pursuing a merger with another company that we’ve wanted to absorb for quite some time.”
“With Marietta Cramer?”
“No that work is done.”
“Did you sleep with her?”
His brows furrowed. “Of course not. How can you ask me that after all we’ve been through together?”
She could feel her face blush. “I guess I’ve got a little of the green-eyed monster swirling in my brain.”
He perked up. “Really? I like that.”
They ate juicy steaks and twice-baked potatoes that were browned to perfection. Soon they were on their way back to her house. When he put his hand on her knee again, she covered it with hers. “Ryder, you’re leaving me at the door.”
“I suspected that. Can’t say I’m not disappointed.”
“And no kiss.”
“You drive a hard bargain, sweetheart.”
* * *
“Ryder?”
He looked up at Carter, who sat across from him at a conference table. “Yes?”
“You stopped speaking right in the middle of your sentence.”
“Sorry.”
“You want to talk about it?”
Leaning back in the chair, he nodded. “Juliet’s giving me another chance. I’m happy about it.”
“Ah. I guess that’s good.”
“You guess?”
“Be careful. She hurt you badly.”
“I hurt her badly, too.”
They talked a bit more. When they finished, Carter stood. “I hope it works out for you. Honestly. And thanks for sharing all this with me.”
Finally, the day ended. Ryder took time with his shower and dressing and on the way out, picked up the brochure on his dresser to show Juliet. He grabbed a wool coat and left the house whistling.
She came to the door wearing a mauve suit with a ruffled blouse and a skirt that swirled at her knees.
“You take my breath away.”
She held out her foot. On it were low heeled pumps.
You should forget about style and wear more comfortable ones.
“You remembered.”
“Uh-huh. Come inside for a minute.”
When he stepped into the foyer, he handed her the brochure.
“What’s this?”
“Where we’re going. You’ll need a warm coat and a hat and gloves.”
“For dinner?”
“For after dinner.”
She read from the brochure. “A romantic boat ride. Dinner. And oh, stargazing afterward.”
“What do you think?”
“It’s a wonderful idea.”
“Only the best for my girl.”
“Ryder…”
“Sorry I slipped.”
“I’ll get my stuff.”
They reached the launch on Camden Lake at the edge of Rockford, across the water from The Lakeside Grill.
“Here we are.”
“I can’t wait.”
They walked onto the dock and reached the entrance to a restaurant called Starlight. When they went inside, she saw other diners had filled the place. “Oh, good. I was afraid you bought out the whole place.”
“I considered it but I didn’t think you’d like that.”
“You were right.”
A host at the desk smiled. “Let me take your coats and put them away until the stargazing starts.”
They sat at a reserved table overlooking the water. Like the last time, they ordered drinks, dinner and a gooey chocolate cake.
Over the dessert, she said, “This is perfect, Ryder. The whole dinner has been.”
“I’m here with you, so I think so too.”
The same host came up to them a bit after the last plate was cleared. “Would you like to go out now to see the stars?”
Juliet grinned. “My gosh, yes.”
They donned their coats in a cloak room. Ryder slipped into his as Juliet pulled her hat over her ears then buttoned the front up of her coat before she could do it for herself.
Outside, against the railing, they looked up. The sky was inky and stars winked down at them. Juliet said, “They shine like scattered sequins.”
“It’s so tranquil out here despite that nip in the air.” He drew her back against him and slid his arms around her waist. “Let’s not talk. We’ll just absorb those glistening jewels.”
They stayed that way for fifteen minutes.
As they left, Ryder was pleased to have given her this experience despite her caveats for the night. In all honestly, those were starting to get to him but he’d keep that to himself if it killed him.
When they reached her house, he walked her up to the door as usual; she stopped on the porch and turned to him. “You can’t come in.”
“I know. But let me hold you.”
She went willingly into his arms. For the second time that night, he felt fulfilled. At least for a little while.
* * *
“I didn’t know there was indoor Putt Putt in Rockford.” Juliet said as they entered the lobby of Glow Golf. He’d told her to dress casually, so she put on grey wool pants and a pink fuzzy sweater. His khaki slacks and navy knit shirt fit him nicely.
“Wait till you see the inside. It’s kind of amazing.”
Ryder went to take out his wallet but Juliet stepped in front of the window before he could. “My turn to pay.”
She saw him bite his lip to not contradict her. She’d told him already she’d brought money for some things they’d do but he commented that it felt like another distancing tactic.
He opened the glass door and when they went inside, she gasped. “Wow. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
One whole wall sported a huge lit-up aquarium. She grinned as fish of all kinds darted from one end to the other.
He tugged on her arm. She turned to the rest of the room. The rails marking off the lanes were eight inches high and lit in neon green and orange. It was startling. They walked up to the first hole.
“Ladies first, love.”
She didn’t chide him for the endearment.
She was too intent on the hole. She tapped her ball, missed the sand trap but got caught in the windmill halfway to the hole.
Frowning she crossed to where it had landed.
It took two tries to get around the slats, then she hit the ball so hard it went across the bridge--and over the rail. “Damn.”
He crossed to her. Touched her shoulder. “It takes a while to get used to the neon. Maybe I shouldn’t have picked this place.”
“No it’s great. I’m too competitive.”
“Something I didn’t know about you.”
She kissed his cheek. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
She was flirting with him. It was hard not to. “Is that so?”
As she suspected, he avoided the sand trap and flew through the windmill; his second shot crossed the bridge and landed on the felt at the edge.
“Are you sandbagging me?” she asked, her eyes lit with humor.
“Sort of. Carter and I come here in the winter to let off steam. It’s physical and fun and better than hitting a bar.”
“I forgive you for hiding that because it’s so much fun.”
“I hope you do, Juliet.” He paused and held her gaze. “Forgive me. For everything.”
* * *
She agreed to another date but made him wait for four days.
They went to ax-throwing, which Juliet was pretty good at.
Go figure. At the end of the evening, he walked her up to the door once again.
It was getting old not seeing her every night and then leaving her with little physical contact.
Her distancing hurt. When they reached the porch, she turned around, grabbed him by the lapels of his coat and plastered her body to his. She kissed him enthusiastically.
Taken off balance, he stumbled back but she tugged him closer.
He could feel each curve and muscle of her body, even through her coat.
She explored his mouth with her tongue and he went hard.
Very hard. She kept up the glorious attack.
His hand went to her neck to claim her, too.
She stopped kissing him to take love bites out of his bottom lip.
He returned the favor. When he had her in a full body press, mouth included, she kissed him again but then broke the contact. He groaned loudly.
“I feel the same,” she said softly. “I want you.”
“I’m here, love. Ready for the taking.”
She chuckled. “Not yet. I’m not ready to go all in as they say in poker.”