Betty Jo Schuler

Finding Mr. Romantic

Chapter One, continued

Climbing in his Explorer once again, he edged it forward. The tires gripped the ground as he pulled the railroad tie out the side, from beneath her RV. He looked out the window and cocked a brow. She gave him thumbs up.

Moments later, he stood in front of her, pulling up the hem of his shirt to wipe his face. Beads of sweat caught in the hairs of his chest glistened like raindrops in a spider web. He lowered the garment to find her watching. "Good enough?"

A blush rose along her neck to her cheeks.

Grinning insolently, he gestured toward the railroad tie he'd extracted from beneath the trailer.

"Terrific." Her voice sounded husky and she cleared her throat.

He sat next to her on the picnic table and tilted his beer can to his mouth. She watched in fascination as the muscles in his neck worked. Darting out his tongue, he licked his lips. He was lithe and muscular, sinuous and sensual. "Is this your first time at New Beginnings?" he asked.

She nodded and smiled.

"What?"

"The name. And its significance."

"Ah," Nick said, nodding. "You too, huh?"

They sat quietly, not looking at one another, but she felt a curious communion of spirits. A bee buzzed around the can he'd set down beside him. Somewhere in the woods behind them, a dry twig cracked. "Have you been here long?"

He nodded. "You picked a good time to come. April was cool and the first half of May was rainy. My trailer leaks. I did a drought dance to bring on this dry spell."

He'd been there all spring? She pictured him in a breechcloth dancing around a campfire. "Can't you fix the leaks?"

Leaning back on his elbows, he shrugged. "The trailer's borrowed and my cousin's planning to retire it when I'm through."

Cee drank the last swallow of her beer. Warm now, it tasted musty and she frowned.

"What do you usually drink?"

She turned sharply. He was very perceptive.

"White wine, I'll bet."

"Zinfandel. Liebfraumilch. Am I so transparent?"

Finding Mr. Romantic, continued >>> | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |