“That’s amazing! What’s holding you back? You’re young. You have time to lose and regain your losses if you fall down. What’s keeping you from pursuing this dream?” She’s talking with her hands again and her face is animated.
“I don’t know. I think things like, what if I jump ship only to find out I can’t swim? Plus, I don’t think I’d ever have the guts to up and risk something as big as this. Risky things are my brother’s specialty. He lives for the next rush of excitement in life. I’m the one you can set a clock by. Predictable and dependable. But where has that gotten me so far? I’m in a job I don’t love with a boss from hell and a life that seems like it’s stuck on endless repeat.” I sigh.
The buoyancy I felt seems to have evaporated. “There I go playing up my attractive qualities again.”
She giggles. “Jack, you don’t have to play up your attractive qualities. They pretty much speak for themselves.” She slaps a hand over her mouth, and I do everything in my power not to pick her up and kiss her right then and there. Where did this woman come from? I’ve been in an endless loop of dates with women who weren’t even close to a fit for me. Katrina is like the freshest breeze off the ocean. I can’t get enough of her.
“Seriously, though. Your coffee shop is a great idea. I mean, I know starting a business is risky. I did it. I don’t have four walls and utilities, but I do employ an assistant and I have tons of expenses and a fluctuating income. It’s never predictable, but it’s not dull and I get to do what I love every day. Jack, that’s what life is for!”
I’m in shock. Besides my mom, no one has ever been that encouraging of me and what I really wanted in life. Even mom guided me to play it safe more often than not. Here’s this amazing woman sitting beside me on the beach, seemingly unaware of her own captivating beauty, pouring out words to affirm my decision to take a risk. She has no idea the impact she is having on me.
As though to put a seal on this idea, Katrina looks over at me and simply says, “Kiss the corporate world goodbye. It isn’t doing you any favors and you aren’t getting any younger.”
The only thing I want to kiss right then are Katrina’s beautiful, soft, inviting lips.
* * *
Pizza at Bruno’s did not disappoint. Katrina loved it, and I loved watching her enjoy our meal together. We left the pizza place to get our tickets and stand in line for the Ferris wheel. This day has been nothing short of perfection and my feelings for Katrina are obviously well over the line of friendship. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this strongly about any other woman in my life. As we stand waiting for our turn to board the ride, Katrina lazily leans on me. I tilt in a little closer and breathe in the smell of her hair. It is something like honey or vanilla, warm, yet light, just like her. I want to freeze this moment, but the man working the ride asks us to step forward and get in. The sun is just starting to drop at the horizon. It’s the perfect time to be up over everything taking in a view of the whole coastline and the ocean.
The wheel goes around several rotations and then, as if God were on my side, it stops when we are at the top. You would think I had tipped the barker running the ride to get this opportunity, and I’m not going to waste it. Either Katrina feels what I do, or I’m way off. There’s only one way to find out, and the guy who carefully plans everything seems to have left my body. In his place is a man who knows what he wants and is going to get it.
I lean over to Katrina, not giving either of us much time to think, and I move my lips to hers. She tastes like Italian spices and something luscious beyond that. I don’t stop. She isn’t stopping me either. She’s letting me kiss her. I take the kiss deeper as I feel her desire match mine. Our lips linger together as we culminate this day of intimacy and connection. This kiss isn’t just a kiss. There really aren’t words. I don’t want it to end, but then the wheel jerks and we are moving again. I slowly sit back with a smile on my face. She’s smiling too, a satisfied smile that says more to me than she knows.
Something else flits across her expression just then. Something unsettled and distant. I’m relatively sure it doesn’t have anything to do with the moment we just shared on top of that Ferris wheel. Just to be sure, though, I’m going to ask her. “You okay?”
chapter seven
Katrina
My lips fall from Jack’s. I just kissed Jack Anders. Well, technically, he kissed me, and he’s got the sweetest smirk on his face like the cat who ate the canary, only I’m the canary. Oh darn. No men. Well, this is technically a first date. Actually, it isn’t a date. It’s a friend thing. Only that kiss wasn’t a friendly kiss. It wasn’t unfriendly. No. That was smoldering hot. If a friend kissed me like that …
Anyway, I didn’t say no kissing. I just said no men. I said the line was at three dates. I’m off to Europe tomorrow. He’s staying here doing his thing. This isn’t going further. But, what if I want it to? Jack is so thoughtful. And that kiss … no. No. No men. There’s a reason for that mantra. But, I may as well enjoy a day separated from reality. And I’m going to make the most of it. I’m definitely kissing Jack Anders again before this night is over. Every diet deserves a healthy cheat day. That’s what this will be. My cheat day.
The word cheat brings up images of Thomas at that café getting all cozy with the other woman - climbing up her like Spiderman on his favorite brick wall. Ugh. Thomas has no business barging into my mental space during this blissful day. Out with you, Thomas. You may have ruined my hope for a good man, but you aren’t going to ruin my fun escape day at the beach with a man like Jack Anders.
The Ferris wheel jolts forward. I feel Jack slip his fingers between mine as we quietly overlook the ocean from our bench on the ride. He asked if I am okay. “Yes. I’m very okay. Thank you.” There’s that warm smile of his. I am acutely aware that this moment is fleeting. I’m holding onto every bit of it. “This day together has been more than I expected, really. You were so thoughtful, planning out. each detail.” I sigh as I look out at orange and yellow hues of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean.
“It was my pleasure. Truly. Best day I’ve had in a long time.”
This day swept me away. Jack’s easy to be with, and a lot of fun. He’s not hard on the eyes, either. Not at all. Seeing him in his shorts, and the way his T-shirt hugs his chest and biceps has had my heart all fluttery. But more than his looks, he has been so attentive. Sometimes I caught him just staring at me. It should have unnerved me, but it didn’t. He has such a caring way of being with me that I feel safe and appreciated.
As we get off the Ferris wheel to walk back to our cars, I reach over and slip my hand into Jack’s. I know I said no dating, and I don’t really know what I’m doing here. I just know I want to touch Jack right now and I don’t want to end this day. We head to the car with a wordless feeling of ease between us. I think it’s a combination of the sun and sand and all the things we packed into this day. I feel happily drowsy and something else. Content. That’s it. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this content in my life. I barely even know this man, yet everything feels right in his presence. Every so often Jack looks over at me with a Cheshire grin on his face and I can’t help smiling back. It’s like that kiss is some secret we’re savoring together.