“Hi, Casey, Andrew here.” Andrew reclined his lean frame against the back of the deck swing.
Sweaty and covered in mud, he relaxed on the outdoor patio, enjoying a beer and soaking in some sun. He had removed his shirt, dirt-encrusted from a long bike ride through the University of British Columbia endowment lands, and was clad only in skintight biking shorts that emphasized his muscled thighs. His stomach muscles rippled as he pushed one leg off the patio stones and set the swing in motion.
The motion of his bike today as he’d bounced over rocks and sticks had bothered his broken rib, but not enough to keep him from going. His time here was too short to waste it sitting around. A couple of Tylenol later and he’d be fine.
“How are you?” He continued; his voice soft.
“I’m doing really well.” Casey’s slightly nervous voice floated over the lines. “Business is booming. We hired a new girl today to take up a bit of the slack. She’s working out really well so far.” Her voice was sexy, even distorted as it was by the phone lines.
“That’s great.” Andrew enthused playfully, “now you’ll have a bit more free time to spend with me.”
“I don’t know about that…” She laughed lightly; regret coloring her voice.
A strong desire to see her face washed over him. He reacted before he could analyze it. “Casey, as much as I love hearing your voice. I’d much rather see you in person.” Andrew sat up straight in the swing and stopped its motion with one bare foot. “The kids are out at a pool party sleepover so I’m not needed here for the rest of the evening. How’d you like to go for dinner with me tonight?”
“I’d love to but…” She started to protest but he cut her off.
“Don’t worry; nothing fancy. I’ll pick you up right from the store. Say five o’clock?”
“I really have too much paperwork…It’s been a tough day and I’m not sure I’ll be very good company…” She wanted to though, oh how she really wanted to, but the spark of unease Scott had put in her still hadn’t completely vanished. It wasn’t fair to pull Andrew into her mess. No matter how much she was attracted to him.
“Come on, you wouldn’t make a poor lonely man eat alone, would you?”
“You don’t give up easily do you?” Casey’s voice was tinged with amusement.
“Nope. So you might as well give in gracefully.”
“How can I refuse such an offer? And I won’t even have to cook?”
“Not a bite.”
“Well, that cuts it. Dinner with you, or Mac and Cheese with my cat? Hmm? Ok, you win. But make it six.”
“Great. I’ll see you then.” He ended the conversation and hung up the mobile phone.
Holding the phone loosely in one hand, he leaned back against the cushions and started the swing rocking. The cold beer soothed his throat as he took a long swig.
Andrew stared up at the clouds contemplatively. He was attracted. No doubt about that. But the intensity surprised him. It wasn’t normal; it was too quick and too strong. But the truth was he just couldn’t get her out of his head and had tossed and turned all night just thinking about her. She was cute and funny and a successful businesswoman, not to mention sexy as hell. And yet was so different from the Wall Street and lawyer types he was used to dating. There was something about her that made him want to learn more.
He must have sustained some brain damage during his fall to be so tied in knots over such a quiet down to earth, unsophisticated woman. But if that were the case he was pretty darn sure he didn't want to be cured.
Finishing off his beer, he crumpled the can in one hand.
All he could do, he thought, stopping the swing once again, was hope that in the next two weeks he’d be able to get her out of his system, or the trip back to Chicago was going to be strangely difficult.
With one lithe movement, he stood up and walked towards the house to shower and change.
**********
Casey continued to stare at the phone long after Andrew had hung up. Her life was in such turmoil right now. But no matter how unfair she felt it was to start dating Andrew when she had unresolved issues lurking in the shadows, she just couldn’t say no. Right now he, and her store, were bright spots, and she needed all the bright spots she could use.