Here With Me (13 page)

“Are you cold?” he asked.

“A little.”

He stood up, pulling back the comforter.  She inched onto the silk sheets and he pulled the covers over her. “I’m gonna go change,” he said, stroking her cheek, before walking to the duffel bag he’d set on a chair.  She watched as he unzipped it and pulled out his pajama pants.  His back was turned to her, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from him as he exchanged his jeans for the flannel bottoms.  He pulled his shirt off, leaving only his thin white undershirt on.  She secretly wished he’d take it off.

A moment later, he stood at the edge of the bed, staring down at her and she smiled up at him as he ran a hand through his messy hair.  He pulled the covers back and climbed in next to her. 

The room was silent aside from the crackle of the fire and the sound of his shallow breathing.  He seemed relaxed, but she was a bundle of excited nerves trying to contain themselves. 

“Do you want to
watch TV or something?” he asked.

“No,” she said quietly.

She stroked his arm and he turned on his side to face her.  In the darkness, he looked even more handsome and she reached up and touched his cheek.  It was soft and he closed his eyes as she slowly leaned in and kissed him. 

“I love you, Ryan,” she said.

He was staring at her, his eyes piercing hers.  They moved quickly, yet subtly, and the way his eyes took her in was almost more than she could take. 

“I want you to know how much you mean to me, Mallory,” he said softly. “I want you to know I love you and I don’t want to pressure you into doing anything you’re not comfortable with.”

She didn’t reply.  Instead, she pulled him to her again and began kissing his cheek.  Her lips lingered and he smelled so good.  She kissed his other cheek and then her lips found his and she kissed him deeply, a low moan escaping as she began kissing him hungrily.  Sitting up, she urged him to do the same.  Their eyes met again and she nervously put her hand on the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head and it fell to floor as she stared at him.  When she rested her hands on his chest, being cautious of his wound, he inhaled deeply, almost as if her touch burned.

“Are you okay?” she whispered.

“Yes,” he sighed as his nervous hand found her exposed collar bone.  He rubbed it gently and goose bumps exploded on her body.  His hand continued to move and as it did so, the robe fell so her shoulder was exposed.  It hung precariously and he leaned down and kissed her shoulder before staring up at her again, taking hold of the robe and sliding it down on both sides.  Her breathing quickened as his finger traced a line from her collar bone and down between her breasts.  She gasped quietly as he softly began kissing the trail his finger had just made.  She could feel her body wanting him and she breathed in deeply, trying to calm herself.

“Are you okay?” he whispered and she just nodded.  He was being slow and delicate.  They had all the time in the world and it was apparent Ryan wanted to enjoy every minute.

“Yes,” she managed to say. “You just feel so good.”

He found her lips with his again as he slid the robe off her body.  He was kissing her slowly and tenderly now as she wrapped her arms around him, her fingers pulling against his strong back.  He continued to kiss her with a gentle fierceness she couldn’t recall ever feeling before. 
He paused for a moment and stared down at her with those intense green eyes.  He cupped her face with his hands and kissed her once more.

****

The fire was crackling and the only other sound Mallory could hear was Ryan’s breaths.  Her head was resting on his bare chest.  It was warm and balmy and she gently traced circles with her finger over the slick perspiration.  It had taken them both a while to calm themselves, but now they were both breathing slow and deep.  He was gliding his fingers over her shoulder and she closed her eyes thinking back to earlier.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

“Yes.  I’m great.”

He pulled her closer and she sat up, adjusting her body so she was grinning down at him.

“You look satisfied,” he said, smiling confidently.

“I am,” she said, pushing her hair out of her face.

“Don’t do that,” he said, reaching up and pulling her hair back down. “I like when it hangs in your face like that.”

She blushed and leaned down, kissing him slowly.

“You said earlier that you aren’t a liar.  I’d have to disagree with you on that now.”

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

“When we got to the inn, you said you didn’t have any ulterior motives.  I think you did.”

“I did not,
” he grinned, placing a hand behind his head as he rested on the pillow.  As he did, her eyes were drawn to his shoulder muscles and the wound that had brought them back together.  It still looked painful.  She hesitantly reached up and gently placed her hand over it.

“Does it still hurt?” she asked softly.

“Sometimes,” he replied and she found herself leaning down and kissing it.

“Did it hurt earlier?” she asked cautiously. “I mean, when we were…
ya know?”

“If it did, I didn’t notice.  I was a little preoccupied with other things. 
Much more important, beautiful things.”  His voice was low and seductive and he reached up and pulled her to him, biting playfully at her lips.

“Yes, I noticed,” she laughed between kisses. 

She laid back down next to him, resting her head on his good shoulder as he began running his fingers through her hair. 

“I will be forever grateful for the gunshot wound and the crazy man who shot me,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

“Me too,” she replied with a smile, and snuggled in closer to him, unable to recall a time when she was happier.

Chapter Sixteen

   
“I’m starving, you know that?  I don’t know why we can’t stop for breakfast,” Mallory groaned as they drove north.  They’d crossed into New Hampshire an hour before and he still refused to tell her where they were headed.

“You’re awfully whiny when you’re hungry.”

“Well, yeah!  I’m famished!”

“You had some coffee and a donut.  You’ll be fine.”
             

“Why won’t you tell me where we’re going?”

“Because I want to surprise you.  You won’t have to wait much longer, I promise, so if you can just hold on for a little while longer, it’ll be worth it.”

“It’d better be worth it, because I may die before we get there.”

Ryan started laughing and grabbed her hand.

“I didn’t realize you were so dramatic.  Yet something else new I’ve learned this weekend.”

“This was not a side of me I wanted to introduce to you just yet.”

“So this is common? 
This whiny, grumpy side?”

“Yes. 
When I’m hungry.  It’s your fault.  You’re starving me.”

“Hang in there.” Ryan laughed and kissed the back of her hand.

True to his word, she didn’t have to wait long and soon they’d crossed into the small town of Sugar Hill.  Ryan maneuvered the Jeep down a serene country road.  There was a farm on the right with a lone white horse in the field.  Mallory watched it until she nearly strained her neck, thinking it looked like a scene from a postcard.  Once the horse was out of view, she looked forward again and then her eyes focused on a wooden sign with a rust colored maple leaf.  It read
Polly’s Pancake Parlor
in yellow lettering.  He pulled into the crowded parking lot.

“You survived,” Ryan said, turning off the ignition. “And now you get to eat.”

She grinned and opened the door.  She grabbed her purse and met Ryan at the front of the Jeep.

“C’mon!  I’m starving,” she said, grabbing his hand and leading him inside. “Where’d you hear about this place? 
Mrs. Bush again?”

He laughed, but shook his head.

“No.  Actually, I bought a Froemmer’s Guide about New Englad and saw this place.  I looked it up online and thought you might like to try it.”

“So, you drove us all the way up to New Hampshire for pancakes?”

“It’s supposed to be great.  Plus, it wasn’t just for pancakes.  We’re going hiking after breakfast.”

“Hiking?”

“Yep, that’s why I told you to wear sneakers.”

“You just keep getting better,” she smiled, pulling him to her and kissing him quickly. 

He grinned back and opened the door to the restaurant.  It was packed and Mallory frowned as her stomach growled.  It looked as if they wouldn’t be eating as quickly as Ryan thought.

“Don’t look so sullen.  I called ahead.”

“And I didn’t think you could get any more perfect.”

“Oh, I can.”

“Ya know, I may not let you go when you have to leave,” she grinned, not knowing what to expect him to say.  He didn’t say anything.  He just leaned in and kissed her before going to check in with the hostess. 

****

Ryan was right.  The pancakes were definitely worth the wait and she was stuffed by the time they got back into the car and drove south.  He pulled into Franconia Notch State Park and she couldn’t help but smile.

“I’ve heard about this place.  I’ve always wanted to come here, but for some reason, I’ve never made it out this way.”

“I think people sometimes forget what’s in their own backyard.  Take me for instance.  I lived in Arizona for 18 years and I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No.  I’m dead serious.  I guess we’ll just have to go there someday then.”

“I hope so,” she said as he took her hand and led her into the visitor’s center.

Ryan paid the entrance fee and they headed off on the path towards The Flume, which Mallory learned from the pamphlet she’d picked up, was a large natural gorge.  They held hands as they walked, sharing the trail with all kinds of people.  Older people, college kids and families were all enjoying the beautiful day.  Mallory focused on the families and her eyes were drawn to the children running around, laughing and playing before glancing over at Ryan.  He was staring ahead and for the first time in her life she found herself looking at someone she could see having children with.  She wasn’t one of those girls who grew up dreaming of being a mother.  She figured she’d probably have kids someday, if she ever found the right person.  She’d yet to find that person, or even one who came close, but she thought Ryan might be that person.  Not any time soon, but she’d never felt this way about anyone.  He was strong and kind and he made her laugh.  He encouraged her to do what made her happy.  He hadn’t given her desire to join Doctors Without Borders a second thought, instead telling her she should go for it.  It was so different than how Cole reacted.  Cole hadn’t seen the purpose.  To him, her life in Kennebunkport was good.  It was safe.  Why would she want to go to some third world country when she had everything she needed in Maine?  He’d never understand and she’d stopped trying to explain it to him.  Ryan got it though.  She knew nothing would ever come of it, but his support was important to her and because of it, she thought he might be the kind of man she saw herself spending her life with and raising a family.

“You okay?” he asked a moment later, drawing her back from her reverie.

“Yes.  I’m fine.”

“You look like you’re in another world.  What are you thinking about?” he asked as they crossed under a covered bridge.

“You really want to know?”

“Of course I do.  I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.  What’s going on in that pretty little mind of yours?”  He squeezed her hand and smiled at her.

“What are your thoughts on kids?” she asked and then instantly regretted it.  They were hardly at the stage in their relationship where kids should even be discussed.  She didn’t want to come across as some baby crazed woman.  She was the furthest thing from that, but she was curious what he thought.

“Kids?” he said and then looked away as he thought. “I like kids.  Why do you ask?”

“I was just curious.”

“You
wanna be my baby mama?” he laughed and she slugged him on the shoulder.

“No!  I do not want to be your baby mama.  Call me old fashioned, but I plan to be married before I have kids.”

“I’m with you on that one,” he said as they began climbing a hill.  To their left, a powerful stream glided over flat rocks.

“So, do you ever want kids?” she asked cautiously and he took a moment to answer.

“I’ve thought about it on occasion and most of the time I think I do.”

“Most of the time?
  Are there times you don’t?”

“Yeah, there are.  We live in a messed up world, Mal.  I’ve seen the worst of it and during those times I wonder who in their right mind would want to bring an innocent life into such hell.  There’s so much hate and violence, and for what? 
Nothing.”

“You’re right,” she said despondently. 

“But, every time I think that way, I realize that’s just what the evil people in the world want.  They want us to give up and give in to their barbaric ideas and it’s then I know I want children.  There’s way more good in this world than bad, it’s just harder to see sometimes when it’s all the 24-hour news channels focus on.  And, call me crazy or an idealist, but I believe someday good will win and I’d like my children to be part of that.”

She stopped in her tracks, causing him to jerk around and stare at her. 
Reaching up to cup his face in her hands, she pulled him to her, kissing him deeply.

“And that is why I love you, Ryan Scott.  Even after everything you’ve seen and done, you’re still so optimistic.”

“I find no point in focusing on the negative.  It’s a waste of my time.”

“That’s a good way to think about it,” she said, taking his hand again as it started to darken around them as they walked. 

Tall, black granite towered above them and the stream now sounded like a raging river as they approached the gorge.  It was stunning. 

“This is amazing,” she shouted over the cr
ashing of the water, looking up in awe of the soaring rock as they walked along the wooden bridge.

“Yeah.
  It’s very impressive.”

“I think I need to write
Froemmer’s and thank them for inspiring such a great getaway,” she said a few minutes later as they left the darkness of the gorge. 

“I’m really glad you’re having a good time.”

“I’m having an amazing time.  I wonder how everything’s going at home.”

“The whole purpose of this trip was to get you to not think of home.”

“You know that’s impossible, but I have to say, I’ve only thought about it a little since we left.”

“I’ll take that as a victory then.”

“You should.  It’s quite an accomplishment,” she said and then sighed. “I hope everything’s alright.”

“I think Kennebunkport can survive without the services of Mallory Leyton f
or a couple of days,” he said and she nodded.

“You’re right.  You’re absolutely right,” she said, trying to convince
herself. 

“We’ve had such a great
time, I don’t want to ruin it now.  If you’re that concerned, why don’t you call home and see how everything is.  You’ll be able to relax then.”

She thought about it for a moment and then reached into her bag for her phone.

“Uh oh,” she said once her hand came up empty. “In the rush to get ready, I must’ve forgotten my phone.”

“You just now realized that?”

“I’ve been a little distracted,” she said, grinning slyly at him.

“
If you didn’t even realize you’d left your phone at home until now, then I definitely consider my mission this weekend accomplished.  But here, borrow mine, then we can get back to enjoying our weekend,” he said, reaching into his pocket and handing it to her.  She stared down at it for a moment and then shook her head.

“No,” she said, pushing the phone away. “You’re right.  Kennebunkport can survive without me.  To tell you the truth, it’s been kind of refreshing being cut off from everything back home. 
Maybe forgetting my phone is a blessing.  I haven’t had to worry about anything since we left and I’m not going to start now.  I’ll have enough to worry about when I get home.  I didn’t even tell my mom I was leaving, so I’m prepared for a real ass chewing when I get home.”

“You didn’t tell anyone?”

“No.  I was a little too excited to worry that,” she said, grinning over to him.

“I don’t want to hear that conversation between you and your mom when we get back.”

“It’ll be worth it.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to call home?”

“No.  We’ll be home in a few hours anyway.  Let me continue to live in this fantasy until then.”

“That’s the right attitude,” he said, placing the phone back in his pocket as they approached another covered bridge.  It was made of pale wood and hovered high above the stream, which was now calm compared to the rapids it’d been back at the gorge.  They stopped in the middle of
the bridge and looked out. It was a beautiful view.  The peaceful stream was surrounded by the lush green of the trees.  Mallory thought it must be even more stunning in the fall when all the leaves were changing color. 

“Thank you again for bringing me here,” she said, leaning her head against his shoulder as they stared out into the canyon. 

“You’re welcome.”  He put his arm around her and they stood quietly for a few minutes, just watching and soaking in the tranquility of it all. 

“I wish I could freeze time,” she said softly.

“Me too,” he replied, turning to her.  He took her face in his hands and kissed her sweetly on the forehead. 

“We can’t keep avoiding this, Ryan.  We have to talk about it.”

“I know,” he said quietly, pulling her to him.

Looking up into his green eyes, she
was taken back to that moment on the beach when she’d first looked into them.  As she was helping to wrangle the dog, she never would’ve imagined she’d end up here with Ryan, completely smitten and most assuredly in love with him. 

“I shouldn’t have let us get this deep,” she said.

“Don’t say that.  I’m glad we’re in this deep.”  He smiled and kissed her again.  Her stomach ached from wondering where this all was going, not wanting to think of not being with him.

“The summer’s almost over.  The
Bushes will be going back to Texas and that means you’ll be leaving too.”

Ryan sighed and turned away.

“It’s not like I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“I know that, but it won’t be long and we h
aven’t even discussed what’ll happen once you leave.”