Still Fine at Forty (5 page)

  I was awakened by the sound of pounding on my hotel room door. I glanced over at the clock. It was only 7 a.m. Surely,
Mel wasn’t up already. But who else would be pounding on my door?

I dragged myself from the bed and slugged over to the door. I peeked through the peephole and sure enough, Mel was standing there staring at the door. I unhooked the safety latch and let her in.

She charged into my room like she was already on a caffeine high.

“
Marve had a tee time booked and I didn’t feel like driving around in the cart, so I stopped by to see what you were up to,” she said turning toward me.

I hesitated for a moment and before I could even form a c
oherent thought, she continued. “I’m really sorry I haven’t been good company. This was supposed to be a girl’s getaway to cheer you up. I just never expected to meet anyone like Marvin.” She gave me a genuine grin.

“It’s okay,” I said. “I’m glad to see you so happy.”

Mel plopped herself on the corner of my bed and made herself comfortable. “Marvin truly is one of a kind,” she said.

He sure is, I thought. I still wasn’t sure what she saw in him.

As if she was reading my mind (which she did a lot), Mel said, “I know he doesn’t seem like much on the outside, but he has a big heart. And you know what? He adores me. No one has ever adored me. I’ve had people put up with me because I’m fun-loving and great in the sack, but I’ve never had anyone fall head-over-heels for me. He likes everything about me and doesn’t want to change me.”

I couldn’t help but think about my marriage to Rob. I don’t think he adored me. Looking back, I’m not even sure how much
he really loved me. I often thought he proposed because it’s what was expected. We dated all though college and that’s what people did once they graduated. That was the next step—getting married. And he got accepted into a doctoral program and wanted someone to support him. I got a teaching job right away so I was a steady income. I think that also gave him a sense of obligation.

“Earth to Jennifer,” Mel said to get my attention. “What were you thinking so deeply about?”

“Rob,” I admitted.

She shook her head.
“Hell, no! We’re here for you to forget about that jackass. We need to find you a new man.”

I grinned and Mel eyed me suspiciously. “Is there something you’re not telling me?” she pried.

“Maybe,” I said coyly. I wasn’t sure I should tell her. I didn’t want to jinx it.

“Spill,” she said.

I sighed and said, “Remember the good looking guy from the Jeep ride?”

Mel jumped from the bed. “Are you kidding me?” she almost screamed. “Good looking is an understatement. That man is absolutely gorgeous. You have a date with HIM?

I nodded.

“Oh. My.
God!” Now she was screaming. “When?”

“He’s coming to pick me up in about an hour. We’re going on a hike.”

“And when were you planning on telling me this? I practically had to drag it out of you. Never mind. We have to get you ready.”

She was now pacing around my room in
a frenzy. “An hour! Why are you still in your pajamas? I can’t even believe this. That man is stunning. What are you going to wear?” She stopped her caged animal routine and stared at me.

“I didn’t bring much,” I said.

“Why? I told you we were trying to get you a man.”

I gazed down at my slippers, “I didn’t think you were ser
ious.”

Mel put her hands on my cheeks. “Listen to me. I may not be serious about much, but when it comes to you being happy, I’m always serious.”

I gulped.

“Now we’re going to do this and do it right,” she said. “I want this guy in your bed by tonight. Got it?”

I nodded even though I knew Cody was working the night shift at the coffee shop. And I really wasn’t the type of person to have sex with someone on the first date.

Mel furrowed her brow. That meant she didn’t believe me. “You need to get over the idea of not sleeping with someone on the first date. The whole concept is old-fashioned. This is the 21st century.”

“I actually haven’t dated since the 20th century, so you can see my dilemma.” It was 1990 to be exact. The year I met Rob.

“Times change,” she said.

“You’re actually not instilling much confidence in me,” I admitted.

She ignored my concerns and hurried over to the closet. “We have to find something flirty and fun, while still being sexy but not slutty.”

She froze when she opened my closet. “What the hell is this?” she asked.

I gulped. “My clothes,” I muttered. I knew I was in trouble.

“Do you have anything that doesn’t look like you just stepped out of a library?”

I sighed. “I brought some shorts and T-shirts.”

“Not helpful.”

“We’re going on a hike,” I said in my defense. “I’m sure the shorts will be fine.”

I grabbed a polo shirt from the closet. “And I can wear this.”

“Oh, hell, no!”
She grabbed the polo from my hand and tossed it on the bed. “This calls for the reserves.”

She darted from the room and came back a few minutes later with a beautiful blue silk top I had never seen her wear. She held up the blouse. “Well? What do you think?”

“It’s gorgeous,” I said, admiring the fabric.

“It’s five hundred dollars’ worth of gorgeous,” she said.

I quickly drew my hand back, now afraid to touch it.

She continued. “Marvin bought it for me for our six-hour anniversary.”

I shook my head. “I couldn’t possibly wear it. First of all, it costs more than my monthly car payment, and you haven’t even worn it yet.”

She grinned. “And I haven’t even shown you what else he’s bought me. Don’t worry about it. Right now, you need this more than I do. You have to wear it.”

I rubbed the fine silk with my fingers. “This is too much.”

“I won’t take no for an answer,” she said smiling at me.

I hesitated. Before I had a chance to respond, Mel unbuttoned my pajama top and had shoved me into the bathroom. “We don’t have time to argue,” she said. “You have a gorgeous hunk to get ready for.”

Five

When I walked out of the hotel lobby, Cody was waiting for me. He was fidgeting with his shirt sleeves and seemed a bit nervous. Surely, a guy like him had plenty of experience with women. When he looked up and saw me, a huge smile overtook his face. He hurried over to me and carefully examined my outfit from head to toe. “You look amazing,” he said.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I joked. He looked ama
zing, too. He had on a white button down shirt that fit snuggly against his muscular chest. His sleeves were rolled up exposing his muscular arms. He had on dark black jeans, tight in all the right places and black hiking boots.

He grabbed my hand. “Come on. I have so much to show you.”

He led me over to a different Jeep than the one he had for the tour. This one was red and didn’t have any commercial markings on it. He gave me a hand getting into the passenger side and then stepped around it and jumped into the driver’s side.

“Does everyone around here drive Jeeps?” I asked.

“It’s easier to get around that way,” he replied. “Did you bring a scrunchie?”

I nodded. “I remembered.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out the hair tie. I used it to put my hair into a ponytail.

“I love it when you pull your hair back,” he said. “I can see your beautiful face.”

He leaned over and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek. It sent shivers through my body. If that simple act could make me feel so much passion, I wondered… Stop, I told myself.
Nothing like putting the cart before the horse. Our first date has hardly even started.

“Is everything okay?” he asked. I could see genuine concern in his eyes.

I nodded. “Everything is great.” 

“Then let’s go.” He removed his sunglasses from his breast pocket and put them on. He stared the engine, put the vehicle into gear and we were off.

“So, how many jobs do you have?” I asked, trying to make small talk, which I was rarely good at.

He chuckled. “Just four,” he replied.

I choked a bit.

“Is that a lot?” he asked.

“That seems a bit excessive.”

He looked deep in thought, as if he was trying to figure out what to tell me or how much to tell me. I knew the look. I got it a lot myself. I was usually the one who was hesitant to reveal too much of my personal life.

Finally he said, “I’ve been working as an artist since I was eighteen. I was fortunate enough to get an apprenticeship with a well-known sculptor through a mutual friend. I did that for eight years. It was a great opportunity, but no pay. I needed to support myself, so I started working for Jim Miller, the owner of Miller’s Jeep Tours. My dream was always to own my own gallery, mostly to display and sell my own works, but also host other rising artists.”

I could see a look of pure joy radiating from Cody’s face as he talked about art and the gallery. That was obviously his passion. He continued, “When Jim’s dad passed away, he left him a wonderful piece of property with a building that would make a perfect gallery but it needs a lot of work. Jim’s dad was one of the original settlers in Sedona and he owned a lot of property. As he got older, he wasn’t able to take care of all of it and many of the buildings he owned fell into disrepair. Jim’s willing to sell me the property for an extremely good price, but it’s still a lot of money.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is a tourist town and I can make quite a bit of money in tips both as a tour guide and in the coffee shop. When the Jeep business dies down in the winter, I sell Christmas trees at Jim’s lot and we use the Jeeps to shovel snow for people. Nearly every penny I make goes into a special account we set up for the gallery, for me to purchase the building and land and make all the necessary repairs. I’ve been saving since I was 18. In another two and a half years, I should have all the money I need to make the dream a reality.”

“That’s one of the most impressive stories I’ve ever heard,” I said. “Most people don’t have that level of dedication and commitment to anything.”

He glanced over at me. “I don’t let anything stand in the way of my pursuit of passion,” he said. “Do you mind if we make a quick stop before the hike?” he asked. “There’s something I’d like to show you.”

Five minutes later he stopped next to a run-down building that sat across the street from several established art galleries.

He jumped out of the Jeep and hurried over to my side. He put out a hand and helped me out.

“This is it,” he said. He looked like a proud father showing off his new baby. “I know it doesn’t look like much right now, but it has a lot of potential.”

The building looked like it had seen better days. He was right to say it needed a lot of work. My hesitancy about the place didn’t seem to deter him at all. “Let me show you something,” he said. He ran to the back of the Jeep and removed a backpack. He unzipped the bag and removed a notepad. He opened it and held the page up so I could see it next to the building. It was a like a “before” and “after” comparison. The sketch on the notepad was of a lovely looking Spanish style gallery. I couldn’t see any potential just looking at the timeworn building, but Cody sure did. The sketch of the gallery he intended to build was phenomenal. 

“Wow,” I said truly impressed. “Now I understand why you work so many jobs. Turning that,” I pointed to the building, “into this,” I said pointing to the sketch, “will take a lot of funds.”

He nodded. “It will be worth every penny.” 

When I looked at Cody, he was still looking at the sketch and grinning from ear to ear. There was so much more to this man than the great looking package. The more I found out about him, the more I wanted to know. Was it bad that I already longed for a future with him? I knew I wanted to be with him when he completed the gallery. His pure joy was contagious.

“You are the only woman I’ve ever told about this,” he said with a more serious expression.

I found that hard to believe. “Why?”

“Most women are only interested in trying my buns.” I knew it was a joke, but there was also a bit of sadness in his voice as well.

“Well, if it’s any consolation, your buns are the last thing on my mind right now.” I pointed to the building, which was starting to grow on me. “It’s amazing.” I said. “You’re amazing.” As soon as those words left my lips, I immediately regretted it. I didn’t want him to think I was a sap.

He gazed it me and his expression turned serious. “You’re the one who’s amazing,” he said. He bent down a placed a gentle kiss on my lips, which completely took me off guard. My first reaction was to step away.

“Too soon?” he asked.

I shook my head. “You just surprised me.”

He raised an eyebrow.
“A good surprise?”

I nodded. He leaned down and kissed me again, this time with a bit more intensity. The growing energy between us was palpable. When he allowed his tongue to explore my mouth, I was so aroused, I let out a moan.

When we stopped so the two of us could catch our breath, he took a small step away from me. “We’d better get going. Not that I didn’t enjoy what we were doing, but there are a few sites I really want you to see.”

I was still reeling from the intensity of the kiss that words completely escaped me. I felt like Cody had placed me under some kind of spell. It was a spell from which I hoped to never escape.

He took me to a lovely place called Soldier’s Pass Trail. The hike was considered moderate but I still felt out of shape. In the places I had trouble with the hike, Cody grabbed my hand and helped me along. He was so strong and I felt safe with him. He showed me several well-known sites like the Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole and the Seven Sacred Pools. He made sure to snap a bunch of photos for me with his phone’s camera. 

Cody showed me a rock formation that looked like an indig
enous man surrounded by mountains. His gaze appeared to be far off. I wondered what he was thinking about.

“This site always reminds me of my dad,” he said. His serious tone and expression made me think that he didn’t have the best memories of his father.

“My dad was indigenous. My mom was white.”

“What tribe?” I asked. I was curious to know more about the man I was starting to have deep feelings for.

He hesitated before he spoke. When I looked into his eyes, he seemed conflicted. I sensed he was unsure whether he should open up to me about his past.

“Cheyenne,” he said finally and looked away.

That one word hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized it was a nation of people, but it was also a name. The name of a boy, who nearly ruined my life. It was a name I had spent the last 15 years trying desperately to forget.

Cody continued. “My dad spent most of his life in prison and that’s where he died.” The somber look on his face told me he still had some unresolved anger toward his father.

“You were raised by your mom?”

He gave one
unamused laugh. “My mom was a drug addict. Raising me was the last thing on her mind.” He looked into my eyes. “We don’t need to talk about my ugly past on such a beautiful day. I want you to have fun and enjoy yourself.”

He took my arm and led me toward another rock formation that looked like a sphinx. 

Of course, Cody not wanting to talk about his past made me want to know about it even more. Now I sensed where all the intensity came from. The more puzzle pieces I put together, the larger the puzzle expanded. I wondered if I would ever know everything there was to know behind the depth of his beautiful brown eyes.

As we took in the view, I decided to try a different line of conversation, but one I was equally curious about.

“Can I ask you a question?” I ventured.

“Of course, you can ask me whatever you want,” he teased.

I smiled. “Will you answer a question for me?” I tried again.

“Depends on the question,” he said. I had my hands full with this one.

“Why didn’t you ask me out the first day we met? When you took me out on the Jeep ride?”

“It’s against company policy. Jim is strict about stuff like that.”

“You never make an exception?”

“As much as I wanted to ask you out, and believe me, I really wanted to ask you out, I could never disrespect Jim like that. I owe him a lot.”

I nodded. The man certainly had integrity.

“I’m just glad you like tea,” he said and gave me a wide grin. “Most people end up at the coffee shop and I was hoping you
would, too. Besides, Sedona is a small town. I knew the chances of me running into you again were high.”

I nodded.

“Don’t you believe in fate? Destiny?”

“What do you mean?” I knew the definition of those words, but I wanted to hear more about what he meant by them.

He looked deep into my eyes. “The romantic notion that if two people are meant to be together, the universe, or God, whatever you want to call it, will find a way for them to be together.”

“I haven’t really given it much thought,” I said.

He chuckled. “I thought women were supposed to be the romantic ones. Don’t women want to find their soul mates?”

“Do you believe in soul mates?” I ventured.

He nodded. He didn’t take his eyes from mine. A shiver ran through me. I had a strong feeling that destiny had brought us together. I wasn’t sure why, but I felt like I was supposed to meet Cody.

“Besides,” he continued, “You gave me your email for the photos, remember? If fate didn’t eventually bring us together, I knew the Internet would.”

That made me smile. How could I have forgotten he was going to email me all of the photos?

He grabbed my hand. “We’d better keep hiking. I want you to see
Brins Mesa.”

The trail got steeper and we had to traverse several stone staircases to get to the top, but when we made it, the view was worth the effort.

Cody turned to face me. His face alighted with a big grin. “So, was it worth the climb up here?”

“This is incredible,” I said. “I didn’t think Arizona could be this beautiful.”

“Sedona gets a lot of tourists, but not many people make it this far,” he said.

“Thank you,” I said.

“For what?”

“For a wonderful day.
I don’t get too many of them.”

He stepped so close to me, I could feel his breath on me. “We’ll just have to change that.” He brought his lips close to mine and gave me a soft kiss.

When I opened my eyes, he was staring at me intensely. “Was that okay?” he said.

I couldn’t speak. I was melting inside. I nodded.

He bent down again, but this time his kiss was more passionate and urgent. My body responded with feelings I had never felt before. I longed for him to possess every part of me.

When he pulled away, he took my face in his hands. “Was that still okay?”

“More that okay,” I managed to mutter.

He grinned. “We need to head back so I can get ready for work.”

I looked at my watch. It was already past two. I knew he had an evening shift. “I hope I didn’t make you late.”