Free Across Eternity by Aris Whittier Page A

some paperwork." He debated for a minute and
then said. "I want to take you somewhere."
    She moaned as she set her purse on the floorboard by her feet. "I
don’t think my back can take another night on the beach." She
followed up with, "Though I had an amazing time."
    "No, not the beach." He couldn’t
take his eyes off her. Not since the second she stepped out of his restaurant
and began looking for him. "I thought I’d take you to my
home." When she didn’t speak he felt a ting of apprehension set in.
"Why do you look unsettled?"
    Her expression grew heavy as she glanced out the windshield, staring
uninterestedly at the busy street. "Do I look unsettled?"
    "That or you’re about to be sick."
    A smile touched her lips. "I’m not unsettled and I don’t
feel like I’m going to be sick."
    "Are you sure?" His tone turned teasing as he tried to alleviate
any tension his suggestion might have caused. "I can toss you out on the
sidewalk so you can take care of business."
    She looked over at him. "How is it that you’re able to put me at
ease so effortlessly? Is it just another one of your knacks?"
    "I’m not sure but I like that I’m able to." He gave
her a reassuring smile. "Tell me what’s on your mind."
    "I don’t know what’s on my mind," she replied
honestly.
    "Fair enough. Then tell me what you’re
feeling." He watched her for a very long moment. "Your eyes say
more than words ever could."
    "And what do they say?" she asked curiously.
    "That this is moving too fast for you."
    "And it’s not moving too fast for you?"
    He thought about it for a moment as he watched the lightening fast
expressions change over her face. "I’m not taking you home to
seduce you, Amber. I just thought it would be a quiet place where we can be
alone." He raised his hands and then let them settle on the steering
wheel again. "We can go somewhere else. You pick."
    "Am I’m being ridiculous?" she asked. "I feel like I
am."
    He didn’t start the car, instead he watched her. "If
you’re uncomfortable about going you’re not."
    "I’m not uncomfortable. It’s just...it’s...well, I
feel like I should be uncomfortable. I know that sounds silly but it’s
the truth." She moved awkwardly in her seat as she continued.
"I’ve only known you for twenty-four hours. I’ve never gone
home with a man so quickly."
    "I’m not just any man." He waited for her to look at him.
"You know that, right?"
    "Of course I do. Why do you even have to ask?"
    He let out a quiet sigh of relief. He’d been so worried that during
the day, the time she was away from him, they would have somehow lost that
closeness they had shared. He had feared she would come to her senses so to
speak and feel differently. Pleasure caused him to smile. "According to
my calculations it’s been twenty-six hours."
    "Really?" she said with mock surprise. "Twenty-six?"
    He glanced down at his watch. "Yes. Would you like me to calculate the
minutes?"
    "That won’t be necessary. I’d love to see your
home."
    "Are you sure?" he asked seriously. "I really don’t
mind going somewhere else."
    She nodded and smiled. "Yes, I’m sure." She looked out the
window for a moment and then looked back to him. "I’m sorry.
I’m not used to doing this. I’m not used to feeling this
way."
    "There’s no need to apologize."
    She rolled her eyes pathetically. "I haven’t been out on a date
in," she paused as she thought about it, "In around three months.
I’m a little rusty."
    "Don’t explain yourself, Amber. It’s okay." He
started the car, looked over his shoulder, and pulled into the lane.
"It’s about a thirty-minute drive. Make yourself
comfortable."
    They had gotten on the freeway and then back off twice. As they drove
further out of the city the four-lane highway turned into a two-lane mountain
road. They steadily climbed the steep road for several miles before it leveled.
To Amber’s left was a spectacular view of the city below.
    "This is lovely," she said as she leaned forward in