by Jeane Watier
“We went to his, and it was incredible.” Rachael told her about the romantic dinner and how Brian seemed shy in asking her back to his place.
“He sounds great. Did you stay the night?”
“No, it felt right to come home. Brian came over this morning, and we took the dogs to the park.”
“Are you seeing him tonight?”
“He’s cooking me dinner.”
“Too bad you won’t be able to do the same for him,” Gail laughed and then added. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist that. But it’s good that at least one of you knows how to cook.”
Rachael hesitated a moment and then told her about the insights she’d just received.
Gail was quiet for several long seconds before she spoke. “I shouldn’t have teased you so much about cooking, Rachael. I had no idea that it had to do with your parents divorce. I’m really sorry. You know I love you.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Rachael reassured her. “I can handle your teasing. It’s one of the things I love about you. You make me laugh.”
“Now that you know that, maybe you’ll want to learn to cook. I’d love to teach you,” Gail offered.
“That’s definitely a possibility.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Gail interjected. “We rented a movie last night. You have to see it.”
“What’s it about?”
“Possibilities.”
“Can you give me a little more to go on than that?” Rachael laughed.
“It stars Queen Latifah.15 She plays this straight-laced, churchgoing, single woman who finds out that she only has three weeks left to live. She had all these things she wanted to do in life, but never got around to them. She just kept pictures and clippings in a binder labeled possibilities. When she learns that she’s dying, she finally decides to live out her dreams. I won’t tell you any more, but trust me, you’ll love it.”
“That sounds really good. Is it a chick flick? Would Brian like it?”
“I’d say it’s a perfect combination. It’s got emotion, but it’s not mushy or sad; it’s funny, too. There aren’t any car chases or shootings, but Rob didn’t mind it.”
“Okay, I’ll mention it to Brian.”
“Hey, once you guys get past the ‘can’t get enough of each other’ stage, let’s do a couples thing,” Gail suggested.
“Sure. I’d like that. And maybe if the guys become friends, they can hang out and console each other when we’re gone on our cruise.”
“Do you think you can handle being away from Brian for ten days? I might be the one consoling you.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Rachael replied, but she realized that the cruise didn’t hold quite the same thrill as it had just over a week ago.
Gail seemed to read her mind. “You know the guys could always come along. It’s not too late to change the booking. We’ve already got two rooms anyway.”
“That’s a possibility.”
They both laughed. The world was full of possibilities, and to Rachael it seemed like more were opening up every day. It was thrilling to live her life in such an expectant way.
Chapter 24
Rachael got ready for her date, still feeling a hint of the nervous excitement that had preceded the first two. Being with Brian was still so new, and the newness was delicious. She opted for casual attire. A relaxing evening with Brian and the dogs sounded ideal.
Looking through her selection of CDs, she chose a few of her favorites to take to him. She added a much-loved book from her collection. It was one she’d read and reread, and much of it was underlined or highlighted. She hoped he would enjoy it as much as she had. Putting them all in her bag, she grabbed her keys and was ready to go.
Brian’s front door opened, and Rachael was greeted not only by Brian and the dogs but also by enticing smells coming from the kitchen. Brian took her coat, hung it up and then took her in his arms. He buried his nose in her hair and breathed deeply. “Mmm. You smell good.”
“So does whatever you’re cooking.”
“I’m making ribs,” he informed her. “It’s the sauce you smell. I threatened to fire my cook this afternoon if he didn’t give me his recipe.”
“You’re terrible,” Rachael laughed, poking him in the side.
“It didn’t work. He wouldn’t give it out, but he made some up for me. He’s a great cook. He aspires to be a chef one day, so I may lose him to some fancy restaurant.”
“Then you’ll attract someone else,” Rachael assured him. “Someone who’s just as good, maybe even better.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Brian agreed. “I will.”
They walked through into the kitchen, and Brian poured Rachael a glass of wine before he returned to the stove to tend to their meal. The dogs were both sitting at her feet, looking up at her, waiting for some attention. Setting her glass down, she bent to their level and petted them both for a few minutes. Then she went over to where Brian was standing. “I can help,” she offered as she washed her hands at the sink. “But you’ll have to show me what to do.”
“I was a bit rushed for time,” he confessed, “so I got Marco to make a salad for me, and I brought home some cheesecake from the cooler. All I had left to do were the ribs and the potatoes, and they’re in the oven. This sauce is almost ready; it just needs to simmer for a few minutes.”
He set a timer on the stove and then taking her hand, led her through double French doors into a cozy sitting room off the kitchen. It looked more lived in than the formal living room they’d been in the night before. He had a bookshelf full of books and stereo equipment, and there was a large flat-screen TV that took up a good portion of one wall. A soft leather sofa and matching chair with plump pillows made the room look very inviting. “This is where I hang out. I would have invited you in here last night, but it was kind of messy. I did some house cleaning this morning.”
Rachael sat on the sofa while Brian put on some music. She picked up a DVD that was lying on the coffee table. Queen Latifah adorned the cover. As Rachael read the back, she realized it was the same movie Gail had told her about. “Have you seen this?” she asked, loving the synchronicity.
“No, my sister just lent it to me. She loved it. Said it would be a great date movie. Do you want to watch it later?”
“Gail was just telling me about this one. I’d love to see it.”
When the meal was ready, they moved to the table, which was set before Rachael arrived. Brian pulled out a chair for her to sit.
“I’m really impressed,” she remarked. “Everything looks so nice.”
“Again, I can’t take all the credit. I got my mom to bring over the dishes. Mine are really plain. She brought the napkins and candlesticks too.”
Rachael smiled at the image of his mom and sister helping him prepare for the evening. He seemed to be really close to his family. She was looking forward to meeting them one day.
The food was great. The ribs were tender, and the sauce was as delicious as it smelled. Rachael complimented Brian again.
“I’ll pass that on to Marco.”
They enjoyed their meal in silence for a few minutes, taking pleasure from occasional glances at each other. Then Brian asked how her afternoon had been. Rachael decided to share the insights she’d received. “I spent some time meditating, and I got clarity on why I have such an aversion to cooking. It’s not just that I don’t know how, I think I really didn’t want to learn.” She told him about the stressful mealtimes as she was growing up and her mom not cooking much after the divorce. “Now that I’m aware of the old thought patterns that were causing the negative feelings, I can work on changing them and move on. Gail offered to give me cooking lessons. I might take her up on it.”
Brian shook his head. “I think I’ve just witnessed something really remarkable today. Your reaction this morning to the mention of a home cooked meal surprised me,” he admitted. “But now you have it figured out, and it’s all okay. Your whole attitude has changed in just a few hours
.”
“I changed my vibration on the subject of cooking,” she said simply. “If people only knew—it really is that easy. Letting go of old beliefs can be hard if we aren’t aware of them, but when we get in tune with our emotions, those thoughts are easy to detect and easy to let go of as well.”
“And you changed your vibration by meditating?”
“Meditation helps me to get in touch with my Inner Being—that Divine, expanded part of me,” she explained. “Once I feel that connection, I get clarity and insight on all kinds of subjects.”
“A guy I lived with in New Delhi was really into meditation,” Brian commented. “He’d sit there repeating this mantra over and over. He claimed it gave him mental clarity. I tried it, but I didn’t notice any difference.”
“I don’t follow any strict guidelines when it comes to meditation. I kind of do my own thing,” Rachael shrugged. “Whatever feels good in the moment. Sometimes I just think thoughts about my Inner Being; sometimes I listen to sounds in the house, like a tap dripping or the furnace humming. I quite often focus on my breathing, but I don’t let myself get caught up in the discipline of it—that wouldn’t feel good to me.”
“I like that. I’ve always heard that meditation is a spiritual discipline, and that the objective is to achieve some higher level of consciousness. I never understood the connection to real life. But what you did today was real. It was practical. You used meditation to give you clarity on why you hated cooking, and then you took that information and applied it so you could feel better.”
“You’re right,” Rachael agreed. “That’s why I like this teaching so much. It helps me to change my life in practical ways.”
“I want that,” Brian said honestly. “I want to have that in my life.”
Rachael was thrilled. She’d long imagined meeting someone who was searching for truth the way she was. “I brought you some CDs I thought you’d like and a favorite book of mine. But you’ll get this easily. You’re already living it in so many areas of your life.”
They finished eating, and Brian got up to clear the table. “Let’s have our dessert in the den. I’ll just clean this up quickly. Do you want some coffee?”
“Sure,” Rachael replied, getting up to help him.
They bumped into each other a couple of times as they moved around his kitchen, cleaning up. Music was playing in the other room, and without any notice, Brian took Rachael in his arms and began to dance. He was a good dancer. Rachael had taken some lessons before her brother’s wedding, so she managed to keep up. She loved the feeling of being in his arms and floating around the room in harmony with the music.
The dogs came to life and started wagging their tails, eager to participate in the game. Duke’s tail seemed to be wagging in rhythm to the music, and Rachael began to laugh. “They want to join us.”
“Duke just wants to cut in,” Brian joked. “But he’s out of luck. I want you all to myself.”
“This is fun,” Rachael declared, as Brian swept her effortlessly around the room.
“Let’s go out dancing sometime,” he suggested. “I know a great place.”
“I’d like that.” She loved discovering new things about him. It didn’t surprise her that he liked to dance or that he was such a good dancer, it just added more depth to his already impressive personality.
“Where did you learn to dance so well?”
“It’s kind of embarrassing,” he laughed. “We had to learn ballroom dancing in gym class when I was in junior high.”
“We did, too. I hated it, though. I don’t think I learned anything.”
“Well, I had a crush on this girl in my class, and I wanted to impress her and not step on her toes with my big, clumsy feet,” he continued. “So I asked my mom to teach me at home. She decided to make it a family activity,” Brian said with mock disgust in his voice. “Both Steve and I had to learn and practice with our sisters. After that, every wedding dance we went to, Mom got us up dancing. Once I was a little older, I realized that I actually enjoyed it.”
Rachael began to laugh at the image of him dancing at home with his family. She could picture a young teenager, tall and awkward, dancing with his mother. All of a sudden she lost her rhythm, and they began to stumble. They had danced their way into the den and they fell together onto the sofa, both still laughing. The dogs began to bark at all the excitement, and Duke put his front paws up on them, trying to get in on the fun.
“Down boy,” Brian laughed.
Rachael had tears in her eyes, she was laughing so hard. It was several minutes before either of them could speak.
“God, I love you,” Brian breathed, suddenly serious.
She stared at him, not sure she’d heard right. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come.
“I know it’s crazy, but I do.” He searched her eyes for a response.
Everything felt so right. Rachael had been feeling it from the first day she’d met him. She remembered Gail’s advice not to justify it or start thinking rationally, so she let her feelings guide her. “I love you, too.” She kissed him, feeling as certain as she ever had about anything.
He returned her kiss with a depth of emotion she’d never experienced before. She responded with her body and her soul. She didn’t want to hold anything back. He loved her, and it felt really, really good.
The dogs were still standing nearby, hoping for attention. Duke barked as if to say, ‘What about us?’ so Brian stopped in the middle of their kiss. “Don’t move,” he winked, giving Rachael another quick kiss as he got up. He went out to the kitchen and opened the patio doors. The dogs followed obediently and ran outside into the back yard.
Returning to the sofa, he declared, “Much better. Now, where were we?”
“Right about here,” Rachael replied, pulling him into her arms.
Chapter 25
Rachael awoke beside the man she’d fallen hopelessly in love with. There was nowhere else she’d rather be. They’d just spent an unforgettable night together—making love and talking for hours. He’d invited her to stay and this time, it felt right.
“Good morning,” he smiled, gently kissing the top of her head.
“Mmm, yes it is.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I could get used to this.”
Rachael couldn’t think of anything she’d rather do than make love again. Brian was a remarkable lover. What they’d already experienced together was beyond anything Rachael had known. She wasn’t exactly a novice in that area, but Brian had brought her pleasure in ways she’d never even imagined. Now she wanted to do the same for him.
The physical passion, combined with the emotion they were feeling for each other, took them to new heights again. Afterward, they lay holding each other tightly. No words were necessary. The electrifying silence intensified the magic of the moment.
After several minutes, they heard a noise outside the bedroom door. It was something between a growl and a very quiet bark. “Sounds like Duke,” Brian stated, making no effort to move. “I should let them out,” he said, finally, when the noise persisted. “I’ll be right back.” He kissed Rachael and then walked to the door, grabbing his robe as he went.
Rachael smiled as she watched his naked body. He had a very pleasing physique—broad shoulders, sloping down to a narrow waist and the cutest ass she’d ever seen. It was his legs that she marveled at, however. They were thick and muscular—probably from all those years of speed skating. She was still holding the image in her mind when Brian returned.
“I’ll make us some breakfast. You can shower if you like. There are clean towels in the bathroom.”
Rachael walked into the large en-suite bathroom and stepped into the shower. With a single turn of the lever, warm water began to cascade down like soft summer rain. Another turn, and gentle massaging jets pummeled her body from three directions. Closing her eyes, she savored the luxurious experience. It reminded her of the abundance that was flowing into her
life from every direction, and she felt a wave of appreciation for all that she’d created.
Brian entered the bedroom with a tray, just as Rachael came out of the bathroom. She could smell the coffee, and there were pastries and fruit on the tray, along with the movie they hadn’t watched the evening before.
“Breakfast in bed with a movie?” he asked.
Rachael had on a robe she’d found in Brian’s closet, and her hair was wrapped in a towel. She felt totally at home as she hopped back on the bed. “That sounds terrific.”
The movie was all that Gail had said it would be. Rachael thoroughly enjoyed it. When she added breakfast in bed and cuddling with Brian to that, she decided she had a new definition for heaven.
“That was really good,” Brian remarked when the movie ended. “Beautiful place too. Let’s go there someday.” The movie was set in Czechoslovakia at a resort just outside Prague.
Rachael liked the direction of the conversation. “So you like to travel?”
“Yeah, I love it,” he replied. “I’ve done quite a bit on my own, but I think it would be more fun with someone. Why don’t we plan a trip together, maybe after Christmas?”
Rachael couldn’t help but think of Gail’s suggestion that the guys join them on their holiday. She decided to mention it. “What about a cruise?”
“I always wanted to go on one, but it seemed like something couples do.”
“I know,” Rachael nodded in agreement. “Do you like the Caribbean?”
“I’ve been to Jamaica. It’s beautiful there. I spent three months working in Kingston.”
“Gail and I have a cruise booked for February. We were talking…” Rachael felt shy suddenly as she thought of the proposition she was about to make, but she continued. “And we thought…it might be more fun with guys along.”
“Really?” Brian looked surprised. “Are you sure? Maybe you should think about that. If you planned it as a girl’s getaway…”
Rachael put her finger on his lips, silencing him. “I really want you to come. We’ve got two cabins; we can change the booking to four people instead of two. It’s so easy to imagine you there with me.”
