by Baird, Ginny
“Someplace special,” he assured her. “So special, in fact, I’ve never shown it to anybody else.”
Robert held on to her hand and led her up a high path that wound its way past laurels and big briar bushes. “Watch your step,” he cautioned. “It’s rocky.”
Her sneaker slipped sideways, and she stumbled. He spun quickly to catch her, holding her in his arms. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
She looked up at him, and it was all he could do to resist bringing his mouth to hers. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For this. For whatever it is you’re doing. I have no clue where we’re going, but this is fun. I feel like I’m just a kid who’s snuck out of her room.”
“Oh yeah? Well, I’m about to show you where I went when I snuck out of mine.”
Before Isabel knew it, Robert had led her through the shadows and up upon a flat-topped rock overlooking the city. An array of lights twinkled below as warm summer breezes blew. Isabel caught her breath at the sight. “It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah.” Robert drew his arm around her and held her close. “I used to spend a lot of time up here as a kid. Thinking.”
“Oh? What did you think about?” She turned toward him.
“You, mostly.”
“Me?”
“All right, maybe I didn’t have the guts to tell you then, but I’m man enough to own it now…” His eyes sparkled in the faint glow of lights from the distant city. “I had the most unbearable crush on this pretty, blonde-haired girl.”
Isabel felt her face warm. “That’s funny,” she said, looking up at him. “The feeling was mutual.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She turned toward the view, avoiding his gaze. “I cried for weeks after you left. Did you know that? Weeks and weeks. Really. I think you were the first man to totally break my heart.”
He reached up and gently stroked her cheek. “If it had been up to me, I never would have gone.”
“I know,” she said quietly.
They both stood staring at the view as warm summer winds rippled around them.
“You want to stay for a while?” he asked. “Just sit here with me?”
“I’d like that.”
And so they stayed, and they talked. And then they talked some more over old times and all the fun they used to have until they finally ran out of words, and the sun broke over the horizon.
Chapter Three
Isabel smiled brightly as they exited the movie theater. “I just love a good romantic comedy, don’t you?” She looked so pretty tonight in worn blue jeans and a light blue top that complemented her eyes. Robert didn’t think he’d ever been out with anyone better looking or nicer to be with. Being in Isabel’s company just felt right.
“I like ’em if you do,” Robert told her.
She nudged him lightly as they strolled down the sidewalk amid the clutter of shops and outdoor cafés. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That means I’m remembering our deal.”
“That we watch an action film next?”
“Exactly.”
“You drive a hard bargain, mister.” There was a happy lilt to her voice, like she was enjoying herself. Robert was having a great time too. How he wished there could be more between them and that all those loose ends from his past were neatly tied up.
“Want to grab some pizza?” he queried.
“Only if I get to order extra pepperoni.”
“Anything your heart desires.”
Her eyes sparkled in the soft glow from the streetlights. “You should watch what you’re offering.”
“What do you mean?”
“I might just ask for anchovies too.”
Robert wasn’t much for anchovies, but he didn’t care. He’d eat anything at all that Isabel wanted. Hell, he’d even watch another chick flick too. Anything to be around her.
“That’ll be fine,” he said without skipping a beat. “Just as long as we get to wash them down with beer.”
“Why, Robert,” she said, flirting. “Are you aiming to get me drunk and take advantage of me?”
Get her drunk? Never. Take advantage? Boy, I’d like to. Or at the very least, I’d like to let her take advantage of me. Robert sighed inwardly, wishing life weren’t so messy and that everything was as light and breezy as being with Isabel made it seem. But he had stuff to deal with. Serious stuff. And, goodness knew, he was working on it. “You keep flirting with me that way,” he told her, “you’re going to get yourself into a lot of trouble someday.”
She gasped in shock, but Robert could tell she was pretending. “That would be a shame,” she said with a giggle. “A terrible, horrible shame.”
He studied her a moment. “Yeah. Wouldn’t it, though?”
But to Isabel’s disappointment, he didn’t kiss her later that night. Even despite the fact that they’d shared a whole pitcher of beer. She didn’t understand what precisely was going on between them. All she knew was that it felt good. She liked being around Robert, and they always had a super time. She simply wasn’t sure why he hadn’t taken things to the next level. She’d considered making a bold move herself, but then had thought better of it. Maybe the timing wasn’t good, if he wasn’t ready. What was the point in rushing things when everything was going so well with the slow build that they had going on? Pizza and a movie had only been their second date anyway. If things kept going the way they had been, she’d find herself in Robert’s arms before she knew it. Then the scrumptious doctor-to-be would have to look out. He’d be the one undergoing the thorough examination. Isabel blushed at the billion dirty thoughts racing through her mind as Robert told her good night.
“I had a lot of fun,” he said.
“Yeah,” she agreed. “Tonight was great.”
“Can we do it again?”
“Any time. Just text me.”
He hesitated a moment, but then stepped back.
“I think I’ll call.”
“Why’s that?”
A slow grin spread across his face. “I like the sound of your voice.”
Trudy turned toward Kip and set her hands on her hips. She stood in the kitchen, where she’d been shelving cookbooks in alphabetical order, sorted by geographical region. Kip sat at the table, hiding behind his newspaper, but he spied her watching him over the top of it just the same.
“I don’t know what you have against Robert,” she said, growing agitated. “He’s a nice young man now, and Isabel seems to have taken an interest in him.”
Kip grunted and thumbed through the sports section. “Her interest in Robert’s not new. Neither is his in her.”
“Oh, come now, Kip. You can’t tell me you haven’t gotten over that sofa thing.”
Kip stared at his wife. “He was practically on top of her!”
“So? They were experimenting.”
“You’re not helping, Trudy.”
“Honey, they were just kids.”
“Yes. And maybe Robert’s family moving away was a blessing. There was always something about that boy. Something not quite right.”
“You’re just being an overprotective father.”
“That’s not true.”
She cocked her chin and got that little pout to her mouth that said she thought it was. “All I’m saying is that your daughter’s twenty-eight now. Old enough to make up her own mind.”
“I still didn’t like the way he said it.”
“Said what?”
“That thing about his past relationship.”
“You were being intrusive.”
“No. I was being inquisitive. There’s a difference.”
“What’s the difference?”
“Inquisitive only becomes intrusive when the other party’s got something to hide.”
“Kip! For heaven’s sake.”
“Fine, fine.” He rattled his paper in front of him. “Isabel’s a big girl like you say. Just don’t expect me to pick up the pieces…”
His mouth hung open. “Just what are you doing?”
“Taking away your shield so I can bop you over the head with it.”
With that, she rolled up the paper and popped him on his crown.
“Ouch!”
“Grow up, Kip,” she said, handing him back his paper. “And think up something better to do than obsess about your only daughter.”
“Only child,” he corrected as she walked away.
Trudy waved one hand in the air and strode out the door, leaving Kip alone with his thoughts, and—oh no, not that—a totally torn sports section.
Isabel lowered her menu in front of her after having perused the delicious selections. She and Robert were out on yet another date. They’d seen each other every Saturday for the past several weeks and lots of weekdays in between. Most nights, they both were studying, and on Fridays, Robert worked late at the lab. “Everything looks so good,” she told him. “I’m having trouble making up my mind.”
“I’ll probably have the porter house steak,” he told her. “With an order of jalapeño fries on the side.” That sounded great, and Isabel was tempted, but there was also a lovely sounding salmon.
“I’m thinking of the fish.”
“Then why not go for it? If you want to do surf and turf, we can share.”
The solution sounded perfect, but before she could say so, Robert’s cell rang.
“I’m sorry, Isabel,” he said, checking the number. “I’d better take this.”
She used the opportunity to excuse herself to the rest room. She needed to avail herself of the facilities and wanted to check her makeup besides. She’d taken care to look good, and Robert seemed to appreciate her. But it was odd that he’d still not tried to make a move. He’d certainly been much more forward as a kid. Then again, she probably had been too. Now it seemed they were being adults about it. Taking their time to get to know one another, although Isabel couldn’t help but feel their getting-to-know-each-other period was well past done. They’d been on at least half a dozen nighttime dates, and Robert always insisted on paying. And yet, each time he’d driven her home, he’d played the perfect gentleman. Isabel worried over why he was keeping his distance. Could it be he was so caught up in school, he wasn’t prepared to become intimately involved? Or maybe it was her, and he didn’t feel romantically inclined. Perhaps he merely thought of them as good friends, with a fond past as childhood sweethearts? The only other explanation was that he was seeing someone else, but that certainly seemed impossible. Robert appeared to have very limited time, and what free time he had he seemed to want to spend with her. Besides, he’d pretty clearly indicated to her dad there was no one else. At least that there hadn’t been for quite some time.
Isabel entered the rest room to find two young women chatting busily while applying lipstick before the mirror. “That’s what I’m telling you,” the first one said to the other, clearly upset. “When a guy’s got something to hide, he always says that.”
“That’s not true,” the other protested. “He could have meant anything by it.”
“You too?” the first one said with emphasis. “I don’t think so, girlfriend. He was talking to another woman. He just didn’t want you to know it.”
“So maybe it was his mother?”
The second girl firmly shook her head. “And he wasn’t talking about the rock band either.” She capped her lipstick and tucked it back in her purse, fluffing her hair. “Trust me on this. Whoever it was on the other end of that line, she’s your very worst nightmare.”
“And why’s that?” her friend asked defensively.
“Because she’s already got her hooks in your man.”
Both girls suddenly wheeled on Isabel, noticing she’d been eavesdropping.
“Uh,” she began uncertainly, “are you two in line?”
“No, uh-huh,” they said, scooting out of her way. They huddled together in a whisper while walking toward the door, but Isabel overheard them anyway.
“Did you see how she was listening to us?” the second one said.
“Yeah,” the first girl agreed. “I’ll bet she’s got the same problem.”
Isabel returned to the table, feeling disconcerted. She didn’t know why some random conversation in the ladies’ room had bothered her, but it had. As she drew near the table, Robert was finishing his call. He spied her approaching, then quickly wrapped it up. “Yeah,” he said into the mouthpiece with a hasty glance in Isabel’s direction. “You too.”
He hit End Call, and Isabel’s heart rose in her throat. “Everything all right?” she asked, taking her seat as casually as possible.
“Just fine.” He fixed his eyes on his menu, but his face seemed to take on a slightly deeper hue. “You wanted the fish, you said?”
A waiter in a bow tie surfaced to take their orders. After checking with Isabel and receiving her consent, Robert also asked for a few more glasses of wine. Why did he look uneasy? As if she’d caught him doing something he shouldn’t have.
“Who was that on the phone?” Isabel asked as the maître d’ arrived to pour their merlot.
“Just somebody from New York,” he said with a distant air. “Say, Isabel. Do you think that tomorrow we could—?”
“Somebody who?” she asked, stopping him.
“Really doesn’t matter,” he said flatly. “It was business.”
But Isabel couldn’t imagine what sort of business might take place on a weekend and at this hour. “I see,” she said, hearing the hurt tinge her voice.
Robert stretched his hand across the table and held hers. “I don’t want you to worry,” he said, meeting her gaze. “Worry about anything.”
But the fact that he said it only troubled her all the more. “I’m not sure I know what you’re saying.”
“Just that things have a way of working out. When they’re meant to.” He lightly squeezed her hand, but she withdrew it.
“A light tomato bisque to start?” the server said, setting their soups in front of them.
“Yes, thanks,” Robert rejoined, avoiding Isabel’s gaze.
Isabel knew then that whatever was going on, Robert wasn’t about to let her in on it. She didn’t know why and she didn’t know what. But he was hiding something from her, all right. Something gnawed at her, saying her dad had been correct in his assessment yet again. She had the same niggling sensation now that she’d had with her last boyfriend, the one who’d run around on her. After him, she hadn’t become involved with anyone on more than just a casual basis. It had hurt too much being lied to and misused that way. She’d thought it would take a lifetime to get over it. But when she’d seen Robert again, everything had changed. Her heart had finally begun to open up and let somebody in. And now that somebody was about to sock her in the gut.
Fire welled in her throat as she tried to push her doubts away, but they fought…and kicked…and clambered their way back up to the surface, making her head spin with all the nauseating possibilities. Isabel willed her eyes not to water, but they did anyhow.
“If you’ll excuse me a minute,” she said, pushing back in her chair and stepping away. And then she hightailed it into the bathroom, where she yanked out a wad of paper towels and bawled into them like a baby.
Chapter Four
Cindy took a bite of her pastrami on rye and chewed thoughtfully. “Well, I guess there are two ways to look at it,” she finally said. “Either he’s hiding something from you, or he’s not.”
They sat in The College Deli, a local establishment not too far from the central campus grounds. “Of course he’s hiding something,” Isabel answered. “It’s just like my dad said.” She picked at her salad, then set it aside, suddenly not hungry. “That Robert Reed can’t be trusted,” she said, echoing her dad’s deep baritone.
“You know what I think?” Cindy said, dabbing her mouth with a napkin. “I think you’re getting yourself all worked up over something that may not e
ven be. Why not just ask him?”
“I did ask him. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. He was evasive at best.”
“So, maybe it really was about business.”
“What business would that be? Robert’s in medical school, not employed by some Fortune 500 company.”
Cindy met her eyes. “I guess I kind of see your point. But what would he have to hide?”
“Another woman?”
Cindy paused a beat to consider this. “Well, what’s he been like with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean.” Her lips turned up in a naughty grin. “Is the Statue of David as raging-hot up close and personal as it was under that spotlight?”
Isabel shrugged sadly. “I wouldn’t know.”
“What?” Cindy reached out and touched her elbow. “You can’t mean—”
“Not even a good-night kiss.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, totally. Right? What’s up with that?” Isabel self-consciously twisted a lock of hair around her index finger. “Do you think it’s me?”
Cindy choked on her sweet tea. “Are you kidding me? You listen up, girlfriend. You present quite a package. And I’m not just talking the body. I mean the mind, and the great sense of humor, and the way you can make almost anybody feel at ease. It’s definitely not you.”
Isabel appreciated that her friend was being so kind, but if it wasn’t her, then what was it? Only one explanation remained. Okay, maybe two.
Cindy widened her eyes. “He’s not…? I mean, could it be he’s simply not into women?”
Isabel sighed. “I don’t get that vibe from him at all. In fact, the vibe I get is that he is into me. Only he never wants to act on it.”
“Hmm.”
“Yeah. It’s strange.”
“Well, this can’t go on forever,” Cindy told her. “You know how relationships are. They either move forward, or they blow apart.”
“Unless he thinks of us as just friends.”
“You just said you didn’t get that vibe.”
“No.”
