A Summer Romance

by Tracey Smith

  It had rained for two days. The air was heavy with humidity but Maggie convinced herself it was a perfect morning for a walk. She told herself it had everything to do with being cooped up for two days and nothing at all to do with not seeing Aaron in that time.

  She walked farther than she ever had before, the whole time trying to convince herself that she wasn’t looking for an old barn but daydreaming about what would happen if she did stumble upon it. As the morning wore on her daydreams became more daring.

  What she did finally discover was not a barn but a small lake. At the sight of the glistening water she realized just how hot it had gotten. The sun burned high overhead and the sparkling water looked like an oasis.

  She walked to the edge and felt the cool water. She glanced around at her surroundings. The lake was nestled between rolling hills dotted with trees. It felt very secluded and it was surprisingly liberating being so far away from civilization. She ran her fingers through the water it felt so refreshing against the heavy heat of the day. She stood and surveyed the area again. There was no one around for miles. Except for Aaron.

  That last thought stirred something deep inside her. Maggie reminded herself that she was trying to do things outside of her comfort zone. She was trying to be more carefree, more spontaneous. Before she could talk herself out of it she removed her shirt, then with a deep breath she slid down her shorts. She told herself that her bra and panties were no different than a bikini. Regardless she skipped quickly to the water to submerge herself from view.

  The water felt amazing. It was the perfect temperature against the hot day. She rolled her head back, dipping her hair into the water. As she floated on her back underneath the summer sun she felt more relaxed than she’d ever known possible. This was the single most peaceful moment of her life.

  She swam until her body was tired and her mind was renewed. This was why she’d come to Georgia. Back on the bank she no longer felt self-conscious as she sprawled out on a large flat rock to dry in the sun. This place felt magical.

  His shadow over her alerted her to his presence. She opened her eyes to see him staring down at her, his eyes burned with passion. She made no attempt to cover herself as she lay exposed beneath him. He pulled off his shirt without a word as he towered above her. She smiled coyly at him. He fell to his knees beside her and pulled her into his arms as he kissed her deeply. She ran her hands up his back, feeling his muscles flex beneath her fingers. He kissed her neck, gripping her breast firmly. She moaned in pleasure.

  He kissed and nibbled his way to her breasts. With a snap of his fingers her bra popped open and she was completely exposed to him. She ran her fingers through his hair and gripped handfuls of it as he suckled and nipped at the tender buds. He continued to kiss lower leaving a trail down her stomach. He quickly flicked his tongue into her bellybutton and she whimpered and arched beneath him. He lifted his head to look up at her, his blue eyes sparked with electricity. He slipped his thumbs under the waist band of her panties and began to slowly pull them down.

  Something jolted Maggie awake. She was still lying on the large sunning rock by the lake, alone. She quickly scrambled for her clothes, still feeling flushed from her erotic dream. She wasn’t sure what had woken her but she felt as if she was being watched. She scurried away from the lake feeling a bit weak in the knees. That dream had been more intense than anything she had ever experienced in real life, and it had felt so real. She could still feel his hands on her.

  As she made her way back to the house her breathing gradually slowed and her heart rate returned to normal, but the images from the dream would stay with her the rest of the day and late into that night.

  The next day was Tuesday. Maggie waited impatiently for Aaron to arrive. She spent the morning in the kitchen with her new cookbook opened and ingredients strewn across the counters. When she heard the mower circling the house a huge smile broke out across her face. Images from the dream flashed in her mind but she tried to shake them off. She had to remind herself that their last encounter actually involved him rejecting her in the garage, not making love to her by the lake. She tried to tell herself that she should take the hint, but she just didn’t believe that he wasn’t interested. His eyes betrayed him, the way he looked at her sometimes said so much more than his words ever had. She knew she should leave it alone, but knowing he was right outside was just too much for her. She had to see him.

  She waited until the sounds of the mower had faded away while she cleaned up the kitchen then she went in search of Aaron. She found him in the driveway trimming the box hedges around the fountain. She waited patiently, leaned against a large column, as he finished his work. He’d just begun to load up his truck when he spotted her watching him from the porch. A wide smile spread across his face at the sight of her and she felt encouraged. She took a few steps down the porch as he walked to meet her.

  “Mornin’,” he drawled. She loved his Southern accent and the sexy way his hips swayed as he moved toward her. She loved the way his blue eyes always seemed to be smiling and she was momentarily mesmerized by his dimples. A few seconds passed before she realized it was her turn to speak and she’d just been staring at him like a smiling fool.

  “Potato salad,” she blurted out and then closed her eyes in embarrassment. “I’ve made some potato salad,” she clarified, with her eyes still closed. She opened her eyes to see Aaron watching her with an amused expression.

  “Would you like some lunch?” She realized that had come out completely jumbled and not at all how she’d practiced in her head.

  “I’m trying out a new recipe,” Maggie continued before he could answer. “For the Fourth of July barbeque and I need a taste tester.” She knew she was rambling now, but she just couldn’t seem to help it. “That is if you like potato salad. I have some left over roast chicken too, I could make some sandwiches,” she continued nervously.

  “I like potato salad,” he interrupted, thankfully sparing her from rambling further. She smiled with relief.

  She turned and walked into the house, very aware of him following close behind. She led him to the kitchen and began pulling food from the fridge as she once again started rambling nervously.

  “I bought a cookbook at the farmer’s market a few days ago. Have you ever been to the farmer’s market? It’s really quite impressive. The whole town of Sweetwater is. I really like it here. Anyway, when I bought this cookbook from a woman in town she told me about the Fourth of July barbeque. It was Lacey Buchannan, do you know Lacey?” she asked, looking up from the sandwiches she was preparing.

  Aaron was casually leaned against the counter watching her with that same look of amusement he’d had outside. He shook his head slightly, in answer to her question.

  “She’s a lovely girl, and she told me about this barbeque. The whole town comes together and everyone brings something. So I decided I needed to figure out what I could bring, and I found this recipe for potato salad which seemed easy enough. I’ve never made potato salad before. Honestly I haven’t eaten it too often either, so I wasn’t really sure if it turned out right. Which is where you come in.” She stopped to take a breath and smiled nervously at Aaron.

  He wore a sexy crooked grin, showing one adorable dimple. He was staring at her intently. She felt the need to flutter and check her hair, but she suppressed the urge. Instead she retrieved the bowl of potato salad and added some to each of the plates with the sandwiches. Suddenly she was out of things to do with her hands to keep busy and simultaneously she couldn’t think of another thing to say. She could feel an edge of panic slipping in. She looked to Aaron for help. He stepped forward as if on cue and picked up the plates she’d prepared.

  “Well then, let’s try this potato salad.” He smiled at her with that look in his eye. The one that told her potato salad was the last thing on his mind. She smiled sheepishly and gestured to the bar stools that were set up around the kitchen island.

  They sat and began to eat as Maggie racked her brai
n for something to say. She’d basically crammed an entire lunch’s worth of conversation into the first five minutes because she was so nervous. Aaron seemed at ease and he silently enjoyed the food she’d prepared. He was a man of few words and he never seemed to feel the need to fill the silence.

  She, on the other hand, was always so anxious, had been her whole life. Which was part of the reason she’d come here, to learn how to relax. She thought of the utter peace of floating in the lake and tried to draw on that memory to once again find that level of calm, however, thinking of the lake inevitably led to thinking of the dream. She flushed immediately and looked up to find Aaron watching her. Of course she knew he could never know what she’d been thinking, but she felt embarrassed for thinking about it all the same.

  “So what are you bringing to the barbeque?” she blurted out the question to fill the silence.

  “I don’t think I was invited,” he responded calmly. There was no bitterness in his tone, just resignation.

  “Of course you are, the whole town is invited,” she insisted. He smiled at her kindly, like someone would to a child who didn’t understand a situation.

  “This isn’t my town,” he stated simply.

  “I’m not from here either and I’m invited. Surely…”

  “It’s okay, Maggie, I don’t need to be invited to the town barbeque.” His acceptance of his exclusion bothered her, but she decided to leave it alone for the moment.

  After several minutes of silence she tried again. “So where are you from?” she asked conversationally.

  “Atlanta.” His expression had changed. The laughter was gone from his eyes. This wasn’t going at all how she’d hoped.

  “I grew up in the Hamptons,” Maggie offered, “but I moved away to Boston for school, so that’s where I’ve been living for the last six years.” She searched his face for any sign of the carefree Aaron that she’d come to know, but something dark was hovering over him now.

  “Thank you for lunch, Maggie. The potato salad was wonderful,” he said as he stood. His tone was muted. He was averting his eyes, not meeting her gaze. She stood helplessly. She didn’t want him to go.

  “If you come to the barbeque you could have some more.” She laughed at her own silly statement, trying to lighten the mood. He smiled sadly.

  “This isn’t a good idea, Maggie.” he said finally, bringing his eyes to hers. There was a deep sadness in their depths.

  “What isn’t?” she asked weakly.

  “This. Us. I’m… I’m not good for you. You deserve better.” He turned and left with his head hung low. She felt as if someone had knocked the wind out of her as she watched him go.

  “Wait,” she called out, just as he’d reached the door. He stopped, but didn’t turn.

  “You said you’d leave me your number. In case I needed you,” she said as she crossed the room to him. He made no move to turn around. “I still don’t have a car,” she reminded him.

  He turned to find her standing near him with a pad and pen. He smiled slightly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He took the paper and wrote his number.

  “For emergencies,” he said as he handed it back to her.

  “Of course,” she said innocently. He smiled sadly and shook his head as he turned away again and left the house.

  ~∞~

  “I had lunch with Aaron today,” Maggie blurted out over dinner. Andi’s head snapped up and she immediately looked concerned.

  “Maggie--”

  “No, listen. Aaron is not who you think he is. He’s a good guy!” Maggie insisted. She needed someone to talk to about this, and she needed Andi to understand. “He’s sweet and charming and funny and…” Maggie trailed off as a myriad of memories of Aaron skipped through her mind.

  “And gorgeous,” Andi finished for her, smiling at her friend.

  “So gorgeous,” Maggie sighed, “but he’s so much more than that!” she quickly added. She told Andi of the first time they’d met and how he’d kindly helped her re-plant her uprooted fern and somehow convinced her to adopt a stray cat. She told her about the lemonade they’d shared in the kitchen and how charming and funny he’d been, and about him saving her in the rain storm. She was embarrassed to admit that she’d basically thrown herself at him in the garage and he’d politely denied her advance, but pointed out that he’d acted like a gentleman and not taken advantage of her. Andi listened quietly as Maggie relived each memory.

  “And then today at lunch, it had started out kind of flirty and fun like usual. I was a total basket case of course, but sometimes it kind of seems like he likes that about me, you know? He doesn’t act all annoyed when I’m being neurotic, he just smiles.” Maggie smiled at the memory of his amused expression as she’d rambled in the kitchen.

  “But then I asked where he was from. It was like it reminded him of something. He pulled away again, just like in the garage. He told me that we weren’t a good idea, that he was bad for me.” Maggie could hear the desperation in her voice as she said this last part, she wanted so badly not to believe it.

  “Maybe you should listen,” Andi said softly. “Look, I’ll admit he sounds great, but if he’s warning you to stay away, maybe you should.”

  “But I don’t want to!” Maggie insisted. “I’m… drawn to him. Not just because he’s handsome, but because he’s kind. He’s good. I know he is, but I don’t think he does. He knows that people don’t want him at the town barbeque and he just accepts that. Like he doesn’t think he deserves to belong.”

  “I told you, he has a past.”

  “Everyone has a past! So what if he made some mistakes in his life, does that mean he’s not allowed to be happy ever again?” Maggie was angry, not at Andi, but at the situation.

  “No, it doesn’t,” Andi admitted. She thought over everything that Maggie had said. “Okay fine, if you like him, I’ll like him. But be careful! If he hurts you, you know I’ll have to kill him.” Andi smiled at her friend and Maggie relaxed a little.

  “I’m going to bring him to the barbeque,” Maggie said, suddenly determined.

  “You think he’ll come?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s worth a try.”

  ~8~

  Maggie was nervous as she dialed the number. She thought of the speech she’d rehearsed and hoped she could remember it, but after the third ring she didn’t think he was going to answer.

  “Hello?” Aaron’s voice rang clearly through the receiver just as she was about to hang up.

  “Hi, Aaron?” she said a little breathlessly as she scrambled to bring the phone back to her ear.

  “Maggie, are you okay?” his instant concern warmed her heart.

  “Oh, yes, I’m fine,” she assured him. “I was just wondering if you had a really big basket. Like a picnic basket maybe, but it has to be very large,” she emphasized.

  “A picnic basket?” she could hear the smile in his voice, and was relieved that he sounded like his usual self.

  “Yes, a very large one, preferably. I have quite a bit of food that I need to carry to town for the Fourth of July barbeque. I’m afraid it won’t even fit in the basket on the bicycle, I’ve already tried. So I’m going to need to walk, but I just don’t think I can manage to carry all of this without some sort of large basket.” She hoped that sounded natural and unrehearsed.

  “You’re walking to town?” he asked incredulously.

  “Without a car I really don’t have much of a choice.” She gave her best impression of a damsel in distress and waited to see if he’d take the bait.

  “You don’t have any friends that might be willing to pick you up?” he suggested. She could tell that he saw straight through her little ploy, but she wasn’t going to let him off that easy.

  “I thought of that, but realized yours was the only phone number I had.” She let the statement hang in the air, smiling at her own cleverness.

  “What time do you need to be there?” he asked.

  “Around five,” she said innocently
. “So I was thinking I better start walking around four to give myself plenty of time.”

  “I’ll pick you up at four thirty,” he said dryly.

  “Really? Oh that would be so sweet!” she gushed. “It’s not too much trouble?”

  He chuckled and she could just imagine him shaking his head at her antics.

  “Well, I can’t have you walking. You’ll probably drum up another storm with your luck,” he teased.

  “It is a possibility,” she laughed with him. “Alright, if you’re sure you don’t mind. Guess I’ll see you around four.” She tried to get off the phone before he could change his mind.

  “Maggie?” he caught her before she hung up.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m not staying at the barbeque.” His tone became serious. His moods could shift so quickly.

  “Oh sure, no problem. I’m sure I’ll be able to find a ride home,” she assured him. “See you soon.” She hung up and immediately began forming the next part of her plan.

  ~∞~

  “Just how much potato salad did you make?” Aaron laughed as he helped Maggie carry the four large bowls to the truck.

  “Do you think it’s too much?” she asked innocently. “I wanted to make sure I made enough.” To warrant needing your help to get it to town, she added silently.

  “I think there will definitely be enough.” He smiled as they climbed in the truck. She loved to see him smiling. He once again seemed like the carefree Aaron that she’d first met.

  “I hope everyone likes it.”

  “I’m sure they will. But don’t worry, if there are any leftovers I’d be happy to help with those.” He looked over at her and winked playfully. She loved this side of him, even though it confused her. He was definitely flirting now, but in the blink of an eye she knew he’d push her away again.

  “Or you could just stick around and make sure I don’t have any leftovers,” she suggested casually, trying her luck. She looked over at him from the corner of her eye. His smile had faded.