by Elena Aitken
Gwen was doubtful that the springs, no matter how therapeutic they were, could fix the unsettled feeling in her stomach. She was growing convinced that there was no treatment for that.
*
By the time Gwen had swum a few laps, and settled into the rhythm of her workout, she was starting to see what Carmen had meant about the therapeutic effects of the water. And she hadn’t even been in a hot pool yet. There was something incredibly soothing about the water flowing over her with every stroke she took. She used to love swimming, and for the life of her, Gwen couldn’t remember why she hadn’t been in the pool lately. She’d been opting for a run or a session in the weight room. But with each lap she completed, she was starting to think that maybe she should make a point to swim more often.
Finally, she exhausted herself and, happy with the calorie burn, she pulled herself from the pool and eyed the hot tub. Maybe Carmen was right and it would be good for her. It couldn’t be bad, and if it was even half as therapeutic as the swimming pool had been…well, it couldn’t hurt.
Gwen eased herself down the steps into the hot water and instantly closed her eyes in bliss as the steam enveloped her. She moved away from the stairs to an area of the pool where no one else was sitting. There weren’t a lot of people there, but she didn’t want to talk to anyone. It was easier to be alone in her own thoughts. Or at least, it was until those thoughts turned to Ian. Her body buzzed with excitement at the idea of having a real date with him. Being alone with him. Maybe even…
As soon as she thought about where their date could lead, the nausea returned. And not because she was nervous about sex. That was the furthest thing from the truth.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?”
Gwen’s eyes snapped open to see an older woman sitting across from her, watching her with a worried look on her face.
“I’m fine.” Gwen nodded and tried to force a smile, but even she could tell she wasn’t being very successful in her efforts. “I was just thinking,” she added, feeling the need to explain herself to this complete stranger.
“I could see that.” The woman drifted closer to her in the water. “My name is Mona.” She held her hand out and Gwen had no choice but to accept it. The last thing she wanted to do was make friends, or worse, make small talk with a stranger. She tried to edge a little farther away to the safety of a quiet corner.
“The water helps,” Mona said. “Don’t try to fight it.”
Gwen stopped moving. “Helps what?”
“Helps with whatever it is you’re struggling with.” Mona spoke so matter-of-factly, that even though it was ridiculous, Gwen believed her. “It’s therapeutic,” Mona continued. “That’s why I keep coming back here. It helps me.”
“And what are you struggling with?”
Mona smiled kindly and shook her head. “Now, you haven’t even told me your name yet and you want me to reveal all my deepest secrets?”
Gwen laughed, caught out. “I’m sorry. I’m Gwen.”
“You know, I’m not trying to interrupt your private time, Gwen. But I have a granddaughter about your age, and there was just something about the look on your face…well, I thought maybe you could use someone to talk to.”
She really could use someone to talk to. Someone who didn’t know her or her situation. Just admitting that to herself made her feel better. “I probably could,” she said. “Use someone to talk to, I mean.”
“I’m a good listener.” Mona slid down into the water and tilted her head back.
“It seems kind of silly,” Gwen started. “The more I think about it, the sillier it sounds, but…” Gwen quickly tried to assess how much she should say. “I like a man,” she blurted. So much for trying not to say too much.
“I thought it might have something to do with a man.” Mona smiled and her eyes sparkled. “It usually does. Tell me about him.”
“He’s handsome.”
“Of course.”
“He’s smart and sexy and…”
“Yes?”
“He likes me.” Saying the words out loud made Gwen smile. He did like her. He genuinely liked her. And maybe it wasn’t just because she was thinner and sexier than she was in high school. Maybe Ian liked her because of her. It was entirely likely it had nothing to do with her appearance.
“I can tell there’s something else,” Mona prodded. “Something you’re not quite sure about.”
Gwen took a deep breath. Something about this woman made it easy to talk or maybe it was the hot water that was loosening her lips. Either way, it felt good to get it out. “I’m not sure if he likes me for the right reasons.”
“Oh?”
“I want to think he does.”
“Of course you do. What makes you think he likes you for the wrong reasons?”
That was the question she couldn’t answer. She had no real evidence that Ian only liked her because of what she looked like. It was just a feeling. Or at least, it had just been a feeling at the beginning. The more time she spent with him, the more that feeling was going away.
“I think because once, a long time ago…he didn’t like me for the wrong reasons.” It made sense in her head, but the words didn’t come out right.
Mona was silent for a moment. “You know what I think?”
“I really don’t.”
“I think you should trust your heart.”
Gwen rolled her eyes.
“What?” Mona sat up and moved closer to Gwen. “You think my advice is trite, don’t you?”
“Honestly? Yes.”
“Well, it’s not. You’ve just sat here and told me all about this man you like, but there’s something holding you back. You’re not using your heart. You’re thinking with your head and I’m not sure why. I can’t figure that out.”
“I’m not using…” She didn’t bother finishing the thought because Mona was right. She wasn’t using her heart at all. She couldn’t. But she couldn’t tell Mona that. She couldn’t tell this woman she’d just met that she had to use her brain and tell her heart to be quiet because it was business. Business. That was the part that was bothering her. When it came to Ian, it was business.
“You’re doing it again.” Mona interrupted her thoughts. “You’re thinking with your brain and whatever it is you’re doing, you’re not listening to your heart.” She stood in the pool and walked toward the stairs. “There’s something else you’re not telling me, and that’s okay. After all, you just met me and sometimes we need to process things in our own head before we can properly deal with them. I need to get out of this water now,” Mona said. “It is so good for me, but I also know I can only handle it for small doses. I’ll be sticking around here for a few more days if you want to talk again. My granddaughter, Bria—she’s dating the head chef here.” Mona puffed up her chest proudly. “That’s my grandmother brag.” She laughed. “I’m allowed one of those a day.”
Gwen watched as she took slow steps up the stairs out of the pool. She turned and looked back before she left the water completely.
“It was nice to meet you, Gwen. It might sound trite, but it really is good advice. And I know because I’m old. When you get old like me, you just know. Whatever it is that’s going on between this man and yourself, just follow your heart and you’ll be okay. You seem like a smart, sweet girl. You can’t go wrong with that combination.”
For a few moments after Mona left, Gwen settled back into the water and let it wash over her. She processed everything the woman had said and she kept coming back to that one simple piece of advice. What if she did just follow her heart? What if, for one night, Gwen could shut off her brain and all the parts of it that told her she needed to make the right decision for her business? What if she could shut that off and just be with Ian? What if…
Chapter Nine
A bet was a bet. No matter how it was constructed. And Ian had lost.
Not that it was much of a loss. As far as he was concerned, he’d won. However it had shaped up, he intended to take h
is loss very seriously. Which was why he’d spent a few hours cleaning the house. He’d dusted, vacuumed, and even changed the sheets. All things that should have been done anyway. And the sheets were just wishful thinking. Very wishful. But one could never be too prepared.
The rules of the bet were that if he lost, which he did, he’d prepare a romantic meal for them at home. Which he would.
Or at least, the romantic meal part. But he had no intention of preparing it himself. That was ridiculous. He had many skills, but cooking wasn’t one of them.
Which is why he’d paid a visit to the Springs resort and the head chef, Jax Carver, earlier in the day. It hadn’t been cheap, but Jax had set him up with an entire meal he could serve with very little effort on his part, and the best part was that Gwen wouldn’t know the difference.
Not that it should matter anyway. What really mattered was that he was going to finally have that date with Gwen, and if he was lucky, another kiss or maybe even…
“You should have flowers.”
Ian turned to see Chelsea watching him, a bemused expression on her face.
“Flowers?”
She shrugged. “It’s a date, right?”
Ian nodded.
“Then flowers. It’s what you do on a date. You have been on a date before, right?”
Of course he’d been on a date before. He’d been on lots of dates. Okay, well maybe not lots. But some. And maybe none recently. It had been a bit of a dry spell while he focused on working and taking care of the family. There hadn’t been a ton of time to date. But that didn’t mean he didn’t know how and he most certainly had been on a date.
“Yes,” he answered but it didn’t even sound convincing to his own ears. “But it has been awhile,” he added in defeat. “Should I have flowers? Really?”
Chelsea nodded. “Really. At least on the table if you don’t want to give them to her.”
“Why wouldn’t I want to give them to her?”
“That might seem presumptuous.”
“Presumptuous?”
“And maybe a little needy. Like you’re trying too hard.”
“But I am trying hard.”
“But you don’t want to try too hard. Because then you’re that guy.” Chelsea crossed the room and helped herself to one of the quiche things he’d put on a pan, ready to go in the oven. “And you really don’t want to be that guy.”
“I don’t know who that guy is, but you’re probably right. I don’t think I want to be that guy.” Ian had no idea what she was talking about, but she seemed to have some idea of what she was talking about and likely more experience than he had himself, which he realized was pathetic in itself. “What should I be doing?” He sank into a chair at the kitchen table and waited for all the advice he was sure was about to be piled upon him.
“Be yourself.” Chelsea stuck her head in the fridge. “Girls like that,” she continued. “Is there anything good to eat in here? Those little pie things are kind of weird.”
“Those little pie things are quiche and they came from the head chef at the Springs resort. And they’re still cold,” he added. “Besides, they’re not for you anyway.”
“What’s in this container?”
“Gazpacho. Put it down.”
“Like cold soup?” She turned and wrinkled her nose at him. “Are you sure she’s into that kind of thing? What happened to just burgers and fries? Girls like that kind of thing.”
Ian shook his head, but the comment didn’t deserve a response. “Give me some other advice.” He tried to steer the conversation back to the matter at hand. “And be yourself doesn’t count because that’s crappy advice. Of course I’m going to be myself.”
“Oh.” Chelsea stood up and slammed the fridge behind her. “Just like you did all the cooking yourself?”
“Fair point. But besides that, I’m totally upfront.”
“Well then, you’re fine.” She dug through a cupboard and found an old granola bar, which seemed to satisfy her. “Oh, and one other thing.” Ian sat forward, ready to learn. “If you really like her, treat her well. Not enough boys do that.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “True story.”
“Maybe the problem is you’ve been dating boys?”
Her face wrinkled up and she looked as if she might say something. Maybe even confide in him a little. But then the moment passed and she shrugged. “Whatever. I gotta go. You’re sure I can use your jeep? I won’t crash it or anything. And I’ll come straight home after my shift. No need to worry about that.”
“Yes, you can borrow my jeep.” Of course it was okay. They only had the one vehicle to share and the fact that Chelsea had to work meant Ian would have the house to himself for his date. Never mind the fact that Chelsea was actually going to work. Apparently their little conversation had paid off because from what Sam said last time he checked in with her, his sister was actually working and doing a decent job as a waitress at the Paw. Maybe there was hope for her after all. Not to mention that they’d reached some sort of tentative truce between them.
“Cool.” She grabbed her purse. “And don’t worry. I won’t cramp your style when I get home. I’ll go straight to my room. You won’t even know I’m here. I mean, assuming your date goes well and she’s still here. I work until midnight.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
There was no way Ian was going to address that comment. Of course he wanted the date to go well. And of course he’d love the opportunity to…whatever. One thing at a time.
“Hey,” he added before she headed out the door. “Why are you being so nice to me?” She looked confused, so he clarified. “I mean, with the dating advice. I wasn’t sure that…well…”
“That we were friends?”
He nodded.
“I’m still not sure if we are,” Chelsea said. “But I still don’t want to see you making a fool out of yourself. After all, you are my brother. People in town know that.”
Ian laughed. “You think I’m going to embarrass you?”
“Not if I keep giving you advice.” She winked and was out the door before he could think of a reply.
*
Gwen remembered exactly where Ian lived. She didn’t need the directions he’d written down for her, but there was no way she was going to tell him that, so she played dumb when he texted them over to her the day before. She hadn’t been back to the pool, but only because she hadn’t had the chance to get up there, and maybe that was a good thing. In the few days since her little talk with Mona, Gwen had done some good thinking and she was going to do exactly what the older lady suggested. She was going to follow her heart and take her cues for how to proceed from that. At least for the night.
What that meant when it came to reality, she still didn’t know. But with her date with Ian only a few hours away, she was really hoping her heart would sort itself out soon and give her some guidance.
“You look nice.”
Gwen turned and smiled at Deanna and Marcus, who stood in the doorway, ready to go out for their own date.
“Thank you. It’s not too much, is it?” She turned back to the mirror and ran her hands down her skirt. She’d chosen a retro style dress with a sweetheart neckline and a skirt that flared out to show off her legs. Especially if she danced. Not that she’d have a chance to dance on her date. But it still made her feel incredibly sexy, and more than anything else, that was the effect she was going for.
“It’s only too much if you don’t want him drooling all over you,” Deanna said. “Am I right, Marcus?”
“I don’t think I should answer that.”
She smacked her boyfriend’s arm. “Seriously. She looks great. I can see that, and I know you can see that. So why not just say it?”
“Okay,” he said cautiously. “Gwen, you look sexy as—”
“I think we got the point.” Deanna’s mouth pressed into a hard line.
“You told me to be honest.”
Gwen shook her head and laughed. “Why don
’t you guys go enjoy your dinner before there’s a full on domestic situation here? Thanks for your input.”
Marcus took off with obvious relief but Deanna lagged back. When her boyfriend was gone, she came to stand next to her in the mirror. “You do look amazing, Gwen. He’s not going to know what hit him.” Her friend’s face was kind, but it was also lined with worry.
“What do you want to say, Dee?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “I mean, I do, but…”
“Say it.”
“Don’t do this, Gwen.” Deanna slapped a hand over her mouth. “I mean…” She sighed and nodded slightly. “I mean, don’t do this. You don’t have to sleep with him because you want to get a television show. I mean, think about that. Think about how terrible it sounds when you put it like that. Think about—”
“I have.”
“You have what?”
“I’ve thought about it.”
“You’ve thought about not going through with it? The date with Ian?”
Gwen nodded a little and dug through her purse for a lip gloss.
“If you’re not going to follow through then why are you putting lip gloss on?”
Gwen turned around and stared at her friend. “Don’t you have your own date waiting?” She tilted her head and raised her eyebrows, hoping Deanna would get the hint.
“He’s fine.” She waved toward the door. “This will just take a minute. Now tell me what your plan is. Please tell me you’re not going to exploit Ian for the sake of your stupid website.”
Anger bubbled up in Gwen, fast, hot, and furious. “Stupid website?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“It’s what you said.” She shoved the wand of her lip gloss back in the tube. “It’s exactly what you said.” Gwen whirled around so she faced her friend. “And you may think it’s a stupid website because I’m not a fancy doctor or anything, but it’s my business. It’s my career. And I know it’s hard to understand, but it’s a real thing, Dee.”
“I know.” Deanna reached out and squeezed Gwen’s arm. “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant to say.”
“But it’s what you think.” Gwen shook her head and grabbed her purse. “I should really get going. Can I still use your car?”
