Aria's Song, page 6
His touch sent her into orbit, and she wriggled out of his grasp. “We’re fine. Lions usually avoid people. If we see one, we back away slowly and defend ourselves. You have a greater chance of getting stung by a scorpion, bitten by a rattlesnake, or falling off a cliff.”
“Why don’t I find that comforting?”
She gave him one of her beautiful, genuine smiles. “We’re fine. Really, Jonas. I’m just messing with you. There are a number of dangerous and sometimes poisonous animals in Arizona, but we’ll be vigilant. Promise. While we walk, I’ll tell you what to do when encountering lions, snakes, and other creatures. Come on. You trust me, don’t you?”
“Well, okay, lead the way, but talk slowly. I didn’t bring paper or pencil to take notes.”
“Ha-ha.”
They spent the next hour walking and chatting, Aria acquainting him with the diverse wildlife of the valley and surrounding desert. Finally, she led them up a side trail to a ridge that afforded views north and south to the far mountains. “Wow!” he said, coming to sit on a flat boulder near her.
“Cool, isn’t it?”
“Very.”
“You can’t come here expecting to see green fields, ocean, and forests, but this part of the country has its own amazing beauty. I mean, the Valley’s green, but you go west or east and it’s desert for hundreds of miles. Nothing cooler than the desert in bloom.”
“Do you miss Portland?”
“Sometimes, but I fly up every few months for the weekend. Spark is a generous boss and happy for me to take time off. He also has several planes, and one’s always fueled up.”
“He’s incredible, isn’t he?”
She nodded. “It was the luckiest day of my life when I got my first gig catering a Foster Enterprises event.”
“The boss everyone dreams of having,” he said, leaning back and removing his hat to wipe sweat from his forehead.
They sat gazing at the view for several minutes until he said, “Thanks for letting me tag along.”
She smiled, giving him a look. “Did I have a choice?”
“Well…probably not, but I’m still grateful to be with you here. Now.”
“Jonas.”
“No pressure. I know, I know… You’re through with me. I get it.”
She shook her head, eyes rimmed with tears. “I’m crazy about you, but I can’t…you… I mean, I know last winter was routine for you, but I… You… The whole thing left me…heartbroken. I can’t do that again.”
He took her hand, fingers gently massaging her palm. “I was an asshole, and there’s no excuse. Not getting in touch was really shitty.”
She withdrew her hand from his warm sensuous touch, her body on fire already. “So what’s this? I’m dating someone else, so suddenly you want to start up again?”
“No, nothing like that. I’ve thought of you a lot since last winter, but I was all messed up trying to decide what to do. Ask anyone in my family and they’ll tell you, I’m lousy at multitasking. I have a one-track mind. Teachers used to tell my parents I was on the spectrum. You know, slightly autistic or maybe Asperger’s.”
“You’re kidding, right? That’s a line I haven’t heard before.”
“Honestly, it isn’t. Just ask my mom. She’ll tell you. I can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. Never mind deciding about a new job, moving across country, and getting to know an amazing woman.”
She shook her head. “We’re too different.” After all the years of chasing men, she couldn’t believe that she was beating off this one with whom she’d lost her virginity. What’s wrong with me?
“How? We both like to hike. That’s a start. I mean I’m not much of a cook and I can’t speak for your engineering skills, but I’m sure we’ll find common ground in plenty of places.” He reached over, hand caressing her cheek.
“Yes, well… We know there’s common ground there,” she said, using every ounce of her strength to move away from his touch.
“Aria, what is it? Talk to me.”
His beautiful, kind eyes gazed at her with such warmth that tears sprang to her eyes. “It’s just… You’re incredibly smart, successful, and gorgeous. You could have any woman and probably do with regularity. Despite what you say, you’re also incredibly stable. We’re opposites, and not in the romantic opposites-attract kind of way. I came from a completely screwed-up family and look at you. The brief encounters I had with your folks and your siblings? You’re like the Morgans and the Fosters. Big loving families who support each other no matter what. I have Mariana. I love her, but she’s not exactly Ms. Stability.”
“And you have me, and Spark. He clearly thinks of you as his daughter. We’re your family.”
“Spark, yes, he feels like a benevolent, loving uncle. I feel very lucky there, but you? I barely know you.”
“So let’s change that. What do you say?”
Aria’s eyes filled, and she looked away. “Maybe friends? That’s all I can do right now. The other? It’s just too confusing and risky.”
He held out his hand. “Friends it is.”
She took his hand and nodded, afraid to meet his eyes. “Friends,” she said, standing up. “And this friend has got to get back.”
“Hot date?”
“No, Sunday-night Scrabble. I’ve got to fix Spark’s supper before I go.”
“Scrabble?” he said, following her as she headed down the trail.
“Yup, I joined the valley Scrabble Club. It’s part of my keep-busy, get-a-life plan.”
“Oh? Tell me more.”
As they made their way back, she told him about the chorus and various other things in which she’d become involved. As they neared Spark’s property, she allowed him to take her hand, and they strolled the last half mile in companionable silence. When they reached the drive, she said, “Looks like Spark’s gone out, but you’re welcome to come in for a drink or something to eat before you go.”
“Thanks, but I’ve gotta book it. I left a bunch of work when I came up yesterday. I’ve got back-to-back meetings tomorrow, and I need to prepare.”
“Well, then… Safe trip.”
To his surprise, she opened her arms and welcomed his embrace. The scent of desert roses and warm sunsets enveloped him, and Jonas never wanted to let her go. Finally she pulled away, her face red. “Bye,” she said softly, turning and walking toward the house.
On the back stoop, she turned, watching as he got into his car, then waving as he pulled out.
Geez, what have I gotten myself into now? he thought as he turned onto the main road and headed south. Halfway to Tucson, he remembered that they hadn’t made a plan for dinner. He grabbed his phone, and she answered on the first ring. “Hello?”
“Hi, babe. Miss you already. I realized we never made a plan for our friendly dinner this week.”
She smiled. “No, we didn’t. I’m pretty free except Wednesday and Thursday nights. Scrabble and chorus practice. We have a benefit concert in two weeks.”
“How about Tuesday? Then I can ask you again for Friday or Saturday.”
She laughed. “Is that some kind of a rule?”
“Yup. Dating 101, rule one.”
“Tuesday’d be great unless Spark needs me. Let’s plan on it, and I’ll double-check with him. If you don’t hear from me, assume it’s a go.”
“Excellent. Pick you up at six? What about that great restaurant south of town?”
“Vermillion?”
“Yup.”
“I’ll make a reservation.”
“See you then, friend,” he said, clicking off.
Friend indeed! she mused, tossing the phone on her bed as she prepared to shower. Who are we kidding?
Chapter 13
Jonas shut the door to his office, needing a few minutes to collect himself. He began arranging and straightening the few items on his desk, a compulsion that his siblings had always teased him about, saying he was OCD. He did hate things to be out of place, and when under stress, it calmed him to tidy up, as his mother had called it, as if it was a cute eccentricity rather than an aberrant compulsion. And, he was under stress now.
His boss, Gary Lazlo, had questioned and challenged his ideas a number of times during two meetings that morning. Now, after two hours of holding his temper in check, he felt a migraine coming on. The worst part of it was he’d been really confident and sure of his projections for the Capistrano project and had gone over them many times before the meeting. Accustomed to egos in the workplace, this felt different, as if the man was purposely going after him, belittling him.
A soft knock caught him off guard as he swallowed his magic migraine pills. “Come!” he called, and she poked her head around the door. Fiona, just what I need. “Hey,” he said.
“Hey, yourself. Don’t pay any attention to Gary. He always does that to the new guys.” As she spoke, she sashayed across the room and sat on the edge of his desk, pushing aside a small stack of folders.
“There are three chairs in here, you know,” he said, trying unsuccessfully to keep irritation from his voice.
Instead of moving, she leaned over, the front of her blouse open enough to reveal the lacy white top of her push-up bra. He stood up and rounded the desk, sitting in one of a pair of chairs arranged near a work table. Finally taking the hint, she joined him.
“What can I do for you?” he said.
“I was just checking on you. This morning’s meetings were pretty rough, so I wanted to be sure you were okay.”
“Thanks, doing fine except for a migraine coming on. I’m a big boy. I can take the boss’s shit.”
“Okay, so you can take care of yourself. Good to know. Wanna grab dinner sometime?” She gave him the kind of “come hither” look that screamed messy, messy, messy!
“Thanks, but I’m involved with someone right now.”
“I suggested dinner, not marriage. You have to eat, don’t you?”
“Listen, Fiona, I’m really grateful for your friendliness, me being new and all, but I’ve got a pounding headache, and I really need to close my eyes for a little while.”
“Go right ahead, hon. I give great temple massages.”
“Alone.” Jonas stood and went to the door, opening it wide. “Thanks for stopping by.”
“I don’t give up easily.”
“See ya,” he said, shutting the door and locking it as soon as she stepped over the threshold. He then stretched out on the thick-carpeted floor and closed his eyes, already feeling his magic pills taking effect.
Harriet sighed as the two women crested the trail on the sorrel Morgans. They had ridden from the stables at Morgan’s Run. From their vantage point, the entire valley stretched to the north, south, and west to the mountains. To the east lay open desert for hundreds of miles. A warm breeze tickled their cheeks as each brushed errant hairs from their faces. “Heaven,” Harriet said.
Aria nodded, maintaining a tight grip on Tara’s reins, wishing she’d asked for a western saddle. “Pretty close. You know I’ve only been on horseback a few times, don’t you? It’s pretty up here, but you’re not leading us off a cliff, are you?”
Her friend laughed, patting Raine’s withers. “No, we’re going to follow the trail down into the meadow. Then it’s easy riding all the way to the Loop and back.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
“Come on, we’ll head down, then across the meadow to the river trail. Be nice and shady, and we can find a spot to stop and have a snack.”
When they reached flat ground, Aria let out her breath. “This is better.”
“How about letting the horses go for a bit?” Harriet said. “They love to gallop across this field.”
“I’m sure they do, but that doesn’t mean their riders can keep up with them!”
“Sure you can. It’ll be fun. Come on!” Harriet said, nudging Raine’s flanks.
Aria shook her head, watching her normally sensible friend take off like a crazy person. She was intending to take it slower, but Tara had other ideas. She followed her stable mate’s lead and took off at a gallop. Aria held on tight as they flew forward. Halfway across the meadow, she began to feel a synchrony with the animal, and they began to move as one toward the tree line and the river. Breathless when she drew up beside Harriet, she burst out laughing. “I hate to admit it, but that was actually fun.”
“See, told you. Want to go again? We could race back and forth and—”
Aria raised her hand. “No, no, thank you! Once was enough. Lead on!”
They followed the river for ten minutes before reaching a clearing where several log benches were placed around the rim. Harriet slipped down, patting Raine as she led her to the river’s edge, then tied her lead to a tree. She grabbed a small saddle bag and came to help Aria down, then took Tara to the river.
“You should have told me. I could have made food,” Aria said, nodding as Harriet handed her a bag of trail mix. They each had water bottles, which they retrieved and brought to one of the benches.
“Jeb did this. He just threw a few things in when he was saddling the horses, I’m guessing on Maggie’s instructions. She’s amazing, isn’t she?”
Aria nodded. “One half of the ‘beautiful couple,’” she said, repeating the name locals called Ben Morgan and his wife. “The most beautiful half, I might add.”
“At least I live three thousand miles away. Hard to compete with a sister-in-law like that, even though she’s a sweetheart.”
“What are you talking about? Maggie’s gorgeous, sure, but so are you. In fact, you and Kyle would be real contenders in a beautiful couple contest.”
“Ha-ha. Now tell me about you. How’s the beautiful couple of Jonas Miller and Aria Firorelli doing?”
“We’re friends. Period, end of story.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“He broke my heart, Harriet. I’m not letting him do it again.”
“Maybe there was a reason he couldn’t be in touch since the wedding?”
“Oh, he has plenty of excuses,” she said, crumpling her empty bag and shoving it in the pack’s side pocket. “He was busy, didn’t know what he was doing, too many things going on, not good at multitasking, blah, blah, blah. He still could have called. He claims that he didn’t want to get my hopes up. What’s that supposed to mean? I’m not some kid wanting to go to the circus. In relationships, people talk and decide things together. Or at least that’s what I hear they’re supposed to do. Since I’ve never had a functional, healthy relationship with a man, I wouldn’t know.”
Harriet took off her baseball cap, flicking her ponytail back and wiping grit from her brow. Even in the shade, it was getting warm. She untied her pale green bandana, wet it, and rewrapped it around her neck. “Ah, that feels great.” She looked over at her friend. “Maybe what he says is true. Karen’s always telling me how much they teased Jonas growing up ’cause he had to have everything super neat in his room and stuff. The rest of the Miller clan are kind of sloppy, and I guess and it drove Jonas crazy. He had trouble in school because of it too. Not sure if they labeled him OCD, but it sounds like he has those tendencies. For OCD kids, the messiness of classrooms and schools can be really overwhelming.”
Aria listened quietly, mimicking Harriet’s cooling trick with her own red bandana. “But what does that have to do with us?”
“Maybe he really can’t cope with too many things at once. Changing jobs and all the ins and outs of that might have been all he could do.”
“More likely he had women in every port he had to keep happy. He traveled constantly in his old job.”
Harriet shrugged. “If he had them, he didn’t share with his family. Besides, it seems kind of unlikely. He did have a serious girlfriend a long time ago, but that’s ancient history. Karen also said he admitted to her, but not the rest of the family, that he’d been involved with a woman in Austin, Texas, where he traveled to a lot in his previous job. I think it was way after the fact that he told Karen about her. I understand she was a real witch, and their breakup was a horror show. Maybe that’s another reason he seemed a little gun-shy with you?”
“Maybe. Let’s talk about you now. Are you enjoying married life?”
“Yes, it’s been really great. Kyle is very good to me, and I think he’s really found his groove. He loves veterinary work. He wakes up happy every morning, or sometimes in the middle of the night, and always looks forward to seeing his patients. His latest challenge has been mentoring Kiki. She’s a piece of work. Thinks she knows everything. It’s been a process, but he can’t complain. They went to vet school together, and he brought her to the village, so he has no one to blame but himself.”
“I’d love to come visit someday.”
“We’d love it! We have plenty of room too. The cottage has two guest rooms.”
“Think you’ll stay there?” Aria asked. Kyle and Harriet lived in a cottage at the edge of the Hampden Friends campus, where she taught.
“We’ve been talking about buying land or a house in the village. So much easier for him, and I don’t mind the commute. We’ve also been talking about having children and wondering if the village might be the best place to raise them.”
“Oh, my goodness! That’s so exciting!”
“Talking… That’s the operative word right now, so please don’t say anything.”
Aria smiled, patting her hand. “My lips are sealed. We’d better think about heading back. With all my unexpected social engagements, I’ve been neglecting Spark. Not that he cares, but I have a lot to do.”
When they rode into the stable yard, Nick Parker met them and helped each to the ground, then grabbed the horses’ leads. “I’ll take ’em from here, ladies.”
“Thanks, Nick,” Harriet said, waving to Jeb and Maggie, who were in the corrals giving lessons.
“My pleasure,” the handsome wrangler said, tipping his hat. A true horse whisperer, Nick had been at Morgan’s Run for several years. His skill with horses had been invaluable to the ranch’s mustang rescue and training program. Each year, they trained at least a half dozen wild horses that were then paired with border control agents. Valley Stables had then expanded the program. Between the two facilities, they were now able to save over a dozen animals each year, animals whose habitat was shrinking. Starving animals that were rounded up by kill rustlers who sold them for meat and ranchers who shot them to protect grazing land.
