The Neighbor #2 (The Neighbor Romance Series - Book #2) (8 page)

“Why are these houses brightly colored? I have never
seen anything like it. They are an odd variety of shades that I don’t see every
day. There is a mustard yellow, only
it’s
honey-mustard. That one is blue but it’s a brighter hue than I have ever seen.
I love the color pink but for a house?”

Ryder laughed. “There is an explanation for the
rainbow of odd colors. According to the Gullah tradition, the bright colors
scare away evil spirits. You have never seen the colors because they are often
sold inexpensively. There is not a huge demand for these shades. They were made
in error or they are the results of combining factory leftovers. I think it’s a
nice change. Moss green and beige are boring.”

“Cool.”

“I know a little about a lot. Don’t be too
impressed.” Ryder smiled and turned up the music.

Ryder threw me a gym bag as we pulled onto the
gravel road by the lake.

“What’s this? More surprises?” I asked as I grabbed
the bag.

“Not really but you never know when you are getting
another surprise with me. Your reaction when I gave you the golf clubs was so
damn cute. My bad, you hate being called cute. You were so jubilant.”

“Nice save Ryder.” I winked and opened the gym bag.
“Shorts and a pair of used sandals.”

“It is just stuff my niece left in my car. She is 12
years old and I hang out with her sometimes. I like to help my sister when I
can. She is about your size so I thought you could use her things.”

“We’re the same size?”

“Yep.
She’s going to be tall like her dad. He’s almost seven feet.”

“Was there something wrong with my clothes though?”

“Jenna. You would look amazing in a potato sack. I
didn’t want you to get your white jeans filthy.”

“What are you planning?” I asked.

The car came to halt.

“Wait by the picnic table over by the shore. I will
be back shortly. It’s a surprise. There is a restroom that you can change in.”

I hopped out and Ryder drove off.

****

Ryder took off, leaving me alone by the lake. I hit
the restroom to change my clothes. There was a pair of jean shorts that fit
perfectly. They were snug but that was a good thing. I planned to keep on my
yellow tank because Ryder liked the color but I threw on the white one provided.
I would transform back into a sunflower later. I brushed my hair, remembering Ryder’s
gentle touch from earlier. I decided to leave my hair down, but I put an
elastic hair tie around my wrist just in case.

I wore the water shoes provided by Ryder. I guessed
that they were appropriate for whatever he had planned. I took a seat at the
picnic table. It was worn and marked with the initials of lovers past who had
left their memories. If I had a pen, it would be tempting to scrawl “RC+JW” but
even the thought was too saccharine sweet. I giggled at the passing thought.

A few people were enjoying the lake. There were
small families with children in diapers that looked to be weighing them down. I
spotted couples. Some appeared to be young and testing out a new romance and
others were older. The latter didn’t speak much, as they seemed to communicate
just fine without words.

It was a lovely fall day. Some found it difficult to
distinguish a day in late September from a day in mid-April. The temperature
was similar but the smell was vastly different. There was the smell of home, a
musky scent that was hard to explain. There was also a tenor in the air in the
fall that was missing in the spring.
A sense of calm.
It was the time of year to focus on the important things in life like family,
friends and home.

The water on the lake was flat and gin clear. In the
distance, I saw gathering clouds but they had no effect on the lake. The trees
were swaying slightly. There were rain trees and magnolia that were past their
bloom but were still wearing brilliant green foliage and provided shade. Rows
of palmetto trees circled the edge of the lake. A landscape crew had arranged
them perfectly although they were native to South Carolina and probably would
have grown there anyways.

A few great blue herons stood in repose. They waited
patiently for the right fish to grab. Brown pelicans showed a different approach
as they dove headlong into the water. I thought what
type of
fish were
lurking beneath the water. Perhaps we were going to fish.

Finally, I heard Ryder’s vehicle driving back up the
gravel road. He got out of the car. Gone were the tie and khakis. He wore a
pair of distressed designer jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt. His blue shirt was
not tight but it pulled on his muscular body perfectly. I was pleased because I
thought he looked as he acted, which was closer to twenty-five than thirty-three.

“Did you miss me?” Ryder asked.

I grinned widely. “You bet. However, you did leave
me in a beautiful spot. I would rather have taken in the view with you by my
side though. Where have you been?”

“They have a kayak rental place up the road. Surprise
number two, we are going kayaking! I rented a double. The woman at the rental
shack is going to paddle it down. She will have all of the gear we need.” Ryder
waited hesitantly for my reaction.

“Okay. I’m game. You should know that I have never
been on a kayak before.”

“I have quite a bit of experience so I will save you
if you need saving. I don’t think we will encounter any wild rapids on this
man-made lake.” He smiled.

“Good,” I said.

The woman brought the kayak up to shore and threw
the gear on the sand. I pulled the shorts that were a little tight out of my
ass.

I heard Ryder laughing and then he asked, “Can I
help you out there?”

“I got it. Just pay attention to her.” I smiled and
then he snickered.

“You are all set Ryder. You know the drill. Tie up
the rig when you return and we will be down to pick it up. If you run into
trouble, call the number provided. It goes without saying that flotation
devices are required. There is a storm coming in. I can’t say for sure if it
will hit us. Good luck and stay safe.”

“Thanks for your help.”

Ryder picked up my life vest and put it over my
shoulders. Our faces were inches apart and it felt so…right. We both resisted
the pull as he secured my vest.

“I brought something for you to wear.” He pulled a
crushed golf cap from his back pocket. It was his Ryder Cup hat. He pulled it
down over my gossamer locks.
“Perfect fit.”

I was flattered and the cap fit as well as we did in
the kayak. We paddled away from shore with Ryder in the front and me closely
behind him.

“This is more beautiful than I could have imagined”

“I thought you would like it. There is something
about this place. I come here a lot by myself. It is nice to have someone to
share it with.”

I was in a trance. The sound of the paddle cutting
into the water was mesmerizing. Ryder’s shoulders flexed each time he pulled
back the paddle. It was the ideal combination of grace and power.

“I was going to say you seem comfortable on a kayak
but then you seem comfortable in everything you do. The golf course seems like home
to you but then I see you teaching and that is where you are meant to be. You
are a jack of all trades, a renaissance man.”

“You are a smart woman.
There is a
common denominator in all of the things you have seen me do.
Figure it
out.”

“Huh?”

“Listen, I seem at home when you are around.
Regardless of what I am doing, I am in my comfort-zone when you’re present.”

“Ditto on that.
Have you taken many women to this place? I don’t mean to pry, just curious. ”

“Yes,” Ryder said and my heart dropped into my stomach.

“That’s nice.”

“My sister Grace and her daughter Jane love coming
out with me. That is why I have Jane’s shit in my car.
Any
other questions?”
Ryder laughed. I realized he was tiring of my
inquisitive nature.

“Have you noticed the storm clouds? They are
definitely coming this way. I think we should turn back before it begins to
rain,” I said.

“Okay Al
Roker
.
Time to turn about the ship.”

I had no idea how to turn a kayak. Ryder did not
tell me which way we were turning. We were fighting against each other and the
kayak tipped over. At the same time, it started to rain. It was coming down in
buckets. I flopped around in the water. To a passerby it would have looked
dangerous but we were close to shore and I could almost touch the bottom of the
lake. I was laughing hysterically and Ryder was frantic as he tried to help me.
Through it all, Ryder’s cap remained in place. Even in the water, he had
control of the damn hat. After flailing around for a few minutes, we righted
the kayak and we managed to climb in.

“That was unexpected. Sorry about that. I should
have told you which way we were turning. I am so used to being alone out here
that I didn’t think of it. I had visions of being like the castaways on
Gilligan’s island. I would obviously be the professor. You would have to be
Ginger or Maryanne.”

“Um, I have never really seen Gilligan’s Island. How
about I
be
Jenna Walsh.”

“Jenna Walsh sounds just right.”

When we made it back to shore it was still raining,
but it was warm and I didn’t mind. I unstrapped my life vest to reveal my
soaking wet white tank top. My tits were standing at attention.

“I didn’t know there was going to be a wet t-shirt
contest today. Nice rack.” Ryder whistled.

I grinned. I didn’t mind the comment since he was
the only one around to see me. Plus, Ryder’s blue shirt was plastered to his
body too. His hours in the gym had paid off. His muscular torso and wasp waist
were magnificent. Staring at him was impossible to avoid. We were both out of
breath from laughing and our adventure on the lake. Ryder had both life vests
in his hands. I might as well have been standing before him naked. My drenched
clothing left nothing to the imagination. He dropped the gear to the ground and
grabbed me tight with both hands. He flipped off my hat and kissed me firmly on
the mouth.

“You are beautiful Jenna,” he breathed against my
mouth.

“You are not bad yourself Ryder.”

He kissed me again as the rain continued to fall.

It was the perfect end to an enchanted day. Ryder
drove me back to campus. We said little as there was not much to add. He
dropped me off at Leach Hall and I floated back to my room.

Chapter
Eight

I was exhausted, I opened the door to my room and
the first thing I saw was my pink golf bag. Regardless of where I looked
reminders of Ryder were present. After golfing with Ryder at Westlake and
spending time with him on the kayak, I felt confident in what we had. I could
think about Ryder and look forward to knowing him more as opposed to
fantasizing like a schoolgirl.

There was no sign of Kelly. She was a great roommate
because she wasn’t around too much but she was a good sounding board when she
was. She was a lot like Max in that way. I had my plans for Max and Kelly put
aside in my mind. It was good to have a diversion but I did not need or want to
be diverted from thinking about Ryder.

****

A week later I lay on my bed, hoping to take a short
nap after class. My phone was alerting me that there was an incoming text.

Ryder:
Never got to watch a movie when you were here. Dinner at 6 PM.
Pizza
. Okay?

Me:
Be there

Ryder:
Careful driving

Me:
J

I didn’t have any time to shower since it was
already afternoon. I decided I would shower at my Mother’s house. The fact that
Ryder lived on Lewis Ave was convenient. I would find something in my old
closet to throw on and wear.

I hopped in my green car and pulled onto the
highway. I had the drive ahead of me to breathe.

When I made it on Lewis Avenue I parked in my
Mother’s driveway. The home I had grown up in looked smaller than it had
before. I walked up the steps and passed by the porch swing. I laughed because
I knew so little about Ryder back then.
There was still a
great deal I did not know about him though.
Maybe I would soon discover
his deepest darkest secrets…I hoped.

I walked inside and shouted, “Hey Mom! The place looks
great. Wow, it looks cleaner than I left it.”

“I haven’t had you around to do everything for me. I
decided to get off my ass and do it myself. I even started to put my resume
together. I wasn’t buried with your father. It is about time I stopped acting
like I am six feet under.” My mom looked great and for the first time in a long
time, she did not smell like booze.

“Fantastic Mom.
I wish I had time to chat but I came back this way to see Sayler. I will be
late so don’t wait up for me. Who knows, I may crash at her place,” I said.