Page 73 of The Rules Of Attraction
“It’s beautiful.” I smiled, smiling a smile I felt from deep within. Like when I was happy.
When was that?
I thought over the moments I’d considered happy in my life and remembered one distinct event.
It was at my high school graduation. I remembered standing next to my father, waiting to take a picture and he looked down at me, eyes filled with tears because of the pride that filled him.
That was the first time I saw how proud he truly was of me. The happiness I experienced then had this stillness and calm that reassured me that what lay ahead was all good things. Things I had to look forward to.
I felt a similar sense of that now, although the two events couldn’t have been more different to each other.
One was my graduation and the other flying with Alex. Alex who I’d known for exactly two weeks and one day.
In that short space of time I’d done many things that had taken me so far beyond the limits of my comfort zone I couldn’t see my way back.
I suppose though that, that was just it. The point of having a fresh start wasn’t to find my way back. It was to create something new with what I already had.
Alex winked at me and turned his gaze ahead. I went back to my observance of the aerial view until it grew darker.
The sun was beginning to set.
“Wait until you see this.” Alex announced looking pleased with himself. He approached the vast beauty of Lake Michigan, climbed higher and circled the area as the sun went down. “Here, look.”
He pointed out to the horizon at the mass of red and orange mingling together where it met the surface of the water.
That was true beauty, and something that could be easily missed in the fast paced lifestyle that existed in the city where it was so busy.
From just the few days that I’d started working I’d gotten sucked into it. Just like when I worked in LA.
I looked on marveling at the sight, feeling appreciation ripple through me, but at the same time I stole a chance to look back at Alex.
He’d shown that there was more to him than what I’d seen. More that I felt compelled to know. But shouldn’t.
A fresh start brought all sorts of things with it.
It was easy to say that I should accept all of it. Doing it was another matter. Especially where the thing I should accept required me to feel.
I was scared to feel.
Alex looked at me too, the same way he did that night at the club but enhanced by the admiration he showed the sunset before us.
Those eyes of his flickered with interests, taking me in and looking straight into mine as if he could read my mind.
I looked away, wary of the thought. I didn’t want him to see what was there.
There was too much pain and hurt that left me feeling broken.
My heart was…
Warmth seeped into my skin as Alex smoothed his hand over mine. The sensation ran along my arm and made its way all over me.
I returned my gaze to him and that was when the feeling caressed my poor heart.
“Enjoy the sunset, Summer, and think of nothing else.” His silky voice came to me low and smooth, lulling me into the relaxed mood created by the surroundings.
The underlying sensuality of his tone captivated me and calmed my nerves. I remembered back at the club thinking that he was like a drug to me.
He felt like that now too with his hypnotic eyes and soothing touch.
