Distractions (34 page)

hands. Giving him this moment of peace,

I sat next to him and waited. When he

finally looked up to me, I reckoned he

was having his own conversation with

the heavens. Gazing around, he leaned

over and whispered.

“It’s pretty amazing isn’t it?”

Nodding in agreement, I started to

laugh. “It’s amazing that lightning hasn’t

struck me down in here.”

Shaking his head, he held my hand,

led me out of the building into the

square, and stopped in the center.

Among the tourist and pigeons, we

started to slowly dance in the light of

day. Wrapping my arms around his

shoulders, I sunk into his chest and

listened to the tune he hummed as we

swayed back and forth. The sun felt

delicious as it caressed my back along

with his fingers. Time was no longer

operating under natural law in my mind.

Both forever and an instant passed by.

“I don’t want to end this dance, but

there is so much more I want to show

you.”

Backing away with a pout, I

followed his lead as we made our way

to the car. Henry and Shepard continued

to speak as they gave me an official tour

of the area. My exhaustion was starting

to peak mid-afternoon when I finally fell

asleep leaning against him in the back

seat.

“Wake-up, sleeping beauty, we’re

here.” Disoriented, panic started to set

in. “Hey, hey, you’re okay.”

I looked wildly at Shepard and

closed my eyes again. My body felt like

a train hit it; I was so tired. He held his

hand out to stabilize me while getting out

of the car. As I adjusted my vision to the

dimly lit building, I saw that night had

come without me realizing it.

“Where are we?” Scratching my

head and yawning, I looked around at the

oddly placed building that was located

on a quiet neighborhood street.

“Our hotel – come this way. We

need to eat and then head upstairs so you

can get some more rest.”

My lead feet stumbled in the gravel

as though I were highly intoxicated.

“The hotel is a restored monastery

called the San Gabriel. We are south of

Munich in Roseinheim. I thought you

would like this for some reason. It’s one

of my favorite places to stay.”

Instead

of

walking

into

the

reception area, we headed towards the

open aired restaurant where waiters

dressed as monks lead us to a rustic

wooden booth. The entire place was

scattered with flickering white candles

casting a soft glow in the early evening.

“Well, isn’t this romantic.” I gave

him a wink while scooting into my side

of the table.

“What do you want to drink,

Violet?” he asked, returning the wink.

The

waiter

looked

at

me

expectantly.

“Wasser bitta, still.”

“You know about the water?”

Giving an impressed brow, he looked

down at the menu in front of him.

“I know about a few things, like

how I have to pay to use the toilets,

except if they serve beer. Germans also

do not customarily tip, but it’s

welcomed. Also there is some great

asparagus that is white and giant?”

“Well, you know all that you need

to then. Maybe you’re right and you

won’t need me after all.”

Shaking my head, I could not hold

in the snicker that erupted. “When did

you turn into such a smart ass?”

Holding up the pint glass of the

wheat beer he ordered and tipping it

towards me, he replied, “I learned from

the best.” Taking a sip and then pausing,

his face grew serious. “I am taking you

to Bern. Please do not fight me on this. I

can work on the road, and the chance to

give this to you is more than I could ever

hope. Just say yes.”

My jaw clenched at the offer.

Could I really spend a week with him

and stay sane? How much could my

heart take before it was broken beyond

repair?”

“I have plans, Shepard. I can’t

change them. I still need to see my aunt. I

would feel horrible canceling on her

when I am so close.”

“Violet, I would never ask you to

do something like that.”

I would not say no to him and he

knew it. The contrast of shadows against

the

candlelight

made

his

face

irresistible. My resolve was crumbling

at my feet with every breath. Holding my

hand over my mouth in contemplation, I

watched the blue and yellow flames

flicker in a mesmerizing dance.

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

Looking up from the candle into his

eyes, I repeated, “I said yes.”

“Okay, it’s done then. Let’s eat, and

you are in luck. They have the elusive

asparagus.”

He was smug in the fact I agreed to

his offer. Everything about him changed

in the strangest way. He was full of light

and peace. I could almost see the current

coursing through his veins.

The dinner was lovely and quiet.

Worn down, I was ready to crash again.

Narrow hallways led to the massive

wooden door with iron fixtures. Our

bags were already situated in the corner;

Henry must have brought them up. A

wood hewn king sized canopy bed stood

imposingly in the small room. With

nothing else but a wardrobe and small

booth, it was a simple but elegant room.

Naturally, I checked out the bathroom,

which astounded me. A hand blown

glass sink sat floating on a small basin

adorned with golden fixtures. A large

glass encased shower stall took up a

majority of the tiny room. Yes, I did like

this place.

“Do you approve, madam?” As he

took off his jacket and shoes, I eyed the

bed suspiciously.

“You still sleep naked, don’t you?”

I shot a scornful look at him; he returned

it with a mischievous smirk.

“Yes, but I will suffer this week.”

“No, you sleep terribly, or you used

to. You can’t afford that.”

“Shepard,

it

is

kind

of

inappropriate, given the circumstances.”

“Nonsense. Look.” He peeled back

the top sheet to reveal two separate

mattresses and two half folded down

comforters in crisp duvets.

“European beds were designed just

for this moment.”

I subconsciously covered my chest

by crossing my arms. Before I could

reply, he softly addressed my concern.

“I won’t try anything, I promise. I

remember how hard it was.”

I could see in his face he was

flashing back to our first night together.

He could not touch me, or hold me.

Nothing could restrict me while I

dreamed. I would fight to sleep; even in

just panties, it felt like sandpaper on my

skin. They always came off in the end

and I would sink quickly thereafter.

“I would like to take a shower; is

that okay?”

“Of course, Violet, you don’t have

to ask.”

Turning to find my toiletry bag, I

quietly shut the door behind me. The

water took no time to get hot. Smelling

the soaps already in there, it was spicy

and different, like cloves and pepper.

Washing up quickly, I dried my hair and

pulled the towel tightly around my

middle.

I could see him follow the steam

vapors trailing off my reddened skin

before he twisted his body around.

“I am turning my head, see? Get

in.” He gave a throaty chuckle at my

modesty.

Hesitating to get in the bed nude,

my fingers grazed the smooth wooden

post that formed the canopy. Turning

back the blankets, he heard the towel

make a light noise as it hit the ground.

Snuggling into the cold sheet, I shivered

while trying to warm up again.

“Is it safe?”

Giggling, I replied, “I don’t know,

is it?”

He pushed off his hands and turned

back around to face me, still wearing his

white shirt and slacks as I studied his

face. Resisting the urge to touch him, my

hands burned with longing. I could see

his neck tense and the tendons in his jaw

pop while he looked at me. His eyes

began to glaze over. He smiled when I

broke the tension with a deep intake of

air.

With a slight smile, he questioned,

“What?”

I closed my eyes tightly.

“I can’t shake the feeling that this

isn’t real.” I could feel the pain take

over my face as the muscles scrunched

tightly.

“Open your eyes, I am right here.”

His hand moved over my face and

slowly stroked along my cheeks.

My eyes remained closed like a

vice, with my mouth forming a tight line.

A silent wail escaped as my back arched

off the mattress. I tried to roll away from

him, but he grabbed my shoulders. His

touch caused me to break, inciting a riot

in my nerves. He didn’t have to ask what

was wrong. He reached over tightly and

held me in his arms. As the muffled cries

soaked his chest, he tried to soothe me

with gentle kisses on the top of my head

and rubbing circles across my back.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

His voice was low and reassuring.

I buried myself even deeper into his

arms, taking in his scent and warmth. A

few moments later, I was out.

Chapter 32 - Bad

Joke

“Violet, I need you to get up.” His

voice was soft so he would not startle

me.

Muttering incoherently, I rolled

over in the bed, then suddenly jumped at

waking up in a strange room. Rubbing

fingertips along the corners of my eyes

to help bring everything to focus, the

first thing I saw was Shepard.

Shepard.

He was here, right in front of me.

This wasn’t some crazy dream; it was

really happening.

“Hi.” I cracked a smile while

taking in his beautiful face. Not a huge

amount of time had passed, yet fine lines

had etched themselves across his brow.

Without thinking, my fingers traced the

chiseled lines that were covered with

short prickly growth.

Letting out a slight moan beneath

my palm, my hand snapped back quickly.

“I’m sorry.” Nervously moving off

the bed, I ran into the bathroom and shut

the door behind me. It had been less than

twenty four hours and I was already

touching him as though I didn’t walk

away without even saying a word. Even

worse, he let me and appeared to enjoy

it.

My hand twisted the brass knob on

the sink and allowed the cool water to

shoot from the faucet onto my face with

cupped hands. Exhausted from the flight

and afternoon walking around Munich, I

needed something to wake me up.

Get yourself together.

Twisting my hair into a knot on top

of my head and covering myself with a

big fluffy robe, I stepped back into the

room. Sunlight poured through the

stained glass windows into the stucco

walled room. This place truly was

stunning.

“Are you hungry?” He was now

curt and distant while tapping the screen

on his smart phone, not even looking at

me.

Never once had I been brushed off

while in his presence. Suddenly feeling

like an inconvenience, I wanted to bolt

out of the room and call for a taxi, if that

was even possible wherever we were.

Surely, the concierge could help assist

me with getting back to the airport.

“Not really. I would actually like to

go back to the airport.”

Looking up at me confused, his

brow piqued for a moment. “Why? I told

you I am taking care of you; there is no

need to go there. I have already made

arrangements.”

Taking a deep breath, I walked

back into the bathroom to finish getting

ready. Brushing my teeth aggressively

while trying to size up my options, every

one of them paled in comparison to

spending a week with him. Even if I