Chapter 61

Peyton sat at the picnic table down by the lake, her laptop open, staring at the words on the page. The pitiful few words on the page. She was glad she wrote electronically instead of on paper or she would have wasted reams of it by now. She couldn't count the number of times she'd written the damn first chapter, only to delete it and start again. She finally, finally had a concept in her head, but she couldn't seem to make it come out on paper in a way anyone would want to read. Too much of it was still swirling around in her brain.
She had truly believed this week would be a turning point. Lord knew it was one of the best weeks of her life. During the day, Dix jogged his gazillion miles then did his long swim in the lake while she sat outside and read. After lunch, they fished or went into town, and she showed him all the places that were still there from when she was a kid. And, at night, they had the most incredible sex she had ever imagined. She couldn't call it making love. That would give it a meaning that wasn't possible. But, whatever she called it, she'd remember every minute for the rest of her life.
Grace had shown admirable restraint, seriously limiting her calls and texts. She'd last said, "Okay. You've got two weeks left up there with the bears and the raccoons. I won't bother you, But I damn sure hope when you get back you've at least got a few sizzling chapters for me to look at."
So did Peyton. Dix had unlocked so many of her secret doors she'd been sure the words would just flow, but no dice. Maybe after -
No. Don't go there. She really didn't want to think about after the month was over. She knew there was nothing beyond it, and she'd just have to live in the moment. She was good with that. He didn't want a relationship, and apparently, she sucked at them. But shouldn't she at least be able to create one in her imagination?
Face it, she told herself. Deep down in your secret places, you're hoping this won't end when the stay in the cottage does, despite everything. Maybe. And maybe she -
With great determination she deleted the offending text on the page and typed Chapter One, doing her best to kick her brain into gear.
"No luck?"
Dix's deep voice startled her. She'd been staring so hard at the computer screen she hadn't even heard him approach. Of course, that wasn't unusual. All those years learning and practicing stealth made him more silent than a whisper. She looked up from her seat and gave him a rueful smile.
"I keep trying. Sooner or later, something's got to work, right?"
"Maybe you're trying too hard," he suggested.
"Probably." She shut down the program and closed the laptop. "I think I'll give myself orders to just enjoy the rest of the day."
"Sounds good to me. Let me take my swim. Then what would you think of exploring the area around Newport and finding someplace interesting for lunch."
Peyton looked at him in surprise. "Really?"
He laughed. "I'm not a total clod. Besides, I'm getting a little itchy. I'm not looking for crowds, but I thought you might like to get out of here for a change."
"I'll be ready when you are." She picked up her laptop and hopped over the bench. "And, I warn you, I worked up a big appetite thinking hard this morning."
He laughed, a sound that slithered through her like warm molasses.
"Duly noted."
It turned out to be a very nice lunch. Between Newport and Pittsfield, they found a place that had opened a few years earlier and was apparently popular with both residents and tourists. Luckily, they arrived just at the end of the lunch rush and were able to get a seat on the porch.
"I don't get to do this too often lately," Dix said, taking a swallow of the beer he'd ordered.
Peyton lifted an eyebrow. "Have lunch? We do it every day."
He chuckled, a sound she was really learning to love. "Have a relaxing lunch in an out-of-the-way place with a beautiful woman."
She wanted to ask him if he really thought she was beautiful, but she did not want to sound in the least bit needy. Besides, his relationship parameters were plainly on the table. And her relationship skills needed so much work she couldn't even think about it. He was probably just being nice to her.
"I'll bet you have lunch with a lot of beautiful women." Holy crap. What a cheesy remark. Had that just popped out of her mouth?"
He gave her a long hard look and then his face relaxed. "Let's just say I have lunch or dinner with a lot of women who think they're beautiful and leave it at that."
It occurred to Peyton, as they lingered over dessert and coffee, that she had enjoyed dining out with this man, with whom she really had no connection except as a housemate and the most incredible sex imaginable - better than she ever had with her three disasters.
Because I don't feel I have anything to prove to him.
The thought smacked into her. Previously, she'd spent so much time trying to prove to the man she was with that she was worthy of his choice, she really hadn't enjoyed herself as much as she thought. Or believed. It was going to force her to take a good long hard look at herself, which was probably a good thing.
"Penny for them."
Dix's voice shook her out of her introspection.
"Just thinking how much I was enjoying myself." She smiled at him and swallowed the last bite of dessert.
They took the long way back to the cottage, following the narrow road that wound all the way around the lake. Peyton pointed out all the places where she'd spent time as a child and then a teenager. She used her phone to take pictures of the spots she wanted to remember, memories she wanted to hold close to her when this month was over.
When they returned to the cottage, she went inside to change for either swimming or fishing. They'd taken to doing one or the other every day after lunch. But Dix walked into her bedroom just as she slipped off her slacks and top, coming up behind her and cupping her breasts with his large, warm hands.
"I thought we might try a different afternoon activity today," he murmured, placing a soft kiss on the nape of her neck.
She shivered and pressed back against him. The hard thickness of his cock nestled right between the cheeks of her butt, making the walls of her sex quiver in response.
"I-I think I could get on board with that program," she whispered.