Sexy, masculine arms

Back out on the street the bright sunlight glancing off the buildings and pavement looked shrill to Ava. Embarrassed after being turned away all she wanted was to hide in the inky black shadows of the buildings across the street where they would cool the heat of her humiliation.

Ava stepped off the curb to head across the street. Her mind raced over the words Chris had jotted on the back of his business card: “Reception 4 Carole King, Sun. 1:30pm, @ Blue River Café, join me?”. She stopped cold and wondered, should I have told the bouncer I was a guest of Chris Graber?

A horn tooted - Ava jumped. She realized she was standing still in the middle of the street. Waving an apology she continued across to the other side.

No she would not turn back to go tell him she was a guest of anyone. What if he said, “Is that right?” or “Chris who?” Ava realized her gut was trying to tell her something all along back at the condo. She should’ve stayed home in the first place. No, she wasn’t going back. One humiliation for the day was sufficient to teach her a lesson. Ava prided herself on being a quick learner.

“Ava!”

“Ava! Wait up!”

“Please Ava!” someone called out. Ava, still drowning in her own humiliation, heard a name being called out but hadn’t yet registered that it was her own.

“Ava,” he shouted louder. Ava stopped. Turning around she saw Chris Graber dodging cars to get to her. Her cheeks flushed.

“My god, I nearly missed you. I’ve been waiting for you at the door. Wouldn’t you know I’d be called away just for a second and that’s when you arrived!” said Chris clearly out of breath.

Ava was embarrassed for folding her tents so fast. She struggled all the time with her assertiveness. Just when she felt she was making headway, something always tripped her up like that smooth-talking linebacker at the door.

She looked up at Chris. Finding his eyes piercing right through her again she quickly looked away. He took her hand in his, but instead of tucking it into the crook of his arm like he had last night, he held onto it as the two moved back across the street. Ava avoided the bouncer’s eyes as Chris guided her seamlessly in front of him into the cool dark of the Blue River Café.

After her eyes adjusted to the dim light she estimated about one hundred people were milling about chatting amiably with one another. The café was built right on the river. Patio doors led out to a balcony. Tables with umbrellas and wicker chairs invited people to come sit outdoors where they could watch the passing parade of small motor-powered yachts. “Would you like to sit out there?” asked Chris. Ava nodded.

They settled in across the table from each other. The sun felt good. For Ava the sun had amazingly turned from shrill to the caressing tone of butter. A typical late August afternoon in the city. While Chris ordered drinks Ava looked fully at him from behind her designer sunglasses as he ordered  a couple of glasses of wine from the waiter.

Chris Graber could’ve stepped off the cover of a Ralph Lauren catalog. He had the rugged good looks the famous designer always selected for his male models. What a cliché, thought Ava, but nothing else accurately described Chris so well. Especially with his dark brown hair, fashionably long and those teal eyes. Ava wondered if he was wearing color contacts but decided no, he wasn‘t the type.

The long sleeves of his white polo shirt were pushed up above his elbows showing off what Ava considered to be the most attractive part of the anatomy of a man; his forearms. Chris’ were tanned with just the right amount of dark hair. The waiter departed with their drink order.

“Why did you walk away last night without any warning?” asked Chris bluntly.

Here it was. The number two reason Ava had come here this afternoon - to tell Chris she wasn’t interested. She was having her assertiveness tested again in relatively short order. He’d caught her completely off guard by being so direct. She didn’t know why but she never would’ve expected bluntness from a man like Chris Graber.

As soon as Ava thought this she realized how ludicrous it was. She didn’t even know him. All she had done was unwittingly fallen under Chris Graber’s spell last night and then come to her senses in time to walk away from him and Kate Hagan.

Ava took a deep breath. “I’ve chronically avoided complications my entire life,” said Ava thankful she had her sunglasses on to act as armour. “I saw you and Kate from a distance at the table and suddenly everything felt too complicated. I realized how tired I was and headed for home.” Ava looked off towards the river. “I’m sorry, I know that was rude of me.”

“But what about me?” asked Chris.

“I don’t understand?” said Ava.

“Do you think you can simply hand me off to another woman?” said Chris. “Do I have any say in the matter?”

“Excuse me, sorry Chris,” said a man obviously a friend of Chris Graber’s who‘d appeared at the table out of nowhere casting an appreciative glance over at Ava, “Miss King’s about to arrive.”

“I’ll be right there,” said Chris. Turning back to Ava he said, “Now if I leave this table do I have your solemn promise you’ll be sitting here when I get back?”

“Promise,” said Ava.

“Just in case,” Chris said with a smile in his voice, “I’m telling that guy guarding the door he’s not to let you pass!” With that Chris excused himself promising Ava he wouldn’t be long.

Down below a Water Taxi edged up to the concrete embankment. I could make a getaway on that, mused Ava. A group of people began disembarking from the Taxi. One of them Ava recognized - it was Carole King.