Flying Backwards Read online

  “I thought it quite endearing.” His broad smile revealed his white teeth. What a smile! It made her heart pulse. “Actually, I’m not a big horror/thriller fan. The drama I wanted was out of stock, and the bloke next to me recommended that movie.” After discussing movies awhile, they discovered that they pretty much liked the same genres: dramas, historic epics, and comedies–the exception turned out to be romantic comedies. Nora rattled off several of her favorite British romantic comedies. Shaking his head, Ben said they were as silly as horror movies. Nora feigned disgust but couldn’t help laughed at his typical male response.

  After lunch, they mounted the horses and traveled along roadways and across fields before finally stopping at the river’s edge to offer the horses some water. Nora was achy, so she dismounted and found a shady spot to sit and rest while Ben held the horses. She pulled out her cell phone and snapped a few pictures of Ben with the horses. Yesterday she had taken a picture of Stargazer. She wanted to remember this time she was spending with Ben. Even if it didn’t go anywhere romantically, she knew they were becoming good friends. She thought about showing her sisters a picture of her on horseback and made a mental note to ask Ben to take a snapshot to share in an attempt to stay in touch with her family. She wasn’t going home as often as she’d thought she would. Going home to her small town only reminded her of her old life, and Nora was enjoying her new life. She missed her family, but she needed this space, this time, to reinvent herself.

  Ben secured the horses once again. He sat next to her and stretched his long legs out across the grass; then he leaned back on his elbows. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and checked for messages. “I told Keegan to call me if there were any problems. I guess he has everything under control.”

  Nora tucked her cell phone back into her pocket. There was another missed call from Antonio. She hadn’t called him back; she wanted him to stop calling. She’d tried to end it with him, but he was persistent. She was hoping he would get the hint. Nothing from Sergei. Thank goodness.

  “Are you still up for going out tonight?” Ben inquired. “Want to see if Bree and Evan want to drive up?

  “Sure, I’m up for it. But Bree and Evan have dinner reservations tonight at that wine bar.” Nora had mentioned that last night.

  “Oh, right. How does Bree like her transition to flying internationally now?”

  “She loves it, but she’s only had one international trip so far. She seems really happy, and things are finally going well for her. In fact, when she came back from training last month she learned that she could opt to be based out of a European city.” Nora’s eyes swept across the scenery and settled on some far-off steeple. “She wants to transfer to London.”

  “Really! Aren’t you two roommates?” His curious eyes searched her face.

  “Yes. In fact, Bree’s dad pays for us to live in a townhouse in a great neighborhood in Philly. He won’t take my money. It is so nice of him. So I buy the food and pitch in in other ways when I can.” Nora looked out over the pasture, seeing an uncertain future. When she glanced back at Ben, she thought he was calculating what Bree’s wish meant for Nora.

  “What are you going to do?”

  She leveled her gaze at him. “I’m not sure. Bree wants me to transfer with her to London.”

  His eyes widened. “Really! And have you considered that? Would you leave America?” He paused, intent on her answer.

  “I’m thinking about it.” His gaze was so intense she dropped her lashes and picked at the grass by her feet. “I’d miss my family, but I really like it here. London is a great city. Bree is my best friend. All of you guys have become my friends. I wanted a change. I just didn’t imagine it could be so drastic. But I’m open to anything.” His reaction, an ear-to-ear grin, made her blush.

  “That would be great.” He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “That would be really great. I hope you do consider it.”

  Ben’s phone buzzed, and he released Nora’s hand. “Ah, I spoke too soon. Keegan’s calling.” Ben spoke briefly on the phone. “Sorry, Keegan needs me to look at something. Do you mind if we head back.”

  “Of course not.” They got to their feet, and Ben gave her a look. Nora wished she could read his mind. He was so handsome. She took in the gray-green color of his eyes and his straight, aristocratic nose. The angles of his jaw were covered in soft stubble. Around his mouth the skin was clean-shaven and smooth, but she could see where the darkening shadow would grow out. She sometimes felt overwhelmed by him. She felt like she was the luckiest girl in the world to have his attention. He moved toward the horses and she followed, his words ringing in her mind. I hope you do consider it.

  It was late afternoon when they arrived back at Westborough Meadows. Keegan met them at the stable entrance. A young lad followed Keegan, ready to take care of the tack and brush down their horses. Molly came trotting over at the sound of her master’s voice. Nora headed for the house, Keegan, Ben, and Molly heading in the opposite direction.

  Nora took advantage of the free time to shower and blow-dry her long hair. She took extra care applying makeup and slipped into a navy and white sundress. She was on the phone with her mother when she saw Ben approaching the house from the stables. She stood at the window watching his purposeful stride, and her heart quickened at the sight of him. She assumed he would come in and shower, and then they would head into the small town. Nora pulled away from her thoughts of Ben and directed her attention back to her phone call.

  “Yes, Mom, I promise I will visit when I can.” After Nora hung up she reflected on the call. She was glad to hear from her mother that Lizzy had gotten a job as a basketball coach for a girl’s league and that she loved it. Through a mutual friend, Victoria had landed a client who wanted a dinner catered on his fifty-foot yacht. They were going to have to drive to Baltimore where the yacht was docked. That would be a first, catering on a boat! Heidi said that Victoria seemed happier now that she and Perry were taking a break from the fertility treatments. Dad was the same, of course. They had to take Polly to the vet, though; her arthritis was getting bad, poor old dog.

  * * *

  The sun was a burning orange disc as it dropped lower in the sky. The Land Rover motored into the center of town, where the buildings were casting long shadows. Ben pulled into the tiny parking lot of a local grocer; a movie rental box stood outside the store. He returned their movie, and they were on their way, past a school, a church, and several stone houses. They finally reached an area with several restaurants and shops.

  The pub, Atlas, was a typical English-style pub with dark wooden booths, tables, and a long bar. As the name suggested, there were maps of England everywhere inside. Some were medieval, and some were seafarer friendly, with named ports. Others were topography or road maps. The friendly locals gave the place a great vibe. There was a wide selection of beers on tap, and the menu posted at the entrance looked promising. They got a table in the back and ordered dinner.

  The tables quickly filled up. Many hands waved in Ben’s direction. He explained that he had helped out at the veterinary clinic in the next town over for a while, and he had gotten to know everyone from their pets. Ben mentioned that he wanted to open his own small animal clinic. “As great as it is working with the horses at Westborough Meadows, I’d like to take the next step and do something on my own. Establish my own practice and, you know, get a house of my own.”

  “I could definitely see you with your own practice. And it looks like you’d have a lot of customers.” Nora opened her hands toward the crowded room. “And yeah, I definitely know what you mean about doing something of your own. I could have easily stayed employed with my family’s catering business, but it never really felt like it was my thing. I always felt like I wanted to accomplish something.” She laughed at herself. “I think I’m still figuring out what it is I am trying to accomplish.”

  Ben nodded in agreement, but before he could say more, their attention was d
irected to the nearby door.

  Someone was propping open the pub’s side door. A musician carrying a guitar case and amplifier walked in, setting down his heavy load by the makeshift stage directly across from their table. A woman followed, carrying a solid black box, a coiled cable wrapped around her other arm.

  The woman, in her late thirties, had thin blond hair, parted to the side, that swept dramatically across her forehead. The back was clipped short behind her ears. Her large, expressive blue eyes surveyed the crowd. When they landed on their table she exclaimed, “Ben!” This caught the musician’s attention, and he also turned to greet Ben.

  “Hey, man,” Ben said just loud enough for them to hear above the din of busy restaurant noise. The musician was closest to Ben, and he reached his hand out to rest on Ben’s shoulder.

  “You made it. I haven’t seen you in a few weeks.” The man was tall and extremely slim, giving him a lanky appearance. He looked a little older than the woman, maybe in his mid-forties. His black hair was pulled back into a short ponytail at the nape of his neck, and his goatee was neatly trimmed. The woman scooted over and bent to give Ben a little hug.

  Ben introduced Nora as his friend from America, here this week to take riding lessons. “This is Will and his wife Liza,” he informed Nora. After the introductions, Will went back out the door to his car for a couple things. Then he closed the pub door behind him before sitting down to join them. Liza waved to the waitress, who held up two fingers. At Liza’s nod, two beers were delivered instantly. She settled in at their table.

  “We’ll take another round,” Ben said to the waitress after he asked Nora if she was up for another.

  “Wow, so you’ll be playing tonight?” Nora gestured to the pile of equipment. She was impressed that Ben knew a musician famous enough to play in a pub.

  “Yeah, in a bit. I play here a couple times a week.” Will was soft-spoken; Nora noticed his long fingers as he reached for his beer.

  “How do you know each other?” Nora was expecting Ben to say he had performed some lifesaving procedure on their pet; she was utterly surprised to hear she was meeting Ben’s music instructor.

  “Oh, that’s right. I knew you played–both piano and guitar, right?” Ben’s musical talent impressed Nora.

  Ben finished the last swallow from his beer bottle and nodded. “Yes, I play both, but Will taught me guitar. Mrs. Heinz taught me the piano. She was my German music teacher all through my early-education years.” Ben chuckled. “In my preteen years I begged my father to learn guitar. Judy helped convince him that learning another instrument would be valuable. Mrs. Heinz had pursed her lips and harrumphed at the idea. And William Prescott was hired for private lessons.” He finished his tale, peeling the label off his bottle.

  “Will is not only our local celebrity, but he is director of the music program here in town. Liza is a teacher at the same school,” Ben informed her.

  “I teach fifth grade math,” Liza said. She and Nora then chatted for a while about the school. Before long, Will rose to set up for his gig. Keegan strode in and took Will’s seat. Keegan ate with them, and soon the little table was full of empty beer bottles.

  Will sang sensitively and soulfully into the microphone. Nora was mesmerized by his voice. The little pub’s patrons sang along to their favorite songs in a group-karaoke kind of way. She and Ben stayed for two sets and then made the twenty-minute drive back to Westborough Meadows.

  They said goodnight at the top of the landing. The house was quiet when Nora stepped from the bathroom into the hallway in her pajama tank top and shorts. Molly padded up to her, seeking a familiar pat between the ears. Nora heard Ben step out of his room, looking for Molly, she assumed. Nora heard his breath catch and knew he saw her curves outlined in the softened light. He exhaled a long breath and then cleared his throat. Nora flushed that he was seeing her in the flimsy fabric.

  “I have a visitor.” She squatted to pat the golden head, using the dog as a shield to hide her semidressed state. Molly turned to look at her master, but she didn’t budge.

  “Molly, go lay down.” Ben advanced toward them, and the dog obediently headed back to the room from where she’d come. Nora stood and waited for him.

  “I can still hear the music in my mind. Will was amazing. Can you play guitar for me sometime?” she asked coyly. The sweet smile she gave him was meant to beckon him closer.

  “Nora.” Ben’s voice was a whisper. He placed his hand on the doorjamb just above her head. He was so close that she had to tilt her head up to look at him. Her lips parted, and her breath quickened in anticipation. This is it. He lowered his mouth to hers. It was a soft, delicious kiss. He stepped closer and cupped her face in his hands. He searched her rich, brown eyes and must have found what he was looking for. He drew her in for a deeper kiss, tasting her mouth. Nora reached out, slipping her hands inside his robe, stretching her fingers and palms against the skin of his abdomen. He inhaled a sharp breath at her scorching touch. “Nora…” His voice was tortured. “I’ve wanted to kiss you for a long time.”

  “I’ve wanted that too.” They moved deeper into her room. They stood kissing and stroking until they broke away for a breath. They pressed their foreheads together and held each other still.

  “I’ve had an amazing time with you here. I hope to see more of you.”

  She pulled back, looking into his eyes. “Ben, you’re amazing. I’m so glad I came. I’ll pick up more trips to London for now. I have a big decision to make now that Bree wants to move here.”

  “Do what you think is right for you, but I’d like for us to spend more time together.”

  She knew he wanted to tell her to move to London so he would have more confidence about forming a real relationship with her. Ben was a cautious guy. Who could blame him when it came to fickle females? Nora felt that she seemed to fit into his life in a compatible way. Bree had told her that plenty of other girls liked him, even chased him, but most of them couldn’t abide his unsophisticated profession. When they heard what kind of doctor he was, there was always a hint of disappointment. Bree had explained that his family name came with social status and always seemed to draw eligible females to his side.

  “I know from experience that I need to do some soul searching for every decision I make. Moving here would make seeing you a lot easier.” She traced her finger down his downy jaw before she stood on her toes to kiss him again. She was burning for him to touch her, but soon he pulled away and sighed.

  “Umm, I think I should return to my room.” There was regret in his husky voice, and his eyes expressed his true feelings–he wanted to stay.

  Nora understood that he could pull her down on top of him, the bed being so nearby, and make sweet passionate love to her, but he wouldn’t. They would wait. Taking this slowly would be best; it would guard both their hearts in the long run.

  “Yeah.” It was enough for her that he had kissed her. Ben kissed me! “Goodnight, Ben.” He slipped from the room with a modest smile, trying to keep himself reserved, but Nora heard him blow out a long, raggedy breath as he strode back to his room.

  Nora touched her lips in wonder. She had taken a risk; she came here wanting to kiss him. And she had.

  Now what was she going to do?

  Chapter Twenty

  It was their last day together. Nora would be catching a flight back to America the next morning. Her next scheduled trip was to Rome. It would be strange going there without being with Antonio. Nora felt assured that breaking off their relationship had been the right thing to do. She knew she would also need to talk to Sergei when she got home. How was she going to tell him that their relationship would go no further? Their one passionate moment in St. Petersburg was clearly a mistake. Especially now that she knew Ben was truly interested in her.

  Nora followed the same routine as the morning before and then found Ben in his office. On her way across the hard-packed dirt she could not help casting her gaze upward. Judgin
g by the look of the dark gray sky, they might not be riding today. When she entered the small office she was greeted by a broad smile, which made her heart skip a beat. “Good morning,” Ben said softly.

  “Good morning,” she replied. “Did you sleep well?” She waggled her eyebrows at him.

  He laughed, getting her meaning. “Yeah. It took me a while to fall asleep though.”

  “Mmm, me too.” She felt the blush bloom across her face.

  “Hey, come look at this.” He pointed to the laptop computer on his desk. When he clicked on a tab, a web page came up, displaying a beautiful castle.

  “Oooh, that’s cool. What is it?” she asked, leaning over to get a good look.

  “This is Warwick Castle. I was planning to take the horses out on an easy ride with a few scenic stops, but it’s going to be rainy today, so I was wondering if you wanted to be a tourist. Actually, I have an ulterior motive for visiting Warwick. A friend of mine wants me to take a look at a horse out that way. I’d only need about thirty minutes, and then we could go straight to the castle from there. What do you think?”

  “Right. Warwick, home of the Kingmaker.” Nora smiled to herself because the reading about historical kings and queens of Europe she loved was paying off. “I’d love to see it!”

  “You know who the Kingmaker is?” He laughed. “Why do you know that?” He raised a quizzical eyebrow at her.

  “I’ll have you know I’ve read quite a bit about the Earl of Warwick.” She placed her hands on her hips, pausing for dramatic effect. “In fact, I could probably name more English kings and queens than American presidents. Strange, I know,” she stated matter-of-factly.

  “Wow. Okay, Warwick it is.” Ben feigned surrender.

  They climbed into the Land Rover and motored down the highway to a farm, where Nora was introduced to a jovial man with an old horse. He was a true farmer, Ben said, working fields of waving barley. They looked like wheat fields to Nora.