Taking Chances Read Free

and she hesitated to turn and see the man she knew stood
there. Lydia didn’t often have trouble turning off her internal fantasies, but
then again, work rarely inspired her dirty desires. At home she allowed her
mind to dream her away. Now, her mind swirled to different places, different
places Jake could take her.
    Fantasy men were her preference because the real
thing could let you down. They ran when you needed them. She had no experience with
reliability. It was, however, something she craved. At home in her fantasies,
Jake was always there, ready for whatever she needed. Unlike
her father. She didn’t even know why he left.
    Her fantasies always began by imagining a man fully
devoted to her. She used to giggle about all she dared to believe her leading
man could be. Her soul called for a strong man who knew exactly what he wanted and
how to get it. She’d never met a man capable of living up to any of her
expectations. Of course, they didn’t need to live up to them all. She craved to
have at least one. She craved a man who simply didn’t want to leave her. All
she wanted was someone to stick around.
    Jake’s darkening eyes might be all her mind could
see, but if he was at all attracted to her he wouldn’t be for long. He would
either be put off by her erotic needs, or he would get bored of her and leave.
    Gina claimed Jake didn’t like meek women, and if
there had been any last shred of hope, which there wasn’t, Gina’d crushed it. Lydia didn’t necessarily consider herself weak. In fact, she considered herself quite resilient, but men got bored of
women like Lydia. Her father must have gotten bored of her and her mother, and
he’d left.
    Standing at the window and staring at the trees as
they swayed in the wind didn’t help calm her raging nerves. She
needed to remember she would be working with the real Jake, not her fantasy.
    She tried to clear her mind. The ravine needed to do
its job. She welcomed the green flowing trees and their engaging peace. No
matter how hard she tried, her mind leapt to her fantasy. She imagined her body
rocking against Jake in a steady rhythm matching the sway of the trees.
    A strong wind tore through the ravine and forced the
trees to move. The unavoidable movement shook her from her comfort zone. Lydia was
rocked by the unexpected change the sight ignited in her fantasy. The intensity
changed, and she had a hard time calming her breathing.
    A warm hand pressed into her back shaking her from
her heated dream.
    “Lydia, are you okay?”
    She turned. Jake stood next to her, concern stretched
across his chiseled face. Knowing she put the expression on his face added to
her heat.
    “I’m sorry, lost in my thoughts.” She rushed to
reassure him. “I like looking out over the ravine.” Although,
it no longer had the same appeal. “Sometimes I get lost in the view.”
    He turned to peer out the window. When he didn’t say
anything right away, she took advantage and continued to watch him. His gaze became
captivated by the ravine, and his expression softened.
    “I often do the same from my office. My view is a
floor up, so the perspective is a bit different.”
    She turned back to the view and wondered if she’d
ever get a chance to roam around out there. The fallen tree would be a great
place for a picnic. The small flat patch on the tree always seemed inviting.
    “I remember when that tree fell a couple years ago.
I’m glad they haven’t taken it away,” he murmured.
    “Agreed. Sometimes
things should be left alone.”
    “Yes, you’re right.” He turned back to the table. “Of
course you’re right. I brewed a fresh carafe and brought it in with me. Thought it might make it easier on you.” He nodded his head
in the direction of the side table as he sat.
    “Yes, thank you.” Her coffee addiction was easy to
discover, but you’d still have to notice her first to see the addiction. Curious . She
joined him at the table.
    “Let’s start by creating a list of