Love Takes Time (Christian Romance) (2 page)

Besides
all that, she knew she wasn’t going to say no even if she wanted
to.   She was compelled to say yes.   The guy that could
have passed for a GQ model had more than a nice smile and good attitude. 
He had the kind of face that could make a woman want to stare at it every day. 
His perfect, angular jawline and well defined chin was the perfect complement
to his slightly dimpled cheeks that completed a smile that was beyond
cute. 

And
then there were his eyes.  Those baby blues completed the expertly drawn
image that was him.  It turned out to be an image that she felt like she
could look at for hours.  On any other day, she would have taken a trip
with him to . . . well just about anywhere.  Still, a person can’t be too
careful in New York City.  It’s not like this was Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood. 
At least it didn’t look like it. 

“Thanks
for the offer, and you seem pretty nice but how do I know that you’re not some
serial killer who gets his victims by knocking unknowing girls off their feet
and then offering them a ride.  Sounds like a horror novel in the works,
don’t you think?”

The
laugh that followed was deep and fun.  More importantly, it was
honest.  Chelsea always believed you could tell a lot about a person by
the way they laughed.   His full laugh told her that she could trust
him. 

“
Well
Miss, I guess you’re going to just have to trust me,
won’t you?  I’m as gentle as a lamb so let me give you a ride. 
Besides, you already said you’re running late and my driver is already waiting
for us.”

Driver?
He’s attractive and rich.   Who did I bump into, billionaire playboy,
Bruce Wayne, by day Batman by night?

The
luxurious vehicle that was parked on the side of the road looked like something
that a king or queen would step out of.  Even as someone who knew little
about cars, she could tell that this was a unique piece of machinery.  Jet
black with silver trim.  The light of the sun glistened off of it like
something from a movie.  Even with multitude of cars passing it in both
directions, this car garnered attention – just like the guy that she now knew
to be its owner. 

As
he walked her to the car, she noticed that his opulent silver watch and
matching cufflinks were a perfect parallel to the car with its shiny silver
rims and fresh out of the dealership look.  She didn’t know if it was done
on purpose or not but he was so coordinated that it was almost like the car was
just another accessory.  As if he needed any more help looking
beautiful.  She’d never really considered a man beautiful before but her
mystery man was very close. 

When
they got closer to the car, an older man in a simple black suit walked around
to the curb side rear door and held it ajar for them.

“Sir,
madam.”

Her
new friend turned in her direction. 

“After
you, miss.”

He
waved his hand towards the door, motioning for her to get in so she did. 
As she slid over to the other side so that he could get in, she let her single
thought at that moment slip from her mouth.

“Wow.” 

She
heard him chuckle as he sat beside her. 

“First
time in one of these?”

“Yeah. 
So this is how the other half lives, huh?”

“I
never really thought about it.  It’s just transportation to me.”

Transportation. 
Riiiight
.

From
the outside, she’d just thought it was a big car.  It wasn’t until she saw
the interior that she realized it was so much more.  It was full service;
all you could probably need on a trip anywhere.  Most people only
experienced a limo maybe when they went to prom or got married.  Chelsea
didn’t even have that since she had skipped her high school prom and as of yet
had not fielded any requests for her hand in marriage that she would take
seriously.  She had always wondered why people cared when they saw these
oversized cars. 

Now
she completely understood. 

The
interior of the car --she almost felt like she was wrong to think of this
immaculate piece of work as just a car -- was mostly taken up by the beige
leather seating. Her bottom, which had reverted from full pain to a light
tingle, told her that the curved and cushioned seats were leaps and bounds more
comfortable than the couch and recliner that decorated her own living room. 

The
car told her exactly why people who had the money for luxury chose to treat
themselves.  Her eyes darted around the area taking in all of her surroundings,
from the drink area to the docking station that was stocked with several
tablets right at her fingertips.  Low, relaxing lighting set in the roof
and under the seats made it just bright enough to create a very cool
ambiance.  Almost romantic – if this were a date.  She loved
it.  A normal person could probably 
live
 in there but for
him it was simply transportation.  A place that he probably spent less
than an hour in each day.   

By
the time she’d done her self-guided tour of the limo, the door had been closed
and he’d turned his head to her, his eyes not moving from her face. 
Normally the rich guys were the last ones she would like simply because of that
I’m-better-than-you-and-we-both-know-it attitude that the few she knew were all
guilty of having but this guy was different.  Every action he took dripped
with confidence but not the annoying kind.  More like he knew who he was
and he lived as such.  

“Now
where will we be dropping you again?”  He asked.  

She
was so fascinated by this man that she’d just met that she barely managed to
squeak out her destination.  She hoped she didn’t look as silly as she
felt when she heard her own voice.  She sounded more like a nervous
thirteen-year-old talking to her lifelong crush for the first time than a woman
in her early twenties who talked to guys on a daily basis.  Lots of them
actually.   

Way
to go Chelsea.  Guy invites you in his limo and you sound like an idiot. 

He
pressed a button beside his chair and the partition that separated them from
the driver changed from transparent
to
dark
black.  He pressed another button and the driver responded, asking where
he should take them.  He gave the man the address and moments later they
were on their way.  Based on where they were and the traffic at this time
of day, she figured it would be about ten minutes to the school. 

Ten
more minutes of him.

She
tried not to stare but found herself sizing him up.  He had to be at least
six feet tall and even though he was dressed like someone that was quite a few
years her senior, she didn’t think that was the case.  His smooth, wrinkle
free skin told the story of a man that was probably her age or maybe a year
older.  Truth be told, he didn’t look too shabby wearing a business suit
over one of those form fitting slim suits.  To her he looked better than
the gazillion guys she saw on the red carpet wearing them. 

In
the middle of her internal evaluation of his looks she was nudged from her
thoughts by a soft tap on her shoulder.  Apparently he had been working to
get her attention.   

“Hello. 
Are you still with me?  Don’t tell me the effects of the fall are finally
kicking in.”

She
wondered just how long he had been smiling at her.  How long he was trying
to get into her head with his mesmerizing voice that was like a truth
serum.  She almost blurted out exactly what she had been wondering but was
lucky she had enough wits about her to hold her tongue.  She looked away
before he broke her down even more. 

“Sorry. 
I was somewhere else for a second.  What were you saying?”

His
smile curled up even more.

“Well
I’d been trying to find out who I was lucky enough to enjoy this brief ride
with today.”

“Oh
me.  My name is Chelsea.”

“You
know I have always loved that name.  It sounds so . . . I don’t
know.  Fun and beautiful at the same time.  Quite fitting if I may be
allowed to say.”

Flattery
normally didn’t work on her but his hit the spot.  More than that though,
she was surprised he was flirting with her.  With the way her day had been
going, that was the last thing she had expected.  She certainly wasn’t
complaining though.  A little positive attention never hurt.

“Thanks.  
You know because of my age a lot of people think I was named after Chelsea
Clinton but I wasn’t.”

“Really? 
I wouldn’t assume that but I guess I can understand the idea.  You were
probably born when Bill was in the White House.”

“Yep. 
First year in office actually but she doesn’t get the distinction.  My dad
actually gave me the name.  He is probably one of the biggest soccer fans
of all time and the story goes that he begged my mother to name me after his
favorite soccer club, Chelsea FC.  She said no like a gazillion times but
apparently one day she gave in and thus, a star was born.”

“Watch
out world huh?”

“Not
so much but I’m enjoying life still.”

“That’s
what matters after all.” 

He
leaned forward to the drink area and grabbed one of four glass coffee cups
siting there. 

“Well
I’m Ryder.  Chocolate?”

“Your
name is Ryder Chocolate?”  She responded playfully.

A
smile played at the corners of his lips. 

“Actually
its Chatham.  Ryder Chatham.”

“
Well
Ryder, how did you know I was a chocolate girl?”

“I
didn’t really.  Just a hunch.”

“Well
I would love that but I don’t think I’ll be in the car long enough to enjoy it
and I don’t want to waste it.”

He
reached further down to open a lower compartment and pulled out a very nice
looking traveling mug that she assumed was made out of stainless steel.

“Don’t
worry about that.  If you don’t finish it, just take it with you.”

“Oh
no Ryder, I can’t take that from you.  It’s looks expensive.”

“Chelsea,
I don’t want to sound full of myself but look around.  I won’t miss the
mug.  In fact, I’ve got several more in here just like it.”  He
opened the drawer wide enough where she could see at least five or six
more.  “In the winter I tend to drink lots of warming beverages – coffee,
tea, cider, cocoa.  Depending on the day of course.  Either way, I’m
always taking it with me because most of the meetings I go to only have the
generic packet stuff and I like them with actual real natural ingredients in
them.”

“Ok
then, if you insist.”

“That’s
it?  If I insist?  Are you telling me all this time all I had to do
was insist that you do something and you would?  I’ve wasted too much time
being courteous.  Now I wish we could start the car ride all over.”

She
laughed. 

“I
didn’t mean it like that.  My ease of agreement only applies to warm
drinks on a cold day.”

“Well
that’s good.  To be honest, I much prefer life with a bit of a challenge
to it.  Now, back to your namesake.  Have you ever had a chance to go
over and see them play?  I bet your dad tried to fly you there the first
time you were old enough to get on a plane.”

She
took the chocolate he had finished dutifully preparing for her and took a sip
from the most flavor filled, tasty hot chocolate she’d ever tasted. 

“Wow. 
Before I can respond . . . this is delicious.  Okay, I just had to say
that.  On to my dad.  No we’ve never had the chance.  As big of
a fan as my dad is, he’s never been able to afford to fly to England.”