Still Fine at Forty (3 page)

“I know,” she said. “But I just can’t make it. You’ll have to go without me.”

“But I don’t want to go without you. I don’t really want to go at all.”

Then it hit me. The older guy at the bar last night. They had a moment.

“You little slut,” I said playfully.

“You won’t love me any other way,” she said.

“Will I see you for lunch?”

“The Jeep tour includes a picnic lunch. But I’ll see you for dinner. I’ve already got reservations. Have fun!” And with that, she was gone.

I thought about me alone with some Jeep tour guide on a picnic. Ugh. He was probably older, balding, with a paunch.
And probably married. That would be just my luck. It’s only one day, I told myself. Surely, it won’t be that bad.

***

I stood in the circular drive right outside the hotel waiting for the Jeep guy to arrive. Mel told me his name was Cody. What kind of name was that, anyway? I imagined some kind of cowboy. Not something I ever found remotely attractive.

I was starting to get a little nervous. I had never actually ri
dden in a Jeep before. My ex thought vehicles like that were dangerous. He was probably right. What was I doing here? The things I let Mel talk me into.

A few minutes later, a black Jeep pulled up next to me. On the side of it in gold lettering were the words Jim Miller Jeep Tours. A young man hopped out of the driver’s side and walked up to me.

He was tall, about six feet, and had wonderful wavy brown hair bleached slightly by the sun. Dark sunglasses covered his eyes.

When he came to a stop in front of me, he crossed his mu
scular arms over his chest. When I glanced up, I thought I saw the sides of his mouth curl into a slight grin.

“Waiting for a tour?” he asked, still looking down at me.

With his arms crossed, the black tee shirt he was wearing drew tightly across his broad shoulders. As I glanced down, I noticed he was wearing slightly faded but nicely fitting black jeans. Very nicely fitting. Wow, I thought. How was I going to spend an entire day with this guy? He exuded pure masculinity and sexuality. I could barely take standing next to him. He made me extremely nervous. Or maybe I was getting turned on? It had been so long since my “on” button was flipped, I had forgotten what it felt like.

“Are you Mel?” he asked trying to draw my attention away from his—jeans.

I looked up, now a bit embarrassed. “No, Mel can’t make it. It’s just me today.”

“Okay,” he said. “She prepaid for two.”

“Don’t worry. She knows she’ll lose the extra fee she paid.”

He was still looking down at me. “Do I look worried?” I wished he wasn’t wearing those damn sunglasses because I couldn’t read his eyes.

I tried to speak, but no words came out. What was wrong with me? This man, this very young, absolutely gorgeous and incredibly sexy man, left me, an English teacher, without words.

I shook my head.

He held out a hand. “I’m Cody Miller,” he said.

I took his hand and there was a palpable energy exchange b
etween us. A shiver ran down my spine. We held each other’s grip a bit too long.

“Jennifer Ellis,” I said, then quickly removed my hand from his. 

His expression changed very slightly and I swore he glanced down at my left hand. Was he trying to figure out if I was wearing a wedding ring? That’s ridiculous, I thought. Why would this gorgeous and very young man care if I was married? I was…forty.

He had a strange look on his face. It was as if he was trying to figure something out. I pointed to the name on the side of the Jeep.
“Any relation to Jim Miller?” I asked.

“You could say that,” he replied. 

As he turned, I couldn’t help but look at his assets in those tight-fitting jeans. It was not like me at all to ogle any man’s backside, but what an incredible backside it was. He walked back over to the driver’s side of the Jeep and hopped in.

I stood on the curb, immobilized. I couldn’t believe how r
idiculous I was being. I felt like a fourteen-year-old girl with a crush. A crush? How was that even possible? The guy was definitely too young for me. He looked younger than thirty. He was probably ten years younger than me…at least. I couldn’t have feelings for a man that young. I wasn’t a cougar. Was I?

He glanced my way. “Are you coming?” he asked.

I willed my feet to move and made it to the passenger side of the Jeep.

“Be careful climbing in,” he said.

I cautiously stepped up and into the passenger seat. That’s not too bad, I thought.

When I looked over at Cody, I noticed he was looking in my direction. Was he staring at me? It was hard to tell with those damn sunglasses.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“It’s hard to see you with those sunglasses on,” I admitted and was immediately embarrassed.

He flipped the sunglasses up so they rested on the top of his head. He had the most incredible brown eyes I had ever seen. They were deep and dark, almost like espresso. When our eyes met, it sent shivers down my entire body. Like tiny earthquakes. I had never felt anything like it before. Not even with Rob.

“You’ll need to buckle up. There’s some pretty rough terrain out there. I don’t want you to fall out of the Jeep.”

I stared at the seatbelt nearly immobilized. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Cody. There was something so completely magnetic about him. But it was more than that. I felt overwhelmingly drawn to him and I couldn’t figure out why.

“Want some help?” he asked.

I nodded, because I was still having trouble getting any words out. Not. Me. At. All.

“Before I buckle you in, do you have a
scrunchie?”

I frowned.

“The thing girls pull their hair back with?”

I hadn’t even thought about bringing a hair tie or even a hat.
So much for being prepared. I shook my head.

“I’ve gotcha covered,” he said. “Just open the glove box.”

I did as he said. The right side of his glove box was filled with a rainbow of different colored scrunchies.

“Grab whatever color you’d like,” he offered.

I hesitated. “Are they used?” I asked and wrinkled my nose up a bit.

He laughed.
“Of course not. Girls use them and take them home with them. I restock every few weeks.”

I reached over and grabbed a light blue
scrunchie and tied my hair back with it.

I could feel Cody’s gaze on me. I glanced over and his was staring at me intently. “I would have pegged you for a pink
scrunchie kind of girl.”

“No, I’m definitely blue,” I said, then realized the double meaning in my words.

He nodded as if he understood my underlying meaning.

Then he reached right over me and grabbed the seat belt. Our bodies were so close, I could smell him. He smelled fresh and
clean with a hint of cinnamon. I was entranced. As he placed the seatbelt over my chest, another bolt of electricity moved through my entire body. When I looked up, his eyes were glued on me. There was so much sexual tension in the air between us it was almost unbearable. I didn’t realize I had so much want, so much need, so much lust, inside me. This guy had reignited a passion in me that I thought might have been lost for good.

The undercurrent between us finally subsided a bit after he buckled my seatbelt. I wasn’t going anywhere.

“So, does everyone call you Jennifer?” he asked. I was surprised by the question.

“Almost everyone.
My friend, Mel, the one who made the reservations for this tour, calls me Jen.”

“No one calls you Jenny?”

I scoffed. “Never.”

“Why not?”

“Do I look like a Jenny to you?”

When I looked over at Cody, he had a childlike glint in his eye.

“Jenny’s are playful and fun-loving. And sexy.”

I laughed. “Then I’m definitely not a Jenny.”

“I think you are. You just don’t know it yet.”

I couldn’t remember the last time I was playful, or fun-loving.
Maybe third grade? But wait, did he really call me sexy?

“Okay, Jenny, are you ready for an adventure?”

“You’ve got me strapped into this thing. I guess I’d better be,” I responded.

Cody put his sunglasses back down over his eyes and we were off.

Three

The Jeep ride was a bit rougher than I expected, especially when we went off road. I hung on to the sides of my seat so hard I was surprised my knuckles weren’t turning white.

Cody looked over at me and chuckled. “Is my driving that bad?”

“No,” I managed to say. “The terrain is a bit more rugged that I thought it would be.”

Cody grinned. “It usually is.”

He wasn’t instilling much confidence in me. I hoped if he rolled the vehicle, he would be willing to come to my rescue and save me. I had a brief fantasy of him scooping me into his arms and holding me tight. Then I ordered myself to snap out of it. Cody was out of my league in so many ways. He was young, gorgeous, sexy-as-hell. What would he ever want with a 40-year-old divorcée?

“Our first stop is Bear Wallow Canyon,” he informed me.

***

When he finally stopped the Jeep, the view nearly took my breath away. The photos I had seen of the place did not do it justice. The red rock cliffs were like nothing I had ever seen before.

“Let’s get out and look around,” he said as he hopped out of the Jeep.

I unbuckled, but before I could get out, Cody grabbed my arm and helped me out.

“Thanks,” I said. He still had a hold on my elbow as he met my gaze. His sunglasses were flipped up so I could see his gorgeous brown eyes again. One look from Cody and my heart fluttered.

“Better get your camera out,” he suggested as he released me from his grip. “I can take a shot of you in front of the landscape.”

I was suddenly embarrassed. Why had I not thought to bring a camera?

“You do have a camera, don’t you?”

I shook my head.

Cody grinned. “No problem,” he said. “Just make sure I get your email address, so I can send you the shots I take.”

He removed a smartphone from his pocket. “Stand right here,” he said as he headed close to the edge of the abyss. It was a long way down.

I stood where he had directed and he backed up a several feet and put his phone up to his eye. “Say Cheese Burrito.”

That made me laugh
. He snapped the shot before I even had a chance to pose. When I walked over to him, I saw that he was looking at the photo he had just taken. He grinned.

When I got close enough to see the photo he’d taken, I was appalled. I looked like a complete fool.

“That’s a great shot,” he mused.

“It is not,” I countered. “You snapped it before I was even ready.”

“I prefer more natural photos. You look so carefree and happy in this one. I like it.”

Me?
Carefree and happy? Those weren’t two words that had described me in years.

“I think you’ll really like the next stop, too.
Back into the Jeep.”

Cody took me to the volcanic Mogollon Rim Trail, which was equally impressive. We stopped several times along the loop for photos and Cody continued to take candid shots, which I thought were dorky but he really seemed to like. It had been a long time since I kicked back and had fun. It felt good. And the company was more than fine.

“I’ve got one more place to take you before lunch,” Cody said. “It’s one of my favorites.”

When we arrived at the Chapel of the Holy Cross, I was i
mpressed. Completed in 1956, the Roman Catholic chapel was actually built into the buttes. A giant cross appeared to support the building as it seems to rise out from the rock. The entire place was framed with picturesque red rocks. One of the rock formations resembled the Madonna and Child surrounded by praying nuns.

Outside the Chapel, I took in the spectacular view of the va
lley 200 feet below. I closed my eyes and allowed the slight breeze to warm my face. When I opened my eyes again, I caught Cody staring at me from a few yards away. The sun made the waves of his beautiful brown hair glisten. He walked over to join me as I took in the magnificent view. It was a view that made it more obvious why so many people loved Sedona.

He stood so close to me that my heart began to race. I chided myself for acting like a schoolgirl. I thought about all of the raging hormones in my classroom. I had a little more sympathy now for my high school students.

When Cody touched my shoulder, it sent a bolt of electricity through my body.

“Gorgeous, isn’t it?” he asked.

I nodded.

“I feel so at peace whenever I come up here.”

When I looked at Cody, he had a lovely grin on his face. I enjoyed seeing him happy. For a split second, his smile seemed so familiar to me, it gave me goose bumps. I tried to shake off the feeling. “I’m falling in love with this chapel,” I said.

“Me, too,” he admitted. “It would be a lovely place to get married, if they allowed weddings. And if I found the right person to tie the knot with.”

“Finding the right person is the difficult part,” I said wistfully.

“Not married?” he asked. He seemed surprised.

I shook my head.

He looked puzzled.
“Why not?”

I could feel my face turning red.

“If you don’t want to…”

“It’s okay,” I managed to say. I took a deep breath and co
ntinued. “I was married. For a long time. To my college sweetheart.”

“What happened?” His inquiry seemed genuine, so I conti
nued.

“He traded me in for a new model.” I gave Cody a false smile, but when I looked back at him he wasn’t smiling back. He
eyes turned dark. I wasn’t sure what he was going to say. I couldn’t gauge his reaction.

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” he said finally. “What was your ex’s name?”

“Rob McMann,” I answered with a bit of sadness I wasn’t expecting. “Why do you ask?”

“I think Rob
McMann is a complete and total idiot,” he said.

I gave a half smile. “He’s a tenured university professor, so I don’t think you can call him an idiot.
An asshole, maybe.”

“Any man, who would give you up, is an idiot,” he said fir
mly.

When I gave him a smile of appreciation, I could see his eyes dance a bit.

***

By mid-afternoon, I was starving. Cody must have sensed my hunger because he glanced over and asked if I wanted to stop for lunch. I nodded.

“Great, I know just the place,” he said and smiled.

We drove to what looked like a secluded location along Oak Creek. The scene was idyllic. It reminded me of a Thomas
Kinkade painting. He grabbed a blanket from the back of the Jeep and handed it to me.

“Do you mind carrying this?”

“Not at all,” I said as I took the blanket into my arms.

Cody then grabbed a picnic basket from the Jeep.

“This is such a romantic spot for a picnic,” I said without thinking. I could feel myself blush as Cody turned to look at me. He gave me a wicked little grin.

“I didn’t mean romantic between you and me,” I said quickly, trying to backtrack and cover my mistake. “I just meant romantic in general.”

“I know what you meant and you’re right. It is romantic.” His eyes danced as he looked at me. I gulped. I knew I had to stop thinking of Cody in any romantic way. He was way too young to date 40-year-old me.

“There’s a nice flat spot right by the creek,” he said.

I followed him down to the creek’s edge. He put the picnic basket down then helped me spread out the blanket. The spot he picked was partially nested in the trees but allowed enough sunlight for it to still feel warm. We both took places on the blanket so we were facing each other.

“I hope you like what I packed,” he said. “I try to bring a v
ariety of items.”

I smiled in appreciation. “I’m sure I’ll love it.” 

He opened the basket and removed a box. “Tuscan style flatbreads and Focaccia Crisp Crackers,” he said. Then he removed a cheese tray. “Provolone, Havarti Jack and Gouda.” Then he took out a two other items. “Chipotle Salmon Pâté and Summer Sausage.”

“Sounds great.”
I licked my lips in anticipation.

He then removed a tray that looked like it had assorted fruits. “Strawberries, grapes and kiwi,” he said. “And, finally…” He removed a bottle of Chardonnay and a wine glass. “I hope you like white.”

“I love it,” I said. “Thanks.”

He opened the wine and served me a glass. “Aren’t you going to have any?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No drinking on the job.”

Everything was so perfect and
lovely, I had momentarily forgotten he was being paid to escort me. I realized that was probably the reason he was being so nice. I was fooling myself into thinking he was attracted to me. He was just doing his job.

We both munched on the items he had packed. They were all delicious.

“So, did you pick everything out or is it pre-packed for you?” I asked.

“I do all my own picnic packing,” he answered.

“Great selection.”

He nodded. “It’s taken me a while to perfect. The most diff
icult thing was getting the best cheese and cracker combination.”

I smiled. He obviously took a lot of care and pride in what he did.

I took another sip of my wine and relaxed letting the sunlight shine on my face. It felt so warm. I took a deep breath and relaxed.

“It’s peaceful here, isn’t it?” Cody asked. I opened my eyes and glanced at him. He gave me a sly smile.

“And you’re very good company.” I don’t know why I felt so comfortable with Cody. He felt so familiar to me. If I believed in reincarnation, I would have sworn we had known each other in another life.

We continued to look at each other. His gaze was so strong, I felt like he was looking through me.

“So, I’ve told you a few things about my personal life. What about you?” I asked.

He grinned. “What about me?”

“Why don’t you have a girlfriend?”

He shrugged. “Not a lot of time. But I’d make time if it was someone like you.”

I gulped. Maybe he was flirting with me. It was so hard to tell. I didn’t have much experience in that area. Scratch that. I didn’t have any experience in that area. 

He hesitated for a moment, then leaned back and said, “If you want to know the truth, I think I scare a lot of women off. I’ve been told I’m too intense.”

He couldn’t be serious. Looking the way he looked—I pictured him with hoards of admirers.

“You think I’m kidding.” His eyes turned serious. I could feel a knot in my stomach starting to develop. He continued, “I kind of vacillate between being a brooding artist and an asshole.”

I wasn’t sure I liked that response at all. A brooding artist I might be able to handle, but I already had my share of asshole with Rob.

Cody’s gaze was penetrating. It sent shivers through my e
ntire body. I could sense he was waiting for a response, but no words would come out of my mouth. What was wrong with me? I was never at a loss for words. I couldn’t be when I stood in front of a room full of teenagers for a living.

I could absolutely melt in Cody’s eyes. I wondered if he had that effect on all the ladies. “So, does that mean you’re the love ’
em and leave ’em type?” I finally got the courage to ask, although I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer.

I chuckled. “I may have broken a few hearts,” he replied. I thought he might have been underestimating just a bit.

He leaned back on his elbows and stared at me. His gaze was so powerful, I felt like he was undressing me with his eyes. It sent shivers through me again. The man exuded pure sexuality. There was no doubt he was an alpha male in every way. As I took in every inch of his masculinity, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had met him before. But that was ridiculous. How would the two of us have met?

Oh, God…I had the sudden realization that he was young enough to have been one of my students. I quickly scanned my memory banks. I couldn’t remember ever having a student named Cody. I didn’t always remember faces, especially when people changed so much after high school, but I had a good memory for names. No, no boys named Cody. I was reasonably sure I was safe in that department. Not that I would ever, in a million years, consider dating a former student. It had an almost incestuous feel to it.

When I looked back over at Cody, I noticed his eyes were still on me. I wished I could read his expression. He was right about one thing—he was definitely intense.

“So,” he said finally, “What do you do when you’re not on vacation?”

I relaxed a bit and said, “I’m a high school English teacher.”

There was an almost imperceptible change in the air between us as the words hung in the air. His deep eyes grew even deeper, if that was possible. I wondered what I had said that shifted things. Did he not like English teachers? Our profession did take a bit of a bad rap.

I tried to lighten the mood a bit. “I have a dog, too.”