Love's Retreat Read online

  Love’s Retreat

  By Allison Whitfield

  Copyright © 2013 Allison Whitfield

  All Rights Reserved

  Jess glanced over at the sleeping Nora. She looked so peaceful. Why was it that her best friend, and frequent traveling companion, could never stay awake for more than fifty miles? The audio book had long ago become uninteresting and was now just white noise keeping Jess company on the long drive.

  Brightwoods Retreat for Healing and Enlightenment. Jess shook her head. She’d allowed Nora to drag her to many things in their friendship but this topped the cake. Of course she had no choice, Roommate Rule 37 stated: Due to the inability of these two parties to choose who will decide social activities, a system of alternating selections will be used. Beginning alphabetically, each party will be responsible for deciding where and what an activity will be. After any given demand on the free time of the other, the second party is allowed one alternative suggestion and one opt-out per month. Participation in these activities must be non-pooty and uncomplaining. Penalty for any non-compliance will be punishable by a non-stop viewing of no less than three seasons of Little House on the Prairie. All of which meant that because Jess needed Nora to accompany her to an aunt’s birthday party two weeks ago, she was now on her way to Brightwoods Retreat for a long weekend of “Creative Enlightenment”. Jess sighed.

  Nora was a very good artist, Jess could not argue that. But while workshops are a great way to expand an artist’s abilities, writers…not so much. Jess really preferred quiet, personal environments to create her stories. From the brochure, this was not going to be lectures on query letters or finding agents or upcoming trends in fiction. Those were things Jess could use. These sessions were going to “Lead the creative mind to new enlightened directions and open the consciousness to the wonders of the world’s abundance”. Jess sighed again.

  Following a brightly painted wood sign, Jess turned down a dirt road. The bumping woke Nora. “Are we there?”

  “Close. Did you sleep well?”

  “Wonderfully, thank you.” Apparently Nora did not catch the sarcastic tone from her friend. She checked her face and hair in the visor mirror. “Isn’t this a great way to get away from the city and the jobs?” Nora knew very well that Jess didn’t want to be here and was putting the best spin on it she could.

  “Yes, green is always better, thank you.” Jess was required to agree, but she still focused on hitting every rut in the road she could.

  The narrow road opened into a gravel parking lot. There were several other cars parked in neat rows. Jess took the next space and gratefully got out of the car. She stretched her weary legs. Nora, well rested, unloaded her bags and headed to the lobby.

  “Are you going to stand there much longer?”

  Jess turned around and saw that she was standing in the way of a green convertible. She tried to think of a cutting remark but the handsome, smiling face of the driver left her mouth open and silent. She smiled apologetically and stepped closer to her car. Blinking herself back to full consciousness, Jess turned, pulled her bags from the back seat, and joined Nora in the lobby.

  Nora led the way to their cabin. The sight of the cabins encircling what was sure to be the “tribal meeting grounds for mutual bonding and marshmallow roasting” did not brighten Jess’s mood. They were small and rustic-looking, with faded wood siding, small windows, and colorful shell wind chimes. Only when she entered “Sequoia” did her spirits perk up. Everything in the cozy space made Jess feel snuggled and warm. She felt her icy attitude melt just a little bit.

  A deep gong rang. The two friends dropped off their bags and headed to the lodge for the evening meal.

  Meals were to be a communal affair, with large tables and a buffet. Jess expected this and was unperturbed when Nora brought two men to their table along with her plate of vegetarian lasagna.

  Jess recognized them as the passengers of the convertible. She judged them both to be slightly older than her. The blonde was cute with an academic appearance of button shirt, clean-shaven face, and glasses. The other would make hearts swoon with mussed black hair, neatly trimmed beard and dark brown eyes. Either one would make this event a great deal more palatable.

  “Jess, this is Ryan and Alex.” Nora placed herself strategically two seats away forcing one to sit next to Jess. “Alex is a photographer and Ryan is a writer, like you.” Nora indicated the in-between seat to Ryan (the beautiful blonde) and welcomed Alex (the dark, penetrating eyes) next to her. She immediately turned all her attention to Alex and began to inquire about his preferred styles of lighting.

  Ryan was happy to focus his attention on Jess. “Do you think these sessions are going to be a disappointment?” His smile was warm and genuine. “By this time I would hope I could form a coherent plot.”

  Even if Jess hadn’t already been drawn to the kind face and gentle blue eyes, his words were like a beam of sunshine on a dreary day. As he spoke of completed novels and the trials of editing, Jess drank in the musical tone of Ryan’s voice, the way his hair curled over his ear, and the humorous wrinkles around his eyes when he laughed. When he reached out to casually touch her arm it tingled with electricity.

  Nora only glanced once at her friend and smiled with satisfaction at the look on her face. It was worth giving up the only handsome man in the room. Though Alex was pleasant enough to look at, he just wasn’t her type. After they listened to the workshop coordinator’s welcome, Nora asked Alex to show her his cameras. They slipped away without distracting the enraptured couple next to them.

  “I find that outlining destroys the creative flow.” Jess argued with less conviction than she normally would. What she really wanted to say was that she would prefer to be outlining the curve of his jaw with her finger. “But you can’t have believable characters if there is no direction to their path through the story.” The intensity of his argument brightened his eyes and he leaned forward slightly to press his point.

  “Scripting their every move is unnatural and –” Jess’s words faltered as she inhaled the spicy cologne, “stifling to the flow of imagination.”

  Ryan leaned in closer. “You like unpredictable characters?” he whispered suggestively.

  Jess almost choked on her cherry cobbler. She was completely taken aback by the sultry innuendo and even more surprised at her desire to link her arm in his and follow him anywhere. She took a deep breath, pausing to be intoxicated by his scent. “I insist on proper character motivation.”

  “Always?” Ryan reached out and tucked a stray hair behind Jess’s ear.

  Jess’s heart nearly burst through her chest. She closed her eyes and tried to slow her breathing. “It’s wise, don’t you think?” she said hoarsely.

  Laughter brought Jess’s eyes wide open. “Hardly ever!” Ryan’s smile was both wicked and seductive. He stood and held out his hand. “Why don’t we go take a walk in the moonlight?”

  Jess hadn’t noticed that they were alone in the dining hall. She hadn’t noticed much of anything since Ryan sat down next to her. She put her hand in his and let him lead her outside. The cool evening air helped to lower the temperature of Jess’s cheeks. She shivered. Ryan opened his coat and wrapped Jess next to him. They walked slowly and silently down dirt paths and under trees.

  Jess felt on edge, exhilarated. She could feel his heartbeat quicken as she slid her arm around his waist. She was not used to this level of physical attraction and felt drunk. Jess tried to regain some control over herself and the situation. “It’s been a long day. I’d better go back to my cabin. Nora will have everything unpacked by now.”

  Ryan laughed gently, “If she’s let go of Alex. I don’t think she’ll get what she wants from him. He’s not much for weekend flings.”
>
  Jess pulled away slightly, though still in the warmth of Ryan’s coat. His words sounded harsh since she could be accused of going after the same thing. Was that what she really wanted? A cold breeze chilled the emotions she’d let catch fire. She put a hand on Ryan’s chest and pulled out of his coat. “I’d better go back to the cabin.” The hurt look in the blue eyes almost broke Jess’s resolve. “I’ll see you in the morning?”

  Ryan nodded. “Sure.”

  Jess turned and walked down the dimly lit path back to the circle of cabins.

  When Jess entered “Sequoia” the lights were off. She listened for any signs that Nora had returned and whether she brought company with her. There was only silence. She undressed in the darkness and climbed into her bunk.

  Sometime before dawn, Nora entered the cabin and turned on the lights. Jess groaned and covered her head with the quilt. The light was immediately turned off. “Sorry, I didn’t think you were here.”

  “Where did you think I’d be?” Jess grunted from under the covers.

  “With Ryan, of course. He’s quite a hunk. You two looked very engrossed in your conversation earlier and I saw you snuggled awfully close in the dark.”

  Jess’s cheeked flamed at the memory and at the tone in her friend’s voice. She fought back with her own question: “And where have you been all this time?”

  Nora climbed into her bed. “I had my own Romeo to keep me company. Sweet dreams. I know I’ll have some.”

  Jess thought of throwing a pillow at her friend. Sweet dreams were what she had been having until the lights woke her up. She really wanted to feel Ryan’s warm arms around her again. She knew it was right to return to her cabin alone but that wasn’t what she had really wanted. Jess closed her eyes and imagined being snuggled in Ryan’s warm coat. She was anxious to get back to those dreams.

  The morning gong woke Jess. She was warm and sleepy but the knowledge of seeing Ryan got her out of bed and dressed before Nora pulled her head out from under the covers. Jess gave Nora a poke before heading out the door to the dining hall.

  Though Jess wasn’t the first to arrive for breakfast, she was there before Ryan. Disappointed, she joined the line for eggs and toast and some kind of over-boiled muesli. Every time the door opened she glanced to see if Ryan was walking through it.

  “He’ll be along in a few minutes.” The deep voice behind Jess startled her. She turned and looked up at Alex. He smiled down at her. “Do you think they’ll have any bacon?”

  Jess looked down the serving table. “I doubt it.”

  “You didn’t happen to smuggle some in with you?” he joked. “I would sell my right leg for a few crispy strips.”

  Jess smiled and spooned jam on her toast. “I bet Nora would run to town and get some for you.” Did his smile fade a bit?

  “Were to talking about us?” Jess was surprised to see Ryan standing next to them, his arm around Nora. “Look who I dragged in.” Jess’s heart leapt when Ryan winked at her.

  While breakfast was being eaten, workshop assignments were handed out. Ryan leaned over and whispered to Jess, “Looks like we’re not together this morning.”

  The disappointment in his voice melted her. She tried not to be obvious about breathing in the warm spicy scent and her hand ached to reach out and stroke the smooth cheek. “No. But we are this afternoon.”

  “I’ll walk you to class.” Ryan stood and led Jess outside. “Did you dream of me last night?” he whispered once they were alone.

  Jess stumbled at the question. When he caught her and pulled her close she wasn’t sure she could speak. She blushed and nodded.

  “Good. I didn’t want to be the only one having fun dreams last night.” Ryan pulled her off the path before they reached the Meditation Well where the rest of the class gathered. “This place has a wonderful steam house just up the hill. What do you say we skip our afternoon workshop and get sweaty together?” He leaned closer, his lips brushing Jess’s cheek then up to her ear. “It’s clothing optional.” Jess had to put her hand on his chest to keep her knees from buckling. “It’s a date, then.” He pressed his lips gently against hers for a fleeting heartbeat of a moment then turned and walked up the path.

  It took several minutes for Jess to compose herself enough to take unstable steps to her morning session. She sat in the back, glad to have some quiet space. She was irritated when someone sat down next to her.

  “Didn’t want a front-row seat?”

  Jess turned, mildly irritated, and looked up to see Alex. “You always seem to be sneaking up on me.”

  He set his camera bag at his feet. “You always seem to be daydreaming. I would have thought someone in your line of work would be more observant.”

  Jess became defensive. “How do you know what I do for a living?”

  He smiled. “Nora loves to talk.”

  Jess rolled her eyes. That was so true. If Alex spent more than a few hours with her roommate, he would know everything about Nora AND her. “Well, don’t believe everything you hear.”

  “You mean you aren’t the world’s best soufflé maker?”

  “Oh, that part’s true. But I don’t sleep with a five-foot Snoopy.”

  Alex laughed. “She didn’t mention your sleeping partners.”

  Jess laughed with him. “Oh, there’s hardly any room on the bed for me. Sometimes it’s so crowded I have to get up and go sleep on the couch.” Nora always joked that she had so many stuffed animals on her bed that she’d never have room for a man.

  “I keep it down to two or three, more snuggle time with each one.”

  Jess looked up, a bit surprised. “You sleep with stuffed animals?”

  Alex looked directly into the sparkling gray eyes. “Oh, was that what you were talking about?”

  It took a moment for Jess to realize he was joking. She smacked him with her notebook when his lips curled into a smile.

  The Mentor welcomed the class and began to talk about the importance of visualization in all forms of art. Though this was an interesting topic for Jess, she could not pull her mind away from the comment Alex had made. She kept picturing him in a large bed with three scantily clad women in seductive poses. The more she thought about it, the less clothing they had on.

  “I’d like to know what you’re visualizing at the moment,” Alex whispered. “It’s got your respiration up several notches.”

  Jess blushed and glanced up to see if he was joking again. Her eyes met his. Their depth gave her insides an odd tingle. She thought she could stare into them forever. She blinked and looked away. Jess tried to concentrate on the Mentor and adjust her focus by taking detailed notes.

  When it came time for some hands-on exercises Jess wished she’d sat closer to the rest of the class. Alex was the only one near enough to work with. “Face your partner,” the elderly woman intoned. “Think of an object, close your eyes, and describe the object using only adjectives. Include all the senses.”

  Jess turned to face Alex. “You go first.”

  He closed his eyes. “Round,” he said with a smile on his face, “plump, firm, glistening.” The smile got bigger. Jess liked the crinkle around his eyes. “Smooth, slightly sweet, musky, earthy, beige to peachish.” The grin got even bigger.

  Jess slapped Alex with her notebook again. “Yes, cantaloupe, very amusing.”

  Alex opened his eyes and laughed. “Your turn.” His voice had a note of dare in it.

  Jess could play this game. She closed her eyes. “Long, firm, warm, meaty.” She paused, brow wrinkled.

  “Is that all?”

  “Shhh! Salty, juicy,” she laughed, “peppery, tight-skinned.”

  Alex cleared his throat a bit. “Bratwurst?”

  Jess looked up at him. “Why, are you German?” She enjoyed the shocked look on his face. “Footlong or Little Smokie?” Jess batted her eyelashes innocently.

  Alex shook his head. “You’re going to get yourself in trouble talking like that.” He put his hand gently on her knee.
“Be careful.” The gentle, serious tone shook Jess. “Shall we try this for real? There does seem to be some use for this exercise.” He closed his eyes. “Cool and lightly breezy, salty on the lips…”

  Jess watched the calm face. The chin was strong and nicely covered in a short dark beard with touches of red. The dark hair was uncombed, almost wild with slight curls. The deep rhythmic tone of his voice was rich and soothing.

  Alex paused. He opened his eyes and stared into Jess’s. He expected to see humor in her gaze but saw something more intense. His brow furrowed. “I was describing the wind on the beach,” he explained as Jess hadn’t guessed.

  Jess tried to recover. “Do you live on the coast?”

  He nodded. “I have a cottage near the ocean.”

  Jess pulled her eyes from his. “How wonderful, I love the ocean,” she tried to make up for her lack of attention. “Is it right on the beach?”

  “It’s up above the drift line, out of harm’s way. It has enough height to have a nice view and to keep random beachcombers from looking in.”

  “Sounds wonderful,” she said honestly.

  Alex smiled with pride. “It is. The sound of the waves is so calming and a walk at sunset is heaven.”

  Jess nodded in agreement. “I like to wiggle my toes in the warm sand.” And walk hand-in-hand with my love and fall into the ocean to have wild sex, but she couldn’t say that aloud. She took a deep breath and brought her mind back to the present. “I don’t get to the beach very often.”

  “Maybe the future will bring more trips for you.”

  “Now, group,” the Mentor interrupted, “find a single word to replace all those your partner used.”

  Jess thought for a moment. Should she describe what he intended or what he implied? “Musky-sweet.”

  “That’s two words. But well done. Alex leaned in close, close enough for Jess to feel the warmth of his skin and catch a hint of his musky scent. He whispered one word that made Jess turn bright red: “Ample.”

  Jess was at a loss for a comeback for a moment then a grin spread over her face. “More than a mouthful is a waste.”