Day Without End 3

Richie drove to the parking area and he and Nonnie got out and walked down to the beach and removed their shoes he held her hand, “How far is this place you got?”

“Just beyond those rocks, there’s nothing back there no houses or anything. I call it my private beach I’ve never taken anyone there before.”

“Are you um dating anyone?”

“Not that it’s any of your business but…no. I have a few friends I go out with to dinner or to a concert but that’s all.”

“You said you got burnt one time.”

“Yes I did, I was young and thought I was in love.”

“What happened?”

“It became ugly, Richie…you should know how that happens.”

“Yeah, I guess I do,” They walked out in the water Richie rolling up his pants and Nonnie holding up her skirt until they got around the rocks. “Tide must be coming in.”

“We may have to swim back,”

“Or climb rocks,” she looked at him sideways.

“Oh yeah, you might not want to swim.” They leaned against the rocks finding a place for their shoes to stay dry.

“Do you have any idea why I said that?”

“I think so, you don’t trust me.”

“You’ve never given me a reason to trust you, I saw you come home this morning when I was watering the plants outside my shop. You came home with Libby Tyler and now…here you are with me…are we on some kind of revolving schedule is that what you do?”

“Look um about Libby…”

“You don’t owe me an explanation, in fact I don’t want to hear it…any of it. It didn’t make me angry but it did make me wonder about you. How you can be so casual with her and now with me.”

“It’s not what you think…”

“Oh I think it is, I told you I didn’t want to be a notch on your belt…I meant it.”

“I guess we aren’t going swimming.”

Nonnie laughed and moved away from him walking a little ways down the beach. He watched her and then followed her.

“Nonnie, we don’t have to swim,” he caught her in his arms.

“We’re both adults Richie sooner or later…we’re going to swim but not tonight, I like you a lot,” she traced his lips with a finger, “but I’m a little afraid of you if you want the truth. You’re a breaker of hearts, a love them and leave them kind of guy. Not my type at all.”

“Maybe I haven’t found a reason not to.”

“You’ve been married what…twice? You couldn’t find it there and you think I would believe that you’d find it in me. You aren’t even looking for a reason and if you saw it you’d run.” Nonnie broke away from him and walked to the edge of the water letting it lap over her feet. She was drawn to him, she wanted him but on her terms because he didn’t have any terms. Tomorrow it could be Libby’s turn again…no.

Richie walked up behind her and put his arms around her waist pulling her against him, he bent down and kissed her neck letting his hands wander up and cupping her breasts. She leaned her head back on his chest and closed her eyes.

“I’m not running,” he said in her ear.

“Take me home.”

“Nonnie…”

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes, “It would be so easy Richie…I want you to take me home, I’ve enjoyed the evening and dinner was very nice.”

“Nonnie,” he turned her around, “I don’t want the day to end.”

“I know you’d like to make love to me, I should never have brought you here to my private beach, I’ll never be able to swim naked here again for fear you’ll be hidden in the bushes back there and even if you aren’t…you will be. I’m not going to set myself up to be hurt and I can see where this is going. We’re just getting to know one another Richie. If we start out in bed where is there for it to go? What if I fall in love with you knowing what you are and who you are…no…I’m not going to do that to myself…let me go…take me home.”

She broke away and ran back for her shoes.

“You’re afraid of it aren’t you?” he called after her

“You’re damned right I am and so should you be.”

He walked back toward her, “I’ve told you how much you scare me, yeah I am afraid of you too. I don’t know what I can do, Nonnie. I can’t make you any promises.”

“Promises are meant to be broken I don’t want any. Don’t ever promise me anything,” she looked down at her shoes in her hand.

“Okay, no promises…let’s just see where it goes, yeah I want to make love to you. I want to spend time with you, get to know you better. Tonight was the first time we’ve been out together I want to take you places do things with you, have a little fun. I just want to be with you, Nonnie.”

Nonnie turned and put her shoes back on the rock and unbuckled her belt and lay it up there, not looking at him at all she undressed and walked toward the water. Richie stood there with his hands on his hips not sure if she wanted him with her or not. He leaned against the rocks while she walked deeper into the water. She went under and came back up and turned toward him.

“Come swim with me,” she called out and Richie began removing his clothes.