Never Close Enough Read online

  He was wearing another black shirt. This one buttoned up the front and he rolled up the long sleeves up to just below his elbows. There was obviously no shirt on the planet that could make his arms look bad. She was totally and completely out of her element and throwing herself into a situation with a man who was so good looking; it could only mean trouble.

  “Hey Ella, glad you could make it.” She saw him look at her, and definitely saw his eyes move up and down her body, finally settling on her face. “You ready to get that drink?”

  “I am definitely ready for a drink. Let’s go.” They turned and started for the door. “Did you work today?” She asked.

  “Well, sort of. I worked on my own project. So it’s not a paid job and I only work on it on my free time. But it’s work.”

  “What is it?” She eyed him curiously.

  “A boat,” he said as he opened the door for her. She felt his hand cup the small of her back as she walked through the door and it made her stomach drop. That was a very date-like thing for him to do.

  “You’re building a boat? Like, a boat boat?”

  “Yeah, I am.”

  “Hmm. That’s impressive. Is it a small boat? Big boat?”

  “It’s not terribly small. It’s a twenty-five foot sailboat. Built it from scratch.”

  She cocked an eyebrow at him. “I stand corrected. That’s very impressive.”

  He smiled at her, “It keeps me busy. What did you do today?”

  “A whole lot of nothing. Took a very relaxing bath, and then read on the beach for a while. Nothing fancy.”

  Ella followed him up to a small table in the center of the bar. He motioned for her to sit at one of the chairs, and he leaned down next to her with his mouth right next to her ear. “I am going to head to the bar. What can I get for you?”

  “I will take a Long Island, please,” she managed to squeak out, shivers running throughout her body, terribly affected by his breath on her ear.

  “Sure thing.”

  He headed for the bar and it took every ounce of self-control to not watch him walk away. She didn’t need any more reasons to be attracted to Porter. She had more than enough to deal with at the moment. She was concentrating very hard on looking straight ahead when a man sat down in Porter’s chair. She glanced up at him and gave him a confused look. He was about her age with blonde, thin hair creeping out from underneath a greasy trucker hat.

  “Hey there, sweetie. Haven’t seen you around here before,” he said with a grimy smile plastered on his face. “I would remember seeing a hot little thing like you running around town. My name’s Josh. What’s yours?”

  Politeness won out as she introduced herself, “My name’s Ella.”

  “Well, Ella, that’s a pretty hot name. It matches your hot little body. Why are you here all by yourself? Let’s get out of here and I’ll show you a real good time.”

  Ella opened her mouth to tell him off, but was cut off by Porter’s voice.

  “Walk away now, Josh,” he said quietly but with force. “Get up and walk away.”

  “What’s your problem, Porter? This one belong to you?” Josh asked with a smirk.

  “She doesn’t belong to anyone, but she sure as shit didn’t come here to get hit on by some drunk, middle-aged, in-need-of-a-shower townie. If you know what’s good for you, just walk away.”

  Josh stood up and took a few steps closer to Porter, so their faces were only inches apart. Porter didn’t budge. “You think you are so much better than all of us, Porter? Don’t be fooled, man. You’re a townie, too. So you better just watch who your flinging insults at.” Josh turned and walked out of the bar.

  “Are you ok, Ella?” He asked as he set the drinks down on the table. “I am sorry about Josh. He’s been a jackass for as long as I can remember. Don’t let him get to you. He won’t be back.”

  “I’m fine,” she offered him a small smile. “I was just about to tell him to go to hell, but you kind of took care of that for me.”

  “I’m sorry if I stepped over some sort of line here. But honestly, I can’t blame the guy for trying to hit on you. As soon as you got out of your car tonight, I knew I was going to have a hard time keeping you to myself. You look amazing.”

  Ella wasn’t sure she’d heard him right, but she was pretty sure they had crossed over into a date-like territory. She could definitely play this game with him. “Your chivalrous nature shows its face again. Twice in one day, I must have done something good to deserve the attention of such a gentleman.”

  “Oh, you’ve got my attention, all right,” he said with a half grin.

  “Good,” she said with a shy smile. “So how long has your mom owned this bar?”

  Porter took a pull from his beer before he answered. “When I was twelve my dad died. A few months later my mom got a check from his life insurance and she used part of it to buy this place. It was in terrible shape, so my mom and I worked for a few months to get it open. So I guess she’s had the place for about twenty years now.”

  “I am sorry about your dad. That must have been hard on you, being so young.”

  “It got easier as time went by. I think the hardest part was just how sudden it was. We never had a chance to say goodbye at all. He was driving down the highway here in town. A logging truck took a turn too sharp. Flipped over right onto my dad’s truck. He never saw it coming.”

  “That’s terrible,” Ella said softly.

  “Yeah, but it happened and we made it through. I don’t think my mom will ever move on, though. I mean, she hasn’t ever been on a date in twenty years. I think she’s still madly in love with him. She flirts with the customers all the time, but not seriously. Sometimes I wish she would date again, that way maybe she’s stop focusing on my love life,” he gave a small grin.

  “She obviously just wants you to be happy,” Ella said, “and she obviously thinks the world of you.”

  “Yeah, well, I can tell by the way she’s looking at you that she thinks you’re pretty special, too,” Porter said pointing with his beer towards the bar. Ella looked over and saw Tilly with a giant smile on her face looking right at the two of them. Ella laughed and gave a small wave in Tilly’s direction. Tilly winked at Ella and then went back to her customers.

  “So, tell me how you’ve managed to remain single all these years,” Ella asked, looking down at her drink, a little embarrassed to be asking such a personal question.

  “That’s simple. I never met a woman who held my attention or who I wanted to pursue seriously. I’ve dated here and there, but usually it’s just one or two dates at most before I lose interest.”

  Ella laughed a little, “Ok, so if I never hear from you again, I shouldn’t take it personally?”

  “Do you want to hear from me again?” He asked looking her right in the eyes, suddenly serious. His question caught her off guard. She wasn’t used to men being so forward or up front with her.

  “I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” She said looking right back at him.

  “Ella, I don’t want to push you, given your circumstance, but there is no way I am letting you leave tonight without knowing that I’ll get to see you while you’re in town. I know you just broke up with your ex, and part of my head is telling me you’re off limits because of it, but most of me is just really happy that you pulled into this parking lot last night. I can’t ignore that.”

  Ella took in a sharp breath and managed to respond with a breathy, “I’d like that.” This was all a little crazy, but she couldn’t help it. Porter was openly and obviously interested in her, and for once she wasn’t going to question what she was feeling; she was going to trust herself and her instincts. He was responsible, treated his mom well, and was sexy as hell. A lethal trifecta. She could spend a few days getting to know him while she was here. No harm, no foul.

  Chapter Six

  Porter

  There had been no words to describe the instant possessive feelings that had come over him when he turned and saw Josh droolin
g all over Ella. He wasn’t a violent man, and would avoid confrontation usually, but at that moment he wasn’t opposed to physically removing Josh from the bar. Luckily for him, Josh made the right decision and left Ella alone. The moment Ella had stepped out of her car, Porter had known he was a goner. She looked amazing with her hair curled around her face, and she was wearing those damn boots that made her legs and ass look spectacular. Porter knew he was in for a rough night of playing it cool, and being the gentleman, but all bets where off when he caught another man looking at her. He would be the only one to talk to her while they were together.

  They had a few drinks and it became clear to Porter she was having the same visceral attraction to him. He caught her eyes roaming over his arms a few times, and she always gave him a sweet smile whenever he locked eyes with her. The red color of her sweater was making her blue eyes almost glimmer. “So,” Porter took a drink of his beer, “I’ve told you about my family; let’s hear about yours.”

  “Well, there’s not a whole lot to tell. My mom and dad are still married and they still live in the same house they have lived in all my life. My mom works for a school district on the board of directors, and my dad use to be the CEO of a marketing company in Portland. He retired a few years back and now just spends most of his time hiking and fishing. I have a little sister, Megan, and she and her fiancé live near Portland, too.”

  “Do you and your sister get along?”

  “I guess you could say that. There is 8 years between us, so we were never really at the same stage in life. I have no idea why my parents had us so far apart. I think she might have been a surprise,” she laughed a little. “Megan is really sweet and good at of a lot of things. But I think she really just wants to be married and have a family. She met her fiancé, Patrick, in college and they’ve been inseparable ever since. They will both graduate from college this June and then they plan on getting married next Spring.” Ella took another sip of her drink. “She always knew what she wanted and she just went after it. She’s fearless that way.” The description of her sister made him smile.

  “You’re pretty fearless, too. You got into a car with a complete stranger last night and let him drive you home. Then you let him into your house that had no lights. He could have really taken advantage of you,” he said with a smirk.

  “Hey, that was alcohol-fueled desperation, mixed with a little stupidity, I suppose.”

  “Well, consider yourself lucky. If I hadn’t been here to help you, another man would have helped you out, and I’m definitely the best looking man in town,” he said, trying to feign cockiness.

  “Oh, really? Lucky me then. I guess I got the better end of the deal.”

  “I don’t know about that. I got a pretty good deal, too. I mean, you’re here with me, right? I may be the best looking man in town, but there’s never been a more beautiful woman in this bar.” Porter watched as a very slow smile moved across Ella’s face and a small blush filled her cheeks. Her smile made his heart beat faster and the lightness he felt from it was addictive. He felt that given the opportunity he would do anything to see her smile. He took another pull from his beer.

  “You know,” Ella took a sip of her drink, “if you keep saying sweet things like that and I’m going to start thinking this is a date.” She put her drink down but kept her eyes on Porter.

  “You think this should be a date?”

  “No. I just ended a very long relationship and you’re a handsome stranger. I don’t think this should be a date. But I think it feels like a date and I think I want it to be a date.”

  Porter definitely wanted a date with Ella. “Listen, I want it to be a date, too. But when I date women, I pick them up and we go someplace nice, not a bar.”

  “You don’t like your mom’s bar?” She seemed surprised.

  “That’s not what I meant, but there is something to be said for not having your mom spy on you while you’re out with an attractive woman. It’s usually a mood killer.”

  “Usually?”

  “Let’s just say there’s little in this world that I think could distract me from you. So, even though my mom is probably behind the bar telling all her customers about us, I couldn’t care less and would stay here if it’s what you wanted.” Ella’s eyes wandered to the bar. He saw her smile and he knew that he was right about his mom.

  “She does look a little preoccupied by us,” she said as she looked back at him. “Ok. I’m game. When and where is this date going to happen? I’m here all week,” she winked at him.

  “Are you doing anything tomorrow night?”

  “Looks like I’m going on a date with you.”

  “Great.” His smile widened as satisfaction rolled through him.

  “Let me see your phone,” she said as she held out her hand to him. Porter gave her a strange look, but once he handed it over he realized she was programming her phone number into it. “There, now you can call me if anything comes up or you need to cancel or something.”

  “That was slick,” he smirked at her, laughing. “I have never gotten a woman’s phone number without even asking before.”

  “I’m sorry. Was that too forward? I haven’t given my phone number to a man in years. I guess I didn’t even think about it.” She looked worried.

  “No, I am glad you gave me your number, but I won’t be canceling on you,” he said with promise. He kept his eyes on hers hoping she understood how much he wanted their date to happen.

  “Ok, well, use it if you need to.”

  “I will,” Porter paused. “Do you mind if I ask you about the guy?” Ella was mid-sip and coughed a little bit at his question.

  “You mean Kyle?”

  “Yes. The ex.”

  “Um, ok. What do you want to know?”

  “Well, how long were you together?”

  “Four years.”

  “Wow, that’s a long time.”

  “Yes, it is. It is the longest I’ve ever been with someone. Seems like kind of a waste of time now. What’s your longest relationship?”

  “Right after I graduated from high school I dated a girl for a little over a year. I wasn’t a very good boyfriend. Eventually she realized that and dumped me.”

  “What made you such a terrible boyfriend?”

  “I guess I just didn’t give her all the attention she wanted or deserved. I’ve found it very difficult in the past to move past the ‘get to know you’ stage of a relationship. She wanted more, and I couldn’t give it to her at the time.” Ella tilted her head to the side and smirked at him.

  “Her loss,” she smiled.

  “Nah, the next guy she dated she was with for a few years and eventually they got married. I like to think of myself as a stepping stone to her happily ever after.” Ella wrinkled up her nose at his words.

  “It sounds so sad and pathetic when you say it like that. I get the feeling you enjoy your bachelorhood. I don’t buy into your pity party.”

  “Well, you’re right and you’re wrong. I enjoy being a bachelor, but only because none of the women I’ve ever met have I wanted to spend more than a few evenings with, and I’m ok being alone. I guess it’s going to take a special person to grab my attention and hold on.” Porter took another drink of his beer. “And you live with this Kyle guy? What are you going to do about that?”

  “I asked him to move out of our apartment while I’m here at the beach. I guess that might have been a little harsh, and come to think of it, I don’t know if I want to live in that apartment anyway after what I saw. Maybe I will just let him know to take the bed.”

  “That bad, huh?”

  “Um, yes. I have never seen actual gymnastics performed during sex before. Someone should have been in there holding up score cards.”

  “It couldn’t have been that bad.” Porter laughed out loud.

  “Oh, yes, it was. I will never be able to watch the Summer Olympics again.”

  “Ok, well, I will make sure our date tomorrow doesn’t involve any gymnastics meet
s.”

  “I would really appreciate it. So, what are we going to do?”

  “It will have to be a surprise, I suppose,” he said with a smug grin.

  “Well, I think I had better head home now. Thanks for meeting me here tonight. I needed something to take my mind off things and you are a very handsome distraction.” Ella looked at Porter for just a few seconds and then rose to grab her purse off the back of the chair digging for her wallet.

  “I’ve got the drinks, Ella, my treat. Let me walk you to your car.” Porter followed Ella out to the parking lot. “So, how about I pick you up at your place around five tomorrow evening?” He asked as they approached her car. He held his hands out for her keys and even though she gave him a curious look she handed them over. He took the keys, unlocked the door, and opened it for her. She smiled shyly at him and took her keys back as he handed them to her. He had pulled the door open in front of him so that it was between them, and she stood on the other side.

  “I will be ready at five,” she said. He watched as the breeze blew her hair around her face making the curls bounce in the wind. He wanted to reach out and touch her hair, tuck it behind her ear, but he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. He really wanted to kiss her, but felt it might be too soon. He knew that he would have to let her set the pace. They stood at the car staring at each other, then finally Ella made the first move. She leaned forward placing her hand on Porter’s arm for balance, and gave him a small kiss on his cheek. She lingered there for a few seconds and he could smell her hair. The vanilla scent seemed to follow her everywhere. He turned his face into her cheek and he could hear a small sigh escape from her that made fire run through his veins.