Imagining Us

Ch.70-Summer Lovin'

"So you lied to me?" She asked Porte with a faux-stern look on her face.

"Lied to you? When?"

He was so confused at her question that he didn't realize that she was taking the piss out of him. 

It was probably best that she didn't provoke him while he was driving. She climbed out of the cart and as she looked around at the forestry, she thought about how she had gotten here with him.

Porte pulled the cart to a stop in front of a large log cabin. He turned to her slightly.

She had met him at his house for the date that he planned. Esi thought that he would be driving her somewhere, but as she pulled up, she'd met Porte waiting for her in a golf cart. After she got in, he'd driven through an arched exit at the side of his house. 

She'd seen how large his house was, but she wasn't prepared for what was behind it. There were fields filled with all sorts of shrubbery. As they drove along the stoned path, she glimpsed a stable, and even saw someone grooming horses.

For a second, she thought that the date would be horseback riding, but Porte drove in the opposite direction. He had seen the longing on her face and promised her that they would do that next time. It warmed her how futuristically he spoke about them.

Porte Danvers was nothing if not sure.

As he drove them, she could see the red oaks regaining their greens and the ground was still littered with red, orange and yellow leaves.

Esi's mind flew back to the painting that she had seen in the house—it must have been these trees. She glanced at Porte out of the corner of her eyes. These woods must hold so many memories for him—with his mother. Her heart lurched at the sad thought, and she noticed that he wore a pensive look on his face.

He drove until they got to a wide bridge that connected the lands over a large river. On the other side of the bridge lay a large two story log house sprawled along the riverfront. 

Her mouth fell open slightly at the grandeur.

"When did I lie to you?" He asked her again, pulling her out of her admiration.

"Do you need help with these things?" She ignored his question but noticed the tick in his jaw. She didn't know what was under the checkered cloth at the back of the cart—it was already loaded when she got to his house.

Porte stepped out and walked around to her. He stood right in front of her. So close that if she leaned forward, her nose would smash into his chest. Esi, with a smirk at hand, put a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow at his stance. Unflinchingly, he leaned down towards her and searched her eyes.

The concern in them almost made her falter.

His eyes widened slightly when he realized that she was teasing him, and the smirk on her face fell slightly.

"Esi..." he breathed teasingly, his warm breath coasted over her lips. She resisted the urge to run her tongue over them. "Tell me what you mean."

He didn't speak to her threateningly, but his tone made her want to answer him. At the same time, she wanted to see him react to opposition.

"No," she said firmly, and he raised his brows at her.

"Really?" Porte stepped back and his large frame was still somehow towering over her.

She decided to push him further.

"What are you going to do about it?" She asked.

He stared at her—at her defiance—with a serious face. Then he smiled. Esi couldn't even really call it a smile—it was so...so wicked. She knew that she wouldn't be prepared for what was coming next.