Bella's Choice

Chapter 5: Getting to know each other.

Everyone turned and made their way out to the patio. Aldrich and Anabella found themselves at the back of the group, waiting patiently for them to go through the patio doors. He moved forward, pressing against her. His body heat surrounded her, and Anabella could pick up his cologne; spicy with a hint of sea breeze. She inhaled with pleasure, fully aware of the man directly behind her.

Aldrich himself found it hard to think of anything else for some reason. He was attracted to the young girl. It was just not his style to be interested in a mere child, but she intrigued him. Her innocence was a thing of beauty. There was also something else, a sadness she carefully hid from everyone, but it drew him to her.

He wanted to shield her, his hands almost reaching to touch her and hold her safe. The last time he felt this kind of protectiveness was when he'd been married all those years ago. Since then, he hadn't felt it with any other woman. She was a young girl trapped in a woman's body, with no idea of where she belonged.

Instead of giving in to the need to touch her, he bent over and asked in a low voice, “How old are you?"

“Eighteen." She was self-assured but careful. She turned and saw his lips up close and wondered how they would taste. As he talked, a mere thought flashed through her mind, images of other lips throwing kisses her way invaded her head. She closed her eyes, willing the visions to disappear.

When she looked up, his eyes held a question, and she knew that she was staring. A blush formed over her cheeks with the shame and guilt she felt over the thoughts she was conjuring about him. He is not like my parents, she reminded herself impatiently.

He gave her a broad smile, but asked her ordinary questions. Her age was not an issue at that moment. She relaxed. She hadn't realized how nervous she was, and it helped that his questions were calming, deflecting her knotted nerves.

“In what events will you compete?"

“The two-hundred-meter backstroke, butterfly, and relay."

“I will definitely make some time to watch, sweetheart," he said softly, touching her arm as they moved forward.

“Thank you." She liked the endearment and smiled, turning back to step outside.

Yes, I will definitely make some time. He watched as she walked in front of him with a gentle sway to her hips, appreciating her slender body.

Once outside, he led her to an unoccupied chair where she sat down, bending shapely legs under her. He sat directly in front of her, his eyes never wavering, even though it seemed she was not aware of him.

Anabella was aware; the butterflies in her tummy told her he was watching her every move. Even when Mr. Richter and Tim spoke to him, she could still feel his gaze on her, sipping away at his drink. His posture was relaxed and at ease. He knew the family well she realized as she watched him listen to Mr. Richter with keen interest.

Sometimes, she turned to Monica and her other friends to talk to them, only to look back at him. Each time she found his eyes on her and a smile playing on his lips. She wasn't uncomfortable under his stare; she rather enjoyed his blunt way of looking at her.

Anabella wished she was a bit more outgoing in order to speak to him, but she didn't know what to say. She knew he was a lawyer at a successful firm, but other than that she knew nothing about him. This was something she wanted to change, but her shyness prevented her from speaking freely, and then there was the age difference.

He was out of her league; no way would he find her fascinating. She couldn't understand why she felt so uneasy about it. There were many couples whose age difference wasn't a problem. Her parents were an example. Her mother and father differed in age by fifteen years and they had a 'happy' marriage. If you could call what they had a marriage―it worked for them.

So far, he was keeping his distance. On the one hand, she appreciated it but on the other, she loved the idea of getting to know him better.

What could I offer a man like him? Her attention was drawn to him regularly, distracting her from her own conversation. He looked intelligent, sharp, missed nothing and was almost intimidating as she watched him casually. He was surely a worthy opponent in the court room. His confidence held great appeal to her. There was something about him that captivated her curiosity.

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Aldrich was also lost in his own thoughts. He was thinking of their age difference and the obstacles it presented. Eighteen was still very young. At thirty, he was ready to settle down. He watched her chatting with her friends. They had nothing in common, and her entire life was still in front of her. Yet he found himself intrigued, especially by the sad look he'd seen for a fleeting moment. Then, of course, there was the whole innocence factor. She was untouched by a man. The way she blushed at his remarks, her loss for words; if he wanted to know her better it had to come from him. The question was: did he need that in his life?

When he looked at her once again, his eyes taking in the full splendor of the young woman, the decision was very clear to him. He would make the effort. There was something about her that kept his interest.

However, he would have to be patient. Although her innocence was appealing to him, it could create problems. She was not like the typical girls her age. Her eyes gave away a sense of maturity he didn't expect from a girl this young. She had a look that said she had seen it all before and it made him curious.

Her actions said she was new to love from a man. It was his lawyer instinct, but he could pick up that all was not well with her.