The Neighbor Read online

  When I finally got to the tee, it became obvious I was a novice. I was hitting the balls all over the place. The fact that I was new to the game combined with the presence of a sexy man caused me to suck.

  “God Jenna. I would complement you on your swing but I can’t come up with anything to say. You mentioned that you had golfed before. I am starting to believe you lied.”

  “Then teach me. You said you were able to teach Samantha.” He was surprised that I remembered the mention of her name.

  “I said Sammy. I will give you a manual assist and see how that goes.”

  Ryder came up behind me. His 6’2” frame eclipsed my petite 5’3” body. My hands began to sweat. It was something that happened when I was nervous – or horny. At that moment, I didn’t know which one it was.

  “We will need to begin with the fundamentals. I am ay good instructor if you pay close attention. I have been teaching for years.”

  “You are a teacher?” I asked.

  “Enough with the twenty questions.” He smirked. “We will begin with the grip. You are holding the club too tightly. Relax.”

  Ryder rearranged my fingers as he covered his large hands over mine. I thought for a moment about my manicure. Shit, I had not been to the nail salon all summer and my self-applied color was a mess.

  “Think fingers when you are applying a grip. If you rely on your palm, the club will risk slipping out. Keep your thumb pointed downwards. This is supposed to feel unnatural at first. Soon you will be able to do it without thinking.”

  The lesson was confusing but oddly sensual. Ryder’s breath was warm and it smelled as a combination of coffee and breath mints. It was pleasant and it made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight.

  “You are getting the hang of it. Am I making you uncomfortable?” Ryder asked. Our bodies could not get any closer.

  “Not at all. I can see that I am in good hands.” I was running low on clever quips.

  “You are doing great. Let’s take a break. I would suggest a beer. You look 21 but I don’t want to embarrass you or me.”

  “I would love an iced tea. We can share a glass of wine another time,” I said. I should not have assumed there would be a next time. I was hoping he would ignore the comment.

  “Sounds excellent. I will hold you to it after our next visit to the driving range. I would suggest today but I have a million things to do. I am actually avoiding the tasks by being here with you. It is one of the times golf comes in handy. It offers the opportunity to escape.”

  “What are you escaping from today?” I asked, hoping that he would give me some insight into who the hell he was.

  “Don’t get me wrong Jenna. I would choose to be here with you regardless of what else was happening. I moved recently. I am upgrading from a condominium to a house. I hate unpacking because it makes me realize how much shit I have. I was planning to get rid of a bunch of things. I save it incase…someone wants it someday. I guess I’m sentimental.”

  “Maybe we can get you featured on an episode of Hoarders.” I laughed.

  “Seriously, it’s that bad.”

  I snickered. “Well, most people could be on that show. What’s with the watch?”

  “My grandfather always wore a watch. I wear one in his honor.”

  “That hardly looks like your Grandfather’s watch.”

  “I upgraded to the 21st century. It keeps all of my stats handy like blood pressure, pulse and heart rate. It keeps track of the steps I take and a load of other stuff. I have a couple of them.”

  “Oh, I have a watch too. Mine keeps time,” I jested.

  “You are a smartass,” he announced and a grin formed in the corner of his mouth.

  “And so are you.” I giggled. “Why do you need a couple of watches?”

  “They are always upgrading the design. I get them in every color available. I like to coordinate them with my outfit.”

  “Okay Anna Wintour.”

  “Who the fuck is Ann Winter?” Ryder asked.

  “It’s Wintour. Does Vogue Magazine ring a bell or perhaps you have seen the movie The Devil Wears Prada?”

  “Don’t get all girly on me. You don’t strike me as the Vogue type of woman,” Ryder commented.

  “I bet you think I skip reading entirely. You probably think I head right to Twitter for news and hop on Facebook to see what’s trending. You will be surprised to know that I read The New York Times. I throw in an occasional People Magazine.” I crossed my arms.

  “Don’t get defensive. I Tweet and keep my Facebook page current. It is obvious you are a well-read woman.”

  I made a mental note to check out his Facebook page when I got to my tablet. All mysteries would be solved.

  “I am ready for round two, unless you need to get to your new home.”

  “Nope. Let’s hit another bucket of balls. Just to be sure, I will assist you again,” Ryder was behind me as if he had never left. I was beginning to think he enjoyed it as much as me.

  “Time flies by out here. I can see how golfing relaxes you.” I said. By this time, the game of golf was secondary to getting to know Ryder.

  “Yeah. I had some difficulties recently. It provided a good outlet. I tried meditation and that worked a little. I relied on golf the most though,” Ryder explained.

  “What type of challenges were you facing?”

  Ryder looked directly at me as though he was about to say something important.

  “It is a very long story. I don’t want to be defined by the bullshit in my past. I choose to deal with a lot on my own. I’m outgoing but I am also private.”

  “Okay. You are only my golf teacher for a day. You don’t have to open up to me – It’s cool.” Naturally, I was curious.

  “About this being our only lesson – how about we hit the ball around again? I’m free the day after tomorrow,” Ryder asked as he double checked his schedule on his phone. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a second phone.

  “Now I have seen it all. Two phones? Let me guess, it’s a long story.”

  “It is. I will get rid of my second phone someday. When I no longer need it. Are we on for Tuesday?”

  “Ryder, you have to unpack and I have to begin packing for college. Maybe we will bump into each other again.” I was hesitant to say yes to him. I could feel we had a dangerous connection.

  “We can exchange numbers. That way you can cancel if you decide you don’t want to come. You can text with a lame excuse if you can’t muster up the courage to call me.”

  “Tuesday at 4 PM. I will meet you here. You will have my number too if you decide to cancel.”

  “That won’t happen Jenna.”

  Ryder walked me to my Kelly green car. He bent and one arm hugged me before I even had a chance to think about whether I wanted it. It was worth it. God did he smell good.

  Chapter Four

  I was driving off Pelican Island from a small shopping mall when my phone jingled. I planned to ignore the call until I saw it was Ryder. I answered the phone. What the hell was he calling for? The call was a surprise but I was delighted to see his name displayed on my phone. I took a deep breath and thumbed the answer button.

  “Hey Ryder. Are you okay?”

  I couldn’t think of any normal reason for him to call. I thought that maybe he had some bizarre accident.

  “What could be wrong?” Ryder laughed.

  “I don’t know but whatever you’re calling about better be good because I’m driving you know.”

  “Oh no. I don’t want my star golfer injured before she wins her first tournament. I was thinking we cut our lesson short yesterday. We did not have a chance to hit the putting green. I said I would teach you the fundamentals and we’re not there yet. How about you head to the clubhouse and we can pick up where we left off?” Ryder asked.

  Why did he care if I learned the fundamentals of golf? I was more interested in him than the game. Maybe his game was me.

  “I have plans to make dinn
er with my mother. I am making an effort to spend more time with her until I leave. But the freezer is full of stuff that she can throw in the microwave and it’s an appliance she can handle. I guess she won’t starve. I can turn around and meet you on the green if you really want,” I said although I was confused.

  “I really want you to.”

  I had no idea why Ryder was so intent on turning me into a golfer. Almost compulsively, I turned the car around and headed back down the road. Ryder’s voice continued through my speakerphone.

  “I’m glad you decided to turn around. I was thoughtless in teaching you only a portion of the game. What type of instructor am I if I get you on the green but don’t teach you how to get the ball in the hole? You will be a regular Ben Crane when I am finished with you. I’ll let you focus on driving. Driving your car, I mean. I don’t expect you to be daydreaming about hitting the ball, at least not yet. I will see you in a few,” Ryder ended.

  Wow, he was obsessed with the game of golf. Was it just my swing of the clubs that he was interested in or was it something more? Was I obsessed with learning how to golf or was I interested in something more? I didn’t even know who the hell Ben Crane was and I really didn’t care.

  My answer was clear as I pulled into the parking lot.

  “Hey Jenna. When is your birthday?” Ryder asked when I opened my car door. He was waiting for me in the parking lot as he held something behind his back.

  “Why do you need to know my birthday Ryder? I’m not the one who is secretive about my age. My big day is not until February,” I said.

  “I got you an early present.”

  He revealed a new golf club from behind his back.

  “I have never received a golf club before. You shouldn’t have,” I said sarcastically. Immediately I knew he was taking his gift seriously.

  “I know you may not appreciate it now, but as you get acquainted with the game you will love it. When I got my first putter that was not just a part of a set I picked up at the sporting goods store, I was overjoyed. I slept with the thing for a week.”

  “Well, I don’t know what to say. I am excited to put it to use,” I said, trying sound excited.

  I took the putter, which was a brand new Taylormade. I was his golf project. Great!

  “We will get it properly fitted to your specifications. Are you ready to hit the green? You will be giving Stacy Lewis a run for her money when I’m done with you.” Ryder smiled.

  He was enjoying himself and I was still puzzled. Who the hell was Stacy Lewis? Was she some hot babe whom he picked up at the country club? I followed Ryder with a forced smile on my face. I was going along with whatever was happening.

  “We will build your finesse game at this point. It is all about the touch when putting. The transition from driving the ball can be difficult. Eventually the flow will be natural. Watch me tap it around for a while.”

  The look on Ryder’s face was increasingly intense. It was sexy the way he focused on the ball. Lucky for the ball.

  “Is that the club you slept with?” I asked.

  “No. That one is in my office. You know those little stress balls that you get for free as advertisements?”

  “Yeah.” I answered.

  “They don’t work for me. I grab my stick and I can feel the stress flow out of me.”

  “Whatever works for you. Grabbing your stick – hmmm,” I joked. It was too good to resist.

  “You have one hell of a dirty mind. When we are on the course, it’s all about golf,” Ryder said but then he grinned. He was messing with me.

  Ryder was beginning to give me a manual assist. Just like on the driving range, he positioned himself snugly behind me. It did not feel all about golf any more – at least not to me.

  “Keep your eye on the ball. Use your sight like a laser as you map out its journey to the hole. You are tight as hell. You have to loosen the death grip you have on the club,” Ryder advised me.

  There was a tension – a good one between us. If I stopped holding the club tightly, I would have started trembling like a leaf. After a long while, I noticed some improvement. I finally heard the heavenly sound of the ball circling the rim and falling in the hole. I reacted by throwing my new club in the air and flinging myself into Ryder’s arms. I had seen men in major tournaments do the same. They often ended up in the arms of their caddy.

  “That was exhilarating,” I said as I kissed him deliberately on the cheek. He returned the favor by kissing my lips. It was not an open-mouthed kiss but it made me forget I was on the golf course. Ryder eventually pulled away.

  “Excellent. I think that perhaps it is time to take a break,” he whispered against my mouth. “I have occupied most of your day. I believe I owe you a meal. How about we head to the clubhouse lounge? They have a good bar menu and I know the staff in there. I prefer it to the restaurant because it is more laid back and it will give us a chance to chat.”

  Finally, Ryder would open up about his life or so I hoped.

  “Sounds like a great idea. I am sore. I didn’t expect to feel this way after golf.” I mentioned.

  “It’s a good workout. Wait until tomorrow. You will really feel the pain. Since you are already in good shape it won’t be that bad,” Ryder said as I followed him into the lounge.

  One of the club pros stopped us on our way int. Ryder saw him and immediately grabbed my arm to lead me in the opposite direction.

  “Hey Ryder!” the man called out.

  “Shit what the hell does he want?” Ryder appeared pissed.

  “The guy is calling your name. He probably just wants to say hello,” I said.

  The man approached us and gave Ryder a hearty hug. Whoever he was, he knew Ryder well.

  “Hello. I’m Arnie Morgan. I will introduce myself since Ryder seems speechless.” He extended his hand.

  “I’m Jenna Walsh. Ryder is giving me some golf lessons – pro bono.” I winked.

  “Lucky for you. How are you feeling Ryder? You had us scared for a while. I wanted to be sure you stop by and see Bridget. My lovely wife has been asking about you. I am glad I can tell her the good news that you are among the living.” Archie was grinning from ear to ear. He was definitely not someone that was so bad he needed to avoid. The encounter was odd, as many things seemed to be.

  “Give my regards to Bridget. I will catch up with you later in the week Archie. Now is not the time.” Ryder said more with his eyes as he spoke to Arnold but I didn’t know what he was saying.

  “OH,” Arnie said and paused as he looked at Ryder knowingly. “It was a pleasure to meet you Jenna. I hope to see you around the club.”

  The man disappeared and Ryder was glad to see him go.

  “What was that all about? Arnie seemed to be genuinely concerned.”

  “Long story Jenna. I’ll tell you about it some other time. Let’s get some food.”

  ****

  I ordered a grilled chicken breast sandwich with fries and an iced tea. Ryder ordered the same except he had a Glen Levitt on the rocks.

  “I’m glad you didn’t order a salad. I like a girl who can eat,” Ryder said.

  “That is so god damn cliché. What if I was a vegetarian or maybe I just like salad. Women are afraid to order what they want and at times, they will order a burger just to impress a guy. Don’t judge me on my menu selection,” I said.

  “It was a joke.”

  “Sorry. They teach young women to stand up for themselves these days. I took it a little far. Is the chicken sandwich any good?”

  “Yeah, but let’s spend the next hour chatting about the food. I can’t stand meaningless conversation. If you change the subject to the weather I’m leaving.” Ryder smiled.

  “You’ve got a deal. Let’s talk about you Ryder.” I took the chance to find something out about by sexy lunch companion.

  “What is your plan for school Jenna?” Ryder asked. It was apparent that he was going to avoid talking about himself. I had run into another roadblock and I decide
d to make the best of it.

  “I am planning on a general course of study. I am going to get my requirements out of the way by taking entry-level stuff and see what I might enjoy.” Our food had arrived and I was trying not to speak with my mouth full.

  “It sounds like you are approaching college as if it is a food buffet. Don’t give be that bullshit. You must have some idea of what you want to do with your life. Even if it seems like an unattainable goal, it’s the time to start. College is too expensive to sit back and not pay attention to your future.”

  “You’re not paying for my education. You can get off your pulpit,” I said.

  He laughed. “I sounded like I was talking to my ssss—” Ryder stopped

  “Your what?” I was confused.

  “Skip it. So what do you want to be when you grow up?” Ryder grinned.

  “I love science but I suck at math. I have to find my may around that one. I would love to go into medicine but I see it as an unattainable dream. I am barely coping with calculous. I spent a great deal of time helping with my father when he was ill. It was most of my young life. Being around doctors felt natural. They were like heroes to my family and me. They worked hard to keep him comfortable. They were not all good, in fact some were awful. It must have been tough dealing with sick people all of the time. I think they should have tried harder because they chose the profession. As a caretaker, I had no choice in the matter. I would try to be like the doctors who really listened to my father and didn’t treat him like a hunk of meat. It’s just a dream though.”

  “So it wasn’t easy being a caretaker and you would never choose to take care of a sick person again?” Ryder asked.

  “I didn’t say that. It is something that one has to do. I never thought about it and abandonment was never an option.”

  “I think the fact that you are not good at math is an easy way out. Get a tutor.”

  “I don’t have a good come-back for that one,” I admitted.

  “Sport’s psychology is a great career. A good head doctor is invaluable in golf.”

  “That is a good option to look into. I wouldn’t have to deal with life and death on a daily basis. I went through that as a caretaker and it wears on you.”