Page 48 of The Yes Factor

“Okay, just checking I don’t need to call the paramedics.” Then in a louder voice he says, “Whoa, girl, no, sit!”

I jerk upright, mild emotional breakdown over and ready for ninja mode, or at least, screaming mode. A swift kick to the balls and I’ll jog right on away from this guy. But I already feel a knock to the chest and I stumble down onto the dusty footpath.

“Derby, down!” The man pulls a shaggy dog off me and begins to apologize profusely.

Stunned, I wipe the dirt off me and look up to see a tall guy with a thick head of wavy blond hair holding the leash to a caramel-colored dog that’s straining to break free.

“Oh my God, Jesus, you scared me. I was about to kick you in the balls.” I’m still a little shaken up but mostly giddy with relief that I haven’t been attacked by a weirdo, just by an overenthusiastic, oversized puppy.

The man gives a hearty laugh, his face crinkles into a pleasing fan of lines around his deep blue eyes. Under the bright light of the sun, I get the full experience of his commanding presence. I don’t know what’s come over me, but I want to run my hands through his thick, wavy hair. Maybe it’s the relief of not being attacked by some crazy person. But no, it’s that feeling. The billion dollar they-can-send-a-man-to-the-moon-but-they-can’t-bottle-that-feeling feeling.

He extends his hand to help me up off the ground. I grasp onto it hard, and in a second I don’t want to end, he pulls me up to standing. His hand feels warm and strong. He then proceeds to shake hands as if we just met, and I haven’t just been on the ground, still covered in grime from the footpath.

“I’m Adam. And this is Derby. She’s sorry for being impolite. She just gets a little crazy the closer we get to the beach.”

“I’m Liv. Nice to meet you. And nice to meet you, too, Derby.” Our hands are still clasped together. I gently pull away to hold my hand out to Derby who sniffs it cautiously then leans in for a cuddle.

“I know this is a strange question because it is right there.” I point toward the sand below. “But how do you get to the beach? I was looking for the stairs and I swear they used to be here.”

“They did. But the city tore them down. Too old and dangerous. I’m heading to the ones off Adelaide. They’re this way if you want to come along.” He doesn’t need to point the way because every inch of Derby is veering in that direction.

It’d be kind of strange to just follow behind him, both of us going to the same place, so I walk alongside him, with Derby gently galloping beside us. She seems to have calmed down now that she’s headed in her desired direction. Adam deftly maneuvers around me so that he’s on the side of traffic as we walk along the footpath. My grandmother always said a gentleman walked on the side of traffic. Maybe people think that’s old-fashioned. Yes, a woman is perfectly capable of walking next to traffic. It’s not necessarily a male/female thing, it’s that Adam is aware of the tradition and follows it. He cares about being respectful, and he isn’t afraid to show it.

I turn to look at him and as our eyes lock, we both smile.

“I love how everyone is so healthy in this town. Always going hiking and jogging,” Adam says without a hint of sarcasm.

I marvel at the strange but amazing world we live in. This man couldn’t be any more different from Ethan if he tried.

“It’s great. I used to live here, but I can’t exactly say I was going hiking and jogging. And now, forget it.” I’m feeling unusually talkative.

“My brother lives here and I wonder half the time how he holds down a job. It seems like every other day he’s doing or planning his next outdoor adventure. He wanted to have his bachelor party at Joshua Tree, but his friends wouldn’t have it. So, it’s Vegas, of course.” Adam laughs.

“Well, you could always hike through the desert to the bachelor party.”

“I just want to get through it all and then on to the wedding with no drama. Plus, I’m still kind of jet-lagged. So I need to get on top of things.”

“Jet-lagged? So you don’t live in LA then?”

“No, I live in Hamburg. I’ve been living there for almost four years now. I oversee transport and logistics for a shipping company. But I grew up in Houston. My brother James made a beeline for LA right after college, and now that he’s getting married, looks like he’ll stay here.”

“Hamburg. Well, that’s a long way from Houston, and LA. I’m based in London.”

“Really? How long you been there?” he asks with interest, slipping into a Texan accent I hadn’t heard previously.

“It’s been a while,” I answer vaguely, not wanting to get into my backstory. I just want to enjoy this walk, the freedom of the ocean. “So, a bachelor party?” I change the subject.

“Yup, big brother here had to come over to make sure things don’t get out of hand. So far so good, I think. The wedding is this Sunday in Santa Barbara.” His eyes glance at my left hand. I hadn’t put my wedding ring back on after taking it off for the day at Sunny Dale. And considering London’s gray skies, there wasn’t a telltale tan line. “Not a believer?” he says with a sly smile.

“Well…” I hesitate, not wanting to lie to him but not wanting to tell him the truth either.

“Don’t worry, me neither. At least not for the moment. Thankfully, my baby brother’s marriage can take my mom’s mind off my divorce. It’s already bad enough in her books that she’s not a grandmother yet.”

“I’m sorry,” I say with real concern. I’ve only met him, but I feel so comfortable with him. I forgot how open and easygoing American guys can be. It just feels natural. Whereas with Ethan, sometimes I wonder if he’s ever really himself. Do I even know who he is anymore? Did I ever?

Our pace slows to a stop and with a resigned shrug Adam says, “You know how you know you’re not doing what you should be doing. Like you’re in one of those dreams where you want to wake up but you can’t move, no matter how hard you try, no matter how much you struggle?” He seems to be looking right into the center of my soul.

“Yes.” I’m staring back into his eyes and feel a warm glow deep inside me.

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