Love Takes Time (Christian Romance) by Kaci Hart

course.  I have to run anyway. Ryder, honey, we should do lunch
tomorrow.  Call me.”  
     
    She
turned her attention to Chelsea once more.  
     
    “It
was a pleasure meeting you as well.”
     
    Those
were the words but the look said ‘you better watch your back, and your step,
and sleep with one eye open’.  Chelsea was sure that she felt a shiver run
up her spine.  She watched as Phaedra turned and sashayed towards the exit
as if she owned the place.  If she was any indication of the kind of
people that Ryder spent his time with, she might have to reconsider who he
really was.  
     
    “I’m
so sorry about the interruption.”
     
    “No
problem.  Interesting taste in women there.”
     
    “I
promise she makes the relationship seem like so much more than it was.”
     
    “I’m
not worried.  After all, this is just our first date.  It’s not like
you have a tattoo of my name on your back.  And I’m not head over heels
for you yet anyway.  It is all a bit strange to me that I am even here.”
     
    His
head tilted to the side and his eyebrows scrunched at her. 
     
    “Why
would you feel that way?”
     
    She
looked towards the exit where Phaedra had just left.  
     
    “I
don’t know.  People like her.”
     
    “Phaedra? 
Pay her no mind.”
     
    “Believe
me, I don’t.  It’s just that I don’t normally date guys like you with the
fine cars and fine dining.  This is something more the speed of my best
friend, Ava.  She would be completely at home here. I just always thought
it was shallow.”
     
    Ryder
sat back for a moment.  
     
    “So
you’re saying that me having money and spending it is shallow?  You aren’t
a democrat, are you?”  
     
    “Um...actually
I am a democrat.”
     
    “I’m
joking!  Chelsea I don’t care about your party, and I am a democrat too so
we mesh anyway.”
     
    “Well
I don’t care that you have money or not.  It’s just not what I expected.
 Meeting you, I think I might have misjudged a lot of people with money.
 Either that or you are just different.”
     
    “Well
to be honest, the majority of the people I know in my financial bracket are
much more like Phaedra than they are like me.  You stumbled upon the good
stuff, lady.”
     
    His
humorous attitude dissolved any concerns that were gaining ground within her
about him.
     
     
    ***
     
    A
few hours later the driver pulled the huge car to the curb in front of her
apartment building and Ryder exited, extending his hand to her.  When they
were both out of the car, Chelsea allowed her eyes to skim the features of his
face as he leaned against the street lamp pole, one hand in each pocket and his
head tilted to the side.  He was staring at her and she felt
self-conscious and excited at the same time.  
     
    “Thanks
for a great time Ryder.”
     
    “Oh
no.  You really think you are ending my date short?  I have to get
you inside and to your apartment safely.”
     
    “That’s
not really necessary.”
     
    “No
it’s not, but I’d like to still.”
     
    She
blushed.
     
    “Okay,
but the elevator is temporarily out of service so those high priced legs are
going to get a workout tonight.”
     
    He
chuckled before looking at the building.
     
    “Hey,
I’m not just another pretty face you know.”
     
    “I
know that.”
     
    More
than anything else, she was just eager to end the night.  Not because it
was bad but because it was so good.  That had her nervous and excited at
the same time.  Barely a minute later their slow pace had them on her
floor and standing in front of her door. 
     
    When
he began in her direction, Chelsea wasn’t sure what he was about to do but if
the look on his face was indication, the moment of truth was coming.  This
was probably one of the few times she hated having her principles because she
desperately wanted to kiss him.  It didn’t matter though.  She
wouldn’t. 
     
    She
just hoped it wouldn’t turn him off from her.
     
    As
if he