Say You'll Never Love Me (15 page)

Mom came through the door, clothed again. “Hi, I’m JoAnn.”

“Jared Sloan. Nice to know you.”

She released his hand and shifted an icy gaze to her daughter. The familiar expression asking a hundred questions, so Raynie tried to get a head of the game. “He’s a friend.”

“Strange. You haven’t mentioned him.”

“No need. Didn’t think you’d cross paths.” She glanced at Jared. “She’s leaving Friday.”

He smiled. “Then I’m glad we got a chance to meet.”

Raynie glared at her, then gave a slight nod toward the hallway and hoped she caught on.

“Oh, well, I’ll leave you two alone. I’ll go to my room and freshen up. It’s hot out there. I hope to see you again before I return to the sunshine state.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Relaxing a little, Raynie turned her attention to Jared again. “You want something to drink?”

“No, I’m good. About the school events. What’s the problem?”

“Next Thursday night there’s a talent show. I have that covered, but in a few weeks, there’s a father, daughter dance. Should I offer to go?”

“I’ll do it.”

“What?”

“I’ll take her. I mean I can’t replace her dad, but I’ll be happy to go. Unless you think she’ll be uncomfortable with me. I know we just met, but I think she likes me.”

She’d not expected him to volunteer. “I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“I wouldn’t offer if it was an imposition. I’d love to fill in, and I’m a decent dancer. I twirl my nieces around enough I’m used to a young partner.”

“You have nieces?”

“Two. My brother’s kids.”

“No wonder you’re so good with Silbie. Any other siblings?”

“Nope.”

“Younger or older?”

“Younger. Why the sudden interest?”

“During our meetings, we concentrate on my family and issues. I never ask about yours. Guess that makes me rude and self-centered.”

“Not at all.”

“Maybe I can meet them sometime. Silbie might enjoy playing with your nieces.”

He hesitated.

What was she thinking? Stupid. He didn’t want her involved in his family life. “I’m sorry. That probably pushes the boundaries of our arrangement.”

“No, that isn’t it. There’s a big age difference. They’re toddlers, but she’d love them.”

Raynie doubted his reason. More like he didn’t want to explain why a holy man such as himself had gotten mixed up with a weirdo. Mom’s behavior proved it ran in the family.

“Well, I think Silbie will be thrilled to go with you.”

“Good. And the talent show is on Thursday?”

“Yes.”

He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “I’m free that evening. We can go together.”

His suggestion landed in her head with a thud. What was going on? First, he puts distance between them by cutting back on meetings, and now he’s filling his calendar? “You know, padre, if you missed me, you didn’t have to use the earring as an excuse.”

He grinned. “You’re right. I’ve missed you.”

The mind replays what the heart can’t delete.

~~Unknown

WHY HAD SHE FLIRTED
with him? Big mistake. But before she could stop, the words rolled out. And holy hell, he’d flirted back. Stronger than the force of gravity, temptation yanked Raynie’s brain like a tug-of-war rope.

He must have sensed her turmoil. “If you’d rather not go to together, that’s fine. I thought it’d be convenient since we’re going to the same place. I can come on my own.”

She laid a hand on his forearm. “No. That’d be great. I was thinking of something else and got distracted.”
You know, ripping off your clothes and screwing you into next Wednesday.

Raynie ran her tongue over her teeth to keep her lips from sticking to them, but she couldn’t work up a spit. Why did he show up and mess with her emotions? With those gorgeous eyes, hot body, and kind heart. She wasn’t supposed to get involved with guys like Father Sloan. Nuh-uh, no way. But since sharing the sunset with him, she’d been fighting a fierce attraction. Well, it’d been there from the beginning, but the logical side of her brain kept it in control. Now the stupid side was thinking way too much.

“You have to leave. I have carpool duty today.”

“Okay, but I had an ulterior motive for stopping by.”

A mixture of disappointment and relief caused her stomach to spiral. She was such an idiot to think he wanted to see her.

“I thought this weekend would be a good time to keep my promise to Silbie. You know, our grand adventure.”

Embarrassment and depression merged into absurdity and caused her response to freeze in her throat. To buy time, she sauntered to the end of the counter, picked up her purse, then forced the words out. “Sounds good. She’ll be excited.”

He followed her out onto the porch. “My mom’s birthday is next week. Maybe we can work in shopping, too.”

Raynie pulled herself together. “Now I understand. The earring, the invitation, both excuses to get help with gift selection.”

“No. I already know what I’m getting her. I just need you to pick out the right one.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“A curling iron. She said she needed one.”

Raynie laughed. “Are you kidding?”

“No. That’s what she said.”

“Oh, padre. Now I understand why your former fiancée called off the wedding. She’d couldn’t bear a lifetime of blow dryers and blenders.”

“I thought getting what someone asked for was a good thing.”

“Keyword, needed not
wanted.
Get her something she doesn’t expect. That’s the kind of gift women want.”

“Like what?”

“I’ll give it some thought. Keep in mind this is the woman who played the most important part in making you the man you are today. Between the two of us, we can come up with something she’ll love.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. See you later.” She stared after him until he drove away, then went to pick up kids.

When she returned, Mom sat on the sofa pretending to read a magazine. Silbie ran to the backyard to play and Raynie faced her mother. “You’re not interested in American Banker, so you can drop the act.”

She closed the magazine and dropped it onto the coffee table. “There is not a decent thing to read in this house. Only finance and psychology crap.”

“Those were their careers.”

“Yeah, well you’d think there’d be at least one fashion magazine.”

Raynie laughed so hard she sputtered. “That from a woman who doesn’t wear clothes.”

“Point taken. Now about your visitor. I’m not sure he should take my granddaughter to the dance. You know. Just the two of them.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s the most trustworthy man I’ve met in a long time.”

“If you say so.”

“I do, and besides, Silbie loves him.”

“From the way you ogled him, she’s not alone.”

“Sorry to disappoint. I don’t ogle. He’s counseling me.”

“For what?”

“I’m a new mother to a six-year old. Don’t you think I need professional advice?”

“No. At her age, she’s already self-sufficient.”

The statement had Raynie blinking, but then again, considering the source, why should she be surprised. “I don’t know how to deal with grief in a child, so Jared helps me with that.”

“Are you sure that’s the only reason?”

“Good Lord. He’s a minister.”

Mom flapped her hand in the air. “Of course he is.” Then she drew her face tight. “Oh my God, you’re serious. He doesn’t look like a preacher.”

“I know, right?”

“If he’s so great, why not make a play for him?”

Raynie acted as if it was the silliest question she’d ever had. “Why would I want to do that?”

“To settle down? More important now than ever since you have Silbie to raise. It’d be easier with a partner.”

“Give it up, Mother Matchmaker. A love connection is not in the cards.”

“Have you done a reading?”

“No, and don’t intend to, so drop it.”

“Just saying, he could be the one.”

The best way to deal with Mom was to change the subject before she got off on a tangent. “He isn’t my type and I’m not his. I’m lucky we’re friends.”

For Raynie to read anything more into it—ridiculous. He had a deeper agenda. He knew how little responsibility she’d had in the past, so his job involved helping her acclimate to her new role. Their relationship was as it should be. Counselor. Client. Friends. End of story.

THE DECISION TO
return the earring paid off big time. Jared pulled off not one, but three dates. Mr. Smooth Operator. The thought made him laugh out loud. He’d been stupid to think he could stop seeing her.

No need to deny it. He liked Raynie and wanted to find out if there could be more than friendship. Dangerous ground for sure because she planned to leave, but if he played his cards right, maybe he could convince her to stay. It made perfect sense. She had a house here. This was Silbie’s home, and Raynie could work from anywhere.

When she’d angled her head just right and mentioned his lame excuse for showing up unexpected, he’d gotten a zing in his southern zone, and it’d been a while since that happened from a simple look.

He pulled into the parking lot at the office and checked his phone for messages and opened Raynie’s first.
What about jewelry?

He texted back.
What kind?

Charm bracelet?

To hell with the back and forth, he wanted to hear her voice. She answered on the second ring. “No to the bracelet?”

“Got one on Mother’s Day from Jace and Maggie. Hey, should I call Silbie for the date or wait until Saturday when we’re together?”

“She’d be thrilled with a phone call. You want to talk to her now?”

“Sure.”

After a few seconds of rustling and muffled sounds, her sweet little voice came on. “Hello.”

“Hi, Silbie. Would you like to go to the school dance with me?”

“Yes, sir! Aunt Raynie said we’d buy me a new dress. Oh and you have to wear a suit, cause it’s formal. You got one?”

“I do. Did she mention we’re going on our adventure this Saturday?”

“To the movie and Prairie Dog Town?”

“Yeah.”

“Yay!”

“Let me talk to your aunt again.”

Raynie came back on the line. “You made her happy.”

“Since she needs a dress and I need a present, we should make a day of it and hit the mall as soon as it opens. I’ll pick you up at nine-thirty.”

“Sounds good. And Jared, thank you for doing this.”

Her voice quivered, and he wished he could take her into his arms.

WHEN RAYNIE TURNED
onto her street, she was surprised to see the same car she’d seen earlier, speed away. Odd, that same Chevy showed up too often. At least she thought it was a Chevy. She ended the call with Jared, and pressed the phone to her chest. A whole day with him might be more than she could handle.

Struggling to clear her mind, she turned to Silbie, who still had the sweetest expression. The kind a girl gets when the object of her affection first notices her. “What color dress do you want for the dance?”

“Purple. No. Pink. No. Momma says green is a good color on me because of my eyes. But I want purple.”