California Homecoming (7 page)

“I still don’t have any rooms,” Sarah continued and began to shut the door.

“Wait,” he said.

She stopped. “Why should I?”

He smiled. Considering their size difference, she really had no choice. But he bet she’d fight him with every ounce of her strength.

She’d probably fight like a girl — nasty.

“This is an inn, isn’t it?” he asked.

She smirked at him. “It’s an
unopened
inn. No room. Get the picture?” She started to inch the door closed.

This time he shoved his foot in the gap. The swinging door clanked on his prosthetic.

Sarah gasped. “I’m so sorry!”

He grinned. “I’m not. It would have hurt a lot more on the other leg.”

She looked up at him wide-eyed and smiled back, tentatively at first, and then allowing the grin to stretch across her face and into her eyes. Hunter chuckled and the laugh must have been infectious because soon they were both doubled over in laughter.

When Sarah recovered, she looked him up and down, her hand on the dog’s head. “I suppose I should be nicer to a veteran. Come in. I’ve been rude. But I’m warning you, if you try anything I’ll sic Daisy on you.”

He looked at Daisy. The dog barked and wagged its tail. “Yeah. I can see that would be dangerous.”

Sarah frowned at Daisy. “Some guard dog.” Then she looked at Hunter. “This way.” She walked down the hallway, the dog following her heels.

Hunter followed Daisy.

“Coffee?” she asked as she gestured to a table in the center of the kitchen.

“I’d love some.” Daisy nudged his knee and he rubbed her head. Soon her chin was on his thigh and he was taken back to when he’d been a happy kid in this kitchen. He looked around. Not much had changed.

“Daisy, no,” Sarah said when she glimpsed what was happening.

“It’s okay. I like dogs.” No need to tell her how much Daisy reminded him of Tag-a-long, his boyhood dog.

She poured coffee into two cracked mugs. “I hope you like it black.”

He raised his eyebrows. “What if your guests want milk and sugar?”

“I told you,” she said as she sat in the remaining chair. “The inn isn’t open. That’s why you can’t stay here. Even
I
live with my mother.”

Better and better
. “Then you definitely need a caretaker,” he said. “Someone to help keep an eye on the place when you aren’t around.” He leaned forward. “And I’m handy with things like plumbing and electricity.”

And a lot of other things.

The frown was back. “I don’t know anything about you. You may be a veteran, but … I don’t know how to say this — it’s just I’ve heard — ”

“I get it.” He tried to keep the bitterness from his voice as he pulled an envelope out of his pocket. “My resume.” Thin as it was, he’d put down what he could: construction, United States Marine Corp, odd jobs.

She unfolded the paper and scanned it before laying it on the table. “It looks good, but I’m not looking for a carpenter, or a soldier, although I do appreciate you for serving,” she said in a rush. “I’m sorry about — ” she gestured to his leg.

“It could have been worse,” he said, his hands tightening. He forced himself to slow down his breathing and take a sip of coffee. “So how about that room?”

She gestured in frustration. “The inn isn’t open. I don’t have furniture. There’s nowhere for you to sleep!”

“I do well with a sleeping bag and a mat,” he said giving her his best grin.

She drummed her fingers on the table and stared at him.

Daisy picked her head off his leg and crossed to her mistress. Sitting down, she howled at Sarah, turned, and laid her head back on Hunter’s thigh, thumping her tail the entire time.

“See, even the dog likes me.” He took another sip of coffee.

They stared at each other for several minutes.

“I’ll tell you what,” she said, standing. “I’ll check your references and I’ll talk it over with my advisor. But the answer will still be no.”

Why was she so adamant?

He stood as well. “Who’s your advisor? Maybe I could convince him of my sincerity.”

She smiled. “My advisor is my mother, and trust me — she’s tough.” She gestured to the hallway. “If you’ll excuse me.”

“Sure.”

They walked to the front door, the dog trailing behind. “I’ll call you next week sometime.”

“Thanks,” he said, turning to shake her hand. “I appreciate the chance.”

“I haven’t given it to you.”

“True,” he said. He studied her and her face heated under his stare. Her gaze dropped to his lips and she licked her own.

He looked back into her eyes and saw an openness that hadn’t been there before.

He lowered his head and kissed her gently before he whispered. “I’m very handy.”

She took a step back. “I think you should leave.”

He straightened up, took a card from his pocket and scribbled something on it. “Here’s my cell phone. Give me a call if you need anything.” He smiled. “Anything at all.”

“Okay,” she whispered and set her fingertips on her lips.

He smiled as he strode back to the Jeep.
Score one for the good guys.

The Saturday of the work party held the promise of spring even though the calendar said it was still February. Mandy had managed to get ten people to show up. Sarah’s mother and Annie had been there in the morning, but both had left at noon, right after partaking in the rustic, but substantial spread Mandy had laid out in the kitchen. Sarah noticed Annie pick up one of Mandy’s catering cards on her way out the door.

In the middle of the afternoon, Sarah heard a yell from the foot of the stairs.

“Sarah!” Mandy called up. “Look what I found wandering outside.”

Sarah leaned over the upstairs railing and looked down to the entry hall.

Hunter
. The man couldn’t take the “no” she’d given him the week before for an answer.

A shriek came from one of the three upstairs bathrooms and a small girl ran out of the room, and tugged at Sarah’s shirt. “My mommy’s all wet. She says she needs help.”

Sarah looked down at Hunter who was looking bewildered. “Work party. You’re just in time. We seem to have a plumbing problem. Come on up.”

Her heart sank as she watched Hunter peer at the stairs before beginning the climb. His progress was laborious.

The things I take for granted.

“You really don’t need to fix this. I’m sure I can figure it out,” she said quickly.

“No you can’t.” Mandy yelled. “I’ve seen you after you’ve changed a washer, remember?”

“So have I,” Hunter added. “It’s not a pretty sight.”

Mandy chuckled and Hunter joined in. Sarah gave a mock groan and gazed at the small army of workers who were scraping wallpaper in the five upstairs bedrooms. Mandy was a miracle worker.

Hunter reached the top of the stairs. “Let’s see what the problem is.”

She led him to the bathroom at the end of the hall. A young blond was attempting to stop the water spraying from a jury-rigged shower head with little success. Everything in the room was wet and rags littered the floor.

“I followed the instructions,” the woman said. “But they must be wrong.”

“You got a crescent wrench?” Hunter asked Sarah as he maneuvered himself into the big clawfoot tub that dominated the room.

Sarah put the wrench in his hand.

“Did you turn off the water?” Hunter asked the blond.

“I thought I did, but … ” She waved her arm at the mess.

He peered over the edge of the bathtub. “Turn the knob the other way. You’ve turned it on full force.”

The woman’s face reddened as she complied. As soon as she was done she glanced at Sarah. “I’ll leave you two to the plumbing.”

“You don’t have to — ” Sarah said, but the woman was already leaving the room.

Sarah pushed stray hairs from her face and glanced in the mirror. Good thing she wasn’t interested in this man. Dirt smeared her face and her T-shirt was covered in cobwebs. If she looked closely, she could see a little bulge in her belly.

“You look cute when you’re working,” Hunter said, fiddling with the shower head.

“Right.”

He tightened the fixture and said. “I need you to come closer so I can give you something.”

“What do you need?” She stepped toward the tub.

“This.”

He bent down and took her head in his hands. His lips met hers in a lingering kiss.

Her first instinct was to pull back; she didn’t need this. But his lips seduced her and whispered of strength and maturity. Hunter was a man to depend on.

She pressed her mouth to his, longing for the experience she’d read about in books, but had never had.

“Ahem.” Mandy stood in the doorway. “Plumbing done?”

Sarah’s face flushed and she stepped back.

Hunter knocked on the shower head. “Good as new.” He had a big grin on his face.

Her temper rose.

Stupid.
That’s what she was.
Easy pickings for any man.
She glowered at the man climbing from the tub.

Her feelings changed from anger to concern when she saw the awkward stance as he worked to keep from slipping on the wet, uneven surfaces.

“Thank you.”

“Yes,” Mandy echoed. “Boy, have we got work for you.”

“I’m sure Mr. — Mr., um, Hunter has more important things to do.” Sarah turned to him. “Don’t you?” She needed him to leave. The kiss was too real.

She looked up at him and a breath escaped her.

He was studying her as if he’d never seen her before.

Mandy cleared her throat.

“I’ll be glad to help any way I can,” Hunter said. The words were layered with meaning. “How about I take you out to dinner after all this is over?”

Sarah took a step back and pressed against the damp sink. “No, that’s okay. You’ve done enough already. Besides, I’ll be too tired.”

He stepped toward her. “I’d really like to take you out.”

“I’m not dating.”

He braced his hand against the wall and towered over her. “Not dating at all? Not dating men? Or just not dating me?”

“Not dating men.”

He cocked his head. “You didn’t strike me as a lesbian.”

Mandy laughed. “Hardly! She’s being stubborn though. Sarah, go out with him. All you do is work on this house. It’ll be good for you.”

Some friend.
“I can’t go out and you know why.”

She would
not
allow her gaze to drift to Hunter.

“That’s no excuse,” Mandy said. “Go out with him.”

“What’s the best restaurant in town?” Hunter asked.

“The Blackbird” was Mandy’s quick answer.

“Okay. The Blackbird it is. We’ll make it tomorrow night so you’re not too tired. I’ll pick you up at seven.” Again he brushed Sarah’s lips with his.

She glared at him.

He smirked and looked at Mandy. “Now what else needs doing around here?”

• • •

On Sunday morning Sarah woke in her childhood bedroom at her mother’s to the stark realization she had a dinner date.

What in hell had she been thinking?

Exhausted the night before from the work party, she’d fallen into bed without a thought about anything or anyone.

Hunter.

He’d been an amazing help the day before, adding expertise and knowledge to the dozen people who were long on enthusiasm, but short on skill. He’d even spent time with Mandy discussing how to get the kitchen in shape to be certified with the least expense.

He’d offered to help with the installation. He only wanted a room. His old room at the top of the stairs.

That puzzled her. Why would someone who found navigating stairs difficult, want a room at the top of them?

The question reminded her of the cardboard box that was still in her trunk. Mandy had gotten it down for her before the first helper arrived and they’d taken a quick look. The contents looked to be handwritten letters from over a decade ago, when people still did such things.

Chills had run over Sarah’s skin and she’d closed the box and asked Mandy to put it in her car.

A pain cramped her side and she curled into a fetal position, breathed steadily, and waited it out. The doctor had told her there didn’t appear to be a problem, but to avoid stretching and lifting anything too heavy and try to get a few naps in each day.

The woman had obviously never tried to open an inn. Still, Sarah had tried to modify her behavior a little bit. The party had definitely helped move the project along.

Sarah smiled. Mandy had been true to her word. So much had gotten done. In fact, between the hard work and Hunter’s plumbing talent, the master bedroom was ready for her.

She looked around her childhood bedroom. The space was comforting, like macaroni and cheese or a kitten’s soft fur, but it was time for her to create her own life and security.

She sat up and straightened her shoulders. That would be exactly what she’d portray at dinner tonight: confident, secure, and in need of no man.

Even one who kissed like the very devil himself.

She threw back her covers, stepped out of bed, and looked around the room. It would only take one truckload to get her furniture to the inn. The master bedroom was as ready as it was going to get.

Mandy had a friend with a pickup and it was time to move.

Sarah hadn’t counted on her mother.

“What do you mean you’re moving today?” Elizabeth asked when Sarah told her the plans. “You need to rest. You spent all day yesterday at the inn. I was planning on pampering you today.”

“Isn’t Marcos coming today?”

Her mother blushed. “Not until later tonight.”

“See,” Sarah said with a grin. “You should be glad I’m moving today. You and Marcos can have the whole house together without any prying children.”

Elizabeth smiled. “I never minded having you around.” Her voice softened. “I thought when you went to college my heart would break, but this feels even more permanent. Can’t you wait until the baby is born? What if something happens? You’d be totally alone.”

The comment stopped Sarah. The pains had been brief and the doctor had told her not to worry, but what if the doctor was wrong? Her mother had a point. She’d be totally alone.