Ghostly Liaison (32 page)

* * * *

Rob climbed into the truck near tears. He’d been told Barnaby would be okay. Charlie had told him. Kate had told him. Bridget had told him. But seeing the dog wag his tail after he and Bridget had entered the room had been the proof he needed and it wrenched his heart. If it weren’t for Kate in the room, he would have broken down in relief. But one breakdown in front of her was one breakdown too many.

Now in the truck with Bridget, he felt as if he could let his guard down and she would still see him as He-Man. Wouldn’t think any less of him. And boy, did his guard come crashing down. His heart pounded and tears threatened to fall. He rested his forehead on the steering wheel.

Damn, if he could react this way to a dog, how could he survive without Bridget? It scared him how important she’d become in his rather empty life. And she wanted to confront Carl? Why not just shoot him through the heart and get it over with?

She rubbed his back. “What’s the matter? Kate said you’d be able to take him home tomorrow.”

Dammit, Rob, man up already
. He straightened and blinked back the moisture in his eyes. “Nothing’s the matter,” he snapped. “You ready to go?”

“Sure.”

The cab became eerily quiet. They were headed to his place to have wild sex. He was sure of it. So why’d he have to go and spoil the mood? “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how much Barnaby affected me. I didn’t mean to snap.”

Bridget stared at her lap. “Don’t be sorry. You love him. I understand. Would you like me to drive?”

“No. I’m good.” He started the truck and drove off. “Wait a minute. I thought you were afraid to drive.”

“I’m not afraid. I have my license. I just don’t have a car.”

“But you never look outside the windows.”

“I told you before, I’m a distraction.”

She had and he hadn’t pressed her at the time. “And how are you a distraction?”

She ran her fingers along the door handle, drawing imaginary curlicues. “When I was ten, my mother rear-ended a car. So when I’m a rider, I’m a little jumpy and I grab the dashboard. That kind of thing.”

“Did you get hurt?”

“Yeah. Seat belt wasn’t secure and I hit the dash.”

“That’s why you double-check your seat belt.”

“Wouldn’t you?”

“I guess I would. But grabbing the dash won’t bother me. My mother did that.”

“Nah-ah. You’re just saying that.”

“Nope. Scout’s honor.” He held up three fingers together. “So who said you were a distraction?”

It became quiet in the cab, besides the road noise. He’d almost changed the subject when she spoke. “Suzie. It’s why I was driving her car in the first place.”

“What? You’re telling me Suzie complained about you being a passenger, but had no problem with you driving a car you weren’t comfortable in? During a snowstorm? Sounds more like she needed an excuse for you to drive.”

“It wasn’t snowing when she asked. She didn’t want to drive. She was eight months pregnant.”

“Come on, Bridget. She talked you into driving by making you feel guilty. Now you feel guilty because she died while you drove her car. Am I right?”

“I could have refused, though. I didn’t.”

“I’m betting you told her no and she insisted. And you, being you, obliged.” He glanced in her direction. She scrunched her brow, but kept her head down. He reached over and grasped her hand. “You will not be a distraction to me. Well, you
are
a distraction, but for a whole ’nother reason.”

She chuckled, tilted her head, and looked at him sideways. “You’re not lying to me about your mother?”

“Hey, did I not give you Scout’s honor? Besides, I wouldn’t do that to you.”

He pulled into his driveway. They climbed out of the truck and headed for the front door. She took his hand. It was the first time she’d ever initiated anything and that little gesture filled his heart with love.

“How is it you’ve never been snatched up by someone? You’re like the perfect guy.”

“I’m far from perfect. Don’t put me too high on that pedestal. I don’t want to get hurt when I fall.”

“But you are. You hardly lose your temper. You’re the calmest, most patient person I know. Any woman would be crazy to have you.”

And many women had tried, but he hadn’t been ready to settle down. Plus, the women never did anything emotional for him. Sure, the sex was good, but when they’d expected more than he could offer, he ended the relationship. He hadn’t believed in love or that it could hit him as hard as it had with Bridget. “I seem to recall losing my temper when you were getting stitched up.”

“Yeah, but I kind of deserved that.”

“As for other women, well, no one compares to you.” He smoothed her hair behind her ear. “I think we’re perfect for each other.”

“Like soul mates.”

He smiled. “You believe in that?”

She cupped his face and pulled him down for a kiss. Her lips were soft and ripe for plucking and his dick responded.

She broke the kiss and smiled. “Oh, yes. I definitely believe in soul mates.”

That might explain the connection he’d felt from their first meeting. The connection he was feeling right that minute. Suddenly, the bedroom was too far. So was the front door.

She took his hand and tugged. “Come on. You still have to show me around the house.”

Around the house? Hell. That could wait.

Rob opened the door and tossed his keys on the foyer table. “That’s the living room. You’ve seen the kitchen and family room. Come on.”

Bridget laughed as he pulled her up the stairs. “What’s the hurry?”

He was about to burst through his zipper. “You wanted to see the upstairs, didn’t you?”

“Actually, I just want to see your bedroom.”

“Okay, now you’re talking.” Tugging her along, he grinned until a lone sock stared at him from the landing. Oh crap, the bedroom. At the top of the stairs he quickly pocketed the sock and turned toward her. “I…uh…can you give me a minute?”

“And if I say no?” She tilted her head and smiled.

Was this a challenge or a form of torture? Well, two could play that game. He pushed her against the wall and kissed her deeply. She tasted so sweet and it only got him hotter. He tore himself away panting. “Then we’ll just do it in the hallway.”

She gasped. He liked how he took her breath away. Now to get her to scream.

“You keep the condoms in the hallway?”

Shit. “No.” He hung his head. There was no getting out of this. If he went into his bedroom to get one, she’d only follow.

“It can’t be that bad.”

“I hate to wreck that perfect image you have of me.”

“Maybe I want to see the real Rob.”

“Thing is, it doesn’t look like the real me. I had a pretty rough week. Let me just straighten it.” He pleaded with his eyes. She had to reconsider.

“Don’t be silly. I’ll help. Which room is yours?”

He knew he’d fall from her pedestal, just not so soon. After one look at the mess, she’d run screaming from the house. Well, maybe not screaming, but he’d be lucky if he could talk her into coming back. He lowered his head and sighed. “The one on the right.”

She intertwined her fingers in his and peered up at him, smiling. “You’re cute when you’re nervous.”

Nervous? Hell, yes. But cute? He’d take it if it meant she wouldn’t run away. Then again, she hadn’t seen the room yet.

“Come on.” She tugged at him to follow. When she’d peeked inside, she stopped. “Are your drawers full?”

The laundry he’d done earlier in the week wasn’t folded inside the dresser nor hung in the closet. No, he’d been too lazy for that. Instead, he’d dumped his clothes on top of his dresser in one big heap and yesterday had tossed the pile on his bed so he could find some socks to wear.

It didn’t help the bed was unmade, too.

“I meant to put those away.” Eventually. Maybe. When he got around to wearing them.

Bridget stepped up to the bed, picked up a T-shirt and folded it. No running or screaming. Maybe that pedestal wasn’t so tall.

She turned toward him, holding another shirt up to her chest in the midst of a fold. “Are you going to let me do this all by myself?”

Oh shit. “No. Stop. You don’t have to do any of this.” He took the shirt from her hand. “I’ll just put them back on the dresser for now.”

Bridget picked up another shirt. “I don’t think you noticed, but that would drive me nuts. It won’t take long if we both do it.”

Now that she mentioned it, her house was rather tidy.

Normally, he would just fold shirts in quarters, but wanting to impress, he folded it like she’d demonstrated—sort of. Where her folds looked professionally done, his looked worse than a four-year-old’s attempt. If only she would do all the folding while he put everything away. But how would that make him look if he suggested it? Probably get him buried under that pedestal.

She snatched the shirt from his hand, giggling. “Why don’t you let me fold and you put away?”

Thank God! He took the clothes she folded and placed them in the drawers and shook out the shirts meant for the walk-in closet. She asked if he ironed them. If he admitted the truth, she might get it in her mind to do it herself. Not that he owned an iron. His mother probably had, but if the sucker still existed, the location was a mystery to him. One of these days he would have to go through the house and donate his parents’ clothes. Maybe he could get through it with Bridget’s help.

But not today.

After hanging his shirts in the closet, he returned to the bedroom. Bridget had pulled the covers off the bed and sat in the middle of the king-size mattress. Daylight poured in through the windows above the headboard and bathed her in soft light. She looked like an angel.

His angel.

He crawled up her body and kissed her. “Do you need me to darken the room?”

She shook her head and kissed him back. Her velvety tongue mingled with his. He reached for her shirt just as the house phone rang. He ignored it and kissed along her jaw.

“Don’t you have to get that?” she asked.

He nuzzled her neck and fondled a breast. “Nah. Machine will get it.”

After four rings, the phone silenced. There was a pause, then a beep.

“Rob! It’s Rafe. Call me ASAP.”

Rob sat up. Rafe wouldn’t call unless it was an emergency. But why didn’t he use Rob’s cell?

“Who’s Rafe?” she asked.

Rob pulled his phone out. “He’s the foreman at the Taco Bell project.”

“You’re building a Taco Bell? That’s so cool.”

“Not so cool if there’s a problem.” Rob tapped the screen on the phone and got nothing. Damn. No wonder Rafe called the house. “My charger’s downstairs. I’ll be right back.” He kissed her, which was a huge mistake. The more he tasted her the more he wanted her. He went in for more, but she pushed him away, breaking the kiss.

“I’ll be here when you return. I promise. Now go.”

Rob hightailed it downstairs. The sooner he got this resolved, the sooner he could get back to Bridget. He plugged in his cell and turned it on. Problem with keeping phone numbers on the cell meant Rob didn’t know Rafe’s number off the top of his head, so no calling him back on the house phone.

He got in touch with Rafe, who informed him that two of the workers had failed to show. With a deadline fast approaching, Rob couldn’t afford to be late on the project. He told Rafe he’d be there as soon as he could. Working on a Saturday was usually no big deal. He’d done it enough in the past. But now Bridget was in his life. Dammit. So much for spending the whole day with her.

He trudged up the stairs and found Bridget sitting on the edge of his freshly made bed.

“I hope you don’t mind. I had a feeling we weren’t staying.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t afford to be late on this project.”

She stood and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s okay.”

He kissed the top of her head and reveled in her floral scent. “I’ll drop you off at home.”

She pulled away, frowning. “Can’t I come with you?”

He liked that she wanted to go, but… “I’ll be working. Won’t you be bored?”

“I got a book in my pack. Besides, I really don’t want to face Charlie any time soon and I’d like to see what you do.”

“Well then, let’s go.” He put out his elbow and she took it. They’d arrived at the top of the stairs when his brain kicked in. “Wait a minute.” He rushed inside the bedroom and yanked open the nightstand drawer. He pulled out half the condoms from the box.

“Gee. How many women do you bring here?”

He supposed it did look suspect as he owned the economy-sized box of condoms. Truth was he’d been dry for nearly a year and he certainly wouldn’t have brought any women to this house while his parents lived here. “Just you.”

“What about Tori?”

“I told you, I didn’t date her. I haven’t gone out with anyone since my parents died. Believe it or not, I bought these for us.”

“What if I hadn’t come around?”

He stepped up to her and stroked her cheek. “You keep forgetting. I wasn’t giving up. I knew sooner or later you
would
come around. I’m just glad it was sooner rather than later.” He held several strands of packets. “Now, where’s your backpack?”

She laughed. “Downstairs. Don’t forget we want pictures of Carl, too.”

The bookcase in the family room held all the photo albums. Rob opened the book that contained the cruise pictures. Blinking back tears, he turned slightly away, hoping Bridget wouldn’t notice his weakness. Damn. He hadn’t expected to get overemotional seeing his parents stare out at him, but they looked so happy together, and Mom had always said she couldn’t live without Dad. Why, Rob had no idea. He loved his father, but the man had been mean at times. Still, he missed them both. Even their fights.

Bridget stared at the photos. “You look like your father.”

Same thing his mother always said. He found a picture of Carl and his lady friend and handed it to Bridget. “Here, put this in your backpack.”

“I’ll ruin it. Don’t you have any snapshots?”

He shoved the picture at her. “I don’t know. Doesn’t matter. Just take it.”

Carefully, she inserted the photo into the bag. “Is she Carl’s wife?”