Sugar Creek (21 page)

But Rachel didn’t think it was such a mystery. “We have
lots
of reasons not to be nice. The speeding tickets you gave me, for instance.”

He nodded again lightly. “And you not respecting the law.”

“And you trying to buy Edna’s orchard away.”

“And the whole family feud thing, which we’ve been fed our whole lives.”

She shrugged. “When you look at it like that, it’s amazing we even managed to call a truce long enough to have sex.”

He chuckled softly in response, so she laughed a little, too. Then bit her lip as another reason she was always mean to him struck her.
Because the way I feel when I’m with you scares me to death.

It hadn’t scared her at first—back then, it had just confused her, annoyed her, caught her off guard. But since then, things had changed—she thought about him too often and wanted him too much.
Lord, no wonder I keep telling myself I have to stop this. He makes me feel more than I should at a time when I’m totally out of my element.
Five minutes after deciding to take his advice, she realized it was impossible.

That’s when she heard Ben Harper’s gravelly voice echoing low from Mike’s iPod-rigged radio, singing “Gold to Me”—so she let the bluesy, sexy rhythm grab hold of her, distract her from it all.

But then she winced. Because…maybe being with Mike Romo just made
every
song seem sexy. Damn it.

“What is it?” he asked. “Why do you look weird?”

She flashed a slightly insulted expression, then got over it and said, “It’s nothing—I just like this song.”

He nodded solemnly. “Me, too.”

And together they listened quietly as Mike drove, and the soft breeze and late-day sunshine washed over them, leaving her a little more relaxed. Enough that she found herself subtly pressing her thigh up against his a little more—not a decision, just something that happened on its own.

In response, Mike glanced down at her, and…mmm, got that steamy look in his gorgeous brown eyes just
before he lowered the tiniest kiss to her lips—which vibrated all through her. Oh my.

Yet…she felt more than just desire at the moment—it was mixed up with something else. Curiosity? Compassion? The day had made her think about all Mike had gone through with his family.

“Your mom and dad seem nice,” she said, aware that her voice came out softer than usual—the effect of his tender kiss just now. Maybe she wanted him to know it hadn’t all just been wanting to make a good impression—she’d actually
liked
his family. And maybe she needed to say it out loud because it was such a switch in her own personal thinking.

“And they’re even Romos,” he teased her with a grin.

“I’m trying to put that in the past,” she confessed.

“Wow,” Mike said. “Just when you think you’ve got somebody figured out, they do an about-face on you.”

He’d done a few about-faces on her recently, as well, but instead of mentioning that, she asked something that mattered to her more. Now that she was actually starting to think he might have feelings. “Is it strange…to have your parents live so far away?”

Rather than answer the question, though, he said, “Lots of people live far away from their parents.”

“Yeah, but it’s usually…their choice.”

He still didn’t answer—just said, “I could have moved to Florida when they did, I guess.”

“Why didn’t you?”

He shook his head. “Didn’t want to. My life was here. I’d just graduated from the academy and gotten hired by Chief Tolliver. I didn’t see any reason to go.” Then he refocused on the road and his next words came out a little quieter. “But I understand why they left.”

And when he glanced down at her, she sensed him wondering if she knew. About his family’s history. She had no idea what to say, if she should bring it up or not. Though finally she did—even if her words sounded weak
to her own ears. “I…remember about your sister. I’m sorry that happened.”

He simply drew in a breath and nodded, looking ahead, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. And for a long moment, she thought he wouldn’t reply—until he told her, “My younger brother left home, too, when he was eighteen. That was over fifteen years ago now, and we don’t know if he’s dead or alive.”

She swallowed, hard. She hadn’t even thought of that as a possibility, that Mike’s missing brother could actually be dead, but she guessed after so many years…well, it wasn’t an unreasonable thought. “God, Mike, I can’t imagine how difficult that is.” She touched his leg. “I’m really sorry.”

He just gave his head a short shake, eyes still on the winding country road. “That’s why Mom and Dad had to leave. Too many bad memories—they wanted to start over.”

“But you didn’t,” she pointed out. She didn’t mean to pry, yet…she remained curious to understand what held him in Destiny when everyone he loved had gone somewhere else.

He responded simply with another head shake—no words.

“It must be hard having your whole family gone,” she went on, unable to keep from prodding, wishing he’d tell her more.

But to her surprise, Mike let out a laugh—and she glanced up to see him wearing a jovial expression again, that fast. “What are you talking about, Farris? I’ve got relatives coming out my ears. They barely give me a minute’s peace.” He went on to tell her how Grandma Romo was always calling him to fix things at her house, and how his cousins were constantly inviting him to birthday parties for their five million kids. “Nope, afraid I’ve got way more family here than my fair share.”

It lightened the mood and left Rachel feeling a little
relieved for him—and even led her to talk about her own extended family, about how scattered they were now compared to when she’d lived here. She explained that many of them still got together on holidays, though, and admitted that, “Well…seeing some of them a couple of times a year is enough for me.”

He looked down at her, clearly intrigued, amused. “And yet you defend the family name like we’re two gangs in a turf war.”

“Aren’t we?” she asked, reminding him of the turf at stake. “The orchard.”

“I’ve got an idea—let’s not go there right now. Since, just between me and you, I kind of like this being-nice-to-each-other thing.”

She shrugged. All her confusion over him aside, she did, too. “Fair enough.”

Only then his expression soured.

“What?” she asked. “I said fair enough—I’m not gonna start a fight or anything.”

He grimaced down at her. “It’s not that. I just remembered something I need to tell you. Something that might yank you right out of nice mode, quicker than orchard talk.”

Rachel let out a weary sigh. “Oh brother. What is it, Romo?”

“We forgot to use a condom earlier.”

Oops. She bit her lip, then murmured, “I
knew
something had felt extra good about that.”

She’d realized they hadn’t used one, but had just sort of forgotten they should have. “Yeah,” he admitted regretfully.

Fortunately, she could put his mind at ease. “Well, Officer Romeo, I’m willing to bet you’re the kind of guy who
never
forgets a condom—am I right?”

He nodded. “You
were
right. Until today.”

She slanted a playful glance upward. “Whereas I’m the
kind of girl who, unfortunately,
does
sometimes forget a condom.”

“Typically reckless,” he muttered beneath his breath.

And she said, “Hey, what happened to being nice?”

The tone of his voice told her he was struggling to stay pleasant. “I’m
trying
—but I just found out my life might be in danger.”

Rachel let out an irritated breath. “No, Romo,” she said as if talking to an impatient child, “if you’d let me finish I could tell you that your life is
not
in danger. Because any time I have forgotten a condom, I’ve promptly had myself checked out—and I have a clean bill of health. So…not so reckless after all, hmm?” she concluded with a brisk nod.

“Still reckless,” he insisted. “Just sensible enough to find out if you have to pay for the recklessness after the fact.”

Rachel rolled her eyes. “Nonetheless, you’re safe with me. And before you ask the next question, no worries—I’m on the pill. That’s why I can forget the condom occasionally…if it’s somebody I trust.”

Slowing the car a bit, he lowered his chin and met her gaze. “Are you officially saying you trust me, Farris?”

“In some ways,” she confessed, surprised it was the truth. “In
that
way.”

Just then, Mike flipped on the turn signal and, without warning, took a right down a little dirt lane that cut between two fenced fields.

As the vintage car bounced along through the dust, Rachel just gaped at him. “You’re not searching for another barn, are you? Because that was fun, but I’m not a machine, you know.”

Mike turned to her with a big, sexy grin, clearly entertained by her protests. “No, Farris, I’m not looking for a barn.”

“What, then?”

That’s when he brought the Cadillac to a halt and
Rachel lifted her gaze to see…the last thing she could have anticipated. Donkeys.

“What the
hell
?” she asked, confused. A whole herd of brown donkeys stood in the pasture to the right of the car, some grazing on short green grass, others looking up in response to the Caddy’s approach.

“You wanted to see donkeys after the donkey ball game,” he reminded her. “Well, here they are. The actual ones from the game, in fact. I happen to know they belong to Hank Speers and live in this field.”

“Oh,” she said. Then she smiled, realizing Mike Romo had just done something she’d once thought impossible—he’d done something kind of…
sweet
. For her.

The truth was, she hadn’t given a thought to donkeys since that night. But she really
had
been curious to see one up close right before she’d accidentally locked the two of them in that concession stand. So it felt kind of fun—in a silly, indulgent sort of way—to get a good look at them now.

Together, she and Mike got out of the car and approached the barbed-wire fence where a dark brown donkey stood with his head sticking over the top strand. “Is it…safe to pet it?” Rachel asked.

Mike shrugged. “I’m not a donkey expert, but I think so.”

So she ran her fingers down over the donkey’s long face, petting and scratching the same as she might a dog—just a really big one in this particular case. The donkey closed his eyes for a moment, making her think he liked it. “If I’d known, I could have brought some apples for them.”

Mike stooped down and plucked up a handful of grass, much longer on the outside of the fence than on the inside, where the animals had already eaten it down to the ground. “Here,” he said, pressing the soft green blades into Rachel’s palm.

“He won’t take my hand off?” She raised her eyebrows.

“Just hold it open, flat,” Mike instructed, “so he can’t nip your fingers.”

“I thought you weren’t a donkey expert.”

“Grandma and Grandpa Romo had horses when I was a kid. Same general principle.”

So Rachel took Mike’s word for it and held her palm to the donkey’s mouth, unduly pleased when he ate the grass, snuffling and snorting a bit. “I never thought I’d say this about a donkey, but…he’s kind of cute.”

Mike looked at the donkey and said, “Don’t listen to her. She thinks you stink. She told me so at the ball game.”

After a smirking grin at her date, Rachel redirected her attention to the donkey, as well, peering directly into his big, black eyes as she reached out to pet him a little more. “Oh, you’re not so bad,” she told him.

Then she looked up at Mike, and admitted, “You’re not so bad, either. Sometimes.”

U
pon returning to the orchard, Rachel could smell something good cooking in the kitchen, the aroma wafting through the open windows. As Mike walked her to the door, she made a spontaneous decision. “It’s almost dinnertime…if you want to stay. Edna’s the best cook I’ve ever known and I think I smell her trademark chicken and dumplings.”

“Thanks,” he said, “but I’ve got a late shift tonight, so I need to get home and grab a few hours sleep first.”

She nodded, smiled, and acted like it was nothing—even as it stunned her how disappointed she was that the date was ending. How had things changed so quickly here?

As they stepped up onto the porch, Rachel turned to face him and Mike took both her hands in his. Leaning her back against the house, he bent near her ear and said in a completely sexy, raspy voice, “Thanks for today.”

She looked up at him, feeling the same way she had for
a while now. Weakened in his presence. Softened inside. And like she couldn’t quite get enough of him. “Did you mean for…the sex? Or the stuff with your family?”

His slow grin moved all through her. “I meant for everything, honey,” he replied, then bent to lower his mouth over hers.

Rachel’s stomach contracted as his kiss consumed her; she looped her arms around his neck, pressing her body into his. Mmm, God, his kisses turned her inside out—she thought she could enjoy just standing here kissing him like this all night long. When he began to harden against her thigh, the small of her back ached and she wanted him again—and decided she probably should have been
asking, begging
for him to look for another barn on the way home.

When finally the kissing stopped, it left her breathless, and still wishing he’d stay for dinner. She bit her lip and peered up into those bedroom eyes, thinking he was about to ask her out again.

His sexy gaze drifted over her lips and then back upward, the mere look getting her hotter and hotter inside—until finally he said, “See ya, Farris.” Then turned around and walked away.

Whoa. Rachel sagged back against the house—to keep from collapsing onto the porch.

See ya?
That was it?

After all they’d shared today?

And—oh God, please don’t let this have anything to do with what he’d said about her thinking she was too good. Because she really, really didn’t and was mortified by the very notion.

But…wait a minute. Since when did she
care
about dating Mike Romo anyway?

She didn’t.

And still, she felt a bit numb, deflated, as she stepped through the front door.

“I’m in the kitchen,” Edna called. “So scoot your butt in here and tell me all about the Romos.”

Rachel could have used a minute to recover from the barrage of emotions, but since Edna beckoned, she went. She slipped into a chair at Edna’s old Formica kitchen table.

“Well?” Edna turned from the stove to ask.

Still dazed, Rachel lifted her eyes to her grandmother for the first time since coming into the room. “They’re nice,” she said simply, glumly.

Edna snapped her fingers and stomped one foot, clearly annoyed. “Damn it, I was hopin’ they’d be mean as a bunch of cats in a bag. But reckon it don’t surprise me none.” Then Edna pursed her lips, emphasizing the wrinkles around her mouth. “And what about Carlotta?”

Grandma Romo. Who had been Giovanni’s wife. “She wasn’t friendly at first, especially when I introduced myself as your granddaughter—but even
she
eventually got nicer. I wouldn’t say she’s the warm-and-fuzzy type or anything, but…”

“But neither am I,” Edna finished, still sounding a little let down.

“Maybe I should have lied,” Rachel suggested, “and told you they were all a bunch of jerks.”

Yet Edna shook her head. “No, I can take the truth, and it’s better that way. Suppose maybe it just shores up my feelin’s about Mike—that he’s a good sort and all.”

But at this, Rachel could only grumble under her breath, the words
bastard
and
ass
sneaking out.

She looked up in time to see Edna’s gaze narrow on her. “Does this mean the two of you didn’t hit it off?”

Rachel shook her head emphatically. “No, just the opposite. Before it was done, we got along better than ever.”

With a dish towel in one hand, Edna planted her fists on her hips. “Then what’s the problem, darlin’?”

Rachel blinked, hesitating. She couldn’t tell Edna
the real truth—how mystified she was by her emotions surrounding him, how much it scared her, how foreign it seemed compared to the rest of her life. So she kept it simple—since this part was upsetting, too. “I thought he’d ask me on another date—and he didn’t. In fact, when he left, he just said, ‘See ya.’ Can you believe that? ‘See ya.’”

In response, Edna drew in her breath, looking put out on Rachel’s behalf. “Damn Romo men,” she muttered. “I like Mike, but I reckon some things run in the family.”

Rachel widened her eyes on her grandma. “Does this mean Giovanni didn’t come back for you?” Of course, she knew he
had
come back to Destiny, so she added, “Or something?”

Edna raked a hand down through the air. “That’s for another day. Right now, we’ll have us some chicken and dumplin’s and see if it don’t make ya feel better.”

To Rachel’s surprise, it sounded possible. She’d loved Edna’s chicken and dumplings as a girl, and the very thought of them made her feel…somehow a little safer, or loved, or something. Like the world was normal, as it should be. She guessed this was the definition of comfort food.

And how odd that Edna’s food in Edna’s house comforted her while so much else in Destiny made her want to go running away. There
were
good things here—she couldn’t deny she’d found them. She just…didn’t want to
keep
finding them. Understanding who she was and what she valued in life had been a lot easier when she’d held the whole town in disdain.

Rachel got to her feet and dished up servings onto two plates, straight from the pot, while Edna poured sweet tea and carved into a loaf of fresh bread from the bread machine. “Not that I really care about seeing him again,” Rachel claimed as they moved about the kitchen.

“Sounds like ya care.”

“Well, I don’t,” she insisted. Because she had to start thinking straight here. This morning she’d been ready to call it quits with him. And she wasn’t the sort of woman who got all hung up on a guy—
any
guy. So what difference did it make if she never saw him again? What difference did it make what he thought of her, or what they’d done or talked about today?

A moment later, she and Edna settled at the dining room table, across from each other, and Rachel dug in—anxious to let the food soothe her irritation.

“So if ya don’t care, then why do you still look so upset?” Edna asked matter-of-factly before shoveling a small dumpling into her mouth.

“Ego, I suppose,” Rachel replied. It sounded like a good enough answer. “Because I can’t imagine what
else
it would be.”

“Maybe you’re afraid you’ll miss the sex,” Edna said—and Rachel dropped her fork. Fortunately, it landed on her plate without making a mess or splashing anything on her dress.

“For God’s sake, Edna. Just who on earth do you think you’re talking to here?”

But Edna just rolled her eyes. “You think I don’t know sex is involved in this, darlin’? You think I don’t know that a full-grown woman who never has a boyfriend as far as I can tell isn’t hookin’ up with the fellas she meets?”

Hooking up? Good God, where was Edna getting this stuff? Had she been watching MTV or something? “Look,” Rachel said, having retrieved her fork to point it at Edna as she spoke, “it’s bad enough that
you
now tell
me
all about your sex life—I’m not telling you about mine. You’re my grandma—it’s not natural.”

Edna’s expression said she thought Rachel was being ridiculous. “Fine—make a big to-do over it, act like it don’t make the world go ’round if ya want.” She took a bite of buttered bread, then added, “But for what it’s worth, I
don’t
really
think that’s why you’re all in a dither. I think you’re all in a dither ’cause you like him.”

Rachel gasped. “Of course I don’t! At least not in the way
you
mean.”

And Edna just gave her a look—almost like she felt sorry for her. “Darlin’, why would that be so awful? Surely not ’cause he’s a Romo—I been tryin’ to make it clear that the more time passes, the less important that old feud is.”

Rachel nibbled on her lower lip, taken aback by what appeared to be pity on Edna’s face, and still trying to figure it all out. And in that moment, she realized what a stupid reaction she’d had to the simple suggestion that she might care for a man. Yet she heard herself continue to insist, “No, it’s not the Romo thing, but…I’m really not that into him. I don’t know him well enough to be that into him, for heaven’s sake. And we have nothing in common.” Sex notwithstanding.

Edna just cast her another disparaging glance and said, “Ya know what they say. Youth is wasted on the young.”

“Trust me, Edna,” she assured her grandma, feeling a bit stronger again, “my youth has not been wasted.”

“Whatever you say,” Edna told her, then let the subject drop, for which Rachel was grateful. “Now eat up—we got a long week of apple pickin’ ahead.” And then Edna started in on how much they needed to get done, by when, to be ready for the apple festival in a few short weeks. After that, she moved onto how much pick-your-own traffic they’d had today, promising that she and Brian had handled it fine.

And Rachel found it all…comforting, just as comforting as the chicken and dumplings.

Because it was a nice distraction from the questions weighing on her heart.

What if she couldn’t admit she felt something for Mike because…to admit that would be to admit her plan
wasn’t perfect? That she could possibly want something more than she’d always told the whole world she wanted? More than a high-powered career, more than life in the big city? More than being able to take care of herself and her family? The life she’d built made her feel…strong, independent, successful. She was proud to never have depended on anyone but herself—financially, or even emotionally—since the day she’d left Destiny in her dust.

And being with Mike at times made her feel…too open, too emotional, not nearly as self-reliant as she was used to.

So…whether Edna was right or Edna was wrong about her “liking” Mike didn’t really matter. What mattered was that—once and for all—she take back control of this situation. If she did feel something for the guy, now was the time to tamp it out, before it got any worse. And besides, she and Mike
did
have a hard time getting along. They truly
didn’t
have anything in common besides raging chemistry. They had entirely different lifestyles, values.

So what they shared was heat, desire. And some really phenomenal sex.

That was all.

And if their paths crossed again, well—that would be all she wanted from him. Period.

Early the next morning, Mike sat at his desk at the police station, holding the framed picture of Anna in his hand. Seeing his mom and dad had brought up memories. Of course, the memories never left him—but maybe being with his parents made them stronger.

Whenever he spent time with his parents these days…well, no one mentioned Anna because they were all busy trying to be happy—but her missing presence always lingered, hovering in the shadows, hanging over them like a dark cloud. All that loss. It never dissipated. And not just
the loss of Anna, but Lucky, too. Despite feeling his mom and dad’s love, when Mike saw them, he feared he was a sad reminder that they only had one kid where they were supposed to have three.

He’d sort of lied to Rachel. Well, not lied—but just…made things sound better than they were. The truth was, no matter how much Grandma Romo bugged him or his cousins included him in get-togethers, he did miss his parents…Lucky…Anna. Sometimes he felt like…the sole survivor of the shipwreck that was his family. But wait—his parents had survived, too; yet they’d…deserted. Jumped ship.

And like he’d told Rachel yesterday, he understood why—he didn’t blame them. Yet…damn, life had sure turned out different than he’d ever imagined as a kid.

As for Rachel, yesterday had been good—even despite a few bumps along the way. He’d never dreamed he’d see the day Grandma Romo stood around chitchatting with a Farris about things like potato salad and falling leaves. Rachel was…a force of nature. A powerhouse in certain ways. Personality. Sexuality.

He’d almost asked to see her again. But then he’d stopped. Because she’d made it so clear she had no interest in romance. And he wasn’t exactly real good at that anyway. They’d had a nice day, some moments when…hell, when he’d thought he wouldn’t mind things going on like that, seeing more of her—yet logic told him if they saw too much of each other, they’d just screw it up and end up back where they’d started. And besides, she’d be leaving before long. And was probably counting the days. He’d believed her when she’d denied thinking she was too good for him, but that didn’t change how she felt about the place he called home.

So it had seemed best not to…risk getting invested in her. Emotionally. He’d see her when he saw her—they had friends in common, so it would probably happen.

Just then, a tap came on his shoulder and he looked up to see Chief Tolliver. He’d thought he was alone—but it must be time for the busier day shift to start. “Morning, Walter,” he said—then set the picture of Anna casually back on his desk, a little embarrassed to be caught holding it in his hand.

“Ain’t none of my business, Mike,” Walter said, voice low, then he pointed at the frame. “But have ya ever thought about just…puttin’ that away? For your own peace of mind.”

Hell. Until now, he didn’t even know Walter had ever noticed the photo. During Mike’s interview years ago, they’d talked about what had happened and Mike had been honest about the impact it had had on his life, but they’d never discussed it since. Still, he knew Walter well enough to be honest—so he didn’t mince words. “No,” he said, not quite able to meet the chief’s gaze as he spoke. “Because then I might start to forget about her, and I don’t want to do that.”