Sweet but Sexy Boxed Set (39 page)

Chapter Twelve

The cabin was more than she expected. Neat, clean, charmingly rustic, the two-story structure had more than enough room for her and Kyle to live in comfort. Unlike the apartment she
’d shared with Gerald for all those miserable years, there was room to breathe, to relax, and to enjoy a view of not only the woods and wildlife therein, but from the wide deck off the kitchen, there was also an amazing view of the lake and the town below.

The room she chose as her own was on the first floor behind the small kitchen that opened into the living room, separated only by an island long enough for the two tall stools. They sat on the lounging area side of the island, which meant Kyle could sit and talk to her while she prepared their meal. The island was deep enough to hold both a dishwasher, an amazing luxury she
’d never had, and much needed storage for her pots and pans, plastic containers, and three drawers for both eating and cooking utensils as well as a place to store…whatever. The wall that backed up to her bedroom had a white stove that she was certain was older than she was, which matched the short, rounded refrigerator of the same era. That both looked as nice as they did, and worked as well as they surely ever had, was amazing.

The counter space was adequate, the sink deep and wide, and the cabinets above it all had once been remodeled, she supposed, as they had glass-fronted doors and interior lights that came on when she flipped the switch next to the sink that also lit the lighting over the sink. To her delight a small rectangular drop-leaf table sat against the log wall off to the right of the kitchen. There had never been a need to have a kitchen table before, but she loved the idea should she and Kyle decide to dine formally.

Sharon stared at the table as she remembered Ms. Addie’s gentle words the first time they were to share a meal and Sharon had refused. She’d just been placed in foster care after enduring the latest of Candy Clark’s endless embarrassments. She was so angry, so scared, and so defiant. But Ms. Addie hadn’t reacted to her anger with anger, which was enough to pull Sharon’s attention away from her turmoil. That was so different than what she’d been used to.

From that first day, through all the days that followed, when Ms. Addie spoke in that soft voice of hers, Sharon always found herself listening and learning. Even now, all these years later, Ms. Addie
’s voice and words filled the room… “
A dinner table isn’t just a table where you eat dinner. It’s a train station platform where you stay still waiting for the train as you evaluate your day. It’s where you think about where you’re going next when the train arrives. And, if you’re fortunate enough to have someone riding the rails with you, it’s a time to commune with them. Share your joys and burdens and share theirs. Speak aloud your dreams and encourage theirs. Reveal your sorrows but don’t wallow in them, and once shared, they often seem lighter. Breaking bread together is more than about food, sweetheart, it’s a place of connections. Both to ourselves, as well as others.
”

As the soft voice faded from her mind, Sharon decided there was no need to wait for a reason to dine formally. Eating at a table, facing each other at the end of the day, talking about what was going on in both their lives, and building the relationship she should have found the time to build with him long before now would be a wonderful new tradition to start with her son. Thanks to Ms. Addie
’s loving heart, she was no longer a prisoner of desperation. Instead of having to work around the clock just to eat, she could stop now and begin to live. And more importantly, make a good life for her son.

Sharon finished scrambling the eggs and peeked at the toast browning in the oven before lifting a piece of bacon from the paper-towel covered plate. She nibbled on the piece as she wandered around the cabin again, just to look at this and that, still amazed it was really hers.

Ms. Addie was a wonderful woman, her heart bigger than the pristine lake down below, but Sharon could never have imagined the kindhearted soul thinking of her beyond the months she’d stayed at Ms. Addie’s house.

“
Mom? I’ve finished making the beds. Did you know there are these really puffy mattresses on them?”

Sharon turned and smiled at her son. His excitement at finding they owned not only their own home, but also several wooded acres around it, was evident from the moment they arrived. He was happy to help her get everything done quickly so he could explore his new surroundings.
“They’re feather mattresses. Made from goose down. Ms. Addie loved feather mattresses.”

“
Is something burning?”

“
Yikes!” Sharon quickly made her way across the room to take the eggs off the burner, stirring them vigorously to keep them from sticking to the non-stick pan. “I’m so caught up in our new home I forgot there for a moment that I was making dinner.”

Kyle laughed.
“I know. This is really cool, Mom. I don’t know who Ms. Addie was, but I sure do like her a lot.”

Seeing her son so happy for the first time in so long filled her heart with joy, but the smell of burning bread had her turning back to pull the cookie sheet with the black edged slices out. She looked from them to Kyle, and they both burst out laughing.

“Scrape or toss?”

Kyle
’s brows shot up and he looked at her in surprise. “Really? We can toss them?”

Sharon nodded.
“Yes. We can’t make a habit of it, because it isn’t right to waste food when so many people go hungry, but this time it’s up to you.”

Kyle walked over and examined the toast for several seconds before looking up at her.
“It’s only the edges. We can scrape them. But can we make more? I’m really hungry.”

Guilt hit her like a ton of bricks.
“Sure. I could have made something different. I know you need more than I’ve been able to provide, but things are going to be different.”

“
I know he always took all your money, Mom. And I know he hit you when you wanted to spend it on me.”

Sharon froze as her eyes filled with tears. When she could finally take a shaky breath, she shook her head.
“Kyle… How did you know that? You were never around when…” She couldn’t even say the words.

“
The apartment didn’t keep sounds out, Mom. When I was in my room, I could hear him yelling at you and demanding you give him your paychecks every week. And I knew he hit you all the time when I was younger. Last year I finally told him I would call the police if he didn’t stop. I never heard him hit you again after that, but by that time you were already handing him your checks before he’d ask for them.” Anger and hurt, and even fear, were in her son’s eyes as he looked at her. “I think that’s why he left you. Because of me threatening him.”

Shamed, humiliated, horrified, Sharon stared at her son.
“I’m so sorry. I should have left him years ago. It wasn’t fair to you that I stayed, but I didn’t know how to leave. I even tried to convince myself I loved him and he loved me, but I know,
knew
, that wasn’t true.”

“
It’s okay, Mom. I’m not dumb. I understand. I’m just glad we’re free of him now.”

Sharon nodded and made herself smile.
“I am too, baby. Let’s get more toast started and eat these eggs before they get cold.”

Kyle pulled out two plates and set them on the counter before retrieving the utensils. He put two pieces of slightly charcoal-grilled toast on each plate as Sharon added the eggs and bacon.

“You want milk, Mom?”

Sharon nodded, her chest once again filling with joy.
“If we’re going to have breakfast for dinner, we have to have milk.”

Kyle grinned at her, looking too old for his fourteen years.
“You don’t have to follow anyone else’s rules anymore, Mom. What about soda instead?”

Sharon almost agreed then shook her head.
“No, milk is fine. But just to make it clear, it’s my choice. Okay?”

Nodding, Kyle poured them both a glass and they carried their things to the table. She took a deep breath and held out her hand. Kyle looked at it, and then looked at her questioningly.
“We are starting a new life, and I think we need new traditions, all our own. Please close your eyes and bow your head.”

When he did so without missing a beat, Sharon prayed over her food for the first time since leaving Ms. Addie
’s house all those years ago.

Chapter Thirteen

Life is good.

There really was nothing Sharon could add to that thought as she smiled at the last scheduled patient for the day. She printed up his bill, took his check, and walked him to the door so she could lock it behind him. After returning to her desk to record the payment and lock the check in her little lockbox that she then locked in her desk drawer, Sharon wandered back to the examining room to start the process of cleaning.

“I told you, you don’t have to clean. I can do that.”

Sharon grinned at him, unable to help wishing for things she shouldn
’t wish for. In the three weeks she’d been working for him, Jake had only endeared himself to her more and more. He was kind, funny, gorgeous, and made her aware, every second of every day, that she was a woman. “And I told you, I don’t mind.”

“
So when do I get to meet your son?”

That stopped Sharon from pulling the remaining paper from atop the examination bed.
“Kyle?”

Jake shrugged good-naturedly.
“Unless you have more sons that I don’t know about.”

Sharon laughed as expected, but thought it sounded as fake as it felt.
“No. I only have the one.”

“
So when do I meet him?”

Practically choking on a comeback, Sharon blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Come to dinner.”

Delight lit Jake
’s eyes. “Really? I’d love to. What do you want me to bring?”

Sharon cleared her throat, wanting to tell him she didn
’t mean tonight. Or ever for that matter. But she couldn’t. He seemed so pleased, and she couldn’t disappoint the only man in her life who hadn’t disappointed her. “Just yourself. About sevenish? Kyle will be home by then. He called after school and before football practice to let me know one of the coaches was bringing him and some of the other boys home since they wanted to work out an extra hour.”

Jake looked at her a moment before speaking.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you around seven. Which means you need to leave now. I’ll finish cleaning and then hit the shower. It looks like I have a date tonight.”

Sharon almost protested the label but stopped short when she saw the amusement, and perhaps a degree of dare, in his eyes. She grinned instead.
“Well good for you. I’ll see you afterwards. Are you sure you’ll be done by seven?”

Jake laughed long and hard, and she couldn
’t help but join him.

She finished up and hurried home. Wondering if the excitement she felt meant she
’d completely lost her mind.

Two hours later Jake showed up at her door, a bottle of red wine in one hand, and a bouquet of mixed flowers in the other. She looked from the bottle to the flowers to his smiling face, only to see the hint of dare was still there in his gaze.

“Hi. Kyle isn’t home yet. His coach and the boys are going out for pizza. He asked and I couldn’t say no.”

Jake followed as she backed away from the door, shutting the door behind him. Sharon blew out a breath, thinking she
’d definitely made a terrible mistake in inviting him over. Somehow between the invitation that wasn’t
really
an invitation and getting the phone call about the pizza outing, she’d convinced herself it was no big deal. After all, she and Jake spent time alone at his office between patients, and they were both always so busy that it wasn’t awkward.

She was a grown woman, one who had full control of her own mind and body. But now, with him in his street clothes that consisted of a cotton button-down shirt that brought out the color of his eyes, accentuated the broadness of his chest and the strength of his shoulders, and blue jeans that magnified the perfection of his…well,
everything
, she knew she’d not only fooled herself, her body had flat out lied to her mind.

“
These are for you.”

Sharon took the bouquet Jake held out to her and reflexively lifted the flowers to her face so she could breathe in their scent. She smiled at him before turning to put them in a glass of water, hoping to keep everything light and simple.
“You know this isn’t really a date. But the flowers are lovely.”

Jake was right behind her but stopped on the other side of the island where he sat the wine down between them.
“I’m attracted to you. That hasn’t changed.”

As she turned from the sink Sharon frowned, more at the happy little jump of her heart than at him, but she didn
’t disclose that tidbit of information. “I work for you. Nothing else. That hasn’t changed either.”

Jake tilted his head, confusion mixed with something else she was afraid was annoyance showed in his gaze.

“We get along great. I’m attracted to you. And I think sometimes, when you forget to put your guard up at work, you’re attracted to me too. So why not explore it?”

Sharon looked at him, wondering if she was completely stupid. Regardless…
“My life has been complicated for a long time. I’m trying to simplify it.”

“
I’m not complicated.”

Sharon smiled.
“You may not be, but I am.”

Jake grinned.
“How?”

After sighing loudly, Sharon shrugged.
“I’m a single mom, for one thing.”

“
I know that.”

“
He was the product of a high school…love.”

“
Happens.”

“
Until recently Kyle believed my ex-husband was his father. He wasn’t a nice man.”

“
Why didn’t you ever tell your son the truth?”

“
The right time never came up. It isn’t an easy thing to do, you know.”

“
How did he react when you finally told him?”

Sharon swallowed, still filled with guilt.
“I didn’t. My ex did when he decided he was through using me. Hurting me wasn’t enough for him, though. He had to hurt my son too.”

“
Sounds like a dick.”

Sharon
’s brows shot up before she barked out a laugh. “Yes. He was.”

Jake
’s expression remained neutral. “I’m not a dick.”

“
I’ve figured that out for myself.”

“
So what’s the problem?”

Sharon didn
’t know how to express the problem without revealing who she once was, and she didn’t want Jake to look at her differently than he was looking at her right now. Fortunately the bell dinged on the stove indicating the lasagna was done.

More than thankful for the interruption she turned and took her raggedy old potholders from the drawer next to the stove and opened the oven
’s door to lift the large baking dish out. The boiling hot sauce around the top layer of browning cheeses dripped and sizzled on the oven’s floor as the scent of the meat and tomato sauce Ms. Addie taught her to make filled the room with an amazing aroma of spices.

“
If that tastes half as good as it smells, I’m going to make a fool of myself.”

Sharon smiled as she pulled the dish out and set it on the waiting hot-pads. She closed the oven door and glanced back.
“Believe me, it does. The woman who taught me how to cook was amazing. In so many ways, really. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be here now.”

Sharon froze, wondering what had possessed her to reveal that about herself.
“She was a good friend,” she added lamely, avoiding his gaze as she snatched two plates and rounded him to take them to the small kitchen table.

“
Why do you do that?

Sharon placed the dishes on the table and then turned back to him.
“Do what?”

“
Say something about yourself then duck and cover.”

Knowing exactly what he meant she gave him a curious look.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jake
’s brows lifted. “Yes, you do.”

“
Excuse me?”

“
I didn’t take you for a liar.”

Something close to fury shook Sharon to the core.
“
Excuse me!”

Jake advanced so four steps later he was right in front of her. Sharon inhaled and then realized her mistake as his scent surrounded her. She cleared her throat.
“Maybe this was a bad idea.”

“
Why are you afraid of me?”

Sharon decided a little room was in order. Since he blocked the most direct walkway back into the kitchen, she rounded the island and made her way back to get paper napkins and glasses.
“I’m not afraid of you. I’m just a private person.”

“
You smile when you are thinking of anything but yourself. But if the subject is you, fear enters your eyes.”

Sharon was mortified. She
’d had no idea she was that easy to read. No wonder Gerald had been so verbally abusive. He’d always taken great pleasure in sticking barbs into her skin with harshly thrown out words. Now she was free, she couldn’t believe she had put up with it for so long.

“
Look, Doc, I—”

“
Jake. You can get away with Doc, or Doctor, or
whatever
at the office. But outside of it, especially when I’m having dinner with a beautiful woman, I’m just Jake.”

Short of sounding childish, Sharon knew she had no choice but to settle down and regroup. She was overreacting. And he was right…about everything.
“I’m sorry. I just came out of a horrible marriage. I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do with my life. I’m trying to figure how to best take care of my son. I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for a woman I knew as a kid. Ms. Addie left me this cabin and it came at a time in my life when I needed it most. So I’m here now. But I don’t know for how long.”

Jake took the few steps bringing him back into the kitchen.
“Was that so hard?”

Sharon nodded.
“Yes.”

Apparently not expecting that answer Jake frowned.
“Are you afraid the ex-husband will come looking for you? Is that why you don’t know if you’ll stay?”

Shaking her head, Sharon looked at her tiny home, mostly to avoid looking at him.
“No. He’s happily engaged to someone else.”

“
Are you unhappy here?”

Honesty had her shaking her head again. But she knew she couldn
’t be completely honest without revealing too much. “No. But I’m not sure I want to stay just because I have a place here. I haven’t had many choices in the last several years. So I want that freedom. Ms. Addie gave me this cabin with no stipulations. I can put it on the market immediately if I want.”

Jake nodded.
“I get that. But what if you decide you like living here? And your son is happy? And I want to take you out now and then, just because we are both free to do so?”

Sharon
’s gaze flew to his. “I can’t think about those things right now.”

“
Why? Because you’re plotting your freedom?”

Since his words came with a grin, she grinned back.
“No. Because I don’t find you the least bit attractive.”

“
Now I know you’re lying. I saw you looking at my butt this morning.”

Sharon
’s gaze sharpened in horror, because she had been, but hadn’t known he knew it. “You are full of it!”

Jake laughed.
‘“Look, seriously, I really like you. At least the
you
you’ve allowed me to see. Take a chance here. I’m really a nice guy. Only a few skeletons in the closet, and they’re typical teen crap I’m not too proud of, but I like you, Sharon. I’m very attracted to you. I’d like the chance to explore the possibilities. But you have to want to explore them too.”

Hearing that he
’d made some mistakes along the way helped for some reason, though she seriously doubted his teenage mistakes were anywhere close to as bad as her own. Still, she
was
free to choose whether she stayed or not, and she was free to pursue a possible relationship if she wanted. But…and there were too many buts to count, she had to be careful. A light romance was completely different than a committed relationship. Still, it would be fun to date someone who she knew wouldn’t deliberately hurt her. Regardless of his supposedly shady past, Jake was a nice guy through and through.

“
We can be friends. And maybe go out some. But I’m not ready for anything beyond that right now.”

“
I can work with that. How about a movie and dinner Saturday night?”

Sharon inhaled deeply, only to exhale shakily.
“You don’t waste any time, do you?”

A delighted smile lit Jake
’s face. “I try not to when I’m getting my way.”