Winter Harvest (3 page)

"It's okay." She moved across the room and dried her hands before grabbing one of his and giving it a squeeze. "It was nice."

"Nonetheless, it can't happen again."

"Why? I'm not inexperienced."

"That's more than I need to know." Traye raised his brows. "In fact, it's more than I
care
to know."

"Jealous?"

"Look, we have to stop whatever is going on between us. You're like my little sister." The guilt almost choked him as she deflated before his eyes
. Damn
. "I have way too much respect for your family to do that to you."

"That's bullshit."

"Victoria, you shouldn't talk like that. You're a lady."

"I don't have to listen to you." She snatched her hand away, letting his drop like lead. "Now, get out of my kitchen."

"I didn't mean to upset you. I just want us to be the friends we always were."
Liar.

"Fine."

"Yeah?"

"Sure. You'd better get back to Andrew before he comes to get you. He hates to have to wait on anyone."

Traye nodded. Victoria hadn't accepted his suggestion with grace, but after time passed she'd see he was right and seek out a man who could give her all she wanted.

Spinning around, he stalked out of the house and away from what could have been the best thing to ever happen to him.

*****

God, men were such idiots
. Victoria placed the dish towel over her face and let out a muffled scream. She'd thought she'd finally reached Traye's bruised, battered heart, only to have him turn and run the other way. He was all she had wanted for as long as she could remember. Why couldn't he see what a good man he was and how good they could be together? No matter. She'd just give it a little more time.

Her mother had always told her to fight for what she wanted. That kiss hadn't happened because Traye was grieving.
No.

Sure, maybe it had helped that he'd already let down his guard, but that kiss alone was proof he thought of her as more than just his sister. She'd find his vulnerable spot again one day soon and break through that brick wall he'd built around his heart.

She continued to clean up while she waited for Abbey to arrive.

A few minutes later, Abbey breezed in with a notebook in hand and dropped her leather jacket onto a chair. She looked as if she'd just had a makeover. Abbey was the only girl Victoria knew who could pull off a pixie cut and still look distinguished. The two girls had been friends since high school. Abbey knew everything about Victoria, including her obsession with Traye. Even if she didn't agree with it, she had never let Victoria down. She'd always stood by her side.

"Hey, what's up with you?" Abbey asked. "Lose your best friend?"

"Worse."

She pulled out a chair, threw her notebook onto the table, and plunked her petite body down. "How so?"

"I had Traye in the palm of my hand."

Abbey frowned at her.

"No, really. I kissed him, and he kissed me back. I thought we'd finally reached the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Then this morning, I caught him sizing me up. He looked at me differently. Then he leaves with Andrew, comes back a few minutes later, and tells me it's over. Andrew must have gotten to him. My brother is impossible, especially since mom died."

"Maybe he has a point."

"Shut up."

"I know." Abbey threw up her hands and raised her green eyes. "Believe me, I'm not Andrew's biggest fan. I think he's a pompous jerk, and that happened way before your mom died. You've been chasing Traye and trying to keep your family together for so long you've forgotten about the world of beautiful men out there who'd jump at the chance to go out with you."

"Maybe, but I have no desire to date them. I know practically every guy in town, and I'm not impressed."

"Because you've been drooling over Traye and don't see those guys for who they are. You don't have to go for a ring to have a little fun."

"We both know I had my share of men in college. Every one of them led me back to Traye. He's different from all of them." Victoria gripped the chair in front of her.

"Yeah, he's a tortured soul with a messed up brain. Jeez. That's appealing."

"Stop it." Victoria cocked her head. "Just because you like them beefy and arrogant, doesn't mean Traye is bad. I want you to explain to me again how we can be such good friends when we want such different things."

"Besides from the fact that I'm awesome?"

Victoria couldn't help but return Abbey's grin. Nothing ever brought her down. Victoria decided she could learn a few things from her friend.

"Look, Victoria, you like the dark, brooding type. The question remains: Do you really want to chase him the rest of your life? Why does he deserve you, anyway? He treats you like a kid sister. Is that how you want to be treated? Not me. I want a man who'll fall all over himself to make my world a better place. I dealt with heartache once, but never again."

"That's the same way I feel about Traye. I'm not going to stop until he sees me as a woman. He did yesterday, but then he changed his mind. I don't get it. What else can I do to make him realize I'm just as good for him as he is for me?"

"Maybe he never will. Maybe the kiss did awaken something in him, something primal, but I know you want more than just a fling. Not that he'll ever let himself touch you."

"Why is that so bad? Doesn't that make him a nice guy?" Victoria slumped in her chair.

Abbey nodded. "Yeah, but he's all about his problems and upbringing. He'll never let go of that. You're way too good for him, Victoria."

"You're right." She sighed." If he never sees me that way, I guess I'll have to forget him and look elsewhere."

"Exactly. Please don't settle for anything less just so you can have this amazing man you dreamed up in your head. Traye isn't perfect, and he can't let go of his ghosts. Don't subject yourself to that kind of hell."

"Well, getting over him won't be easy."

"Just see him for who he really is. Get your head out of the clouds and move on. Maybe we need to stage a night out. Just you and me, so we can find some fresh blood. We can go to Arrowhead this Friday and see what we come up with. Stage a manhunt."

"There's supposed to be a blizzard."

"When have we let that stop us?"

Victoria shrugged.

"Okay, if we can't get out of town, we'll go to Jerry's and head out of town next time. We won't give up until you're over Traye."

"Deal." They high fived over the table. Even so, Victoria wasn't sure forgetting Traye would be that easy. Was her heart truly in it? She'd have to think about it.

Abbey was right, though. Getting him to see her for who she was could take the rest of her life. Maybe her true destiny was out there somewhere waiting for her, but she couldn't see it.

She laughed sharply. Yeah, right. What a crock. Testing the water with someone else couldn't hurt, however, and might even be fun. Traye wasn't willing to take a chance on her, so why should she waste her time on him? Besides, she had a dance to plan. He could just take his honorable intentions and shove them.

Chapter Three

Traye opened the door to Robert's office. "Sorry it took so long, sir. I was--"

"Busy," Victoria said, finishing the sentence for him as she perched on a chair in front of her father's desk.
What was she doing in here, looking so young and sexy?

She stared at him with those big brown eyes, her shiny blonde hair framing her face, giving her an air of innocence. Traye knew she was anything but.

"I have a job for you, Traye," Robert said.

Traye moved further into the room and tried to focus on him instead of Victoria.

"I need you to go to Arrowhead. A farmer there is selling out. I want you to check his equipment and see if he has anything we can use."

"Another one getting out of it, huh?"

Robert nodded.

"So sad." Traye shook his head.

"I want you to take Victoria with you."

"Sir?" He lifted a brow. Huh? Had he heard Robert right?

The older man continued, "She needs to pick up some supplies from the country store, and if she goes with you, it'll save on gas."

"I don't want to fight with Andrew all the way there, so when I heard where Dad was sending you…" She paused and fidgeted in her seat with the sweetest smile, and it almost knocked him to his knees. Then she shrugged. "Figured it'd be a good time for me to get the things I need."

"Okay."
Damn
. He'd thought he'd be able to go off by himself to figure out how to get her out of his head. Now that would be impossible.

"Victoria has the address. You two had best get going. The trip will take almost all day." Robert handed him some cash. "Fill up the truck and have lunch on me. You remember that great diner called Helen's? Tessie and I used to love that place. We'd go every time she needed supplies. It was our special day." Roberts blinked his eyes several times.

Victoria rose and rubbed her hands on her tight, worn jeans. She left the top two buttons of her plaid flannel shirt open to reveal a glimpse of cleavage. When she bent to kiss her father's cheek, the shirt gaped even more and showed her pink lace bra. Her shiny lips beckoned him.

He swallowed, hard.
Shit
. Why couldn't he still see her as a kid?

She gave her father a hug. "I know, Dad. I miss her, too."

"Go on. You two need to get on the road." Robert pushed her away.

Victoria looked at Traye, pursed her lips, and gazed at him with desire, as if she wanted to eat him alive. "Okay. You ready?"

"Sure." He waited for her to grab her jacket before walking to the truck. The bright sunshine blinded him. He opened the passenger door for her, and his groin tightened. Her jeans stretched tight as she slid inside. He fought the urge to slap her firm butt. Trying to dispel the erotic images floating in his head, he inhaled several deep breaths and walked around the hood. No luck. He circled his hands on the steering wheel and stared straight ahead.

"Is this day going to be  awkward?" she asked.

Traye brushed the hair out of his eyes before turning to her. "Only if you make it so."

"Even after our last conversation?"

Traye didn't answer. Itching to yank her close and taste her perfect pink lips, he just squirmed in his seat.

"You don't want a relationship." She shrugged. "I get that."

"I just don't think we should go there."

"Fine. Are we going to sit here all day, or are we going to get out of town for the day? Can we just put this all aside and enjoy the open road, the music, and some easy conversation?"

Traye busted out laughing. "You sound excited."

"I am. Better than being stuck in the house. It's a beautiful day."

"So how's the dance planning going?" Traye couldn't deny it anymore. He'd missed their conversations. He drove down the long driveway and turned onto the road. "Abbey giving you a hard time?"

"You don't like her, do you?" Victoria pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

He shook his head. "It's not that I don't like her. It's more that she doesn't like me."

"She doesn't trust you."

"What'd I ever do to her?" Traye scowled.

"You've hurt her best friend a thousand times."

"Hey, never once did I let you think I ever wanted you to be more than a sister." In seconds, the air in the truck grew thick with tension. Traye groaned.

"Exactly."

"I thought we weren't going to talk about this. We've barely gone even a quarter of a mile, and here you are badgering me." He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. They didn't stand a chance getting back to where they'd been.

Victoria turned toward him. "Well, we're stuck in here and we're already into it, so why don't we finish this discussion?"

"Why not, indeed." Damn. He wanted to shoot Robert. Why had the man put him in this predicament?

She lifted a brow. "So?"

Traye gave her a quick glance.

Big mistake.

He wanted to pull the truck over, drag her onto his lap, and ravish her mouth with sweet, hot kisses. Instead, he shook his head. "Victoria, I can't do this."

"Tough. You are. If I wasn't Tessie and Robert's daughter, would you still push me aside? That's all I want to know."

"If I answer that question, will you leave this alone?" He looked at her.

She nodded. "Yes."

"Okay, but don't make me regret this."

"Traye, please. Just answer the question… and for once, be honest."

"I'm always honest."

"Even about this? Would you still push me aside if I wasn't an O'Connor?"

"I don't know how to answer that." Traye sighed. She had him over a barrel. This could make the rest of the day hell, yet he couldn't stand to hurt her. "If you weren't an O'Connor, I never would've taken the time to get to know you. You're gorgeous, but I never would've taken even a second look. You know how I am. I don't chase woman. I only respect a few, and you're one of them. I think the world of you, but in no way, shape, or form am I willing to I ruin that."

"So you think giving into this attraction we share would ruin us?"

"Yes, I do." Traye jerked his gaze to her face. She stared at him with anticipation. He knew she wanted more of him than he could give. "More importantly, it would also ruin
you,
and I can't let myself do that."

The silence in the truck stifled him. He hadn't known how to let her down easy. Confident he'd wounded her far more deeply than he had intended, he cringed when guilt stabbed his heart. Her crush on him would surely be the death of their friendship. With the weird feelings he had for her now, he couldn't imagine how they could ever be friends again.

"Victoria, say something."

"There's nothing to say. I think I get it now."

"So we can drop all of this, right? Drop it and go back to normal?"

"Sure." She didn't sound convincing. No, this discussion was far from over. She glanced back at him. "I have to ask. Is Andrew's girlfriend one of the women you respect? Is
she
the type you'd rather have?"