Chapter 11
Grace
“I’m sorry I’m late,” I said as I shoved my body into a booth, huffing as soon as I did.
“I thought you didn’t have a heavy workload today.” Darlene was sipping a glass of wine, which looked delicious. I don’t know why after the interesting few days I suddenly felt the need for liquid courage, but I planned on having a tall glass of chardonnay.
“I don’t. I was working on grants then forgot all about the items coming into the post office.
Then I needed a few things including some paint supplies.
This morning, I had a walk-in, a poor dog who’d been shot.
Who shoots a dog, for God’s sake. Anyway, the surgery took a little time.
I’m happy to report that the pup is just fine. You know how it goes.”
Almost immediately, my favorite chicken salad sandwich was placed in front of me and my stomach rumbled. With a glass of chardonnay, I was set for the afternoon. Yes, I was thirty minutes late, but the day had gotten away from me.
Of course that was after I’d pushed our lunch back from two to three. Yes, I’d had errands that had taken longer than expected, but in truth, I’d lost some track of time. Why? Because I’d needed to collect my thoughts and reshape my lost mind about my houseguest.
The possible convicted felon who’d served his time house guest. The label I’d planted on him should be with hyphens just like in romance hooks when describing the hot hero.
As in ‘a perfect-specimen-of-a-man-in-tight-blue-jeans.’ Maybe that was a little too obvious or plain jane and in truth, he was no perfect hero either.
On the good side, he was sexy, talented with a hammer and power saw, adored animals, and was nice to look at.
On the downside? He was a surly, arrogant, in your face, hardheaded jerk who refused to lose or to take no for an answer.
From anyone.
My guess was he was terrible with authority.
A smokejumper? Oh, he wouldn’t like the rules and regulations as demanded by the captain, my godfather, and the forestry service.
“Yes, I do, especially with you, which was why I went ahead and ordered your favorite. But take a breath. And are you with me? You seem a thousand miles away.”
“I’m fine,” I lied. “I’m right here. Just hangry.” I laughed, every detail of the conversation I’d had with the man festering in my mind. If my godfather hired him, that meant he was talented and perfect for the team. A rarity.
But what about danger? What had been his crime? Drugs? If so, he was gone. Out the door. I wouldn’t tolerate anyone using drugs in my home. Then again, maybe he was the second man Landen had hired. But hadn’t he told me he was from Colorado? Oh, I was spinning myself straight into hell.
“Uh-huh.” She laughed to herself while fiddling with her wineglass.
My purse was barely beside me, the napkin in my lap before I grabbed one half, shoving the corner into my mouth. Maggie’s had the best chicken salad in the world and I was starving.
The truth was I wasn’t even remotely fine for two reasons.
One, I was fairly certain I had a convicted felon living under the same household with me and two, there’d been another report on the fire at the sporting goods store and the reporter had mentioned the fire inspector was leaning toward arson.
No, it wasn’t the same situation as with my parents, but since the asshole hadn’t been caught, the arsonist could be expanding his horizons.
That didn’t mean the two fires were connected either. Nor did it mean I should be nervous about having the sexy, insanely gorgeous man in my house. But still, I’d always been a cautious girl. Living in Chicago had made that necessary.
I took another bite. And another.
Viper was damn sexy though and I’d felt good about offering him a place to stay. But how in the world was I supposed to keep everything platonic? I mean after everything we’d shared, the passion. The touches. The kisses.
And what the hell had been wrong with me this morning when I’d jumped into his arms? Oh, I was such an idiot.
When telling myself I could keep away, I’d thought it was possible.
But the problem was I wanted him.
Worse, my body wanted him. Craved the heat and fire we’d shared. I even didn’t mind his broody stares and the way his nostrils flared when he was frustrated about something.
With what he’d endured the night before, I couldn’t blame him for acting surly and as if the entire world, including me, was against him.
He’d been polite enough to take the sign from the back of my truck before he’d left, putting it in a safe place inside the barn. He’d done so without saying another word. Not one.
The awkwardness was mostly my fault, but I’d needed to establish some barriers for the both of us. If I hadn’t, then what? Then I could get my heart broken when he found a place.
What was I saying? What about him getting his heart broken?
I hadn’t realized my bestie was completely quiet until I’d almost finished the entire half of my sandwich. When I finally lifted my head, Darlene was smirking and her eyes were twinkling.
“What?” I asked, immediately placing my hand over my mouth since I was still chewing.
“When was the last time you had anything to eat? You nibbled on a single carrot last. A carrot. Who does that when drinking wine?”
“Decent food?”
“Anything.”
“I had a candy bar this morning. With raisins and nuts.”
She folded her arms across the table, leaning closer. “Oh, my God. What is going on with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“When I called you about lunch, you were frazzled. Last night, you were absent from the conversation, staring off into space. And now, you’re in another galaxy.
Please don’t tell me you’re still worried about the fire.
I thought you’d already heard about the horrific situation since it’s been plastered all over the news. ”
“I don’t watch much television, but it’s not the fire. I mean, yes, I can’t stand hearing about someone dying in a horrific situation and I’m still waiting not so patiently for someone to find the person who murdered my parents, but I’m just…” My groan was deep and rattled.
“Spill it.”
I finished off the half and grabbed my napkin first. Being around Viper had both a calming and erratic effect on me.
If that was possible. “Have you ever met someone who just touched you. I mean, right here.” I placed my hand on my heart.
“A person who could end up being your soulmate. That is if you managed to get through layers of pent-up hostility, fear, and complications? The type of person to make you question everything about yourself while enjoying doing so?”
A wide smile slowly slid across her face. “Did you fuck someone?”
With my head cocked, I tried my best to assimilate the same glare she used on me. “Why in the world would you think that?”
“Because I know you. You’re flushed. You’re sweating. You’re panting. And your skin is glistening. Where did you meet this person?”
“At the pet store. I didn’t meet him. I challenged him for locking his dog in in his truck in the heat. Even though it was only a few minutes. Okay, so I yelled at him, but at the time I’d thought he deserved it. He said nothing, but we glared at each other. There was a spark. A huge spark.”
I gasped for air, reaching for and gulping some of the wine.
She fanned her face. “A spark. Wow. Okay, so you kind of met this guy and suddenly, he’s your soulmate.” With the wine in her hand, she crooked her brow as she did when she thought me hysterical.
Which lately was a hell of lot.
“Not exactly. I figured that out after we slept together, but before I invited him to live with me.”
It was her turn to spit out her wine, immediately reaching for her napkin. “What the…”
With the second half of the sandwich in my hand, I laughed, seeing the expression on her face.
“You’re shitting me. You wouldn’t do something like that. You don’t cut the tags off pillows.” Her eyes were huge.
“No, I’m not kidding. Maybe it was time I let loose a little bit.
Aren’t you always telling me that’s what I need to do?
The whole thing is a very long story, but he just moved to town and we hit it off when he brought a dog he saved from the side of the road to my free clinic on Saturday.
One thing led to another, and he then brought the dog, whose name is Sailor, by the house.
He was hot. Not the dog. Well, the dog is cute, although kind of scraggly because he needs to put on weight.
The man. A real man. One who fills out a pair of jeans like nobody’s business.
We sparred. We argued. So I was in the mood.
We had wild and crazy sex and I never thought I’d see him again, but fate had other things in mind, including your father pushing him out of the park after dark.
” My words had been spit out a hundred miles an hour.
“Okay, now I am lost. What do you mean my father pushed him out of the park?”
“Yep. Just like the asshole piece of shit at the Super 8, who I’m going to have a long chat with, tossed him out of the room he’d rented because he had a dog. Well, I know for certain that’s a lie since I stayed there for three nights when I moved here. They allow dogs.”
She was digging in her purse.
“What are you looking for?” I asked.
“Valium. You need it or maybe we can find a dealer and get you some pot to calm your ass down. I’ve never seen you like this.”
At least I could laugh around her. “I don’t need valium. More hot sex would work. But you’re right. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way. Not in my entire life.”
“Why now?” She shook her head, sweating as much as I’d done before.
Her question was valid. I looked out the picture window, watching families and couples walking by on the sidewalk. Some happy. Some arguing. All trying to find their place in the world.