“I like your decor. It’s very...you.” He draped his arm around her shoulder, kissed her on the cheek. “Now that we’re both dressed, let’s go eat.”
She gave him a long look, studying his face. What’s happening between us?
Then, she asked, “Listen...after lunch, would you be up for one more adventure with me?”
“I’m not hiking near any more mountain lions, Robyn.”
She snorted. “No, nothing like that. Have you ever been down to the Ghost Ranch in Abiquiú?”
He shook his head. “Can’t say I have.”
“I really want to go there. They have an awesome library in an adobe building and two museums.”
“Wow. So, you’re into that sort of thing?” He scratched his chin. “I thought you’d be more into the movie-filming stuff.”
“I’m into both, honestly. I’m a woman of many interests.”
“Okay. As long as I’m not in danger of being mauled, I’m down.”
She grabbed her keys from the bowl by the door. “Great. I’ll drive.”
They left her house, stopping off at a fast-food place for burgers and fries before taking US 84 south to Abiquiú.
Later, she held his hand as they explored the grounds of the Ghost Ranch. According to the tour guide in the welcome center, the whole place encompassed about twenty-one thousand acres. “It’s so beautiful here.”
“It is. I’ve never seen anything like it.” He pointed off in the distance. “I mean, we’ve always seen mountains, growing up around here. But look at those rock formations. Really remarkable.”
She followed his gesture, inhaling sharply as she took in the sight. The huge red-rock shelves, with their jagged faces bearing variegated lines of grays, browns and tans, reached heavenward to embrace the endless blue sky. The sheer beauty of the scenery stole her breath.
When she finally tore her eyes away from the natural beauty of the surroundings, she started walking again, with Troy following her. She stopped near the entrance of the Florence Hawley Ellis Museum of Anthropology. Tugging his hand, she said, “We’ve got to go in here.”
He obliged her, following her inside.
The interior of the museum featured exhibits that gave insight into Native American culture dating back ten thousand years. Hand in hand with Troy, she marveled over the displays of tools, handmade pottery and more. After leaving there, she tugged him into the neighboring Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology. The exhibits on the many fossils found in the quarries of the Ghost Ranch were fascinating and enlightening.
“Look at this, Troy.” She pointed to a display. “‘The Coelophysis graveyard discovered here in 1947 yielded numerous intact, well-preserved specimens, one of which is now considered the type specimen for the entire genus.’”
He tilted his head to the side. “In other words, the one they measure all the other fossils against was found here.”
“Right. I’m impressed. I thought you were tuning me out.”
“Why would I do that?”
She shrugged. “Not everyone is interested in archaeology, anthropology, all the ‘ology’s’ I enjoy. Hell, Kima’s my best friend, and even she refused to come here with me. Said she didn’t want to spend all day looking at some old dusty bones.”
He let his fingertips graze over her jawline. “How can I not pay attention to something you’re so passionate about? Watching your eyes light up is enough to get me into it.”
His words were both surprising and pleasing, so she rewarded his sweetness with a soft kiss on the lips.
As they exited the second museum, he asked, “What else do you want to see, while we’re here? I know there’s something else.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Watching you. I can tell you have an almost boundless curiosity. You’re not just wrapped up in your own life and problems, unlike some of the other women I’ve known.”
She turned his words over in her mind. He thinks so highly of me. And here I am, keeping things from him. She opened her mouth, preparing to tell him about the job in San Diego. But she couldn’t do it, let him know she was leaving. That would mean another person would know her plans before she’d told her parents. “That’s really sweet of you to say, Troy...”
“I love that about you. There are so many things about you to love.”
Her breath caught in her throat. Where is he going with this?
Are we about to exceed the boundaries of this casual, no-strings arrangement?
He turned her way, fixing her with a look that seemed to penetrate her very soul. “I—”
She quickly spoke over him. “You know what? I really want to see the cabin they used in City Slickers. We’ll have to drive there, but I really don’t want to miss it. Would you be up to that?” She hated interrupting him, but she couldn’t let him finish that sentence. She sensed he’d been about to say something profound, something that would change things between them in a way that couldn’t be reversed.
Things are happening too fast between us. I can’t let myself get swept up in this, not with that job waiting for me in California. Even as she told herself that, she knew leaving Grandeza would be more difficult that she’d anticipated. I’m not so sure I want to leave anymore.
His eyes narrowed for a moment, as if he could read her thoughts.
She squirmed.
Then his expression softened. “I’m game. But after that, we’re going back to Grandeza. We do have to work tomorrow, and Mondays are rough enough without being completely exhausted.”
“Deal.” She sighed, relieved that he didn’t try to change the direction of the conversation back to what he’d originally wanted to say.
She had to steel herself for the future, for the break that would inevitably come when—if—she left. And that was part of the problem with dwelling on her feelings for him. It made her want to stay, when just a few days ago, no one could have convinced her that was a good idea. Why’d he have to show up in her life now, when she was about to step off into a different world, one away from her parents, her small town, the ranch, into a new freedom she desperately craved?
I know it’s going to come back up again. But I don’t want to deal with it now.
* * *
After they returned to Grandeza late that afternoon, Troy drove his SUV home. Stashing his canoe and gear in the shed behind the house, he went inside and started a load of laundry.
As evening came on, he fixed himself a steak and a baked potato. After he ate, he sat down in the living room and flipped on the thirty-two-inch wall-mounted flat-screen television. The local sportscaster was delivering the results of the weekend’s high school and college football games, as well as the stats on the professional matchups, some of which were still underway.
Folding the pile of clean laundry, he thought about the day...and the night he’d spent with Robyn. He’d wanted to stay longer this evening, but practicality demanded he come home. He needed clean clothes for work this week, and no matter how much he’d wanted to hole up with her and explore every inch of her body with his tongue, adulthood equaled responsibility.
He mused on that moment outside the museum, when he’d been ready to pour his heart out to her, and she’d abruptly changed the subject. Did she sense what I was about to say? He didn’t know. Still, he hoped she wasn’t afraid of the growing connection between them because as far as he could tell, there was no stopping it.
The many bumps and bruises he’d faced in life had taught him to accept and enjoy the blessings that came his way. He wasn’t about to say no to this one. He wanted to embrace it, and her, as forcefully and happily as he could.
In a way, he understood her nervousness. They’d set out to keep things casual between them, after all. But now that they’d made love, he doubted there was any going back. Things were likely to escalate from here.
A kno
ck at the door sounded, and he set aside his clothes to see who it was. He checked the peephole, expecting to see Rick there, coming over to share his latest conspiracy theories.
To his surprise, he saw Robyn standing on his front porch.
Opening the door, he said, “Hey, Robyn. What are you doing here?” She’d changed clothes and was now wearing a maxi dress, similar to the one she’d worn to Amos’s party. This one was yellow and had three small heart-shaped cutouts just below the high neckline. Her glossy hair was down now, framing her face in just the way he liked.
She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth for a moment. “I...missed you.”
He leaned against the door frame. A smile tilted his lips, accompanying the sense of satisfaction and peace that filled him at the knowledge that she’d sought him out. “I missed you. But I didn’t expect to see you again until tomorrow at work.”
“I didn’t plan on coming over here. Something just...came over me.” Her expression turned serious for a moment. “Earlier, at the museum... I think there was something you wanted to say.”
“There was.”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about us. Not just today, but ever since we decided to spend time together.”
He listened, keeping quiet until she could get out what she wanted to say.
“I know we were supposed to keep things casual, but... I don’t think I can anymore.” She reached up, caressing his jaw. “I...feel like I’m falling for you.”
His heart clenched in his chest, and he placed his hand atop hers. “I’m here to catch you. You know that, don’t you, Robyn?”
“Then you’d better brace yourself. Because I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen in love with you, and I don’t think I can get up.”
Rubbing his face against the softness of her palm, he smiled. “Great. Because I love you, too, and I don’t know how to turn it off. Frankly, I don’t think I want to.”
She smiled up at him. “Are you going to invite me in?”
He rested his hand on his chin, making a show of considering the notion. “Well, you do look good enough to eat.”
“I’m assuming you’ve had dinner.” There was a sly look in her brown eyes.
“I have.” He placed a possessive hand on her hip. “But I could go for dessert.”
She giggled as he pulled her inside the house and shut the door behind them.
Chapter 12
Rubbing her bleary eyes, Robyn sat up in bed and blinked a few times to allow them to adjust to the blinding sunlight streaming through the vertical blinds.
She checked the time on her phone and groaned. I’ve got to call into the ranch. I should have been there an hour ago. That’s what I get for having Friday-night sex on a Sunday.
Troy emerged from the attached bathroom. Aside from a smile, he wore only a towel draped around his hips.
The same strong hips she’d wrapped her legs around only hours ago.
She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, pinning it between her teeth.
“Good morning.” His deep, velvety voice seemed to fill the space.
“Very good,” she commented, not bothering to hide her admiration of his body.
He chuckled. “Oh, so you like what you see?”
“You already know I do.” She dragged away her gaze, turning toward the window instead. “As a matter of fact, I think you better get dressed, or neither of us is gonna make it to work today.”
“That was my plan. After that, I’ll make a quick breakfast.”
Her brow hitched as she looked his way. “You cook?”
He shrugged. “I dabble. A man’s gotta eat. Bacon and eggs?”
“Sounds great.”
“Shower’s free if you want to use it.” He flipped on the light in his closet and walked in.
She nodded, glad she brought an extra set of clothes. “My clothes are in my overnight bag, in the car.”
He poked his head out of the closet. “I’ll grab it for you. Just pop the trunk.”
She grabbed her keys from the nightstand. Moments later, he emerged from the closet in a CCE blue shirt and a pair of medium-wash blue jeans that molded to his powerful thighs like a second skin. Still sitting in bed, she watched him stride out, then return with her bag. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.” She opened the bag, taking out the fresh underclothes, black slacks and long-sleeved red top.
“I’m headed to the kitchen.” He disappeared into the hall.
When she joined him in the kitchen later, showered and dressed, he steered her to the small table. Then he set a plate in front of her, heaped with fluffy eggs and four slices of bacon. She smiled as he added a glass of orange juice. “Wow. Trying to spoil me?”
“Maybe.” He winked. “Is there going to be a problem with me going in late today?”
She shook her head. “Should be okay. As far as I know, nothing big is on tap. Besides, it’s the herd that determines schedule. We just go with the flow.”
“Mary Ellen told me as much when she hired me, but I just wanted to be sure.” He forked up a helping of eggs. “I can stay late if need be.”
“That’s reasonable. There are always at least three ranch hands on duty, even overnight. You might meet some of the night staff if you decide to stay long enough.”
He finished off his eggs. “So, what do you like to do, when you’re not working?”
“Well, you already know I love hiking. There are so many great state parks around here—just that one hobby could fill all my free time.”
“Does it?”
“No. I’ve done some exploring in the Carlsbad Caverns, and I go down to Ruidoso now and again to tour the wineries. There are also some great spas in Santa Fe.” She thought of Kima. “Whenever I go out of town to a spa, Kima complains—she works at the only Black-owned one in town.”
“Wow. Your hobbies make me feel pretty lazy.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Oh, really? What do you like?”
“Other than table tennis, I play checkers and poker. Occasionally I go to the gym for racquetball.” He blew out a breath. “Don’t you have any less strenuous things you like to do?”
“I love watching old comedies. Eddie Murphy is a favorite of mine.”
He snapped his fingers. “Comedy films. There’s a hobby I can share with you without pulling something. What’s your favorite Eddie Murphy movie?”
She didn’t hesitate. “Trading Places, hands down.”
He pursed his lips. “Are you serious? You’d choose Trading Places over Coming to America?”
“Yes. What’s wrong with that?”
“Trading Places was funny but Coming to America is a cultural phenomenon.”
She gave him her “unimpressed” face.
He countered, “How many people do you hear quoting lines from Trading Places in everyday speech?”
She thought about that. “Point taken, but I stand by my choice.” She folded a crisp slice of bacon into her mouth.
“Think about this. You remember that big wedding at the end? How Akeem ends up marrying Lisa in the end, even though it looked like he had screwed things up with her?”
She nodded, chewing a mouthful of food.
“That’s one of the first examples I ever saw of the triumph of true love. I know it’s fictional and all, but that was sorely lacking in my life. My parents’ marriage being as imperfect as it was, I needed images like that, you know? Just so I could see that marriage could be something beautiful and special.”
A soft smile came over her face. “I’m not gonna lie. I loved Lisa’s sparkly pink wedding dress. For a long time, I though I wanted one just like it.” She picked up her last slice of bacon.
“Do you think you’ll ever get married, Robyn?”
She nearly choked on the bacon. Grabbing up her orange juice, she took a few
sips. Finally recovered from the random question, she said, “Why would you ask me that?”
He tilted his head to the right. “Why not? I’m just interested in your take.”
She looked down at her empty plate, not wanting to meet his scrutinizing gaze. “I...can’t say I’ve thought much about it.” Small-town life in Grandeza meant a tragically small dating pool, and an even slimmer chance at privacy. So, instead of dating, she’d thrown most of her time and energy into her work on the ranch, putting aside any further thoughts of cotton-candy wedding gowns and ten-tiered cakes.
“Really?” The raised pitch of his voice indicated his surprise. “I wouldn’t have expected you to say that.”
“It’s not every woman’s goal to be married, Troy.”
He frowned, his lips thinning. “I didn’t say it was. I merely asked you a question. But you don’t have to answer it if it makes you uncomfortable.”
She placed a hand to her temple. “That question came out of left field, so forgive me if I didn’t have a prepared answer.”
“Never mind, Robyn.” He stood, gathered his empty plate and hers, and stalked to the sink to put the dishes away.
She cursed inwardly. Very smooth, Robyn. You handled that like a champ. She imagined most women would be pleased if a man they cared about asked them how they felt about marriage. Yet, she wasn’t most women. There were too many variables to consider, too many issues to resolve before her new job. She had to keep her focus on those things, and she couldn’t let herself be distracted by these emotions, no matter how enticing they were.
She’d already done that once when she’d let cravings for his masterful loving guide her to his doorstep. While she had no regrets about making love with Troy, she also didn’t want him getting too attached.
Tell him about the job, her inner voice admonished her. But she couldn’t. If she told him now, it would sap the enjoyment out of the short time she had to spend with him before she left. Besides, she’d not yet told her parents. She shouldn’t tell a single other person until she informed them. Why did the thought of that make her sick to her stomach?
Then Came You ; Written with Love Page 10
