When Petals Fall: A Cowboy, Second Chance Romantic Suspense (Chance Creek Book 1)

by A. L. Mercier

  "Hey Darlin'."

  "Hey Jake."

  "I'm going to be a little late tonight."

  "What's up?"

  "We've got a shitload of downed fences in the south pasture."

  "How did that happen?"

  "We're not exactly sure. I think some kids were running out there in their four-wheelers and ran into a bunch of different sections of the fence. Normally they let me know if they do damage, but this time they left behind broken fences, a tore up field, and bailed."

  "That's weird. Maybe they thought since it was more than one section, you'd be pissed?"

  "Could be. All I know is we're going to be working our asses off this afternoon getting that done."

  "Oh, well, if tonight doesn't work we can reschedule."

  Across the table Katie mouthed "coward" and Lizzie stuck her tongue out at her.

  "No, we're still on, but I just wanted you to know that I may be running a little later than six-thirty."

  "Okay. I'll be waiting."

  "What will you be wearing?" His deep voice was husky.

  "A little of this, a little of that."

  "But not too much, right?"

  She rolled her eyes and grinned. "Bye, Jake."

  He chuckled. "Bye, Darlin'."

  She shook her head then looked at Katie with a smile. "He's such a sex fiend."

  Katie held out the fork to her again. This time Lizzie took it from her and plopped it in her glass of ice water.

  "Not changing my mind."

  10

  Jake

  "That is so hot."

  She was the one who was hot. Dressed in a clingy pink crocheted sweater, beneath it a shiny tank with spaghetti straps that had his fingers itching to touch her and feel if the top was nearly as smooth as her skin. She wore gauzy cream-colored slacks that clung to her hips, showing off her sexy curves. The strappy sandals, the same color as her pants, were sexy as hell, but what had his cock standing up at attention were her toes. She had painted her toenails the same color as her sweater and for some reason that turned him on like crazy. Who knew toes could be so sexy?

  She whistled long and low, her expression one of incredulity and awe. She unlinked her arm from his and walked ahead of him. He stopped and watched as she ran a hand across the matte black hood of his Camaro.

  She looked up from the shiny metal with a smile. "You finally got it."

  He inclined his head as she fondled his car. He could use a little fondling himself. Her hands wrapped around his cock, stroking and squeezing, working him until his balls drew up tight and the tingles started at his spine, spreading outward as he came long and hard. Jesus. Try as he might he couldn't shake the mental image and with the way his cock was straining against the seam of his slacks, he'd have a permanent indent.

  "Your dream car."

  She sounded both proud and awed and that pleased him. He nodded. "Actually I just got it a couple months ago."

  "How is it that I haven't seen this car before?"

  "I store her most of the time and take her out for fun and special occasions."

  "And which one is this? Fun or a special occasion?"

  "A little of both."

  She nodded. "How do you know it's a her and not a him?"

  "Are you kidding? With a body of curves like this, it can only be female."

  Lizzie laughed. He opened the door for her and motioned her inside. "Your chariot, my lady."

  Her quiet "thank you" surprised him. His Lizzie was anything but shy and meek. Is it possible she was as nervous he?

  He walked around the car and got in, noticing her checking out all the gadgets and buttons on the dash as she ran her hand across the plush leather seat. He leaned across the car, his lips a breath away from hers. Her breath caught. Her lids lowered. This close he could see the pulse fluttering in her neck. He smiled, grazed her cheek with his fingers then reached for the seatbelt. And clicked it in place with a deafening pop.

  "Can't take any chances with such precious cargo." He fastened his own seatbelt, ignoring her glare. She'd set the rules; he was only playing by them. She held her pout for about a mile, but the harder he stepped on the gas the more relaxed she became. It wasn't until he was doing twenty miles over the speed limit that she finally relaxed.

  She snuggled into the seat and grinned. "This car is fantastic, Jake."

  "Thanks." He accelerated out of the next turn.

  "You're going to let me drive her, right?"

  He grinned. There was his Lizzie, he thought. Always going for more. "Yeah, I'll let you drive her.”

  Watching the daredevil in Lizzie come to life behind the wheel of the muscle car would be interesting but watching her come alive in his arms later tonight would be exhilarating.

  11

  Lizzie

  Lizzie managed to make it through the meal without choking on her food or spilling wine on herself, Jake, or the table, and when their coffee and dessert came, she prayed her good luck continued. Two tapered candles burned between them on the table covered with a navy-blue tablecloth. The intimacy hadn't escaped her notice while they dined.

  They talked about his ranching business and all he had done to transform it to one of the most successful breeding businesses in the country, and now they'd moved on to All About ME.

  "There's a little something special about the name," she told him.

  "Hmmm?" he asked around a sip of his coffee.

  He looked so handsome tonight, in his black slacks, black button-down shirt, and black tie with thin burgundy stripes. He had foregone the suit jacket which was totally Jake. She knew he absolutely despised wearing a suit, so if leaving the jacket behind helped him feel more comfortable, she couldn't blame him. His biceps and shoulders pulled the shirt sleeves tight as he lifted the cup of coffee to his lips. He'd left the Stetson behind tonight, his dark hair meticulously styled. Throughout the meal, his chocolaty gaze had been focused on her, as hers had been on him, ignoring their surroundings and concentrating only on each other.

  "It's the ME. The M stands for Mary Katherine and E stands for Elizabeth. It makes it personal while still including the customer."

  "Clever."

  "Thanks. We thought so."

  "What products are you going to carry? Anything besides the shampoos?"

  "First, you know they are all handmade products, right?" At his nod, she continued. "There will be shampoos, conditioners, soaps, body washes, lotions, creams, hand sanitizers, and body sprays to start with. We've got a line on a lady who makes some really great candles that burn twice as long as a regular candle and they come in a variety of scents and shapes."

  "Nice."

  She hoped her customers agreed. "Thanks."

  "Anything besides the girly fragrances?"

  "Oh, of course. There will be a men's line as well as one specifically marketed toward children."

  Now that he got her talking, she couldn't seem to stop. "We've also found some people who make women's undergarments and lingerie, so we're looking into that right now as well."

  "Where did you find all of these people?"

  "Some are friends and relatives of people we met at college, others are acquaintances of a few professors. And we've even got a few people in Chance Creek lined up to supply us with homemade quilts, crocheted items, and," she said with a conspiratorial whisper as she leaned forward, "Mrs. Kennedy is going to be making some of the lingerie."

  His jaw dropped. "You're kidding."

  Lizzie laughed and shook her head. "So not kidding. I couldn't believe it when she offered but she uses this really beautiful lace."

  Jake groaned. "That's just wrong on so many levels. She's a grandmother for God's sake."

  "Hey, she and Mr. Kennedy are only in their sixties. They're old, not dead."

  "True, very true."

  "In fact, I bet by the time a couple is together that long they know each and every erogenous spot on the other and just how to touch it, with their hands or tongue, to get the
m aroused."

  "Probably."

  She adjusted her napkin on her lap once again and lifted a forkful of the chocolate confection from her plate. As the rich, moist chocolate cake melted on her tongue, she noticed that he was still staring at her over the candlelight. She swallowed and asked. "What?"

  "Nothing really. I just remember you loving chocolate cake so much that you tore into it as if you were afraid someone was going to come along and take it from you. Now you just nibble."

  "I've just learned to savor decadent things." She slid another bite between her lips. His gaze followed the motion, and when she licked a crumb from her bottom lip, his nostrils flared. Interesting.

  She raised another forkful to her mouth and slowly and seductively closed her lips around the chocolate, let her eyes flutter shut, and let out a lusty purr of appreciation. She sighed breathlessly, then opened her eyes. The simmer of desire that had been in Jake's gaze was now an inferno. It was a heady thing to bring a hunky man like Jake Kramer to arousal so easily.

  Her victory was very short-lived as she spotted the two couples entering the restaurant. She got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as she watched a woman smile and wave when she spotted Jake. The feeling got worse as they began to walk their way.

  "Lizzie." She heard Jake say her name, but she couldn't look at him. Her eyes were transfixed on Cami Leonard, now Leonard-Garrison, as she approached their table. She was everything Lizzie was not. Cami was blonde, tall, and had the perfect body. She was supermodel beautiful. There was no way she could compete with that. She knew it seven years ago and she knew it now.

  "Lizzie," he said more intently. "Look at me, baby." She met his gaze. "We can leave if you don't want to talk to them."

  Oh, that was so tempting, but she wasn't coward. She could deal with this. She needed to deal with this. No time like the present to face the past that had turned her world upside down. She pulled in a shaky breath, then hitched her chin a bit higher.

  "No, I don't want to leave."

  He nodded. "We really need to talk about this, Darlin'."

  "I know. But not here, not now."

  "Alright, later."

  "Later." Never. Lizzie took a deep, calming breath as Cami drew closer, then she squared her shoulders. She could do this.

  "Good." He smiled that heart-stopping smile that showed the sexy dimples in his cheeks. Oh lord, she wanted to lick those dimples, slide her tongue along each crevice, then along the seam of his lips, show him she was the only woman for him. Her nipples hardened in arousal, and as Adam and Cami arrived at their table, she was thankful she'd worn a padded bra.

  "Jake!" Cami exclaimed as she leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Lizzie. It's nice to see you again." Cami and Jake's friendship seemed as strong as ever, but the fact that Cami and Adam were now married changed the dynamics of things. She could live with that.

  "Hi, Cami." She nodded to Adam, a former classmate of Jake's. "Hi, Adam."

  Adam leaned in to brush a quick kiss of greeting across Lizzie's cheek. "Hey there, Lizzie. It's been a long time. When did you get back?"

  "About week ago. How are things with you?"

  "Good. Things are good. We finally got a night away from the girls. Don't get me wrong, we love our daughters, but every parent needs some time away."

  She hadn't known they had more than one child. "How many children do you have now?"

  Cami stepped up. "We've got two little darlings. April is six and Autumn is three."

  Lizzie's heart dropped. Six. Memories assaulted her. Would the hurt ever ease? She pushed past the past and into the present.

  She pasted the smile back on her face. "They sound sweet. Congratulations."

  "Thanks, Adam still wants a little boy, so pretty soon we'll start trying for one." Cami wiggled her eyebrows.

  "Well, good luck." Jake chuckled. "I'm sure you'll have a fun time trying."

  "Yep, that's the best part," Adam said with a wink.

  Another couple walked up. Todd and Sierra?

  "Ah," Adam said, "Here's my brother and his lovely wife."

  Would she ever get used to that? She always assumed Sierra would marry Ethan, Katie's brother. They were voted best couple in high school and everyone assumed they'd get married. She guessed it was true what they said about those who assume.

  "Elizabeth. Jake," Todd said in greeting.

  "Hello, Todd." She looked over to the woman to his side, but just slightly behind. Sierra looked so thin and delicate. And passive. Passive wasn't a term she would have ever associated with Sierra. "How have you been, Sierra?"

  "I've been good," she said softly. Too softly. Where had the vibrant girl that everyone knew and loved gone? Had her energetic nature fled when Ethan, her high school sweetheart, left for the Navy SEALs?

  "Sierra and I have been married for three years now. Isn't that right, sweetie?" Todd glanced briefly at Sierra and then his eyes skimmed around the restaurant.

  Sierra smiled. "Yes, three years."

  "Well, I guess congratulations are in order all around then."

  "Thank you, Elizabeth. I see Amber over there with Tiffany Phillips. I'm going to go over and say hello. Why don't you come with me, honey?" Sierra nodded, and Todd grabbed Sierra's hand, turned and started toward Amber's table. Lizzie narrowed her eyes at the strange dynamic of the couple's relationship.

  Adam turned to his wife with a smile. "And I think I hear dinner calling."

  "Nice seeing you again, Lizzie. Talk to you soon, Jake?" Cami asked.

  "Yeah. I've got the information on the horse you wanted. I'll stop by this week."

  "Sounds good. See you then." She grabbed Adam's hand and walked away.

  As soon as they were out of earshot, Lizzie whispered, "I still can't believe Todd and Sierra are together."

  "Yeah. They're a pretty unlikely match."

  "Are they happy?"

  "I guess. I really don't see them enough to know."

  "It's hard to imagine her with anyone but Ethan." Katie's brother and Sierra had been inseparable, and now…

  "Sometimes things just don't work out. Look what happened with us."

  She nodded mutely. The words stung, but what could she say to that? After all, it was the truth.

  He signaled for the waiter who quickly brought their check. "Let's get out of here."

  Thank God, she thought.

  12

  Jake

  They sat in silence for most of the drive home until his guilt overwhelmed him. "I'm sorry, Lizzie."

  "For what?"

  "For what I said."

  "You don't have to apologize for telling the truth."

  He blew out a frustrated breath. "I wanted the night to go better than this." He'd wanted it to be perfect. Their first real date after all these years, the place where they had gone on their first date—but he'd blown it. Damn. He sighed as he pulled to a stop in front of the loft and turned off the ignition.

  "We need to talk."

  "Yes, but—"

  "No more buts, no more excuses."

  "Jake—"

  He grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Just think of it like a Band-Aid."

  "A Band-Aid?"

  "Yeah. You can either delay the inevitable, pull it off slowly and prolong the torture, or you can just rip it off quickly and get it over with."

  "I suppose you're right." She took a deep breath, let it out, then met his gaze. "Then let's get to it."

  "Alright."

  She just dove right in. Right to the crux of her fear. The past. The truth. And what it might mean when she learned it. That was his Lizzie.

  "I want to know why when I came in that day, Cami was in a robe and you were half-naked. It looked like you both had just gotten out of the shower. Together."

  She sounded like she'd be rather anywhere but here, dealing with anything but this, and he felt the complete opposite because for the first time in seven years, things would be set straight.

  "T
hat's simple enough to explain. I—"

  "Never mind," she interrupted quickly.

  "What?"

  "I changed my mind."

  He scowled. "Why?"

  "It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind."

  "So it is, but why did you?"

  "Because." She threw up her hands.

  He nearly grinned but then thought better of it.

  "I thought I wanted to know, I really did want to know, and now I don't. I don't want more baggage to deal with, I don't need more. I don't have time for more."

  Yeah, well he didn't have a whole lot of time to convince her they were meant to be together, so he wasn't going to let her get out of this conversation. Not this time.

  "So you're going to be a coward and hide from the truth."

  "I am not hiding. I'm just postponing it."

  "And this is going to ease your baggage burden how? You know it's going to keep eating at you until you know the truth. The whole truth."

  She glared. "Damn you. Why do can't you let anything go? Why do you always have to be right?" Lizzie turned her body toward him and crossed her arms in protection as much as defense. "Okay. So, tell me."

  He watched as she braced herself, she held her breath and squeezed her eyes shut.

  "I never slept with Cami."

  Lizzie blew out the breath she'd been holding and her whole body went lax as if she was as relieved to hear it as he was to finally say it, but he was also more than slightly pissed at the memory of her just walking away.

  "You should have waited to find out the truth," he bit out.

  "I was afraid!"

  She finally admitted it. One feat tackled.

  "Of what?" He waited. Waited for her to tell him all of what he'd waited seven goddamn years to hear.

  "Of what? Of everything! I was so young, Jake, so insecure and unsure of myself. And then things started to change. Though you and Cami had always been friends, you'd started spending a lot more time together, getting closer. You were so at ease with one another. Then I overheard you talking. I couldn't believe it at first, what I was hearing. Cami was saying you needed to tell everyone it was your baby she was having, and, my God, Jake, it was just way more than I could take in."