Rocky Mountain Angels

by Jodi Bowersox [romance]

Joe turned to cross the lawn, the golden retriever bounding at his heels. He let himself in the house and tread lightly up the stairs, only to be met by Eli coming out of the bathroom.

  “Joe, you’re out kind of late.”

  Joe could smell alcohol and smoke on Eli from several feet away. “Well, if you had your phone on, I’d still be in my cozy bed. Mari thought someone was trying to break in.” Eli’s eyes grew wide, and he started past Joe, heading for the stairs, but Joe grabbed his arm. “Turns out it was just an overly friendly dog jumping on the back door.” When Eli made no move forward or back, Joe continued in a lower tone. “She’s probably gone back to bed by now, Eli, and you don’t want to go over there smelling like a bar, now do you?”

  Eli yanked his arm out of Joe’s grasp and went back down the hallway. Joe stood there until Eli closed his door then started unbuttoning his shirt as he turned into his own room. Stripped down to boxers, he slid between his thoroughly chilled sheets.

  But they couldn’t quench the warmth in his heart.

  ***

  The sun was bright and high in the sky when Eli opened his eyes Sunday morning, although you’d never know it with his heavy shades pulled. He was relying more on what his bedside clock read than on the sun itself for that fact. Crawling in bed at 2:00 a.m. was certainly a contributing factor to his late awakening, but adding to it was a restless sleep filled with dreams of Mari. Mari scolding him for touching her, scolding him for drinking, scolding him for not answering his phone.

  He rolled over and let out a heavy sigh. He knew he owed her an apology. At least he was pretty sure she’d think he owed her one. The expression on her face when he left yesterday had also haunted his dreams, although he wasn’t convinced he was completely out of line. They were dating; she called him her boyfriend. If I can’t take her to bed, shouldn’t I get some perks to hold me over until... —Eli scowled— until when? He had assumed it would be slow to get to that point with her, but they had really never talked about it directly. Is she like Joe? Waiting for the wedding?

  Rubbing a hand over his face, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat. Of course he had thought about “forever” with Mari—couldn’t think of anyone else he’d want to do forever with—but he wasn’t as ready to start forever as he was to take her to bed.

  Going to a bar and playing some pool hadn’t been the stress reliever he’d hoped for. He hadn’t gone to a singles bar, but tom catting around town for ten years had given him a reputation, and women were flirting with him all evening. He realized later that he should have gone someplace new, but then he wouldn’t have had any of his buddies to play pool with.

  When he promised Mari he’d be true to her, he didn’t realize that every temptress in Colorado Springs would be out to trip him up. I’m only human. She’s got to give me something. He got to his feet and hoped a hot shower would improve his mood.

  ***

  “No, Joe, not there. I think I want the TV on this wall.” Beth was pointing to the wall opposite of where Joe and Ben had placed the TV stand.

  “But the cable comes in this wall.”

  “Oh. I still want it over there.”

  Joe straightened. “Do you want to watch something on the TV or just watch the TV, because without the cable, you won’t be watching anything on the TV.”

  Beth’s lips formed a very thin line as she folded her arms over her University of Denver jersey. “Surely they make a length of cable that can reach across the room.”

  Joe looked around, assessing the situation. “I suppose, if you don’t mind possibly tripping over it every time you go out the patio door.”

  “We could duct tape it down along the edge,” Ben threw in.

  Beth threw up her hands. “Fine, leave it there.”

  She looked at him with eyebrows raised, and Joe realized at this point in any disagreement, he would probably give in and do it her way. Instead, he smiled and headed for the door. “Okay, well Ben and I will be bringing up the sofa next, so figure out where you want it before we get back.” Beth’s eyes flashed as the two brothers headed out the door and down two flights of stairs.

  When they hit the bottom, Joe slapped Ben on the shoulder. “Nice touch with the duct tape.”

  Ben chuckled. “Yeah, I thought that would clinch it. Women hate duct tape.”

  Sheri was sitting on the edge of the truck bed, acting as guard. She had been reading a book but looked up as the men approached. “So Eli had enough of us yesterday, I guess.”

  “Don’t take his absence personally,” Joe reassured as he and Ben walked up the ramp. “He was out late last night and wasn’t up yet when we left.”

  “Had a hot date with his girlfriend, I suppose.”

  Joe glanced back to see if she looked as jealous as she sounded. “Actually, no, Eli was out by himself last night.”

  Ben and Joe hefted the sofa— damn this is heavy—and started back down the ramp. When they were out of Sheri’s earshot, Ben’s curiosity surfaced. “So, where was he if he wasn’t with Mari?”

  “I don’t suppose it’s any of our business, Benjamin. You better go up the stairs first. I sure wish these gals had gotten something on the ground floor.”

  Ben started up the stairs backwards. “You know I’m not just being snoopy. I don’t want Mari to get hurt.”

  Joe was starting up the stairs with most of the sofa’s weight bearing down on him. “I know, but if you’re so sure Eli can’t do fidelity, wouldn’t it be best she found out now?”

  Ben seemed to ponder this. “He’ll just lie to her.”

  “Do you really think so?” Joe huffed. “I never took Eli for a liar, and anyway” —he paused while they maneuvered the sofa around the corner to the second flight of stairs— “anyway, Mari knows he wasn’t home last night, so he will probably have to tell her something.”

  Ben was getting winded. “And just how do you know that?”

  Joe grinned even as he felt like tossing this hulking piece of furniture over the railing. “Oh, little brother, you missed a great deal of excitement last night.” They had reached the door huffing and puffing, and Ben paused to adjust his grip to tip it to get it through. “Mari thought she was being burgled.”

  “I suppose you ran to her rescue.” Beth’s tone was anything but charitable.

  “You bet your booties, I did,” Joe threw back from his end of the sofa. “Just like I would have done for Mrs. Shimmel across the street or Mrs. Williams on the other side of us or you or Sheri.” They had the sofa in the room now. “Where do you want this dad-blamed, freakishly heavy piece of junk?”

  Beth hitched a brow and pointed to the wall opposite the TV. “I’m sorry it’s so heavy. It’s a sofa bed.” They set it in place, and the two sat on it, still breathing hard.

  Joe looked at Ben. “A sofa bed. She made us carry a sofa bed up two flights of stairs.”

  Beth crossed her arms and stuck out a hip. “I thought the Rhodes men were strong. Eli, Sheri, and I moved it yesterday.”

  Joe’s irritation was starting to show. “Not up stairs, you didn’t.”

  Beth’s eyes sparked impatience, and she turned and went back to unpacking in the kitchen.

  “Are you two fighting?” Ben asked in a hushed voice.

  Joe clasped his hands behind his head and leaned back. “I don’t really know, Ben.” The two sat a minute longer; then Joe got up, and Ben followed.

  “So,” Ben began as they headed back out for the next piece of furniture, “back to Mari. I take it she wasn’t really being robbed.”

  Joe smiled, remembering her expression after seeing the dog. “Nope, but she did have a late night visitor, and he was a pretty shaggy dude.”

  ***

  Mari wasn’t about to sit around the house and wait for Eli to show up. She was still mad and hurt, and she knew that was never a good frame of mind for a discussion. It was a nice day, and she decided to get out and see her neighborhood through her camera lens.

  She didn’t get to
the end of her sidewalk, however, before she heard her name. She turned to see Eli jogging her way. Great. I don’t think I’m ready for this.

  Her expression must have conveyed her reticence, as he only half smiled when he reached her. “Where are you going?”

  “Well, I managed to get my foot in a real boot without difficulty, so I was hoping to take a walk.”

  He gestured toward the camera around her neck. “And take some pictures.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Can I walk with you?” He ran his fingers down her arm to her gloved hand.

  She allowed him to take her hand but kept her face neutral. “I guess so.”

  He gently tugged her into walking beside him. “Your voice seems improved.”

  “Yes.” They walked a few steps more before Mari pulled her hand out of his grasp to take a picture of a rustic lawn ornament.

  “Mari, I’m sorry.”

  She snapped a few more from different angles.

  “For what, Eli? For being handsy or walking out on me. Or maybe for not answering my call last night.” She stopped and looked at him meaningfully. “Or are you apologizing for something I don’t even know about.”

  He stuffed his hands in his coat pockets. “Well, the only thing you don’t know about is that I went out last night for a few beers and some pool. And I’m really sorry about the call—my phone went dead sometime during the evening.”

  She came back to his side, and they continued the tour of the neighborhood. “Joe told me about the dog that scared you. I’m really sorry I wasn’t here when you needed me.”

  She gave a reluctant nod.

  Eli kicked a rock off the sidewalk into the street. “And I’m sorry about getting ‘handsy,’ as you put it, and I’m very sorry I walked out. Yesterday was... difficult, and I just needed more than you were willing to give last night.”

  Mari stopped to look him in the eye. “What do you mean? I thought you understood who I am, Eli. You said yourself that I’m not like the girls you’re used to dating, so why would you want me to act like them?”

  He brushed a hand over her hair. “I don’t, Mari. At least I knew you and I wouldn’t be doing anything between the sheets for awhile, but—”

  She took a step toward him and lowered her voice. “You got that right. Not without a ring, buster.”

  He searched her eyes. “An engagement ring or a—”

  “Wedding ring,” she supplied. She turned and walked, her pace faster.

  Eli matched her. “Mari, slow down. You’re going to hurt your foot again.” He grabbed her arm, but she jerked it away. “Mari... please, that’s okay. I just wanted clarification. I needed to know exactly where you stood on the matter.”

  “Well, now you do.”

  “Yep,” — he let out a sigh— “now I do.”

  ***

  It hadn’t been easy to placate Mari. In fact it had taken more charm than Eli had had to muster since his college days to even get her to smile, but finally he had her back where he wanted her—snuggled on the love seat with him, watching an old movie. She was clad in a soft yellow sweater, and he caressed her shoulder and ran his hand up and down her arm. Eventually, he started stealing kisses whenever there was a break in the action, and half-way through the movie, she had actually started to relax.

  By the end, she was kissing him back with feeling.

  He didn’t really believe that she would insist on waiting for a wedding. It might take a month or two, but he felt pretty confident that she couldn’t hold out that long. She’s too passionate. I just moved too fast last night. In the meantime, he’d just have to find another outlet—work out at the gym more or take up a sport.

  The credits ended, and he pulled his lips from hers. This time he wanted to leave her wanting. “I better go, love. I need to do some work on those house plans I told you about.”

  Her eyes had lost their earlier censure. “That’s right, you’re designing a real house! Are you excited?”

  He rose and pulled her up with him. “I am, although the people are in a real hurry. Seems the last guy they hired disappeared half-way through the design process. Sent their deposit back and left the state.” They walked to the coat rack, and Eli slipped into his jacket. “So, I’m afraid I’ll be pretty busy for the next few weeks.”

  He gave her a kiss to remember then opened the door to find Joe standing there balancing a new framed steel door on its end. Eli zipped his jacket. “Where’s that going to go?”

  “Back door,” Joe stated. “The current one is in a sad state.”

  Eli looked it over as Mari came to the door. “Oh, Joe, I didn’t expect you so soon! I guess Mr. Merriman was agreeable.”

  Joe nodded. “He really is a nice guy, and he wanted you to be safe.”

  Eli frowned. “You couldn’t find one a bit more in tune with the house?”

  “Sorry, Eli, but you were busy while I was shopping, or you could have put in your two cents on the design.” He looked to Mari. “Do you have a problem with this one?”

  Mari scolded Eli with her eyes. “No, it’s fine, Joe.”

  He started to move off the porch landing. “Good, then I’ll get going. I’ve only got a couple more hours of daylight, and tomorrow is supposed to be back to normal January weather. I’ll take it around back. If you could unlock the door, I’ll get busy.”

  Mari went to do what Joe asked as he hefted the door over his head to carry to the backyard. Eli stood a minute, feeling irritated. He had missed his opportunity to help Mari in the night, and now Joe was again the hero with the new door. There was nothing he could do about it, though; Joe had the definite winning skill in that area. It would take me all day to put a door in and get it level and balanced.

  He turned to head home, deferring to Joe’s door expertise. Anyway, I have a house to design.

  ***

  Mari unlocked the back and stuck out her head to greet Joe as he approached. “Did you get Beth all moved in?”

  Joe lowered the door and leaned it against the house. “They still have boxes to unpack, but all the furniture is in place, and the truck returned.”

  Mari blinked. “You must be exhausted—especially after I kept you up half the night. How can you think about putting in a door?”

  He edged past her, pulled a screwdriver out of his pocket and began to lever the pegs out of the hinges. “Like I said, the weather’s going to change, so now’s the time to do it.”

  “So,” —Mari opened a cupboard and retrieved a mug— “when are you two getting married?” She moved to the sink to run the water. When he didn’t answer, she glanced his way. “Eli did say you’re engaged, right?” He pulled the door out of its moorings and leaned it, too, against the house. She walked to the opening and poked her head around the corner. “Joe?”

  He wouldn’t meet her gaze. “I’m sorry, Mari. I should have gotten the crowbar before I got your door off. I’ll be right back.” Mari watched him jog to the edge of her yard and vault over the split rail fence. Was it something I said?

  She turned back when the microwave beeped. Maybe he didn’t hear me? She selected a chai spice tea bag and sat down at the table as Joe reappeared and went right to work popping the trim off and prying the old frame out. She noticed that he also brought the infamous toolbox she had tripped over. She smiled thinking about how well Joe had cared for her the next day. And he’s still caring for me. Her heart squeezed, and she took a deep breath. “So when do you start work on the fancy apartments?”

  Joe paused and threw a piece of the frame out into the yard. “It will be awhile before we can break ground. My job at the moment is to line up the contractors, so when the time is right, we’ll be ready.” He employed his crowbar to the task once again. When he had the old frame completely out, he paused a moment with his hand on the now rough opening. “Didn’t you say you were from Oklahoma?”

  “Yes. Piedmont. It’s a little town northwest of Oklahoma City.”

  A corner of Joe’s mouth wen
t up. “Really.” He pushed off and squatted to look through his tool box. “I got a call a few days ago from a Rabbi in Oklahoma City. His congregation has saved enough for a down payment on the construction of a synagogue. He had seen the one we just built in Denver and was impressed. He wondered if we would be willing to come out and build one there.” He pulled out a utility knife and slid the blade forward then went to work releasing the new door from its packaging.

  “Have you done that before? Traveled that far to build something?”

  “No, not yet. We’ve pretty much stayed along the front range, but I’m considering it. It will have to be after the Marshall apartments are done, of course, but Eli could get started on the designs. Some of our guys might go out there with us, but we would probably have to find reputable contractors to work with in that area, as well.” He wadded up the packaging trash and set it aside. “I’ll probably have to drive out there in the next couple of weeks to talk to this guy and take some pictures of their location.”

  He moved the door into place, and for awhile Mari was cut off from watching him work. Then he poked the screwdriver through the hole for the doorknob. “Mari, could you pry up that little piece of plastic at the bottom that’s holding the door shut?”

  She jumped up to take it from him and had it pried off in another minute. She rose and pulled it open and found Joe standing so close his nose must have been touching the door. She laughed. “Hello, Joe, what can I do for you?”

  He smiled, and butterflies took flight within her. “If you’d like to help, I’ll get done faster.”

  Mari wasn’t at all sure she wanted him to get done faster, but she nodded. “Just tell me what to do.”

  He handed her the level. “Hold this along the side while I adjust the shims.”

  It was cold aluminum, and Mari’s hands reacted almost immediately. “I better get some gloves on if I don’t want all the blood in my fingers to flee into my palms.”

  Joe shook his head as she laid the level on the kitchen counter and disappeared into the living room. “How do you do anything, Mari?” he called after her.

  She re-appeared wearing black driving gloves, grabbed the level, and placed it on the side of the frame. “Summer is a reprieve, unless I go to the grocery store. My fingers are always white by the time I get to the check-out counter in a grocery store all year round.”