by Jen Talty
All of him.
Everyone she’d met so far in the neighborhood said she had to meet Rowen Clark, the nicest, sweetest, kindest, fireman in the world.
Yeah, well, everyone thought Jeff was a nice guy, too.
She flung her bag over her shoulder before walking briskly to her front door. She’d spent the last three months living in two different cities, looking for not only a quiet place to live away from her ex, but a practice she could be proud of.
A new start.
Buying this house was more than a fresh beginning after a bad marriage.
The purchase was the first step in regaining her independence as well as her self-respect.
She kicked off her shoes and tossed her bag on the sofa in the family room, smiling. The white upholstered sofa with light blue ribbing she’d purchased at a local department store might not be in the same caliber as the designer-brand living room she and Jeff had at their five-thousand-square foot home in a posh section of Houston, but it was hers.
Relishing in the idea she could make it without Jeff and his money, she made her way up the staircase of her quaint, eighteen-hundred square foot, modest home, with a spring in her step that even harsh memories couldn’t take away. Not now. Not ever again.
She fought to temper her growing resentment of how Rowen ignited the woman inside at the same time his sheer size and power terrified her. She wanted to get past her fears of men, because deep down, she knew most men were not like Jeff. He’d had a darkness living inside him that he’d hidden from her until one day he couldn’t control the beast anymore. She shivered, pushing out the idea that she should have known the kind of man she had married. Hindsight allowed her to funnel back through her life with Jeff and find all the warning signs. But living in the day to day, those hard looks, the way he’d clench her arm just a fraction too tight for the pressure to be considered normal, those clues got lost.
Snagging her favorite shorts and t-shirt, she quickly changed as the hot Dallas heat slipped off her body like a waterslide. She stared at herself in the mirror, picturing the bruises on her face and the humiliation the day she drove up to her parent’s house. While they’d both been mortified and wanted to strangle their son-in-law, a small part of them didn’t want to believe their little girl could let such a thing happen.
A concept she knew well.
But she hadn’t let anything happen.
She took a cotton ball, dabbing it with makeup remover and rubbed her eyes with it. She didn’t wear much, but what she did wear, she preferred to remove it when in the comforts in her own home, something Jeff would throw a hissy fit over.
“My wife needs to always look her best, even at home,” Jeff would say.
Sadly, she’d been intoxicated by the ritz and glitz of his country club lifestyle, and she had enjoyed all the perks his family’s wealth provided her, so much that she let the first time he got physical with her slide.
Even though she accepted she’d been a victim, the fact that she stayed for as long as she did was on her, a fact that she’d never deny, simply because if she did, she’d probably let Jeff back in, or someone else like him.
She quickly washed her face and brushed her teeth before heading back downstairs, snagging a pre-made salad from the fridge. She figured sitting on the front stoop, waiting for Rowen to show up with her keys was better than waiting for him to bang on the door, because there was no way in hell was she letting him set foot her in home.
By the time she’d sat down on the front steps, salad and a glass of wine in hand, Rowen had disappeared from Mrs. Baker’s yard. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to wait too long before he’d show up and then she could slink back into the comfort of her safe zone.
The laughter of children from across the street tugged at her heart. Besides wanting to be a dentist, being a mother had been one of her biggest dreams in life. Old fashioned as that was, she wanted to share her dreams with a man she loved and trusted. Not that she’d give up her career. No. She’d worked too hard for that. However, she believed both career and family could be balanced, something Jeff didn’t understand.
But she’d given up on having children because being around a man made her uncomfortable. She’d actually tried going out on a date once, but kissing him had made all the horrid memories prickle her skin.
Maybe in another year or so she’d be ready.
Rowen made her body tingle with desire and that disturbed her on so many different levels, but she chose to ignore them all.
Focusing on the girls across the street playing hopscotch, she scarfed down her salad and sipped her wine. The sun disappeared behind the horizon, but the temperature didn’t drop a single degree. Not that she cared that much. The heat was so much better than when her father had been stationed outside of Russia. She’d rather be sweating then having her lips turn blue.
She stretched her legs out crossing her ankles, and leaned back, angling her face toward the setting sun. The sounds of the birds chirping mixed with the high-pitched screams of delight coming from children playing filled her ears and tickled her skin. The moment she'd driven down this street she knew she’d found home. The houses weren’t so close together that you might as well be on your neighbor’s lap. Thick lush trees only added to the quaintness of the neighborhood.
As a little girl, she dreamed of living in a place just like this, where neighbors looked out for one another instead of one-upping them with the newest model Jag. How quickly she’d gotten caught up in the privileged lifestyle, right down to her three-hundred-dollar haircut.
“Hey,” a dark, husky voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Her body jerked and a small trickle of wine drizzled down between her breasts.
“Shit,” she muttered, setting her glass down before she glanced up.
“I’m sorry,” Rowen said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“I didn’t hear you coming.” Just as she was about to stand up, he sat down on the stoop, smelling of fresh soap and a splash of husky aftershave. The scent rolled across her nostrils, sending signals to her body, reminding her she was indeed a woman.
Ugh.
She didn’t want a tall, hunky, muscular man that women swooned over. A nice, balding, boring accountant who came home every day after work and enjoyed being boring. No glitz. No glamor. Just average.
“My grandmother always gets mad at me when I sneak up on her. She says it’s rude, but loves it when I do it to my mother who will scream bloody hell.”
“It is rude.” Heather smiled, though she didn’t want to. “And I won’t scream if you do it again. Instead, I might toss my wine on you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He laughed, holding up a can of beer. “Cheers.”
She held up her glass and tapped it against the metal can, then downed the last sip, contemplating getting another glass. This man was her neighbor and she moved here to have the kind of full life she’d dreamed about.
One where she put down roots.
And got to know the neighbors.
“Will you excuse me for a minute? I want to get another glass of wine.”
“No problem.” He smiled.
She held her breath for a long moment, staring into his rich, dark eyes. “I have a couple of beers, though a different brand, if you’re ready for another one.”
He shook the can. “I could do one more. Thanks.”
“Be right back.”
By the time she got to the kitchen, she contemplated going back empty handed, telling him that she had been mistaken about the beer. Only she found herself ripping open the top of her homemade guacamole dip and dumping some corn chips into a bowl. Setting the wine bottle, the beer, and the snacks on a tray, she reminded herself that she was being neighborly and thanking him for helping her out.
As she approached the front door, perspiration lined her palms and her heart beat a little faster. She sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
“Can you get the door?” she called,
standing just on the other side staring down at his broad shoulders.
When he twisted and stood, his muscles flexed and sent her stomach on a tumble.
“Let me get that.” He held the door open with his hip as he took the tray, setting it down on the step. “Wow, you didn’t have to go all this trouble.”
“All I did was open a couple of containers.” She sat down and, thankfully, he kept the tray between their bodies. “A thank you for taking care of my car. I take it all went well?”
He shoved a hardy serving of dip on a chip in his mouth and nodded. “Purrs like a kitten.”
“How much do I owe you?”
“A side of gauc and a beer.” He lifted the tab on the metal can and it made a snap-fizzle sound.
“Oh no. You have to let me repay you. I suspect batteries are expensive.”
“This right here is payment enough. Really. Consider it your housewarming gift.”
She didn’t want to insult the man, but she didn’t like owing people, and when you accept a favor of this magnitude, it always came back to bite you in one place the sun doesn’t get to kiss. “I insist on paying for the battery.”
“If you insist, then I’ll let you take me out to dinner sometime.” He winked as he inhaled more chips and dip.
She swallowed her gasp as she tried to keep from contorting her face into a look of shock, and what probably would appear like disgust.
Time to be half honest.
“I’m sorry, but I’m newly divorced and I don’t date, not even a causal dinner.”
He arched a brow. “How long?”
“About a year,” she admitted, wishing she were a better liar since the world thought that a year was long enough after being divorced to start dating. Plus, everyone always asked why, as if that were really anyone else’s business.”
“Been two for me.”
“Oh, really?” her voice came out as a high-pitched squeal, similar to the girls across the street. “I’m sorry.”
He nodded, then took a big swig of his beer. “How long had you been married? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“We didn’t make it to our first anniversary,” she admitted, wondering why she felt comfortable enough to let this conversation continue.
“Had you known each other long?”
“We’d been together for six months when he proposed, married three months later.”
“Wow, that was fast.”
She let out a dry chuckle. “What about you?”
“Kim and I had been together two years before I popped the question and another year before we got married.” He pointed to the house. “We bought that house a month before the wedding. Two years later, just after our anniversary, she left me for another man.”
“Oh, my, God. I’m sorry.” She found herself reaching out for his hand, squeezing it gently before realizing her mistake and retracted. With shaking fingers, she lifted her wine glass to her lips.
He shrugged. “I can’t say I’m still not bitter every so often, but the reality is, I’m better off without her.”
“I know I’m better off without my ex.” She raised her glass. “Cheers to that.”
“So, about the dinner thing?”
The second he locked gazes with her she had to snap her mouth shut to keep from moaning. His smoldering eyes burned her skin. She pictured his taut body, in nothing but a pair of jeans, covering a page of the latest firemen’s calendar.
“I really would like to have dinner with you sometime, but I also understand better than anyone what divorce can do to someone, so how about we just agree to sit next to each other at the neighborhood barbeque next weekend.”
“Neighborhood barbeque?” she questioned, blinking, trying to tear away from his intent stare, ignoring the pull he had on her both on an emotional and physical level.
“You didn’t get the home owners association newsletter?”
“I got it, just haven’t had any free time to read it.” She’d moved in on a Sunday afternoon and had started work the very next day. Since then, she’d been working ten hour days as the previous dentist showed her his operation and introduced her to patients and staff. Now that she was on her own, her days seemed even longer.
“Every month the association puts on some kind of themed party at the pool club house,” Rowen’s deep, husky voice floated into her ears like the comforting hum of a fan in the background.
“This month it’s a pig roast, but everyone brings their own side dishes to share and drinks,” he said.
“Do most of the neighbors go?” Every month seemed like a lot.
“There is always someone who can’t go for whatever reason, but it’s always a lot of fun and really a good way for you to get to know everyone.”
“I’ve been so busy I’ve barely met anyone.”
“Everyone gets busy during the week, that's why we like to plan something once a month.”
“We?” she asked, tilting her head, enjoying how the sun’s rays smothered his face in a warm glow. “Are you on the board of the HOA or something?”
He laughed. “I’m our street rep. But if you’d read the newsletter, you would have known that.” He winked. “So how about we hang out together at the barbeque? I’ll introduce you to whoever you don’t know.”
“That would be just about everyone.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes.” The butterflies in her stomach took flight. She told herself the sensation wasn’t from the man sitting next to her, but from the fact that she had taken many steps forward into creating a new life for herself.
Besides, it wasn’t a date.
He stood as a car pulled into his driveway. “I have to get going. That’s my cousin, Gavin, and we’re headed out for some wings.” He pulled out her keys from his pockets and dropped them in her hand as she rose.
“Thanks for your help today.” She clutched her keys between her trembling fingers.
“Any time.” He took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. “I look forward to our date.”
Ugh.
Chapter 3
ROWEN FIRED UP THE GAS grill in his backyard. He slathered the four beef rib racks again with his famous homemade barbeque sauce. His mouth watered as the spicy scent tickled his nose.
Nothing better than a rack of ribs.
The evening summer sun beat down on his body like the wind carried heat from a fire. He sat on top of his wooden picnic table and cracked open a cold beer. The neighbor’s children behind him ran around with squirt guns, yelling and laughing. More children’s voices echoed from down the street. His heart swelled.
“Hi Mr. Clark!” Little Suzie raced around a couple of trees as she ran toward him, her arms flapping wildly. “Mommy’s making potato salad to bring for dinner tonight!”
“How are you, Princess?” he asked helping her climb up on the table. “It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve had the pleasure of your company.”
She might have only been four-years-old, but she had the personality and tenacity of a teenager.
“We went to visit Grandma.”
He batted her nose and she giggled in one of those belly laughs only children produced. “Mommy says we have a new neighbor.”
“We do and she’s a doctor.” A doctor who uses her hands as tools of destruction, but he didn’t think he should traumatize young Suzie like he’d been as a small child.
“Cool! Mommy and I baked cookies today for her. Do you think she’s home?” Suzie crossed her ankles and pumped her little legs much like she would if she were on the swing set.
“Shall we go find out?” Mentally, he smacked himself on the backside of his head for using a cute little girl as an excuse to see his sexy neighbor.
“Yes!” Suzie leapt from the table, stumbling.
He reached down, grabbing her arm to keep her from falling on her knees. He scooped her up to his hip and waved to her mother. “We’re going to meet the new neighbor,” he yelled.
Elizabeth E
aston nodded. The woman had four energetic kids between the ages of four and twelve. Three boys and Suzie, who ruled the roast. The Easton’s were good neighbors and Rowen enjoyed tossing a football with the boys, but Suzie had wormed into his heart with her innocent sweetness.
But mostly because the kid said exactly what she thought and had more confidence in herself than most grown women he’d met.
Her little fingers gently gripped his shoulders as he strolled across the yards, making his way to the front of Heather’s house, grateful her SUV had been parked under her carport. His heart beat a little faster and the swirling sensation of butterflies filled his middle, something he hadn’t felt since high school.
“I want to ring the bell!” Suzie exclaimed as he stepped onto Heather’s front stoop.
He rested Suzie on his hip, grateful the independent little girl’s desire to be held gave him a convenient way to conceal his insecure, school boy shaking hands.
He waited for what seemed like an eternity for Heather to open the door.
“Hi! I’m Suzie Easton!” She held out her hand.
Heather glanced between Rowen and the little girl. “I’m Miss Heather.”
“Oh, but you’re a doctor, should I call you doctor something?”
The corners of Heather’s mouth tipped upward in a bright smile. “Doctor is too formal for neighbors,” Heather said, shaking the little girls hand. “So, where do you live?”
“Behind Mr. Clark. We’re having dinner at his place tonight. Oh, and I made you cookies.” Suzie paused, cupping Rowen’s cheeks with her tiny little hands. “I should have brought the cookies.”
“Why don’t you go get them and bring your mom, dad, and brothers to my backyard,” Rowen said. “I’ll invite our new friend to dinner.”
“Okay!” Suzie said with a bright smile.
The sound of an engine roaring behind Rowen stole his attention as he glanced over his shoulder, setting the young girl down. The second her feet hit the concrete, she was off, running like she was being chased by a heard of Spanish bulls. “Be careful,” he called when a spiffy dark blue BMW rolled to a stop in Heather’s driveway.
“Shit,” Heather muttered.
