I backed him up. “She’s absolutely right.”
Allie’s mouth twisted down. “I want a green turkey.”
“Let me see your hand.” I slid the plate of green paint closer and gently held her wrist, dipping her hand into it. I pointed to the space beside Harry. “Your green fellow can go here.”
She pressed her hand onto the paper and grinned. “He’s got a friend.”
“I think Mr. Green needs an extra fancy hat.” I passed a cutout to her.
“Look. A cowboy.” Allie pointed toward the door.
I’d been very grateful for the distraction of volunteering at the school as a way to keep my mind off of Daniel, and more than that, the date the day before with Stone. I’d managed pretty well until I saw what Allie was pointing at.
“He doesn’t have a hat,” Erik said.
Lines creased Allie’s forehead. “But he has boots and a belt buckle.”
“You can’t be a cowboy without a hat,” Erik insisted.
“Like a turkey can’t be green?” She stuck her tongue out at him.
Stone sauntered over toward us, but Miss Pennington intercepted.
“Are you lost?”
We were at work. This was no place to flirt.
He gave her a practiced smile. “Nope. Came by to see Muriella.”
His gaze drifted over to me, and a surge of possessiveness rose even though I was irritated with him for intruding.
“Oh,” she said with false cheer. “Well, there she is.”
Miss Pennington had been the same way as a girl. She was never one to hide her disappointment well. I’d learned that early on as a teacher’s aide for her class when she was six.
“He says you’re not a real cowboy.” Allie pointed at Erik as Stone walked over to us.
“You don’t have a hat,” Erik defended.
Stone’s eyes danced as he looked at me. “I can’t wear my hat at school, especially in a church.” He shrugged. “I left it in my truck.”
“Like this one?” Erik rushed over to his cubby where his backpack was stashed. He returned with a miniature red pickup and dropped it in Stone’s palm.
“It’s close,” he said. “Mine’s black.”
“Is it here?”
“Yep.”
“Can we see it?”
“We’d better ask your teacher.” Stone shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Miss Pennington. Miss Pennington.” Erik tugged on her pants.
“You’re quite the distraction,” I said, giving him a disapproving look.
“I—uh—I thought it might be lunch time. Vivian said twelve-fifteen.”
“She did, did she?” I tapped my foot in a rapid beat.
“I see you’re still angry,” he said warily.
“What’re you mad about, Miss Muriella?” Allie looked at me, all wide-eyed innocence.
I flashed her a big smile and ruffled her hair. “Do I look mad?”
She shook her head.
“See?” I smiled sweetly at Stone before turning my attention back to the girl. “Finish up your turkey, and we’ll hang it up on the board.”
I stood and pointed with my head toward the door. Stone trailed me to the hall.
He glanced down at my stained sweater. “Occupational hazard?”
Any other day I’d have laughed. All the ruined clothes were precious mementos of the little lives that brought me such joy. But today, I was irritated. At Daniel. At Stone.
“You can’t be here.”
He fished a badge out of the pocket of his flannel shirt and flashed me his most devastating grin. “I stopped by the office. Got a visitor’s pass.”
“Vivian,” I muttered under my breath.
“She said it would be fine for us to eat together. That the kids have recess. It was drizzling when I came in, so we can’t have lunch outside.”
I straightened, ready to argue, then I thought better of it. “Lunch number two.” I checked my watch. “Give me ten minutes.”
“Muriella,” he said as I stepped around him, “this isn’t the second date.”
“Then you should go.”
He glanced down, looked uncertain for a second. “The ranch is in trouble again.”
He’d figured out how to get to me. At some point when I hadn’t been paying attention, the well-being of that place and all the people there had become my concern. “I thought you had it in good financial shape.”
“It’s not money.” He shook his head and held the back of his neck. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have bothered you at work. Maybe we could meet up for a drink later?” He scratched his neck. “Shit.” He winced. “Man, I’m really fouling this up.”
“Vivian asked me if she and Daniel could come over for dinner,” I blurted, desperate to ease his worry about his home.
“She asked?” His voice was incredulous. Vivian rarely asked for anything.
“Yeah.” I chewed on my lip. “I told her I’d think about it.”
My routine was off. I hadn’t seen them this morning. Vivian wasn’t here for lunch. I wasn’t sure if we were having dinner together. The imbalance made me itchy. Giving Daniel the silent treatment felt wrong.
But I wasn’t over what he’d done. Not even close.
“Want me to come for support?”
“I haven’t even agreed to have them over.” That sounded wrong. Like they needed an invitation to my home when they didn’t.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt.” One of the mothers from the eight-year-old class rushed up to us. “Can I have your autograph?” she asked Stone while she dug in her tote bag frantically. “I’m your biggest fan.”
Her phone lit when she pressed a button on the side. She held it out for him to see. Stone nose-to-nose with a horse was her wallpaper.
“That’s a beautiful mare,” he said.
She blinked at him, almost as if she didn’t realize the animal was in the photo with him. “Oh.” She pointed a pen at him. “That’s funny.”
Her tinkling laughter was like nails on a chalkboard as she produced an envelope and shoved it at Stone.
“Want it personalized?” he asked.
I folded my arms over my chest and leaned against the wall.
“Yes. That would be great,” she tittered.
“You sure? It won’t be worth as much.” He flashed her a grin.
“I’m sure.”
“Who should I address this to?”
“Oh my god, you’re so funny.”
Did this woman have no couth? We were in a church school.
“Not everyone thinks so.” He glanced at me, amused, and I rolled my eyes and crossed myself.
“London. My name’s London, like the city,” she finally said.
He scribbled on the envelope and held it out to her. She brushed her fingers against his, but if Stone noticed, he didn’t react.
“Can we take a picture?” The woman batted her lashes at Stone.
“Sure.”
She handed the phone to me. “Do you mind?”
“Of course not,” I said sweetly. I so minded.
She pressed up against him far too intimately, in my opinion. He good-naturedly slung an arm around her shoulders and smiled as I snapped a picture.
Once it was done, she seemed reluctant to let go.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Stone said, politely disentangling himself.
She didn’t get the hint. “You’re here filming Lost Hearts.”
“That’s true.”
“I can’t wait for it to come out. In fact, my girlfriends and I are going to see your latest tonight.” She leaned in. “I’ve already seen it four times, but it’s sooo good.”
I snorted. She startled, as if she’d forgotten I was there.
“I’ve got to get back to class.” I pointed my thumb over my shoulder.
“Hold up.” Stone held up his finger. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Of course.” She shot me a you’ve ruined the moment look before practic
ally skipping down the hall.
“Is it like that for you all the time?”
“Yeah, but it’s okay.”
“I get wanting an autograph and a picture, but a conversation?”
“People just get excited when they see someone famous.” He shrugged.
“I don’t see how you stand it.”
“When I get back to the ranch, I won’t know what to do without the attention.” A corner of his mouth lifted.
Miss Pennington poked her head out the door. “Muriella, it’s time to take them to the gym.”
“Be right there.”
“You gotta go.” I nodded. “I brought lunch. Can I at least leave it with you?”
“Yeah.” I’d forgotten to pack mine.
“I’ll go get it from the truck and meet you back here when you’re done with the gym.”
“Sure, that’s fine.”
When I got back to my classroom, Stone was there leaning against the wall outside the door, a paper bag in his hand. When he spotted me, he smiled.
“Thanks for bringing lunch,” I said as I approached.
“Anytime.”
We stood there awkwardly for a moment as I tried to process how happy I was to see him. He continually knocked a chink in the walls I’d put around me. As much as I didn’t want to, I had a soft spot for him that terrified me but also gave me a warm feeling that I wasn’t familiar with but definitely did not hate.
I broke the silence. “I’m sorry about the ranch.”
He worried his bottom lip between his teeth. “I’m not sure I can save it this time.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Other than pray, I don’t know if there’s anything anybody can do.”
“I can definitely do that.” Stone’s anxiety was palpable, which heightened mine. If prayer was what he needed, I was more than willing.
“That means a lot. When you talk, the Big Man listens.” He pointed up, his mouth fighting to curve up, though his face was still strained.
“He listens when anyone speaks,” I corrected, though I wasn’t so certain of late. But I’d had so many good years, it wasn’t fair for me to get greedy. These troubles would pass…I hoped. I inhaled deeply and let my heart control my mouth. “Would you like to come over for dinner?”
He brightened, and for a second, seeing the relief in his face made tolerating my apprehension worth it. “Six-thirty, right?”
“Don’t get excited. I just don’t want to be alone with Daniel and Vivian.” While that was true, I wasn’t completely sure it wasn’t more important to me to be there for Stone. He was upset, and my instinct was to soothe him, even at the risk of my own nerves.
“Running interference is my specialty.” He winked and sauntered away.
What had I done?
Chapter Ten
Muriella
The doorbell rang.
I dropped the last of the grocery bags on the counter, knowing perfectly well who it was.
“Hey,” I said as I threw open the door. “You’re early.”
Stone leaned against the doorframe. I pretended not to notice how perfect his jeans looked or the way he filled out his flannel shirt. Just like I’d pretended not to notice at the school earlier.
“Hey, yourself. Thought you could use some help in the kitchen.”
My insides turned to liquid heat as a warm feeling rushed through me. I wasn’t sure if it was a welcome change to the cold I’d felt since Daniel’s revelation or not. This happened every time Stone was near, yet I’d become good at ignoring it. That task was becoming more and more difficult, however.
“You gonna invite me in, or is this as far as I get today?”
“Can I take your jacket?” The question gave away the annoyance at my unsettled state. I didn’t want him here, but I was also happy to see him. This constant contradiction when it came to Stone was wearing me thin.
He shrugged out of the chocolate leather and handed it to me. I made busy work of hanging it in the foyer closet as my regret for inviting him simmered. Things were different between us now that we’d been on a date. I wasn’t too proud to admit I couldn’t handle my pendulum of emotions regarding Stone on top of my anger with Daniel.
I settled on irritated, my emotional state of choice lately it seemed.
He followed me to the kitchen and began unpacking one of the grocery bags.
“Where’s this go?” He held up the beef tenderloin as if it weighed nothing.
“On the counter, please.” I scooted another bag over to make room for it.
He let out a low whistle as he set it down. “It’s chilly in here.”
“The thermostat is in the hall.” I motioned in that direction as I dropped a bunch of broccoli on the counter with more force than necessary.
“I didn’t mean the temperature of the apartment.”
I gripped the edge of the counter. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”
“I generally do,” he replied casually.
This was a terrible idea. All of it. I picked up my phone to text Vivian I wasn’t ready to see Daniel yet.
“It’ll be hard whether you get this over with tonight or put it off.”
I hesitated, hating he was right. “So what? I’m supposed to just forgive him?” I shoved my phone in my pocket.
“That’s not what I said.” He folded the empty paper bag and smoothed it down. “Do you plan to ignore him forever?”
I finished up the bag I was working on and propped my hip against the counter. “I don’t know.”
His lips parted. My answer surprised me too. Forgiveness wasn’t my strong suit. But this was Daniel.
“You have every right to be pissed off for as long as you want. What’s the harm in hearing him out now?”
I snorted. “Have you met him? What do you think is going to happen? He’ll apologize?”
Stone shrugged. “Stranger things have happened.”
I retrieved a half-sheet pan from the cabinet. “I owe him my life. But does that mean I let him get away with absolutely anything he chooses to do?”
“Is that what you’ve been doing?”
I unwrapped the tenderloin from its packaging. “To a degree. He’s—well, you know how he is. An island.”
He laughed. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“I never believed I deserved to know everything about him. He certainly didn’t force me to tell him my truth.” I paused, searching for the words to accurately describe my feelings. “I wanted him to open up to me, but not out of obligation or guilt.”
“Men aren’t the best at that.”
“I kn—” I stopped myself. I didn’t know. Not really. He and Stone were the only men I’d allowed myself to get to know in my adult life. And I’d kept Stone at a comfortable distance.
Stone looked at me for a second, then asked, “You want a beer?”
I abruptly stopped massaging the tenderloin. We were in my home. I should have already offered, but I was out of sorts. The prickle of unease at the realization we were alone, and that he’d made himself comfortable was subdued. That frightened me. I paused, waited for the wariness, and was uncertain what to do when it didn’t come. “A glass of wine would be nice.”
“This one?” He held up the bottle he’d unpacked from the shopping.
“Please.”
He rolled his sleeves back, serious about his task. His arm muscles flexed as he twisted the corkscrew. I couldn’t take my eyes off of his capable hands as he uncorked the wine.
He poured me a glass. “Want some help?” He eyed my hands coated in butter.
“No, thank you.” I flipped the faucet on with the back of my hand and rinsed them.
He got a beer from the fridge as if he did it every day, and something inside of me was okay with that. I liked that he felt comfortable here.
After a long swallow, he set the bottle down and perched against the island. “Have you ever kept anything from him?”
&n
bsp; I took a sip of wine. “Nothing important.”
“The things that you didn’t tell him, why didn’t you?”
I met Stone’s gaze. “Because there are some things no one needs to know.”
Then I busied myself with sprinkling salt and pepper on the tenderloin as I fought old nightmares. Flashes of the past froze my hands. The fresh feeling of terror, a residual from being held at gunpoint two days ago, threatened to paralyze me.
Using a technique I’d read about to stave off panic attacks, I pushed the negative thoughts aside. I’m in control. I sucked in a breath trying to steady my suddenly racing heart. Are you? I exhaled in a rush. I don’t know. I focused with more intensity to come back to the now. Yes. Yes, I am in control.
“But why? Why doesn’t he need to know?” Stone’s brow furrowed as he gave me an odd look. I pulled myself together so as not to have to answer for my behavior, but all I wanted to do was run and hide.
“Because it’s too ugly.”
Stone canted his head to the side. “That doesn’t sound like ‘nothing important’ you’ve kept from him.” I lifted a shoulder and lowered it. “You didn’t tell him because you wanted to protect him.”
“You don’t pollute the people you care about with your garbage.” With shaky hands, I slid the sheet pan in the oven and set the timer. Thankfully, anger started to overtake the panic. That I could deal with.
“To protect them,” he repeated.
I pressed my lips together. “He knows everything, though. Just not every single detail.”
“And you feel like you know nothing about him,” he surmised.
“He doesn’t trust me.” I rinsed off petite red potatoes. “I don’t expect a recap of every second of his life, but a murder confession?”
“The way I see it, you get exactly why he didn’t tell you, because you’ve done the same for him.”
“Is that why you and your grandfather kept the dire financial situation of the ranch from the rest of your family? To protect them?” The word was bitter on my tongue.
“Damn right.” His jaw was set, chin lifted.
“Did you ever think that all of you working together would have been better than just the two of you bearing the burden?”
Three Dates (Paths To Love Book 2) Page 7
