Strawberry Kisses (A Rocky Harbor Novel Book 2)

by Marianne Rice

  Not one to wake before she had to, Lucy agreed to load her car with the boxes and meet Rachael at the Inn at two. For hours Rachael mixed and stirred and baked. She had promised Julia a batch of brownies and nothing Jake could do would make her back down from her promise. Rachael layered the brownies in a box and set them aside.

  The kitchen was clean, the dishes put away. Now she could move in to her new space and start over. Again.

  Surprisingly on time, Lucy stood outside her beater of a car, packed full of boxes, in the Inn’s parking lot. “Nice place. Where is your room?” Lucy asked as they carried the first load up the front steps.

  “I have no idea. I haven’t seen it yet.”

  “What if it’s a crap hole?”

  “I’m sure it isn’t.”

  Rachael shifted the box under her arm and reached out for the front door as Ellie appeared.

  “I got it.”

  “Thanks.” Rachael stepped through the doorway. “Ellie, this is my sister Lucy. Lucy, Ellie owns the Inn.”

  “Nice to meet you. Thanks for taking my sister off our hands. She’s a real pain in the ass.”

  Ellie laughed. “We can swap and you can take my son. He’s driving me up a wall this summer. I hope it’s only a phase he’s going through.”

  “Uh, which way to my room?”

  “Wow. I’m not usually so scatterbrained. I didn’t even show it to you yesterday. I’m so sorry. If you don’t like the space you can pick another room. Or I can add to your salary.”

  “I’m sure I’ll love it. I haven’t had much privacy since I’ve been home.” That wasn’t totally true. Her mother respected her space and let her be alone when she chose to hole up in her room, but Rachael looked forward to not checking in with her mother every time she wanted to go somewhere. It wasn’t like Doreen made her, but Rachael knew she appreciated the courtesy.

  Rachael and Lucy followed Ellie into the kitchen and down a private hallway. “Back in the day this was the maid’s quarters. I think it’s absolutely adorable, and if I didn’t need two bedrooms I would have taken this space for myself.” Ellie unlocked the door and handed Rachael the key. She stepped into the room and hurried over to the window opening the blinds.

  The windows overlooked the patio off the kitchen. Beyond it a large grassy area stretched at a slight slope before reaching dune grass and the ocean. “It’s gorgeous.”

  “You get a million-dollar ocean view, but you don’t have much privacy if we have guests on the patio, or events on the lawn.”

  “I’ll survive.” Rachael hadn’t even looked around the room yet, too enamored with the view. She turned and took in the space. The walls were painted a bright blue, the wide white casings around the doors and windows making a stunning contrast. The long dresser and four poster bed were white, as were the two wicker chairs by the window.

  The blue and white striped cushions matched the pillow shams, while the bedding and comforter were a country chic yellow flowered print. Dark hardwood floors contrasted beautifully with the décor.

  “You have a private bath that was recently remodeled. The clawfoot tub is my favorite.” Ellie led Rachael to the bathroom. It wasn’t huge but she didn’t need much space.

  The sink sat in a beautiful piece of dark cabinetry that was too elegant to be in a bathroom; the large white marble tiles having the opposite effect as the bedroom, making the floor bright and vibrant instead of dark and homey. She couldn’t wait to soak in the tub while looking out across the ocean. With a romance novel to keep her company, since Jake wasn’t talking to her.

  “The original space didn’t have a closet, but the last owner insisted on making the maid’s quarters more modern. You’ve got a pretty nice walk in space here.” Rachael left the bathroom and peeked in the door on the opposite side of the room.

  “Sweet closet.” Lucy whistled.

  “It’s more than I could have ever expected. I love it.”

  “Good. And you have free use of the kitchen. CJ and I have a small kitchen in our living quarters at the end of the hall, but he likes the convenience of the big kitchen. That’s what we call it. The big kitchen. Oh, and I ordered a new fridge. It should be here by Wednesday.”

  “I’ll respect your privacy.”

  “Don’t be silly. If we wanted privacy I wouldn’t be running an inn. Besides, we can eat in our private quarters if we need the escape. Since you don’t have a kitchen, I consider the big kitchen yours. We’ll try not to intrude if you have guests.”

  “I don’t plan on hosting any dinner parties, but thank you.”

  “She’ll be making me dinner at least once a week.” Rachael scowled at her sister, but Lucy continued, “As payment for driving you around the past few months.” Yes, she did owe her. Now that Rachael had an apartment and a few thousand in her bank account, she could afford a car as well.

  “I want you to feel at home here, Rachael.”

  “I already do.”

  It didn’t take long to unload the car. Lucy had places to go, people to see, so she didn’t stick around to help unpack. Not that Rachael expected her to. She emptied her suitcases and hung up her clothes first, not wanting them to wrinkle. When her clothes were stored, she tackled the few boxes of odds and ends she brought from home. A few pictures of her family, some costume jewelry, scented lotions, and recipe books. There were still hours left in the day and she had no plans. No one to spend time with. No one to call. No one to talk to.

  Maybe she should have stayed at Coast & Roast. Mackenzie was always good for a laugh. And Maggie stopped by often.

  Yes, Maggie. She’d be marrying Graham on Labor Day. Maybe she’d like some sister time. Rachael dug through her purse, searching for her cell phone. She found it and turned it on. Four texts popped up. She read the first one from Luke.

  I would have helped you move. Congrats on the new place. Can’t wait to see it.

  Rachael smiled. Luke had always been the thoughtful, caring brother.

  There was one text from Graham.

  No sleepovers until you’re 30.

  She laughed at his bluntness and protectiveness. And there were two from Jake. She didn’t want to read what he had to say. Nothing could erase the cruelty of his words to her. But she still yearned for him, wishing it was all a terrible misunderstanding and he’d come begging for her forgiveness.

  Dylan had never asked for forgiveness. He’d toss out an apology that lacked any type of sincerity and would move on as if he hadn’t destroyed another piece of Rachael’s soul.

  Except Jake wasn’t Dylan and she needed to stop comparing the two. Nothing Jake could do or say would ever be as cruel and deliberate as Dylan. Except his words had hurt more than Dylan’s fist to the rib. Her body would heal, the bruises would lighten, and her hatred for Dylan would never go away.

  Jake’s words, however, made a more permanent scar on. Her heart had never been in her relationship with Dylan. It hadn’t been stomped on, just her pride. That could be repaired with time.

  Her heart, not so much. Still, the pull to Jake was like a magnet to steel. No matter how hard she tried to fight it, she couldn’t stop the attraction. She slid her finger across the text and read the first one.

  We need to talk.

  And the second text read

  Please.

  No excuses. No begging for forgiveness. No answers. Should she respond? Yes, she wanted answers. Needed answers.

  Needed Jake.

  ***

  Jake

  He wouldn’t beg, but he needed to see her, to apologize for being such a shit. She’d surprised him, to put it mildly. He didn’t want her anywhere near that part of his life. Didn’t want anyone he cared about mixed up in his past shit.

  Jake’s meetings with Noles were the constant reminder of the baggage he carried around with him every day. No matter how hard he worked to right his wrongs, it was always there, tattooed on his forehead, on his soul. And no matter how hard he worked to push it away or cover it up, there wou
ld always be traces of his mistakes marking him as a failure. A deadbeat. Unworthy.

  Rachael didn’t need to be exposed to the evil in his life. Not that Noles was evil; he was a good guy. But their Friday coffee chats were a symbol of what Jake once was. A symbol he couldn’t erase but tried like hell to burn from his life.

  Needing to see her, to apologize, to right yet another wrong, he’d sent two texts, one last night and one this morning. Knowing Rachael, she needed time to be pissed at him, but she’d also want answers. And he needed time as well. Time to work up the courage to come clean about his past. His present.

  About everything. Once she heard it all, if it was too much to be with him, he’d walk away.

  Hell. Who was he kidding? Jake wouldn’t let her slip away that easily. He didn’t want to have this serious talk while she was working, so he waited until he thought she’d be home. Only Rachael still hadn’t responded to his texts. Not knowing what else to do, he hopped on his bike and sped to her house.

  Doreen Riley’s car was in the driveway, which meant Rachael would be home. And probably her mom. Having this discussion at Coast & Roast didn’t appeal to him, but neither did having it in front of her mom. But if Rachael didn’t agree to leave with him, he’d stay on her front porch and beg until she agreed to listen.

  Jake shut off the engine and removed his helmet. After stalling, hoping she’d come outside to greet him—or yell at him, hell, he didn’t care—he finally made his way up the front steps when she didn’t show.

  Doreen opened the door with a welcoming hug. She obviously hadn’t heard what a bastard he’d been to her daughter.

  “Hi, Mrs. Riley. Is Rachael home?”

  “Home? Here? I figured you would be at her place.”

  “Her place?”

  “She didn’t tell you? Oh, I hope I didn’t ruin a surprise she had planned for you.”

  Jake had two options. Be honest with Mrs. Riley, telling her how Rachael wasn’t talking to him, or play off her innocence and get the inside scoop.

  Damn Rachael for making his honesty card come out. “The truth is, Mrs. Riley…”

  “Uh oh. Why don’t you come in and I’ll pour you a glass of lemonade.”

  “You probably don’t want to be fraternizing with the enemy. I’ve uh, I said some hurtful things to Rachael and I came over to talk to her. To try to explain a…situation.”

  Doreen studied him intently for a few awkward moments before coming out on to the porch. “Let’s sit out here then, and you’ll explain to me how and why you hurt my daughter.”

  Jake had never talked to a girlfriend’s mother before. Hell. He’d never had a girlfriend. He didn’t know what to do. Come clean with Rachael’s mom or keep their issues private?

  “I’m not one to pry, but I’m very protective of my children. Tell me how you hurt her.” Direct and stern she was, just as Rachael had warned.

  “She found me in a situation I didn’t want to be in and I snapped at her. Told her it was none of her business.”

  “You cheated on Rachael?” She placed a hand over her heart and reared her head back in shock.

  “Oh God, no. I’d never do that to her. I swear.”

  “Phew. I didn’t peg you for the philanderer.” Doreen relaxed in her chair and pushed off with her foot setting the glider in a slow sway. “This situation. She misread it?”

  “I’ve been fairly honest with her about my past.” He was upfront about being a shit, yet hid the specific details. “I wasn’t a kid you’d bring home to meet your mother. I’m sure my high school teachers and everyone at juvie hall would be having a good laugh if they could see me now. Sitting on the front porch of my girlfriend’s house talking with her mom.”

  “So you were in some trouble as a teen.”

  “And in my early twenties. There are some things I need to talk to Rachael about. She saw me talking with my parole officer…I had yet to tell her I had one.” The words slipped freely from his lips. Something about Doreen made her easy to talk to. There was no shame in her voice, in her eyes, or body language.

  “I see.”

  They sat in more awkward silence. Jake fidgeted in his seat while Doreen rocked, staring out into the open fields, deep in thought. “You would have fit in quite well in my house as a teenager.”

  “I don’t think you’d have wanted me around.”

  “Don’t think I could’ve handled it?” She chuckled and turned to him. “I could tell you stories that would blow you over. And then some. My children have experienced horrific things in their childhood. In their adolescence. My Rachael is the only one who seemed to come out of it unscathed. Always the perfect angel, just wanting to fit in with her rowdy brothers.”

  “Yeah, she told me about that.”

  “I won’t lie, my boys gave me a run for my money. My husband and I knew every police officer and detective by first name. Knew their families. Their birthdays. Their favorite foods. I’d hate for anyone to hold my children’s mistakes over their heads for the rest of their lives. They’ve grown up to be fine individuals. They have their demons they struggle with, but they’re each fighting a good fight. They’re good people. I’d like to think that you are too, Jake.”

  Touched by her honesty and understanding, he picked up her hand and squeezed. “You remind me a lot of my mom. I think you two would get along great.”

  “I’d love to meet her sometime.”

  “I’d like that too.”

  Doreen patted his hand. “Rachael is living at the Rocky Harbor Inn. She called me about a half hour ago. She’d planned on going for a walk and then back to her apartment to take a bath.”

  “Apartment?”

  “She’s the new breakfast cook at the Inn. The job comes with a small apartment. Lucy helped her move in today.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Riley. I appreciate this more than you know. And whatever happens with me and Rachael, know that I never meant to hurt her. I care about her. A lot.”

  “I never doubted that for a minute.” She squeezed his hand while he leaned down to kiss her cheek.

  Racing to his bike, he strapped on his helmet and took off for the center of town. Cursing Saturday night tourists, he steered out of traffic and took a longer but less traveled route to the Inn, knowing he could get away with going ten over the speed limit, taking the curves like a pro. Jake scanned the park and the sidewalks, looking for Rachael, but didn’t see her. He parked in the guest lot, tucked his helmet under his arm, and marched up the front steps, not taking the time to read the signs or appreciate the landscaping.

  A bell rang above the door as he opened it, stepping into the entryway. It was as open and welcoming as he presumed an inn would be and smelled like the lemon oil his mother used when polishing the wood furniture. He’d never been in an inn before. Hadn’t been in too many hotels either. A cement ten-by-ten cell with a cot and a toilet had been all he’d seen besides his small room at his childhood home. And once he hit his teens he stopped spending many nights there.

  A tall desk nestled in the corner with an open laptop greeted him, but no innkeeper.

  “Hello?” he called, looking into the room to his left.

  The scraping of a chair from down the hall alerted his attention toward the back of the house.

  “I’m sorry. I was on the phone in the kitchen and wasn’t expecting any arrivals tonight. How many nights were you hoping to stay?”

  Hopefully quite a few. “I’m looking for Rachael Riley. Is she here by any chance?”

  The innkeeper’s gaze dropped to his helmet, then down his jean-clad legs, stopping at his steel-toed work boots before making its way back to his face. On the way, she scrutinized the tattoo peeking out of his shirt. Not exactly inn material. Or Rachael Riley material. “Is she expecting you?”

  “I sent her a text.” Partial truth. Not that he’d be by, but that he wanted to talk.

  “I don’t like to disturb my employees during their off hours, but I’ll check to see if she’s availab
le. And your name?” The young woman eyed him as would a lioness guarding her cubs, and he had to appreciate her protectiveness of Rachael. Only it hurt that she viewed him as the enemy.

  “Jake. Thank you, Miss…”

  “Fairchild.” She gave him another once-over before turning on her heels and heading back toward what he presumed to be the kitchen.

  Jake paced uncomfortably around the front room, feeling incongruous to the bright decor. All around him were seashells and picture frames and knickknacks. He was afraid to sit in the chairs; the thin spindle legs didn’t look like they could hold anyone much larger than Rachael.

  He smelled her before he heard her. Vanilla. Jake turned around, hesitant to face her. “Hey.”

  Rachael stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe, looking pissed at the world. Or more likely, at him.

  “Can we talk?”

  “About?” She didn’t budge. Not her body. Not a muscle in her face.

  “Me being an ass?”

  She cocked an eyebrow and sucked in her cheeks. When she got angry at him for ditching her during their first date he had been kinda turned on by her temper. Tonight, though, she didn’t look angry. Her usually bright blue eyes were shielded, not trusting him or his actions.

  “I know you just came from a walk, but do you mind going for another one?”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I stopped by your house first. Your mom told me.”

  “She what?” Rachael stepped away from the doorframe, dropping her hands to her sides. “My mother wouldn’t tell you that unless you lied to her too. What did you tell her?”

  “The truth.”

  Rachael snorted. “Which is?”

  “That I was an ass for withholding information from you and that I wanted to talk to you. Tell you everything.”

  Softening, she relaxed her shoulders before spinning around and heading out the door. Jake took that as a positive sign and followed her down the steps. They walked in silence toward the center of town and didn’t stop until they reached the park. Finding a secluded granite bench, they sat, Rachael facing forward and ignoring him.