Robin's Reward (Bonita Creek Trilogy Book 1)

by McCrary Jacobs, June

  “Oh, Jeff. I’ve never received a corsage before.”

  “Really? Well, it’s about time you did, beauty. Open it. I hope you like it.”

  She opened the box to find a perfect white cymbidium orchid embellished with deep yellow ribbons sitting in a bed of soft florist’s grass. She smiled at him.

  “I love it. Thank you.” As he slipped the corsage onto her left wrist he grinned down at her with a twinkle in his eyes.

  “It’s a perfect finishing touch. Are you ready to get going? We have a reservation at The Western Saddle Dinner House down in Ukiah.”

  “I’ve heard wonderful things about The Western Saddle, but I’ve never been there.”

  Jeff held the car door open for her and then walked around the front of the car to the driver’s seat. As he slid into the seat and closed the door, his gaze met Robin’s and they both smiled.

  “I’ve been so excited since you asked me out last night.”

  “Let’s both put bad memories and thoughts of the past behind us and enjoy our first date together,” Jeff said.

  “It’s all good.”

  ~*~

  During the twenty-minute drive to Ukiah Jeff told her about the baseball game he’d listened to on the radio while finishing chores. He asked her if she enjoyed sports besides baseball.

  “I enjoy watching golf and tennis. Sometimes I’m in the mood to watch ice skating.”

  They discovered they both liked to bowl, hike, and occasionally swing a golf club. Jeff tucked away all of this information as ideas for future activities for them to share. When they arrived at The Western Saddle’s parking lot, Jeff offered his hand as she stepped out of the car. He continued holding her hand as they entered the restaurant.

  When the waiter greeted them, Jeff mentioned he’d made a reservation. The waiter smiled. “I have a special table set aside for you. Right this way, please.” He led the couple to a table facing a huge picture window. “Will this be acceptable, sir?” the waiter inquired formally.

  The view of the hillside from the window was breathtaking. The golden rolling hills covered with magnificent oak trees and manzanita scrub set against a vivid blue sky caused Robin to gasp in pleasure. A smattering of horses and cattle grazing in the distance added to the picturesque setting. The last of the spring wildflowers were blooming haphazardly on the hillside. The scene was reminiscent of an impressionistic painting. Golden poppies, blue and white lupine, and pink monkey flower caught Robin’s gaze as her eyes scanned the landscape.

  “The view here is incredible. It takes my breath away.”

  Jeff quietly placed a sizeable tip in the waiter’s hand and nodded at the man. “Thank you. This is perfect.”

  Jeff waited until Robin was seated before sliding into a matching western-style ladder back chair. The waiter handed out menus and quietly vanished. Robin was so excited, she could barely read the menu. Her eyes soaked in her surroundings. From the starched white linen tablecloth and napkins on the table to the western-style landscape and still life paintings surrounding them on the redwood paneled walls. Everything was perfect. Soft lighting and the glow of a white pillar candle on an ironwork stand set the mood for a special interlude. Soft classical music serenaded them from hidden stereo speakers.

  As she scanned the leather bound menu, Robin said, “It all looks so delicious. What’re you going to order?”

  “Call me old-fashioned, but I’m a steak and potatoes man. I’m going for the grilled sirloin steak, baked potato, and green salad.”

  “I think I’ll have the stuffed filet of sole and rice.”

  The waiter took their orders, promising to bring them some warm French bread and their iced tea. While they waited, they looked out at the impressive scenery before them.

  “I never thought a summertime hillside in this area could be so beautiful. I mean, we haven’t had any rain in more than two months so I knew it wouldn’t be lush and green. But this view is stunning.”

  Jeff entwined his fingers with hers. “I like the view from where I’m sitting tonight, too.”

  From the way his eyes rested upon her face, Robin got the feeling he wasn’t referring to the view of the hillside. She tried to ignore the blush she felt creeping its way onto her cheeks.

  “Tell me about your hobbies, Jeff. Do you do woodworking or carpentry?”

  “My primary hobby is running. I’ve been running since before I was a teen because I enjoy the challenge. I like being out in nature whether I’m walking, hiking, cycling, or running. I love to read about sports history and U.S. history. I like visiting historic sites and museums. In the future, I’d like to travel around the United States and visit all of the presidential libraries and homes along with other historic sites like Williamsburg and Plymouth Plantation. My newest favorite hobby is spending time with a certain lovely librarian.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “What do you do in your spare time besides garden?”

  “I enjoy cooking and baking when I have time. I love walking, and I also like to visit historic sites and museums. I’m fascinated with historic homes and enjoy visiting the restored ones.”

  “We have a lot in common.”

  They quieted when their salads were served. The two bowed their heads in unison and Jeff said a quiet grace before they began savoring the delicious meal the chef had prepared. The waiter didn’t hover, but was nearby if they needed anything. As the sole cook at her cottage, Robin enjoyed the treat of having someone else prepare and serve the meal, wash the dishes, and clean up the kitchen. She shared her train of thought with Jeff and he laughed.

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying our first official date. I’ve waited a long time to take you out, and it makes me glad you’re happy.”

  ~*~

  The waiter reappeared with their entrees and fussed over them until he was certain everything was just right. After he walked away Robin said, “I’d like to know more about your work.”

  “I’ll try to make this as interesting as possible, but we are talking about accounting after all.” He chuckled. “I’m headquartered in northern Illinois with a small firm, Brownstein & Associates. I’ve been working there as a forensic accountant since I finished my master’s of business administration a couple of years ago. The difference between what I do and what your average public accountant does is my job isn’t limited to record keeping and analysis.”

  He paused to cut his steak and heap butter and chives on his baked potato. “My job requires me to use a complex combination of several factors to determine whether or not a particular activity is illegal. I use my knowledge of accounting, finance, and the law in my investigations. We work on a lot of embezzlement and bankruptcy cases for individual clients and the local police and sheriff’s departments. I gather evidence and sometimes even appear in court as an expert witness. The duties are varied, and I find it to be far more intriguing and satisfying than the traditional ‘keeping books.’ It satisfies my natural curiosity, I guess.”

  “I’ve never heard of forensic accounting before, but it sounds like a great match for someone with your education, intelligence, and natural curiosity.”

  Jeff laughed. “Thanks, but sometimes I don’t feel too smart. For instance, was I ‘smart’ the Saturday morning I ran out on you after acting like a total jerk? I should’ve spoken up and told you the truth right then instead of doing what my boss told me to do.”

  “I thought we weren’t going to talk of the past tonight.”

  “They say the human brain isn’t fully developed until age twenty-five. Since I’m twenty-nine I guess I’m a late bloomer. I did learn a valuable lesson in this situation. I promise I’ll never keep anything from you again, Robin.”

  Robin reached across the table to squeeze his hand lightly. “Let’s move onward and upward,” she said as she finished the last few bites of her meal.

  Their waiter didn’t waste any time rolling the dessert cart over to their table. He bowed slightly, and with a dramatic wave o
f his hand said, “May I offer you one of our exquisite hand-crafted desserts, ma’am, sir?”

  Robin shook her head slightly, and Jeff told the waiter, “Thank you, but I think we’re finished unless my date would like more tea or perhaps some coffee?”

  “I’m fine, thank you, but can we sit here for a little while longer and watch the sunset? The sky looks so awesome right now,” she requested quietly.

  Jeff shared a long look with the waiter before the waiter nodded politely and smiled in understanding.

  “We can stay here as long as you’d like,” Jeff said.

  Their waiter pushed the loaded cart away toward another table. They chatted about the weather and other trivial topics while waiting for the check. When the check arrived with the waiter’s admonition to enjoy the sunset, Jeff wasted no time paying for the meal and tip.

  It didn’t take long for the sun to treat them to a delightful sky show before it dipped sleepily behind the hillside for the evening. Robin sighed in satisfaction and smiled brightly.

  Outside Robin pulled close to Jeff and said, “Thank you for making tonight so special.”

  He kissed her cheek in response, nabbed her hand, and they walked to the car.

  “I realize tomorrow is a work day for you, so I thought we’d make it an early evening. How about if I drive us back to Bonita Creek, and we can stroll around the old town square for a while before I take you home? It’s so pretty in the mountains in the evenings.”

  “I’d enjoy a stroll.”

  ~*~

  Back in Bonita Creek Jeff parked in the public lot in historic old town. They walked around the park and looped around the deserted streets filled with colorful shops of all kinds. Robin rarely had time to enjoy the decorated shop windows, and this was a real treat for her. As they were heading back to the car Jeff got quiet.

  Robin could feel the air thicken with tension. Her self-doubt led her to wonder if the change in his mood was a direct result of something she had said or done. Since she really wanted this new relationship to work, she gathered her courage and gently touched his coat sleeve. “Is something the matter?”

  Jeff’s eyes looked so sad she dreaded hearing his response. She felt like the evening had been going so well, and now a heavy melancholy threatened to overtake the festive atmosphere. Jeff shook his head slowly, and took a deep breath. He glanced in all directions to make sure they were alone before speaking.

  “I have something to tell you. It doesn’t make me happy.”

  “Is it something I’ve done?” Her strained voice sounded shrill. Even she could hear the stress in her voice.

  “Absolutely not.” He pulled her into an embrace. “You’re amazing, and I’m so glad we started dating. No, it’s about my job. I’ve been on temporary assignment here in Bonita Creek. Now I need to return to Illinois to begin my next assignment. I requested some vacation time from Mr. Brownstein before I have to begin my next consulting project, and he granted me ten days of leave, including weekend days. Then I’ll have to return.”

  Turning to Robin he spoke softly. “I don’t want to leave you or Bonita Creek. It already feels like home to me here. I’d like to spend as much of the next ten days with you as possible before I have to say goodbye.”

  She stepped back to look him directly in the eye. “I guess I always knew you’d have to go back, but I was hoping it would be much later, rather than sooner.”

  He hugged her tightly and said, “Let’s make the best of it while we do have some time together. What’s your schedule like these next ten days? Since the fair has passed, will you have more free time?”

  “Besides my regular eight to five shifts at the library, I’m free.”

  “Not anymore, you’re not,” he teased. “Let’s plan some day trips for this weekend. I’d like to see the natural wonders of Bonita Creek and its surrounding region. You mentioned how much you love the ocean. Are there special places you’d like to go?”

  “Oh, yes! I’ll plan some outings for us. The coast is just about an hour’s drive from here. It’ll be so much fun sharing my favorite excursions with you.” She was so caught up in their plans for a minute she forgot Jeff was leaving California in ten days.

  “Good. As far as the weeknights go, would you like to get together for dinners, walks, and talks? I play a pretty mean game of Yahtzee and Monopoly if you’re into board games.”

  “Yes, to all of the above,” exclaimed Robin.

  “It’s a date, or should I say, they’re dates? We’ll make firm plans later on, but for now let’s get you home.”

  The couple headed back to Jeff’s car and cruised the short distance to Robin’s cottage. Jeff opened her car door and walked her to the porch with his arm slung comfortably over her shoulders. On the porch the two turned to one another and started speaking at the same time. “Ladies first,” Jeff offered.

  “Tonight was extraordinary. I’m certain I’ll never forget our first date. Thank you. I just love my orchid.”

  “You’re welcome. See you tomorrow around six o’clock for dinner. I’ll bring over some salads and sandwiches from the deli if it’s all right with you. I won’t even pretend I’m anything but the most inept kind of cook. We’ll make our plans for the rest of the week. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to waste even a minute of the next ten days.”

  His arms surrounded her in a gentle caress.

  “May I kiss you?”

  Robin nodded shyly. He kissed her tenderly and drew her close. Robin’s heart soared when Jeff held her close. She could literally feel his heartbeat. It was comforting and exhilarating at the same time. She felt calm and peaceful when she was with this man.

  “See you tomorrow,” she called quietly as he walked toward her garden gate. Jeff turned and waved briefly before starting up the car’s engine and driving around the block to his rental.

  “I’ll sleep not a wink tonight,” Robin said. She saw Miss Praise staring after Jeff’s shadow through slitted eyes while resting in her basket near the front door. “Isn’t he a dream?” As usual, Miss Praise yawned rudely, tucked her head down on her quilt, and resumed her nap.

  Chapter 22

  Monday morning Robin sat down to work on her collection development project. The United States history section was one of the most popular in the library, and the books there circulated almost as much as the books in the children’s department. Funding had been limited for the past few years and no new books or DVDs had been purchased for the collection. She spread out several catalogues and magazines on her desk and began making a list of books to purchase with the funds remaining from the Storybook Fair.

  Enjoying her task, she worked straight through until lunchtime. There were trained volunteers running the circulation desk out front which afforded her some uninterrupted time to dedicate to the collection development project. She definitely didn’t want to take home any work for the next ten days. She wanted to commit her free time to getting to know Jeff Clarke.

  Just the thought of the man made her heart flutter. Her mind began wandering. Since her concentration was broken, she grabbed her lunch bag and headed over to the park across the way to enjoy the beauty of the clear spring day.

  ~*~

  Mothers and grandmothers were pushing strollers around the pond. Ducks waddled happily toward the shore on their way to a refreshing paddle in the cool water. The sound of birds singing while watching the blooming annuals swaying gently in the breeze caused Robin to pause and inhale deeply. Life was full of wonders. She bowed her head to say grace and looked up just in time to see Jeff walk into the local barber shop.

  Suddenly remembering she only had a half an hour for her lunch break, she opened her lunch bag and began eating. As she ate, she relaxed and enjoyed watching people wander around the park and town square. Recognizing the stress-busting value of eating lunch outside, she vowed to get out of the library more often for her lunch break. It had done her spirit good to get out in the sunshine and fresh air for awhile. Snar
ing a brief glimpse of Jeff had been the highlight of this lunchtime.

  She headed back to her office and spent the remainder of the afternoon finishing her purchase order and meeting with volunteers for some training on repairing damaged books. At five o’clock sharp she cleared the library of patrons and volunteers, set the alarm, and locked the doors.

  Robin had less than one hour to get ready for dinner. She wanted to straighten up the living room and kitchen before Jeff arrived. If there was time, she’d water some of her flower pots on the back patio.

  She was definitely ready for some joy and happiness after so many years of loneliness and sorrow, but she still had doubts about Jeff’s trustworthiness. She had a niggling in the back of her mind that she should be a bit cautious. If only she could get rid of her concerns about his honesty and loyalty. He’s not your father or your ex-husband.

  ~*~

  Jeff arrived carrying several bags from the deli in old town.

  “Planning on feeding a crowd there, buddy?”

  “I thought you could take any leftovers for your lunch tomorrow. How was your day?”

  They walked together toward the kitchen.

  “Rather uneventful except for a celebrity sighting at lunchtime.”

  His eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement. “What? Who? A celebrity was here in little old Bonita Creek?”

  She giggled. “I was referring to you, silly. I saw you go into Bernie’s while I was eating lunch in the park.”

  “How come you didn’t call out to me?” He sounded disappointed.

  “I only had thirty minutes and you looked like you were on a mission. Your haircut is nice. You look especially handsome tonight.”

  “Does my handsomeness entitle me to a kiss and a hug from a pretty lady?”

  “Just this once.” She laughed as she nuzzled his neck and kissed him soundly.

  “Thank you,” he said modestly.