by Noelle Adams
She wondered if he expected her to start calling him up whenever she had an odd job that needed doing.
There was no way in hell she was going to do that.
—
Rob was hungry, so he ate his sandwich and grapes quickly. Allison hadn’t even finished half of her sandwich, and her eyes widened when she saw he was done.
“Do you need another one?” she asked, her lips wobbling slightly in what looked like suppressed amusement.
“I’m fine.” He figured she didn’t have a lot of money, so there was no need to eat her out of house and home.
She laughed softly and got up, heading to the counter, where the sandwich-making stuff was still out. He watched her as she made him another sandwich, his eyes running over her gorgeous legs and her firm ass in her shorts. She had on only a little tank top that clung to her skin, because she’d been sweating in the sun. He wasn’t even sure she wore a bra with it, since her tightened nipples were easily recognizable beneath the fabric. She was in great shape, but she had curves where he liked to see them. He felt his body reacting as he watched her.
Her expression shifted into a slight frown as she came back to the card table where they were sitting. She must have seen something in his face.
He smiled and said, “Thanks,” trying to keep his eyes from reflecting an undue amount of lust.
She relaxed, so he must have been successful.
“Chelle said that the girl with you yesterday was your ex-stepdaughter,” Allison said, picking up her sandwich again.
Rob was startled by the shift in topic, but he replied easily enough, “Yeah. She is. Her name is Cali.” He cleared his throat. “Her mother named her California.”
“Oh.” Allison was obviously trying to hide whatever her response to this information was. “How long were you married?”
“Six years.”
“And she was your first wife?”
Rob shifted uncomfortably. “No. I was married before Dee.”
“And what happened there?”
Rob tried to tell himself it was a good thing that she was interested in his personal life, but he didn’t like to share this kind of thing—particularly with someone he was into as much as Allison. It made him look like a fool, and he didn’t like that at all. His first wife, Maria, had cheated on him repeatedly. Everyone in town had known before he’d known. It was the most painful thing to ever happen to him, and he’d tried to clear his life of everything that reminded him of it—including a few things he’d always enjoyed, like singing and playing the guitar, since he associated them with his years with Maria. He didn’t tell Allison any of this, of course. “We married young. We were both just eighteen. It didn’t work out.”
“Is she still in town?”
“No. She got remarried and moved away.”
Allison nodded, her eyes down on the grapes on her plate. “Arthur was my only marriage.”
Relieved they were focusing on her now, Rob jumped on the new topic. “I figured that. You said you were eighteen when you married him.”
“Oh. Yeah. I guess I did tell you that.”
“What was he like?” Rob had a few faint ideas, based on Allison’s situation, but he was dying to know more details. He wanted to know what made her tick.
She gave a little shrug, her eyes still lowered. “He was…used to being in control and getting his own way.”
Rob’s lip curled up as he thought about what that must mean. “So he was an asshole.”
Her eyes flew up to his. “It wasn’t just his fault, though. I knew what I was doing when I married him. I wanted what he could give me. I thought it would be okay, but it wasn’t.”
“You were eighteen. How could you possibly know what a decision like that would mean for your life?”
Allison held his gaze, and her expression softened in a way he found irresistible. “Still. I don’t like him—at all—but I know he’s not the one to blame for how miserable I was in my marriage. I like to take responsibility for my own mistakes.”
Rob had never met another woman like her—not in all his life. His mind was whirling with interest and excitement, and he couldn’t wait to learn even more about her.
To his disappointment, however, she cleared her throat and straightened up. “I guess I better get back to work.”
“You’ve already done a lot today. What else do you need to do?” Whatever it was, he was planning on doing it with her. He’d made more progress with her today than he had all week, and he wasn’t going to say goodbye quite yet.
“Since I’m on a roll, I’d like to tackle that last bed in the back, if you don’t mind letting me borrow your tools for a little longer.”
“No problem.” He stood up and picked up both of their plates to carry to the sink. “I’ve got nothing better to do. I’ll help.”
She looked for a moment like she might object, but then she gave a little laugh and shook her head. “Eventually you’re going to run out of things to help me with.”
“Maybe. But until then…”
They were both smiling as they went back outside and started working on the big bed behind the house. It was even hotter out now, and it was slow going—taking them more than an hour to get it weeded. Both of them were drenched in sweat and smeared with dirt when Rob finally pulled off his gloves.
Allison was taking hers off too. She was kneeling in the dirt, staring at the cleared, neat bed and the large pile of weeds they’d made. She had the strangest expression on her face.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Nothing.” She tried to use the back of her forearm to wipe the perspiration off her face, but it only served to smear more dirt. “I just can’t believe I actually did this. I mean, I know you helped a lot—which I appreciate—but I still did a lot of it.”
He adjusted his position so he was closer to her. “Of course you did. And why shouldn’t you have been able to do this?”
She met his eyes. “I don’t know. I’ve just lived most of my life thinking I couldn’t do things.”
“What things?”
“All kinds of things.” She let out a sigh that sounded sad and resigned. “All I’ve ever been since I grew up is a trophy wife.”
“Don’t call yourself that.”
“Why not? It’s exactly what I was. A pretty accessory that made him feel better about himself, instead of someone who could really…”
“Who could what?”
“Who could be someone for herself. Who could stand on her own.” She gave her head a little shake and met his eyes again. “It probably doesn’t make much sense to you. I’d guess you’ve never felt dependent in your life.”
Rob felt the strangest flicker in his chest. “N-no. I guess not.”
She must have heard his hesitation. “Have you?”
“Not in the way you mean, but there are other ways to feel…like you’re not in control of your own life.”
He’d been caught up in the conversation, in trying to understand Allison, and he couldn’t believe he’d actually said that out loud.
He’d felt out of control far too often in his life. In his first marriage, as she’d done nothing but lie and deceive him. And in his second, as she’d constantly manipulated him with her neediness. The memories were painful and humiliating. He was determined not to let himself feel that way again, and he was definitely not going to talk about it with Allison.
Her eyes were wide. “You’ve felt that way too?”
He couldn’t bring himself to say anything, so he just nodded.
“When have you felt that way?”
“I…don’t know.” She looked disappointed at his evasive reply, so he heard himself continue, “But I know you’re not the only one who has let another person turn you into someone you don’t want to be.”
“But you seem so strong and…and in control.”
Rob relaxed, feeling a lot better at her words. “Uh, thanks, but I haven’t always felt this way.”
“What d
id you do to feel in control again?” She seemed to really want to know, really want him to help her.
There was nothing he could tell her but the truth. “You just make a decision to stay the person you’ve always been, the person you really are.”
She dropped her eyes and let out a long breath. “I’m not sure I even know how to do that.” She sounded defeated.
He couldn’t stand for her to feel that way—not when she was obviously so brave and so resilient. He reached out to tilt her face up so she was meeting his eyes again. “Yes, you do. Look at what you’ve already done—in just one week. I don’t think you have any idea how much you can do.”
Her expression melted. It was the only way to describe it. She looked grateful and warm and tender, and Rob couldn’t resist it.
He leaned forward, tilting his head down until he could meet her lips with his.
He wasn’t sure how she would respond, so he was prepared to pull back immediately. But she gave a little hitch of breath and one of her hands moved up to his shoulder. His body starting to throb with excitement, he deepened the kiss, leaning into it, letting his tongue tease the line of her lips.
She was soft and warm and responsive, and her mouth parted for his as she shifted to get closer to him. Her other hand moved to tangle in his hair.
Both of them were dirty and sweaty, but it just didn’t matter. Rob was completely into the kiss, lost in the feeling and sensations and the hot sweetness she was so eagerly offering him.
It went on long enough for his body to respond, and the pulsing of his groin was a painful sort of pleasure. She was making little whimpering noises and fisting her hand in his hair, and he suddenly realized he’d better pull back or he was going to take her right there in the dirt of her backyard.
With effort, he released her and leaned back, willing his arousal to back down a little. Allison was coming off of a difficult divorce. She wasn’t likely to want to jump into bed with a guy she’d known for just a week.
Allison’s cheeks were deeply flushed, and she was panting as she stared at him.
They just looked at each other for a long time, during which Rob continued to fight a battle with his body not to pull her back into his arms.
“I…,” Allison began at last. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“I know.” His voice sounded too thick, so he cleared his throat. “I…” He wasn’t going to apologize. He wasn’t the least bit sorry. He had no idea what else to say, though.
Allison evidently did know. She rubbed her face and took a few deep breaths. “It was…it was a good kiss, but I’m not…I’m not looking for a relationship.”
The excitement in his chest dropped in an instant with a painful thud.
“I just got divorced, you know, and I’m trying to get myself together. I just can’t…” She gave him a strange look that was half self-consciousness and half regret. “I’m not assuming that’s what you’re looking for, but I’m just saying. I can’t get into anything like that right now.”
He was so disappointed he wanted to moan, but he didn’t, of course. She believed he was strong and in control, so that was what he was going to be with her. He gave her a little smile. “I totally get it. It’s too bad, though. We’d be good together.”
She finally dropped her eyes. “Maybe. But I just…can’t.”
For just a moment he saw reluctance on her face. He knew he hadn’t mistaken it.
She wasn’t completely convinced by her words.
He felt a new surge of hope. Just because she thought one way today didn’t mean she always would. It had only been a week, after all.
He wasn’t going to give up so easily.
He gave her a smile—one that felt more real than before. “All right. We can just be friends and neighbors, then. How about that?”
He knew he’d said the right thing when she looked up at him with a glowing smile that took his breath away. “We still can be?”
“Of course. Did you think I was some kind of asshole who stops talking to a woman if I can’t get what I want from her?”
“Oh. No. Of course, I just…” She shook her head, evidently altering what she’d been going to say. “I’m glad. You’re the first friend I’ve made in this town.”
He really hoped that wasn’t all he was ever going to be to her. His body was still howling for more of her. But all he said was “I’m sure I won’t be the last.”
Chapter 4
The next morning Allison went into work a little anxious.
She’d been exhausted the night before, after all the yard work she’d done, so she’d gone to sleep right away. But she’d woken up in the middle of the night, thinking about Rob, replaying the kiss they’d shared, imagining what would have happened if they’d taken it further, reminding herself of all the reasons it was a good thing she’d put a stop to it.
He’d said they could still be friends, and he hadn’t looked too unhappy or annoyed with her as he’d left her house—but she was still worried. Rob was the best thing about living in Fielding right now, and she didn’t want to lose him.
There were more early customers than usual, so she’d barely had time to show Chelle her new shoes—which she’d bought with Vicki on Saturday—when she was pulled away to take a large family with very loud kids. A steady stream of customers came in from six to seven, and she couldn’t help but wonder why a Monday morning was so busy at the restaurant.
Surely more people would want to sleep in as long as possible on Mondays.
She kept glancing at the clock, waiting for Rob to make an appearance. If he didn’t come in today, then she would know things had changed between them.
She really hoped he’d show up.
At five after seven she was getting jittery, trying to get the exuberant family refills—they’d finished eating a half hour ago but still hadn’t left their table—and take the order of a group of elderly women who had come in for what looked like a Bible study.
He always came in between six thirty and seven. Surely Rob wasn’t that awkward or disappointed in her. He was obviously attracted to her, but it wasn’t like he had anything else invested in her. He could have any woman he wanted in this town. She saw all the admiring looks whenever he walked into Dora’s. It wouldn’t hurt him to just be friends with her.
When she turned around after taking an order, she almost slumped in relief when she saw him come in, grinning at someone behind him.
It was Ernie, the old guy in overalls who came in by himself most mornings. Rob was saying something friendly to him. He was nice to everyone.
Allison had never met anyone like him before.
When he saw her looking in his direction, he gave her a warm smile, and Allison relaxed completely. It was fine. Everything was going to be fine between them. One random kiss wasn’t going to get in the way.
She was up to serve him, so she walked over to his place at the counter with the coffeepot and a mug.
“Your yard is looking good today,” he said with another smile.
“I know.” She couldn’t help the silly thrill of pride at the memory of how nice and neat her yard had looked when she’d left that morning. “I dread when all those weeds start coming back. You want your usual?” His usual was eggs, bacon, and wheat toast.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
She scrawled out his order and carried it back to hang on the rack in the kitchen, feeling pleased with the world again now that things were settled.
Her satisfaction only lasted a minute, since the huge family still wasn’t leaving their table, and the toddler had dumped his milk. Then one of the Bible study ladies changed her mind about her order, so Allison had to run back and make the adjustment. Then three tables came in at the same time, and two of them were hers, so she juggled taking orders and bringing beverages for a few minutes.
Then she realized that Rob’s plate had been ready for a few minutes, and she hadn’t brought it over to him.
“I’m sorry,” she said, hurr
ying it over. “Is it still hot?”
He took a bite of the bacon. “It’s just fine. Why is it so busy today?”
“I have no idea. What is it about Monday mornings that makes people want to eat breakfast out?”
“I can’t answer that question. I eat breakfast out every day.”
Before she could reply to this, he said, “If you want to keep the weeds down in your beds, you should mulch them.”
She blinked at the abrupt shift. “Oh. Yeah. I should, I guess.” She sighed. “That’s probably more than I can afford right now, though.”
“It’ll wait,” he said easily, chewing his toast thoughtfully.
“Yeah.” She gave a little laugh. “Who would believe the day would ever come when I lusted after mulch.”
Rob chuckled appreciatively, and she couldn’t help but shiver at the look in his eyes.
He certainly wasn’t looking at her like he remembered they were supposed to be friends. He was looking at her like he wanted to kiss her again.
A man across the room was making the scribbling sign at her, obviously asking for his check. Allison waved to acknowledge him and quickly ran back to get it.
It wasn’t a good idea for her to focus on Rob too much. If she didn’t do a good job serving tables, Trey might be unhappy with her. Not to mention her tips would go down.
When she brought the ticket over, she had to listen to the man complain about the wait. Her first instinct was to point out that he’d waited less than two minutes, but she managed to bite back the response. No one had to tell her that talking back wasn’t a good idea for a waitress. She dropped her eyes and murmured an apology.
The man grumbled as he got up to pay, and Allison was glad to see him leave. She glanced to Rob automatically and saw he was watching her. He gave her a little wink, and she hid a smile as she hurried to the kitchen.
When Rob left his tip, the note on his napkin said, You look great in those jeans. R.
—
A week later, Rob was sitting at the counter in his normal position, waiting for his breakfast. Allison’s attention was occupied by an elderly couple he didn’t recognize in the corner, who appeared to have questions about every item on the menu.
