Discovering Pride (Pride Series)

by Jill Sanders

  Her rolls were probably going to be tough and dry all thanks to Dr. Stevens.

  Before he came into town she prided herself on her reputation. She was sure that was the reason most people kept clear of her and her personal life. But now, after a kiss outside the mart, she might as well be wearing a sign on her chest that read, “Give me any and all advice on dating”.

  Her building frustration almost got the better of her earlier when someone attempted to give her advice on how to maintain a good relationship.

  Relationship? Dating? Was that what they were doing?

  She paused as she placed the dough in a big bowl.

  Just because she felt funny when she saw Aaron did not mean she wanted a relationship with him? Did it?

  She shrugged and set a cloth on top of the bowl and set it aside to let it rise. Starting her clean-up process before she started making her famous cinnamon and sugar glaze she tried to relax. Baking always made her feel more centered.

  How could a doctor, let alone a very attractive man be after her? She always tried to keep her head down and had learned in the past to stay clear of “beautiful” men. What little experience she had in the past with the opposite sex never seemed to turn out for the best. It wasn’t that she was scared of men; she had learned her lessons early in life to be wary of men with promises and big smiles. Aaron’s smile was one of the biggest and brightest she’d ever seen.

  She was halfway through cleaning when she realized she was using window cleaner on the counter where she had mixed her dough. Looking down she saw the big blue glob of cleaner and dry flour. She couldn’t even clean properly without Aaron getting in the way. Throwing her rag down in frustration, she started cleaning up the mess correctly.

  What was a man like that doing here? More importantly, what would it take to keep a man like that interested in staying in Pride?

  What the hell was he doing here?

  Looking across the large space that was soon to be his kitchen, he came up blank. He could just close his eyes and see what it was he wanted, yet when he opened them, nothing seemed right.

  The place stilled looked empty, but thanks to the Jordan brothers, he now had drywall. He’d even hired a few local guys to do the tape and texture on the walls. They should be finishing up tomorrow which meant he had to figure out the layout of his kitchen tonight.

  He remembered reading somewhere about the kitchen triangle rule, but for the life of him couldn’t remember what it was. He had done the wiring and plumbing in the kitchen so that he would have options.

  Looking across the large space he still came up blank. Should he put the refrigerator there or across the room? He knew the sink would go over there under the window, but looking at things, he thought it might go just as nicely on the island facing his living room.

  Then there was the stove. He had the electric in place and knew exactly where it belonged, or so he thought.

  Was it against some kitchen rule to have the stove too close to your refrigerator?

  Taking a big breath he stepped back and once again closed his eyes and tried to picture himself standing in the room making a simple meal. He opened his eyes when nothing came to mind.

  “Fine then, let’s try something else.” he closed his eyes once more.

  This time out of the darkness he saw Lacey’s face. She was smiling. Good. Then he pictured her shoulders and arms as they were busy with a simple task of chopping fresh vegetables on a large wood cutting board…his cutting board.

  She stood chopping them on the large island in the center of the kitchen…his kitchen.

  The sink was in place under the large window and the gas stove top in place on the island next to her with a pan sizzling with some type of meat. He could almost smell the rich food she was making.

  A large glassed door refrigerator sat on the opposite wall stocked with fresh items. A pair of large double stacked ovens sat across the room.

  Then Lacey turned and pulled the vegetables into the pan while she smiled at him.

  He almost lost his concentration, but he refocused on the walls and cabinets. He could see they were a dark color, maybe dark oak, no, cherry cabinets with glass doors on a few cupboards here and there. The walls were a nice rich olive green. Four large bar stools sat on the bar side of the island.

  Opening his eyes, he got to work making her kitchen.

  It was on one of her many runs to take food over to Megan’s bed and breakfast that it happened. She was arranging the turkey sandwiches, fresh baked rolls, and homemade macadamia nut cookies while chatting with Megan when Megan squealed.

  “What? What’s wrong?” Lacey rushed to Megan’s side. Then she noticed that Megan had a smile on her face and started laughing. Lacey, pale and shaking, finally figured it out.

  “Did the baby just kick? Oh, let me feel.” She placed her hands on Megan’s round belly.

  Megan smiled and covered Lacey hands with her own just as the baby kicked again.

  Just then Todd walked in to see his sister kneeling on the floor in front of his wife. He noticed they had identical smiles and both had a hand on Megan’s belly.

  “What, what’s wrong?” he rushed over to his wife.

  “Your son or daughter was just showing us how excited he/she is that auntie Lacey was here.”

  Lacey stood up and stepped back, enjoying the scene. Her brother was kissing his wife and their hands were now joined over the movement of the new life they had created.

  To have a second chance is an incredible gift, but for these two people to have that chance was something indescribable.

  Leaving the pair to enjoy the moment she quietly went out to the dining area and finished setting up the food for the guests. Lately, it seemed, there had been a lot of guests coming and going at the B&B. So much, in fact, that Iian and herself had been busy stocking the place with meals.

  Todd had been helping out. Lately he had been taking more and more time off from running the shipping company. He was working from his home office all the time now. She was sure it was due to his fear for Megan and the baby’s health. But both mom and baby were very healthy and progressing just nicely. Lacey could tell Megan was not only feeling well, it appeared that pregnancy suited her.

  That night Lacey and Bernard took a walk on the beach. Her mind was preoccupied with Aaron, and she hoped the crisp evening air would help her settle and organize those thoughts. She enjoyed the seclusion that the strip of beach below her house provided.

  Bernard had a large piece of driftwood in his mouth. It was longer than he was, but he dragged it along. The wood left a line in the sand as he trotted beside her, and his tail never stopped wagging. No doubt he was hoping to play chase with the giant stick. Leaning over, she picked up a smaller chunk of wood and tossed it into the surf. Dropping the larger piece, he chased after it as it was being tossed around in the waves.

  Soon, she could tell, storms would bring the cold dark waters up closer to the shore to pound against the large dark rocks that lined her beach.

  If she closed her eyes she could remember her mother, here on a warm sunny day building a sand castle. Her mother was heavily pregnant with Iian during her memory. She had been so young, younger actually than herself.

  Walking in the wet soft sand she shook her bangs out of her eyes, and thought about getting another hair cut.

  Bending over to pick up the chunk of wood and giving it another toss for Bernard, she started thinking about the doctor. She was seeing a lot of him now and not just around town.

  She bent down to throw Bernard stick again, flinging it out to the left along the shore as she thought about her past dating experiences.

  It’s not as if she hadn’t dated at all; she just hadn’t been looking for men to date recently. Every man in town knew her and her family. Most men her age were already settled into families themselves. And the one’s that weren’t, well, she just wasn’t interested. Growing up with protective brothers had kept most of the town boys away, but she had man
aged to go on some dates.

  As she threw Bernard’s stick again she thought about her life choices. Choosing to travel a bit after school had been an enjoyment for her. Traveling and never staying in one place long enough to get close to anyone had been what she’d wanted at that time. She had returned home to deal with the family crisis which consumed her life for several years. Dating was one of the last things on her mind at the time.

  When Aaron’s face came into mind, she sat down on a large log and took a deep breath. Did she want something more with him? Yes, she couldn’t fool herself into thinking differently. Was she actually falling for him? She didn’t know.—at least not yet.

  She sat there contemplating their relationship and what it meant to her while Bernard sat at her side and waited patiently for one more chase of the stick.

  He’d been working for days on the kitchen, and it was coming along quite nicely. Most of the cabinets were up and even some of the walls were painted. As he finished painting another wall, he stood back rolled his shoulders and took stock of his work.

  He had sweat rolling down his back; his energy was quickly draining. Taking a large swallow of cool water, he decided it was time for a break. Instead of a walk to the pond he felt the beach was beckoning him. He could use the cold wind in his face to clear his mind of work and Lacey, which lately, seemed to dominate his waking thoughts.

  He realized he was getting used to his walks in the forest. And this time, he enjoyed taking the long narrow path that lead to the rocky shore. He was wondering how he ever relaxed in the city without getting out in nature.

  He was enjoying the sounds of the waves crashing ashore violently as he started across the wide clearing of sand. His wondering was interrupted by a dog barking in the clearing, then he caught sight of Lacey sitting on a large log, watching the sunset. Sidetracking across the stretch of beach, he walked towards them.

  He was half way to the log when the dog caught sight of him and ran towards him. Bernard’s ears were flying in the cold breeze and he had a large stick in his mouth. Aaron was positive, the dog was smiling.

  Lacey had made no movement and seemed deep in thought until Aaron threw Bernard’s stick over her head. She jumped up and looked guilty, but then she rose and started walking towards him. He loved the way she walked; her strides seemed to quickly eat up the ground between them.

  How could someone so small walk so fast?

  He’d enjoyed seeing her at the grocery store a few days earlier. And as he watched her march up to him, he realized he wanted to rile her up again. However, his wants might have to be put on hold, as it appeared Lacey had something on her mind.

  Her face was set with determination, and when she stopped her hands went to her hips.

  “Why is it Dr. Stevens that wherever I am, there you are?” she said a little out of breath from the quick walk across the wet sand.

  She looked like she could have just walked out of the sea herself, her face was flush; and her short hair was blowing frantically as she waited for a reply.

  Tonight she wore a large bright green jacket, black leggings, and a pair of old brown boots. He could make out a pair of bright green socks with frogs on them, poking out from the above the boots. The darkness of her outfit accented the color of her eyes along with the beauty of her face.

  Her lips pouted when he didn’t reply fast enough, making Aaron smile. He closed the rest of the distance between them and pulled her close. He could hear her breath hitch and saw anger flash in her eyes.

  “What do you think you are doing?” she asked trying to pull away. “I am not a play thing for you to paw,” she got no further, as his mouth claimed hers.

  After her head stopped spinning she realized her hands were gripping his shoulders. She couldn’t believe it. Here he was walking on her beach. Damn it all, what was the man doing on her beach? Was no place of hers sacred anymore?

  He shifted his head for a better angle, which allowed her to wrap her arms around his shoulders.

  Bernard was happily running around them in circles as Aaron kissed every last drop of anger from her body.

  She could still smell the water but now could smell him. He smelled of sawdust and paint. Why did she find that sexy? How was she supposed to stay mad with a man who could kiss her like this?

  His lips softened and his warm body moved closer as his hands roamed up and down her back sending sweet waves of desire coursing throughout all of her limbs.

  As she ran her hands through his hair she felt him shutter and a feeling of power raced through her, along with desire.

  Was she trying to kill him? He knew he had started it and to be honest, he thought he could keep himself in check. However, now he could swear she was the one in control. A soft sweet moan escaped her lips which sent chills coursing throughout his entire body.

  He ran his hands up and down her spine and felt her melt against him. Maybe neither of them was in control?

  He reached under her jacket and felt her warm soft skin.

  “Please.” she said when he ran his mouth down her long neck. He was enjoying the soft taste of her ear lobe, nibbling on the sweetness of it.

  “Please what? Tell me what you want.” he asked as he continued kissing her neck. He couldn’t stop shaking as she ran her hands over his shoulders and grabbed his hair and pulled his mouth back to her own.

  He came back to reality when he felt her stiffen as he attempted to pull her jacket away.

  What was wrong with her? Was she destined to lose all control every time she was around this man? She felt the cold wind on her back and felt his warm hands on her skin. To be honest with herself she didn’t want to stop. She could just imagine making love to Aaron here in the cold sand on her beach, under the stars.

  “I can’t. I just can’t. Please Aaron, let me go.” she looked into his eyes and could see that they were still clouded with desire.

  She was sure a physical relationship with him would be pleasure, but she truly wanted more. She was not sure at this moment what she really wanted and until she was, she needed more time to think.

  “Games again Lacey?” he smiled down at her, trying to make light of the fact that he was still not in control of himself.

  He felt and saw the change building in her, and pulled back before he got scorched.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.” he started.

  “I don’t know who you think you are,” she started and pulled herself away to sit down on the log again.

  She tucked her knees close to her body with her arms wrapped around them tightly. “I don’t play games. You follow me around and paw at me in front of everyone.”

  “Wait a minute Lacey,” he said as he sat down next to her running his hands through his hair. “I haven’t been following you around like some sort of dog.” With these words, Bernard set his paw on Aaron’s knees.

  “You must think very highly of yourself if you believe that.” He tried to keep his anger in check.

  She saw the truth in his eyes and instantly felt sorry that she could accuse him of something so stupid. But then what did she really know about him? Oh, she knew of his type and had made a point of staying clear of men like Aaron. She glanced over at him as he struggled with his anger and her wet dog. He was easy enough to get along with, but he had yet to open himself up to her. Did she really want just a physical relationship with him or was there something more?

  “Listen Aaron, I’m sorry, I’ve just had a lot on my mind and I just don’t know what to make of you yet.” She reached down and threw Bernard’s stick to relieve Aaron of the wet doggie paws.

  “One minute you’re setting me on fire and the next your cold as ice and going out of your way to piss me off.” She ran her hand through her hair in displeasure. “Can we just start over and try to be friends?” She watched his eyes focus on her face and then saw the quick smile which started in his eyes.

  “No Lacey, I can’t just be your friend. I think we both know we want more than friend
ship.” He leaned over and gave her another quick kiss that had her toes curling.

  Quickly, he stood up and pulled her up after him. “Come on, I’ll walk you two home.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The house was going to kill him, he thought, after multiple times of hitting his fingers, elbows, knees, and although it only happened once, his head. He would have thought he suffered enough for the place, but no. Now the “Beast,” as he liked to call it, had taken a chunk out of his pride and made him feel stupid.

  Why couldn’t he figure out the damn electrical wires? He had aced medical school…aced it! But, why couldn’t he figure out where the damned green wire was supposed to be connected? Aaron sat looking at his recently purchased book, ‘Home Wiring for Dummies’ and thought he might as well be looking at a schematic for the space shuttle. There were pages loaded with black, white, and red wire information, but nothing, nothing on green wires.