by Francis Ray
With each word, the man had become more enraged. “You take that back.” Hands raised, he lunged for her.
Sierra slipped out of her backless heeled sandals and raised her hands palm-out.
Richard, who had remained, moved to intercede, but Aaron was faster.
The livid man found his path blocked by two hundred pounds of coiled muscle. “You do not want to make that mistake.”
“She can’t talk to me that way,” he shouted.
“Aaron, get out of the way,” Sierra ordered. “I’m not afraid of him.”
“I’m trying to protect him,” Aaron said easily. “If you take him down, he’ll have to deal with Blade, and your brothers will take care of what’s left. Then Rio will want to know why I let it happen and our loudmouthed friend here will then have to deal with me.”
“You forgot Mrs. Grayson,” Richard supplied.
Aaron grinned. “Yeah. You really stepped in it this time.”
“I—I’m not afraid—”
“Then you’re a fool.” A cold voice cut the Realtor off.
The man spun around to face the newcomer, then took a step backward. All eyes in the room watched Rio as he silently crossed to them, his gaze never leaving the now quaking man.
“Did he touch her?”
“He’s breathing, isn’t he?” came Aaron’s matter-of-fact answer.
The man staggered back. “You—you can’t threaten me. I know people.”
“Rio, I—”
He held up one hand.
Sierra pressed her lips together. Rio only took orders from Blade, and then only to a point. “I should have snuck out this morning. I could have taken care of this,” Sierra muttered.
“And Blade would have become involved and none of us would have liked the consequences, least of all Mr. Bryant,” Rio answered without looking at her.
Sierra groaned inwardly. She’d forgotten that nothing much got past Rio’s keen hearing.
“You—you know my name?”
“A better question is, what don’t I know?” Rio said, his voice void of inflection, his black eyes emotionless.
“You—you think—”
“Shut up and listen,” Rio said quietly, again cutting the man off. “You can’t reason with incompetence or stupidity, so I won’t waste my breath. You will apologize to Mrs. Navarone and then leave. Don’t get in her way again.”
“You—”
Rio moved so quickly the man didn’t have time to evade the unrelenting hand holding his suit jacket. Rio whispered something in his ear, then released him. The man’s eyes were huge as he staggered back, then turned and ran out of the room. Aaron followed.
Rio faced Sierra. “Please excuse us, Dr. Youngblood.”
Sierra saw Richard hesitate, then he left as well. She was on her own. She folded her arms. If she could stand up to her brothers and Blade, she could do the same with Rio. Although, she usually could tell what they were thinking, with Rio you never knew, which put the other person at a distinct disadvantage.
As silently as a cat on the wooden floor, he came to within a foot of her. He simply looked at her.
She lasted for only three seconds before unfolding her arms. “Don’t give me that look. It wasn’t my fault.”
“I’ve heard that before. I’d like not to hear it again.”
“It’s not my problem some men are cowards and fools. Bryant is both. You were right about him.”
“Knowing that, you should have let Aaron handle things. Instead, you provoked him.”
“It’s a gift.” She grinned. She didn’t expect him to grin back. He didn’t.
“What you do affects Blade. Let Aaron and Paul do their job.”
“I don’t need—”
“True, so you shouldn’t be so quick to try to prove it and put Blade in jeopardy.”
Her mouth opened, then she snapped it shut. You couldn’t argue against the truth. Blade wouldn’t allow any man to touch her, no matter the provocation, and not pay him a visit.
Rio wasn’t finished. “Use that brilliant brain of yours for purposes other than having your way.”
She took immediate exception and stepped to him. “You calling me spoiled?”
“Headstrong. Courageous. Unpredictable. Loyal. But those same qualities made Blade fall in love with you.”
The fight went out of her. “I was ready to take you on.”
“Learn to think with your heart and make life simpler for all of us,” Rio said.
“Another woman would make it easier, wouldn’t she?”
“But no other woman would make Blade smile for no special reason.” Rio turned and walked away.
Sierra grinned. “I’ll be good for the rest of the month—better make that all next week.” Pleased with the way things had turned out, all things considered, Sierra went back outside. Richard was trying to distract Kayla with a butterfly. Naomi’s eyes were huge. Sierra wished Aaron had let her hit Bryant at least once for scaring Naomi.
* * *
“Are you all right?” Naomi bit her lip. Initially, she’d tried to distract Kayla when the shouting grew louder, but she hadn’t been able to stop looking. She couldn’t believe Sierra actually wanted to confront the man. “Richard said Rio wanted to speak with you alone.”
“He just wanted to remind me that what I do affects Blade.” Sierra sighed. “Loving a person brings responsibility.”
Naomi’s frown didn’t clear. “You couldn’t possibly regret your marriage.”
“Never. Blade is the only one for me. He’s not going to be too happy with me if he finds about what happened here today, though.”
“I bet you can put him in a good mood,” Naomi suggested, then her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She would have never thought about such a thing before kissing Richard.
Sierra whooped. “Count on it. Now let’s get back to talking houses. Do you think this could be the one?”
“What’s the price?” Naomi asked, hoping, praying it was within her price range.
“One thirty, but they might take a little less since they’re ready for this to be over,” Sierra told her.
Naomi’s heart was racing again. She liked the house, thought it had potential. She could almost visualize them living there.
“Have you had a chance to look it over?” Richard asked Sierra.
“It’s sound and a bargain.” Sierra folded her arms. “If you don’t buy it, I might. I can’t let Blade think he’s the only one who can wheel and deal in real estate.”
“Kayla, come here, please,” Naomi called.
Her daughter came running to her. “I saw a lizard.”
Naomi caught her hand, felt hers tremble. “Do you think you’d like living here?”
Kayla nodded and grinned. “I do, Mama. I like it here. The yard is big enough for a doghouse. If you decide I can get one.”
Naomi glanced back at Richard. He nodded. She took a deep breath. “I’d like to make an offer.”
* * *
She was actually going to buy a house. The excitement Naomi had felt earlier faded into nagging doubts a few hours later. Perhaps she should have waited a little longer and saved up more money. What if she got sick or her car needed major repairs? What if there was some underlying structural problem with the house that Sierra hadn’t seen? What if—
“Stop worrying.”
Her head lifted. She stopped clutching her purse strap and stared into Richard’s strong face as he stood next to her at the park. They’d ended up there after breakfast and a visit to the frame store. He knew her better than anyone. The thought was comforting rather than scary.
“You can do this. I’ll be there to help.”
Naomi watched Kayla playing with the other children on the slide, and tried to find a way to tell him how she felt, then decided to just say it. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t want to depend on anyone.”
“You won’t be dependent on me. I’ll be there to help, and if you slac
k off, you’ll hear from me.”
A smile curved her lips. “You aren’t going to let me start having doubts, are you?”
“Nope.” He caught her hand. “But I do think Kayla is going to wear you down on getting her puppy.”
“You think?” she asked, smiling up at him. Somehow her gaze drifted to his lips, strong, sensual, and inviting.
His gaze narrowed. “Stop tempting me.”
She was just learning that she could and it was … exciting. “You shouldn’t be so yummy.”
His jaw dropped.
She laughed, enjoying the naughtiness of shocking him. “Well, you are.”
“I’m going to get you for that,” he promised, his voice dropping to a suggestive purr.
Her body heated even more. “Since you’re a man of your word, I’m going to hold you to that later.”
Regret crossed his face. “I have to work at the animal hospital this weekend.”
She frowned. “Work? I thought you volunteered there sometimes.”
“I had to rearrange a few things, get a couple of vets to cover for me, to be able to spend as much time as I wanted with Kayla on Monday,” he told her slowly. “I didn’t want an emergency taking me away in the middle of my presentation or our lunch.”
She didn’t know what to say, so she hugged him and blinked back tears. No man had ever been there for them the way Richard had. “You’re a wonderful man.”
He grunted. She lifted his head. He looked a bit annoyed. “I guess you don’t like being called wonderful, either.”
“I just don’t want you feeling grateful,” he muttered, obviously displeased.
“Well, I do, and I can’t help it. You’ve been there for both of us so many times since we came here. I don’t know what I would have done without you. I don’t want us at odds again,” she told him, misery creeping into her voice. “I told you, I’m not good with words.”
“It’s not you, it’s me,” he said slowly. “I said I wouldn’t push, and I’m doing just that. Ignore me.”
“I tried. It’s impossible,” she said softly.
“Because I’m yummy,” he said, obviously trying to get them back on an even footing.
“Exactly.”
* * *
Saturday night, Naomi’s apartment was quiet. Kayla had gone to bed earlier than usual, giving Naomi a chance to finally finish the novel she’d stated weeks ago. It wasn’t happening.
She kept having to reread pages. She couldn’t concentrate on the plot. She missed Richard, wanted him there with her. He might not like her calling him a good man, but he was in every sense of the word. He was going out of his way for her daughter, had gone out of his way for both of them. He was a man you could count on, and his kisses left her breathless and yearning for more.
She hugged the book to her chest. A poor substitute for what she really wanted.
Naomi could mope or do something constructive, like call Catherine. For a moment, sadness almost overwhelmed her as she thought of her friend’s plight. She had so much love to give to a child. The thought had no more than formed than Naomi realized Catherine was doing just that. She hadn’t let her inability to have children dictate how she lived her life. Just as Naomi couldn’t let her abusive marriage overshadow her life.
Sticking a bookmark between the pages, Naomi picked up the phone on the nightstand and dialed. Catherine answered her cell on the third ring.
“Hi, Naomi.”
“I’m buying a house,” Naomi said without preamble.
“Naomi, that’s wonderful. Tell me all about it.”
Scooting back against the headboard, she did just that, her excitement building all over again. She ended by saying, “The house is just about perfect. It has everything we wanted and then some.”
“Sierra is good at what she does. There aren’t many better.”
Naomi thought of Sierra’s altercation with the angry Realtor and wondered if she had been able to keep what had happened from Blade. Naomi certainly hoped so, and she wasn’t going to mention it. “I can’t wait for you to see the house.”
“Me, either.”
“I hope you keep saying that when I’m bugging you to help me decorate.”
“I will, and I’d love to help,” Catherine told her.
There was something else she wanted to say. “I also stopped running from my feelings for Richard. We talked yesterday after I left you. He came over last night and this morning he went with us to see the house.”
“He cares about you and Kayla. For what it’s worth, you made the right decision.”
“It means a lot to hear you say that. Thanks for not letting my fears get in the way.”
“Thank yourself. I could talk until I’m eighty, but unless you had the courage, you’d still be trapped by the past. I bet it feels good.”
“You can’t imagine.” Naomi laughed for the sheer pleasure of it. “I know I have a long way to go, that fear might still catch me unaware, but I also know I can handle those moments and get on with my life.”
“I’m proud of you, Naomi. I know it wasn’t easy.”
“No, but it helps to have friends like you,” she said. “I better let you go. I just wanted to let you know how well things are going for me. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Naomi hung up, snapped off the light, and pulled the covers over her shoulder. She was going to be a homeowner. There was a special man in her life. All in all, it had been an eventful day.
And she could hardly wait to see Richard again.
Chapter 12
Monday morning Naomi got out of bed the moment the alarm went off. For once on a Monday morning, she didn’t linger. She hadn’t seen Richard since he dropped her and Kayla at their apartment around two Saturday afternoon. They’d only talked briefly Sunday afternoon. She was anxious to see him again.
She took a little more time with her makeup, even put on a light touch of blush and mascara. Taking a cue from Sierra, she wore a crisp white blouse, black skirt, and black skimmers.
She and Kayla were out the apartment door ten minutes earlier than usual. Kayla was bubbling with energy and excitement. Naomi couldn’t leave her class to hear Richard’s entire presentation, but she had a teacher assistant who’d stay with her class while she went to hear part of what he said.
She knew something was up when she entered Kayla’s classroom later that morning and saw the counselor and the office clerk. Both seemed to hang on Richard’s every word when he was speaking.
She left five minutes later and passed the other counselor and a first-grade teacher on their way to Kayla’s class. There could be only one reason: Word had spread, and they were trying to scope Richard out. Naomi wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
* * *
Less than an hour later Naomi might not be sure of her feelings, but she was sure of one thing: Richard was a hit. Not only did the schoolchildren enjoy his presentation, but the teachers, especially the single ones, seemed to be just as taken with him.
Naomi had initially been proud of him, then as the teachers kept going over to him and Kayla in the cafeteria, Naomi had to work hard to keep the smile on her face. She hadn’t known she could be possessive or jealous.
Kayla’s teacher, Ms. Hightower, usually a bit timid except when it came to championing her students, was actually humming with excitement. “I can’t believe he’s not married.”
“Neither can I,” added the office clerk.
“He was so patient with all of the students asking him questions,” Ms. Hightower said. “Good father material.”
“I wonder if he’s seriously dating?” asked a second-grade teacher who had joined them.
Yes, Naomi wanted to say, but when they all looked at her for an answer, she couldn’t get the word out.
“What’s all the excitement?” Principal Crenshaw asked. “Teachers have been buzzing in the office for the past hour.”
“Kayla has done it again,” her teacher said, nodding toward Richard
and Kayla sitting in the lunchroom. “Her show-and-tell is Dr. Richard Youngblood, a local vet. I’m seriously thinking of adopting a dog.”
The office clerk laughed. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Good thing I’m happily married, but it wouldn’t hurt to welcome him to our campus,” Principal Crenshaw said. “He would be an asset for career day next year.”
“Since I’m on the committee,” said Elaine Smoothers, the counselor, “I’ll just walk over with you.”
Naomi hugged her arms tighter to her body as the two women started for Richard and Kayla.
“We just lost out,” Kayla’s teacher muttered. “Elaine is tall, chesty, and gorgeous.”
“Yeah,” agreed the office clerk. “Well, if she nabs him at least there’s always the possibility he’ll come to school functions and we’ll get to drool over him once in a while. I better get back to the office.”
Naomi was left alone as the women moved away. She barely noticed. She was trying to see if Richard reacted to Ms. Smoothers the entranced way some men did on seeing her. The UPS guy had walked into a door. She even had a time limit during parent conferences because some of the fathers lingered too long. But if she thought she was getting Richard, it wasn’t happening.
* * *
Richard had been sized up by women before. Some of them had even tried to get to him by bringing to his clinic pets they obviously didn’t want and had no clue how to care for. He’d tried to be as tactful as possible to discourage them from keeping the animals, even going so far as to tell them he’d find them a good home if they felt they weren’t a good match.
More often than not, they’d taken him up on his offer. He’d like to think it was because they were nice women and not because, as Brandon had suggested, it gave them another chance to try to seduce him. A few times he’d let himself be tempted for a while, but it never lasted and he liked it that way.
This time, however, he wasn’t interested in the long looks, the suggestive smiles. He only had to glance at Naomi to know she wasn’t too pleased. He could have shouted with joy.
He came to his feet when the principal and the woman with the greedy eyes approached. Kayla had happily introduced both women. He was proud of her. Naomi had done a good job. He’d dutifully thanked the principal for having him and gave his card to both women for next year’s career day. “Kayla is going to be a vet.”
