Connecting Strangers (Discovering Emily)

by Rachel Carrington

  No, I’m not. I’m not safe anywhere, but no one here seems to want to listen to that. I tilt my head back to see his face. “I can take care of myself, Adam, but…” I stop talking. For a second, I almost told him what had happened. What I did.

  He doesn’t push me for more information. “You shouldn’t be with a man who doesn’t worship you.”

  My breath halts halfway between my lungs and my throat. Those words touch my soul. All my life I’ve waited for this. For a man who sees who I am not what he wants me to be. And I have to find him while I’m on the run from my boyfriend.

  Adam rubs his hands up and down my arms, offering comfort that soon turns to more. One arm hooks around my waist and pulls me in close. “You’d better stop me now if you’re really not interested, Emily.”

  Though my mind registers the warning, my body is helpless. I shouldn’t want him to touch me. It’s too soon. I’ve just ended one relationship. Moving onto another one…no, this can’t be a relationship.

  My focus shifts to his lips as they move closer to mine. Though common sense demands I play it smart, I don’t think for a moment about stopping him.

  When he kisses me, I lean into him, absorbing his warmth, his strength. Him. I slide my arms up and around his neck, allowing my fingertips to play in his hair that’s just above his collar.

  Now he has me fully in his embrace, his hands resting at the small of my back. And he deepens the kiss, sliding his tongue over mine as though licking a smooth, cold ice cream cone.

  My insides ignite. This kind of heat is foreign to me. I thought I’d tasted passion before, but nothing had prepared me for the explosion of lust I feel now.

  He dances me toward the wall, his fingertips burning my skin. With my back pressed against the plaster, I wrap my right leg around him and draw him in. Tell him to stop! I ignore the voice and listen to the silence afforded by my heart.

  It wants this. It needs this connection. I need it. For whatever I might have had with Mark pales in comparison to this craving, this all-consuming desire to touch Adam. I explore his body recklessly, pulling his shirt out of his pants and running my hands underneath the fabric. I’m disappointed to feel his cotton t-shirt rather than skin and give the material a frantic tug until my palms can slide across his back. When my fingers glide around to his ribcage, his breath hisses out from between his clenched teeth.

  His hardness pushes against my thigh, and if I pull him down the hallway, he’ll come with me. We’ll fall atop the bed and continue this journey both of us desperately want. He’ll feed the hunger burning inside of me, and we won’t think about tomorrow or what regrets might lay ahead.

  Adam’s lips are now on my neck, and his tiny kisses are fueling my desire for more. I shouldn’t want a stranger like this, but each moment feels right. Now, I’m determined to drag him the few steps to the bedroom, but I slowly realize he’s pulling away, gulping air while tucking his shirt back into his pants.

  Still panting and confused, I start straightening my clothes while fighting disappointment and embarrassment. He starts helping me pull my blouse down, but I brush his hands away. I want to ask him why he stopped, but humiliation won’t allow it. Then I hear the front door opening.

  “I thought you might have decided to spend the night, Adam.” Francine switches on the overhead light, quickly illuminating our disarray. She whistles and turns her back. “Oh, do you two need more time?”

  “No, we don’t.” I slip out from between the wall and Adam and practically trip over my own two feet down the hallway. I can hear the low murmur of voices, but I’m not eager to listen to the conversation.

  One look in the bathroom mirror has my cheeks turning crimson. My lips are puffy, my light brown hair a tangled mess, and my neck is scratched from the scruff of Adam’s jaw. Francine didn’t need me to confirm her suspicions. I look like I’d been thoroughly kissed, and had she stayed at the diner longer, she might have found me looking a lot more relaxed.

  I burn at the thought, and my gaze drifts to the bed occupying the center of the room. Now that the dream has been interrupted, I can only imagine what it would have been like to lie there, my limbs entangled with Adam’s.

  The sex would have been hard and fast because we wouldn’t have wanted to waste any time. I picture my nails sinking into his shoulders as he rises up above me, his eyes boring into mine.

  Damn. I slink out of the bathroom and flop down on the bed, my face buried in the frilly pillow. I have to get out of here. If I stay much longer in Juniper Springs…

  The slamming of a door is quickly followed the sound of an engine. Then tires rolling over gravel. Adam is leaving, and my body is still protesting the interruption.

  “Honey, are you okay?” Francine’s concerned question interrupts the steamy memories my mind is conjuring. She stands at the doorway, and I roll to my back to see her.

  “I’m fine. Just confused.” One arm across my eyes, I groan. “I didn’t come here for this.” I don’t need to tell her what “this” is.

  “Well,” she sits down on the foot of the bed, “sometimes, when a woman’s been missing real lovin’, it’s hard to turn it down when it stares her in the face.” She grins and sniffs. “Now, I don’t have any personal experience, mind you, but I’ll just bet you dollars to donuts Adam Madison could throw down a real lovin’.”

  “Francine!” I sit up and brush the hair from my eyes but only to give my hands something to do so they won’t continue to shake. “If Mark were to find out…” I trail off and shake my head. I don’t even want to imagine the calamity.

  Francine touches my hand. “Does he own you?”

  “Of course not.”

  “And by leaving, weren’t you effectively telling him you didn’t want to be with him any longer?”

  “That’s not how Mark’s mind works.” I nibble on my fingernail while my mind is doing its damnedest to take me back to the moments before Francine had gotten home.

  “Mark isn’t the issue here, Emily. There ain’t nothing wrong with feeling something for a guy, and the way I see it, Adam’s more than interested. You couldn’t find a better man to help you return to the land of the living. Just think about what you’ll be missing if you walk away from this.”

  Though my confidence in choosing a good man had taken a beating, I don’t doubt Francine’s words. Only a few minutes in Adam’s company had given me the same impression.

  “So why don’t you just hang around here for a while? I’m sure that apron will fit, and Art is more than happy to put you to work.”

  “He doesn’t know the whole story, Francine.” My fingers scoop and release the bedspread. “Starting any kind of relationship with lies between you never ends well.”

  Her hand rubs my knee. “So tell him.”

  I sit up straighter, looking at her like she’s taken two steps into the Twilight Zone. “He’s the town sheriff. If I tell him I shot a man, he’s duty bound to arrest me.”

  Her nose wrinkles as she considers my words. “Oh, well, leave that part out. Just tell him everything else.” With a wink, she stands. “Now you come on and grab something to eat. Afterwards, I’ll give you a quick lesson on what you’ll be doing…I mean inside the diner. I think you know what you’ll be doing with Adam eventually.” She chuckles at her own joke.

  “You never give up, do you?” I get to my feet.

  “Not when I know what I’m talking about.”

  Francine doesn’t have to continue to try to convince me any longer. I’ll stay because I want to know more about Adam. Because walking away from this chance might be an ever bigger regret than giving the last nine years of my life to Mark.

  Chapter Five

  The diner is packed the next morning with people wanting to get a look at the new girl. Francine warned me to expect it. Once one customer told another customer, the word would be out, and I would be on display. I’m glad she prepared me.

  With a smile on my face, I start pouring coffee. In general, the patro
ns are friendly if not a little nosier than I like. I spend the better half of the morning fielding questions about my personal life from Joe Lawton, who owns the biggest hardware store in two hundred miles. I know because he tells me several times.

  On my fourth return to the kitchen because Joe’s eggs aren’t poached just the way he likes them, I see Francine standing by the grill with a grin on her face.

  “What’s so funny?” I slap the plate on the pass and give Art the bad news.

  “Aw, now Joe’s just screwin’ with me.” Art yanks the ties on the back of his apron and marches toward the double doors. “I’ll take care of this.”

  “Is that what was so funny?” I jerk my thumb toward the swinging doors.

  Francine snickers. “Part of it. Joe’s clever. The only reason he’s been sending those eggs back is so he can watch your ass.”

  “You couldn’t have told me that after the second trip?”

  She wraps her arm around my shoulders and pulls me in for a hug. “Oh, honey, half the fun of this job is learning how to deal with these yokels. They’re a horny, harmless bunch.”

  Except Adam. Oh, he’s horny all right, but he definitely isn’t harmless. I keep my thoughts to myself, though Francine chuckles as though she could read my mind.

  “And look who just walked in. Funny. It’s Friday morning, and the sheriff usually doesn’t come in quite this early. I wonder if he’s here to see someone in particular or maybe he just has a hankering for Art’s eggs.” She grins at me and nudges me. “Why don’t you go on and get him some coffee?”

  She’s throwing me into the lion’s den. Not that I’m scared of Adam as a man, but I am a little scared of how my body betrays me whenever I’m around him. All inhibitions go out the window, and right now, I need to keep a few inhibitions, at least, until I’m sure Mark is out of my life for good.

  Several minutes after checking my hair in the bathroom mirror and straightening my apron, I come out of the kitchen and catch a good look at Adam who isn’t wearing his uniform. My breath starts coming a little faster. His jeans aren’t tight, but they can’t camouflage the muscles in his thighs as he walks. And the black leather jacket makes me miss a step. I’ve never seen leather look so good on a man.

  Francine whispers “be careful” before breaking out into hearty laughter that’s only muffled by the loud conversation coming from the diners. I throw her a dirty look she can’t see and straighten my shoulders before turning back to face Adam.

  Those piercing hazel eyes of his watch my every move. He takes a seat at the counter which doesn’t surprise me. He wants to be up close to the action. I have this ridiculous urge to run back to the bathroom to make sure my French twist is still in place even though I just saw it. Just one glance from him, and I’m a school girl again with her first crush.

  Adam turns over one of the upside down coffee mugs and scoots it toward me.

  “Would you like some coffee?” The second the stupid question leaves my mouth, I grimace, but he only smiles.

  “I would. Black, please.” He doesn’t take his gaze off of me as I retrieve the carafe and pour the liquid. Our hands curl around the handle of the mug at the same time, and the electricity is tangible. It singes my fingertips and runs up my arm. I’m sure it’s the reason my heart does a quick two-step.

  When I look at him, he’s looking at me. Then I lick my lips because they’re so dry, and his gaze drops, following the action of my tongue. His fingers tighten over mine. “Have dinner with me tonight.”

  He might intend it as a suggestion, but it comes out as a command. And this time there’s no denying what I want. “Okay.” The agreement comes out on a whisper I’m not even sure he hears until he smiles. Slowly. Wickedly. And I shiver. In my mind, I’ve already crossed a line, and we haven’t even ordered an appetizer yet.

  Consigning myself to an evening that probably isn’t going to have anything to do with food unless it’s breakfast the next morning, I tug my hand free and scurry into the kitchen.

  Francine is manning the doors, and she pulls one open as I come running. “So what does Adam want for breakfast besides you?”

  “Can you take his order for me? I need some air.” I remove my apron and place it atop the pristine stainless steel counter.

  “Honey,” she snags hold of my arm, “you need to stop running. Adam will only bite if you give him permission.” She winks. “If he was my type, he’d have carte blanche to bite me wherever he wanted.”

  Art releases a loud snort and flips another pancake. “He’d have a lot of places to choose from.”

  She waves a hand over her shoulder. “Just ignore him. He hasn’t had a girlfriend in thirty years, and his outlook isn’t nearly as promising as yours.”

  “Do you not remember that I have a boyfriend?” I lower my voice even though the din outside the kitchen is loud.

  “Had. Past tense. And whether you’ve been broken up one year or one day, the past is the past. You just have to move on. You’re over and done with that other fella, and you have another one who’s a damned sight better than he ever was.”

  I sigh. Warning bells chime in my head. The last time I tried to break up with Mark, he came after me, and his daddy had to pay off a lot of business owners when he busted up half a town street. If Marks finds out about Adam while looking for me, the damage could be catastrophic. He’s only one man, but when combined with alcohol, he’s a 260-pound tornado.

  “Your hesitation is understandable. You don’t want to end one relationship and go straight into another, but how long has it been since you really loved Mark?”

  I try to think of the last time I felt even the slightest trace of affection for my high school boyfriend, and I come up empty. It’s been years. “That’s a really good question, and if you ask me next why I stayed with him, you’ll get the same answer.”

  “Oh, I know why you stayed with him. The same reason I stayed with my man. They convince you they love you and will do anything for you. That they’re sorry and will change. You wanted to believe Mark because you’d given him so many years of your life. I can’t blame you for that, but he had too many chances for you to ever believe he’ll be anything more than he is. Now it’s time you gave yourself a chance.”

  Francine’s my own personal cheering second, and I smile at her. I’ve missed out on having a friend like her in my life. Mark didn’t like me to get too close with anyone else, less I lose my dependence upon him. Little by little, though, I had been planning my escape, looking forward to the day when I’d be able to live my life anyway I wanted to. And it had happened. No, it didn’t go off without a hitch, but I’m free. At least…for now.

  “I’m going out with Adam tonight.” I blurt the words out then quickly look over my shoulder to make sure no one is listening. Then I remind myself I’m not in Broomtown. No one in Juniper Springs is going to report my latest move to my ex-boyfriend.

  With a squeal of pure glee, Francine hooks her arm through mine and propels me toward the back door. “And here I was thinking your cheeks were flushed because of the heat of this kitchen.”

  “Don’t get too excited. It’s just dinner.”

  “Francine’s never had just dinner.” Art snorts. “If she doesn’t do the walk of shame the next morning, it wasn’t a date.”

  Her eyes narrow. “I swear someone is going to find his dead body in a ditch one day.”

  “I’d better get back to work.” I touch her arm to let her know I appreciate her support. When I turn, Adam is standing by the kitchen door, and I wonder how much of the conversation he’s heard.

  “You shouldn’t eavesdrop.” The reprimand falls on deaf ears.

  “Wasn’t. Needed some cream for my coffee, and my waitress was nowhere around.”

  “I believe you asked for black coffee.”

  A dimple appears when he smiles. “I did, didn’t I? I guess I’m busted. You’re good at catching me.” He winks before leaning in to whisper. “In truth, I just wanted to see if yo
u looked as good going as you do coming.”

  I give him a little shove. “Go back to your coffee. I have other customers.”

  “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  Francine’s gone shopping again, and the proof is littered all over my bed. Bags and bags of pants, dresses, shoes, everything. Tears spring to my eyes as I stand there in a towel, sorting through the wardrobe. Here I’d been in the shower wondering what I was going to wear tonight, and she swoops in again with a resolution.

  “Thought you might like some change of scenery.” Her husky voice has me turning around.

  I don’t know what to say to her so I just walk over and hug her. Emotion is clogging my throat so tightly I can’t speak anyway. Francine pats my back then pushes me gently away.

  “You need to get dressed. It’s already six-thirty.”

  Time is going too fast. I’d gotten home at a little after five which should have been plenty of time. But I spent thirty minutes on my make-up which is twenty-nine minutes longer than I usually take.

  “Oh, don’t worry if you’re running a little late. He’ll wait. Good things are always worth waiting for.” She winks and spins around toward the door. “Since you were traveling so light, I picked up some other essentials for you, too. In case you didn’t already see them, you’ll find them in the bathroom under the sink, and in the dresser, and there are a few more things in the closet.” Her voice trails off as she heads down the hallway.

  It’s a little hard for me to believe I’m going out on a date when less than forty-eight hours ago, I didn’t know if I’d make it out of my house alive. As I try on several outfits, my spirit grows lighter. Francine is right. I do deserve this.

  By the time I decide on a maxi skirt with high-heeled boots and a fitted cream sweater, I’m singing. I twirl in front of the bathroom mirror with a smile. I can’t remember the last time I sang, but, by this time tomorrow, I’m pretty sure I’ll have a whole lot more to sing about.