Stealing His Heart (McCormick's Creek Series Book 4)

by Jen Peters

  They already thought he was crazy for wanting something different instead of the cushy job they had waiting for him. Doing this would make him certifiable.

  “This isn’t about the store,” he said. “It’s about Robin’s dogs.”

  “And the volunteer fire crew,” Robin piped up. “Lorraine had this idea—”

  “Lorraine?” Brandt’s voice was tense. “As in Raine DiMarco?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  Brandt threw his hands up. “Well first, I got the impression you two hated each other. And second, it just figures that she’s behind this. She’s causing me all sorts of problems these days, and now she’s sticking her nose in where it’s not wanted.”

  “That sounds interesting,” Justin said, leaning against the wall.

  Brandt kept his mouth shut this time. Complaining any more would only make him look like a loser, especially with the committee money at stake.

  Robin looked back and forth between them. “I think the idea of combining dogs and firefighters is a no-brainer, actually. It will draw a lot more people in, and it will benefit both groups.”

  Brandt frowned. He needed to keep his distance from Raine—all she did was confuse him.

  “Look, we have ten guys signed on.” Justin ticked them off on his fingers as he named them. “You’ll make eleven, and if you’re in, then Javi will go for it too.”

  “So you’re putting this all on me?”

  “You’re on the volunteer fire crew, you want to publicize McCormick’s Creek, and I’m told you’re considered a hottie,” Justin pointed out, laughing as he finished. “I wouldn’t know about that—you’re not really my type.”

  “I’m crushed!” Brandt cracked, placing a hand on his heart. “Just who is your type? Mick?”

  “Well,” Justin drawled, “as much as I like muscles, I like them better on a certain female contractor.”

  “You guys are just weird,” Robin interrupted. “I mean, I’ve known Justin was weird my whole life, but I had higher hopes for you, Brandt.”

  “‘Cuz I’m a hottie?” he teased.

  She slapped his arm. “I prefer my muscles to come with a certain cowboy hat, thank you very much.” She got serious again. “Look, I know it’s your choice, but we really, really need you in this calendar. I have the photographer booked for this coming Saturday with the dogs, but she’s really good with people, too, and she’s agreed to do the group. Please say yes.”

  Brandt sighed. He was evidently a sucker for hometown girls with big brown eyes and a good cause. And if it was Robin’s project, then Raine probably wouldn’t show up. “Okay, I’ll do it. When do you want me there?”

  Robin grinned. “We’ll go in groups, but I’ll get back to you with an approximate time.”

  Justin shoulder-slapped him. “Thanks, man. You won’t regret it.”

  Yes, he probably would. But Brandt was committed to this town now, and these were his friends, both of which were good reasons to sacrifice himself.

  * * *

  Raine lay on the couch, Midnight curled up in the bend in her legs, listening to Tori and Tyler play Monopoly in the kitchen. The morning rain had stopped before she finished her shift, but there wasn’t any sunshine to lift her mood.

  She blew out her breath and reached behind to pet the kitten. This was ridiculous. She was a grown woman and should be past laying around feeling sorry for herself. Brandt’s disdain had hit harder than she’d expected.

  She finally heaved a sigh and maneuvered herself up without disturbing Midnight. “I’m going to Chelsea’s,” she called as she left. Maybe she could reconnect with an old friend there.

  The party was in full swing when she walked through the open front door. She followed the country music and grabbed a Coke from the cooler.

  “Raine! You came!” Chelsea trotted over to her. Her high heels and cut-off shorts were typical for her, but totally inappropriate for a chilly November day. “Did you see Carolyn? And you remember Buzz, don’t you?”

  Buzz, a burly guy from the old football team, raised his beer and whistled. “Hey, Raine. You’re looking good.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Haven’t changed much, have you Buzz?”

  She looked for Amy, but Carolyn waylaid her first. “Hey there, Raine! Come on, you need something stronger than a Coke. There’s Bud and Bud Lite in the other cooler.”

  A guy she didn’t know laughed. “Or she can have the real coke if she wants.”

  Raine froze at the mention of “real coke.” She should have expected the possibility, and no way did she want to get involved with drugs again.

  “You know, Chelsea’s stash?” the guy said.

  “Uh, no thanks.” She’d drink her soda and look for Amy, then excuse herself and head back to her safe little hole. She didn’t need another Seattle episode.

  “Don’t use the hall bathroom, then!” someone else shouted.

  “The brownies will mellow you out, if that’s your style,” said another voice.

  Raine took a desperate sip of her Coke, grateful for its dependable sweetness and bubbles. She still didn’t see Amy, but Linda, who had always been the shy, quiet one in Chelsea’s group, sat against the fence with the baby in her arms.

  “Hi there,” she said, wandering over. “What’s his name?”

  “Michael.” Linda looked up, then down again. “I didn’t have anyone to tend him.”

  “No other kids around?”

  “Not for one of Chelsea’s parties. She even sends her own son to a sitter.”

  At least Chelsea was a responsible mom, if irresponsible about other things. Raine sat next to Linda, the only other one drinking a soda. “So why do you come? This doesn’t seem like your scene.”

  The girl shrugged. “Sometimes I just have to get out of the house. And I don’t really have any other friends.” She looked at Raine. “I don’t think you fit much here either.”

  Raine sighed. “I guess not. I’ve changed—I am changing—and this isn’t quite where I pictured myself. But my old friends don’t want me back and…I guess I was lonely.”

  Linda stroked her baby’s head. “Chelsea hasn’t changed. She still thinks she’s all that, tries to run everyone’s lives just like back in high school. You should have seen her when I tried to talk to Lian. You would have thought I’d crossed over to the dark side.”

  “Lian Cheng? Her dad has the restaurant?”

  “Yeah. She seems nice.”

  “So why do you let Chelsea tell you who you can be friends with?”

  Linda just shook her head, letting her hair fall in front of her face.

  Raine sighed and leaned back against the fence. Tanya was “dancing” with a guy who was more holding her upright than dancing with her. Meredith, who used to have perfect hair and a perfect body, was puking in a rose bush. And couples were taking turns going back in the house and giggling when they came out, after which another couple would go in.

  This was the low-rent version of the parties back in Seattle—not where she wanted to be. Not where she could be and keep any self-respect she might have gained back.

  “Come on.” She held her hand out to Linda, pulling her to her feet. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Linda picked up the baby carrier and followed her to the house.

  “Raine? You’re leaving already?” Chelsea weaved her way toward them.

  “Yeah, I, um, I only had a few minutes to stop by. I told Tori I’d babysit for her tonight.”

  “Oh. Well okay then. I don’t know if Brandt’s coming or not. But you have a—hic—good one. I’ll let you know when the next party is. See ya, Linda.”

  Linda gave a little wave as Raine pulled her forward.

  “Are you really babysitting tonight?”

  “No, but Tori will be home. And hanging out with her is a whole lot better than staying here.”

  Chapter 20

  The temperature was chilly, but two days without rain gave Brandt a chance to head back to the trail. By hims
elf this time, without Javi or any of the others.

  The forest smelled fresh and clean, while the scent of woodsmoke from fireplaces in town added an underlying sense of warmth and security. All in all, a perfect time to be alone and think. Raine was mesmerizing, enticing, stubborn, exasperating, and mercurial—and he wasn’t much better. Just how did he feel about her?

  A quarter mile in from the road, he scouted out a line. If he took it through a sparse set of trees, he could get some easy curves and very gentle ups and downs. Around the other side, there was a small, flat clearing where riders could turn and head back on a parallel trail lower down the hillside. It wouldn’t be a very wide trail, but they didn’t have to go fast, and it wouldn’t be so narrow to be dangerous for beginners.

  He nodded in satisfaction. With all her determination, Raine would have fun with this, especially if she had some basic instruction first. Was it worth spending time with her? Or was she right, and one of them was bound to get hurt deeply?

  The whole situation was frustrating—she gave sizzling kisses and then backed off, and Brandt didn’t know how to handle it, to the point of being curt with her the other day, even unkind.

  He’d had plenty of women to date, but no one who had ever made him want more than a superficial relationship. He had thought Raine was just like the others, but instead she challenged him, made him feel alive, made him feel like himself.

  He was excited to be around her, and comfortable at the same time. And yet…

  She was the one putting the brakes on. Why? He had thought there was an affinity between them, something more solid than fleeting sparks that flashed and disappeared, but perhaps she didn’t feel the same. Perhaps she was the one only wanting a superficial relationship.

  He fumed at the thought, and the pickaxe dug into the ground harder than he expected. He yanked it out and swung again. Obviously, he cared more than she did. And just as obviously, he didn’t deal well with rejection.

  He forced his mind to think about other possible riders instead. Mick’s younger sister loved to practice skateboard tricks—she’d rock this trail and be on to the bigger ones quickly.

  Names kept flashing in his mind while he raked leaves and pine needles off the trail. Teenage Sarah who rode her skateboard everywhere she shouldn’t; Maggie and Mellie—two horseback riding sisters. And even the 5th and 6th graders he saw riding bikes home from school.

  There really was an audience, a possible customer base for classes. Especially if he could come up with some decent used bikes. Or maybe…what about a discount if they joined the club and helped on a certain number of trail-building sessions? More trails would bring more serious riders in, which would eventually make up for the discount in business.

  Digging a flowy trail along existing paths was a lot easier than looking for tight turns and obstacles. When Brandt stretched and wiped the sweat off his brow an hour later, he’d already laid out nearly a mile. If he could do the same for the lower return route, then all he’d need to do is ride it a bunch to smooth it out.

  Maybe Raine would ride it with him. Maybe not.

  But while his mind had run on the business and on potential riders, she had never been far from his thoughts. He’d sure like the chance to prove they could have something real between them.

  Spending the afternoon on the trail meant Brandt had work to do in the evening. He sent Rudy home with a smile, made sure the shop was tidy and inviting, and woke up the computer.

  Three orders had come in! Not only orders, but someone had commented on an article and asked a question.

  He did a foot-shuffling jig through the store. Four hundred dollars in sales—the best day he’d ever had without selling a bike. He had the parts, gloves and helmets in stock, just had to package them up and ship. He jigged again.

  “Ahem.”

  Brandt whipped around, mortified. It was Shauna from the coffee shop.

  “If I’m interrupting a celebration…” she said, grinning widely.

  That would teach him to do silly things in public. He wanted to crawl back into his office. “Hi, Shauna. What can I do for you?”

  “Dance at the next open mic night?”

  His jaw went slack. “You’re doing open mic nights?”

  Shauna laughed. “Of course not—we’re not even open in the evenings. But it was fun to see your reaction.”

  Brandt bowed, sweeping his arm across. “Anything to please the ladies.”

  “Actually, I came in to ask about bikes. I tried riding my old clunker out on a ranch road, but…”

  “Didn’t work so well, huh?”

  “Nothing like I wanted, anyway. So what do bikes cost—not the expensive thing in the window—and how hard is it to find a used one?”

  Brandt led her to a group of entry-level bikes. “Any of these would be good until you hit upper-intermediate skill levels. And by then you’ll be able to decide what specific things are important to you.”

  They talked about suspension, braking systems, weight and more, and the possibility of a clinic for beginners.

  “My brain is whirling,” Shauna said. “If it’s not raining, I’ll come try them out tomorrow after the cafe closes. I think I could afford one of these.”

  “I’ll be here,” Brandt said, opening the door for her. He watched her go, feeling flush with success. Online orders, people reading his articles, and now another bike sale.

  Now he just needed to get Raine on board.

  Chapter 21

  Outside the firehouse Saturday, Brandt buffed the engine’s fender while Javi polished the bumper. It would be in a lot of the shots for the calendar and needed to look sharp. The photographer was checking out light and angles, but Robin wasn’t there with the dogs yet.

  He still didn’t know why he was doing this. Because Justin kept bugging him about it? Because Robin’s shelter needed the extra help? Then he grinned. “Hey, Javi! I just figured out why I agreed—so you can be the cover model!”

  Javi glared at him. “Shut up, bro.”

  “No, really. You’re going to be the one plastered on the outside cover, I just know it. Besides,” Brandt got a gleam in his eye, “maybe it will impress whoever you keep mooning over.”

  “I don’t moon.”

  “Sure you do.” Brandt put his hand over his heart and gave a long sigh. “‘If only we were more than just friends.’ You know, someday we’re going to find out who has you stuck in the friend zone.”

  Javi put his head down and kept polishing, even though the bumper was a mirror already.

  Mick knocked him sideways. “And what about you, Cassanova? I heard you and Raine DiMarco had quite the public kiss in Sam’s parking lot, but you sure weren’t giving out any love the other day. When are you going to give in to fate?”

  Brandt focused on buffing the truck.

  “Or Chelsea? She’d like to get her claws into you.”

  Brandt snorted. “Never! Not my type at all!”

  Javi straightened. “No, but you can’t keep your eyes off Raine, even when you snap at her. You need to do something about that, amigo.”

  Brandt thought of Raine’s determination, the sparkle in her eyes, the way he couldn’t keep her out of his mind. He was glad she’d turned out to be nothing like Chelsea.

  Before he could come up with an answer for the guys, the photographer stepped in. “Can I get some shots of the three of you with the fire engine? As long as we’re waiting for Robin?”

  They introduced themselves, and Andi set her reflectors up, put the guys where she wanted them, and checked light levels. She made a few adjustments, then the instructions started.

  “On the left, Mick? Lean on the engine a little more. Javi, can you look towards me? Just your head, not your body. And Brandt—did I get that right?—can you give me a smoldering look? Everyone, actually.”

  Brandt tried to smolder, but Mick laughed. “You look like you’re going to eat someone, bro.” He tried again and again, contorting his face until they all end
ed up in laughter.

  Andi kept clicking anyway, and they finally managed serious looks again. “Good,” she said. “Now tip your chin down a little, Javi. Think of your girlfriend. She’s running her hand across your chest.”

  Javi flushed, if such a thing was possible with brown skin, and Brandt hooted. The photographer sighed. Just then Robin pulled up.

  “Sorry I’m late, guys. My helper couldn’t come.”

  “No problem, amiga, you saved us,” Javi said.

  Robin looked between them and the photographer. “Problems, Andi?”

  She shook her head. “I just thought these guys would be used to being the center of attention.”

  Brandt, Javi & Mick glanced at each other and fidgeted.

  Robin chuckled. “Just wait until this afternoon when Justin and Lizzie are here!”

  Robin and Andi discussed backgrounds and the dogs for a few minutes, then Robin set up portable pens and put her fluffy dog in one. “Cat’s going to come in a bit, but in the meantime, it’s just me.” She unloaded dog after dog, some puppies, some half-grown, some showing gray on their muzzles.

  “Right,” Andi said. “Let’s do the first ones in your regular clothes, and then some with your gear. Who wants to go first?”

  Brandt looked at Javi, who looked at Mick, who shrugged. “I’ll go first if I can have Augie.” he said.

  Robin handed the fluffy one over. Mick held him face to face. “We know each other, don’t we, boy?” Augie sniffed and sent a fast and furious set of licks over Mick’s mouth.

  “Hey!” Mick jerked away. “And you guys don’t get to laugh.”

  Brandt clenched his jaw to remain quiet and watched while Andi positioned Mick just so. Mick cuddled Augie, and Andi’s camera kept clicking.

  She finally finished and nodded toward Brandt. “You’re up next.”

  “Uh, what if…” His voice trailed off as Robin brought a stocky dog over.

  “This is Buster,” she said. “I think he’s a bulldog-boxer cross.”

  “He looks like a football player,” Brandt said. The brown-and-white dog panted at him.