RJ (HC Heroes Series Book 7)

by Donna Michaels

  He snorted. “Yep. They were my adoptive parents. And yeah, they named me after his character in that show. Of course with the names switched around.”

  She grinned. “I think that’s cute. It suits you. So does Rocky.”

  Holy wandering mouths.

  Just shoot me now.

  “I heard you and your sister made dessert,” RJ said, his gorgeous, dark eyes reaching clear to her soul.

  “Yeah.” She set her fork down next to her empty plate. “We whipped up an end of summer cake. I tried to capture the colors of a Texas sunset in buttercream.”

  It was more like the sunrise, though, thanks to the inspiration sitting next to her.

  But he didn’t need to know that.

  He grinned. “Then I bet it looks amazing.”

  The unexpected softening of his expression and the way his gaze warmed sent a fluttering through her chest.

  What was going on?

  Why was he making an effort?

  If Lori didn’t know better, she might be inclined to believe RJ was interested in her after all.

  What changed today that hadn’t in the past two and a half months?

  Not her.

  Working to get a grip on that fluttering, she cocked her head and smiled. “Thanks.”

  “Did someone say it was time for cake?” Abby shifted in her chair and rubbed her back, a smile spreading across her glowing face. “I always have room for a Champion cake.”

  Lori’s laughter mixed with the others as she flicked a glance at Gabe to see if he was ready to get his proposal on. Poor guy. A nervous pallor stole across his skin, but he gave her a quick nod.

  RJ caught the exchange and narrowed his eyes, but thankfully remained quiet.

  Lori rose to her feet. “I’ll be right back. It’s kind of big, so we left it at the bakery. We weren’t sure if there was going to be any room in the fridge here.”

  “I’ll go with you,” her sister said, standing up. “We’ll be right back.”

  Lyndsey smiled. “I can’t wait to see it.”

  She couldn’t wait for Lyndsey to see it, too.

  Ten minutes later, they returned with the cake, and headed inside the house to remove the masterpiece from the box.

  “You grab the cake, and I’ll get the knife,” Lori said, more than happy to let her sister carry the cake.

  The thought of Loni’s vision suddenly acting up enough to cause her to lose her step and fall with the knife was a hell of a lot more concerning than her sister falling with the cake. Even if it had taken her three days to complete the sculptures.

  At Gabe’s request, Lori had replicated all of his and Lyndsey’s dogs and cats out of modeling chocolate. Together, the pets held up a “Will you marry me?” sign with “I love you, Lyndsey” written across the sun setting in the background.

  “This is so exciting.” Loni grinned, walking toward the door with the cake facing her so no one would get a look at it and spoil the surprise before her sister had the chance to place it in front of Lyndsey.

  Lori grabbed a large knife from the block on the counter, then moved ahead to get the door for her sister. “I know. I can’t wait to see Lyndsey’s expression.”

  With her pulse pumping with excitement, Lori maneuvered around her sister to set the knife out of the way on the table so she could pull her phone from her pocket and accessed her camera. This was a special moment that deserved to be taped.

  She hit record a second before Loni placed the cake in front of Lyndsey…and Gabe stood before getting down on bended knee, jeweler’s box in hand.

  Abby’s gasp echoed around the suddenly quiet patio, while tears filled Lyndsey’s eyes and her fingers shook as they flew to her face.

  “Lyndsey Heston, I love you and your big, beautiful heart. I’d be the luckiest man alive if you’d add me to your menagerie of rescues and become my wife. Will you marry me?”

  Despite the glowing, happy look on her friend’s face, she cocked her head, a spark of mischief gleaming in her eyes. “That depends.”

  Gabe frowned. “On what?”

  “Are you house-broken?”

  A smile twitched his lips. “I’m Lyndsey-broken. Does that count?”

  “Absolutely. And, yes.” Her friend grinned broadly, holding her hand out while Gabe shoved the ring on her finger. “I’ll marry you.”

  The sheriff let out a whoop as he surged to his feet, lifted Lyndsey off hers and into his arms for the sweetest, most meaningful kiss Lori had ever seen.

  It warmed her through and through.

  She stopped recording to swipe at her wet face as the crowd rose to their feet and cheered.

  “Here.” RJ appeared at her side and handed her a napkin.

  “Thanks.” She wiped the rest of the wetness from her cheeks, trying not to be touched by his thoughtfulness…but failed. “Sorry. You’d think I’d be used to it. Our work has been a part of a lot of proposals.”

  “I’d imagine it’s different when it’s someone you know,” he said.

  She turned to him and smiled. “Exactly. It is definitely special.”

  “Indeed.” He smiled back and after a few seconds a flash of heat flickered in his eyes.

  What the heck?

  The sexy man hadn’t looked at her like that since their naked night.

  Need rushed through her body, and her mind filled with naughty thoughts.

  Would he act on it?

  Should she?

  Her pulse kicked up. His eyes were amazing and mesmerizing. They were a deep mocha with a hint of caramel that melted her…

  “Lori! Oh my God. Thank you so much,” Lyndsey said, rushing over to crush her close.

  “You’re so welcome. Congratulations.” She squeezed her friend tightly, then hugged Gabe. “Well done, Sheriff.”

  He nodded as he released her. “Thank you, but your creations really helped.”

  Lyndsey smiled at the cake. “I can’t believe those sculptures. You captured their personalities perfectly. They’re too lifelike. I can’t eat them.”

  Best. Compliment. Ever.

  “Thank you.” She smiled. “I’m so glad you approve.”

  “Approve? They’re amazing.” Lyndsey glanced at RJ. “Don’t you think?”

  The man turned his attention to the cake behind her on the table. “Yes. They are amazing. Lori is truly gifted.”

  She urged the strength to remain in her legs as they threatened to wobble under his praise and the sincerity in his eyes.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  He held her gaze for an extra second before he turned to congratulate the couple.

  Following his lead, she focused on the bride-to-be. “Let me see that ring.”

  It was much safer to concentrate on Lyndsey. Well, anyone other than RJ, for that matter. Otherwise, her mind might wander back to June and the amazing awareness that had spread through her body when he had crushed her deliciously close.

  A flicker of heat spread low in her belly.

  Too late.

  She glanced at the man and that heat intensified when she found him watching her again. The indecision in his eyes tugged at her heart. Apparently, he didn’t know what to do about the awareness, either.

  Chapter Four

  The next morning, RJ entered Champion bakery with Dean and headed for a table in the far left corner. Dean’s spot, at least, that was what his buddy claimed. RJ wasn’t surprised, though. It was the perfect location. Clear line of sight to both exits…and his buddy’s girlfriend baking in the kitchen.

  The latter, no doubt, was the real reason Dean chose that seat.

  Only problem was, it gave RJ an unobstructed view of Loni’s twin. He had enough trouble trying to resist the cake artist without daily sightings of the sexy woman. For some reason, they kept crossing paths. Awareness always accompanied those sightings and shot through him in a heated reminder of how much his body appreciated her curves.

  And wanted more.

  Apparently, sitting next
to her yesterday at Gabe’s and actually talking to her beyond their usually stilted greeting hadn’t been enough for his libido.

  It was weird how, even though the sisters looked identical, Loni brought out brotherly instincts in him. The sweet woman made him laugh and feel welcome, included, accepted. Lori made him feel those things too, but she also sparked life in his body, sending blood rushing through his veins, his heart pounding hard in his chest, and it all combined to remind him he was alive.

  Even now, the view of the woman decorating a cake in the back upped his pulse. Intrigued by the feeling, yet annoyed at his lack of control, RJ pulled his gaze from the beauty and continued to follow his friend to their table.

  Several customers stood in line by the counter, but Loni had always insisted the guys were to never wait in line. She liked to bring their usual out and join them, since she was ready for a coffee break by the time they arrived.

  Apparently, these bakers started work early. Right after watching sunrises for the back of deck. He, too, was up at that time, building his stamina, running the beach with Dean and Coop before work on the mornings they were in town. He may or may not have watched a certain baker watching him run…

  “Damn.” His buddy inhaled as he settled into his chair. “I’ll never grow tired of the aromas in here. Pure heaven.”

  RJ nodded, referring to the savory smell of bacon and not just the cinnamon his buddy preferred. Sitting down, he drew in a deep breath as well.

  Delicious.

  Like the decorator.

  Damn…he was hopeless. It wasn’t his fault, though. He was only human. Holding the sexy woman in his arms his first night in town had done him in. Thanks to that encounter, he knew how she looked naked—beautiful. He knew her soft, warm, generous curves fit perfectly against him. And her responses to his touch? The woman quivered and trembled and moaned in the sexiest, low pitch he felt clear to the tip of his…

  “…out already,” Dean said, gaining RJ’s attention.

  He needed to get a grip.

  Shaking off his stupor, RJ focused on his grinning buddy. “What did you say?”

  His buddy chuckled. “I said you should stop gazing at Lori like she was the special of the day and ask her out already. I’m still not clear on why you’re holding back. You two disappeared together your first night in town, and that attraction is obviously still there. Believe me, we can all feel it when you’re in the same room. And it’s not like you’re here temporarily.” Dean cocked his head. “Or are you thinking of leaving?”

  “What? No. I’m staying.” He frowned, wondering why the guy would think otherwise.

  He liked Texas. Loved his job. He got to plan and coordinate missions like when he was active duty. And the best part was that he worked with a bunch of his brothers. He’d fought and bled with them overseas. RJ trusted each of his coworkers with his life, including Rylee, Gabe’s formidable sister, whom he’d known for over a decade. She was a damn good investigator.

  No. He wasn’t going anywhere. As far as he was concerned, he was home.

  “As a matter of fact, I contacted a realtor to find me a house.” He frowned. “What made you think I was leaving?”

  His buddy pointed to the sexy decorator. “Because you’re avoiding her.”

  He opened his mouth, ready to deny it, but his friend was too astute to believe the lie, so he shook his head instead. “I thought we already went over this on the boat yesterday. I don’t have time for a woman. All my focus is on work and getting my body back up to par.”

  “Bullshit.” Dean stared at him. “I hope you’re not lumping Lori in the same category as Elaina just because they’re both artists.”

  Elaina?

  RJ raised a brow. He truthfully hadn’t thought of his ex in months. The woman had been part of his life for two years. Beautiful, fun, and full of life, she loved to sketch and paint in the studio they’d created from a spare bedroom in their apartment. She was always there to see him off and welcome him home. He’d thought he found a gem amongst the sea of SEAL bunnies that patrolled Coronado.

  He was wrong.

  At first, when he’d been transferred from Ramstein to a hospital in California, she had shown up all loving and concerned, until he told her he was going to be medically discharged from the Navy. She stopped visiting after that and didn’t answer his calls. Then, one day, she appeared out of the blue and apologized, told him things weren’t going to work out, handed him her key to their apartment, wished him well, then left.

  So, when his birth parents and siblings had shown up and insisted he convalesce at their Iowa farm, he agreed and thanked his lucky stars in the process. During his recovery and long, arduous hours of PT, he’d had plenty of time to process his failed relationship and he’d realized it had been doomed from the start.

  Elaina had been in love with his active duty status…not him.

  “Your ex wanted to use you as her ticket to travel and see the world so she could paint and not work,” Dean said.

  Since RJ had come to the same conclusion, he nodded. “I know.”

  “Then hopefully you know Lori isn’t like that. Sure, she has the free spirit of an artist, but she is dependable, not dependent. There’s a huge difference.”

  Again, RJ nodded. “She’s independent, like her sister.”

  “Yeah. She’s also responsible.” Dean glanced at the twins still working in the back before he leaned closer. “Lori stayed in Connecticut to fulfill their remaining orders and oversee the sale of their bakery so Loni could come here, not just to start the bakery, but to get accustomed to the layout here as well as the house. Lori gave up her own place back east, intending to stay with Loni and be around when her sight failed. But now that I’ve moved in, she was able to move out, although it had taken several talks from Loni to get the woman to budge.”

  Admiration for the woman warmed RJ’s chest. But he didn’t want to like her more than he already did, so he decided to unacknowledged it and go a different route with his comment. “Leave it to you to live with a set of gorgeous, identical twins.”

  Dean chuckled. “It wasn’t like that. I’m only interested in one.”

  “One what?” Loni asked, setting a tray loaded with cups of coffee on the table.

  RJ rose to his feet along with Dean.

  “One kind of bun,” his buddy replied before kissing her cheek.

  Loni’s brows rose. “Only one?”

  “Pretty sure you know the answer to that.” Dean grinned, holding a chair out for the laughing woman before they retook their seats. “Speaking of buns…are you all out of them already?”

  “No.” She set a hand on Dean’s arm and winked. “Don’t worry, Lori will bring them out. They still need another minute in the oven.” She turned to him and smiled. “Good morning, RJ. And you don’t need to worry, either. My sister has special buns for you.”

  It was too bad he’d chosen that moment to swallow a mouthful of coffee. A bout of coughing and several chest pounds later, he cleared his throat, ignored his buddy’s snickering, and met Loni’s amused gaze.

  “I know.”

  Her eyes widened, and this time Dean started to choke on his mis-swallowed coffee.

  RJ grinned and nodded toward the pretty decorator approaching with a plate of treats. “I’m guessing the ones with bacon crumbled on top are for me?”

  Loni smacked his arm. “I thought you meant…”

  He laughed. “I know what you thought. Dean is rubbing off on you. You should get your mind out of the gutter.”

  “Wait…my sister’s mind was in the gutter?” Lori asked, setting the plate on the table before pulling up a chair.

  That was a first.

  The woman had never joined their breakfast coffee break before. She usually stayed in the kitchen decorating, with her back to them. He refused to contemplate the reason her change of routine pleased him.

  “Yep,” he replied, reaching for his special bun.

  It was more of a roll,
with layers of crumbled bacon and maple-flavored glaze drizzled on top.

  Delicious.

  “Hey, you can’t just leave that hanging in the air. I want the deets,” Lori said, glancing at each of them.

  No way was RJ going to explain, and his pulse jumped when Dean opened his mouth, but thankfully, Loni intervened.

  “We were just joking about buns,” she replied.

  Lori smiled. “Ah…buns are good. Both the human ones and perfectly baked ones.”

  She reached past him to grab a goodie from the plate, her arm inadvertently brushing his, and just like that his body woke up.

  A shaft of heat rushed through RJ and the memory of the woman’s buns and how perfect they felt in his hands flashed through his mind. It wasn’t something he was likely to ever forget.

  He couldn’t help but wonder if she’d thought about it too…and if the brush of her arm had been deliberate.

  “Of course.” She snickered, causing his heart to stop, until he realized the beauty’s reply had been to something her sister had asked. “But, since I had to bring them out, I figured I might as well have one too.”

  “Might as well.” Dean grinned, and wacked RJ’s shin with his foot. “Right, RJ?”

  Idiot.

  He was going to wring the guy’s neck.

  “Of course,” he replied. “I know I wouldn’t be able to bake them and not eat them.”

  Her gaze met his and turned curious. “You bake?”

  “Before this year? No,” he said. “But I was going stir crazy at my parents farm and hated not being able to help with any of the chores, so I asked my mom and sister to teach me.”

  The fact he’d been moving slowly, in a shit ton of pain, and Dean was getting ready to head to Texas without RJ because his doctor wouldn’t clear him, had been motivation to find an activity he could conquer.

  At least he had been able to help prepare meals and not feel totally useless. “Now I make a mean cornbread.”

  “Really?” Lori arched a brow.

  “With cornmeal?” her sister asked.

  He shook his head. “Nope. With corn from a field.”