It helped. When he was dry, he wrapped the towel around his waist and dashed across the hall to the guest bedroom. Thankfully, Rainy’s door was shut. He almost wished Martin would try to get in the house so he could hit the guy and release his tension. Almost. The night moved slowly. If he slept, he wasn’t aware of it. And the next morning? Only one word for that. Awkward.
He hadn’t thought about his wardrobe when he offered to stay in Rainy’s house, or how it would feel to see her first thing in the morning. He slipped into the jeans and shirt he’d worn for the bar-b-que and tip-toed down the stairs. He was a morning person. The fact that he’d failed to sleep didn’t slow him down. He was hungry and needed strong coffee. He’d noticed a professional coffee machine while helping clean the kitchen and was looking forward to using it. What he hadn’t anticipated was Rainy in the kitchen before him.
“Coffee?” she asked as he entered the kitchen.
“Absolutely. You’re up early.”
“I never sleep past five a.m. Habit of a café owner.” She held a steaming mug out, and he took it gratefully.
“When do you leave for work?”
“Five-thirty.”
He looked at his wristwatch.
“Not much time for breakfast then,” he said. The coffee was better than good and the woman was beautiful. A man could get used to this.
“I eat at the café, and I’m not one of those women who take forever to get ready.”
He knew what she meant, but the possibilities that sentence stirred in him had him gulping the hot coffee.
“Do we have time for you to drop me at my place? I could use a change of clothes before going to work.”
“Of course. You live close to the café. Don’t you?”
“Yes, over on Dunhill.”
“Great. No problem.” She’d been leaning against the counter. He watched as she stood straighter and a determined look crossed her face as if she wanted to ask a question.
“What is it?”
“I was thinking of asking you for another favor, but it’s too much. You’ve already had your evening with your brothers ruined, rescued my dog, had to sleep in a strange bed, and offered to help me with a lawsuit. Another favor would be beyond the pale.” She sipped her coffee and watched him through her eyelashes, which, he noticed, were dark and thick without makeup. Stunning woman.
“Ask. I can always say no.”
She waited a beat before talking, never taking her eyes off his. She inhaled visibly and swallowed. He could tell she didn’t like asking for favors.
“I have to open the café, there’s no one else available this morning. And, I need to get my locks changed. So…”
“You want me to stay around for the locksmith?”
She breathed out a sigh and nodded.
“I can do that. I don’t usually make it into the office until around nine. If we can get someone out here by noon, I’ll only miss a few hours. And,” he held his hand up to stop her from interrupting like she appeared to want to do, “and, I’d be honored to do this for you.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Wow. Well, OK.” He watched as she set the mug in the sink and filled it with water. She stared at the window, although all he could see was darkness and her face reflecting back at him.
“Front and back?”
She turned, blinking. “What?”
“You want the locks on the front and back doors changed, right?”
“Oh. Yes. I can leave my credit card.” She seemed to hesitate again.
“Is there something else?” She was agitated. The kitchen was small, and he could smell that soap again.
“It’s nothing.” She opened the pantry and pulled out two bags of food. One for the cat that had been only a blur to him the night before, one for the dog he knew about.
“Where is your cat and what’s its name?”
“Samson. He stays upstairs most days. He’s pretty old and sleeps a lot.” She shook some food into the dog bowl, which alerted Delilah, who ran down the stairs noisily and stuck her head in the bowl greedily.
“I’ll just take this up.” The kitchen was small, and she had to squeeze past him. He didn’t move, and she brushed against him as she passed. It was all he could do to keep himself from burying his nose in her hair, taking a deep breath and giving himself away. He wondered what she’d been about to ask, but decided she’d tell him in her own time.
When she came back down the stairs, she looked like the Rainy he was used to seeing at the café. Pony tail, tight jeans, tee-shirt with Rainy Daze Café emblazoned above a pocket, and some ugly shoes that looked comfortable. He admired her for going against fashion, but he wished she’d worn a short skirt and heels. He shook his head at the crazy thoughts he was having. It was being this close to her, surrounded by her smell, her feminine decorations…her.
“I’m off. Delilah stays outside most days. If it rains, let her in?”
“Of course. Anything else?”
She held her credit card out, and he laid it on the counter beside the coffee maker.
“I’ve put a call in to the locksmith company and will let you know what they say. I can’t tell you how much your help means to me. One day, I’ll figure out a way to thank you properly.”
He thought of several ways she could thank him but kept his mouth shut. She opened the door and Delilah seemed torn. The little brown dog was cute and sweet, but Gabe had been shocked to learn that she was a pure-bred Norfolk terrier, and Rainy had paid over two thousand dollars for her. She looked between her owner and Gabe a couple of times, until Rainy clicked her tongue and said, “Come.” The dog walked out with her. Gabe was impressed with the way she handled the dog. His brother had helped train her when she was still a pup, and said she’d been a handful when Rainy first brought her in. He glanced around the kitchen and felt Rainy’s absence immediately. He turned to leave the kitchen, but heard the doorknob turning. Rainy walked back inside. She seemed out of breath.
“Breakfast. I can’t believe I’m running off without offering you any food. There’s muffins in that container.” She pointed to what Gabe thought was a cake keeper. “They’re peach. A new recipe I’m trying. If you have one, let me know what you think. Otherwise, you’ll find bread in the pantry, eggs in the fridge. I think I may have some bacon. Cereal, milk…”
His stomach rumbled at the thought of her experimental peach muffins. Everything the woman made was outstanding.
“Go. I will figure it out.” He laughed as he walked to the door and gently shoved her out. The woman was too cute for words as she pulled on her bottom lip. “Really. I’m a big boy. Trust me.”
Her eyes turned softer than usual, and her troubled look disappeared. She took a step closer to him and took a deep breath.
“I do, for some reason. Trust you, I mean.”
“I’m glad.”
She cleared her throat. He watched her eyes roam over his face and wished he’d shaved before coming down.
“Well,” she said but didn’t move. He stood perfectly still. If she licked her lips again, he might lose it. She cleared her throat once more and nodded a couple of times. “Bye.” And she was gone again.
Chapter Five – Rainy
The café was quiet when she opened the back door. Too quiet. Olivia should have been in twenty minutes earlier.
“Ollie?”
She stepped further in and turned the lights on. Everything was as she’d left it. She exhaled a breath and said a quick prayer of thanks that Martin hadn’t wrecked her workplace. Maybe he was still in jail. She could only hope. But where was Olivia? She hadn’t time to worry, so she sent a quick text to see if her waitress and sometimes kitchen helper would be coming in. She lit the ovens and started her bread dough. She was known for her homemade breads, and she needed more for the lunch crowd than was left from yesterday’s batches. She also had cakes and pies to make. Her short order cook would be in for the eggs and bacon crowd. At least she hop
ed he would.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, so she wiped flour on her apron and answered. When the locksmith appointment was set, she called Gabe. She could have sent a text, but she wanted to hear his voice, and she didn’t want to think too much about that.
“The locksmith will be there between nine and eleven. Are you sure that’ll work?” She chewed her bottom lip while waiting for him to answer.
“Sure. I’m just finishing up the last muffin. These are exceptional.”
“There were ten muffins in that container,” she said before she could stop herself. His chuckle was deep, like his voice. She didn’t want to think about how sexy he sounded.
“Kidding. I had two. Wanted three, but need to watch my girly figure.”
“You had me going!”
There was that chuckle again. She knew she should hang up and get to work, but didn’t want to. A noise at the door startled her, so she gasped and turned quickly.
“Are you all right? It’s not Martin, is it? I’ll come right over.”
“Stop,” she said with her own chuckle. “Besides, you don’t have transportation.”
“I can hitch a ride really fast. Got brothers nearby.”
She laughed. “You Hart boys. It’s Olivia. She’s late for some reason. I had my back to the door and she startled me.”
He breathed a sigh of relief, and her heart melted a little. Olivia was staring at her with an odd look, so she told him she’d better go.
“Don’t worry about a thing,” he said as he signed off. And for not knowing Gabe that well, she surprised herself by letting the worry go.
“Who was that?” Olivia asked as she tied an apron around her waist.
“Long story.”
“Mm. You got all dreamy eyed.”
“I certainly did not. I’m not the dreamy eyed kind of woman,” Rainy said with a huff. She picked up the dough and slapped it on the granite counter with gusto.
“Just saying,” Olivia said.
“You’re late,” Rainy countered. “Just saying.”
“Got the message, boss lady. I’ll be getting busy now.” She smirked, but Rainy’s glare had her ducking her head and running out of the kitchen fast.
“Drat,” Rainy said out loud. She hated people being able to read her so easily, and Olivia hadn’t been around long enough to know her that well. She needed to hide her feelings better from now on, especially when it came to one Gabriel Hart. She slapped the bread dough with more flour and bent her weight into kneading it.
Before she knew it, the whole staff was on board and the front of the house was full. The smell of fresh bread, muffins, and bacon mixed together for one heavenly scent. She’d walked out to the front when she saw Sophie to assure her that all had gone well after she’d left; that Gabe had been a perfect gentleman.
“Well that sucks,” Sophie said.
Rainy slapped at her friend playfully with a dish towel she had in her hand. Sophie danced away and backed into Zeke, who’d `
“What are you two up to?” he asked.
Sophie spun and threw her arms around his neck. She kissed him soundly and long enough that Rainy turned away from the very personal display of affection. She was sure she’d never acted like that, even in her wilder teen years. Her friend let go of her new husband and turned back to Rainy.
“She was telling me what a gentleman your brother was last night.”
“I’ve always said the man was a fool,” Zeke said. His eyes twinkled as he stared a hole through Rainy. She wanted to dive behind the counter, because her face and neck had gone all red without her permission. And to top it all off, Gabe walked in about that time and strode directly to her. He pulled keys out of his pocket and held them out for her.
“What have you been saying to Rainy?” he asked his brother. The man looked fierce. She’d never had someone act so protective of her and she had to admit that she liked the feeling. He had walked into Zeke’s space and pointed his finger into his brother’s chest. “She’s had a rough go. Leave her be.”
“Hey, hey,” Zeke said. He backed up two paces and held his hands up in surrender. “We were just joking around. No need to go all Incredible Hulk on me.”
“I’ll show you Incredible Hulk,” Gabe said, and he chest bumped Zeke.
Rainy threw her hand up to her mouth. She’d never seen anything like the display between the brothers. She turned to Sophie, but all her friend did was shrug her shoulders as if this were an everyday occurrence.
“All three of them get all Rambo when the testosterone flows,” Sophie said with a roll of her eyes. She pulled Zeke’s arm to get his attention. “Can we eat now, or will you and Gabe be wrestling in the floor for a while?” Her sarcasm stopped the brothers cold, and they both began to laugh.
“No wrestling in the café,” Rainy said. “By the way, how’d you get here?”
“I took an Uber. I’ll walk to the office. Can I get a huge coffee to go?” Gabe asked.
“Sure. It’s on the house as a thank you for last night.
Olivia walked by as the words came out of Rainy’s mouth, and her eyebrows almost hit her widow’s peak.
“Keep out of this,” Rainy said.
Sophie, Zeke and Gabe burst out laughing.
“Your reputation,” Zeke said with his eyes wide as saucers. He put his hand on his heart, theatrically.
“Stop acting like an idiot,” Sophie said. “Can’t you see she’s embarrassed enough? Some people are more private than you Harts.”
“Sorry.” Zeke looked like an eight-year-old who’d been scolded by his mom in front of his peers.
“We’re going.” Sophie pulled Zeke’s arm again, and he followed her out with a grin on his face that told Rainy he was in no way sorry for the way he’d acted. She shook her head as she watched the two leaving.
“Coffee?” Gabe said.
“Oh. Coming right up.” She went behind the counter and poured.
“Sorry to embarrass you. It’s a brother thing we do. We forget where we are.”
“It’s OK. I’m glad you guys were around when I needed you. I can put up with your antics now and then.” She smiled and gave him the coffee. He saluted her with the cup and turned to leave.
“Gabe?”
“Yeah?” He stopped, turned back to her.
She shuffled her feet and wouldn’t look him in the eyes.
“What is it?”
“I was wondering, uhm, what you did with my credit card?”
He slapped his forehead and reached into his back pocket with his free hand; held the card and a folded receipt out.
“Sorry. With Zeke acting like an idiot, I forgot.”
She nodded but still wouldn’t look at him.
“Rainy?”
“Yes.”
“It’s OK to ask for help.”
She looked up then to see if he was being sarcastic, but all she found was a sympathetic smile on a gorgeous face. She nodded.
“Better get back…” She waved uncomfortably toward the kitchen.
“I’ll be getting out of your hair then,” he said.
She watched him walk out of her café, holding the cup of coffee, shoulders straight, head high. He looked all the confident corporate attorney that he was. She mentally slapped her head for thinking the thoughts she’d had about him lately. The man was way out of her league. She made sure to stay busy the rest of the day and was still trying to get him out of her mind when she got back home after dark.
Delilah’s whole body shook with pleasure when Rainy opened the door to let her in the house. Samson came running down the stairs and began circling between her ankles as she opened a can of stinky cat food. With a kitchen full of love, she wondered how it was that the place felt somehow empty.
That thought had barely surfaced when she heard a sound outside. Her already rattled nerves went on high alert. She ran to the back door to make sure she’d locked it and saw a silhouette slinking through the yard.
Chapter Six �
� Gabe
Gabe had trouble concentrating all day. He’d begun research into dog-napping in Texas, but his mind kept slipping back to the night he’d spent at Rainy’s. He couldn’t forget the tension he’d felt in her kitchen the next morning. She’d affected him more than he wanted to admit. Around three, he threw in the towel and went to the gym to work off his frustration. He was bench pressing more than his usual one hundred eighty pounds; face red, muscles straining. His spotter shook his head.
“Trying to prove something?” Allen asked with a smirk.
Gabe lifted again and didn’t grace the question with an answer. Allen wasn’t someone to confide in. When he finished his reps, he placed the bar in its holder and sat up. Allen handed him a towel, and Gabe wiped his face then the bench. He stood and Allen took his place with less weight. When finished, the two parted ways, and Gabe moved to the treadmill. He ran for thirty minutes, but no matter how hard he pushed, he couldn’t get Rainy out of his head. The sauna didn’t sweat her memory out of him either, so he showered and jumped in the pool for laps. He didn’t want to get entangled with a woman. He had his career in gear. His savings account was growing and soon he’d be able to put up his own shingle, escape the Hart conglomerate, escape his dad. His plan had stood him well in the past. He saw no reason to abandon it now.
Callie, the receptionist, waved as he left the gym, tired but still frustrated. He’d been at it for two hours, and rush hour traffic was just filling the streets. He pulled into the stream and drove home, wondering what he’d eat for supper. Normally, he would head to Rainy Daze Café for something scrumptious and a chance to watch the proprietor in action, but not today. He was pretty sure he had a frozen pizza that would suffice. Too bad there wasn’t a game on to distract him.
As the pizza cooked, he pulled up his spreadsheet to check his financial situation. It wasn’t the end of the month, but he thought it would be a good thing to remind himself of his goals. The numbers looked good. Since his computer was on, he googled Martin Polaski. He told himself he was preparing for the lawsuit Rainy would file. But in all honesty, he wanted to know about his competition. He was a Hart, after all. The Hart brothers were highly competitive, and Gabe was no exception.
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