by Debra Holt
He opened the door for Rissa, and they went inside. Dev led the way down the hallway and into the kitchen at the back of the house.
“Something smells good.”
“I just put the steaks on the grill. And the baked beans are in the oven. I thought we’d add a tossed salad maybe and I have some ears of corn we can add to the grill, also.”
“Please stop.” She moaned. “It sounds perfect and my stomach is growling at the mention of food. I love baked beans.”
Dev grinned as he opened the refrigerator and held up a pitcher of lemonade. “I might have heard that someplace.” He shut the door after receiving her nod and brought the pitcher to the counter.
“I can just imagine what little birdy might have shared that with you.” She shook her head.
So, he had gone to the trouble to ask Josie’s input on food she might like? That bit of information made her feel pleased.
“I don’t do well just standing around as a guest, so put me to work. What can I do to help?”
“You could get the ice in our glasses and pour the tea while I put the salad together. Everything else is ready and cooking. We can take our drinks out on the back porch and relax a bit.”
A few minutes later, Rissa settled into the cushions of one of the two wooden rockers that sat next to the railing, facing the disk of sun that was just about to touch the rim of the farthest hills in the distance. Dev stopped to check on the steaks before he took his place in the one beside her.
Rissa felt a smile growing inside her. It worked into a grin in just a few moments. Dev caught it.
“What’s so amusing? Share it.”
“Okay, you asked. I just had a thought about how unlikely this whole scenario would have seemed before…” she responded, her words trailing away at the last.
“Before meaning being with the old Devlin. Don’t worry, I can see that. I’ll confess there are moments that pop up now and then that make me think the same thing. But I just thank my lucky stars that I did get the opportunity to come back home and get a second chance to get things right.” His gaze was on the setting sun, but Rissa had the feeling that he was someplace else… someplace in the past. And something in his body language told her it might not be a very good place. There were questions she wanted to ask, but the moment passed with the barking of Gypsy. Dev looked toward the back door. He stood and moved to hold open the door.
“For some reason, she won’t use the dog door that I installed for her. She doesn’t want anything to do with it.” He walked over to the grill to turn the steaks again. “Time to add the corn.”
Rissa scratched the sweet spot behind the ear that Gypsy offered her. “There are some animals who won’t have anything to do with it. It could relate to a bad memory from her past. You never know.”
“Guess we all have pasts to deal with… even dogs who’ve been kicked around before. If you’ll bring the salad out, I’ll grab the beans from the oven and then we’ll be ready to eat.”
“You don’t have to say that twice.” She laughed.
A few minutes later, they were seated at the table on the porch.
“I like the blue checked tablecloth and you even managed to pick a few daisies for your centerpiece. I’m impressed.”
“I don’t think three slightly wilted flowers in an empty Coke bottle exactly qualify as a centerpiece. But thanks for the compliment.”
“Well, I like it and it is indeed the thought behind the gesture that truly counts.”
“Is your steak cooked okay?”
Rissa grinned at her companion. “Relax, Dev. Everything is perfect, including the sunset I’m sure you ordered. And I have to say that the baked beans were some of the best I’ve ever had. I can tell you did them from scratch… not a can. Again, I am impressed.”
“Thank you, ma’am. Only the best for our first dinner guest since we moved in here. Gypsy and I usually eat in front of the television in the den. But this is way better. A guy could get used to this.”
“Eating steaks in front of a stunning sunset?”
“Eating sandwiches even as long as you’re the one joining me.”
Only the light breeze moving through the wind chimes at the far end of the porch made any sounds in the silence that followed his statement. Rissa was rendered mute. Her gaze was caught and held by a pair of deep blue eyes that showed absolute sincerity in their depths. It took her breath away. And her stomach felt queasy, but not from anything to do with food. She laid her fork down.
“I said something wrong. You think it’s a line.”
Rissa shook her head. “No… no I don’t. I think you’re very sincere and I take it as a compliment. But it brings up a subject that I think we need to discuss. It’s been on my mind a lot lately.”
The smile had left his face. He steepled his fingers as he rested his elbows on the edge of the table. “This sounds like a serious discussion is coming.”
“I was wrong,” Rissa stated. “I thought this friendship plan would be the answer to making people leave us alone. Only I think it backfired a bit and got out of control in some ways. And it isn’t fair.”
“Fair?”
“Fair to you… to either one of us.” She hastened to amend. “We didn’t consider… or I didn’t… that there might be a possibility that you might find someone you do want to get to know, to date… and it would be a problem then.”
Dev pushed his chair back and stood. He began gathering the dishes. “I think I’ll clean all this up right quick. There’s a bit of lightning over the southwest ridge moving this way. The sun is gone and looks like things could get stormy. In more ways than one.” He turned and headed toward the house.
Rissa was at a loss. She hadn’t handled it very well. She picked up the rest of the items and followed her host.
He had opened the dishwasher and begun to fill it. She placed the items on the counter. Reaching for plastic, she began to put away some of the leftovers.
Then she stopped. “I’ve clearly not stated things in the right way. I just…”
“You just have decided you want to date someone. Perhaps Mark? Guess he’d be a good catch. I think you could do better, but that’s up to you.”
“Mark? Are you serious? And, no, I didn’t say anything about wanting to date anyone else. Don’t put words in my mouth.” She stood facing him, hands on her hips.
Dev closed the dishwasher. He stepped to within inches of her, his stance matching hers.
“So, you don’t want to date anyone else you said. By process of elimination and what you just said, that leaves me… you only want to date me.”
Rissa opened her mouth to make a quick rebuttal, but then she saw the twinkle in the blue gaze he pinned on her. “You’re trying to make me lose my temper. You are twisting my words on purpose. I simply was trying to…”
“I agree.”
She blinked. Her brain had to rework her train of thought. “You do? With which part?”
“I don’t like the plan. I don’t like not being straight with everyone. I don’t think we need the plan any longer. We’re friends. I think we can agree on that one.”
“I see. So we are in agreement.”
“Agreed. From now on, we will just be ourselves.”
When had he moved closer? She could smell the mixture of a sexy cologne and woodsy smoke and… Dev. And it was a turn-on. “So we don’t have to plan or…”
“We just have to be… wherever we choose, whenever we choose. It’s called being spontaneous with our feelings.”
“To be… I’m not sure what…” Her words were cut off and all her conscious thought with it.
His mouth claimed hers and then she found clarity. Her whole being became electrified. His hands slid around her waist and brought her up against his hard length. Somehow her arms ended up around his neck as he bent to taste the soft skin of her jawline and then move down the column of her throat, bringing soft murmurs from inside her. Her fingers got lost in the thick hair on his head.
Rissa’s brain was working to move back to reality. She nodded.
“I’ll move both our vehicles into the mechanic’s garage by the barns just in case we get some hail. I’ll be right back.” He stole a swift kiss and then he was gone out the back door. The lights began to flicker back on.
She moved to look out the window and the rain was falling fast in sheets that she could see between the house and the barns as the lights played off the blowing rain. A few minutes later, the door opened, and Dev stepped through, the rain poncho he had grabbed off the peg beside the back door went out on the back porch to drip dry.
“I spoke to Chance on the radio in the truck. They’re keeping an eye on the roads and creeks. If there are any problems, he’ll let me know. But for the next few hours, you won’t be going anywhere. The report from the weather service is that this will come through in a couple of different waves. Should clear out before daybreak.”
“Looks like I should have packed a toothbrush. This dinner might turn into a pajama party.” She tried for levity but only made matters worse.
“We have extra toothbrushes in the guest bathroom. But as far as pajamas go… afraid I can’t help with that one. I don’t use them.”
And that bit of news just placed a vision in her brain that sent her blood pressure into orbit. Her ability to speak in coherent sentences went with it. Dev walked toward her. He held out his hand but said nothing. Her decision.
Chapter Eleven
Down the hallway, up the stairs. Rissa’s heart was pounding louder than the crack of thunder that rumbled around the house. There were two voices in her head. One argued how this was not the best of ideas. The other seemed to be pushing her forward… until they reached the top and Dev brought them to a halt in front of a closed door. He opened the door, but did not enter. He still had her hand inside his.
“You’ll find that toothbrush you were worried about in the bathroom. I’ll see about finding you one of my T-shirts to use for those pajamas you asked about. Be right back.”
“Thanks.” She walked into the bedroom and looked around the room.
Dev walked back inside. He had a shirt in his hand for her.
“Thanks again.”
“Is there anything else I can get you?”
“This should do it.”
“Sweet dreams.” He left and shut the door behind him.
She went about getting ready for bed. The tee shirt was more form-fitting and barely reached past her bottom. Rissa pulled back the bed covers and slipped under them, her arms lying on top of the comforter. The rain on the metal roof was steady. She tried to concentrate on it, willing herself to relax and hopefully fall asleep.
But Dev was just down the hall. A few feet away. They were alone in his home and these were all reasons why she should get her mind to a safer place.
Staring at the ceiling did little good to keep her mind from drifting down the hall in her thoughts. What would he think if she knocked on his door? Lightning streaks lit the corners of her room and a bang of thunder shook the window casings. The storm was ramping up again. The night-light in the bathroom went dark. She waited for the hum of the generator. But it didn’t come on.
There was a light tap on her door. She sat bolt upright. It came again.
“Rissa? It’s me.”
Tossing back the covers, she padded in her bare feet across the room to the door. She opened it and Dev, minus a shirt, stood before her. He was holding two candles, the flickering light from each casting an eerie light around them. His eyes appeared much darker as they fell on her.
“I thought you might need a candle just in case… in case you’re afraid of the dark if the generator won’t cut back on.”
The expanse of tanned, muscled chest caused an ache from inside her to the very tips of her fingers that held the candle in a death grip to keep from reaching out and touching him. “Thanks. I like the dark.”
“This wasn’t a good idea.”
“What wasn’t?”
“Coming back here to your door. It’s just going to make it more difficult for me to go back to my room and pretend I don’t want to be here with you instead. But I’m trying to be a gentleman.”
What had she ever gained by being timid or ladylike or any of those other things that seemed so inconsequential in that moment?
“Gentlemen can be boring.” She went on tiptoe and blew the candle out. It was her turn to take his hand and draw him into the room.
“Just to point out,” he said, his voice in a low rasp, “there’s a point of no return and I’d say we are standing on the edge of it.”
“You were the one who said we needed to just be… well, I agree. It’s time I do just that.”
She didn’t break her gaze on his. Her fingers found the hem of the shirt she wore and, in one easy movement, the garment went over her head and landed in a pool at the foot of the bed. The dark cobalt gaze came alive with the blaze of fire that heated her flesh as it slowly moved over every inch of her body. He seemed to be memorizing each hill and valley. And it was clear he liked what he saw.
Rissa felt a weight sitting on her chest, making it harder to breathe. Her palms moved slowly across the flat, muscular planes of warm skin. She found the pounding of his heartbeat beneath them. His hands went to the waist of his jeans and he divested himself of the material.
Stepping forward, mere inches separated them, but the throbbing tips of her breasts met the hard planes of his body. The pulsating length of his manhood pushed against the softness of her stomach. They were seared together. The blood coursing through her body pounded in her head; her throat ran dry.
Hands, their warmth forging a path, moved over her shoulders and down her arms. His hands cupped her bottom and lifted her, her legs locking instinctively around his middle. Dev’s mouth claimed hers again and she was lost in a swirl of emotions. The next moment she was aware of was Dev had carried her to the large bed and he lowered her to the mattress. She kept her arms locked around his neck as he slid down with her.
Rissa’s hands moved over the muscled back, and down his sides to urge a closer connection and something registered in her brain… actually a couple of things almost simultaneously. There was a ridge of skin along his lower left side. And as her fingertips had run across it, she had the sense of a flinching beneath her palm. It was enough to cause her to open her eyes and she sensed something had shadowed the moment. Was he in some sort of pain?
Her hand stilled and so did he. Dev returned her inquiring gaze and then he rolled onto his back, his fingers massaging his forehead in an obvious moment of disgust. Rissa turned on her side to face him, but waited in silence.
“This is one of those moments I’d like to pretend never happened. It certainly broke the mood. I’m sorry.”
His gaze remained on ceiling above them, while he regained some normalcy in his breathing.
“No apologies needed. You’ve obviously had some injuries to your side. And I’m guessing they would also be tied to the problem with your leg. How recent?” She was hesitant, trying to feel out the mood of the man beside her. It was obvious he was beating himself up mentally.
“It’s been a little over three months. I was in the hospital for almost all of the first month. Then two months in rehab… one as inpatient and the last as outpatient. And then I came home to Braxton. I check in with the doctor here each week for some physical therapy on the leg and foot. They tell me I’m healing, and I’ll be good as new in another three or four months. Just be patient. That’s easier said than done… obviously.”
“I don’t know the details of why or how you were injure
d, but I do recognize a person in pain. I think we might have gotten a little carried away here tonight. How about you tell me where your pain meds are, and I’ll grab them?” She had already sat up and gathered the top throw from the foot of the bed, wrapping it around herself. It was all easier to handle in the moment if she put herself into her ‘doctor mode.’ Work the problem.
“So much for passion.” The grin was forced, but there was a warm light in his eyes as they met hers.
“Consider this another incentive to do what the doctor tells you and get well quick. Now where are the meds… in your room?”
“Medicine cabinet. But I can…” Her hand on his shoulder forestalled him.
“You can’t. I will. Be right back.”
Rissa crossed his bedroom and stepped into the large bathroom. She opened the medicine cabinet. There was a row of pill bottles. Each had Dev’s name. She was familiar with the prescribed drugs. Pain killers… pretty potent ones. There seemed to be three-quarters of the bottle still there. An equally strong antidepressant… looked to be full. And half a bottle of antibiotics. All the bottles had the same fill date on them. Dev evidently was not a person to want to depend on pills if he could help it.
What was his story? What did she really know of his life outside Braxton? Rissa had heard the talk about different fiancées over the years. But those relationships never seemed to last. They faded into oblivion. And truth be told, in those days, she wasn’t interested in hearing anything about Devlin Braxton. She still harbored too much resentment over the scholarship debacle. But she found it hard to put the pieces together of the past of that man in comparison to the man she left in the other bedroom.
Memories of their last hour together brought a flush over her body and she saw the color in the cheeks of the woman who looked back at her in the mirror as she closed the cabinet. She just stood and stared at the face staring back at her. Rissa searched for telltale signs of the change within herself. She felt it. But did it show to the world? Would Dev be able to see? She felt he cared. But could he love her? Because there was one fact she could no longer ignore. Dev Braxton had conquered her heart.