More Than Pancakes (The Maple Leaf Series Book 1)

by Christine DePetrillo

  They’d reached the part where he was supposed to let loose on the guitar in the middle of the song. He did, Josh finished up the vocals, and soon Rick found himself playing the ending part. The audience erupted in applause, thunderous and floor shaking. Rick slid the guitar off his lap, preparing to put it down, but Josh grabbed his shoulder.

  “No way you’re leaving us now, cowboy,” he said. “You heard the same applause I did. A few more songs. C’mon.”

  “Rick, Rick, Rick,” chanted the crowd.

  Rick knew Sage had started the chant. He’d choke her later. “One more song. That’s it.”

  “I guess I’ll take what I can get.” Josh conferred with the rest of the band and after Rick switched to an electric guitar, they all dove into “Deja Voodoo” by Kenny Wayne Shepherd. When the song ended, Rick stood, rested the guitar against the stool, and made an exit before Josh could coerce him into another song.

  “Rick Stannard, everybody,” Josh called over the applause.

  The spotlight followed Rick’s retreat so he headed for Hope and Sage. And Lily. He would have liked to head for the door, but not with everyone watching. He was a hermit, not a jerk.

  Sage popped up from her seat and stretched up to throw her arms around Rick’s neck. “You rocked!” She dropped a kiss on his cheek and let Hope wiggle in for an identical hug and kiss.

  “I wish you would play more,” Hope said.

  “I play plenty.” Rick noted his jacket had been hung over the chair beside Lily.

  “She meant out in public, stupid.” Sage rolled her eyes.

  “One minute I rock, the next I’m stupid. Nice, Sage.” He shuffled between chairs to get to the one marked with his coat.

  “You still rock,” Sage said. “You’re just as dumb as one too.” She stuck her tongue out at Rick then picked up her drink. Angling it toward the pool tables, she said, “I’m going to play with some balls.”

  Rick looked to the pool tables and saw the guy Sage was with before. The dude waved her over, a mischievous grin on his face. Rick turned to Hope and opened his mouth, but his cousin held up a hand.

  “She’ll be fine, Rick. You know Sage doesn’t take shit from anybody.” Hope looked to Lily then to Rick. “Well, I need a refill and a closer look at my drummer.” She got up and disappeared into the crowd.

  Rick was alone with Lily. As alone as two people in a stuffed bar could be.

  “I enjoyed your performance,” Lily said. “I’ve captured it here. Want to see?” She nudged her camera toward him.

  “Absolutely not.” He picked up the camera and dropped it into Lily’s purse hanging on her chair.

  “I can see why Josh wants you to join the band. He had an okay sound when I first walked in, but with you up there? Well, it became something way better.”

  She brought her glass up in a small salute, and Rick watched her throat move as she swallowed. He wanted his lips on that throat and everything connected to it.

  “Doesn’t compare to what you see in California though, does it?” Rick positioned Sage’s empty chair so he could heft his ankle onto it. The burn was getting to be a bit much. He had to stop overdoing it.

  “I don’t go to concerts,” Lily said. “I’m more into movies for entertainment.”

  “You have a favorite movie?”

  “All of them.” Lily grinned, and Rick wanted more than his lips on her now. “You want another drink?”

  He shook his head. Two beers were enough, and the way he was feeling right now—the way his body was reacting to Lily—he was afraid to get even a little buzz going. He’d gone on stage without much of a fight. What else would he give in to if he were liquored?

  “Actually, I should head out.” Rick pulled his jacket off the back of the chair. He had to get out of there. Away from Lily. Take a cold shower. Alone.

  “I’ll compile my notes from tonight into a case against having a resort here,” Lily said. “Maybe I could run the presentation by you tomorrow?”

  The hopeful look on Lily’s face, combined with that lion mane of strawberry blonde hair, had Rick nodding. How could he say no to seeing her again?

  He couldn’t, but he needed some rules, something that put meeting her on his terms, on his schedule. “Come by in the afternoon. I plan to check taps in the morning with my aunt. She won’t let me walk in the woods unattended.” He rolled his eyes and motioned to his ankle still propped on the chair next to him.

  “Smart lady. One that cares about you,” Lily said.

  “One that thinks I’m going to find my death in the woods.” Rick slid his leg off the chair and fidgeted into his jacket.

  “Like I said, smart lady.” Lily stared at her empty glass as Josh and the guys finished their last song.

  “Why don’t you come with me and my aunt?” What are you doing, stupid? Rick tasted the fear coming off Lily at the mention of death in the woods, and for some unknown reason, he wanted to do something about that fear.

  Lily’s eyes, huge blue-green seas, flicked over to him. She clamped both hands around her glass as she spoke. “No. Thank you. I’ll leave you to your work. I’ll meet you after.” Her voice had a hint of a quake in it as if it were taking all her energy to remain calm.

  “Okay, how about—”

  “Lily,” Josh interrupted.

  In nearly drowning in Lily’s eyes, Rick hadn’t seen Josh approach their table. Their table. As if he was with Lily tonight.

  He wasn’t.

  “Enjoy the show?” Josh rested his hands on the back of the chair opposite Lily.

  “Yes. Lovely.” Lily’s hands relaxed on her glass, and she sent Josh one winner of a smile.

  “This kid is something, huh?” Josh jutted his chin toward Rick.

  “Talented,” Lily said. “For a hermit.”

  Josh laughed and for some reason the sound of it got on Rick’s nerves.

  “I keep telling him to join us. It’s fun, the extra money from gigs is good to have, and the chicks dig us.” Josh’s smile was sunshine bright, and an uneasy feeling wormed its way into Rick’s stomach at the way Josh looked at Lily.

  “Chicks do dig you guys.” Lily pointed to Hope sitting behind the drum set. The drummer stood behind Hope, curling her hands around the drumsticks and explaining something.

  Josh turned to look at the stage. “I think that right there is more a case of Sam digging Hope. He nearly broke a drumstick in half when he saw her walk in. He almost didn’t come tonight, but he switched his shift. He’s an EMT in real life.”

  “For the record, I think Hope’s doing some digging too,” Lily said.

  Josh pulled out the chair across from Lily, turned it around, and straddled it as if it were a horse. Rick found himself wishing it would buck him off then hated that he wished that. He needed to leave, yet his legs wouldn’t do the job. They refused to leave Lily at the table with Josh.

  “Hope said you’re writing something about how great Vermont is?” Josh leaned his elbows on the chair back. Rick could have sworn the kid flexed his biceps as he waited for Lily’s response. He was like a bird, puffing out his feathers in an elaborate mating ritual. Where was a hungry cat when you needed one?

  Or better yet, a coyote?

  “That’s right. A quick presentation.” Lily waved a hand.

  Something about Lily’s short response pleased Rick. Was she not impressed by Josh’s plumage? Was she interested in another bird, perhaps?

  “Well, this place is okay to get a snapshot of Vermont, but I know a few places that would really give you something to write about. I have to help the guys pack up, but I have my own truck tonight,” Josh said. “Can I be your tour guide for what remains of this evening, Miss Lily?”

  Where do these guys get the balls?

  Lily gave Rick a quick glance. One he was sure said, “Help me.”

  He didn’t have time to think about what came out of his own mouth next. It just came spilling onto the table in front of him.

  “Lily’s leaving
with me.” Rick pulled her coat and purse off her chair. “You’re ready, right?”

  “Yes, thank you.” Without hesitating, she slipped on her coat and took her purse from Rick as if they had pre-planned this exit together.

  Red washed across Josh’s face. “I’m sorry. I thought you said you two weren’t on a date.” He volleyed glances from Rick to Lily and back to Rick.

  “We’re not,” Rick said. “We weren’t.” Holy hell, it feels like a date now.

  “I came with Hope and Sage,” Lily said, “but they seem to be otherwise engaged, and I’m ready to leave now. I’m tired and still have some work to do.” She smiled pleasantly at Josh when she stood. Extending a hand to him, she said, “A pleasure meeting you and hearing you play. Thanks for your offer to show me around, but I think I’ve got enough material for my presentation.”

  Polite. Clear. Rick had to admire how she didn’t cut the man down. She was probably used to having to turn guys down all the time. She’d gotten good at it. Didn’t have to get bitchy. Could make it seem as if she would like to go out with them, but truly didn’t have the time for such activities. What other strategies did she have in her toolbox? Had she used any on him yet?

  “C’mon.” Rick stood.

  “I’m going to let Sage know I’m making an exit with you.” Lily patted Rick on the chest as she brushed by him. That one touch, even through his shirt and jacket, was like getting zapped by a defibrillator, which he knew all too well was life-saving, but scary as hell just the same.

  When Lily reached the pool table, Josh came to stand in front of Rick. “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t know you wanted her.”

  As if Lily were the last Snickers bar in a vending machine. Rick let out a slow breath. “I’m giving her a ride home, Josh. That’s it. She said she’s got work to do and didn’t want to wait for my cousins.”

  “Right.” Josh looked back at Lily who was leaning against the pool table by Sage. The position made a denim-clad showcase of her ass and long legs. “Somebody needs to sample that, my friend.”

  “Get out of here.” Rick nudged Josh away and walked to the door to wait for Lily. If he went within reach of Sage, she would give him hell over this. He didn’t need that right now.

  He needed to leave. So much for the alone part of that plan.

  Lily gave Hope a wave, and when she turned toward Rick, Hope threw her hands up over her head and pretended to be a cheerleader. Rick wanted to raise a fist to her, but couldn’t do so without Lily seeing. He’d get Hope later. Always later.

  Rick held the door open for Lily, and again, she hesitated before passing in front of him, a little grin on her lips.

  “What’s so funny?” Rick asked.

  “You are.” She stopped on the wooden ramp outside leading to the dirt parking lot and turned to face him. She zipped her coat and shoved her hands in her pockets. “You’re a gentleman.”

  “And that’s amusing?” Rick led the way to his truck.

  “Yeah,” Lily said as she fell into step beside him. “I think California is classy, but I may be wrong about that.”

  Rick unlocked the passenger side door, mentally cursed at the mud caked on his truck, and opened the door. “You may be wrong about a lot of things.”

  He closed her door after she got in and walked to the driver side. He paused with his hand on the door handle, not sure if he was ready to be in the close confines of the pickup’s cabin with Lily.

  Don’t be an idiot. It’s just a ride home. He opened the door and settled in behind the wheel.

  “Thanks,” Lily said as Rick put the key in the ignition and started the truck.

  “For what?” He backed out of the parking space and headed for the main road.

  “For not leaving me with Josh.” She rested her arm on the center console next to Rick’s, and he fought to keep his arm from reaching over to her.

  “He’s an okay guy,” Rick said, “but you didn’t seem as if you wanted to go with him.”

  “I didn’t, and yes, Josh did appear to be an okay guy, but his guitar playing wasn’t up to snuff if you ask me.”

  Rick glanced at Lily, something warming in the center of his body as she smiled back at him.

  “You were a musical genius up there,” she continued, “and, if we’re being honest, you were really… hot playing that guitar.” She rolled down the window and leaned toward it, pretending to need air.

  “A trick of the stage lighting,” Rick said, though he couldn’t stop the smile coming onto his lips now.

  “I don’t think so.” Lily shifted closer to him and put her hand on the back of his seat by the headrest. “I think it was all you, Rick.”

  He didn’t know what to say. He did know he wanted her hand to make the leap from the headrest to his shoulder, his neck, his face, anywhere. The memory of kissing her in his living room came flooding back like a white-hot blaze capable of setting the truck on fire.

  Rick pulled over to the side of the road and shut off the truck. Lily’s eyes widened as she looked out into the complete darkness surrounding them.

  “Nothing will hurt you out there,” he said just before he reached over and crushed his lips to hers.

  Chapter Twelve

  One minute Lily was paranoid about the nighttime woods closing in around the truck. The next she didn’t care if Bigfoot ripped open the passenger door and dragged her through the forest by her hair. Rick’s mouth possessed her, took her breath away, made her want more. So much more. His hand on the back of her neck kept her within his reach, and the captivity of it further excited her. She wanted to be hunted by him, trapped, tamed.

  Rick ran his other hand along Lily’s thigh, but his lips never left hers. While his hands roamed as far as the tight space in the truck would allow, Lily yearned to explore all of him.

  She pushed back for a moment after he nipped at her earlobe.

  “What’s the matter?” He went suddenly still, his nose still buried in her hair.

  “Nothing,” she whispered. “I just want more room so I can properly throw myself at you.”

  Rick laughed into her neck then kissed a line along her jaw. He caught her lips once again and brought her to the breaking point.

  “I think I can make it to your place in ten minutes.” He sat back and turned the key.

  “Try to make it in five.”

  The truck bounced over ruts in the road as they neared Grandma Gail’s house. In seven minutes, Rick opened the passenger door and scooped Lily out of his truck. She let out a squeal as she held on to her purse in her lap. Being six feet tall had pretty much kept other men from attempting to literally sweep her off her feet.

  “You shouldn’t be carrying me with that ankle,” she said, though she snuggled a little closer to Rick’s chest as he shuffled to the porch steps.

  “What ankle? Nothing hurts right now,” he said. “Everything feels excellent.” He gave the back of her thigh a squeeze and slowed down to take the steps one at a time. When he reached the front door, he set Lily down.

  She opened her purse to get her keys, and while she searched, Rick pressed himself up behind her. Her legs went to jelly, and she had to reach out her palm to the door to steady herself.

  “I’ll never get us inside at this rate.” She attempted to angle her purse toward the porch light, but ended up dropping it to turn around in Rick’s arms.

  “The porch will do.” He braced his hands on the threshold, corralling her between him and the door. “It’s not that cold out here.” He lowered his head and teased her lips with a few slow kisses.

  “Not anymore it isn’t.” Lily liked the way the porch light illuminated Rick’s features and got caught in his eyes.

  As they kissed, something rustled in the trees behind Rick, and Lily glanced over his shoulder. “But it’ll be nicer inside.”

  She stepped out of his hold and retrieved her purse. Rick scanned the tree line as her hands closed around her keys. Hurry up, hurry up. Get inside.

  “Squ
irrel probably. Something small.” He massaged her left shoulder, and she closed her eyes at the gesture. That one, brief touch brought her exactly the right dose of comfort, as if with him nearby she didn’t have to be afraid of anything.

  She pushed the key into the knob, but before she opened the door, she turned to face Rick again.

  “Bear attack.”

  “What?” His eyebrows drew together, and he angled his head.

  “I’m afraid of the woods because a bear attacked me when I was ten.” There, she had said it, but she shivered all over.

  “It happened here?”

  Lily nodded. “My parents were working out their divorce, so I stayed here with Grandma Gail. I was in the hot tub around back when this mammoth beast came barreling out of the woods. I screamed and ran. The bear roared and charged, and well… she was faster than me.”

  Rolling her shoulders, she tried to keep the memory from filling her mind, but it was too late.

  “I’d heard some crunching in the woods, but figured it was a bird or something so I didn’t get out of the hot tub. Grandma Gail said she’d just be a moment while she put on her swimsuit and grabbed towels for us. I remember gazing up at the summer night sky. There were so many stars, too many to count. It was nothing like the California sky where the only sparkling things came with an electric buzz, you know?”

  Rick nodded, his blue eyes focused on her as he listened.

  “I was starting to maybe realize why Grandma Gail liked the woods, and then that rustling got louder. Just as I had made up my mind to go into the house, a gigantic, black monster shot out of the shadows with its teeth bared. Sometimes I can still hear its growling.”

  She hugged herself and ran her hands up and down her arms.

  “I let out a shriek and bolted for the house, but that pissed off bear was so fast. It raked its razor sharp claws across my back as I tried to climb the porch steps.” She closed her eyes, her scars tingling as she remembered. “I fell and my blood was hot as it flowed out of the slashes in my skin. The bear’s breath huffed in my ears as it bent over my body and sniffed me.”