Where I Belong

by Jill Sanders

  Text copyright ©2016 by the Author.

  This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Marina Adair. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original St. Helena Vineyard Series remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Marina Adair, or their affiliates or licensors.

  For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds

  Dear Readers,

  Welcome to the St. Helena Vineyard’s Kindle World, where romance is waiting to be uncorked

  and authors from around the globe are invited to share their own stories of love and happily ever

  after. Set in the heart of wine country, this quaint town and its cast of quirky characters were the

  inspiration behind my St Helena Vineyard series, and the Hallmark Channel movie, AUTUMN

  IN THE VINEYARD. I want to thank these incredible authors for spending time in St. Helena,

  and all of you readers who are adventurous enough to take the journey with us.

  I hope you enjoy your time here as much as we have.

  Warmly,

  Marina Adair

  Where I Belong

  ~ St. Helena Vineyard Series ~

  ~ Marina Adair Kindle Words ~

  Rafe & Eva

  Follow Jill online at:

  Jill@JillSanders.com

  Web: http://JillSanders.com

  Twitter: @JillMSanders

  Facebook: JillSandersBooks

  Sign up for Jill’s Newsletter @ JillSanders.com

  Summary

  Life it seems is hell-bent on crushing Eva Chapman. Starting with the tragic loss of her brother, for which she is solely to blame, to the unfortunate turn of events that have landed her where she is now; on her knees, hiding behind the counter at a hole-in-the-wall bookstore, in wine-country of all places, with local police in hot pursuit. This was not the life she'd imagined for herself. And no amount of imagination or self-destructive behavior could ease this pain. Running is all she has now.

  Fresh out grad-school, psych-degree in hand, and here he is manning the local coffee-shop/bookstore in his hometown of St. Helena. Rafe had never felt more a-drift and confused. The truth is, he'd never really thought this far ahead, and until sis returns from her post-2nd-divorce-meltdown-vacation this will have to do, that is, if he can survive the boredom. He did kind of enjoy the relaxing tourist vibe and routine flux of interesting local eccentrics in and out the shop every day, but it was the gorgeous hot mess that just dove over his counter that really caught his attention!

  Where I Belong

  by

  Jill Sanders

  Chapter One

  There was little Eva hated more than perfectly pampered people walking around like they owned the world. Especially ones that looked down their nose at her as she walked by them on the street.

  Sure, she probably deserved the looks. After all, she was down to her last “good” pair of jeans. The ones with the holes in the knees and thighs. Okay, so the style was still in, but apparently not in St. Helena.

  No, here the style ranged from upscale to upper scale. Something to which Eva had never really gotten accustomed. Actually, she’d been experiencing a whole new world since arriving in town three days ago from LA.

  She shifted her backpack on her shoulder and continued walking down the main street towards the small grocery store. When she noticed the place was crawling with people, she shifted her direction and crossed the street instead as her stomach knotted.

  It was hard to swipe breakfast when there were too many eyes. Taking a deep breath, she rolled her shoulders and thought of how she could kill some time until rush hour was over at Picker’s Produce.

  God, could the town get any more wholesome, she thought as she walked by a day spa and bistro. She stopped for a moment to admire the animals in the front window of the local shelter and gave herself a moment to dream of one day owning a small dog like the little tan and white one in the window.

  She’d have a home along the water somewhere. Maybe in Oregon? She’d always loved traveling through the green rolling hills there. The beaches were cold and grey, just the way she liked them. She thought of the last day she’d spent on the beach. It had been over ninety degrees and she’d ended up peeling off her jeans and hoodie. Just so she could wade into the cool water in just the boxer shorts and sports bra she’d been wearing.

  Okay, so it had been forever since she’d shopped at Victoria’s Secret. But, considering her life in the past year, she’d been lucky to have what she had at all.

  Hell, the fact that her backpack was heavier than ever—she counted herself one very lucky lady. She smiled slightly as she thought of the contents. Everything she owned was there, on her back. Ready to hightail it if she had to.

  She’d spent too much time admiring the tan puppy, watching it play and lick the glass window, that she hadn’t noticed the man staring at her from across the street. That was until the familiar tingle moved up her spin.

  Without moving her head, her eyes caught his reflection in the glass and she froze. Her breath caught in her lungs as her entire body started to shake. Her fingers clinched the strap of her bag tighter.

  Taking two deep breaths, she assessed everything about him. Slowly taking her time as her eyes ran over the dark uniform and the shiny badge that sat on his chest.

  If she’d been a different person, she would have thought that the man was handsome. Hell, maybe even drop-dead gorgeous. But, she was...well, who she was...and he was who he was. A cop.

  A cop, who was leaning against his patrol car, and eyes focused solely on her.

  Her mind screamed for her to run. Her body, on the other hand, refused to obey the commands. Her nails dug into the rough material of her backpack’s strap and her mind rushed through so many scenarios she was almost dizzy.

  She watched in horror as he slowly leaned up, unfolded his arms that were crossed over his chest, and started making his way from his patrol car across the street towards her.

  Only then did her body actually react. Before she could think, she rushed into the closest doorway and jumped, head first, behind the tall countertop.

  Leaning against the back of what appeared to be a bar, she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths as her heartbeats raced loudly in her head.

  Think, she told herself. What in the hell was she going to do? Why was the cop interested in her? What the hell was she going to do?

  She sighed when she realized she was repeating herself. She hated repeating herself, making the same mistakes. A memory threatened to surface from her past, but she swallowed hard and forced it back to the black hole in her mind.

  She listened intently for a few moments for the sound of the small bell that had chimed over the door when she’d rushed into the place. If the cop followed her, she needed an exit strategy.

  Quickly opening her eyes, she held in a scream when she saw a pair of sexy brown eyes staring back at her.

  “Can I help you?”

  His voice was even sexy. Damn! Why the hell was she thinking every man was hot all of a sudden? Maybe she was undersexed. Okay, yes, she was definitely undersexed. It had been over a whole year since she’d gotten any play. After all, spending a year on the run didn’t really make for any relationship opportunities.

  “Um.” She swallowed again and blinked a few times. “Water?” She faked a cough and leaned back against the cool wood of the bar.

  “Sure.” He chuckled, then looked up when the bell chimed over the door, signaling that someone had walked in.

  She tensed and shut her eyes once more. Counting the heartbeats.

  “Hey, Joe,” the man wit
h sexy brown eyes said casually.

  “Hey, Rafe.” From her position, she guessed it was the sexy cop. “The darndest thing just happened,” the cop said.

  She could hear him moving closer to the bar and so she scrunched up her legs and tucked her body into a small ball.

  “I was just working up the nerve to...” The man sighed. “Did you see...” Again he sighed loudly. “Well...” She heard him chuckle. “I guess, never mind.”

  “You okay?” sexy brown eyes asked, leaning over the counter slightly, until his knees brushed against hers. She held in a gasp and tried to tuck her body closer into a ball.

  “Yeah,” came the reply. “Guess I’ll have a cup of Joe to go. We’ve had a few break-ins on the outskirts of town.”

  “Oh?” brown eyes said as he moved around the small area to get the cop his coffee. “Anything serious?”

  “Nah. It’s probably just some kids. You might want to check on that cabin of yours though. You know, make sure everything’s still locked up.”

  “Will do.” She watched brown eyes hand over a steaming hot cup of coffee, and held her stomach, afraid the low growling would give her hiding place away.

  “See you around,” the cop said, and Eva relaxed slightly when she heard the bell chime again, signaling he’d left.

  “Now,” brown eyes said, leaning slightly towards her, “do you want to tell me what that was all about?”

  She raised her chin slightly and shook her head, her eyes burning into his. “No.” She started to get up, but before she could manage it, strong hands were gripping her waist and hoisting her up until she stood close to him. Too close to him.

  She could see small gold flecks in those sexy brown eyes of his. She could even smell the sweet scent of coffee mixed with a sexy spicy scent he wore.

  Just then her body responded by letting out a loud growl. Rolling her eyes, she dropped her hands away from his shoulders, where they had migrated to when he’d helped her up. When she tried to take a step backwards, her butt came up against the edge of the bar.

  Brown eyes smiled slightly at her move.

  “Going somewhere, hellcat?” he asked, jokingly.

  “Do you mind?” she said as she narrowed her eyes.

  “Absolutely.” He nodded, then crossed his arms over his chest, while holding his ground. “It’s not often that someone runs into my place, jumps the counter, and hides out from the local...PD.”

  She felt all the blood leave her face. “I... I wasn’t...”

  His dark eyebrows rose slowly, challenging her to deny his statement.

  “He’s an old boyfriend.” The lie was out before she had time to think it through. “He was abusive and” —she faked a little cry— “I just had to escape.”

  When she looked again, his brown eyes were narrowed and assessing her.

  “Right,” he said, taking a step back, just as her stomach growled loudly again. “How about a cup of coffee and a sandwich?” He nodded towards the large glass display a few feet away. There were several prewrapped sandwiches under the bright lights in the refrigerated case. They looked absolutely amazing and her stomach responded painfully.

  “I...” She sighed. “He took my purse.” She glanced back towards the main windows at the empty spot where the cop car used to be.

  Brown eyes sighed. “It’s on the house.” He leaned closer. “This time.”

  She felt her shoulders relax slightly and was almost dizzy with relief. She wasn’t going to have to steal her food today after all. Just lie for it.

  ***

  Rafe sat across the high bar top and watched the sexy brunette wolf down the sandwich in only a few bites. Her coffee was untouched, but the bottle of water he’d set in front of her was already half empty. His nickname for her didn’t begin to describe the fight he’d seen in her eyes.

  He could tell—the woman would be a hellcat if messed with.

  He’d been stuck behind the counter of his sister’s coffee shop in St. Helena for the past week, all thanks to Cindy. She’d called him two weeks ago and dropped the bomb that she was getting a divorce. Her second one in less than two years.

  She’d begged him to come take over the shop while she took a break. He’d instantly thought of her staying at home, tucked under a thick blanket while emptying container after container of ice cream. Much like she’d done after she’d caught her first husband, Keith, cheating on her with Nora, her best friend from grade school.

  Instead, she’d had her bags packed when he arrived, and had kissed him on the cheek, handed him the shop’s keys, and left for a month-long trip to Alaska.

  Naturally, he’d been bound to his agreement to watch the place, so he’d opened the coffee shop slash bookstore early every morning to receive the deliveries and to sit behind the counter waiting on customer after customer. Most of whom, he’d known all of his life.

  “So,” he said, watching the woman across from him swallow the last of the turkey sandwich. She washed it down with the last of the bottled water. “I’m Rafe.” He waited, his eyebrows going up slightly.

  “Candy,” she said, her eyes darting around the empty room.

  If he hadn’t just graduated from Berkeley with a degree in psychology, he still wouldn’t have believed that lie. It didn’t take a genius to know she was lying through her teeth.

  “Candy.” He let the name roll off his lips. “What brings you to St. Helena?”

  She sighed, then glanced at him from the side of her eyes. Sexy amber eyes that had little spots of hazel in them. He shook his head clear.

  “Listen, I appreciate the food,” she started, only stopping when the bell chimed again above the door. Her entire body tensed and she almost froze on the spot.

  He’d known she’d lied to him about Joe. He and Rafe went way back to kindergarten. Joe could no more abuse a spider, let alone a supposed girlfriend. But, he’d let the woman continue on with the story. At least her presence was breaking up the mundane day-to-day he’d been dealing with for almost a week.

  They watched a group of older women walk into the coffee shop; each grabbed a mug and walked over to the self-serve coffee dispensers. Once the group had all their coffees just right, they settled in their favorite spot. A large booth that sat close to the doorway. The women were a staple in the town and to the coffee shop. Some of the bluest blood in Napa Valley sat at the booth and huddled as they plotted the demise or the uprising of their children and grandchildren.

  “They come in every day,” he reassured, turning back to Candy. “So”—he leaned closer, just a breath away from her. He could smell flowers and almost closed his eyes and inhaled the sexy scent. His hand reached across the table, brushing slightly against hers as he removed the empty plate— “do you want to tell me the real reason you were hiding from Joe, Candy?” The way he’d said the name, assured her he knew she was lying.

  But, since he figured she wasn’t about to bolt while there was an audience, he’d taken the chance.

  Her eyes darted to the doorway, then to the group of ladies who were all happily chatting a few feet from them.

  “Fine.” She sighed and turned back to him. “I really do appreciate the food.” She pushed the coffee mug back towards him. “I don’t do caffeine,” she added. “My name is Eva and I just don’t like cops.” She shrugged. “My old man was a cop.” Her eyes once again started roaming behind his shoulders as she went on to tell him another story about how her father had been abusive.

  “And here I thought we were making some progress,” he said after her quick lie. He leaned down, placed a large sticky bun on the countertop, and pushed it towards her. When her eyes grew large, he smiled.

  As she started to reach for it, he pulled it back towards him slightly. “You’re welcome to all the free food...” He tilted his head slightly. “All I ask in return is the truth.”

  He watched her eyes narrow and her sexy lips turn downward into a pout, making them look even fuller and more kissable.

  “Why?�
�� It came out as a whisper.

  “Because I don’t like people lying to me.”

  “No”—she shook her head— “why are you giving me free food?”

  He chuckled. “Let’s just say, this town can get pretty boring.” He watched her eyes as they watched him. “And, you’re the first person I’ve met in St. Helena in a while that I find interesting. But,” he sobered. “I don’t do deceptions.”

  She took a shallow breath as her eyes moved to the steaming roll. He could smell the sweetness of the sugar and knew that she could too. He could all but see her mouth watering, as she devoured the treat with her eyes.

  Her eyes moved back to his. “The truth?”

  He nodded, and then waited.

  “Fine.” She shrugged. “You may not find it so fascinating.” She leaned forward slightly, and with her eyes on his, took the plate from him.

  “Your name is Eva?”

  She nodded at his question.

  “And you are from?”

  Her eyes met his as her mouth opened, then shut. Sighing, she answered, “Seattle.”

  He tilted his head and said. “Why were you hiding from Joe?”

  Her eyes returned to the treat. “I don’t like cops.”

  “Are you wanted?” he asked in a low tone so the group of women in the room wouldn’t hear.

  Her eyes moved up to his and he saw sadness cross behind them. “No. No one wants me.”

  In that moment, he realized she believed she was telling him the truth.

  Chapter Two

  Eva swallowed the pain of loneliness and then scooped up some more of the cinnamon goodness. She’d dealt with enough hurt and pain the past year. She’d kept it at bay for so long she hadn’t really had time to dwell on it.

  But, with the big chocolate eyes looking at her now, she felt like for the first time in a while, she wanted to explore what was behind it all. More importantly, she wanted to get a few things off her chest. She’d held it in for too long. And, something told her that Rafe was just the kind of man who would listen.