Where I Belong

by Jill Sanders

  “You’re an ass.” She pushed lightly at his chest.

  His hands released, sending her sliding down his body, slowly. He watched her eyes heat as their body friction ignited something in both of them.

  He moved his hands around and gripped her soft rear, pulling her tight up against his erection. “I’m sorry, what did you say about my ass?”

  Her eyes closed on a moan, her head rolled back as her hips started to move slowly.

  His fingers wrapped around until he brushed up against her softness and had her purring for him once more.

  Chapter Five

  Eva rested her chin on her fist and listened to the minutes tick by. After that morning’s shower, and what a sex-filled shower it had been, she needed a nap. Hell, what she needed was a week of sleep to recover from what Rafe had done to her.

  Her body instantly responded as she thought about it, causing her to shift on the stool and glance towards the back of the shop.

  He was outside, helping the delivery guy shuffle in box after box. He’d told her to sit behind the counter and “man the store.” But so far, all she’d done was watch the minutes tick by slowly.

  Just as her eyelids drooped, the bell above the door chimed and a very blonde, very gorgeous woman rushed in with a smaller version of herself trailing behind her.

  When she saw Eva, she stopped dead in her tracks in the middle of the shop and frowned. Her mini-me slammed into the back of her, since her eyes had been glued to her phone. Eva held in a little chuckle and instead pasted a smile on her face for her first customers.

  “Hey,” the younger girl said. Then her eyes moved up and landed on Eva. Her miniature mouth and her mother’s both dropped into a matching O shape.

  “Who are you?” the woman purred as her eyes narrowed.

  “I’m Eva.” She shifted as the woman looked down her high-society nose at her. The harsh looks the woman gave her were enough to get Eva’s temper rolling. “I’m helping out Rafe and Cindy for the next few weeks.” She shifted and, in the process, raised her chin a little higher. “Is there something I can help you with?”

  “Coffee”—the woman glanced down at her phone as it beeped— “black.” Her eyes moved up again. “And make it quick.”

  Just then, the little girl, tugged on her mother’s jacket sleeve. “Mom, can I have a hot chocolate?”

  The woman spared her daughter a glance, and for the first time since walking in the door, Eva watched the woman’s eyes soften. “Yes,” she said, and then turning back to Eva, her eyes and face shifted once more. Just as quickly. “And a hot chocolate. Minus the cream and marshmallows.”

  Eva watched the little girl’s shoulders slump slightly.

  She turned around and started filling the order. Rafe had quickly schooled her on the cash register system, but she’d spent more of her summers in high school working behind the counter of a coffee shop than she dared to think about. So, she already knew how to man the machines to make the drinks.

  When she was done with the hot chocolate, she added two of the largest marshmallows she could find, then added a dash of chocolate sprinkles and winked at the little girl, whose mother was too busy tapping away at her phone to even notice.

  “Here you are,” she added, then walked over to the cash register as the woman sipped at her coffee. “That’ll be twelve dollars, even.” She waited.

  The woman stared at her. “Cindy usually gives us a discount.”

  “Cindy isn’t here,” Eva added, tilting her head slightly.

  The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Who did you say you were?”

  “Eva,” she supplied.

  “I mean, your family?”

  Eva’s chin rose. “I didn’t.”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed even more. “You must be from out of town.”

  Eva placed on one of her biggest fake smiles and nodded. “Guilty as charged.”

  “Well, then let me set you straight.” The woman leaned slightly towards her. “I’m Isabel Stark. Of the Napa Valley Starks.” When Eva didn’t even blink at the name, the woman seemed to grow more agitated. “My family has known the Rowan family for generations.” Once again, Eva didn’t blink. She got the hint that the Rowan family was Rafe and Cindy, but didn’t let on. “We have always been given a discount at any of their businesses.”

  “As I mentioned before, Cindy isn’t available. If you want the coffee and hot chocolate, it’ll be twelve dollars even.” She held her ground as the woman shifted.

  There was a moment of silence, and then the woman shuffled out the twelve dollars from her very expensive black Fendi handbag.

  Eva wanted to chuckle at the irony of the woman arguing over her twelve-dollar bill when she held a purse that cost almost as much as a car, but held it in instead.

  As the pair of them walked out of the shop, the little girl glanced over her shoulder and waved. Eva smiled and the girl gave a very large smile in return as the bell chimed overhead.

  “Well, you handled that well,” Rafe’s sexy voice sounded from beside her. “Thank god, I didn’t have to today,” she thought he said under his breath.

  “Who is that woman?” she asked, sitting back down on the stool with a huff.

  “Didn’t you hear? That was Isabel Stark.” He mimicked the woman’s tone almost identically, then chuckled. “One of St. Helena’s greatest families.” He rolled his eyes. Then leaned down and ran his hands over her shoulders, pumping the muscles a few times until she felt them relax under his light massage.

  She couldn’t stop the purr from vibrating in her chest. The man had a way with his hands.

  “Wow, if the first customer of the day could make you this tense, maybe I should’ve put you in the back?”

  “No.” She reached up and took his hand. “It wasn’t the stuck up...” She shook her head, not wanting the hate in her mind to return, not after a night with Rafe had removed more than half of her pent-up energy. “It was the lack of sleep and you”—she turned to him— “that has my body vibrating.” She wrapped her arms around him and enjoyed watching his eyes go soft.

  But, before he could lean in for a kiss, the bell chimed again. “And it begins.” He groaned and took a step back. “Hold onto your hat, things are about to get crazy.”

  ***

  He hadn’t been joking. Every morning the shop turned into a zoo. A zoo filled with some of Napa Valley’s highest society, who all demanded their caffeine be made to perfection.

  “Wine may fill the pockets of St. Helena, but it’s coffee that gets them going each day,” he joked after the morning rush was over.

  “That and the cinnamon rolls,” she said, shoving another piece of her own roll into her mouth. When she moaned with delight, he felt himself grow hard.

  Damn, the woman had a hold on his libido. He shifted so she wouldn’t see the bulge in his pants.

  “So, what do we do now?” She glanced over at him, her finger still trailing in her mouth as she licked the icing off her digit.

  His mind instantly flashed to where else that sexy mouth could go and he felt his jeans almost burst. This time it was him who groaned.

  She shifted, her eyes running up and down him. “Is there really a lingerie place next door?”

  He moved closer to her, unknowingly. His body seemed to have a mind of his own.

  “Yes, the Boulder Holder.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. He’d been imagining taking her, then and right there. “Why?”

  She raised her arms and laid them gently on his shoulders. “Well, I was thinking, if you could give me a small advance”—her eyes softened and he realized he would have given her anything at the moment. Especially since she was rubbing her hips against his dick, making it twitch in his jeans— “I could run next door and get a few things.”

  He dropped his hands, flipped open the cash register, and handed her the entire row of twenties. All within the span of a few seconds. “I like red,” he added, then pulled her closer again and kissed her until he thou
ght his pants would explode.

  The low chuckle that escaped her lips had him jerking her body against his, hard and fast, until she felt glued to him.

  Then she moaned and he thought about locking up the shop and dragging her to the back room and peeling off those tight jeans of hers.

  Just then, the bell chimed again and they both groaned and pulled apart. He watched her stiffen when Joe walked in with his partner. Both of St. Helena’s finest were laughing. When Joe spotted Eva, his eyes lit up even more.

  “Hey.” He walked over to the counter and leaned against it. “I noticed you yesterday. Outside the animal shelter.”

  Eva took a step back, her eyes going between the pair. She appeared frozen with fear.

  “Eva’s helping me out while Cindy’s gone,” he supplied.

  “Oh, that makes sense,” Steven, the older officer added in. “I know this place can get a little crazy.” He leaned on a stool and glanced over at the case full of sugar treats.

  “I was hoping I’d run into you,” Joe continued as if his partner hadn’t spoken. “Eva?” Her name rolled off his tongue. “Have you been in town long?”

  Rafe clearly saw the interest in his friend’s eyes, but knew that Eva was too scared to see the sexual desire behind the cop’s expression.

  “A... a week,” she added, her eyes darting towards the door.

  “Eva just came into town from Seattle. She’s staying with me,” he added as he slid his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. His fingers brushed the tense muscles in her shoulders, but this time he knew she wouldn’t relax until Joe was gone.

  Joe’s eyes and desire deflated. “Oh, hm, well...” He frowned and glanced over at the menu. “I guess I’ll have my usual,” he said to Rafe as his eyes glanced away from Eva.

  Eva turned to him and tucked the money into her back pocket. “I’ll be back,” she whispered and edged her way around the two uniform cops.

  He made a mental note to ask her once more why she was nervous around the police. Maybe there was something more behind her story she hadn’t told him. Yet.

  “Find anything else out about the break-ins?” he asked, once he watched Eva outside head towards the boutique next door.

  “No, looks like all they got away with was a few cans of food and some clothes,” Steve added.

  “Did you ever check up on your place?” Joe asked.

  “Yeah, it’s fine,” he said as he set a hot cup in front of the man.

  “Well, no real harm was done. Looks like whoever did all the damage got scared off.”

  “Damage?” he asked, stopping and turning back towards the men.

  “Yeah, it all started with a car accident. A stolen truck veered off the highway, smacked into a transformer. You remember the blackout last week?”

  He remembered the night his sister had left and nodded. “Thought it was the storm that did that.”

  “Nope. It was the truck. We thought it was a few kids, you know, out for a joyride. But the plates came back from LA,” Steve added. “But, whoever was snooping around, breaking into places, must have left. Because there haven’t been any more reports.”

  “We figured whoever it was must’ve gotten scared and left town.” Joe sipped his coffee. “Hand me one of those”—he nodded to the blueberry muffins— “I skipped out on breakfast this morning.”

  Rafe set the muffin on a plate and put it in front of the man. He guessed Eva wasn’t going to be coming back into the shop until the two uniforms left, so naturally, he wanted them to hurry up.

  But, by the way the two men were making themselves comfortable, he figured it was going to be a while.

  He listened to them talk about their jobs, the town, and any and all of the local gossip. Just one more reason he was going to make sure his sister got an earful when she returned to town.

  Then he thought about Eva and knew that he wouldn’t have traded the past week or the next several ahead of him, if it meant that he wouldn’t have met her.

  Chapter Six

  Eva gripped the bag tighter to her chest as she slowly walked by the window. If the cops where still there, she would continue past the shop and keep walking.

  She chanced a glance in and noticed the two seats where the men had sat earlier, were vacant. Then a movement caught her eye and she continued down the sidewalk anyway.

  Her heart melted when she saw the small tan and white dog she’d been admiring since coming into town. He was running in circles, chasing his own tail.

  She laughed and watched him. When he noticed her, he stopped and walked over to lick the glass.

  Bending down, she pushed her face and hands up against the window and spoke softly to the animal. She didn’t think he could hear her, but she continued to tell him how good and pretty he was.

  “Looks like you have more than one friend in town,” Rafe said from directly behind her.

  She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “Isn’t he just great?”

  He chuckled. “Bob has been in that window for weeks.”

  “Bob?” She frowned at his pet name.

  “Sure.” He nodded to the little guy’s tail. “I heard he was found in the middle of the road. Someone said a car ran over his tail. Chopped it clean off.”

  “That’s horrible.” She frowned and looked at the small dog again.

  He moved closer to her—she heard his breathing and felt her knees weaken. Good thing she was bent down, because she doubted they would have held her up.

  “What did you get?” he asked, reaching down to pick up the bag she’d almost forgotten on the sidewalk beside her.

  She quickly slapped his hands away and tucked the bag close to her heart.

  “You’ll have to wait and see.” She started to stand up, only to have his hands move to her hips and help her up the rest of the way.

  When he pulled her close, she sighed and easily walked into his arms.

  “You know, we could shut the place down for a very long lunch break,” he added, wiggling his eyebrows.

  Just then, they both glanced over as the same group of older ladies walked towards the coffee shop.

  “There you are, Rafe. When is that sister of yours going to get back in town?” one of the women said, her eyes narrowing at Eva. “And who is this lovely creature? I thought we knew everyone in town.”

  “This is Eva—Eva, ChiChi Giovanna Ryo. She’s the town’s matriarch,” he added with a wink to the woman.

  “You scamp,” she replied with a chuckle. “This is Lucinda and Pricilla.” She waved to the other two women flanking her. “I’m sorry dear”—her eyes turned back to her— “I didn’t get your last name?”

  “Chapman,” Eva supplied, without thinking.

  “Oh,” two of the women piped up.

  “Any relation to Harry Chapman?” one of them asked.

  “Of the Seattle Chapmans?” the third woman added.

  “My father,” she said, her eyes moving to Rafe, who only looked down at her with blankness. She held her breath, but when no recognition flashed in his eyes, she relaxed slightly.

  “Who’s Harry Chapman?” Rafe asked as the women rushed over to take her in their arms and usher her back towards the Brew-Ha-Ha.

  “The girl’s father,” ChiChi added over her shoulder. “Really, Rafe, pay attention.” The older woman rolled her eyes at Rafe, almost getting a giggle from Eva.

  But, instead, she bit her bottom lip as the trio dragged her back into the cafe, the bag with her brand new sexy underwear and a soft blue sundress she’d admired, held tightly to her chest.

  “Well, well, you simply must tell us what brings you to town,” ChiChi asked after shoving her down into the booth they had been in the day before.

  “I...” she watched as Rafe walked in and started gathering the ladies’ coffee, since they were too consumed with asking her questions. “I’m just passing through.”

  “And working for me,” he added, setting the first cup of coffee down.

  The
three women gasped. “Surely not.” Their eyes traveled back to her.

  “For a few weeks. I’m helping out until Cindy comes back,” she supplied and watched the three women nod their heads in agreement.

  “Very well. How is it that you know our Rafe?” Their eyes moved over to the man who was currently pouring sugar and cream into the other two cups.

  “School,” he supplied. “Eva went to Berkeley.”

  She held her breath and avoided the ladies’ eyes.

  “Well, isn’t this nice. The two of you meeting up again,” ChiChi added as she glanced at the other three ladies.

  When Rafe was done setting the mugs down, he moved over to the counter and got a plate of cookies, and set them in front of the group.

  “Oh, thank you,” ChiChi said, waving Rafe away. “Now, I’m so sorry to hear about your brother.” The woman reached over the table and took Eva’s hand in her own frail one.

  Suddenly, without any warning, Eva burst into tears.

  Arms wrapped around her as her entire body convulsed. She hadn’t cried for Nate. Ever. Sure, she’d cried the other night, but she’d actually been crying for herself. For the guilt she’d felt. For the anger and the pain she’d endured for the past year. But not for Nate. She’d been silent in her mourning for her brother.

  Actually, thinking about it after she’d blubbered all over the women, she’d been dry-eyed for well past a year. Even when she’d gone without food, shelter, or any other necessities.

  That was until she’d come into St. Helena and met Rafe. She hadn’t felt anything until she’d met him. Now, it seemed she was beginning to feel too much.

  “There, there, child.” ChiChi’s arms tightened around her. “Let it go. You needed that.” The woman ran a hand down her hair as Eva’s mind finally caught up with her emotions.

  “I’m sorry,” she mumbled into the tissue one of the other women had pushed towards her.

  Then before she could say anything else, a very large, gooey chocolate cookie was thrust into her mouth.

  “Not that I don’t like the cookies that Cindy sells here, but they have nothing on my own recipe,” the woman sitting across from her added, pulling another cookie from the large bag she held.