by Ann Everett
“I’m already digging into their finances. I understand they’re out of the country. Is that right?”
“Yes. Due to return next week.”
“Okay. When they get home, they’ll want to see the girl. Let them and don’t even bring up the lawsuit. Once I’m done, you’ll know everything from how much money they have in their accounts to what medications they take. We’ll find some leverage.”
The two men left the same way they came in and Raynie felt better in spite of the litigation, but wished she could be as positive as Harold. Trusting him was the best she could do.
Back in the kitchen, she removed the bread from the oven and placed it on the cooling rack. Now what? Caught up with her readings and hours before Silbie returned, she should watch a movie. Or better yet, go to a theater. Or shopping. Before she decided, the doorbell rang. Peering through the peephole, Jared stood on the porch. Her heart quickened. She yanked the door open. “Hey. What are you doing?”
“Wanted to check on you. You feeling better?” He eyed her from head to toe.
Raynie understood his scrutiny. Her new image probably puzzled him. “Yeah. I’m back to normal. Whatever that is.”
“Good. Then how about I take you and Silbie for ice cream.”
“She’s not here. Gone to the movie.”
He glanced around the room, then his eyes settled on her hair. “So, you’re here alone?”
“Ye—es. Why?”
He stepped inside, kicked the door closed, and grabbed her. He covered her mouth, twirled her around and backed her to the wall. The movement so quick, she had no time to resist. Not that she wanted to. She couldn’t think of anything but his tongue and what it was doing. When he finally let her come up for air, she sucked in a breath and released it in a slow steady stream. He only gave her a second to recover and claimed her again. This time, she clutched his shirt to pull him closer.
He deepened the kiss and his hands were everywhere. Up her shirt. Cupping her ass. Undoing her bun. He moved away and whispered against her cheek. “Please never wear your hair like this again.”
“I’m reinventing myself.”
“Into what? A Pilgrim?”
Raynie stiffened. “We shouldn’t do this. It’ll be more ammunition for the Collins.”
“Silbie’s not here. They can’t dictate what you do when she’s gone.”
“Oh really? According to the lawsuit, they can. So you should leave.”
“You sure?” He pressed his mouth to her ear. “Because I plan to bury my. . . .”
“Oh God.” She heaved the words out.
“After that, I’m going to take my tongue and . . .”
This time she couldn’t form a word, only moan at his promise.
“Come on.” He led the way to her room. Stopped at the edge of the bed. Kissed her. Long, slow, sweet, and her heart raced. “You drive me crazy.” He guided her hand south.
God, he was hard. Stone hard. She unbuttoned his jeans, slid his zipper down, and wrapped her fingers around the length of him.
He kissed her again, tangling his tongue with hers, and she stroked him, slow and smooth.
Blood heated. Pulse pounded. Heart raced. No need to be shy. Using her free hand, she tugged his Levi’s, inched them down little by little and then eased him out of his boxers, all the while still stroking him with a steady rhythm.
He pulled her hand free. “I want to come inside you and if you keep doing that, I won’t last long enough.”
She didn’t wait for him to help, she removed shoes, jeans, shirt, and stood before him in lace panties and bra. While she’d gotten naked, he’d done the same. She stepped back to gaze at him. Broad shoulders, taut skin, flat belly, and penis jutting out like pointing the way to the Promise Land. An unbearable ache only he could relieve settled between her legs.
HE REACHED OUT and folded her into his chest, slid his hands up her back and released the hooks on her bra. She edged away enough to let the pink lace fall to the floor. He gazed down at her. She had beautiful tits. Rosy nipples stiffened into sharp points begging to be licked. He lowered his head, covered one sweet peak with his lips.
She whispered his name. He moved to the other side and it must have been what she wanted because she raked fingers through his hair and held him in place. She loosened her hold ready for the next step and he was happy to oblige. He slipped his hands to caress her lace covered ass. The last barrier between him and what he wanted. Or—what they both wanted.
Apparently, he wasn’t moving fast enough, because she hooked her thumbs in the waist of the bikinis and shimmed out of them. Now it was his turn to get a good look at her and she exceeded every fantasy he’d had, and God knew he’d had plenty. He’d dreamed of her naked. Especially after her office visit.
She turned her back to him and that’s when he saw the floral tattoo running the full length of her spine. Damn. He lifted her hair and kissed the ink from neck to waist. She shivered against him. Then she walked to the bed taking him with her. When she reached the edge, she sat, and he stood between her widespread legs. She clutched his shaft again, licked the tip, and he thought he’d come undone. If she took him into her mouth, he wouldn’t be able to keep control, and he wanted to pleasure her first. Gently pushing her down on the mattress, he knelt between her knees, worked his lips up her thigh. She whimpered. He stopped, blew a hot, steady breath from one side to the other, then looped her legs over his shoulders. “I think it’s time I earned the right to call you Rosebud, don’t you?”
She clutched the comforter with both hands. “Yes.”
He planted his face between her legs. Stroked her with his tongue. She moved against him and before he got the chance to show her his vast skills, she arched and writhed with an orgasm. When the siege ended, she scooted back giving him room to crawl on top.
He hovered above her and couldn’t help but smile when she put the head of his penis against the rosebud and began to rub. Slowly at first, then faster. Her lips parted as breath came in gasps. Damn, she’s going to climax again. When it happened, she shoved his cock deep inside her. Slick and hot, she convulsed around him as if to wring him dry. Every inch of his flesh caught fire. Stomach clenched into a knot. Balls drew tight and high.
She placed a hand on his cheek. “You’ve got to promise me something.”
He stared into her beautiful face and would vow anything because nothing felt better than being inside her.
“This is just sex. Nothing more. Say you’ll never love me.”
The words stabbed his heart like a saber. That was the only thing he couldn’t do. He didn’t know when it had happened, but he already loved her. So much so, when he was with her, he couldn’t breathe.
He went still. Withdrew. “You picked a hell of a time to make demands.” He rolled off her.
“You can’t have feelings for me, Jared. That won’t change anything. I’m still leaving.” She covered herself with the comforter. “My life is already complicated. Don’t make it worse.”
He stood. Grabbed his clothes. “Know what, Raynie? You’ll end up old and alone because of your warped idea of happily-ever-after. You think it should be happily forever. Well, I’ve got news for you.” He buttoned his pants and jerked his shirt over his head. “It’s impossible to be happy 24–7. Hell, I don’t even like myself every minute.”
He picked up his boots, stuffed his socks inside, and held them. “Shit happens. We slip-up. We say things we don’t mean. But if two people love each other, they get through hard times. You’re concentrating on the forever part. Focus on the after.” He sat next to her and looped his arm around her shoulders. “Don’t you get it? It’s when you commit and stay together after all the mistakes and problems. That’s your forever.”
She shrugged away. “Just stop, I . . .”
He jumped to his feet. “No. You stop. There are plenty of couples with fairy tale endings. My brother. Mom and dad. And I want the same thing.”
“What do you mean?”
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br /> “According to your instructions, I’m not allowed to say what I mean . . . or feel. So you figure it out.”
The muscle in his jaw jutted in and out. “Want a fuck buddy? Then keep finding the bad boys.” He moved to the doorway and stopped. “I need to be more than stud service. If you change your mind about what you want, let me know.” Then he turned and disappeared down the hallway.
HEART POUNDING, HEAD spinning, Raynie sat stunned. No man had ever made more abrupt exits, but she’d never met a man like Jared Sloan. What was wrong with him? Okay, so he wanted more. More what? Be exclusive? They were except for Rico’s visit and that didn’t count because she’d just met Jared.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. Clearly he confused love and lust. Love didn’t last. It never did. And if he broke her heart, she wouldn’t recover. Not this time.
And their families? Even the thought of them together made her laugh out loud. She could picture Mrs. Sloan, pale with disbelief, when Mom showed up with a younger husband, and wanted to frolic in the backyard buck naked, while Raynie’s dad offered Mr. Sloan a homegrown joint.
She replayed his exit scene. I want it. You figure it out. What did that even mean?
It was the whole happily-ever-after thing. He was trying to change her way of thinking. She believed in happy endings for some people. Just not her. Or Mom. Or Dad. Or Celeste. Nope, no fairy-tale-ride-off-into-the-sunset for the Starr family. Couldn’t he see that? She based her conclusion on facts, not theory.
Both kitties hooked claws in the comforter and crawled to join Raynie. She placed fingertips to temples. “I’m in deep shit. The padre has feelings for me. Any advice?” She stroked their fur, and they purred in contentment. “Yep, you’re correct. He makes me hum the same way. And his kisses.” She drew a long breath, held it, then released it as if meditating. “Not to mention the dirty talk.” She lifted Medusa to eye level. “Any tomcats ever purr nasty things to you? Probably not. Maybe it’s because Jared’s so moral and different from any man I’ve ever dated, but when those filthy words come out of his mouth, I feel like I might combust.”
She replaced the cat next to her brother. “Well, neither of you helped.” She scooted from the bed and headed to the bathroom. A cold shower would clear her head. Because like it or not, there were choices to be made.
The pounding water didn’t solve anything. Her brain spun with questions. At least the confusion with Jared pushed the threat of losing Silbie to the back of Raynie’s mind. Temporarily.
Climbing back into bed, she pulled the cover up to her chin. The memory of him naked caused her to shiver. What kind of man stops as he’s about to have his turn?
She bolted upright. Enough was enough. No more pondering about love and commitment and all that other malarkey. She traipsed into the kitchen and removed the fresh loaf from the pan, put the surveillance photos in a safe place, then loaded the dishwasher.
The plan to give the bread as a thank-you to Mr. Remmus changed. She wanted to sample the recipe. She cut a warm slice and poured herself some wine.
After a couple of drinks, she checked for new emails. Best to stay caught up. Only two. She opened the first request from LuvsmeLuvsmeKnot. Male. Bachelor. Clever moniker. She’d give him that. Recent relationship. Different backgrounds. He was serious. She wasn’t. Any hope?
Hmm, sounded familiar. Idiot. Total fool. She could take his money and tell his future without a shuffle. Of course she’s the one. For a while. But don’t hang your hopes and dreams on her. Chances are, she’ll grow tired of you and meet a pumpkin farmer to spice up her life.
Forcing the thought away, she shuffled and turned the Seven of Wands. Second card, Two of Swords. Then Two of Cups. Followed by Eight of Coins. Finally, Lovers Card.
What if this was Jared’s request? Great. More paranoia. Just what she needed. If so, the reading couldn’t be right. She re-shuffled and began again. With each turn, her head pounded harder. What were the odds? A million to one? No, a billion. For the same cards to come up twice in a row—impossible.
She closed her eyes. Breathed in. out. In. out. Her peepers popped open, and she drained her glass. Too much wine? Stupid. Not drunk. Had to be a mistake. She aimed her cell, snapped a picture, reshuffled.
With the first card, her chest tightened. Coincidence. She flipped number two. Damn! She blinked. Nope. Same card. That made no sense. Her brain was playing tricks. Either that, or some evil spirit had possessed her deck. She gathered them into a messy heap. The front door opened. Silbie was home. No need to press her luck. She went to pay the sitter.
At nine o’clock the following morning, still woozy from the night before, Raynie scrambled for her phone and finally located it beneath the covers. “Hello.”
Quinn’s cheery voice echoed. “Morning. How’s everything going?”
Raynie rubbed her head. “Not so good. I had the weirdest dream. Kept getting the same cards over and over.”
“That is weird.”
“I’m a little fuzzy. I knocked off a half-bottle of vino last night. Probably explains the nightmare. Anyway, what’s going on with you?”
“Yesterday, a guy named David Carson, came in to your shop and wanted to know if I’d be interested in selling the place. Once I explained I just worked there, he asked for your number. Expect a call.”
“Why didn’t you tell him it wasn’t for sale?”
“Not my decision. You might accept the right offer.”
“Oh my God. You want me to.”
“Keep your options open. With everything that’s happened, I’m not sure you know what you want. Getting rid of the business would help you figure that out.”
“You sound like Jared. He basically said the same thing. Have you been talking to him?”
“No! I’d never do that. I’m saying, the apartment connected to the store isn’t big enough for you and Silbie, so selling might be a good choice. You can still come back. Buy a suitable house and do all your business online. You don’t need the responsibility of a storefront. Take my word, working from home has advantages. I love it.”
“You have a baby. Silbie will be in school all day. My situation is different.”
“Yeah. Like now.”
“Okay. Point taken. You’re right. I don’t miss having a shop, but selling? I’ve never thought about it.”
“Well, you should. Now tell me what’s been happening between you and the padre.”
By the time Raynie hung up, Quinn had the scoop about the lawsuit and Jared walking out.
After the call, she glanced at the laptop and cards lying on her bed and the memory of the readings flooded back. It’d not been a dream. Head clear, a new turn was in order. This time, it would be the one she sent to the customer. Grabbing her supplies, she rushed to the kitchen table and shuffled. First card. Seven of Wands. Holy crap. Deja vu all over again.
Fate decides who comes into your life,
your heart decides who stays.
~Picture quotes
TWO WEEKS PASSED And Raynie became unhappier by the minute. Interested buyer, David Carson called the day after Quinn, and made an offer on the Austin property. One Raynie couldn’t refuse without serious consideration. She admitted she’d not missed the shop, and if she intended to be active in Silbie’s parties and events, selling was the best choice. And, it took one worry off her mind.
No word from Jared since the night he’d left her naked and alone, so she assumed he’d moved on. She tried not to think about him, but nothing worked. And the suspicious client made her more despondent. If Jared was LuvsmeLuvsmeKnot, then the minute he got the email, he’d call. Or not. Is that what she wanted? Wasn’t sure. But she was miserable. No doubt about that. She strolled to the laptop, pulled up the tarot summary, and hit send.
It was nearly time for Mr. Remmus’ visit and today, she wouldn’t wait. Taking the last bottle from the cabinet, she jotted Maker’s 46 on her shopping list. Didn’t want the old man to run out. The daily drink might be all that kept him going.
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Whiskey in hand, she made her way across the yard to his front door. Before she rang the bell, he opened it. “What’s this? You bootlegging now?”
“I’d have to charge you if that were true. You borrow from me. I bring a gift. Saves you a trip.”
He chuckled. “I like you Raynebeaux Starr. If I was thirty years younger, I’d give that boyfriend of yours a run for his money.”
“You talking about Jared? He isn’t my boyfriend.”
The gent cocked a brow. “Knew I hadn’t seen him lately, but thought I just missed his visits.”
Now she chuckled. “You don’t miss anything.”
“You’re right. So what’s going on?”
She glanced around the room. Quaint. Neat. Not what she anticipated. She thought the place would be a cluttered mess given the fact Mr. Remmus rarely combed his hair and never wore an ironed shirt. She also expected it to smell like a nursing home. It didn’t. A mixture of tobacco and vanilla hung in the air. A combination she found pleasant.
An overstuffed beige sectional anchored the living room with a dark red velvet chair at the end. Floor to ceiling bookcases covered one wall. Raynie moved to the shelves and ran her finger along the volumes. Your wife must have loved Nella Summer. Every book she ever wrote must be here.”
“She read them over and over. And when she got sick, I read them to her. She was Nella’s biggest fan.”
“My mom loves her books, too”
“How about you?”
“Never bought into the happily-ever-after stuff too much.”
“So, back to your fellow. You two split the sheet?”
“More like never got between them. He came to his senses. I’m not the marrying kind.”
Mr. Remmus opened the bottle and filled a glass already sitting on the counter, then held it up as if to ask Raynie to join him.
“No, thanks. Won’t be long until I carpool kids.”
“From what I’ve seen of you and Silbie, you’re perfect wife and mother material. Seems to come natural. So what’s the crap about not believing in happy endings? You can’t be faithful?”