Delaney smiled. “Oh, that’s great. I’d love to watch you work.”
The woman smiled. “Of course, my dear, stop by my house anytime. I’m at the corner of Maple and Third. The old Victorian. You can’t miss it.”
Delaney remembered seeing the lovely, old home this afternoon when Rick showed her around town.
“My grandson,” she continued, “is in a band and some of the church deacons have a barber shop quartet. They’ve even competed at the state level,” she said with pride.
“These ideas are really good,” commented one of the members.
“Yes, I think you’ve definitely come up with some great suggestions,” another said.
“Delaney,” the mayor began, “would you consider staying on for a while to help us make these things happen? I know you were planning to leave once the storm abated.” He motioned toward the window where only flurries now fell. “The storm has moved on but I hope you might consider it.”
Several of the council members chimed in agreeing with the mayor.
No way did she want to make her home in a small town like Avery. She was headed for the excitement and bright lights of New York. But how could she say that without insulting them. “Well I--“
“No, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” said one of the council members shaking his ruddy, complexioned head in disagreement. “No offense, Ms. Monroe but I believe if we implement your suggestions it might attract the wrong sort of people to Avery. I’m Oliver Harden.” His beak of a nose and full lips made his attempt at sticking out the chest on his whip thin body laughable, but he continued with a challenge in his voice. “I own Hardens Mini Mart out by the highway. I get a lot of traffic with people stopping for gas or snacks. Not everybody who stops is clean cut or polite and educated. I’ve even been robbed once.”
There were a series of moans from the other members but only Rick spoke up. “Oliver, you’re right. Personally, I think Avery is just fine the way it is. There’s nothing wrong with our town and I don’t think we need to make it look fancy to attract tourists. We have the hot springs outside of town and the hotel being built. I think that alone will help bring people here. That’s my two cents.”
“Okay,” the mayor said, “would anyone care to add anything to the comments that have been made?”
When no one spoke up the mayor turned to Delaney. “Thank you very much for coming young lady and giving us your ideas.” He looked at the other members. “We’ll take a ten minute break then vote.”
“Thank you, Mayor.”
Delaney said goodnight to the other members and started to slip on her coat when she felt someone helping her. She turned and stared into Rick’s brown eyes. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
* * * * *
Rick walked Delaney down the stairs. When they stepped through the mayor’s office door out into the clear night, only a few clouds remained. Stars like a million tiny lights filled the sky. Delaney’s breath hung for a moment in the cold air. “Wow, the sky is gorgeous.”
That’s not all. “Yeah, it’s always like this after a storm. Come on, I’ll give you a ride.” He lightly grasped her upper arm. They trudged through the snow to the passenger door of his truck and he helped her inside. He walked around the rear of the truck and stopped for a moment. The snow crunched under his boots and the frigid air stung his lungs. He glanced through the windscreen at Delaney waiting for him in the truck. What would it feel like to have a woman--not just any woman--Delaney, waiting for him every night when he headed home?
He shook his head. What the hell was he thinking? She would be leaving town soon and getting romantically involved with her was a bad idea. A woman like her could have any man she wanted. Once she arrived in New York she’d have them beating down her door.
He clenched his teeth together. Why did the thought of her with another man bother him so much? Why couldn’t he stop the memory of those sexually charged minutes they’d spent together in the garage from popping into his head every second since he’d dropped her off at his office? He’d struggled to erase the image of Delaney’s face, her desire filled eyes and sexy lips from his mind, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t. What would it be like to take her in his arms, slide his tongue past her sexy lips and steep himself in her flavor? God help him he hungered to give in to the need and arousal riding him like the ever present hard-on tormenting him.
Rick continued around the truck and climbed in on the driver’s side. He turned the key and the engine roared to life, but he didn’t engage the gear. Instead he slumped back in his seat and looked at her. He just had to know. “Why don’t you ask me?”
Delaney looked at him, her eyes clear and blue in the dim light of the truck. Her lips parted on a sigh.
He hoped to hell she wouldn’t pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about.
She turned away and stared through the passenger window. “It’s really none of my business.” Her voice was matter-of-fact like she didn’t care. Her attitude irked him to no end. Wasn’t that what he wanted? He’d already decided getting involved with her was a lousy idea.
Unable to stop himself, Rick leaned toward her, lifted his hand and rested two fingers under her chin. Gently he nudged her head around until she faced him once again. The warm, silky feel of her skin sent skitters of desire down his arm and into his chest. For a moment, longing filled her cobalt eyes, but then it was gone. “Are you sure?”
She straightened in her seat dislodging his fingers from beneath her chin. Delaney cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?” Her tone was light with a hint of surprise.
Exasperation filled him. He inhaled a deep breath to sooth his annoyance. “I mean we nearly kissed in the garage this afternoon. You don’t have a problem with a guy almost kissing you then going off to an intimate dinner with another woman?”
An indefinable emotion flashed in her eyes. “We hardly know each other.” She shrugged. “I’ll admit there’s a little chemistry between us. . .”
“A little?”
Delaney smiled. “Okay, a lot, but that doesn’t mean we need to act on it. Besides, I get the impression you and Lenore have been seeing each other for a while.”
He shrugged and looked away. “We’ve dated a few times that’s all.” Lenore was a lot more interested in him than he was in her. She was lonely and he didn’t want to hurt her, but he never planned on having any kind of long term relationship with her. Getting involved with Delaney would definitely hurt her. He should have ended it before now. He exhaled a heavy breath. “You’re probably right. It isn’t a good idea for us to give in to the chemistry. You’ll be leaving the dust of this small town behind you as soon as your car is repaired and we’ll never see each other again.”
The thought of never seeing Delaney again made an empty space open up inside him.
“That’s true.” Her voice was soft, pensive. “Lenore really has nothing to worry about.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “Lenore isn’t the one who is worried.”
Delaney turned her head and looked at him. She arched a brow but remained silent.
He gazed at her pretty face, the way her hair fell around her shoulders. His fingers itched to touch her. “The truth is I’m attracted to you and I’d like to spend some time with you while you’re here, but I can’t until I end things with Lenore. It wouldn’t be fair to her or to you.” Now for the kicker. His pulse raced and apprehension filled him. What if she says no? “Would you consider the mayor’s suggestion of staying on in town to help with the project?”
Chapter Four
By the next morning, Delaney still didn’t have an answer for Rick. Standing in the small bathroom down the hall from her jail cell, she applied gloss to her lips and wondered what she should do. Respect for Rick raised several notches when he told her he wouldn’t consider seeing her until he severed his relationship with Lenore. He cared about Lenore’s feelings even though they had only been out a few
times.
As far as staying in town, she had considered it because of Rick. She zipped up the small cosmetic bag and headed back toward her cell. After all, what’s not to like? He’s gorgeous, sexy and honorable at least where women were concerned. But the only money she had was slated for a deposit on an apartment and the first month’s rent. Beyond that she needed a steady flow of income. Delaney sat on the edge of the cot and pulled on a pair of thick socks. She had dreamed of finding a man who truly appreciated her not only for the woman she was but her generous curves as well. Could Rick be that man? What if he turned out to be like her former two-timing boyfriend?
She reached for her boots and tugged them on. She had planned to be in New York before Christmas. If she didn’t leave soon she wouldn’t make it.
Delaney heard the door to the sheriff’s office open and someone step inside. Rick. Maybe she should just be honest and tell him her fears. Satisfied, she’d made a decision, Delaney headed up front. Suddenly, she stopped. Lenore stood in front of Rick’s desk. She was dressed in much the same way she had the day before only this time she wore a gorgeous suede jacket with expensive looking leather boots. “Oh...hi, Lenore.”
Lenore gave her a practiced, phony smile. “I thought we could talk before Rick arrived.”
Her tone was tolerant and friendly which immediately put Delaney on edge. “Okay.” Delaney walked to one of the chairs in front of Rick’s desk and sat down.
Lenore sat in the other one with her gloved hands folded in her lap. She moved gracefully like a beautiful swan gliding over a placid lake.
Delaney’s mother used to tell her she lumbered like a farmer walking between rows of corn. She constantly admonished her to hold her shoulders straight and not slump. Sitting here next to the empress made her feel even more inadequate. “What do you want to talk about?”
Lenore dropped her chin and gazed at Delaney with a wide, innocent look in her green eyes. “I feel I need to be honest with you.” Her voice lowered to almost a whisper. “Woman to woman.”
Uh, oh.
She glanced down at her hands, bit her lower lip then looked back up at Delaney. “When I graduated from high school, my boyfriend, Hank and I got married.” She leaned back in the chair and sighed, her eyes taking on a far away look. “We had the biggest, splashiest wedding Avery has ever seen.” Lenore cut her gaze to Delaney. “We honeymooned in Europe...Italy, Greece and France. We were blissfully happy until. . .” A somber expression stole over her face and tears pooled in her eyes. She withdrew a tissue from her purse and dabbed the corners of her eyes. “Hank joined the army and fought in Desert Storm. One night his platoon was on patrol. They were ambushed...and Hank was killed.” Her voice broke.
Delaney’s soft, compassionate heart squeezed inside her chest as a lump rose into her throat. She’d never seen an empress display such sincere emotion. Maybe Lenore wasn’t so bad after all. She reached out and laid her hand over Lenore’s. “I’m really sorry for your loss.”
Lenore inhaled a deep breath and exhaled. “Thank you, I knew you would understand.” She said the words like two close friends who had just shared a secret.
Delaney squeezed her hand. “Is there anything I can do?”
Suddenly, Lenore’s tears dried up. She put the tissue back in her purse and closed it with a snap. She sat up straight and focused on Delaney. “Actually there is. . .you see I’ve been so lonely since Hank died sometimes it even hurt to breathe. I started the bed and breakfast after Hank’s death to keep a roof over my head and to tell you the truth I never gave another man a second thought...until Rick came to town. He’s been so sweet and kind helping me to deal with my loneliness.”
Removing her hand, Delaney sat back. “You feel threatened.”
Lenore lifted her chin and her eyes widened slightly. She laid a hand in the middle of her chest and straightened. “Not me! It’s poor Rick I’m worried about.”
Delaney raised a brow. “Why are you worried about Rick? He’s a grown man; he can take care of himself.”
Her expression softened. “Yes, but men have very fragile egos. It’s important that a woman be careful how she treads so she doesn’t bruise his poor, defenseless heart.”
Delaney bristled at Lenore’s indulgent tone as if she were speaking to a child. “I don’t think that Rick Cruz has ever been defenseless in his entire life.” She folded her arms over her chest. “Cut to the chase, Lenore. What are you trying to say?”
Lenore’s concerned demeanor morphed back into royal disdain. She rose from her chair and gazed down her nose at Delaney. “Stay out of Rick’s life.” Her tone was firm and slightly sharp. “It’s in his best interest. You’re leaving town soon and I don’t want him to get hurt. I hope I’ve made myself crystal clear.” She turned and strutted over to the door. In a moment, she was gone.
* * * * *
When Rick stepped inside his office, he heard Delaney stomping around in the back followed by loud muttering and a couple of expletives. He strolled to the door leading into the areas where the jail cells were located. He saw Delaney pacing from one side of her cell to the other, a frown creasing her pretty face, her hands bunched into fists at her sides. “Something stuck in your craw?”
At the sound of his voice, she stopped and jerked her head in his direction. She pressed her kissable mouth into a firm line. “Yeah. Lenore!”
Rick frowned. “Wanna talk about it?”
“Maybe later.” She shrugged into her jacket, pulled her cell phone from her purse and shoved it into one of the pockets of her jacket. “Right now I need a brisk walk in the snow.”
He didn’t like the idea of her going out alone when she was so angry. “Would you mind some company?”
She sighed and a flicker of resignation briefly crossed her face. “Okay. . .but please no questions.”
A couple of minutes later, Rick and Delaney were headed north on Main Street. Delaney stomped through the snow, her breath escaping in rapid puffs of white condensation before dissipating in the air. Her hands, bunched into fists at her sides swung slightly as she walked. Looking straight ahead she never glanced his way, just kept muttering to herself. She was sure steamed about whatever Lenore had done.
Being much taller than Delaney, Rick didn’t need to expend much effort to keep up with her. He grasped her arm bringing her to a halt. “You’d feel better if you got it off your chest.”
Delaney propped her fists on her hips, raised her chin and glared at him. “Fine. Lenore Shaw is some piece of work you hooked up with.” She ground out the words, her eyes flashed with irritation. “She had the gall to come by your office and tell me in no uncertain terms to stay away from you. Can you believe it?” Delaney threw her hands up in the air then took off marching again.
Rick watched her walk away and exhaled a deep breath. Great. He caught up with Delaney just as she reached the corner of fourth and Main. “Look, I’m sorry. Lenore may come on like a spoiled bitch but she’s actually got a soft heart. It’s just hard for her to show it because she’s been through some really tough times.”
Delaney stopped in her tracks and folded her arms over her chest. Her eyes widened with surprise and accusation sparked in their depths. “You’re defending her.”
“You make it sound like I just kicked a puppy.”
She shook her head in a short, jerky motion and held her hands up palm facing outward. “Forget the chemistry that’s between us. I don’t need this. All I need is my car and a tank of gas so I can get the heck out of Dodge.”
The thought of never seeing Delaney again caused a twist of panic to squeeze his heart. What was that about? “I meant what I said last night. I want the chance to get to know you better.” He paused for a moment and gathered his thoughts. “I should have ended my relationship with Lenore months ago. Rest assured I will before this day is out.”
She smirked. “Yeah, right, like that’s going to happen. Lenore has her claws sunk so deep in you they’re buried in your bone marrow. She’ll n
ever let you go.”
Rick waved a hand through the air. “That’s ridiculous.”
Delaney turned to walk away when she slipped on a patch of ice. Rick reached for her just as she started to fall and pulled her against him, chest to chest, thigh to thigh, crotch to. . .A fiery heat licked its way into his groin as he nudged between her legs. Delaney’s hands rested on his chest as she stared up at him, the warmth of her body surrounding him. Her cheeks reddened by the cold highlighted her sexy blue eyes. Her breath blew over his mouth and he licked his lips as if he could taste her...
He stood with Delaney in the middle of a meadow surrounded by evergreens, their branches laden with snow. A fire crackled nearby, sending a wave of heat over them while a cold moon sailed through the sky. Rick was naked, hard and ready.
Delaney was cloaked from head to toe in a heavy coat. She skimmed her gaze down his body lingering on his penis.
Yeah, she definitely wants it. “Take off your coat.”
She flicked her gaze up to his, smiled slightly and shook her head. “No. I’ll freeze.”
“I’ll warm you, every inch of you from your nipples to your clit.” He placed a finger beneath her chin lifting her head slightly. “Give me sexual control. Let me dominate you. I promise you’ll like it.” He reached up and undid a button of her coat followed by another and another.
She raised her hand grasping his. “Someone might see us.”
“Trust me. The trees will shelter us.” He finished loosening the buttons of her coat then pushed it from her shoulders where it fell with a soft plop in the snow. His breath caught at the sight of her voluptuous, nude body. He growled deep in his throat, reached out and pulled her against him. “You little minx.”
She giggled draping her arms around his neck and pushing her breasts against his chest. He slammed his lips over hers; stroking the interior of her hot, wet mouth with his tongue. Rick moved his hips forward nudging her tender opening. She lifted her legs wrapping them around his waist. With one hard thrust, he claimed her sweet body to the hilt.
Sheriff in Her Stocking Page 5