“And there’s a great role model.”
“Eddie!” Ricky dropped his voice to emphasize the warning. “Enough!”
His brother opened his mouth. Ricky narrowed his eyes and glared the don’t-even-think-about-it.
Eddie snorted and slid out of the booth. “Good luck, kid.”
Matt’s fists clenched, the muscle in his pubescent jaw jumped. His scowl practically singed holes in the back of Eddie’s head as he slammed a hand into the swinging door and disappeared into the kitchen.
“That guy’s a jackass.”
“Language.”
“Sorry.” Matt flexed his fingers. “That guy’s a big ol’ donkey’s butt.”
Ricky laughed. He couldn’t help it. “Yeah. He does have a way of proving he’s a jerk.”
Matt slurped at his shake, moving the straw around the bottom to get every last drop. “Does he always treat you like crap?”
“More than not.” The sadness in his voice surprised Ricky.
Matt frowned. “Makes me kinda glad I’m an only child.”
“Ah, don’t say that. There are good things to having a brother.” Though at the moment, he couldn’t think of one. “Can I ask you a question?”
Matt nodded from over his milkshake.
“Does it bother you when I call you kid?”
“Nope. ‘Cause I know you like me.” Another slurp, then he swiped the back of his hand over his mouth. “When adults say it to try and make me feel stupid because they’re a grown-up and I’m still a kid, then, yeah, it ticks me off. But I kinda like when you call me that.”
“Okay, just checking.”
Shayne came down the hall from the bathroom. Her smile faltered when she slid back onto the bench next to him. She did her best impression of a tennis spectator. “Everything okay?”
Ricky nodded and hoped Matt would keep the specifics of Eddie’s visit to himself.
“Eddie stopped by while you were gone.”
Yeah, the kid didn’t keep anything to himself.
Her lips formed an awkward half smile. “Well, that’s nice.”
“Not really.” Matt wiped his mouth with the napkin. “He’s pretty much the jerkiest guy ever.”
As Shayne’s eyes met his, the sympathy in them made Ricky want to sink under the table to seek refuge. She put her hand on his thigh, as if she sensed his flight instinct, and looked at her son. “Why don’t you hit the bathroom before we head out.”
Although voiced as a question, her tone offered no option for argument.
Matt nodded and slid out of the booth. Ricky couldn’t help but smile when the kid jumped to tap the top of the doorway with the tips of his fingers.
Shayne squeezed Ricky’s leg. “Hey, you okay?”
“It’s nothing new.” He really didn’t want to go into this shit with her.
Her fingers stroked his thigh through the denim of his jeans, easing his anger. “Having Matt witness it was.”
Ricky barked out his scoff. “An audience is not a new thing. Eddie kinda gets off on it. When we showed up at your house to move you to Vegas, it actually shocked the shit out of me when he was cool and kept his damn mouth shut.”
“I’m sorry.”
All Ricky could do was sigh. He looked deep into her eyes and leaned in. Her lids closed, her hand cradled his cheek. The gentle, chaste meeting of lips ended almost before it began, but its effect calmed and soothed, strengthening him better than any can of soggy spinach. “Thank you.”
“’Cause kissing you is such a chore?” Her smile warmed him like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds. “Are you ready to get out of here?”
He felt his brows crinkle with his confusion. “I thought we were waiting on Mama to head over to her garden.”
“I ran into her in the bathroom. She was just leaving, so we’d better head out.”
Matt stepped up to the table, his thumbs flying over the keys of his phone. He clipped the keyboard shut and sported an innocent expression that forced Ricky to bite his lip to keep from laughing out loud.
Shayne did laugh. “What’s up, bud?”
Matt glanced from his mom to Ricky and back. “This family time is really cool, but the guys—”
“Say no more.”
While mother and son discussed the where and what of the guys’ activity, Ricky watched, his heart nearly busting right out of his chest. He’d begun to think of Shayne and Matt as his future—not that the two-plus-two had become four in any kind of conscious thought. But hearing Matt refer to the three of them as a family solidified exactly how much Ricky loved them.
One simple statement, spoken so flippantly by a man-child looking for something better to do, changed Ricky’s perspective on what those sappy chick-flicks so seldom got right. He wouldn’t screw things up the way those idiots in the movies always did though.
***
Shayne didn’t miss Matt’s reference to the three of them being a family, nor did Ricky, apparently. While Matt insisted that he just had to hang out with the guys this afternoon, she did her best to ignore the wistful, blissfully happy expression on Ricky’s face.
As much as she loved him—yeah, she could admit the four-letter-word bounced around her head when they were together, and even more when they weren’t—she wasn’t ready take the leap. The cliff she’d been standing on since meeting him had been deteriorating, slipping away from under her feet. Now the balls of her feet were exposed to the elements, but her heels were still dug into the crumbling ground and she wasn’t about to lean forward to help with the fall.
She needed time to figure out what a future with Enrique Santiago would mean and exactly how bad the consequences of her past were.
“So can I go, Mom?”
She shook herself out of her head and glanced at Ricky. The man’s smile had a way of making her knees go weak. He lifted an enormous shoulder, the fabric of his t-shirt pulling tight against his chest, and answered the question she didn’t voice, “It’s cool with me.”
Matt fisted his hand and jerked his elbow down. “Yesss! You guys are the best!” He yanked his phone out of his pocket and flipped open the keypad. After a few seconds, it closed with a snap. “Can we leave now?”
Ricky took a final sip of his water and stood, threading his fingers through hers. He was so warm. She hadn’t even realized she was cold until he touched her. There had to be some kind of cool anecdote to go along with that realization, but all Shayne could think about was having him wrap his warmth around her and hold her close until she unthawed. She stepped against him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek to his chest.
As impatient as Matt might have been, Ricky didn’t show any signs of pulling away. He eased his big hands over her back, the soothing circles relaxing her until she feared she might melt all over the floor if not for his support.
A hot trace of a tear worked its way down her cheek and Shayne wiped at it. Sometimes simply being content did that to her. It wasn’t an emotion she reveled in very often and couldn’t allow herself to do so now.
Ricky scared her. He, and he alone, had touched a place in her that she’d managed to keep frozen solid and protected. His warmth, the love he hadn’t yet confessed, seeped into her soul.
When he kissed the top of her head and squeezed her tightly against him, she braced her hands against his pectorals and pushed away. She smiled up at him. He smiled back and dropped a kiss to her lips.
Matt groaned. “Seriously, you guys.” He rolled his eyes, but the grin on his face as he walked away belied his annoyance.
Shayne kissed the corner of Ricky’s mouth. “We’d better go.”
Ricky nodded, released his hold on her body and took her hand. They walked out of the diner in comfortable silence. Matt kept the conversation going, babbling on about the newest video game coming out next week, basketball try-outs on Monday and his buddy’s new girlfriend.
“None of the guys like her.” Matt shook his head. “I just don’t see what
he sees in her.”
Ricky’s dark eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. “Keep your opinions to yourself, my man, ‘cause if she does stick around, you’re gonna lose your friend.”
“Kinda like you and Mason?”
“Yep. Kinda like.”
Matt snorted. “Yeah, don’t wanna do that. Turn here!” He pointed to the street they just passed. All three of their heads watched it as the car zipped by. “Oh crap. I’m sorry.”
“No big.” Ricky pulled into the left turn lane and flipped a U-turn when traffic allowed it. He turned on the street while Matt used his fingers to give directions. They stopped in front of a two-story cookie cutter house, the yard perfectly manicured, the car in the driveway nicer than what she’d ever been able to afford.
His friend opened the front door and Matt jumped out of the car. His door slammed. He raced over the grass, stopped midway and turned toward the car. He smiled and sauntered back. He opened her door.
“Love you, Mom.” That he bent down to kiss her cheek, shocked her. His friend didn’t make fun, didn’t scoff, just waited. She decided she really liked Joey. Matt waved at Ricky. “See you, man. Take good care of my mom.”
“Will do.” Ricky waved a hand in farewell. “Have a good time. Do we need to pick you up or—”
“My mom’ll bring him home.” Joey raised a hand from the porch.
Goodbyes said, Matt didn’t look back as the two boys headed into Joey’s house. Shayne watched them and smiled. Living with Matt, she forgot how big he was. Joey’s blond head came to Matt’s shoulder. Not that the height difference seemed to bother either boy.
When the door closed, Ricky chuckled. She glanced at him, confusion crinkling her brows. “What?”
“Would you like to close your door so we can go?”
“Oh!” She hadn’t noticed it was open. She reached out and closed them in.
He put the Cadillac in gear and took the scenic route out of the neighborhood. He reached across the console and took her hand. “He’ll be okay.”
“Oh, it’s not that.” Sweat broke out on her skin, which bordered on ridiculous.
He raised her knuckles for a kiss. “What’s got you so nervous?”
Yeah, her palms were sweaty too. She barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “I’m a little nervous to spend time with your mom.”
“She loved you.”
“That was like five minutes.”
He chuckled softly. “It was more than that and you know it. You guys will bond over her tomatoes and she’ll love you more than me.”
“Her tomatoes, huh?”
He snorted. “Just don’t get too attached to the cucumbers she’s gonna show you. I’ve got one of those for you.”
She wanted to continue the suggestive talk, but knew she couldn’t tease him—or herself—when she wasn’t quite ready to take their relationship to that level. Yet. When she was finally ready to go in search of a cucumber, Ricky’s would be at the top of her list. She laughed to herself, biting her lip to keep the joke private.
12
Shayne gripped the oh-shit-handle when Ricky pulled onto a dirt road, swerving to avoid the plethora of potholes. Or maybe the goal was to hit them, since it seemed the SUV was eaten by more than it missed. It didn’t take long before he stopped at a fence. He punched a code into the little box and the gate opened slowly.
“What, you got this fancy entry, but can’t afford to pave the road?” Shayne asked.
The gate opened and they slowly drove inside. “Oh, she can afford it. She thinks the dirt’ll keep the riff-raff out.”
“And yet here we are.”
He smiled, putting the car in gear. “Yep. Here we are.” He jerked on the handle and opened his door. He walked in front of the car and helped her out. She stomped in the dirt and grinned when Ricky waved at the cloud. “I should have vetoed those damn boots.”
“No way, cowboy.” She danced around him, kicking up another cloud. He grabbed hold of her arm and tugged her against him, kissing her in a series of quick pecks that turned longer, more intimate. Before she melted all over him, she eased away and looked up into his face. “And I’d love to see you in a pair of boots.”
He shook his head so hard she was surprised his eyeballs didn’t rattle around in his skull. “No way, mujer bonita. No chance.”
“But you already bought me tampons, it couldn’t be worse than that.” She bit the inside of her cheek to keep her face as reasonable as her voice. Which only worked long enough for him to shiver.
“We are never going to discuss that.” Another shiver. “Ever.” His hand moved down her arm and wrapped around her hand. “Let’s go.”
The damp smell of earth and manure filled Shayne’s nostrils as they entered the enormous greenhouse. The clear glass cast miniature rainbows on the flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Shayne gasped at the beautiful serenity.
Elena Santiago gasped as well. She put her gloved hand to her chest and smiled. Her big floppy, straw hat drooped down into her face and she pushed it away, leaving a dirty streak on her cheek. Shayne smiled. Seeing this woman in her element made Shayne recognize a kindred spirit.
Elena waved a small shovel in the air. “Come in. Come in.” She approached them and hugged her son, then embraced Shayne. “What would you like to see first?”
“Whatever you’d like to show me.” Shayne wanted to see it all.
“Well, this is my greenhouse.” She spun in a circle. “The boys built it for me a few years back.”
“Yep. Still have the scars to prove it.” He turned over his left forearm to show off the lighter stripe. “It was worth it, though. Huh, Mama?”
Adoration shone in her twinkling smile. “Yes, mijo.” Her gaze wandered over every pane of glass. “It’s nice to be able to not have to worry about the elements. With this place, I control it myself.”
Shayne tightened her hold on Ricky’s hand. He squeezed back. Yet another reason to love Ricky. The way he treated his mother, with respect and adoration, endeared him to her. She felt more gravel slip from beneath her feet.
Teresa peeked her head inside. “Oh, hi. I didn’t know you guys were going to be here today.”
Shayne coughed on her snort.
Ricky let his fly free. “I assure you, we didn’t know you’d be here.”
The narrowed slits of her eyes appeared and vanished as did the grimace on her lips. She flashed an evil smile.
Thankfully, Elena petitioned for Shayne’s attention. “Come over and see my cilantro.”
***
“You grow your own cilantro too?” Shayne plucked at the bright green leaves, pulling off a few and putting them to her nose. “I’ve never been able to get the stupid stuff to live long enough to grow.”
As Mama and Shayne shared secrets of the garden, Teresa put her hand on Ricky’s forearm. A single finger ran over the tattoo he’d foolishly gotten in honor of her. The same one he’d inked over, adding scroll work until all evidence of her disappeared.
“I can still see it.”
He jerked his arm away and waited for her to make eye contact before rolling his. “Don’t.”
Her eyelids went all dreamy, drooping at half-mast. “We were good together.”
No, they’d been horny teenagers together. “That ‘were’ was a long time ago.”
“It could—”
“No, it can’t.”
Her lips formed a slash and she blinked, her lashes waving like a flag in a hurricane. Never a good sign.
“’Scuse me.” Ricky walked away before her tears eroded his stone cold. He’d never been able to stand a woman’s tears. Call them his Achilles heel. The few times Shayne’s cheeks dampened his damn heart broke. He walked up behind her and put his arms on her hips, easing her soft back into his front. She leaned against him, but otherwise didn’t further acknowledge the contact. His mother, however, flipped him a wink and lit up like a freakin’ Christmas tree.
***
With Ricky so clos
e, Shayne couldn’t concentrate. Well, concentrate on anything other than the hard press of his body against hers, the moist heat of his breath brushing against her neck, the warmth radiating from him. She loved the way he always touched her, almost like he couldn’t get enough of her.
Embarrassed and horrified, she realized Elena had stopped talking. She blinked, focusing on Ricky’s mother instead of daydreaming through her. “I’m sorry, what?”
Elena’s smirk said she’d noticed Shayne’s lack of attention and didn’t care in the least. She wiped her hands on her apron. “I’ve got a couple calls to return. Mijo, can you take over the tour?”
Without waiting for a response, she tugged off her gloves and shoved them into the pocket of her apron. She headed out the door. Shayne watched, her smile fading when she saw Teresa leaning against one of the large wooden tables. Her grin looked like a grimace. Maybe she needed some more fiber in her diet. Thanks to that thought Shayne donned a genuinely pleasant expression.
“Hi, Teresa. How are you?”
The kill-‘em-with-kindness approach worked like a charm. All smugness seeped out of Teresa, seemingly replaced by twitchy anxious energy. She fidgeted like a toddler sitting on a box with the family cat in it. “Fine, thanks.”
Ricky stepped between them, blocking the other woman from Shayne’s view. He winked the kudos he couldn’t politely voice.
Teresa didn’t take long to recover. She cleared her throat. “Can you give me a hand getting some fertilizer out of the truck?”
“Sure thing.” Chivalrous to a fault, Ricky headed for the door. Teresa made sure to toss a victorious smile at Shayne before flouncing out the door he held open. He didn’t act as though he noticed she’d flounced by, he only had eyes for Shayne. “You comin’, mujer bonita?”
When she didn’t answer right away, he put his hand out and beckoned her with a wiggle of his fingertips. “Come on. Maybe we can get lost for a little while in the cornfield.”
His wink liquefied her heart. She smiled and went to him.
Lucky 13 (Deadlines & Diamonds) Page 11