Reluctant Romance

by Dobbs, Leighann

  Risa pulled up in front of her father’s house, her shoulders tensing when she saw the overflowing mail-box. With everything that had gone on in the past few days, she’d forgotten to pick up his mail.

  “Come on, girl.” She opened her car door and waited for Bailey to jump out. She didn’t bother putting on her leash. They’d been there many times and Bailey always stayed at her side.

  Walking over to the mailbox, she bent down to retrieve the mail that had spilled out, then opened the box and scooped the rest into her arms. Unlocking the house, she ran inside and dropped the mail on the kitchen table, then did a cursory check to make sure nothing was amiss.

  She didn’t have a lot of time to spend there; she’d worked late and was starving. She was anxious to hit her favorite place for takeout and collapse on her couch. She figured Bailey must be thinking the same thing because she was waiting at the front door for her.

  “Okay, we can go home now.” She opened the door for the dog, then turned around to lock it. Turning back, she expected to see Bailey waiting at the car, but the dog wasn’t there.

  A jolt of panic stabbed her heart. “Bailey!”

  Movement at the corner of the house caught her eye, and she looked over in time to see Bailey’s tail disappearing around the corner.

  “Bailey, come back!” She sprinted around the corner. Bailey was at the edge of the backyard. She gave a backward glance at Risa as she trotted into the neighbor’s yard.

  “Damn it!" Risa ran after her, perplexed as to the dog’s behavior. Bailey never ran off like this.

  She followed the dog, cursing under her breath, on a winding tour through several back-yards and down a few streets, until Bailey finally pulled up to a stop at a familiar house, trotting over to sniff through the fence.

  Risa stormed over to her, stopping short when she looked through the fence.

  “Hey…isn’t that-?”

  Then she remembered why the house was familiar. It was the Dunn’s old house, the one she’d spent many afternoons and evenings at when she was young. And the dog inside the fence was Connor’s dog, Picasso.

  Confused and gasping for air after her run, she was bent over at the waist, her hands on her knees trying to catch her breath when she heard him behind her.

  “Risa? What are you doing here?”

  Still bent over, she looked back at him over her shoulder. “I might ask you the same,” she said in between gasps. Then she straightened up, her cheeks burning when she realized the unflattering view he’d had.

  He walked over to her, acknowledging Bailey’s exuberant greeting with one of his own.

  “I’ve been wanting to get out of the rat race and settle down. When Dad said our old house was for sale, I came to see it just out of curiosity and the next thing I knew I was putting in an offer."

  Risa could see the happiness on his face as he looked back at the house.

  “I’m renting it until the sale goes through,” he added, turning his attention back to Risa.

  “I was picking up my father’s mail down the street, and Bailey took off and ended up here. I wonder if she knew Picasso was here.” Risa stood on her tip-toes to peek over the fence where Bailey and Picasso had resumed sniffing each other. “I remember coming here when I was a kid. I always loved that big tree in the back.”

  “It’s pretty much the same inside, a few cosmetic changes. They did a major kitchen overhaul. Wanna see?” Connor asked.

  Risa’s heart skipped a beat.

  “Sure…” Suddenly she felt uncertain.

  Bailey and Picasso started to whine and paw at the fence.

  “I guess we’d better—looks like the dogs want to say hello,” Connor said nodding his head at the fence. He started toward the house. Risa and Bailey followed.

  Stepping inside was like stepping back in time. Even though there was new carpet and different wall colors, Risa could still remember the house as it was thirteen years earlier. She felt a warm glow in her belly and assured herself it was the feeling of childhood memories and not the fact that Connor was standing next to her.

  Delicious smells drifted out of the kitchen, and Risa’s mouth started to water. Her stomach made an unladylike grumbling sound.

  “Are you hungry? I’m just marinating some steaks. Maybe you and Bailey would like to stay? I have plenty extra." Connor’s eyebrows lifted up. “I’d actually like to talk to you about some of my thoughts on the clinic anyway.”

  Risa felt hope surge in her chest at the way he said “clinic.” She hoped what he had to say was favorable.

  “Sure, that sounds great.”

  Connor led the way into the kitchen, where Bailey was already waiting at the back door to the yard. Picasso stood on the other side. Connor opened the door, and the two dogs gave each others back end a cursory sniff and then started chasing each other around the yard.

  Connor laughed. “Those two sure do get along.”

  Risa perched on a tall stool at the breakfast bar across from the work area where Connor was prepping food.

  “This really is a great kitchen,” she said, admiring the contemporary tile backsplash and granite counters. “I didn’t know you could cook.”

  Connor looked up from chopping vegetables. “Oh yeah. I was actually going to be a chef, but Dad pushed me into a corporate career instead.” He shrugged.

  Risa watched him cut up various vegetables and herbs. Her stomach tightened as she admired his muscles flexing under his black T-shirt. She marveled at how quickly he got the job done. Not being a cook herself, she could barely boil water much less cut up a smorgasbord of vegetables.

  Connor went to the fridge. Pulling out a container, he brought it to the stove on the kitchen island in front of Risa.

  “I usually cook my steak outdoors, but I’ve been dying to try these out.” Connor gestured to the Jenn-Air grill plates on the stove.

  He put the steaks on the grill, and Risa had to wipe the drool off the side of her mouth when she heard the sizzling sound and smelled the heady aroma of the charring meat.

  “Wine?” Risa looked up to see that Connor had produced a wine bottle and a couple of glasses.

  “Just half a glass,” she said holding her forefinger and thumb about two inches away from each other to indicate the amount.

  “Can I help with anything?”

  “Nope. I have it under control." Connor smiled up at her, and she thought his blue eyes might cause her to melt…or maybe it was just hunger. “You can clean up.”

  Risa laughed. “Well, that’s about all I’m good for in the kitchen, anyway.”

  “Oh, you don’t cook?”

  “Nope. I’m known for burning, not cooking,” she said, taking a teeny sip of her wine. She hadn’t forgotten their kiss the other night and didn’t want to lose her better judgment to alcohol again tonight. Did she?

  Picasso and Bailey appeared at the door and Connor let them in. Picasso came over to sit beside Risa. He was so tall she could rest her hand on the top of his head without bending down. She stroked the dog’s silky ears as she watched Connor mix up a salad, pull baked potatoes out of the oven, and transfer the expertly seared steaks onto a plate.

  “I don’t have a table, so we’ll have to eat at the breakfast bar,” he said, handing the plates over to her.

  He threw the dogs a treat and then came around the bar, sitting in the chair beside her.

  They ate in companionable silence. Risa couldn’t help but make little num-num noises as she devoured the meal.

  Connor slid his eyes her way. “So you like it?”

  Risa swallowed, then wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Yes, it’s delicious. I don’t get home-cooked meals very often.”

  Connor got up and put his dishes in the sink. Risa followed his lead, standing next to him as they formed an assembly line of rinsing dishes and putting them in the dishwasher. Risa ignored the jolt of electricity she felt in the lower regions of her belly every time their arms brushed against each other.

 
; Once the dishes were taken care of, she escaped into the hallway just off the kitchen, eyeing a painting that had caught her eye.

  “This is by Ricardo Montoyez?” It came out as half question, half statement. She knew who the artist was but wasn’t sure why Connor would have one of his paintings.

  Connor nodded. “I collect art. Most of my collection is back at my condo, but I picked this up recently and had it with me, so I hung it up." He looked at the painting then back at her. “You know the artist?”

  “Yes, I collect art too." She stared at Connor for a second, thinking it was a strange coincidence that they had the same interests: dogs and art. She felt that these things they had in common were pulling her toward him and she actually took a step in his direction. The air between them practically crackled with electricity.

  Then she remembered Connor had said he wanted to talk to her about the clinic, and she pushed everything else out of her mind.

  “You said you wanted to discuss the clinic,” she said.

  “Yes, I was really impressed with the customers’ loyalty.” Connor moved into the living room as he talked, and Risa followed.

  The room was empty except for a big plaid couch against the wall. Her brow furrowed as she looked from the couch to Connor. Somehow she had pictured him to be more of a stylish leather couch type of guy. This one was about twenty years old with no style whatsoever.

  “This is your couch?”

  Connor laughed. “No, it’s actually a loaner from Bill. My stuff is still in my condo. I don’t wanna move it until the closing is final - one never knows what might happen. But I did need something to sit on and Bill was getting rid of this.”

  He plopped down on the couch. “It might not have much going for it in the looks department, but it is comfy,” he said, gesturing for her to join him.

  Risa sat down carefully, making sure to keep a foot or so of distance between them.

  “I’ve been thinking a lot about the clinic,” Connor said, training his eyes on Risa. “My first inclination was to recommend that we get rid of it.”

  Risa felt her heart clench She held her breath, waiting to hear his next words.

  “But after going there with you yesterday and talking to the customers, I might be changing my mind.”

  Risa let her breath out, her shoulders relaxing in relief. She felt a little dizzy and didn’t know whether it was from holding her breath or from excitement that Connor was coming round to see the value of the clinic.

  “I think having some good PR might benefit some of our other divisions. God knows they can use it,” he continued. “It’s obvious you are dedicated to caring for the animals, and being an animal lover myself I can see the value to the community. So I’m inclined to recommend we keep the clinic."

  Risa felt a warm glow radiating in her chest. “Oh, that’s wonderful! You won’t regret it,” she said, resisting the urge to hug him.

  “Well, of course I still have to get a report from Jim. He was supposed to visit there today, but I haven’t heard from him.”

  Risa felt a momentary pang of terror pierce the warm glow in her chest when Connor reached into his pocket to check his cell phone. Would Jim uncover her little secret, and if he did what would she do about it?

  “No message. It might take a few days,” Connor said sliding the phone back into his pocket.

  Despite the uncertainty of the accounting audit, Risa practically glowed with joy. She felt like she was bursting and was about to gush about how great the clinic was going to be for Dunn International when Bailey and Picasso ran into the room, each of them jumping on the couch beside their respective owners.

  In their excitement, the dogs pushed against Connor and Risa, and much to Risa’s dismay, sent her and Connor flying toward each other and she practically landed in his lap.

  Her awkward struggle to get back to a safe distance somehow situated her more firmly in Connor’s lap. She had to admit the feeling was not entirely unpleasant. She looked up at him, the steak in her stomach flipping itself over.

  Before she knew what was happening his lips closed over hers, and her struggling stopped while she melted into him. She let out a sigh of satisfaction as she reveled in the taste of his salty lips and the feel of his hands on her bare skin where he’d slipped them under the hem of her shirt. She twined her hands in his hair and lost herself in the feelings and sensations of his lips.

  After a few minutes, she realized she was lying on the couch, his body pressed on top of hers. When did that happen? She didn’t care. If she had any sense she’d be pushing him away, but all coherent thoughts fled her mind as his hands caressed the skin under her shirt, moving in slow circles higher and higher. She moaned and arched against him as his mouth moved to her neck, her earlobe.

  She pushed his shirt up and slid her hands over his thickly muscled chest. Who knew an office guy would have such nice muscles?

  Connor slid up her shirt and lowered his head to tease the skin peeking out from the top of her bra with his lips; her hardened nipples ached for his touch as she reached down and fumbled with his belt.

  She knew alarm bells should be going off in her head. No, wait, alarm bells were going off, but they weren’t in her head.

  Connor swore and sat up, digging in his pocket for his cell phone. Risa let out a heavy sigh of frustration, then realized her own phone was ringing as well.

  They disentangled themselves from each other to answer their phones.

  “Dad?” They said it at the same time, then looked back at each other. Their fathers had called them at the same time. What were the odds?

  Risa felt her whole body blush like she was a schoolgirl who’d just been caught by her father making out with a boy. She put her hand to her cheek. That was ridiculous; of course her father had no way of know what she was doing.

  “How’s everything going?” Her dad’s voice brought her attention back to the phone call.

  “Good, Daddy,” she said, glancing over at Connor out of the corner of her eye.

  “Did you get my mail?.”

  “Yes, it’s on the kitchen table.”

  “And the acquisition?”

  “It’s moving along pretty well. How is your golf trip?”

  “Wonderful. I think I’ve really improved my game. I’ll be back on Thursday and I’ve arranged a meeting with Tristan. I trust we’ll be able to put this whole buyout thing to bed by then?" Risa almost choked at his choice of words.

  “Yes, Daddy. I think that sounds doable. See you then?”

  “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

  She clicked her phone shut. On the other end of the couch, Connor was finishing his own conversation with his father. He closed his phone and looked over at her.

  “Well, nothing like getting phone calls from your fathers to kill the mood.”

  ###

  Connor pulled up behind Risa’s Toyota. His hands fidgeted on the steering wheel. He wasn’t used to feeling awkward and unsure of himself, but Risa had a way of doing that to him.

  They looked at each other, each of them not knowing quite what to say. Connor wanted—no needed—to see her again. He cleared his throat feeling like it was the first time he’d ever asked a girl out.

  “Hey, what do you say we go out and celebrate on Thursday night--after we meet with our fathers about the acquisition?" Connor said, wiping his sweating palms on his pants. His heart hammered in his chest, waiting for her response.

  “That would be lovely,” she said.

  He sat for a minute looking at her, his pulse racing. Resisting the urge to pull her to him, he reached over and pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ears. “I can’t wait until then.”

  She rewarded him with a dazzling smile before she opened the door and jumped out of the SUV, Bailey following close behind her.

  He watched her drive off, wondering how things had changed so quickly. Last week he was dead set against keeping the clinic, and the last thing he wanted was to get involved in another
relationship. It had taken him a long time to feel whole again after what Francesca had done to him, but maybe it was time he learned to trust someone again.

  Since the first day he’d walked into Healthy-Pet his life had been changing drastically. He just hoped he was making the right decisions and wasn’t setting himself up to get hurt again. He didn’t know if he could survive that.

  He swallowed hard as he thought back on how suspicious he’d been of Risa. He’d been such a jerk, assuming the worst, his judgment clouded by what Francesca had done to him. But after seeing Risa in action at the clinic, he knew she only had the companyes best interests, and those of the pets’ and customers’, at heart.

  And the drinking problem he’d imagined? He’d noticed she’d only taken a few sips of her wine at dinner. That didn’t seem like someone with a problem to him.

  He realized he’d become jaded toward women because of Francesca and all the superficial women he’d dated since her. Risa was different: kind, compassionate and dedicated to her work. He felt his heart clench realizing what his own cynical thinking had almost cost him.

  His cell phone beeped in his pocket signifying a new text message. He pulled it out and looked at the display. Jason Anders. Had the private detective found something out about Risa?

  He stared at the phone for a long time before shoving it back in his pocket. If Jason had dug up some dirt on Risa, he didn’t want to know what it was. He knew her, and he didn’t need a private detective to blow some innocent thing she may have done out of proportion.

  Just as he started the car and put it into gear, his phone rang again. This time it was a call he wanted to take: Jim Abernake.

  “Hi, Jim”

  “Connor, how are you?”

  “Great, how about you? I hope everything is okay at home?”

  “Yes, fine thanks. I’ve just come from looking over the books at Healthy-Pet.”

  Connor’s heart sank at hearing the tone in the other man’s voice. “And?”

  “I’ve found something suspicious in the books that I need to talk to you about.”

  Chapter Thirteen