She released his hand. “I’m going home.”
“Can I walk with you?”
“Now, you ask for my permission?” Elise tossed her hands in the air, exasperated, and started toward the street.
Rob fell into place by her side. “Just tell me one thing about what happened inside. Do you black out regularly?”
Elise slid him the side eye.
“The question is for your safety. I’d like to know if my neighbor comes with special medical instructions.”
“No. I don’t pass out.” She moved with purposeful steps and didn’t look up at him as she spoke. “Your building is haunted and the spirit was overpowering. I’ve never had anything like that happen to me before. Believe me when I say, I won’t be coming over again.”
“I don’t believe in ghosts, or anything I can’t see with my own eyes.”
“I don’t give two hay pennies about what you believe or don’t. I saw him.”
God, he adored her feisty nature, blood boiling glares, and Spanish curses. But Rob was even more intrigued by what she said.
“I take it that you’ve had to deal with skeptics before,” he said.
She looked heavenward then checked for traffic before jogging across the street. Rob dutifully followed, already deciding he would see her safely to her door regardless of whether she wanted him to.
“Let’s just put this to bed right now,” she said, stopping on the sidewalk next to the bookshop.
“We’re moving this to the bed? That was quick. And I wouldn’t say no.”
She rolled her eyes heavenward and inhaled, but he noted the spark of amusement in her eyes and the quirk on her lips.
“I know things about you, but I can’t explain why I know them. Most people who find out about me can’t handle being around me. They start treating me like garbage because they can’t accept the person I am, or they begin testing me, or using me. If you’re going to be a jerk, just go away. It’s a lot easier.” Elise bit her lower lip, turned, and started walking toward the back of the building.
Rob hesitated only long enough to let her get a few feet ahead.
“You can’t say you know things about me then walk away. Of course, I’m going to want to know more. So, tell me, what do you know, and why does it matter?”
He caught up to her as they rounded the corner. Elise stopped by the back door.
“It matters because you think you like me, but you don’t really like me. Or you won’t once you get to know about my eccentricities. Besides, none of that matters. I’m not likeable. I’m straightforward and you, especially you, make me forget to use my filter.”
“What filter?” She was working herself up again and getting hotter by the second.
“The filter between my thoughts and my mouth, tú lindo cerdo tonto!”
He was going to have to look that one up later, he mentally noted. Rob lifted a brow. “Tell me something you know about me that no one else knows. Then I’ll decide if you’ve made me a believer, or if I should leave you alone forever.”
He watched her nostrils flare and her jaw harden.
“You were at a funeral recently. I’m so sorry for it.” Elise closed her eyes and waited for his response.
He watched sadness wash through her. Her empathy was real and that shocked him, as there was no way she knew Delaney.
“Did my brother tell you?”
“See right there? You’re already doing what everyone else does. You’re testing me like I have some motive to invent these things.”
“Neither of my brothers mentioned the funeral service?” he asked again.
“No. But I know they were with you and everyone was focused on Allison, but it wasn’t her funeral—thank God for that.”
“You don’t know who died?”
“I have no idea. I see things completely randomly. And I don’t have the winning lottery numbers, so don’t even ask.”
Rob paused and let her pronouncement gel on his brain. “I’m not testing you. I’m trying to understand. And since you don’t know, it was Allison’s mother,” he said.
She sucked in a breath and looked away. Elise pressed her hand to her forehead, hiding her face.
“She’s not the ghost in my building, is she?”
“No.”
“I didn’t think so, but I had to ask. Just in case...”
“No. I didn’t know anything about Allison’s mamá. I’m so sorry, Rob.”
“Remember when I said I had my own sad story to tell you sometime. Well, that sums it up.”
She dropped her hand and looked at Rob’s face. Tears glistened in her eyes but didn’t fall down her cheeks. “You didn’t love her.”
Now it was Rob’s turn to break eye contact. He shook his head. Even though he didn’t love Delaney, there was still sadness and a loss greater than anything he’d experienced before. The heaviness he’d been carrying around for weeks rode on his shoulders and he somehow understood that Elise saw it, felt it, knew what he was going through.
“She died in childbirth. I wasn’t with them. I didn’t know about my daughter until after she was born.”
Elise’s arms wrapped around him and she pressed her cheek to his chest. “There aren’t words for this kind of tragedy. Your poor sweet mija.”
“The worst part is that she’ll never know her mother.” Rob returned the embrace and let all the stress from the past few weeks release from a place within he couldn’t name or pinpoint. “Delaney would have been a perfect mom, and my daughter had that taken from her.”
Twelve
THE DOOR BEHIND HER RATTLED. Elise stepped out of Rob’s arms. She’d mentioned her dream about the funeral in an attempt to scare him off and ended up throwing herself at him. Why did all attempts at trying to avoid Rob lead right back to him? It was incredibly frustrating.
Colton walked outside with Autumn on his heels.
“There’s my sweet boy,” she signed and squatted down to give him a hug. Seeing Colton after such heartbreaking news made her want to hold him tight and never let go.
“We needed sunshine and fresh air,” Autumn said, her smile wide as she drew in a deep breath. “I love the mountains. Did you notice how much cleaner it smells here than back home?”
“Yeah, it’s very clean,” Elise said, wondering why her friend sounded so strange. She let it go and moved forward with introductions. Autumn had been lying low since she arrived, but meeting the other business owners was bound to happen sooner or later.
“Rob, this is Autumn, the owner of Mountain of Books & Coffee.” Elise purposely left out Autumn’s last name. Her friend had multiple identities. Not really, but she did have two pen names and her legal name. She didn’t always want people knowing she was a senator’s daughter, but then again, she didn’t always want people knowing about her successful author career, either. Elise just called her Autumn and left it at that. Being Autumn would exhaust Elise to the point of suicide. She didn’t know how she lived a double life. “Autumn, this is Rob Everett, one of the owners of the new brewery.”
“Nice to meet you. What’s the name of your fine drinking establishment?” Autumn asked as she shook Rob’s hand.
“Black Bear Brewing. We’ll offer a full menu as well as small batch craft brew. There will be guest brews from a few of our favorite microbreweries and a selection of California wines and specialty whiskeys.”
“Sounds like the perfect place to get snookered.”
“Yes, indeed,” Rob said with an added sparkle in his already incredible eyes.
Rob waved to Colton and signed, “How are you?”
Colton signed, “Good, thank you. I like my bed.”
“I caught the thank you in his answer, but what else did he say?” Rob asked Elise.
“He said, he’s good and he likes his bed,” Elise answered.
“You understand sign language?” Autumn asked the question that sat on the tip of Elise’s tongue.
“I’ve been learning. The internet has free t
utorials. It’s something to do when I’m sitting around with the baby.”
Elise didn’t look at Autumn even though she knew her friend was mentally poking her side about Rob’s admission.
“I figured I may as well learn how to communicate with my new friend.” Rob looked at Colton and asked with ASL if he had any new trucks.
Colton nodded and took Rob’s hand. He led Rob toward the door.
“You okay with this?” he asked Elise while being dragged inside.
What was she going to say? No? She wouldn’t do that to Colton. Her son had no friends here and if he liked Rob, she wouldn’t take that away from him. “Go ahead.”
Autumn waited until the door closed behind them to give her two cents. “He’s as handsome as his brother.” She fanned her face as if she’d suddenly gotten too hot being in Rob’s proximity.
“Give me a break,” Elise said, unappreciative of her friend’s reaction.
“Oh, right... he’s hotter.”
Elise took a deep breath and tried to decide if she should go upstairs and monitor the male bonding going on.
“He’s awfully sweet to learn sign language,” Autumn added unnecessarily.
“You did, too, after meeting Colton,” Elise said.
“He has that affect on people. He’s such a doll.”
Elise couldn’t disagree. “But why Rob? I’m not... I can’t do this again.”
“What? Fall for a sex god? Who likes your kid?”
“The last man the universe delivered to me ended up a junkie in prison. The universe is a cruel bastard.”
“But Javier wasn’t always a jerk. And you told me you once upon a time loved him.”
“Look how it turned out. I’m not ready. Colton takes every spare minute of my day, and it’s not going to get easier. After his implants, there will be constant therapy and the long drive back and forth to school. I don’t have time for a relationship.”
“You’ve read all my books. You’re exactly like all reluctant heroines. Blah, blah, blah... all excuses for why falling in love isn’t in the cards. And you know what happens in the end? No excuse in the world keeps the madly in love couple apart.”
“Romance writers,” Elise said with an eye roll and a shake of the head. Her eyeballs were getting tired from all the cynicism.
Autumn pinched her friend’s arm. “Be quiet. You love my books.”
“I read fantasies and mysteries when you’re not looking.”
“You’re a rotten friend,” Autumn said with a glare and a laugh.
Elise laughed, too, and turned to go inside. They both knew that Elise was Autumn’s number one fan. Yes, she read all her best friend’s novels and anything else as time permitted—including the kids’ books Colton was showing Rob when they entered her apartment.
“He takes after his mother, I see,” Rob said and glanced at the pile of Colton’s new books. They sat on Colton’s bed with multiple books open and picture cards strewn across the bedspread.
“Yes, he does,” Autumn said.
“Did you show Rob the pop-up truck book?” Elise asked Colton, keeping her eyes trained on her son and avoiding Rob’s incredible golden-green stare.
Colton pointed at the pop-up book and nodded yes.
“It’s my new favorite. I’m also impressed by the ASL cards for beginners. Colton’s helping me learn new signs,” Rob said.
“Uh-huh,” Elise made an indiscriminate sound and turned to leave the room.
Rob caught up with her by the kitchen. “Colton and I have decided that it’s the perfect afternoon for ice cream. Would you two ladies like some?”
Elise glanced at the leftover empanadas and blondies still on the counter.
“I’ll take one of those, too.” Rob grabbed an empanada and took a large bite before she could say anything.
Autumn remained traitorously quiet just when Elise could use a friend to make something up about how busy they were.
Colton chose that moment to tug on the hem of her shirt and ask if they could get ice cream. Elise looked to Autumn for backup. She didn’t know what type of backup was needed, but surely if a best friend could save her, now would be the moment.
“I can’t go. I have a ton of work to do. The quiet would be a godsend, though.”
Instead of helping Elise out, Autumn basically just kicked her out of her own house—as if she didn’t have the entire downstairs with which to find some quiet writing time.
If looks could kill, she threw daggers at Autumn.
“Has anyone ever told you your cooking skills are amazing?” Rob said as he polished off the pastry pocket.
“Thank you,” she said with a forced smile. “Ice cream for three,” she said to Colton.
Her son bounced up and down and laughed. She threw a look at Autumn, who understood how important it was that Colton used his voice, since he rarely ever did. Autumn looked just as thrilled as Elise felt with Colton’s verbal expression.
Colton ran to the door and flung it open—right into his face. The crash of wood door against helmet echoed through the apartment. Colton looked over at his mom, gave her a thumbs up, then shook it off.
“Whoa! He’s okay?” Rob asked, uncertain.
“He’s good,” Elise said.
She listened to Colton tromping down the stairs and asked, “Where is there ice cream in town?”
“Half a block down the street, and it’s the best,” Rob said.
“Have fun,” Autumn said as they headed out the door.
To Elise’s surprise, she discovered that the gift shop/tourist trap at the west end of the block had an ice cream counter. She introduced herself and Colton to the woman who served them cones as the new manager of Mountain of Books & Coffee. The woman was thrilled to hear that the bookstore would soon reopen and asked every question about the upcoming changes that were happening to the bookstore. Elise felt trapped, talking to the enthusiastic book lover while Colton and Rob ate their scoops of Rocky Road. By the time she joined the boys, her scoop of pralines and cream was half melted.
“She’s excited about your shop,” Rob commented.
“Maybe we’ll be able to stay in business after all.”
“Was there any doubt?” Rob asked.
“I want to say no, no doubt at all, but that wouldn’t be honest. Of course, there is some uncertainty. The bookstore business is tough with so much online competition.”
“I read about bookstores closing all the time. What makes Mountain of Books different?” Rob asked.
“We plan on being more interactive with the community. Plus, we’ll have the full service coffee counter. We’re going to sell more than books. We’ll have items that people will want to pick up and hold. Irresistible impulse purchases. And we have a local authors’ showcase, California history books from small publishers, maps, and specialty field guides. Things you can only find in our area.” She was talking too much and shut herself up by filling her mouth with ice cream.
“You and Autumn seem like you work well together and will be able to make the store successful.”
“Thank you. We’ve done our research. The previous owner had a profitable business so that should help the transition.”
“Why did they sell?” Rob asked conversationally.
“It’s not a secret. She wanted to retire.”
“The owner of our brewery retired as well, but he was having health problems and had to move to someplace warmer and lower in altitude.”
“I think that means we’re the next generation of business owners,” she said.
“Should we be proud or scared?” Rob asked with that charismatic charm that made her smile every time.
“I’m terrified,” she said, only half sarcastically.
“Lloyd, the owner of the biker bar we’re turning into a brewery, has a son who owns a motorcycle repair shop in town. My brothers and I just commissioned some repurposed furniture from another young business woman here in Granite Lake. Looks like our generation is taking o
ver the town.”
“I suppose it’s better than a zombie takeover,” she said.
“I would have to agree. Would you like to take the rest of our ice cream outside? There are tables out back by the water.”
Sitting outside, relaxing on a summer day did wonders for lowering her stress levels after the incident at the brewery. Colton finished his cone and had chocolate smeared from cheek to cheek. She wiped his face with a napkin and he informed her that he and Rob shared the same favorite ice cream flavor.
She noticed Rob watching their exchange. Since Colton mentioned Rob, she thought it polite to let him in on the conversation.
“He’s correct. Rocky Road is my favorite.” Rob smiled and tossed the last bite of his cone into his mouth.
Their smiles were identical. Elise wanted to enjoy the moment and not look at the more complex implications of letting Rob into her life, but she couldn’t switch off her fears. She changed subjects as a way to distract her mind from the attraction she felt for Rob and how incredible he was with Colton.
“Where’s your little mija today?”
Rob stared at the lake behind the gift shop and answered. “Today is her first day with the new babysitter. It’s a trial run.”
“And you’re spending your break with us?”
“I planned to stop by the brewery to get some work done, but yes, I’m spending my time with you instead. I have no regrets.”
“How is she doing?”
“Allison, or the sitter?”
“Either,” Elise answered.
“They’re both well. I took your advice and have been with the baby since the last time I saw you, but it’s time for a partial day off. Being a single parent is more than exhausting. It’s unimaginable.”
He turned his gaze on her and she saw the tiredness that only a new parent experienced. There was warmth there in those pale green eyes as well as exhaustion.
“You get used to it,” she said, having gone through the infant stage not so long ago.
“Good to know. And there’s going to be a great new coffee place in town. Copious amounts of coffee will help get me through the infant and toddler stages.”
“Definitely.”
Divining Elise_Granite Lake Romance Page 10