by Tara Rose
“Do you need a ride home, Marisol?”
She nearly dropped her cell at the sound of his voice, deep and sexy, right behind her. A whiff of cologne wafted past her nose as she turned to face him. Acqua Di Gio. She would have expected nothing less than to discover that Ellis wore Giorgio Armani. “How do you know I need a ride home?”
He grinned, and Marisol’s breath caught in her throat. Had he always had a smile like that? She’d known him her entire life, but he’d been three grades ahead of her and the only thing she remembered about him from school was that he’d hung out with Maddox and Sean. Sean had asked her out a couple of times when she and Rafe had been dating, and Rafe had nearly kicked his ass for doing so.
“Word got around,” he said. “Rafe told Luke about the repairs your car needs, and Luke told Chase, and he told me.”
“Really?” Was her car such a hot topic of conversation around Racy?
He chuckled. “Marisol, why don’t you just get a new car? I think you’ve had everything replaced in it by now.”
“Not quite. Otherwise I’d be driving it.”
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to make fun of you or your car.”
“You didn’t.” Life in Racy was what it was. People found amusement in the most inconsequential things at times.
“So how about that ride?”
It was just a ride home, after all. And Bonnie was as busy as everyone else connected with the courthouse and City Hall right now. She was an attorney in the public defender’s office, and she had temporary quarters set up in a trailer parked on Riverfront Drive, along with the two other public defenders. Bonnie had told Marisol that she’d kill her two coworkers soon if they didn’t find them bigger office space, and the tornado had only been two days ago.
It would take them twenty minutes tops to get from Ellis’s house to her town home, and that was only because Ellis would have to divert around downtown. They had the streets closed off to traffic right now. What harm could it do to spend less than half an hour in a car with him?
Chapter Six
Marisol couldn’t help but gawk at the sight of Ellis’s garage. It was detached and had been built in the same French country manor style as his house, complete with a matching roof. It was charming, and the six-foot-tall French gothic picket fence around the house and garage was the perfect touch, even if white fences were a bit impractical in this climate.
“How on earth do you maintain it?”
Ellis opened the door of his Bimmer and Marisol slid inside, breathing in the scent of leather. As he got into the driver’s side, she glanced around. Everything looked and smelled expensive.
“How do I maintain what?” he asked, starting the engine. It purred to life with barely a sound. No coughing, sputtering, or odd grinding noises that she couldn’t identify or pretend were normal.
“The fence. It’s white.”
He gave her a sheepish grin as he started down the winding driveway. “It’s also vinyl. Don’t tell, okay? I wanted something that looked authentic, but that I wouldn’t have to paint every spring. It’s practically a mortal sin around here to have a fence that’s made of anything except wood.”
“Your secret is safe with me.” They pulled out onto Birch Lane, and Marisol sighed at the smoothness of the ride. “But I’m jealous.”
“Of the fence?”
“Of your car. It runs.”
She could tell he was trying not to laugh. “Marisol, just buy another one. There are at least five large dealerships in Lafayette where you could find a nice car that wouldn’t die on you every month.”
“I know. It’s just that I’ve had it a long time. We’ve bonded.” And it was paid for, but that was a moot point by now. She’d spent more in repairs over the past six months than it would have cost her for a down payment on a brand new luxury car, like this one. Not that she’d ever buy something this expensive, even if she could afford the payments every month, which she could not.
“And you’ve probably spent a fortune on it by now. I have an idea. Why don’t we take a drive down there one afternoon after you get off work and I’ll help you pick out something?”
She shifted in her seat to face him. “Why would you want to do that, Ellis?”
He actually looked embarrassed, and it suddenly dawned on Marisol that he wasn’t just being polite. He wanted to spend time with her. So why not just ask her out on a date? Did he know she’d spent Friday night with Rafe, and wasn’t sure what their arrangement was?
“Well, it’s not dinner and a movie, but I do know quite a bit about cars, and I thought maybe I could help you.” He gave her a quick glance, and there was no mistaking the hope in his eyes. “And, it would give me a chance to spend time with you.”
No sense in pretending any longer. He was definitely trying to ask her out.
“Unless of course you’re still dating Bill Turner. In that case, please forget I asked.”
“Bill Turner? Ellis, we broke up over six months ago.” Bill was an attorney in the prosecutor’s office that she’d dated for about eight months. She’d been so bored every time she was with him that she actually fell asleep at the movies once while they were on a date.
She saw him swallow. “Wow. Didn’t know that. Sorry. Guess I’m way out of touch with local dating gossip.”
“I’ll say.” Marisol breathed a sigh of relief as she smiled at him. He didn’t know about Friday night. Thank God. She didn’t think she could handle any awkward conversation right now about her current situation with Rafe. She wasn’t even sure how they’d left things.
They’d had a fantastic time Friday night and Saturday morning. It had been the most intense and erotic night of Marisol’s life to date. But then he’d come back over Saturday afternoon to give her the bad news about her car, and they’d ended up nearly arguing over the repairs.
She hadn’t heard from him at all since then, and she wasn’t sure what to think about that. She only knew she missed him, and she hoped like hell that she hadn’t waited eighteen years just to have one passionate night with him and nothing else.
“So, is that a ‘yes’ then? Can I take you up there after work tomorrow?” His face and voice were full of hope, and she realized that she wanted to go. She wanted to get to know him better, especially after everything he’d said at the meeting. There was more to Ellis McCree than she’d ever realized.
“Ellis, I don’t have to work tomorrow, remember? I won’t be working until they get a new space set up for the courts.”
He smacked himself in the forehead and Marisol laughed at the gesture. It was so spontaneous and funny.
“Well, duh. I was practically running the meeting. I knew that. But that also means we can spend the entire day together, so we’re on for tomorrow?”
“Okay. That works for me.”
When Ellis pulled up to Marisol’s town home, she was surprised to see Rafe’s truck in the driveway.
“Ah,” said Ellis. “The cavalry has arrived. Maybe he has good news about your car?”
“I doubt it.” Marisol wanted to hide under the floorboards. There was no way this would end well. “Ellis, thank you so much for the ride.”
“Hey, it’s nothing.” He turned off the engine and opened his door. Marisol cringed inwardly, wishing he had said goodbye and left it at that. Were he and Rafe friends? She doubted it. They didn’t exactly hang in the same circles.
Rafe got out of his truck, and the deep scowl on his face told Marisol he wasn’t happy to see who had driven her home. “I would have picked you up after the meeting, Marisol.”
“Oh, thanks, but Ellis was there, of course, and he offered me a ride.” She sounded like a babbling idiot. Just shut up while you’re ahead.
Ellis shook Rafe’s hand. “How are you, Rafe? I haven’t seen you in a long time. Was your home damaged in the storm?”
Rafe narrowed his eyes slightly, and Marisol held her breath. “No. It’s fine. Yours?”
“The tornado passed by east of i
t. Had a lot of wind and lightning, but not so much as a tree branch down over on Birch. Weird how that is.” Ellis glanced up and down the street. “Doesn’t look like it hit here, either. Most of the damage was confined to the downtown area.”
“Yeah,” said Rafe. “I know.”
Ellis’s expression changed suddenly. “Yeah, your brother’s bar is gone. I’m sorry, Rafe. We’re going to rebuild everything downtown just the way it was. He’ll have it back again. I promise.”
Ellis gave Rafe’s shoulder a quick pat, much the same as he’d do to any good friend, but Marisol noticed the change in Rafe’s stance. He wasn’t happy right now, and he most definitely didn’t want Ellis touching him.
“Well, speaking of downtown,” said Ellis, “I need to head out to Notus and talk to some folks about data and phone lines. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Marisol.” He gave her a quick smile and a wink.
“Okay. Good luck with Notus.”
Marisol stood watching the traffic on the street, knowing she’d have to turn around eventually and face Rafe but not wanting to. As soon as Ellis’s car turned the corner, Rafe spoke. “Tomorrow?” His voice was full of pain and disbelief.
Marisol wished the earth would open up and swallow her. She turned on him, hands on hips. “Rafe Rodriguez, you have no right to say anything. I haven’t heard from you since you blew out of here yesterday afternoon, pissed off at me over nothing.”
“I know. I’m sorry. That’s what I came to tell you.”
Well, that took the wind out of her sails. “Let’s talk inside. I have nosy neighbors.”
Once inside, he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. Memories of Friday night came rushing back, but she couldn’t give in. Not right now. She was all mixed up and unsure what to do or say. They hadn’t resolved the disagreement about her car repairs.
She wiggled out of his embrace. “Rafe, I do appreciate your offer to fix the car and let me pay you back in small increments. I really do. But it’s not right. You and your father are running a business, not a charity. That’s all I was trying to say yesterday.”
“I know that. But you’re not just any customer, Marisol.”
“Yes, I am. You can’t give me preferential treatment. What would your father say?”
Rafe averted his gaze, but not before Marisol caught the look of dread in his eyes. “He’ll never know because I keep track of the money. I do have an accounting degree, Marisol. I’m not just a mechanic for him now.”
“Rafe, this has nothing to do with your degree or what you do now at the garage. This is about you and me, and what your parents obviously still think of me. Did they say something when you didn’t come home Friday night?”
He kept his gaze on the carpet. “It doesn’t matter, Marisol. I’m not a kid.”
“Shit. They did, didn’t they?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Rafe, it does matter.” Marisol fought back tears. She’d been an idiot to think they could simply erase eighteen years of mistrust from their parents with one night of hot sex.
The look he gave her was nothing short of desperate. “Why?”
“How can you ask that? They obviously still hate me. It’s not like you can have me over for Sunday dinner.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Which, by the way, is going on right now, isn’t it?”
“How do you know that?”
“I’m best friends with your sister.” The Rodriguez children, even as adults, needed a damn good excuse to miss Sunday dinner at their parents’ home. Ria had told her that the only one who no longer showed up every week was Luke.
Rafe grinned. “That’s right. See? You are welcome in my home.”
“No, I’m not. When was the last time you saw me there before Friday night? Try never. Ria knows better than to push the issue.”
“Ria didn’t have sex with you, I did. That changes everything.”
“No, that only makes it worse in your parents’ eyes.”
He ran a hand over his face, and it was then she noticed how tired he looked. This was tearing him up inside. She wanted to be with him. She’d wanted to be with him for eighteen years, but to go against his family would bring nothing but disaster, and she knew it. “Marisol, I’ll talk to them, okay?”
She lowered her voice. “What do you honestly think you can say that hasn’t already been said? They didn’t believe you then, and they sure as hell won’t believe you now.”
Rafe looked at her with sudden suspicion. The pain in his face was terrible. She wanted to wipe it away and just hold him forever. “Marisol, do you want to see me again or not? And I’m not just talking about sex. I’d assumed we were going to give this a shot, at least. When I told you Friday that I wanted all of you I meant it. I don’t just want your body.”
He took a step closer and Marisol fought against the wave of passion. She had to stay strong right now, at least until she sorted through her confusion.
“Didn’t you know that, mi tesoro?”
“Yes. Of course I did. But that was before all this happened.”
He looked like she’d just slapped him. She was making a total mess of this. “You don’t want me.”
“Oh my God, Rafe. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I’ve waited eighteen years for this. It’s all I’ve thought about. But how can you stand there and convince me that you’re going to defy your parents and that’ll be okay with everyone? I know you. I know your entire family. You would never do that. It would rip you apart inside.”
His eyes grew cold. “It’s Ellis, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“He drives you home in his damn fancy car and suddenly you’re with him.”
“Rafe, don’t be absurd. He gave me a ride home, that’s all. I was about to call Bonnie for one because you stalked out of here yesterday afternoon without a word. I didn’t know what was going on with us, or even if anything was going on.”
“I said I was sorry for that.”
“Okay. It’s over and forgiven. But that doesn’t change the fact that your parents don’t want you with me.”
“Where are you going with Ellis tomorrow?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. He’s taking me car shopping. Every person who works at the courthouse makes fun of me because of that damn car, so I agreed to go with him because it’s time to replace it.”
“And I can’t take you?”
“You didn’t ask me, Rafe.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
“Rafe, stop this. You’re acting jealous over nothing.”
“I saw the way he looked at you. I was in the same grade as Ellis. You don’t know him.”
“What are you afraid he’ll do, Rafe? Attack me?”
“Don’t be glib. He’s polished and wealthy, and I’m a grease monkey.”
“Rafe, shame on you. You know none of that matters to me.”
He shook his head and pulled her into his arms. It would so easy to forget about the damn car shopping and the fact that Rafe’s parents had obviously given him hell for spending the night with her, and just give in. Let him defy them. She could simply ask him to stay here with her, and the hell with what anyone in this town thought about it. They were adults, after all.
But she knew he couldn’t do that, at least not for long. And she respected his family too much to throw mud at their door like that. Marisol wrapped her arms around him and sighed in frustration. How fucked up was this? She’d finally made love to the man who had haunted her fantasies and dreams for more than half her life, and now there was a very strong possibility that she couldn’t be with him.
“Marisol, forgive me. I’m being an ass.”
She pulled away and looked into his face. All she could seem to think about was kissing him again. Had everything they’d said and done Friday night been real? “No, you’re not. You’re being Rafael Agapito Gaspar Rodriguez.”
“Yeah. That’s me. It means ‘big stupid ass.’” The light in his eyes told her he w
as now teasing her.
“It does not. And you’re not a grease monkey either. Now you’re a geeky accountant.”
“I used to be a grease monkey.”
“So what? I happen to like grease.”
“That’s because you’re sick and twisted.”
“And now you know how much.”
Rafe moaned softly and pulled her close again. “Oh, Marisol, what are we going to do?”
“I don’t know, and that’s the truth.”
“And I can’t stay, even though I want to. I have to get home to dinner.” He pulled away and cupped her face. “I promise you I’m going to talk to them later, okay?”
“Okay. But don’t expect too much, Rafe.”
“I’ll call you later. Will you wait up?”
“I sure will.”
He looked like he was going to say something else, but then the moment passed. Rafe kissed her gently, and then without another word or a backward glance, he left. Marisol watched his truck drive down the street and turn the corner. Then she went out the back door and sat on her deck for a long time, wondering what the hell she’d landed in.
Chapter Seven
Marisol was on her third cup of coffee Monday morning and she still felt groggy. She hadn’t slept very much after her phone call with Rafe close to midnight. It had not gone well. He’d tried to talk to his parents, but they’d refused to discuss Marisol, telling Rafe he was a man now and he had to do the right thing. When Rafe had tried to get them to clarify what they’d meant, they’d shut down.
Ellis had called her just before Rafe had, and told her he’d pick her up at ten this morning. Marisol hated the fact that she’d lain awake for hours, comparing that phone call with Rafe’s, but it was impossible not to. Had she made a terrible mistake in allowing a moment of fear to propel her into a night of hot sex with Rafe? She’d only been fourteen when they dated.
But they weren’t kids anymore. How much did she really know him, the way he was now? Watching him from afar and hanging out with his sister wasn’t the same thing as dealing with his life or his parents on a day-to-day basis. Maybe she’d built up a fantasy in her mind all these years that could never live up to reality?