Moonlight Kiss

by LuAnn McLane

  After searching for the corkscrew Rick said, “How about this: You kick back and enjoy yourself. There are three guest rooms upstairs. If you have too much wine to drive you are welcome to stay. And I promise to be a gentleman. No worries, okay?”

  “Thank you, Richard. I have to admit that being a single mom made me pretty much a worrywart.”

  Rich handed her a glass of wine and then poured one for himself. “Here’s to no worries.” He raised his glass to hers.

  “No worries,” Maggie said, and clinked her glass to his before taking a sip. “Oh, this is good. Nice toasty finish,” she said, and looked at the label. “Fat Bastard.”

  “I beg your pardon,” Rick said, and then laughed with her. “I’ll put on some music. We can enjoy our wine on the front porch while the potatoes bake and the steaks come to room temperature.”

  “Can I do anything?”

  “Nope. I rubbed the potatoes with olive oil and sea salt. The salad is a spring mix from a bag and ready to go.”

  “You have everything under control. I came prepared to help out.”

  He grinned. “I wanted dinner to be simple so I could enjoy your company.”

  “Why, thank you.” Maggie smiled and tried to hide her blush by taking a sip of her wine but Rick noticed and, God help him, but he was … What was the word? Smitten. He grinned at the rather old-fashioned word that popped into his head, but it fit. There was something about Maggie that made him smile just from being near her. Rick wanted to sit and chat with her, learn more about her.

  When they sat down in the rockers on the front porch Rick silently but sadly acknowledged that keeping Maggie in the dark wasn’t really right, but at this point he didn’t see any way around it. Instinct told him that he could trust her but he also wondered how she would react if she knew that he was Rick Ruleman, and he guessed she would run for the hills. His carefully crafted bad-boy image was in many ways fabricated, but would she ever believe that? Probably not. Plus, this last rumor that he’d slept with his son’s fiancée was a doozy that he wanted to die down. The last thing Rick wanted was to bring more heartache to Addison Monroe, so he reminded himself to keep the answers to any questions about himself vague. And as enchanted as he was with sweet Maggie, he should keep his distance. But when she turned and smiled, the keeping-his-distance vow vanished as quickly as the morning mist on the river.

  “There’s just something about a rocking chair on a front porch that makes life seem slow and easy.”

  “The view of the river off of the back deck is pretty amazing too.” Rick nodded. “I have to admit that coffee out here in the morning and a glass of wine in the evening are pretty good ways to start and finish the day. It sure is peaceful here in the river valley.”

  “So, what will you do here all summer long, Richard?”

  Rick took a sip of his wine and looked out over the front lawn for a moment before answering. “I’m going to work on getting my chaotic life back in order.”

  “So you needed a break from reality?”

  “I sure did.” He turned to her and smiled. “I like it so much I might never go back.”

  “To reality?” Maggie asked with a grin.

  Rick chuckled. “Yeah. This is much better,” he said, and decided to ask her a question before she pried a little bit too much. “I needed an extended vacation. So, how about you? Didn’t you recently open your agency?”

  Maggie nodded. “Having my own agency has been a dream of mine for a long time. I put it on hold while I raised my son up in the Cincinnati area. I knew the hours would be long and there would be a risk, so I waited until the time was right. Moving back here has been a good decision so far. And I’m working on expanding Whisper’s Edge with my son.”

  “Whisper’s Edge?”

  “A retirement community that my father owned. Tristan bought it from him last year when he ran into some financial difficulty,” she answered brightly, but something in her eyes told Rick that there was more to the story than a simple sale.

  “So, you grew up here in Cricket Creek?”

  Maggie gave him a rueful smile. “Yes, until I came home from college pregnant with Tristan. Let’s just say that my father didn’t react with … unconditional love. I moved out.”

  “I’m sorry, Maggie. That must have been tough. I’m guessing no help from Tristan’s father.”

  She studied the contents of her glass for a moment. “I never knew who he was,” she said softly. “I was at a college party and there was this punch that tasted like Kool-Aid, but I found out later that it was laced with Everclear. I don’t remember anything about that night.”

  Rick felt rage bubble up in his throat at the thought of someone taking advantage of her. “My God … Maggie, this could have been date rape. Didn’t anyone investigate?”

  “Let’s just say that my father didn’t believe my version of the story. My mother left him when I was a baby and he’d become a bitter old man. It wasn’t until I had a bout with breast cancer that he actually helped me one summer.” She sighed. “I was hoping my illness would bring us closer and he’d bond with Tristan, but it didn’t. Sad, but it’s his loss.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “I was lucky. It was caught early.” She shrugged and then smiled. “We all have our journeys, our crosses to bear. Tristan was a blessing and I love him dearly. I couldn’t ask for a better son. And after surviving cancer—no relapses—I feel like I’ve learned to focus on the big picture and to try to be happy as best I can.”

  “You put your dreams on hold for him.” He felt his heart lurch.

  “Totally worth it.” Her eyes welled up with tears. “Even if I could go back and rewrite history, I wouldn’t change a thing. And now here I am in my fifties, getting to start a new adventure!”

  “I admire your attitude, Maggie. I admire so much about you.” He looked at her with a sense of wonder.

  She chuckled. “My attitude was all that kept me going for a long time. But Tristan was such a joy and still is.” He was sure that her radiant smile hid a lot of heartache. Rick was beyond impressed and even more drawn to her.

  “Oh, don’t look at me like I’m an angel. I had my days of despair and crankiness. I still do, for that matter. And I guess living through tough times makes me appreciate the good times even more.”

  “So, you’ve never been married?”

  “No, I never really had the time for romance,” she scoffed, but her smile faltered for the first time.

  “And you were a little bit scared?”

  She stopped rocking and stared down at her glass again. Finally, she lifted her gaze to meet his. “Yes,” she admitted so softly that her admission blended with the evening breeze.

  Not knowing what to say, Rick remained silent, wishing in some ways he’d never led her down this path.

  “Of course, Tristan had questions, but as the years passed it became less important. The love we have for each other is really all that matters.” She lifted one shoulder. “I just sometimes have a tough time with trust.”

  “Understandable.”

  Her gaze flicked away and she started rocking gently. Rick studied her profile in the waning light. She was such a pretty woman, so full of life. What a shame that she held back from experiencing romance … love. Judging by the way she loved her son, she would be an amazing wife. Caring, funny, sexy, smart. He couldn’t ask, but he surmised that she hadn’t slept with a man in quite some time. Rick thought about all of the meaningless sex he’d had and it turned his stomach.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Richard. I didn’t mean to put a damper on the lovely evening.”

  “You haven’t.” Rick reached over and took her hand. “Not in the least.”

  Her eyes widened in a bit of surprise and then she smiled slowly, shyly. And while Rick knew he should withdraw his hand he simply couldn’t.

  Maggie McMillan was both fragile and incredibly strong. He was drawn to her in more ways than one. She had just revealed so much of herself to h
im, and he had secrets. Perhaps he should simply tell her… .

  “Hey, don’t look so serious,” she said with a low chuckle. “Let’s check on the potatoes and grab another glass of wine.”

  Rick squeezed her hand and nodded. “While you do that I’ll get the grill heated up. Looks like we’re in for a beautiful sunset.”

  “And you forgot to turn the music on. Put on something I can snap my fingers to,” she requested with a laugh. “Music will get us back in a festive mood.”

  “So, you’re a music lover? What kind?”

  “Absolutely. A wide variety, depending on my mood. But I have it playing most of the day and sing along in the car. You? I noticed a guitar leaning against the wall. Are you good?” She raised her eyebrows and waited while he tried to decide how to answer. “Oh, don’t be shy. I’ll even sing along.”

  “I’m passable,” Rick finally answered, and hoped she would forget about her request, even though playing some of the new songs he’d been writing appealed to him.

  As the night wore on there wasn’t anything about her that didn’t appeal to him. From her easy laugh to her knowledge of baseball and her intelligence, Rick found himself wishing the night would go on forever. She didn’t pick at her food and actually ate her steak with appreciation, unlike the women he was used to dining with, who for one reason or another eliminated just about every food group. Rick even enjoyed doing the dishes with her. When was the last time he’d done dishes?

  “What are you grinning about?” Maggie asked with a tilt of her head.

  “How you’re making me enjoy simple things.” He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “I have a whole stack of self-help books in the den and you’ve inspired me more than all of them put together.”

  “Really? Well, then, you need to tell me all about your life so I can be inspired over dessert and coffee.”

  “I’m not all that inspirational,” he said and felt a flash of alarm. How would she react to his past?

  Maggie suddenly put her hands to her cheeks. “Oh, I forgot to put the pie in the oven!” she exclaimed, and he was glad for the change of subject. Saved by the pie …

  “That’s okay. We can have it next time,” Rick answered and just about held his breath while he waited for her response. “If, you know, you’d like to have dinner with me again,” he added. Rick couldn’t remember the last time he felt so unsure or so hopeful while waiting for an answer from a woman. The anticipation, the excitement, made him feel so alive! Going to a club or a four-star restaurant with some twentysomething never felt this good.

  “I would be delighted,” Maggie answered.

  Rick let out the breath he’d been holding and smiled. He wanted to pull her into his arms but didn’t want to go too fast. While he knew that sooner or later his secret would come out and that he would most likely move back to LA, for now he wanted to simply savor the time spent with her. “Would you like another glass of wine or an after-dinner drink? It’s still relatively warm outside and there’s a full moon, so we could head back outside.”

  “I would but then I wouldn’t be able to drive.”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip, and he realized that some of what she’d told him about her past must be running through her head. He despised the fact that she could even think about something so terrible while with him.

  “Hey, I promised to be a gentleman and I won’t break that promise, Maggie.”

  She swallowed hard. “Those trust issues are rearing their ugly head.”

  “I understand.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “There’s nothing to be sorry for, Maggie.” It killed him to hear her apologize for her feelings. Rick shook his head and then put his hands on her shoulders. “I had a great time with you tonight. Let me walk you to your car, even though I don’t really like you driving these back roads by yourself.”

  “I’ll be fine. I grew up on these country roads,” she said. “But thank you for being concerned.”

  “I’m not just being polite, you know.”

  When she nodded ever so slightly Rick dropped his hands from her shoulders so he wouldn’t give in to temptation and pull her in for the kiss he’d been longing to steal all night long. He helped her into her denim jacket and strolled toward the door. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted the unsigned paperwork and barely suppressed a grin. He’d just have to head up to her office right about lunchtime with the extended lease agreement.

  Rick moved across the yard as slowly as he could without actually stopping, trying to milk every last minute with her. After the sunset the night had turned clear and cooler—perfect weather for snuggling beneath a blanket or building a fire.

  Maggie gazed upward and sighed. “Wow, look at those stars and that amazing moon. The night sky is so pretty away from the city lights. Makes you feel small and insignificant.”

  “There’s nothing insignificant about you, Maggie.”

  She looked at him with an element of surprise and smiled.

  “Yeah, it sure is quiet and peaceful out here,” he said when they stopped in front of her SUV. After hearing the beep of keyless entry, Rick reached over and opened the door for her. “I could get used to this.”

  “Living here?”

  “Spending time with you,” he said. “Tell me you’ll do this again.”

  “I’ll do this again.” There was no hesitation in her voice this time.

  “Ah … Maggie …” The need to touch her, to kiss her overcame his reasons for holding back. He dipped his head and captured her lips in a soft, sweet kiss, lingering just long enough to let her know that he wanted much more. He wanted her to feel beautiful and desired because she was both, but also that he was capable of holding back until she was ready. After she drove away, Rick poured the last of the wine into his glass and then came back out onto the porch with his guitar. He played by rote, humming softly while his mind wandered from the past to the present. Sitting on the front porch of a cabin in Cricket Creek, Kentucky was starting to feel a little bit less surreal and more like … home?

  18

  Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

  “SARA, COME ON … SERIOUSLY? WHY IN THE WORLD would I want to spend my Saturday night at the grand opening of a bridal boutique?” Reid hefted the bag of chicken feed from the bed of the truck and then turned to face his sister.

  “I don’t know.” She gave him an innocent look. “There will be free food. Cake! Who doesn’t like cake? Plus, you can keep Cody company.”

  “Cody would rather be going over to Sully’s to shoot some pool or throw darts. Now, if he wants to do that, I’m down with it. You can join us later.”

  “I want Cody to look at some of the bridal stuff with me and do some cake tasting.”

  Reid tilted his head to his shoulder to catch some sweat on his sleeve. “See, that’s the difference. Cody is going to be a groom. I’m not, thank God.”

  “You know someday when you find the right person, you’ll change your sad, sucky tune.”

  He reached for another bag. “Don’t count on it.”

  “Seriously, Reid, you need an attitude adjustment. You’ve been a grump all week. I was afraid for you to get anywhere near the kids.”

  He shrugged.

  Sara paused long enough for Reid to brace himself. Her pauses meant she was gathering up ammunition. “I thought you might want to see Addison.”

  “You thought wrong,” Reid answered tightly. Of course, that was a big-ass lie. But after their little agreement, Reid had steered clear of the cute wedding planner. As much as he wanted to be with her, he needed to give her time to think her proposition over before going through with it. He’d spotted her once when she’d come out to the farm to meet with Jason and Sara about the barn renovations, but he’d turned his tractor in the opposite direction. His keeping-his-distance plan had obviously worked. Addison hadn’t contacted him. She’d probably thought better of the whole no-strings-attached scenario that was doomed for an epic fail, anyway.
>
  There was only one problem: Reid couldn’t stop thinking about her. And it was making him a little bit testy.

  “Open house only lasts until seven, Reid. Just stop in for a little while, you know, to be polite, and then we can all go to Sully’s afterward.”

  “No, thank you.”

  “Why are you being so stubborn?”

  “Hanging out at Wedding Row isn’t my kind of Saturday night.”

  “We’re going into business with Addison Monroe, Reid. It’s polite to show our support.”

  “You are going into business with her, Sara. And do I have to remind you that I’m still not convinced that this is a smart venture? Renovations like this are notorious for going way over budget. Instead of avoiding bankruptcy, you just might throw yourself into it.” Reid tossed another bag of feed to the ground, making dust fly. His muscles no longer protested at the manual labor and, in truth, he’d felt healthier working outdoors instead of sitting behind a desk all day long.

  “All right.”

  Reid looked at Sara’s hands on her hips and jutting chin. He knew that stance all too well. “What do you mean, all right?”

  “Nothing.” She gave him a slight shrug but the chin stayed in place, meaning this was war. “I’ll make other plans, then.”

  Reid propped his boot up against the tailgate of the truck and leaned his forearm on his knee. “What kind of plans?” he asked slowly.

  “Cody’s friend will agree to come out with us tonight. He has this … thing for Addison.”

  “Thing?”

  “Yeah, Zack met Addison at Wine and Diner when she and I went out to dinner a couple of nights ago. Zack has been bugging Cody to get her number from me ever since. I’m sure he’ll come out with us tonight. You remember Zack, right? A couple of years ahead of us in school.”

  “Yeah, I do. I remember he was an asshat.”

  “Why? Because you wanted his spot on the baseball team?”

  “Yeah, well. I took it, remember?”

  “After he broke his arm.”

  “A minor detail. Come on, really, Sara. Zack Martin?”

  She turned on her heel.

  Dammit! Reid clenched his fists. “Sara!”