Eric watched her put away her notebook and shut the car door. When she walked through the front door, she carried the cold air on her. Her cheeks were red as well as her nose.
“This is nothing compared to Colorado weather, but I’m frozen after that,” she said.
“You’re cute with your nose all red.”
That made her laugh. “I don’t see you as the kind of man who tells people they’re cute.”
“Can’t say I’ve ever said it to a person with two legs before. I usually save that for creatures with at least four legs.”
She smiled.
That smile had a way of easing him—melting him. How could that be? He’d only known her for three days and yet he could simply stare at her and feel happy.
“I have to go back to town now. I have a lot of work to do and you probably do to.”
Eric nodded. “I do.”
“Thank you for breakfast.”
“My pleasure.”
There was a long, awkward silence between them as if neither of them knew if they should move or not. This was why he didn’t do relationships. How was anyone supposed to know who was supposed to make what move? He’d already kissed her, wasn’t it her turn to move toward him?
He waited.
Finally, she did so. She crossed the room to him and kissed him on the cheek. “Are you in town often?”
“Hardly ever,” he said, then realized it was probably not the answer she was looking for. “Maybe once a week.”
Susan nodded slowly. “Drop by if you’re around. I have that job tonight. Class tomorrow. I just got a proposal that could lead to…well, anyway, it looks like word is getting around and I’ll be busy. I could come out some morning if you’re open for visitors.”
“Sure. Call me and I’ll make sure I’m around.”
Her lips tightened. That wasn’t what he was supposed to say was it? How was he supposed to know what to do?
Susan smiled, but it was forced. “I’ll see you later,” she said and turned and walked out of the house.
He watched her again from the window. She walked to her car, opened the door, and sat for a moment with her hands gripping the wheel before starting the engine. She looked frustrated. Was that him or the job she’d picked up?
There was a reason he was single at forty.
Eric hurried out the front door and to the car just as she put it into reverse. The car jolted as she noticed him and she put it in park before she rolled down the window.
“Did I forget something?”
“No I did. Get out.”
She stared at him for a moment before unbuckling her seatbelt and opening the door. When she stepped out of the car he gathered her in his arms.
“I suck at this. Plain and simple. I’m forty years old and I don’t know how to date.”
Finally, the smile that formed on her lips was as genuine as the sparkle in her eyes. She lifted her arms around his neck. “It’s been a very long time for me too. So what do we do?”
“I don’t have any idea. But how about I come into town tomorrow and have breakfast at your place?”
“I think that sounds wonderful.”
“I’m going to screw this all up. I’m going to tell you straight off. When you’re done messing with me, you just tell me. I won’t be offended.”
Susan rose on her toes and nipped his lips with a kiss. “I think this will be a fun adventure.”
Chapter Eleven
The drive back to town didn’t even bother Susan as she was tossed back and forth in her seat on the dirt road. She’d caught sight of her stupid grin in the mirror a time or two, but she couldn’t stop.
Oh, she hadn’t moved to Georgia to meet a man, but she had. She’d met him at his grandfather’s funeral. How morbid was that? Honestly, she couldn’t even say she liked him that much when she’d met him. She’d thought he was rude picking food off the trays. But now—she sighed—now she couldn’t wait to see him again.
There was a fluttering in her chest and a nervous energy that pulsed through her as she merged onto the highway from the dirt road she’d been driving. It humored her that he could live so far away and yet at the end of that road there was a big city sprawling before them.
He was going to come to her in the morning and have breakfast—breakfast in her kitchen on her plates.
What should she make? She could make a wonderful spinach frittata. She’d ask Bethany first. Maybe she’d have some insight into what he liked to eat.
Of course a few hours later when she posed that question to Bethany she was met with laughter.
“Are you kidding? How do I know what he likes? I don’t know the man at all, really.”
Susan hadn’t really considered that.
“I guess I make it and we find out.”
Bethany stood at the kitchen table wrapping plastic silverware in paper napkins and then dropping them into the plastic bucket that would hold them. “Why are you asking? Are you planning on making him another meal?”
Susan bit down on her lip as she chopped tomatoes, lifted them on the side of her knife, and deposited them into the bowl.
“I invited him over for breakfast.”
Bethany continued her job without laughing or appearing too surprised. “What do you have going with Eric?”
“Eric and I have a thing. I mean neither of us know what’s going on. We’re both terribly awkward about it, but,” she sighed, “when he kisses me I can’t even think.”
“You’re kissing him?”
“It happened this morning.”
“You were with him this morning?”
Susan nodded. “He made me breakfast.”
“You were gone awfully early.”
Susan grinned. “I was taking photos.”
“Right.”
“No, really. I was.”
Bethany dropped the last roll of silverware into the tub and then closed it with a lid. “And just how early did you leave for breakfast? Last night?”
Susan could feel the heat rise in her cheeks. They were adults. It was fair of her to think that. “I left early this morning to catch the sunrise. My intent wasn’t to do more than be early enough for the sunrise. But he went out to the barn to feed the horses, and well…” She sighed as she thought of it. “One thing led to another.”
Bethany walked across the kitchen and stood next to her, leaning a hip on the counter.
“I can’t believe you’re dating my cousin.”
Susan let out a snort. “You and his brothers are very free with that word.”
“You’re not dating?”
“We’re exploring the possibilities.”
Bethany took a grape tomato from the wash pile and popped it into her mouth much like Eric had. “Did you know him before the funeral?”
“No.”
“You’re a very trusting person, aren’t you?”
Susan shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know about that.”
“I do. I’ve known you three days and I live with you. He’s known you four days and you’re dating him.”
Susan couldn’t help but burst into laughter. It sounded ridiculous. “Perhaps I’m desperate for company.”
“I think if that were the case you’d never have moved to Georgia.”
Her smile disappeared then. “Right.”
“I just treaded on something.”
“Nothing. Can you get that asparagus out of the refrigerator in the garage? We need to get it washed and cut.”
Bethany puckered her lips, but her grin was still there as she walked out of the kitchen.
Susan let out a long breath and gathered her thoughts. The morning had slipped away from her and Eric and they hadn’t discussed her reasons for leaving Colorado. Perhaps it was time to face the reasons she had left before she dove into a new relationship.
Suddenly tears stung her eyes. She batted them away as quickly as possible.
Susan wasn’t quite ready to face it all, she realized.
~*~<
br />
Eric wiggled under the sink to try and ease the sharp pain running up his back. Seriously, would it be too much to have his stepmother look into having a plumber fix this pipe? He’d fixed it three times. Obviously it needed a professional.
But he knew what would happen. If she said she was going to hire a plumber, his father would strap on a tool belt and then a week later Eric would have to fix twice as much pipe and drywall.
This was how it went and had for nearly twenty years. Perhaps Eric should look at it as a blessing. He was needed.
“She got you fixing stuff again?” Dane’s voice came from beyond the hole that Eric had tucked himself into.
“You live in this house. You should do this.”
He could hear his brother cackle. “Right. I develop software. Have you seen my fingernails? Bitten off but no dirt under them.”
Eric let out a groan. “Real work would do you good.”
“My work is real. Without me, people couldn’t run their businesses. I’m helping mankind.”
Eric turned the wrench and batted his eyes from the water that dripped down onto his face. “Where is Dad?”
“Last I heard he was in town with the lawyers. They’re trying to find some loophole in Byron’s poker game.”
“Good. That’ll keep him busy for awhile. I don’t want him walking in and trying to help me.”
Eric continued to work on the pipe, very aware that his brother had never moved. After at least fifteen minutes of him standing only a few feet away, Eric slid out from under the cabinet and looked up at Dane.
“You’re just going to sit and watch me do this?”
Dane shrugged. “It’s entertaining. Besides, I wanted to ask you about Susan.”
Eric ran his tongue over his teeth. “What about her?”
“Russ says it’s hot and heavy between the two of you. I told him he was full of crap. But he’s persistent.”
“What would it matter either way?”
That had Dane fighting off a grin. “You weren’t very nice to her the other night. And now you’re making out in the barn? Or so says Russ.”
Eric shook his head and climbed back under the cabinet. “If you don’t have any other purpose in being here why don’t you find something else to do? Go program some software.”
But Dane didn’t leave. Eric slid out from under the sink, again, and looked up at his very serious brother.
“Why is this bothering you?”
Dane tucked his hands into the front pockets of his pants. “I like her.”
“I like her too.”
“You’re not real cool with the ladies.”
“Says the man living in his parents’ house at thirty-two.”
Dane narrowed his stare on him. “If you’re not serious about her I want a chance. If this is another one of your love ‘em and leave ‘em things…”
“It’s not.”
The answer seemed to surprise them both. Eric hadn’t even thought about it when he said it. The words just flew from his mouth. That had merit then, didn’t it?
There was no reason to even ask Dane why he was being the way he was. Eric had a reputation and certainly if Susan learned about it she just might find he wasn’t someone she wanted to get involved with.
He’d never touched a woman and hurt her. He’d never been outwardly cruel to them either—insensitive, yes.
The back of his neck grew damp from perspiration. Why should this matter so much?
“You drug out your relationship with Angelica for six years. Not once did you tell her you loved her,” Dane reminded him.
“I guess it was because I didn’t love her.”
“She bought a wedding dress.”
“She was stupid to do that. I never proposed.”
Dane swiped his hand across his forehead. “That’s what I’m saying. You use these women for your own purpose. If you’re in town you look them up. You hide in your house as if you’re some old man hiding from the world.”
“So what? I have a lot of work to do here.”
“And it’s always more important than the women in your life.”
“What’s your point?”
“I think if you’re just going to discard Susan then let me have a chance with her.”
Eric pushed to his feet. Wiping his hands on his jeans he faced his brother. “I’m not going to mess this up. Just step back.”
Dane held his hands up in surrender. “Fine. Don’t break her heart. Something tells me she’s not one to put up with your crap.”
If they were younger, Eric would consider punching his brother for questioning him as a considerate man. But there were facts that Eric couldn’t deny. He’d stomped on a few too many hearts and he wasn’t known for being any kind of Casanova.
“Give me a chance.” He pulled a rag from his back pocket and wiped his hands. “I have to go dig for a part in the garage. Don’t let him touch this if he comes back.”
Dane ran his hands over his hair. “He’ll be quite a while. He’s also making sure that they can’t move your mother.”
Eric felt any spark of life in him fizzle out as he looked at his brother. “They’ll only move her over my dead body.”
“Don’t say that. I wouldn’t hold them against that.”
He looked at his watch. “Have Glenda call a plumber,” he said as he started out of the kitchen.
“Where are you going? You can’t leave this.”
“I’m going to talk to Elias Morgan.”
Dane hurried after him and grabbed his arm, stopping him. “Are you crazy?”
“He’s my grandfather. He should listen to my side of things.”
“He’s a bastard. He’s never been any part of your family. What makes you think he’ll listen to what you have to say?”
“Because I know Smith and Wesson.”
“Eric…”
“I’m not going to shoot anyone. I just need them to know they disowned her then, they can’t claim her now.”
“Dad is taking care of that. You have to trust him.”
Eric squeezed his eyes closed. He didn’t want to trust him. He wanted to break some arms. But that wasn’t going to solve anything.
“Fine. I’m going to drive into town and buy the parts I need. Don’t let him touch this if I don’t get back in time.” The look Dane gave him was the same one Glenda would have given him too if she didn’t trust him. “I’m not going to the Morgan’s. I’ll trust the system for now. But when it fails I’m going to go knocking on their door.”
Chapter Twelve
Two hours before a job was crunch time. Items were cooking and final touches were being added. This was Susan’s shining moment. This was where organizational skills were a must.
Bethany had followed her every direction and that had helped to get everything ready for the book club dinner she was catering. It would be thirty people and would give her enough insight into Bethany’s people skills.
She hadn’t asked again about Eric or questioned about that emotion she’d tripped on with Susan. She’d simply worked steadily alongside her.
“We can start to load up the car,” Susan said as she checked on the chicken breasts in the oven.
“Do you have a special van or something parked elsewhere? How do you get this all in that car of yours?”
“Trust me. It fits.”
Bethany gave her a chuckle as she began to stack the boxes with dry items.
They both stopped and looked at each other when the doorbell rang.
Bethany gave her a shrug. “You’re one of the only people I know in town and the only one that knows I’m here. It must be for you.”
“Will you see who it is? And if it’s not a Girl Scout with Thin Mints then I’m not buying anything.”
“Oh, those are my favorite too.” Bethany squealed. “Let’s hope it’s a Girl Scout.”
Susan continued to pack up the dinner but stopped when she heard the familiar voice. She turned her head to see Eric walking t
hrough the door with Bethany.
“I told you it was for you.”
There was something about the way he looked at her that sent a shiver down her spine. He didn’t smile. He didn’t even look very happy. But there was something in the way his eyes fell on her that said seeing her was exactly what he’d needed.
“I didn’t expect you.”
Eric nodded. “I’m not one to just drop by. But I had to come into town for some plumbing items.”
There was more to that, she was sure.
“Well, you’re just in time to help us load up.”
Bethany picked up one of the sealed tubs. “She thinks it’ll all fit in that car of hers. I think she’s wrong.”
Now he smiled. “She’s not wrong. I’ve seen her do it.”
And right there they’d had a moment. A moment he’d reflected on that was theirs. It was simple, but it was there and it gave her heart a little jump.
“Just set it in the back. I’ll get the chicken out and we can organize it all.”
Bethany gave her a nod and headed out to the car.
Because there wasn’t any time to mess around, Susan kept working.
She grabbed the potholders and pulled the chicken out of the oven, setting it on the stove while she maneuvered the roll of foil.
“How long is this function tonight?” he asked still standing in the doorway.
“I’m scheduled for three hours.”
He rocked back on his heels. “Is Bethany helping or is she in your way?”
Susan shrugged. “So far she’s a help. We’ll see how she handles people.”
“I know her father. Give her some leniency.”
That was a slight cause for alarm, Susan thought. Though Bethany’s father had been kind to her the few minutes she’d ever been around him.
“I’m sorry I can’t be a little more social,” she said as she draped the foil over the pan holding the chicken.
“You’re busy. I just…” He stopped and wiped the back of his hand over his brow. “I just wanted to say hi.”
That alone turned her to mush. She was sure he wasn’t the kind of man to just drop in and say hi.
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