She hesitated for a moment, turned, and walked toward him. “I’m glad that you did.” She wanted to pull him in, kiss him softly, but she kept her hands to her side. “You’re still coming in the morning, right?”
He nodded. “Looking forward to it.”
“Good.” It was killing her to not move in, so she did. Worst-case scenario, he’d step away. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she eased when his hands came to her waist. “It’s going to be a long night.”
“Tell me about it,” he said before dipping his head and kissing her softly.
“C’mon, you two.” Bethany sighed behind them. “Seriously just thought you were going to flirt with each other. Didn’t know it would end up like this.” She passed by them. “By the way, Eric, your flirting is horrible.”
He gazed down into Susan’s eyes and she could see that wrapped in her arms there was a peacefulness that washed over him.
“I must have done okay,” he said keeping his eyes locked on hers. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He kissed her gently one last time before walking out of the house.
Bethany laughed behind her as she watched him walk away. “You know that getting involved with anyone will ruin your plans.”
“What do you mean?” Susan went back to the stove and carefully placed the chicken in a carrying tote.
“You’ll get all involved and forget about what needs to be done. I don’t know my cousin well, but I know for a fact that he rarely comes to town. He’s not the kind of man to just stop by and say hi to someone. Once his routine is threatened, he’ll stop coming. Keep focused on what you’re doing. You have plans.”
Bethany picked up another tote and headed out of the house.
Susan let out a long breath. She didn’t want to think that way, but there was some merit in what Bethany said. She’d come this far. She couldn’t let her feelings for a man get in her way for success. That had already been done and she didn’t want to go back there.
But she didn’t want to let it go yet either. He was surging feelings through her she hadn’t felt in a very long time. It was nice to be touched, gazed at, kissed.
Susan picked up the tote and headed out the door. It would be in the back of her mind. She’d promise herself to not get worked up about the what-ifs. She’d just make the best of what was.
Right now, she was going to focus on the job at hand and hopefully there would be a few referrals coming her way when it was done.
~*~
Eric cranked up AC/DC in his truck. Some days called for Hank and some days called for something a little heavier. There had been no real need for him to make that trip to town. It was an hour round trip, not to mention buying a part he was sure he had somewhere just to drop in and kiss Susan one more time.
They were going on less than a week of knowing each other and he couldn’t get enough. This was maddening. He was stressed and she was going to pay for it.
He noticed his father’s car when he drove up to the house. He’d hoped to have the sink fixed before his father arrived. That’s what he got for stopping in town—for indulging in that distraction.
When Eric walked through the back door of the house he wasn’t surprised to see his father looking at the work he’d done before he left.
“I suppose this is going to need to be redone someday,” his father said running his hand over his silver, thinning hair.
“If you start that she’ll want a kitchen remodel.”
His father smiled, though his eyes remained weary. “Yeah.”
He stepped back to let Eric in with the part he carried in his hands.
“I’ll leave you to this. Why don’t you come see me in my office before you go.”
Eric gave him a nod and watched him walk away. He didn’t like how his father sounded. Suddenly he wasn’t too optimistic about his father’s meetings.
An hour later Eric walked into his father’s office, tapping on the doorjamb first.
“Come in. Shut the door,” he said.
Eric pulled the French doors closed then turned to see his father wiping his fingers over his obviously tired eyes.
“Everything okay?” he asked as he took a seat in front of the desk.
“Could be better,” his father said on a heavy breath. “My brother has a gambling problem.”
“Obviously.”
“In the last six months he’s racked up over a hundred thousand in debts.”
“I don’t see where that’s our problem.”
His father’s eyes lifted and locked on his. “He’s my brother.”
Eric felt his words as if they’d been punched into his gut. He’d never turn away his brothers in a time of need. Gambling was an addiction—a disease. He needed help and Eric knew that meant his father was going to do everything he could to help.
“Elias didn’t win the property exactly. He paid off Byron’s debt of nearly a million dollars.”
That had Eric out of his chair and pacing. “A million dollars?”
“He knew he’d inherit half of the property. He used it as leverage to save his life.”
“What about our lives? What about our livelihood? Do you know what will happen to the cattle if we lose that acreage?”
His father nodded. “I know.”
“You’re willing to go through with this, aren’t you?”
There was pain in his father’s eyes and it hurt to see it. “There is little we can do now, except try and reason with Elias Morgan.”
“Fine. I’ll march over and have a word with him. I’m his family. He should listen to the grandson he never bothered to get to know.” His voice had risen until he was nearly yelling at his father. He hadn’t noticed until his stepmother opened the door and walked in.
Eric raked his hands through his hair and sat back down as Glenda stood behind his father and rubbed his shoulders.
“It’s not sounding like things went well today,” she said before she kissed the top of his father’s head.
His father patted her hand and Eric could see a connection between them that he wasn’t sure he’d ever noticed before. There was unconditional love which was almost so thick in the air he was sure he too could feel it envelope him. Maybe they’d always been that way and he’d been too hurt and angry to ever see it.
When his father took his stepmother’s hand and kissed it, he let out a breath. “No matter what happens, everything will be okay. No one will suffer,” he said.
Eric let out a groan and the intimacy of the moment was lost. “No one? What about Byron? He walks away? Look a the pain he’s causing you.”
His father lifted his eyes and narrowed them to make a point. “No one suffers.”
Eric wasn’t sure about that. There should be some retribution for what he was doing to the family. And Eric couldn’t help but feel a bit jaded. He had a lot to lose. That house had been his home for twenty years. He’d built that barn with his own two hands. The horses he boarded were his business and if they lost the land, he’d lose that too.
Someone needed to suffer and if it wasn’t his uncle then maybe it should be his grandfather. His breath came quicker now and so did the anger that rose through him and squeezed at his chest. This wasn’t over. They weren’t just going to hand over the property and walk away.
Eric stood to excuse himself, but his exit was stalled when his stepmother moved in front of him. “I hear you’ve been spending time with Susan.”
He winced. Somebody had a big mouth. “Yeah, we’ve hung out a few times.”
A smile formed on her mouth and her eyes went soft. “Is that what you’re calling it?”
Now he was beginning to understand who told her about them. Russ just might get a punch in the gut he decided.
“We’re just enjoying each other’s company and getting to know each other. That’s all. We’re not serious.”
She touched his arm, much as Susan had that first day he’d met her. “I like her, Eric. She’s a very nice girl. Why don’t you invite her ove
r on Sunday for dinner? And also invite Bethany. I’d like to get to know her too.”
Eric nodded then gave his father a wave as he left the house. He wasn’t sure if he had one emotion left that hadn’t been touched on today. Every muscle in his body was drained and as he passed the clock in the kitchen, he realized it was dinnertime.
He’d settle in and make himself a steak. Yeah, that’s what he was going to do.
As he passed by the basket of fruit on the counter, he snagged an apple. Whisky River would enjoy a little snack and Eric could use the time to sort out his feelings. Whisky River was a good listener.
Chapter Thirteen
The job had run smoothly. Bethany’s serving skills and people skills were also a success. In fact, Susan figured that the three referrals she received were because of Bethany alone. She’d entertained that book club and Susan was sure not once had they talked about books.
The thought made her laugh as she loaded the dishwasher with the utensils used from the job.
There had been one connection made tonight that had her second-guessing one of her next jobs. She’d met Lydia Morgan, the granddaughter of the man who had called her a few days ago. They spoke briefly and set up a phone appointment for the next day. The woman had been very quiet—reserved. Susan wasn’t sure she was too comfortable to be around, but then again she had a quality that drew Susan to her.
She wished she knew what that was. What was so familiar about that woman that made Susan want to work with her?
As she closed the door on the dishwasher and started it, she looked at the clock over the microwave. It was 10:30 already and she was exhausted. Maybe a nice soak in the big—she stopped thinking. The big tub was in Bethany’s bedroom now and she’d gone straight to bed. Maybe she should have kept that room.
Susan rolled her shoulder back and moved her head from side to side to work out the kinks. Perhaps she’d better get to sleep too. After all, she had a guest coming for breakfast.
When she thought of him, her body heated. It was silly to get so worked up over someone she’d just met, but she couldn’t help herself. It had been a long time since someone made her feel giddy inside. Eric did that to her.
It was a high of sorts, which she knew then meant there would be a crash too. Something made her want to chance it.
The next morning Susan rose early enough to catch a few photos of the sunrise, which was filled with the brightest of colors. She managed to not fall over in the warrior pose while doing yoga, which was a first. In anticipation of the wonderful morning, Susan’s pot of coffee was especially comforting.
Her cooking skills, on the other hand, seemed to be a little off. As she cracked the eggs for the frittata, she had to scoop out at least four shells. The spinach had frozen in the refrigerator, so only half of it was useful. Then it burnt.
Bethany walked through the front door fresh from her run and coughed as she walked into the kitchen. Susan stood next to the oven fanning the towel against the smoke.
“That doesn’t look appetizing.”
“I can’t believe I burnt it. I never burn things. This is horrible. What do I do now?”
Bethany gave her a chuckle as she moved to the window to open it. “I’m sure he’d be happy with cereal. He’s not a picky guy. I don’t think anyway.”
“I don’t mind cereal,” his voice came from behind her and she spun to see him standing in the doorway. “Front door was open. I assume to vent the smoke.”
Bethany winced. “I did that. I saw the smoke and hurried in.”
Susan closed the door to the oven and threw the towel on the counter. “I don’t have cereal.”
Eric smiled at her, one of those endearing grins that had her insides twisting. “C’mon, I’ll take you out. It’s a nice morning. We can walk down the street to the waffle place. That’s vegetarian, right?”
There was ease around him, but she wasn’t sure he was like that with many people.
“I’ll take you up on it, but I’m going to cook for you. This was rare.”
“I’m sure it was.”
Bethany cleared her throat. “Well, I’ll just go get a shower.”
As she passed by Eric, he reached for her and she stopped. “Glenda wants you to come out for Sunday dinner.”
“Me?” Her eyes opened wide. “I’m sure your family doesn’t want me around.”
“She asked for you to come. She’d like to get to know you. There are no hard feelings toward you.”
Bethany puckered her lips. “Just toward my father?”
“It seems the feelings aren’t that hard there either. My family seems to be a lot more forgiving than I am.”
“I wouldn’t be. He doesn’t deserve the loyalty,” she said sharply and Eric couldn’t agree with her more. “I’ll be there, if you’ll be there.”
He nodded. “I’ll be there.” He shifted his gaze to Susan. “She invited you too.”
Susan felt the blood draining from her head. “Me? Why would she want me there?”
“She likes you. She wants to get to know you.” He shrugged. “It seems as though Russell has a big mouth.”
The blood was back and it quickly rushed to her cheeks. “Oh.”
Bethany laughed and pushed past her cousin. Eric walked into the kitchen fully with his hand behind his back.
“I brought you something. It was supposed to be just for the hospitality, but now it seems like a pick-me-up.”
She felt the edges of disappointment slip away. “What did you bring?”
When he pulled his hand around he gripped a small bundle of tulips. “They don’t look so well,” he said looking down at the limp flowers.
“It’s a little early for tulips,” she said reaching out for the flowers.
“That would explain the price of them. I have a few that come up in the spring. Maybe when that happens, I’ll bring you more of them.”
The pitter-patter of her heart was overwhelming. Didn’t waiting for spring mean he was planning on her still being around? Was that what he wanted? Was it what she wanted?
Susan moved in closer to him. “I think they are lovely.”
“Purple made me think of you.”
“One of my favorite colors.”
Eric raised his hand to her cheek and lingered it there. Susan pulled in a quick breath and looked up into his eyes. At that moment she knew she’d miss him if they went their separate ways. There was something about this man whom she met in his parents’ kitchen that made her giddy to be around him. Even her ex-husband had never made her feel as she did when she was around Eric.
Perhaps that should be a warning she thought as she diverted her gaze to the flowers and then back to him. No. She wouldn’t talk herself out of this. Whatever was happening between them could be real. At that moment she knew that was what she wanted. She wanted the love of a man. Oh, they were far from exchanging the words. In fact, she wasn’t sure she felt love—lust perhaps, but there was something to grow on. That was for sure.
“What are you thinking?” he asked as his thumb brushed over her cheek.
Susan swallowed hard. “About how I feel when I’m around you.”
When he smiled, there was a small dimple in his cheek. “And? How do you feel?”
“Alive,” she said as she was very aware of the blood pumping through her veins at a quickened pace. “You make me feel things I haven’t felt in a long time. Perhaps it’s too early in our relationship—if this is indeed a relationship—to say something like that. But that’s how I feel.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
His smiled widened as he stepped in, closing the small gap between them. “I think that echoes what I feel. I don’t know that I could have found eloquent words to cover it as you did, but yeah, that’s what I’m feeling.”
Okay, that was a moment to never forget, she decided. Eric Walker didn’t seem like the kind of man to have soft, gentle moments such as this one. However, he’d shared it with her. That was worth
something.
Eric raised his other hand to her other cheek. “I have a lot going on in my life right now. Everything is unsure and it’s consuming me.”
She nodded, feeling the drop in sensation from the good to the bad. This was where he let her down gently. Where he told her that he has feelings for her, but it’s not the right time. Susan pushed her shoulders back and braced for his words.
He dropped his head and placed a gentle kiss against her lips, his eyes locked on hers. “I’m very glad that you’re here to distract me from the negative. I’d rather focus on what could be than on what has happened around me.”
Perhaps it was wrong, but she needed to know what it all meant. “I’m just a distraction?”
His eyes opened wider. “No. That’s not how I meant that.”
She felt the wash of relief move through her.
Eric slid his hands down from her face and over her shoulders. “I’m not good at this. I never have been. But, there is something about you that makes me just want to forget about everything else and only focus on you. No one has ever made me feel like that. My home, my family, my business have always been the most important things in my life. But since I met you, that scale seems to have shifted.” He let out a little chuckle. “I’m not one for deep, romantic conversations either. Looks like you bring out an entirely different side to me.”
“It’s been a long time since I was at the beginning of a relationship. Is that what we’re building here? A commitment to each other?”
His hands slid down her arms and to her waist. “I’d like to try that.”
She felt her hands begin to shake and a fear take over that quaked her at her core. “I want that. But as you can tell by my track record, I’m not very good at it.”
Eric shook his head. “A ten year marriage is nothing to sneeze at. I don’t see that as your failure.”
Tears now stung her eyes and this wasn’t a moment to cry. This was a moment to celebrate. “You don’t?”
“Are you willing to completely stop loving because it didn’t work out once? That’s like saying you’re willing to stop living because your marriage ended. But here you are. You’re building something new for yourself—by yourself.”
Walker Pride (The Walker Family Book 1) Page 9