by Reeni Austin
He nodded as he plucked a T-shirt from a hanger, then stopped, narrowing his eyes at her. "Wait. You gained an hour. You shoulda got plenty of sleep." He pulled his shirt over his head, flashing her a wry smile. "Unless someone kept you up past your bedtime."
Marcy sighed, thinking about last night. "Can't you take the day off? You're the boss, right?"
Ramon gazed at her thoughtfully as he headed to the dresser. He picked up a belt and started looping it through his jeans. "I'm the boss but I'm the last guy who gets a day off."
"So, you never take time off?"
He shrugged. "Took a couple days for Armando's wedding last week." He exhaled a labored breath as he worked with his belt. "First time in a while."
From his tone, Marcy sensed "a while" meant months… or possibly years. She sat up, using the covers to keep warm. "That's not healthy."
He smirked and picked up his wallet, tucking it into his pocket. "Oh well. That's life."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Ramon snickered and gave her a wink.
She rolled her eyes. "I mean, business related, like we talked about yesterday. For real. I can reconcile some accounts if you're behind. Stuff like that."
His eyebrows knitted as he put on his watch. "I'll think about it. Maybe next week I'll take you to Kernersville with me for a day."
"Kernersville? That's the town where your two other ranches are?"
Ramon nodded and plopped down beside her on top of the covers, crossing his socked feet at his ankles. "Yeah. That's where I'm headed now. Believe me, if there was ever a day I wanted to stay home, it's today." He shook his head, his eyes going up and down her blanket-covered form. "I gotta be careful. Ain't gonna get nothin' done with you livin' here." Then he stared up at the ceiling and let out a weary groan before shifting his legs to the floor to stand, then head to the door.
Marcy heart raced, hoping he would change his mind and stay with her at least a little while longer. "So you're just… leaving?"
"I have to. Wish I didn't." With his hand on the doorknob, Ramon turned to look at her. "I gotta go to my office downstairs for a few minutes then I'll stop in the kitchen to grab some coffee before I leave. Maybe I'll see you down there?"
Disappointed, Marcy said, "Yeah."
"Hey, tonight I'll need you up here at eight o'clock sharp. Or you're in big trouble." He grinned.
Her face lit up. "Okay. But won't everyone think it's strange that we're both upstairs so early?"
Shrugging, he said, "Nah. They keep each other busy. Probably won't even notice." Ramon opened his door, then abruptly closed it and added, "Hey, if I don't see you downstairs… have a good day."
"You too."
Ramon gazed into her eyes with the same hint of sadness she thought she noticed the previous night. "Sorry to leave you like this but I really do have to go." And then he opened the door and left.
Marcy stared at the closed door for a moment, hoping he'd come back and at least kiss her goodbye. But then again, maybe a kiss goodbye was too familiar. That sort of thing crossed into "relationship territory," a place neither of them wanted to go.
Or maybe he was afraid he couldn't control himself? The thought of it made her smile.
Marcy took a deep breath. Oh well. At least they had plans for tonight. Her only worry was getting through the day without fantasizing about what he'd done to her in that bed the previous night.
Hmm… maybe if she rushed downstairs she could see him for a minute before he left.
Five minutes later, after brushing her teeth, detangling her hair, and applying a minimal amount of makeup, Marcy descended the stairs on her way to the kitchen. The house was already alive with energetic voices and the rich smell of coffee.
Instead of going straight to the kitchen, she sneaked down the hall, listening outside Ramon's office. The door was shut but she heard his muffled voice.
And she felt like an idiot for smiling.
Heck, why did she care if she got to see him again for another minute? It wasn't long enough to matter.
Marcy shook it off and headed to the kitchen, refusing to analyze her feelings and resolving right then to just let herself be happy. Maybe she deserved to have a good time with a hot guy, for once. "No strings attached" may be the smartest thing she ever did.
When she entered the kitchen, everyone but Isaac stopped talking. He sat at the island beside Victor, both of them eating cereal. Tom and Patty hovered near the stove.
"Good morning, everyone," Marcy said as she made a beeline for the coffee pot. "Where's Cara?"
"Sleeping," Victor said.
"Okay." Marcy went for the biggest mug she saw in the cabinet. She was a little sleepy but it was nothing an enormous serving of coffee couldn't fix.
She soon heard footsteps enter the kitchen and her pulse quickened. Was it him?
Her question was answered when Isaac, his mouth partially filled with cereal, said, "Wuh-moan!"
Marcy kept her back to him, determined to act like nothing happened, even though she was glowing inside.
Tom said, "Nice to see you. You're usually long gone by now."
Ramon chuckled. "Yeah, figured I deserve to sleep in once in a blue moon."
Isaac dropped his spoon into his cereal bowl with a clang and said, "Did you find the cannoh-wee?"
"Huh?" Ramon asked as he walked to the coffee pot. "Did I find what?"
Marcy turned around to see Isaac's little blond eyebrows formed a frustrated line.
"The cannoh-wee!" Isaac said. "Did you find it? Gwammah said you two was somewheh pwayin' hide the cannoh-wee."
Marcy's cheeks were instantly warm, now realizing why everyone stopped talking when she entered the room. She left her mug on the counter and stared straight down at the floor, determined not to look at Ramon… or anyone else.
Ramon stifled a laugh as he reached into the cupboard for his gigantic mug. "Don't know what to tell ya, hombrecito. I probably wouldn't know what a cannoli was if I found it."
Victor smirked and shot a mean look at Patty, then Marcy, then at the back of Ramon's head. He placed a gentle hand on Isaac's back. "You should probably finish eating your cereal before it gets soggy."
Isaac nodded enthusiastically. "I wike cannoh-wee, but I wike cake bettow." He frowned and asked in a pleading voice, "If you guys find the cannoh-wee can I have it?"
Patty rushed to Isaac, walking up behind him to give him a hug. "I'll tell you what, sweetie. Today, I'll make a whole batch of cannoli just for you, because you're such a good boy." She kissed his cheek.
Isaac gasped, then smiled at his grandmother. "Okay!"
With quiet anger in his voice, Victor leaned back to look at Patty without Isaac seeing his face. "Hey Grandma, why don't you make him a cake instead? Then we don't have to discuss cannoli again today."
"Oh," Patty whispered, her lips forming a circle as Victor's words took root. She hugged Isaac again and said, "I'm gonna make you the best chocolate cake in the world."
Isaac's face fell. "But Wuh-moan—"
Marcy interrupted him, finally lifting her eyes from the floor. "Isaac, honey, there was no cannoli. I'm sorry. Grandma was wrong about that."
Isaac's lips formed a distinct pout.
Victor patted Isaac's arm and said, "Hey, why don't you go upstairs and see if Mommy's awake yet? And then stay in the bedroom and wait for me. We'll leave for daycare in a little while."
"Okay." Isaac hopped off the stool and hurried out of the kitchen.
Victor glared at Patty. "You know he hears everything."
Patty said, "Yes, I know. I'm sorry."
Ramon gave Marcy a quick glance then asked everyone, "Did I miss something?"
Tom walked up to Ramon and put a hand on his shoulder. "I think there's a loose floorboard in your room."
"Really?" Victor asked, eyes narrowed inquisitively. "It sounded like a spring to me. Like an old, rusty mattress spring."
Ramon snickered. "You mean, like, one sprin
g? Out of an entire mattress?"
Marcy drew her hand to her nervous stomach, fearful of where this conversation headed.
Victor said, "Yeah. It was one little muted squeal." Then he proceeded to quietly mimic the high-pitched sound. "Like, ree! Ree! Ree! Ree!"
Tom pointed and nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Kinda like that."
"Oh God," Marcy uttered under her breath.
Patty waved a dismissive hand at her. "Oh, it's okay. It wasn't that loud. I just happened to be awake or I probably wouldn't have heard it. At first I thought it was a cricket, but then it happened again a little while later. And then again."
Marcy's cheeks had never felt so hot. "Did Cara hear it?"
Victor shook his head. "I don't think so. She's a sound sleeper. And I doubt Isaac heard it…" His voice trailed off as his eyes widened. "You guys haven't heard anything… from… uh…"
Patty spoke up. "Your room? No." Then she raised an eyebrow. "Everything okay up there?"
Ramon instantly howled with laughter.
Of course he'd laugh, she thought.
Unsure what she was supposed to feel, Marcy rushed out of the kitchen to the front porch for some fresh air. She took a seat and listened to the laughter echoing from inside, probably at her expense.
Her memories of last night were somehow tainted by the fact that everyone knew. And her stomach lurched at the thought of telling Cara.
A few minutes later, Ramon burst through the door, heading for his truck. He stopped when he saw her sitting there.
Ramon said, "Hey," then let out a sympathetic sigh.
"Hey."
He scratched his head as he stared off in the distance. "So, I guess we'll try your room instead of mine tonight?"
She pursed her lips and stared at him, nostrils flaring.
With an exasperated breath, he tilted his head to the side. "What? You ashamed of me or something?"
"No."
"Then what's the problem?"
Marcy rolled her eyes. Did she really have to spell it out for him? "It's embarrassing. I look desperate and slutty."
"So?" He shrugged. "It makes me look just as bad. Or worse. Hell, I didn't even know my bed made noises. But guess what?" His eyes widened. "I don't give two shits about what they think."
"Of course you don't."
"You shouldn't either. We're adults and it's no one's damn business what we do or who we do it with."
"You don't get it. I came here to do a job, for which I'm very overpaid." Her head shook. "Cara's gonna—"
He held up his hand. "I gotcha. Say no more." Then he gestured for her to get up. "Walk with me to my truck."
Marcy pulled in a deep breath and stood, padding along in her slippered feet as she followed him down the porch steps.
Ramon waited for her to come up beside him before he started down the cement path leading to the side of the house. He said, "In my opinion, Cara has no right to judge you for last night. Months ago when I met her for the first time, she let it slip that she'd only started working for my brother a week earlier." He smirked. "And she was already on an overnight business trip with him."
Marcy glared up at him as they walked. "Look, she hadn't dated anyone in a long time before Victor. Patty and I were both happy for her when he came along. She'd been through a lot ever since she lost her job and she deserved a little," she paused to think of the right word, "attention."
Ramon stopped in his tracks, his eyes piercing hers. "And you don't?"
A twinge of excitement made her heart race. With a shy smile, she said, "I didn't say that."
Ramon grinned. "Good." He started walking again. "She has no right to make you feel bad. Know that."
They walked along in silence for a few seconds longer until they arrived at Ramon's truck.
"Whoa," Marcy said, marvelling at the large, steel-colored vehicle. She saw his truck yesterday but had only given it a passing glance. Standing directly in front of it made it seem much bigger.
"What?" he asked, reaching up to open the door.
"That's the biggest truck I've ever seen in real life."
Ramon scoffed. "Ain't that big."
"Yes it is. I'd need a ladder to get up there."
"Nah. There's a handle on the door. And some steps," he gestured toward it, "right there." Amused, he studied Marcy's face as she took it all in. "It's not that big, I swear. It just looks that way 'cause I got a lift kit to make the chassis sit up higher."
Her eyebrows knitted together. "Why would anyone do that?"
Ramon laughed. "You really are a city girl, aren't you?"
Marcy had no response. She scanned the truck, taking note of the emblem that said, "F-350," and the way Ramon looked so natural standing in front of it. This is who he is, she thought. Nothing like his brother. And nothing like any other guy she had ever known.
But he sure was a whole lot of fun.
Ramon sighed. "I gotta get goin'."
Marcy nodded. "Okay."
He raised one brow. "Am I gonna see you tonight at eight?"
A tingle swept through her body. She dipped her chin down, and in a soft voice answered, "Uh-huh."
"Good."
Their eyes locked. For a moment, Marcy thought she saw him move forward like he might kiss her.
But he merely blinked a few times and inhaled a sharp breath, then straightened his posture and reached for the door. "See you tonight."
She lifted her hand in a feeble wave. "Bye."
Ramon nodded and pulled the door open. With his back to her, he remained still for a few moments.
Then he let go of the handle and turned around.
"Hey," he said.
"Yeah?"
Ramon's eyes darted around the massive field behind her. He squinted and looked behind him at the house, paying close attention to the windows. He cleared his throat and stepped forward. "I know we're keepin' it casual but this just feels like the right thing to do."
Then he leaned down and kissed her.
Marcy's chest went weak at the feel of his lips. It was just a tender peck at first, but when her arms flew around him, his lips parted, gently giving way to his tongue.
His hands were around her waist, boosting her up to her toes. Making her wish he would throw her down on the ground to quell the longing he had suddenly created.
But he pulled away, panting.
"Shit," Ramon whispered. "I gotta go."
Marcy tried not to frown as he slipped out of her arms. Neither said another word. She waved and he nodded in return, a numb expression on his face.
She chuckled a little as she watched him jump up into the driver's seat in a swift, natural motion.
He gave her one last, brief nod from the truck before driving off.
Marcy then raced to the porch in the hopes of sailing past the kitchen and up the stairs to take a quick, cold shower.
But she was stopped by Victor and Isaac in the foyer as they headed out.
Marcy swallowed, hard. That kiss had nearly made her forget about her prior humiliation.
Isaac smiled. "Bye Mah-cy."
Victor averted his gaze, as if the moment was just as awkward for him. "Yeah. Uh…"
Marcy took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Is Cara up yet? Have you spoken to her?"
Victor looked in Marcy's eyes with a sense of understanding. "No." He gave her a crooked grin and a light tap on the arm. "Don't worry about last night, all right? Have a good day."
Marcy let out a sigh of relief. "You too."
CHAPTER 8
An hour later, Marcy sat at the dining table across from a sleepy Cara. Patty quickly joined them, plunking down a fresh pot of coffee as she took her seat at the head of the table.
Cara said, "I'm actually in the mood for herbal tea again."
Patty smirked. "Herbal tea? That'll never wake you up." She raised her brow in a knowing expression and put both elbows on the table, leaning forward. "Just admit you're pregnant."
Cara let out a weary sig
h, shaking her head. "Oh, Mom."
"You don't fool me," Patty said. "You're sleeping too much. You've stopped drinking coffee in the morning. And we're sitting here to talk about a wedding that's less than four weeks away?" She nodded and gave Cara's hand a quick tap. "You're pregnant." Then Patty stood and went to the kitchen. "I'll go make some tea."
As soon as Patty's back turned, Marcy widened her eyes in a pleading display at her best friend. She silently mouthed, "She knows! Tell her!"
Cara set her jaw firmly and drew her fingers across her throat in a straight line. Her silent response was, "Shut up!" Then louder, calling to Patty, she said, "Mom, I think I'd rather have orange juice instead."
Marcy rolled her eyes and looked down at her notes. Their mission today was to go over their individual duties pertaining to the wedding. And Marcy was already growing frustrated with her best friend's reluctance to tell her mother about her pregnancy. On one hand, she understood. Patty's exuberance would probably only stress Cara out even more, which wouldn't be healthy for the pregnancy. But Patty's incessant questions came with their own stress. Marcy practically considered the woman to be her second mother, and she hated lying to her.
Patty quickly returned from the kitchen with a glass of juice and set it in front of Cara. Then she took her seat and put on her reading glasses, immediately lifting her notebook. "The first order of business: those additional guests I'd like to invite." She handed her notes to Cara.
Cara's expression changed from confused to startled to frustrated as she scanned the list. "I've never heard of these people."
"Yes you have," Patty said. "You met a few of them at my wedding. It's mostly Tom's cousins and other extended family."
Cara smirked. "You seriously want me to invite Tom's extended family? We're trying to keep it small."
Nodding, Patty said, "Yeah. Too small. You're planning a beautiful day, and for what? Most of our relatives have already said they can't make it. I figured it couldn't hurt to add a few people."
Cara said, "It doesn't matter to me if no one shows up, at all. I'd rather not get married in front of a group of strangers." She grimaced as she read a few random names aloud. "Ernie and Leona Lesko? Who the heck are they?"
Patty gasped. "You met them at our wedding! It's Tom's cousin and his wife. They live in Montana."