Rum and Raindrops: A Blueberry Springs Chick Lit Contemporary Romance

by Oram, Jean

Couldn’t be. It really couldn’t be.

  She blinked again as the person moved closer.

  Rob.

  Steamy Rob. His Holy Major Hotness in blue jeans, a button-down shirt over a navy shirt that brought out the blue flecks in his eyes. Storm cloud eyes. Unlike anyone else. Worn work boots with a scuff of black along the bottom.

  “Were you at the fire site?” she asked, unable to think.

  He ran a hand through his hair. “Hello to you, too. And yes, I was at one of them.”

  “It’s been a bad year.”

  He sighed, looked at her legs. “How’s the ankle? Any better?”

  “Yeah, no stitches required. But I have this funny feeling in my chest.”

  “You do?” His brows furrowed in concern.

  Only when you’re around.

  “I…never mind.” Her cheeks flushed and she glanced away.

  “I had a good time on the canoe trip,” he said.

  “Does that mean I get a Get Out of Jail Free card?” She stopped breathing. Oh, damn. Talk about putting a man on the spot. She may as well have asked him if her butt looked fat. “Kidding. Just kidding. Bad sense of humor. Bad.” She gave herself a slap on the cheek. “Bad Jen.”

  He grabbed her hand to prevent her from doing more damage. “Hey, now.”

  She felt her body leaning toward his heat. All she wanted was to know whether she could wrap her arms around his neck and give him a nice, long lingering kiss. This man was everything she’d been telling herself she’d been searching for. Nice. Smart. Hot. Athletic. Outdoorsy. Kind. Sense of humor. Ability to put her in jail.

  Well, okay. Not the last one.

  Stupid destiny. Didn’t she know she was avoiding Rob right now? Why did he have to be here? So tempting. So kind. So sexy. She could feel her resolve lessening every time she inhaled his woodsy scent.

  “So?” he asked.

  “So?” She couldn’t help but smile. What was he waiting for?

  He’d better not be expecting to go on that stupid meadow hike right now. Yeah, when she’d first met him, she’d told him if she didn’t burn the town down she’d show him a hike or two around town. But that was before. This was now. And right now her ankle was throbbing and bitching at her as though she’d been clawed by Fluffy—the world’s stupidest cat who kept getting stuck in the tree on Main and would only allow herself to be rescued by Mandy’s ex-boyfriend, Oz. That and the fact that Jen was trying to be a good girl and avoid him.

  “Are you ready?”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t think hiking would be a good idea today. My ankle is still a bit sore from this morning’s hike. Maybe another day? We could, um, go for coffee instead?” In fact, a coffee would be marvelous.

  “A hike? Oh!” Recognition brightened his face. “I actually meant Dina’s bachelorette party. But you do still owe me a hike seeing as you didn’t burn the town down.”

  “Uh? Her party?” She’d turned Dina down so many times she was surprised the girl was still talking to her.

  “I heard we had a bachelorette in distress, and I was sent to be the knight in shining armor.” He spread his arms out at his sides as though showcasing himself.

  She’d give him a ten. Definitely a ten.

  “And?” she asked.

  “And I’m here to give you a ride. Dina said your car was leaking oil, you weren’t allowed to leave town, and that you had work today. But it looks like you’re done with your hike, I asked Scott if I could take you out of town, and I’m here to take you away. Are you ready?”

  Oh, boy. Now she was going to find herself in a situation with Rob that was awkward (on both their parts), alcohol-infused (her part), and lusty (her part again, but Rob was most welcome to join her) and was destined to end any friendship they had going on and a big ol’ heartache for her.

  “Uh? Is there any way out of this?” She rubbed her hands down her thighs. There had to be a way out.

  Rob shook his head. “Nope.”

  “I’ll text Dina and tell her I’m sick.” She backed into her entry, but Rob leaned in, resting a shoulder against the doorjamb.

  “You don’t know my sister. She’ll have my head.” Rob changed tactics. “Please? It would mean a lot to Dina.”

  Jen sighed. If she stayed home she was going to wallow in self-pity, eat way too much chocolate, and basically hide out and let her fight or flight response rule her life. If she went…well, things could get…messy. Fun, but messy. “You know I can’t make any guarantees for my behavior once I get a few drinks in me.”

  “Cuba Libres, right?”

  “Hurricanes, too, if it’s a good bar.”

  “Oh, it will be.” He gave her a soft smile and she knew there was no way out. No way that wouldn’t result in her turning that nice smile upside down—accidentally, of course.

  She heaved a sigh and turned to go up the stairs. “I guess I’d better get ready.”

  Jen entered her apartment and heard the power of the bright walls hit Rob who’d followed her up the stairs. “Wow. This place is fantastic.”

  “It grows on a person,” she said as she tried to figure out what she needed needed to bring. “Sorry to hear you’re color blind. Most people don’t find my bright walls particularly cool.” In fact, she could practically see her style-sense stock falling in their books as they looked around at the hodge podge.

  “I can see colors just fine,” he said, kicking off his shoes and wandering over to a finger painting she’d made ages ago to burn off some of her hurt and anger toward Ken. It was huge and covered the space between the door to her bedroom and the bathroom. “This is cool. Did you make this? I like all the red.”

  Huh. He really could see colors.

  He checked out a few more treasures. “Are you ready?”

  She lurched into action, having been drawn into watching him discover the inner Jen through her belongings. He’d paused at all the right items. For the hundredth time she wondered how she could make something work with what would inevitably be long distance should they get past what already stood in their way.

  She grabbed her toothbrush from the bathroom before coming back to the living area. “How am I going to get home?”

  “Brownies,” he said with a shrug.

  “Seriously? You’d drive all that way? That hardly seems…” She narrowed her eyes at him.

  “What?” He gave a mock offended look. “Am I chopped liver or something?”

  “No, but I can’t ask you to go a bazillion hours out of your way. I barely even know your sister. This is a major imposition.” She set her toothbrush down on the coffee table.

  “Why don’t you let me decide what’s a major imposition?” He crossed his arms.

  “Rob…”

  He sat on her couch, flipping open one of her outdoor guide magazines. “Let me know when you’re ready.”

  “But—”

  “I’m already here, Jen.” He gave her a look over the top of the magazine. “If it makes you feel better, I had to drop some stuff off in town. And tomorrow I have to come halfway out here to take my dad out for Father’s Day brunch, so I can easily bring you home. No imposition necessary.”

  Jen backed into her bedroom and bit her bottom lip, making herself step past her reluctance and go with the flow. To let people in and all that other stuff Wally had told her. A few minutes later, she dropped her backpack by the door.

  Rob started to stand when she caught sight of his button-down shirt. She glanced at her cutoffs and work T-shirt. Way too casual. They would be partying and shaking it in front of eligible men. “Hang on. I have to change.” She flew into her room to pull on a new outfit.

  “Leave the cutoffs, they’re cute. Kind of Daisy Duke.”

  Jen caught her reflection in the full-length mirror. Daisy Duke? Not even close. They weren’t skin tight. And they weren’t that short either.

  She held up her new denim miniskirt. “I think I have something cuter.” She blushed and shook her head at herself. What was it abo
ut this man? And what the heck was she getting herself into?

  She checked out the skirt in the mirror. Much more flattering and slimming. She slid into a form-fitting, white tank top that showed off her tan and strong shoulders. She added a beaded necklace and a touch of makeup.

  “Ready.”

  “That was fast.” He held the door for her. “You’re right, that’s even cuter.”

  “Are you flirting with me?”

  “I handed in my report, and my boss is sending it in. Conflict of interest is over.” He held up his hands as if showing he wasn’t armed.

  “What? What did it say?” She took an eager step closer. “Did you prove it was the truck guy? Is that why you’re here? It was him, wasn’t it?”

  Rob laughed, brushing her hands off him as though they tickled. “I can’t tell you a single thing and you know it.”

  “But you just said the conflict of interest is over. That means I’m innocent!” She clapped her hands and did a little skip.

  “I didn’t say that,” he said quickly, shutting the door that led to the sidewalk.

  “Then what?” She could feel her jaw hanging with disappointment but couldn’t shake the feeling.

  “I just…I’m not investigating you any longer.” He met her eyes, his jaw tight. “But depending on other findings and what the judge decides when all is collected, he could ask me to testify.”

  “What?” She felt the need to sit. Testify? What had he found? What had Scott not told her?

  “I only meant…there’s still a conflict of interest, but it’s not like it was before.” He reached out and placed a warm hand on her arm. In that moment, she felt as though he might actually want her. As in, want her. Her. Nobody else. “I don’t know what they’ll do with the information I gave them or what else has been discovered, but until your name has been completely cleared, we have to be careful. That’s all.”

  We. He said we.

  That was something wasn’t it?

  “I guess I’d better stop flirting with you then,” she said, her voice low.

  “Too bad.” He tipped his head close to hers. “It always makes me smile.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Well, maybe we could still flirt a little.”

  She smiled up at him. “Maybe. I’m have fallen out of practice already. Will you help me out?”

  * * *

  Outside a small apartment on the third floor in the city, Rob pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the door, flooding them with giggles that abruptly stopped.

  “You’re limping,” he said as he guided her into the warm apartment, ignoring the way the giggles had ceased due to his presence.

  “My ankle’s a tad stiff. I think I overdid it today.” She held out her ankle in a flattering way as if she was a model. “You did a good job of matching Side A with Side B when you patched me up in the bush though. See?”

  He leaned over and lightly touched her ankle. Despite the heat radiating through the stuffy entry, goosebumps rose on her skin. Embers stirred in his eyes, and she couldn’t help but believe that he wanted to spread those goosebumps further.

  Which was silly. She needed to stop getting her hopes up. He liked flirting but would never take it further at this point in their lives. And neither would she.

  “The scar will add character to your fine legs,” he said, standing close as he straightened.

  She sucked in a breath, feeling as though she was going to faint. Was he turning up the heat or had the sun just jumped a hundred thousand miles closer to the planet?

  Dina bounded into the entry and yanked Jen into a hug that left her stumbling when Dina just as quickly released her, tearing back into the living room. “This is Jen,” she announced as Jen caught up.

  One of the girls discreetly returned a lampshade to a lamp as they all chorused a “Hi!”

  “Welcome to Rob’s home away from home,” Dina said, giving her a quick tour. Living room with a couch, table, sleeping bags, and not much else. Kitchen with a coffeemaker, card table, and fold-up lawnchair. Bedroom with a neatly made queen mattress on the floor. Bathroom. And then Rob, still in the entry awaiting his next command.

  Jen stopped. “This is your place?” No wonder he was so taken with her apartment. It actually had furniture. Plants. Things hanging on the walls. Color.

  “As much character as concrete,” he said, expanding his arms.

  “Did you just move in?” she asked with a laugh. This wasn’t at all what she’d expected.

  “I told you I was a nomad.”

  “He moved in, like, a month ago,” Dina added, knocking back a beer.

  “It’s my summer place. Cheaper than a hotel when I need to be near the city. My usual room and board place was full.” He stretched, just about touching the ceiling. “Traveling from place to place is getting old.” He let out a yawn. “What’s next, Dina?”

  “No talking to boys unless you’re throwing money at them,” scolded a girl wearing a tight shirt and a massive push-up bra. She dragged Jen back to the living room and pushed a glass of dark liquid into her hand.

  “To men!” the girls sang and took a drink.

  “To Dina!” the girls chorused again and took a drink as Dina returned to the room.

  Jen followed along with the drinking, unsure whether to let herself get swept into the fun or to hang back.

  “To Don and his big dong!” the girls chorused and took a drink.

  Laughing, Jen sputtered and missed her drink.

  “She’s already drunk!” The cleavage girl laughed as she embraced Jen with one arm.

  Jen laughed good-naturedly and took another sip. The drink wasn’t too bad. Not rum but not bad.

  “There are no strippers in town,” Dina said to Jen with an exaggerated frown.

  “Booooo!” called the cleavage girl.

  “Maybe we could hire some?” Jen asked tentatively. “I haven’t seen a real live, naked penis in years.”

  “Yes!” Cleavage girl stood up, fist pumping the air. She pointed at Jen “You are everything I’ve heard about and more.”

  “Um, thanks?”

  Another girl piped up. “Did you say years? When was the last time you got laid? Or do you just have a thing for doing it in the dark?”

  Jen pretended to contemplate her reply as all eyes turned to her. “What year is it?”

  “No, really,” the girl asked, breathless and eager. “How long?”

  “Um. Three years. Give or take.”

  “Wow. That is some dry spell,” said one of the girls.

  Cleavage Girl clapped her hands. “You’re a born again virgin!”

  “I’m going to pick up Becky,” Rob called loudly from the entry.

  Oh my GOD. What was he still doing here? Didn’t he know what bachelorette parties were about? It was about men not being there. And most definitely not listening in.

  And definitely not hearing her suggest that they bring in some half-naked men to dangle their body parts in his little sister’s face. She just about hid her face in embarrassment, but the door slammed behind Rob as someone placed a Jell-O shooter in her hand.

  Go with the flow.

  The door opened again. “And don’t get me evicted while I’m gone. I can hear you out in the hall.”

  “We didn’t say anything,” Dina snapped back, rolling her eyes as he shut the door again. “Okay, introductions. This is Jen. Rob’s crazy for her.”

  “He’s not.” Jen shook her head to the group. Wow. Her head was feeling fuzzy. She needed to get some supper into her or she’d be falling all over…well, hopefully all over Rob. See? Needed supper. She needed to keep her hands to herself. Flirting was okay, but touching was danger with a capital D.

  Dina gripped Jen’s face, her breath reeking of alcohol. “He is.”

  Jen felt her face burn. He liked her! His sister said so.

  Damn forest fire. Ruining everything. Literally.

  “Elaine,” Dina said, as she pointed to a girl with a straig
ht nose, straight hair, and gave off an aura of being a straight, reliable sort of girl. “Friends since fifth grade.” And there it was. Reliable and true since age ten. She may as well be a Buick.

  And she may as well be a lemon seeing as she didn’t have friends that went back further than three years ago.

  There was no way a guy such as Rob could ever truly fall for her. He didn’t even know her. Guys like Rob with his neatly made bed and simple apartment wanted the Elaines of the world. Girls who had their lives together and didn’t come with a soap opera history.

  Dina continued around the circle of camped-out girls. Ginger, the cleavage girl who wanted strippers. Anne, gorgeous and petite. Everything Jen wasn’t. And Erika, who was tall and had dated Rob in high school. She was well put together and pretty. Graceful. Unlikely to be in trouble with the law.

  Really, she was everything Jen wasn’t, because there was cute, and there was sexy. And Ericka wasn’t cute.

  After another drink and a few stories about dating that sounded similar to urban legends, the door opened and Rob presented Becky, the last of the girls who could make it. Dina popped up and herded everyone to the door.

  By the time they hit the bar, Jen had to pee from the laughter and the drinks.

  Becky, who came with her, asked, “You know Rob through work?”

  Jen’s smiled faded as reality came up for a one-two punch. Up until now, she’d been feeling as though she belonged. As though she was part of the group. That she was making friends with the monsters under her bed. Almost as if she had a grip on life and was moving forward. Now…not so much.

  The drive-thru burger she’d had on the way to the bar threatened to come back and say hello.

  Before Jen could reply, Becky said through her closed stall door, “He’s always been interested in the outdoors. I keep thinking he’s going to get a cabin in the woods like that guy who wrote Walden. Did you read that in high school, too? Even back then it made me think of Rob. When he went to med school I thought he’d lost his mind.”

  Becky continued over the sound of water hitting water.

  “When he left med school I was like, okay, things are making sense again.”

  As they washed their hands, Jen watched her in awe. Becky didn’t seem to be out of breath, but she hadn’t paused long enough to inhale. It was inhuman. A really cool superpower.