by Parin, Sonia
Just great. Now he’d developed a head full of brain. What next? Telekinesis? “Idiot.”
“Did you just call yourself an idiot?” Matthew asked as he took the chair opposite him, his plate stacked with a hearty breakfast.
“So what if I did?”
“I’d have to ask why you think you merit the badge. Morning after regrets?”
“Mitch can’t have those,” Eddie said as she joined them. “Remember, he has no reason to. He’s sworn off women.” She spread some jam on her toast and taking a bite, she watched him, her eyes narrowing as if trying to read him. “You didn’t. Did you?”
“Since when is my private life any of your concern?”
“Since always, since you interfered with my life, since you took a swing at Theo. He might have forgotten about it, but I haven’t.”
“So you hold a grudge.”
“What sort of sister would I be if I didn’t make your life difficult?”
“Only mine?”
“I don’t like to boast, but you know women can multi-task.”
Mitch reached for the jam and spread some on his toast. Taking a bite, he frowned. “This is really good. What is it?”
Eddie grinned. “It’s Elizabeth’s jam.”
He looked at the jar. “Rhubarb.” He scraped back his chair and, shooting to his feet, he strode out to the bar to look for the jar he’d purchased from Elizabeth the day before. He hadn’t looked at it. He remembered snatching it from the stack in her stall, paying for it and then beating a hasty retreat before his bout of verbal incontinence marked him for life. Damn it, it was the same jar. Back in the dining room, he set it down on the table with a thump. “Is there something you want to tell me?” he asked Eddie.
“Me?”
“You and maybe your band of merry conspirators. I know you girls. You never act alone. And I wouldn’t put it past you to drag Elizabeth into one of your devious schemes. You put her up to it. Admit it. You told her to steal my rhubarb.” He slammed his hands on the table and leaned in. “You just couldn’t leave her alone. You couldn’t let her be… just as she is. You had to change her and turn her into one of you lot. A delinquent.”
“Someone’s misplaced their sense of humor this morning.”
* * *
It seemed the new Elizabeth didn’t care for reflection or regrets. She forced herself to search her mind for any residual uneasiness or guilt about last night, but found nothing to use as a prompt for swift action, like packing her bags and fleeing for her life. Did that mean she’d shed another layer of her old self?
The years she’d spent with Andrew had been filled with soul searching, tugging and adjusting her behavior to meet his standards. Play it by the book, he’d say, and you’ll never have to apologize or suffer pangs of remorse.
Elizabeth chortled under her breath.
She must have misplaced the rule book last night.
Filled with happiness she couldn’t shake off even if she tried, her eyes danced around Rosebud Cottage’s dining room. She’d been the last to come down to breakfast and hadn’t even worried about Glenda asking if that had been her tripping on the front steps the night before.
She had no reason to expect anything to douse this good feeling. She’d caught Mitch by surprise. Hell, she’d caught herself by surprise, her femme fatale act defying everything she’d been before. She searched her mind again and didn’t find anything worthy of self-remorse. Why should she feel sorry about having the best orgasm of her life? The fact she’d even had an orgasm was enough reason to celebrate...
Thank goodness Mitch hadn’t asked if she was all right. Any sign of concern would have burst her bubble. And yes, she had been in a self-contained moment, free of all restrains, rules and regulations. Her very own sexual revolution.
Should she call Mitch and tell him he had nothing to worry about? That sounded like a sensible first step as a priority to avoiding awkwardness and misunderstandings. Last night had been…
What?
She liked Mitch. A lot. Enough to scare her.
What if last night had been about taking a wrong turn?
“There’s been nothing but positive feedback for your jam this morning,” Glenda said as she strode into the dining room, a mug of coffee in her hand. “Don’t look so surprised. The guests are asking where they can get some to take with them. I’m thinking of setting a display case by the front desk.”
Elizabeth smiled to herself.
She’d had sex with the town bad boy, out there... under all those twinkling stars, with no thought given to someone driving by and witnessing her mischief.
Glenda sighed. “As a rule of thumb, I tend to avoid asking personal questions, but that smile is too tempting. What are thinking about?”
“Mischief. I don’t think I’ve ever used the word or even applied it to myself.” And now she was living it and breathing it. “I’m thinking about wearing some sort of gossamer gown and dancing under a full moon. Isn’t it outrageous?” She smiled at Glenda’s raised eyebrow. “No, I didn’t slip any brandy into my coffee. I... I can’t help myself. I’m happy.” And thinking about doing something exhilarating when she drove Mitch back to town. She checked her watch. He hadn’t mentioned what time he’d be bringing her car back, but he’d probably come before lunch...
* * *
A rhubarb rustler.
Mitch wanted to give Elizabeth the benefit of the doubt. No amount of brotherly torture would have made Eddie give Elizabeth away or reveal her own involvement. But he knew Eddie had put Elizabeth up to it.
Mitch got into Elizabeth’s luxury sedan and drew in a breath. Springtime filled his nostrils. The car was squeaky-clean. He looked over his shoulder at the back seat and found nothing to suggest she was a closet binger. No candy wrappers. No empty cans of soda. Not even a water bottle. It all went hand in hand with her neat and tidy appearance, which she seemed to wear like an armor. He wouldn’t call her aloof, but the way she carried herself put her at arms’ length. He’d seen proof of it last night when Trent Peters had asked about her. He had a solid reputation as a ladies’ man, yet he hadn’t had the guts to approach her. Which begged the question. What had come over her last night? There had been something different about her...
The dress. That had been an obvious change in her appearance. She’d worn a flirty dress that had barely reached her knees. Mitch grinned at the memory. It had been fun pulling it up, his fingertips caressing their way along her thighs.
He fired up the engine and took off toward Rosebud Cottage. Halfway there, reason argued in favor of Elizabeth, saying she had no idea he owned the property backing onto the cottage. But Eddie knew. And he wouldn’t put it past her to try anything to taunt him because he’d been keeping his ownership under wraps. Eddie had most likely enlisted Elizabeth into pushing his buttons, forcing him to finally admit he had committed to owning a house—a first step toward making other commitments, the sort women liked to set their sights on.
* * *
“There’s someone here to see you.”
Elizabeth’s heart leaped, the rapid beat tapping a tune full of excitement and anticipation. “Thanks, Glenda. I’ll be right out.” She wiped her hands dry and made sure she wasn’t leaving anything on the stove to burn. After yesterday’s success, she’d decided to jump right back into work and crank up her production line again. She couldn’t afford to lag behind on her dreams. So far, her jam making stint was paying high dividends on the happiness stakes. She had no idea how far she could go, but if it hit a plateau and leveled off, she’d settle for that and still be happy.
She strode through the cottage and reached the front parlor, her smile wilting when she saw Andrew standing by the window.
Her heart pummeled against her chest as distress drowned out her excitement. Her fingers curled into tight fists.
She’d never imagined he’d come after her. She hadn’t given him any reason to. Her letter had clearly stated her decision to part ways wouldn’t be change
d.
“How did you find me?”
He held up an engagement ring. The one she’d dropped in the hallway table tray the day she’d left the apartment they’d shared for years.
* * *
Mitch realized there was a reason why women shared so much personal information among themselves. Better out than in, he thought. Without the outlet of sharing, he’d had to do his own mediating, sifting through his thoughts, and intervening when he felt he’d stepped too far out of line with wild ideas about Elizabeth having a laugh at his expense. She wouldn’t do that. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. She’d been an innocent bystander, duped into becoming an accomplice in one of Eddie’s games.
He wouldn’t hold it against her. Eddie and her band of renegades could be a force to be reckoned with. Being the new girl in town entitled Elizabeth to a few allowances, and…
Mitch stopped, his thoughts settling down like dust motes. There’d be plenty of time to get answers. Although, when he finally made it to the cottage, they’d have better things to talk about.
He grinned and thought about last night and how tonight might hold a few new surprises too. Suddenly, he couldn’t wait for Eddie and Theo to open their restaurant. It would be nice to have somewhere local to go to for dinner, somewhere other than the pub or The Copper Pot, the quaint café style restaurant offering the only other alternative to dining in Eden.
He wished he’d woken up next to Elizabeth this morning. He flipped through his memory of the previous night and tried to remember what he’d said to her when he’d finally driven her back to the cottage. He couldn’t recall uttering any clichés. Nothing that would make her cringe. In hindsight, he knew he should have given her some sort of assurance, and said something as a lead up to seeing her again. What if she’d heard about his reputation?
It didn’t matter. He’d kissed her goodnight, wrapping his arms around her and memorizing the feel of her body against him. A kiss could be as effective as a picture, conveying a clear message.
Turning into the lane leading to the cottage, he eased the car into a parking spot.
Thinking about kissing Elizabeth, he strode up to the veranda and decided he’d first kiss her because he wanted to start as he meant to go on. And he intended kissing Elizabeth. A lot. Eventually, he’d get her to admit to being a rhubarb thief, because in any relationship there had to be honesty and sharing. Or maybe he would wait and see. Give her time to come clean. It’d be fun to see how she went about it...
The sound of a man’s voice brought Mitch to a stop by the front door. Not wanting to interrupt or intrude, he considered going around the back way, but then he heard Elizabeth’s name.
“The car, Elizabeth. GPS tracking. You left everything behind. Your clothes, your jewelry. The fact you held on to the car tells me that a part of you is still holding on to us.”
Mitch’s first instinct was to barge right in and weigh in on a conversation that, in his opinion, should include him. But again, he stopped. Could this be something else Elizabeth needed to do for herself?
Mitch strained to hear her response. The front door to Rosebud Cottage was wide open but she was standing just out of sight.
“I didn’t think about that.”
Her voice sounded strained and indecisive.
“That’s why we were so good together.”
Mitch curled his lip. What a conceited bastard. Her ex? The man who’d driven her to find solace in a Puff Doughnut?
“Your parents are worried about you. I told them I’d bring you home, but I know I can’t force you, so I’m relying on you coming to your senses.”
“I already have. That’s why I’m here.”
Mitch silently cheered her on. She knew her own mind. Clearly, she’d made the necessary decisions that had brought her to this point, to Eden. Mitch rocked on his heels. She’d made the choice to come to Eden. And then she’d chosen him...
“You don’t mean that, Elizabeth. It’s unrealistic. What are you going to do with yourself?”
“I have a business... sort of...”
Don’t flounder now, Elizabeth. Mitch’s stomach hardened. Her voice continued to sound tight. Strained. And then it trailed off. Mitch champed at the bit, wanting to jump to her rescue. Instead, he remained by the door, blocking the way but giving her space to deal with...
Whatever the hell this was.
Wrapping up loose ends, he hoped.
“You should leave.”
Mitch folded his arms across his chest and stood ready to step aside. Or not…
“And... and send someone to collect the car. I’m sorry it sent you the wrong message.”
No, don’t apologize. This isn’t the time for politeness. Mitch’s jaw clenched.
“You’re making a grave mistake. You don’t have it in your to be by yourself.”
Yes, she does, Mitch thought and waited to hear her response but it was a long time coming.
“I do. In fact, you have no idea how determined I am to be my own person. Find someone else to manage your social calendar, Andrew.”
“You can’t walk away from a three year relationship just like that. I’ll give you some time to cool off and come to your senses.”
Mitch didn’t want to admit it, but the guy had a point. Then again, if he hadn’t made Elizabeth happy in that time, he didn’t deserve her...
“Andrew, I’ve moved on and I’ve learned my lesson now. I’m never going to be tied down again. It’s cost me too much but now I’m on my way to becoming my own person again. There’s no going back for me and the sooner you realize that, the better.” The words poured out of her with the unstoppable force of a tsunami.
And then it hit him.
Elizabeth had used him as a springboard to her freedom, as a way to cut her losses and break away from her past.
“You wouldn’t want me back anyway because I’ve changed.”
“You don’t mean it.”
Okay. Time to intervene. Mitch took a step toward the door only to stop.
“Andrew. I’ve had an orgasm.”
The man didn’t take the news well. He stormed out of the cottage so fast Mitch barely had time to step aside.
* * *
Of all the parting shots designed to nail the door shut on her past...
She’d said it. Out loud.
Her stomach quivered with the aftershocks. Had those words come out of her mouth?
“That was telling him.”
Elizabeth swung toward the front door. “Mitch.” Her hands flew up to her cheeks. “Tell me you only just arrived.”
“The door was open,” he shrugged, “Sorry, I heard most of the conversation.”
In a way, she was glad. She couldn’t remember half of what she’d said. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come back to bite her. She’d made the right decision, not just today but way back when she’d packed some essential belongings into a bag and had written a lengthy letter explaining her decision to walk away.
Taking the car had been a major mistake.
Elizabeth waved Mitch in, fighting the distraction of seeing him as she cranked up her brain and engaged it to do a quick mental calculation of her finances. She only needed a car to get her from point A to point B. Nothing fancy, and definitely nothing extravagant.
“I’m guessing that was a blow from the past.”
She gave him a brisk smile and nodded.
During one of her many drives in the area, she’d seen a couple of cars parked by the side of the road with for sale signs, and there’d been a few notices posted around. She tapped her chin and tried to remember where exactly she’d seen them.
“How far in the past?”
If she measured it by how unhappy she’d been—
“Far.”
“And now it’s over. No changing your mind and going back?”
“Absolutely.”
“Are you sure?”
She brushed her hand across her forehead and tried to clear away the land
fall in her mind. “The decision was a long time coming, but when I made it,” she shrugged, “I was thorough.”
“You tipped over every single stone.”
This time, she gave him a firm nod. “I spent a week working on a pros list, then I put it aside and came up with all the reasons why I needed to break away from what was an unhealthy relationship. Then I worked on a third list adding everything that could be realistically changed.” Finally, she’d come up with three major decisions that had propelled her toward her new life. Her own personal covenant. To be happy. To be free to make her own choices. And, most importantly, to be loved. She knew she had control of her happiness and destiny…
“For what it’s worth, I think you made the right decision. If that had been me in his shoes, I would have put more effort into winning you back.”
“Andrew will be temporarily inconvenienced by my absence but he’ll figure something out.” It had taken her too long to come to terms with that fact. Three years too long. He didn’t love her.
“So… your parents don’t know you’re here?”
“They do.” Not that they cared either way. They’d both taken early retirement and were too involved in their golf games to spare her much thought. She lifted her shoulders and sighed. “They disapproved of me walking out on Andrew. In their eyes, I had a good thing going.” And she’d ruined it by wanting… expecting more.
Elizabeth raked her fingers through her hair and blew out a hard breath. She could do with a soak in the tub to help her forget her encounter with Andrew and the fact she’d had a witness to it all...
“Um... Do you have any shadows from your past lurking around, ready and waiting to pounce on you?” She tried to inject some humor into her voice, but there was too much going on in her head.
He chuckled.
Belatedly, she wondered how much delving she was entitled to after only one night together. “You don’t want to tell me?”
“It’s hard to admit. Fact is, everyone I’ve been involved with is now happily married or on their way...”