by SJ McCoy
He should have known. “Let me guess. They wanted to let you know not to worry if some tattooed stranger wandered in?”
Monica chuckled. “They were excited for us to meet. They thought we’d enjoy talking shop.” She winked at him. “And yes, Reid did make sure to describe you so that I’d know you when I saw you. Come on back. I’d love to show you around.”
Spider followed her behind the counter. She had a great set up, and lots of the same equipment he had. It shouldn’t surprise him; there was no reason that she shouldn’t have the same equipment, it just somehow seemed more impressive out here in the middle of nowhere. He smiled at her. “This place is amazing. How long have you been here?”
“Twelve years now. It wasn’t always like this. I’ve worked hard.”
“It shows.” Spider looked around, taking everything in. “The equipment and the setup is one thing, but the clientele is something else.” There were booths around the edges of the room, and tables and sofas in the middle. Almost every seat was taken. “Is it always like this?”
Monica smiled proudly. “Mostly. It’s always like this on a Sunday. And most weekday mornings folks come through. Most of ‘em just pick something up to go on their way to work, but they still come. Through the summer there’s always the tourists, and in winter folks come in to catch up with each other. I’m going to miss it.”
“Why’s that?”
“I have to go back to Portland. My kids have guilted me into it.”
Spider raised an eyebrow, but she just laughed. “In the best way. They keep having babies. When I moved out here, none of them wanted kids. In the twelve years I’ve been out here they’ve managed to produce six grandbabies. My youngest daughter and my middle daughter-in-law are both expecting again.” She shrugged. “I love this place. I love my life out here, but I want to be part of my grandkids’ lives.”
Spider nodded. He felt like he should say that he understood, but he didn’t. “What are you going to do with the place?”
“Sell it. I have to. I put every penny I had into it when I bought it and I’ve been using all the profits to make improvements.” She scanned the room with a wistful look on her face. “I used to think that at least one of the kids would want to move out here and take over, but they’re not interested. I have to sell so that I can move back and be closer to them. Any chance you want to buy it?”
Spider’s heart started to race. He looked around again, soaking in the atmosphere. The feeling that had hit him when he walked through the door intensified tenfold as he thought about owning the place. It was crazy, but he couldn’t deny the excitement bubbling up inside him.
He jumped when Monica rested her hand on his arm and gave him a knowing smile. “You have a think about it, Spider. Let me get you a coffee.”
Chapter Nine
Frankie opened the kitchen door and headed for the coffee pot. She’d left it to brew while she went to check on the horses, but it had taken her longer than she expected and now she was more than ready for her first cup. She hadn’t slept well. She’d tossed and turned most of the night thinking about Spider. Which was dumb. He might be hot. He might be sweet. She might feel closer to him after one date than she had to any guy she’d ever been in a relationship with – even the one she’d lived with for a while. But she needed to be realistic. He was only here for a visit. He was a city boy. He lived a thousand miles away. Nothing could happen between them. Well, she was determined to make something happen before he left. But nothing long-term could happen.
She let out a short laugh as she sat down at the table with her coffee. She didn’t do long-term anything. What was she even thinking?
She picked up her phone when she saw the message light blinking. It was a text from her cousin, Jane.
Jane: Get your ass to the bakery!
Frankie: There’s a mug of coffee in my hand and a jar of cookies in the cupboard. Why don’t you get your ass down here if you want to catch up?
Jane: Because the bakery has better coffee, better pastries, and better scenery.
Frankie: What scenery? Are you ogling the tourists again?
Jane: No. I’m ogling a tall, tattooed stranger whom I hear made quite an impression around town last night.
Frankie’s pulse quickened. Spider was at the bakery? She’d planned to call him later. She was just going to marinate in her coffee and her thoughts for a while first. But he was already up and about and at the bakery?
Jane: Not answering? Can I tell Millie that you’re not interested and she’s free to make her move?
Frankie snatched her phone up and hit the call button.
“You tell that Millie Jennings to keep her hands off!”
Jane’s laughter rang out down the line.
“I’m not joking, Janey. I mean it!”
“I know! I’m the one who’s joking. I wanted to see how you’d react and now I have my answer.”
Frankie scowled. “Millie’s not there?”
“Nope. You’ll be happy to know that she’s in Seattle this week, and she will not be making a move on your sexy, tattooed stranger.”
Frankie wanted to be mad, but she could never stay mad at her cousin for long. She was too sweet – even if she did occasionally pull evil tricks like this.
“If I were you, I’d hurry my ass up here.”
“Oh, yeah? And why’s that?”
Jane laughed. “So that you can introduce me to your man.”
“He’s not my man. Why would you say that?”
Jane chuckled. “Because I’ve heard at least seven different stories about the way the two of you were with each other last night. And I need to see it for myself. I was worried when I heard the way everyone was describing him. I couldn’t see you going out with a guy like that. But now that I’ve seen him, I get it. He’s hot, but more than that he looks like a good guy.”
“He is a good guy.”
Jane laughed. “So, hurry your ass up here and introduce me.”
“He might be gone by the time I get there.”
“I doubt it. Monica’s got him behind the counter.”
“She’s got him working?”
“No. I don’t think so. The two of them are chatting and laughing like old friends. It wouldn’t surprise me if Monica’s trying to sell him the place. You know she’s getting desperate to get back to Oregon.”
Frankie’s heart leaped into her throat at the thought that Spider might buy the bakery. That would mean he had a reason to come back here, maybe even to stick around – long-term.
She sucked in a deep breath and pulled herself together. “I’ll see you soon.”
~ ~ ~
Spider shook hands with Monica again. He’d spent the last half hour listening to her talk him through her whole business. His mind was racing with everything that she’d told him. It sounded like an amazing opportunity. Of course, he’d need to see the books before he knew for sure. She seemed so genuine and trustworthy, he doubted that she was painting a different picture than the accounts would. But he was skeptical by nature. Well, maybe it was by nurture – or at least, the lack of it. Life had taught him the hard way that opportunities didn’t come easy, that seemingly good people didn’t always have good intentions, and that there were very few people he could trust. Even so, he had a gut feeling that Monica was one of them.
He was still trying to wrap his head around it. He wasn’t looking to buy another coffee shop – bakery even. He had enough on his plate back home in LA. When he’d told Monica that, she’d said that most of the bakery staff wanted to stay on when the place sold and that they were used to running it in her frequent absences when she went back to visit her kids and grandkids. That had made him wonder why she needed to sell? Why couldn’t she move back to Portland and be an absentee owner? She’d told him that she needed the money from the sale to buy a house back there. It made sense.
She smiled at him as she let go of his hand. “I’ve given you a lot to think about. You know where to find me if you want to talk s
ome more.”
“Yeah. And thanks. I’ll give it some serious thought.”
“You should buy it.”
Spider turned, and Monica laughed at a woman who was sitting on one of the bar stools at the counter.
“Sorry.” The woman grinned at him, looking anything but sorry. “None of us want Monica to leave. She might be a newcomer, but she’s become one of us. The broker has brought a string of potential buyers through, but none of them would last five minutes. And Monica wouldn’t sell to them anyway.”
“Jane!” Monica scowled at her.
“What? It’s true. You might be in a hurry to get back to your kids, but you won’t leave this place till you’ve found someone who’ll fit in and love it as much as you do.”
Spider watched the two women with interest. He’d gotten the impression while Monica was telling him all about the business that what Jane said was true. She might need the money, but she loved the place too much to sell to just anyone. At the same time, the cynic in his mind was wondering if Jane was a set up – trying to make him feel good about the place and to want to buy it. He doubted it. Neither of these women struck him as the type to be that devious. Monica was warm and kind and sweet-natured. Jane seemed much the same way. He liked her. He guessed she was around his age, maybe a little younger. She was no great beauty, kind of plain looking, and a little thickset. Her hair was mousey brown and kind of frizzy, and her thick rimmed glasses gave the impression that looks weren’t that important to her. But she had a nice smile, and Spider sensed that she was a good person. Someone he’d like to have as a friend if he … If he what? If he were to move here? If he bought this place? What was he even thinking? It was a crazy idea. He should tell Monica here and now that he had no intention of buying the bakery. He was only here visiting friends. He’d be gone soon enough. There was nothing for him here. No reason to want to …
And then the front door opened, and Frankie walked in. Spider’s heart started to race again at the sight of her. He’d been thinking that he had no reason to want to be here. Yet, there she stood. All the reason he needed.
She cast a glance around, exchanging a few nods and smiles. When her gaze reached him, she visibly relaxed. It felt as though she’d been looking for him. Had she?
She came striding over and greeted them with a wry smile. “Hey, you. I see you’ve met my cousin, Jane, and Monica?”
“Your cousin?” He glanced at Jane again. “I didn’t realize.”
Jane gave him a sly smile and held her hand out to shake. “I didn’t want you to. Jane MacFarland. Nice to meet you.”
Monica smiled at him. “If I were you, I’d assume that anyone you meet around here is probably a MacFarland, and if not, they know one and will report back to them.”
She said it with a laugh, but he had to wonder if it didn’t also carry a warning.
Frankie rolled her eyes and came to stand beside him. She surprised him when she slid her arm around his waist. It seemed that the other two women weren’t surprised at all when he wrapped his around her shoulders and drew her into his side.
Monica looked at her watch. “I need to run up to town.” She handed Spider a card. “You have a think, and then you call me, okay?”
He nodded.
Jane slipped down from the stool she was sitting on and wrapped Frankie in a hug. “And you have a think, and you call me, too.” She smiled at Spider. “It was nice to meet you. I’ll look forward to getting to know you.”
When they’d both gone, Frankie tightened her arm around his waist, and when he turned to her, she met him with a kiss. It was only a peck on his lips, but it burned through him.
“Hi,” she breathed.
“Hi, back. What do you want?”
She raised an eyebrow. “You think I’m going to tell you right here in front of all these people?”
He laughed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m talking about what kind of coffee, what kind of pastry. You know, since you just walked into a bakery, I’m assuming that’s what you’re here for.”
She chuckled but didn’t blush. “Ah. Sorry. Yeah. I can see why you’d think that. But to tell you the truth, I’m here to see you.”
“You are?”
“Yeah. You should know how this valley works. News – or gossip – travels like wildfire, faster actually. You can do something up in town in Livingston, and then drive down to Gardiner at the other end of the valley and news of what you did will have reached there long before you do.”
Spider wasn’t sure he liked that. “And what did I do that brought you here?”
Her face softened as she smiled. “Nothing bad. All you did was set foot in here. Monica had already heard all about you – from Jean, apparently. Jane came in and saw you. She’d already heard about us being out together last night. Then when she heard Monica trying to sell this place to you, she called me.”
Spider ran his hand over his head. He’d been planning to spend some time thinking about this surprising development. He hadn’t expected to have to discuss it with Frankie immediately. He didn’t know what to say because he didn’t know how he felt.
Her smile faded. “Are you mad at me? I didn’t think. Sorry. I guess I might seem like some crazy stalker chick, huh?” She started to pull away from him. “I just …”
Spider tightened his arm around her shoulders. He might not know what to say or even what to think, but he did know how he felt. He felt happy when he was holding her against him. He felt good with her by his side. “I’m not mad. I’m just playing catch up. That’s all.”
She smiled. “Where are you headed after this?”
He shrugged. “I don’t have a plan for the day yet.”
“What about Owen and Reid and Tara?”
“They went to the dinosaur museum.”
Her smile grew bigger. “So, you’re all alone for the day?”
He smiled back at her. “I am.”
“Want to hang out with me?”
He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I can’t think of anything I’d like more.”
~ ~ ~
Frankie grinned as she turned out onto the highway and gave the bike some throttle. She’d jumped in the truck, ready to leave the ranch after Jane’s call but had jumped straight back out and mounted her motorcycle instead when the thought struck her that Spider was probably on his.
She’d been right and now they were riding back down the valley to the ranch. Spider brought his bike up alongside her, and she laughed. She’d be no match for him. He had way more power. But she couldn’t resist the urge to race. She felt alive as they flew down the highway. Spider pulled away from her easily, as she’d known that he would. She didn’t care. The joy was in the riding, not in winning the race. Her heart felt like it might bubble over with happiness when she realized that Spider might feel that way, too. He didn’t disappear over the horizon as most men she’d known would. He got out on her, but when he noticed that she was falling behind, he slowed and waited for her to catch him. He didn’t zoom off again. He stayed beside her. As they rode side by side down the highway it dawned on her that if the joy was in the riding, it was multiplied by riding with him.
She started to slow as they approached the turnoff for the ranch and was impressed when Spider fell in behind her. She waved her right arm and took the turn, following the long driveway past the barn and up to the house.
When they got there. She dismounted and pulled her helmet off. She hated to wear the thing, and a lot of guys gave her grief about it. But as she always said, she’d rather be uncomfortable in a helmet and full leather than dead without them.
Spider took his helmet off and grinned at her. She loved that he seemed to be the same way. As far as she knew, he’d only planned to go to the bakery and back from Reid and Tara’s place, but he’d worn his helmet and leather pants and jacket.
He grinned at her as he unzipped his jacket, and she realized that it felt like she was watching him undress.
H
e raised one eyebrow and his lips quirked up into a sexy little smile as he pulled the jacket off.
“What?” she asked with a grin.
“Are you going to stuff dollar bills into my undies?”
She laughed out loud. “What do you mean?”
He laughed with her and popped the button on his pants. “The way you’re watching me. I feel like a stripper, only I don’t know any of the dances. But I’d be happy to lose the pants if you keep looking at me like that.”
She felt her mouth drop open. She couldn’t deny that she wouldn’t mind seeing what he kept inside his pants – especially after the way it had felt pressed against her last night. But she seriously hadn’t thought he was the kind of guy who’d just drop his pants out in the driveway like this. But hell, if he was game, who was she to complain?
She managed to close her mouth and swallow. “Hey, if you want to lose the pants …”
He grinned and slowly lowered the zipper. Frankie had to swallow again. He might not know the dances, but she’d never been turned on as much by any stripper she’d ever seen. She held her breath, and then burst out laughing when he turned around and shook his butt at her.
“Oh, my God, Spider! Stop teasing and drop ‘em.”
Without turning back around he hooked his fingers inside the waistband and pushed the pants down at the same time that he bent over to show her his ass – his denim covered ass! He had jeans on underneath. She couldn’t help laughing, as he got rid of his leather covers and turned around and bowed.
“You tease!”
He chuckled. “Hey. I’m no tease. I gave you what I said I would. You wanted to see me take my pants off. You did.” He winked at her.
She loved seeing him so light-hearted. What he’d told her last night had broken her heart for him. She knew, just knew, that he had more stories to tell, more horrors from his time in foster care. She’d felt the weight of his pain last night. But he wasn’t a dark soul. He was light and fun and caring. She loved that about him.
She blew out an exaggerated sigh and pushed her own jacket off. “Fair enough. You win, but just so you know, I’ll be disappointed if you leave here before I’ve seen you take everything off.”