Chapter 4
THE LAST THING HEATHER
ever wanted to do was rely on another man.
For anything.
But, as she stood in Rowen’s kitchen, drying off a few dishes that Elizabeth handed her, staring out the window at Rowen playing tag with the Easton children, she knew without Rowen’s presence, Jeff could have been trouble.
She’d seen that cocky glare in his eyes before, and it never ended well for her. When Jeff wanted something, he went after it, guns loaded, and didn’t care who he had to run over to get it.
A lesson she hadn’t learned until after they’d been married.
“Rowen’s quite handsome, isn’t he?” Elizabeth said, nudging Heather with her elbow.
Elizabeth didn’t look a day over thirty-five, so it surprised Heather to know she was forty-eight, which meant she had Suzie at forty-four. Why Heather found it important to figure that math out, she chose not to ponder.
“Handsome is one way to put it.” Heather put the last dish a way before hanging up the towel on the rack, trying to ignore the pull he had on her. It wasn’t just that she didn’t want to rely on a man, she wanted to know she could be successful without one. Jeff’s family’s money helped pay off her student loans, something he held over her head in the divorce. In the end, she walked away with nothing.
And she did so happily.
“Rowen is one of the few good ones left.” Elizabeth leaned against the sink, her fingers curling around the countertop. “When I first met him, I thought, what the hell is wrong with this guy, because he’s just do damn sweet.”
Heather swallowed as she turned to face Elizabeth, putting Rowen out of her view. Watching him play with children tugged at her heart.
Watching him also tugged at something else.
“He does seem to have a kind soul,” Heather admitted.
Elizabeth laughed. “He does things for people without giving it a second thought. I can’t tell you how many times he’s waltzed through the yards and given me, my husband, or my children, a hand with any given task and he almost never asks for anything in return.”
“Was he like that when he was married?” Why the hell did she ask that? She had no right snooping around in his life, much less getting the dirt on his failed marriage. “I mean, always coming to someone’s rescue?” God, she really needed to shut up.
“Honestly, not as much as he does now, but you really couldn’t ask for a better neighbor.” Elizabeth smiled. “I think his ex-wife was nuts for leaving him.”
But you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors.
“Everyone I’ve met so far is wonderful.” Heather wanted off the topic of Rowen. He appeared to be a gentleman through and through, and she appreciated his help. However, she had to admit the anger that seeped from him when Jeff had been around only added to her nervousness. It didn’t matter that he contained his emotions, especially around Suzie. Having been married to an abusive man forced her to examine every detail of a person’s behavior, a new habit she both valued and resented.
“It’s a great neighborhood,” Elizabeth said.
She had an easy smile and laid-back demeanor, especially around her rambunctious, but well-behaved children. Her husband, Mark, had a similar personality, and it was impossible for Heather not to feel a pang of envy.
“How long have you lived here?” Heather asked. She needed to get to know her neighbors and become part of the community. When she’d been married to Jeff, that had been the entire reason she agreed to do all she had at the country club, and she had made one or two good friends, but the majority were superficial.
And even the few friends she thought she had, turned their back on her the second she dared walk out on Jeff Westerfield.
She pushed the past into the back of her mind. She had a new life to live and it started with making friends.
“Almost twenty-years. We thought it would be our starter home, but when we needed a bigger house, we couldn’t leave, so we put on addition.” Elizabeth glanced out the window and sighed. “Looks like Timmy is about to have a meltdown, and Suzie appears to be in battle mode. I should get going and tame the wild beasts and hopefully get them to bed soon.” Elizabeth pulled open the back door.
The spicy smell of barbeque still lingered in the air. Heather had never eaten ribs, much less with her fingers, and part of her wished she could have done that in front of Jeff and all his country club buddies.
Oy.
Rowen jogged over from the trees lining the two yards and smiled.
Heather’s stomach dropped to her toes.
“I should get going,” Elizabeth said as patted Rowen on the arm. “Thanks again for dinner. It would have sucked to have to go to the store after being in the car for eight hours, much less cook.”
“My pleasure.”
Heather wiped her hands down the front of her jean shorts, watching the Easton’s, holding hands and making their way home.
Home.
Heather reminded herself that she would make this home. Her safe haven.
Rowen held up a beer and her first thought was to turn it down.
“One more,” she heard herself say. Well, she did need to thank him. “I’m sorry you got put on the spot with my ex, but I really appreciate you helping me out, though I didn’t mean to crash your dinner party.” Nice way to bury the crux of the thank you, ending with a diversion. Hopefully he wouldn’t focus on what happened before dinner.
“You didn’t crash anything.” Rowen offered her a cushioned patio chair. “It was an impromptu gathering and I planned on inviting you anyway.”
“It was delicious.” Settling in, she sipped her beer, watching the sky turn fire-orange as the sun dipped below the horizon.
“I’m glad you enjoyed.” He sat down next her, his face turning serious. “I don’t mean to pry, but what is the deal with your ex?”
So much for diverting the conversation. Now she had to decide how much to tell Rowen. Being a victim hadn’t been a good feeling, and she refused to be one ever again. “He didn’t want the divorce and he played a card he thought would make me either stay, or hold the divorce off for a while, but it didn’t work.”
“Has he been bothering you like that the entire time?”
She sucked in a breath and huffed it out. “No. The first few months he pretty much left me alone. It wasn’t until I bought this house that he’s wanted to discuss us getting back together, but only because he didn’t think I’d last five minutes without him.” She raised the longneck to her lips and gulped. She really needed to stop talking.
Rowen might be a good man.
A good listener.
Not to mention easy on the eyes.
But he was a man, and she didn’t need to spill her guts.
“My uncle is the Chief of Police, and if Jeff harasses you, my uncle can help.” Rowen reached in his pocket and pulled out a card, placing it on her knee. “I wrote my cell on the back of the card, as well.” He tapped her leg once, his hand hovering over her leg, heating her skin.
She stared at the card for a long moment. The last time Jeff had hit her, she'd packed up her things and drove to her parents' home. They called the police and the incident had been documented, but nothing came of it other than a few articles in the tabloids.
At least she’d gotten it out there as to what kind of man Jeff really was, so hopefully no other women would fall prey to his not-so-charming ways.
“Thank you.” The card felt heavy as she lifted it between her fingers, before sliding it in her back pocket. She didn’t want to accept his help, but she wasn’t stupid, and Jeff could be relentless.
“Don’t hesitate to use it.”
She studied Rowen as he took a long draw from his beer. He legs stretched out in front of him with one ankle over the other. He stared across the yards, seemingly at a large tree, but she couldn’t tell. Whatever his eyes focused on, his mind contemplated something else.
“I’ll call if I need to.”
Rowen rested his head back on the chair. “What happened in your marriage is none of my business, but I don’t like the way he treated you, and he threatened me, something I don’t take too kindly to.”
“I didn’t mean to drag you into the middle of my mess.”
“You didn’t.” He turned, catching her gaze with his chocolate eyes, so dark, and filled with an intense heat, it made her body melt. His stare was both protective and filled with a greedy desire she dared not contemplate.
“I could have taken Suzie and walked away, but I chose to stay. Did he hurt you?” Rowen’s eyes narrowed.
Hers widened as she swallowed her breath.
“Bastard,” Rowen muttered, before chugging his beer. “I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“I am too, but I got out.” She raised her bottle, and followed suit. Even though she hadn’t come out and said Jeff had hit her, nor did she give the details, she had to admit, it felt good to know she could talk about it and not feel shame.
A long comfortable silence settled over them as the night sky darkened. She knew she should excuse herself and go home. The longer she stayed in Rowen’s presence, the more she wanted to snuggle up against him, resting her head on his chest. To feel his strong arms around her body, holding her.
She blinked.
Rowen wasn’t the man for her. He was the kind of man who wanted someone he could protect and take care of. He needed a woman who wanted to make him the center of her world.
She wasn’t that woman.
“What are your bringing to the barbeque tomorrow?”
His husky tone lulled her from the insanity that was her mind.
“We’re just supposed to bring a small side dish that we could share with four or five people and our own drinks, right?” A slow smiled spread across her cheeks. The excitement of being at a relaxed neighborhood picnic bubbled in her tummy. The normalcy of it all made her want to skip down the street. Seeing Jeff again tonight made her realize how much she hated his lifestyle, but because she thought she loved him, she did her best to fit in.
The only problem with that was Jeff never tried to fit into hers. He didn’t like her friends and certainly wouldn’t spend any time with them, demanding she spent her spare time with the wives of his friends, all of whom were members at the country club.
“That’s right.”
“What are you bringing?”
“I was going to bring those ribs we ate for dinner, but now I have no idea.” He smiled like a little boy with his fingers caught in the cookie jar. “Maybe I could just go in on your dish, you know, since we’ll be sitting with one another.”
“Well, since I already ate your dish that you were planning to take, I guess it’s only fair.” She laughed. “But you have to help me make it.”
Oh, no he doesn’t!
Why the hell did she say that?
“Do you have all the ingredients?”
“You’re not suggesting we make it now, are you?”
“No time like the present.” He leapt to his feet, holding his hand out. “I’ve got a nice bottle of red I’ll bring over.”
“Maybe you should save the wine for tomorrow?” The way her hand fit in his sent a warm tingle across her skin like warm chocolate sauce over a cake.
“Good idea.” He held her hand as she rose, not letting go when she was on her feet.
He gazed into her eyes and her toned muscles turned to soft butter.
“I’ll just get a couple more beers,” he said softly.
His warm breath tickled her skin, causing a slight shiver.
“Sounds good.”
He squeezed her hand, then let it go. “I’ll be over in five minutes.”
“Come in the back door.” She stepped around him and headed for her kitchen door. Her heart hammered in her chest in rhythm with the crickets. She should yell back and tell him it was too late. That they could make it in the morning.
But damn it, she didn’t want to.
For the first time in a long time, she was enjoying herself, and Rowen was her neighbor and her friend. That was it. Nothing more. Tomorrow wasn’t a date, they were just going to sit together.
Yeah, right.
She pushed all the crazy thoughts from her head as she hurried to get out all the ingredients. Guacamole was such an easy thing to make, she almost felt guilty that was all she was bringing, until she looked at the pile of avocados on her counter.
Her kitchen had been recently updated with all new stainless-steel appliances, which was nice, but she wasn’t overly fond of the burnt-orange tint of the cabinets that cast a fiery glow on her black, speckled countertops. As soon as she had the money, she’d be replacing those ugly cabinets for white ones, which would look gorgeous against the granite top.
“Knock, knock,” Rowen said, holding two bottles of beer in his hand as he pulled open the back door. “What shall I do?”
“Chop onions.” She pointed to the cutting board with five red onions and a knife waiting to make a grown man cry. She giggled at the thought.
“What’s so funny?”
She looked up at him and his soft smile sent all sorts of tingly messages to places in her body a man had not touched in a long time. “You chopping onions and crying.”
“If you don’t touch your face while chopping them up, your eyes won’t water.”
She glanced between the onions and Rowen. “Might work for one onion, but I’ll bet you tears will be rolling down your cheeks by the time you hit the fifth onion.”
“Oh, you are so gonna loose,” he said as he lifted the knife, slicing down the middle of one of the onions. “But let’s make this fun. If I don’t cry, you have to wash my truck.”
“That’s an odd bet.” She cut open an avocado, focusing on the task at hand, not the man handling an onion.
“It’s dirty and I was planning on doing it in the morning. If you do it, I can watch some college football before the picnic.”
“I’d have to do it in the morning?”
He nodded.
“And if you cry, and I win?”
“Name it.”
“Hmmmmmmm. My car isn’t dirty, so…” Mentally, she went through her long to do list around the house, but nothing really jumped out at her, until she moved her thoughts to her office. “Do you know anything about commercial fire alarms?”
“A little. I have cousins who own a security company. Why?”
“The one in the office is busted. I have to get it fixed and the company that does the monitoring says it’s not their equipment, so they’re not responsible for it.”
“I don’t know if I could do that tomorrow and I work Sunday, but I could stop by on my way home on Monday and take a look.” He nudged her with his hip. “But only if I cry.” He waved the onion under his nose. “Smells so good.”
“You are so weird.”
He laughed.
Minutes ticked by and the man hadn’t shed a single tear. Not even a little water pooled up in the corner. She mashed the avocado in a big bowl, adding in the other ingredients, including some of the onions he’d chopped up. Tears stung her eyes.
He set the knife down and leaned against the counter. “Looks like someone’s going to be washing a truck in the morning.”
“Wonderful,” she said as she put the guacamole in containers.
Rowen moved to the sink. She was about to tell him not to bother with the dishes, but then she remembered she’d be washing his truck. “I can only imagine what Mrs. Baker is going to say that Suzie will misconstrue.”
“Oh, that’s easy,” Rowan said, his biceps flexing as he scrubbed the cutting board. “It will have something to do with my hose. Like how you were playing with it.”
“I can’t believe you just said that!” She snagged a dish towel and tossed it at him.
“Wait 'til I hand you my hose tomorrow morning.” He looked over his shoulder and winked.
“A fireman who tells hose jokes about himself, how novel.”
He laughed. “You don’t have to wash my truck. I was half kidding.”
“Nope. A bet is a bet.” She breezed by him, patting his shoulder. She couldn’t help it. She gave it a little squeeze, then headed to the fridge in hopes to cool down her flushed cheeks.
Oy.
After putting all the dip in the fridge, she turned and gasped as she walked right into Rowen’s sold chest. “Shit, sorry.”
He set something down on the counter. “No problem.” His hands gripped her arms, holding her steady as she lifted her gaze. “I should have warned you I was standing behind you.”
His dark eyes drew her in and she found herself leaning toward him.
She licked her lips, wishing she wasn’t so aware of the action, much less that when she took in a deep breath, her breasts brushed against him.
“I find myself liking you,” he said softly. His husky voice laced with a tinge of vulnerability. “And not because your pretty, though you are, but because you’re nice to be around. Fun. Easy to talk to.”
Her head spun as he spouted off all his reasons in rapid fire succession.
“I sound like an idiot.” His hands rubbed up and down her arms like her favorite blanket wrapping her body. “I know you’ve been through some tough times and maybe you're not even interested, but I really want to kiss you right now.”
She opened her mouth to tell him no, but nothing came out.
She tried again.
Nothing.
Maybe the third time would be the charm.
“Okay.” That was not the response that had formed in her brain.
The corner of his mouth tipped upward as he lowered his lips to hers. Blinking her eyes closed, she tried to relax her body, which had to be stiffer than a piece of fiberglass.
His hands slipped down her shoulder blades, to her lower back. His lips, barely touching hers, moved over them in a slow, controlled motion. His tongue darted across her lips, parting them in search of hers, and damn, hers responded.
With an urgent hunger.
Another response she didn’t expect.
She placed her hands on his chest. His pecs jerked at her touch. She’d meant to push him away, but instead, she roamed his chest and shoulders, gently massaging his firm muscles.
He increased the pressure, his tongue firmly entwined with hers, as his hands cupped her ass, splitting her mind between the passionate man who held her so tenderly, and the ex-husband who’d put bruises on her body.
She stiffened as she pulled away, letting her hands fall to her side. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have let you do that.”
To his credit, he took two steps back, putting a fair distance between them. “Don’t be sorry. I understand.”
“Do you?”
“Maybe not all of it, though I understand betrayal, and it takes time to work through that, but trust me, there will come a time when you'll trust your instincts about people again.”
Blood raced through her body. She wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe he was indeed one of the few good men left.
He gripped the doorknob. “I had a really good time tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He stepped through the door, then paused, looking over his shoulder. “Don’t forget to lock up. You’ve got my number if you need me.”
And with that, Rowen disappeared into the night, taking her common sense with him.