Chapter Eleven
Haley’s alarm buzzed, and she reached out to turn it off before sliding out of her warm cozy bed. Yawning, she stood and stretched. “Better get moving.” Her cabinets and appliances were going to be delivered between eight and eleven. Sam and his sister would arrive at noon. She had an hour to bathe, dress and have a toasted bagel before the window of possible delivery opened. “Coffee first.”
She padded into the dining room and pushed the Start button on her coffeemaker. Thank goodness she’d had the foresight to set it up last night. Last night. A bittersweet smile broke free. No doubt about it, she could fall hard for Sam. She shook her head and sighed. Why had she agreed to go snowmobiling with him?
While she waited for the coffee to brew, she got her old work clothes ready to go for today’s kitchen install. Signing up on one of those online dating services suddenly sounded like a really good idea. She needed the distraction. In fact, once she had her coffee, she’d go check out a few sites.
A steaming mug in hand, Haley headed for her office and took a seat at the desk. She sipped her coffee and brought her computer to life. May as well check her e-mail, although at this point, she no longer expected an answer from Michael. She hit the e-mail icon, and her lungs seized. “Oh, God.” He’d responded.
Staring at her laptop screen, she wasn’t sure whether or not she wanted to know what his reasons for leaving were anymore. She didn’t need new wounds. Haley took a fortifying gulp of coffee and forced herself to click on the e-mail.
Hi Haley,
Good to hear you’re doing well. I know I owe you an explanation. I’m sorry I handled things so poorly, but the closer our wedding got, the more I realized marriage wasn’t what I wanted. We started dating so young, and neither of us really ever played the field or spread our wings. It’s not that I didn’t love you anymore, but it was the way a friend loves a friend. Our relationship was more habit for me than anything else. I didn’t feel any passion, and I realized I wasn’t ready to settle down. I wanted adventure, to travel and have as many life experiences as I could before taking on the responsibilities of marriage and family. To be honest, I also wanted to date other women. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for ending things the way I did, but it was for the best. I hope we can be friends again one day. I wish you all the best, Haley.
Your Friend, Michael
It took going through his letter twice before Michael’s words hit home. “Adventure? After all the years we were best friends you couldn’t talk to me about what you wanted? You just . . . left? Of all the immature, self-centered, stupid . . .” Her hands formed fists in her lap. She was better off without him and his skinny, flat butt.
She blinked back the angry tears and stormed to her bathroom. A nice hot bath, that’s what she needed, a good soak to calm her nerves. She started the water to fill the tub, her hand resting on the very place where she’d sat next to Sam while he removed her sliver—the place where they’d shared their first kiss.
What would Sam have to say about Michael’s response? She could hardly wait to tell him. Another hot tear slid down her cheek. When had Sam become her go-to guy?
Sam surveyed the newly installed maple cabinets and white granite countertops with flecks of black and gold. Haley had done a fantastic job on the design, and he looked forward to seeing the finished product. She’d chosen a turquoise paint for the walls and black accent pieces. Josey and Haley were moving the new gas stove into place. “You done with everything?” he asked.
“Yep. Everything’s been tested, and it’s all good to go.” Josey gathered her tools and tossed them into their wooden crate.
“Thanks, you two. Everything looks wonderful,” Haley said, her hands stuffed into her front pockets.
“Would you mind taking this load to the van, Jo?” Sam asked, putting his drill on top of the pile of tools. “I need to wrap up a few things here before we go.”
He’d waited all afternoon to have a minute alone with Haley. Something was bothering her, and that bothered him. She’d been quiet and withdrawn throughout the installation of her kitchen cabinets and counters. Not like her at all, and he missed the sledgehammer-wielding superhero. He needed to find out what had put a damper on her enthusiasm.
“Yeah, sure.” Josey slipped into her jacket, eyeing him intently before taking up the crate full of tools. “I’ll wait for you in the van. I have a phone call to make, anyway.”
“Thanks. I’ll be out in a few.” The second the door closed, Sam turned to Haley. “Tell me what’s bothering you?”
“I’m OK. Really.” She brushed some debris off the new granite countertop. “It’s just that I heard back from Michael this morning, and it’s been on my mind.”
Her gaze rose to his, and the hurt he glimpsed in her pretty brown eyes went straight through him to pierce his heart. “What did he have to say for himself?”
“You can read it for yourself if you want.” She shrugged.
What he wanted was to haul her into his arms. She needed comfort, and more than anything, he wanted to be the one to make everything in her world all better. He should probably think about that before he got in any deeper than he already was, but this was Haley. Seeing her so dejected scrambled his insides. “Josey drove me here today. Can you give me a ride home? We can read the stupid e-mail together, and then maybe go out for pizza somewhere where we can talk.”
She nodded, her eyes bright.
Aw hell. If she cried, he’d lose it. Sam pulled his phone from its halter and texted Josey. She answered right away with an emoticon smiley face and a thumbs-up. He blew out a breath. Clearly she mistook what was going on here. His sister didn’t know Haley well enough to have picked up on her unhappiness. Putting his phone away, he moved closer to her. “Let’s go see this e-mail.”
He followed her to the second bedroom. Haley crossed the room to the desk where her laptop sat. She opened it up, went to her e-mail and stepped back. “Have a seat if you want,” she said, gesturing toward the desk.
Sam gave her shoulders a squeeze before he sat down. Then he read. “He walked out on you because he wanted adventure? What an ass,” Sam barked out. Haley stood next to him. He glanced up at her. “Do you want me to delete this?”
“Please do.”
He hit the delete icon and rose from the chair. “He’s an idiot.”
“A lot of what he says is true.” Her mouth turned down. “He and I were friends all through high school. We started dating our senior year. We were really young, and—”
“No. He’s an idiot.” Sam drew her into his arms. “And do you want to know why?”
Haley laid her cheek against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Sure. Tell me why.”
Sam ran his hands up and down her sides. Her sweatshirt had tugged up a bit when she put her arms around him, and his fingers grazed a narrow strip of soft warm skin. Need slammed into him, setting his blood on fire. “Because he was blind to the truth,” he whispered, kissing her temple. Her sweet scent enveloped him, and he tightened his hold.
Haley leaned her head back, and her gaze roamed over his face, stopping at his mouth before staring into his eyes. “And what truth is the truth, Sam?”
“The fool didn’t realize . . .” He shook his head. “Haley, you are the adventure. You’re beautiful, brilliant, funny, gutsy and sexy as hell.” Her sudden breathy intake shot straight to his groin. “And with a sledgehammer in your hands, you’re a goddess.”
“That’s how you see me?” She smiled. “A sexy goddess with a sledgehammer, huh?”
“You have no idea.” He cupped her perfectly rounded bottom and pressed her against his raging erection. “See what you do to me?” He crushed her to him and kissed her with all the longing that had been coursing through him since the first day she looked down her nose at him.
Her arms came up to circle his neck. He deepened the kiss, his tongue plunging in and out of her luscious mouth. He couldn’t resist the temptation and slid his palms to the exposed skin at her waist. Running his hands under her sweatshirt and up along her sides, he grazed the undersides of her breasts with his thumbs. Desire weakened his knees—and obliterated his good sense.
She moaned, her breath mingling with his. She was perfect in his arms, so feminine, soft and small. He wanted to protect her, make her smile. Hell, he wanted her writhing and naked beneath him, and to hear her call out his name as she came apart in his arms. Her warmth seeped into the deepest recesses of his soul, imprinting herself there.
His heart pounded, and he could hardly draw enough breath to keep himself upright. Could wanting someone this much cause a man’s heart to explode? Because his might be close. The way she responded to him had him throbbing and aching to completely lose himself in her.
What was he doing? If he took this any further, would she think he’d taken advantage of her vulnerability in the wake of her ex’s e-mail? Of course she would, and he wouldn’t blame her. She’d slap that lothario label right back on his ass, and he’d worked so hard to get her to see him as more than his reputation. Damn.
It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to remove his hands from her silky skin. Ending the kiss, he gripped her upper arms and pressed his forehead against hers. “I can’t lie to you,” he rasped. “I want you, Haley. I’ve wanted you from the moment I first laid eyes on you, but . . .”
“But you don’t do relationships.” She sucked in a long shuddering breath, her forehead still pressed to his. “I get it.” She moved out of his arms. “It’s OK, Sam.”
“No.” He shook his head slowly. “Trust me on this—you don’t get it at all.”
She turned away from him. “Don’t I?”
“Nope.”
“Care to enlighten me?”
“Nope.”
“Well . . . thanks for being my shoulder to cry on tonight.” She looked everywhere but at him. “Do you mind if I take a rain check on going out for pizza? I’m really tired. It’s been a weird day.”
“That’s fine.” He’d hurt her. That’s the last thing he’d wanted to do. “Haley . . .”
“Come on, Sam. Let’s get your things.” She walked out of the room, heading for her kitchen.
He followed, racking his brain for the right words to say to make the tension disappear. “We’re still on for snowmobiling and breakfast Sunday.” He didn’t dare leave it open to discussion. “I’ll pick you up at eight.”
Haley grabbed his coat from where he’d dropped it over a five-gallon bucket. She handed it to him, still avoiding eye contact. “I’ll be ready.”
He took his coat and put it on. “Monday evening we’ll install the tile backsplash. Tuesday and Wednesday I’m tied up with hockey, and Thursday is Christmas Eve. I won’t be able to paint the kitchen or do the cleanup until the following week. It’ll take an entire day to finish things up here.”
“I know. You already told me.”
“Haley . . .”
Finally her eyes met his. “What?”
“You’re wrong,” he said, his voice raspy. “Whatever you’re thinking right now? You have it all wrong.” One side of her mouth quirked up, but all he saw in her eyes was uncertainty and sadness.
“Well.” Her chin came up a notch. “I guess that makes one more thing you’ll have to prove to me then.”
He hauled her into his arms and kissed her. Hard. He couldn’t bare his soul, couldn’t admit to her the feelings he hadn’t yet dared admit to himself. “Sunday.” Sam let her go and strode to the front door. “Be ready.”
“Sam,” she called.
But he kept walking, too emotionally churned up to hash things out with her right now. He got all the way to her driveway before he remembered—she was his ride home. Dammit. He stomped his foot and turned around.
Her garage door rose. He groaned and scrubbed his face with both hands. His balls ached, and he didn’t know if he was coming or going. Haley Cooper was driving him crazy. Why oh why had he felt the overwhelming need to prove himself to her in the first place? She didn’t just confuse him—hell, she terrified him.
“Were you planning on walking home?” Haley grinned and dangled her car keys in the air.
“I was thinking about it.” He threw his head back and stared at the starless sky. “It’s awfully cold out though, and it looks like it might snow again.” He heaved a sigh. “Sure could use a ride.”
Haley laughed. Dropping his head to glare at her, he walked toward her car. “You say a word about this to Wyatt or Jo, and I will get even.”
“I was afraid I was going to have to chase you down the street in my car.”
“Ha, ha. Very funny.”
“I thought so.” She laughed again and slid into the driver’s seat of her car.
His tension eased, and he grinned. Maybe crazy wasn’t such a bad place to be after all.
New snow sparkled under a cloudless sky, and the air was crisp, fresh and cold. Good thing the helmet Sam had loaned her had enough room for sunglasses. Haley fastened the strap under her chin and put her mittens back on. The crunch of boots on snow behind her made her smile.
She’d been teasing Sam all morning about the way he’d stormed out of her house the other night forgetting she was his ride home. It hadn’t surprised her to learn he lived in a large, nondescript apartment building. The man couldn’t even commit to a place of residence. Sad. A carpenter as good as he was should have a home of his own, a house custom built with his own two hands. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do when it came to construction. Except the electrical maybe, but he had Wyatt for that.
“Let’s go.” Sam came to stand beside her. “Looks like we’re the first ones to ride this morning.”
“Are you going to let me drive that thing?” She followed him to his snowmobile.
“Umm.” He lifted his helmet from where he’d hung it on the handle and swung his leg over the machine. “Probably not today. Climb on and put your arms around me.”
She did as she was told, snuggling close enough that her thighs caressed his perfect backside. “So this is why you suggested we go snowmobiling,” she teased, circling her arms around his waist.
He twisted around, his grin visible behind the plastic visor of his helmet. “Busted.”
How many women had he taken snowmobiling? Don’t go there. Why had he stopped kissing her Thursday night? She’d definitely been willing, and wasn’t he the man who never passed up an opportunity? She wanted Sam, even knowing being intimate with him would only lead to heartache. He wanted her too. He’d made that perfectly clear. And what had he meant when he said she had things all wrong?
The snowmobile jerked forward, and he steered down the marked trail at a sedate speed until they’d passed the first distance marker, then he accelerated. Haley squealed and tightened her hold. His laughter flowed back to her, as snow sprayed up around them. Trees and fields flew by, and they bounced and raced over the trail. “This is great,” she shouted. He nodded. They went over a rise, and for a few glorious seconds they rode nothing but air. Her cheeks ached from smiling so hard. Why hadn’t she ever gone snowmobiling before?
The trail didn’t make a loop like she’d expected, but veered away from the regional park onto another trail. They had to cross a road, which took them to another path leading them through farm fields. Haley surveyed the gorgeous landscape, rolling hills, fields and forest. They passed a couple of small frozen lakes along the way. She poked Sam’s shoulder to get his attention. He slowed, and leaned his ear closer to her. “Do you ever ride on the lakes or rivers?” She had to shout to be heard over the sound of the engine.
He called back, “All the time. Just to be on the safe side though, I don’t ride on ice until I’m sure it’s safe. January, usually.”
They raced on, but then he slowed and pointed across a pond. Three white-tailed deer stood together, their eyes and ears turned toward them, alert to any danger. He pointed again, and she scanned the area he’d indicated. A large bald eagle sat perched on the branch of a pine. The raptor paid no attention to them and continued to clean its wing feathers. She squeezed him to let him know she’d seen, and he patted her hands.
As cold as it was, her insides warmed. It touched her that Sam wanted to share this with her. Shortly after their view of the eagle, he turned the snowmobile around and headed back the way they’d come. All too soon they were back in the parking lot.
Haley helped him load the machine onto the trailer hitched to his SUV, and then set her helmet in the cargo space beside Sam’s. “That was great. I might have to buy myself a snowmobile.” She frowned. “But then I’d have to buy a new vehicle, one with towing capacity.”
He fastened the last strap holding the snowmobile in place. “Toys are expensive.” Once the machine was secure, Sam unzipped his snowmobile suit, worked it off and stowed it in the back of his SUV. He grabbed his jacket and put it on. “I enjoy getting out of the city and seeing the wildlife. St. Croix Park is another great place to go snowmobiling. We can go there next time if you want, and I’ll teach you how to drive.”
There he went again, making plans. What were they doing? Haley opened the passenger side door and sat sideways to take off her boots so she could get out of her snow pants. She settled herself in her seat and tossed the snow pants in the back, her mind crowded with questions.
Sam started the SUV and leaned back. “You liked snowmobiling, I take it.”
His face was ruddy from the wind, and he had a bad case of helmet hair. His lopsided smile gave him a boyish appearance, and her heart skipped a beat. “I loved it,” she said, and he rewarded her with a kiss. His lips were cold, and he smelled like the outside, fresh. Clean. She shivered, but not from the temperature.
“I knew you would,” he murmured against her lips. He moved away and steered the car out of the parking lot.
“Sam . . .” She tugged at her seatbelt.
“Hmm?”
“Why did you stop Thursday night? You know, when we were kissing.”
He shot her a sideways look. “You were hurting, Haley.”
“Ah,” she said, nodding slowly. “You didn’t want to take advantage. You were being a gentleman.”
“Something like that,” he muttered.
“I wasn’t hurting that badly.” She huffed out a breath. “Mostly I was angry. Anyway, I’m over it.”
He chuckled low in his throat. “Good to know.”
What did that mean? If she invited him in, would they take up where they’d left off? Should she invite him in? By the time he pulled into her driveway, her mouth had gone completely dry. Be brave. “Would you like to come in for coffee?”
“I’d love to, but I can’t.” He opened his door. “I’ve got stuff I need to do today.” He climbed out and came to her side of the SUV to help her out. “This was fun, Haley. We’ll have to do it again sometime.” He walked with her to her door.
Confusion and horniness had stolen her ability to speak. He’d turned her down again. She nodded. Sam waited while she put her key in the lock. “Thanks,” she managed to mumble. “I had a lot of fun.” Pushing her door open, she took a step.
He turned her around by her jacket. His eyes bored into hers for a second, and then he hauled her into his arms. All the air left her lungs the minute his mouth met hers. Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed back, desperate to get closer. Much, much closer. The sound of his heavy breathing sent curls of heat spiraling to her very core, causing an answering throb. Just as quickly as it had begun, Sam ended the kiss and set her an arm’s length away. Damn his long arms.
“I’ll see you on Monday,” he said, his voice husky. He turned from her and strode to his car.
She nodded again, but he wasn’t looking. Wasn’t he the guy who saw sex as his favorite recreational sport? The guy who didn’t turn down women who threw themselves at him?
Frustrated, and even more confused, she tromped into her house, slammed the door shut and let out a loud roar. Sam Haney was making her crazy. “Enough with the proving yourself crap already,” she muttered. What the hell did he want from her?
Yawning, Haley leaned away from her desk and checked her phone for the time. She had half an hour to go before she could leave work without getting disapproving looks. It was all Sam’s fault she was so tired. She’d tossed and turned all night trying to figure out whether he was toying with her, or if he really was trying to prove he wasn’t a total hound dog.
Her stomach flipped. She’d see him again in a few hours. They were installing the tile backsplash tonight. She needed advice, and she needed it badly enough to embarrass herself to get it. Haley dragged herself down the hall and knocked on Brent’s office door.
“Come in,” Brent called.
“I need help. Do you have a minute?”
“Sure.” He closed his laptop. “Have a seat.”
She dropped into a chair. “You remember Sam, the blue-collar stud you met the night of the Christmas party?”
“Yeah, what about him?”
“I want him.”
“Of course you do.” One side of his mouth turned up. “I’m guessing the feeling is mutual.”
“He says he wants me, too, but . . .” She threw up her hands. “Every time we . . . start . . . things, he’s the one to stop them. Why would he do that, Brent?”
He laughed. “I’m going to need more to go on than that.”
“Don’t laugh.” She glared. “This is hard for me.”
He crossed his heart and squelched his grin. “OK. Talk to me.”
“Remember I told you he asked me out that night?” She waited for his nod. “Well, what I didn’t tell you is that he has this need to prove to me that I’m all wrong about him, that I misjudged him because of that radio show, Loaded Question.”
“Wait.” Brent’s brow lowered. “Are you telling me he’s the guy every single female at this firm was talking about a month ago, the one who admitted on air—”
“Yes.” She nodded. “Sam Haney, the handsiest handyman in the Twin Cities.”
“You hired him, knowing he—”
“No. My mother hired him.” She covered her face with her hands. “Oh, God. This is so complicated. Forget I said anything. I’ll figure it out on my own.” She shot up from her chair.
“Haley, sit down. Start from the beginning, and give me the short version.”
“Are you sure?” She sat back down. “We’re still on the clock.”
“I’m sure. That’s why I asked for the short version.” He leaned back in his leather chair. “Start talking.”
As concisely as possible, she outlined her mother’s dastardly plan and everything that had happened since. “So, that’s why he wants to prove to me that I have him all wrong,” she said.
“Huh,” Brent said, nodding. “Well, it’s obvious.”
“It is?” She frowned.
“Think about it, Haley. If he didn’t have feelings for you, if he didn’t care, he wouldn’t feel the need to prove anything, and he certainly wouldn’t have stopped at kissing.” He chuckled. “Poor drooler. Probably doesn’t even realize what’s happening.”
“What’s happening?”
“The man who swore he doesn’t do relationships is falling into one. With you.”
She gasped. “You think?”
“I know. Been there. Wrote the book.” He tsked and shook his head. “And what about your mother? How does she feel about the fact that you’re dating the one-night stud she set you up with?”
“She doesn’t know. I haven’t said a word. My personal life is none of Trudy’s business.”
Brent leaned back and laughed. “Oh, I so want to be there when she finds out.”
“You promised you wouldn’t laugh,” she grumbled.
“Sorry. Can’t help it. Ahhh,” he sighed, swiping at his eyes. “Haven’t laughed this hard in a while. If this were a reality TV show, I’d be your biggest fan.”
“Thanks.” Haley rose again, glancing at the fancy clock on his wall. “You’ve been a great help,” she clipped out.
“Haley, do you care about this guy, or is it just lust?”
“I care.” There was that stomach flip thing again. “But—”
“No buts. Here’s the thing. He cares too, and I’m sure it’s freaking him out. Be patient. Any guy willing to work this hard to prove himself is a man worth the risk. Give it time.”
“Yeah, maybe, but given his past and what I know about him, things could go either way. He could bolt.” Like Michael. And where would that leave her? With a few more home repair skills and her heart in shambles for the second time in less than a year.
“There’s always that possibility. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees for any of us, no matter what the circumstances. Taking emotional risks is not for the faint of heart.”
She headed for the door. “That’s for sure. Thanks, Brent. You’ve given me lots to think about. I’d better get going.” Was Brent right? Did Sam have feelings for her, other than the obvious lustful kind? She ticked off the evidence, along with the pros and cons of continuing down the path she was on with him.
Bottom line, Sam had issues, but she wanted him anyway. Now, how could she go about getting him past the point where he pushed her out of his arms? “Damn, I’m about to throw myself at the handyman,” she mumbled. Hadn’t she sworn not to be one of those women? Shaking her head at her own idiocy, she gathered her things and headed home.