Читать книгу Housekeepers Say I Do!: Maid for the Millionaire / Maid for the Single Dad / Maid in Montana - SUSAN MEIER, Susan Meier - Страница 13

CAIN JUMPED INTO HIS Porsche and punched the address on the invitation in his hand into his GPS unit. He’d been invited to a party being hosted by one of the women who’d been helped by A Friend Indeed. In a few minutes, he found himself driving down the street of the middle-class, blue-collar neighborhood.

He hadn’t wanted to attend this party. But it had been a real stretch for him to volunteer to help with the Friend Indeed houses and an even bigger stretch to have taken Billy under his wing and those things had worked out amazingly well. So attending an event for the families involved with the charity was simply another level of change for him. Especially since it would involve chitchat. No bankers or businessmen to schmooze. No business talk tonight. Somehow or other he’d have to be…well, normal.

But he’d decided to once again push beyond his own inadequacies to attend tonight because he couldn’t stop thinking about something Liz had told him. When he’d first arrived at Amanda’s, Liz had instructed him to accept anything any client offered because this might be the first time in a long time they’d had something to offer. He’d finally wrapped his head around just how demoralized and demeaned these women had been and then his thoughts had segued to the fact that Liz and her family had been abused.

Liz had been a child in a family just like this one. Alone. Scared. Usually hungry. He couldn’t bear the thought.

But that also meant he couldn’t refuse an invitation to anything connected to Liz. He didn’t want her to feel rejected by him, or that somehow she and her friends weren’t good enough. They were. He was the socially awkward one. So to protect her, here he was, driving in an unfamiliar section of the city, about to attend a gathering with people he didn’t know.

He parked on the street and headed up the sidewalk to Joni Custer’s house. As he climbed the stairs to the front door, he held back a wince of pain. He’d been so busy proving himself to Liz and enjoying doing the work he loved—the work that had nudged him in the direction of success and riches—that he’d forgotten he wasn’t eighteen anymore. Billy was probably stronger. And maybe he should be the one hefting boxes of hardwood, while Cain stuck to measuring and fitting.

He found the bell and within two seconds, the bright red front door opened. Liz stood on the other side. Dressed in shorts and a halter top, she looked amazing. Comfortable. Confident. Relaxed.

Their gazes caught and she smiled sheepishly. His heart did a cartwheel. She was smiling at him now, like a real person, not a person she was forced to socialize with, not a person she had to pretend to like. Her smile was genuine.

“Come on. Everybody’s outside on the patio.” She took a look at his attire and winced. “Somebody should have told you dress was informal.”

Cain immediately reached for his tie. Walking into the foyer, he yanked it off and stuffed it in his jacket pocket. “I can make do.” He removed his jacket and tossed it over a hook on a coat tree in the foyer. Following Liz to a sliding glass door at the back of the house, he rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt. “See, now I’m dressed appropriately.”

“Well, not exactly appropriately.” She turned and gave him another smile. “But better.”

“How about a little background before I go out there into a sea of people I don’t know.”

“Joni is one of the first women we helped. Every year she hosts a barbecue. Most of the people attending are also A Friend Indeed women, but some are parents and friends of the clients.” She hooked her arm in the crook of his elbow and headed for the door again. “I’ll introduce you around, but then you’re on your own.”

It felt so good to have her at his side that it disappointed him that she wouldn’t stay with him, but he understood. If they had just met, they’d still be in a friend stage, not behaving like a couple. He had to accept that.

“I appreciate the introductions.”

She hesitated another few seconds at the door. “You might get a critique or two of the work you’ve done.”

“Hey, you helped!” He opened the sliding glass door. “If I’m going down in flames, you’re going with me.”

She laughed and the second they stepped onto the stone floor of the small patio, Liz said, “Hey, everybody, this is Cain. He’s the new board member who’s been fixing up houses.”

A general round of approval rippled through the crowd.

Liz leaned in and whispered, “Get ready. Any second now you’ll be surrounded.”

Her warning didn’t penetrate. He was too busy analyzing whether it was good or bad that she hadn’t introduced him as her ex-husband. On the one hand it did point to the fact that she saw their association as being a new one. On the other, she could be embarrassed about having been married to him. So it took him by surprise when a middle-aged man approached him and extended his hand for shaking.

“You did Amanda’s house?”

“That was mostly painting,” Cain said, snatching Liz’s hand, holding her in place when it appeared she would desert him. “And Liz and I were equal partners on that one.”

“Don’t be so modest,” Ayleen said, ambling up to them. “I hear the whole house is to die for.”

“It is.” Amanda walked over. She unexpectedly hugged Cain. “Thanks again.”

Embarrassment flooded him at her praise. What he’d done was so simple, so easy for him. Yet it had meant the world to Amanda. “I guess that means you like the house?”

“Like is too simple of a word,” she said with a laugh.

Liz shook her hand free of his, as if eager to get away. “How about if I get us a drink? What would you like?”

Not quite sure what to say, Cain raised his eyebrows in question. “What do they have?”

“What if I get us both a cola?”

“Sounds great.”

The second Liz left, he began fielding questions about the work he’d done on Amanda’s house and the four houses he still planned to repair.

Eventually he and the middle-aged man who introduced himself as Bob, Joni’s dad, wandered over to the grill.

“This is my grandson, Tony.” Bob introduced Cain to the man flipping burgers.

Cain caught a flash of yellow out of his peripheral vision before a tall blonde grabbed his forearm and yanked him away from the grill. “Sorry, guys. But he’s mine for a few minutes.” She smiled at him. “I’m Ellie. My friends call me Magic.”

“Magic? Like Magic Johnson, the basketball player?”

“No, magic as in my wishes generally come true and I can also pretty much figure out somebody’s deal in a short conversation.”

“You’re going to interrogate me, aren’t you?”

“I know who you are.”

“Who I am?”

“You’re Liz’s ex. She hasn’t said anything, but for her to be introducing you around, I’m guessing she likes you again.”

He paused. His heart skipped a beat. Her wariness around him took on new meaning. He’d been so careful to behave only as a friend that she might not understand his feelings for her now ran much deeper. She might think he didn’t like her “that” way anymore. But he did. And if she wanted more, so did he.

“Really?”

Ellie sighed. “Really. Come on. Let’s cut the bull. We both know you’re cute. We both know she loved you. Now you’re back and she’s falling for you. If she’s holding back, I’m guessing it’s only because she thinks you don’t want her.”

Cain couldn’t help it; he smiled.

Ellie shook her head with a sigh. “Don’t be smug. Or too sure of yourself. As her friend, I’m going to make it my business to be certain you don’t hurt her again.”

“You don’t have to make it your business. You have my word.”

She studied his face. “Odd as this is going to sound, I believe you.”

Liz walked over with two cans of cola. “Ellie! What are you doing?”

“Checking him out,” Ellie said without an ounce of shame in her voice. “I’m going to help Joni with the buns and salads.”

Liz faced him with a grimace. “Sorry about that.”

“Is she really magic?”

Liz laughed. “Did she tell you that?”

“Yes.”

“Then she likes you and that’s a big plus.”

Liz casually turned to walk away, but Cain caught her arm. “So these people are your friends?”

“Yes.”

He expected her to elaborate, but she didn’t. She eased her arm out of his grasp and walked away. Ten minutes ago, that would have upset him. Now, Ellie’s words repeated in his head. “If she’s holding back I’m guessing it’s only because she thinks you don’t want her.”

He glanced around and frowned. They were with her friends. He couldn’t make a move of any kind here. That much he was sure of. But soon, very soon, he was going to have to do something to test Ellie’s theory.

Cain went back to the group of men at the grill and in seconds he felt odd. Not exactly uncomfortable. Not exactly confused. But baffled, as if something important sat on the edge of his brain trying to surface but it couldn’t.

The conversation of the men around him turned to children, house payments and job difficulties. He couldn’t identify with anything they were discussing. He didn’t have kids or a mortgage or job difficulties. So, he didn’t say a word, simply listened, putting things in context by remembering the things he’d learned working with Billy and for Amanda, and then he suddenly understood why he felt so weird.

It wasn’t because Liz’s magical friend had basically told him that Liz cared for him. It was because Liz had left him alone with her friends. Alone. Not monitoring what he said. Not anxious or fearful that he’d inadvertently insult someone.

She trusted him.

She trusted him.

Just the thought humbled him. But also sort of proved out Ellie’s suspicion that Liz liked him again as more than a friend. A woman didn’t trust the people she loved to just anyone.

When the burgers were grilled to perfection, Cain scooped them up with a huge metal spatula and piled them on a plate held by Bob. When everything was on the table, he took a seat at the picnic table where Liz sat. He didn’t sit beside her. He didn’t want to scare her, but he did like being around her. And Ellie’s comment that Liz was falling for him again was beginning to settle in, to give him confidence, to make him think that maybe it was time to let her know he was feeling the same way she was.

Not that it was time to get back together, but to start over.

The group at each table included adults of all ages and varieties and their children. They ate burgers, discussing football and fishing, and when everyone had eaten their fill, they played volleyball—in spite of Cain’s Italian loafers. When the sun set, the kids disappeared to tell ghost stories in the dark, humid night and the adults congregated around the tables again, talking about everything from raising kids to the economy.

All in all it was a very relaxing evening, but an informative one, as well. Liz fit with these people. Easily. Happily.

And he had, too.

It was time for him to get their relationship on track. And since they were doing things differently this time around, he wouldn’t slyly seduce her. He intended to actually tell her he wanted to be more than her friend, ask her if she agreed. To give her choices. To give her time.

Exactly the opposite of what he’d done when he met her six years ago.

The back door slid open. A little kid of about six yelled, “Hey! There’s a jacket in here that’s buzzing.”

Everybody laughed.

An older girl raced up behind the kid. “Somebody’s cell phone is vibrating. It’s in the pocket of a jacket hanging on the coat tree.”

Cain rose. He’d been so caught up in being with Liz that he’d forgotten his cell phone, hadn’t cared if he missed a call. “I think that’s mine.” He glanced at Joni with a smile. “It’s time for me to be going anyway. Thank you very much for inviting me.”

Joni rose. “Thank you for coming. It was nice to meet the guy who’s stirred up so much gossip!”

Not exactly sure how to take that, Cain faced Liz, who also rose. “She means about fixing the houses.” She slid her hand in the crook of his elbow. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

Liz waited as Cain said his good-nights. Together they walked into the house and to the foyer. He lifted his suit jacket from the coat tree and the phone buzzed again. He silenced it without even looking at caller ID.

She nearly shook her head in wonder. She’d been worried about how he’d handle this party, how he’d get along with her friends, and she needn’t have given it a second thought.

He opened the front door. “Walk me to my car?”

Her breath stuttered in her chest. If they hadn’t had such a nice evening, she might have thought this was her perfect opportunity to tell him about their baby. But they had had a nice evening. A quiet, comfortable, relaxing time. She’d seen how hard he worked to get along with her friends. And she’d appreciated that. Her sad revelation was for another time.

She pulled her keys from her pocket. “How about if you walk me to my car?”

He smiled. “Sure. I just thought you’d be going back in.”

“Nope.”

“You know Ellie’s going to give you the third degree. Might as well get it over with tonight.”

“Not necessary. She’ll call me before I even get home.”

He laughed. Her chest constricted with happiness as unexpected feelings rippled through her. She hadn’t fully admitted to herself how important it was to her that he like her friends. But it had been. Seeing him interacting with the Friend Indeed people had filled her with pride. She couldn’t remember a time when he’d ever been this relaxed and she knew she’d had something to do with that. She’d helped him get beyond his guilt and helped him acclimate at A Friend Indeed, and in the end he’d become the man she’d always known he could be. Warm. Caring. Wonderful.

When they reached her atrocious little green car, she turned and faced him. Their gazes met and clung and she suddenly realized asking him to walk her to her car might have seemed like an invitation for him to kiss her good-night.

Her heart stilled. Her breathing stalled in her chest. Part of her screamed for her to grab the door handle and get the hell out of here. The other part was melting into soft putty. She’d loved this man with her whole heart and soul. He’d suffered the torment of the damned and she’d had to stand by helplessly. Now he was back. Almost normal, but better.

Was it so wrong to want one little kiss?

As his head slowly descended, she had a thousand chances to change her mind. A million cautions pirouetted through her brain. Every nerve ending in her body flickered with something that felt very much like fear.

But when their lips met, it was like coming home. The years melted away and he was the Cain she’d fallen in love with. Cain before he’d been burdened by guilt over his brother’s death or the drive to succeed to bury that guilt.

The Cain she knew loved her.

He was her Cain.

Her lips came to life slowly beneath his. His hands slid to her upper arms, to her back and down her spine. She stepped closer, nestling against him. For the three years of their marriage she’d longed for this feeling. For the three years they’d been separated, she’d tried to forget this feeling. The warmth, the connection, the spark of need that ignited in her and heated her blood. Nobody had ever made her feel what Cain made her feel.

And she was finally discovering part of the reason was that she didn’t want anybody else to make her feel what Cain could. She wanted Cain.

He pulled away slowly. She blinked up at him.

“Good night.”

His voice was a soft whisper in the warm summer night. Her lips curved upward slowly. A kiss. Just a kiss. He hadn’t pushed for more, hadn’t asked her to follow him home, or if he could follow her. He’d simply wanted a kiss.

“Good night.”

“I’ll call you.”

“Okay.”

She opened her car door and slid inside. He stepped back, out of the way, as she pulled her gearshift into Drive and eased out into the night.

A little voice inside her head told her not to be so happy, because she hadn’t yet been totally honest with him.

But she would be.

Soon.

For now though she wanted to bask in the warmth that flooded her because he’d kissed her.

Cain couldn’t remember ever feeling so good or so hopeful about his life. It wasn’t simply because Liz had feelings for him and had admitted them in the way she kissed him. He was also a changed man. He hadn’t pretended to like her friends. He liked her friends. He hadn’t been bored, nervous, or eager to get away to get back to work. Somehow or another over the past weeks, his longing to make up to Liz for their horrible marriage had reordered his priorities. He’d done what he felt he needed to do to pay penance for their bad marriage and as a result learned to work with Billy and for a cause that genuinely needed him.

And when the dust settled, he was changed. When he looked ahead to their future, he could see them making it work this time.

Driving home with the top down, thinking about some of the brighter days in their marriage, he almost didn’t hear his cell phone ring. He’d shifted it from vibrate to ring when he directed the last call to voice mail as he’d walked Liz to her car. Though it had taken a few rings, eventually the low sound penetrated his consciousness and he grabbed the phone. Somebody had been trying to get a hold of him for the past hour, but he hadn’t even cared enough to check caller ID.