Fender Bender Blues Read online

  It was no surprise when Leah didn’t answer—she wasn’t a morning person, either. After the message recording played through, Rach moaned into the phone, “I just did the stupidest thing of my life and it’s your fault. I’m not sure I can ever forgive you. I’ll give you a few hints—it involves me, Craig, and a bed. If you can’t guess, I’ll have to question your intelligence as well. Call me. I need you. And tell Rick good morning and I blame him for it, too!”

  Her voice had grown shrill by the end of her speech. At least they’d get the point. All their stupid matchmaking schemes had worked and now look at the mess she was in! She snapped the phone closed and worried about Tally, who’d gone without a potty break all night. Her puppy needed her. Craig didn’t. He was probably getting his eyes scratched out—or maybe his ex was crawling into bed to warm the spot Rach had left.

  Sick. She moaned and rested her forehead against the steering wheel, shaking her head from side to side. Her tummy did a little roll and sucked in another deep breath of fresh air. Hopefully, the first scenario was being acted out up in Craig’s apartment. If he was minus an eye after this morning, he deserved it.

  Chapter Thirty

  The strand of Christmas lights landed in a heap on Rach’s living room floor. She tossed the butterfly garden stake through the front door and it landed inside next to the lights. The forecast promised a sixty percent chance of rain for the rest of the day, and though Mrs. Petska was home, Rach wanted to get the lights and gnomes inside before the rain came. The humidity hung heavy in the air and the skies had begun to darken to the north. A small breeze rustled through the trees as the rain neared she knew she needed to hurry.

  Setting the ladder inside the door, she whistled to Tally who bounded up the porch steps with a loud woof. Just then, Mrs. Petska stepped out her front door and Rach suppressed a groan.

  “I told you all that barking would cause a problem.” She gave Tally a scolding stare, then turned to face her neighbor.

  Mrs. Petska put a hand on her round hip in a determined air of authority, her eyes wide as she took in the mess. “Humph.” She jerked her head in a single, sharp nod of approval. “It’s about time you take that dreadful stuff down. You have horrible taste in decorating—you must have taken tips from Linda.”

  Rach bit her tongue and counted to three, reminding herself of Mrs. Petska’s dumbass son who’d left his wife for a Vegas bimbo. She flashed a polite smile and prayed for patience. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

  “Of course I’m happy. Those gnomes are the ugliest damn things I’ve ever seen. As bad as the trash Linda puts out every year. It’s nice you’ve finally come to your senses. I really thought you might be going crazy or doing drugs. Kids these days are a bunch of idiots.”

  The urge to get back onto the ladder and rehang the lights was strong. It took all of her willpower to keep her feet on the ground and off the ladder. Through gritted teeth she said, “Well, you should throw away that ugly Welcome sign!”

  Then she turned and ran into her townhome, slamming the door on Mrs. Petska’s sputtering indignation. She leaned back against the closed door and looked down at Tally who gave her a questioning stare.

  “So much for a truce.” Tally whimpered and crouched low to the ground. Rach sighed. “Tell me about it.”

  Now she’d be dodging her neighbor for another week. When the doorbell rang, Rach pushed herself from the door. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered. “I need to put a stop to this damn yard war. It’s ruining my life.”

  She threw the door open and found Craig standing on the other side of the threshold wearing a gray shirt and a frown. Speechless, she took a step back. He stuck out a finger and pushed her jaw shut. She swatted his hand away and moved to shut the door on him, but he held the door open with his hand and stepped inside. Giving him a severe glare, she shut the door behind him.

  “So nice of you to stop by uninvited.” She crossed her arms over her chest so she wouldn’t be tempted to smack him. Ignoring the sarcasm, he sent her a smile that turned her insides to jelly. Pissed, she strolled past him and headed for the stairs. “But if you don’t mind, you can let yourself out. I have to get ready.”

  “Ready for what?”

  “None of your business.”

  “Of course, it’s my business,” he insisted.

  He followed her up the stairs and she shook her head in exasperation. What had she been expecting? An apology? A declaration of undying love? Good thing she hadn’t been holding her breath for either or she’d be dead.

  “I’m going out with Leah tonight. And no, it’s not your business,” she reiterated.

  “And you didn’t invite me?”

  His annoyance pissed her off and she whirled around at her bedroom door to face him with all her pent up anger dying for release. “Of course not, or I’d have had to invite your ex, too. You know, the one who brings you coffee in the morning at inappropriate hours.”

  His mouth enveloped into a pleased smile and she snapped her mouth shut. “Jealous?” He waggled his eyebrows and she shoved him in the chest. He didn’t even budge.

  “There’s no room in my evening for your ego.”

  “Or your jealousy,” he added with a playboy grin. She turned her back on him and walked into her bedroom. Sending the closet doors open with a loud bang against the wall didn’t make her feel any better so she searched her closet for something to throw. Maybe a black pump aimed at Craig’s forehead.

  “I’m not jealous,” she lied and pulled out a teal satin tank top. “Just pissed you’d sleep with me when she’s in the picture. If you’re dating someone, you shouldn’t sleep with random people. That’s the definition of a cheating man-whore.”

  The warmth of his body close behind made her freeze. She grasped the clothes hanger in one hand and the closet door in the other because she didn’t trust herself not to jump into his arms. All day, she’d missed him, longed to feel him against her, to experience the pleasure and happiness she’d experienced with him the night before in his bed. Her body ached for it. When his arms went around her to encircle her waist and pull her back against his body, it was all she could do to bite back the sigh threatening to escape her lips.

  “I’m not seeing her,” he promised. His breath was a whisper against her hair and smelled of the peppermint gum he liked. “I’m not sure why she came over this morning. She hasn’t been welcome at my place for a long time and she knows it. It won’t happen again, Red.”

  She wanted to believe him, but a niggling of doubt remained. Why would a woman keep throwing herself at a man if she wasn’t wanted? The concept was so foreign to Rach that she shook her head. When she didn’t turn to face him, Craig spun her around in his arms. She stared at his chest, her body rigid and stubborn. He waited a few seconds then put a finger under her chin and forced her to look up into his eyes.

  “I’m serious.” The way his eyes pleaded with her quickened her heartbeat and her doubts slowly crumbled. He grasped her hand and touched his lips to her knuckles. “It’s been over for months, Red.”

  She stared down at her hand in his. When she looked up again, she frowned. “I don’t understand what the problem is if it’s been over for months.”

  He sighed. “It’s complicated because she works for me. When she calls, I never know if it’s about business or not, so I have to answer. Usually, I let it go to voicemail. This morning I told her she’s not welcome at my apartment and I think she left knowing I meant it.”

  “You didn’t want a commitment?” She hated the uncertainty in her voice. Her need for his intentions to be pure was so overwhelming that she held her breath in anticipation of his answer. When he shook his head and pulled her into a tight hug, she let that breath go in a silent whoosh of relief. After a moment’s hesitation, she dropped the shirt and put her arms around his waist, locking her fingers behind his back. This feels so right. I don’t want to let this go.

  “Not with a woman who’s only interested in my money. I don’t t
rust her. I had a bad vibe about her when I dated her, and I ended it because there was no connection.” He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead and she shivered from the contact.

  “So you’re not a commitment phobic man-whore?” Her voice came out muffled against his chest.

  Craig laughed. “No, I’m not. So let’s forget about my ex. She’s history.”

  She considered his words for a few seconds and then smiled. “Okay, I believe you.” Then she pushed him away and picked up the shirt off the carpet. “But you really do need to go. I have to get ready. Leah will be here in about twenty minutes.”

  “That’s okay, I can watch.”

  “Why are guys such perverts?” She turned back to the closet, but could still feel him behind her, standing close. Her heart raced a mile a minute in her chest.

  “I had your car towed to my dealership today.” He gently lifted a strand of hair away from her neck and kissed the skin underneath. Rach suppressed a shudder.

  “Oh? Who gave you permission to do that?” Her voice cracked and she tried to distract the butterflies in her stomach by pulling out a cream cardigan from the closet.

  He cleared his throat. “Yeah, about that…’’ He lifted his head slightly from brushing a soft kiss on her shoulder and cleared his throat. “Your dad called me at work. Said you didn’t have the sense to go and get your car from the ‘insurance frauders’.”

  Rach frowned and turned to face him. She pushed him away and perched her hands on her hips. “I don’t have any sense?”

  “He specifically said you’re a woman and women don’t have the sense to do right by their vehicles.” Craig grinned and leaned against the wall beside the closet. “I, of course, agreed and said I’d take care of it.”

  She looked down at the shoes lining the bottom of her closet. It really would feel rewarding to chuck a pair at him. “How did you get them to release it to you?”

  He winked. “I’m Craig Larsen, darling. I always get what I want.”

  She winced at the horrible cowboy drawl. “Oh geez. You really are something else.”

  “You know it, Baby.” He waggled his eyebrows and she rolled her eyes.

  “Just because you’re some big shot, doesn’t mean you can go around, loading up any car you want. It’s still grand theft auto if you don’t have the person’s permission, you know.”

  “Nah.” He grinned and lay back onto the bed, clasping his hands together behind his head. “Your car doesn’t count as grand theft auto. It wasn’t in one piece when we picked it up.”

  “It wasn’t—what are you doing?” She eyed him getting comfortable on the bed. “We’re not staying, remember. Leah will be here in—” She glanced at her watch. “Five minutes exactly.”

  “Call her and tell her not to come.”

  “I can’t.” But she did want to cancel on Leah. Spending another night with Craig sounded much more interesting than a girl’s night out. There’d been enough girl’s nights out in her past, but how many nights had she spent with a gorgeous man who wanted to love her all night long? None. All the men from Rach’s past were nothing compared to the one gazing into her eyes just now.

  “That’s too bad. We’d have a lot more fun, I promise,” he said and sat up. Rach had to bite back a whimper. When he stood and began walking toward her, her breath caught in her throat. His arms circled around her waist, pulling her against him so he could lean down and place a soft kiss on her lips. “My guys started on your car today. It’ll be done within the week. You can thank me now, Babe.”

  Rach rolled her eyes, but snuggled up against him. She whispered, “Thank you.”

  “Where are you going tonight?”

  “Meeting an old friend from HHS.” She wasn’t sure how it had happened, but when Andrea phoned earlier that day to suggest drinks, Rach had accepted right away, no hesitation, though she knew Andrea would bring up the looming cutoff date for Rach’s leave of absence. One more month and she’d have to either go back to work or they’d replace her. After hanging up, there’d been no anxiety, and she looked forward to visiting an old friend and finding out how the office had been since she’d left.

  “Health and Human Services?” He hugged her tight and she could hear the smile in his voice. “That’s great, Rach. I’m happy for you.”

  “Just drinks, that’s all it is,” she cautioned.

  “Whatever it is, enjoy yourself. I’ll be packing.”

  “Already? You’ve closed on the house, then?”

  He nodded and brushed a strand of hair from her shoulder and it settled against her back. “We closed the other day before…”

  His innuendo hit home and she flushed. The memory of them rolling around his bed caused a heat flash and the large, wolfish grin on his face told her he had an idea of where her mind had gone.

  “So no leaky shingles then?”

  He dropped a kiss to her nose. “Sorry to disappoint, but no. You really weren’t kidding? You wanted me to have leaky shingles?”

  “Nope, you were an ass when we met.” She grinned up at him. “Oh, and I was also hoping your toilet seats would give you butt cramps.”

  “Nice.” He laughed and his eyes twinkled down at her. “But the shingles don’t leak, and if they did, the roofing company would fix it free of charge because of the warranty.”

  “No place can be that perfect. Maybe you’ll have annoying neighbors,” Rach teased, but hoped it wasn’t true. She wouldn’t wish such a thing on anyone after the yard war fiasco she’d just been involved in.

  “Speaking of neighbors, I see you took the yard decorations down.”

  “Without your help since I wasn’t talking to you after the incident at your apartment with your ex.”

  “I do like these little jealous rants of yours.” A coy smile played at the corners of his lips. He moved quickly, trapping her body between the hard planes of his chest and the wall. She could have pushed him away, but she didn’t want to. She let him close in, his lips just a hair width away from her neck. She almost shuddered but willed herself to stay still. Jealous, my ass!

  “I can’t wait to get you alone tonight.” His whisper raised the hairs on the back of her neck and sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t hold back, the shudder rippled across her body. His breath kissed the side of her neck seconds before his lips made contact with her skin, just under her ear. Rach sucked in a short breath and shut her eyes.

  She had no idea why he affected her the way he did. The guy she’d lost her virginity to hadn’t made her feel so alive and excited. True, Todd the Creep hadn’t been a thirty-six year old chick-magnet. Instead, he’d been an inexperienced boy with wet dreams who’d thought Rach would be his first real porn experience. What they’d done under the stars by the lake on an ugly mustard-colored quilt from his mom’s basement hadn’t been as beautiful as her young teenage mind had deluded herself to believe it would be. The experience had been clumsy and painfully disappointing.

  No, Craig was a man, gorgeous and confident, and he gazed at her as if she were the only woman he’d ever wanted or would ever need. And it made her insides hot.

  “I haven’t invited you over. I’m still a little mad at you.” She dug her heels in and planted her palms against his chest. With a deep breath, she pushed him away.

  He ran his hand down the side of her ribcage, the satin of her shirt rubbed provocatively against her flesh. He stopped the movement just at her waist and grasped her by the hook of her jeans to pull her close. Against her lips, he whispered, “I’ll be coming home with you. Then I’m going to undress you slowly, everything but that lace I know you’re wearing under your jeans, kiss you all over your soft, naked flesh and make you come in those panties of yours.”

  Then he kissed her. If the doorbell hadn’t rung when it did, they would have ended up naked in her bed. She wanted to run downstairs to tell Leah to go away. A sweaty night in with Craig sounded much better than a girl’s night out. Just the idea made her lightheaded.

 
Craig sighed and rested his forehead against hers. His breathing was as heavy as hers. “You sure you can’t just stay with me?”

  Disappointed, Rach said, “I can’t. Not tonight.”

  He kissed her softly and pulled away. “I know. You go have fun. I’ll come pick you up if you need a ride tonight, okay? Just call me or Rick. He’s helping me pack some things.”

  Craig left her in her room so she could get ready. From below, Leah’s and Craig’s voices carried to her, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. She caught a few words here or there, and when Craig said, “I know, she’s special,” Rach grinned.

  You need to get a grip. Rach gazed at herself in the mirror and swiped on her lip gloss, barely able to bite back her smile. Was this what it felt like to have a crush? Wasn’t she too old for a crush? Whatever it was, she didn’t want it to end, and after spending the last few weeks insisting to Leah and herself that she despised Craig, she now realized she’d been denying her attraction for him. They’d gone from nothing to something after an amazing night of sex and she wasn’t sure how to handle it. Her heart did a flip-flop. Right now, we’re just…

  She didn’t know what they were, but she liked the way his arms felt around her, the way his lips always found that sensitive spot just behind her ear, the way her breath caught every time his fingertips touched her skin, making her skin tingle and goose bumps prick up on her arms.

  What about my no distraction rule? Rach’s reflection frowned back at her. Was he a distraction? Only if I quit looking for a job, which I’m not going to do. There wasn’t any reason she couldn’t enjoy Craig’s company while she figured out what to do with the rest of her life. Pleased with her decision, she gave her hair roots one final scrunch with the shaping paste, then hurried out the bedroom door so she could feel Craig’s lips on hers one more time before she went out with the girls for the night.

  Chapter Thirty-One