Strawberry Kisses (A Rocky Harbor Novel Book 2) Read online

  Rachael cocked her head and shook it. “Has he always been so humble?”

  Ross laughed. “Humble is not a word I’d use for Jake Morgan.”

  Jake wasn’t offended. He knew Ross and Rachael were enjoying giving him a hard time.

  “You’re right. He can be quite arrogant at times, but when serious matters arise, Jake tends to save the day, taking ownership for his faults and praising others for their strength.”

  “Now you’re making me sound like a pansy. All I wanted to do was show off my hot girlfriend.”

  Thankfully Noles picked up on Jake’s embarrassment and changed the subject. “Jake tells me you’re quite the chef.”

  “I wouldn’t call myself a chef.” Rachael blushed. “I enjoy cooking. And baking. Pretty much anything involving food. Jake graciously samples everything I make.”

  And then some. Rachael and Noles continued their idle chatter about food while Jake sat back and studied Rachael’s profile. Her eyes grew large with excitement when she talked about a favorite recipe. When describing a taste, she closed her eyes and moaned, almost as loudly as she did in bed. The woman who he’d met a few months ago in his class was nothing like the one sitting next to him today.

  And he was nothing like the man he’d been a few years ago. He supposed if she could make such a drastic transformation in a few weeks, he could admit he’d done a pretty decent job over the past few years as well.

  Maybe it was time to forgive himself like Rachael said. Let himself love and be loved. She had the perfect amount of softness and curves yet her brutal honesty made her strong and feisty. Rachael wouldn’t be walked over again, and damn if he didn’t love and respect her more and more with every look. Every touch.

  Needing to be alone with Rachael, he grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the booth, interrupting Noles’s idea of the perfect French toast recipe.

  “We’re good, right?”

  “Sure.” Noles’s eyes shone with amusement. “It was nice meeting you, Rachael.” He slid out of the booth as well, standing and holding out his hand to her.

  “Oh, I enjoyed meeting you too, Ross. Please let me know if you want me to write down the recipe for the German potato salad.”

  “Sounds good.” He stuck his hand out and Jake shook it before placing his hand around Rachael’s hip, guiding her out of the diner.

  “What’s the hurry?”

  Jake unlocked his truck and helped her up. “Babe.”

  “Oh,” she gasped in realization and looked down at the crotch of his jeans. “Oh.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rachael’s brothers’ cars were already in the driveway when she stopped by her mother’s house the following day. Luke had called a family meeting. Fearing something was wrong with her mother, she raced up the front steps and stormed through the front door.

  “Mom?”

  She found Graham, Luke, Lucy, Maggie, Sage, and her mother standing around the kitchen island, somber faced and red-eyed.

  “What’s wrong? Somebody tell me what’s wrong. Why didn’t anybody call me? What’s going on? Mom?” Doreen’s health had never been an issue before, but her face was pale and her body slouched as if she were a frail old lady.

  Maggie set her coffee down and put her arm around Rachael’s shoulders. “Your mother is fine. Everyone here is okay. It’s…Colton.”

  “No.” A weight so heavy she thought she’d fall to her feet dropped in her gut, bringing tears to her eyes. “He’s not…”

  “He’s okay. He’s better and he’s home.”

  “Home? As in here?” Rachael spun around the room, looking for signs of her brother.

  Luke rounded the counter and hugged Rachael. “He’s kept us all out of the loop. Blake called me late last night. He’d been working near the vet hospital where Colton’s been and stopped in—barged through security and nearly got kicked out—but Colton vouched for him when he saw Blake’s temper. Apparently our brother hasn’t wanted us to know how bad things are for him and has wanted to deal with things his own way.”

  “How bad is he?”

  “Blake says he’s got some major PTSD going on and that’s primarily what’s keeping him away from the family. Colton doesn’t want us to see him like that.”

  “And his leg?” When their mother received the call on Christmas that Colton’s Humvee had been attacked and everyone but Colton was killed, the entire family went into shock and prayer mode. He’d been in a hospital in Germany for a few months before coming back to the States and being honorably and medically discharged.

  “He lost his left leg, just below the knee. Blake says he got a prosthetic about a month ago and has been working with a therapist. Colton wanted to be able to walk out of the hospital on his own before coming home.”

  “And he’s here now? And he hasn’t stopped by? Where is he staying?” Rachael loved her brothers more than life itself. While Colton’s visits were sparse and short over the years, when she was in Maine she spent every second with him. It pained her when she was in California and couldn’t see him.

  Luke and Graham had been with her from the beginning, but there was always something sad inside Colton that she wanted to fix. He needed her more than the others, whether he’d admit it or not. Maybe it was the loneliness in him that reminded her so much of her childhood.

  “That’s what we are trying to figure out,” Graham said, leaning across the island. “Blake received a text from Colton last night. Says it looked like a drunk text, but it sounded like he was in Maine.”

  “What did it say?”

  Graham and Luke looked at their mother with apologetic eyes. “We were waiting for you to come home before we said anything else.”

  “You sure took your sweet-ass time today, sis.”

  “Lucy.”

  “It’s okay, Mom. Had I known you were all waiting for me, that this was about Colton, I would have come home hours ago.”

  “I told them not to bother you. You had a late night and are working so hard to get your new business afloat.” Doreen stroked Rachael’s hair and held on to her hand. “We are all so proud of how far you’ve come.”

  “Mom, this isn’t about me right now. It’s about Colton. Guys, what did he tell Blake?”

  “Let’s sit down in the living room,” Luke suggested.

  “No, Luke. We’re all here. No more stalling. Just tell us.” Lucy crossed her arms and lifted her chin.

  “I won’t quote him exactly, as the texts Blake forwarded to us aren’t exactly coherent, but he’s pretty pissed with the world and doesn’t want a pity party. Especially from the girls. Mom, Rach, even Lucy. He said he’ll leave again with no contact if you—if any of us smother him or give him pity. He wants to be treated as anyone else.”

  Doreen sniffed and Sage passed her a paper towel. Rachael put her arm around her mother and held tight.

  “Got it. No welcome home parade or any of that shi—crap.” Lucy scowled. “Why the secrecy? Why couldn’t he tell us this?”

  Graham stood behind Maggie and rested his hands on her shoulders. “I guess Blake told him about Luke and Sage, Rach and Jake, and me and Maggie. It’s hard for him to see us moving on with our lives when his…when his was almost cut short.”

  “But it’s not. He’s alive.” Rachael squeezed her mother’s hand.

  “He thinks of himself as broken. He has no job. No place to live. No friends. You know Colton. He’s always been…somewhat mysterious.” Luke hugged Sage a little tighter. “Our family has grown, but he hasn’t been a part of it.”

  “And it’s been his choice.” Always the negative one, they wouldn’t have to worry about Lucy giving Colton pity stares. Granted, she didn’t know Colton very well. He’d been overseas before she was adopted, and they’d only met during the few short stays he’d had over the years.

  “Maybe.” Luke nodded. “He needs our support now. You know Colton, never one to ask for favors, never one to divulge any more info than necessary. It’s always been pul
ling teeth trying to figure out what’s going on in that thick skull of his. He threw us all for a loop when he told us he enlisted and shipped out the next day.”

  “We will support your brother in any way he wishes. If he needs us to give him privacy, we’ll do it.” Doreen regarded each of her children with eyes only a mother of six could do. They nodded in agreement.

  “So now what?” Lucy asked.

  “He knows how to find us. We wait for him to come to us. I don’t want to hear about any of you badgering him.”

  “We couldn’t if we wanted. Blake didn’t even know where Colton was staying.” Graham shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels.

  “It’s a small town, but if he doesn’t want to be found, he won’t be. Respect his privacy, boys. And girls.” Doreen glowered at Lucy.

  “What? Don’t look at me like that.”

  “You’ve always been fascinated with him, Luce, probably because you barely know him. And you’re a snoop. If anyone can hunt down Colton it’d be you.” Graham winked.

  “Don’t you encourage her,” Doreen scolded.

  ***

  Later that night while snuggled up with Jake, Rachael told him about the news of her brother.

  “Your mother must be devastated.”

  “She is. She’s strong, though, and will make sure we all keep our word and let Colton have his privacy. We’d all be searching the woods for him, blowing up his cell phone with texts and calls, putting out an APB on him if it wasn’t for Mom. She’s never pushed us to do anything we weren’t comfortable with, letting us figure out our own lives in our own time but always there for us to pick us up when we fell, or to celebrate our successes.”

  “Which is why she didn’t kick me to the curb.”

  “You’re too charming to get kicked. Speaking of, after your class tomorrow we’re invited to Luke and Sage’s. They’re throwing a Jack and Jill shower for Maggie and Graham.”

  “Another opportunity for your brothers to try out their intimidation act on me. Sounds like fun.”

  “I’ve got your back.”

  “And I’ve got your front.”

  ***

  Maggie refused to let Rachael cater the wedding—wanting her to have fun, not work—so Rachael took advantage and cooked for the Jack and Jill party. After leaving the Inn, she stopped at the store and went straight to Luke’s to prepare. Her brothers thought paper products would be fine but since Sage had access to stemware, plates, and utensils, they’d be celebrating in style.

  Lucy stopped by a few hours before the party to decorate the large white tent Graham had set up with lights and flowers while the boys went out to stock up on beer and wine. It wasn’t going to be a large affair, thirty or so people—half of them family.

  Giving herself twenty minutes to get ready, she lowered the temperature on the Crock-Pots, checked the mini quiches in the oven, and scurried off to get changed. The tangerine halter dress shone bright against her sun-kissed skin. She and Jake spent many of his lunch breaks picnicking on his tailgate in the sun and walked the beach on weekend afternoons.

  An hour later, the party was in full swing and Jake arrived fashionably late, since his class didn’t get over until seven. “You’re gorgeous.” He kissed her hello under the twinkling lights. “Nice set up.” The sun hovered over the horizon, the sky streaked with dark orange and pink clouds.

  “I’ll introduce you to Sage’s sisters. They’re the ones who’ve helped me with my Kids in the Kitchen parties.” They’d been slow, not real moneymakers, but a fun little side job to put some extra cash in Rachael’s pocket. “Jake, this is Grayson Montgomery. He’s married to Thyme, the youngest sister, and is an architect. His office happens to be across the hall from Maggie’s practice.”

  The men shook hands, and Rachael introduced Sage’s other sister, Rayne, and her husband, Trent.

  “Your girlfriend is giving me some serious competition,” Trent teased.

  “You own the bakery in Portland. Sweet Spot, right?”

  Rachael’s heart warmed. Jake had listened to her the other night when she rambled off the names of everyone he’d be meeting at the party. The men bonded over beer and meatballs, plowing through the plethora of appetizers and finger foods. When the food ran low, Rachael went inside to bring out the tray of desserts. She opened the fridge and heard heavy footsteps on the other side of the open door. “Perfect timing. I can use some help bringing these out.”

  Lifting the long tray laden with dessert bars, mini eclairs, and cream puffs, Rachael turned and closed the door with her hip and shrieked.

  “Colton!” She dropped the tray and stood in shock. Wanting to jump into his arms but respecting his need for some space, she squatted and picked up the mess she’d made, her heart hammering away in her chest.

  Most of the desserts had stayed in the tray, only a few casualties falling on the floor, so she busied herself making the arrangement look pretty again while she regained her composure. Was it okay to hug him? To ask him how he was doing? She had no idea.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you.” She watched out of the corner of her eye as he tried to lower himself to the floor.

  Knowing his leg must be causing him a lot of pain and squatting couldn’t be comfortable with a prosthetic, she wanted to tell him to stop, but didn’t want to damage his pride either. When he finally made it to his knees, she allowed him to pick up the tray for her. Seeing the struggle in his eyes as he started to stand, she took the tray from him and placed it on the counter.

  “They still look edible.”

  “You still like to cook, huh?”

  “I do. I’m actually the chef, well, breakfast cook really, at the Rocky Harbor Inn. And I bake for Coast & Roast. It’s an amazing coffee shop in town. And I offer cooking classes and parties for kids. I’ve only had a few of those parties, but they’re really fun,” she babbled.

  “That’s good.”

  “I’m glad you’re here, Colton. I’ve missed you. I know you want your space and you hate any sort of emotion, but I really need a hug. It’s not for you. It’s for me. Give me a second to hold you and then you can push me away. Okay?”

  His body tensed when she touched him and she slowly put her arms around his back, resting her head on his chest. It had been too long since she’d been in his arms. When Colton left ten years ago he’d been a fit and rugged twenty-year-old. Rachael had seen him a handful of times in the beginning when he’d be home for his short stop-overs, but during her five years in California she’d missed all his visits.

  “It’s been nearly six years since I’ve seen you.” She sniffed. Finally, his massive arms—arms that could easily compete with Luke’s—came around her. They held each other in silence, the only sound coming from his quiet heart.

  “Am I interrupting something?”

  Rachael jumped out of Colton’s embrace and wiped her eyes. “Jake.” She bit her lip and eyed Colton. She didn’t want to overwhelm her brother by announcing him to the whole party, but she wanted him to meet her boyfriend. “This is my brother. Colton.”

  Jake’s face softened with understanding. “Nice to finally meet you. And FYI, your brothers have already given me hell and guaranteed a slow and painful death if I hurt Rachael.” He stuck out his hand and waited patiently until Colton offered his as well.

  “Good to know.”

  “I came in to refill the beer cooler, but that was before I knew you had éclairs.” Jake snatched one off the platter and popped it in his mouth. “These are the best,” he said when he’d finished chewing. Colton’s hard face showed signs of a possible quirk of his lips trying to work its way out.

  “If you took time to actually chew it you’d enjoy it more.” Rachael elbowed Jake in the ribs and gave him an affectionate smile for trying to make things less awkward for Colton.

  Jake grinned before grabbing another. “Can I buy you a beer?”

  Colton’s brief show of amusement instantly shut down. “No…thanks,” he added h
aphazardly.

  “No problem. I’m going back out. Is there anything you want me to get for you?”

  Colton glanced back at Rachael and shook his head. “I’m good. I’m leaving anyway.”

  “Please stay a little longer?” Rachael pleaded as Jake slipped out, giving them some privacy. “I won’t tell the others that you’re here if you don’t want.” Colton’s gaze moved to the back door. “And Jake won’t either.”

  “So you’ve talked about me.”

  “Of course. We care about you and missed you like crazy.”

  “This Jake. He’s treating you better than the asshole in California?”

  “There’s no comparison. I think you’ll like him. He’s a lot like Graham and Luke rolled into one. With a little bit of Blake and a splash of you mixed in.”

  “Me? I hope not.”

  Rachael led him toward the living room, where they wouldn’t be spotted if someone came inside to use the bathroom. “He’s got some badass in him as well.”

  “I’m not badass, Rach.”

  “Oh, yes, you are.” She laughed and sat on the couch, hoping he’d join her. “Can I ask where you’re staying?”

  “Only if you promise to bring me one of your blueberry pies.” He lowered himself to the lazy boy chair, wincing through the pain.

  “I’ll start baking one the second I get home tonight.”

  “And only if you promise not to stop by without calling. And not to tell anyone else where I live.”

  Rachael moved to the coffee table, sitting across from him, wanting to place her hand on his leg but unsure how her touch would be received. He wore jeans and work boots, his prosthetic undetected. Only the grimace of pain Colton made when getting up and lowering himself gave away any indication that there was something wrong.

  “Colton. We all love you and want to support you.”

  “You can support me by not smothering me.” Rachael leaned back and nodded, holding back her tears. “Dammit. See, this is not what I wanted.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to smother you.”