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

  Erin greeted the class with her comforting voice. “As a mother of three college girls and a survivor of domestic abuse, I know what it’s like to see your world closing in around you. To believe there’s no hope, no end in sight. But giving up is not easier than standing up for yourself. Jake believes in you. I believe in you.”

  For the next hour he and Erin encouraged the women to scream and demonstrated how to kick inside the knee and effectively gouge and poke the eyes, throat, and mouth. And everyone’s favorite, the knee to the groin.

  Jake hadn’t had an opportunity to talk with Rachael during class, so he used her friend to buy him some time after it ended.

  “Lucy,” he called as the women filtered out. As predicted, she and Rachael turned and waited for him to cross the room. “Thanks for volunteering today. You helped ease a lot of tension in the room.”

  “Anytime.”

  Jake shifted his gaze to the blue-eyed beauty he’d spent the previous seven nights dreaming about. “You did really well today too, Rachael.”

  “Thank you.” She didn’t make complete eye contact, her gaze fixed on his mouth. He quirked his lips, hoping to put her at ease. “Maybe next week you’ll feel comfortable enough to do some demonstrations with me.” She flinched and he cursed himself.

  “I don’t know.” She lowered her gaze to his chest and sighed. Her body hadn’t tensed but he sensed a lot of self-doubt.

  “You’re strong. I can see it in your body.” He inwardly cringed. Jake hated how that came out, degrading and like a cheap come-on. “I mean,” he stammered, “your form is impeccable and your movements fluid. I’m impressed. You’re really, really good at this.”

  A small grin formed and she bit her bottom lip. And then those beautiful baby blues met his and damn if his legs didn’t feel like she kicked his feet out from under him.

  “Thank you.”

  Jake was speechless. The woman was stunning when she smiled. Hell, she was gorgeous when she was serious as well. Sunshine and daisies and freshly cut grass. A natural beauty hard to find these days in a world of glamour and fashion. Everything about her made his gut clench—in a good way—and his groin ache, reminding him how long he’d been without a woman.

  “I hate to break up this party,” Lucy said, “but I have to get to work. Sage is a bear if I’m not on time.”

  Jake cleared his throat and shoved his hands into his pockets. Or at least tried to. Forgetting he had on gym shorts and not jeans, he slid his hands awkwardly down his thighs, feeling like a clumsy teen talking to the prom queen.

  “I’ll see you next week.” He smiled at Rachael and then forced himself to include Lucy as well. Nothing against the sister, he really liked her, but she wasn’t Rachael.

  ***

  Rachael

  “Oh. My. Flipping. Word.” Lucy put one hand on the hood of her car to hold herself up and bent over at her waist and laughed.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “He is so hot for you it’s pathetic. Or hysterical. I don’t know which.” Lucy straightened and wiped the tears from her eyes. “And you’re playing the innocent virgin role so well.”

  “I’m not playing any role.” Rachael plopped into the passenger’s seat and slammed the car door. A moment later Lucy slid behind the wheel and laughed again.

  “Maybe not. I don’t know you well enough to figure out how you roll, but Jake’s dying to ask you out. He must go for the quiet, coy ones.”

  “I’m not coy.”

  Lucy snorted as she started the car.

  “Or quiet.” Well, maybe she was quiet. She never used to be. “Cautious. I’m cautious.”

  “I’m cool with that. I still say you should go out with the body builder.”

  “He’s not a body builder.”

  “Defensive much?” Lucy turned left and headed toward Rocky Harbor.

  “Whatever. I don’t know what he does but it doesn’t matter. I’m not interested in pursuing a relationship right now.”

  “Who said anything about a relationship? I’m talking about sex. Can you imagine him naked? I sure the hell can.”

  Unfortunately Rachael could as well. She’d been imagining what his tattoo was. She’d never been into them before, always thought of them as a bit dangerous and not her type, but Jake seemed sweet and kind and…maybe a bit into her. Rachael chewed on her lip as Lucy pulled into the lot behind Coast & Roast.

  “Thanks for the ride. If I can borrow Mom’s car next week I’ll drive.”

  “No biggie. I know what it’s like to be stranded. I won’t leave you hanging.”

  Despite Lucy’s rough exterior, she had a kind heart. Gone was her pink hair and the face dotted with hardware that she’d donned not long ago. Most of the holes in her ears had closed up, but she still wore three studs in each. The eyebrow and lip piercings were gone, but every now and then she’d put a cute little rhinestone in her nose. Not Rachael’s thing, however it suited her sister well.

  “Call me if you need a ride home. I should be done by seven tonight.”

  “Thanks. I have my bike here. I can always ride home.”

  “’K. See ya.”

  Rachael invested some money into staples for the kitchen and found some Tupperware, pans, and cooking utensils at yard sales. Her mother was a yard sale fiend and had picked up dishes, mixers, and storage containers for her as well. She loved spending time with her mother, but she needed to break free from the comfort of Doreen’s bubble.

  She logged on to Mackenzie’s laptop that she borrowed and sent out business announcements to the local papers. She printed up flyers to hang at local libraries and coffee shops, hoping busy moms would flock to her birthday party idea.

  After six hours of nonstop measuring, stirring, and baking, Rachael had tomorrow’s baked goods done and needed to get some fresh air. She finished washing the dishes, wiped down the counter, untied her apron and hung it on the hook by the door. With one hand on the doorknob, she turned around and looked at her workspace and her heart swelled.

  Finally. It had taken a year of therapy, self-doubt, and redirection and Rachael’s confidence was slowly coming back. She had friends, a loving family, and a new career. With her heart light and free, she walked out into the sunshine and headed toward the center of town. With no agenda, no stress weighing on her shoulders, she tilted her face toward the sun and took in the scent of lilacs and freshly cut grass.

  The landscapers had done an amazing job readying the town for the summer tourists. The gazebo had a fresh coat of white paint and thousands of purple and yellow pansies lined the new rock walkways. Rachael was no horticulturist, but she recognized some flowers: lupine, geraniums, and lilies.

  Fresh, dark mulch contrasted with the vibrant green grass and the kaleidoscope of colors from the flowers. Elsewhere rock gardens were artfully displayed across the lawns, gently stacked as if they’d been there for years instead of days.

  “So pretty.”

  “It is, isn’t it?” said a deep voice next to her, causing her to jump out of her skin. Fearing the repercussions of being somewhere without asking, she cowered away from the voice.

  “Shit. I’m sorry, Rachael. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you. I thought you saw me.” Jake held his hands up in surrender and stepped back.

  “I…” Slowly she steadied her laborious breathing, resting a hand over her heart. “I…” Damn Dylan for turning her into a basket case.

  “It’s okay. I’m sorry. So, so sorry. I saw you across the road and I thought you smiled back at me. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’d never do anything to hurt you.”

  It wasn’t the first time he said that to her and it made her upset that he thought of her as a fragile, lost soul. Granted, she’d signed up to take a self-defense class and acted like she fit in with the weak, victim crowd.

  And didn’t that piss her off. No, she wouldn’t be a victim for the rest of her life.

  Swallowing a gulp of air and taking a deep breath, Rachael met his gaze for
the first time and pretended to smile. “I’m fine. I was wandering around in my own little world and didn’t hear you come up next to me. You did nothing wrong.”

  Jake stepped closer, concern on his face. “Are you sure?”

  So maybe she wasn’t good at faking it. Rachael nodded and looked away. “I came out for some fresh air is all.” And didn’t she feel like an idiot? Jake had said too often in his class to always be aware of your surroundings. But Rocky Harbor made her feel safe and so she let her guard down, just like a fool. She needed to at least be aware of the people around her. And she hated that. Why couldn’t she walk freely though the park without fear in her eyes?

  Because Dylan. How she hated him. Hated what he did to her. How much control he still had over her life.

  “So you work around here?” Jake shoved his hands in the front of his jeans pockets, filthy with dirt and chunks of mulch.

  Rachael appreciated his change of subject. She blinked away her past and put on a strong front. “Yes. You’re part of the landscaping crew?” She pointed at his T-shirt that read ‘Morgan Landscaping & Masonry’.

  Jake nodded. “There was a lot of work that needed to be done to these two acres. I’ll show you around.” He didn’t need to, but it was sweet. He pointed out the flower combinations and told her about the plants that deterred mosquitos and deer, those that would bloom later in the summer and bushes that would flower in the fall. Their leisurely walk and his smooth voice calmed her and made her feel almost normal. Like a man and a woman strolling through a park together. All that was missing was a little handholding and a picnic lunch on a checkered blanket next to a fragrant lilac bush.

  “The salty air can be hard on some plants, but these are pretty hearty.” He reached down and ran the leaves of a bush she forgot the name of between his fingers. “I filled in the old walking path and made a new one that would lead tourists to the shops. They’re lined with—” He stopped and swiped his hand across his face. “Sorry. I’m probably boring you. I get caught up in my business.”

  As if. She could listen to Jake talk all day. Lucy may be attracted to the badass tattoo and biceps he flexed in the gym, but Rachael was drawn to his chocolate eyes and how they twinkled and glowed when he talked about irrigation and masonry and flowers. She never noticed them in class, too afraid to look him in the eye. Or rather, too afraid that he’d see through her eyes and into her soul.

  “I think it’s great. The only thing I’ve ever planted was an herb garden last summer. My mom’s a decent gardener and I help out when I can, but I don’t have a green thumb like her. I do love the fruits of her labor, though. Last fall I spent weeks canning the tomatoes and zucchini and…now I’ve bored you.”

  “Not at all.” Jake laughed. “What is it you do, Rachael?”

  “I bake for Coast & Roast and do a little catering on the side. I’ve started a business, Kids in the Kitchen, and hope to coordinate cooking parties for kids. Adults too, maybe those with special needs.”

  Eyes once smiling now turned soft and tender at her words. An unexpected warmth crept up her spine and circled to her chest, hugging her tight.

  Jake cleared his throat. “Now I’m hungry. My crew and I worked through lunch so we’d have this done before the weekend. Care to join me for a bite to eat?”

  Rachael twisted her fingers together and chewed on her lip while Jake stood there patiently waiting for her response. She tried not to be affected by the way his dirty navy blue T-shirt fit snugly across his chest, but the hopeful, puppy dog expression on his face made her heart smile.

  His scent carried through the light breeze, brushing past her nose. A cross between fresh pine, nutmeg, and salt. A unique combination, and one she found captivating nonetheless.

  An unplanned meal. Something she hadn’t done since…since before her life was stripped away. Determined to get it back, she agreed.

  “Sure. I haven’t eaten either. Sometimes I forget when I’m baking. When I’m surrounded by food I don’t always remember to eat.”

  “I need to load the empty pallets into my truck and clean up a little. Can I pick you up in about thirty minutes? Or would you feel more comfortable meeting me somewhere?”

  A week ago, heck, a few days ago, she would have run away in a panic, but she needed her life back. Plus, she didn’t have a car. Rachael pulled out her phone and checked the time.

  Channeling the old Rachael back, she decided to jump head first out of her comfort zone. “I’ll meet you at Coast & Roast at five. Does that work?”

  The boyish smile that made her nearly faint a few weeks ago erupted on his face. “Absolutely.”

  ***

  Jake

  Jake watched Rachael walk down the street to the coffee shop. Thirty minutes ago he was kicking himself for being so stupid by sneaking up on her. The woman had troubled past practically tattooed on her forehead; he needed to tread carefully. Hell, he should shuck his steel-toed work boots, lace up his sneakers and run the other way at warp speed.

  The gentle sway of her hips kept his feet locked in place and his eyes planted on her curvy backside. When she slipped inside Coast & Roast, he shook his mind free from Rachael and turned back to his work. It didn’t take long to load his truck and send his crew home.

  Another job well done. He wished he had known Rachael worked down the street. He would have stopped in the coffee shop instead of bringing his thermos every day. Jake stomped the dirt from his boots and climbed into his truck, coasting the quarter of a mile before parking in front of the brown and white awning.

  He looked down at his dirty jeans and chest specked with mulch and cursed. Thankfully he kept a supply of T-shirts in his truck, but not another pair of jeans. Jake climbed out of his truck, stripped his shirt, and fumbled behind his bench seat for something clean. Finding his Batman tee, he unfolded it and shook it out, hoping it wasn’t too wrinkled.

  A feminine sigh from behind startled him and he turned to find a cute brunette ogling him.

  “We don’t require shirts for men like you. Just sayin’.”

  Rachael appeared behind her, flushed. “Mackenzie,” she reprimanded.

  “I’ve been dying to see this guy up close and shirtless for three weeks. Finally. Happy birthday to me.”

  “Your birthday is in November.”

  “I know.”

  Rachael rolled her stunning eyes and brushed past her friend. He slid the shirt on over his head and rounded the hood, making his way to the passenger side.

  “Oh. My. God. Rachael, you devil.”

  “Sorry,” Rachael mumbled when he reached to open the door for her. “Mackenzie can be a bit…rash.”

  “Reminds me of your sister.”

  “Exactly.”

  “I heard that,” Mackenzie called from behind them. “And I’m telling your annoying sister that you’ve been holding out on us.”

  Jake worried that Mackenzie would scare off Rachael, but his girl kept her head high and her comments smart. “She doesn’t know the half of it.” She smiled up at him and he barked out a laugh he didn’t know he had in him.

  “I like you, Blondie.”

  “Thanks. I hope I end up liking you as well.”

  Chuckling, he shut the door, tapped a salute to the brunette, and slid behind the wheel. Maybe Rachael wasn’t as fragile as spun glass after all. “Sorry about the grime. I wasn’t expecting to have dinner with a beautiful woman tonight.” He hoped the superhero shirt didn’t make him seem too immature.

  “I’m not exactly dressed to go out either.” She fumbled with the straps to her purse and crossed her ankles.

  Except for the shirt, Rachael still had on the same outfit she wore to class this morning, bright teal sneakers and black tight pants that stopped below the knee. The new pink fitted shirt had ‘Roll with Me’ printed on a rolling pin. “Nice shirt.”

  Rachael looked down and pulled her top away from her chest. “My family’s been supportive of my new career. Especially my brothers.”


  “I’m sure they’re benefiting from your talent.”

  “Pretty much. They pay me in silly shirts.”

  Jake pulled into the nearly empty parking lot to the Lobster Shack, just a few miles down the road. “In another few weeks we’ll never get a parking spot like this. Love what the tourists do for our towns, but it is nice when we can park in the front row again. This okay for dinner? I never asked if you liked seafood.”

  “I love all food. Well, except for turnips. I’ve tried a zillion different recipes but can’t disguise them enough to taste decent.”

  “Can’t say I’ve ever tried them.” Jake exited the truck and made his way over to Rachael, helping her down. He kept his hands at her waist and made sure she was steady before he slowly pulled away. She needed more meat on her bones, and he was more than willing to feed her and help her gain some muscle.

  “Luke puts in the most requests, but I see him more than the others so that makes sense.”

  “How many brothers do you have?”

  “Four.”

  “Lucy your only sister?” He kept his hand on the small of her back, guiding her to the window to place their order.

  “Yes. But I also have a sister-in-law and a soon-to-be sister-in-law.”

  “Big family.”

  “Very.”

  When it was their turn he let Rachael go first. She ordered a lobster roll and he ordered a fisherman’s platter.

  “I guess you are hungry.”

  “I can probably eat it all, but I’ll share with you. Just don’t eat all the scallops. They’re my favorite.” He paid the cashier and grabbed a stack of napkins. “Sun or shade?”

  A dozen blue picnic tables were scattered behind the small take-out order shack. Some boasted umbrellas while others were open to the ocean view in front of them. During peak season you had to wait for a table like a vulture and swoop in before someone else claimed it. Or you sat on the rocks bordering the ocean.

  “Sun. It’s beautiful out.”

  He followed her to a table closest to the ocean and sat across from her. “Tell me more about your family.”