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

  “You’ve met Lucy. She’s an artist trying to find her niche. She works for my sister-in-law Sage, who’s an event planner. Sage married Luke last year. He’s a firefighter in Portland.”

  “I thought about being a firefighter.” When he was ten and before he had a rap sheet. Then again when he was behind bars with too much time on his hands to think about possible career choices.

  “It’s scary sometimes, but Luke’s good at it. Graham is a pilot and recently moved back home. He and Maggie are getting married this September. She’s a psychiatrist in town. Blake’s a nomad. He builds obstacle courses for those extreme races that are the rave right now. We see him during holidays.”

  “That must be hard on your parents.”

  Rachael nodded and rested her elbows on the table. “Dad died a few years ago.” Her eyes softened, nostalgia and sadness darkening them before they lifted to him again with a somber smile. “But Mom’s a trooper. She’s the glue. We’re all…well, she’s awesome.”

  “You’ve told me about three. Where’s the fourth brother?”

  Rachael looked out over the ocean, her shoulders slumping. “He’s been in Afghanistan. At least, he was for the last ten years. We got a call on Christmas Eve that he’d been in an accident and had been flown to a hospital in Germany. Colton has always been the loner. He wouldn’t let any of us fly out to see him and he keeps his injuries pretty private. We recently found out he lost his leg and has been in recovery at Walter Reed Hospital. Mom’s pretty upset that he didn’t let any of us know. I think Blake’s going to try to visit him, but Colton doesn’t want the rest of us to.”

  “Wow.” Their number was called and Jake got up, welcoming the interruption and needing a minute to process everything Rachael just told him. From the sound of her family, she had a great support system, except for the wounded soldier, and he wondered if they knew all the secrets Rachael held behind those hurting baby blues.

  Jake had his share of secrets, his share of pain as well. And like Rachael, he had a support system at home; only he was too stubborn to call on them for much help. Instead, he gave. It was the only way he knew how to deal. How to heal.

  He returned with the food and they ate in companionable silence. After he cleared their tray and emptied their napkins and plates in the trash, he offered his hand to her. “Feel like going for a walk?”

  Rachael looked at his hand, then turned her head to gaze down the sandy coast. At first he thought she’d refuse, but she surprised him by turning her angelic face back to him and brightening it even more with a slight curve of her lips. “Sure.” She took his offered hand and flung her long, smooth legs that he’d fantasized wrapping around his body over the bench.

  Jake cleared his throat—and his mind of the erotic images of Rachael’s blonde hair splayed out on his pillow. She let go of his hand and began the journey over the rocks until they reached the soft sand.

  “I guess it’s good I’m still wearing my workout gear.”

  His hand itched to reach out and hold hers as their arms bumped gently against each other. Instead, he wiggled his fingers and kept his hand by his side as they walked in silence.

  Once they reached an outcropping of rocks, Rachael broke the silence. “I’ve told you about my family, what about you? Brothers? Sisters?”

  “Sister. And my parents are actually still together. I guess that’s pretty rare these days.”

  “Good for them. Tell me about your sister. Older or younger? You seem like the baby of the family. Spoiled and used to getting your way. Are you two anything alike?”

  Instead of answering, Jake said, “The tide’s going to be coming in soon. We should probably head back.” He didn’t know the tide schedule and it wasn’t anywhere near the rocks, but he didn’t want to ruin the evening by dodging her all her questions.

  The last thing he wanted to do was ruin this date by talking about his family, which would lead to his past and the mistakes he wished to leave behind.

  “Sure.”

  Her voice was subdued with an edge of confusion and disappointment. He hated himself for bringing her insecurities to the surface after he’d just made some headway. He couldn’t let her think his rush to get back had anything to do with wanting to end their impromptu date.

  Jake trotted ahead of her and turned around, now walking backwards. “If I ask you out on an official date, would you say yes?” He wiggled his eyebrows in an attempt to bring back the carefree smile he’d gotten a glimpse of earlier.

  As he’d hoped, Rachael giggled. “Maybe.”

  “Ah, hard to get. I like that.” He stopped, letting Rachael catch up with him, before turning around so he faced the rocks. “Let me help you up.” Jake jumped up on the big boulder and offered his hand. This time when she took it he didn’t let it go, holding on tight as they made their way across the rocks and toward the parking lot. Her hand was thin and delicate, and her skin felt like velvety silk under his giant calloused fingers.

  They stopped in front of his truck and he reluctantly dropped her hand from his to dig out his keys. She licked her lips and lowered her head, averting her gaze and toying with the hem of her T-shirt. His eyes glazed over at the thought of kissing her, imagining how soft and supple her lips would be, how sweet she’d taste. Once again, Jake restrained himself.

  After clicking the unlock button on his key fob, he opened the door and held on to Rachael’s elbow, gently guiding her into her seat. He walked around the back of the truck, giving himself some more time and privacy to rearrange himself in his jeans. Damn, he wanted her.

  ***

  Rachael

  When Jake dropped his dark gaze to her lips she thought he’d lean in and kiss her. Thankful and saddened that he didn’t, Rachael leaned back in the passenger seat and waited for him to open the driver’s side door.

  “Are you still hungry? Do you want an ice cream or something?” He fumbled with his keys before finally getting them into the ignition.

  She must have said or done something to bring on the sudden changes in Jake. Down at the beach he seemed to enjoy her company, but as soon as she asked about his family he shut her off and ended their night. Now he had a nervous edge to him, fidgeting and fumbling with his words.

  “I’m good. Thank you.”

  “Okay then.” He started the truck and backed out of the parking space, their silence no longer companionable.

  When he turned down Main Street toward the coffee shop, she slipped her phone out of her purse and started to text Lucy.

  Rachael: Can you bring me home?

  Jake didn’t try to hide his curiosity and leaned over, reading her phone. “Do you need a ride?”

  “Do you always read people’s texts?” she snapped and tossed her phone in her purse. She’d lived five years with a controlling, hovering boyfriend and had finally freed herself from his possessiveness. If Jake thought he’d—

  “Easy. When a girl starts texting during my date I figure something went wrong. Since you weren’t talking to me—”

  “First, this wasn’t a date. Second, you stopped talking to me. Third…” She didn’t have a third and didn’t want to fight with him.

  “I apologize. I didn’t mean to pick a fight,” he said as if reading her thoughts. “And I didn’t mean to pry. But if you need a ride home, I can bring you.”

  Rachael sighed, berating herself for flying off the handle. “I’m sorry too. I’m a little sensitive to…well, I don’t like people breathing down my neck.” Although it felt pretty darn good when Jake stood behind her in the gym, helping her hold her stance, and gently breathing on her neck. She shivered at the memory.

  “Are you cold? I can roll up the window.”

  “No, the breeze feels good.” Her phone chimed and she pulled it out of her purse again.

  Lucy: Mom will be there in an hour

  She looked up at Jake, his chiseled jaw covered in a five o’clock shadow that only made him appear more dangerous. Then he grinned and an adorable dimpl
e formed in his cheek and her ovaries practically busted

  “I swear I didn’t mean to peek, but you didn’t exactly hide your screen from me.”

  “If you wouldn’t mind giving me a lift to my mom’s, I’d very much appreciate it.”

  “Anytime, sweetheart. Just tell me where to go.”

  She spouted out directions and he followed them easily. Before she knew it, they were heading down her mom’s dirt driveway.

  “Nice place.”

  The rustic farmhouse suited Doreen Riley and the herd of adolescent foster kids she took in over the years. The acres and acres of land gave them all a place to walk, run, ride their bikes, and escape when they needed isolation. But the coziness of the house brought them all together again.

  “It’s been lived in. Times ten. My brothers were not the neatest, cleanest boys growing up. Still aren’t.”

  “I can only imagine.”

  And she had no idea what he could and couldn’t imagine. He had a sister that he didn’t want to talk about and parents who were still married. Rachael had lived through enough to learn that being married wasn’t necessarily a good thing either. Granted Keith and Doreen were model parents and spouses, but her brothers and sister had some crap stories to tell before finding refuge in the Riley abode.

  As did Rachael.

  “Thanks for the ride. And dinner.”

  “About that.” Jake directed his dark eyes on her and stared, the silence not uncomfortable, but heated. He dropped his gaze to her lips, which she bit in anticipation. Cursing, he turned and hopped out of the truck. Before she could figure out what was going on, her door opened and he pulled her down to the ground.

  “A date. A real one. Yes?”

  “Um.” Her eyes fixated on his twitching lips and she gasped when he lowered his mouth to hers. He turned at the last second, grazing her cheek with his lips.

  “Um, yes?”

  Rachael nodded.

  “Good. Saturday night. I’ll pick you up at six. Here or at your kitchen?”

  Your kitchen. She liked the sound of that almost as much as Jake’s request for a real date. “Here.”

  “I’ll see you then.” He winked as he closed the door behind her and rounded the hood.

  Rachael stepped away from the truck and slowly made her way up the front walk to the farmer’s porch. There she waved, watching Jake drive away.

  The front door opened and her mother came out. “I was just heading out to pick you up. Lucy said you needed a ride home.”

  “I’m so sorry, Mom.” Rachael hugged her mother. “I completely forgot to text you back. I went out to dinner with…a friend and he gave me a ride home.”

  “He?” Doreen beamed. “I won’t push for details, but I can’t promise the same for your brothers or sister.”

  “Thanks. We’re just friends, though.” She stepped through the doorway and waited for her mother to come inside.

  “I won’t comment on your defensive tone either.” Her mother chuckled. Rachael rolled her eyes. “Don’t roll your eyes at me.”

  “You have your back to me, how did you know—”

  “I’m your mother. I always know what my children are doing.”

  She wanted to ask if her mom knew about the abuse she’d lived with for so many years in California, but didn’t feel like going down that road tonight. Not wanting to hurt her, Rachael wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug.

  “Do you have any wine?”

  “Sure do.”

  “Let’s have a glass out on the patio.”

  “That sounds like a wonderful idea.”

  Rachael noticed the sentimental tears in her mother’s eyes but didn’t comment on them. Instead she took two glasses down from the cabinet, waited while Doreen excused herself to the bathroom, and poured two glasses of chardonnay.

  The sun had set and the air turned cooler, so she slipped on one of her mother’s cardigans hanging in the mudroom off the kitchen before going outside.

  “If your brothers were here they’d have a blaze going in the fire pit.”

  “This is nice, though.”

  Doreen settled next to her and picked up a glass. They sat in silence, looking out across the field. Back when she and Luke and Graham were kids her dad had a horse, a few goats, and chickens.

  “Your father wanted you kids to appreciate the simple things. Like chores and fresh eggs,” her mother said, as if reading her thoughts.

  “Am I that transparent?” Rachael set her glass down and curled her legs up under her to face her mom. “Jake did the same thing tonight.”

  “Does he live on a farm too?”

  Rachael laughed at the thought. No, Jake had inner city biker boy written all over him. “No, but he spoke as if reading my thoughts. I guess I should never try my hand at poker.”

  “If you were that transparent I wouldn’t worry as much as I do.”

  “Mom. I’m sorry to have caused you so much worry. I never meant to. That’s why I didn’t come home and visit often. If you knew what my life was like…you’d be…”

  “I would never be disappointed in you, Rachael.”

  “You sure you’re not a telepath?”

  “That’s why you stayed away? You thought I’d be disappointed in you?” Rachael nodded. “Sweetheart. I love you and respect you and your decisions. We don’t always make the best choices in life, but whatever you do, you do with all your heart. Look at what you’ve started with your new business.”

  Her mother, always able to see the bright side in everything. “But I wasted five years of my life with an abuser. I should have known. I should have seen the signs.”

  While Rachael hadn’t come from an abusive family, she did experience neglect. She’d only been eight when her neglectful mother tossed her aside for the state to deal with. Thankfully Doreen and Keith Riley swooped in and saved her from a life of misery.

  Graham and Luke came from violent homes, and while Doreen and Keith tried to shield her from the abuse her brothers and Lucy experienced before coming to live with them, she heard stories. Ashamed that she missed the warning signs in her own relationship, she chose to cut off her family and suffer the consequences.

  Until her brothers caught wind and saved her life. Literally. Rachael shivered and pulled her mother’s sweater tighter around her shoulders.

  “Tell me about your new friend.”

  Rachael couldn’t help but smile and blush. “I don’t know, Mom. He’s not what I would have imagined myself being attracted to.” While Dylan had appeared to be everything she wanted, clean-cut, from a solid wealthy family, with a college degree and career goals, Jake looked to be trouble with a capital T.

  Only Jake’s brooding looks and scary tattoo didn’t reveal what he had hidden underneath. His sensitive side showed through in his class and his gardening. He listened to her and asked questions about her life instead of filling airtime to build his ego, like Dylan had done.

  There was no comparison between the two men.

  “Jake is different.”

  “How did you meet him?”

  Rachael told her mother about the self-defense class, their walk around his stunning garden in the town square, and their impromptu date at the Lobster Shack.

  “So what’s holding you back?”

  “I’m waiting for the skeletons. We all have them. I need to know what his are before I move forward. If I want to move forward.”

  “You’ve been home for a year now. You’re the happiest I’ve seen you since…well, since you were a teenager coming home with a different boy crush every weekend.”

  “I remember.” Rachael laughed. “I used to write I love____ on the paper bags covering my textbooks. I’d fill in the blank with a name and cross it out within two weeks.”

  “I don’t know if I can even remember any of your crushes. They never lasted long.”

  “No, they never did.” She’d never been serious about a boy until Dylan. Dread filled her again.

  “Enough o
f those morbid thoughts. I like my boy-crazy daughter. Tell me more about your Jake.”

  “I don’t really have much to tell. He has a sister and his parents are married, he teaches self-defense classes and he owns a landscaping and masonry business. Other than that, he’s a complete stranger.”

  “Are you going out with him again?”

  Rachael nodded. “Saturday.”

  “Good. You can introduce him to me when he picks you up.”

  “Promise not to embarrass me?” Rachael picked up her glass and finished her wine, glad she had enjoyed this talk with her mother.

  “What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t embarrass my daughter in front of her boy crush?” she teased.

  Chapter Three

  Jake

  Turning off the ignition, Jake slid his keys into his pocket and wiped his sweaty palms on his khakis before stepping out of his truck. Not since he’d picked up Marcy Stoffer for his junior prom had he been this nervous. He’d already sampled the goods and knew she’d put out that night, but Marcy’s father was a cop in town and Jake had a few beers before picking her up. He’d spent enough time in juvie and had no desire to go back, yet the idiot punk he was had still tempted fate.

  Tonight he was stone cold sober, and even though he was not the same punk from ten years ago, Jake couldn’t help the inkling of fear that ran through his thoughts. Rachael was special and he didn’t want to do anything that would cause her pain. Or regret.

  Running a hand through his freshly cut hair, he climbed the front steps two at a time and before he could knock, it swung open, revealing a perfect angel.

  Rachael’s long blonde hair hung straight instead of in its usual ponytail. Her face had always turned his insides out and tonight she glowed more than usual. It wasn’t the traces of make-up around her eyes or even the gloss on her lips, but her smile that lit the warm spring night on fire.

  “You’re early.” She stepped back, allowing him to enter.