Picnic in Someday Valley (Honey Creek #2)(49)

As Colby left work for the day he called Piper. He wasn’t surprised she was still in her office. The second she picked up he could see her in his mind.

“I’ll be home in two more days,” he said before she had time to even say hello. “I need to hold you. I’m worried about you.”

“I’m fine, Colby. I’m staying at Widows Park. How could I be safer? I’m in the middle of my town.” She hesitated and whispered, “But come.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t hold you before I left last week.” Colby considered himself a fairly sensitive guy, but Ranger Sandy James told him a man has to tell a woman three times he’s sorry before she believes him.

There was silence on the other end, then she whispered, “Maybe we moved too fast. Maybe we should back off a bit.”

Her words hurt more than he expected they would, but now wasn’t the time to talk about it. He’d thought the same way when he’d pulled out of Honey Creek Monday.

But not now.

He needed to be able to see her forest-green eyes when she said those words. He wanted to hold her close and know that she was safe, then he’d have time to straighten out what went wrong the night of the storm. It would probably frighten her if he told her now that he wasn’t backing away.

“We’ll talk about it Friday,” he said. “I’m driving into traffic. I’ve got to go. I’ll see you soon, PJ.”

“All right,” was all she said before the phone went dead. Colby ordered his phone to call the fire station in Honey Creek.

Sam Cassidy answered, “Chief here. What’s up, Colby?”

“Sam, would you mind going across the street and walking Piper home? It’s probably nothing, but I’d like to make sure she’s safe.”

“Sure. Want to tell me what this is about?”

“I can’t. I just need a favor.”

“You got it, Ranger. I’ll take my little redheaded wife along. If anyone bothers your girl, she’ll talk them to death.”

Sam laughed and Colby had no doubt Sam’s bride was standing beside him. When the fire chief said, “Ouch, Anna,” Colby knew his little wife was beating on him. They were an odd couple. She was a fireball and he was a fireman. A matched set.

“Thanks, to both of you.” Colby smiled at the mention of Anna.

As Colby ended the call, he had a feeling he’d be apologizing later for asking Sam to help. Piper never thought she needed help. Maybe he’d save time if he just had a T-shirt painted SORRY and wore it anytime he was around Piper. Everything he said or did lately seemed to be wrong.

He’d known the moment he saw her that she was out of his league. She’d probably be governor one day. She was the whole package. Brains, beauty, and family money. Add a heart afraid to love and he had kryptonite to his career.

But, how could he stop loving her? It would be like forgetting to breathe.





Chapter 30


Jesse


Jesse did all the things he always did, being a dad, a son, a farmer, but Adalee and how she’d kissed was always thick in his thoughts. She’d said for him to tell her what he wanted. He had a feeling she wasn’t talking about them going to a movie or him ordering scones from the bakery.

A man doesn’t kiss a woman like the world is coming to an end any second, and then calmly ask her to dinner. His answer to her question was simple. He wanted her.

He’d always thought he was a smart man, but there was so much he didn’t know about the world. Was the woman who bewitched him asking what he wanted as far as sex was concerned, or was she talking about being friends? If it was sex, he’d have to show her what he wanted. Some of those words he’d never said aloud.

He was an idiot. Women don’t just ask what a man wants. She was probably talking about what he wanted to eat. She was a baker after all.

Jesse figured most men never get what they really want anyway. Or maybe women would be surprised what simple things men need. He didn’t want to make love by the refrigerator light while they ate olives, like he saw a couple do in a movie once. He wanted to be in a warm bed. He wanted to make love and then hold her all night long.

He’d seen a few R-rated movies. The idea of tossing all the dishes and making love on a dining table left him wondering who would clean up the mess. Making love then pulling up the covers and cuddling seemed just right.

In Hollywood, couples might have wild, crazy sex, but marriages between stars have the shelf life of bananas. Here, in the quiet country air, most couples mate for life. Every Sunday he saw old people holding hands, walking through life together.

Did she want that? Probably not.

He’d planned that kind of life with Beth, but it wasn’t meant to be. Maybe he should try something different. An affair with a woman he was attracted to, and she made a good cup of coffee. That might just have to be enough right now.

Problem was, how could he work an affair in? Between homework and baths? Not likely. As for work, he was always a week behind.

He decided he couldn’t take away from those he loved to make time for himself. He had no time he could call his own. He didn’t even have time for dreaming most days.

Well, there was the meeting at the co-op every week. He might have to give up his one hour of social life to make room for his love life.