9

 

Rori finished scrubbing and turned the spigot off. She straightened and stared up Jumbo’s oversized nostrils. His lips separated, revealing big, lopsided bottom teeth.

“You crazy old softie.” Rori stroked the llama’s neck. “You get under Graham’s skin, you know that? Why can’t you stop spitting at him?”

“What would be the fun in that?”

The voice, warm and husky and oh so close, startled her. She whipped around.

Graham! He came. Just like he said he would.

Her heart jigged and jagged, refusing to settle back to its normal pace.

Graham unlocked the gate and stepped inside.

Goliath rushed over to her, his tail whipping back and forth so fast it lifted the back half of his torso. She waited until he sat like a good boy, and then bent down and rubbed behind his ears. “Hey, sweet thing. How are you this morning?”

“Tired, but as you can see, happy to be back here with all his friends.”

Did that mean Graham was happy to be here, too? With her? Rori smiled, joy filling her deep inside, soul-level, at his sweet words. She stretched to her full height, taking in Graham’s appearance. Yeah, he had some dark smudges above his cheekbones and he hadn’t shaved in days, but he looked absolutely scrumptious in boots and his well-worn jeans and flannel shirt.

Goliath ambled off to sniff and reacquaint himself with the llamas.

Graham stepped close, until he stood in front of her and his scent, spice and woods and the cool outdoors enveloped her, superseding the familiar animal smells. Except now, his scent was as familiar as the animals. Fear snaked through her veins. He carried success and fame well. For now. But that could change. She’d do best to remember that.

“I missed you.” His soft words settled over her like a blanket, but instead of calming her nerves, they had the opposite effect. She licked her dry lips. How should she respond? She’d missed him like crazy, but she wasn’t going to admit that.

A slow smile spread across his face, as if he knew. “I hope you don’t mind that I—”

Tires crunched in the gravel parking lot. From the sounds of it, a bunch of tires. What was going on?

She angled her head to peer at the cars and trucks squeezing in wherever they could find room. Her jaw dropped.

“—rounded up some volunteers.”

“Some volunteers? It looks like the entire population of Harrison, North Carolina, showed up.” She blinked. Maybe it was a nightmare. She flicked her lids open as still more vehicles piled in. She hugged arms around her middle. What was she going to do with this many people on the property? She’d never be able to get her truck out of the jammed parking lot. A horse! Her gaze darted to the horse pasture. No, they were still too skittish to attempt escape on any one of them. She’d have to get to the barn. Saddle Pocono. She could hide out at Savvy’s place until all these…people disappeared. Her heart stuttered, almost stopped.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” His hand shot out to grasp her arm, gently holding her in place.

“Graham, I—” She couldn’t seem to catch her breath.

Vehicle doors closed. Laughter and animated chatter. Footsteps on gravel. They were all heading her way. There was sure to be a reporter in that swarming mass of humanity.

“Relax, Rori. These are all my friends. They’re not here to hurt you. They only want to help.” His velvety gaze sought hers, warming the icy chill that had settled to her very core, outward.

“Help?” How could they help? Her experience had proven the bigger the crowd, the heavier the emotional punch they walloped. With their stares, hushed whispers and pointed fingers.

“They’re going to make some repairs. To the fencing. To the barn. There are some qualified builders in the crowd, and if you give them the go ahead, they’ll begin to make those changes you’ve been dreaming about to your house.”

Graham had organized all of this for her? How could he be so nice to her after she’d ordered him off her property and told him not to come back? A huge glob of emotion caught in her throat, but this time it wasn’t fear. Nope. Not fear. More like resolve. She was sliding down the perilous slope towards love, but she needed to put the skids out. There was no way she would allow herself to fall in love with Graham. Not a racecar driver. Not any sports figure, for that matter. But it sure would help if he didn’t keep doing things like this. She shook her head. She must be dreaming. Miracles like this didn’t happen in real life. Not hers, anyway.

God, is this Your doing?

“Come on. Let me introduce you to some of my friends.” His arm slipped around her waist, warming her with a strength and confidence she wouldn’t have otherwise.

 

****

 

Balancing the ladder over a shoulder, Graham surveyed the results from today’s efforts. They’d repaired fencing and replaced dangling wires. They’d made repairs to the barn, plus his friends and employees had freshened up the stalls and replaced the shutters and some loose boards on Rori’s house.

She hadn’t agreed to any house construction yet.

He’d give himself time to persuade her.

She’d come around.

Smiling, he hung the ladder on the hooks, satisfaction with his friends’ efforts swelling his insides. He headed out to check on the animals one last time for the day. Yep. It had been a good day.

Rori had talked with his friends, even smiled, but she hadn’t dropped that slightly panicked look since they’d showed up.

He stepped outside the barn, Goliath at his heels, and draped his arms over the llama enclosure holding Snickers and Reesie. The late afternoon’s light waned into soft evening. He stood there, watching the two animals munch on hay, the sweet smells of the farm drifting over him. He was beginning to love this place as much as the shop.

No need to disturb those two. They had survived all the commotion and appeared settled for the night.

He sauntered over to the male llama pen and slipped inside to check on their water supply. Five giants all lumbered over to see what he was doing.

Goliath trotted along the outskirts of the crowd, grinning.

Jumbo stuck his big head over Graham’s shoulder. Graham stroked the llama’s neck. “What’s this? You playing nice today, big guy?”

“You’re a glutton for punishment.”

Rori was standing a few feet away, his dog now sitting at her feet.

How had he not heard her sneak up on him? “You caught me.” He moved away from the fray of animals, closer to Rori. Her floral, spicy scent seeped into his pores and set his heart to wishing for things he was better off not wanting, but he couldn’t seem to resist the pull. He inched forward, giving her space, but needing to be near.

She waved a piece of paper in the air, but in the disappearing light, he couldn’t tell what it was. “I can’t accept this, you know.”

Ah. He didn’t need to see it to know what she held. The check from the foundation.

“Especially not after all you’ve done today.”

“What? Organize some volunteers for one of my favorite non-profit organizations?”

She angled her head, her lips quirking up on the side. “Graham. Really?”

OK. She made him. “So I made a few phone calls.” He shrugged his shoulders and edged even closer to her.

She didn’t back up. That was a good sign.

“I appreciate those phone calls. And everything else.”

“I know you do.”

Another step.

Goliath wandered away, his snout to the ground.

“But I can’t keep this check.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s from you.”

“Technically, it’s from the Graham Decker Foundation.” But even if it was from him, what was wrong with that?

“People would talk.”

“Let them.” He inched closer.

She shook her head. “You’re a public figure.”

He understood her aversion to media attention. Not so much the logic behind that statement. “So is the foundation.”

“You’re—”

“It’s not about me, Rori. The foundation is dedicated to the protection and humane care of animals. I’ve seen firsthand how important that is to you here at the sanctuary.”

She sighed, her brows furrowing. “Graham, thank you, but—”

“Why does there have to be a ‘but?’”

“Because you’re—”

This time he took a giant step closer, until only the piece of paper separated them. That, and her anxiety. He stared down into gorgeous green eyes, wide and afraid. Didn’t she know that she could trust him by now?

“I’m what?”

“You’ve done enough already.” Her mouth opened as if she wanted to say more, but then her lips clamped together. What had she been about to say?

“I don’t think so.” Not by a long shot. His hands slipped around her arms, and he lowered his head until he felt like he was wading through a forest of luscious green foliage. “Rori?”

“Yes?” Her breathing came and went in short spurts, tickling his lips, heightening every nerve in his body.

“You know I would never hurt you, right?”

The only response he got was the shuttering of her lids. What could he do to put her mind at ease? His fingers slid around her creamy neck as his head dipped dangerously close until their lips met.

Her lips tasted sweet, flavored with the sweetened ice tea from earlier, and soft. Unsure and hesitant at first, but definitely yielding, she responded to his slight pressure with an intensity he hadn’t expected and wrapped her arms around his neck.

A moan slipped from his throat. Somewhere in his subconscious, he felt palms brace against his chest, pressing him back. His lids flickered open in time to see fat teardrops trickle down her cheeks.

“You might not want to hurt me, Graham Decker, but you will. It’s inevitable because of who you are.” Rori tore away from his grasp, and then she turned and scurried towards the house.

What? Stunned, Graham could only watch, his limbs refusing to move. Finally, he forced his voice to work. “Rori, wait!”

A hum sounded from behind him. Then a hiss.

Graham blinked. Oh, no. He’d forgotten about being within Jumbo’s firing range. He lunged—a fresh coat of llama gunk splattered across his back.

Graham closed his eyes, heaving a sigh from the deep recesses of his heart. He scrubbed a hand across his jaw.

Goliath barked in the direction of Rori’s retreating figure. When she didn’t turn around, he whimpered and plopped down on the ground, tucking his head between his giant paws, a miserable expression on his face.

“I hear you, boy.” Graham squatted on his heels and stroked the top of the golden’s head. “Come on, Goliath. Tomorrow’s another day.”

He stood and spotted a piece of paper in the grass. He picked it up. The check from the foundation. His gaze darted to the converted stable.

Rori had already disappeared inside. She’d rejected his money. The first girl to do that. Ever.

Gratitude and hope bloomed in his gut. Thank You, God, for leading me to a woman who doesn’t want me for the thickness of my wallet.

OK, so she definitely wasn’t after him for his money, but it didn’t appear she was interested in pursuing a relationship with him at all.

Please, God, change her heart towards me. She’s carrying around a deep wound, one that I can’t heal. Only You can. God, You know that I won’t hurt her, that I wouldn’t allow her to be hurt like she was in the past. Help her to see that, and to know that I’m nothing like her father.

 

****

 

Rori slipped through the front door and locked it. Her back pressed against the cool wood, freezing clear through her sweater down to her bones. Her breath came in short, quick pants, her heart pumping fear through her veins at rocket speed. What just happened outside? Why had she let him kiss her? Her head wobbled back and forth.

He might have initiated the kiss, but she’d definitely kissed him back. She put a hand against her heart, hoping to calm the frantic beating against her chest wall. The first time she’d allowed a guy to kiss her, and he had to be a popular sports figure? A guy whose face was plastered all over the Internet and television? What was she thinking? Obviously, she hadn’t been thinking, or she never would have let Graham drive onto her ranch in the first place. Or allowed him to keep coming back. And now he’d raced his way into her heart.

She was in trouble.

She scrubbed a hand across her face and moaned. Oh, God, if You’re listening, I could use some help here. I can’t fall for a racecar driver and suffer a repeat of life with my father. Please change my heart towards Graham. Set me free from this fear.

God hadn’t heard her heart’s cry about her father. Would He hear her prayer now?