Raylene had baked three batches of cookies that afternoon, rather than the single batch of chocolate chip she usually made at midweek. She knew it was probably ridiculous to be baking extras just in case Carter came by, but she hadn’t been able to stop herself. She’d even lined an extra tin with foil, then packed it with an assortment of not only chocolate-chip cookies, but oatmeal raisin and sugar cookies as well.
After she’d closed the lid, she shook her head. Was she just a little smitten, after all? It had been a very long time since she’d been tempted to make a sweet gesture to impress a man. Her attempts to please Paul with special desserts or gourmet meals had never had the desired effect. Most of the time he’d found some way to demean her best efforts and make her feel like an idiot for even trying.
Ironically, the result had been that she’d tried harder. She owned more cookbooks than most women accumulated in a lifetime. She experimented constantly with new recipes. Now she had an appreciative crowd at the dinner table each evening. Even Tommy seemed to love her cooking almost as much as he liked hot dogs and pizza.
Tonight she was making an easy beef Stroganoff recipe. The meat had been simmering in a slow cooker most of the day. There was enough to feed an army.
When Sarah walked in the door, she sniffed the air appreciatively. “Stroganoff?”
Raylene nodded.
“Perfect. There’s bound to be enough for company.”
“Company? Is Annie coming over and bringing the kids? Not that the baby is eating real food yet, but Trevor can eat his own weight. He’s exactly like Ty was when we were kids.”
“He can, indeed, but they’re not coming over.” Sarah’s eyes glinted with mischief. “This is guy company.”
“Travis isn’t company.”
“No, he isn’t, but Carter is.”
Raylene’s gaze narrowed. “What makes you think Carter’s coming by? Did you invite him? I told you not to interfere in this.”
“No interfering,” Sarah swore. “I saw him earlier. He has news he wants to share.”
“Tell me,” Raylene commanded.
“Not me. It’s his news.”
“Since when have you ever kept hot-off-the-presses news to yourself? It’s not in your genetic makeup.”
“I’m reforming,” Sarah said airily. “When he gets here, why don’t you tell him to invite his sisters over, too. We should celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?”
Sarah merely grinned. “I’m going to take the kids for a walk before dinner. That’ll give you time alone with Carter when he arrives.”
“And what if I don’t want time alone with Carter?” Raylene demanded, trying to keep a frantic note out of her voice. Of course, the problem was that she did want to spend time with him. She just didn’t think it wise.
Sarah shook her head sorrowfully. “Then I’ll tell Dr. McDaniels you really do have a screw loose.”
Raylene scowled at her. “You are not amusing.”
“Not trying to be. Hiding inside is one thing. You can’t help that. Ignoring a hot man who’s definitely interested in you would be flat-out wrong.”
“I don’t think he’s going to let me ignore him,” Raylene said, then groaned when the doorbell rang. “My gentleman caller, I assume.”
Sarah grinned. “That would be my guess. I’ll let him in, then take the kids and scram. Dinner in an hour?”
“If you say so,” Raylene grumbled. “I hope he can at least make a salad.”
She heard Sarah and Carter exchanging a few words, and then he was in the kitchen. Even though she’d known he was on his way in, seeing him was still a shock to her system. The man could probably thaw a roast with one of those searing looks he tended to give her. As it was, her blood sizzled in ways it hadn’t in a very long time. The reaction was troubling because she wasn’t entirely sure, when push came to shove, if she’d be able to respond to a man’s touch ever again. That was just one more thing to worry about, when she already had her hands full dealing with therapy.
Before he could say a word, she moved a bowl in his direction, then pointed to the raw vegetables she’d assembled. “You’re on salad duty,” she told him. “And if you want to invite Carrie and Mandy, then you’ll need to make a big one.”
He blinked at the order. “Am I invited for dinner?”
“Sarah says you are. She thinks the girls should come, too. Something about a celebration.” She finally dared to meet his gaze. “What’s that about? She wouldn’t tell me.”
He chuckled. “That must have killed her.”
Raylene couldn’t stop her own grin. “More than likely. She says she took the kids for a walk to give us time alone, but I think it’s because she was terrified she was going to spill the beans.”
“Time alone, huh?”
He seemed a little too intrigued by the thought. Raylene frowned at him. “Don’t be getting any ideas, buster. She thought you had something to tell me.”
“I do, as a matter of fact. Let me call the house and tell Carrie and Mandy to ride their bikes over, then I’ll tell you.”
“Do they know?”
He shook his head and gestured to his uniform. “I haven’t been home yet. I came straight here when I went off duty.”
“Then wait until they get here and tell us all at once,” she suggested. “And in the meantime you need to get busy on that salad.”
Carter eyed the vegetables with dismay. “Not my area of expertise. Maybe you should wait and teach the girls.”
Raylene put her hands on her hips. “You can’t even make a salad?”
He looked sheepish. “Sorry, no.”
“That is just pitiful.”
“Tell me about it. I hadn’t planned on being what amounts to a single dad.”
“What does that have to do with anything? You eat, don’t you? What were you doing for meals before your folks died?”
“I went to restaurants or threw myself on my mom’s mercy,” he admitted, then added with a grin, “And then there were those women who were trying to impress me.”
She shook her head. “Well, that’s about to change. As soon as you’ve called the girls, we’ll start with the basics.”
“Were you a drill sergeant in another life?” he grumbled.
“Could have been,” she said. “The important thing now is that you’re in my kitchen, so you do what I say.” She liked the feeling of power that idea gave her.
“I thought this was Sarah’s house.”
“The kitchen is all mine,” she corrected. “It works out nicely.”
Carter made the call to his sisters, then hung up with obvious reluctance. “They’ll be here in fifteen minutes. Are you sure you don’t want to wait for them to make the salad?”
“Now you’re just being pathetic,” she said, handing him the head of lettuce. “Tear off the leaves and put them in the colander.”
“The what?”
She held up the metal strainer. “This,” she said. “Once you’ve torn up enough lettuce—small pieces, by the way—then rinse it and shake off as much excess water as you can.”
“Why not just buy the bags of already prepared salad?”
“Because I like the old-fashioned way.”
“Who would have guessed,” he muttered with a dramatic air of resignation.
Raylene had to bite back a smile as he tore the lettuce into small pieces, a frown of concentration on his brow. There was something utterly charming about seeing a big, strong cop, still wearing his gun, in fact, looking so completely out of his element.
When Raylene assured him he had enough lettuce, he ran water over it, then shook the colander a bit too energetically. Lettuce flew everywhere. Fortunately, enough was left to make the salad. He dumped it triumphantly into the bowl.
“Now what?” he asked.
“Now you chop the peppers, tomatoes and green onions and add those. See what I mean? It’s pretty basic stuff. Even a beginner can make a salad.”
He glanced over the ingredients she’d assembled. “I don’t see any dressing.”
“Because you’re going to make it.”
“You’re kidding me! Companies spend millions making all sorts of perfectly good bottled dressing, and you want me to start from scratch?”
She patted his shoulder. “If succeeding with the lettuce gave you a thrill, just wait till you’ve made your own dressing. You’ll feel like an accomplished cook.”
“I think we should save one triumph for Carrie and Mandy,” he argued.
“Okay, we’ll see.”
“What’s for dinner, anyway?”
“Beef Stroganoff.”
His eyes widened with surprise and unmistakable pleasure. “You actually made beef Stroganoff? On a regular weeknight, not even for a special occasion?”
“It’s an easy recipe, and there are always leftovers for another night.”
“Easy?” he repeated skeptically.
“You just dump a few things into a slow cooker and let it simmer for most of the day, then add a few more things, boil the noddles and it’s done.”
“Do chefs know about this? They always make it sound very complicated. I watch the Food Channel sometimes, hoping something will sink in and I’ll wake up knowing how to cook.”
She raised a brow at that revelation. “And yet you still don’t cook.”
“Because it all sounds too complicated.”
“You can read, right?”
“Of course.”
“And follow directions?”
He gave her an impish look. “That’s a little trickier. I am a guy, after all.”
She shook her head. “These are directions, not orders. They’re a way to get from point A to point B,” she said, then slapped her forehead. “Of course, guys never ask for directions, do they?”
“We are adapting to the idea of a GPS system,” he told her. “That’s technology, so it’s acceptable.”
“Good grief!”
Carter laughed at her reaction. “I’m really not quite as inept as you’re probably thinking about now.” He gestured to the cutting board. “See, all chopped and diced.”
“Very good,” she praised. “Now toss them with the lettuce.” When he looked as if he might take the bowl and toss the ingredients into the air, she held the bowl in place and handed him the salad tongs. “Gently.”
Just then Carrie and Mandy walked into the kitchen and stared.
“Carter’s fixing the salad?” Carrie said, looking stunned. “Are you sure you want to do that? We’ll probably die.”
He scowled at her. “And you’re going to make the dressing from scratch.”
“Now I know we’re going to die,” Mandy said.
Carter frowned, then turned to Raylene. “Make her do something, too.”
Raylene grinned. “You can make the noodles for the Stroganoff.” When Mandy looked uncertain, she said, “Boil water, dump in the noodles and stir them. You can handle it.”
A half hour later, dinner was on the table, Sarah and the kids were back, Travis had arrived and they were all seated at the larger table in the dining room, which the girls had helpfully set.
Raylene looked around and nearly had to blink back tears. This was what she’d imagined her life being—a family and friends gathered around for a meal she’d prepared. After all this time, after she’d pretty much given up on the dream, here it was.
And yet it wasn’t quite real, because the family, at least, wasn’t hers.
* * *
Carter stashed the girls’ bikes in the back of his truck for the drive home. In the car the girls were bubbling with excitement. Some of their enthusiasm was over the prospect of Carter’s new job, but mostly it was about the fabulous meal and their part in getting it ready.
“We actually cooked tonight,” Mandy said triumphantly.
“You boiled water,” Carrie scoffed. “I actually made a salad dressing from scratch.”
“Let’s not forget my contribution,” Carter said. “The salad was awesome, if I do say so myself. Carrie, what did you think of the Stroganoff?”
“It was good,” she said, avoiding his gaze in the rearview mirror.
“How would she know? She ate one bite,” Mandy reported. “I thought it was amazing, and Raylene says it’s really easy to make. She said she’d teach me if I want to come by after school one day or maybe when school lets out next week. Is that okay, Carter?”
“If she invited you, I’m sure she meant it. Just call her to make sure when it’s convenient.”
“How come she can’t leave the house?” Carrie asked quietly. “That’s so sad.”
“I don’t know the whole story,” Carter admitted. “I do know she’s trying to get over her phobia, though.”
“Is that what it is, a phobia?” Carrie persisted. “Like a fear of spiders or of flying?”
“That’s the way I understand it,” he told her. “She has panic attacks if she tries to go outside.”
“Even in the yard?” Mandy asked.
Carter nodded.
“That’s why you planted the garden,” Carrie guessed, her expression lighting up with sudden understanding. “So she’d be able to see something beautiful from the kitchen. You’re pretty awesome, big brother.”
“Keep that in mind next time you disagree with something I’m telling you to do.”
“Not the same thing,” Carrie said, then fell silent.
As they pulled into the driveway at home, Mandy jumped out immediately, but Carrie hung back to walk in with Carter. He sensed there was something on her mind, so he deliberately slowed his pace.
“Everything okay?” he asked eventually.
She paused and looked up at him. “You like Raylene, right?”
“I do,” he admitted, seeing little point in denying the obvious.
“Does is bother you that she’s kind of messed up with this phobia thing?”
He frowned at the question. He had a feeling his answer was vitally important for some reason he couldn’t quite fathom. “It bothers me for her sake,” he said. “I hate to see anyone missing out on so much of life.”
“But you don’t think she’s weird because she needs a shrink?”
“Of course not,” he said. “She’s getting help that she needs to get better.” He met Carrie’s troubled gaze. “Why? Does it bother you that she’s seeing a psychologist?”
“No. I guess I just never knew anyone who needed that kind of help before, at least not anyone who talked about it.”
Carter knew there was more on her mind, but he had no idea how to dig deeper to unearth the real problem. Still, he knew he needed to try. “You’re not afraid your friends will freak out if they find out I’m seeing Raylene, are you?”
She scowled at the question. “Like I would care what anyone else in this town thinks!” she said indignantly. “Don’t you know me at all?”
“Then what’s this about, Carrie? Something’s obviously on your mind.”
For a brief instant, he thought she was going to open up and tell him, but then her expression shut down.
“Nothing’s on my mind,” she claimed, and flounced off, leaving him to stare after her and wonder how he’d blown the opportunity.
Carter glanced skyward. “Mom, Dad, I could use a little guidance here.”
Unfortunately, there were no heavenly messages suddenly written on the clear night sky. As he had been for two years now, he was left to cope on his own.
* * *
Walter had canceled two appointments with Rory Sue to look at houses. Unfortunately, they both knew it wasn’t due to his busy schedule, as he’d claimed. The woman rattled him. He knew instinctively that she was ready and willing to have some kind of fling, but for all of his many flaws, he was a pretty monogamous guy. Once he and Sarah had gotten together in college, that had been it for him. Cheating had never once crossed his mind, not even when his marriage had been falling apart. Since the divorce, he hadn’t met anyone half as intriguing as his ex-wife.
Even though he’d been telling himself for days now that he was due to cut loose and have a relationship that was completely free of strings, he couldn’t see it happening. And, though he was about as sensitive as a fence post, he’d seen something in Rory Sue that told him she wasn’t half as carefree as she wanted everyone to think. She was lonely and vulnerable and reaching out for any connection that might make her feel better, even temporarily. He didn’t want to take advantage of that.
He was still sitting in the office at the radio station a few minutes after canceling their latest appointment, when the door opened and Rory Sue walked in. This time, she was attired for work in a dress made of some kind of clingy fabric that hugged every generous curve, but at least covered most of them.
“You’re avoiding me,” she accused as she sat down on the edge of his desk.
Her bare calf, which tapered to a shapely ankle and a pair of sexy, high-heeled sandals, was unnervingly close as she swung it back and forth. Watching it was like falling under the spell of a clock pendulum.
“What’s the problem?” she asked when he couldn’t seem to find his tongue.
Walter swallowed hard. “No problem. Really.”
Rory Sue gave him a knowing look. “I scare you, don’t I?”
The blunt question, which unfortunately hit the mark, rattled him even more. No man was ever going to admit to being scared of a woman.
“Absolutely not,” he said at once. “I’ve been swamped at work. That’s all.”
“And yet here you sit, all alone and looking bored to tears,” she said, then grinned. “At least until I walked in.”
“Just taking a five-minute breather,” he insisted, ignoring the comment about his reaction to her arrival.
“And then what? Aren’t most of your potential advertisers at home with their families by now? Does it work out well when you interrupt their evenings?”
“I have paperwork to do,” he claimed, aware that he probably sounded a little desperate for excuses.
“And yet there are no papers or files piled up on your desk,” she said.
Walter sighed and gave up the battle. “Okay, you got me. I was thinking about grabbing a burger and going back to the motel.” He scowled at her. “Alone, in case you were getting any ideas.”
She laughed. “As intriguing as an evening at the Serenity Inn with you sounds, right this second I’m much more interested in selling you a house.”
He regarded her skeptically. “Really?”
“Yes, really,” she said seriously. “Come on, super stud, let’s find a place for you to live. Then we can discuss what lies ahead for you and me.”
Because it was better than spending another boring evening on his own, Walter walked out with her. “Just so we’re clear, this is strictly business.”
“Of course it is,” she said at once, then met his gaze. “Until it isn’t.”
“Why do you do that?” he asked.
“What? Flirt?”
“Practically throw yourself at a man you barely know,” he corrected. “You’re a gorgeous woman. You’re obviously well educated. You have a great sense of humor. I can’t imagine that men don’t fall all over themselves asking you out.”
“You didn’t.”
“Because you never gave me a chance.”
“What is so wrong about a woman taking the initiative?”
“It’s not wrong exactly,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “It just makes you seem desperate. That’s not an attractive quality.”
“Are you saying women need to sit back and wait around until some man notices them? That’s a waste of time. I see a man who intrigues me, I let him know it.”
He regarded her with frustration. “And how’s that been working for you?”
“Up until you, not all that badly, as a matter of fact,” she said with a touch of defiance.
Walter smiled despite himself. “Look, I’m hardly an expert. My marriage certainly fell apart mostly because I was clueless about how a woman ought to be treated, but I do know one thing. Relationships are all about achieving an optimum balance of power.”
Rory Sue gave him a disbelieving look. “Meaning, I suppose, that the man is superior and everything has to be on his terms.”
“Of course not.” He had learned that lesson.
“Okay, let’s say I stop right here, turn around and kiss the daylights out of you,” Rory Sue suggested. “Who has the power then?”
Walter swallowed hard, his gaze suddenly locked on her lips. “You do,” he said.
“And you object to that on principle? Because a man should take the initiative when it comes to sex?”
“Not always,” he said, suddenly unable to think of anything except hauling her back to the inn and into his bed. He didn’t like how easily she could throw him off of the moral high ground. He sucked in a deep breath and forced himself to concentrate on counting backward from a hundred. When he felt more in control, he finally looked her way again and caught her smug expression. She knew exactly the kind of effect she was having on him and she was enjoying every minute of it.
“Tell me about the first house we’re going to see,” he said, his tone brusque.
“It has three bedrooms,” she said slowly and dramatically, amusement in her eyes. She lowered her voice to a sexy purr. “And the most amazing Jacuzzi tub you’ve ever seen in the master bathroom.”
She managed to imbue the description with enough innuendo that Walter flushed.
“Rory Sue, this has to stop,” he commanded. “If you expect me to look at houses with you, you can’t be talking about bedrooms and tubs.”
She laughed then. “You don’t want me to mention bedrooms or bathrooms?”
“No. I’ll find ’em on my own.”
“You scared I’m going to seduce you in one of them, Walter?”
He stared at her. He’d never met anyone quite like her before. He held her gaze.
“Truthfully?” he responded, losing the fight with his conscience. “I’m thinking we’re not going to make it to any of those bedrooms tonight. How fast can you get to the Serenity Inn?”
“Really?” Her face lit up. “Well, hallelujah!”
That was pretty much his reaction, as well. Tomorrow would be soon enough to figure out just how big a mistake he was making.