Blossom Street Brides

  “So fine, I’m locked out. That’s just great, because as long as Max is here, I won’t be. I’ll only come to the house when I can be assured Max isn’t anywhere around.”

  “Annie, that’s ridiculous.”

  “You made your choice,” she snapped. “Max was talking about Dad having to live with the consequences of his actions. That’s good, because now you’re going to have to live with your own consequences.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Dressed for the Mariners game, Lauren brewed a cup of coffee while she waited for Rooster to arrive. Out of nowhere, she felt a bubble of laughter working its way up her throat. In that moment she realized this was what happiness felt like. It was this irrepressible urge to laugh, this sense of joy that she hadn’t experienced in … goodness, how long had it been? Too long, she decided; she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this inner sense of exhilaration.

  She’d spent all of Saturday afternoon and evening with Rooster until two that morning. It seemed impossible that the hours had passed so quickly. They’d talked and laughed, gone to a movie and dinner, and then talked some more over coffee in an all-night diner. Even in the wee hours of the morning Lauren had been reluctant to return to her condo. He’d seen her up to her door and kissed her, and the moment had been magical. She’d felt the attraction to him right away—not the physical way she had with other men. This was deeper, stronger, different. She’d been drawn to him as a man, a person with intelligence. When she’d compiled that list of characteristics she wanted in a man it was as if she’d modeled the details after Rooster. It was early yet—they barely knew each other—but nevertheless, Lauren felt it would be very easy to fall in love with him. Unfortunately, their time together would be short.

  The thought of Rooster riding with Max back to California in only a few hours left her feeling bereft. It seemed they were just getting to know each other. He didn’t want to leave any more than she wanted him to go, and seeing how late it already was, he extended his visit for an extra day. Right away they started making plans, and Rooster had suggested the Mariners game. She was up for anything and was certain whatever he had in mind would be fun.

  Her doorbell chimed, and Lauren practically danced across the room to answer it. Rooster was early, which suited her just fine.

  Only it wasn’t Rooster who was on the other side of the door. Instead, Todd Hampton greeted her with a huge floral bouquet. He flashed her one of his most charming smiles.

  “I come in peace.” He stretched out his arm to hand her the flowers. “And to show you how sincere I am when I say I don’t want to lose you.”

  Too shocked to respond, Lauren didn’t know what to say. Her mouth sagged open and her mind whirled with dismay, fearing Rooster would arrive and find her with Todd.

  Lauren hadn’t seen or talked to her former boyfriend since that disastrous confrontation Friday evening at the restaurant. Because she didn’t know what else to do, she accepted the flowers.

  “I wanted to apologize,” he said, looking contrite and sincere. “I know you’re upset, and I don’t blame you. I behaved like a jealous buffoon. I tried to phone several times, but you didn’t answer.”

  “Todd, listen—”

  “I’ve thought about what you said, and you’re right—”

  “This isn’t a good time,” she said, her voice gaining strength. “I’m leaving in a few minutes.” She hated to be rude, but she really didn’t want Rooster to see Todd at her place, not when she’d just gotten matters straight with him after the last time. She took hold of Todd’s elbow and steered him back toward the open door.

  He frowned. “You don’t have time to hear my apology?” He sounded hurt and confused. “I care about you, Lauren. Can’t we talk this out?”

  “Not today.”

  “Tomorrow, then?”

  She preferred to avoid the question. “Thank you for the flowers, they’re lovely and very kind, but unnecessary.”

  He relaxed, and that oh-so-easy smile of his effortlessly slid into place. It was the same one he used in front of the newsroom camera. “I knew that in time you’d be willing to put this behind us.”

  Her heart raced like crazy. If she didn’t get him out the door soon, Rooster would step off the elevator. “Like I said, I’m on my way out. I’m sorry, Todd, really sorry to put you off, but what I said holds. I don’t want to be rude.” She didn’t have time to argue with him. It was far more important to shuffle him out the door.

  Todd looked her up and down, taking in her Mariners baseball cap, jeans, light sweater, and scarf, and frowned. “You’re actually going to a baseball game?”

  All her dates with Todd had involved pantyhose. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.”

  “I’ll be in touch,” he said as he backed out of her condo.

  Picking up the flowers, she quickly carried them into the bathroom, filled the sink with water, and stuck them inside until she returned that evening. She appreciated the sentiment and that he wanted to apologize, but unfortunately it was too little, too late. Her neighbor down the hall, Mrs. Huizenga, was a widow, and she would enjoy these far more than Lauren would.

  Her pulse had yet to return to normal when her doorbell chimed a second time. Drawing in a deep, calming breath, she checked her peephole before opening it … thankfully, to Rooster.

  His eyes brightened the instant he saw her. “Wow … you look great,” he said, and held his hands out to her.

  “Thank you.” She clasped his fingers with her own and brought him inside. As soon as he was in her condo, Rooster took her into his arms and kissed her. His mouth was warm and moist over hers, and her senses went hurtling into the stratosphere. Rooster held her tightly against his body. She felt as though they’d been apart months instead of only a few hours. His chest lifted as he inhaled a deep breath and his grip tightened as they strained against each other. Lauren clung to him, and when they reluctantly broke apart, she offered him a slow, sweet smile, wanting him to know that she needed those kisses, had craved them from the moment he’d left her.

  It came to her that as different as they appeared outwardly, they’d connected on a number of levels. Her first impression of Rooster hadn’t been wrong. He valued friendship and loyalty, and had been loving toward his parents, especially in the latter stages of their lives.

  They kissed again, and when they broke apart his breath came in shoulder-shuddering gasps as he braced his forehead against hers. It was hard to stop, she realized, for him and for her. In all the years she’d been dating, not once had she felt this strongly attracted to a man, especially this quickly. It both thrilled and frightened her.

  “Are you ready?” Rooster raised his brows with the question, indicating he was asking more than whether or not she was prepared to walk out the door.

  Right away she picked up on his train of thought. The day before, Rooster had given Lauren her first ride on the back of a motorcycle. It’d been quite an experience. At first she’d been terrified, but gradually she’d relaxed and learned to lean with him as he rounded the corners. What she’d enjoyed most was holding on to him, feeling that connection, soaking in his strength and feeling the power of the wind as it whipped past her. “Did you bring the bike?”

  “I did. You game for a second go-around?” His look told her he was skeptical.

  “You bet I am. I enjoyed my time as a biker babe.”

  Rooster laughed. “I hate to disappoint you, but it’s a short ride to Safeco Field.”

  “This is a first for me, you know.”

  “A first?”

  “The Mariners game. I’ve never been to one before.”

  Surprise flashed in his eyes. “Really? You’re the one who lives in Seattle.”

  “I know, it’s ridiculous, isn’t it? But …” She was about to mention that Todd wasn’t into sports, but quickly thought better of it. The less her ex-boyfriend was introduced into the conversation, the better. She would be forever grateful the two men hadn’t crossed pat
hs in the condo lobby or at the elevator.

  “First time on a motorcycle. First time inside a biker bar, first time to attend a Mariners game. Do you have anything else up your sleeve for this holiday weekend?” Lauren asked.

  Rooster chuckled. “Give me a minute and I’ll think of something.”

  No doubt he would. This man was a surprise in every way, and she was completely infatuated.

  Although short, the ride to the baseball game was as exciting as her first venture on the motorcycle, though more relaxing and certainly less terrifying. With gray clouds threatening, Rooster parked his bike in a covered lot. Holding hands, they raced across the street to the stadium. He collected their tickets at will-call and then led her to their seats. While close to the field, they were exposed to the elements. Lauren wasn’t sure what they would do if it started to rain.

  A mist started to fall in the third inning. Lauren was so involved in the game, she barely noticed. Rooster bought her a large bag of peanuts and later a hot dog with plenty of mustard and relish, which was just the way she liked it. Him, too, she learned.

  At the seventh-inning stretch, she stood and sang along with the rest of the crowd, swaying left and right. She noticed Rooster didn’t join in and glanced his way, surprised.

  “I don’t sing,” he told her.

  “Why not?”

  “Once you hear me, the answer will be obvious.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, kissed the top of her head, and whispered, “You’ll need to sing for the both of us.”

  At the top of the ninth, Rooster got a text from Max. He replaced his phone on his belt and looked to Lauren.

  “Everything all right?” she asked.

  Rooster grinned and studied her with his gaze. “Max and Bethanne invited us to dinner.”

  “Would you like that?”

  He shrugged. “Up to you.”

  “Then I say we should go.” She liked the idea that Rooster and Max were as close as brothers. When she’d been with Todd, it had always been just the two of them. He had acquaintances but no deep friendships, no one he was especially close with, even from high school. Now that she thought about it, that was understandable. Todd’s focus was solely on the demands of his career. Everything else seemed superfluous.

  Thankfully, the mist had stopped by the time they left the stadium. “Shouldn’t we contribute to the dinner?” she asked, and then realized it would be difficult when they were on the bike.

  “I’ve got that covered,” Rooster said, again taking her hand as they crossed the street.

  “You do?”

  “Yes, my lovely. I never leave home without a bottle of wine.”

  Naturally.

  When they arrived at the colonial-style home, Max opened the front door and welcomed them inside.

  Bethanne was busy in the kitchen, cutting vegetables for a salad. She glanced up. “I’m glad you two could join us.”

  “Me, too,” Lauren said. “Thanks for the invite.”

  Soon Rooster had a beer in his hand and was on the deck with Max, who was busy barbecuing spare ribs.

  “Can I do anything to help?” Lauren offered.

  “Sit up on the stool and keep me company.”

  “Glad to.”

  Bethanne continued to add a variety of ingredients to the green lettuce. She tossed in a few cashews, Chinese noodles, and dried cranberries. “I’m pleased you were able to connect with Rooster and clear up what happened.”

  “I am, too.” And she had Bethanne to thank for that. “I wouldn’t have known where to find him without you. I’m grateful.”

  Bethanne glanced up and smiled. “I was happy to help. What did you think of Hog’s Hideout?”

  Lauren braced her elbows against the countertop. “It intimidated me at first, and Rooster was no help. He saw me and then immediately looked away, pretending he hadn’t, silently letting me know he would rather I went elsewhere.”

  “But you persisted?”

  “I don’t know why I found it so important to clear the air. I think the bottom line is that I didn’t want him to think badly of me. I couldn’t bear for him to believe I would use him, or anyone, for my own selfish purposes. We’d had such a good time; he wasn’t anything like I expected.” She looked away and feared she might have blushed when she added, “I wanted to see him again in the worst way.”

  Bethanne smiled again. “So that explains it.”

  It embarrassed her to relay the details. “In part. I had to explain after Todd caused that dreadful scene in the restaurant. I couldn’t let Rooster believe I’d purposely set that up so Todd would find us.”

  “I don’t blame you.”

  “Rooster practically dragged him outside. I don’t know what he said to Todd. I’m not sure I want to know.”

  “You’re probably right.” Taking two wooden forks, Bethanne tossed the lettuce and other ingredients for their salad. “I’ve got the dressing in the refrigerator. Would you mind getting it and then setting it on the table?” she asked.

  Lauren slid off the stool and retrieved the dressing. As she set it on the tabletop she looked to this woman she barely knew and asked, keeping her voice low, “Am I missing something?”

  Bethanne paused, the wooden salad bowl gripped with both hands. “Say again?”

  “Am I missing something?” Lauren repeated.

  “What do you mean?”

  Lauren was unsure how to put it into words. “Rooster seems too good to be true. He’s … smart and fun and decent and charming. And, my goodness, he’s hot … does he have a flaw I haven’t seen yet? Is there a dark side to him that comes out when the moon is full?”

  Bethanne set the salad in the middle of the table. “Rooster is as genuine as they come. If he has a personality flaw, I have yet to see it.”

  “Then why isn’t he married?”

  The other woman mulled over the question before she answered. “That I can’t answer with complete certainty. I do know that he took care of his parents until they both died. Then after Max lost his wife and daughter, he covered for him, working crazy hours to keep the business afloat. I think it’s simply a matter of opportunity. He might have been stung a time or two, which could explain his reaction to Todd on Friday night.”

  “True.” Lauren half suspected something like that must have set him off.

  “But if that’s the case, I don’t know any of the details.”

  The door off the deck opened, and Max came inside carrying a plate piled high with ribs. “Are you ready for a feast?”

  Dinner proved to be a fun exchange of good-natured teasing and delicious food. The ribs were cooked to perfection. At one point, Rooster leaned over and wiped barbecue sauce from the side of Lauren’s mouth with his napkin. His eyes told her he’d rather have kissed it away, and her eyes told him she’d rather he had, too.

  “What time do you want to head out in the morning?” Max asked Rooster after they’d finished the meal and lingered over coffee.

  “Early. The Kendall-Jackson dinner is rescheduled for Wednesday.”

  “Right.” Max glanced at his watch. “We both better get a good night’s sleep, then.”

  “Agreed.”

  Lauren insisted on helping Bethanne with cleanup, and she and Rooster left soon afterward. When they got to her building, he parked outside and escorted her to her condo.

  “Come in for a few minutes,” she invited.

  As soon as they were inside, he took her in his arms and she wrapped hers around him, clinging tightly to him. He’d be riding out in the morning, and the thought filled her with dismay.

  “I hate that you have to go,” she whispered as she kissed the underside of his jaw. He tasted wonderful. He splayed his fingers deep into her dark hair and lifted her head to angle his mouth over hers once more. Their kisses were long, deep, and involved, and when they pulled apart they were both breathless.

  “I hate having to leave, too,” he whispered, his eyes closed.

  She heard the regre
t in his voice. “We barely know each other, and yet I’ve never been this strongly attracted—”

  His kiss cut off the last of her comment. There was desperation to the kiss, as though he, too, had felt this strong physical pull toward her. It was as though he was afraid once he left her everything between them would fade away and change. It wouldn’t. Not on her end.

  “Ride carefully,” she whispered, and her eyes held his look, intent on making him aware he was important to her.

  “I always do.”

  For several minutes they continued to cling to each other, kissing and touching.

  “When will you be back?” she asked, needing to know.

  “Can’t say.”

  Lauren pressed her head against his shoulder.

  “Soon,” he whispered.

  “Good.” She sighed with relief.

  He rubbed his chin over the top of her head. “I have the distinct feeling I’m going to be spending a lot of time in the Seattle area.”

  “That’s even better.”

  “I’ll call.”

  “Please,” she whispered. “Email, too, okay?”

  “Should I text and Facebook and tweet you as well?”

  She wasn’t sure if he was teasing her or not. It didn’t matter; she wanted to hear from him in every form of communication available. “Absolutely.”

  Rooster chuckled and then kissed her again, and this time his kiss was filled with promise.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lauren didn’t hear from Rooster until almost midnight Monday.

  “Hi,” he said. He sounded exhausted.

  “Hi. Where are you?” she asked. “Or, more important, how are you?”

  “Tired, saddle sore, and I know it sounds silly—we were together less than twenty-four hours ago, but I miss you. It doesn’t feel right for us not to be together.”

  “Oh, Rooster.” He wasn’t a man who spoke with flowery words, and yet he had the ability to make her heart sing in three-part harmony.

  “Because we decided to stay Sunday, Max and I rode straight through. We have a number of meetings this week, and if we’d spent the night on the road the day would have been half gone by the time we got to Santa Rosa.”