Running Home (Warm Springs Trilogy Book 2) Read online

  “Yeah, me too.”

  Neither made a move to leave.

  The door behind them opened as a few of the employees from the title office filed out. Based on the time, he assumed they were leaving for the day. Their voices carried over to where they stood and then died away.

  “Thanks again for this.” He held up the crafted picture. “And, for everything else. I know I kind of threw your life into disarray.”

  She glanced at him from under her lashes, almost shy. “You weren’t so bad.”

  There it was again. This time he knew he wasn’t wrong. Something between them had changed.

  “Yeah, well. Now, I’ll be out of your hair for good.”

  “I’ll see you around, Adam.”

  “Yeah. I’m here to stay.”

  He watched her walk away, but for the first time in two weeks, he didn’t feel like he was losing her.

  The screensaver on Jenny’s computer kicked on and showed a whirling pattern of colors. While it swirled in the background, she blew out a breath and sent a strand of loose hair fluttering on the mock breeze. Her eyes crossed as she watched it float back over her face.

  “You’ve got a package.”

  Jenny sat up straight and tucked the source of her entertainment behind her ear. The secretary set a box on her desk and whisked back out of her office. Intrigued, Jenny reached for her scissors and sliced through the tape. James must have been thinking about her, although, gifts weren’t really his style.

  When she raised the top flaps, she found a shoebox inside. Starting to wonder if it was a decoy, she flipped the lid open and gasped. She wouldn’t have been more surprised if a bald man wearing a tutu had jumped out.

  Inside was a pair of shoes identical to the ones she’d worn in the woods the day she’d gone chasing after Adam. The day he’d kissed her. She reached inside and pulled them out, too stunned to do anything but stare at them. A note laid off to the side with her name on the front in Adam’s handwriting. As she reached for the white paper, butterflies took flight around her heart and her hand trembled.

  Jenny,

  I hope these brighten your day and make up for ruining your original pair.

  A

  She clutched the note to her chest and bit her lip. The inner debate ended a moment later. After placing the lid back on the box and grabbing her purse, she took off through the office.

  “Debra,” she said to the same secretary who brought her the package, “I need to run out a little early today.”

  “Sure thing, Jenny. See you tomorrow.” The phone on Debra’s desk rang and she waved as she answered.

  Twenty minutes later, Jenny took the final turn for Adam’s new house and hoped he was home. She’d been working on different excuses to drop by since the closing, but hadn’t come up with anything that didn’t sound ridiculous.

  And, aside from lack of a good reason, she’d tried to convince herself that with absence she’d start to think about him less. So far, no luck.

  Thanking him for the shoes was as good a reason to drop in as any, and she’d yet to see the house after he’d moved in. Contemplating the box on the passenger seat, she hummed and tried to figure out exactly what she was going to say.

  When she pulled into his driveway and saw his truck, her breaths started coming faster as her nerves twisted tighter in anticipation. The house looked beautiful, just the way she remembered. Four white rocking chairs lined the front part of the porch. Lights lined the walkway. Flower beds along the house and in a circle under the large oak tree were newly mulched and planted. He’d been busy.

  The sound of country music drifted on the air. The faint sounds of banjos and twang as familiar as the man who’d chosen them. She followed it around the side of the house and into the barn where she found him hard at work. Adam’s attention remained focused on the hammer in his hand, unaware she was watching him. Jenny leaned against the door while he nailed two boards together on a makeshift workbench.

  As he moved, the muscles of his upper back flexed under the worn T-shirt which clung from sweat. Desire mounted as memories of how she’d felt when he’d touched her blurred with fantasies of him touching her again. Mouth dry, she cleared her throat in an attempt to clear her head.

  When the sound startled him, he hit his fingers. He dropped the hammer and spun around, clutching his hand to his chest. “Jesus, woman. You can’t sneak up on a man when he’s working. What if it’d been a saw?”

  She hurried to his side and reached for his hand. “Let me see it.”

  “No.” He held back.

  “Stop being a baby.”

  “It was a hammer.”

  She bit back the smirk inching its way onto her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” She grabbed for his hand and studied the blood already starting to pool under his finger nail. “You’ll have to drain that.”

  He pulled his hand back and shook it out. “Won’t be the first time, but usually it’s baseballs that do it. Not hammers.”

  “I’m sorry. Really, I am.”

  Adam nodded and took a step back from her. “What’re you doing all the way out here?”

  “I came to thank you for the shoes.” When he continued to stare at her, she motioned a hand behind her. “The yard looks great.”

  “Thanks.” He turned his back to her and braced his hands on the work table. “You could’ve called.” His tone was harsh.

  She staggered back from him a step. What brought this on? “I-I guess I could’ve. Sorry I bothered you.” She turned to leave.

  “Wait.” He dragged a hand through his sweaty hair and spun around to face her. “I don’t know what I’m doing here, Jennifer.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, why are you here? I’m trying my damnedest to stay away from you because that’s what I thought you wanted, and yet, here you are.”

  Her eyes darted around the barn as though she might find a suitable answer lying amongst all the junk. “I . . . I don’t know. I guess I just thought—”

  “Thought what? What did you want to happen when you decided to come over here?” His eyes were intense, the usual light green was now more emerald than gold. But, there wasn’t anger like she originally thought. She recognized it now. It was desire strong enough to mirror her own.

  “What are you talking about?” She took another step away from him as fear began to take root. Is that why she’d gone there? Did she want something to happen? What she needed was a little space so she could think. She wasn’t prepared for his assault of questions.

  “Are you happy, Jennifer?”

  She dropped her gaze to her feet as she searched for an answer. Was she happy? Forcing herself to be strong, she tucked her hair behind her ears and squared her shoulders. “Of course, I am. What are you talking about?”

  He took a step forward and then another, cutting the distance between them in half. “I want to know if you’re happy in your relationship with James. Because if you are, I don’t think you’d be here.”

  Her mouth fell open and heat flooded her neck and face. “I just came—”

  “You said that already and you’ve done it.”

  “Why are you acting like this?” Her hands balled into fists at her sides. “You’re the one that kept saying you thought we were friends and now you’re practically attacking me.”

  “Don’t you get it?” his eyes wild with heat. “It’s too hard to be around you.” He shook his head and half sat on the workbench. “I’m sorry, Jenny. I thought I could do it, but I can’t. I can’t be around you when you’re in love with another man.”

  Love. There it was again. Sure she cared about James, but did she love him? Could she see herself living away from Warm Springs in an unfamiliar place with him? Was he enough?

&nbs
p; “You don’t love him, do you?”

  “You have no right to ask me that. No right to judge my relationship.” She started to leave and stomped her way to the door. “I’m sorry I came here, Adam. I didn’t mean to cause you pain or rub my relationship in your face.”

  “You know why none of your other relationships have worked out?” He called after her and she stopped in her tracks. “Do you?”

  She exhaled and turned.

  “I do.” He strode toward her, more predatory than friendly, until their shoes touched. So close she could feel the heat radiating from his skin. “None of those other guys were me.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but before she could speak, he grabbed her shoulders and pressed his lips to hers. It wasn’t a sweet kiss but one that exuded longing and heat. Two things he’d awakened in her since his arrival back in town. Two things that were missing from her life.

  As much as she wanted to slam her hands against his chest and scream that he was wrong, she couldn’t. He was right. Hadn’t she compared every other man that had come along to Adam? And, hadn’t they all fallen short?

  She melted into him, letting the kiss fill the void in her soul. The one only he could touch. His hands fisted in her shirt forcing her closer when there was no space left between them. His hips dug into hers. Their chests rose and fell as one. She welcomed the fire inside and wondered if the only way to be close enough to him, to quiet the desperate craving for him would be if they were one.

  Adrenaline coursed through her as he consumed her mouth. The music still played, but it was far away. It, like everyone and everything else, was outside their world. Everyone else. James.

  With her hands braced on his shoulders she shoved him away. Her breaths were as ragged as his as they stared at each other. Her hand rose to her swollen lips.

  “I can’t. I’m sorry.” She stepped back. First one step, then another. “You were right. I shouldn’t have come here.” She turned and ran back to her car, wiping tears away as she went.

  Chapter 13

  The sun beat down on their bikini clad bodies as they floated in the lake on bright colored rafts. Small ripples produced a relaxing steady rhythm. The air was cooler than it had been only a week before, signaling fall.

  Jenny skimmed her fingertips across the top of the water, lost in thought.

  “This is perfection,” Sam murmured with her head back and eyes closed behind large sunglasses. “I say we stay right here and bring the wedding to us.”

  “I’m in.” Ann turned her head to the side and raised an arm to shield her eyes, while she studied Jenny. “You sure are quiet today. You’ve barely said a word since breakfast.”

  Sam sat up suddenly, rocking the floats. “Are you, okay?”

  She pushed up onto her elbows and chastised herself for worrying when she was supposed to be having fun with her best friends. “I’m sorry, guys. It’s been a weird week.”

  A boat hummed past them across the water as it headed back to the ramp. The early morning fishing done for the day.

  “Weird how?” Ann sat up and draped her legs over either side of her raft.

  Jenny shook her head. “I don’t want to get into it. This is supposed to be a fun trip for Sam. I don’t want to bring up drama.”

  “Oh, I don’t mind,” Sam touched her arm. “We’re your friends. We’re here to listen.”

  So much for avoiding the topic of Adam. Jenny sat up too, draping her legs over the raft, but instead of the headrest being behind her, it was in front so she balanced her arms on it and tried to figure out what to say. Putting her emotions into words seemed almost impossible. It was like trying to hold down a swirling, jumbled up cloud.

  “I don’t know exactly what’s wrong with me.” She bit her lip. “I thought I had my life figured out, you know? Job, check. Boyfriend, check. Everything was fine.”

  “But . . .” Sam prodded gently.

  “Adam,” Ann answered.

  Jenny’s shoulders slumped. “Am I an idiot? I mean seriously, am I completely stupid? What does it say about me that I’m hung up on a guy I loved in high school? A guy that crushed my heart under his cleat and didn’t even care.”

  “You aren’t stupid,” Ann said. “When two people loved each other as much as you two did, it makes sense that it’d be hard to put it behind you.”

  “I really thought I had.” Jenny stared at her hands, helpless against the tide of her own desires.

  “Maybe you just put your feelings for him aside? It’s not like you thought there was another option. We all know you can’t force yourself not to love someone.” Sam offered Jenny a comforting smile.

  “Sam’s right,” Ann raised her feet out of the water and let the water drip back into the lake. “Have you asked Adam how he feels?”

  The thought of their moment in the barn made her face heat and her chest tighten. “Not exactly, but when we kissed last week, I got a pretty good idea.” She’d barely slept since and when she had, she’d dreamt she was back with Adam and they finished what they’d started.

  “Wait,” Ann held up her hand like a school crossing guard wielding a stop sign. “You kissed? Like, oh hey. Oops! That was for old time’s sake? Or, like a set-the-earth-on–fire kiss?”

  Jenny met Ann’s eyes as pressure built behind her own.

  “Oh,” was all Ann could say.

  Sam’s eyes were wide. She was probably disgusted thinking her friend was a two-timing trollop. She’d been thinking the same thing herself all week.

  Jenny groaned. “I’m a terrible person, aren’t I?”

  “No, of course not,” Ann said.

  Jenny’s eyes met Sam’s and then Sam smiled.

  “I love those kinds of kisses.” Sam said it a bit wistfully and followed it with a heavy sigh.

  Ann laughed. “Leave it to the bride to find the romance in every situation.”

  Jenny buried her face in her hands. “You don’t think I’m horrible?”

  “Gosh no,” Sam laughed.

  “But,” Jenny uncovered her face as she struggled to make sense of Sam’s attitude. “You like James.”

  “I like him, if you like him.”

  Jenny let her head fall back on her float and groaned. “Now you sound like my mother.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment, seeing as how your mom’s a wonderful lady. And, very smart.” Sam leaned over and rested a hand on Jenny’s. “What is it that you want? That’s really all that matters.”

  Jenny smiled at her friends, first Ann and then Sam. “I don’t know.”

  “I think you do.” Ann raised her eyebrows at Jenny, pointedly.

  “But, what if Adam is just lost right now and he’s reaching out because he doesn’t have anyone or anything else in his life to occupy his time? I don’t want to be his fall back plan. I deserve better.”

  Sam nodded. “Of course you do.”

  “Do you love James?” Ann’s question was simple, direct and it was the same one Jenny had been asking herself for months. Even before Adam had shown up.

  She swallowed and glanced over at the sandy beach area where some kids were running to the water’s edge leaving their mother and father struggling to catch up. The parents dropped the gear onto the sand and each grabbed a child around the waist, swinging them around. Squeals of laughter carried across the water to where the trio drifted.

  She wanted what they had. It hit her with the force of a ten foot wave. The desire had never been so strong. And, she couldn’t picture James ever being that dad. He’d be the one on his cell phone, holding up a hand to silence the kids or the one who was never home. How often did she see him now? One or two days a week?

  “Not enough,” Jenny finally said. “Not enough to give him forever.”

  Ann and Sam
watched her, but there was no judgment in their eyes, only understanding and friendship.

  “Well then,” Ann said, “what are you going to do?”

  “I guess the only thing I can. I’ll have to talk to James when he gets back to town.” Nerves twisted at the idea of breaking things off with him. They’d been together a long time and he was a proud man. It wasn’t going to be easy.

  Later that night, they stepped out of their cabin dressed for dinner in varying styles of sun dresses and sandals. Sam’s had spaghetti straps and a multi-colored floral pattern, Ann’s a bold red and white design and Jenny’s was a deep sapphire blue color with one large strap which hooked around her neck. Several patrons turned their heads when they walked into the restaurant.

  “Is it me or are people staring?” Sam tugged at the top of her dress.

  “Relax.” Jenny stood up straighter and tossed her hair. She’d had enough worrying for one day. It was time to have some fun. “We’re young and hot. Now let’s eat and get our dance on.”

  Jenny marched up to the hostess podium with purpose. “Three please, and if we could get a table with a view, that would be great.”

  “One moment.” The hostess scanned a laminated diagram of tables, marked one with a marker and smiled. “Right this way.”

  They sat down and Sam leaned toward the window. “I can’t believe I’ve never been here.”

  “You’ll have to come back with Spencer in about a month when all the leaves are changing,” Ann said. “It’s breathtaking.”