Big Girls Don't Cry (15 page)

Cole braced one hand on the back of her head as he continued kissing her, and she kept kissing him right back. But that left his other hand free to travel to new territory. Up her bare thigh beneath her skirt to brush the damp silkiness of her underwear. The friction was nearly overwhelming. So was the edgy pleasure he was creating with his fingers, tempting her without following through.

Hooking her fingers into the waistband of his jeans, she tugged him closer and wrapped her legs around him, capturing him as he’d captured her. Her Naughty Monkey sandals slipped off, but she didn’t care. Cole and the rush of pleasure he was giving her was all that mattered.

His index finger crept closer to the elastic edge of her panties. Knowing he was deliberately taunting her, she returned the favor by nibbling on his lower lip and rubbing her hand against his arousal. She got the top fastener on his Levi’s undone but then had to stop to catch her breath as he finally reached the spot, the silken nub that was aching for him.

He’d just completed one sweet sweeping caress, leaving her quivering on the brink of an orgasm, when the back door banged open and Skye raced into the kitchen. “Come quick. Lucy is in labor!”

Chapter Nine

Leena quickly unwrapped her legs from Cole’s thighs and slid off the counter to stand shakily on her own two feet.

Who the hell was Lucy? A former girlfriend? What was it with the pregnant women in this town—first Julia and now Lucy?

“Is she a friend of yours, Cole?” Leena asked.

“Oh, get over yourself,” Skye said. “Lucy is a llama.”

Of course she was. Cole was a vet. But that had been the farthest thing from Leena’s mind. Up until a moment ago she’d known only that she was in the arms of one of the state’s sexiest bachelors, his talented fingers on her clitoris. Naturally she still wasn’t thinking clearly.

“You two can make out later,” Skye said. “We’ve got to get out to Angel’s farm.”

Leena panicked, remembering all too well Skye’s sister Julia going into labor in front of her. “I don’t know anything about birthing llamas.”

“That’s why you’re staying here,” Skye said.

“At Cole’s house?” Leena asked.

“Here in Rock Creek.”

“Right. You’re right. I wouldn’t be any help at the farm. Not with a llama. Mindy can help you with that, right?”

“Mindy is out of town this weekend.”

Leena gulped and made a tentative offer. “If you need . . . I mean, if you really need help, I could . . .”

“You can stay here in Rock Creek,” Skye said.

Leena nodded so fast she got a crick in her neck. “Right.”

Cole remained silent, gathering up a black vet bag and—much to Lenna’s surprise—showing virtually no sign that he’d had his tongue in her mouth and his hands all over her a few moments ago. How did he do that? How did he recover so quickly? Still, a quick glance at the enlarged placket of his jeans told Leena that she wasn’t the only one still throbbing with unsatisfied lust.

He and Skye were gone before Leena could say another word.

She’d leave too, as soon as she was sure her legs would support her long enough to walk to her car. She stood there, hanging on to the kitchen counter like a survivor of the
Titanic
clinging to the edges of a lifeboat.

What had just happened here? Okay, besides the obvious physical stuff—which had been damn awesome.

But what else was going on? What was she thinking, making out with her boss, on his kitchen counter, no less? Real classy.

“Mrrow?” Leena looked down to find a gray cat winding around her leg. A three-legged gray cat.

Did it need medical attention? She was familiar with cats, but not one with special needs. “Uh, the vet’s not here right now. Can you come back later?”

The cat plopped onto its side. Leena quickly squatted down. “Are you okay? Can I get you something?”

“Mrrrroooow.”

“Do you want your tummy rubbed?” Not wanting to spook the kitty, Leena slowly reached out. The cat’s fur was surprisingly plush. And her purr was incredibly loud. “You like that, huh?”

“Tripod loves having her tummy rubbed,” Sister Mary said as she walked into the kitchen. “Midnight and Buddy are the shy ones. And Elf the dog too.”

If Sister Mary had come a few minutes earlier, she would have caught Leena and Cole making out like randy teenagers. Leena had been embarrassed at being caught by Skye, but that was definitely preferable to being caught by a nun. A nun who was Cole’s aunt.

“What are you doing here with Tripod?” Sister Mary asked.

“Petting her.”

“Where’s Cole?”

“He had to go treat a llama in labor.”

“Lucy?”

“Yes, I believe that was her name.”

Sister Mary nodded. “And he left you here by yourself?”

“I did offer to help, but he and Skye didn’t seem to need assistance.”

“So how did Cole take his newfound fame?”

Leena gave her a confused look.

“Sexiest bachelor in Pennsylvania,” Sister Mary prompted her. “There’s a rumor going around town that you nominated him.”

“I, uh . . .” Was it a sin to lie to a nun even if you weren’t Catholic? Probably. Time to change the subject,
fast
. “I, uh . . . I’ve been meaning to return your casserole dish to you.”

“You should stop by the thrift shop sometime.”

“Right. I’ve been meaning to do that too.” Pause, pause, pause. Awkward silence. “I, uh . . . Did you know that Bart Chumley, the guy who owns the Regency Mobile Home Park, is a retired clown?” Brilliant. What did that have to do with anything?

Sister Mary showed no signs of thinking Leena was acting in a bizarre way. Instead she nodded calmly. “Yes, actually I did know that. Since coming back to town, he’s been visiting sick children at the hospital. They love seeing him in his clown costume and makeup. What have you done for the community since you came back to town? Aside from nominating my nephew for sexiest bachelor.”

“I never said I did that.”

“You never said you didn’t.”

The nun was good. Hard to slip anything past this sister. “Bart is interested in improving Rock Creek and making it more like Serenity Falls.”

“Why would he want to do that?”

“Because Serenity Falls is listed as one of the best small towns in America.”

“That town is ruled with an iron fist by a mayor obsessed with the height of the grass on people’s lawns.”

“Well, half the houses here don’t even have any grass left in their front yards.”

“So?”

“So you’re saying Rock Creek doesn’t have problems?”

“I’m saying they can’t be solved with a few cosmetic improvements.”

“Why not? A coat of lipstick, some eyeshadow, and a little mascara work wonders on a girl’s confidence.” Wait, did nuns wear lipstick? Or eyeshadow?

“Confidence comes from within.”

“Not all the time. Sometimes you have to fake it.”

“Is that what you do? Fake it?”

“Doesn’t everyone?” Leena countered.

“No.” Sister Mary’s expression turned sad.

Or was it pity Leena saw there on her face? That possibility totally freaked her. Had it come to this? She was so bad off that a nun was pitying her?

“Well, I’d better get going,” Leena said briskly. “I’ll leave you to lock up or whatever.”

As Leena hurried out, she reminded herself that she’d better keep her own inner emotions tightly locked up while back in town or the results could be disastrous, making her crumble like one of the dozen Pecan Sandies she’d eaten last night.

She and Cole had absolutely nothing in common.

Okay, they had lust in common. Sexual chemistry beyond anything she’d ever experienced. But that was it. They had different goals in life. Opposing goals. He wanted to stay in Rock Creek. She needed to leave. He was a charmer with commitment issues. She’d already had her heart stomped on a few months ago.

Sounded like a recipe for happily
never
after.

 
“Isn’t she just the cutest thing you ever saw?” Angel asked, gazing at the little
cría
. The fuzzy baby llama was nursing.

“What about your new baby granddaughter?” Cole asked.

“Julia’s baby is cute as well. Lucy, you did a great job,” Angel cooed to the momma llama. “You too, Cole. Good job.”

“Thanks. Lucy here did all the hard work.”

“The woman usually does,” Angel said.

“What are you going to name the
cría
?”

“Enya. Had she been a boy I would have named her Bob Dylan.”

“Good thing she’s a girl then.”

“You don’t like Dylan?”

“I’m a country fan myself. You know, like Rascal Flats.”

“No, I don’t know, but I don’t judge others’ taste in music,” Angel said. “Or in other things. Despite hearing rumors that concern me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Leena. Your new receptionist. She has very stressed chakras. Her colors are powerful yet muddled. I know you’re not that into chakras, but I had to tell you. This one could break your heart.”

“Do I seem like the kind of guy who gets his heart broken?”

“You appear to have avoided that misfortune so far, but you can be lucky only so long.”

“Luck has nothing to do with it.”

“What do you mean? That you deliberately don’t open yourself up to a relationship?”

Cole shifted uncomfortably. “Look, I know you like talking about this stuff, but I don’t.”

“It’s not
stuff
. It’s the most basic element in the world.”

“I thought oxygen was the most basic element. Or was it hydrogen? Where is my chemistry trivia when I need it?”

Angel gave him a reproachful look. “I’m being serious here.”

“I know you are. But trust me, there’s no need to worry about me. You keep your energy focused on Lucy here and her baby and this new business of yours. It really does seem to be taking off. And the farm looks great.”

“I’m so glad we moved here. Tyler and I are much more comfortable in this location, closer to Mother Earth.”

“It’s a nice place.” Cole looked around at the surrounding hills, alight with so many shades of spring green he couldn’t even count them all. Angel had bought the farm after her business, Angel Designs, had taken off. He didn’t know the details, just that she was a New Age entrepreneur more accustomed to failures than success and that she used yarn from the woof of her llamas and others to create scarves and stuff. Not something he’d ever think someone could make big bucks on, but apparently if Nicole Kidman wore it, then everyone who was anyone wanted it. And they didn’t care how much they paid for it.

That didn’t make much sense to a Levi’s guy like him. Now Leena . . . she was into that kind of stuff. He might not know the name of the designers who made her clothes, but he sure wanted her out of them fast. Only years of practice at separating himself from his emotions in order to do his job as a veterinarian kept him focused on the task at hand and not on Leena’s lush body. But now that his work here was done . . .

“Nice here?” Angel belatedly said. “It’s nirvana here.” That’s what she’d named her farm.

“Catchy name.”

“Are you ever serious?”

“I’m serious about the animals I care for.”

“And that’s it?”

“It’s enough.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah. I haven’t exactly led a hermit’s existence, you know. I’ve had a number of relationships with members of the opposite sex. And while it’s true they all ended, they ended well and most of the women still consider me their friend.”

“While I’m glad that you haven’t hurt anyone, I’m sad that you haven’t found what you’re looking for.”

“The only thing I’m looking for at the moment are my keys. Ah, here they are.” He gathered his bag and headed for his red Ford F-150 truck.

Angel followed him. “If you’d like, I could read the runes for you and let you know if this Leena is going to cause trouble for you.”

Cole already knew she was going to cause trouble. The only question was, how much.

 
Leena was driving over to the mini-mart for Cool Ranch Doritos when she got the call from Sue Ellen.

“You have to come over here right away.”

“Over where?” Leena asked,

“The Broken Creek Trailer Park.”

“Why?”

“Just come. It’s important.” She rattled off an address and hung up.

Leena was tempted to ignore the call, but there was no telling what was going on. Maybe it actually was something important. She couldn’t imagine how, but it could happen.

Broken Creek Trailer Park hadn’t changed much in the past decade. No lawn art here. Instead, a pair of rusty lawn chairs sat beside a discarded washing machine. Torn window screens were lined with Christmas lights that had never been taken down. Broken-down beater cars on their last gasoline gasp sat beside several trailers.

The address Sue Ellen had given led her to a trailer that was tidier than most. When she knocked, Lulu answered the door. “Welcome to our domain. Come in.”

Leena hesitated. Not because of the I SEE DUMB PEOPLE T-shirt Lulu was wearing along with a black-studded dog collar and black cargo pants, but because of the fact that Sue Ellen was standing behind Lulu and grinning like a maniac. That grin was never a good sign.

“Get in here.” Sue Ellen yanked her inside. “Don’t worry, Jerry isn’t home.”

“Jerry?”

“Lulu’s granddad. His nickname is Animal. He’s covered in tats.”

“Tats?”

“Tattoos.”

“I know.” Leena was still trying to gather her thoughts. “I think I met him my first day in town. He was bringing someone’s parrot in to the animal clinic.”

“He loves animals. That’s why he got the nickname of Animal. That and the fact that he was pretty wild in his younger years,” Lulu said proudly.