Discovering You (14 page)

“Because she thought she had you—or that you'd eventually get where she wanted you to go. Seeing you with me spooked her.”

“I guess so, but...there's nothing I can do about that.”

“Listen, I don't want to cause you any problems.”

He wasn't happy to hear what she was saying. She'd raised her guard again. He was tempted to climb into bed with her, to reassure them both that what they'd shared had been real and that having the sun come up didn't suddenly put them in a new situation. But then someone tried to open his other door and ended up knocking on it instead.

“Rod?” Grady called. “You awake? Why's the damn door locked? You think anyone here cares if we see your bare ass?”

India had jumped at the noise and pulled the sheet she clasped to her chest that much higher. But when Grady mentioned his bare ass, her lips twitched as if she was about to smile.

“I'll be out in a sec!” Rod said.

“Hurry, or you'll have to drive over on your own. We gotta go. We can't be waiting for you all day.”

“Fine. Head on over. I'll be there shortly.”

“Okay. See you soon.”

Rod listened to his brother's footsteps recede before lowering his voice to address India. “Relax. Nothing's changed.”

She still hid her breasts behind that sheet as if she was too self-conscious to do anything else. “I'm not sure we should take what happened last night too seriously.”

“What
happened
? You make it sound like we played no active role in it.”

“Fine. What we did. We...we're both leading very complicated lives.”

He frowned at her. “Here we go.”

She peered at him more closely. “What does
that
mean?”

“Are you running scared already?”

“Last night was a...a bit overwhelming.”

“The hottest sex I've ever had,” he admitted.

She blushed. “I liked it, too. You're amazing in bed. But...”

“But?” She'd paid him such a generous compliment, he was almost afraid to hear what came next. Was she setting him up? Would she bring up her dead husband—wimp out on him?

Fortunately, she didn't. She straightened her spine, and her nostrils flared slightly as she said, “Yes, I'm running scared. You frighten me because...because you make me feel so much, and I'm not ready.”

“Because of Charlie.”

“Yes, because of Charlie.”

He relaxed. “Good.”

She blinked at him. “Did you hear me? I said I'm not ready.”

He put the basket on the nightstand so she could eat after he'd left. He was too late, didn't have time. “But you're interested, whether you want to be or not. That's what matters.”

“
Excuse
me?”

“I can't make any promises about forever, India. I won't pretend I'm the most reliable man in the world. Not when it comes to love. So I'm not asking you to make
me
any of those promises, either. Life's always been one day at a time for me. All I know is, right now you're the one I want. I'm approaching whatever happens between us honestly, moment by moment. Can you do the same?”

She glanced over at the picnic basket, obviously remembering the woman who'd brought it.

“Don't worry about Theresa.” He gestured as if he could erase the recent past. “It's different with you.”

“
Why?
In what way?”

“How can anyone explain attraction?”

“You should stick with her.”

“What?”
He'd never had a woman tell him something like that before. “Are you serious?”

“I'm not in a position to gamble, Rod!”

“Quit thinking about tomorrow! How do you feel right
now
?”

“It's not that simple. Everything we do leads
somewhere
. We have to look farther down the road.”

“No, we don't.” He couldn't talk any longer; he had to go. “With this hand I'm not much good to Dylan at the shop. He wants me to swing by to get a list of parts and then drive to Bakersfield today. Can we revisit this later?”

She nodded. “Sure. Go ahead.” But he wasn't done quite yet.

Grabbing the sheet, he arched an eyebrow to see if she'd willingly release her grip.

She hesitated but eventually let go, and he tugged it down. “I won't be home until evening.” He gazed at what he'd revealed and felt his body react. “But I hope you'll be here, just like this, waiting for me.”

13

A
fter Rod left, India got up and went into the bathroom. As she washed her hands, she caught sight of her wedding ring and paused to stare at it. What was she doing? What was she getting involved in?

Rod had just admitted that he wasn't particularly reliable when it came to love. She'd heard Theresa say something that made sense, too—about his past making it difficult for him to rely on a woman. He hadn't been able to rely on his own mother when he most needed her, when he was young and vulnerable, and she'd been the only female in his life. It stood to reason that he'd be hesitant to allow himself to depend on other females, who, in his mind, had far less reason to stand by him.

But could
any
guy predict how he might feel in a week, a month, longer? They'd barely met. And he'd been honest with her so far. She couldn't accuse him of being superficial, of being interested in only a booty call. He could've had that Friday night, and he'd refused.

Anyway, she wasn't
asking
for a commitment from him. She couldn't be with anyone right now, least of all someone her in-laws would not approve of.

Life's always been one day at a time...

For years, her life had been like that, too. Until Charlie. Charlie had changed everything. He'd given her peace of mind, security, financial stability, even respectability. She'd be a fool to go back to the lifestyle she'd had before. Which meant she had to be decisive and cut off whatever she was feeling for Rod—while she still could.

But that wouldn't be easy...

She pressed her face into the towel he'd used and breathed deeply to catch the scent of him. She loved the way he smelled, the way he looked, the way he felt, the way he touched. Just being in his
space
was somehow gratifying. She remembered wanting to touch his clothes and bedding when she'd brought over those cookies and had known even less about him.

Too bad the kind of man her heart wanted wasn't the kind of man she needed. That'd been the case in every instance except Charlie. And she probably wouldn't have given Charlie a chance if she hadn't come to know him slowly. By the time he'd asked her out, she'd had no reservations about him...

“Rod?”

India froze. When Rod left, she hadn't thought to lock the bedroom door, and someone had come in. The voice was that of a female, but it wasn't Theresa.

“Rod?” A knock sounded on the bathroom door. “Can I catch a ride with you?”

India felt trapped. She didn't even have her clothes. Her pajamas and overnight bag were still in the bedroom.

She wished she could pretend she wasn't there, but she'd just flushed the toilet and turned off the tap. Whoever it was would've heard that, which was why this person assumed Rod was home. India had no choice except to speak up. “Rod's already gone,” she said.

There was a long silence. Then, “Oh. Sorry. I didn't realize he had a...er...company.”

“No problem.” India held her breath and listened, but she didn't hear Natasha—at this point, she figured it had to be Rod's stepsister—move away.

“Theresa, is that you?” Natasha asked uncertainly.

Grabbing Rod's towel, India wrapped it around herself even though she was the one who had control of the lock. She felt so foolish, and being naked made it worse, even if there was a wooden panel between them. “No, it's...India.”

“India?”

Shit...
“Yes. India Sommers. I live next door.” She almost followed up with some excuse for being in Rod's room—like the water was shut off at her place, so Rod had given her permission to take a shower—but her pajamas were lying on the floor by the bed. The condom wrapper could also be there. Whatever excuse she attempted to offer would look pretty lame.

“Oh,” Natasha said. “I've been hoping to meet you. I should've come by.”

Now, to their mutual embarrassment, an introductory visit wouldn't be quite the same...

“Anyway, welcome to the neighborhood,” Natasha went on. “Not that it's really a neighborhood, but you know what I mean.”

India took a deep breath. “I do. Thanks.” She thought that would be the end of it. That she'd be able to dress and get the hell out of there. But Natasha
still
didn't go.

“Listen, since you're up...would you mind giving me a ride to work? I wasn't feeling too good last night, so the guys figured I wouldn't be going in.”

India tightened her towel. It was a little odd that this girl would ask a favor of someone she'd just met. However, according to Rod, she'd had to shift for herself in the past, so maybe it wasn't too unusual. Besides, this was Whiskey Creek. And they were neighbors.

“Sure,” India replied. “I can do that.” But she couldn't go anywhere as she was. “Would you mind handing me that bag out in the bedroom?”

“Oh, of course not,” came the response. “Do you want the pajamas, too?”

Her underwear was tangled in her discarded sleepwear. That was the
last
thing she wanted Natasha to see—well, other than the condom wrapper. She could only hope Rod had taken care of that. “No! I mean, that's okay. I'll grab what's left on my way out. I only need the bag.”

“Right. I see it.” There was some rustling before Natasha said, “Here you go.”

When India cracked open the bathroom door, she saw a girl with short, bleached hair styled with plenty of mousse, wide brown eyes and an oversize, expressive mouth—the girl whose photo Rod had shown her at the ice cream parlor. She was wearing a short stretchy black skirt and a tank top—an outfit that made the most of her slim figure and revealed the tattoos on her long, slender arms. There were some tattoos on her feet, too, which India could see because Natasha was wearing sandals.

Their eyes met, and they both smiled politely. “Thanks.”

Natasha backed out of the room. “I'll get my purse and be waiting in front.”

“See you in a sec,” India said.

The moment Rod's stepsister left, India closed the bathroom door and leaned against it. “Awkward!” she whispered to herself. Then she hurried to dress. She brushed her hair, as well as her teeth, and washed her face. This wasn't the way she wanted to meet Rod's family, but what could she do?

Once she was ready, India took the food Theresa had brought so it wouldn't go to waste and let herself out via the deck entrance to avoid running into Rod's father or his father's wife. “Running into” Natasha had been bad enough.

When India came around to the drive, Natasha was there as promised. “Ready?”

With a quick nod, Rod's stepsister followed her over to the Prius. India had locked her house the night before and didn't need to go inside. She put her bag and Theresa's basket in the backseat, thinking she'd carry them in when she got home. The sooner she dropped Natasha off, the better. Then she could go about setting her world back on its axis.

“Rod told me you'll be leaving for college at the end of the summer,” India said as they put on their seat belts.

Natasha stared out the window while India started the car. “Actually, I'm trying to make arrangements to go as soon as possible.”

“Before school begins?”

“Might as well.”

“Why? Do you have a job waiting for you?”

“No.”

Then wouldn't it be smarter to stay here and earn what she could? India thought so, but it wasn't her place to give advice. “I'm sure you're excited.”

“Of course. I'm
thrilled
.”

The sarcasm was as unmistakable as it was unexpected. India glanced over, but Natasha wouldn't look at her, so she said nothing.

They made small talk—mostly on India's end—while they drove. If Natasha spoke, it was only to give directions or answer a question, which she did as briefly as possible.

“Thanks for the ride,” she said as they turned in at Amos Auto Body.

The shop looked like a respectable business. The property was large, and Rod and his brothers obviously took care of the building. A fair number of cars were waiting to be fixed.

India had assumed Rod would be on his way to Bakersfield, but he wasn't gone yet. She was startled to find him standing in the lot with his truck idling and his door open, talking to someone who resembled him a great deal but wasn't Grady or Mack. He glanced up when she parked, and his jaw dropped.

“Forget something this morning?” Natasha snapped as soon as she got out. Then she stalked into the office.

Rod didn't respond to his stepsister. He and the man he'd been talking to walked over to India's car and waited for her to lower the window.

Even without being introduced, India knew she was about to meet Dylan Amos. There was something about his confidence that indicated he was in charge.

“Dyl, this is India, our new neighbor,” Rod said.

Dylan gave her a nod. It would've been awkward to shake hands while she was in the car. “Nice to meet you.”

“Same here,” she said.

“Did you know that my wife used to live in your house?” Dylan asked, shading his eyes against the sun.

“No one's mentioned it,” she replied.

His smile widened. “I have good memories of that place.”

“Have you been inside since the renovations?” she asked.

“No, I see these guys enough at work,” he replied. “I don't get over there too often anymore.”

“Feel free to come by,” she told him.

“I will. And I'll bring Cheyenne, if you don't mind.”

“Not at all.”

Dylan gestured toward the office. “How'd you get roped into giving Natasha a ride? Don't tell me she had the nerve to go bang on your door when she could've called one of us.”

“No...”

He gave her a questioning look, since that obviously didn't explain how she'd ended up in the service of his stepsister.

Rod seemed to be anticipating, with some relish, watching her squirm out of this tight spot. So she decided she wouldn't even try.

“I was sleeping with your brother,” she announced. “All she had to do was come to his room.”

Rod coughed as Dylan's eyebrows shot toward his hairline. “Unashamed and unapologetic,” Dylan said with a certain degree of shock. “I like that.”

“That's not how I would've preferred to meet her,” India clarified. “But sometimes things happen.”

“True. We all know Rod's pretty much irresistible.” With a chuckle, he clapped Rod on the back. “Hey, bro, you might have your hands full with this one,” he said and went back to the office.

Rod leaned on her window ledge, resting his cast on top of the car. “I guess you're not very good at keeping a secret, huh? What are you trying to do, ruin my reputation?”

“You're enjoying this,” she accused him.

“Don't blame
me
,” he said in mock outrage. “You're the one who just announced that you were in my bed.”

“Your sister came in right after you left!”

“My
step
sister.”

“Does the
step
part really matter?”

He looked up as Mack came charging out of the office, got in his truck and slammed the door. “It might to some people,” he said as he watched his brother tear off.

India scowled. “To
you
?”

“No. Definitely not to me,” he said, returning his attention to her.

She wrinkled her nose. “I'm confused.”

“Never mind. It's nothing.”

“Fine,” she said. “Be cryptic. Anyway, I doubt last night would've remained secret after Natasha mistook me for you and came to ask for a ride.”

He laughed as he kicked a small pebble across the lot. “So we've been found out. Does that mean you can come through the front door tonight?”

She sobered immediately. “Rod...”

His smile disappeared, too. “Don't say it.”

“I
have
to say it. I can't let what's happening between us...happen.”

“Why not? Because I'm not a heart surgeon?”

She couldn't tell him that her in-laws would look at him that way even if she didn't. “No, of course not. I'm just not ready. Like I said.”

“That's bullshit. I felt how ready you were last night.”

She closed her eyes. “Don't do that.”

“Why? Because you don't like facing the truth?”

“Because wanting you and being able to be with you are two different things!”

“You're not doing Charlie any favors by denying yourself, India. Stop running!”

“I'm sorry, but I can't see you again,” she told him and backed out of her parking space before he could see how reluctant she'd been to say those words.