Love Me if You Dare (9 page)

Because no matter how incredible, Sara knew one thing for sure when it came to relationships: all good things had to come to an end.

R
AFE WOKE UP
to an empty bed and the sound of the shower running in his bathroom. He immediately processed two things. The good news—Sara was still here. The bad news—she wasn’t in his bed.

He stretched, feeling the pull of muscles telling him he was alive and feeling good. Better than good. Great.

The water stopped running, and his gaze wandered to the closed bathroom door.

He eased himself up against the headboard, propped his arms behind his head and waited.

A few minutes later, the door swung open and steam trailed out, followed by Sara wrapped in one of the beige towels his mother had bought him when he’d moved in, convinced he needed her help.

“Good morning,” he said.

She jumped, obviously startled. “I didn’t realize you were up.”

“I am now.” In more ways than one, after viewing her glistening skin, damp hair and creamy exposed skin.

“I hope I didn’t wake you.”

He shook his head. “Sunlight did that.” He gestured to the blinds he’d forgotten to draw closed the night before. “Where are you going?”

“To get my clothes. I need to go over to Angel’s to help her set up her pie booth at the fair.”

“I’ll drive you. I figured we could pick up your
car and park it back here, where no one will notice it. Then we’ll go back to Angel’s.” He’d hoped to coax her back to bed, but she’d already warned him she wanted to be at Angel’s early this morning. “Just let me jump into the shower, and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

She nodded and started for the door.

Not too awkward considering it was their first morning after.

They hadn’t discussed last night, but in his mind that was a good thing. He didn’t want her running scared, and if she knew just how much he’d enjoyed her, how much he wanted to be with her again, she’d do just that. So silence on the subject suited him fine.

Silence in general, did not. “Sara.”

She turned back to him. “Yes?”

“Why don’t you move your things in here?”

She narrowed her gaze, assessing him.

“Did you really think I’d let you sleep alone in your bed the rest of the time you were here?”

An amused smile pulled at her lips. “Umm…”

“Of course, if you want to be alone…”

She shook her head. “I’ll be right back with my things.” She turned and ran out the door, leaving him laughing.

And pleased.

Not bad for a morning’s work. He had her where he wanted her.

The rest would fall into place.

T
HEY ATE A QUICK
breakfast of cereal and milk before heading over to the bed-and-breakfast, bringing Sara’s car back to Rafe’s, and returning to Angel’s, resigned to helping his sister-in-law and Sara load pies into her minivan—only to discover the two guests who’d checked in yesterday had already finished the job. The pies were securely in the van along with her price signs and flyers.

Frick and Frack and their argyle vests were nowhere to be seen. Rafe called his brother to make sure he’d be at the festival to watch over Angel. Just in case.

Sara slid out of the Jeep, an added spring in her limp that Rafe attributed to last night. He was damn well floating.

“Sorry we’re late,” Sara said, heading to meet Angel by the van.

Rafe couldn’t tear his gaze off her short, flouncy skirt, which showed off her long legs, her skimpy tank top and beaded flip-flops. She’d skipped the knee brace, and when she wasn’t looking, he’d tucked it into the backseat of the car. After a long day of working at the booth, she’d be happy to have the support.

“No worries.” Angel waved away the apology.
“Biff and Todd did all the heavy work so we didn’t have to.” She shot a grateful gaze toward the two men who’d walked out onto the front porch, dressed as preppily as they’d been the day before. They were damned odd, and his radar was on alert.

“They seem really nice,” Sara said.

Rafe frowned. “What kind of names are Biff and Todd, anyway?”

“Shh!” Sara nudged him with her elbow. “They helped Angel out, so leave them alone!”

Rafe shook his head, uncomfortable with their defense of those two men. He couldn’t say why they bothered him, but they did. And instinct rarely served him wrong.

Angel glanced at her watch. “I need to get moving. Why don’t you meet me at my booth, and you can help me sell?” she asked Sara.

She nodded eagerly.

He wasn’t sure what had her so excited to work a pie booth, but he wasn’t about to take that smile off her face. He’d just spend the day at the family spice booth, hanging out with his relatives and keeping an eye on her from a close distance.

Biff and Todd weren’t the only strangers that concerned him. The influx of visitors would camouflage anyone who came specifically for Sara. But if someone was after her, they’d have to get through him first.

M
AIN
S
TREET IN
H
IDDEN
F
ALLS
was as busy as Little Italy during the annual San Gennaro Festival in New York City. Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration, Sara thought. But for a small town near the Canadian border, the streets were pretty crowded. Throughout the morning, she’d met many locals, including Rafe’s uncle Pirro, a happy, kind gentleman who obviously adored his family. She couldn’t see him looking for comfort or anything else from a woman other than his wife. But as Sara knew too well, appearances were often deceiving. Who knew what Pirro did in his spare time?

Today, however, everyone was mingling together, enjoying the sunshine and the festival, including Rafe and his brother, who were watching every move she and Angel made. But they weren’t the only ones. Biff and Todd were never far away, either, constantly offering to restock the pies or buy them food or drink from another stand. Their attention made Sara uncomfortable. If she didn’t already know the men had made their reservations way in advance, she’d be
concerned that maybe they had been sent by John Morley, but their reservation preceded her coming here. They might be too clingy and preppy for her taste, but they weren’t hit men.

Joy, the woman Sara had met at Angel’s yesterday, walked by and purchased an apple pie. Sara caught sight of her a few more times during the day. She mostly kept to herself, and Sara even toyed with the idea of introducing her to Biff and Todd, but then she remembered Joy was engaged. Better to leave well enough alone.

“Ladies,” a familiar male voice said.

Speak of the devil,
Sara thought. Biff stood in front of the booth, Todd at his side.

“Hello,” she said in a deliberately cool tone.

She wanted to keep her distance from these two, mostly because she knew they annoyed Rafe, and she didn’t want to instigate trouble. He was looking out for her physical well-being. She could do no less for his emotional one.

“Are you enjoying the festival?” Angel, ever the warm proprietress, asked the two men.

“I am. It’s a nice town you have here,” Biff said.

“What brings you upstate, anyway?” When Sara was curious, her inquisitive nature took over.

The men met each other’s gaze before Todd turned back to face her. “We work for a wine dis
tributor in New York, and we’re looking to make new contacts.”

“Makes sense,” Angel agreed. “We have quite a few vineyards in the area and a lot of people interested in doing business during festival time.”

“Have you been successful so far?” Sara asked.

“We’ve met some nice people, but we’ve yet to hook up with the main person we want to do business with,” Todd said.

“That’ll come soon enough.” Biff spoke with cool confidence. “But that’s not the reason we came back to your booth.”

“What is?” Angel asked.

“Just want to offer to get you ladies some lemonade. The day’s getting hotter, and we thought you might be thirsty.”

Sara had been saying no thank you for most of the morning, but Rafe was glaring from across the way. “I’d love some,” she said, hoping they’d go for the drinks and forget to come back.

“Me, too,” Angel said. “Thanks.”

The men smiled, obviously pleased they were needed, and headed off to the lemonade stand.

The line of people who’d formed behind them edged forward, eager to buy Angel’s pies. Especially the mini ones that people could eat while they enjoyed the fair, something Sara understood well. She’d snuck more than one as a snack and wouldn’t be surprised
if she’d cut into Angel’s profits. She was definitely glad she’d worn a skirt with a stretch waist.

Apparently, sex last night made her hungry today.

Amazing sex.

Hot sex.

Sex with one very special person.

Across the crowded street, she met Rafe’s gaze.

To outsiders, he manned the family spice booth along with his brother, speaking to people who came to taste their famous Italian spices on dishes Mariana had made. But Sara recognized the look on his face, the fierce determination that told her he was in cop mode, on the lookout for anyone unusual in the crowd of neighbors and strangers. His protective nature eased her own nerves and enabled her to enjoy the festival. But it was the caring, sensual looks he reserved for her alone that kept her tingling and in a constant state of anticipation.

Sara couldn’t stop thinking about being with him last night. They’d had breathtaking, off-the-charts sex. He’d been everything she’d dreamed about and more.
More
referring to the bond they shared. An emotional link that went deeper than the connection between their bodies.

They’d once been partners, and she’d thought they couldn’t get any more in sync.

She’d been wrong.

Sex with Rafe had been a perfect dance. As perfect as the way she’d known he’d yell
drop
on the rooftop even before the words escaped his perfect mouth.

“What are you smiling about?” Angel asked, breaking into her thoughts. “You’re practically glowing!”

“I was just thinking about how delicious your pies are. And wondering if I could sneak another without you noticing.” She rubbed her stomach, which was already craving another pie.

Angel shook her head. “No, you’re not glowing from food, although these days that’s the only way
I
can get those rosy cheeks. It’s Rafe. He’s putting that glow in your cheeks.”

“What makes you say that?”

Angel shot her a knowing look. “The way you’re staring at him. The way he hasn’t stopped staring at you.”

“Oh. Well.” Caught, Sara raised her hands to her heated face.

“Yes. Well.” Angel grinned. “I remember those days, when Nick used to put a smile like that on my face.” She sighed wistfully.

“You miss him.”

“Of course I miss him.” She slowly lowered herself into a chair behind the counter. “You don’t lose your other half and not miss them.”

“Have you told him?” Sara asked. Because from
where Sara sat, Nick was looking at Angel the same way. He obviously longed to be back with his wife.

Angel tipped her head to one side. “Have you told Rafe he blows your mind?” she shot back, a grin on her face.

“Direct and to the point. Now, see, this is why we get along so well.” Sara laughed. “So, have you told him?”

Angel shook her head. “No. There’s no point. Not until he accepts the new me, career and all. Missing just isn’t enough.”

“I understand.” After all, wasn’t that the same reason she and Rafe had initially agreed not to get involved?

Because they couldn’t accept certain things about each other and what they believed? It was also why Sara wasn’t about to have a morning-after conversation with him.

“So…your turn. Have you told Rafe how you feel?”

“We have an understanding,” Sara said vaguely.

A silent agreement—sex until it was time to go home.

She could live with that.

“I remember those days of easy sex,” Angel said dreamily.

“If that’s all you’re looking for, Biff and Todd seem eager to fill the role.”

“Eew, no!” Angel said, laughing. “I may be separated, but I’m not desperate! Besides, I’m not really single. And even if I was interested in dating other men, those preppies aren’t my type.”

Sara nodded. “I prefer my men a little more manly, too.”

Once again, her gaze drifted to Rafe.

Her gaze locked with his, and he inclined his head in a tilt she found incredibly sexy. She could stare into those eyes forever, Sara thought.

“Lemonade as requested!” Biff said, breaking her connection with Rafe, whose expression soured as he caught sight of their returning admirers.

His brother took an angry step out of the booth, but Rafe grabbed the other man’s shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.

Crisis between husband and wife averted, Sara thought.

At least for now.

R
AFE HAD HAD TO
physically restrain more than his share of men during his career, but holding back his brother was a first. He understood the impulse that drove Nick to want to plant his fist in the preppy men’s faces, but it wouldn’t be cool.

“Relax,” he said to Nick. “You don’t want to make a scene in front of the entire town and piss Angel off.”

His brother’s shoulders relaxed, but Rafe wouldn’t release his grip. Not until he was sure Nick wouldn’t go for the men again.

“Are you okay?” Rafe asked.

Nick, still breathing hard, nodded.

“And you won’t go off half-cocked?”

Nick shook his head.

Rafe loosened his grip but remained ready to restrain his brother again.

“She doesn’t have to be so damned nice to them,” Nick muttered. He braced his hand on the counter in the makeshift booth.

“She does when they’re paying her room and board,” Rafe said pointedly.

“Don’t remind me.”

“Someone has to. The bed-and-breakfast is part of the problem. Your problem.”

Nick let out a groan. “What does she see in them, anyway?” he asked, his gaze traveling to Biff and Todd.

Clearly it was time to knock sense into his brother’s thick head. “Let’s see—they’re young and good-looking,” Rafe said, trying not to gag on his own words. “And they’re hanging around Angel and making her feel good. Why wouldn’t she like the attention?”

Why wouldn’t Sara?

The thought jumped out at him, and Rafe’s insides
curled with jealousy. The difference between himself and his brother, however, was that Rafe wouldn’t let two strangers poach his woman.

His woman.

Uh-oh.

Sex does not make a relationship,
he reminded himself.
Especially not in Sara’s mind.

But it did in his.

“They have no right to even look at her. She’s married,” Nick said, his anger palpable.

“She’s separated,” Rafe qualified. “And if you don’t fix things soon, she might just end up divorced and free to do whatever she wants with whomever she chooses.”

“And that would kill me,” Pirro said, joining the men.

“Where did you come from?” Rafe asked.

“I went back home to pick up more calzones for my Vivian.” He tipped his head toward the far end of the booth, where Vivian and Rafe’s mother were selling their Italian dishes along with individual jars of spices. “Vivian’s calzones are
molto bene!
” He kissed his fingers and raised them in the air. “No, not just very good—the best!”

Pirro was obviously dedicated to his wife, and still smitten, too.

Rafe thought back to his aunt’s claims and couldn’t imagine her husband finding comfort elsewhere. But
he couldn’t talk to Pirro about it now. There were too many people around, and Nick still looked ready to blow a fuse.

“Now, what’s this nonsense about divorce?” Pirro asked, placing an arm around Nick’s shoulder. “My Angel is an independent woman, but there’s no reason why you two can’t work things out.”

“Right now he’s upset two of her guests are paying her a little too much attention,” Rafe explained.

“And she’s enjoying it too much,” Nick said.

Pirro nodded in understanding. “Ahh. Now I understand. Nick, you have to know how a woman’s mind works. When she’s not getting attention at home, she becomes starved for affection. Of course she’ll be flattered when other men look her way. Even if it’s really her husband’s attention that she’s looking for.”

Man, couldn’t Nick see what everyone was trying to tell him? “Step up before it’s too late,” Rafe said to his brother.

And there was no time like the present. “Nick, let’s go on over to Angel’s booth. I don’t know about you but I could go for some apple pie.”

N
ICK HATED IT
when his brother was right. Things needed to change. Nick knew it. He just didn’t know how to make it happen. He headed over to Angel’s booth, determined not to argue with his wife and to
take a step in the right direction for a change. He sure as hell wasn’t getting anywhere butting heads with her every time they were in the same vicinity.

The flow of traffic at Angel’s booth had faded, and the two women were sitting on stools, drinking lemonade and laughing. They presented a distinct contrast, Angel with her long, beautiful, jet-black hair and Sara with the blond halo flowing over her shoulders. The two women had obviously become friends in the short time Sara had been in town. Nick didn’t know a thing about her. He’d been so wrapped up in his own problems, he hadn’t taken the time to get to know his brother’s ex-partner or even find out why she was here. Though if the way Rafe looked at Sara was any indication, the reasons for her visit were extremely personal.

“How about some apple pie for two starving men?” Rafe asked, getting the women’s attention.

Sara met his gaze and greeted him with a wide smile.

Angel’s expression as she caught sight of Nick was much more wary. “Apple crumb or apple pie?” Angel asked politely.

Dammit, she knew which he preferred. She didn’t have to question him like he was an ordinary customer.

But he’d promised himself no picking an argument. “Pie,” Rafe and Nick answered at the same time.

Sara jumped up from her seat. “Two apple pies, coming up.” She walked over to the back, where the pies were stored.

Rafe immediately joined her, leaving Nick alone with Angel.

Nick shifted from foot to foot, unsure of where to begin. “Good day at the booth?” he finally asked.

She nodded. “Sold a lot of pies and booked B and B reservations into the fall.”

She just had to bring up the business. Testing him, he thought.

When he didn’t answer immediately, she locked her gaze on his and never flinched, waiting for a reply.

He was determined not to fail. He had to work through his problems with her owning the bed-and-breakfast and with them being unable to have a baby. Getting
her
to open up and talk to him would be an even bigger challenge.

“That’s great!” he said at last.

Her blue eyes grew wide and filled with hope. “Is it really?”

No.
“Yes.” He hoped she didn’t notice he’d gritted his teeth. “Are you going to the dance tonight?” He changed the subject to one easier to deal with.