Maid to Order (15 page)

“Hey, Rusty… your date’s here,” the man shouted over his shoulder and then turned back to smile at her. His eyes twinkled with mischief. Holding his hand out to her, he then said, “I’m Seth’s brother, Caleb, it’s nice to meet you. I’m assuming that box contains cupcakes so you should just take them right on into the kitchen… most of the women are in there.”

A pretty young girl came bounding over to stand next to Caleb. A very large German Shepard trotted along behind the girl every step of the way. A boy around the same age as the girl followed behind the dog. The girl smiled up at Caleb and then said, “At least open the gate for her, Caleb. Geesh!”

Caleb’s smile faded upon seeing the boy stop next to the girl and instead of opening the gate he limped away. The girl unlatched the gate and held it open for her saying, “Don’t mind him… he’s being hateful for some reason. I’m Addie, and this is my boyfriend, Chase. Come on in and I’ll show you to the kitchen.”

As soon as she entered through the gate she could feel Rusty looking at her and her gaze immediately found him. He was sitting at a table with a very pretty… and very pregnant woman. Ignoring the way her heartbeat increased at his hungry stare, Amy followed Addie inside the house. There were three women in the kitchen and all three of them immediately stopped talking and stared at her.

“She brought cupcakes…” Addie offered at their sudden silence. Then, taking the box from Amy’s hands, Addie placed them on the counter. Then the girl and her trusty dog went back outside, leaving her as the center of attention.

“Oh… I’ve dreamed about these things,” a tall blonde woman said, sliding the box of cupcakes Amy had brought over closer to her. Opening the lid and peering inside she then glanced back at Amy and said, “I’m Jess Reynolds and I have to say… I think I’m in love with these things.”

“I’m Tori Stewart, Seth’s wife and this is Kayla Brown, Ronnie’s wife,” a tiny woman with curly hair said while holding out her hand. Amy shook her hand and then shook Kayla’s hand as well. Kayla had to be Addie’s mom as she looked like a slightly older version of her daughter with darker hair but less freckles.

As the women helped themselves to a cupcake, Amy tried not to feel awkward and had almost succeeded when Jess finished a bite of her cupcake and said, “So are you and Rusty an item?”

Before she was forced to answer the question, the pregnant woman who’d been sitting with Rusty outside came inside and upon hearing Jess’ question, said, “Jess… at least let her relax before you pump her for information.”

“Sorry… but this may be our only chance… where is he by the way?” Jess replied.

“He’s outside sitting near the pool with Danny. He’s fine at the moment,” the pretty woman smiled. Then approaching Amy she said, “I’m Courtney Hamilton… Ian’s wife. Please forgive them. We’re all just worried about Rusty.”

At the woman’s admission, Amy could feel tears choking her. Just a few days ago she’d held Rusty as he’d sobbed all because she’d dared to show him affection. They’d known Rusty a lot longer than she had and they also knew that he had some serious issues.

They were his friends and they were worried too. Should she say something to them? What could she say? How could she possibly explain to his friends that she may have broken him simply by touching him?

“He’s pretty intense and I…” she started to say. “I haven’t known him very long but he… he has…”

“He suffers from PTSD, Amy. We know. Our husbands deny it because it’s a reminder of what they’ve all faced in the service. It’s not something they talk about to each other or even to us very often… but Rusty suffers with it the most and doesn’t talk to anyone.
Ever
,” Courtney said, pulling over a chair and sitting down.

“Are we right to worry, Amy?” Jess asked.

This was her chance. She either spoke now or potentially lost the chance. Regardless of what, if anything, ever became of this
thing
between her and Rusty, he needed help.

“Yes. You should be very worried. The thing is, I’m not sure if I’m helping or hurting him more… but I’ve never met anyone like him. I don’t know
how
to help him… honestly,” Amy replied.

Kayla walked over to the kitchen window to look outside as though checking that he wasn’t going to walk in on them discussing him. Then she said, “We all owe him our happiness. Ronnie told me that he’s been worried about him since before they all got out of the service. It was one of the reasons he came here instead of going back home to his family in Georgia. If he hadn’t followed Rusty here… I’d never have met Ronnie.”

“The same goes for Seth… he would have went back to Phoenix where his mother lives,” Tori replied.

“Ian thinks that Rusty’s behavior is his fault so if anything happened… it would crush him… all of them,” Courtney said. “However, I’ve been studying this for months now and watching Rusty’s reaction to things. I feel like you need to know that being with someone who suffers from depression and PTSD can be very difficult. You need to know that before you even think about getting involved with him. We’re not trying to scare you but we don’t want to see you get hurt… or him.”

“It’s too late… we’re already involved. At least… I am,” Amy said.

“Well, we are here… if you need support in how to deal with the issues you are bound to face with him. We just wanted you to know that,” Jess said.

Looking at the group of women… strangers, Amy believed them. It was in Kayla’s teary smile, Tori’s steady gaze, Jess’ sympathetic half-smile and in Courtney’s words. This was what Rusty had meant when he’d told her to run from him. Should she run?
Could she run?

The feel of his strong arms as they’d locked her within their embrace quickly came to mind. Rusty had made a series of rapid decisions for her and prioritized her life so easily when Danny had rode the bus downtown. He’d been there for her… steadfast and unbending. Somehow he’d helped these women as well in one way or another… even now he was outside helping her brother. How could she not be there for him when he obviously needed someone so badly? But was it her that he needed or just strong medication?

“Just keep doing whatever it is you’re doing. You may experience some oddities in his behavior from time to time, but he’s changing… or at least he’s considering it now. I see hope in his eyes… where a couple of weeks ago there was… absolutely nothing. He’s been emotionally dead inside for a very long time and learning to breathe again can be a scary and painful process, but at least he seems willing now. So I have to believe that something has given him a reason to lift his chin and look up… and I think that something is you, Amy,” Courtney said. “All we ask is that you know these things going in and consider them heavily before just diving right in. Take it slow with him or he’ll run.”

Is that what she’d done? Had she tried to dive in… head first even? Was that why he always pushed her away as soon as it was over? Sex was great but nothing more… no real affection was allowed. His friends and their wives had known this. Was that the real reason he hadn’t wanted her to come today?

He feared they would give her insight into how to reach him. Their advice was needed and had given her a lot to think about. The bigger question was, would she ever be able to reach him or would Rusty always remain closed off… be the heartache he warned her of?

“From the things I’ve read and research I did on the subject in college, many soldiers turn to alcohol or even drugs to cope,” Jess offered. “From what I know of Rusty, his moral code won’t allow him to seek relief in any way, shape or form and that can be just as dangerous. Finding ways to help him cope is necessary… we’re kind of hoping you can help with that. Just know it won’t happen overnight… but you have us here… in the background. Helping where we can… just ask.”

“He doesn’t know how lucky he is to have you all as friends…” she finally managed to say, fighting back her emotions.

“He doesn’t know how lucky we are to have
him
as a friend,” Courtney smiled.

“The cavalry is charging across the field… heading this way,” Kayla said turning away from the window.

The women scattered slightly and then leaned back casually against the counter, each holding their partially eaten cupcake. Rusty entered and looked around at them and as if they’d all stepped off of Broadway, they ignored him completely for several moments.

Then Jess, who finished the last bite of her cupcake, glanced over and, looking as if she’d just noticed that he’d entered the room, said, “Speak of the devil… were your ears burning, Rusty? Not to worry… we didn’t pry for details… at least not too many. However… if you’re willing to share… we’re more than willing to listen.”

“Unlike Ian, I don’t share in girly gossip, Ms. Reynolds. Sorry to disappoint,” he replied.

“You’re no fun. I might have been able to give you some pointers… you missed your chance, pal.” Jess wiggled her eyebrows at Rusty, shook her head and then laughed.

Rusty merely rolled his eyes and walked over to the refrigerator. After opening it and looking inside, he said, “I just came in for another beer.”

“There’s some outside in the cooler near the grill,” Tori offered.

“It would have been nice of your husband to provide that information while I was still outdoors. It would have saved me a trip,” Rusty replied, closing the door and then heading back outside. As soon he was far enough away from the door that he couldn’t hear, they all started laughing.

“We women may gossip… but they are
nosy
!” Kayla giggled. “Let’s go back outside before they send someone else in to check on us.”

The rest of the evening went well. Amy found the men in the group were every bit as much fun as their wives. With a better understanding of what was going on with Rusty and knowing she had a support system if needed, she decided to do just what Rusty’s friends had suggested.

She’d keep doing what she’d been doing. She would flirt with him and tempt him every chance she got. However, he would have to be the one to make the next move… reach out to her. Maybe she wasn’t breaking him after all but rather just chipping away the pain.

Chapter Twelve

Amy glanced at her bank account balance on the computer screen. The money was there now… four grand would be enough to get Danny settled just about anywhere. Yet over the past month that Danny had been living with Rusty Hawkins she’d actually developed somewhat of a relationship with him… unlike when he’d lived at the group home.

However, he couldn’t continue to stay with Rusty forever. The question was did she try to find a bigger place and move Danny in with her or try to get him into an assisted living program? Whatever she did, she needed to make a decision and then follow through on it… and soon.

Shutting down the laptop she headed to the front of the shop to lock the door and change the sign to closed. Danny was happy as a clam staying with his
best friend
, Rusty. Amy on the other hand was not happy about him still being at Rusty’s house for more reasons than feeling as though they were taking advantage of someone’s generosity.

The cookout she’d attended at Seth and Tori Lewis’ house had somehow strained things between her and Rusty to the breaking point. Whatever had been going on between them that first week was now destroyed beyond repair or at least it felt that way most of the time.

These days she talked to Courtney, Kayla, Tori or Jess more than she talked to Rusty, even though she was at his house at least three nights a week. She gave them updates on Rusty whenever one of them would call.

While Rusty was civil to her for the most part, he also made every effort to avoid her that he possibly could. Most often he was on the phone when she would come by. The other times he was hanging out with Ronnie, Seth or Ian who somehow always managed to stop by on her nights to visit Danny.

Kayla and Courtney kept telling her to have patience but they weren’t the ones still lusting after a man who might very well be talking into a cell phone with no one even on the other end of the connection. Just to avoid having to spend any time with her whatsoever… or even talk to her.

The few times he wasn’t on the phone or hanging out with one of the guys, he’d told her that since she was there he was going to run errands. With that declaration he would then leave in record time. He couldn’t make it plainer that he didn’t want anything more to do with her. A couple of times he’d even had Kayla’s daughter, Addie, there hanging out with Danny when she’d arrived so that he didn’t have to be present at all.

The most attention she managed to get from him recently was a nod of acknowledgment. By the second week following the cookout she’d caught on to the fact that he was avoiding her. That created awkwardness on her part… especially after her conversation about him at the cookout.

Where she’d been all set to flirt with him mercilessly… he wasn’t even giving her a chance to. After a few weeks of the silent treatment, now she just doubted he’d ever really been that into her.

Hearing her cell phone ring, she quickly finished wiping off the prep table in the bakery area, tossed the dishrag in the sink and then ran into the office area to answer it.
Danny
.

“Hi, Amy. I don’t want you to worry because I’m just fine. Rusty had to leave so he told me to call you to come and get me. Ian’s babies might be coming
right now
but he’s taking a class and didn’t answer his phone,” Danny said. “It’s too soon for them to be born yet, Amy. Too soon. Rusty is going to their house to get Courtney and take her to the hospital so can I stay with you tonight?”

“Of course. I’ll be right there,” she replied.

“No! I’m okay here alone but Rusty said if I didn’t call you, he’d never hear the end of it. So finish working at AmyCakes first,
then
come and get me. I can stay alone sometimes. I’m a grown up now,” Danny said.

The changes happening between her and Danny were because she was taking some of Rusty’s advice and trying not to panic where her brother was concerned. She was starting to allow Danny some independence whenever she could. This was one of those times.

An hour alone she could manage without too much anxiety… living alone in his own apartment… or working all day at a job… she wasn’t ready for that yet.

Glancing at the clock, she said, “It will take me another half an hour to finish up here and then I’ll drive over to get you. So I’ll be there in about one hour. If you need me before then, you call me right back.”

“Okay, Amy. Don’t hurry though… I’m okay,” he replied.

Danny was forever talking about the things that Rusty was teaching him. In the month he’d been staying with Rusty, he’d learned to make five different simple meals, separate, wash, dry and fold his own laundry, make a list of things to get at the store and then get those items all by himself and pay for them. Rusty was right about that too… Danny was ready for independence where she was the one who wasn’t. Where Rusty had given up on her… Danny would get frustrated with her but he was nothing if not persistent.

An hour later as she and Danny were headed back to her apartment, her cell phone rang again and her heart skipped a beat upon seeing Rusty’s name on the display. She pulled over and put her hazard blinkers on before she answered so as not to have to give the phone over to Danny.

“Did you get him, okay?” Rusty asked when she answered.

“Yes… I just picked him up. I locked up your house before we left,” she replied.

“Good, because it’s looking like I may be here a while yet,” he sighed.

“That’s fine… he can stay with me tonight then go to the shop with me tomorrow and you can just pick him up from there… whenever,” she said and had to smile at the look of excitement on Danny’s face.

As much as Danny still talked about getting a job, working for AmyCakes was still at the top of his list of great jobs. “If you need
anything
… just let me know,” she finished and then cringed at the suggestive tone in her voice. It was almost like a habit she couldn’t break and this had been the first opportunity she’d had to even talk to him, let alone flirt with him, in weeks.

“Thank you, I appreciate that,” he replied. “I need to get off the phone.”

Within moments he was gone and she sighed. Had she blown it again? It wasn’t her fault that he was so physically attractive that she found herself just staring at him sometimes. Nor was it her fault that the aftershave he wore made her want to jump him whenever he got close enough that she could smell his scent. And finally, it wasn’t her fault that he’d been the best sex she’d ever had… hands down… no one else would ever top him in that area… she was sure of it.

Danny settled in easily enough once they got to her apartment but she had a hard time falling asleep. The following morning she was surprised when instead of Danny constantly asking her if he could work behind the counter, do dishes, sweep or make coffee, he sat at one of the tables and began writing in a notebook.

He seemed focused on whatever it was he was working on so she left him to it. After finishing a batch of dessert bars and loading up the display cases out front, she was surprised when Danny came back to the bakery area and handed the piece of paper to her.

It was a handwritten application. She’d only ever had Renee and the original delivery driver as employees so didn’t really have formal ones printed up to give out to those people who came in looking for a job. Danny had known that… and improvised.

His name and phone number along with Rusty’s address were neatly written at the top of the paper. The kind of work he was interested in was listed in the middle of the page along with the name, address and phone number of the high school where he’d graduated from. At the very bottom were even references with phone numbers. Even with Rusty being one of them she was impressed because he also had one of the staff members at the rec center listed along with Martha from the group home.

Looking back at him she couldn’t help but smile. The pride in his eyes was well founded since he’d filled out the whole thing by himself without any prompting, without any distractions and without hesitation. What could it hurt? Maybe start with a day or two during the week when business was slower… doing clean-up work and dishes.

“Do you have time to do an interview with me now?” she asked with a smile.

A few minutes later they were settled at one of the white tables each sipping a cup of coffee and enjoying a cookie. On the third question Amy asked him, she heard someone enter the shop but couldn’t see the person since her back was to the door. However, the awareness that went up her spine told her who it was without her even having to look over her shoulder.

“I’m in an interview, Rusty. You’ll have to wait until I’m all done,” Danny said with a smile. Then looking thoughtful for a moment he said, “Did the babies come yet?”

“No… false alarm,” Rusty replied. “Finish up your interview… I’ll wait.”

“I see that you’re listed as one of Danny’s references. What can you tell me about him and his ability to do the job?” Amy asked, turning in her seat to look at Rusty.

God he was beautiful… all male. Her heart physically hurt from sitting there staring at him while he stared right back. Though she realized a couple of weeks ago that she was suffering from a broken heart, what she didn’t understand was how much longer it would last.

When would the mere sight of him stop making her breath catch, her heart pound and her thighs burn in remembrance. Maybe his attempts to avoid her were more to ease her discomfort than his own. She should appreciate his thoughtfulness with regards to her feelings but instead resented that she’d been denied his touch for a whole month now.

“I’ll do one better and give you an example of his capabilities,” Rusty replied, holding up a large bag she hadn’t realized he was even carrying. She’d been so focused on his intense eyes, his pleasure giving mouth and the little zing of awareness that stroked her from head to toe that she’d tuned out everything else. It was the closest feeling to being alone with him that she’d experienced in weeks.

“How do you plan to do that?” she asked, hating that just the sight of him left her breathless.

“He can help me install these indoor security cameras, since you still haven’t gotten around to hiring someone to do it yet even though I suggested it nearly a month ago,” Rusty replied, obviously frustrated.

It had been unusually quiet in the shop, even for a Tuesday. So much so that she’d sent Renee home early, so she waved her hand to indicate that Rusty could have at it. She attempted to find things to do, including cleaning off the shelves that housed all the containers of candies, sprinkles and chocolates that she used for decorating cakes, dessert bars and cupcakes. A few times she caught herself just watching him.

He moved with a confidence and grace that left her in awe. His broad shoulders bunched and rolled as he worked on mounting the wireless cameras to
the ceiling in strategic locations around the perimeter of the room.

That wasn’t what she found herself staring at… but rather his flat stomach covered by a plain grey t-shirt. Underneath that shirt were all forms of tempting ridges. She could remember how they’d tightened and became more defined as he’d rocked into her again and again, while looking down between their bodies to watch the pleasure as well as feel it.
Why did she still have to want him so badly?

Turning away in frustration, she went back to cleaning and organizing in between assisting customers. Danny held the ladder that Rusty stood on to mount the cameras along the top of the wall and handed him tools
when he requested them. Once they’d finished that, Rusty fastened a bracket to the top of the wall that would hold the main camera. Danny handed him the last of the electronic components which he fastened to the bracket. Then he sent Danny out to his car to put the tool bag away and get his laptop.

When Danny returned and Rusty finished connecting and powering on the cameras, he and Danny took the laptop and went over to one of the tables near the door. Amy finished up with the last customer and then locked the shop door behind the woman as she left carrying her box of cookies and dessert bars.

Turning back she was blessed with a visual of Rusty bent over the laptop. One hand rested on the table next to the laptop and the other one on the back of the chair that Danny was sitting in. It was a great angle to showcase his body and she enjoyed just gazing at his backside for several moments until she felt him looking back at her.

When her eyes made it up to his, a small thrill went through her upon seeing his scowl. In the short time she’d known him she’d figured out that a frown was better than no expression at all. A dark look at least proved that she had some impact on him still… perhaps not a good one… but it was something.

She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at him and smiled. Just when his hesitation in reacting to her unspoken flirtation threatened to become an awkward moment, his gaze suddenly slid from hers to peruse her body. Appreciation and hunger shown on his face and her heart soared.

For four weeks he’d barely even glanced her way, hadn’t said more than a handful of words to her and certainly hadn’t indicated that he still wanted her…
until now
. She wanted to jump up and down and dance around in a circle. Instead she straightened her shoulders to ensure her breasts perked up just right and that her butt and legs looked their best and walked right past him to start clean up chores. It was her version of taking it slow… baby steps or whatever.

She wanted to squeal with delight when she could feel his eyes devouring her as she moved about the shop, cleaning up and putting things away from the day. It wasn’t a physical touch but it might as well have been because she was hyper sensitive to everything around her just from his bold stare. Just when she wondered how much more of the building tension between them she could take without spontaneously combusting, he said something quietly to Danny who then looked at her.

“Come and watch how the camera works, Amy,” Danny said, a smile spreading across his face.