Then Came You ; Written with Love Page 6

  She turned and left the room, and no one called after her or followed her.

  And that was just fine with her.

  * * *

  Troy walked down the corridor inside the main building of Grandeza Acres, with Rick trailing behind him.

  Helene paused as she passed them. “I was just coming to meet you two. She’s out in the courtyard.”

  Troy frowned. “Is she well enough for that?”

  Helene nodded. “Dr. Johnson was okay with it. She said she wanted some fresh air.” Gesturing for them to follow her, she led them to the glass doors on the interior side of the hallway.

  As Helene went on about her work, Troy and Rick stepped out onto the brick patio.

  Jeannie reclined on a lounge chair, a magazine spread across her lap.

  His first instinct was to admonish her about straining her eyes by reading in the fading light, but he knew better than that. “Hi, Mama J. How are you feeling?”

  “Better.”

  Rick stepped forward. “Hey there, Mama J. It’s good to see you up and about.”

  She chuckled. “Hey, Rick.” She waved them forward. “Sit down, you two. Take a load off.”

  After they’d each grabbed chairs and pulled them near, they joined her. The setting sun still cast its yellow light over the patio, but he could feel the chill of the evening coming on.

  “How much longer are you going to stay out here? You know it gets pretty cold at night.”

  “Pshaw, Troy.” She gestured to the thick afghan thrown over the foot of her lounger. “I’ve got that in case I get a chill. You worry too much.”

  “It’s all out of love.”

  She reached up, her withered hand stroking over his jaw for a moment. “I know. And I love you right back.”

  Rick said, “I fixed the sink. It’s working just like new.”

  “Thank you, Rick.”

  “No problem. Troy’s money is thanks enough.” He grinned.

  Troy elbowed his friend. “You’re a regular saint, Rick.”

  She laughed. “Well, he’s always entertaining.”

  While Rick cracked jokes with his grandmother, his mind wandered to thoughts of Robyn. The kiss he’d shared with her had been an unexpected joy. He’d opened up to her in a way that he hadn’t in years, and on a level he never had with anyone else. Something about her called to him, promised him a safe haven against the storms raging inside him. Back when they were younger, she’d played that role well. He’d had no shortage of teen angst, considering his home life, and she’d always been there to provide a soft place to land.

  He’d been unable to stop talking once he started. She’d listened to him, and while she’d held him accountable for his actions, she hadn’t belittled or disrespected him.

  In many ways, sitting close to her on the cold concrete floor hadn’t been very different from sitting next to her on the couch when they were teenagers. He vented, she listened. She asked questions, he gave answers. It was the same dynamic that had always existed between them.

  He’d been so lonely back then. Sure, he’d had his friends, the guys he played basketball and pulled pranks with. But none of them wanted to listen to his problems. He’d made every effort to keep them from learning just how screwed-up his home life really was, because he knew they’d never understand.

  But Robyn was different. She gave him the gift of a listening ear, of a caring heart and open arms. He’d kept some of the more upsetting details to himself during their talks, not wanting to overburden her. Still, her presence in his life had been a balm to the pain of his teen years, and he would never forget how much she’d meant to him.

  After all these years, we still fit together.

  He remembered the feeling of her lips touching his, of her embrace, of her lithe body pressed against him. That brief contact had awakened a yearning in him, one he’d thought had been extinguished long ago.

  Mama J cleared her throat. “Are you with us, Troy?”

  Snapped back to reality by her question, he straightened up in his chair. “Sorry about that, Mama J. Just a little distracted.”

  She gave him a knowing look. “I just bet you are.”

  Rick shook his head. “As I was saying, do you remember that time we toilet-papered the school?”

  “You mean freshman year after we won the homecoming game against Phillips Academy? Of course I remember.”

  “Man, the next day, it looked like a snowstorm had hit.” Rick leaned back in his chair, looking off into the distance as if seeing the scene in his mind’s eye. “I just wish it hadn’t rained. It was a pain in the ass to clean it up.”

  Mama J cut him a sharp look. “Language, Rick.”

  “Sorry. But what about sophomore year, when we plastic-wrapped the principal’s car? That was epic. Do you remember the look on Dr. Byrd’s face when he came out to the parking lot?”

  Troy cringed.

  Mama J appeared displeased.

  “What?” Rick looked back and forth between them.

  “So, you participated in that mess, Troy?”

  Troy sighed, cutting his eyes at his friend. “Thanks for dropping a dime on me, Rick.” Up until this little story time, Mama J hadn’t known Troy was in on that prank.

  Rick winced. “Sorry, man.”

  “You two.” Mama J’s tone was sharp. “If I wasn’t so tired, I’d go upside both your heads.”

  “I wouldn’t blame you.” Helene appeared next to them. “Are you about ready to go in, Jeannie?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I’m about ready to fall asleep.”

  The men stood and helped her to her feet. Helene handed her the old carved walking stick she used and draped an arm around her. “I’ll get her tucked in. Have a good night, guys.”

  “Thanks, Helene.” Troy leaned in to kiss his grandmother’s brow. “I’ll be back to see you in a few days.”

  Jeannie yawned. “Okay. ’Bye, darling.”

  He watched as Helene escorted her inside, then turned to Rick. “Man, I can’t take you anywhere.”

  “My bad, dude. I thought she knew. I thought everybody knew. Grandeza’s roughly the size of a postage stamp.”

  Walking through the courtyard toward the breezeway that connected the rear parking lot to the front lot, he fished around in his jeans pocket for his keys.

  “So, what’s happening at the job, with you and Robyn? Has she sprung the trap yet?”

  He shook his head. “Rick, you’re tripping.”

  “Am I?”

  “Listen. If she’s trying to mess with me, she’s got a funny way of doing it.” He gave his friend a brief recap of the storage-room incident.

  Rick’s eyes widened. “Wow. Y’all kissed, huh?”

  “Yes. So, I think that effectively puts your revenge theory to bed.”

  He emerged from the breezeway and crossed the grass in front of the building. “I don’t know, man. Maybe she’s just biding her time. Maybe she wants a shot at standing you up, the way you did her.”

  “You’re such a conspiracy theorist.”

  “Can’t help it. I watch a lot of those crime documentaries.” He scratched his chin. “Think about it. If she seduces you, gets your feelings caught up in her web of deception, then it’ll hurt that much more when she finally gets you.”

  He shook his head as he walked up to his car and unlocked the door. “Rick, she’s not out to get me. And even if she was, it would be worth the risk.”

  A few spaces over, Rick climbed into his truck, leaving the door open. “The kiss was that good, huh?”

  “Hell, yeah.” There was chemistry between them, an undeniable attraction that hadn’t been dampened by time or distance. “And I intend to see just how far this thing between us is gonna go.”

  Rick yanked his door closed, then buckled up and fired up his truck
. “Good luck, my man. Keep me posted. I might need to identify your body.” With a wink and a laugh, he pulled out of the space and motored away.

  Troy laughed as he got into his own car. Everybody needed a crazy friend, and Rick definitely had him covered in that respect.

  Chapter 7

  Friday morning, Robyn pulled into a spot at The Caffeine Connection and cut the engine. The coffee shop was part of a strip of stores that had been in downtown Grandeza ever since she could remember. Many of the current tenants were new, but the building had been there for decades. A hair salon, a clothing boutique, a drop-in child-care place and a post office rounded out the small shopping center.

  When she entered the coffee shop, she inhaled the heavenly aroma of roasting beans. It was just after eight, but still a little earlier than she’d normally be out before work. Only Troy’s invitation could have drawn her from the comfort of her bed, out into the early morning air. She’d dressed in a pair of dark denim jeans, a white turtleneck and sneakers. To keep things simple, she’d pulled her hair into a low bun, brushed on a little makeup and placed a pair of small gold hoops in her ears. She was presentable, yet comfortable.

  She went up to the counter and placed her order for a small blond roast coffee and a croissant. Leaning against the end of the bar, she waited for her order, while watching for Troy’s arrival. The windows lining the front of the shop gave her a great view of the parking lot and the road beyond it.

  She’d just gotten her drink and pastry when the door swung open, causing the bell above it to jingle. She looked toward the sound and let her gaze sweep over Troy. It seemed no matter how many times she saw him enter a space, the novelty would never wear off. He wore a black sweater, brown slacks and black loafers. It was the first time she’d ever seen him without boots on, but the black Stetson was still perched on his head.

  He took off the hat as their gazes connected, and a smile that could only be described as sexy stretched across his handsome face.

  He generated such a heat inside her, she marveled that the coffee in her cup didn’t come to a boil.

  Physical attraction was just the beginning. There was no ignoring his drool-worthy handsomeness. But the things she’d always found attractive about him, like his gentle heart and his honesty, remained. Time had been good to him in many ways. He’d grown into his looks and matured emotionally as well.

  “Morning, Robyn.” His deep voice broke into her thoughts.

  “Good morning.” There were other people in the shop, and the sounds of their conversations reminded her of their presence. But when she looked at him, she felt as if they were the only two people in the world.

  What is he doing to me?

  “Go ahead and sit. You don’t have to wait for me to order.” He approached the counter.

  She nodded. “Okay.” She prided herself on being put together but being around Troy left her on the verge of swooning. Taking her drink and pastry in hand, she moved toward one of the two empty tables in the back and sat down. A short time later, Troy joined her. As he raised his mug of hot chocolate to his lips and formed an O shape to blow away some of the steam, she swallowed. The scent of the chocolate wafted toward her. Mixed with that fresh, masculine scent that followed wherever he went, it was almost her undoing.

  “So, how long has this place been a coffee shop?”

  She thought about his question, grateful for a diversion. “About a year and a half, maybe? I know the Sullys retired and moved down to Nevada.”

  “That sounds about right. I know the last time I was here, about two years ago, it was still Sully’s Ice Cream.”

  She smiled. “We spent a lot of time here back in the day.”

  “We sure did. After school and on weekends, this was the hangout spot.”

  She looked around the space as she sipped from her mug. The new owners had changed a lot, which made sense considering the differences between an ice-cream parlor and a coffee shop. Still, a few pieces of the original decor remained.

  “The walls are still the same color, I see.” Troy pointed behind her. “They kept the same tables, just repainted them. And they kept one of those framed drawings of an ice-cream cone.”

  “I guess it’s sort of an homage to what used to be here.”

  He chuckled. “Good memories here.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you remember that we had our first kiss here?”

  She squinted. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure. It was at the table behind us.”

  She turned and glanced that way.

  “Remember? The table used to be bright blue. I brought you here after a football game for a dish of cookies and cream—your favorite.”

  She looked at him, wondering why and how he remembered so many details of that night. “You remember all that?” It touched her that he could still recall something so sweet, a remnant of her youthful eagerness.

  “Yes.” He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “When we kissed the other night, it brought back a lot of great memories, Robyn.”

  She drew a deep breath. “We should really talk about that. It didn’t mean...”

  He squeezed her hand, and she stopped in midsentence.

  “I don’t want to talk about what it didn’t mean. Do you remember what you told me that first day, in your office?”

  She blinked a few times. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “You told me you only gave second chances where you felt they were warranted.”

  She nodded, recalling what she’d said. “Yes. I remember now.”

  “So, the real question is, do you think what we once shared warrants a second chance?”

  Her mouth fell open, and she snapped it shut.

  “I’ve told you what happened, why I didn’t come for you on prom night. I was honest with you—now I’m asking you to be honest with me.”

  She swallowed.

  “I still care about you, Robyn. And I’m pretty sure you still have feelings for me.” He tilted his head to the right. “If I’m wrong, and you don’t want to pursue this, I promise to respect that. But I can’t help sensing that there’s something special between us.”

  She looked down at the table, where his hand was wrapped around hers. Maneuvering around until their fingers were laced together, she met his eyes. “You’re not wrong, Troy. I do still care about you.” How could she not? Didn’t he know he was her first love? That she’d measured every other man she encountered by the feelings he inspired in her, and that no one could ever match him in her heart?

  He smiled. “Then let’s do this, Robyn. Let’s just see where things go.”

  She felt her chest tighten. “I don’t know if I can offer you any type of commitment right now. It’s...complicated.”

  “I’m fine with that. I’m not asking for a commitment, or for any labels. I’m just asking for a chance to spend time with you and get to know you for who you are now.”

  She inhaled, then exhaled slowly. What would be the harm in spending time with him? They were both adults now, and there was no peer pressure, no societal expectations or disapproving parents standing in their way. They were free to do as they pleased. And when she looked at him, she had a feeling pleasure would play a major part in this arrangement. There’s nothing stopping me from walking away if things go bad. Hell, I’ve even got a job offer in another state waiting for me.

  Finally, she nodded. “I’m in.”

  “Great.” He moved forward in his seat, leaned in.

  She met him halfway, savoring his kiss. He tasted of chocolate and whipped cream. And when her lips touched his, any semblance of hesitation she might have harbored melted away.

  * * *

  When the kiss ended, Troy could feel himself grinning. “I’m glad we’ve come to this agreement.”

  Robyn’s shy answerin
g smile warmed him nearly as much as the heated kiss. “So am I.”

  He was still holding her hand, and he didn’t want to let go. But if he was going to finish the last of his drink before it got cold, he couldn’t simply hold on to her forever.

  She seemed to be thinking the same thing, and they unlocked their interlaced fingers almost simultaneously.

  “You know, there’s no reason folks on the ranch need to know we’re seeing each other,” she remarked, brushing the crumbs from her croissant off the table.

  “I agree. Mixing romance and work can get a little sticky.”

  “Eventually they will probably know, with Grandeza being as small and dull as it is. There’s not much to do around here besides gossip.” She gave a little chuckle, one that held both amusement and resignation. He watched her, trying to gauge her mood. “I’m not too worried about that. I’m more concerned with discovering you.”

  The soft smile she’d had earlier returned. “Well, what do you want to know?”

  He led with the biggest question on his mind. “Have you dated much during the time I was gone?”

  Her eyes widened. “Wow. Right to the point, eh?”

  He shrugged. “I shoot from the hip, as they say.”

  Shaking her head, she answered, “Not really. I’ve had three or four boyfriends. There’s always so much going on at the ranch that I really haven’t felt like there was time for dating.”

  “Were any of those boyfriends serious?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean by serious, Troy.” She pressed her lips together into a thin line before speaking again. “Are you asking if I was ever engaged? If I discussed marriage with any of them? Or are you asking me if I slept with them?”

  His jaw tightened. He leaned back, realizing why she’d reacted that way. “I’m sorry. I don’t want you to think I’m grilling you, and you can feel free to reveal whatever you’re comfortable with and keep the rest to yourself.”