Page 9 of This Time Around
The scent of a campfire burning followed and I took in the small plume of smoke drifting into the air.There was a crackle of fire but above it all another sound.
Crying.
No, it wasn’t crying, it was the sound of a woman fighting back sobs.The constant sniffle, the choking-coughing sound echoed as I neared the house.
For a moment, I debated heading back to the guesthouse and minding my own business.It had to be Rebecca since I hadn’t seen anyone else on the farm, and she’d made it clear that while I was welcome to stay there, I was notwelcome.
Something shattered, followed quickly by her shouting, “Shit!”
I hurried to the back patio.
I reached the edge of the raised area and stilled at the beauty of the sight in front of me.There was an enormous paved patio area, a brick retaining wall and landscaped area bobbing and weaving around it.It was lit up from a large fire, and had a variety of chairs and tables and two couches surrounding it.
A pergola covered some of the area, draped with white Christmas lights that put out an elegant glow.
Potted plants and flowers were sprinkled around the edges.
And Rebecca.Crouched down, wearing nothing but an oversized sweatshirt and cut off tight shorts.No shoes or socks to cover her feet, and she was gently picking up what I assumed was the glass I’d heard breaking.She was still sniffling, pausing in her work of cleaning up to sniff and wipe beneath her nose.
If she wasn’t careful, she would end up with shards of glass swiped across her face.
I cleared my throat and hit the first cement step, talking as I moved closer.“I don’t mean to scare you, but I heard something break and I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“Okay.”She shook her head and went back to her task.“I’m okay.I’m fine.Perfect.”
She sniffed again.That dark chestnut hair almost sparkled from the light of the fire and, damn it.
My hands curled into fists.
Max’s niece.Married.
Me, too fucked up to give a woman anything good right now.I did not need to feel any attraction to her, but I couldn’t help the fact I was a man in the presence of a beautiful woman.
I fought that back and kept moving toward her, bending down when I got closer, but not too close.
“Where’s your broom?Let me clean this before you cut yourself.”
She held up her hand and a dark trail of what looked like blood dribbled down two of her fingers.“Too late.”Tears streamed down her cheeks in thick, wet lines as she finally looked at me, for perhaps the first time today.
“Damn.”I reached for her hand, but she yanked hers back quicker, shoving it behind her back.
“It’s fine.Just a small cut.”
Screw this.She could barely see with her tears still falling and her entire body trembling.
I kept my hand out, palm up.“Rebecca.Give me your hand.”
She looked up at me.Dark brown eyes, long black lashes wet with tears, eyes red and swollen shot a flash of fire straight through my chest.Slowly, she gave me her hand.
I pressed my fingers against it, using the sleeve of my sweater, and as soon as more blood appeared, I tugged her to her feet.“Let’s get you inside so I can see this in the light.”
“It’s not—”
I was done listening.I kept pressure on her cut and pulled her toward the door of the house, moving carefully around the glass still shattered at our feet.
I pulled open the screen door, holding it with my free hand until she was inside.Guiding her toward the large country farm table in the eating area, I pulled out a chair, glaring at her until she took a seat in it.
“First aid kit?”
