Reluctant Romance (10 page)

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Risa walked up the driveway behind Dana, Rachel, Cara, and Deb. The humid evening air was stifling. She pressed the ice coffee Dana had gotten for her at the drive-thru to the back of her neck, closing her eyes as she focused on the cool sensation.

“You’re supposed to drink it, not wear it."
 

Risa opened her eyes to see that the other girls had turned and were looking at her.

“Oh, sorry,” she giggled. Putting the straw to her lips and taking a big slurp, she caught up to the other girls. The coffee had a sobering effect, but she was still feeling the drinks a little.

In the backyard, the party was in full swing. Kids splashed in the pool, burgers smoldered on the grill, and people stood around in clusters holding giant red plastic cups. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

“Do you see anyone we know?” Deb asked as they slowly scanned the party looking for familiar faces.

“Over th-ere,” Risa hiccuped.
 

Dana furrowed her brow at Risa. “Did you just hiccup?”

Risa nodded, covering her mouth as another hiccup made its way out.

“Oh, geez.” Dana rolled her eyes. “Let me get you something to eat.”
 

Risa watched Dana march off in the direction of the grill as she followed the others toward the knot of friends she had pointed to earlier.
 

“Hey, Rachel! Deb! Risa!” A short, plump dirty-blonde aptly named Sandy called out to them from the crowd. Like most of the people in the circle they were approaching, Risa had gone to high school with Sandy. She’d been thin then, but this was fourteen years and a couple of kids later. Risa looked down at her own trim figure and gave a silent prayer of thanks she’d spent all that time being faithful to her diet and exercise regimen.

The two groups merged into one bigger group while they all greeted each other. Deb introduced Cara, who didn’t know most of the others.
 

“Where’s Dana?” someone asked.

Risa pointed toward the grill where Dana was strong-arming her way through the crowd. They watched with rapt attention as she pushed her way to the front, demanded a hamburger, and then sashayed off to the side to bury it in condiments.

“She hasn’t changed a bit,” said one of the guys, Jesse, and everyone burst into laughter.

 
Dana bounced back to the group, licking ketchup off her finger. “Hey, everybody.” She went round the circle greeting their old friends, then handed the burger to Risa.

“Th-hanks,” Risa hiccuped, eliciting giggles from the other girls.

She hadn’t realized how hungry she was, but the sight of the burger made her stomach growl, and she bit in with gusto.
 

“Isss good." She chewed her way around the words. The beef was perfect, charred on the outside but rare on the inside. Dana had loaded the bun with ketchup, mayonnaise, and lettuce. Risa took another huge bite and a glob of ketchup escaped, dropping on her shirt.

“Damn,” she said swiping at it with a napkin.

Dana sighed. “We can dress her up, but we can’t take her anywhere,” she said to the crowd.
 

Risa made a face at her, then, polishing off the burger she made her way to a large trash barrel setup on the edge of the yard to toss out the napkin, plate, and empty coffee. On her way, she passed someone handing out beer and took one, partly so she wouldn’t look funny standing around without a drink and partly to keep the nice buzz she had going.

The party was fun. It was good to see old friends she hadn’t talked to in years, and there were plenty of them scattered around the yard, some single and some with their families. But after a couple of hours of mingling and reminiscing, and a few more beers, Risa was feeling bored and a little tired - not pass-out drunk tired, but the tired you feel when you’ve had a long, hot day of drinking.

They were standing in their own tight circle, contemplating leaving when Risa saw Dana’s face light up.
 

“Well, look who’s here,” Dana said, casting a sly wink at Rachel.

Risa felt her heart jerk in her chest when she saw who Dana was referring to. Kenny, Bill, and Connor.
 

Dana started waving enthusiastically, and the three made their way over to the girls. A master at fixing people up, Dana somehow maneuvered things so Rachel was standing next to Kenny. In the process, Risa ended up next to Connor.
Why did she suddenly feel like an awkward school-girl?

 
Connor looked down at Risa’s shirt. “Geez, maybe you should think about carrying around a bib. Almost every time I see you, you’re wearing your food,” he joked.

“What? Oh, yeah.” She felt her cheeks grow warm remembering the stain she had purposely put on her shirt the first day he came to Healthy-Pet. Now he probably thinks I’m a ditz for real, she thought.

“You’re still in town, Connor? I thought you’d be back to the city by now,” Cara said.

“I’ve still got some unfinished business here.” He cut his eyes toward Risa.

“Connor might be staying for a lot longer too," Bill said, causing raised eyebrows all around.

“Well, if things go well…” Connor looked like he didn’t want to explain further, so Risa didn’t ask, but she wondered what the heck they were talking about. Staying longer?
 
Was there something going on with Connor and Healthy-Pet that she wasn’t aware of?
 

Before Risa could stop it, a hiccup slipped out and everyone turned to look at her. She covered her mouth.
 

“Sorry,” she apologized, heat creeping into her cheeks. Cripes, now she looked like a ditz and a drunk.
 

“Well, it must be exciting, jetting all around…” Risa tuned the conversation out. The heat, sun and drinking were getting to her and her thoughts turned to all the work she had to do in the clinic the next day to get it in tip-top shape for Connor’s visit on Monday.

“Are you okay?” Risa looked up to see Dana peering at her.

“Oh, yes… sorry, I’m just a little tired and I have a lot to do tomorrow. I think I might like to head home now.”

Dana raised her eyebrows. “Oh, well, I’m not ready to leave, but maybe Connor could give you a ride. You guys came in his car, right Kenny?" Risa saw Dana and Kenny exchange an odd look, and her eyes narrowed. Those two were up to something.

“Yes, in fact, Connor needs to pick us up some more beer.” Kenny gestured toward a six-pack on the ground in front of him, one lone beer standing in it.

Connor grimaced. “Sorry, I did forget to pick some up before.” He turned to Risa. “Sure, I can give you a ride. Gotta head to the store anyway,” he said.

Risa looked uncertainly at Dana.
Why was she suddenly very nervous?

Dana nodded at her. “That would be great…if you don’t mind?”

“Of course, not.” Risa let out another hiccup, then rolled her eyes at herself.

Following Connor to the driveway, she stumbled on a rock.
Damn sandals!
Connor reached out to steady her.

“I’m okay, it’s these darn sandals. I keep tripping on the-m.” A hiccup escaped just as she was saying that last word and Connor laughed.

“Suuure, it is,” he teased.

“No, really…” Risa started to feel angry, but then she realized how ridiculous it was to be mad. Clearly she was feeling a buzz, and the hiccups combined with stumbling spoke for themselves.

She started laughing and swatted at Connor’s arm. “I’m not that bad…”
 

She almost stumbled again when he looked at her, and she noticed how the smile creases lit up his deep-blue eyes, and emphasized that damn dimple on his chin.
 

“Let’s just hope I can get you home in one piece,” he said putting his hand on the small of her back and leading her over to his truck.

Indeed
, she thought as the warmth of his hand on her back sent tingles up her spine, making her regret the drinks she had earlier and hope the alcohol in her veins didn’t overrule her common sense.

###

Risa enjoyed the ride home, much to her surprise. They talked and laughed about the people they had seen at the party whom they had known as kids. She felt comfortable with him, much like she had at the dog park.

She directed Connor through her neighborhood to her condo. He pulled into her driveway and turned the engine off.

“Thanks for giving me a ride.” Risa pushed open her door.

“Hey, wait. I’ll walk you to your door.”

“Oh, you don’t need to do that.” Risa waved her hand.

“Are you kidding? My father will have my hide if he finds out I drove a lady home and didn’t walk her to the door,” he said in mock consternation.

Risa laughed and waited for him to come around to open the door for her. She fished for her key as they strolled up the walk side by side.
 

She was still a bit tipsy and, in her momentary distraction, forgot to watch for the piece of slate that was sticking up in the walk way. Her foot hit the edge of it and she stumbled. Connor reached out and caught her. She turned around and suddenly they were face to face, his arms around her waist.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Risa could hear the chirping of crickets and smell the sweet scent of honeysuckle flowers releasing their perfume into the evening air. A warm breeze caressed her cheek.

Risa’s heartbeat kicked into high gear, her stomach fluttering. Forgetting to breathe, she felt momentarily frozen in place. Staring up into Connor’s eyes she saw them deepen with desire and then, slowly, he lowered his lips to hers.

His kiss was tentative at first, as if he was being cautious in case she pulled away. But she didn’t. Instead, her arms surprised her by finding their way around his neck.
 

She pressed her lips harder against his, and he took the hint, pulling her in closer, his tongue darting in between her slightly parted lips.

The low sound in his throat made her feel warm in places where she hadn’t felt warm in a long time. She pressed closer to him, enjoying the feel of his hard body against hers. Opening her lips wider for him, she sent her tongue out to meet his. A soft moan escaped her lips as she plunged her fingers into his hair.

###

Her soft moan sent jolts of pleasure through his body.
 

He pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. She tasted sweet, fruity, and he wanted more.
How long had it been since he’d kissed someone like this?
 
Too long, Connor thought. Too long since anyone had made him
feel
like this.

But then he remembered how little he knew about Risa Kennedy and the suspicions the company evaluation had uncovered. Not to mention that she’d clearly been drinking, and Connor didn’t want to be a part of something she might regret later because she’d been drunk.

Slowly, agonizingly, he pulled back before he lost control. Keeping his eyes on Risa’s face, he tried to gauge what she was thinking.
Did she feel the same way, or was it the alcohol?

Looking down at her, he noticed how young and vulnerable she looked. This close, he could just make out a light smattering of freckles that started on her nose and radiated out toward her cheeks. Just like when they were kids. Even the silly stain on her shirt made her seem more appealing to him - unlike the models he usually kissed, who were obsessed with their appearance. She opened her eyes and rewarded him with a look into their hazel depths.

He released her, brushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, still swollen from their kiss. Connor took a half step back and stuffed his hands in his pockets to stop himself for reaching for her again.

Risa cleared her throat. “Thanks for the ride,” she said, glancing back at his truck.

Suddenly Connor felt like a tongue-tied schoolboy.

“You’re welcome.”
Was that the best he could come up with?

“Umm… well, I should be getting inside.” She pointed to the door.

“Right, I guess I’d better get back with the beer or there could be trouble,” he joked.

She turned, taking a few steps toward the front door.

“So, I’ll see you first thing on Monday, then. Around nine?” Connor asked.

She turned, smiling. “Yes, that’s perfect."
 

He stood and watched her put the key in the lock and open the door. Stepping inside, she turned to face him, gave a little wave, and shut the door.

Connor started for the truck, his lips still burning with their kiss. He mentally kicked himself for being so lame. He was never usually tongue-tied around women, but somehow Risa was different. He’d wanted to ask to see her again - outside of work. But something held him back.
 

Turning the key in the ignition, he realized that might have been for the best. It wasn’t wise to get involved with her while they were in the middle of the acquisition…or perhaps ever.

Glancing back at the house he reminded himself about his suspicions and hoped what he was feeling for Risa wouldn’t cloud his judgment when it came to doing the evaluation of her company. Pulling out of the driveway, he couldn’t help but wonder if
that
was actually part of her plan.

###

Risa collapsed against the door, letting out her breath in a long whoosh.
 
Had she been holding it all this time?
 

Her hand went to her lips and she felt her stomach flutter, thinking about the kiss. She was confused at all the sensations swirling around inside her.
 
Surely she couldn’t be falling for Connor Dunn?
 

She might have blamed the fruity drinks Dana had plied her with, but she realized it had nothing to do with the alcohol--the kiss had snapped her sober faster than a pot of black coffee.

With alarm she realized she hadn’t wanted him to stop.
 
Should she have invited him in?
 
No, probably best that she didn’t. They had to work together on the acquisition, and it could get awkward if they were romantically involved.
 
Still, she couldn’t deny the way he had made her feel.