The Flavor Of Love (22 page)

“
No thanks is necessary, sweetheart. I’m just thankful I got to you in time. If something had happened to you, I don’t think I could have made that call to Fay and Auntie Loo,” he gave her a tired grin.

“
Keigo, I’m not scared.”

“
Huh?”

“
I’m said, I’m not scared anymore either,” Etta admitted.

His eyes shot wide. His eyes darkened and a lazy grin spread across his lips. He nodded in an understanding that only they could share. Keigo clapped his hands together to get everyone’s attention.

“
Okay, listen up! From the looks of things while I was up there, the upper road is washing out as we speak. We’re going to have to wait until the rain stops and the ground firms a bit to move in the heavy equipment to smooth out and lay some more gravel for the main road leading to the highway. That means everything, including the inspections, will be pushed back.”

Everyone mumbled in agreement, which Etta realized that this must be a common occurrence for the employees of this camp, minus her almost dying of course.

“
With that said, where is Nan?” Keigo searched the crowd.

Etta was sure the ever-loyal Nan wasn’t too far away from Keigo. She was right.

“
Right here, Keg.” The attractive tall and voluptuous African American woman came forward.

Etta wanted to dislike her but she couldn’t because Nan, short for Nanette, was a likeable person. She was a guy’s woman and a girl’s “home-girl.” She had the lovely face and figure of a plus-sized model, a serious passion for watching and playing all sorts of sports, and she wore a boy-short haircut with large hoop earrings. Whenever she removed the earrings, the guys knew she was going to whip their ass in a game of one-on-one and had to bring their “A” game.

Etta also saw the way Keigo’s other close friend, Marco Funicello, couldn’t take his eyes off of Nan. She remembered him from the
courthouse because he too was drop dead gorgeous in an Italian sort of way but his nose was overly large for her taste. She also heard people around the court refer to him as the “Little Emperor.” She wondered if it was his dictatorial temperament or his short stature that got him the nickname. Silently she wondered why it was the short men that always wanted to climb up the mountain of a tall woman and Nan had some tall mountains to climb.

“
Nan, I need you to call and reschedule the inspection. Also get a call sheet for all the camp counselors to call their students and apologize for the delay. Make sure everyone knows it is due to something that is beyond our control. Explain about the weather and hazardous conditions. Hey, you know the drill. If there is anyone new, team them up with some of the ‘been there, done that’ crowd.”

“
Right now?” Nan asked giving him a sassy, “don’t even think about it” look.

“
No,” Keigo laughed. “Do it in the morning. Etta will have the day off so get Reko to--”

“
I…won’t need the day off, just a little tired at the moment,” Etta piped in. “Look at all the mud we’ve tracked in on the floor. I need to get that taken care of first thing in the morning before breakfast is served in here. And--”

Keigo intervened. “And she won’t be doing it because she is taking the day
off.
Marco?”

“
It’s on the list and I’ll help Nan,” Marco stepped forward and stood next to Nan.

Etta noticed he was about two inches shorter then Nan’s five-foot-nine stature. If Nan put on high heels she’d probably kiss the top of his head. She also saw Reko giving Keigo an “I told you so” smirk over Marco’s head and wondered what that was about.

“
Reko--”

“
I’m in charge of rolling out breakfast and such, I know, and what pray tell will you be doing in the morning?” Reko lift a knowing eyebrow at Keigo.

Keigo ignored his implication and said, “I’m sleeping in. Only wake me if the building is on fire.”

“
Is that your building or someone else’s?” Reko teasingly asked. “I’m just asking because we share the same cabin.”

Carla eased up beside Reko. “Big brother, you’re as subtle as a horse. I think I have mice in my cabin, so why don’t you camp out over there. I’m sure Amy will be delighted.”

A big grin came to Reko’s face. It was apparent that the thought of bunking with Amy was something he was looking forward to.

Keigo addressed the room, “It’s been a long night. Thank you all for joining in the search and everyone sleep in. There is nothing we can do until this rain ends. Just make sure the phone calls are the first thing you do before starting your day!” He ran a hand over his hair and grimaced as he felt matted mud.

Etta reached up and touched her face and hair, realizing she must look like something a dog dug up.

“
Jacob and Ben, can you do a drive through on the levies around the lower ranch grounds closest to the lake and see how they’re fairing before you call it a night? If it looks like we are going to have something to worry about then you can call me.”

“
Will do, Boss,” they said in unison.

Etta stood up on shaky legs. “Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate how you all pitched in to look for me. I apologize for interrupting everyone’s evening,” Etta said. She was feeling truly embarrassed by all the trouble she caused. If she had listened to Reko and stayed on the trail, none of this would have happened. She reached into her parka pockets and it was full of mud; the berries probably fell out from all the commotion.

Everyone said their goodnights and strolled out in separate directions. On their way out of the recreation area, individuals eased her fears of being a bother with their kind words, smiles and hugs of comfort in spite of her filthy appearance.

As she watched Keigo’s easy interaction with his camp team, she admired the obvious respect they had for him. It spoke volumes about his character. Her thoughts drifted back to his lips on hers and the strength of his arms as they pulled her from the makeshift grave holding her with all that he had, to the point of it being painful. Still, his intensity reminded her that she was still alive and it gave her the chance to let him know she cared about him.

The man she loved dearly died. She felt as if he’d taken her with him. For the first time since that tragic day, she no longer felt the need to pretend she was living her life to the fullest just to keep her mother and brother from worrying about her. Meeting Keigo was changing her. Etta was beginning to feel again and as ridiculous as it seemed, she believed she was falling in love with Keigo.

The one thing Etta could say about herself was she wasn’t shy and she didn’t feel the need to put up pretenses. She wanted to spend the rest of the night in his arms, the only place she’s felt completely safe for a long time.

She saw him frown and rub at his stomach. “I see your tummy's hurting you.” Etta made her way to Keigo's side. “I'm not surprised after all the stress I've put you through today. Once I get cleaned up, how about I go to the kitchen and heat you up some clear broth I made for you earlier today.”

“
Thank you, baby.”

She nodded and a broad smile came to her lips. She loved the way he easily called her “baby.”

“
I also made you some fresh squeezed lemonade with some of the tea in it, that way you won't have to suffer the taste. Besides, the lemons have healing properties of their own. Just remember it’s in the staff refrigerator and your name is on the pitcher.”

A wide grin came across his dirty face. “Etta, I don’t know what to say. As busy as you’ve been, you had the time to be concerned about me and my needs?”

“
Keigo, just because we haven’t seen much of each other lately, it doesn’t mean you haven’t been on my mind,” she said with a smile and a saucy wink. Their eyes embraced and held. She had the urge to kiss him.

Etta didn't even care if they would get a mouth full of dirt in the process. Even so, this wasn't the time or place. They needed to talk before she allowed her heart to fall for him any more than it already did. There was no denying they were physically attracted to each other, but physical attraction wasn’t enough to sustain a relationship and she wasn’t one to slip in and out of relationships for the sake of good sex or easing her loneliness.

Reko cleared his throat and Carla said, “Hey, there’s no way Reko and I are going to allow you back in that kitchen tonight, Etta. Not after what you’ve been through. So why don’t the both of you go to Keigo’s cabin and we will fix you both some dinner and some hot toddies to heat you up.”

“
I think things are already a bit heated,” Reko mumbled and grunted as his sister’s elbow made contact with his ribs.

“
Thanks,” Keigo said turning his warm gaze on Carla. “For the offer and for hitting Reko before I did.”

She nodded with a soft chuckle. “What are
friends
for?” Then she turned to Reko and elbowed him once more, “Hey, Mr. Buffed and Sexy, come on and allow them some time alone without you all up in their business!”

“
Hey! That’s Etta’s nickname for me, Ms. Body Bodacious, and it doesn’t sound right coming from my sister’s mouth!” Reko whined as he reluctantly followed on Carla’s heels towards the kitchen.

“
Don’t forget to take your shoes off at the door!” Etta yelled after them.

Keigo shook his head and looked over at Etta. “You’ve been at the name association thing again, I see.”

Etta smiled as infectious grins set the tone. “I told you I was bad at names.”

Keigo scowled at her and crossed his arms over his chest. “Hmmm…”

“
Why are you looking at me that way?” Her brow, stiffed with drying mud, lifted in question.

“
I don’t remember you calling me buffed. Are you saying I should work out more?”

“
Of course not,” she balked with a mischievous grin. “If that ass of yours gets any tighter, you could crack a walnut between your butt cheeks.”

He threw back his head and laughed. “Good answer.”

“
Just telling it like I see it,” Etta fluttered her lashes at him. The smile in his eyes as he looked at her contained a sensuous flame that called to her basic needs.

“
Etta, I know Carla put you on the spot about sleeping in my cabin. You don’t have to if you’re uncomfortable with it. But after what happened to you this evening, I’m not ready to let you out of my sight yet.”

Keigo held out an open hand to her.

“
If Carla hadn’t opened the door for us, I was going to ask because I didn’t feel like sleeping alone.” She reached out and caught his hand in hers. His wonderfully strong fingers intertwined possessively with hers as they strolled out to his cabin.

Keigo pushed open the door of his cabin. Etta took in the surroundings as she left her dirty sneakers on the porch with her socks stuffed in them and walked barefooted inside. It was similar to the one she occupied with Nan, except larger. Two full size futons that were sofas and beds rested on opposite walls. In the center of the room was a large picture window for viewing outside while eating at the small table for two. Currently the off white wooden shutters were currently drawn and latched closed.

There was a fire roaring in the black potbelly stove in the corner and she walked silently across the Indian hand woven rugs that were on the floor, moving closer to warm her hands over the stove.

She felt his presence close to her before she felt his hand brush a wet dirty braid from her shoulder. He put a hand on the back of her neck and massaged. Etta leaned back into the warmth of his touch.

“
You’re shivering,” he whispered in her ear as his lip grazed against her earlobe. “Go and get in the shower while I plug in the coffee maker so we can have some hot water for some honeyed cider after dinner.”

She nodded and he dropped his hands to his sides. Etta made her way to the bathroom, shutting the door close with a long sigh and a soft smile on her lips. It only took Etta less than five minutes to shed all evidence of her nightmare. She piled the dirty, ripped and blood stained clothing on top of an extra towel. Rolling it up in a ball, she kicked it aside in the corner. There was no reason to salvage those jeans and t-shirt. She never wanted to see them again.

Walking across the teak wooden planked floor, she reached in and turned on the shower. Etta took a moment to test the temperature with her fingers before stepping into the treated teak wood shower. She slid shut the glass doors and closed her eyes as the warm, soothing water spayed over her head.

She released a gasp as the water stung her skin where the skin was scraped from the fall. Etta washed away the grunge and watch it swirled darkly around her feet before it went down the drain. The tiny bell anklet Neil had given her was gone. Oh God, she almost died today.

Etta bit her bottom lip as emotional pain rushed through her. She braced her hands against the shower wall with her head bowed under the spray. The sudden heaviness centered in her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes and she wept aloud.

Wrapped up in her grief, she wasn’t aware of Keigo’s entrance until she felt his naked powerful body against her back sliding his hands around her waist. Her eyes opened but she remained still, unable to look at him and bear her raw pain to him. She kept her eyes focused on his beautiful hands, with their long slender fingers. They were clean. He must have washed the grime off of them in the kitchen.