To Do List (4 page)

By the time they got out of the house, Belle was pleasantly full and ready for the day.

“Do you want me to drive?”

Her mother just rolled her eyes. “We’re taking the van. Your car is too low for me.”

“That and she can’t be in charge in your car,” Chelsea said in an undertone, making Belle laugh. Something else she got from her mother, she supposed.

They stopped off at a few smaller, family-run shops before heading to the mall. It was a good thing she’d earned a great bonus this year! It was also a good thing her mom had driven the van or all the loot wouldn’t have fit in her BMW’s trunk.

Then on to meet her grandmother for lunch. Where sadly, Nana pelted her relentlessly with questions about her life, her lack of a significant other, her long hours and her general state of
not quite good enough for all that schooling you had, missy.

Belle adored her grandmother but she wasn’t disappointed when her grandfather showed up to escort her grandmother to the salon to get her hair done.

Her mother heaved a big sigh when they walked into a pretty quiet house to wrap the presents.

“God, I need a drink after that. I’ll make the Irish coffee and you two get the room set up to wrap.” Her mother headed into the kitchen and the sisters dragged the bags and packages into the master bedroom.

Belle pointed at Chelsea. “You, out for a few minutes. Let me wrap yours and Mom’s stuff and I’ll call you when I’m done.”

“Yeah and I have to pee anyway.” Chelsea waved her away and headed out as Belle closed the door behind her. She found the things she’d picked up for her mom and sister and wrapped them quickly, finishing right as her mother barged in.

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25

Lauren Dane

“Have a coffee. Poor Chels has to have decaf and no whiskey but you and I can have the good stuff.”

“Nana is a wee bit hopped up today,” Chelsea said, returning to the room. She began to pull out her own bags and packages to wrap and their mother did the same.

“A wee bit? Girls, I love my mother-in-law with all my heart, she’s been good to me since the day I met her but I was overjoyed when they decided to live in Florida. I’m sorry, Belle. She means well. She does.” Her mother took another several sips of the heavily laced coffee.

“I know she does.” And her grandmother hadn’t been wrong. Not really. What good was that gorgeous condo overlooking the water when she was never home to enjoy the view? It hadn’t been that hard to move to San Francisco for her job, after all it was only an hour away from Davis. But in truth, it wasn’t the city that was the problem, it was the job. Or rather, the expectations.

“And um, jeez, Belle, you overdid it a bit.” Chelsea indicated the heaps of loot Belle had bought.

“I didn’t. I had a good year. What’s the point of working eighty-hour weeks if I can’t share the benefits of that with my family? I missed being here for a lot of stuff.”

“We don’t want your presents, Belle. We want
you
,” Chelsea hugged her. “You’re not happy. I’ve never seen you
not
wanting to check your phone, not wanting to talk about your job. Not ever. Even when you worked at Swenson’s in high school you wanted to tell me about your work.” Her sister again indicated all the stuff waiting to be wrapped. “A sweater, a train set, it’s not a substitute for
you
. You’re precious to us. Not your stuff. Not how much you make.”

“I’m sorry, okay? You think I like it that I don’t see you all?” Belle attempted to focus on how her sister just haphazardly cut the wrap and slapped tape on the package. It helped clear her mind as she made her own precise cuts and taped the paper correctly, making the package look its best. And it held back the frustrated tears too.

“You think we like not seeing you? For what, Belle? What is worth missing your sister’s baby shower? I don’t want to make you feel bad like Nana did. I am so proud of 26

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you. You’re committed and dedicated and I know you’re a smashing attorney. But at what cost? You can’t tell me other attorneys all work this sort of schedule.” Her mother sighed and began to wrap.

“You’re like a ghost,” Chelsea said softly. “You have always been such a huge part of this family. Making charts for who sits where at every holiday. Color coded cards for parties and meal planning. You iron pillowcases and tea towels. When you’re not around, well, there’s a Belle-sized hole in the world and it sucks.”

Belle sat on the floor next to the bed and put her head in her hands. “I’ve been alone you know? I work my ass off every day. I get up before sunrise, I get home way after dark. I work. That’s all I do. But if I want that corner office, if I want what I’ve always wanted, that’s the cost.”

“This isn’t supposed to evoke guilt. I respect your drive and your dreams but I don’t want to lose a child over it. There has to be another way.” Her mother sat next to her.

“I don’t know. I need to think and break it all down. Right now, we need to wrap presents and then I have to head over to the Bettencourts to get some milk and butter for baking, remember?”

They continued to wrap, joined, on and off, by other relatives who showed up. Kevin came in and hauled presents out to the tree and the boys came in with Belle’s dad, rambunctious and demanding cookies.

“I’ll run over to the dairy and take them with me. Two birds and all that.”

“Bless you,” Chelsea said from her perch on the bed.

Admittedly, it was selfish of her too. She had to get away for a bit and she also wanted to see Rafe. It wasn’t like she thought the night before meant they were getting married, but she’d had a crush on the man from a pretty young age. Having sex with him—or third base and if it was third base, the kids were really wild these days—was really amazing. But more than that, it was him seeing her as a woman, in a way she’d lain in her bed at night, hands clasped, begging in her prayers for that blew her away so much.

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27

Lauren Dane

Suddenly she felt more alive than she had in a long time. She still needed to deal with her job, but for a while, she could be a fun, sexy woman sleeping with a man she loved and trusted. The wonderful normalcy of that, while still being totally hot was just awesome and giddy making.

The boys chattered in the back seat and got all excited when they turned up the long drive leading to the dairy offices and their small retail store. Once she’d parked and they got out, the boys ran toward the fences nearby where the milk was pasteurized, homogenized and bottled for transport. Rafe and Gabriel, Rafe’s oldest brother had convinced their father and two other brothers to switch over to organic feed and no hormones or antibiotics for the cows. They’d lost money for two years but ever since had been turning a decent profit. Rafe’s dedication to organic farming was really sexy. Well, everything about him was really sexy but a man with a passion about something important was something Belle found alluring.

“Belle Taylor! Honey, how are you?” Beatriz Bettencourt saw Belle and drew her into a hug. “It’s so good to see you. Raphael told us you were coming home for the holidays. You’ll have to come over tomorrow for lunch.
Sopas.
I’m making it today. And several loaves of bread since I knew you’d be here.”

Portuguese sweetbread was heaven and Belle loved it. Add the fresh butter they made there on site and a cup of hot coffee and you had yourself heaven. And
sopas
, the rich, tasty soup with
coives
, or greens, usually kale, potatoes and hunks of beef so tender they fell apart, spiced just right, was another favorite of Belle’s.

“You are an angel of heaven and I adore you, Mrs. Bettencourt. It’s great to see you too. And I’d love to come to lunch tomorrow. Thank you for inviting me. You know I’d never want to miss
sopas
and sweet bread.”

“I thought I saw a beautiful woman. Belle Taylor, you’re a sight for very tired eyes.”

Gabriel Bettencourt came in and hugged her, kissing her cheek. “Rafe said you were here. What brings you out? Not that I’m complaining mind you. You’re much nicer to look at than cows.”

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“Flatterer. Or, I think so anyway.” Belle laughed. “I’m here for some milk and butter. We’re making cookies and bread. And the boys would love a tour at some point before they go back to LA.”

“I thought that was Chelsea’s van outside. But look here, even better than a pregnant woman married to someone else, I get a single one I fancy more than a little bit.” Rafe walked right over to her and kissed her square on the mouth, surprising and pleasing her even as she didn’t know what else to think about the public declaration of affection.

“Hello there, Annabelle. What brings you out here?” He smiled as he drew his thumb down her jawline. He was dusty and smelled of hay and fresh, cool air and she had to stifle the urge to rub her hands all over him.

“Um, well, hello to you too. I’m here to get milk and butter, we’re baking this afternoon and the boys wanted to see the dairy so I thought I’d bring them along.”

“Belle is coming to lunch tomorrow, Raphael.” Beatriz looked at Belle with undisguised interest, in a way she’d never looked at her before.

“That’s a very fine idea. Since she’s staying in my guest room I’ll drive her over. All right with you, Belle?” Rafe had a sparkle in his eyes Belle guessed had something to do with the guest room comment.

“Sure. Thanks.”

“And bring the kids back a day or two after Christmas. Rosemary and her family are coming so we can get the boys a tour of the dairy and they’ll have kids their age to play with.” Gabe spoke with one eyebrow slightly raised. He lazily shifted his gaze to his brother for a moment and back to Belle.

Before Belle could reply the boys were jumping up and down happily agreeing.

Belle grinned. “That’d be great. Thanks, Gabe.” She looked back to the boys. “Now, let’s get this stuff back home or your grandma is going to tan my hide. Sugar cookies from Rita Taylor’s kitchen are a big task and I know she needs your help.” And Belle didn’t know what else to do or say to Rafe and his family right then. Clearly last night meant something to him, more than just a quick roll in the proverbial hay.

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Lauren Dane

But what she hadn’t been ready for was how much the idea pleased her. Which in turn scared the bejesus out of her.

“I’ll walk you to your car then, help you carry the stuff.” Rafe grabbed the box with the milk and butter and led the way.

Belle waved back over her shoulder, thanking Mrs. Bettencourt and telling them she’d see them the following afternoon.

Rafe loaded the stuff into the van and went to Belle’s window, leaning in to steal another kiss from her. He liked how she’d responded, not pulling back or showing embarrassment.

“I’ll see you when you get home tonight.”

“Okay.” Her voice was a bit breathless, her pupils nearly swallowed the irises of her eyes and he found he rather liked the effect he had on Ms. Annabelle Taylor, esquire.

“I’ll bring you some cookies.”

“Mmm, cookies. Thank you, Belle.”

He watched her drive off and wanted to laugh at the look she’d had on her face.

Consternation. He’d flustered the unflappable Annabelle Taylor and from what he’d seen since they’d found her on the side of the road the night before, she needed a lot more unflapping. She may be a total control freak but in bed she was on fire and marvelously inventive. He’d have to see just what else she had in store for him.

“Mind telling me why you kissed Annabelle Taylor like she was way more than your best friend’s little sister?” Gabe asked lazily as he came to stand next to Rafe.

“Gabe, I think I fell in love with Belle a long time ago, only my common sense blew me off and reminded me she had more in her future than a dusty farmer-slash-dairyman.

She still deserves that but damned if my common sense isn’t currently being pummeled by my heart.”

“Love? What the hell are you talking about?” Gabe’s easy stance straightened as he turned to face his brother fully.

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“I’ve always loved Belle like family. I’ve liked her, respected her, admired her drive, even if I’ve often thought she was too stiff and a control freak. But she was indeed, Brian’s baby sister and in that way, she was like Rosemary to me. But at that big party they had out at the farm when she graduated from law school? I don’t know, I just looked up and saw her and she wasn’t like a sister anymore. She was a woman and all the love I’d had for her was still there, only different. Better because I’ve known her forever and I know she’s good and kind and thinks family is important like I do. She’s a girl from a farm, even with a suit on, she’s still one of us and she’s not ashamed of it.” Rafe kicked the dirt a moment.

“And the kiss?”

Rafe gave him a general update on the kiss and brief overview of the night before. “I think I realized, the first moment I, um, yeah, anyway, I think I realized this morning when I was operating on a few hours of sleep and wanted to be sure her tire was okay, just how much I want Belle the woman. I know her and that’s special. I want something with her.”

“But?” Gabe always had read him well.

“But she has dreams, Gabe. You know how she is. Even when she was like eight or nine she had these freaking flowchart things for every little decision in her life. She wants the letterhead and the office and I want that for her. But I don’t know if there’s room for me
and
for that.”

“I take it you haven’t spoken to her about any of this.”

“I’ve been thinking about it all day. I just came to the decision to pursue her for real only about two hours ago. It’s one thing to want her, it’s another thing to go after it for real. I had to mull it over and think on it.”

Gabe slapped his shoulder and laughed. “Mom saw that kiss. She loves Belle, she loves the Taylors. She’ll make sweetbread until Belle is so fat she can’t fit in her car to leave town if she has to. Hell, Mom would be happy with anyone other than Sarah.” His brother snorted at the mention of Rafe’s ex. “But Belle is family already and I have no doubt Mom’s in there right now planning her little heart out.”