Page 14 of Rainwater
Realizing she was standing in the middle of the kitchen floor holding two steaming bowls of vegetables, she made her body heel. Taking two deep shuddering breaths to calm herself, she proceeded into the dining room.
“I’m not that fast, but I’m working on it,” Ellie was saying.
“Barrel racing is more than just speed, Ellie. It’s knowing how to read your horse, how to maneuver, how to handle the pressure.”
Jennifer was surprised at the serious tone Corey used. Warmth curled around her heart to know that he was interested in her daughter’s passion. “Don’t let her get you going on barrel racing. She’ll never let you alone.”
“Oh, Mom,” Ellie said, wrinkling her pert little nose.
“Don’t ‘Oh, Mom’ me.” Jennifer set the bowls down on the table. Suddenly Corey was there pulling out her chair for her. Jennifer’s amazement showed on her face.
“So what do you think of my mom? Want to date her?” Ellie asked the question as if she were asking him if it was raining.
“Ellie!” She looked over her shoulder and met Corey’s peacock-green eyes. Her face flushed to the roots of her hair.
“Ellie, a man would have to be a fool not to want to date your mom. And I’m no fool. But I don’t think I’m your mom’s type.”
Jennifer couldn’t speak; she was so embarrassed.
“Sit down, Jennifer, or the food will get cold,” he said with amusement so close to her ear, his warm breath feathered the sensitive shell, raising goosebumps on her flesh. Jennifer plopped into the chair. As he scooted the chair forward, he whispered in her ear so softly that Ellie couldn’t hear, “Youlook beautiful tonight, Jennifer.” His hand brushed her shoulder before he walked back around the table and sat down.
“He held my chair too, Mom. Isn’t that nice?”
“It’s surprising, that’s for sure.” Her voice came out hoarse and she cleared her throat before going on. “I didn’t think there were any gentlemen left in the world.”
He looked up from dishing out his chicken and dumplings. “It’s not every day that a gentleman meets ladies worthy of gentlemanly conduct.”
His hot, possessive eyes held hers. The look made her insides turn to honey and her pulse stuttered a beat. It was not a gentlemanly look at all.
Jennifer stared down at her plate and concentrated on the white china. Dear God, it would almost be worth a one-night stand to explore what this man had to offer.
Passion, a little reckless voice whispered. Real live honest-to-God passion. But she wasn’t a reckless woman anymore. Somehow she’d lost that verve for life somewhere through the years.
Jennifer remained relatively quiet most of the meal and watched her daughter interact with Corey. Ellie, for all her mischievousness, was not that comfortable around men she didn’t know, yet she took to arguing with Corey about the best way to maneuver a horse around barrels as though he was a longtime friend. She laughed with him and teased him, and he teased her right back.
Jennifer felt vulnerable for the first time in thirteen years and it frightened her. She didn’t know if it was good or bad, but she wouldn’t get the chance to find out. She had to accept that he was leaving right after this meal and she would never see him again.
That thought made her want to cry. She should have been smart in town and never invited him. Then she wouldn’t haveto live with the memory of his loneliness and the knowledge that this little dinner had affected him so much. She still remembered his reaction when she had invited him.
Yet she still got angry because she wanted something that wasn’t possible.
Corey turned his attention to Jennifer when Ellie excused herself to go to the bathroom. “You’re pretty quiet, Jennifer. Don’t you have any questions of your own?”
Jennifer shrugged and toyed with the pie left on her plate. “It seems moot to ask you about anything when you’re leaving town.” She knew she sounded sullen and petulant, and she shifted in her chair, hating this feeling inside her.
“You knew I was just passing through, Jennifer. I told you so.”
His voice was apologetic and somehow wistful, and she felt shame for her bad behavior. “I’m sorry. It was mean-spirited of me to make that comment. You’re a guest and I’m not a very good hostess.”
He got up from his chair and went to the window. “You’re a fine hostess. I understand exactly where you’re coming from, darlin’. Believe me, if I—” He cut off his words as Ellie came back into the room.
“Corey, are you a rodeo rider?” Ellie asked abruptly.
Corey turned from the window at the sudden suspicion in Ellie’s voice as if she’d just discovered something that she hadn’t realized before. “I was. I’m not anymore.” He was surprised at the bitterness in his voice. He noticed how Ellie seemed a little rigid and wary of him, and, to his utter surprise, it hurt.
Ellie glanced at her mother and they both seemed to knot up as if his presence in the room had been somehow offensive.
Damn. To diffuse the tension, he moved from the window and grabbed Ellie’s hand. “How about that ride I promised you?”
