Part 1: No Regrets(Divine Creek Ranch 2)(19)

They stopped for a quick early lunch and got back to his place shortly before his landlord arrived. Charlie greeted her and gave her an application to fill out, which she did after she did a walk-through of the duplex. She could envision the space, a mirror image of Eli’s, with a minimum of clutter, potted plants and a new aquarium. She needed to find a bed and a couch and other smaller pieces. The closet had a large built-in dresser so she’d need a mirror for her bedroom, but that was it. The price was right, and they shook hands on it. He told her he needed to run a background check on her, which was a formality, and he’d be in touch with her that evening to get the keys to her. After he left, she turned to Eli, and his eyes twinkled playfully as she



Her Gentle Giant, Part 1: No Regrets

47

wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to lift her off her feet and hug her.

“Hello, neighbor,” he said huskily before he kissed her deeply. She melted in his arms, and her lips fell open under his onslaught. His warm tongue stroked hers as they stood on her soon-to-be front porch. They were interrupted by the sound of a truck door slamming and a wolf whistle.

“Hey, you two, get a room!” Jack Warner called out as he came around the front of his SUV to open his wife’s door for her. Eli released Rachel with a sigh and a little whimper. She giggled up at him but hoped this didn’t mean that their time alone together was about to evaporate before her eyes.

Rachel stepped off the porch to go and greet them. She hugged Grace Warner, who looked completely radiant as usual.

Grace looked into her eyes with concern. “Rachel, I heard what

happened last night. I’m so sorry! I’m glad you’re all right. I brought you some stuff. Hey, Eli,” she tugged on Rachel’s arm and pulled her toward the SUV, “Rachel and I need some girl talk for a minute. I’ll be right back, honey. Come here, Rachel. Let me show you what I brought you!”

Grace pulled her around to the rear doors of the SUV, which was full of shopping bags. Had Grace gone to the mall in Morehead to shop? Grace turned to her conspiratorially. “I never saw two people more meant to be together than the two of you. That lip-lock he had you in was very impressive!” she whispered. “Did you spend the night here last night at his place?” Grace’s enthusiasm was undeniable.

“Uh-huh!”

“Is he a good kisser?”

“Uh-huh!”

“Did you fool around last night?”

“A little.”

“A little?” Grace snorted a little in disgust. “Did you get laid or not?”

Rachel laughed out loud. “You sound more like Charity every time I see you, Grace. We fooled around, but we haven’t made love… yet.”

“Yet?”

“We were headed that direction when you pulled up.”

Grace’s eyes opened wide, and she grimaced then turned to grab

shopping bags. “Crap! Sorry. Let’s get this stuff unloaded, and we’ll get out of your hair. Why were you on the other porch?”



48

Heather Rainier

“Because I’m renting out the other half of the duplex. Eli and I will be neighbors.”

“For now,” Grace said with a smirk. “You were meant to be together.”

“I’m not moving in with a man I’m not married to. Uh, no offense, Grace,” she added, hoping she had not offended her friend who, for a short time, had lived with her three husbands prior to marrying them.

“Oh, none taken. They knew I wouldn’t settle for a live-in arrangement, either. The damage to my house moved me in a little faster than we anticipated, but it never occurred to me to go anywhere else but to them.”

“I felt the same way, Grace. Last night when he told me about the duplex and offered me a place to stay, I knew I needed to go with him. I’ve been fighting the attraction I feel for him since I first met him. I’m not gonna do that anymore.”

“I can’t believe it took so long for the two of you to get together.”

“You know why I couldn’t go out with him.”

“Why the hell not? I mean, look at him!”

“Yes, I know, but I’ve also seen the way women throw themselves at him in the club. Grace, I’m the jealous type, and I don’t think I’d react well to them doing that if we were together. I was afraid I’d only cause him trouble at work. I know Ethan and Ben’s policy about no domestic strife in the bar.”

Grace grew thoughtful. “Rachel, they mean no fighting between couples if one is employed there. As in, don’t go in there and squabble with him.

Ethan would understand if you had to ask someone to keep her hands off Eli. You remember that crap with Patricia the night I met you? That happened because she wouldn’t keep her grubby hands off of Ethan. Ethan had no problem with it because I was a lady when I did it. That’s all he asks, Rachel. No hair pulling or cat fights.” Grace peeked through the inner window of the SUV to see where the men stood a short distance away, talking, before she continued.