Part 1: No Regrets(Divine Creek Ranch 2)(4)

you need. Why don’t you go on home and, if you don’t mind, I’ll

swing by in a few minutes.”

“What are you going to do?” She wanted to get in her bubble bath as soon as she got home, but he’d piqued her curiosity.

“I’m going to bring you something that will help. Don’t worry, I won’t stay because you need your rest. I’ll see you at your

apartment.” He fished his keys from his pocket and closed her car door for her after she buckled her seat belt. She fished in her purse for her sunglasses, wondering why she hadn’t thought to slip them on before leaving the building.

Maybe because I had six feet, nine inches of man-candy

distracting me?



14

Heather Rainier

Eli allowed her to back out of her space first, and she noticed as she pulled out of the parking lot that he headed the other direction, farther into town. She made the short drive home and was standing in her kitchen gazing into one of the cabinets, trying to figure out which was the least unappealing choice, when she heard him knock.

When she pulled open the door, a delicious aroma wafted to her

nostrils as Eli stood there holding a paper bag and a to-go cup. He had a warm smile on his face as she let him in.

“I brought the cure for what ails you.”

Oh, baby, you have no idea. If I wasn’t feeling like hammered crap, I’d let you cure me good!

“What is it?” she asked as she closed the door and followed him

into her kitchen.

He opened the bag and removed the Styrofoam bowl and plastic

spoon and handed them to her. She pried the plastic lid off the bowl and discovered the origin of the mouthwatering aroma.

“Have you ever had Rudy’s Chicken Poblano and Habanero

soup?”

“Yikes. Habanero? No, I can’t say that I have.” The one time

she’d tried a habanero pepper, on a dare at summer camp, she’d

gagged and coughed for an hour afterward. She could still taste it the following day, and her digestion hadn’t liked it very much, either.

Rachel wanted to keep her tongue in its current uninjured condition and was about to thank him graciously before refusing his offering.

“That is the look of someone who has eaten one whole,” he said

with a chuckle and she nodded sheepishly.

“Rudy removes all the seeds from the habanero before mincing it, so you get all of the flavor and none of the fire. The poblano pepper is mild. The soup will help to open up your sinuses a little. This,” he said holding up the tall to-go coffee cup, “will also help. Rudy brewed it double strength for you. It’s his cure for a headache, especially migraine headaches. He says he hopes you feel better, too.”

Standing there with the steaming bowl of soup and cup of coffee, Rachel looked up at him humbly. He no longer cared about taking her out. He just wanted her to feel better.

She’d held this man at arm’s length for two months refusing, for various reasons, every time he asked her out. Her reasons were

starting to sound weak even to her own ears.

“If you ask me out again sometime, I’ll go out with you.”



Her Gentle Giant, Part 1: No Regrets

15

A wide grin split his face, and he closed his arms around her after she went into his solid embrace. “Angel, you can count on the fact there will be a next time. Let’s get you out of those killer high heels and comfortable so you can eat then I’ll get out of your hair.”

Eli led her to the couch and slipped her shoes from her feet. He rubbed each arch for a few seconds then propped her feet on her

coffee table and said, “Okay, you go ahead and eat. Don’t forget to drink that coffee. Remember, it’s gonna be stronger than what you’re used to.”

“I will, then I’m gonna take a nice long bubble bath and go to

bed.”

Good Rachel tapped her shoulder and said, Now why did I tell him I’m planning on taking a bubble bath?

Naughty Rachel responded, Because I want for him to think of me nekkid in my bubble bath, silly! Why else?

Eli’s piercing gray eyes were warm as he gazed at her, and she

had to wonder if he wasn’t already imagining it. He smiled and said,

“I guess I’ll leave you to it, then.” He patted her knee and rose from the couch. She put her soup down and followed him to the door.

Being out of those heels was helping her feel better, too. He turned to her as he opened the door of her apartment and said, “I hope you feel better soon. I’ll call you sometime and see about cashing in my rain-check for our date.”

Good Rachel rolled her eyes and shook her head while Naughty

Rachel did a jiggling happy dance. “Okay.”

He gave her a sexy grin and bent down to kiss her cheek. His