Back for You (2 page)

She blinked, snapping out of her thrall. “What do you think you’re doing?”

His pupils flared. “You said I wasn’t wanted around here.” His gaze
flicked down to her still moist lips. “I beg to differ.”

Who the hell did this guy think he was? And how dare he come in here and
kiss her as if the past ten years had never happened?

Anger rose, fresh and full blown and she reveled in its power. It gave
her the strength she needed to push him away.

He didn’t budge. She might just as well have shoved a granite statue.
“What do you want?”

She took in his unfailing confidence that she’d fall back into his arms,
as if what he’d done didn’t matter or had never happened. And every hackle she
owned rose to the surface.

Desperate to put some distance between them, she shoved harder. This time
he stepped back, giving her the much needed space she sought.

“What else would I want in Forsythia Falls, darlin’?” Her stomach
fluttered at the familiar endearment, loving the way he still had that sexy
hint of a southern twang in his voice. A remnant from his childhood with his
father’s roving ways. “I want
you
.”

“
Me?
” To her eternal embarrassment, her voice actually squeaked.

But instead of flashing his signature grin, he looked uncharacteristically
somber. “It’s always been you, Thea. Always.”

For an instant she latched on to what he said before reality sank in.

Yeah, right. What he was selling, she wasn’t buying.

The cocky bastard was in for at least one surprise today. Her body may
have reacted with great gusto to Cain’s blistering-hot kiss, but anyone would
have. The guy was sexy as hell. Her reaction didn’t mean anything except she
was a normal woman with an above-average sex drive. Nothing more.

“And I’m supposed to what? Weep for joy? Fall at your feet in a puddle of
blithering gratitude? All because you say you want me, that you’ve deigned to
grace me with your precious attention again?”

She saw what looked like pain mixed with admiration flicker in his eyes,
and gloried she’d struck a hit. Stepping off the banquet seat, she faced him
with her chin held high. “Go away, Cain. Stop bothering me. I don’t have time
for this.”

She turned and stomped over to the bar, silently seething at his audacity.

The bastard was as arrogant as he’d ever been. The passing of years hadn’t
changed that about him either. Not one bit. Nor had it lessened his physical
impact, the sex appeal that practically dripped off of him, or the way he
filled out a pair of jeans.

Those same years had, however, changed her. The girl he used to know was
now a mature woman. One who had learned to harden her heart against men.
Especially against him. She was in control, cool and collected. An island unto
herself.

And there was no fucking way he was going to just show up here and sweet
talk his way back into her bed.

No matter how much her traitorous body still wanted him.

Filled with regret, Cain watched as Thea stormed off to work behind the
bar.

He had his work cut out for him, that’s for sure, but he’d known that
going in. Thea’s rigid posture just confirmed it. And taking in the fiery
blue-green eyes that kept shooting lasers of death his way, he regretted even
more he’d been the cause of all that cool disdain and anger.

Not that he was surprised. Thea had always been strong, even ten years
ago. He’d always admired that about her. Now, she was a force to be reckoned
with—a competent business woman, smart, decisive, in charge. The whole package.
And it made her even hotter than he remembered. Which was saying something
because she’d always wowed him.

Full of confidence and control, strength and determination, fire and
passion, she was exactly what he wanted in a woman. And boy oh boy, that fire. She’d
always had it in spades, but ten years ago it had been the fire of passion and
strength of character. She’d been fun-loving and spontaneous, full of curiosity
about everything. It had been one of his favorite things about her.

But there had always been a sweetness beneath all the bravado. Something
he thought she’d always possess. Now he was very much afraid he may have
damaged it, or worse, destroyed it altogether, leaving only the cool contempt
and disdainful anger she leveled at him now. That trait was new, and he mourned
its manifestation.

It was a certainty he’d ruined any sweet feelings she’d ever had toward
him. Proven by the way she currently looked as if she wanted to do him bodily
harm.

Not that he blamed her.

With a long sigh of regret, he turned away and left the bar.

The brisk walk felt good, soothing his troubled thoughts, as did the familiarity
of everything around him. It was busier than he remembered, even for tourist
season, which had to mean good things for the local economy. The kept up look
of downtown confirmed it. Some stores had changed, and others had refurbished
their storefront, but for the most part it looked the same. And it still felt
like home. Although, it would never really be home without Thea in his life
again.

He’d been a fool to toss away what they’d had. As if something that
special could be found all the time. The truth was their timing had been way
off. He hadn’t deserved her love, hell he still didn’t. But back then he’d been
too young, too afraid of commitment and being tied down to one place and one
woman.

Too much of a fool.

Thank God he was older and a lot wiser now. He just hoped it wasn’t too
late to make things right between them.

The delicious smell of fresh baked goods snared his attention, luring him
into Mama Biggs Bakery. As he passed through the door, he saw the place still
looked the same, bringing back a multitude of happy memories.

He stepped up to the counter, smiling at the owner as she bustled in from
the back of the store. The kind, slim woman had been a fixture in this town
since before his family had moved here. He couldn’t imagine the place without
her. “Hey, Mama Biggs. How are you?”

“
Cain.
” A warm smile lit her face. “I’m good, dear. You down
visiting your mother?”

“Actually, I’ve just moved back, so you’ll be seeing a lot more of me
from now on.”

She blinked, looking surprised, but didn’t ask the obvious question of
why, for which he was grateful. “How wonderful. Your mother must be thrilled.
Is she feeling any better?”

“Yes, she is, thanks.” Her recent poor health was just one of the many
things that had made him realize he wanted to be back here. “I want to get some
of her favorite cookies. Do you have any left?”

“I sure do. The usual dozen?”

“Yes, please.”

As she got his order ready, he thought of all the times he’d come here
with friends, and with Thea. But, as he looked more closely, he couldn’t help
but notice the place needed a few repairs, making him wonder if she was having
trouble keeping up with things.

When his order was ready, he pulled out his wallet to pay, but she waved
him off. “It’s a welcome back present. Say hi to your mother for me.”

Her warm-heartedness was legendary, and the familiarity of it made him
feel good. “I will. Thank you.”

He took the box of cookies from her, and turned to leave, but not before making
a mental note to come back tomorrow and see if he could help out with those
repairs. He used to do handyman work part-time as a teenager to help build up
his college fund. In fact, he often missed it. He’d learned the trade from his
father who’d supported them by picking up odd jobs as they’d moved from place
to place. Teaching Cain to work with his hands was one of the few good things
his father had done for him.

All he had to do was dig out his tools. They were stored over at his
mother’s place along with everything else he hadn’t been able to take on the
road.

With that thought, he left the bakery to meet his best friend for lunch, feeling
happier than he had in a long time. Strange how the idea of working with his
hands again made him feel that way.

Once at Lettie’s Diner, he spotted Jake in a far-corner booth and headed
over.

He’d kept in touch with most of his friends over the years via email, and
by touching base with as many of them as possible whenever he’d come back to
town to visit his mother. But out of everyone here, Jake was his best friend by
far, and the only one who knew about his plan to win Thea back. He was also
Cain’s go-to guy when he needed to run things past a friend, like now.

He placed the box of cookies on the table, and slipped into the booth
across from Jake. “Hey.”

Jake nodded at the box. “What’s the matter, Lettie’s pie not cutting it
for you anymore?”

Cain grinned. “Nothing beats Lettie’s coconut cream pie. I picked up some
cookies for my mother.”

“Hey, boys.” Lettie herself had come out from behind the counter to take
their order. “I saw your mom yesterday. She says you’re back in town for good.”

News sure spread fast in this town. He’d forgotten just how efficient
word-of-mouth was around here. “You heard right.”

“I thought you loved that job.”

Of course she would think that. Ever since he’d gained a little bit of
fame in his hometown, people assumed his job as a reporter was the most
important thing in his life. After all, he’d spent the past ten years
travelling around the world following one story after another. The truth was
he’d simply loved the adventure of it all. Very few knew that in recent years
he’d grown tired of the rootless existence.

Cain gave her his most charming smile. “I did, but I missed your roast
beef and mashed potatoes too much.”

Lettie laughed, taking the hint and dropping the subject. “So I guess
that’s what you’re having for lunch?”

“Oh yeah. And don’t spare the gravy.”

Jake piped in. “Same thing for me.”

“Coming right up.”

When she left to place their order, Jake leaned in. “She’s not the only
one who’s surprised you left your job. You kept talking about coming back but I
never thought you were serious. What happened?”

What had happened was he’d had a life-altering experience. One Cain
didn’t like thinking about. “The short version is that I was at an outdoor café
talking with a source when he was gunned down in front of me.”

Jake’s face registered his shock. “Damn.”

Cain looked away. “Yeah. One moment he was sitting there talking. The
next, bullets were flying and he was face down on the table.” And there wasn’t a
damn thing he could do but watch the man’s warm brown eyes turn blank and
lifeless.

Cain shuddered at the horrifying image he’d never be able to erase from
his mind. In one heart-stopping instant, everything had changed. It made him
take stock of his life, reevaluate what he really wanted. And his priorities
had shifted. Because in that moment, it was Thea’s image that had passed before
his eyes, making him realize he’d never stopped loving her. “That was it for
me. I finished the assignment and made arrangements to leave.”

“Man, that’s rough.”

Cain glanced back at Jake. “Coming that close to death made everything
crystal clear. About coming back here to live, and about Thea. Life’s too short
not to spend it surrounded by the people you love. Sounds like a cliché, but
it’s true.”

A waitress dropped off their drinks, and Cain was grateful for the interruption.

As if reading his mind, Jake leaned in and changed the subject. “So, how’d
it go with Thea?”

Cain grimaced.

Jake laughed. “She shot you down, didn’t she?”

Cain frowned at Jake’s succinct summation of his first meet-up with Thea
since coming back to town yesterday. “With the force of a powder keg dropped
right on my head. She all but kicked me out.”

Jake chuckled. “I told you she would.”

“Yep, you did. Not that I thought any different. It didn’t help any that
I kissed her.”

Jake’s eyes goggled. “Holy hell! You
kissed
her? You’re lucky she
didn’t kill you.”

“Stupid move, I know.” Cain shrugged.
Yet another thing to regret.
“I don’t know what came over me. Before I knew what I was doing I was kissing
her. I guess I wanted to prove she still had feelings for me. That the
chemistry was still there.”

“Did it work?”

“Yeah, I proved it all right. And then she kicked my ass out of there.”

Jake chuckled. “That’s just what you deserved.”

“I know. I didn’t think it through.”

“No kidding.”

Truth was, he hadn’t thought at all. He’d seen her anger and wanted to
break through her walls. It was pure impulse, and a big damned mistake. One he
could add to all the other big damned mistakes he’d made with her.

“I’m not giving up though.” No way.

He’d tried keeping his distance, but he’d been drawn back to her. There
was no way he could stop himself from trying again. He still wanted her, still
loved everything about her, her smile, her spunk, her strength, and the way she
instantly turned him inside out without even trying. She was still the only
woman for him. As far as he was concerned, giving up wasn’t even an option. He just
wished he’d stopped to think about how to handle things with her instead of
rushing over to see her and making things worse.

“Never thought you would. So, what are you going to do next?”

Cain’s mind raced with the possibilities. “I’m not sure, except that I’m
going to give her a little space for the next few days. Give her a chance to
cool off. Who knows, maybe I can wear her down.”

Jake laughed and shook his head. “Not the Thea I know.” He nodded at the
box of cookies. “You need to do some romantic shit like sending her flowers and
candies, or something.”

“Yeah, I was already thinking that.”

“I wouldn’t wait too long though. As far as I know, she’s not seeing
anyone, but I’m not sure, and a woman as hot as she is won’t stay on the market
for long.”