Honeysuckle Summer (6 page)

She regarded him with frustration. “It doesn’t work that way, Carter. I’m plenty comfortable with Sarah and Annie, but I can’t leave here with them, either. Don’t take it personally.”

He backed down at once. “You’re right,” he said, looking flustered. “I’m sorry. I don’t totally understand how something like this works. Worse, I’m the kind of guy who automatically wants to make things better. I shouldn’t have pushed.”

“It’s okay,” she said, not wanting to ruin his lovely gesture. “But I do think you should go now. I need to fix the kids a snack and then get started on supper before Sarah and Travis get home. They were doing some kind of remote for the radio station today.”

“And they’re not back yet? Where’s the sitter?” His worried expression was far more telling than the simple question.

Under other circumstances, she would have found
his attitude insulting, but she understood why he was concerned. It just grated that it had to be that way. “She came back a while ago. Want me to call her in here so you can see for yourself that the kids are in good hands?”

He winced at her sarcasm. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she said with a resigned sigh. “I understand why you felt the need to ask. I really do.”

“Okay, then, I’ll see you soon. Maybe next time I drop by, I’ll bring the girls over. Would that be okay? I know Mandy would love to see the garden. She’s not going to believe I actually pulled off an actual flower garden. Up until this year I’ve stuck to vegetables.”

Raylene regarded him with a penetrating look. “Carter, what’s going on here? Are you still trying to make up for accusing me of being negligent with the kids? Or am I your pet charity case?”

He looked annoyed by the question. He took a step closer, but something in her expression must have warned him away, because he immediately backed off. Oddly, she felt suddenly bereft, as if she’d missed an important opportunity to feel alive again.

Holding her gaze, he said quietly, “If you don’t see what’s going on here, then I’ll have to figure out some way to make it plain.” For the second time he looked deep into her eyes, his gaze steady. “I like you. I enjoy your company. And one of these days, I have a hunch I’m going to kiss you, Raylene.” He grinned. “By then, you’re going to be ready for it.”

She trembled at the warning and the promise. She just doubted that such a day would ever come. Because no matter how attracted they might be to each other, a relationship simply wasn’t in the cards.

“I have a garden in my backyard,” Sarah announced with wonder that evening. She turned to stare at Raylene. “How’d that happen?”

“Carter Rollins,” Raylene said, her voice tight.

Sarah frowned. “Okay, let me see if I can figure this out. Carter Rollins made what seems to me to be an incredibly sweet gesture, and somehow that’s annoyed you.”

“It’s not the gesture that annoyed me,” Raylene insisted. “It’s what he wants in return.”

“Which is?”

“Me,” Raylene said, still not able to get over her shock that a man as sexy and appealing as Carter would want someone with her emotional baggage. “He obviously has some knight-in-shining-armor complex or something.”

“He’s a cop. Don’t they all want to save the world?”

“Well, I don’t want to be his project.”

“But you do want him,” Sarah guessed. “I can see it in your eyes. The guy turns you on.”

Sarah was the second person to suggest such a thing. Even Walter had figured it out, and he hadn’t even had to see her face to do it. Obviously there was no point in faking a denial. “Well, if you weren’t madly in love with Travis, Carter would probably turn you on, too. He’d turn on any woman with a functioning libido.”

“But your libido has been in hibernation,” Sarah said, fighting a grin. “Is that what you find so annoying? You’re suddenly faced with the fact that you’re still alive?”

Raylene scowled at her, but Sarah merely waited her out. “Okay, yes,” she said finally. “I don’t want to feel anything for him or anyone else because there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. No man is ever going
to want to be tied to a woman who can’t leave the house.”

“If I recall, most bedrooms are
inside
houses,” Sarah teased.

“You know what I mean,” Raylene said. “My situation isn’t normal. It may never be normal.”

“Didn’t you tell me after your second appointment with Dr. McDaniels yesterday that she’s optimistic?”

“Of course she’s optimistic. Do you think she’s going to come in here, throw up her hands and tell me I’m beyond hope? Shrinks don’t like to admit defeat.”

“Or maybe she really believes you’re going to get better,” Sarah countered. Her gaze narrowed. “Or did I miss something? Did something happen on Friday to leave you sounding so discouraged? Now that I think about it, you’ve been in this weird mood ever since that session.”

“I’m just facing reality,” Raylene said.

“Meaning?”

“The medication didn’t do a thing to help. I felt so good, too. I was calm and relaxed. Dr. McDaniels had this really soothing tone that helped me. I was so ready to walk out of the house. I just knew I could do it.” She sighed. “And then, the second I tried to step outside, I nearly came unglued. It was bizarre. I had absolutely no control over it. Talk about a reality check.”

“Gee, and you’d been on the medication and in treatment for how long? Two whole days? I’m shocked,” Sarah said with exaggerated disbelief.

“It’s not funny,” Raylene said. “There should have been some sign of change.”

“Was Dr. McDaniels expecting a miraculous change?” Sarah asked.

“No.”

“What exactly did she say?”

“Not to be discouraged, that it could take a while for the medication to kick in, that I might need a stronger dose or a different medication, blah-blah-blah.”

“Oh, sweetie, I know it must have been frustrating, but she’s right. You’ve been suffering with this disorder, phobia or whatever it is for a couple of years now. It’s not going to vanish overnight.”

“It might never go away,” Raylene said. “I need to accept that.”

“Don’t you dare give in to such a defeatist attitude!” Sarah said heatedly. “I will not allow you to give up, especially after just two sessions with Dr. McDaniels. Do I have to call the rest of the Sweet Magnolias and stage an intervention? Because I will, if that’s what you need. You are better than this, Raylene Hammond. You are not a quitter. And, frankly, if a man as sexy as you seem to think Carter Rollins is suddenly wants to hang around, I’d think that would be motivation enough to keep you fighting to get better.”

“I never said I was going to quit,” Raylene said. “You don’t need to resort to an intervention. I just said I need to accept reality.”

“Accepting is barely one step away from giving up,” Sarah said, obviously still agitated. “Not an option, is that clear?”

Raylene regarded her with amusement. “If Walter could only see you now. You’re definitely not the meek little woman who let him and his parents get away with bullying her.”

Sarah blinked at the comment. “You know, you’re right. I have changed. And while we’re on the subject
of Walter, what’s this I hear about you trying to fix him up with Rory Sue? The word is out the two of them were at Rosalina’s the other night.”

Relieved to have the focus off her mental state and off Carter, Raylene merely grinned. “I thought it might be fun.”

“Are you crazy? Rory Sue and Walter?” She shook her head. “If he ever took her home to Alabama, both his parents would wind up in the cardiac-care unit of the local hospital.”

“Like I said, fun,” Raylene repeated. “You can’t possibly expect me to believe you actually care about what those two awful people think.”

“No, but I don’t necessarily want them dead.”

“Well, their state of mind and health are no longer your concern, and Walter’s life needs shaking up. It’s time he stops pining for what he lost when the two of you got divorced.”

“Walter has hardly been pining for me.”

“Of course he has. He just knows he doesn’t stand a chance now that you have Travis in your life, though frankly, the fact that you haven’t set a wedding date yet must be giving him hope.”

Sarah regarded her indignantly. “You know perfectly well that there are a lot of reasons we haven’t set a date yet. Getting the station up and running has been a lot of work. With such a small staff, we couldn’t both be gone for even a brief honeymoon, and we agreed we want a big wedding. That takes time to plan. And then there are my folks. My dad’s health hasn’t been good, so he hasn’t been up to traveling.”

“Okay, I get it,” Raylene said. “But does Walter?”

“He certainly ought to by now,” Sarah said. “The two of us were always a terrible match, anyway.”

“True enough,” Raylene said. “He fed your insecurities. Not intentionally, maybe. It’s just the way things were as long as you were living under his parents’ thumb.”

“Let’s get back to Rory Sue,” Sarah said, once again looking bewildered. “Seriously? You honestly think those two belong together?”

“They’ll have to figure that out for themselves,” Raylene said. “But I do think she’s self-confident enough to give him a run for his money. Walter needs a challenge.”

“Meaning I’m a wimp,” Sarah said, looking disgruntled.

“You were a wimp,” Raylene concurred without hesitation. “And now you’re not. You are the woman you were meant to be—strong, confident, comfortable in your own skin. Watching the transformation has been amazing. You’re amazing!”

Sarah’s expression brightened at her words, but then Raylene realized the change had nothing to do with her. Travis opened the kitchen door and at the sight of him, Sarah practically glowed with happiness. It was that way whenever he dropped by, which was most nights and weekends. For a man who lived blocks away, he was underfoot a lot.

“Hey,” he said in his low, sexy drawl, his gaze on his fiancée. Raylene might as well not have been in the room.

“Hey,” Sarah said, equally oblivious to the fact that they had company.

“I’ll just go and check on the kids now,” Raylene
said, backing out of the kitchen. “Don’t let the casserole burn.”

She shook her head as she left. She doubted they’d heard a word. It was a toss-up whether her friends or dinner would go up in flames first.

T
he following Saturday the kids had gone to the ball field with Sarah and Travis, and Raylene was alone in the house, when Carter’s truck pulled up out front. Two teenagers climbed out. Raylene guessed these were Carter’s sisters. The girl who appeared older wore the sulky, bored expression of someone who wanted to be anywhere else but here. The other teen was gazing around with frank curiosity as her brother led the way to the front door.

Filled with a mix of anticipation and annoyance, Raylene held it open as they approached.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you today,” she said, her tone light but chiding.

The younger girl frowned at Carter. “You didn’t call to say we were coming or to see if she’d be home? What is wrong with you? That is so rude.” She grinned at Raylene. “You have to make allowances for him. Our parents did try to teach him some manners. Honest.”

Raylene smiled. “I’m sure they did. Do you suppose he’ll remember to introduce us? I’m Raylene.”

“And I’m Mandy,” the young teen replied. “Sourpuss here is Carrie.”

“That’s no way to talk about your sister,” Carter scolded.

“Oh, come on,” Mandy protested. “She’s been cranky all day.”

“I can wait in the truck if you find my company so objectionable,” Carrie snapped, then glanced apologetically at Raylene. “Sorry. You shouldn’t have to listen to our family squabbles.”

“I don’t mind,” Raylene said, feeling an unexpected sense of camaraderie for this girl who’d lost her parents just when she was entering the vulnerable teenage years and needed them the most. “Come on inside,
all
of you.”

“I wanted the girls to see the garden and to check to see if it needs watering or weeding,” Carter told her. “I hope that’s okay. We won’t stay long.”

“Of course it’s okay. How about some lemonade or sweet tea before you go outside again?” Raylene asked. “Even for June, it’s miserably hot today. And I baked sugar cookies yesterday.”

“Sounds good to me,” Mandy said eagerly. “Nobody bakes at our house. Carrie used to, but then she discovered that cookies have…” She lowered her voice to an exaggerated whisper and added, “
Calories!
”

Carter nodded sadly. “It’s true. That was the day our source of home-baked cookies died.”

Raylene watched Carrie’s expression. Even though her brother and sister were obviously teasing, the barbs clearly hit home. Carrie looked as if she might cry. Again, Raylene felt an unexpected connection to her.

“Well, consider me your new source for cookies,” Raylene told them. “I bake two or three times a week. Travis grabs a handful every time he passes through the
kitchen, which he seems to find excuses to do a dozen times while he’s here every day. He’s like some kind of bottomless pit when it comes to sweets. I can’t tell you how much Sarah and I envy him.”

Interest flickered in Carrie’s eyes. “Are you talking about Travis McDonald, the guy on the radio?”

Raylene nodded.

“He lives here?” Carrie said, clearly excited by the possibility that she’d stumbled into the home of a local celebrity.

“No, but Sarah does. They’re engaged, so he’s over here a lot.”

“Then you see him all the time?” Carrie persisted.

“Quite a bit,” Raylene confirmed.

“Oh, my gosh! He is so sexy on the air. That voice…” She made an elaborate show of fanning herself.

Raylene grinned. “Yeah, he has that effect on me, too.”

Carter appeared fascinated by that news. “Okay, I’m a guy. You’re going to have to explain it to me. What does Travis McDonald have that, say, I don’t?”

Carrie rolled her eyes at the question, but Raylene met his gaze. “Sorry. It’s the voice. Not that the package is anything to sneer at, but that deep, slow, sexy drawl is something else.”

“Does Sarah know her fiancé gets you all charged up?” he asked.

To Raylene’s regret he sounded more curious than jealous. “It took a while, but I think she’s gotten used to women swooning every time he opens his mouth,” she said.

“Do you think we could meet him sometime?” Mandy asked.

Carter regarded her as if she was a traitor. “Not you, too?”

“Hey, I’m a girl, too,” Mandy said, then regarded Raylene hopefully. “Is he coming by today?”

Raylene nodded. “He and Sarah should be back soon. They take the kids out for pizza after they play T-ball, but they usually get Tommy and Libby back here for their naps.”

Carrie regarded Carter hopefully. “Can we stay?” She turned to Raylene. “Would you mind?”

“It’s fine with me,” Raylene told her as she took glasses from the cupboard and poured lemonade for everyone. She opened a tin of freshly baked cookies and put them on a plate. Mandy and Carter reached for them eagerly, but Carrie ignored them and went to the back door to look out at the garden. After a minute, she turned, an expression of shock on her face. “Carter, you did that? You planted all those flowers?”

He winked at Raylene. “I had a lot of guidance.”

“Can we go check it out?” Mandy asked, joining her sister at the door.

“You
may,
” Carter said, subtly correcting her.

Mandy stuck out her tongue. “
May
we?”

“You may, if you’ll get the hose and water everything while you’re out there,” Carter said. He turned to Raylene. “It needs it, right?”

“It does, and I would appreciate it,” Raylene said, then almost regretted giving permission when she was left alone with Carter, who was studying her with what was becoming an increasingly unnerving look of fascination.

“Thanks for not slamming the door in my face,” he said.

She bit back a smile. “Unlike you, I remembered the manners I was taught. And I’m sure you knew I’d never slam the door if you turned up here with your sisters, especially with all my lovely flowers out there drooping from the heat.”

“I was hoping,” he admitted with an unrepentant grin.

“They’re lovely girls.”

“You can say that even after Carrie walked in here with an attitude?”

“She’s sixteen, right? It comes with the territory. Believe me, I remember that stage all too well.”

“She’ll be sixteen in a few months, but I get what you’re saying. Does that mean Mandy’s sunny disposition will vanish and she’ll be transformed into an impossible little diva in another year or so?” He looked shaken by the thought.

“More than likely,” Raylene confirmed.

“Gee, something to look forward to.”

“They’re at a tough age to have lost their parents,” Raylene said sympathetically. “It’s an especially hard time for a girl not to have a mother.”

“And, believe me, I’m a poor substitute. I encourage them to talk to me about anything, but sometimes they have questions I don’t have any idea how to answer.”

Raylene hesitated, then thought of the lost, lonely and scared look she thought she’d seen in Carrie’s eyes. “Bring them by here anytime,” she told Carter. “I’d be happy to listen, at least. And I won’t offer advice on anything important without talking it over with you.”

He seemed startled by the offer. “You’d do that for a couple of girls you just met?”

“If it would help, of course.”

“Amazing,” he said, half to himself.

“Don’t nominate me for sainthood. As you can imagine, I love having company.”

He held her gaze. “Even me?”

She forced herself not to look away, even though the intensity in his eyes was unsettling. “Surprisingly, yes.”

His expression brightened. “Then we’re definitely making progress.”

“Carter,” she began, a warning note in her tone. Before she could continue, Tommy came bursting into the house, Libby right on his heels.

“Ray-ween, I hit the ball way far away and ran all the way around the bases today,” Tommy announced excitedly. “Daddy came and he saw me, and Travis said I was the best player on the team. He didn’t say it loud, though, ’cause he didn’t want the other kids to feel bad.”

Raylene knelt down to give him a hug. “Wow, what a great day! Congratulations!”

“I had pizza,” Libby said, then added sorrowfully, “but I couldn’t hit the ball. It was too fast.”

Libby wasn’t officially on the team, but then the whole activity was geared toward kids who were too young to play officially. Travis always made sure even Libby got a turn at bat, despite the groans of the slightly older kids.

“Next time,” Raylene assured her. “You’ll learn. In fact, I bet your daddy or Travis will practice with you this week.”

As Sarah and Travis walked into the kitchen, Sarah’s eyebrows rose when she spotted Carter. “Back again, I see.”

“He brought his sisters by to water the garden,” Raylene told her. “They’re out back now giving it a
good soaking.” She winked at Travis. “They’re going to be very glad to meet you. They’re huge fans.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Naturally. He attracts females of all ages.”

As if to prove the point, Libby held out her arms to Travis. “Up?” she pleaded.

Travis scooped her up and tickled her. “Nap time, kiddo.”

“No nap,” Libby said, her little chin set stubbornly. “Me and you hit the ball.”

“Later,” Travis promised. “You could use a nap, too, Tommy. Let’s go.”

“While you put Libby and Tommy down, I’ll get your fan club to come inside to meet you,” Raylene promised. “They’ll probably want to touch up their lipstick and comb their hair. Can’t meet the town sex symbol without being properly primped up.”

Travis shook his head at the amusement in her voice. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Raylene nodded. “As a matter of fact, I am. I love watching a grown man blush.”

Sarah poured her own glass of lemonade, then sat down opposite Carter and studied him over the rim of her glass. “Now you and I have a chance to chat,” she said meaningfully. “I get why your sisters wanted to hang out. It’s all about Travis. What about you? What’s the attraction for you?”

“Sarah!” Raylene chided.

Carter didn’t look the slightest bit disconcerted by the question. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“You do know she’s not going to make it easy for you, don’t you?” Sarah asked, as if Raylene weren’t sitting right there blushing furiously.

“Easy’s not much fun,” Carter said, his gaze catching Raylene’s. “I’ve suddenly discovered a fascination for more complicated women.”

“If you ask me, you already have enough complicated women in your life,” Raylene said. “Weren’t you saying not ten minutes ago that you didn’t know how to handle Mandy and Carrie?”

“Not the same,” he said easily.

“How so?” Sarah queried.

“If I get it right with my sisters, I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing I did my best and can send them out into the world. If I get it right with Raylene, something tells me the payoff will be far more rewarding and has the potential to change the rest of my life.”

Sarah looked impressed by his response, but it scared Raylene to death. It implied expectations and a future, two things that required guarantees she couldn’t possibly make.

“Carter,” she protested, “you shouldn’t be saying things like that.”

“Just calling it the way I see it,” he said evenly. “I wouldn’t want you to accuse me of not giving you fair warning about my intentions.”

“You don’t even know me,” Raylene said, then reminded him, “And when we met, you didn’t even like me.”

“I didn’t like what happened,” he agreed. “You, however, intrigued me. Nothing that’s happened since has changed that.”

“But that’s crazy,” Raylene said, feeling a little frantic and overwhelmed.

He held up a hand. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to panic you by getting so intense. One thing I learned when
my folks died was that things can change too fast and when you least expect it. I’ve been too busy since then to think much about relationships, but I’m smart enough not to walk away when something looks promising.”

“And you think a relationship with a woman who hasn’t left the house in two years looks promising?” she asked incredulously. “Is that because you think I can’t run away?”

He laughed at the suggestion, which wasn’t exactly the reaction she’d been going for.

“I can’t say I have a lot of experience with women trying to get away from me,” he said. “It’s mostly been the other way around.”

Carrie and Mandy came back into the house just in time to overhear.

“It’s true,” Carrie said with an expression of sisterly tolerance. “Women chase him all the time. It’s really pitiful. They should have more pride, you know.”

“I do know,” Raylene said. “I don’t think that will be an issue with me.”

Carrie studied her, then nodded. “Good for you.” She finally spotted Sarah and realized the implication of her presence. “You’re Sarah Price, right? If you’re home, that must mean Travis is here.”

Sarah nodded. “He’s with the kids. He should be back any minute.”

Carrie stood up a little straighter. Even Mandy, who was clearly more of a tomboy, fluffed her hair in a purely feminine gesture.

“And here he is now,” Sarah announced, barely containing a grin as both girls stared at Travis with open-mouthed awe.

“Carrie and Mandy Rollins, meet Travis McDonald,” Raylene said.

Travis grinned and held out his hand, first to Carrie, then to Mandy. “Nice to meet you, girls.”

The tongue-tied girls just stared.

Carter shook his head. “Manners,” he muttered.

“
Very
happy to meet you,” Carrie murmured, suddenly looking everywhere except at Travis.

“Hi,” Mandy said. “You’re even hotter than I thought you’d be.”

“Amanda Rollins!” Carter scolded.

Mandy gave him a defiant look. “Well, he is.”

“Thank you,” Travis murmured, his cheeks flushed.

“On that note, I think it’s time for us to go,” Carter said, standing up. “Come on, girls. I think we’ve made enough of an impression for one afternoon.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Sarah told him, walking to the door with them. “It happens all the time to Travis.”

“And to you,” Raylene said. “You have your share of admiring fans.”

Sarah cast a pointed look at Carter. “And apparently so do you.”

“Gee, it seems as if there’s plenty of embarrassment to go around this afternoon,” Raylene commented wryly.