Trust In Love (A McCord Family Novel Book 2) (10 page)

Why was she even trying to explain herself?

Kevin Dittmore, a prominent businessman, a man with money, power, and the influence to make the police believe she harmed herself. She was wasting her breath. "I believe we have nothing more to say to each other, Officer. Good night," Sophie said, stepping further back into the house, closing the door in his face.

She took a small breath to compose herself when bristling tingles of terror prickled her skin as she felt Kevin come up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her against his hard frame, whispering into her ear, "That was dumb, Sophie. Don't ever be dumb again. You will never win against me. You're mine."

Chapter 6

"Oh, no you don't, Axel. Get down from the table," Sophie said with a stern tone. She grinned at his attempt to snatch a piece of the meal she just set down to eat. She walked over to the counter, grabbed the bag of dog treats she bought earlier, and pulled one out.

"Here. You can have a treat. Just one. If you eat some dog food, you can have another, but not until you eat your supper over there," Sophie said, pointing to his dog dish she also bought today.

Yesterday had been a day from hell in Sophie's book. She had been accused of breaking into Austin's house, handcuffed, and thoroughly embarrassed in front of the entire neighborhood. Austin believed she didn't do it as did Ava. That made her feel slightly better inside, but she was still worried about it. Her last experience was hard to forget.

She didn't want to like Ava, her working with cops, but it was hard not to. The way she spoke so lively and lovingly about Jimmy, it was difficult not to believe he had been a good cop. Perhaps the world held good cops alongside the bad ones, but where were they when she needed help?

Austin insisted Axel spend the day with her, but did look guilty when he said he left around five in the morning to go to the farm. She wasn't much of a sleeper anyway, tossing and turning most nights from the memories she wished to forget. She insisted it was fine that he knocked on her door at that time to drop him off.

Later that evening, as she sat in bed, she thought it was strange sharing a dog as if he were a child. One parent dropping him off to the next. The more she thought about him coming in the morning, the funnier it became, soon putting her into a fit of laughter.

When Austin knocked on her door the next morning looking sleepy, yet delightfully alluring in a simple shirt and jeans, she was glad to have Axel. Just to see Austin. Funny or not, it was worth it just to see him.

She left for a short time to pick up some groceries and a few essentials Axel would need. Such as dog food, dog treats, dog bowls, some dog toys, and because she couldn't resist, a nice fluffy dog bed. She worked on her orders that were increasing daily to her wonderful surprise, while Axel lay next to her, giving comfort and peace for the day.

She chuckled as Axel chomped on his treat, even to the point of licking the crumbs off the floor when her timer went off. She pulled the pie out of the oven and set it carefully on the counter when a knock sounded on the door. She smiled, even as she nervously wiped her hands down her shirt trying to wipe the tension away.

She opened the door, holding it for support, as Austin stood looking just as sexy as he did this morning. Even with his dirt, sweat, and hard day's work on the farm covering his body, he smelled divine. As always. Especially since she knew he hadn't showered yet. How could he smell good? She had no idea, but he did. She loved that farm smell and suddenly couldn't wait for him to offer again to show it to her. She wanted to see it.

"Hey, darling. How's Axel? Was he a good boy?" Austin asked with a tired grin.

"He was. We had a good day. I went shopping and I bought him a few things. When I got home, he helped me with my work," she replied.

"Good, I'm happy to hear it was a good day. So, I guess him and I will head home," he said, quietly as his eyes darted away with nervous energy.

Her eyes got wide, her hands started to shake, but before she lost her nerve, she spit out quickly, "I made dinner. If you want to join me, that is. Axel's eating, or he better be if he wants another treat."

Austin laughed, his eyes swiftly lighting up with happiness. "I would love dinner. I imagine he'll listen to you because I know I would if you were offering me a treat."

"Well, if you clear your plate as well, I made pie."

His eyes lit up with pleasure. "Grape nut pie?"

She blushed lightly. "Of course. I know that's your favorite. Come on in. It's done. I guess I timed it out perfectly to the time you roughly estimated."

"Yeah, you never know if you'll hit a snag, but we had a good day on the farm. Busy, but we got everything done we wanted to," he said as he stepped inside.

He followed her to the kitchen where Axel chomped away at his food. He looked over at the table where she had laid out all the food. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, and his favorite, grape nut pie.

"Man, do I feel lucky? This looks great, Sophie. Thanks so much for the invite," Austin said, as he took a seat across from her.

"It's not much, but I hope you enjoy it," she shyly said.

"Not much? Are you kidding me? This is a feast. Looks like a meal Eleanor would make for us," he replied, digging in as his stomach started to gurgle in hunger. "I do miss those meals, although half the time I still eat there because I'm too lazy to cook once I get home."

"Well, I'm sure you work hard during the day. You deserve a good meal once you're done. How did you two decide on having a farm?" she asked, nervously.

Small talk, especially with a guy wasn't her forte. She had no idea what she was doing, but knew in her heart she was taking a chance. It felt different this time. Austin made her feel different.

"Grew up there, actually. We inherited it from our parents. Not sure how long it's been in the family, a few generations. Jimmy's the only one to branch out and do his own thing. I thought about it for a while, but every time I thought about saying something to Zane, I just couldn't. He needed me, and I guess, I needed him. I'm a farmer and I wouldn't trade it for anything," Austin replied, genuinely, but with a slight hard tone at the end.

Something about his last statement struck a chord with her. His pain could be felt all the way across the table. What had happened for him to say such a simple thing about being a farmer so rough, so painful?

Not wanting to talk about her own pain, she glossed over that as if she never heard it.

"Do your parent's still help?" she asked, immediately regretting the question when she saw the sadness cover his eyes. She sucked at this small talk. She couldn't seem to get anything right when conversing with him.

"My dad died in my early twenties, my mom when I was just a kid, and we lost Jimmy last year. It's just Zane and I now. That's another reason I never left. When Jimmy left for New York, I could see the pain in Zane and didn't want to add to it. Now I can't leave him because he's all I have. Well, and Ava, too. She's been a great addition to the family. I have my cousins and whatnot, but I think you know what I mean. He's all I got in my immediate family. How about you? Where's your family?"

She looked down at her plate and started pushing her food around a bit, wondering how to answer. He opened up so easily, but she did see the struggle tangle in his eyes. If he could do it, she could too.

"My mom died just after I graduated high school. My real father owned this house. He left when I was five without a backwards glance and for whatever reason decided to leave this house to me. I now appreciate that thoughtfulness because I needed it. I don't have any other family. I don't have anybody."

She glanced up at him when she felt his soft hand cover the top of hers. His touch always made tiny tingles spread throughout her body. Just a simple contact anywhere on her made her wish he would pull her into his arms. His touch made her want him, and that in turn scared her.

Why did she open her mouth? Confess a small part of her? The tiny tingles were starting to intensify to raging flames of desire. She should really pull away from his touch.

"You have me now. I'm glad I met you. Why did you need this house?"

"Because I had to get away," she whispered.

"Get away from what, Sophie? Please tell me," he whispered back.

"I think you know. I can't say it out loud. It's too terrifying. It's too much. My whole life has been too much and I finally had to escape or die," she said as the tears started lightly falling down her face.

***

Austin immediately stood up, grasping her hand more firmly as he pulled her gently into his arms. She sank into his frame as the tears fell in the quiet confines of the house. No sound echoed back except her soft cries of pain and heartache. He held her tenderly, rubbing her back in a soothing manner and wished with all his heart that he could take the pain away.

"I can only imagine what you went through, but I can't know for sure until you tell me. I won't pry or beg or demand, but wait for when you feel the moment is right. For as long as you let me, I'll be here for you. Even after you tell me to hit the road, I'll be there for you. You're special, you're beautiful and you deserve the world, Sophie. Don't let anyone tell you different," he whispered softly into her ear.

He had wanted so much to come in and enjoy the evening with her, but figured he had to move slow. That's all he thought about over the course of the day, wanting to spend time with her, how to go about doing that, yet scared to push her. He couldn't have been more surprised when she asked him to come in. Now, here he was. Making her cry. Bringing up painful memories.

She squeezed him tighter, but no words entered the quiet room. He took her embrace as a small answer to his turmoil. She had needed to release some of her pain. Let it out for once.

Talk about new territory for him. He never got this deep or emotional with women before, suddenly clueless where to proceed. Did he keep giving encouraging words, or hold her until she let go? Did he pull away first?

He ached to swing her up into his arms, carry her slowly to her bedroom, and show her exactly how he felt. Or simply lay with her in his arms as she cried the pain out of her body. That would be okay, too. He just wanted her pain to disappear. He wanted to see her bright smile and loving laugh.

His prayers were answered when he heard her chuckle into his chest. He looked down to see Axel with his front paws clinging to her leg, and if Austin wasn't mistaken, a goofy grin on his furry face.

Sophie pulled away, ruffling Axel's head with a tender hand. "You either wanted to join the hug, or you ate your food and want that treat now. Which one is it?"

"I vote for the hug. It was a nice hug," Austin said, receiving another smile in return from her. "The treat is a high possibility, too. I know I want mine."

Damn smart dog, he knew a good woman when he saw one. If Sophie promised a treat, Axel knew he would get one. Austin wished his treat was more than just pie, but he suppressed that urge quickly. He'd frighten her if he made a move in that way. A little light flirting couldn't hurt. She hadn't completely stepped away from him yet. That had to be a good sign. Or at least his heart hoped so. She still hadn't said anything to him. Just an uncertain look directed his way that he couldn't exactly decipher. No fear, though. He didn't see any of that.

"Well, then I suggest you eat your food like Axel did. You know the rules," she finally replied. She glanced at Axel's bowl that sat clean and empty. He licked away every last remnant of food from the bowl. She wiped her face of the tears and walked over to the counter. Grabbing two treats this time, Axel wasted no time gobbling them up.

"You want that pie?" Sophie asked, as she made her way back to the table.

"Yes, darling. Don't have to ask me twice," Austin said, sitting back into his seat.

"About that silly melt down there, I—"

Austin put his hand up to stop her. "Sophie, you can melt down on me anytime. It wasn't silly. Your feelings and emotions aren't silly. I'm here for you. We're friends, right?"

She took a swallow of her milk. "Yes, we're friends."

"Good. In my experience, friends talk to each other about their troubles now and again. It was no big deal and I didn't mind."

"Do you use the word darling to your friends as well, or just your women?" she blurted.

He paused with his fork halfway to his mouth, the delicious meatloaf hanging in the air. "You don't like it when I call you darling?"

"No. Not if that's what you call the women you date. I don't want to be lumped in that category," she said, tossing her fork around her plate again.

"Well, I'll try not to do that. I do call most women that. Not just women I date, but all of them. It's just a natural thing for me to do, I guess. I'm sorry if it bothered you," he replied, finishing the trek of food to his mouth.

He chewed, trying to enjoy the flavors washing over his taste buds, but the energy dissipated. He finally decided to pursue a full-fledged relationship with someone and she didn't want anything to do with him. She didn't want to be one of his women, but she failed to realize he would never clump her into that category.

She was so much more. A true treasure hidden away, waiting patiently for him to find. It figures she wouldn't want him that way. He shouldn't be too surprised. He hadn't given her a good impression of himself.

"Thank you," she said as her eyes dropped back down to her plate. "I hope you like the food."

"I love it," he said, shoveling another fork full into his mouth before he said anything he would regret. Would she ever see him more than a friend? Or had he ruined his chances when he explained how long ago what he wanted in life?

He changed his mind. He wanted a relationship. The question was how did he show her that his heart had changed?

***

"How's Sophie?" Ava asked Austin. She joined him by the fence, grabbing a hold of the top railing to watch the horses that were enjoying themselves in the corral.