Scent of Cedar, page 5
part #1 of The Friendly Beasts of Faraday Series
Since the day the blonde beauty had appeared at his shop with a busted belt, he hadn’t been able to get her out of his thoughts. He could picture her hair, the color of ripe wheat, hanging in thick waves down her back. Big blue eyes glowed like twin sapphires from behind feathery lashes, and her ruby lips practically begged to be kissed.
Tall and elegant, she was definitely not his type. Rhett usually went for uncomplicated girls who knew he was only out for a good time, not those who practically oozed commitment, home, and happily-ever-after. The woman wasn’t one who would be interested in casual dating. No, she’d have a ring through a man’s nose and on his finger before he knew which way was up or down.
The lovely woman was dangerous in the sense she represented everything Rhett had secretly dreamed of having but never allowed himself to think of wanting.
However, as her SUV stopped outside with a final, deafening squeal, he tugged on his coat and hurried outside.
“Hey! Fancy meeting you here,” he said, when she opened the door and stepped out of the vehicle.
“Hi, Mr. Riggs. I’m hoping you can help me, again. I was heading up the mountain and only got a few miles out of town when it started squealing again, although this time it sounded different. I turned around and came straight back here.”
He offered her a smile, one several women had told him was both rakish and irresistible. “I thought you agreed to call me Rhett.”
Pink dusted her cheeks and she slowly nodded her head. “I suppose I did.” After a moment of uncomfortable silence, she motioned to her vehicle. “Do you have time to take a look at it?”
“Sure. Drive it inside and I’ll see what I can do.” Rhett opened one of the garage’s big bay doors and guided her inside. She got out and stood to the side, watching as he pulled on a pair of coveralls and then raised the vehicle so he could look beneath it. He had a good idea of what made the noise, but wanted to get a look.
“Did the brake vibrate when you pushed on it? Or did the car nose to one side?” he asked as he looked between the spokes of the wheel then back at her.
“It did. When I stopped a minute ago, it pulled to the left.” The woman’s alluring voice made Rhett think any number of thoughts, none of which were appropriate for him to have, especially for a client.
He motioned for her to come closer. “Look in here by the wheel. See the outer edge and the metal caliper? That thing right there between the caliper and rotor is your brake pad. Generally, a pad should be at least a quarter-inch thick. Yours is half that thick. On a rig this new, that’s totally wrong.”
The woman leaned close and looked where he pointed. A whiff of her fragrance, something that brought to mind a snowy mountain morning with a hint of lavender and an unidentified yet invigorating scent, tantalized his nose before she stepped back and focused those incredible blue eyes on him. For a moment he wondered what it would be like to dive into them, since they looked as deep and clear as a bottomless lake.
“Can you fix it?” she asked, concern evident in her tone and worry creasing lines across her forehead.
“I can, but while I’ve got your vehicle in here, it might be a good idea to see if anything else is wrong. As new as this is, I think you should consider applying the lemon law.”
She frowned. “Lemon law? What’s that?”
Rhett wiped his hands on a grease rag. “Each state has a law that applies to new purchases that aren’t up to snuff. In this case, Oregon has a lemon law for new vehicles. You have to report each malfunction to the manufacturer or dealer, and there are a few other stipulations, but if it was me, I’d definitely get in touch with the dealer that sold this to you. All things considered, you should be able to get a replacement or a refund. These brake pads ought to be like new, not worn out, unless you’ve been riding them while you drive up and down the mountain.” At her appalled look, he continued. “The belt I fixed the other day should never have broken.”
“I’ll contact the dealer today.” The woman stared at the vehicle then turned that captivating gaze to him. “How long will it take to work on it?”
“The brake pads won’t take that long to fix, but you see that oil puddling on the floor?” He pointed beneath her vehicle. “That’s definitely not a good sign.”
“Oh.” She appeared deflated for a moment then squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “If I leave my number, could you call me when it’s ready to pick up?”
“I’d be happy to do that, but do you have somewhere to go nearby?” He didn’t want her wandering around outside in frigid temperatures with snow blowing down in a near-blizzard. “Aren’t you a ski bunny?”
The woman laughed, filling his garage with a sound that rang like the silvery tones of Christmas chimes. “No, I’m not a ski bunny or an anything bunny, for that matter. The skis you noticed the other day belong to my sister. I was just hauling them up here for her.”
“So you live in the area?” he asked, hoping the answer was yes, yet afraid it would be. No good could possibly come from this woman living close enough for him to see on a regular basis. She’d have him dreaming of picket fences and Sunday pot roast before long.
“I live about a mile from here, on the outskirts of town.”
Rhett hid his reaction to this bit of news by turning away and shucking off his coveralls. “Just give me a minute and I’ll take you home. When your vehicle is ready, I can give you a call, that way you aren’t stuck waiting here or walking home in this blizzard.”
She smiled and tipped her head toward the windows in the bay doors that allowed them to see the snow falling in a blustery flurry outside. “I wasn’t looking forward to hiking in this. Are you sure it won’t disrupt your day to give me a ride?”
“It would be my pleasure.” He grinned at her as he moved over to a deep sink and scrubbed the grease from his fingers. Hastily drying his hands, he hurried to lock the bay doors. He locked the main front door in the waiting room, and then guided her to the back door. Quickly shrugging into his coat, he grabbed the keys to his pickup from the pocket and opened the door. “If you wait here, I’ll warm up my truck.”
“Oh, I’m fine, Mr…” At his cool glare, she sighed in defeat. “Rhett. I’ll come with you.” He allowed her to walk ahead of him then locked the back door before opening the passenger door of his pickup and offering her his hand as she climbed inside.
He jogged around the truck, slipped on a spot of ice, and slapped a hand down on the front fender to keep from landing on his backside in the snow. It took a few staggering steps to regain his balance and make it to the driver’s side door. Embarrassed, he slid behind the wheel and started the truck without saying a word.
“That was some fancy footwork,” she said. A teasing smile lit her face as she rubbed her gloved hands together for warmth.
“You ought to see my dance moves,” he quipped and turned the heater on full blast as warm air began pouring through the vents. He cast a sideways glance at her, aware she looked even more appealing with snowflakes melting in her hair and the cold turning her nose and cheeks a shade of dusty rose.
Dusty rose? Rhett scoffed at himself. If he kept this up, he’d be planning tea parties for the Friday night gathering of his buddies. How did he even know dusty rose was a color? It wasn’t like the words ever made an appearance in his world or vocabulary before. Aggravated by his distracted musings, he gave himself a mental lambasting and jerked his thoughts back in line.
“So where do you live?” he asked as he drove around the side of the garage and pulled onto the street.
“Just take the road through town, heading north.” She pointed toward the street in front of them.
A sudden, sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach.
No. It couldn’t be.
This delightful, gorgeous woman with the killer smile and voice as smooth as liquefied honey could not be his whiny, annoying neighbor who’d left more than a dozen irritating messages about Lolly.
The windshield wipers slapped a steady rhythm as he drove through Faraday, surreptitiously studying his passenger. He’d thought she looked a little familiar the first time he’d seen her. The startling realization that she greatly resembled Juniper Haynes smacked him upside the head. Even if the women completely differed in size, he could see similarities between the two. They both bore the same determined chin, the same lovely features, the same blue eyes and golden hair.
Truthfully, Rhett had briefly considered asking Juniper on a date before he came to his senses. A girl like that would drain his pockets and try every bit of his patience on the first date, demanding to be wined and dined. He didn’t have to be a genius to figure out she wasn’t the type to enjoy burgers and a game of pool at Faraday’s only nightspot. He doubted she’d even like the dinner special at Miller’s Café.
And if he thought Juniper was more than he could handle, her sister was twice that, provided the beauty sitting on the other side of his pickup cab turned out to be none other than Cedar Haynes.
Cedar.
The scent of cedar. That’s the fragrance he couldn’t quite pinpoint earlier. She smelled like snow and cedar, lavender and vanilla. It was a heady combination that filled his nose and made him long for things he’d never have.
He brushed his fingers beneath his nose, desperate to dislodge her scent as he drove toward home.
She pointed to the right, to the large Victorian house that sat like a stately matron in a snow-dusted dove-colored gown on the other side of his pasture. “That’s me, right there,” she said, motioning to her driveway.
He turned and started up the lane, mulling over the fact he should volunteer to clear off her driveway. After all, it would be the neighborly thing to do. Rhett drove past the house and swallowed a sigh. At the sight of Lolly sprawled on the front porch, he barely managed to keep from rolling his eyes.
Perhaps the camel had been a nuisance to Cedar. He really shouldn’t blame her for the repeated phone calls and notes. No doubt, it was a bit of a shock to move to a new home and find the neighbor owned a camel that behaved with all the decorum of a three-year-old on a sugar high.
“Have you met Lolly?” Cedar asked as he turned the pickup around and stopped at the end of her front walk. She’d only have to take six or so steps to reach the cover of the porch.
“I have met her. She’s quite a character,” Rhett said, unwilling to admit the camel belonged to him. Correction — he’d been adopted by the camel when his uncle died.
“She is at that.” Cedar looked over at him and smiled. “The first few days I was here, she scared me to death. I left her owner multiple messages that he never returned. He must have known if I gave Lolly a chance, I’d come to appreciate her company.” She glanced out the window at the camel. “Lolly has been nice to have around, once I got past the strange sounds and weird smells.”
“I’ve never known her to hurt anyone, although I believe there was a spitting incident or two with the previous owners of your home.” Rhett looked over at Cedar, wondering what she’d do if she realized he was the rude neighbor who let the camel roam free and ignored her messages. Perhaps it was best to keep that information quiet, for now. He didn’t want her thinking he was some ill-mannered cavedweller before he even got around to stealing a kiss from her.
“Thanks again for the ride home,” Cedar said, lifting her purse from the seat beside her and opening her door.
Rhett nearly strangled himself with the seatbelt in his haste to get out of the pickup and walk Cedar to the door. By the time her feet touched the snowy sidewalk he was there, offering her his hand. Even with a glove covering her skin, he could feel a jolt that rocked through him the moment their hands connected. That was something new, something he’d never experienced and certainly hadn’t expected.
Unsettled by it, by her, he silently walked Cedar to the porch. Lolly offered him a silly grin and lumbered to her feet, purring at him.
“Hey, Lolly. Shouldn’t you be home in your warm barn, instead of harassing this nice lady?”
Lolly’s grin broadened as she ambled off the porch and moved behind him.
“Oh, I don’t think I even gave you my name,” Cedar said, looking up at Rhett. “I’m Cedar Haynes.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Cedar Haynes.” Rhett smiled at her as she dug in her purse and pulled out a card then handed it to him.
“That’s my cell number. Whenever you have my SUV ready is fine. I don’t need to go anywhere for a day or two.” She adjusted her purse so it hung from her shoulder then shoved her hands inside her pockets and burrowed deeper into her coat against the cold.
“Weren’t you on your way somewhere today?” he asked, tucking the card inside his coat pocket.
“I was thinking about getting a Christmas tree and wanted to drive up the road to see what I could find.” She looked a little wistful as she gazed at the snow piling up on the already white landscape. “It’s probably a good thing I had to come back to town. I’m not used to driving in the snow and I have no idea how to cut down a tree anyway.”
Rhett felt a nudge from behind that made him work to keep from tripping forward into Cedar. He scowled over his shoulder at Lolly and gave her a quelling glower before looking back to Cedar. “I’d be happy to take you next weekend. I need to get a tree anyway. If you aren’t opposed to it, I could take you where I usually go to cut down a tree.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful,” Cedar said, her face glowing with anticipation of the adventure. “But only if you are sure it wouldn’t be an imposition.”
“Not at all. I’m heading there anyway. You might as well come along.” Rhett had no idea how his mouth kept moving when his brain was shouting for it to stop talking. The last thing he needed was to get involved with his neighbor. It was bad enough he was working on her lemony vehicle, but now he’d committed himself to helping her find a Christmas tree. What was next? Planting posies around her porch?
Ugh! What, exactly, about this woman scrambled his brains and good sense? He ought to stay miles away from her instead of wondering what she’d do if he took a step closer and pulled her into his arms. He’d bet she’d fit perfectly against him. He’d never dated a woman as tall as Cedar. Never wanted to hold one as badly as he ached to hold her. Unsettled by his unwarranted longings, he needed to leave and get himself under control.
A cold, wet nose dipped down the inside of his coat collar. He jerked away from Lolly then turned around to glare at her. “Lol! You know better than that. Isn’t it about time you went home?”
The camel made a noise that some might have interpreted as a laugh and sauntered across the yard toward the pasture.
“See what I mean?” Cedar asked with a grin. “Lolly keeps things lively.”
“No argument on that point,” Rhett said, taking a step back before he did something completely stupid, like kiss Cedar. “Do you need someone to shovel your sidewalk for you?”
“Oh, I’m sure I can figure it out. Is there a place in town to buy a snow shovel?”
He nodded his head. “I’ll make sure there’s one in your rig before you bring it home. As soon as I have it ready, I’ll give you a call.”
“Okay. Thanks again, Rhett. I really appreciate you working on it for me and for giving me a ride.”
“You’re welcome.” He backed up a few more steps. “Don’t forget to call the dealer to see what they can do to help you out. Your vehicle should absolutely not have any of these problems.”
She nodded and waved at him. He smiled and bumped into the picket fence, looked down at it, and quietly growled before fleeing to the safety of his pickup.
Picket fences and pot roast.
Yep, there was no doubt in his mind that Cedar Haynes was trouble tied up with a pretty bow.
Chapter Six
“You are what?” Juniper nearly shouted, forcing Cedar to pull the phone away from her ear until her sister calmed down.
“Don’t have an attack, Jun. I’m just going to get a Christmas tree. It’s not like a date or anything.” Cedar’s sister didn’t need to know a date was exactly how she would term the day ahead of her.
Rhett completed the repairs to her vehicle the same afternoon she’d left it at his garage. He’d driven it out to her place and gone over the list of things he found wrong with it without digging deeper beneath the hood. He offered to pull the engine and do a full assessment, but she wanted to see what the owner of the dealership would do before they took that step. She hoped the man would make good on a vehicle that was clearly a lemon.
At any rate, problems with her SUV barely registered as she thought about spending time with the good-looking mechanic. From the moment Rhett offered to take her hunting for a tree, she could hardly focus on anything beyond seeing him again. That evening, he’d driven the SUV out to her house. They’d ended up eating dinner together at the café in town when she gave him a ride back into Faraday. After dinner, they went to the garage and talked for several hours before she finally glanced at the clock and knew she needed to go home.
Since then, they’d spent many hours together, getting to know one another, although they’d avoided any personal topics. Rhett had taken her to eat in town a few times, and once he’d brought pizza for the grocery store’s deli to her place. One evening, they’d even gone for a drive up in the woods.
Rhett was so easy to talk to, like she’d known him forever. Not only that, but he made her feel beautiful, smart, and special just by smiling at her. No man had ever done that before.
Not a single, sensible reason existed why she felt so drawn to Rhett, so fascinated with him, but she couldn’t deny that he wholly intrigued her. He was so sweet and handsome in a rugged, wild way. Something about him made her think things she’d never thought about before, like a home and babies and domesticity. It was strange a man who appeared so unfettered in life was the one who made her want roots and a family of her own.
The fact he not only elicited but also inspired the foreign-to-her notions should make her run for the hills. Instead, she couldn’t wait to see him that morning. He’d promised to arrive at her place at nine and then they’d head off on a Christmas tree hunting adventure.
