Secret Temptation [The Callens 3] (Siren Publishing M?nage Everlasting) (4 page)

* * * *

Randy watched her go. The girl had spunk, that was for sure. At first he thought she was hitting on him when she asked him to teach her to ride, but given the way she held herself in the saddle, she needed help. Her lack of experience together with her previous fall explained a lot. Now he knew why she was terrified when her horse sprinted to the barn.

He wondered if she would want to ride again. He hadn’t expected to enjoy himself, but he’d just found his new calming place. The pond surrounded by tall pines, firs, and poplars was a slice of heaven. He could almost hear the music of the leaves as they rustled in the wind. The slow lapping of the water against the rim had sent out a soothing, steady beat.

Fleet of Foot snorted. He was outside his stall and needed some attention. Randy unsaddled both horses and brushed them down. By the time he watered and fed them, his shift was over. Before he left, he wanted to see if April was okay. Traumatic events could cause a delay in reaction.

As Randy headed to the house, notes of music sounded in the air. Mrs. Callen was back at the piano, creating her masterpiece. He liked the riff she was playing, but as he neared, he could tell she was struggling with the next measure. Quietly, he stepped onto the porch. As if his legs wouldn’t take him inside, he stood outside and listened. Eyes closed, he absorbed the healing sound and breathed in its essence. Endorphins swirled in his veins as the music planted itself in his head. He wanted to show her what to do, but he didn’t dare.

Blake had tried to tell him that he was wasting his talent by working with horses. His mom had told him there was nothing to be ashamed about by making an honest dollar for an honest day’s work. It was, she said, the American way. Playing the piano was fine for entertaining guests at a party, but it didn’t buy homes or put food on the table.

Mrs. Callen stopped playing, shaking him out of his reverie. He turned on his heels and silently strode to his truck. Tomorrow would be soon enough to check on April.

When he got home, Blake wasn’t back yet from the University. Needing some release from the intensity of the day, he changed and hit the weights. After his five hundred sit-ups and one hundred pull-ups, he hit the bench press, pushing himself harder and harder as Mrs. Callen’s unfinished music crammed his brain.

He tried to force the score from his mind, but he couldn’t. He hated sometimes when the notes slammed into his head and refused to stop tormenting him. There was only one way to get them to leave him alone.

Randy finished his workout. Sweat poured off his body and his pulse soared. He dragged a towel over his face and stomped to the piano. In the seat, he found a ream of blank music sheets. Without needing to touch the keys, he wrote down the notes to the rest of her piece. He didn’t need to play the score, as he knew this was the perfect ending to an already-wonderful creation.

With his demons satisfied for the moment, he went in to shower. April’s scent still lingered despite the intense workout. Holding her in his arms had somehow altered his body from the inside, and he didn’t like it one bit. He scrubbed every inch of his skin to erase the memory of having her pressed against him, but his leg still throbbed from where she’d clasped his thigh. The girl was getting under his skin, and he needed to find a way to stop it.

Around noon, April heard a masculine voice downstairs and stilled. What was Randy doing in the living room? She’d been working on her homework when the piano music stilled.

“April?” her mom called from below.

“Coming.”

She rushed into the bathroom to check her teeth and to make sure the apple she was eating hadn’t gotten stuck. She ran a brush through her hair then rushed to the top of the steps. She stilled.

“You sure you didn’t put this here?” her mom asked Randy.

“No, ma’am. I could never write that.”

April tried to piece the conversation together but couldn’t figure out what her mom was referring to.

“But you play, you said.”

He cleared his throat. “As a kid.”

This discussion was bizarre. She inched closer and peeked around the corner. Her mom held a piece of paper in her hands. “Then how did this get here?”

“I couldn’t tell you.”

April made more noise than necessary coming down the stairs to let them know she was there. One look at Randy and her pulse raced. He’d laced his arms behind his back, looking larger than life. She failed to erase the smile from her face.

“Hey.” She looked first at her mom, and then at Randy.

Mom held up a piece of sheet music. “Do you know where this came from?”

She stepped closer. “No. I certainly didn’t put it there.” Her mom had tried to teach her to play the piano, but she was more interested in shopping and chatting with her friends than she was practicing scales. “Maybe you wrote it in your sleep.”

“Not likely. I don’t sleepwalk. Your dad would have told if I did.” She pulled out another piece of sheet music. “See how the treble clefs are different? This new sheet isn’t even in my handwriting.”

“Perhaps that’s how you write in your subconscious.”

“Pooh. This does pick up where I’d left off, but I don’t compose unless I’m awake.”

“Why don’t you play it and see what it’s like?”

“I’ll show you I’m right.”

This whole conversation was surreal. She wanted to know why Randy had come to see her and what he had to say, but her mom was distraught. April needed her mom to move on. It was a shame she was losing it at her young age.

Her mom started with her part of the piece, and then went right into the newly written part. The music flowed and fit together beautifully. When she finished playing, her fingers stayed on the keys.

She shook her head. “I don’t get it. This is the ending I always imagined.”

“There you go, Mom. Mystery solved.” She faced Randy. “You wanted to see me?”

His gaze remained on her mother. What was up with that? As if her words finally registered, he faced her.

“Yeah, I came to tell you I needed to cancel your riding lesson for today.”

She was okay with that. “Fine. I need the time to study anyway. This class I’m taking is already kicking my butt.”

“Some other time, then.” He nodded to her mom and took off.

She appreciated he told her that he couldn’t accommodate her today, but the way he kept looking at her mom was weird.

Her mom was staring at the closed side door. “What are you thinking, Mom?”

“Why wouldn’t he admit to writing this? It’s pure genius. I could never have figured out this ending.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Randy did this, I’m sure. He came in when I was in the kitchen. When I heard him say hello, I came out to greet him. I played this morning and this piece of sheet music wasn’t there. Why would he lie?”

Poor Mom
. “Randy mucks stalls and takes care of horses.”

“Don’t you think he’s intelligent enough to know how to play the piano?”

“If he were this talented, he’d be in a band, not at the Callen ranch.” She placed a hand on her mom’s shoulder. “I gotta study.”

“Okay, dear.”

Upstairs, April couldn’t get the haunted image of Randy from her mind. Was it possible he’d written the rest of her mother’s song? She shook her head. It was ridiculous at best. Brilliant musicians did not become cage fighters and end up working for minimum wage.

Study
.

She tried to focus, but these problems were driving her crazy. She’d used Blake Danforth’s business card as her bookmark. She flipped it over and noticed he’d scrawled his cell number on the back. He had said to call anytime, but she didn’t want to take advantage of him because he happened to be Randy’s roommate. It wasn’t like her to impose. She’d figure this stuff out herself.

As she leaned back on her bed, she wondered why Randy had cancelled their appointment, even though she couldn’t blame him. After yesterday’s fiasco, she wouldn’t want to ride with her either. Truth be told, she’d planned on cancelling with him. Her near-death experience shook her more than she was willing to admit. She was dumb to get so rattled, but after her big fall years ago, her fear of horses had become a bit irrational.

By the time she actually finished her homework, it was time for dinner then class.

Her mom hugged her good-bye. “Have fun in class.”

Like that was going to happen? The only good that might come out was if she happened to run into Blake Danforth. She wanted to ask him about Randy and his penchant for denying any knowledge of music.

During the drive to the University, she juggled the mystery of the music with her chemistry and physics questions she’d been struggling with. Once class began, she tried to follow everything Dr. Riley said. While he shifted the topic to something she understood, he promised they’d be going over the physics problems after the break. Darlene was being bad by passing her notes and whispering comments about one of the cuter guys in class.

Normally, April would be just as fun-loving and share her opinion, but the whole horse incident, followed by the bizarre musical event, had thrown her off kilter. Finally, the teacher announced the ten-minute break.

Darlene rushed out to the candy machine. How she stayed so skinny when she ate so many sweets amazed her. She’d already told Darlene that the guy she liked was Blake’s roommate. “I’m going to see if Dr. Danforth is in his office.”

“Ooh, you like him?”

“I told you, I’m trying to get the scoop on Randy.”

“Uh-huh.” Darlene grabbed her arm and moved away from the vending machine. “If your Randy is half as hot as you say, can you imagine what it would be like to do both roommates at the same time?”

“I’m not into that.”

Darlene released her. “That’s bull. You said your sister and brother were in ménage relationships. You seem fine with that. Why not for you?”

“When Randy grabbed me off that horse, having his hands on my body nearly made me catch on fire from the lust. I can’t imagine adding another hottie to the mix.”

Darlene smiled. “I think you protest too much. Go find the doc and think about what I said.”

She did need to talk with Blake, but she wouldn’t consider something like that.

Liar
.

Blake’s light was on in his office. Didn’t the man ever go home? She knocked.

“Come in.”

She stepped in and his smile made her heart race. That was not good. She needed to focus on Randy.

“Hey.” Her ability to carry on a one-word conversation amazed even her.

“Hey yourself. What’s up?”

She liked how casual he was and how he made eye contact, unlike his taciturn roommate. “I have a quick question.”

“Shoot.”

“Does Randy play the piano?”

He leaned back in his chair and wrapped his hands behind his head. She loved that pose, so full of confidence and seduction.

She told him the story of the sheet music.

“What did Randy say?”

“You know he denied it. If he’d admitted writing it, I wouldn’t be here.”

He chuckled and leaned forward. “I think you need another riding lesson and see if you can get him to confess. I bet if you used your sexual wiles, he’d cave.”

Now she laughed. He was surely teasing her. Why did she feel so comfortable around Blake and not around Randy? Blake was easy and open whereas Randy was anything but.

Darlene’s words came back to her about trying out both roommates at the same time. She’d never considered something like that before, but her sister sure seemed to like the double attention. April would have to think about the concept later.

“I’ll consider your plan. Thanks for your help.”

“Remember, if you need any help with your class, call me.”

She smiled and hightailed it out of there before she lost her senses. He might be willing to help, but he also seemed interested in her.
Hmm
. Did he and Randy share?

* * * *

For the next week, April kept her head in her books. She’d often sit on the porch and study, hoping to catch a glimpse of Randy as he moved about the ranch, but she had no such luck. Finally, she decided to head into the barn just to see if he was okay. It wasn’t like him not to pass by the house.

She didn’t spot Randy inside, but Gus was back and she gave him a hug. “So how’s the new man working out?” Maybe Randy had confided in the ranch hand.

“Don’t see him much. Every morning, when I get here, the hay is stacked and the horses are fed and watered. I can’t complain. The man is pulling more than his share of the work.”

“When you do run into him, do you talk?”

“Nah, that one is the strong, silent type. Keeps his head down and does more than an honest day’s work. I’ve had help in the past, but this one is the best.”

That was good to know. At first she thought Randy might be avoiding her, but he probably wasn’t aware she wanted to see him. She hadn’t come to ask him to take her out riding, so he’d probably forgotten all about her.

When she was ready to ride again, she’d hunt him down for real. If she did get back on a horse, she’d be safe if Randy was around to save her.

“Tell him I stopped by.”

Gus smiled a toothless grin. “Don’t tell me you’re sweet on him?”

“No. He’s teaching me to ride.”

Gus’s eyes widened. “Good for you. I thought after your fall you’d never get back on a horse.”

She didn’t either until Randy appeared. “I’m over it.”

“Good to hear it.”

Since she had a lot to do to get ready for the move, she went back to the house. Each day she spent an hour organizing and cleaning. She’d already located boxes and begun the grueling task of packing. She never realized how many clothes she had.

One stack would go to Goodwill, and the other she’d take to her new house. Her mom had already given her an extra set of towels and two sets of sheets. Somehow, April thought she might want a king-size bed in case her prospects perked up. A twin bed was so limiting.

Next week, she would move in and start her new life. Unfortunately, her move-in date was right before her midterm. She’d be a busy girl, that was for sure.

After an early dinner, she hugged her mom good-bye. “We’re reviewing for the midterm tonight. Darlene and I will be at the library studying. Don’t wait up for me.”

“Okay, dear.”

It would be nice once she was on her own. She’d be able to come and go as she pleased and not worry if her mom was keeping vigil. During these last few weeks of not seeing Randy, a new plan formed, one that had possible exciting ramifications.

Tonight was the midterm review. Dr. Riley did a nice job going over the material, but she was still a bit confused on some of the physics concepts. At break, she decided to make her move.

Darlene walked out with her. “You’ve got that look in your eyes. What are you planning to do?”

“If I have the courage to ask, I’ll let you know.”

Her friend grinned. “Go for it, tiger.”

Taking a deep inhale, April headed to Blake’s office. As if he stayed around just to see her, she knocked on his door. This time she didn’t wait for the invitation. She twisted the knob and went in.

He was leaning over a stack of paper. He took off his glasses and looked up. She hadn’t realized he wore corrective lenses, but it made him appear very intelligent.

“How’s it going?”

No matter how many times she distracted him, he seemed happy to see her.

“I really hate to bother you, but I have a midterm in two days. Do you think you might be free to help me?”

“Sure. Anytime. When?”

“Would tomorrow evening be okay? I have an event I have to go to during the day.”

“Works for me. In fact, I’ll be in meetings most of the day. You could always come by my house. I only live about two miles from here.”

So he did realize she was basically asking him out on a date.
Good
. “Super.”

He took out another business card and wrote down his address. “How about seven?”

As she took the card, she made sure to brush her fingers against his. Being obvious wasn’t her style, but then again, the decision to be with two men required drastic measures.