Fool's Gold Collection Volume 3. Susan Mallery

too late,” Annabelle said. “There’s nothing we can do.”

      “You’re going to be hating life, come morning.”

      Maybe Charlie was right, but at this moment, Heidi didn’t care.

       CHAPTER EIGHT

      “BUT I NEED MY CAR,” HEIDI said, leaning against the door in Charlie’s truck. “Not that I would have driven, but we could have towed it. Or herded it. Like the cows.” She giggled at the image of herds of cars following faithfully behind. “They should make a commercial.”

      “What are you talking about?” Charlie asked.

      “Nothin’. My cheeks are numb.”

      “You’ll be throwing up soon enough.”

      “Na-ah.” Heidi liked the way the sounds felt in her mouth and made them again, then laughed. Her amusement ended in a snort that had her covering her mouth. “That wasn’t me.”

      “That is so the least of what you’re going to be doing tonight,” Charlie told her, as she pulled around the ranch house and stopped by the front porch. “When next we see each other, I’m going to say, ‘I told you so,’ and I don’t care how pitiful you look. You’re going to be living in a world of regret.”

      “Already there,” Heidi said, fumbling with her suddenly complicated seat belt. There were many regrets, most of them fuzzy. A few of the more clear ones were about Rafe and his date.

      “I hate her.”

      “Who?” Charlie asked.

      “I don’t know yet. But her.”

      “Okay, then.”

      Charlie climbed out and came around the truck. As she reached for the door, Heidi saw someone on the porch. The shape moved toward them and she recognized Rafe.

      “You shouldn’t be back,” Heidi said as Charlie opened the door. “You should be out with her.”

      “Oh, Lord,” Charlie muttered. “Come on. Let’s get you inside.”

      “What happened?” Rafe asked.

      He was tall. With big man-shoulders. Heidi remembered how he’d looked in that towel—all wet and sexy. She would like to see him naked again. She hadn’t seen a penis in a long time, and she had a feeling his would be especially nice.

      “Too many margaritas,” Charlie said, unfastening the seat belt. “Heidi’s not much of a drinker. She’s going to have a difficult night. Come on, kid. There’s going to be a big step.”

      “I’ll get her,” Rafe said, stepping closer.

      Charlie moved back, giving him room. Heidi found herself at eye level with Rafe.

      “This is your fault,” she told him.

      “I’m sure that’s true. Come on, goat girl. Let’s get you inside.”

      She wanted to protest the “goat girl” title, except the way he’d said it sounded kind of nice. Friendly. Maybe teasing. Like they were friends. Not that Rafe was the friend type. He was more the kind of man who took what he wanted, leaving women broken and desperate and…

      “What’s so funny?” he asked.

      “What?”

      “You’re laughing.”

      Heidi felt her face. “No, I’m not.”

      He glanced over his shoulder. “How much did she drink?”

      “Let’s just say, around two in the morning, I wouldn’t get between her and the bathroom.”

      “Thanks for the warning.” He turned back to Heidi. “You ready to get out of the truck?”

      “All right.”

      She took a step forward, only to realize she hadn’t gotten out of the truck yet. Her feet got tangled, and she would have fallen out of the cab face-first if Rafe hadn’t grabbed her.

      He muttered something she didn’t catch and wrapped his arms around her. “I guess we’re doing this the hard way.”

      He eased her out of the truck and stood her next to him on the driveway. Balancing was harder than she remembered, she thought, as she swayed and tried to stay upright. She had a vague idea that she should see Glen, and go get some of his post-bender elixir, but the notion faded as quickly as it had arrived.

      “You’re not getting up the stairs on your own, are you?” he asked.

      She was too busy staring at his mouth to answer. She liked his mouth, especially how it felt when it was busy touching hers.

      “Charlie asked if there was tongue and I wouldn’t answer, but I think she guessed the truth.”

      Rafe was sure Heidi thought she was whispering. Unfortunately, she was wrong. He glanced at the tall, broad-shouldered woman who’d driven Heidi home.

      “You Charlie?”

      “Uh-huh.”

      “Mason’s your horse?”

      Charlie nodded. “I heard you were riding him. I appreciate you giving him the workout. I’m less sure you should be messing around with Heidi.”

      “Me, too. And I’m not.”

      Her steady gaze didn’t waver.

      “It was one kiss,” he added.

      “That’s generally how it starts. She’s my friend. Don’t make me hurt you.”

      Rafe sighed and put his arm around Heidi. As he helped her to the porch, he wondered why he couldn’t be back in San Francisco, at a baseball game with Dante, or even working late. Right now a financial crisis or lawsuit threat sounded pretty damned good.

      “I promise not to hurt her,” he said. “Good enough?”

      “We’ll see.”

      He half led, half carried Heidi to the porch. Charlie closed the passenger door and went around to the driver’s side. She got into her truck and drove away.

      “Bye, Charlie,” Heidi called after the retreating vehicle. She tried to wave and nearly slid to the ground.

      He caught her and pulled her back to her feet. She rubbed his arm. “You’re so strong.”

      “Thanks.”

      “It’s very nice. I’ve seen you in a towel and that’s nice, too. If you weren’t trying to steal my home, I’d like you more. Want to change your mind about that?”

      “This isn’t the time to have that conversation.”

      “Sure it is. Or we could kiss.” She stared up at him hopefully.

      “Are those my only two options?”

      She nodded her head, then stopped. “You had a date.” Her tone was accusing. “With a woman.”

      “Would you be happier if it had been with a man?”

      She considered the question, then blinked. “I don’t know.”

      He had a feeling that for her, it was a brand-new day.

      “Did I mention the kissing?” she asked.

      “You did.”

      “Any thoughts?”

      “None you want to hear.”

      He knew he could break the mood by mentioning his date, but he didn’t want to talk about it. Bad enough he’d lived through it once already. While Julia had been perfectly lovely, he’d spent their