Say You'll Never Love Me by Ann Everett

mixing, so she’d go with it. She scarfed them down, drained her cup, and got to work.
    Two times last week, the realtor left a card on the counter, but still no offer. At least people were looking. She’d instructed them to only bring possible buyers during school hours to avoid Silbie, and the child had not noticed the key box clipped to the hanging basket of fern. Raynie figured the fewer questions, the better, that’s why she’d insisted no sign in the yard.
    Her ears perked at his familiar shuffle even before he rang the bell, so she placed the box on the table, and rushed to greet her regular visitor. Mr. Remmus, wearing a plaid bathrobe, black knee- high socks, and brown house shoes, stood on the porch. A white curl of smoke rose from the cigar clamped between his teeth. She loved the smell of the tobacco.
    “Morning, Raynie.”
    “Good morning. Too early for your bourbon run, so how may I help you?”
    He pulled a measuring cup from his pocket. “I’ll be back later for the whiskey. I need milk for my oatmeal.”
    “Come in.” He made himself at home while Raynie got the milk. As crazy as it was, she looked forward to the old gent’s visits. Maybe because she never knew her grandfathers and he filled that void. Both of hers had died young, but spending time with her neighbor had made her realize how important they were. Patient. Funny. Wise. She was glad Silbie still had both sets.
    “Yesterday, I had lunch with a minister I met in the parking lot at the Episcopal Church. And after talking with him, I feel better.” For the next ten minutes, she gave him the details, but didn’t mention the padre’s great ass or killer dimples.
    “Sounds like this guy helped you. How old is he?”
    She twisted her mouth. “About my age.”
    “Uh-huh. Married?”
    “I don’t think so. He wasn’t wearing a ring.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “Why’d you say it like that?”
    “You looked for a wedding band.”
    She waved him off. “That doesn’t mean anything.”
    “Maybe not, but the way you just rambled on about him, I’d say it does.”
    “No, it doesn’t and I didn’t ramble.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Stop that! Take the milk and go eat your oatmeal. I’ve got work to do.”
    He laughed all the way out onto the porch. “See you later.”
    At eleven o’clock, she took the last packed box to the garage, when someone rang the bell again. If Mr. Remmus was back, she’d put him to work. Peering through the peephole, her heart flipped. She swung the door wide, jumped into Rico’s arms, and wrapped her legs around his waist. “Oh my God! I’m so glad to see you.” She didn’t give him a chance to answer. Just locked lips with him and hung on.
    A rumble of laughter came from deep in his throat. “Damn, baby, I’ve missed you.”
    She slid her feet to the floor. “I’ve missed you, too, but why are you here?”
    “On my way to California.”
    “Isn’t Lubbock out of the way?”
    “For you, what’s a few more miles?”
    Raynie shoved the door closed, and he pulled her tight against him. She slipped the leather vest from his broad shoulders and unbuttoned his shirt. His dark eyes bore into her, as she ran her hands through his long black hair, kissed the inked cobra’s head peeking above his collar. Within minutes, they were naked on the sofa going at it like two newlyweds. She preferred more foreplay, but he wasn’t into that. He liked to get down to business, and since it’d been a while for her, she wouldn’t complain. No need for sweet talk and false promises. Love, romance, and happy endings were a crock of shit anyway. With him, no expectations, no broken heart.
    Fifteen minutes later, she lay on top of him trying to catch her breath. “Oh man, I needed that.”
    “I’d say so.”
    He chuckled again, and she thought how much she’d missed hearing his laughter and everything else. “Why California?”
    He trailed his fingers up and down her spine sending shivers