Restoring Romance (Welcome to Romance 1)

They took a few steps before he jerked his arm back, cramming his hand into his pocket. An awkward silence followed. What was he thinking? Why was he suddenly being so nice to her when he’d obviously been angry during dinner? Did he suspect she’d been abused? Did he pity her now? Did he think she was a freak? This hadn’t been her plan when she agreed to come to dinner with her unsuspecting family. She’d wanted to come and learn about them and try to make a good impression. She’d hoped to find a way to fit in, something to contribute. But she had nothing of value to offer this well-adjusted convivial group. Her mere presence at dinner had caused a battle between Adam and his parents, and she felt terrible about it.

A vivid memory flooded her brain, her ten-year-old self watching out the front window of their trailer home when her current dad was due home. She could tell from the way he drove how the evening would progress. If he pulled in and parked in a calm fashion, things were likely to be relatively peaceful. But if he turned in fast, spraying gravel, and slammed the door when he got out, she would run and hide in her closet, trying her best to stay out of sight until the next day when he had slept it off.

Her role in every home was always that of peacemaker. With each new father she worked hard, stayed quiet, and suppressed her thoughts and feelings, in order to keep everyone on an even keel. But invariably, she would slip and say the wrong thing, setting him off like a bomb, especially if he’d had a few beers. Her foster homes had been less physically violent, but she learned to be invisible to avoid constant verbal abuse.

Had she been aware yesterday that Adam was her cousin, she would’ve been more careful not to antagonize him. She understood most men wouldn’t tolerate any woman who disagreed with them on a regular basis. It was one of the reasons she hadn’t dated much. Yet since living on her own, she’d grown bold in expressing herself, lazy about keeping the peace. Interacting with a real family meant she needed to practice being accommodating again. Hopefully, she hadn’t lost the ability to bite her tongue.

As if testing her, Adam asked a confrontational question. “How’s your cat? Was her name Lucky?”

“Lucky’s fine, perfectly fine. I’m sure Kujo didn’t mean to scare her.”

“Well, I shouldn’t have even brought Kujo inside, knowing you’re a cat person, not a dog person.”

She hurried to pacify him, knowing how much he hated cats. “I don’t have anything against dogs, and Kujo seems very nice.”

He squinted, his head tilting to the side. “Wasn’t it just yesterday you told me all the negatives of being a dog owner?”

“Yes, but that was before... I mean to say... I shouldn’t have spoken so harshly.”

He frowned. “Look, I’m trying to apologize here, and you’re not making it easy.”

“You don’t need to apologize—I do. I shouldn’t have criticized your dog. I really didn’t mean anything by it. The only reason I prefer cats is because I miss my roommate’s cat back in New York. But dogs are okay—”

“Don’t do that, Ash.”

“Don’t do what?”

A hand grabbed her elbow, pulling her to a stop, and she gasped, yanking her arm away by reflex.

“Geez, Ash, I’m sorry!” Adam stepped back with his palms up in the air. “I’m not going to hurt you, Ash. I would never do that. Ever.”

She swallowed, taking deep calming breaths. “Yes, but I shouldn’t give you a reason to. I need to quit running at the mouth.”

Adam’s face contorted as if she’d stabbed him with a knife. “Is that how I look to you? Like the kind of man who would take a swing at you because of something you said?”

“Of course not.” She didn’t add that he might if he’d been drinking, which was generally true in her experience.

“Then why did you make that comment?”

Ash didn’t know how to answer. Everything she said seemed to offend him. That’s when she got lucky, because the sky opened up and dumped on them, ending the conversation.

He held her arm as they ran for the house, completely drenched by the time they made it back. Like two kids who’d been playing in the rain, they sloshed inside. Donna gasped at the sight and clucked about her like a worried mother hen, and Ash basked in her nurturing. Soon Ash found herself warm and dry in borrowed clothes, and she made certain Adam had no opportunity to ask his question again. She desired the family’s approval way too much to risk another volatile encounter with the unpredictable man. Perhaps she could gain their approval, and then they wouldn’t reject her when they found out about her mother.

Chapter Six

ADAM SPIED ASH SITTING alone at the lunch table at the Della’s Diner and padded over until he stood right behind her. He bent over to speak in her ear. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were avoiding me.”

“Cripes!”

She jumped about three inches out of her chair and her fork rattled to the table.

He chuckled as he slid into the empty seat across from her and propped his elbows on the table, resting his chin in his hands. “I’ve called you multiple times this week, and you never answer.”

“You’re not in my contacts. I never answer if I don’t recognize the caller.”

It was true they’d never actually spoken on the phone. He’d finagled his sister-in-law into giving up Ash’s number, claiming the need to contact her about the furniture.

Ash took a sip of her drink, and he noticed her hand trembling a bit. He shouldn’t have snuck up on her—he forgot how easily she was frightened.