Authors: Louise Behiel
“Not much yet – ripping out the downstairs walls and dividers.” The cool fridge must have affected her, because her nipples were pointed and hard. Forcing himself to tear his gaze away he tipped up the glass and took a long pull, hoping it would cool his libido.
“Heavens, it looked like a big job.”
He shrugged. “It’s the messiest part of any remodel. Ripping out someone’s patch-up job is more irritation than anything.” He took another swig of lemonade, emptying the glass then setting it on the table between them. “Tasted great, Andie. Really hit the spot. Thanks.”
“I have lots if you’d like another.”
Gray knew he had to get his apology over with but he wasn’t particularly masochistic, so he put it off for another minute or two. “Sure, if I’m not keeping you from anything else.”
She shook her head, raising with the glass in hand. “Nothing that can’t wait.”
He watched her fill his glass and tidy up after herself. An ease to her movements made her graceful. Would her movements be as smooth in the heat of passion? Or would she claw and scratch, digging for release?
He swallowed hard as she walked toward him, a small strip of skin showing between her top and shorts. Pure temptation, kids and all. Watching her slide the screen closed he forced his thoughts into order. He had to get a grip on himself. He hadn’t had this much trouble with his unruly body since he was a dumb kid.
“What’s the irritation about ripping out someone else’s work?” she asked, settling herself back into her chair.
“It’s always dirty, dusty work. But when it’s been done by someone more intent on cutting corners than following code, you never really know what’s coming up. What’s safe to rip out or what you have to leave.” He slid his thumb and finger through the cool condensation of his glass then lifted it to his mouth again.
“Is that your situation?”
He nodded, settling the glass back on the table. “Guy who developed the basement wanted to break up the space a bit. He wasn’t intending it to be for anybody’s use other than their own.”
“How’d you come to that conclusion?”
Gray shrugged. “When you develop a house, you have to keep in mind the district and the type of home and the ... well the ‘feel’ of the neighborhood. He didn’t do any of those things.” He tipped his head toward the swimming pool in his back yard. “That waste of space proves my point.”
“But I thought a pool increased a property’s value.”
“For the right buyer it might be true, but it’s far less likely in a neighborhood like this.”
“Like this?”
She looked away.
Gray might have thought she snorted, if she wasn’t a lady. “What do you mean?”
“Neighborhoods like this can be full of small minded people.”
He didn’t understand what she was getting at. They’d never bothered him. In fact they’d hardly said hello. “Have you met the neighbors?”
Andie sighed. “Oh yeah. They’ve sent a couple of envoys over here.”
“Envoys? What do you mean?”
“The day I moved in, Mrs. Hill – call me Ellen, dear – came over to say hello. She seemed surprised by all the kids but didn’t say much.”
“Sounds like Ellen. I think she welcomes everyone.”
Andie slid her glass around the table top, smearing the condensation on the glass. “I agree, especially when another of the neighbors came over.” Suddenly fascinated with the design from the glass’s moisture on the table, she stared at the table. “Mf. Kapinski told me this is a family neighborhood and no place for an orphanage.”
“What?” Gray couldn’t believe what she’d just said. “You don’t have an orphanage.”
“No I don’t, but I do have a home for foster children and once word got out, it seems I’m persona non grata around here.”
“I can’t believe it. These are good folks.”
She nodded. “You’re probably right. But they’re also frightened and uncertain of what and who is coming into their midst.”
“Did you get the permits and everything?”
If looks could kill, Gray knew he’d be buried really deep right now.
“I don’t need a permit. I’m a single mom with four children who has bought a family home with enough space for all of us.”
She glared at him. “Believe me, social services has more rules about having children live with you than any parent has to put up with. In fact,” her chuckle wasn’t humorous, “if more parents had to put up with the rules I’ve got there’d be a lot fewer kids in this world.”
“Sorry, I didn’t realize.”
“Of course you didn’t. Why would you?”
Deciding to get her back on safer ground, Gray asked the obvious, “So what do the neighbors think – you’re going to hurt the value of their homes somehow?”
She pursed her lips and nodded. “That pretty well sums it up. They’re afraid the kids will run wild and cause havoc.”
Figuring discretion was the better part of valor, Gray decided he’d better keep his mouth shut.
Glancing up at him, Andie reached out and grabbed his hand. “Look, I know Chloe’s been a nuisance, but she isn’t bad. She won’t hurt anything. She’s a determined little girl who’s sick and tired of being shuffled between foster homes. She wants a mommy and a daddy. Her mommy preferably. Can you blame her?”
“No, not really.” Gray shook his head. Funny how things worked out. He had a mother he was running from while Chloe was determined to be re-joined with hers.
“I wouldn’t worry about the neighbors too much. Give them a bit of time to get used to you living here and to get acquainted with the kids and they’ll be fine.”
“Promise?” A half grin curved her lips.
“Probably.” He wanted to lighten the burden he saw in her eyes. “As long as you keep Chloe from going any further afield than my place.”
Andie gazed into the night. “Any chance you’ll fill the pool?”
He pressed his lips together. “Not likely. A pool takes constant supervision and there’s no stopping a kid who’s determined to get wet. Especially on a hot summer day with the water next door.”
She looked over the fence into his yard. “Doubly so with a kid like Chloe.”
“Exactly,” he nodded in agreement. “Now you know why I keep mine empty.” He emptied his glass. “If there was a simple way of getting rid of it, I would. But since it’s there and it’s in good shape, I’m going to leave it as a decision for the next owner.”
“You say that as a certainty.”
“It is. As soon as the pool is fenced and a bedroom in the basement is finished, I’m going to put the house on the market.”
Her eyes got wide. “Not because of us, I hope.”
“No.” Gray realized as he said the words they were the truth. He hadn’t been happy to see her moving in. And he’d been royally pissed when Chloe caught him almost naked. But they’d settled down over the past week and things had been relatively quiet over here. Enough so, he didn’t have anything to complain about.
“It’s what I do. I buy houses, make some improvements and upgrades and then sell them.”
“You must move fairly often.”
“Yeah, once or twice a year. Mind you,” he caught her gaze, “I’ve already been here longer than usual.”
“Do you have another house picked out?”
When he shook his head, she asked, “Another part of the city?”
“Nothing particular. Wherever I can find a decent priced fixer-upper.”
“No wonder you don’t have a lot of furniture.” Andie clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, that was rude.”
He shrugged it off. “Not rude, just true. I don’t have a lot of stuff. With my lifestyle I don’t need it.” Inside the patio doors, against one wall was a ball glove and bat, a basket of laundry and a vacuum. “Makes moving fairly simple – unlike the process for some other people.”
She grinned. “You’ve got that right. I had no idea it was going to be such a horrendous undertaking.”
“Well it’s done now. And from all appearances you’ve done a good job getting organized. Even the other night everything seemed to be in place.”
“It was, for the most part. Things fell into place right away. I feel as if the days were forty-eight hours long and the organizing fairies were around to lend a hand for every minute of them.”
“The organizing fairies?” He chuckled.
“You know the ones who leave you a mess even though you’ve cleaned everything right before you went to bed?” When he waited, she continued, “Well, I figure there must be neatnik fairies too. They’re the ones who come out and clean every so often.”
He loved her whimsical explanation for what had to have been some hard work and dedicated effort. “We both know nothing would have happened without some good management and great organization.” He raised his glass to her. “Here’s to the manager.” And saw the intensity and focus in her eyes.
Gray drained his glass and returned it to the table. She was easy to be with, but if he didn’t get the apology over with, he might never make it. Better to get out of here before he took her in his arms and had something else to apologize for. “I should go home and get some sleep,” he said, rising from the chair. “I actually, uhm, I came over to apologize about ... uhm you know – what happened in the kitchen – earlier.”
Curiosity flickered in her eyes. Or maybe it was embarrassment, he couldn’t tell. “I shouldn’t have grabbed you like that and I wanted to apologize. I don’t usually go around grabbing my neighbors.”
She rose and ended up no more than a foot away. His palms itched with the desire to slide up and down her arms, maybe cup her shoulders and pull her close. He noticed her softening nipples through her shirt. He willed his legs to move, but they weren’t being too obedient right now. His mouth felt as if he’d been in a desert for the last few days. If he wasn’t careful he’d be making amends for more than a kiss.
A little smile lifted the corner of her lips. “It was no big deal, Gray. We’re adults. No harm done.”
He wasn’t so sure he agreed, since his libido had been on fire all evening. As he stepped forward to explain the effect she had on him, a scream from inside the house whipped her head around.
“Jamie.”
***
“It’s okay baby. Andie’s here, hon.” She held the shivering little body against hers and rubbed his back until he relaxed back into sleep. She laid him down and covered him with the other Spider Man sheet then ran her hand over his forehead. “It’s all right little man. Rest now. You’re safe.”
She hummed a tuneless melody until she was sure he’d drifted into a restful slumber then rose, twitching his blankets straight around him. She took one last look around and was surprised to see Gray leaning against the door jamb. Quietly making her way out of the room, she left the door slightly ajar.
“Poor little guy.” Gray spoke in a whisper. “What’s that about?”
“I wish I knew specifically. He’s had them since he moved in with us. I don’t think he remembers them when I wake him. Or he doesn’t want to talk about them.”
“I’m not surprised given how he screams. From what you said, he’s got good reason.” Turning toward him in the kitchen, she couldn’t miss Gray’s shudder.
“I know. Pretty heavy stuff for a little boy. Plus he’s got the added burden of being shuffled from home to home.”
“Why are they doing that? It’s obvious he needs stability and a good home right now.”
“I agree – which is why he’s here and why I took him even though I was moving right away.” She plugged the kettle in. “His other homes were with good, caring people. But they don’t have the education or experience to deal with the problems of a child like Jamie. So he’s here.”
“You certainly have a good hand with him.”
“Thanks.” She smiled at his compliment. “Actually, it’s more important to see he likes you.”
“Not much,” Gray snorted. “He didn’t say a single word to me the other night while we were working on his model.”
“I don’t expect him to speak yet.” She pulled a tea pot from the cupboard. “But the two times he didn’t choose to be next to me have been because of his interest in models.” She scooped some tea leaves into the pot and added hot water. “Anything that draws him out of his silent space is progress, believe me.”
“Only because he wanted to work on the model.”
Andie could sense Gray’s unwillingness to take any credit for the change in the little boy. She respected his opinion even though she disagreed. In this case it wasn’t justified. “Jamie wanted to work on the model, so he chose to stay in the kitchen while I was going back and forth to set the table. He didn’t have to stay with you.”
“True.”
“This is the first thing he’s wanted more than he’s wanted - no needed - the security of being by my side. Regardless of what you think, Gray, it’s a big breakthrough for Jamie. Huge.”
“Really? I can’t imagine something so little having any impact.”
“Really.” She couldn’t help but smile at his disbelief. “Look, who’s the psychologist here?” She tapped her chest with a finger. “Last I checked I’m the expert. Like it or not you’ll have to accept my professional opinion – you and the models have reached Jamie in a way no one else has.”
She left him considering her comments while she pulled out mugs. “Tea?”