Rescue Me (19 page)

“You already have a pink bathing suit,” Alex said.

“But that one has strawberries on it. I want one with flowers.”

An idea Alex had began to mull over in his mind started taking shape.

“Jazz, what do you think about Ms. Moore coming with us to Uncle Eli’s wedding?”

“For real?” Her bright eyes doubled in size.

“Maybe,” Alex said. “If she wants to. I was thinking about asking her to come along.”

Jasmine threw off the covers, hopped out of the bed, and started jumping up and down and clapping her hands.

Sitting back as Jasmine carried on as if she’d just won a shopping spree at Toys “R” Us, Alex couldn’t help but laugh at his cluelessness. Here he’d thought his getting involved with another woman would be upsetting for his daughter, and all the while she’d been thinking that he should marry the one woman who had been driving him insane with desire. Life had a funny way of making an ass out of him.

“I haven’t asked Ms. Moore to come along with us, so you can’t say anything, especially to Uncle Eli or Uncle Toby. Not even to Grandma, okay?”

“You want me to lie,” she stated.

“It’s not lying.” At least not in the traditional, six year old sense of the word. Lying by omission surely didn’t count for first graders.

“When you gonna tell Ms. Moore she’s coming with us to the beach to see Uncle Eli get married?”

“I’m not going to
tell
her that she’s coming; I’m going to
ask
her if she wants to come.”

“But she has to, and she can come with me and Grandma to buy a new bathing suit. I don’t want her to have a pink one with flowers on it, though. I want to be the only one with that bathing suit.”

“I don’t think Ms. Moore can shop for a bathing suit at the same store where Grandma is taking you.”

“No, I think the biggest size there is seventh grade.”

The image of Renee in a bathing suit jumped to the forefront of Alex’s mind. God, please let him summon the nerve to ask her to come on this trip. They’d had some pretty close encounters these past few weeks, but that didn’t mean she was ready to pack up and come with him to the islands.

In fact, the more he thought about it, the more Alex realized Renee would probably look at him as if he was crazy. They hadn’t even been on an official date. Other than that
afternoon they spent watching football and making out on her aunt’s couch, all their time together had been spent at the school. Granted, they had gotten to know each other really well, especially in that storage room, but they still didn’t
know
each other.

And that was the craziest part of it all. He really wanted to get to know her. Even more than he wanted that next kiss, Alex wanted to know more about
her
. What was she like as a child? What did she want out of life? Was she ready to settle down, start a family?

“Daddy?” Jasmine’s voice knocked him from his musing.

“Yeah, baby?”

“I think Ms. Moore likes you, too,” she said, a smile tipping up the corners of her mouth.

Alex barked a laugh. “Good night, Pumpkin.”

Chapter Thirteen

 

Renee stood just beyond the front porch, her hands on her hips, her mind sufficiently blown by the unfailing precision in which the men from Holmes Construction did their jobs. Two workers carried in sheets of Sheetrock, one after the other. Another group used a huge mixer to mix the texture that would be blown on the walls. Alex said it would add depth and character that you wouldn’t get with just paint. Renee had learned over the past weeks that when it came to the house, she should just put her trust in Alex.

She still wasn’t sure if she could put her trust in him with regards to other aspects of her life—namely her heart. Something deep inside told her she should. It was obvious he had a strong sense of family, something she’d always longed for growing up.

Renee still could not completely grasp how a man could lavish so much love on one child. Until she’d met Alex, she didn’t believe such love could exist between a father and daughter. Even the friends she’d envied back in grade school didn’t have fathers who treated them as if they were princesses. It was enough that they were not beaten every night.

She was used to belt lashings and humiliation. To lying in bed at night, afraid her door would open and her father would unleash his fury on her or her mother.

The thought of Alex bringing his fist to Jasmine’s face was preposterous. He just was not that kind of man. He was warm, and gentle, and sweeter than just about anyone Renee had ever encountered.

“Hi there.”

Renee jumped. Turning, she felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of Alex in a soft yellow polo shirt, khaki cargo shorts, and sandals. He wore a pair of sunshades, and looked even more gorgeous than usual.

“Good morning,” Renee said, her hand still over her heart. “I’m guessing you’re not here to supervise,” she said.

“The guys can handle it. I have a prior engagement, one I was hoping you could join me at.”

Renee looked at him curiously; then she heard a car door slam.

“Hey, Ms. Moore.” Jasmine came running toward her from Alex’s truck. She wore a softball uniform and had a ponytail bouncing from the back of her cap.

“Hi, Jasmine, you look like you’re ready to hit a home run.”

“Daddy said you could come and watch me play.”

“I—” Renee looked from Jasmine to Alex.

“Hold on, Jazz, remember what Daddy said?”

“Oh yeah, we have to ask first.” She turned to Renee. “Can you come and watch me play, Ms. Moore? Please? I’m really, really fast, and I know how to steal second base.”

“You do?” Renee looked to Alex. The slight, apologetic smile tipping his lips spiked his yum factor up to one hundred.

“Sorry to just show up like this, but I thought—”

“Daddy!”

“
We
thought maybe you would like to catch a softball game.”

“Please, Ms. Moore,” Jasmine begged.

Alex tapped Jasmine’s shoulder to stop her from jumping up and down. “We understand if you already had something planned. I know this is last minute,” Alex said. “But Jasmine and I were talking last night, and I asked if she would mind if I brought someone to her softball game. When she found out you were the person I wanted to ask, she couldn’t have been more excited. Neither could I.”

The breath caught in Renee’s throat. He’d discussed her with Jasmine. Finally.

But did Jasmine see her as his date, or as one of her favorite teachers coming to her game? Even though she’d just started working with younger children, Renee already had a sense of how their minds worked. She knew Jasmine enjoyed her Accelerated Reader and Library Skills class. Just because she wanted Renee at her game, it did not mean she wanted Renee dating her father. She wondered if Alex considered the difference in the way a six year old would interpret this situation when they’d discussed her last night.

“Well, Ms. Moore?”

“Of course I’m coming to the ballpark,” Renee said. “I’ve got to see just how good you are at stealing those bases,” she said to Jasmine.

Thank you
, Alex mouthed.

Renee looked down at her baggy T-shirt and cutoff shorts. “Give me a minute to change,” she said.

“You look fine,” Alex insisted.

“I look like I’m—”

“Going to a ballpark.” Alex spoke over her.

“Come on, Daddy. We gotta get to the game.”

“At least let me grab my purse,” Renee said. She ran over to the trailer and picked up her purse and her favorite Florida Gators cap. Alex was giving Jasmine a boost into the double cab truck when she returned.

“Come on, Ms. Moore,” Jasmine called, sticking her head out of the backseat area.

“I’m here,” Renee said. Alex held out his hand, and she grabbed hold of it and allowed him to help her into the truck. Renee tracked him with her eyes as he rounded the front of the truck. He got in, strapped on his seat belt, and reached over with his left hand to start the truck. He pulled the gear shift into reverse, and backed out of the driveway. He did a credible job of steering the car with one hand.

“Ms. Moore, do you have a swimsuit?” Jasmine asked from the backseat.

“Jasmine,” Alex said in a warning tone.

“Oh, I forgot. I’m sorry, Daddy.”

Renee looked over at Alex, raising her brow in question. He shook his head, dismissing Jasmine’s comment.

The park where Jasmine’s peewee softball team played ball wasn’t all that far from her aunt’s house. The four and five year old team was just finishing their game when they arrived. Jasmine bounded out of the truck, gave Alex a kiss on the cheek, and ran to where her teammates were warming up.

“She looks so cute in her little uniform,” Renee said as they walked from the makeshift parking lot to the baseball diamond.

“I rather her in softball than dance. That was last year.”

“Oh, I’ll bet that was cute.”

“Jazzy is cute in just about anything she does.”

“She takes after her father,” Renee teased.

“You think I’m cute?” he asked, the smile on his face far surpassing cute. It was heart stopping.

“You’re okay,” Renee answered.

“I’ll take that,” Alex laughed.

They made their way to the bleachers. Alex sat her down and walked off, returning a few minutes later with two hot dogs and two cans of soda.

When Jasmine’s team took to the field, Renee’s heart filled at the love and pride she saw on Alex’s face. He explained that in peewee softball, each child gets a chance to hit the ball at least twice. Even so, the first inning lasted less than ten minutes, with both teams garnering lightning quick outs. The second inning went just as quickly.

“Well, it looks like we won’t take up too much of your Saturday,” Alex said.

“I don’t mind,” Renee laughed. “This is more exciting than what I had planned to do.”

Alex raised a questioning brow.

“Cleaning out the cabinets in the trailer,” she answered. “They’re so small it would have taken about as long as that last inning. So why did Jasmine ask if I had a bathing suit?” Renee asked.

He shifted uneasily on the bleacher. “One thing I don’t have to worry about is my daughter keeping secrets from me,” Alex said.

“Alex, what’s going on?”

He turned to her. “I was going to wait a few more days before asking you this, but I guess it doesn’t matter now.” He took a deep, fortifying breath. “My brother is getting married at the end of the month. I was hoping you could join me, be my date at the wedding.”

“Really?” Renee asked, a warm giddiness seeping into her bones.

“The wedding is in St. Martin,” Alex said.

“St. Martin? As in the Virgin Islands?” Renee nearly choked. “You want me to go to the Virgin Islands with you?”

He looked as if he was having just as much trouble catching his breath as she was at the moment. “I would understand if you didn’t want to,” he said. “We haven’t known each other all that long, and I wouldn’t blame you if you would
feel uncomfortable going off to the islands with me and my family, whom you haven’t even met yet,” he rambled. “God, what was I thinking to ask you to come away with me? I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” Renee said. “I haven’t given you an answer yet.”

“You would go?”

“Alex, being with you in the Virgin Islands sounds wonderful.”

“You really mean that?”

She nodded. “I know we haven’t known each other all that long, but there’s something happening between us.”

“You feel it, too, huh?”

“I just want to make sure you’re okay with this attraction, Alex. I know you have this guilt thing going.”

“I’m working on that,” he said. “Asking you to come away with me seemed like a pretty big step in the right direction. So, will you consider it?” he asked.

“When do you need my answer?”

“I’ve already bought Jazz and my plane tickets. As long as I have time to add you to our flight …” He trailed off.

“I’ll let you know soon. I just need to think this over a bit,” she finished, although her mind was already heady at the thought of being with Alex in a lush, tropical setting.

“That’s fair,” he said. “I don’t want you to feel pressured, but I really want you there, Renee.”

“Thank you,” she said, wiping a spot of chili sauce from the side of his mouth, and placing a light peck in its place. “Look.” She turned her attention to the diamond. “Jasmine’s up to bat.”

“I shouldn’t be nervous,” Alex said, rubbing his left hand on his thigh.

“Are you kidding me? I’m nervous and she’s not even my child.”

The pitcher threw the ball. Jasmine swung at it about three seconds after the ball had already crossed the plate.

“Strike one,” the umpire called.

Jasmine turned their way and hunched her shoulders.

“That’s okay,” Alex called. “You’ll get the next one.”

Jasmine grinned, then turned back to the pitcher. She pulled her helmet down, wiggled her hips, and swung at the next pitch. A soft
thwack
sounded, and the ball went puttering along the ground. Jasmine took off running. Three members of the opposing team went after the ball, all of them missing it.

Jasmine’s little legs flew around the diamond. When she slid into home plate, Alex took off. He pummeled down the bleachers and ran out to home base, snatching Jasmine up in one arm and twirling her around.

Renee felt the tears forming, but could do nothing to stop them from trailing down her cheek. The open display of love and true affection was priceless, and so unlike anything she’d ever experienced from her own father as a child.

The coaches were finally able to tear Alex from his daughter. He gave her one final kiss on the cheek and headed back to the bleachers.

“Sorry,” Alex said to the crowd after holding up the game for three minutes. “I let my excitement get the best of me.”

Renee laughed, wishing she could throw her arms around him, but she wasn’t sure how much of their relationship he had discussed with Jasmine, and she didn’t want to cause him to rush that significant conversation. It was up to him to decide when the time was right to tell his daughter that he was ready to start seeing a woman after her mother’s death. Renee wondered if she should offer to be there whenever he did decide to talk to Jasmine.

“That was awesome, wasn’t it?” he asked.

“It was pretty amazing,” Renee answered.

The next three innings went by with no hits; then in the bottom of the seventh, two hitters on the opposing team scored, and the game ended two to one.

The teams walked in straight lines, shaking hands in the
middle of the diamond. When they were done, the two coaches gathered their players in their respective dugouts for a postgame pep talk.

Renee stood to the side with Alex, waiting for Jasmine to come out. She didn’t notice the woman who sidled up next to them until she spoke.

“Hello, Alex,” she said.

“Leslie. Hello,” Alex said. He turned to Renee. “Renee, this is Leslie. Her daughter and Jasmine are best friends.”

The woman looked Renee up and down and turned to Alex without acknowledging Renee. “Exciting game,” she said; then her voice turned sultry. “I would love to see you swing your bat one of these days.”

Alex’s eyes widened. “Okay, then,” he sputtered. “The girls are done. We need to get going.” He grabbed Renee’s arm and practically dragged her toward the dugout where Jasmine’s team had just begun to disperse.

“She was about as subtle as a tornado,” Renee said.

“She’s a pariah,” Alex snorted. “A recent divorcee,” he explained.

“And she has her sights set on you.”

“That was evident even before she got divorced. Now it’s as if she’s got the green light to go for it.” Alex turned to her. “That will probably happen a lot,” he warned. “And not just with Leslie.”

“Are you trying to tell me women come on to you on a regular basis?”

“Sometimes,” he said.

“It’s a good thing I’m not a jealous person.”

“You shouldn’t be. I’ve always been a one woman man, Renee, even when some would argue I had the right to stray.”

She placed a hand on his chest. “I’m not worried.”

“Daddy.” Jasmine came running over to them. “Can I get a frozen lemonade with Kayla?”

Alex fished a five out of his pocket. “Do you want one?” he asked Renee.

She declined with a shake of her head. When they were once again alone, Renee asked, “So how have you been able to fight the women off?”

Alex shrugged. “It’s easy when you’re not interested. That doesn’t seem to stop them, though.”

“And apparently, neither does having a woman on your arm.”

“Hopefully, that will curb it for most women, but I knew having you standing right next to me would mean nothing to Leslie.”

Renee knew one thing, that Leslie chick had better keep her hands off. She’d finally gotten Alex to open up and acknowledge that he felt something for her. She was not letting some horny divorcee mess with her good thing.

Jasmine ran up to them, another little girl with pigtails trailing behind.

“Ms. Moore, did you see me hit the ball?”

“I did. You were both spectacular,” Renee said.

“And fast, too. I told you I was fast.”

“I almost hit the ball,” the other little girl said.