They bid Julie goodbye. She'd already begun dragging herself back to the schoolroom and sent a feeble wave toward them.
On the way to the body shop, Austin remained outrageously obnoxious and loud. Despite Luna's repeated requests to calm down, he continued to harass his sister until Luna said with grave meaning, “I better take him home with me, Joe. I don't think you want to have him in stores while he's acting like a wild animal.”
Rather than giving him pause, Austin started begging and complaining and making outlandish promises of angelic behavior. He even kicked the back of Luna's seat once.
Wide-eyed, Luna stared at him. She was a little aghast at his verbal velocity and volume. So far, she hadn't had anything like this to deal with. Sure the kids got loud. They were kids. She wondered if Austin's awesome display meant he no longer feared she'd send him away. Was he now comfortable enough with her to test her a bit?
She wished she had some answers. She wished she had more experience. He kicked her seat again, and without thinking about it, she said,
“Austin.”
He quieted long enough to blink at her. It was the very first time she'd yelled, and Luna was as honestly surprised as Austin appeared to be. She tangled a hand in her hair, harried, confused. Joe patted her leg to encourage her, and damn if he wasn't wearing a small smile.
After an indrawn breath, Luna said, more calmly this time, “Show me you can quiet down and behave, and maybe,
maybe
, I'll still let you go with Joe.” If she didn't let him go, she'd only be punishing herself, so she prayed her tactic worked.
Thankfully, it did. Luna was so relieved as Austin made a subdued exit from the car, she felt as limp as poor Julie had looked. Joe surprised her by stopping her as she went around the hood to slide in behind the wheel. He caught the back of her head, tipped her face up, and kissed her square on the mouth, lingering for a heart-stopping moment before he pulled away.
Still close enough that she could feel his breath, he said, “We'll be back as soon as we can.”
Luna peeked around. Austin stood next to Joe, his face frozen in repelled consternation. In the backseat, Willow had her nose to the car window, a half smile curling her mouth.
“Yes, well.” Luna cleared her throat, patted Joe's chest, and said, “Drive careful.”
Always ready to copy Joe, Austin reached up for her. When she bent down, he hugged her neck and planted a loud kiss on her cheek. He hitched up his shorts and said, in a manful voice, “We'll be careful. Don't worry.”
Stupidly, tears stung her eyes. Willow climbed out of the backseat and went to Joe. Without saying a word, she gave him a hug, then went around to sit in the front seat and put on her seat belt.
Joe looked very pleased with himself. “Come on, Austin. We've got stuff to get done.”
Austin skipped beside him toward the body shop entrance. “Women worry, huh? That's why we kiss 'em goodbye.”
“Yep. They worry.” Joe put a hand on his head. “Plus it's just nice kissing them.”
“It wasn't bad,” Austin admitted, but he looked pained saying so.
The sigh of contentment blossomed inside Luna. Together, the four of them made a familyâa wonderful, complete family. And whether Joe Winston had intended it or not, he was in the center of that family.
Austin adored him, Willow admired him, and Luna loved him more than she'd ever realized possible. Joe might not want to admit it, but he felt the same about the kids. Maybe he even felt the same about her. All she had to do was find a way to make him realize it. Well, she was done playing fair.
One way or another, she'd get him to love her, because no way did she want him to go.
Chapter Fifteen
J
oe's head was ready to explode by the time they returned to Visitation. Austin talked nonstop, and while they were in the security supply store, he'd grown three extra armsâor at least it seemed that way. Joe had to stay right on top of him to keep him from damaging some pretty expensive equipment. Finally, Joe bought him an inexpensive pair of field glasses to keep him busy. Austin spent the rest of the time staring at everyone in very close perspective.
On the way out of town and on his way back in, Joe subconsciously watched for Jamie Creed, until he realized what he was doing, then he scowled at himself. Hell, he didn't believe for a second that Jamie just seemed to know when to show up. That sort of mystic crap was Luna's thing, not his. All of Joe's beliefs were grounded in reality and experience.
He was still pondering Jamieâand his natural dislike for the manâwhen his cell phone rang. Austin gave up his perusal of the passing landscape through his field glasses long enough to try to take Joe's phone on the seat between them. Joe got to it first.
“This is Joe.”
“Joe? Hi. It's me, Willow.”
Alarm slammed into him. “What wrong?”
“Nothing!” She hesitated, then said, “I . . . sort of need a favor.”
They had just entered the town proper, so Joe pulled over to the side of the road, then had to grab Austin by the collar of his shirt when he released his seat belt and started to open his door. “What is it, hon?”
She cleared her throat, again hesitated.
“Willow?”
“Can you stop at the drugstore for me?”
More alarm. “You're that sick? Maybe you need to see the doctor.”
“No, I just . . . need something.”
Relief rolled through Joe. “Something for your stomach?”
“It's, well, not my stomach.”
“Okay.” She had him at a loss. He'd never been any good at twenty questions. “Then what do you need, Willow? Just tell me.”
She rushed out an explanation. “I was going to ask Luna to call, but she got in the shower after I lay down, and I was afraid if I didn't call now, you'd already be through town. I didn't want anyone to have to make a trip back there. I hate to ask, I really do, but . . .”
Hoping to soothe her, Joe said, “Whatever it is, I'll get it. Just tell me.”
“Tampons.”
Joe stalled. Tampons. But she was only . . . well, fourteen. He had no idea when young ladies needed such things. He said, “Uh . . .”
“I know,” she all but wailed. “I'm sorry. But there aren't any here, and you're already there.”
“Yeah, of course.” He glanced at Austin. “No problem at all, hon.” He swallowed. “Any particular kind?”
She gave him a brand name, then quickly hung up.
Joe took a fortifying breath. He'd known plenty of women, but they took care of those things without any help from him. Never in his life had he bought feminine products. Alyx had tried sending him to the store for some once, but he'd refused and had instead driven a girl he dated, and she'd gone into the drugstore while Joe waited in the car. Course, he'd been in his early twenties then, not in his late thirties. Hell, he could kick ass on felons, play bodyguard and bounty hunter, so surely he could buy a stupid box of tampons.
He glanced at Austin and found the boy studying him through the field glasses. Joe opened his truck door. “C'mon. We'll order the pizza first, then go to the drug store for your sister.” Poor Willow. No wonder she'd looked miserable. He hadn't met a woman yet who wasn't a little grumpy and uncomfortable during that time, at least for the first day or so. It figured Austin would be at his most intolerable, just to make her feel worse.
It was as they were leaving the pizza place that Austin, still with the stupid field glasses up, said in a mean voice, “There's Mr. Owen.”
Joe pulled Austin to a halt. “Where?”
Austin pointed across the street to a tall, slender man dressed in a full suit despite the smothering heat. Joe made note of two thingsâQuincy's blond hair, and his dress shoes.
He was already getting into an expensive black Mercedes, so Joe just watched, his gaze icy, his gut tight with cynicism, his lip curling in automatic, intuitive dislike. As Quincy checked traffic to pull out, his attention slid over Joe, then jerked back. His expression went blank, then startled. After several seconds, his dark gaze drifted to Austin, narrowed, then shot back to Joe. He nodded once, curt and brief, then drove away.
Austin's hand slipped into Joe's. “I don't like him.”
Joe didn't like him either, but rather than say so, he asked, “How come?” He started Austin toward the drug store.
“He always looks at me like that. He's not a nice man.”
“Like what?”
Austin shrugged, kicked a pebble with his toe. “Like I'm dirty or something.”
Damn the man. Joe squeezed Austin's shoulder and growled, “Remember what I told you?”
“ 'Bout puttin' my head up?”
“Your chin, yeah. He's not worth your notice, Austin, if he can't be nice.”
“ 'Kay.” Austin stuck his chin so high in the air, he couldn't use his field glasses.
Joe's thoughts churned, shifting, sorting and piecing together ugly suspicions. A bell chimed as they entered the drug store, and a portly man with impossibly thick gray hair looked over his wire-rimmed glasses from his position behind an old-fashioned counter. “Austin Calder. I haven't seen you in ages.” The pharmacist took off his glasses and set them aside. “How are you, son? And your sister?”
“Willow is sick.”
The pharmacist glanced at Joe. “I'm sorry to hear that. Anything serious?”
To Joe's consternation, heat rushed up his neck. “Uh, no. She's okay. Just a little under the weather.”
“Can I help you find anything?”
No.
If he was going to buy the damn things, he didn't want or need help. “We'll browse, thanks.” Belatedly, Joe reached across the counter to offer his hand. “I'm Joe Winston. I'm here with Austin's cousin, Luna Clark.”
Through a hardy handshake, the older man said, “Marshall Peterson.” And then in a smiling whisper, “He's eyeing the candy already. Used to come in once a week before his mother passed away. Chloe always bought him the red shoestring licorice, but I haven't seen him much lately.”
Joe had to admit to some surprise at Marshall's friendly disposition. From everything he'd heard, he'd fully expected to face strong dislike from most of the townsfolk. “Did Willow have a favorite, too?”
“Cordial cherries. As I recall, she'd eat one and save the rest for later. Said they were special, and she wanted to appreciate them.”
Joe grinned. “That sounds like Willow. We'll take two dollars' worth of the licorice and a box of the chocolate-covered cherries.”
Marshall nodded in approval. “Good man.”
While that was being bagged up, Joe made his way to the
female
aisle. They passed several people who said hi to Austin with no animosity whatsoever. Austin took it all in stride, so Joe knew it wasn't uncommon. He found himself going through one good-natured introduction after another before he was finally left in peace to make his purchase.
In front of the tampons.
He'd had no idea of the variety he'd face. He frowned, put on his glasses to read a few labels, then gave up and just grabbed a box. He had planned to pick up more condoms, too, but now that he'd met so many people, it didn't seem like a good idea. He should have bought them someplace nearer the security storeâaway from prying eyes.
He thought about making love to Luna without a condom, feeling her and only her, the soft, wet clasp of her body, and a rush of heat assailed him. Damn. Because he'd never once considered settling down with any particular woman, he'd never considered making love without protection. He'd sure as hell never considered himself fathering a baby.
But he looked down at Austin with his fair hair forever disheveled, his small hands holding the field glasses while he peeked between shelves, watching customers. Joe noted the way he planted his narrow feet apart, how his knees looked too big for his skinny legs.
Joe smiledâand he wished Austin were his.
Once he started thinking of kids and babies and sex without condoms, his thoughts progressed at an alarming rate. It wouldn't be right to spring a new baby on Austin and Willow. Hell, it wouldn't be right for Luna either. Taking over as guardian was a huge upheaval in her life. But things should be fairly set in a few years. And he wouldn't be forty for four more years. Surely, that'd give them enough time to . . .
Joe drew up short on that lofty thought. Good God, he was planning additions to the family when he wasn't yet an official family member. First, he had to tie Luna to him. But given the way she'd reacted during Ms. Grady's visit when he mentioned marriage, it wouldn't be easy. She'd damn near swallowed her tongue. Not a promising reaction at all.
Every day, things seemed more settled. The kids were doing great, and other than the vandalism, Joe had seen no signs of any serious threats. Before Luna could decide he wasn't needed after all, she'd get the brunt of his attention. She'd be left with no doubts to what he wanted from her.
He'd just started toward the checkout when Dinah Belle stepped in front of him, blocking his path and insinuating herself into his personal space. With thoughts of Luna still crowding his brain, Joe almost plowed over her.
Today her blond hair was loose to her shoulders, her makeup overdone, her blouse so low she displayed an impressive amount of cleavage. Joe hadn't seen her since the day she'd been fired, and again, he expected some animosity.
Instead, Dinah greeted him with the affectionate familiarity of a long-lost lover.
“Joe.”
Before he could stop her, she threw herself against him and locked her arms around his neck. Her large breasts flattened on his chest, a rounded belly pressed into his abdomen, plump thighs shifted against his.
With great alacrity, Joe freed himself, but already other shoppers were giving them disapproving looks. To be safe, Joe held her back with one hand wrapped around her upper arm. He would have used both hands if he hadn't held the tampons.
“Dinah,” he said without much inflection or exuberance. He was already missing Luna, dumb as that seemed, and he was anxious to get back to her. The last thing he wanted was a full-body rubdown from Dinah.
She tipped her head in coy regard, staring at him through heavy eyes. “I was afraid you'd be gone by now.”
“Now, why would I leave?” Joe was beyond grateful that she'd accosted him at the back of the store, rather than up front where any number of shoppers might have witnessed the spectacle.
She glanced down at Austinâwho promptly curled his upper lip and thrust his chin into the air in snooty disdain, just as Joe had instructed. “I assumed a man like you”âshe looked him up and down as she drawled those wordsâ“would tire quickly of the domestic routine.”
“Actually, I'm enjoying myself.” Joe glanced down at Austin, who raised the field glasses to Dinah's face. With an exaggerated wince, the little imp pretended to gag. Joe almost laughed. He shared those sentiments, but he didn't want Austin to be so rude. “Behave,” he said in an aside to Austin, and took the glasses from him.
Unfortunately, that meant he had to let go of Dinah, and she immediately pressed close again.
“It's so kind of you to want to help them.” She splayed a hand over her chest, attempting to draw Joe's gaze there. “It's just that I hate to see you get caught up in such a mess.”
“What mess?” Joe wondered how much Dinah knew about their situation.
In deference to Austin, she just barely lowered her voice. “I've heard of the trouble. Everyone has. It's obvious that they've alienated themselves from the town by their behavior. Why, they've caused so much trouble that sooner or later they'll be gone, either put in foster homes or in juvenile. And then you'll beâ”
“They're not going anywhere.”
His tone was ferocious enough that Dinah backed up a pace. “Well.” She twittered a nervous laugh. “It's not up to me, of course.”
“No, it's not.” Joe started to walk around her when a thought occurred to him. Taking her by surprise, he said, “Who hired you as their housekeeper, Dinah?”
Her face went blank, then bloomed with color. “Patricia, of course.”
Joe looked into her deceitful eyes, knew she was lying, and said to Austin, “Go on up front and wait for me. The pharmacist has some licorice for you.”