Authors: Sherryl Woods
Worse, though she would never on pain of death admit it to another soul, she had enjoyed herself. More precisely, she had enjoyed sharing the evening with Hank. Over the past few days, she had even started looking forward to their morning runs. Now she awoke to coffee already perking and Hank waiting for her on the back porch. The five miles had started to go by all too quickly.
Which was, of course, exactly why she didn’t want to go home now. Hank was going to be there. Every sexy, self-confident, increasingly intriguing inch of him. Lord only knew what temptation he had planned for her tonight. He seemed to have established himself as some sort of guiding spirit whose only purpose in life was to make her forget all of her long-held, rational beliefs. He was doing a darn good job of it. He was proof incarnate that opposites attract. She was struggling to keep in mind that it was usually disaster when they did. Maybe a review of a few of her case files would drive home the point.
When the phone rang, she grabbed it, praying for a reprieve from yet another struggle against some perverse fate that had tossed her into this emotional fray.
“Dr. Davies.”
“Ann, it’s Tom. How’d you like to do your civic duty tonight?”
The mayor! Perfect. The gods were listening after
all. She lifted her eyes heavenward and without asking a single question said a fervent, “Yes!”
Tom laughed. “Don’t you even want to know what I’m after?”
“Well, of course, but I trust your judgment. It must be important or you wouldn’t be asking.”
“How come you’re never that complimentary when I’m asking for a date?”
“Maybe it has something to do with knowing that I’d be competing with the entire female population of the Keys.”
“I’d throw them all over for you.”
“You say that, knowing you’re safe. If I took you up on it, you’d develop a nervous tic. Now what exactly did you need me to do tonight?”
“There’s a hearing in Key West on offshore drilling. Can you go? I’ll drive. We need bodies down there.”
“No brains?”
“Okay. That goes without saying. What about it?”
“Of course I’ll go. Let me call home and make arrangements for the kids.”
“Terrific. I’ll pick you up at the office in ten minutes. Sorry about the late notice, but we just got word that the state officials were coming tonight. We’d thought it was only a preliminary strategy session.”
“No problem. See you soon.”
She disconnected the call, then dialed home. She knew Hank was there but she didn’t want to make him feel like he had to completely take over when she wasn’t home. She’d ask Tracy to cover dinner. Melissa answered. Next to overflowing bathtubs, the telephone was her favorite thing.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Ann said.
“Hi.” Melissa whispered the response so softly Ann could barely hear her.
“Honey, is Tracy there?”
That was greeted by a long silence, then finally a hesitant, “No.”
So much for that idea. “How about Jason?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Can you get him for me?”
“Okay.”
Melissa hung up the phone. Ann gritted her teeth and called back.
“Hi,” Melissa said cheerfully.
Ann used her sternest tone, the one that always got results. “Melissa, I want you to get Jason at once.”
This time the phone clattered to the floor. She heard Melissa’s footsteps receding, accompanied by choking sobs.
“Oh, Lord. Now what?” Tapping her fingers against the desktop, she waited on the off chance that Melissa would actually get Jason. She could hear the shouts of various children in the background.
“Hey,” Paul yelled. “Who left the phone off the hook?”
“Paul!” she yelled back, just as the phone clicked off.
She dialed again. This time Paul answered.
“Paul, it’s Mom.”
“Oh, hi, Mom. Have you been trying to call? The phone’s been off the hook.”
“I know,” she said with rapidly ebbing patience. “Would you please get Jason for me?”
“Sure thing. Hey, Jason, Mom wants to talk to you. Are you coming home soon? Melissa’s crying something fierce.”
“She’ll be okay,” Ann promised just as she heard Tom’s horn blow. “Is Jason coming?”
“Yeah, he’s right here, but I gotta ask you something first. Is it okay if Hank takes Tommy and me to the construction site tonight?”
She couldn’t imagine Hank volunteering to do that. “Is that your idea or his?”
“He said it would be okay.”
She sighed. “I’m not sure that’s an answer, but if he’s willing, fine. Be careful, though, and do exactly what he tells you to do.”
“Okay,” he said quickly. “Here’s Jason.”
Visions of Tommy tumbling off a girder twenty feet in the sky suddenly made her shake. “Wait, Paul… Paul!”
“It’s me, Jason. What’s up, Mom?”
“Tell Paul to be sure to hold Tommy’s hand the whole time they’re at that construction site.”
“I’ll tell him, but how come you didn’t tell him yourself?”
Ann very nearly groaned. “Just tell him, Jason. And tell him to do exactly what Hank says.”
“Is that all you wanted?”
“No, it is not all I wanted!” She took a deep breath and lowered her voice. “I have to go down to Key West for a meeting. Can you make sure the kids all get their dinner? Tracy should be home soon.”
“Wrong. She’s staying in Key West tonight. She called a while ago.”
That gave her second thoughts. Maybe she shouldn’t be taking off like this. Jason was old enough to babysit, but he didn’t have a lot of experience at it and he didn’t get along with the little ones the way Tracy did. With
him in charge, she was likely to find all of the kids still up when she got home. A thought occurred to her.
“When is Hank taking Paul and Tommy to the site?”
“I don’t know.” Jason’s voice immediately turned surly as he sensed her lack of faith. “Besides, I don’t need him. I can watch the kids.”
She decided to risk it. Hank would have Paul and Tommy with him. Maybe it would be good for Jason to develop a sense of responsibility. Surely he could keep an eye on David and Melissa for a couple of hours. “Okay. Make sure they get to bed on time.”
“Yeah.”
She’d hung up the phone and was halfway to the door when she began reconsidering. She picked up her phone again and scrolled through the numbers, searching for Hank’s cell. She found it and, after an instant’s hesitation, she dialed. It rang and rang before finally his voice mail kicked in. That reassured her. It must mean that he was already on his way to the construction site. Jason would tell him where she was when he came home. There was no need to leave a message.
Relieved on all counts, including the fact that she was being saved from another close encounter with the man who’d been awakening her senses from a deep slumber, she closed the office door behind her and left for Key West.
When Hank walked into the kitchen after taking Paul and Tommy on a tour of the construction site, he found the counter littered with the makings of peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. A trail of milk extended from the refrigerator to the kitchen table. Ann obviously wasn’t
home yet. He’d been hoping earlier that she’d be there in time to go along with him and the kids. He’d even considered waiting for her, but Paul and Tommy had been too eager to leave and he hadn’t wanted to look quite so obvious about wanting to include Ann in the outing.
He was wiping off the counter when Jason came in.
“I was going to do that,” he muttered defensively.
“It’s no big deal. How about getting the milk off the floor before somebody slips?”
“You’re so hot to clean up, do it yourself,” Jason said, taking off and slamming the screen door behind him. Hank’s temper kicked into overdrive.
“Jason, get back here this instant!” he ordered as he yanked open the back door and hit the porch at a run. Jason already had one foot in the yard, the other on the bottom step. He turned slowly and came back onto the porch.
“Who’s gonna make me?” he said, facing Hank toe-to-toe, even though he stood barely shoulder height to him. Hank had to admire the kid’s guts, if not his sense or his rotten attitude.
“You don’t really need to ask that, do you? Now get back in here, mop up the milk and go to your room. While you’re in there, do a little thinking about minding your manners. If I ever hear you talking to Ann the way you just sassed me, I’ll tan your hide till they can use it for shoe leather.”
“Real tough guy, huh? Why don’t you just go back to Miami and leave us alone,” Jason muttered, but he went back in and cleaned up the floor.
When Jason had stalked off to his room, Hank fixed himself a sandwich, took out a beer and sat down at
the kitchen table to wait for Ann. He couldn’t get his mind off Jason. The boy was trouble just begging to happen. Maybe what he needed, aside from some old-fashioned discipline, was an improved sense of self-worth. Maybe in the morning, after Jason had done a little thinking about his behavior, he’d talk to him about an after-school job. Good hard work and a little cash in his pockets might do wonders for him. He’d ask Ann about the idea tonight. If she agreed, he’d find something for him to do at the construction site.
Funny how he was starting to look forward to talking things over with her. He’d never been particularly anxious to get home after work before, but now he could barely wait to leave the office behind. It was nice having someone to share the day with, someone whose opinions he increasingly respected.
Face it, Riley, it’s a hell of a lot more than that. She’s getting under your skin.
All he’d been able to think about during the Super Bowl was the way her skin had burned beneath his touch, the way her cheeks had colored when he’d brushed them with his fingertips, the way her lips had parted breathlessly when he’d pressed an innocent good-night kiss against her brow. It had taken every ounce of willpower in him to keep from claiming more. He’d had to remind himself over and over that he had ruled out a casual affair with this woman days ago. His body, unfortunately, hadn’t gotten the message. Even now it tightened at the vivid memories.
Where the hell was she? It was after eight and there was still no sign of her. He knew the nightly routine now. The little ones should have had their baths and been tucked in by eight. He walked into the living
room and found Melissa still sitting in front of the TV, a thumb stuck in her mouth, her blanket clutched tightly in her other hand. Tommy, still wearing the hard hat Hank had given him, and Paul were racing their miniature cars around her. Despite the noise, it was obvious she could barely keep her eyes open. Someone had to take over in Ann’s absence and it seemed he was elected. The unaccustomed role made him uneasy. He might be able to handle a hundred construction workers without blinking an eye, but these pint-size terrors still scared the daylights out of him.
“Okay, kids, bedtime,” he announced in what he hoped was a convincing tone of voice. The boys scowled their protest, but Melissa just lifted her arms. He bent down and picked her up. Her arms circled his neck and her head rested under his chin. She smelled of baby shampoo and peanut butter. There was something about the combined scents that plunged him back more than thirty years. He wasn’t crazy about that particular bit of time travel. He snapped himself back to the present, his voice rough. “Clean up the toys, Tommy, Paul. Then go get ready for bed.”
“What about our baths?”
Hank groaned. How could he have forgotten the baths? Maybe they could get by without them for once. He looked at Melissa. She was as clean as she had been when Ann had helped her dress in the morning. He almost wished she were a little messier. It would have indicated that she’d played hard, instead of spending the day sitting quietly in front of the television afraid to get dirty, terrified of doing something wrong. The boys, however, were filthy from their streaked faces to their bare feet.
“You two guys go get cleaned up while I put Melissa to bed.” He recalled their tendency to flood the bathroom. “And call me if you have any problems with the drain.” As they started to race down the hall, he shouted one last warning. “And no water fights.”
In Melissa’s room, he struggled with the tiny, unfamiliar buttons on her blouse, then tugged off her shorts and searched for her pajamas.
“Where’s Ann?” Melissa demanded sleepily.
“She’ll be home soon,” he promised. “She’ll be in to give you a kiss as soon as she gets here.”
“Want Ann,” she protested, then stuck her thumb back in her mouth.
“I know you do, baby. She’ll be here before you know it.” He tried to get the pajama top on, but Melissa stubbornly refused to help. Her thumb left her mouth only long enough to ask plaintively again and again for Ann. Feeling utterly helpless, Hank awkwardly tucked her in and patted her head.
“Sleep tight, little one,” he murmured, backing toward the door.
When he reached for the light switch, Melissa began to cry. “No go,” she whimpered.
“I’m right here, baby,” he said, turning off the light and plunging the room into darkness.
“No go!” Melissa wailed.
Responding instinctively to the genuine note of terror in her cries, he went back to the bed and sat down beside her. “Shh, little one. It’s okay. I’m right here.”
Melissa sniffed. As his eyes became accustomed to the dark, he saw that she was curled into a tight little ball, her whole body tense. All at once he recalled the lonely, scary nights he’d spent as a child, his mother away from
home, some strange babysitter in the living room. The dark had been filled with all sorts of terrifying shadows. Ann would never let Melissa know that fear. He got up and searched the room, finally finding the tiny light plugged into a socket over the dresser. He switched it on.
“Is that better?” he murmured softly, looking down at the little girl whose body was finally relaxing. He reached out and rubbed away the last of the tears on the petal-soft cheeks. His throat tight with some overwhelming and unfamiliar emotion, he leaned down and touched a gentle kiss to that cheek. “Sweet dreams,” he whispered.
Melissa wound her fingers trustingly around his thumb and sighed. Minutes later he heard the steady rise and fall of her breath. He tiptoed from the room, his heart filled to overflowing with sensations he couldn’t identify, sensations that both frightened and intrigued him.