CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

He wasn’t going to make it.

John resisted the urge to check his watch again. It couldn’t have been more than five minutes from the last time he’d checked at six-ten. This wasn’t the first time he’d been late for dinner with his children, though he did his best to keep those occurences to a minimum, but this was the first occasion Mark had invited a woman.

John came to a stop behind a small compact car and impatiently flexed his hands on the steering wheel. He’d planned to arrive home in time for a quick shower and change, but that was out now. His last client would need to have a tire change with bolts that had rusted on. By the time he’d finished, dirt and grime was all over his shirt and arms. No one had to tell him Brooke dated men who wore expensive suits and had manicures. All he’d had time for was a degreaser to get the dirt off his hands.

The Beetle inched forward and John pulled off behind it. Brooke would probably turn up her pretty little nose at him. He shouldn’t care that she saw no further than what was on the outside, but he did and there was no sense fooling himself any longer.

John turned off into his housing development as restless and anxious as any sixteen-year-old picking up his first date. Seeing Brooke’s Jag in front of his house increased his anxiety. Pulling up behind it, he jumped out of the wrecker. Long, ground-eating strides carried him up the walkway. He heard the laughter before he put his key in the door and shoved it open. They were all around a card table set up in the middle of the family room. Brooke was directly in front of him. His parents were on either side.

All eyes converged on him, but somehow his gaze never made it past Brooke. Amy was in her lap. Mark leaned against Brooke’s chair. His pulse accelerated. Even wearing a suit that would probably equal his house payment, she looked perfectly natural sitting with his children.

“Daddy!” Mark and Amy exclaimed and both ran to him. Bending down he hugged them.

“We waited dinner for you,” Amy said. “Even Mr. Bear.”

“About time you dragged home after inviting a guest for dinner,” his mother admonished. “You know how I don’t like reheating food.”

“He could have waited until I was winning,” his father grumbled.

Brooke lifted a skeptical brow. “Got any other jokes, Mr. Randle?”

“I want a rematch,” his father said and began putting the dominoes back into the worn box.

“We helped Brooke beat Grandpa at dominos five games to one,” Mark volunteered. “I kept score.”

“And helped me figure out which piece to play,” Brooke said. “Amy was our good luck charm. I couldn’t have done it without my team.”

Once again she had included his children. John’s father had trounced him on many occasions. He didn’t pull back for anyone, young or old. Brooke had to be a shrewd player.

Amy and Mark went back to Brooke. She picked up Amy as carefully as she had put her down moments ago. Mark leaned against her chair, his arm touching hers.

Brooke had won his family over as effortlessly as she won over every male that breathed. And she was ignoring him again.

“Hello, everyone. Sorry I’m late. I’ll go take a shower and be right out.”

“Then we’ll be leaving.” Mrs. Randle came to her feet and folded the chair she had been sitting in. “Mission meeting tonight. You can drop them off if you have to go back out later.”

“Greg is picking up the wrecker and bringing my truck later. I’m in for the night.” John crossed the room and took the chair from her. “Thanks for staying and for dinner.”

His mother affectionally patted his cheek. “I’d disown you if you tried to keep me from doing it.” She turned to her husband. “Come on, Hiram. You can try and beat Brooke next time.”

“I won’t try,” Hiram said, coming to his feet and folding his chair. “It’s going to be total annihilation.”

Smiling sweetly, Brooke set Amy on the floor and folded her chair. “Name the date and place, and me and my team will be there.”

“Sunday at one-thirty,” was his quick comeback. “Evelyn and I’ll feed you first before I take you down a peg.”

The smile slid from Brooke’s face, as she realized that she’d committed herself to Sunday dinner.

“Afraid?” John’s father taunted when seconds passed and she didn’t respond.

Brooke moistened her lips. “I … er…” She threw a quick glance at John. No help there. His face was expressionless and she could have kicked him for it. “Maybe John has other plans for his family?”

“Then it’s settled, because they eat dinner with us every Sunday the Lord sends,” Evelyn said. “Come give Grandma some sugar, and I’ll see you two tomorrow after school.”

Brooke blinked as if she hadn’t known what hit her. Unfortunately John did. His parents had decided he needed to move on and the woman they’d selected he needed to move on with was Brooke.

*   *   *

Brooke did not have supersonic hearing, but she swore she could hear the water from John’s shower running in rivulets down his muscular body, over his wide shoulders, down his chest, sliding over his flat stomach to his—

“Brooke, are you all right?”

She jumped guilty and stared at Mark, who had stopped filling the water glasses. “Of, course, sweetie.”

“You face is all funny,” he said.

“Like you’ve been out in the sun,” Amy added, sitting at the kitchen table with Mr. Bear.

Erotic thoughts in front of a man’s children were definitely a no-no. She considered making an excuse and leaving for all of two seconds. There was no reason to hurt the children because she couldn’t get her mind off their father’s body, his hands, his mouth, his—

“Ready to eat?”

Brooke whirled around with the salad bowl in her hand. John stood in the doorway in a snug pair of blue jeans, a white tee shirt. He hadn’t taken time to dry thoroughly. Water glistened in his hair and dampened a couple of spots on his impressive chest. The alluring combination of his clean male scent and soap reached out to her. She was ready all right and it wasn’t for food.

His face went from carefree to lusty.

“Daddy, you face looks like Brooke’s,” Amy said. “You hot, too?”

John’s stricken gaze flew to his daughter.

“She means from the sun,” Brooke interjected and put the tossed salad on the table.

“Yeah. Right.”

Brooke didn’t think she’d ever seen a grown man blush. They were certainly a pair.

“Let’s sit down and eat,” John said and started to sit. He hung suspended in mid-air when Mark went around and held Brooke’s chair.

“Thank you, Mark. You are such a gentleman.”

The little boy flushed. “Daddy would have done it, but he’s tired and he’s got a lot on his mind.”

Brooke lightly touched the little boy’s shoulder to reassure him that she hadn’t taken offense. “Then he’s lucky to have you, just as I was.”

Beaming from ear to ear, Mark took his seat.

John’s bottom finally settled in the cushioned chair. “Thanks, son. It’s nice knowing you always have my back.” Folding his hands, he bowed his head and said grace.

Brooke said her blessings, then silently asked for strength to resist temptation. Opening her eyes, she looked across the small table separating her from John. He was looking right back at her. Desire slammed into her full force. She glared at him as best she could, considering the fact that if the children weren’t there she’d probably drag him to the floor.

This was all his fault.

*   *   *

“Lorraine, please go on home,” Claire ordered, adding up the day’s receipts.

“I’m staying and following you to the bank and tomorrow you’re getting a cell phone,” Lorraine said, refusing to budge from beside Claire at the cash register.

Claire lifted her head long enough to throw Lorraine a quick look of exasperation before continuing with the receipts. “Lorraine, I’ll be fine. You want to go home to show Hamilton you’ll still be there for him. You can’t do that here with me.”

Lorraine shook her head. “I won’t shirk one responsibility for another.”

Shoving the receipts and deposit slip into a money bag, Claire gave Lorraine her full attention. “You’re not needed here; you are at home. Go home.”

A knock sounded on the door and both women jumped and glanced around sharply. Seeing Gray with another man, Claire’s face creased into a wide smile and she rounded the counter to open the door. Memories of their lovemaking flushed her skin and made her wish they were in bed together. She should have known she’d be insatiable with Gray after waiting so many years.

Unlocking and opening the door, she had just enough presence of mind not to fling herself into his arms since she didn’t know who the other broad-shouldered man, dressed in a short-sleeve shirt and slacks, was. Gray had on a charcoal and red pinstriped suit that she’d have liked to take off. “Hello, Gray.”

“Hello, Claire,” he greeted, a smile curving his mouth as if he knew exactly what she was thinking and couldn’t agree more. “I’ve brought someone I wanted you and the ladies to meet.”

“Brooke is not here, but Lorraine is.”

Coming inside, Gray closed the door and introduced everyone. “Lee Roy is a security guard with Livingston during the morning shift. He’s available at a rate I think you’ll find agreeable to escort whomever to the bank. He can start tomorrow night.”

“You’re hired,” Lorraine quickly said. “But can you start tonight? I have to go home.”

“Yes—”

“That won’t be necessary,” Gray cut in smoothly. “I’ll see to it tonight. Lee Roy, please escort Lorraine to her car, and thanks for taking the job.”

“I’ll get my purse.” Lorraine took off for the back.

Gray held out his hand to the big man. “Thanks. I appreciate you.”

“Thanks for the confidence,” Lee Roy said, his large, calloused hand a startling contrast to Gray’s slender, manicured ones. “I won’t let you down.”

“Ready.” Lorraine hugged Claire and then she and the security guard were out the door.

Gray hadn’t taken his eyes off Claire since Lorraine had reappeared. “Hello, beautiful.”

She replied without thinking, “Hi, handsome.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her until they were both gasping for breath. “I wasn’t sure I’d be able to last much longer.”

She nuzzled his neck. “Me either. My first thought was to jump you.”

“Keep that thought.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Grab the deposit and let’s get out of here.”

*   *   *

After the first awkward moments at dinner, John’s libido cooperated enough for him to carry on a normal conversation and look at Brooke without wanting to give her everything her hot gaze was asking for. The children’s happy conversation about their day at school helped most of the time, but then Brooke would say something and his gaze would travel back to her, and no matter how hard he resisted temptation the V of ruffles framing her breasts always drew his attention. His imagination would kick in and he’d visualize burying his head there, and another part of his body that was hard and aching for release someplace else.

“More water, John?” she asked sweetly, but her eyes shot daggers at him.

At least she couldn’t kick him anymore. After the second kick, he’d finally wised up and moved his long legs out of harm’s way. He’d be black-and-blue for a week.

He glanced at the glass she kept full. He’d be sloshing if he drank any more. “No thanks. Mark, any problems with homework?”

His son grinned at Brooke. “Brooke checked it and said it was all right. She’s smart.”

“I bet if I had homework, she would have said the same thing,” Amy put in and yawned.

“Time to get ready for bed,” John announced. Protests and groans sounded from both children. “We were out late last night to see Brooke. I’d like to think if the occasion came up again you wouldn’t mind going to bed a little early the next night.”

Both children got up from the table without further protest. “Say goodnight to Brooke, and I’ll be in to help you with your bath, Amy.”

“Can Brooke help?” she asked, leaning against her father and staring up at him.

A smile tugging the corner of his mouth, he kissed her on the forehead. “No, but nice try. She’d get her pretty suit wet.”

Mark and Amy both hugged Brooke, told her goodnight and left the kitchen. John watched them go and then turned around. A hunk of garlic bread hit him in the face and plopped into his plate. He was so surprised he simply stared at Brooke. She was seething.

“How dare you let Amy think that a suit is more important to me than she is.” Brooke shot up from the table. “Thank goodness they have your parents to help you raise them or they’d be as insensitive as their father.”

She was halfway out of the room before John reacted. Recalling vividly that she could put him on his back, he grabbed her around the waist with both hands, quickly saying “The kids” in hopes that she wouldn’t want to put up a fight and frighten them. She didn’t say anything, but she kicked him.

“If I fall, guess who is going to be on the bottom,” he whispered into her ear. Immediately she stilled.

In five steps they were out the back door and in the oversized yard that had been a must when he was looking for a house three years ago. A swing set, a sandbox, and a little club house were in the far corner of the yard. The security lights winked on. He continued until he was out of the direct line of the light. “I’m going to put you down and I want you to listen to what I have to say for Mark and Amy, if not for me.”

Brooke grunted. Since she didn’t punctuate the sound with a kick, he loosened his hold by increments, then quickly stepped back realizing even before she whirled on him with her small fists clenched that he had to talk fast. “Amy is like a water buffalo when she takes a bath. You would have been soaked in minutes.”

“It will dry clean and, if it wouldn’t DKNY and Saks would have heard from me.”

He shoved his hand over his head. “That’s not the only problem, as I see it.”

She braced her hands on her hips. “What is?”

“If you had gotten wet I would have had to let you use my bathroom to dry off, since the children share a bath, then loan you something of mine since it would be the only thing close to fitting you.” He blew out a long breath. “I’m already having enough problems sleeping at night from thinking about you without visualizing you undressing in my bedroom.”

Her hands dropped to her side. She looked stricken. “T–This shouldn’t be happening.”

“That doesn’t seem to stop it.” John stepped closer. He couldn’t help himself. “I don’t think we’d be fighting this so hard if we hadn’t gotten off on the wrong foot.”

Brooke’s eyes went lethal again. “You blame me for that?”

He didn’t have to think. “You got mad because you tried to con me and it didn’t work.”

She opened her mouth, closed it, and looked away. “I wasn’t having a good day. You ignoring me made it worse.”

“Believe me it wasn’t easy,” he admitted.

Her head whipped back around to him.

If she hadn’t looked stunned instead of triumphant he might not have been able to tell her the rest. “Every time you’re within a foot of me, I want you. I have from the first moment I saw you, and it gets worse every time I see you.”

“From the first?” she asked in amazement.

He nodded, then reached out and took her hand, felt the leap of her pulse which caused his to settle a bit more. “Don’t you know when a guy is playing hard to get?”

She glanced at their two hands together, then back at him “My judgment hasn’t been what it once was.”

He didn’t want to hear about another guy. “Do you want me to go beat him up or, better yet, take you to beat him up?”

A smile broke over her face. “That might be difficult to do since he’s in London.”

“Do you wish he was here?” John forced himself to ask.

“No. He wasn’t who I thought he was or what I wanted.” Brooke stared up into John’s face. “He didn’t care that I lost my job or how frightened I was. You did and we’d just met. I’ve moved on.”

“Good.” Breathing easier, John pulled her closer, fitting her body effortlessly to him. “We can concentrate on each other.”

Standing easily in his arms, Brooke rested her hands on his chest. “This is the longest we’ve ever been together without fighting.”

“I know,” he replied, brushing a kiss across her forehead. “Tell me about Brooke Dunlap, who can put a man down in seconds or bring him to his knees, then help that same man keep it together for his kids with equal ease.”

Her hands trembled. “I was scared.”

“I’ll always be thankful you were there with me,” he said. “Have you always been bossy?”

“Decisive,” she said, and told him about her family with uncles who were always there for her.

“So men have been catering to you since you took your first breath,” he said matter-of-factly.

She shrugged her shoulder. “I guess.”

He laughed and hugged her to him. “Don’t go modest on me.”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “You could certainly use some modesty.”

“I’ve got a feeling you’re going to teach me some.” His fingers traced the delicate curve of her jaw. He felt her shiver. “I want to see you again. Just the two of us and I don’t think I can wait until Sunday.”

“Me either,” she breathed. “Breakfast at my place Wednesday at nine.”

“I could be there at eight-fifteen.”

“Even better.”

*   *   *

Lorraine opened the back door leading from the garage and saw Hamilton sitting at the kitchen table, seemingly staring into space. “Hamilton?”

He jerked toward her and came to his feet. He took a couple of steps and stopped. “Hello, Lorraine.”

Her throat stung. So much formality when there had once been so much love. She closed the door. “I see Betsy made dinner for you.”

His glanced back at the half-eaten almond trout, grilled vegetables and roasted rosemary potatoes. “She’s not as good a cook as you.”

Censure and complaint. Lorraine took a seat on the other side of the table. “That’s why I came home early.”

His eyes lit up. “You decided to quit?”

A pain sliced through her that he could be so happy to hear she’d given up on her dream. “No.”

“Oh.” He leaned back in his chair.

Lorraine swallowed the growing lump in her throat. “I came home to do the laundry. If possible, I’ll try to be here when you get home in the evenings. I’m not sure about cooking. I realized today that this is difficult for you.”

He stared across the table at her. “Knowing that, you won’t give up the shop?”

“Knowing how much it means to me how can you ask me to give it up?” she countered. She started to add that Thomas hadn’t asked Margaret to give up her dream, but didn’t think it wise.

Hamilton flinched as if she had struck him, then he came around the table and drew her into his arms. “We’ll get through this.”

“Yes, we will.” Lorraine held him as tight as he held her. Brooke’s plan hadn’t been a total failure. But her marriage was still in trouble.

*   *   *

As soon as they entered Claire’s house, Gray pulled her into his arms and kissed her until both were starved for breath and even more starved for each other. It took Claire considerable willpower to pull back and ask, “How much is Lee Roy’s salary and are you matching it in some way?”

Gray stopped dropping little kisses on her face and lifted his head. “I thought about it. Then I recalled how stubborn and how independent you are and decided not to. He earns $16.50 an hour. I think he should get there at least fifteen minutes before closing, walk whoever is not making the deposit to their cars, then escort the person making the deposit to the bank for night deposit, then follow for at least ten minutes to ensure she’s not being followed, then head home. You’re looking at an hour-and-a-half.”

Claire strained away from Gray when he tried to kiss her again. “So he’s willing to do so much for less than $25 a night, most of which Uncle Sam will get?”

“Which, monthly, will help him pay for the fishing boat he wants. Plus the side benefits.” Gray kissed her forehead since that was the only part he could reach. “He’s hoping you’ll consider him for the next Man of Bliss. He likes the ladies.”

Claire frowned and let him pull her closer. “We don’t need one now.”

“He’s there if you do.” Her blouse came out of her skirt. “How hungry are you?”

She chuckled then moaned as his teeth nipped her earlobe. “I suppose I could wait an hour.”

“That should give us just enough time.”