And in time... (7 page)

“Seriously? It’s ending like that?”

Mr. Dog breathed a deep, doggie breath, but didn’t move. Alexis groaned at the ridiculous ending and curled to her side. She changed the stupid movie, flipping through the channels for something less senseless. She stretched her legs with an audible yawn, looking at the clock. It was after eleven and she knew she should get to bed, but she wasn’t tired and she needed the distraction of the television. Maybe she’d just fall asleep on the sofa.

Alexis stayed busy at work over the next couple of days, trying her best
not
to think about Cory. It worked for the most part, but she would be lying if she said he didn’t cross her mind—a lot. The demanding schedule and hectic workload helped, along with Paige and Bernie. The three of them together was just plain fun. Bernie was a nut and Paige was just too young to care about taking anything seriously. They both left her early on Thursday for prior engagements. Bernie had parent-teacher conferences for Taylor and Paige had cheerleading practice for the big game. That would help, too. Friday night football with her friends and family was just what Alexis needed.

By Friday¸ they were all pumped and ready for the game. Paige was there long enough to do one shoot and leave the studio in shambles.

“Are you serious? You’re leaving me, too?” Alexis questioned in disbelief while cleaning up the mess her niece left for her. Brat.

“Travis is home. We’re going to eat pizza before the game. You only have the Williamson baby. You’ll be done with him in three minutes,” Bernie assured her without a glance, grabbing her things from Alexis’s office. “I’ll see you at that game.”

“Save me a seat. Try to get behind Paige if you can.” How was it she owned the place, she was the boss, and the person who signed their checks, yet they were the ones leaving early on Friday night. How does that happen?

The Williamson baby wasn’t a three-minute job at all. He wasn’t the three-month-old that smiled at the feather duster anymore. He was a one-year-old scared of his own shadow. Alexis couldn’t even look at the kid without him screaming. The quick shoot turned into an hour-long session, but she didn’t quit. She didn’t build her business to what it was by giving up. There would be no snot-nose baby shots in her studio. With a little sweat, and a lot of determination, Lacy Williamson was going to get the one-year-old shots she wanted. Phew…

Washing up in the studio bathroom, Alexis replaced her khakis with jeans and a Brady County Dragons jersey. She ran her hot straightener through her long dark hair and added a touch of makeup. After locking up, she jumped in her Jeep, looking up and down the empty street. Bradley was nowhere in sight. He’d never know. She pushed in the clutch, looked one more time for the town cop, and pulled out to make the illegal U-turn she’d been warned about multiple times. It was dumb for her to drive around the block when there was no traffic. The clutch went back to the floor when she saw Cory. The decision to make the illegal turn was halted by his presence.

“Hey,” she spoke as her car inched toward him, rolling down the window. Damn he looked good. And that hat. Gah!

“Hi.” He smiled the same Colgate white smile she loved. No…hated.

“How are you?”

“I’m good, and you?”

“I’m okay. You got a haircut,” she noticed. Grrrr. Why did she have to go and say that? He was wearing a hat.

Cory smiled and lifted the cap from his head. His fingers sifted through his hair and he replied. “Yeah, not too bad, huh?”

“It looks nice. Chip has cut my dad’s and brother’s hair for years.”
Oh, my God. Just shut up Alexis McKinley.
“I was just heading over to watch the Dragon’s kick some ass, you want to tag along?”
What?! I said shut the hell up!

Cory thought momentarily and replaced his hat. “Thanks, but I really can’t tonight, I’ve already got plans.”

Alexis faked a smile and pushed in the clutch. “Okay, I’ll see you around,” she said with a fake smile, trying not to sound disappointed. Wait. She wasn’t disappointed. Was she? Jesus, God. What the hell was this guy doing to her? She drove over to the school, wondering what other plans he might have had. It wasn’t like he knew anyone around there. Something told her it was one of the cute little nurses from Canterville. Good. That was great. She didn’t need some good-looking doctor coming in and messing everything up. It was best he went on with his other plans. Whatever. Stupid boy.

Alexis arrived at the school before Bernie. Not that it surprised her. Bernie would be late for her own funeral, just like she was her own wedding. Nonetheless, her family had already claimed the bleachers behind the cheerleading squad. Alexis avoided her brother Mike and sat beside her sister Pat. She wasn’t ready to look at Paige’s dad yet. Mike could look at her and tell she’d been up to something. He was always busting her and Bernie for something growing up. Her brother Tom and his wife, Amanda, were already there, too, and within thirty minutes, the entire McKinley clan had arrived, including Walt and Lola.

“Thanks for leaving early to save our seats,” Alexis taunted with a frown, sliding over for Bernie and standing to hug her long lost husband. “Hey, Travis. How are you?”

Travis opened his arms for a hug, lifting her feet from the ground, and squeezing hard enough to permeate a grunt. “I’m married to Bernie, how the hell do you think I am?”

“Good point,” she agreed.

“I am right here, you know. Taylor, put your jacket on,” Bernie said, tossing the little guy his jacket.

“No, Travis said this was enough,” little Taylor argued back with a mean look, sliding his hands into the pocket of his cute little Dragons’ hoodie.

Just like she knew she would, Alexis forgot all about Cory Baker. Busy with her family and friends, she fell back into her happy life. This was all she needed. Nothing more, nothing less. These people were what made her happy.

The band started across the field playing, “The Eye of the Tiger” and the home team fans went wild. The entire home bleachers sang to the tune, stomping their feet with the beat of the drums when the band moved right to, “We will rock you.” Everyone was on the edge of their seats the entire game. Every quarter was the same—neck and neck, all the way. Alexis’s voice had gone hoarse by half time from all of the screaming. That didn’t stop her from screaming louder with the rest of the crowd during the last few seconds, though. The crowd went silent as they prayed for one last chance to beat the Rockford Bulls. Jordan Casino had the ball and couldn’t get a pass. His eyes darted back and forth on the field, looking for an open player. There wasn’t one. The Bulls had every member covered. All of a sudden he had an opening but not for a pass, he ran it, ten, twenty, thirty, forty yards for a touchdown. The crowd went crazy, absolutely nuts.

They were still talking about it in one big cluster while making their way back to their cars.

“Don’t you let her get drunk. It’s supposed to be really nice tomorrow and I’m painting, I am not covering for her,” Alexis ordered Travis with a straight finger.

“Paige!” Bernie yelled to the sky with her head tilted back, cupping her mouth with both hands.

“No, Bernie, Paige is not going to save you. She’s coming in the afternoon, and you are opening,” Alexis demanded jokingly, but serious. “Travis?” she questioned with a straight, serious face, looking to him for help.

“I promise she will not get drunk and she will be on time, Scout’s honor,” he promised with one finger, crossing his heart.

“You were never a Scout, were you,” Alexis joked.

“That’s not the scout’s honor sign, is it?” Travis asked with a smirk.

Taylor chimed in with a cute little giggle. “No, silly. It’s like this,” he explained, placing his thumb over his pinky and holding up three fingers awkwardly.

“Oh yeah, smarty pants?” Travis grabbed him up and tossed him over his back. Six-year-old Taylor laughed and squirmed, being carried upside down by his ankles.

Alexis smiled in admiration. She was so happy Bernie had him and that he was so good with Taylor. Bernie’s track record with men hadn’t been what you would call pleasant. Except for Travis, of course. He was the best thing that ever happened to that girl and her little boy. Travis loved him as if his own blood pumped through the little guy’s veins. Anyone that witnessed the two of them together could see it. Travis and Taylor were a team. 

“You want some help painting tomorrow, Sputter Bug?” Walt asked as his feet scuffed toward Alexis and an arm dropped over her shoulders.

“No, I’ve got some help coming.”

“So I hear.”

“Huh?” Alexis questioned with raised eyebrows, looking up at his tall frame.

“I’m a phone call away if you need help.”

“Okay, but I’ve got it,” Alexis assured him with a frown. What the hell was he talking about? For a second, she was concerned about his mental state. It wasn’t like Walt McKinley was a spring chicken anymore. Hence the reason she didn’t want his help. Working on that farm all those years did a number on his aging body, and his doctor had been trying to talk him into a hip replacement for months. He wasn’t having it. The heating pad and tube of Ben-Gay was all he needed.

***

Alexis woke to Mr. Dog going berserk, barking downstairs. It took her a second to comprehend what was going on, and then she heard the knocking. Her bare feet hit the cold hardwood floor, and she instantly became pissed. That was the thing about Walt, well, all of the McKinleys really. They all had a mind of their own, including her—stubborn as all get out. It didn’t always work in her favor.

“Dad, I told you—”

“I didn’t know if it was BYOB or not. Get it? Bring your own brush?”

“Cory, hi. What are you doing here?”

“I came to work. If I have to work to get to spend any time with you, then that’s what I am going to do.”

“Stop it!” Alexis yelled with a stern tone, turning back to Mr. Dog still barking at the tall, dark, handsome stranger. Oh boy.

“Do you always answer the door like that?” Cory smirked with that damn dimple, moving his eyes down her bare legs.

Oh crap! Alexis tugged on the bottom of her shirt and backed up, speaking with all nerves. “I thought you were my dad. I’ll be right back. I’m going to get dressed. You be nice,” she ordered with a straight finger directed to her unhappy dog. He made a growling noise and then plopped his head back to his rug in front of the fireless fireplace, keeping one eye on the stranger on his porch.

Alexis had a million thoughts running through her mind as she threw on a pair of jeans, a bra, and a tee shirt. What the hell was he doing there? How the hell did he know where she lived? Did she let him stay or make him leave? She hesitated on whether or not to put on better clothes but decided against it. “Never change you,” she told her reflection in the mirror in front of her. She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and debated on makeup, deciding against that, too. She pulled her hair up in a messy bun and gave up. This was her. This was Alexis McKinley, and if there was one thing her parents taught her, it was to be her.
Always be yourself
. Her mother’s words of wisdom reminded her of that. Lola believed that pretending to be someone you weren’t was the same as a lie, and that lie would eventually come out.

Cory was still on the front porch when she returned. Ugh. What an idiot. She hadn’t even invited him in. Alexis let Mr. Dog out and Cory in. “I have to have coffee. You might as well come in.”

“Well, since you put it that way.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting this.”

“I told you I was coming. Can I put some groceries in your fridge?” Cory asked with a smile. The same smile that revealed the one little dimple. This could be bad. This could be really, really bad.

Alexis smiled back with a twisted grin, knowing exactly what he was up to. “Did you go shopping before you came to work?”

“I told you I was going to cook for you, too, remember?”

“But I told you no.”

“I’ve never known what that word means, just ask my parents.”

“Get your groceries, Doc. I’m going to make coffee.”

Alexis turned to face him after starting coffee, using the counter for support for her trembling knees. She may need a lot of that before the day was out. “Have you had breakfast?” she asked while he put his food in the refrigerator.

“No, but I am okay. I would like a cup of coffee however.”

“I have to eat breakfast. You might as well eat, too.”

“If you insist. Besides, had I known you were going to sleep until noon, I would have eaten.”

“Noon? It’s eight-thirty in the morning.”

Cory studied her while she retrieved the breakfast essentials, and she hated it. Alexis tried to replace the uncomfortable feeling from his stares by creating small talk.

“You missed a good game last night,” Alexis informed him of his misfortune with a smirk. It was more of a manipulative way to find out what he’d done that was more significant than the football game.

“You like football, huh?”

“Not really. I don’t watch it on TV much, unless it’s the Steelers.”

“I have to go,” he joked while he pushed himself from the table.

“Why, because we beat the Chicago Bears last time?”

“I don’t know if that is true.”

“It is,” she said matter-of-factly. “What do you drink in your coffee?”

“Just a little bit of milk, if you have it.”

“You put the milk in.” Alexis set a pint-sized carton of milk in front of him. Cory eyed the small container of milk with a peculiar look. What the hell? Did he expect French Vanilla? This wasn’t some bistro by the Chicago River.