Meet Me Under The Mistletoe (O'Rourke Family 5) (9 page)

It was just a little,
friendly
kiss and he released her as fast as he’d grabbed her.

Shannon’s green eyes were wide and startled. “Alex?”

“Thank you for Mr. Tibbles,” he said, still exulting in the progress Jeremy had made.

“I … I didn’t do anything.”

“You did. I was right that first day—you have a gift with children. You’re great with him.”

He’d pleased her, he could tell by the way her cheeks bloomed pink. When was the last time Shannon had blushed? He’d bet it had been awhile.

“I’m going to warm up the Jeep,” he said. “Be back in a few minutes.”

Shannon touched her fingers to her mouth after Alex had disappeared. That kiss had been an impulse he’d probably regret, but she couldn’t be sorry herself. His unstinting approval of her time with Jeremy filled an empty place in her soul.

Vacations weren’t so bad, she thought.

Not if you could spend them doing something special.

A few days later, Shannon was even more convinced that vacations were a splendid invention. Instead of running her staff ragged with her favorite community projects for the past two and a half weeks, she was having fun. Going back to work would be a drag, but she’d survive. Besides, Kane was exceptionally generous with time off.

Shannon grinned.

If her brother had his druthers, the family would be living a life of perfect ease and luxury. He’d always wanted to give them far more than they wanted to take.

Still, as much fun as it was taking care of Jeremy, she
would
have to go back to work, and he’d have to go to day-care again. It might have been better if she and Alex had insisted he return once his cold was better, but they hadn’t.

They?

Hmmm.
They
felt like a team, but Shannon wasn’t good at deceiving herself. Alex was Jeremy’s father; she was just the neighbor.

Torrents of rain splattered the window and Shannon frowned, uneasiness replacing her contentment. The rain had begun Sunday night and hadn’t stopped since. The ground was already saturated with water and flooding was predicted in the lowland areas and along the White River.

It was silly, yet the feeling that something was wrong grew over the next hour. She checked on Jeremy several times, but nothing was amiss.

Was it Alex?

She wished he was safely home, but he was in the middle of giving his last exam, with the afternoon session yet
to come. Anyway, he was driving the Jeep, and it was designed for rugged driving. She recalled some of the stories he’d told her about building dams and roads in parts of the world where rain and mud were a daily part of life. The simple stories had revealed a man who worked hard and well; Alex could handle anything Mother Nature threw at him.

But she still felt uneasy. She often got those sensations at work, the prickling at the back of her neck when something wasn’t quite right. The public relations staff claimed it made them nervous the way her instincts worked, but they’d learned to pay attention.

Shannon finally dialed her deputy, waiting impatiently while the phone rang several times.

“O’Rourke Enterprises.” Chris’s normally measured tone sounded slightly frantic.

“Chris, it’s Shannon.”

“Where have you been?” he demanded. “I’ve been calling and calling.”

She winced, realizing she’d left her cell phone at her condo. “I’m at a friend’s house. What’s wrong?”

“The factory near Bolton is flooding and we have two employees missing. Please come, Shannon. I don’t want to be the one to tell their wives.”

She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for the missing men. “I’ll be there as soon as possible. Do you know if any of the roads between here and Seattle are closed?”

“No. I checked with the roads department in case you were already on the way and had got stuck.”

“All right. I’m babysitting a friend’s little boy, so I’ll have to bring him with me. Have someone meet us in the garage and make sure they understand Jeremy isn’t to be
left alone for a minute. Tell them if he gets scared about anything, they’ll answer to me.”

She issued several additional orders then put the phone down, thinking carefully. She’d dealt with numerous crises since becoming her brother’s public relations director, but she’d never had a child to worry about at the same time. No matter what else happened, Jeremy mustn’t get frightened.

“Jeremy?” she said, going into the den where he was watching a Christmas video.

He gave her an angelic smile.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I have something to do at my office. We need to drive into Seattle.” Luckily, Alex had insisted they put a spare booster seat in her Mercedes in case it was needed.

“Can we have pizza?” he asked hopefully.

Pizza seemed to be the magic cure-all, and despite her concern for the missing employees, Shannon smiled. “Sure, we can have pizza. Go get your coat.”

Jeremy sang “Jingle Bells” all the way, and by the time she pulled into her reserved parking spot by the executive elevator, she was certain that “Jingle Bells” had been written by a sadist.

Three members of her staff were waiting, including her deputy, and he rushed over with a relieved smile on his face. “It’s all right,” he whispered the minute the driver’s door opened. “The men have been found. Only minor injuries.”

Most of Shannon’s tension vanished.

That was all that mattered. Damage to property could be repaired—it wasn’t the first time it had happened, and it wouldn’t be the last. Damage to lives couldn’t always be fixed.

“Great. Everyone, this is Jeremy,” she said, lifting him in her arms. “He’s a special friend of mine, and he loves pizza. So we need to order a whole bunch.”

A
lex turned into the underground parking garage of O’Rourke Enterprises and stopped at the security gate.

A uniformed guard stepped from the kiosk. “Can I help you, sir?”

“My name is Alex McKenzie. My son is—”

“Yes, Dr. McKenzie, we’ve been expecting you,” the man said quickly. “Ms. O’Rourke said you wouldn’t want to be delayed. Follow the white arrows to the center of this level. A parking space is available by the elevator.”

“Thank you.” Alex pulled forward, eyebrows raised. Shannon appeared to have thought of everything.

He’d been thrown by her phone message saying she’d brought Jeremy into the office. He trusted her, but he knew how hard it was for his son to adjust to new people.

The elevator doors opened as Alex got out of the Jeep, and a woman in a business suit hurried over.

“Hello, Dr. McKenzie. I’m Claire Hollings, Ms.
O’Rourke’s executive assistant. Welcome to O’Rourke Enterprises. Jeremy is doing fine,” she said before Alex could ask.

He smiled faintly. Shannon had her staff well-trained. He was impressed. “Thank you.”

“Come with me, sir.”

When the elevator doors closed, Alex rolled his shoulders to release his lingering tension. Shannon’s brief message had only said there had been an incident at one of the O’Rourke companies, and that she’d needed to take Jeremy to the office with her.

“If you don’t mind my asking, what happened?” he asked.

Claire Hollings inserted an override key into the control panel and pushed the button to one of the top floors. “Flooding at our textile factory in Bolton. Our emergency response team is on the scene.”

“I hope no one is hurt.”

Claire flashed a bright smile, which melted her brisk demeanor. “Minor injuries, that’s all. Two men were missing, but they’ve been found and they’re fine except for one broken arm and some cuts and bruises.”

The elevator rapidly ascended and opened to a spacious office suite.

“This way,” Claire said, gesturing with her hand.

They threaded their way through a beehive of activity. He overheard references to Shannon, what she’d told them to do, wondering what would she think, relief that she’d come. Their destination was a glass-walled office in the very back and Alex saw his son sitting behind the desk, looking intently at a laptop computer. The woman with him said something and he looked up, waved madly, then focused on the computer again.

It was disconcerting.

Until recently, Alex had been the focus of his son’s life, the linchpin in a world that had lost its balance. But things were changing now that Shannon’s outgoing nature was rubbing off on Jeremy.

“Ms. O’Rourke is in the middle of a press conference,” Claire explained, pointing to a bank of televisions.

Shannon was speaking on the muted sets, her name and title emblazoned at the bottom of the screen, where microphones featuring various television station logos could be seen.

“Would you like to listen?” asked her assistant.

Intrigued, Alex nodded, and Claire increased the volume.

“…just grateful the injuries weren’t more severe.”

“What about the employees’ jobs, Shannon?” called a reporter from offscreen. “How long before the mill is up and running again? Christmas is a tough time to go without a paycheck.”

“No jobs will be lost, and there won’t be any loss of wages,” she answered. “But it will be several weeks before production begins again.”

“We’ve heard a number of homes were damaged, as well. Do some of them belong to your workers?” asked someone else.

“That’s correct. We have emergency response teams assessing the needs of each family, and assistance will be offered as needed. But let me emphasize that our services are available to everyone. Bolton is a fine community and we want to help wherever it’s needed.”

“Are any relief agencies on the scene?”

“Yes, shelters are being set up…” She continued, explaining the locations and aid available. Alex leaned
against a desk and watched, fascinated by the play of emotions on her face. Efficient, reassuring…compassion for the injured and distressed. Anyone watching would soon be convinced the world would right itself.

The way she’d been making Alex believe. The kernels of hope Shannon had managed to plant were taking root.

“She’s good, isn’t she?”

Alex tore his attention from the television. A man stood nearby, and though his hair and eyes were dark, there wasn’t any question this was one of Shannon’s brothers.

“She’s great.”

“Kane O’Rourke,” the man said, putting out his hand.

“Alex McKenzie.”

“So I’m told. Shannon says you’re an engineer. If you’re interested, I may have a consulting job for you on that factory.”

Alex frowned. “You don’t know whether I’m qualified.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll check your credentials,” Kane said dryly. “But I know my sister, and she thinks you’re the man for the job.”

“They called, Mr. O’Rourke. Your helicopter is ready,” interrupted Claire Hollings.

“Thank you, Claire.”

Kane turned back to Alex.

“Glad to meet you, McKenzie. I’m flying over to see my injured employees, but I’ll be in touch.”

Alex shook his head as Shannon’s brother strode away. Consulting for O’Rourke Enterprises would look good on his résumé, but he wasn’t sure how he felt about his life becoming even more entangled with those of the O’Rourkes.

He went into Shannon’s office and ruffled his son’s hair.
“I appreciate you staying with him,” he told the woman sitting with Jeremy.

“It was a pleasure. Your son has a strong aptitude for computers,” she added. “I hope to see you again, Jeremy.”

“Bye, Bobbi. We don’t haf to leave yet, do we, Daddy?”

“Yes, we do.”

But he’d barely gotten Jeremy’s coat fastened before Shannon appeared, surrounded by people clamoring for her attention. She gave him an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry about bringing Jeremy into Seattle,” she said when the tumult had settled. “But things were frantic here.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Alex assured. “It probably was good for him.”

It was true, yet the truth bothered him, because it led to questions without answers.
Would
Jeremy have had an easier adjustment the past year if his mother had encouraged him to be more independent? Kim had spent every waking moment with their son and had wanted him to be educated at home. Was that why Jeremy was desperately unhappy in day-care? Would he hate school even more?

A weary sigh escaped his throat, and Alex felt the inevitable stab of guilt. Kim wasn’t here to defend her decisions—decisions she’d had to make alone because
he’d
been off building roads and bridges in remote corners of the world.

“I’ll get Jeremy out of here, so you can work,” he said. “And I’m the one who should apologize. You’ve done more than anyone has a right to expect. It must have been inconvenient with everything you had to do.”

Emotions he couldn’t read shifted in Shannon’s eyes. “It wasn’t inconvenient. He ate pizza and played on the computer.”

“Well, thanks, anyway.”

Jeremy gave her a hug, dragging his feet and making it plain he wanted to stay. Alex knew how he felt, and he turned around at the door.

“How long will you have to stay in the city?”

“I don’t know. A few more hours. But I shouldn’t have to come in tomorrow, so I can still sit with Jeremy.”

She would be tired when she got home. Alex had dealt with emergencies when he was working in the field, and knew what it was like once the pressure and adrenaline wore off.

“I …” He cleared his throat. Stepping along the edge of a precipice was never easy, and that was what it was like around Shannon. But surely he could be a good enough friend to do something for
her
this time. “If you want to talk later, I’ll be up.”

Surprise flickered across her face. “All right.”

He hustled Jeremy away, aware that curious glances were being sent in their direction. The O’Rourke employees were wondering who he was, and what he meant to Shannon. It wouldn’t have been so bad if he could tell them, but he couldn’t.

It was another one of those damned questions without an answer.

Stomach churning from her encounter with Alex, Shannon sank in her chair. He hadn’t seemed upset about her bringing Jeremy into the city, yet who could tell?

“Nice kid,” Claire said, sticking her head inside the office. “And nice man. I haven’t seen a body like that since I went to Montana last summer.”

She gave her assistant a dismissive look. “He’s a widower, Claire. We’re just friends.”

“What? Widowers don’t need sex?”

Needing sex wasn’t the problem. Shannon had seen and felt the intensity of Alex’s response to her, a response he didn’t welcome. He insisted it had nothing to do with her, but it still hurt.

Shannon pasted a practiced smile on her lips and waved her hand. “Go back to work,” she ordered. “I have things to do, even if you don’t.”

“Hah. I always have work. My boss is a slave driver.”

“Slave driver? I thought I was the dragon lady.”

“Knew we’d get a rise out of you over that one.”

“And I knew you were the one to come up with it. So scat.”

Claire grinned and returned to her desk, while Shannon pulled up damage reports on her computer. Things were settling down. Kane would visit the various emergency shelters and decide if more needed to be done, but his response teams were well-trained. She was lucky to work for a company with near-limitless resources, and a CEO willing to use them.

Shannon sighed. It had almost been a relief to handle something familiar. Spending time with Jeremy was easy; figuring Alex out wasn’t.

Alex
.

She spun her chair around and gazed out at the city. Rain continued to pour and she knew there’d be more flooding, more problems. It was inevitable. Mother Nature was stronger than the best-laid plans.

Like her plan to help Jeremy.

Dear heaven. Her eyes closed. Where was her common sense? She was running headlong toward another heartbreak, seduced by a sweet little boy and a man who made her feel more than she’d believed possible.

But she couldn’t help herself.

Five hours later, Shannon was grateful she’d promised Kane not to drive herself home. The company driver detoured to avoid one flooded street after another, but peace reigned inside the limousine. The trappings of wealth weren’t important to her, but they could be convenient.

She was drowsing when the door opened and the chauffeur extended his hand. “Miss O’Rourke, we’re here.”

“Thanks, Ted.” She slid from the limo and looked to see if the lights were on in Alex’s condo. The downstairs windows were still lit; Jeremy would be in bed, but his daddy seemed to be awake.

“I’ll just walk you to the door,” Ted insisted when she tried to take the umbrella he held over her head. “And check the house for any problems.”

“You need to get home, Ted.”

“I have my orders, ma’am.”

“I’ll take care of Miss O’Rourke,” said Alex as he walked down the driveway.

“Sheesh. Doesn’t anybody think I can take care of myself?” Shannon demanded.

The two men looked at her blankly. They didn’t get it, but neither did any of her brothers. Ted’s orders might have come from Kane, but the driver was the father of three grown daughters and would have walked her to the door without being told. He was the old-fashioned type, just like Alex.

She sighed. Her independence wasn’t being challenged. They were just big, dumb brutes who couldn’t help themselves.

“Never mind. Thank you, Ted, for driving me home. I’ll be all right with Alex. He’s a friend.”

Ted examined Alex the way a cop would examine a suspect in a police lineup. “Very well. I’ve arranged for your car to be delivered in the morning.”

Shannon chuckled as the limo rolled smoothly away.

“I’m glad you think it’s funny,” Alex muttered, pulling her into his house. “Half of the state is flooded. How do you handle this much rain?”

“We tread water.” Shannon dropped onto the couch. “I suppose Jeremy is in bed already.”

“An hour ago. Have you had anything to eat?”

She thought about it. “Cold pizza around six. We were going to order food, but most of the restaurants aren’t delivering because of the weather.”

Alex let out a disgusted sound. “I’ll get you something.”

“No, I’m fine.”

She might as well have been talking to a rock. He tossed the umbrella into a corner and headed for the kitchen.

Shannon hauled herself to her feet and followed. “Do you ever listen?”

“It’s one of my failings. Deal with it.”

He was so endearingly rumpled and belligerent that she laughed again.

Alex gazed at Shannon, her face less weary now that she was laughing, and realized he must have done something right. Who could have guessed that being grumpy and out-of-sorts would do anything but start an argument? In his family it would have triggered World War Three.

She was amazing, and while he wanted to tell her that, the words stuck in his throat.

“Do you like omelets?” he asked instead.

“Yes. You cook omelets?”

“Sure, they’re…” Alex stopped. He’d almost said they
were easy, but cooking was a touchy subject for Shannon. “I manage.”

He pulled eggs from the refrigerator, then nearly dropped them when she yawned and stretched, her body arching like a sensuous cat.

Friends, he reminded himself.

With a sleepy smile she drifted into the utility room and he heard the dryer being opened and closed. Sounds of daily tasks that were never quite done.

“Come out of there, you’re supposed to be relaxing,” he called.

“In a min—oh,
damn
.”

Alex had never heard Shannon curse and he hurried to see what had happened. The smell of bleach hit him instantly, and he saw that she’d somehow upended the bottle in a basket. A basket full of his jeans.

It struck him as inordinately funny, but he didn’t think she’d agree. He dumped the contents of the basket into the washing machine and hoped for the best, though he had a feeling the jeans were beyond rescue. He hoped Shannon’s pride wasn’t in the same condition.