Package Deal (14 page)

He knelt down beside them again, turned the flashlight on, and slid the crow bar into the space along the right side of the dishwasher. “Ready?”

“Yes, sir,” Lacy said, her voice filled with excitement.

Kelly stifled a laugh.

With a swift movement, Steve swept the crow bar. The rat darted straight into Lacy’s open legs. She whisked Skunk up and held him tight against her chest, giving him an affectionate rub with her fingertips to still his trembling.

Steve watched, his face thoughtful.

“We’re going to have to cover him until things settle down here,” Kelly told Lacy, placing Skunk back in his tank in the living room. “This is too confusing for him right now.”

“But Mommy—”

“Just until our belongings arrive, and your room is put together. It’s not fair to Skunk.”

Lacy agreed, albeit with reluctance.

Steve topped the tank with a piece of cardboard he’d punched full of air holes, and Kelly added a book from her suitcase to ensure the cover didn’t come off.

Excitement over, Kelly finished scooping ice cream, and smothered three mounds with fudge topping. They sat cross-legged in the middle of the messy living room and savored every last bite while waiting for the moving truck to arrive.

Time ticked by, Steve’s eyes darting now and then to the television. They talked, while Lacy worked her puzzle. Only after Steve had revealed the details of his divorce, his career, and his latest NASA project did Kelly yawn and check her watch.

“Bored with my story, huh?”

“Not at all. Actually, it’s refreshing to find a man who can talk about things affecting his life.”

***

Steve had passed the pop quiz. He figured maybe next time she might open up and tell him a little about herself. He hoped so anyway.

 
“What time is it?” he asked.

“It’s already past ten,” Kelly told him. “I don’t think the movers are going to show tonight. At this point, I hope not. I’m too tired to move, no pun intended.”

They both glanced over at Lacy, who’d given up hours ago and now lay curled up on an old comforter in the middle of her puzzle pieces.

Both child and mother needed a good night’s rest. Lacy would sleep all night, but Steve worried about Kelly. She was pale, and rings of exhaustion circled dull blue eyes. The crumpled Steak ‘n’ Shake bag caught Steve’s eye, confirming at least they’d eaten something other than ice cream. He knew the last few weeks had taken their toll, and what the lady and her kid needed were a few nights of sound, undisturbed sleep and something nutritious to eat.

“Look, Lacy is exhausted, and if you don’t mind my saying so,” he prepared for a reenactment of Mt. McKinley, “you look pretty beat yourself. Why don’t you pack a bag for the two of you and
come
stay at my place for the night?”

Kelly broke eye contact.

“Come on. I have three bedrooms, plenty of room.”

“No. Thanks though.”

Steve figured she would be stubborn.” Kelly, I honestly think you and Lacy deserve more than the floor tonight. The insecticide smell is pretty strong. You could both be pickled by morning.”

He hoped he wasn’t pushing her too hard. “I won’t bite, if that’s what you’re worried about. The bedrooms have locks on the doors, and you and Lacy can sleep together. What do you say?”

Something paternal vibrated inside him, a little painful, a little pleasant. Lacy was sound asleep, curled in the fetal position with the corner of an old blanket in one hand—no doubt a habit from infancy. Her dark ringlets were dampened by sleep’s warmth, and her cheeks glowed pink. He knew she was oblivious to any discomfort and would sleep through the night. Still, she deserved better. So did her mom.

***

Kelly was so tired she could have fallen asleep on a bed of hot coals, and although her maternal instinct was strong, telling her Steve might be right, still she resisted his advice. She was comfortable with him, too comfortable, and she found her attraction to him made it difficult to occupy the same room with him, much less spend the night in the same house. She needed to watch her step. Besides, if she hadn’t dragged his luggage off the conveyor, she would never have met him in the first place and would be sleeping on the floor tonight anyway.

Steve was sweet and yes, the attraction between them was strong, but things were moving too fast. Besides, this was no time to start depending on others. Things might get messy, lock or no lock. She reminded herself she’d moved to Florida to simplify her life, not tangle it up. She wanted nothing more than a quiet life, and something told her, in a clear voice, to say
no
to Steve McCarthy—at least for now.

“Thanks, Steve. Your offer is tempting, but really, we’re okay here. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you.”

“No inconvenience. I have the room.”

“Thanks anyway. We’ll stay here.” She drew herself to her feet.

“Your choice.” Steve accepted her decision with grace, but his gaze darted back to Lacy, concern altering his handsome features.

“Seriously, don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine.” She tucked her hair behind her ear.

“If you change your mind, call me.” He dug in his pocket and handed her two quarters. “For a pay phone. There’s one at the top of the street at the convenience store.”

She glanced down at the coins in her palm and laughed. “I don’t need these. I’ve got a cell.”

His green eyes twinkled. “Yeah, but do you know where the charger is?”

Clueless, she scanned the room. They both laughed.

She tucked the coins in her pocket. “Okay. I’ll hang on to these, just in case.” She squared her shoulders with her usual air of independence.

“Okay. I’m leaving. I’ll stop by tomorrow and give you a hand with the movers.”

If she was as tired tomorrow night as she was right now, she’d need all the help she could get. She was proud, but she wasn’t stupid.

“If you’re sure you can spare the time, I would appreciate some help. Thanks, Steve. See you tomorrow.” Kelly locked the door behind him, wanting him to leave, but feeling empty once he was gone.

Weary, she turned off all the lights in the house and rearranged Lacy on the comforter. She slipped off her clothes and lay down beside her daughter, pulling a blanket over them and draping one arm over Lacy’s narrow back. She closed her eyes and sank into the pillow, her nose burning from the insecticide saturating the carpet.

She lay in the dark, pondering Steve’s unexpected appearance and the unsettling effect he had on her. She had tried to remain aloof, but her feelings for him had already gone past the safe stage. In her own defense, if she hadn’t been so exhausted she never would have agreed to his coming back tomorrow night. He seemed to have a talent for wheedling his way in, which was all the more reason to watch
herself
with Steve McCarthy.

She rolled over on her back, his handsome face forming in her mind. So far, Steve McCarthy was a prince, her Prince Charming, her knight in shining armor. He seemed to show up whenever she needed help. Despite this, she knew deep down, if she let him into her heart, even he wouldn’t always be there. Nothing was permanent, she reminded herself. Committing to a lifetime with another human being was a fairy tale. Things changed. So did people.

The mantra,
It
was one harmless, little kiss,
popped back into her head. “Well, it was!” she whispered into the night, wishing things were different. Wishing
she
was different.

Warm moonlight filtered through the glass panes in the front door. Outside, the occasional croak of a tree toad broke the monotonous chirping of crickets. Princes and toads, she pondered, despite the lecture she’d just given herself. So far, this move had been no fairy tale.

Chapter Fifteen

T
he jalousie plates chattered in the front door, shattering Kelly’s dreams and waking her from a restless sleep. She sat up, groggy, disoriented. The glass chattered again—someone knocking. A man’s shadow flickered across the length of the frosted glass door. She struggled to her feet, her body stiff and inflexible from lying on the floor all night.

Squinting at her watch—7:10 a.m., she said, “Who’s there?”

“It’s Steve. Are you two still alive in there?”

Oh no! Not now!
Why was he here at seven in the morning? “Uh…just a minute.”

She snatched up her clothes, climbed into them, and stumbled down the hall toward the bathroom. “Oh God,” she whimpered, peering into the mirror. She resembled a bit-part actor from
Night of the Living Dead.
Her throat was scratchy and sore, the texture of sandpaper.

She leaned closer and opened her mouth. “Ah-h-h.”

Her tonsils resembled two golf balls painted red, one stuck to either side of her throat.
Great!
She groaned.
What next? Leprosy?

She zipped her jeans and fumbled with the buttons on her blouse then gave her snarled hair a token swipe with a brush. She grimaced at herself in the mirror. She rummaged through her makeup bag for her toothbrush and came up empty. As a last resort, she squeezed some toothpaste on her tongue, swished it around, and dashed back to the front door to answer it.

Steve sat on the stoop. With irony, she recalled last night’s thoughts before she’d fallen asleep.
Princes and toads.
Her reflection in the mirror just now had been undeniably
toadish
. Steve, as usual, looked fit for an audience with the queen. Ugh. She wanted to hate the guy.

***

“Good morning, Pearson.” Steve toned down his enthusiasm the minute he saw her. She didn’t appear too chipper, and he didn’t want her to hate him for being the morning cheerleader type. “I thought you two could use some breakfast.” He scrutinized her long and hard, one eyebrow raised in appraisal. “Hope you feel better than you look. The bug spray got to you, didn’t it?”

Kelly nodded.

“Should have come home with me last night.”

She shot him a look, which said,
You
didn’t just tell me I told you so
, and he wished he’d kept his mouth shut.

“I’m not going to say a thing.” He held his hands up in front of him, a criminal about to get handcuffed.

He gave her a sheepish grin, stood up and held out two white bags with yellow arches on them. “Over sixteen billion sold. Hope you like Egg
McMuffins
. There’s coffee for you and orange juice for Lacy.”

She moved a hand to her throat and waved him inside.

He stepped into the living room. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. Now you…you’re a regular meals on wheels,” she said in a scratchy voice.

Steve gave a shrug. “Someone has to feed the disabled.”

“I’ll give you one thing. Your timing is perfect.”

He handed her another bag and she peeked in, her face lighting with pleasure. She set the bag down, just inside the door, and pulled out the contents—towels, a bar of soap, hotel size shampoo and rinse, and fresh grapefruit, the leaves still clinging to the fruit. She picked up a grapefruit and inhaled.

“Mmm. You’re too perfect, McCarthy.” She had adopted his last name habit. “Thanks for being so thoughtful. You think of everything.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”