The bump on her head wasnt a problem. The brain inside her head was the problem, particularly if it was going to continue to respond to him like mush. Our sons, she said, and thankfully the words functioned like a trigger to remind him why hed stopped over.
Yeah, I figured wed better get into that. Tucker sighed, scratched an ear, made a comical face. Mrs. Riddle scares the devil out of me, has from the first day of school. She makes me feel like Ill end up standing in the hall for some unknown wrongdoing. Anyway, she had a problem with my Will. Said for the last few months, hes become painfully shy around girls. Really miserable. Sweating, stumbling, cant talk.
She had to smile. Dont you think all kids go through that?
Yeah, I do. But Will hit a massive growth spurt this year, shot up four inches, and I expect the mountain of hormones hit him before I was ready.
Out of nowhere, a cat showed up at the corner of the porch. Garnet instantly recognized it as the feline Pete had mentioned, because it was a she. A very, very pregnant she. There was some invisible sign on her property that invited only the critters who were pregnant and hungry. The cat was the color of mud, with a little Georgia red dirt thrown in, and eyes as gold as topaz. She started washing a paw, as if it was her porch and shed always washed a paw there.
Your cat? Tucker asked.
Absolutely not, she said firmly.
As if the cat sensed she was the subject of discussion, she twitched her tail and ambled over to Tuckers side. She hesitated for all of a millisecond, and then leaped on his lap.
Youre sure its not yours?
Trust me. That cat will never be mine.
Hmm. She doesnt seem wild.
He probably got that impression because the ornery, hardscrabble cat sleepily closed her eyes and started purring loud enough to wake the dead. Tucker shot her an amused look. He also gave the cat a long, soft stroke under her chin.
Do not laugh at me. Im learning to say no to Pete. It just doesnt happen to be a skill Im particularly good at. But we simply have to stop adopting strays.
Uh-huh. So how long do you think before she makes it into the house?
All right. He made her laugh. A week. At least I hope I can hold out that long. And then, because she was starting to feel comfortable with him in spite of herself, she asked carefully, I dont know your circumstances, Tucker. I mean, I know youre a single parent like I am. But as far as Wills being extra nervous around girls is there no mom in his picture?
There is. But she isnt what youd call a helpful female influence on Will. Tucker sighed. Angies her name. We married before we finished college. My parents, her parents, everyone thought we were the perfect pair. For damn sure, she was the prettiest girl to ever graduate from Ole Miss, and back when I was twenty-one, I thought that was all that mattered. Weve been divorced for around five years now. She got physical custody from the beginning, but Will never actually lived with her.
She frowned. Howd that happen?
I know. It doesnt make a lot of sense. Angie decorates rich folks houses in Atlanta. Shes great at it. She claims shes putting all the child support money I send into a college fund for Will. I dont know if thats true or not. I just know that Wills happy with me, and theres no trouble as long as I keep sending the full quota of child support.
The picture Garnet formed of his ex-wife wasnt pretty not that it was any of her business. Will knows this? That she actually has physical custody even though he really stays with you?
Not exactly. I dont like lying to a kid, any kid but I cant see telling Will something that would only hurt him, and for no possible purpose. She schedules four weekends or so a year to see him. And some holidays. She loves him. But well, I think she was in a hustle to get married and have kids, but once the ring went on her finger and we had a kid, she was like a snail without a shell. The new role didnt fit. She never grew out of wanting to be a full-time Southern belle.
Garnet mulled how much hed revealed of his life, and how easily. But he was already talking again.
I didnt want to bore you to death with all that background. But I figured you might need to know if youre inclined to go along with my plan.
A plan? she echoed.
The mottled cat leaped to the ground, washed another paw and then, as if shed been asked, leaped up on Garnets lap. Garnet firmly ignored her.
I didnt hear all of what Mrs. Riddle had to say about your Pete. But I heard some. And I got this idea that we could try trading kids, a few afternoons a week.
Say what? Trade kids?!
Chapter Three
Tucker had to grin. She looked pretty startled at the idea of swapping kids. At least hed gotten her attention.
For darn sure, shed gotten his. The business shed set up was amazing. The shop, the grounds, the house. Hed never thought of her as a lightweight, but what shed created here was downright remarkable.
And so was she.
I didnt mean literally trade kids. But I got this brainstorm of how we could help each other. Starting with my Will Just looking around here, I can see youve got plenty of manual work. He loves messing with dirt. And hes too young to have a real job, but maybe you could find something helpful for him to do a couple afternoons a week?
She didnt immediately answer, but he could almost hear the wheels turning in her mind as she considered the idea. She had to be concentrating mighty hard, because her right hand was instinctively stroking the cat on her lapthe cat shed claimed wasnt hers and never would be. Finally, she came through with a worry. Tucker, Im not sure Im the kind of feminine influence Mrs. Riddle thinks your Will needs.
Are you kidding? Youre perfect. He leaned forward, serious now, just struggling to find the right words to explain. Youre not froufrou. Youre common sense. You clearly dont mind hard work. Youre creative and interesting and smart, but not threatening. I think Will just being around you would help smooth out some of his current rough edges. Give him some confidence that all women arent like his mom. That everyone without that Y chromosome isnt petrifying.
Hell. Hed said something wrong, but he wasnt sure what. The warm glow in her eyes turned abruptly cool. She stopped rocking. Well, in some ways youre certainly right, she said swiftly. Im not remotely a froufrou kind of woman. Much less the kind of girl whod fit into a sorority at Ole Miss.
That was the thorn? He thought he was giving her a major compliment. But he never had a chance to respond, because she took the conversational ball. Id be happy to have Will around here but what if he doesnt want to? Maybe he wont like me, or the things Im doing here.
Well, I put a question to him at dinner. Ive always had a heavy work schedule in the summer, and hes always spent those summers with me. We have a good time. But I just asked him if hed like a change, like a chance to spend a few afternoons a week somewhere else. Do something different, learn something different. Help someone out. I didnt put your name out there, I just put out the general idea. And he leaped on it. I think hed really like it.
Before she could say noand Tucker could smell when a woman was about to tell him no God knew, hed heard it enoughhe added, And Ive got a plan for your Pete. And for you.
There. Mention her kid, and her face lit up with warmth again. Tucker tried to remember the last time hed been this captivated by a woman and couldnt. Talking to her only snared his attention more. For darn sure, he couldnt stop looking at her.
She was wearing a sort-of-white linen shirt, not sheer, but still light as sunlight, a soft caress of a drape on her shoulders, her breasts, a long, low V-neck revealing a delicate expanse of neck. She wore a tiny gold chain. Nothing glitzy or blingy, nothing like formal jewelry. The chain was just the thinnest collar of gold that glinted when she moved, drew attention to her sun-kissed skin beneath.
And then there were legs. For a pipsqueak, she had amazing legs. Slim calves, shapely thighs Hell. Her knees were even cute.
Naturally he was attracted to her boobs and fannyhe was a guy. But her mouth revved his testosterone switch, too. Her lips looked vulnerable, bare, softer than satin. Maybe her mouth was a little wide, but that just made her smiles and laughter bigger, showed off those pretty teeth. It was a kissable mouth. Probably, on a scale of one to ten, it rated a fifteen-plus for kissability.
Not that he still played those immature scale games.
It was just he hadnt let a woman close enough to think of those old immature scale games in a blue moon.
About my Petie
He straightened up. Yeah. Heres my thought on Pete. I didnt mean to eavesdrop, but I heard part of what Mrs. Riddle said to you. She thinks Pete needs a sport, something outside of academics
Its not that he doesnt get along with the other kids, Garnet interrupted, immediately defending her son. She was just making a point that middle school is tough on all kids. And she thought hed fit in better with the boys if he had some kind of athletic skill.
Tucker nodded, then wedged a little closer. I heard from somebodyprobably another parentthat you were a widow?
Her voice picked up a careful cadence, making him pretty suredamned sureshe was giving him the spruced-up version of the story. Yes, thats right. Johnny and I ran off, got married right out of high school. Its no secret I was pregnant at the time. He thought the best way to earn a living was to go into the service. Unfortunately, only a few months later he was sent to the Middle East. He came home on every leave, its not as if we never saw him, but he died when Pete was barely three. He just wasnt around to be a male influence.
I take it theres no other family close? Your parents? His grandparents from the other side?
Johns family moved to Oregon years ago. They send presents, cards, but otherwise havent tried to be part of Peties life. And my familys originally from Charleston. Two sisters. No brothers.
When she didnt add anything further about her family, he thought, ho-kay. Obviously there was a sore spot which made Tucker conclude that shed never had much backup coming from family.
So, he said slowly, I dont care what Mrs. Riddle said. What do you think? About whether Pete needs a sport, or to develop some kind of athletic skill, or just some guy time?
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. I dont see why every boy should be inherently great with sports any more than every girl plays with dolls. Petes smart as a whip. He can cook better than I can. He built his own computer. Sometimes hell come out and work with me, so its not like hes afraid to get his hands dirty. He just seems to like being inside more.
What sports have you tried?
Well swimming. Hiking. I know, that doesnt sound like much but it hasnt been that easy. Im really tied down with Plain Vanilla. I have two regular employees, but thats it. On Sundays, especially during the school year, we often take off and do something. Its just Petie would rather do a movie or prowl around a computer store. Sports never seem to make it on his want-to-do list.
Tucker nodded. Thats kind of what I thought youd say. So heres my plan. Let me take your Pete, while you have my Will. Same setup. Trade kids a couple afternoons a week. Pete can just hang with me Ive got a range of groups coming in over the next few weeks. Itll be easy to give him a chance to try new things. At his size, Im guessing youre not real hot on the idea of contact sports, so well concentrate on the other kind. Kayaking, archery, rock climbing. Not that he has to try anything. Hell just get the chance. No push. No bribery. Just see if he shows an interest, and if he does, Ill work with him on it. I mean if he goes along with the idea.
That sounds good, she said slowly. Better than good. Id really like to give it a tryif our boys are for it.
A silence fell. At least for Tucker, it felt like an elephant suddenly plunked down on her front porch. Theyd been talking easily, naturally, but once the topic of their sons was over, Garnet stiffened up.
Well, he said, I should be getting back.
She vaulted from the chair as if spring-loaded. Me, too. I still have things I have to do tonight.
He got it. She wanted him to leave. And hell. He did need to get back to his place. But standing next to each other, he felt like a bear next to delicate crystal. He said slowly, It bugged me all day. That you were hurt because of me this morning.
Thats silly, Tucker. It was a complete accident. No harm done.
Yeah, hed heard all that before.
Yeah? Well, Ive watched you a couple times reach for the back of your head. How bigs the goose egg?
Its nothing, she said for what seemed like the zillionth time, but he was all through buying that malarkey.
He was already within touching distance. One step closer, and he could ease a palm around her neck and gently push her head into his chest. She didnt fight him as he felt for the scar. In fact, she seemed to quit breathing altogether. The texture of her silky hair, tangling around his fingers, tangoed with the fresh smell of her shampoo and caused the obvious physical reaction in him. He ignored the arousal. He wanted to see the cut, for Petes sake.
And he found it. It wasnt actually a goose egg, but looked more like a burn mark. Buried in her hair, but looking raw and fiery. Ouch, he said. Whats wrong with you, that you havent been whining and yelling? Take advantage. Heave on some guilt.
He stepped back, so shed quit worrying he was going to jump her. He wanted to. Really, really wanted to. But obviously he was going to have to earn her trust by baby steps. A zillion of them. And when he stepped back, he won a reluctant grin possibly because she liked his joking tone.
I admit, it still smarts.
Ill bet it does. So I owe you. You just have to think about what and when you want to collect. He was using his best teasing tone, but abruptly realized that his fingers were still in her hair, drifting through that soft, silky sea, no longer looking for hurts and scrapes, just feeling.
He dropped his hand, but all that provocative feeling was still there. Electrified because she was looking at him. Because their eyes met and neither could seem to break the sudden sharp connection between them. He could smell that raspberry shampoo of hers. See the pulse in the hollow of her throat. Hear the worry and tension in her scattered breath.