The Daddy Coach

by Karen Muir

  He choked on his coffee. “Really?”

  “Really. I love to sing, but I’ve been told I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.”

  “How rude.” Remembering her off-key rendition of the doggie song, he grinned. “And so untrue.”

  “Liar.”

  He laughed. “So what’s your second wish?”

  “That’s easy. I want to have a plane of my own to fly.”

  Another surprise. “Why?”

  “Flying means freedom. Going where I want, when I want. Seeing all there is to see.”

  He set down his cup. “No wish for a husband? For three kids, plus Fido?”

  “That’s not for me.”

  That surprised him most of all. “How about money or a career?”

  “No thanks. I’ll save my third wish for a rainy day.”

  “What if it doesn’t rain?”

  Her face tightened. “It always rains.”

  He fell silent, remembering the past hurts she’d shared that day at the beach.

  “What about you?” she asked. “What three wishes do you want?”

  He grinned. “Faster horses, younger women, and more money.”

  “Seriously.”

  He paused. “I want a good relationship with my boys.”

  “That one’s coming true.”

  “I hope so. I also want to make a go of my business. To win back the clients I’ve lost and show a profit.”

  A look he couldn’t identify crossed her face. “That’s two.”

  His third wish involved her and would send her running. He repressed it. “I want to fly with you in your airplane.”

  She yelped with surprise. “You’d better hope I can fly a lot better than I sing.”

  The laugh they shared warmed his heart. “You need to smile more. It lights up your face.”

  Looking into her eyes, sensual awareness spread through him. Gina was a beautiful and alluring woman.

  At the sound of the kitchen door opening, he reluctantly turned to the doorway. Ian shuffled inside, clutching a teddy bear, his hair tousled. He looked half asleep in his SpongeBob pajamas. “Gotta pee,” he mumbled. He walked to the bathroom off the kitchen and shut the door behind him.

  Stunned, Will turned to Gina. The surprise in her eyes mirrored his own. “Did we just witness a miracle?”

  “I think so,” she breathed.

  They sat listening to the sound of the toilet flushing and water running into the sink. Ian came back out and headed for the back door. His hand on the knob, he turned back. “Will, can we sleep in the tent tonight?”

  Will thought of the noise and the hard ground and the hours of missed sleep. They meant nothing compared to the hopeful gleam in Ian’s eyes. He nodded. “Sure. Why not?”

  Ian grinned. “See ya tonight.”

  “See ya tonight.” Will’s chest tightened as he watched his son go. Ian had smiled at him and wanted to spend time together. Will turned to Gina. He owed her so much. “Thank you for what just happened.”

  “I didn’t do anything—”

  “Of course you did. Your coaching helped me connect with my sons. It was a lucky day for our family when you came into our lives.”

  She stood abruptly and looked away. “You’d better get to work.”

  …

  The following week, Gina and the boys were playing hide-and-seek when Will came home from work. She smiled when he quickly joined in.

  “Here I come, ready or not!”

  At Harry’s warning, she raced from her too-visible spot amidst the pines to the large hydrangea in the far corner of the backyard. He was supposed to sing two verses of the doggie song before seeking them out. But each time he was IT, they barely had time to scramble for cover. Hunched low, Gina dove behind the bush and barreled into Will, already crouched there.

  “Whoa.” He grunted as she hit his outstretched hands. His head slammed back against the board fence behind them. “Owww.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t see you. Are you okay?”

  Rubbing his head, he winced. “You rang my bell.”

  Perched on his lap, she quickly scrambled off to sit beside him and slip her hand behind his head. When her fingers grazed a bump, he groaned. Damn. He was hurt. “You need ice.”

  She started to stand, but he caught her wrist and tugged her back down onto his lap. “Too late. Harry’s coming.”

  “But your head…” Tending his goose egg seemed more important than the game.

  His arms came around her and pulled her loosely against him. “Stay quiet.”

  She turned her head to peer through the greenery and watch for Harry, but her pulse drummed in her throat. Her real focus was on the hard-bodied man holding her close. So strong, yet so gentle. So hard to resist.

  His warm breath fanned her cheek. “Mmm, you smell good.” So did he, all masculine and outdoorsy.

  His gentle touch sent tingles down her spine. I can’t let this happen. He betrayed my brother…didn’t he? She was no longer sure.

  He was definitely a caring father who loved his sons enough to sleep on hard ground and sing goofy songs to please them. And he made her laugh.

  When she turned in his arms to stop him, he traced her lower lip with his thumb. Her heart fluttered like the wings of a trapped bird. Tightening his hold, he bent his head slowly, giving her time to pull away. Enveloped in his warmth, she closed her eyes, awaiting his kiss. Seconds passed.

  Eyes opening, she found his mouth a whisper shy of claiming hers.

  “Your move.”

  She stilled. There would be no kiss unless she showed him she wanted it, too. A terribly wrong choice, yet a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Conflicted, she grazed his lightly whiskered jaw with her fingertips. He nipped them and ignited a wildfire of passion that raged through her and left her aching for more. Drawing a ragged breath, she brushed her lips against his.

  His arms slipped around her, and his mouth moved on hers, deepening their kiss. The fire within her grew molten and greedy. She slid her hands over his shoulders to spear her fingers through his hair. Tasting him, feeling him, discovering a world of sensuality she’d never known. Smoothing her spine, he drew her closer still. His tongue found hers and began a slow, delicious dance.

  Running footsteps neared their hideout as Harry closed in. Will groaned against her lips. “Go away, son.”

  She almost groaned, too. Harry would be shocked to find his nanny kissing his dad. When branches rustled near her ear, she pulled back from Will.

  Harry’s grinning face poked through the foliage. “I see you, Gina, ” he called gleefully. “You too, Will.” Then he was gone, running back to touch base, the back door of the house.

  Pushing off Will’s lap, she met his stunned gaze. He seemed as unsettled as she over their passionate kiss.

  Harry’s shout sounded in the distance. “One, two, three, Gina. You’re IT!”

  She stood shakily. Will’s steadying arm encircled her waist. “We need to talk.”

  “No, we don’t.” She shook her head as recriminations set in. Kissing Will was a huge mistake. There could never be anything between them.

  She pulled away from him, but he caught her hand. “Gina, wait…”

  “No.” She pulled free of him and strode toward the house. “This was wrong. It can’t happen again.”

  …

  Approaching the Sinclair home the following morning, Gina winced. Hot kisses in the hydrangea bush? What was I thinking?

  Today she had to set firm boundaries with Will and determine, once and for all, if he was the thief Kyle claimed he was. Her instincts said no, he was too decent, but she had to be sure.

  He answered her knock, his expression solemn. Probably regretting yesterday’s madness, too.

  “Good morning, Gina.”

  “Good morning. Are the boys up?”

  “They’re watching cartoons. Let’s talk for a minute.”

  She followed him to his den, summoning her resolve. Intent on discouraging his attract
ion to her, she’d gone makeup free today and wore her worst outfit—an olive-green shirt with a splotch-print skirt. Will, of course, looked drop-dead handsome in a teal polo shirt and tan slacks. Her fists clenched. Going ugly for a sexy man who’d kissed you senseless was hard.

  “I’m sorry about what happened yesterday,” he said.

  She nodded. “Me, too.”

  “It won’t happen again.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.” Her hideous appearance was already working.

  “You’re an attractive woman, Gina, but it’s inappropriate for me, as your employer, to think about you that way.”

  “Okay.” She breathed out slowly.

  “The boys are happy here for the first time, largely because of you. I don’t want to do anything to screw that up.”

  “Right.” The boys were also happy because they’d discovered what a great dad they had.

  “So, I’m going to start dating again. Thanks to you, I can.”

  She nodded, surprised. “Good for you.” This was just what she wanted. It should make her feel good. But the thought of him with another woman tied her stomach in knots.

  He held out his hand. “Friends?”

  A part of her protested. No, I want more. But there was no other choice. She shook his hand. “Friends.”

  Chapter Seven

  Gina entered Will’s den when he came home from work that afternoon. “Will, have you seen My T. rex Friend?”

  He set his work folder on his desk and raised his brows. “You’re friends with a T. rex?”

  She smiled. “It’s one of the library books I checked out with the boys. We’re taking them back to get new ones, but My T-Rex Friend is missing.”

  He shook his head. “I haven’t seen it, but we’ll search for it tonight.”

  “Thanks.”

  A small voice spoke behind her. “Harry hid it under his mattress.”

  She turned and saw Ian. “Under his mattress? Are you sure? We looked for it this afternoon.”

  “He reads it at night with his flashlight.” Ian glanced furtively over his shoulder, then lowered his voice, “Don’t tell him I said.”

  Will moved toward the door, frowning. “Let’s go talk to him.”

  She followed, hoping she hadn’t stirred up trouble. Harry sat in front of the TV, watching cartoons. Will stopped, towering over him, and she held her breath. Did he know how big and scary he might look to a little boy?

  “Harry, do you know where the dinosaur book is?”

  Staring up at his dad, he shook his head.

  Will knelt beside him. “Is it under your mattress?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Let’s go look.”

  Harry stood slowly, minus his usual bounce, and led them single file up the stairs to the boys’ bedroom. Last in line, she prayed the missing book wouldn’t damage their fragile new father-and-sons bond.

  When his dad lifted the mattress, Harry pulled out the book. He stared at it briefly, and then held it out. Will took it and sat on the bed and patted the spot beside him. Harry eyed him warily but sat.

  “This book belongs to the library.”

  “But I want it.”

  She held her breath, hoping this would go well.

  “But it’s not yours to keep. Other kids may want it, too, but they won’t get to read it if you don’t give it back. That’s not fair.”

  Harry glanced hopefully up at his dad. “Can you buy it for me?”

  “Maybe we could look for a copy for your birthday. But keeping this one is wrong, and you know that. That’s why you hid it.”

  Harry bent his head low, the picture of shame. Gina had never seen him cry, but sensed he was close. Her hands fisted. Careful, Will.

  He slid his arm around his son’s shoulder. “When I was your age, I snitched a candy bar from a store.”

  Harry wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “Did you get in trouble?”

  “Big trouble. My dad caught me eating it.”

  “Did he…” Harry’s voice wavered, “spank you?”

  “He did something worse. He took me back to the store with the candy wrapper and made me apologize to the manager. I was so ashamed, I wanted to run away.”

  “Did you run away?”

  “I thought about it, but Dad talked to me about right and wrong. How doing what’s right makes you feel good about yourself. And doing wrong makes you feel bad.”

  Harry squirmed, and Will rubbed his back. “Going back to that store was hard for my dad, too. He was ashamed, just like me, but he loved me enough to do it. He wanted me to learn an important lesson about life. That’s what I want to do for you.”

  He turned to Ian and held out his free arm. “And you, too.”

  Ian rushed to his side. She watched the three of them with an ache in her chest, reminded of the family closeness she’d known briefly as a child but lost much too soon. She’d tried to overcome it, but her stepdad’s abandonment was a wound that still throbbed. Prompting her childhood fear she would never be loved.

  “All of the books need to go back to the library,” Will said.

  “Okay.”

  “And you need to apologize to Gina.”

  Harry’s eyes widened. “Why?”

  “You have to be honest and tell the truth. When she was looking for the book, you should have given it to her.”

  “Oh.” Harry faced her. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you the book.”

  She started to say, “It’s okay,” but stopped. Forgiving him too quickly might minimize Will’s all-important message to be truthful. “You need to say sorry to your dad, too. He asked if you knew where the book was, and you shook your head no.”

  Harry turned back. “Sorry…Dad.”

  She stilled. This was the first time she’d ever heard him call Will “Dad.”

  “Do you promise to tell the truth from now on?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay then, I forgive you.”

  “I do, too.” Her voice shook. The love that flowed between Will and his boys made her heart ache. She’d give anything to have grown up in a caring family like theirs. To be a part of this one now. But that could never be because of her lies. Pain and the threat of tears had her hurrying for the door. She gave them a quick wave. “See you guys tomorrow.”

  “See ya,” they called after her as she hurried downstairs. Guilt roiled inside her, along with the horrifying certainty that the man she had targeted was a wonderful father. A decent and honest man, not a thief.

  Shaken by the terrible wrong she’d done him, she fumbled with her key to unlock the car door. A tear rolled down her cheeks as she gripped the steering wheel hard. Will would be outraged and never forgive her once he learned the truth. His boys would be hurt and confused.

  Once again, she considered quitting to spare them pain. Or was that cowardice on her part, taking the easy way out?

  She sighed. Harry had bravely owned up to his mistakes. Could she do any less? Torn, she started her car and eased onto the street.

  …

  Once home, she changed into a T-shirt and jeans and ripped weeds from her garden. Witnessing Will’s decency and love for his sons, she knew in her heart he was not the thief. No proof, just her instincts, but she trusted them. She would tell him tomorrow she had to go.

  Aching inside, she pulled off her gloves and lowered her head into her hands. Moments passed. Her cell rang, and she fished it out of her pocket, relieved to see the display. “Hi, Meg. I’m so glad you called. I really need a friend right now.”

  “You’ve got one. What’s wrong?”

  She swiped her eyes, so choked up she could barely speak. “Give me a minute…” She cleared her throat. “Tell me some good news first. What’s new with you and the director?”

  “Well…Trevor and I have had dinner a couple of times. Talking about the play.”

  “The play. Of course.” She smiled shakily.

  “It’s not what you’re thinking.”

 
“So make it that way. You deserve a decent guy this time.”

  “Thanks. Now, back to you. What’s wrong? You can’t find the diamonds?”

  “No.” She shifted into a more comfortable position on the grass.“The nanny plan was a bust. My boss is not the bad guy.”

  “Is this the part where I get to say I told you so?”

  “No, it’s not.”

  Meg sighed. “I suppose you’ve fallen for the hunky quarterback.”

  Gina sniffled, not ready to share that yet. It hurt too much. “I like him,” she said. “He’s warmhearted and honest, and he’s become a great dad. But it’s more than that. His business took a hit because of the theft, and he’s being sued by the diamond’s owners.”

  “So?”

  “If he had the diamonds, he’d have found a way for them to be ‘discovered’ to salvage his reputation and head off a major lawsuit.”

  “Then if he’s not the thief, who is?”

  Gina paused to watch a hummingbird sip from an orange montbretia. “It might be Kyle’s friend, Smitty. He worked for Will, too, and was there the day of the robbery.”

  “Is he a criminal type?”

  “I don’t know. He joined the army recently, maybe to escape detection. Kyle is anxious to find him.”

  “Any luck with that?”

  “No. I don’t have his mailing address or cell phone number. Neither does his mother. They’re estranged.”

  “Bummer.”

  “Yeah. But the thief could also be another of Will’s employees, someone who managed to fly below the radar.”

  Meg’s voice softened. “The thief could also be Kyle.”

  Gina rubbed her forehead. “Yes, it could.” She hated to think she could be so wrong about her brother, but she needed to keep an open mind. She’d been totally wrong about Will.

  …

  She brought strawberry plants the following day, thinking the boys would be excited to see them. But when she led them to the back porch, they stared at them dully. All morning they’d seemed unusually quiet and subdued. She sat on the grass and beckoned them near. They sank down on either side of her. “You guys look sad. Is something wrong?”

  “No,” Ian said.

  She felt their foreheads. “Do you feel sick?”

  They both shook their heads.