Angel in Disguise

by Patt Marr

  She smacked his arm. “No! For your information, there was a mountain between us and the beach.”

  “Bummer. So you girls didn’t date?”

  “It was a prep school, Maguire. Parents didn’t send their daughters there for the social life.”

  “Prep school, huh? Sounds more like a juvie prison. Were you a bad girl, Sunny Keegan?”

  The very idea of Eleanor Keegan’s daughter being a bad girl made her laugh aloud. “I’ll have you know, there’s a waiting list to get into Our Lady of Tears.”

  “Go figure,” he said, shaking his head in wonder. “I wouldn’t have liked an all-boys school. Not once those hormones kicked in.”

  “We had a social life. They arranged events with an all-boys school nearby. Dances, cookouts, mixers, all heavily chaperoned.”

  “Doesn’t sound much different than a Dream Date.”

  “The dress code was. Cheryl couldn’t have gotten away with her low-cut dress, and Kevin couldn’t have worn those holey jeans.”

  “How about my tie? Betcha all the little preppies wore ties.”

  “Not with grapes on them.”

  He grinned at her. “You really checked me out, didn’t you?”

  “Not necessarily. I just couldn’t miss that ugly tie.”

  He laughed silently. “How about little short skirts? Did the nuns let you wear leather?”

  “Never!”

  “Pity. I liked that skirt. You’ve got great legs, Coach.”

  How was she supposed to respond to that? She felt the heat build in her face.

  “You want some coffee?” he asked. “There’s a thermal jug and cups on the floor.”

  That was impressive. Bruce might have wanted coffee on an early-morning drive, but he would have expected her to bring it.

  “If you need cream and sugar, I threw some packets in the glove compartment.”

  “Pretty thoughtful.”

  “No, just habit. Lisa couldn’t stand black coffee.”

  Neither could Sunny until that moment. If it choked her, she’d drink hers plain. Whoever Lisa was, Sunny didn’t want to be anything like her. It was irrational, but instinctive, as natural as her sudden desire to know everything about Lisa.

  Pete seemed comfortable with the silence between them, and she didn’t mind, for it gave her more time to wonder about the mystery woman. He had said, “Lisa couldn’t stand black coffee.” “Couldn’t” was definitely past tense. So Lisa was an ex. Ex what? Girlfriend, wife, coffee drinker? What?

  Sunny sipped the bitter black brew and focused on the blossoming ice plants that turned the freeway into a gorgeous pink corridor. It was ridiculous to speculate about some woman in Pete’s past, and she wouldn’t do it, not at all. She had great discipline.

  Channeling that discipline, she wondered how many calories she would save by giving up cream in her coffee. She wondered if spring was Pete’s favorite season as it was hers. And she concluded that Lisa had to be a long-term part of Pete’s life if he’d developed habits of consideration toward her.

  Lisa could be anybody. What earthly difference did it make? It was tacky, giving reign to curiosity. Powerful, consuming, raging curiosity that would not be denied. “Who’s Lisa?” she had to ask.

  “Lisa?” he repeated, frowning.

  “You mentioned her a minute ago.”

  He looked at her with a blank expression.

  “You said Lisa didn’t like black coffee,” she prompted.

  His lip curled. “Black coffee was just one of the things she didn’t like. Lisa was my wife. She divorced me two years ago.”

  It was rude to pry, but polite to show interest. “Were you married long?”

  “Ten years, and we went together all through high school.”

  He’d volunteered that, but it had a bitter ring that reminded her why it was bad to be nosy. She stored her coffee cup, stared blindly out the window and waited for him to share what he wanted. It wasn’t worth wasting a beautiful morning, forcing the man to talk.

  Pete tapped the steering wheel in a mindless rhythm, annoyed with himself, irritated that he’d let Lisa intrude on the first, well, second, date he’d ever had with someone besides her. Why had he mentioned her? She ought to be so far back in his brain that he couldn’t even think of her name, let alone her coffee preferences.

  He hated thinking about Lisa and his old life. No good ever came of it. That’s why he stuck to his routine, going to the beach every day, going home every night. As long as he followed the pattern, he could get through a whole day without once thinking of himself as a loser.

  He had Meggy to thank for yanking him out of his comfortable rut. She thought nothing of invading his privacy, expecting him to bail her out time after time. To be fair, helping her out was his choice. That’s the way love worked in their family. But he wished she’d just leave him alone.

  Someday, when he was ready, he’d find something more productive to do than being a beach bum. Maybe he’d even find a nice girl, someone like Sunny who was so undemanding and self-sufficient, she’d pray for an angel to come to her aid before she’d expect it from him.

  Only, he doubted there was anybody else quite like Sunny, a woman who was pretty from the inside out. He liked being with her and couldn’t help wondering what it would have been like if this camping trip were the real thing.

  He could imagine them sitting by a campfire in the quiet wilderness, with her snuggled up beside him and him stealing a couple of kisses. Well, actually, probably more than a couple. Her kisses weren’t the kind a man rationed. But not too many. Not so many that things got out of hand. He still thought some things you saved for marriage.

  It was a nice fantasy. He didn’t know berries about camping, but he could read up or hire somebody to teach him. There were plenty of nice places to camp besides Big Bear where the rough terrain would be more than his hip could take—at least that’s what the doctors and therapists said.

  Man, he was tired of being told what he could and couldn’t do. None of those experts knew how good he felt. He walked three miles a day, worked out and ate healthy. He was strong as an ox and determined. Someday he’d get back to where he had been.

  So what if a jury thought it couldn’t be done. All they’d had were facts, figures and doctors’ reports. None of that measured heart. One of these days the insurance company would check in, see the recovery he’d made and want their millions back.

  Since they weren’t actually going to do the hike, he hadn’t told Sunny about his limitations. He could tell her. He was no macho stud. He admitted weakness, sometimes. The problem was, if he told her, she’d get all sympathetic. He’d seen enough pitying eyes to last him a lifetime.

  He sneaked a glance at her. Man, she was pretty, sitting there in her jeans and yellow T-shirt. The front had some kind of Christian graphic on it, but he couldn’t make out what it was without staring at her chest.

  It was nice, riding along with a pretty girl, feeling like his old self. He should take a page from Sunny’s book and stop worrying. God could take care of him, that is, if God wanted to.

  Sunny drained the last of her nasty, black coffee and wondered if drinking it this way was worth keeping Pete’s mind off Lisa. He hadn’t said if they’d had children, but he seemed the kind of man who would talk about them, even show pictures, if he had any. He would make a terrific father. She knew that, though she was no expert on fathers. Or mothers. But if she ever had a baby, her child would never doubt how much he was loved, and he’d always be able to trust his mom.

  When had she stopped trusting her parents? It was long before the wedding fiasco. Resentment was an old, old emotion, one that she loaned to the Lord when she ought to give it to Him for keeps.

  Sometimes, when she went before the Lord, it got in the way. The Word was clear on the subject. She couldn’t have unloving feelings toward anyone and also say she loved God.

  Lord, forgive me for dwelling on the past again. It’s a human thing to do, but it br
ings no glory to your Son. Once more, help me realize I’ve never walked this way before. It’s a new day, and You have a plan for me. You’re here, and I trust You.

  It was true. The Holy Spirit was here and His sweet sense of peace. No wonder the Word said to “pray always” and to “continue in prayer.” She took a deep, cleansing, satisfying breath and let it out slowly, relishing His comfort.

  “I believe that sounded like a sigh of contentment,” Pete said, smiling, his eyes crinkling at the corners the way she liked.

  “I was thanking God for this beautiful day.”

  He glanced at her warily. It didn’t matter. She’d gotten used to that look ever since she’d started talking openly about God. Her beloved nanny had taught her to keep religion private out of consideration for others, but these days God was so real, she had to acknowledge Him. How could it hurt, as long as she didn’t judge?

  “I love being in the mountains,” she said conversationally so Pete wouldn’t be uncomfortable. “Where do you usually hike?”

  He checked his mirrors, the rearview and sides, before answering. “No one place.”

  Her hooey detector buzzed an alarm. He wasn’t being quite honest. Or maybe he thought it was none of her business.

  “From the look of your gear, you must be a serious backpacker,” he said, inviting hiking conversation.

  She relaxed, chiding her suspicious mind. She’d been around teenagers too long, suspecting things that weren’t there. “I love hiking, but it’s a new interest. After I broke off with Bruce, I found I liked getting away from everybody and everything.”

  Pete understood perfectly. He’d become a loner when his life fell apart.

  “There’s something so peaceful about being in the wilderness with the vastness of God’s creation all around,” she said dreamily.

  “For me, it’s the ocean. I love the sound, the sight, the reassuring sameness of the tide.”

  “An endless reminder of God’s power.”

  He’d never been with someone so at ease talking about God. He agreed with what she’d said, but it wouldn’t have occurred to him to say it.

  “The thing I like about hiking,” she mused, “is you can’t dwell on the everyday stuff. You’re caught up in your surroundings, and pretty soon everything’s right with the world.”

  “I think you might have enjoyed Part Two of our date,” he said ruefully.

  She gave him that big, beautiful smile. “I am enjoying it. Much more than I thought I would! Remind me to tell you my first impression when we have more time. This is our turnoff, and I need a minute to get back into character. I want to be wild about my man!”

  His heart beat picked up, and his grin felt so wide, he probably looked goofy. “Anything I can do to help?”

  She released her seat belt and scooched over beside him. “Just drive carefully. I’m going beltless.”

  The way she crowded beside him and put her head on his shoulder was enough to make a man hit the brakes and really drag out the trip.

  “Nice move, Coach. You’ve done this before.”

  She giggled. “Nuh-uh. It just seems to come naturally.”

  He lifted his arm, tucked it around her and drove with one hand. Should they get ticketed for the belt infraction, he wouldn’t care if they doubled the fine. He felt like a young dude, riding the strip on a Friday night with the prettiest girl in town.

  “Are Meggy and the crew still behind us?” she asked.

  “We lost Meggy when we turned off the freeway, but I’m sure she’ll show up.”

  Since she’d been about three, his sister could track him down better than a dog could find his way back home. Her radar never failed, no matter what he did to throw her off the scent. It was sheer luck she hadn’t discovered his present hideout.

  He parked the truck, and Sunny asked, “How do you want to divide up the gear?”

  Divide up the gear? He hadn’t looked through the equipment Dream Date sent. Lisa had always nagged him about stuff like that. He didn’t mind flying by the seat of his pants, but women weren’t happy unless they were a tad overorganized.

  “Why don’t we just carry our own?”

  “But if any real hikers watch the show, they wouldn’t expect us to go off with packs bigger than an overnight requires. Neither would they expect us to carry duplicate gear. You know how it is. At the end of the day, four extra pounds feels like forty.”

  “Okay, we’ll just use one pack, and I’ll carry it.”

  She looked incredulous. “Nobody does that! Women carry their share of the load, Pete.”

  Man, hiking protocol was as big a deal as golf etiquette.

  “However, they would expect us to share a tent. Do you want to use yours or mine? Mine will sleep two. It’s pretty small, but long enough for tall people like us to stretch out in.”

  “Why not pack real light and forget the tent? There’s always the Starlight Hotel.”

  “Cute, Pete. I don’t know where you hike, but on Big Bear the weather’s so changeable you never know what to expect. The last time I was here it rained during the night. The time before, it snowed.”

  He was definitely in over his head. From now on, he’d keep his mouth shut and go along with anything she suggested.

  “Just kidding,” he said, trying to sound as if he were.

  “Your stove or mine?” Sunny asked, digging into her gear.

  He didn’t know if he even had a stove. “If you’re particular enough to want to use your own equipment rather than the stuff Dream Date sent, I think you should decide what we take.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely.” Talk about an inspiration. “You are hereby appointed captain of the Keegan-Maguire Exploration Team.”

  “I accept.” She laughed, as if at some private joke.

  “What now?” He loved the sassy look in those butternut eyes.

  “I was just thinking how much fun you would have had with Cheryl. She sure wanted to ‘explore’ with you.”

  “Explore the mall—that was her speed.”

  “She said she’d give you her phone number. Did she?”

  She had, and he’d tossed it. “Nah, the fireman got it,” he fibbed.

  “Firefighter,” she corrected.

  He’d give her that one.

  While they’d talked, he noticed she’d been splitting the weight fifty-fifty. No way would he let her carry all that, not even for a little while. She was probably stronger than she looked, but her strength couldn’t compare to his. He switched a couple of heavier-looking pieces from her stack to his.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” she asked in mock outrage, trying to snatch a hatchet out of his hand.

  “Just trying to balance things like they ought to be.”

  “Women aren’t weak, Pete. They carry their share of the load.”

  “You seem kind of hung up on that,” he teased, dropping the hatchet back on her pile with a thud and, just for kicks, switching more things from his pile to hers.

  But she put them back with great dignity. “I said it before, and I’ll say it again. Women carry their share of…”

  “The load,” he chimed in. “Coach, you know, you really do have a problem with that.”

  “Deal with it.” She motioned to the TV van turning into the parking lot. “We’ve got company.”

  His sister looked relieved to see them. “We got stuck on the freeway. I was afraid we’d missed you.”

  “You thought we’d leave without your send-off?” he teased.

  She scanned his face and muttered, “You seem to be in a better mood than usual.”

  Sunny heard the familiarity between the two and knew she’d been right. Pete and Meggy did have an existing relationship. Had Pete’s wife left because she was sick of him fooling around? Maybe Meggy wasn’t as sweet and innocent as she looked. If she’d been taken in by another faithless charmer, there was no hope for her. She might as well swear off men forever.

  Meggy pointed
to a gigantic pine. “Brad, to establish the location of this segment, why don’t you start your shot near the top of that tree, pan down, and catch Pete and Sunny playing peekaboo at the base. Okay with you two?”

  Pete grinned. “Gee, Meggy, it’s been a while since I played peekaboo. Refresh me on the rules.”

  Meggy butted him with her hip, bumping him off balance. “Don’t give me a hard time, or I’ll tell Mom.”

  Mom? They had the same ebony hair, the same dark, long-lashed blue eyes. They could be siblings. It would explain the silent communication she’d seen pass between them. The knot in her stomach eased. Pete wasn’t like her ex after all. That was reassuring to know.

  He came up behind her, put his arm around her shoulder and murmured, “Are you ready, wild woman?”

  She looked up at his eyes, sky-blue and kind, eyes that would never let a woman down. “Ready,” she whispered, stroking his cheek, loving it when he leaned into her touch and kissed her palm. Was he playing his role, or like her, letting need guide the way?

  On the peekaboo shot, she flirted outrageously. With Pete it was surprisingly easy. He captured her, wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, “Brad’s got his camera on us. Give me a smoldering look. Show the congressman what he’s missing.”

  Smoldering? Good grief, how did one smolder? It had to involve bedroom eyes. She could look sleepy.

  “Wow,” he breathed, “that’s perfect.”

  His gaze dropped to her mouth, and then, as if he couldn’t resist the draw between them, he lowered his face and completely covered her lips. This she could take for a long, long time.

  “I think I’m going to be sick,” Brad whined.

  That broke the kiss.

  “Watch your mouth!” Meggy ordered, “And just do your job.”

  “But we’ve got enough of this stuff. Let’s move on.”

  “Brad, you don’t seem to realize you’re skating on very thin ice. I’m calling the shots here.”

  “Good! Call something besides this.”

  Jabbing her finger toward the trails, Meggy snapped, “Skate on up there and shoot their approach.”

  With an impudent salute, he asked, “Which trail?”