The Devine Babysitter

by Ramagos, Tonya

  "Hey, I have to have something to do when I’m there and Kalvin has gone to bed," Joshua defended himself.

  "Yeah, I guess so," Dominique drawled. "Well, I have to go now. Thanks."

  The line went dead.

  Still laughing, Joshua hung up the phone. He stood from the sofa and moved to change the movie in the VCR. Then he spotted Heather standing stiffly, hands planted on her hips, glaring at him with an statement of anger and contempt.

  "Now she’s calling you at home on your day off," she spat coldly.

  "She’s my boss, Heather. It’s not unheard of." Joshua felt his bad mood returning. "What do you want to watch next?"

  Ignoring his question, Heather pressed, "It is when it’s simply to have a casual conversation."

  "It wasn’t casual. I cleaned up her house last night after I put Kalvin to bed and she was looking for a pair of shoes."

  "Couldn’t she have worn a different pair?"

  "I guess she didn’t want to." Joshua shoved the first movie his fingers came across into the VCR. Aggravation was beginning to put an edge to his voice, yet he fought to hide it.

  Heather stomped to his side. Placing a hard hand on his arm, she tugged, and spun him to face her. "No, I’ll tell you what she wanted. She wanted to talk to you!" she fumed. "Joshua, you’re cleaning her house, taking care of her son, cooking dinner and inviting her to family gatherings. You’re becoming more of a house husband than a babysitter, for crying out loud!"

  "I invited Kalvin to the party," Joshua said through clenched teeth. "He couldn’t very well come by himself, now could he? As for dinner, the kid has to eat and I clean the house because I get bored. What more can I say?" He threw his hands in the air in frustration.

  Heather steadily shook her head, stepping back. "No, I don’t believe that. There’s something more. You spend more time with her than you do with me!"

  Joshua rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "You’re wrong Heather. I spend more time at her house, not with her. It’s a job, Heather, and you’re letting your jealously cloud your senses."

  "I think I have a right to be jealous, Joshua," Heather shrilled, jamming a finger at her chest. "I saw the two of you at the party yesterday. I saw the way she looks at you and the way you look at her. Last night at dinner, you couldn’t talk about anything but her. She’s all you ever talk about anymore!"

  "Oh for heaven’s sakes! You’re blowing this whole damn thing out of proportion. You know good and damn well that’s not true." Was it?

  "Forget it." Heather backed off a few steps. "I’m not arguing with you about this. I know what I know and I know what I saw." Without another word, she snatched up her purse and stormed out the door, slamming it violently behind her.

  Go after her you idiot! a little voice screamed, but Joshua didn’t move. Why should he go after her when she was the one who was wrong? She owed him an apology. Or was it the other way around?

  In the next heartbeat he realized it truly was the other way around. She was right. No matter how hard he tried to fight it, he was falling in love with Dominique. Still--hearing her car door slam, hearing the engine start up, hearing the tires squeal on the pavement as she sped away--he never made a move to stop her.

  ~ * ~

  Dominique swirled the straw in her soda thoughtfully as she swayed back and forth on her barstool. Business was next to dead at Party Paradise on this bright and sunny Sunday afternoon, much as it had been the night before. Only a few regular customers lined the bar opposite her.

  In the distance, the sound of pool balls clacking together could be heard from the game room. Kalvin was having a field day. Because the bar also had a restaurant inside, children were allowed access during the daytime hours and Kalvin took advantage of it as often as she would let him. The numerous video games and pool tables that occupied the back room would keep him occupied for hours. Or at least until the quarters ran out.

  "Thanks for coming in to help with the reception preparations," Leanne Middleton, Dominique’s boss and owner of Party Paradise, said. The thirty-five year old plopped onto a stool beside Dominique and twisted the cap on a light beer.

  "No problem. I was happy to help." Dominique smiled.

  Leanne took a long swig of her beer. She brushed a strand of shoulder-length, sandy blond hair out of her face and said, "It’s amazing, but sales seem to be going up on the evening shift since you took over. Are you enjoying it, or do you regret the move?"

  "Oh, I definitely don’t regret the change," Dominique assured her. She spun her barstool a bit to face her boss. "The tips have been great. I sat down this morning with my calculator and, if the money keeps coming in like it has the last couple of weeks, Kalvin and I should be living comfortably soon enough."

  Behind the neck of the beer bottle, a satisfied smile rose to Leanne’s lips. Dominique knew she had built Party Paradise from the ground up. But it was her obvious concern for her employees’ happiness that had helped to transform it into one of the most prominent, respectable bars in all of South Mississippi.

  But Leanne’s smile didn’t remain for long. Her aquamarine eyes taking on a serious look, she said, "I was hoping the change would work out well for you, but I can’t help but notice, if you’re so happy, why the long face?"

  Because money doesn’t conquer all happiness. Because I want a man that I don’t want to want. Because that man now knows that I want him, and he doesn’t want me back. "I still get bummed from time to time about my father," Dominique said. Even though it wasn’t the true reason she was gallivanting on another planet at that particular moment, it still wasn’t a lie. However, it was a situation of which her boss was fully aware and she hoped it would prevent her from having to talk about Joshua.

  With Leanne’s next question she realized her hopes were short-lived. "And the babysitter? How is he working out?"

  Dominique knew Leanne was avoiding the subject of her father because it always upset her even more, but Joshua was far from a better subject and, of course, the one she had chosen. "Kalvin likes him," she responded simply with a lift of her shoulder. She began twirling the straw in her now watered-down soda again.

  "And Dominique?" Leanne’s perfectly plucked brows arched upward. "According to Marge, he sounds like the dreamiest man in the world over the phone."

  "Yeah, and looks spectacular in a towel," Dominique muttered with an exasperated moan. It wasn’t until the words left her mouth that she realized she had said them aloud. Heat rose to redden her cheeks. Dammit! Why couldn’t she keep her thoughts to herself these days?

  Leanne’s eyes widened to the size of tires on a Mac truck. Eagerness poured from her voice. "Oh girl, do tell."

  "It’s nothing like you’re thinking." Dominique chuckled slightly. "David let me off early Saturday night. When I got home Joshua was in the shower. He didn’t realize anyone was in the apartment and walked out of the bathroom wearing only a towel."

  "Ooo, are we sure that wasn’t a staged incident?" Leanne mused.

  "As positive as I could possibly be. He was showering for a date with his girlfriend." And then I tried to get him to stay with me when I knew he was on his way to be with her, she added silently. How pathetic is that?

  Still, just the thought of Heather sent her spirits plummeting to the deepest, darkest holes of the earth. He was too good for her. Way too good for her. She didn’t deserve him. Why did the snobby, snotty women always get the best looking men?

  Leanne cocked her head toward Dominique. Her eyebrows flew up in a captivated gaze. "Is that a trace of jealously I hear in your voice?"

  "No!" Dominique spat way too fast. "He’s my babysitter. He can’t be anything more."

  Leanne leaned back in her bar stool, her glare fixed and potent. "But that doesn’t mean you don’t wish he could be more," she countered.

  "Oh, Leanne, I don’t know what I’m wishing." Dominique sighed hopelessly, slapping her forehead with the palm of her hand. "I can’t get him out of my head! I think about him all the ti
me and when I see him I feel things I’ve never felt before. Every day I find myself anxious for his arrival, and every night I don’t want him to leave. It’s all so weird. I wasn’t prepared for the feelings I’m having. Although I don’t think anything could have prepared me for a man like him."

  "Unexpectedness, uncontrollable let-your-imagination-run-riot burning desire, inability to concentrate on anything else, sure sounds like love to me," Leanne sang with a wide grin.

  "But I don’t want a relationship!" Dominique exclaimed, her tone rising. A few customers across the bar looked her way. Blushing again, she lowered her voice. "That much I do know. It’s the last thing that I need, and Kalvin certainly doesn’t need it. His father has hurt him so badly and still does with each passing second. The last thing he needs is another man in his life to get attached to and end up being disappointed."

  "And you don’t think he’s becoming attached to this man already?"

  "Yeah, I know he is, but that’s different. Joshua is his babysitter. That’s what he sees him as. Not as Mommy’s boyfriend or his future step-father, but as a friend and his babysitter. That’s the way it should stay." Dominique shook her finger at her friend.

  "And even if I did decide I wanted a relationship and he wasn’t my babysitter he’s almost thirty years old and still in college. Even if I did want a man in my life, I would want someone who I didn’t have to support. Someone who could be a better role model for Kalvin. Besides, there’s something more about him that tells me there would still be no chance for us."

  "Are you sure you’re not simply making up this conflict to keep from admitting how badly you really want him?"

  "No, no way am I imagining it." Dominique shook her head. "If you saw the look he gets on his face any time my job is mentioned, you would know I’m not seeing things. He has some problem with my being a bartender and, believe me, it’s a huge problem. His parents got the same look when I met them yesterday. I cornered him on it last night, but he said he wasn’t ready to explain everything to me just yet."

  "You met his parents yesterday," Leanne voiced her intrigue.

  "Joshua has a six year old brother. He thought it would be great if I brought Kalvin to his birthday party, so I did. It was strictly a friendly get-together. His girlfriend was even there!" Dominique exclaimed. "But that’s not the point. Even Natalie admitted there was something wrong with him and my being a bartender, but she wouldn’t tell me what."

  "Natalie?" Leanne asked. Her eyebrows drew together in confusion.

  "Joshua’s oldest sister."

  Leanne bit her lower lip thoughtfully. "Dominique, this man’s last name wouldn’t be Divine, would it?"

  Startled, Dominique glared at her boss. "Yeah, Joshua Divine. H--how did you know?"

  "Holy cow!" Leanne’s jaw dropped. Her hand flew to cover her heart, faking a heart attack. "And obviously you have no clue who he is, do you?"

  "Should I?"

  "Girl, do you live under a rock?" Leanne giggled. She placed a gentle hand on Dominique’s shoulder. "Honey, his family is one of the richest families in South Mississippi. Possibly even the state!"

  "No way." Dominique shook her head in disbelief. "We can’t be talking about the same Joshua Divine."

  "There’s only one that I know of." Leanne threw herself back on the barstool. She tucked her tongue in her cheek. "Let’s see if I can tell you more about him. He’s the oldest of six children belonging to Mitchell and Constance Divine. Tall, dark hair, the most amazing bright green eyes you’ve ever seen, with a body that would make any woman puddle at his feet."

  Yep, that sure sounded like her Joshua. But how could it be? Dominique had been to his parent’s house. It had been nice, but nothing extravagant. Nothing like the home of an overly wealthy family. And Joshua, he had never shown any signs of being rich either. Well, other than admitting he could support himself even though he was a full-time college student.

  Money is something I don’t have to worry about, were his exact words. Oh my God! Could it be true?

  "I gather from your statement that we’re talking about the same Joshua Divine." Leanne smirked in clear amusement. "I can’t believe you’ve never heard of him. His father is always on the news for something or other."

  "I never watch the news. It’s just so unbelievable." Dominique exhaled slowly. "I never would have dreamed… I mean, he doesn’t act rich. Neither does his family. And they don’t live in a gigantic, elaborate house or drive fancy cars or dress in outrageously expensive clothing."

  "The Divines aren’t people who like to flaunt their money around," Leanne said. She took another long swig of her beer. "They never have. But believe me, they have plenty of it and have made sure their children will be well taken care of all of their lives."

  "Wow!" Dominique breathed. "I guess that’s why they looked so disappointed, almost furious when they found out I’m a bartender. I’m not good enough for a family like that."

  Leanne gasped, placing the beer bottle on the bar with a loud thud. "Oh my gosh! That’s it! You don’t know, do you?"

  Dominique’s heart skipped a beat. "Know what?"

  "Do you remember the bartender who was stabbed a few years back? No, you wouldn’t." Leanne answered her own question with a shake of her head. "You weren’t living here then, I believe. It’s been about six or seven years ago now. Anyway, it was in all the papers and for the longest time it seemed as if all the bars on the coast were going to be forced to close their doors. It made people so frightened they quit going out drinking."

  "You’re saying this bartender was stabbed at work?" Dominique asked, attempting to make sense of her boss’s story.

  "Yeah, Trevor’s Tavern. They closed their doors not long after the incident. It was one of the worst bars on the coast, attracted a really rough crowd. From what I heard and read, a fight broke out on a Friday night. The bartender was the only person on duty and tried to break up the fight. When she stepped in between the two men, one of them jabbed a switchblade straight through her."

  Horror clouded Dominique’s mind. Never had she imagined that bartending could be such a dangerous job. Chills ran down her spine, causing her to shiver. "How tragic!"

  "I’ll tell you what was really tragic. She was pregnant."

  Dominique’s eyes slowly closed. Unshed tears for a mother and child she never knew burned behind her eyelids. "That’s so sad," she finally said in the calmest voice she could muster. Taking a deep breath, she pushed away the tears. "But I don’t understand what all of that has to do with Joshua and the Divine family."

  "The woman’s name was Margot Fredrick," Leanne explained slowly. "She was Joshua Divine’s pregnant fiancée."

  Nine

  Joshua jammed a hand through his hair in frustration and leaned his head back on the arm of the sofa. He exhaled a long, loud sigh as his textbook fell from his lap and hit the floor with a thud. It was no use. Studying was not an option. He had known it before he even bothered to open the textbook, but he had to try. Was he going out of his mind? He was only months from graduation. If he didn’t find the power to concentrate soon, he was sure to flunk everything he had worked so hard for.

  "Women," he mumbled, rising to a seated position on the over-stuffed sofa. He covered his face with the palms of his hands. Trouble with women was the last thing he needed, and yet the only thing that was happening in his life lately.

  Heather was still not speaking to him. She hadn’t even graced him with as much as a glance during class that morning. She hadn’t said a word to him since she stormed out of his house the day before. Not that he had really tried to talk to her, either. He couldn’t even truly find it in himself to be upset over their obvious breakup. He hated that he had hurt her, but that was about as far as the pain in his heart went. Under the circumstances, he had decided it was best to let it go--to let her go. Natalie had been right. They weren’t right for each other. No matter how much he cared for her, he couldn’t continue lying to himself, hoping he would
fall in love with her. She wasn’t the one, and every fiber of his being had known that all along.

  Dominique, on the other hand, was an entirely different story. She had become permanently planted in his mind. Every hour, every minute, every second, his thoughts were of her. Ignoring those overwhelming sexual emotions that rose each time the thought of her crossed his mind was becoming next to impossible.

  His sister’s words rang in his head: "You’re falling in love with her."

  Was he? How could he be? Knowing what a life with her would mean, what he would have to learn to accept. How could he be falling in love with her? The fact that she was a bartender should have been a major turn off in itself. There was no way he could chance going through what he had with Margot. Not to mention all the things he had learned about most women bartenders after her passing. He had quickly come to learn she had been one in a million. That one special woman in the slew of loose, easy-to-get-to-bed women that made up the remainder of the female bartender population.

  So, did he still see Dominique that way? Deep down he wasn’t sure, but on the surface, no matter what she said or how she tried to deny it, he couldn’t allow himself to believe she was any other way. Two in a million just didn’t seem possible. Yet, his bodily reaction to her could be explained as nothing but…love. No woman had ever brought about those uncontrollable needs of longing and desire the way she did, not even Margot, and he had loved her with all his heart and soul.

  To top it all off, he had arrived home from his daily classes to discover the blinking light on the answering machine. His heart ran wild when he first heard Dominique’s voice. Then he listened further to the actual message and his spirits took a major downfall. She had called to inform him that he wasn’t needed to babysit Kalvin that evening. She had said something about an aunt or someone wanting to keep Kalvin for the night, so he now had an extra night off. Dammit! He didn’t want the night off.