Wyne and Song

by Donna Michaels

The little girl smiled. “Fireflies?”

  Did they fly really high? “I guess so, hun. I never caught any.”

  The children straightened to blink at her.

  “You never caught a lightning bug?” Big brown eyes stared up at her in disbelief.

  She shrugged. “Nope. Don’t have any in the big city.”

  “Well, there’s tons here. You should come out to the fire pit around back tonight and I’ll show you how.”

  It was on the tip of her tongue to decline, but the thought of actually seeing one in the night sky was too tempting. “Okay, it’s a deal, if you continue to practice your jumping.”

  “Deal,” he said, then surprised her with a quick hug around her waist.

  Shock rippled through her at the sweet gesture, but before she could respond, the little boy released her and got back into his half-squat position.

  “What comes next?” he asked.

  His two friends joined him, all watching her, waiting for direction.

  “As soon as you crouch and quickly visualize the jump, you spring upward from the balls of your feet, that’s this part here.” She tapped that part of her foot, and when they nodded, she continued. “Now comes the arm part. While you’re squatting, bring your arms behind your back, then when you start to jump, you swing them forward fast and up into the air. This causes momentum which will propel you up, and that is when you stretch as far as you can as quickly as you can. Feel that stretch in your ankles and knees and hips.” Once again, she demonstrated and they copied. “Okay, that’s it. Let’s put it all together and jump high.”

  A second later, the children were springing into the air, marveling over the new heights they reached. After five minutes of jumping and laughing, they thanked her at the older man’s urging, then gazed up at her with their big, pleading eyes, begging her to teach them how to ninja roll. Actually just a forward roll, but they thought ninja roll sounded cooler.

  And what she found cool was watching the children having fun.

  “Are you a teacher?” the grandfather asked when she returned to the bench.

  She laughed. “No. I’m—”

  The ringing of the phone in her pocket cut her off. Fishing it out, she glanced at the caller ID and recognized the landlord’s number. “Sorry. I have to take this,” she told the man. “Enjoy the rest of the afternoon.”

  “You, too,” he replied.

  With a quick wave to the children jumping and playing nearby, she answered the phone while turning to the path that led to the resort. By the time she walked halfway up the trail, she ended the call with plans to meet the landlord in an hour at a local restaurant to sign papers. For a day that started off a little rocky, it was turning out to be a good one.

  Still basking in the afterglow of the children’s joy, and her satisfaction of being the cause, she started to hum a tune that made her happy. The only reason she refrained from singing was because she didn’t want to disturb the nearby wildlife. Which she hoped was only squirrels and raccoons and not bobcats and bears. A quick glance around the brush and endless trees put her mind at ease. No beady eyes. At least, none that she could see.

  She was almost out of the woods, but had another bend before a long straightaway, so she continued to hum as a sort of critter deterrent, or at the very least, a warning that a human was near.

  Of course, she could also be alerting a serial killer or ax murderer of her presence. Not a comforting thought. Deciding to hum louder—because everyone knew humming loud scares away psychopaths—she picked up her pace a little, too. All of the sudden, the peace and solitude wasn’t as relaxing as when she’d walked the path earlier.

  As she rounded the bend, she nearly jumped out of her skin, and it would’ve been a heck of a lot higher than earlier with the kids if she hadn’t recognized the tall, broad shouldered silhouette heading her way.

  She waved, happy to see a familiar face one second, then immediately beseeched with that stupid shyness again. “Hi, Ethan.”

  “Hey, Phoebe,” he replied, coming to a stop in front of her. “Thought I recognized the humming.”

  Heat rushed up her neck, flooding her cheeks the moment her brain seized on the memory of when he’d last heard her humming—while she was climaxing with him buried deep inside.

  Fate would’ve been kinder dealing her that ax murderer. Or two.

  He shook his head. “Sorry…I swear I didn’t mean…I was talking about your performance…on stage! Your performance on stage,” he rushed to say as the color in his face deepened.

  “It’s okay.” She laughed. “We’re quite the pair. For two people who insisted they could have one night of sex and then handle meeting again without any awkwardness, we’ve failed miserably.”

  He smiled. “True.”

  “I just want you to know I would’ve called to warn you I would be in town for a few weeks, but I didn’t have your number, and thought it would raise a red flag if I asked Lea,” she said, shoving her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and blowing out a breath. “Figured you’d rather I didn’t.”

  “True,” he repeated, scratching the bridge of his nose with his thumb. “I feel like an ass, but I just like to keep my personal life and my sex life separate. My son is impressionable, and I can’t afford to mix the two.”

  In an attempt to reassure him, she touched his arm. “It’s okay. I get it.” She was also getting some serious voltage shooting up her arm and down her body from touching his skin.

  He stiffened.

  She immediately released him and stepped back. “So, okay, that just happened. Which means, no touching. Got it.”

  When his dark gaze met hers, she was relieved to see he appeared just as bewildered.

  “Just so you know, I’m on my way to get changed and meet Jill’s landlord in town to sign papers,” she said. “Looks like I’ll only be here at the resort a few more nights, then you won’t have to worry about seeing me. This town is small, but not that small. The chances of us running into each other again are slim, with the exception of anything concerning Lea or Jill, of course.”

  He nodded, relief and regret mixing in his brown eyes. She allowed that tiny boost to her ego to take the sting off her own regret as she left him on the trail to head indoors.

  She was glad he was sad. And sad he was glad. And stupid for even dwelling on him. And even stupider for not giving back his knife she kept in her purse. Dammit. She pivoted, mouth opened, ready to call to his disappearing form, but the trail was too private, and he was too tempting. It could wait a little longer. She turned around and headed to the resort. No sense in tempting trouble.

  It was time for more good in her day. After securing her lodging for the summer, she’d grab a quick supper with Jill and Mason, and this time, she was certain Ethan would not be around. Then tonight, for the first time in her life, she would see fireflies in the night sky and catch them with her little friends.

  By the end of the day, Ethan was more than dog tired. He was damn tired and grateful Ben stopped by with three cheeseburger platters from his future father-in-law’s diner in town.

  This morning, he woke up dragging his ass, and the events of the day only added to his exhaustion, leaving him with barely enough energy to listen to his son rave about some ninja lady chick while demonstrating to his uncle Ben how she taught him to jump higher. Ethan had witnessed it over and over for the past four hours and wished to God he could bottle the kid’s energy.

  Or at the very least, borrow some.

  “Wow, Tyler.” Ben’s brows rose as he reeled back. “You got some serious air-time there, buddy.”

  His son’s smile widened as his head bobbed up and down. “I know! Isn’t it great! And I even caught two balls in right center at practice today, didn’t I, Dad?”

  Tyler’s enthusiasm was catchy. He rubbed his son’s head and grinned. “Yes, you did, champ. Keep up the good work.”

  Because he was a sucker and didn’t have enough to do, he’d agreed to coach Tyler�
�s little league team last month, when the original coach broke his leg. Ethan loved the extra time he got to spend with his son, but the energy it required to corral a bunch of six year olds just about did him in. Thank goodness it was coming to an end in three weeks.

  “Johnny said next year when we’re seven, we’ll be on a team that has an actual pitcher. He wants to pitch, but I like where I’m at,” Tyler stated between bites. “I can see the whole field from out there.”

  “That’s good, champ,” he said, stifling a yawn.

  Getting up from the table to keep from falling asleep, he glanced out the window, happy to note the setting sun as he cleared the table. He only had to stay awake another hour and he could fall into bed.

  Then start it all again tomorrow.

  “…to the fire pit?”

  When the room grew quiet, he turned to find his son and brother staring expectantly at him.

  Damn. Zoned out.

  “Yes,” he said, taking a chance his son was talking about their nightly routine of eating s’mores and catching lightening bugs by their private fire pit with whatever family and friends dropped by.

  Of course, Tyler did the eating and catching while he sat back to relax and unwind, enjoying his son’s youthful exuberance while it lasted.

  Ben laughed and got up from the table. “I think your dad only half-heard, Tyler. I’ll make sure he brings the s’mores supplies.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Ben. I’m going to grab my jar for the fireflies.” The energetic typhoon stopped at the patio door and glanced back at him. “Is it okay if I go now, Dad? Grandpa’s already there.”

  He glanced out the window above the sink to confirm his father had indeed returned, and even started the fire. “Okay,” he replied and stood there watching his son race to his grandfather who lifted him in the air and swung him around.

  The retired Army National Guard Major had been a huge help with Tyler. Dennis Wyne still lived in the big house they grew up in fifteen miles down the road, despite the fact there was plenty of room for him in the family quarter’s area his sister had designed into the resort plans.

  Even though his dad wasn’t as regimented and had mellowed with age, he lost none of his stubbornness, insisting privacy was important, and he refused to intrude in their lives. In a way, Ethan was glad. That privacy worked both ways. His dad was fifty-six with plenty of women throwing themselves at him since his second wife had died of cancer over a decade ago. Maybe one of these days, the widower would catch one. He was too young to be alone.

  A sentiment his father threw right back at him whenever he broached the subject, so Ethan had learned to keep quiet and hoped nature or fate would step in.

  “So, now that we’re alone, tell me how your reunion with Phoebe went today.” His idiot brother shoulder-knocked him with a grin.

  He muttered a curse. “Tell me you didn’t know she was coming, because so help me, Ben…”

  “Calm down. I didn’t know she was coming,” his brother replied. “Until this morning.”

  “And you didn’t think to warn me?”

  “Of course I did,” he replied, grin turning sheepish. “I just chose not to.”

  Bastard. “Thanks a lot, bro. Good to know you’ve got my back.”

  “You’re welcome. Now, quit bitching and tell me how it went.”

  Muttering a curse, he grabbed a bag of marshmallows from the cupboard and slammed them down on the counter. “My brother and his fiancée surprised me at lunch with my ex-lover. How the hell do you think it went?”

  “I don’t know. You tell me?” Ben laughed. “The two of you had some serious chemistry going on at Lea’s place. It’s still there, isn’t it?”

  His hand paused, gripping crackers and chocolate bars. Hell yeah. It’s there. In spades. He shook his head. “That’s not the point.”

  “It’s still there.” Ben nodded, big ass grin on his face.

  The one Ethan was two seconds away from punching. “Doesn’t matter,” he said. “But Tyler does, and the last thing he needs is to see me with Phoebe.”

  “Why?” His brother cocked his head. “Because he’ll see how great you are together?”

  Yeah. “Worse, he’ll right away peg her as mommy material, which she isn’t. Not with rehearsal schedules and performance schedules and travelling. It won’t work, so I’d appreciate if you’d support me on this.”

  “Fine.” Ben held his hands up. “But I think you’re wrong.”

  “I’m not. I just need them to stay separated, especially while she’s here. And when Jill moves in with Mason this week and Phoebe moves into the cottage, it shouldn’t be an issue.”

  “She’s moving into Jill’s place?”

  “Yes.”

  A big grin consumed Ben’s face. “Well now, that solves all your problems, bro.”

  “I know. I just have to keep them separated in the meantime.”

  His brother shook his head. “That’s not what I meant.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “What do you mean?”

  “When she’s at the cottage, you’ll be able to visit her to explore that chemistry without Tyler seeing.”

  Shit. His heart knocked against his ribs.

  “Dammit, Ben!” He lobbed the bag of crackers at the idiot’s head. “Thanks for planting that bad idea in my head.”

  “You’re welcome.” Ben laughed, slapping him on the shoulder. “See? I do have your back.”

  Before he could reply, the bastard strode out the door, whistling on his way to the fire pit.

  Wanting nothing more than to grab a shower and pass out on his bed, Ethan grabbed the marshmallows and chocolate instead and followed, hoping the day didn’t have any more surprises in store.

  Chapter Seven

  Ethan handed the crackers and chocolate to his dad, the official s’mores builder.

  “You look tired.” His dad frowned, setting the supplies on a small table nearby.

  He nodded as he dropped into an Adirondack chair next to him and yawned. “Been a long day.”

  “You can’t go to sleep yet, Dad,” Tyler said, climbing onto his lap. “You have to have a ‘smore and meet the ninja lady.”

  He stiffened. “What?”

  “Ninja lady,” his son repeated as if that made everything clearer. “I told her to come to the fire pit tonight so I could teach her to catch fireflies. And she’s real pretty, isn’t she, Grandpa?”

  Amusement flickered in his dad’s eyes. “Yep, she is.”

  Ah, hell. Every week it was someone new. All the poor woman had to do was show Tyler the slightest bit of attention and he’d peg her a mommy candidate. Last week, it was the lady at the post office. This week, apparently, it’s the one who taught him to jump higher.

  “Tyler, you have to stop inviting people over.” He set him on his feet and motioned toward the pit. “Let’s make your s’mores and head in for bed.”

  “But we can’t go in yet. She never caught a firefly before.” His face puckered. “And I promised to teach her.”

  He sighed. “You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep, Tyler.”

  “But I can teach her. I can.” He folded his arms across his chest and his little chin jutted out.

  Ethan scrubbed a hand over his face and clenched his jaw to keep the slew of curses inside. God, he was tired. So damn tired. He hated that his kid suffered.

  “There she is!” Tyler pointed behind him and began to jump up and down. “Ninja Jedi lady! She’s here! I knew she’d come!”

  Great. He sucked in a long breath. This wasn’t his day.

  His dad leaned close. “She’s nice, son. You should’ve seen her with the kids. A natural. And she really is pretty.”

  “Thanks, Dad, but I’d prefer to find my own woman,” he replied with a shake of his head, not in the least bit interested in turning around to watch her approach.

  First his son. Now his dad? Could the day get any worse?

  Ben snickered, gaze full of amusement. “Then I’d say yo
u already have.”

  What the hell did he mean by—

  A familiar prickling skittered down his spine interrupting his mind mid-thought.

  Oh no. No.

  His luck could not be that bad. He almost had himself convinced, until his brother stood and rushed around the pit, arms outstretched.

  “Phoebe, I heard you were in town.”

  Son-of-a-bitch. This was exactly what he’d wanted to avoid.

  “Just got in today,” she said, and he could hear it in her tone the second realization dawned.

  He could also hear fate laughing in his face. And Phoebe’s. Poor woman had had no idea Tyler was his son or she never would’ve agreed. He glanced at her then, noting her guarded expression confirmed his thoughts.

  “You know ninja lady, Uncle Ben?” Tyler asked, grasping the woman’s hand.

  “Yes, buddy. She’s Aunt Lea’s neighbor in the city.”

  “Oh.” His son glanced up at the woman. “You work on Broadway.”

  She chuckled. “Yes.”

  His father jumped up, big smile on his face. “It’s nice to finally, officially meet you, Ms. Weston. I’m Dennis Wyne.”

  “Please, call me Phoebe. And I should’ve known by the handsome resemblance.” She shook his father’s hand, then turned her attention on him. “Hello, Ethan.”

  He slowly rose to his feet and nodded.

  “You know her, too, Dad?”

  Big brown eyes stared up at him with so much hope it hurt to look.

  “Isn’t she great? Did she teach you how to jump, too?”

  She taught him how to soar in ways he wasn’t about to discuss with anyone. “No,” he replied.

  “Did I hear my nephew right? You never caught fireflies before?” Ben asked.

  He owed his brother a beer for changing the focus.

  She shook her head. “Never. They’re not exactly residents in the city.” Her indrawn breath echoed around them as she pointed to the tiny blinker in the sky. “Oh! Is that one?”

  “Yep.” Tyler nodded enthusiastically, then tugged at the hand he still held firmly in his grasp. “Come on, there’s more by the trees.”

  Rooted to the spot, Ethan stood there watching the woman listen to his son intently, then mimic his movements. Soon the two were smiling and grabbing lightening bugs, filling up the jar Tyler set on the ground. The joy on their faces matched the pure sound of their laughter, and Ethan rubbed at the ache in his chest.