by Doreen Alsen
The cheerleaders took the field. The music cued, the home team girls went to say hello to their guest cheerleaders.
On cue, hip hop pounded out of the speakers. Girls were tumbling everywhere then stopped and went into formation. They moved in a mix of hip hop dance moves, military precise arm and leg motions, going into intricate pyramids, with the smaller girls perched on the top.
Then things got interesting. Before breaking back into another dance routine, the girls on top were thrown into the air, executed twists that would make a pro diver proud, and were caught by the rest of the team before they hit the ground.
Now Dave knew what “flyers” were.
They were crazy.
They didn’t just fly around in the air once. They executed the same daredevil stunts several more times, each time being tossed higher and higher.
The cheerleaders from the visiting team performed a similar routine in front of the Addington side. Dave didn’t know if he should video them or not.
Deke plopped down next to him and handed him a hotdog. “So, Ainslie, eh?”
Dave put down the camera and took the hotdog. He’d forgotten that Deke was an End Zone regular. “She’s in a tough spot. I like to support my school’s families.”
“Sure.” A large dollop of chili rolled off Deke’s hotdog and onto his shirt. He caught it with an index finger the size of a ham hock and slurped it into his mouth. “She’s a pretty lady. Terrible waitress, though.”
“It’s a new experience for her.”
“I bet. Met her and her husband once.”
That got Dave’s attention. Why hadn’t anyone told him Deke knew Ainslie? “They’re divorced.”
“I’d heard that. They were guests in the Galveston Hurricanes skybox once, back in the day when I was still coaching the team. Me and Pammy had both of them over to the house for a barbeque after the game. He was one slick son of a bitch. He tried to get me to invest some money in some business deal he was putting together.” Deke looked at Dave. “Something about him wasn’t right, you know? I didn’t trust him.”
Dave nodded, not knowing what to say. It didn’t matter. Deke had enough to say for the both of them.
“I don’t s’pose his wife knows where any of the money went.”
Dave took another bite of hotdog, chewed and swallowed deliberately. “I don’t think she’d be cleaning other people’s houses and waiting on tables if she did.”
“That’s what I thought.” Deke stood up and braced a hand on Dave’s shoulder. “Like I said, she’s a pretty lady. And Pammy liked her when we had had them over for cocktails.” Pamela Nelson was Deke’s wife and Andi’s mother. “She’s never wrong.” He snorted a laugh. “Or so she tells me.”
Dave exhaled noisily as Deke lumbered off to sit next to Andi.
What was he, wearing a sign that said “falling in love with Ainslie Logan?”
Chapter Fifteen
Ainslie’s head swiveled at the sound of a loud horn barking outside her house. This meant the limo the boys had rented to pick up the girls at Cecily Brewster’s house had arrived. “Ruark, honey, the limo’s here.”
The sound of dragging feet scraped into the living room. “Thanks for lending me the money to chip in for the limo and the corsage,” he mumbled, his tone of voice flat.
She sighed. Her boy was so shy about girls. “Let me look at you.”
He stole her breath away, this handsome young man who was her son. He’d gotten just enough of Bobby Lee’s good looks to be a danger to girls’ hearts the world over, with those aquamarine eyes and the dimple off to the right of his mouth that appeared when he smiled.
Dressed in a gray silk suit, with a darker gray shirt and tie, he looked like he stepped off the cover of GQ. If a girl had warm blood running in her veins, she would be toast at the sight of him. Her boy was dangerous.
Just like his daddy.
With one difference. She was Ruark’s momma and she made sure that she raised him to have a strong moral character. He would not be a thief and he would not take advantage of people. She loved her gorgeous boy, both his looks and his character. “You are so handsome.” She gave him a hug, kissed his cheek, then fiddled with his tie. She stopped short of licking her fingers and smoothing down his hair.
He wouldn’t appreciate the gesture, since it took him ages and tons of product to get his hair to stand up every which way.
She went up on tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek, making sure to wipe off the lipstick mark right. “Go have a great time, honey bunch.”
“Yeah.” He looked like he was on his way to the firing squad instead of a dance. “See you later.”
Ainslie felt tears start to form behind her eyes. Her baby boy was growing up.
****
Shanna put the garment bag holding her dress for the dance onto Cecily’s bed. The house was so pretty and full of antiques, art and flowers. Real flowers, not fake ones. Remembering her old beautiful home in Charleston, a pang of longing for her old life nearly made her cry. She would not cry, however. She sucked the inside of her cheek into her teeth.
Puffy eyes and a red nose would not do at the Homecoming Dance. Especially not for Alden Bradford’s date. Her heart skipped a beat just thinking about Alden.
He was so hot.
She hoped Ruark wouldn’t ruin things for her. Ruark hated sports. He could be so stupid sometimes, with opera this and opera that.
He just wasn’t normal.
As she bent to unzip her garment bag, Cecily and Priscilla, another cheerleader, giggled their way into Cecily’s bedroom.
“Ooh, let me see your dress,” Priscilla said as Shanna pulled the dress from the bag. “Omigod, Cece. It looks exactly like your dress from last year.”
Cecily came over. “What? Let me see.”
Shanna felt her stomach plummet to the floor. Her mom had gotten the dress from a consignment shop. What if it really was Cecily’s dress?
Cecily’s cast-offs. Shanna Logan was reduced to wearing someone else’s old, useless clothes. She would have done better if her mom had shopped at the Salvation Army.
Mortified, Shanna did the only thing she could do.
She lied. “Really? I got this dress in Charleston, right before we moved here.” She swore her heart was just going to bust out of her chest.
“It really looks like the same dress.” Priscilla reached out and touched the hem.
Cecily rubbed at a place where the sequins were kind of loose. It looked like she knew just where to touch. “Well it wasn’t one of a kind. I got it off the rack at the Nordstrom’s in Chicago.” Cecily tossed off with a wave of her hand. “It’s going to look awesome on you, Shan, with your dark hair and eyes.”
Shanna nearly wept with relief. “I don’t know about that. Where’re your dresses?” When in doubt, change the subject.
Cecily crossed to her closet and picked out a gold and silver beaded flapper style dress. “Now, this one is one of a kind. Mom and I picked it up last summer in Paris.” She held it up against her. “What do you think?”
It was incredible. Shanna knew true envy. It just wasn’t fair. She wanted dresses from Paris, trips to Nordstrom’s in Chicago. She’d had them once, back when they had money.
At that moment, she couldn’t have hated her daddy more.
All she had was Alden Bradford wanting to date her. Ruark better not screw that up.
****
Ainslie had just put on the final touches of her make-up when the doorbell rang. Only two people it could possibly be, Chelsea or Dave. Why was her heart pounding so hard? It wasn’t a real date. She and Dave were chaperoning a high school dance.
Patsy beat her to the door. “Momma,” she yelled. “Chelsea’s here!”
“Hey, Patsy. S’up?” Chelsea slipped off the huge backpack she was toting and rolled her shoulders.
“Watchin’ T.V. Can we do our nails tonight?”
“Sure thing. Hi, Ainslie.” Chelsea smiled as Patsy scampered off. “Yo
u look really nice.”
Nice, huh? “I have no idea what to wear to chaperone an occasion north of the Mason-Dixon line.” For a dance in Charleston, she would wear a dressy suit, pearls and heels. For tonight, she put on gray, light wool slacks, an ancient, amethyst, cashmere twin set, and a cute pair of flats she’d bought five years ago.
“Well, you look great. Purple is a good color on you.”
“Thank you. I’ve got a list for you in the kitchen. Let me go get it.” Ainslie took a deep breath as she trundled to get the list.
The doorbell trilled again. Dave had arrived. No backing out now. She grabbed the list with one hand and rubbed her stomach with the other. She went to answer the door. Again, Patsy beat her to it.
Her heart melted at the sight that greeted her.
Dave crouched as he handed an excited Patsy one of the gaudiest heart-shaped box of chocolates Ainslie had ever seen. Her little girl had never looked so happy.
He stood when he saw her rush in and treated her to one of the most beautiful smiles in the history of the world. Nerves tingling, shivers raced all over her body.
Especially the girly parts. They zipped and zapped like they were plugged into lightning.
Patsy bounced over to her, the lace covered heart box leading the way. “Look, Momma! Mr. Mason brought me another present!” She hugged it to her heart. “It’s so pretty.”
“I hope you said thank you.”
Patsy wiggled around to look at Dave. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.” Still sending Ainslie that amazing smile he said, “Are you ready to go?”
“I just need a minute.” She faced Chelsea. “Here’s a list of phone numbers—my cell, Patsy’s pediatrician, her dentist, and 911 in case there’s an emergency. On the back, there’s her night time routine and the list of what kind of snacks she can have before bed, and the list of TV shows she can watch.” Ainslie sighed. “Don’t let her talk you into letting her eat her weight in junk food. She can have one—did you hear that, Patsy? Just one—of the candies in that pretty box. The fridge is full of juice and stuff for sandwiches, fruit and veggies. Please feel free. And don’t be afraid to call if something comes up.”
Chelsea laughed as she took the list. “No worries. I think I can handle it. We’ll manage, right, Patsy?”
Patsy was too busy admiring her box of chocolates, carefully opening it, most likely to pick the candy she wanted to eat. “Right.”
“Well, okay then. Gonna give me a kiss good night, baby girl?” Ainslie crouched down.
Lips pursed tightly, Patsy kissed her, then went back to admiring her treasure.
“Looks like we’re all set, yes?” Dave already had her coat held out for her.
“Looks like.”
“Let’s go, then.”
“Have a good time, you two.” Chelsea smiled. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Yeah, right. There were lots of things on Ainslie’s list of what to do with Dave Mason.
From the look in his eyes, he knew exactly each and every one.
****
“You look nervous.” Dave glanced at Ainslie as he put the car in gear.
“Oh, no, not really.” Ainslie grimaced. “Well, just a little.”
He smiled. “You’ll do fine.” She smelled really good—some exotic mix of flowers and spices.
“I really won’t know anyone.”
“Isn’t that the point of tonight? To meet Shanna and Ruark’s friends and their parents?”
“Yes, it is.” She fiddled with the pretty ring on her right ring finger. “I’m a little uncomfortable about the fact that I probably clean some of their houses.”
“It’s honest work. You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.” A little spurt of outrage raised his hackles. “Has anyone said otherwise?”
“No.” She heaved a sigh. “It’s just my own pride talking, I guess.”
Dave’s hackles lay back down. “Why don’t we try this—just relax, don’t worry about anything you think people might be thinking about you, and have a good time with your children.” And him. He really wanted her enjoy being with him.
“Okay, I’ll try.” Ainslie smiled at him, a big warm smile that melted his heart into one big gooey mess.
There was no sense fighting it. He had fallen in love with a wonderful, beautiful, amazing woman.
Who also happened to be the mother of two of his students.
There must be some kind of moral clause or conflict of interest, but he wasn’t going to think about that now. He was going to enjoy an evening with a healthy, beautiful, unattached female.
Along with about 500 teenagers trying to get away with all kinds of trouble.
Kinda wrecked the buzz.
He really wanted to make love to her. He’d have to think about how to make that happen. The sooner the better. He’d been having some amazing dreams the past few nights, and he wanted, desperately, to try out some of the things he’d dreamed about.
He glanced over and saw her staring at him, a quizzical look on her face.
“Have you heard a word I’ve said?” She asked as she shook her head.
He blushed like an eighth grader. “Sorry, I was just thinking of the dance. What did you say?”
“I’m very appreciative of this chance to get an insight into the twins’ lives.” She put a hand onto his arm. That simple touch sent his whole system into overdrive.
Man, he was gone, totally gone. “I know how much this means to you.”
She squeezed his arm. “Thank you.” The look in her eyes made him feel like Superman, Batman, and Spiderman all rolled into one.
He liked it.
A lot.
Steering his car into his personal parking space—one of the perks that came with the job—he pulled up the parking brake and turned off the engine. “Ready?”
“Oh, yes.” She picked her purse up off the passenger floorboard. “I’m really excited.”
“Okay, then. Let’s do it.”
****
Because she knew he would come over to open her car door and help her out, Ainslie stayed put until he did that. Lord, she had missed the old-fashioned courtesies. Her heart went pitty-pat as she took his hand. It was so warm and strong. “Thanks,” she murmured.
He didn’t let go of it as they walked to the gym.
Music already filtered out into the parking lot. The only kids there were the decorating committee and their faculty sponsor, so Dave told her.
She’d never been to a dance in a gym. Country clubs, museums, and ballrooms, even Fort Sumter, but never a gym.
“If you want, I can get us the names of the Homecoming King and Queen.” Dave said smoothly.
“Oh you can, can you?” The thought of Kings and Queens satisfied the southern debutante in her.
“Yeah, I know a guy who knows a guy.” Dave said with a wink. “I do have some pull around here.”
“I didn’t realize I was spending this evening with a mover and shaker of the educational community.”
“You’d best believe it, dumpling. I can move it and shake it with the best of them.”
Now, that was something she could believe. In fact, a long dormant part of her counted on that. “Can’t wait to see you in action.”
Chuckling, he let go of her hand to open the door to the gym. Ainslie had expected the gym to look like, well, a gym. Nothing she imagined had come close to what met her eyes.
The bleachers were up and pressed into the wall. In their places stood tables and chairs, like one might find at a Parisian bistro. Small white lights twinkled everywhere, from the basketball hoops to the scoreboards. Autumn colored paper leaves were sprinkled around for some seasonal color, and the refreshment table centerpiece was a huge pumpkin with the school mascot, the Minuteman, carved into it. Light flickered from within it.
She’d expected it to smell a bit like dirty socks and sweaty sneakers. She’d been wrong. Clinging to the air were the scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and app
le cider.
Smiling at Dave, she said, “This is charming.”
He raised his eyebrows up and down. “You had doubts?”
“I just didn’t know what to expect.”
“We are a world class operation here.” He stretched his arms out in front of him and fiddled with the cuffs of his shirt. A woman hurried up to them, the decorating committee faculty advisor, if Ainslee had to guess.
“Hi, Dave.” Clad in an artsy, bright, silk-screened tunic, the woman had dark brown hair with gray threads shot through it. She wore it piled on top of her head, anchored by a colorful chopstick. “The kids did a great job, didn’t they?” Her eyes were curious as she looked at Ainslie.
“They really did. Ainslie, this is Carmen Bartolomeo, our art teacher. Carmen, this is Ainslie Logan. She’s Shanna and Ruark Logan’s mom.”
Carmen smiled as she extended her hand for Ainslie to shake. “It’s very nice to meet you. I haven’t had Shanna in class, but Ruark is a delightful boy. Very creative.”
“Thank you. I know he loves to draw.” And he’d never said a word about Ms. Bartolomeo’s class. She should have known enough to ask him about it.
“He’s very polite and works hard.” She looked at Dave. “Maybe you could come over and say something to the committee?”
“Of course.” He straightened his tie. “I’ll be right back.”
He looked comfortable in his world. After Dave shook every student’s hand, one of the students said something and made Dave laugh out loud. He said something, and all of the students guffawed.
How natural he was with them. They clearly loved him, and she could tell he felt the same way about the students. She was relieved to have him in her children’s corner.
He grinned as he walked back toward her. An answering grin spread across her face. She relaxed, knowing that she and her children would be safe in his hands.
Chapter Sixteen
“I feel lucky tonight.” Alden Brewster leaned back against the supple leather limo seat. He wore his tie loose and wore what appeared to Ruark the school’s formal uniform: pressed khaki trousers, blue button down oxford cotton shirts, dark blue sport coats, ugly ties, and boat shoes with no socks.
