by Patricia Kay
“Not everyone. I understand there were several other guys considered for the job, and it would be natural for them to resent me.”
Sophie nodded. She actually knew a couple of the others who’d interviewed. Dismay turned to fear, and even though she was afraid of the answer, she had to ask, “Do you want to stay on at Crandall High?”
Dillon didn’t say anything for a moment. When he did, his voice was thoughtful. “I honestly don’t know. I’ll have to see what they offer me.” He paused, looked at her. “How you feel about it will enter into my decision, too.”
“How I feel about it?” To hide her confusion, she ate some of her baked potato.
“Don’t look so surprised. Hell, I don’t know what you think, whether you want me around or whether you wish I’d disappear. And once you’re raising the kids’ baby, it might be better for everyone concerned if I was gone.”
Sophie couldn’t think what to say. She was so upset by what he’d just said that she was afraid she’d burst into tears if she wasn’t careful. Did he really think that was what she wanted? For him to go away? She’d never wanted him to go away. He’d been the one who couldn’t wait to leave. And now he was thinking about doing it again!
“Leaving when the going gets tough seems to be a speciality of the Burke men.”
His eyes narrowed, and he put down his fork. “Is that what you think? That I’m looking for a way out?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
“I think you made it perfectly clear.”
“What is it with you women? You enjoy twisting words, don’t you? I never said I wanted to leave.”
Suddenly Sophie’d had enough. She was tired of him blowing hot and cold. Tired of always being the one left behind. Tired of wanting something that obviously didn’t exist. And she no longer cared what anyone might think. She put down her fork, laid her napkin on the table and stood up. Keeping her voice low so the other diners wouldn’t hear her, she said, “You know, Dillon, as far as I’m concerned, you can leave town anytime you want, and good riddance, to you and your nephew. Now, just so there’s no misunderstanding, I’m leaving. Oh, don’t bother to get up. I’ll walk home. Good night. And don’t call me again.”
She didn’t look back.
* * *
What the hell was wrong with her?
Dillon hurriedly found the confused waiter, got the check and left most of his perfectly good steak sitting on his plate so he could go after Sophie. But when he got out to the parking lot, she was nowhere to be seen, and even after getting into his truck and driving the way she would normally go, he didn’t see her.
Where the hell was she?
He drove to her house and saw that it was still dark except for the outside light in the front. For the next fifteen minutes he drove around and around. No Sophie. And her house remained dark.
Taking out his cell phone, he called her. The call went to voice mail. So then he texted her.
Where R U? At least let me know U R okay.
Five minutes went by with no answer.
Furious now, he parked across the street from her house. Dammit to hell, anyway. What was wrong with her? Why had she gone off on him like that? He hadn’t done anything to deserve that. Jeez, women were so emotional! He’d only spoken the truth. Half the time she did act as though she wished he’d disappear.
An hour later, she still wasn’t home. He couldn’t decide what to do. He felt like just going home himself and the hell with her. But part of him was really worried. Sure, Crandall Lake was a small town, but bad stuff happened in small towns all the time. Maybe someone had abducted her. Seen her walking all alone and just grabbed her off the street. Sophie was tough, but she’d be no match for some big guy. Especially some crazy, big guy.
Maybe he should go by the police station. Alert them to the possibility of a problem. He knew Sophie would probably kill him if he did that and it turned out she was fine. But what if she wasn’t fine?
He was just about to start the truck and head for the station when he saw car headlights approaching and the car turning into Sophie’s driveway. The passenger door opened and Sophie got out.
He waited till the person who’d dropped her off had driven off before getting out of his truck and sprinting across the street. She turned, obviously hearing him.
“Where the hell have you been?” he shouted. “I’ve been worried sick! I thought something happened to you.”
“I’m perfectly fine,” she said. “And even if I wasn’t, it’s none of your business.”
“You know, Sophie,” he ground out, “I should turn you over my knee and give you the spanking of your life.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You...you wouldn’t dare!” She shoved her key into the lock and pushed the door open.
Knowing she would try to close the door in his face, Dillon pushed in after her. “Who brought you home? Where have you been?”
“Get out! I didn’t ask you in, and I don’t want you here.” She was so angry her voice shook. “And it’s none of your business who brought me home!”
Dillon kicked the door shut with his foot. By now, he was breathing hard, too, and he felt like shaking her till her brains rattled. “I don’t care what you want. I have something to say and you’re going to listen to me!”
“I don’t have to listen to you. I said get out!”
Dillon lost it. He’d been so worried about her, so afraid something had happened to her, and he’d been waiting for a long time. And now, for her to act like this, it was just too much. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he yanked her into his arms.
Then he kissed her. Hard. And he kept kissing her. At first she struggled, but it wasn’t long before she was kissing him back. Five minutes later, most of their clothing strewn in the hallway, they were making love on the floor of the living room. He shouted as he climaxed, and held her tight as her body shuddered almost simultaneously.
For a long moment afterward, they lay joined together, motionless. Then, sighing, she extricated herself from his arms. Without saying anything, she got up and began to gather her clothing.
“Hey,” he said, sitting up. “Come back here.”
She turned around. In the half-light from the hallway her expression was inscrutable. “I think you should go now.”
“Ah, Sophie, come on. Don’t be this way.”
She sighed, holding her clothes up against her like a shield. “I’m tired, Dillon, and I don’t want another war of words. I just want you to go home. Please?”
One thing Dillon had always known was when the game was over. “Okay, I’ll go. But tomorrow? We need to talk.”
She didn’t answer, but at least she didn’t argue with him. He gathered his own clothes, then pulled on his pants and shoved his arms into his shirtsleeves, not bothering to button the shirt. When he walked past her, he leaned over to kiss her goodbye, but she turned her face away and the kiss caught her hair instead.
Still she said nothing until he had opened the front door. And then, just as he stepped outside, she said quietly, “Sex doesn’t fix everything, Dillon. Sometimes it only makes things worse.”
* * *
Sophie lay in bed for a long time without falling asleep. Her body still felt the imprint of Dillon’s hands and mouth. And her brain would not shut off. If only she could turn the clock back. If only Dillon had never returned to Crandall Lake. If only she had some kind of sense or willpower where he was concerned.
But she couldn’t change anything that had already happened. All she could change were her reactions from then on out.
What was it her mother used to say all the time? “You can’t blame anyone else for your bad choices. All you can do is resolve not to make any more of them.”
 
; Sophie sighed and turned on her side. She’d left her window partially open and a cool breeze fluttered the curtains. I hereby resolve to cut Dillon Burke out of my life. Permanently. Because he’s no good for me and never has been.
Decision finally made, she closed her eyes and, within minutes, was asleep.
* * *
Sophie had always liked Sundays. Normally she went to the eight o’clock Mass at St. Nicholas—her father had been a Catholic, although Joy’s father had not—then she spent the rest of the day reading, catching up on laundry, cooking when she felt like it and often, binge-watching a favorite television program.
But today she decided it would be a good idea to get out of the house. On the off chance Beth might feel like getting away, too, she called her. “Want to see a movie today?”
“That sounds wonderful,” Beth said. “Mark is playing golf.”
So the two friends went to the local multiplex theater and saw a Judi Dench movie they’d both been wanting to see, then stopped for a burger afterward.
“How’s the big romance going?” Beth said when they’d exhausted the subject of Joy and the trip to Hannah’s House.
“There is no romance,” Sophie said.
Beth frowned. “Oh, c’mon, Sophie. I know you’ve been seeing Dillon.”
“Well, I won’t be seeing him anymore.”
“What happened?”
“Dillon’s getting ready to duplicate his disappearing act, and I have no intention of being the one left behind again. So I told him to get lost. Frankly, Beth, I’m sick of the Burke men.”
Beth grimaced. “Well, I can’t say I blame you for that, but what makes you think Dillon’s going anywhere?”
“He told me Ferguson is on the warpath.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “Yeah. The mayor’s definitely got it in for Dillon. But he’s just so much hot air, you know?”
“You think so?”
“Most of the school board members really like Dillon. I don’t think they’re gonna go along with Mayor Ferguson. Especially since that new kid who’s playing quarterback is so good. I mean, the mayor really doesn’t have a leg to stand on.”
“That may be, but Dillon pretty much said he’s thinking of leaving here anyway. For everybody’s good.”
“He said that?”
“Yep.” It still hurt, but not quite as much as it had yesterday.
“Oh, Soph.”
“I know.”
Beth reached across the table to take Sophie’s hand. “I guess he really is a jerk.” Beth had never been one of Dillon’s detractors. In fact, she’d defended him more times than Sophie could count.
Sophie just sighed. Beth squeezed her hand.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“Thanks,” Sophie said, trying to smile. You’ll get over this. It will only hurt for a little while.
“What’re you gonna do?”
“I’m not sure,” Sophie said. Then, deciding there was no time like the present, she said, “I’m thinking of leaving here at the end of the school year. Applying for a job in San Antonio...or maybe Houston.”
“Oh, no!” Beth wailed. “You can’t!”
“I’m sorry, Beth. But you know...maybe it would be the best thing. I mean, especially if I adopt Joy’s baby. For his or her sake, it would be really good to have a fresh start. Don’t you think?”
Beth looked stricken.
“And it would be better for Joy, too,” Sophie continued. She tried to smile but knew the attempt fell short. Thing was, she felt just as sad at the thought of leaving Crandall Lake as she knew Beth did.
“I can’t stand the thought of you going away,” Beth said. She looked as if she was going to cry. “What’ll I do without you? Who will I talk to?”
“We can FaceTime. We can text. We can visit each other. C’mon, Beth. It’s not the end of the world.”
“It sure feels like it.” Beth’s eyes glittered with unshed tears. “We’ve been best friends since before kindergarten, Sophie.”
“I know.”
“I will miss you terribly if you go.”
“I know. I will, too.”
Beth shook her head. “I hate Dillon Burke. If he were here right now, I’d punch him in the nose.”
Sophie couldn’t help laughing at the image of five-foot-two Beth punching six-foot-three Dillon in the nose.
“Please think about this before you do anything,” Beth begged. She began rummaging in her purse for money to pay the bill.
“I will. I have, but I will.”
But the more Sophie thought about it, the more it sounded like the perfect solution to her dilemma, for leaving Crandall Lake herself would solve two things: it would ensure privacy for her, Joy and the baby, and it would remove her from even the remembrance of her times with Dillon.
She would begin looking into new job possibilities tomorrow.
Chapter Nine
Dillon drove Aidan to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Tuesday morning. He’d taken a personal day to do it and decided once he got the boy settled at the airport that he would use the next couple of hours to do some shopping. He needed clothes and he wanted to buy something for Sophie. He knew her birthday was coming up the first week of December, so it was the perfect time to give her a gift.
She’d been avoiding him again. He’d tried to talk to her at school the day before, but she’d brushed him off. Then when he’d called her, she let the call go to voice mail and hadn’t returned it. He’d thought about going by her house last night, then decided to give her a little more time to cool off. No sense rushing things.
Besides, a gift and maybe some flowers would do the job of saying sorry better than anything he could say.
When they reached the airport, they had to say their goodbyes before Aidan went through security. Dillon missed the old days when you could go to the gate and watch people board their plane. Hugging his nephew, he said, “Don’t forget—you’re going to call me every Wednesday night. And if you have any problems at all, you’ll call or text.”
“I won’t forget.”
“And plan on coming back to Crandall Lake for Christmas.” Dillon had considered the possibility of going to Ohio for the holidays, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to leave Sophie just then. Of course, she might not stay in Crandall Lake over Christmas. She might want to be with Joy instead. Well, Dillon could always change his plans when he found out what she’d be doing.
Dillon waited until he saw Aidan go through the scanner; then, giving his nephew a final wave, he left. Later, once his shopping was done and he was on his way home again, he allowed his thoughts to return to Sophie. He hoped she liked the gift he’d bought her and wished he didn’t have to wait two weeks to give it to her. Remembering the gold heart pendant covered in pavé diamonds and its delicate gold chain, he smiled. Of course she’d like it. It was beautiful and perfect for her. He could just imagine it nestled against her creamy skin.
Maybe he wouldn’t wait for her birthday to give it to her. Maybe he would go over to her house tonight and give it to her as a “sorry” gift. Women liked “sorry” gifts. Certainly, diamonds had always worked for him in the past.
Happy now that he had a surefire plan, he whistled along with the radio all the way home.
* * *
Sophie was exhausted. It had been a rough day. Now she had a headache. Plus, she felt nauseated. She must have eaten something that disagreed with her. She decided when she got home, she’d change into her pajamas, take a couple of Advil, fix herself some canned chicken noodle soup and then she’d go to bed early.
She had just sat down with the soup and crackers when her doorbell rang. Sighing heavily, she put down her spoon and went out to the foyer. Peering through the peephole, she saw Dillon’s face.
No,
she thought. No. I don’t want to see him. Although he would probably guess she was home—she’d turned on the lamp in the foyer because it got dark so early now—she decided to ignore the bell and not answer the door.
Turning around, she walked back to the kitchen. The doorbell rang again, but she didn’t stop. He could stand out there all night ringing the doorbell, for all she cared. She was sick of thinking about him and his nephew. Go away. I don’t want to see you.
Unfortunately Dillon wasn’t the type of person to give up easily. Realizing he would be able to see her if he walked up the driveway, she ducked into the hall bathroom. Thank goodness the blinds were shut, but she could hear the crunch of gravel outside the bathroom window. Sure enough, he was walking up the driveway to the back door. He would see the lights in the kitchen and know for sure that she was home. Well, that still didn’t mean she had to go to the door. She had a perfect right not to answer if she didn’t want to.
A minute later, she heard the sharp knocking.
Go away. Go away.
No such luck. He kept knocking, getting louder every second.
She gritted her teeth. He was so impossible. What did he think? That just because he wanted to see her, that was all it took? That she’d cave? I don’t want to see you!
“I’m not going away, Sophie! I know you’re home.”
She closed her eyes. He was shouting. Estelle Pounds, her nosy next-door neighbor, was bound to hear him. Shoot, the entire street would hear him!
“Open the door, Sophie!”
Sighing heavily, and wanting to choke him, Sophie left the bathroom, walked into the kitchen and opened the back door. “Keep your voice down,” she said through clenched teeth. “The entire neighborhood can hear you.”
“If you’d opened the front door when I rang the bell, it wouldn’t have been a problem,” he said. Then he grinned, eyeing her outfit. “Flannel pajamas? Really?” Now he chuckled. “Actually, they look kind of cute on you. Sexy.”