Rent-A-Dad

by Judy Christenberry

  She looked away from him. Even imagining what she’d wanted sent shivers through her body. Finally, she confessed. “A bubble bath.”

  Both men frowned.

  Then Russ leaned closer. “Did I hear you right? A bubble bath? They’re for girls.”

  She hurriedly explained. “You know that old, claw-footed bathtub on the porch of the ranch store? I thought a picture of you in a bubble bath, your hat still on your head, would—would make an amusing picture.”

  Russ stared at her, a frown on his face. “I don’t mind unbuttoning my shirt, but taking a bath in public is going a little far.”

  “You’re right, of course.” She stood, both relieved that he’d rejected the idea and disappointed at the loss of a good photo opportunity.

  Russ didn’t move. “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why me in a bathtub...with bubbles?”

  Why wouldn’t the wretched man drop the subject? She’d agreed that it wasn’t a good idea. “Never mind.”

  “I want to know.”

  “Fine. It’s the contrast. The big, sexy male doing something soft, sweet, feminine.”

  “Feminine?” he asked, outrage on his face.

  It was almost laughable, his reaction, so typically male. She tried to explain it again. “It’s like—like a picture of a big strong guy tenderly holding a baby. It’s the unexpected gentleness that grabs a woman’s heart.”

  His eyes narrowed in thought, but he said nothing.

  “Never mind. We can forget about it.”

  He stood. “No. We’ll do it. But I want some pictures of me and Mandy, too. Like you said.”

  Now it was her turn to frown. “Mandy? You want me to use Mandy as a model?”

  “Why not? You’re using me.”

  Melissa felt her hackles rise. “You’re objecting? It seemed to me you were enjoying yourself, showing off.”

  “I was trying to be helpful, to give you your money’s worth.” He wasn’t cracking that devil-may-care grin now.

  Sam got to his feet, much slower than Russ, but he got there. “You want me to go empty that tub while you two finish this argument?”

  “No!” Melissa snapped. She wouldn’t ask Russ for the time of day after that remark.

  “Yes!” Russ returned simultaneously.

  Sam grinned and walked away. Melissa considered going after him, but she couldn’t strong-arm the man, even if he was a lot older. Instead, she picked up Mandy and her camera and headed for her car.

  Russ stopped her after two steps.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Home.”

  “What about the picture?”

  “I think you’ve more than finished your servitude, Mr. Hall. I wouldn’t want to take advantage of you.” She kept her gaze on that muscular chest she’d been admiring half the day.

  “Aw, hell, I didn’t—come on, Melissa, you know I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “Strange,” she replied, her voice cool, “that’s exactly how it sounded.”

  He muttered something under his breath, but she didn’t ask for clarification. “If I grovel, will you forgive me?”

  She tried to step around his large frame but he blocked her way. “Come on, Melissa, give me a break.”

  She gave him a brief smile that held no warmth. “It’s quite all right. I don’t want to take advantage of your generosity.”

  Without any warning, Russ bent his head and covered her lips with his. Shock held her immobile until Mandy gurgled. Then Melissa jumped back. She would have slapped him if she hadn’t been holding Mandy and he hadn’t grabbed her arm.

  “How—how dare you!”

  “Now, Melissa, that’s a cliché, unless we’ve gone back in time a hundred years.” He released her arm and chucked Mandy under the chin. “Right, Mandy? Tell Mom it was just a little kiss. Actually, you can consider it my taking advantage of you, which makes it okay for you to take advantage of me.” He grinned as if waiting to be praised for his ingenuity.

  She closed her eyes, unable to stop the trembling that seized her. Unable to breathe. No man had touched her since Greg died. No one had caressed her, held her, looked at her as a woman.

  What bothered her most of all was the way her pulse had shot up, the way her lips had wanted to cling, the way she had betrayed Greg’s memory.

  Abruptly, she agreed. “Fine. I’ll take advantage of you. Let’s go make that picture.” She whirled around to return to the picnic site, but Russ snatched Mandy from her arms before she could get away.

  “I’ll carry Mandy.”

  “Put her in the stroller I brought. It’s in the back of the car.” She walked off, hoping distance would calm her and that Russ wouldn’t realize how shaken she was.

  She gathered up what was left of the picnic and the blanket they’d sat on and followed him to the car. Russ had gotten the stroller out of the trunk and was settling Mandy in it.

  Melissa stowed everything she carried in the trunk and trudged back to gather her equipment, not even looking at Russ.

  Then she walked toward the ranch store, a few yards away. Sam was waiting on the porch steps. The amusement on his face told her he’d seen that ill-fated kiss, but she pretended she didn’t notice.

  “We’re fillin’ buckets with hot water, Melissa,” Sam announced as soon as she got close. “You got some bubble stuff?”

  “No, I didn’t bring any. I—I wasn’t sure we’d do the photo.

  “But you told me to bring my swimsuit,” Russ protested.

  Several young boys from the ranch were standing nearby, watching their every move.

  “I hadn’t decided to do the shot for sure. But without bubbles, we certainly can’t do it.” She sent him a triumphant smile that hid her disappointment. There she went again, losing even as she won.

  “I don’t see why not. You just take the picture so my swimsuit doesn’t show. Let’s get this over with, so I can go get on a horse. It’s been a few months since I’ve done any riding.”

  Melissa looked at him in surprise. And found her gaze caught by his smile. He was enjoying himself? She’d thought he was irritated with her. She frowned.

  He leaned closer, and she suddenly feared he intended to repeat that kiss. She reared back.

  “The kids are watching,” he warned. “We don’t want them to think adults act like children, do we?”

  Her startled gaze flew to the boys, who were studying them intently. She shook her head.

  “Now,” Russ said softly, “are you sure you don’t have any of that bubble goop?”

  She shook her head no. “That’s why we should move on—”

  “You want some bubbles?” one of the boys asked, stepping closer.

  Russ ignored her attempt to turn the boy away. “Yeah. You got some bubble stuff?” His face wore a teasing grin.

  The boy chuckled. “No, sir. But there’s some in the store. You know, where you blow and it makes bubbles.”

  “Would that do?” Russ asked, and Melissa realized he was looking at her for an answer.

  “Really, Russ, there’s no need—”

  “Do you ever answer questions?”

  She felt her temper rising again. “Yes, I answer questions. And yes, the bubble stuff will work. And no, I’m not going to take your picture.”

  “Then I’m going to look like a damn fool sitting in a tub full of bubbles out in plain sight.”

  The two boys giggled.

  “Watch your language in front of the children,” she warned crisply.

  There was that grin that sent her pulse racing. “Are you going to wash my mouth out with soap?”

  His teasing made Melissa’s mouth go dry and she tried to look away.

  Fortunately fo
r her, Russ walked over to the boys.

  “You fellows know where to get a couple of towels?”

  “Sure!” one of them cried. Then his gaze went to Sam. “Is that okay?”

  “You bet. Get ’em out of my room.” Then Sam turned around and went back into the store, and the kids took off for his cabin.

  Suddenly, Russ and Melissa were alone on the porch, with only Mandy for a chaperone.

  * * *

  RUSS KNEW BETTER than to bring up the subject of the stolen kiss. But he wanted to. He wanted to pull her into his arms and repeat that kiss. But neither choice was acceptable.

  And if he didn’t do something quickly, she would probably warn him not to touch her again. He didn’t want those words spoken, either.

  “Watch Mandy, will you?” he said, stepping away from the stroller to sit down on the top step of the porch. The baby squealed as she saw him walk away from her, one little hand reaching out as if to catch him.

  “What are you doing?” Melissa asked.

  He looked over his shoulder to see her frowning. “Nothing scandalous yet. I’m taking off my boots. I don’t want to put them in the water, right? You just asked that I wear the hat.”

  “That’s right. It would be absurd to wear boots in a bathtub.”

  “Right. But a hat makes sense.” He said the words solemnly, but then he couldn’t hold back a grin.

  “The—the audience has to know you’re a cowboy. I don’t know how else to show them.”

  “Why do they need to know I’m a cowboy? After all, I’m really not.”

  “We’re creating an illusion, Russ,” she huffed. “Women love cowboys, especially Wyoming cowboys. And for Wyoming Bright, there’s no other kind.”

  “Yeah, but what I can’t figure is why women love cowboys. I mean, they’re around horses and cows all day. They smell. A lot of cowboys don’t have good manners, are loners. What makes a cowboy so special?”

  To his surprise, Melissa sat beside him on the top step after lifting the stroller on to the porch. She left plenty of space between them, so Mandy would feel part of the group, but at least she was near him once again. “I think the cowboy represents the knight of medieval times,” she explained. “Strong, protective, handsome, one man against evil.”

  He stared at her, stunned by her poetic portrait. “Is that how you saw your fiancé?”

  She stiffened. “Greg has nothing to do with what we’re doing. He wasn’t a cowboy. That’s why he thought I should bid on one at the auction.”

  “So it was his idea?”

  “We agreed.”

  “You could’ve hired a real cowboy for a whole lot less, Melissa.”

  “But I wouldn’t have gotten the publicity I’m going to get.”

  “What publicity? You mean you’re going to tell people I sat in a bubble bath and had my picture taken?”

  “Of course.”

  He leaped to his feet. “Now, wait just a minute! You can’t do that.”

  “The Casper newspaper has run a story on each bachelor from the auction. The reporter will be over Sunday to interview you and me about our weekend.” She paused, then added, “Besides, if your picture is going to be in every card shop in Wyoming, what difference does it make if it’s in the paper?”

  “Because my name will be under the picture. I don’t care if a bunch of tourists buy the cards. They’ll never know who I am. But I still have friends in Casper. I don’t want them to open the paper and stare at me in the altogether with a bunch of bubbles.”

  She stood, too. “They won’t see anything but your chest—that’s the reason for the bubbles. And you’ve certainly shown off your chest before.”

  She had a point, but he didn’t want to agree with her. “Maybe so, but being in a bathtub, looking like I’m naked, makes people believe it.”

  “But you won’t be naked, since you brought your swimsuit with you.” She put her hands on her trim hips, as if challenging him.

  Before he could come up with a response, the door to the store opened and Sam and an older boy each carried out two buckets of water.

  “One of you better go get them bubbles. This here water is gonna cool off mighty quick.” Sam stared at Russ, a grin on his face. “I’m thinking a cold bath wouldn’t hurt you, Russ, boy, but you might not find it too comfortable.”

  Russ watched the blood rush to Melissa’s cheeks, but unfortunately, he could feel his own face growing hot, too. “Forget it, Sam,” he growled.

  The old man took no offense. As he got ready to pour one of the buckets into the tub, he warned, “Better move the baby back. We don’t want any hot water to splash on her.”

  Russ immediately wheeled the stroller to the other side of the porch before Melissa could make a move. Then he knelt down beside the baby.

  “Hey, Mandy, you be a good girl while I help your mommy, and later we’ll play.”

  She cooed and jumped, as if trying to reach him, and he chuckled in return. He really was enjoying the little girl. Somehow it had never occurred to him that he would.

  “I’ll take care of my daughter,” Melissa said crisply, frowning at him.

  “Nope, you have to be getting your gear ready. Like Sam said, that water’s going to get cold, and I’m not staying in it long.”

  He left her staring at him, her anger rising, and walked into the store to find the bubble stuff the boys had told him about. Not knowing how much he would need, he took about six bottles out to the porch.

  “Should I just pour it in?” he asked.

  Melissa didn’t bother to answer, and Sam shrugged his shoulders.

  Russ opened a bottle and poured it in. Nothing happened. “This isn’t working!”

  The two boys arrived back at the porch with a couple of towels just in time to hear Russ’s complaint.

  “You have to make the bubbles by splashing the water,” one of them said. He leaned over and swirled his hand in the water. “Like this.”

  A few bubbles appeared, but definitely not enough to cover up his swimsuit. “I think I’m going to need some help. While I pour the goop in, you two stir the water and make bubbles. Okay?”

  That plan worked fairly well. Russ finished those six bottles and got four more out of the store. He didn’t want to run out of bubbles.

  Then he sat down on the steps and removed his boots, as he’d intended to do earlier. Next came his shirt.

  “You can’t strip out here!” Melissa protested.

  Aha. She was watching him. He looked at her, a smile on his lips. “Don’t worry. I’m going inside to change. You ready to take some pictures?”

  She didn’t look enthusiastic, but she nodded. “You’d better hurry. I think Sam was right about the water cooling.”

  “Maybe you should be the one getting in the tub,” Russ suggested with a grin.

  She ignored him.

  “Quit your teasin’, boy, and hurry up,” Sam warned. “Them bubbles are already disappearin’.”

  Inside the store, Russ stripped off his jeans and underwear and pulled on his modest swim trunks. Then he grabbed the towels he’d need when the shoot was finished. That bubble stuff looked pretty slimy. When he stepped outside, he noted Melissa’s assessing look before she turned away.

  “Will this do?” he asked, imitating a runway model. When Melissa ignored him, he dropped the towels nearby. The boys giggled at his behavior.

  He was concentrating on catching Melissa’s attention as he swung one foot into the tub. When he lifted his other foot, the one in the tub slid out from under him. He sat down hard, a tidal wave of bubbles slopping over the sides.

  “Gol darn it, boy! What are you doing? We lost half our bubbles,” Sam protested.

  “This stuff is slippery as all get out,” Russ snapped, embarrassed at his
awkwardness.

  “Come on, Jimmy, let’s get some more buckets of water. You two better get some more bubble stuff.”

  As the other four males disappeared, Melissa asked, “Did you hurt yourself?”

  “I think I bruised my tailbone, which should make riding a real pleasure,” he growled.

  “I tried to—never mind.” She crossed over behind the tub and picked up his Stetson where it had fallen. Placing it willy-nilly on his head, she backed away.

  “What do you want me to do?” he asked.

  Seemingly her good humor was restored. “Smile. Tilt your hat back, rest your arms on the edges of the tub and smile.”

  * * *

  MELISSA DREW A DEEP BREATH as Russ displayed his muscles for the camera. The man’s arms looked rock hard. “You must work out all the time,” she murmured as she eyed him through the lens. She was much more comfortable talking to him when she had the camera between them, as if it shielded her from his sex appeal.

  “Yeah. Architecture doesn’t build muscles.”

  “Did you ever work as a carpenter?” She’d found her models were more relaxed if she got them talking. After taking several pictures, she decided to change his position.

  “Yeah, when I was in school. That’s how I paid for food. I worked every summer building houses.”

  “Okay, cross your arms over your chest and tilt your head down, as if you’re napping. Pull the hat down over your eyes.”

  He did as she asked. The midafternoon sun was shining on him, since the porch faced west, and she felt sure the pictures would be even better than she’d hoped.

  “Here’s more water,” Sam announced as he and his troops returned. “Now, don’t get the hat wet, boys, ’cause it’s mine.”

  They poured in more water.

  “Ow! That’s hot,” Russ protested

  “Wait!” Melissa called. She pointed to the smallest boy. “What’s your name?”

  “Danny,” he said shyly, grinning.

  “Danny, would you pour the water in while I take a picture? Just you and Russ?”

  The boy beamed. “I get to be in the picture?”

  “If you don’t mind. I’ll pay you—” She broke off as she saw the envy in the other boys’ eyes. “I’ll pay all of you for helping, of course. But since Danny is so small compared to Russ and the tub, it makes a cute picture. I just wish he had suspenders.”