Rent-A-Dad

by Judy Christenberry

  “But you won’t have much time to get ready.”

  “I’m used to working around Mandy’s schedule. Just go get ready.”

  He grabbed a quick shower and dressed in navy slacks, a long-sleeved pale blue shirt, a red-and-blue-striped tie and a navy blazer.

  Melissa had Mandy in the sink, bathing her, when he made it back to the kitchen.

  “You go dress and I’ll finish up with Mandy,” he said.

  “She’s bathed already. I’ll dry her off and let you diaper and dress her. If you take her now, you’ll have water all over you.”

  She was right, but the evening wasn’t starting out the way he’d planned.

  He’d just finished dressing Mandy when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” he called so Melissa wouldn’t worry. Swinging open the door, he discovered Mrs. Tuttle, as he’d expected.

  “Come in, Mrs. Tuttle. You’re right on time.”

  “Yes. My, you look fine, Russ. I’m so glad you had this idea. Melissa deserves a special evening.”

  Well, at least they were in agreement there. “Thanks for your help, Mrs. Tuttle. We’ve bathed Mandy and fed her dinner. About eight, she takes her bottle. Then Melissa puts her in bed and winds up the music box on her mobile.”

  “My, you are good with babies, aren’t you? Most men don’t know what to do with them.”

  Russ almost laughed aloud. Two nights ago, he would have sworn he’d never know a thing about babies. Now Mrs. Tuttle thought he was an expert. “Thanks. Mandy’s an easy baby, or else Melissa’s a good teacher.”

  Before the elderly lady could reply, Melissa spoke from behind him. “I hope you don’t mind baby-sitting, Mrs. Tuttle.”

  Russ turned around and almost swallowed his tongue. Melissa was wearing a black dress that faithfully followed the curves of her body, inviting a man’s hands to do likewise. While the neckline was modest, the hemline was high, drawing attention to her long legs.

  He whistled. “Quite a change, Melissa.”

  She shrugged her shoulders, but he could tell his enthusiasm had embarrassed her. “Better than jeans?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Now, you two run along. Me and Mandy are going to watch television and play before bedtime.” Mrs. Tuttle beamed at them, as if they’d been particularly good children. But Russ wasn’t feeling like a little boy. And he didn’t think Melissa looked like an innocent.

  He put his hand on her back to urge her to the door and came to an abrupt halt when his palm met only warm, silky skin.

  “Mmm, nice dress,” he mumbled, licking his lips. The modest neckline flowed into a cowl at the back that dipped almost to her waist, baring her back.

  “Thank you,” she said, hurrying to the door as if avoiding his touch.

  He hoped the restaurant had dancing. He sure as hell was going to be looking for another excuse to put his hands on her tonight. Just following her out the door, his gaze glued to her soft skin, had him itching to pull her against him.

  He cleared his throat after getting in the car. “I wasn’t sure you’d have anything to wear since you’d said you don’t date.”

  She gave a nervous laugh. “I wasn’t sure I would have, either. I—I haven’t worn this dress since before Mandy was born. I wasn’t sure it would fit.”

  “Oh, yeah, it fits. It fits so well I’m not sure I should let you out in public.”

  She sent him an alarmed look. “Do you mean it’s too tight?”

  Russ started the car and began backing out of the driveway. “No, it’s not too tight. Every man in Casper would vote that it’s perfect, Melissa. But I’m not sure I want them all admiring your—you. I may have to fight them off when they get a look at you.”

  “You’re being silly,” she protested, a breathless quality in her voice that made him want to seal her lips with his.

  Man, he was in trouble.

  * * *

  MELISSA KNEW THE EVENING was a bad idea. She’d realized how dangerous it was going to be when she’d put on her black dress. It made her feel...sexy. Which went along with the way Russ made her feel.

  She was a mother. She didn’t need to feel sexy. There was no time in her life for a man.

  There was no room for romance.

  Glancing up from the candle in the center of the table, she studied Russ’s face across from her. Whether there was room or not, romance was here. Right here in Casper, Wyoming. Right here in Russ’s gaze.

  “You’re not eating. Is something wrong with your steak?” Russ asked, leaning forward.

  “No, but I—I’ve lost my appetite.”

  “Maybe a little exercise will help. Let’s dance.”

  The restaurant had a small dance floor, and a four-piece band was playing soft music. Melissa felt her pulse quicken at the thought of moving into Russ’s embrace.

  “Oh, I’m not a good dancer. I’d step on your toes.” Or melt all over him.

  “No problem,” he assured her as he stood, holding out a hand.

  “Really, Russ, I’m a horrible dancer.”

  He didn’t sit back down. Instead, he picked up her hand and tugged gently. “Come on, sweetheart. I don’t think I can concentrate on my steak until we get past this dance. Obviously, you can’t, either.”

  She was surprised that he would admit a vulnerability to her. “You aren’t hungry?”

  “Oh, I’m hungry. But not for steak.”

  He tugged again and she stood. Leading her the short distance to the dance floor, he wrapped both arms around her and pulled her completely into his embrace. What movement he made in time to the slow music was minimal.

  “Uhm, Russ,” she muttered, “I think we’re supposed to move.”

  “We’re doing just fine. This dress is killing me.”

  She leaned back and stared at him. “What do you mean?”

  “It lets me touch your skin. And makes me want to touch more.”

  She gulped and buried her nose against his throat. This wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have. But as his hands slid across her back, she understood what he meant. She wanted to feel his hands all over her body.

  But it was a physical response. That was all.

  She wasn’t used to lying to herself. It made her uncomfortable. The truth was, Russ Hall was getting to her. She’d isolated herself from the male half of the population since Greg’s death. And, of course, she had no social life.

  It was she and Mandy against the world. With a little help from Mrs. Tuttle.

  Then Russ Hall arrived on her doorstep. She’d thought she could invite him into her house and remain distant. Foolish woman.

  He stirred longings in her she thought she’d dismissed from her life. Not just physical ones. The sharing of both good times and bad. The comfort of another adult to rely on. The warmth and caring of a man who’d been a stranger two days ago.

  And then there was the physical need. The growing hunger to be touched by this man, to share physical intimacy again. To believe that she was beautiful in his eyes. Who cared what the rest of the world thought as long as he— “I can’t do this,” she whispered, and broke from his arms. She heard his footsteps as he followed her to the table, but she didn’t turn around.

  When she was seated at the table again, she had no choice but to face him.

  “What happened?” he asked, his voice husky.

  Gazing into Russ’s eyes was difficult, but she wasn’t going to play coy or pretend she didn’t know what was wrong.
Lifting her chin, she said, “I’m attracted to you, Russ. It’s a physical reaction I don’t seem able to control, and it complicates my life in a way I don’t want.”

  He said nothing but continued to stare at her.

  “It’s my fault,” she continued. “This entire weekend was an ill-conceived idea. I didn’t consider the human aspect of my plan. But we both know it ends tomorrow. You return to your life in Chicago. I stay here with Mandy. We never see each other again. So we need to keep things simple.”

  “How do we do that?” he asked quietly.

  For a second she saw something in his gaze that had her heart racing. But she dismissed it as fantasy on her part. “We stop touching. We eat our meal and go home and pretend that nothing happened.”

  One corner of his mouth, that firm, delicious mouth, slid upward. “I don’t know if I can pretend that well.”

  Without his help, she didn’t know if she could, either. “You have to, Russ. For Mandy’s sake.”

  “Mandy?”

  “I want to be a good mother. I want Mandy to have a happy life.” She wasn’t explaining this right. It sounded selfish to tell him how miserable she’d be when he got on that plane. It was ridiculous to complain that he’d awakened her from her trance, from her self-induced sleep. It was absurd to blame him for her weakness.

  She tried to smile but felt her lips tremble. “I’m not explaining this the way I meant to. But what—what we’re experiencing is physical. It will go away...unless we carry it any further. And I don’t want to.

  * * *

  HE’D NEVER FORCED a woman in his life. He certainly wouldn’t, couldn’t, force Melissa. But damn, he wanted her, more than he’d wanted any woman in his life.

  But she was right. Melissa didn’t come alone. Sweet Mandy was involved. So there would be no sharing of a bed in her little house tonight. There would be no relief to the raging hunger that threatened to overpower his good sense.

  “Then I guess that settles everything. Finish your steak and we’ll go. Mrs. Tuttle will be surprised when we show up early.”

  “I’m sorry, Russ. I didn’t intend—”

  “To seduce me? Don’t worry about it. I shouldn’t be so easily tempted. But, just for the record, Melissa, you’re a beautiful, sensual woman. And I want you.”

  The color in her cheeks rose and she stared at her plate.

  “But you’re right. You deserve more than a one-night fling. But don’t shut yourself away. Don’t stop living. Mandy...Mandy needs you to do that.”

  She lifted her eyes and met his gaze head-on. “I will always be there for my child. I love her with all my heart.”

  “I know.”

  They both tried to finish their meal with no further conversation. Russ found the succulent steak flavorless. All he could think about was that even though Melissa sat across from him, she might as well have been on the other side of the Rockies.

  Finally he signaled the waiter, asking for to-go boxes and the check. When the man hurried away, he looked at Melissa. “Is that all right with you?”

  “Yes, please,” she said.

  “Not exactly what I had in mind when I planned our dinner. I wanted you to have a good time.” Was he being honest with himself? Had he been thinking of her? Or had he wanted to get her to himself, without even baby Mandy to chaperone them?

  “It was thoughtful, but I think it best we call it an evening.”

  He paid the bill, then escorted her from the restaurant. The Wyoming sky, clear of clouds this evening, blazed with a million stars in all their glory. Even in Casper, the air was clear, energizing.

  Without thinking, he put his hand on her back to guide her. When his fingertips touched her warm skin, he jerked them back as if he’d touched a live wire. “Sorry,” he muttered, and gestured to where he’d parked her car.

  She ducked her head and hurried forward.

  “There are a lot of stars out tonight,” he said, hoping to distract her from his mistake.

  “Yes.”

  “Maybe we’ll see a falling star. Want to make a wish?” He’d seen a few out on the ranch, away from the city lights. He’d even made a few wishes before he’d grown too old to believe in them anymore.

  “Yes, I’d like to make a wish.”

  “What would it be?”

  In the dim light from the restaurant, she turned to look at him, and he held his breath at the sadness in her gaze. “If I tell, it won’t come true.”

  He had a sinking suspicion that she was wishing him back in Chicago, where he wouldn’t upset her carefully ordered life.

  But that wouldn’t be his wish.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  HIS LAST MORNING IN CASPER.

  Today Russ changed his routine. No morning jog. He had other things to do. The first was tend to Mandy so Melissa could have another sleep-in.

  He quietly opened the door to Melissa’s study and stared at the figure sprawled on the sofa. Then he tiptoed into the room, his gaze searching. When he saw the illuminated dial of an alarm clock on the floor by the sofa, he knew his suspicions had been on target. She’d set an alarm so she wouldn’t sleep in this morning.

  Mother’s Day, and she intended to get up.

  Without bothering to turn off the alarm, he followed the cord to the wall and unplugged the clock. With a grim smile of satisfaction, he crossed to the door. Before he stepped through it, he turned for one more look at the sleeping beauty.

  Then he closed the door behind him.

  Just as he would close this episode in his life. After all, a woman and her baby had no place in his life. His response to Melissa was physical. That was what she had said last night. And he agreed.

  Next he entered Mandy’s room. He crossed to the bed to discover the baby girl lying there, drowsily staring at the mobile above her head.

  “Hey there, sweetheart. Ready to get up?”

  As if she understood his words, she rolled to her side and sat up before she pulled herself to a standing position, her smile bright.

  “You know,” he whispered, picking her up, “it amazes me that your mommy could have a baby who’s such a morning person. You and I have a lot in common.”

  Once he’d changed and diapered the baby, the two of them were seated in the leather chair, peacefully greeting the sun.

  “I wasn’t thinking yesterday,” he explained to his earnest audience. “I should have found a present for your mommy. After all, it’s Mother’s Day. You should give her something. So, when you finish your bottle, we’re going to go find a gift for her.”

  He wasn’t sure what he could find at six on a Sunday morning, but they’d come up with something.

  Half an hour later, he and Mandy stood in the entrance of a convenience store, staring at their choices. He rubbed the back of his neck in frustration as he held Mandy against him. “I don’t know, Mandy, my girl, beef jerkey just doesn’t seem festive.”

  She babbled something in return, but he didn’t find her contribution helpful.

  “May I help you, sir?” the woman behind the counter called out.

  He shrugged as he approached her. “Well, you see, I forgot it was Mother’s Day until this morning. We’re looking for a present. You seem to be the only store open.”

  She grinned. “Just like a man.”

  “Ouch. Do you think she’ll forgive me?”

  “Where is she now?”

  “Home in bed. We’re letting her sleep in, aren’t we, Mandy?”

  The woman sighed. “She’ll forgive you. If my husband, ex-husband, that is, had ever thought of
letting me sleep in, I would’ve even put up with his—” her gaze flew to Mandy “—his shenanigans.”

  “Thanks,” Russ muttered, appreciating her amending her words, even if Mandy wouldn’t understand what she meant.

  “Here’s what I’ve got. There are some cut flowers for sale at the end of that aisle. Those always go over big. Then on the aisle against the cooler, I’ve got a few bottles of nail polish, some remover, nail files, that kind of thing. It’s about all I have to offer, unless she’d like some potato chips or a hot dog.”

  Russ smiled. “Those are good ideas, thanks.” Carrying Mandy, he found the nail polish. There were six colors. The green and blue he immediately decided against. He didn’t think Melissa would like those colors. The other four were various shades of pink.

  “What do you think, Mandy?” he asked, holding the four small bottles in his hand.

  Mandy reached for one of them and took it straight to her mouth.

  “No, sweetheart, don’t eat it!” he exclaimed. In reaching for that bottle, he managed to drop the other three. Great. That’s all he needed, to spill nail polish over the floor.

  Fortunately, none of the bottles broke. He gathered them up. “Tell you what, Mandy, why don’t we splurge and buy all four. Then Mommy can decide which one she likes best.” The woman had mentioned some other things. He scoured the shelf, finding a nail file, some clippers and a bottle of hand lotion.

  “She won’t mistake this for a gift from Neiman Marcus, but at least our hearts are in the right place. Now, let’s find those flowers and we’re out of here,” he assured his companion, who kept trying to grab the nail polish again.

  He carried his purchases to the counter, then went to the end of the nearest aisle to pick out a bouquet of flowers wrapped in plastic. They looked a little limp, but they were better than nothing.

  The clerk beamed at him. “You’re really getting into the spirit of the day, young man. I bet your wife will be really pleased.”

  “Thanks. You wouldn’t happen to have any kind of box, would you?”

  “Hmm, well, I have this box the packages of bubble gum came in. I mean, it ain’t festive, but it is a box.”