"Would you like some coffee? You haven't told me why you wanted to talk with me last night." Shane started for the kitchen.
"No coffee. I'm already wired as it is. It's about your mother."
Tension whipped down Shane's length as he turned to face his neighbor. "What's the problem?" He had thought Mr. Calvert had wanted to see him about Ned or the Taylors.
"She withdrew a large amount of money from her account yesterday, and since your name is on the account too, I thought you might want to know."
"How much?"
"Ten thousand."
"I'm sure she has her reasons, but thanks for the tip."
"Also, Mr. Smith was with her at the time. Maybe Ned is right about the man, the family. Have you considered that, Shane?"
"You, too, Mr. Calvert? I didn't think you would judge someone by what Ned says."
"Do you really know anything about them? By their own admission they move around a lot. What if they have a con going?"
Stunned, Shane couldn't think of a reply. Leah a con artist? Never. This whole situation was getting crazier and crazier by the minute, and Ned Shiplock was the reason. "I'll have a talk with my mother."
Mr. Calvert nodded, then ambled to the front door and let himself out. Shane realized he should have walked with the man as a courtesy, but he was still in shock from what Mr. Calvert had said. What in the world would his mother do with ten thousand dollars? And if she were going to do something, why didn't he know about it? They were not only mother and son, but partners in the clinic as well. She didn't keep secrets from him, did she? Obviously she did, he acknowledged. He was avoiding the other question Mr. Calvert had raised. There had to be a perfectly good explanation about the money, nothing to do with the family across the street. Shane began removing his shirt as he hurried toward his bedroom. He needed to get to work and have a word with his mother.
The second he entered the room his gaze fastened onto the bed where he and Leah had almost made love the night before. She was just a casual fling, he told himself, but nothing could convince him that what was happening between them was casual. It was hot. It was sizzling. It was emotion-filled. And that was what had him worried. He didn't want his emotions involved. They had been once, and that was enough for him.
But he couldn't take his gaze off the rumpled sheets. Her smell had still lingered long after she had left the night before. When he had finally fallen asleep, he had been surrounded by her scent, by the memory of him kissing her, holding her close to him. His thoughts stirred with sensations that left him weak and frustrated.
Before he went to work, he needed a cold shower.
* * *
"She wants to go on a month-long cruise with your grandfather!" Shane paced the length of Leah's kitchen. "My mother is sixty-six years old."
"And?"
He paused in his pacing and faced Leah. "And she is too old for that kind of thing."
Leah really tried not to smile, but it was so hard. She knew her eyes sparkled with silent merriment. "What kind of thing?"
"This is my mother we're talking about."
"And my grandfather. What's your point?"
"They intend to do more than hold hands and watch the sun set."
"I should hope so."
"They're going to share a cabin. They aren't even married."
The sides of her mouth turned up, even though Shane was glaring at her. She brought her hand up to conceal her grin, but he saw it. His scowl deepened. "People have been known to make love without the benefit of marriage. Should I refresh your memory about what we almost did?"
"She has only known him seven weeks."
"So?"
"That's hardly long enough."
"How long is enough?"
"Maybe seven months. Maybe longer."
"It would have been okay if we had, after having known each other only seven weeks, but not your mother?"
"It's not the same. She's—"
"Serious, and you aren't."
"That wasn't what I was going to say."
"She's your mother?"
Shane ignored her sarcastic comment and began to pace again. "She hasn't considered the scandal."
"And you have? Have you forgotten that our names were mentioned in the newspaper linked with the most popular make out place in Shady Oaks?"
"She's never done anything like this. She's a pillar of society in this town."
"And she's your mother."
He whirled about to send her another look meant to freeze her. "I don't think you understand the serious nature of this situation."
Leah came to stand in front of him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "No, I don't think you understand. Shane, your mother is a grown woman who will make her own decision, regardless of what you want. Your dad has been gone eight years. I suspect your mother is ready for another relationship."
"But a month-long cruise?"
"Sounds divine to me. And frankly, with my grandfather away, maybe the town will cool off where we're concerned." His tense shoulders relaxed beneath her fingertips. "Now, would you like some lunch before you start helping Joey with the hang glider?"
"In a moment." His eyes seemed on fire as he leaned down to taste her lips.
She allowed him a brief sample, then pulled back. "What would the town think? You don't want to cause a scandal. I think one in the family is enough." She spun away to put distance between them, but his hand on her arm stopped her escape.
He bent forward and whispered into her ear, "This is not the town's business."
She glanced over her shoulder, his lips so close she felt his breath wash over her mouth. "Exactly my point. It isn't anyone's business who sleeps with whom. That includes your mother."
His eyelids slid half closed as his gaze locked onto her lips. "It may take some getting used to."
"Well, they'll be leaving in a few weeks. I suggest you adjust soon. I don't want anything to spoil this for Gramps." Somehow she managed to step away, even though her whole body quivered from memories of the night before, when those lips of his had fastened onto hers and drawn a response from her that she hadn't thought possible. "Now, would you like something to eat?"
"Yes, please."
She busied herself making some sandwiches for Shane and her family. She realized her hands were shaking. He did something to her when she was in the same room. She needed to get a grip on her emotions. He had made it perfectly clear that there could be nothing serious between them, and she had agreed. But why did it have to feel so wrong?
"You know, I'm glad you're going to be working with Joey today. Sam is so upset that I couldn't do anything about his little brother being in the same class. I think the less time they spend together for the next several days the better for everyone. Once school starts on Monday, Sam will calm down, I hope."
He whispered close to her ear again, "You're chattering. Do I make you nervous?"
She jumped, surprised at his nearness. She hadn't heard him move. She brought her hand up to cover her pounding heart. "My goodness, you do know how to scare a gal."
"My question stands. Do I make you nervous?"
She drew in several deep breaths, but her heart continued to hammer a quick beat "No—I mean, yes." She tried to move away, but he caged her against the counter.
"Why, Leah?"
"The first time I made love was on my wedding night to the only man I've ever been with. I almost made love to you last night," she said the only thing that popped into her mind. "Everything is moving too fast for me." It was the truth, but not the complete truth. She couldn't tell Shane that what he made her feel scared her. "How am I supposed to act around you?"
"Nothing's changed."
Did he really believe that? Her heart was becoming involved. Last night proved that to her. But to him it would have only been sex. His wedding ring on his left hand attested to that. She needed to put some space between them, at least until she figured out how to protect herself from getting hurt, if that we
re even possible now.
"Shane, the boys will be home soon. I need to finish the sandwiches."
He straightened. "Joey and I will work on the hang glider in my backyard. That way we won't be around—for Sam."
She felt him pulling back emotionally, and part of her appreciated it, but there was a part of her that rebelled. She had always known what she wanted in the past. Why couldn't she figure that out now?
As she was finishing the sandwiches and putting them on a plate, Joey came into the kitchen. He carried a rolled up piece of paper, two feet long, cradled against his side. He wore his serious expression that meant he had been putting in a lot of thinking time.
"I've drawn up some plans for the two-person glider. Ever since we talked the other day, Dr. O'Grady, I've been researching what to do," Joey announced. He gently laid his plans on the kitchen table as though they were his most precious possession.
Shane stole a dill pickle from a plate and took a bite as he sauntered to her son. "If we're going to be partners, I think you should call me Shane. Now let me take a look."
Leah watched as Shane spread the plans out on the table, his large hands smoothing the paper. Those same hands had caressed her. Would she ever quit thinking about his different body parts?
Before she had time to come up with an answer the kitchen was filled with the rest of her family, all demanding food immediately. She welcomed the diversion. This daydreaming at odd moments was getting downright annoying.
* * *
The day was beautiful, the sky crystal blue, not a cloud in it. The wind blew gently, just kissing her with its coolness—an unexpected relief from the usual summer heat—and Leah intended to enjoy it, even if it was the day Joey and Shane were going to try out their two-man glider.
Margaret sat down on the blanket next to Leah. "How did school go with the boys this week?"
"The good news is that I didn't get a call from the teacher."
"And the bad news?"
"The boys have hardly spoken two words to each other."
"It's difficult having a son who is so intelligent."
"I want Joey to have as normal a life as possible, but he doesn't relate intellectually with kids his age, or even older, which makes everything so difficult. He looks at things differently." Leah squinted to get a better look at Shane and her youngest on top of the cliff near where they had their picnic spread under a large oak tree.
"I know what you mean. I had that same problem with Shane."
Leah's breathing slowed as she watched them prepare the glider. "I hope I'm ready for this."
"They'll be all right. Shane wouldn't do it unless he thought it was perfectly safe."
"I know. It was this or , Leah turned her full attention to Margaret. "Has anyone said any more to you about the blackout?"
"Not after I had that run in with Madge at the grocery store. I think they are scared to. The calm, controlled doctor lost more than her shopping list that day."
"You know it's been over a week, and things are too quiet at the Shiplocks."
"Now that is scary. Ned is never quiet unless he's plotting."
"I'm afraid he's plotting our demise in this town, not Madge's next book."
The older woman patted Leah's hand. "Don't worry. Shane will take care of Ned."
"He's good at that"
"What?"
"Taking care of things, people."
"Yes. That's why he loves being a doctor. And frankly, between you and me, I also think that's why it didn't take much for the people to talk him into being town mayor. Oh, I know he complains about the job, but he doesn't really mean any of what he says." Margaret stood, looking up at the cliff. "They're ready."
Leah glanced upward, then away. "I don't think I can watch."
"I know what you mean. Shane was always testing his boundaries when he was growing up. Very hard on a parent."
The older woman fell silent, and Leah knew Margaret was following the progress of her son and Joey as they plunged off the cliff and caught an air current. Leah's heart slowed to a painful throb, her breath caught in her lungs. Suddenly she couldn't take the suspense any longer. She twisted around.
The glider was sailing on the wind like a bird. Exactly what her youngest had dreamed of for years, she thought, tears springing to her eyes, blurring the picture. Blinking, she rose to stand next to Margaret while Shane and Joey landed not far from them, like a bird coming to perch. Leah swiped at the tears that rolled down her cheeks and put on a brave smile as Joey raced toward her.
"Did you see it? Did you see it?" Her youngest beamed from ear to ear, as if he had just discovered the cure for cancer.
"How could I miss you two? You were like a big bird of prey swooping down for his lunch."
When Shane arrived, Joey wheeled around. "When can we go again?" His excitement was barely contained as he hopped from one foot to the other.
"One more time, after we eat."
"Only one more?"
"Joey!" Leah said, aware of Shane's gaze on her.
"That's okay. I can understand his enthusiasm. Joey, I think we should give your mother a chance to glide, too."
"You don't have to. I can forgo the pleasure."
"All right!" Joey exclaimed, jumping up and down. "That means I can do it a million more times."
"I don't think so, son—"
Shane stepped closer to Leah and looked into her eyes. "I think you should go up with me. That way you will know what's going on firsthand. There will come a day when Joey will want to do this by himself. Don't you think you owe it to yourself to understand what this is all about?"
"I prefer my feet firmly planted on the ground." She pointed downward as though to emphasize what she had said.
"You'll be safe with me." His declaration was spoken softly, his gaze mesmerizing.
It depended on what he thought was safe. Physically, yes, emotionally, no, Leah acknowledged to herself as she stood not two feet from him, trying to resist the power he had over her.
He held out his hand, and she remembered the night they had almost made love when he had done that very thing. Placing her hand in his, she realized she was giving him her trust, and that frightened her. Every time she had trusted, she had been terribly hurt.
She rode with Gramps and Shane in the truck up the side of the cliff on a narrow, dirt road, berating herself the whole way up. This might be her son's way of having fun, but it wasn't hers. How in the world had she allowed Shane to talk her into this insanity? She climbed out of the truck and looked down at Margaret and Joey—too far away for her to see their expressions, too far up for her heart to slow to a normal rate.
"Thank goodness my insurance is paid up," she said with a shaky laugh and turned back to Shane, who was preparing the glider's rear seat for her. "I can't believe I let my son jump off this cliff with you," she added with a glance at the sheer drop down.
Strapped in, Leah hung on for dear life as they ran and pushed off. For the first few seconds they plunged downward until the glider caught a wind current and began to soar. The rush of wind, the utter silence, the feel of Shane's body along her length were all calming to her as she peered at her family below.
Her heart continued its mad beating against her breast, but now it was more from excitement than fright. She felt exhilarated as they glided slowly down toward the valley floor. For a few minutes she was removed from the world below and reveling in the sensation of being alone next to Shane. Reality was suspended for a short span of time, allowing wants and needs to take hold, her body responding to his nearness. Every inch became attuned to him, sharpening her senses to the taste of the wind, to the sound of silence.
When they landed Leah knew she would never be able to stop her son from wanting to do this over and over. The rush was addicting, the thrill hard to beat. However, she was never going to do it again, even if Shane begged her. She didn't like taking risks, and she knew she wasn't really referring to hang gliding. The emotions that had surged to
the surface as they had floated on the wind disturbed her.
"What did you think, Mom?" Joey tugged on her shirt.
She looked down at her son and smiled. For a few seconds she could say nothing until she felt her body's reactions calm to a normal pace. "It was—fun."
"I knew you would like it." Joey whirled around. "Can I go again, Shane? Can I?"
"After lunch. I don't know about anyone else, but I've worked up a huge appetite."
Gramps scuffled over to Margaret and took her hand. "And I know for a fact that this woman can fry the best chicken I've ever had."
"How do you know that, Harold? You've never tasted my fried chicken."
His face lit with a bright smile. "I sneaked some when no one was looking."
"Did you bother to leave any for us?" Leah asked as she opened the picnic basket to peer inside.
"Of course, as long as you don't want seconds."
"I'm not sure, Gramps, there's enough left for firsts." Leah placed the remaining pieces of chicken on a paper plate. "I guess we should be glad Sam decided he wanted to go to his friend's."
"He's just mad because I was going to try the glider first." Joey plopped down next to his mother and dug into the food as though he hadn't eaten in days and no one else would want any. "The manufacturer always has to test the apparatus first. Sam should know that," he said around a mouth full of fried chicken.
"You know, Margaret, I think this hang gliding should be tested by us old folks." Gramps looked at the glider.
"Who are you calling old?"
Gramps chuckled. "Right. Us mature folks."
"Who are you calling mature?" Leah asked as she dished up the potato salad.
"Funny, girl." Her grandfather glared down at her. "Maybe we could fly this contraption over the Shiplocks. I've always wondered what that blow— what that man has hidden in his backyard. Most folks have a four- or six-foot fence. Not him. Eight feet. What does he want to keep secret in his backyard?"
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