A Heart for a Heart

by Cheryl Pierson

  He burst out in laughter, shaking his head. “Kiera, I can't stay here like some charity case. No, I'd have to give you something.”

  “Does it have to be money?”

  He cocked his head back and gave her a slow grin. “What else? Trade?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, but not what you're thinking of,” she answered primly. “Are you good at fixing things?”

  “I'm your handy man.”

  “James Taylor fan?”

  “And Sam Cooke before him.”

  Kiera laughed, enjoying the playful light that filled Sam's usually serious expression. “All right, but can you deliver? I mean, really, can you fix things? Because, I have a lot of stuff that needs it around here.”

  Before he could speak, she rushed on. “It's stuff I'd have to pay for, Sam. The gate lock, and some fence repair—”

  “Plumbing? Tile work?”

  She laughed at his enthusiasm. “Sure, if we buy cheap tile. The bathroom and kitchen are both small—”

  “I can do it. Let's go have a look—”

  “Wait.” She put her hand on his chest as he started to stand. “Does this mean you're going to stay? Cause if you are, I need to go clean off the bed in the guest room and change the sheets.”

  He didn't answer for a minute, his gaze traveling down her face as if locking in every detail, the smile melting away from his own lips. He looked down at her fingers on his chest, and she self-consciously drew her hand back.

  “Sam?”

  “Yeah. I'm stayin'. But I think...I think we need to seal the deal.”

  He reached for her, and she came into his arms, not realizing until that minute how she had ached to feel that closeness with him since she'd left it there in the coffee shop.

  Her heart pounded as his calloused hands came to her cheek, framing it tenderly. They shifted on the couch as he leaned back into the corner, pulling her to him. Her fingers rested atop the warm cotton material of his t-shirt, and she heard his breathing hitch as she moved against him.

  He leaned up and pulled her to him in the same movement, her lips covering his, awkwardly at first, then perfectly as one of his hands moved behind her neck, the other moving firmly across her side. He was waiting for her, she realized, to determine what kind of kiss this would be. She was sadly out of practice. He would surely be disappointed. Her last love interest of any length had been out of her life for well over a year now. She opened her mouth, and he let his tongue play on her lips, teasing, coaxing, but she held back.

  After a minute, he drew away slightly. “What's wrong, Kiera?”

  She shrugged, thoroughly humiliated. “I guess I'm out of practice.”

  “You? I don't believe it.”

  “I don't know why it's so hard to believe.” Her heart sank. What he must think!

  He put a finger under her chin, lifting her eyes to his. “Because, lady, you are one gorgeous, sexy woman who could have any man she wanted. How can it be you're ‘out of practice’?”

  “I...” she moistened her lips, but didn't move. Looking down into his dark eyes, she saw that he was sincere. He meant every word he'd said. He thinks I’m pretty. He thinks I’m gorgeous. That I can have any man I want. Her heart fluttered wildly in her chest. I don’t want just any man. I want him.

  Uncomfortably, she realized after months of being alone, of turning down set-up dates and blind dates and going on dates she'd thought she'd enjoy that hadn't turned out quite as well as she might have predicted— she wanted one man. This one. Sam Tiger. And if they were going to co­exist in this small house of hers for the next thirty days, she couldn't very well start day one by leading him into her bedroom.

  She shook her head, clearing her thoughts. The need for honesty overrode everything else. She wouldn't lie to him.

  “I want you, Sam.” She ignored the quickly-masked surprise on his face. “But I know it's lust—for both of us. It wouldn't be fair to either of us or to Cory to ruin something that could be—special. I want it to be an even trade, for both of us—a heart for a heart. If and when the time's right.”

  Sam's hands gently moved over her back and shoulders, caressing her. It was something she hated to move away from, and she sensed in him a need to be close as well—to be near another human and share a simple touch.

  He nodded slowly. “You're right, Kiera. That's what I want, too. A heart for a heart. You said it well.”

  Kiera looked down. “So—have I ruined everything between us?”

  His eyes smoldered with an inner fire as their gazes locked again. “No.” He leaned up to kiss her gently on the lips once more. “You haven't ruined anything.” He glanced at his watch. “We'll try this again at precisely 2100, Miss Leslie. That's 9:00 p.m. Should give us time to pick up Cory and go to Burger World, get him back home, and then get us back here.”

  “Got it all planned, do you?”

  He winked at her as she stood up. “Good planning keeps the failure rate low.”

  Chapter Six

  Later, as they started out the door, Kiera handed Sam her car keys. “Feel like driving?”

  He slanted her a grin. “If you want. But I have to tell you, I'm not one of those guys who gets all balled up if his woman drives. I'm a good passenger, too.”

  Kiera laughed. “Then it's up to you. Whatever you want. I know you're tired.”

  “Hey, the excitement of getting a real Burger World meal has got my blood flowing,” he teased. He handed the keys back to her. “But you know where you're going so, here. I'll take a rain check.”

  Sam noticed a shadow cross her face as they got into the car. She turned the key and started to back out.

  “Sam, when we get to the Landrums, don't be surprised by the way they act. They're—weird.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Kiera kept her eyes on the road, maneuvering the car down the street to turn onto the main thoroughfare from the neighborhood. “Charlie Landrum is—odd. And his wife, Linda, is a mouse. What he says goes in their household.”

  “Has he been mistreating Cory?” Anger rushed in his veins, but he managed to keep it to a dull roar.

  “No. Not—not physically. But there are other things—things he's said, that weren't exactly appropriate.”

  “Because Cory's Indian?” She was hesitating, and Sam knew what she was worried about. “I'm not gonna deck him, Kiera.”

  She glanced at him, and he could see her wonderment at how he'd known her thoughts. His lips quirked. “Much as I'd like to,” he muttered under his breath.

  “He's ignorant.”

  “Yes,” Sam agreed. “That's what the common excuse is for rudeness. But believe me, we're used to it. Of course, when you're young, like Cory, it still cuts.”

  Kiera bit her lip.

  “What's he been saying? Do you know?”

  She shook her head. “No. Not all of it. We were talking today when you came in.”

  “Doesn't matter.” Sam looked out the window, seething, but he knew Kiera wasn't fooled by his calm façade.

  She reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. “You won't do Cory or yourself any favors if you beat the hell out of Charlie Landrum. Cory will be with us tomorrow.”

  Sam felt his blood pressure drop at her touch. Her calm reasoning cooled his temper, though not completely. He screwed it down tight, telling himself that once Cory wasn't with the Landrums any longer, it wouldn't matter.

  “I know it's hard. I've had to—to watch things happen that I had no control over—”

  “With Landrum?” He turned to look at her, but she kept her attention on the road.

  “No,” she said evenly. “With your brother and sister-in-law, Sam. You know, they weren't good parents.”

  He gave a heavy sigh. “Matt wasn't always like that. Dad took off when I was five and Matt was twelve. Mom was barely making it. We were living on government handouts for as long as I could remember. Matt fell in with a bad crowd, but he protected me.”

  “What happ
ened to your mom? I've wondered.”

  “She died when I was sixteen. She'd had a hard life—too hard, trying to provide for us and being alone.”

  “I'm sorry.”

  Sam didn't want to remember that day. Twelve years ago, it had been, but it seemed like yesterday. A day much like this one—cold, dark, windy and not a glimmer of hope. But today, he reminded himself, at least he had that. Hope.

  “It was a long time ago.”

  They turned into a neighborhood and rounded the first corner. Kiera had called earlier and spoken with Linda Landrum to make arrangements to pick Cory up. As Kiera pulled into the Landrums' drive, Sam patted her arm.

  “Don't worry, okay? I'm not going to do anything stupid.”

  She smiled at him. “I know Cory is going to be thrilled to get out of that place.”

  They got out, and Sam followed her up the front porch steps. She rang the bell, and seconds later, the door was flung open by a barrel-chested man with watery blue eyes.

  Drunk, Sam thought.

  “Hello, Mr. Landrum,” Kiera said. “We've come to pick up Cory.”

  His lips lifted in a snarl. “You know what? I'll tell you what!”

  Kiera shrank back as Sam stepped forward, pulling her behind him. “Why don't you tell me instead, Mr. Landrum?”

  Landrum stared at Sam, then his face twisted in a grimace. “Injun. Just like that boy in yonder.”

  Sam throttled back the anger. He couldn’t wait to get Cory and get the hell out of here. He wasn't bringing him back here tonight. Cory would be moving a day early.

  “Cory!” he called into the open doorway.

  “Coming!”

  As Cory came into view, Charlie Landrum opened the door more fully. Sam could see a suitcase and three garbage bags behind him.

  “Take his shit and get out of here. Glad to get rid of the little bastard,” Landrum mumbled.

  Sam's hand shot out, wadding up the material of Landrum's dirty shirt at his throat. He yanked him forward, nearly pulling him off his feet.

  “Hey!” Landrum shouted.

  “Shut up, Mr. Landrum. Shut up, if you value your teeth. That's my nephew you're talking about.”

  The blood sang through Sam's veins, coursing through his body with the adrenaline. Behind Charlie Landrum, he caught sight of a wide-eyed Cory, who hurried to try to pick up his suitcase. Sam pulled Landrum sideways to allow Cory passage through the doorway.

  Chapter Seven

  Kiera hurried back inside with Cory to help him with the bags, and Linda stood in the kitchen doorway, balefully glaring at them all. “We're not giving you his money for tonight, if that's what you think!” she spat at Kiera.

  Kiera bent to tie the top of one of the bags. “What money?”

  “Government pays us nine hundred dollars a month to see to him. You taking him early don't mean nothin' to us! We're keepin' all the money.” Kiera shouldered the bag, disgust filling her. Why hadn’t Cory said anything about these awful living conditions before today?

  “Don't worry, Mrs. Landrum. I wouldn't think of depriving you of your Judas money.”

  The other woman gasped in shock, and Kiera backed toward the door, unwilling to turn away from her. She was relieved to know Sam was at her back.

  Cory rushed in and she handed the bag to him. “Get into the car, Cory. We'll be there shortly.”

  “Are you—will you be okay?” His voice was just above a whisper.

  “We'll be fine, sweetie,” she said confidently. “Hurry now.” She didn't look away from Linda. Cory ran out the door and jumped from the porch, making a beeline for the car.

  Once she reached the door, Kiera turned and faced Sam. He jerked his head toward the car and she barely spared Charlie Landrum a glance as she passed by.

  “Bitch!” Landrum hissed.

  “Can it, you drunk bastard, or you'll be nothing but a bad memory.” Sam tightened his hold on Landrum's shirt, and Kiera knew he was very near to the breaking point.

  She kept going, opening Sam's door, then her own. Cory sat in the backseat, quietly, his suitcase on one side, the bags on the other.

  “Put on your seatbelt, Cory,” Kiera said softly as she slid into the driver's seat and shut the door. She prayed that Sam wouldn't hit Charlie Landrum, though in her heart she felt he deserved it for the way he'd treated Cory. She started the car, then fastened her own belt. Her heart pounded as she waited for Sam. He threw a glance her way at the sound of the engine. Once he was sure they were safe, he released Charlie Landrum with a shove that sent him sprawling into his living room and galvanized his wife into action. She ran, screeching and crying to her husband's side, cursing at Sam.

  Kiera glanced at Cory, who met her eyes and said, “Don't worry, Miss Kiera. Uncle Sam will take care of him.”

  In the next instant, Sam slid into the front seat and slammed the door. Kiera pulled out of the driveway and drove away, the screams of rage dying out behind them as they turned the corner. Only then did she look at Sam. “What now?”

  “Burger World, of course,” he answered coolly. “I've been looking forward to this all day.” He gave her a quick grin, and her heart jumped. “By the way, you were great back there,” he said in a low voice.

  Cory leaned up as far as his seatbelt would allow. “What about me, Uncle Sam?”

  Sam turned around to look at him, pride and love warm in his eyes. “You were the best, Cory. The very best. Why, the way you carried everything out and loaded it up—that was record time. Great job.”

  Cory beamed. “I'm glad to be out of there.”

  Sam sighed. “Me too, Cory. Those people could put some of those insurgents to shame. Felt like I was in a war zone all over again.”

  “I'm glad you were there,” Kiera told him. She'd never meant anything more in her life.

  “Me, too,” he said with finality. “Now, let's go eat.”

  * * * *

  The evening passed quickly, and Sam enjoyed watching the way Kiera indulged Cory. It was what his nephew needed after the earlier ordeal. He badly wanted to question Cory about what had precipitated the Landrums' packing his things, moving him out a night early. But in such a joyless household, he figured Cory brought too much happiness to the place to be borne. And he didn't want to ruin this evening by bringing up what had happened. He could see Kiera fighting back the questions she had, too. For his part, Sam was just relieved that Cory was with them. Still, the legalities hung in the balance, and until that was settled, none of them would rest easy.

  With full stomachs and lightened hearts, they loaded back into the car and headed for home. Home. Sam couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so—right. Being in Iraq, he'd pictured himself a lifer, with no thought of a wife and family. Now, he realized, he'd kept himself from thinking in those terms because of his own self-doubt—not because it was something he didn't want. The more he was around Kiera and Cory, the more comfortable he was becoming in this surrogate role. The more he found himself wishing it was all for keeps.

  Kiera handed him the keys as they reached the Malibu and he took them with no thought. It wasn't until he reached to open her door for her that he asked, “You sure you trust me to drive your baby?”

  She slanted him a quick look. “I trust you.”

  He couldn't help but smile at her confident tone. He shut her door and walked around to the driver's side as Cory piled into the back seat.

  Once they were all inside, he started the engine and backed out.

  “Nice,” he murmured. “This an '08?”

  “I wish. No, it's an '06.”

  “Four banger?”

  “No. It's a six. Uses a little more gas, but I wanted to get something that would last.”

  “That's smart, Miss Kiera,” Cory piped up. “The Malibu was Car and Driver’s car of the year last year.”

  Sam and Kiera both turned to look at him, surprised, then smiled at each other.

  “You follow NASCAR?” Sam asked.

  “I like
anything with cars. I want to learn to work on them...someday.”

  “When we get this all straightened out, I'll teach you everything I know.”

  “Really?” Cory sat forward in his excitement, and Sam grinned at his eagerness.

  “Sure. You and I will change the oil, and I'll show you the basic stuff to begin with.”

  “What about Miss Kiera?”

  “Well she'll—” Sam broke off and looked at her. The shy hope in her features was unmistakable, and his heart soared. “She'll be there,” he finished emphatically. “But we won't let her get out there and get dirty with us.”

  “She could be making dinner while we're working on the car. She's an awesome cook. She made fudge at Christmas and sugar cookies—”

  “Ah, the secret's out.” Sam glanced at her and she grinned.

  “I make a mean hamburger, too,” Kiera said.

  “What are we doin' at Burger World?” Sam teased.

  “Their fries,” Kiera said without hesitation. “I can't do those.”

  “But there's plenty of other things I bet you can do—just as well, or better.” Sam kept his eyes straight ahead, watching the traffic.

  After a moment, Kiera said softly, “I hope so, Sam.”

  His heart slammed in his chest. They'd just been planning a future together, sharing a dream. He let his breath out slowly. He didn't just have one decision to make in March. Suddenly, the possibilities were endless.

  Chapter Eight

  What had she done? Kiera's breath caught and held. She should have kept her mouth shut! But Cory had once again drawn her in and included her. And she hadn't minded a bit. She darted a quick glance at Sam. He was looking ahead, a smile on his sensuous lips—a smile that reminded her of a cat who had just swallowed a canary. She couldn't help but smile, herself, at the look on his face. Satisfied. Content. Happy.

  Just at that moment, Sam turned to look at her, meeting her eyes with a look that said she had been right in everything she'd observed. He made no effort to hide it.

  Reaching for her hand, he took it into the strong warmth of his own, rubbing his thumb across her knuckles. “We've got some talking to do.”