One Daddy Too Many

by Debra Salonen

  “Hey,” he said before she could reply, “I don’t blame her. I’m a stranger. And a man. Maybe if you had a couple of other kids around at the same time—made it a real class, she’d feel less like she was on the spot.”

  Kate blinked, obviously surprised by his suggestion.

  “That’s a really good idea,” Yetta said. “Maybe Gregor could bring Luca and Gemilla over. I remember Mary Ann taking Luca to lessons when he was little, but I don’t think Gemilla knows more than what she’s picked up from her brother.”

  “Mom, Rob is a busy lawyer. He gets paid big bucks—”

  He cut her off with a laugh. “Not to swim. Consider it payback for all the work your family’s sent my way. I know things have been tough for your cousin and the kids with Mary Ann away. This might be nice for them. How ’bout Saturday morning?”

  Kate still didn’t appear convinced. “Not early. Fridays are our busiest night.”

  “Say midmorning. Ten-thirty?”

  “O…okay.”

  Rob could tell she wasn’t enthused but, oddly, he was. In fact, he could hardly wait.

  He was about ten steps away when he remembered the gift in his pocket. He decided to leave it there. Maybe it would look less like a bribe if he gave it to her after she learned to swim.

  “KATIE. God, you look great. It’s so good to see you. Did you bring Maya?”

  Kate’s temper spiked. Typical Ian. Everything was always about his agenda.

  Today was Friday. Last day of the week and what was surely going to be the longest day of her life. Her attorney had called shortly after Rob’s visit two days earlier. He had news. She and Ian were scheduled to meet face-to-face. “Just to feel each other out,” her lawyer had said.

  Kate shook her head, managing to keep inside all the things she’d waited so long to say. She’d promised her mother and Liz that she wouldn’t lose her temper.

  “Don’t call me Katie. And, no, Maya isn’t with me. She won’t be allowed anywhere near you until the court orders it.”

  His chin dropped to his chest, as if she’d struck him. “Why? Do you think I’d harm her? I’m an embezzler, not a pedophile.”

  Before Kate’s attorney could pull her back, Kate leaned across the table and said, “You’re a two-bit thief and a worthless excuse for a husband. You’re a lot of things, Ian, but the main thing you are is a flight risk.” Although looking at him, she wondered if that was true. He was pale. Too thin. And weak-looking.

  He gave a feeble laugh. “Do I really look that dangerous?”

  “I know you, Ian. You could be on life support, and still find a way to screw up my life. I’m demanding that you not be allowed to spend any time with our daughter unsupervised.”

  His skin had the cast of day-old mashed potatoes. He made a “whatever” motion with his hand, which ended up flopping uselessly to the table. “I’m not going anywhere, Katie. I can’t even get up to pee without help. You don’t have to worry about me stealing our daughter.”

  She lowered her voice. “But I do, Ian. I used to have nightmares about you talking your way out of jail then walking off with Maya. I’d spend night after night in a futile chase. You know how we Romani feel about dreams—that they forecast the future.”

  He acknowledged her assertion with a grimace.

  “Eventually, those dreams faded because you were safely behind bars, but now…here you are. You look sick, but maybe you’re faking this just to get close to Maya. I don’t know and I’m not taking any chances.”

  “You really hate me, don’t you?”

  “The absence of love isn’t necessarily hate. But I do hate what you did.” She couldn’t allow sympathy—or the memories of the good times they’d shared—to cloud her judgment. “I loved you once, but now I really don’t give a damn what happens to you, except for how it might affect Maya. I don’t wish you dead—just not living in the same town.”

  “God has forgiven me, so how come you can’t?”

  God? Was Rob right? Had Ian found religion in prison? “To forgive you would be to excuse what you did. I want my daughter to know that lying, cheating and stealing result in losing things that matter to you.”

  He didn’t say anything for so long Kate wasn’t sure he was still breathing. “You didn’t used to be so hard.”

  She picked up her purse. In a low, harsh growl, she said, “You’re right. I used to trust people. I used to trust you. But then you stole the money left to my mother by my recently deceased father. While I was grieving, you ran off with another woman, leaving me—and your daughter—homeless and broke. Yes, I’m a bitter, dried-up old woman, and you can thank yourself for that.”

  He lifted his eyes to look into hers. “You’re still young and beautiful, Katie.”

  “Don’t call me that. I’m not your wife, Ian. I’m the mother of your daughter and always will be, but other than Maya, we have nothing in common. Nothing. The only reason I’m here is because the state of Nevada and this poor misguided young woman seem to think you have some redeeming value. I stopped believing in you the day the cops hauled you back from the border with a blond bimbo in handcuffs beside you.”

  He started to speak, but before he could get a word out, she added, “I’ll get through this because I don’t have any choice. I have to be strong for our little girl, who sees her best friend’s daddy and doesn’t understand why she doesn’t have one.”

  She ignored the spark of hope she saw in his eyes. “The state says I have to let you back in Maya’s life, but that doesn’t mean you’ll ever be a part of mine.”

  The young public defender or whatever she was—a willowy blonde—started to speak, but Kate cut her off. “I’m done here. I said what I came to say. But I want your client to know that I plan to watch his every move where our daughter is concerned. If he hurts Maya or tries to turn her against me, he’s going to wish he was back in prison with guards to protect him from a mother’s wrath.”

  She left without looking back. For reasons that had been explained to her, but in her anxiety she’d forgotten, the meeting had been held in the conference room at Rob’s law offices. She’d been to the first-floor suite in the well-appointed professional complex once before, but never to this part of the building and she was turned around. Lost.

  She started toward what she thought was the front entrance, but stopped when she heard a familiar voice.

  “Integrity, man. Either you get the concept or you don’t. And I won’t have people working for me who think it’s okay to bill a wealthy client for time spent on the golf course. Or at your kid’s soccer game. Or whatever.”

  She froze. That was Rob’s voice, although she’d never heard him that vociferous.

  She glanced around. She recognized where she was. Rob’s office was just ahead. That wasn’t the direction the loud voices were coming from, but she wasn’t taking any chances. She turned to leave and bumped into the man she’d hoped to avoid.

  “Kate.”

  His face was slightly flushed, and there was a tension in his brow that she’d never seen. He seemed puzzled to see her.

  “Hi. Meeting here today. Sorry. I got turned around. I’m looking for the door.”

  His eyes opened as if realizing why she was there. He leaned toward her and in a gruff whisper asked, “Do I need a gun?”

  “What?”

  “You had this look—as if you’d been wrestling with the devil. Is he still here? Do I need a gun?”

  His small attempt at humor was oddly calming. She felt her shoulders relax. “Do you have one?”

  “Naw. They scare the crap out me, but for you, I’ll buy one.”

  She snickered softly. “Well, I’m not a big fan of guns, either. Not since Grace got shot.”

  “Understandable. How do you feel about iced mochas?”

  “Much less lethal, although they are a danger to my thighs.”

  “Are you willing to risk the calories?”

  “Possibly. Why?”

  He glanced over his
shoulder at the office he’d just stepped out of. “I think we both need a drink—and it’s too early for booze.”

  The offer was tempting. “I…I don’t know.”

  He put his hands together. “Please. I could really use someone to talk to who isn’t associated with this place.”

  Since Maya was at the Hippo with Alex, she gave in and followed him to his car. She sank against the soft, sun-warmed leather. The car still smelled new and the luxury was infectious.

  The day was relatively cool and when Rob asked if she’d like the top down, she nodded yes. The wind played havoc with her hair, and she didn’t care. “There’s a Star-bucks about half a mile down—”

  He shook his head. “I found a drive-through right up here. And since I’ve got you, I’d like to make the most of the opportunity.”

  “To do what?”

  “Pick your brain.”

  “Concerning?”

  “Whether or not I should buy a house. You know Vegas, right? Everyone tells me the housing market is insane. If I don’t buy, I’ll regret it, but a part of me says only an insane person would live in a desert.”

  She laughed. “I went to school in upstate New York and I spent a couple of years in Colorado and New Mexico working at resorts, but I’ve always called Vegas home. To me, nothing compares to the pure beauty of Red Rocks or the Valley of Fire. The desert is constantly changing—and you never take it for granted. Like life.”

  Rob hadn’t expected to hear such passion about a place that felt so alien to him. He missed the cool breezes that raced in ahead of a fog bank that could swallow the Golden Gate Bridge in a matter of minutes. He missed the green. But Las Vegas did hold a certain appeal.

  They pulled into the express lane at the coffee shop and placed their order. Two iced mochas. Blended for him. On the rocks for her.

  “So, where is this house you’re looking at?” she asked as he pulled into traffic.

  “The other side of town. I doubt if you have time—”

  “Actually. I’m free until three when I have to start prepping for tonight. Fridays are always crazy, but we hired two new cooks and your mother is having fun whipping them into shape.”

  “Not literally, I hope.”

  “No. She’s actually very kind and a much better teacher than I am, which is why she asked me not to come in until I absolutely had to.”

  Rob had never seen this side of her—relaxed and playful. Was this a reaction to the stress of her meeting with her ex? Did he care? Maybe they both just needed a break.

  He handed her his phone and said, “Hit number sixty, would you? I was supposed to meet my Realtor at the house after work. Maybe she can meet us there early.”

  She could. And would. Apparently the woman thought she had the sale wrapped up. Too bad Rob was so ambivalent about relocating to Vegas. His mother argued that he should at least rent a house, if he didn’t want to buy. But even the idea of signing a lease was enough make him queasy.

  He didn’t know why he wasting his time looking at a place he probably wouldn’t buy, but at the moment he was content to have Kate at his side as he headed toward the posh new development east of Henderson.

  “Liz’s house is only a mile or so from here,” she volunteered as they turned off Boulder Highway. “And my cousin Enzo’s auto repair shop is over that way.”

  “Speaking of cars. How’s yours running?”

  “Great.” She took a noisy slurp of her drink. “Have you talked to your dad lately? Are they back from their honeymoon?”

  He smiled at her quick diversion. She never let the focus stay on her for long. “E-mail. They had a great time in Tahiti. Photos to follow. Oh, and they absolutely loved the glass sculpture you helped me pick out. Dad said Haley cried when she saw it.”

  “Haley is nicer than you expected, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, although I shouldn’t have been surprised. Dad always had good taste in women—even when he was married to my mom.”

  Kate heard something unexpected in his voice. Bitterness. She shifted to look at him. “From what I could see, your parents get along well. Jo actually seems to adore your dad. Did I miss something?”

  He shrugged. “Not really.”

  But she sensed there was more to the story. Come to think of it, Rob had seemed stiffer around his father than he was with her and Jo. “You aren’t close. Is that it?”

  “Let’s just say I love him, but I don’t necessarily respect some of the choices he’s made in the past.”

  Kate had only recently learned about some of the mistakes her own father had made when he was alive. Poor Grace had taken the revelations pretty hard, but then, as the baby of the family, she’d been closest to Ernst.

  “My dad was no saint,” Kate said. “What’s that saying? Something about being able to pick your friends, but you can’t escape your family?”

  He chuckled but didn’t reply. Kate watched the cityscape fade away as they neared the new housing development that included several lakes, an upscale casino and a very high-end shopping area. She’d heard that one of his neighbors was a popular Canadian singer/pop star who had a show on the Strip.

  She and Ian had lived in a wealthy housing development, too. For a short time.

  Half an hour later, she was seated at a breakfast nook in a gloriously sunny kitchen. While Rob talked to Ginny Lewis, a fiftysomething woman with curly blond hair and lots of jewelry, Kate looked around, picturing the kinds of decorator touches she’d add if she lived there. Window treatments. Something tailored and classy that didn’t take away from the view.

  Rob joined her, making her scoot over to give him room to sit down.

  “What do you think?” he asked.

  “It’s gorgeous.”

  “But…” he said, as if hearing her unspoken qualification.

  “It’s so big. Smart from a resale point of view, but one could go broke trying to furnish it.”

  Rob let out a soft hoot. “The woman makes a joke. That’s encouraging. I was afraid that meeting today might have done you in.”

  She tossed up her hands casually. “Me? I’m fine. My main concern at the moment is Maya.”

  Me, too, Rob thought. Because tomorrow he was expected to show up at Yetta’s and teach a little girl who hated him how to swim.

  “Are we still on for swim lessons? If you’d rather postpone…” He’d wrestled with this dilemma for days. And nights. One minute, he pictured himself coaching Maya to a trophy at some future swim meet; the next, he’d see himself taking Kate in his arms and making soul-filling love with her. Last night, he’d imagined Maya standing between her parents while they renewed their marriage vows. He was afraid he might be cracking up.

  “Are you kidding? Mom jumped on that idea you had about inviting some other kids. She’s a sucker for men in need.”

  Rob wasn’t sure what that meant, but he was distracted by the saucy twinkle in her eyes. Flirtatious, even. Which brought up the memory of their kiss in the freezer. What would that have been like if she’d initiated it?

  Ginny, who’d dashed out to her Hummer for some information on the home, returned, walking briskly. “Did I hear you say something about swimming? This place has a pool, you know. How many children do you have?”

  “One. She’s four and a half going on twelve,” Rob answered, standing up. He offered his hand to Kate to help her rise, but she ignored it, standing up on her own.

  “We’re not married,” she said bluntly.

  Ginny, who was consulting her paperwork as she walked away, called back, “No problem. I’ve made tons of sales to unmarried couples.”

  “But—”

  Rob cut her off with a boyish wink so playful Kate’s insides went a little haywire. She almost had to sit down again because her knees suddenly felt disconnected from her body.

  “Technically, it’s a lap pool, but there’s plenty of room to put in something more child-friendly,” the Realtor said, urging them to move along. “You can check it out from the
window in the formal dining room before we go upstairs, then we’ll take the exterior staircase to the patio.”

  Rob grabbed Kate’s hand and tugged her after him. Normally, she’d have pulled back, but Rob’s hand felt solid and friendly, not domineering. She liked the feeling. She liked Rob. Too much for her own good? Probably.

  Forty-five minutes later, they bid Ginny goodbye and got into Rob’s car. Neither spoke right away. Kate was still mulling over the fact that she’d toured a gorgeous house—one she’d have bought in a heartbeat if she’d had the money—and had more or less pretended to be Rob’s significant other. She didn’t play games, so why the ruse? Because it felt good to be part of a couple again? Or because it felt good to be with Rob?

  “You didn’t like the place, right?”

  Startled out of her ponderings, she glanced sideways.

  “I think it’s fabulous. Too big for one person, in my opinion, but it would make a lovely home for the right family.”

  He had his sunglasses on, so although he looked at her while they waited for the light to change, she couldn’t tell anything from his expression.

  “Can I ask you something and count on an honest answer?”

  His serious, lawyerly tone made her heart speed up. “You don’t think I’m honest?”

  “I think you’re brutally honest when it comes to business, but in your personal life…well, is it true you haven’t been on a date since your divorce? I don’t mean that to sound judgmental. I haven’t exactly jumped right back into the dating pool myself.”

  “Because your girlfriend broke your heart?”

  He shook his head. “No. I’m the one who called off the engagement when I realized we were getting married for the wrong reason—to make her dad, my boss, happy. There came a point when I realized we had two completely different agendas. She was into the social aspects of a wedding and wanted to explore the concept of being married. I…I wanted something else. I’m not sure what exactly.”

  “Your mother’s been concerned because you’re still living in a residential hotel and you don’t have any friends. She thinks Vegas is just a layover in your life.”

  He pulled into traffic and didn’t respond right away. When he answered, his tone held a note of dry humor. “Mom’s almost as intuitive as your mother—and Jo’s not even Romani.”