Caution

by Tara Mills

  She glared. “You’re mistaken. Now step back.”

  Chad had no choice but to comply.

  • • •

  He didn’t move until the burn of Piper’s angry tail lights were long gone, absorbed into the glow of traffic.

  What the hell just happened? He scratched his head and tried to figure out what he did to provoke her — anything that could account for such a violent reaction.

  It might have been fear except that didn’t exactly fit. She was more than capable of handling herself from what he just saw. She didn’t back off like a scared rabbit but instead stood her ground and warned him off. That impressed him.

  He knew too, absolutely knew, that their attraction was mutual. He wouldn’t have waited outside for another thirty minutes for her otherwise. Of course there was the possibility that she was involved with someone else. No, Chad brushed that thought aside. A boyfriend was one of the first things she would have mentioned to discourage him and a husband, forget it. He zoomed in on her bare left hand before he even walked into her classroom tonight.

  Actually, he appreciated her honesty. A lot of women would have fudged a relationship without any hesitation. Because she didn’t, he just learned more about her than she probably realized.

  She was an intriguing puzzle. He obviously mishandled things tonight but he could learn from it. He wasn’t an idiot and more importantly, he wasn’t easily run off when he wanted something — and he wanted Piper Frost. He absolutely wanted her.

  • • •

  Piper slapped up her turn signal and cruised through the intersection, shaking her head in bewilderment. What the hell just happened back there? Where had all that hostility come from? Her behavior was, well, let’s face it, bizarre. She knew instinctively that he didn’t actually pose a threat to her, at least not the physical kind. But mentally and emotionally? That was a different story altogether.

  So what was really bothering her? That she found him attractive? No point denying it, she made that embarrassingly obvious to a good thirty people tonight, Mr. Beefcake included. Was it his confidence? Normally she liked a confident man but there was a difference here. It absolutely galled her to remember the knowing, proprietary look on his face, that bold assurance that she’d belong to him. Well, fat chance now, Bucko. It didn’t matter in the slightest that she found him gorgeous because his attitude was a huge turnoff. Nothing chilled her down more these days than a charismatic swagger. She was smarter now and she wasn’t about to fall for that song and dance again. Thanks so very much for the hard lesson, Mick!

  But the ghastly truth was that the attraction was there, apparent to everyone. When she replayed the situation in her mind she saw herself as a big-screen television with all eyes trained on her until that man, whoever the hell he was, walked in holding her remote control. She could hardly fault the class for noticing whenever his thumb hit the pause/still button and she froze right in front of them. How could he manage to fluster her so badly? Wasn’t that grounds enough to dislike him? If it was, why did remembering how rude she was upset her so much?

  • • •

  It was late when Chad got home but after looking at the clock and weighing the matter he chose to make the call anyway.

  “Mom, come shopping with me tomorrow.”

  “Chad you really need to take out women your own age,” she said in her dry mocking way.

  “I’m working on it.”

  “Really? It’s about time.”

  “Funny.” He didn’t need this from her tonight, too. “Just come with me all right?”

  “Why? Give me a reason.”

  “Here’s the thing. I kind of got off on the wrong foot with this woman I like tonight and she threatened to mace me. You’re laughing, Mother?”

  “Mace?”

  “It’s a first. So I thought if I took you shopping, you know, played the dutiful son, she might not feel so threatened by me.”

  There was a heavy sigh on the other end. “Fine, but you’re driving.”

  Chapter 2

  Chad expected his mom to comment when he turned into Klein’s Supermarket the next afternoon but Alice was strangely silent. If she was wondering why he chose to drive her all the way over here — and he’d bet money that she was — she kept it to herself. He cast an uneasy glance at her when they walked through the automatic doors but she continued to keep her thoughts to herself. He dared to hope that perhaps for once in her life she’d hold her peace.

  He should have known better.

  Just when he thought he was in the clear she said loud enough for all to hear, “Just look at these prices! Who can afford to shop here on a regular basis? Highway robbery, that’s what this is.” She frowned at Chad. “Don’t shush me. I know what things cost and this is an outrage. Mark my words it’s to pay for the pretty chandeliers and the fancy carpet on the floor. For crying out loud just cut the crap and maybe we can talk.”

  Oh, why did he think this was a good idea? What made this entire scene so utterly ridiculous is that the woman was very comfortable financially. She didn’t have to worry about buying things on special or clipping coupons. She never did. His mother did those things out of principle. She would always be a frugal woman and he knew it.

  Chad was practically cringing when he whispered, “Will you stop it, please?”

  “It’s your money.” She threw up her hands and rolled her eyes, clearly exasperated by kids these days.

  Chad picked up a basket and wandered towards the produce section.

  His mom spoke up. “Since you’re here you might as well pick up cream rinse for the kids.”

  He stopped and stared at her. “Cream rinse? What the hell is cream rinse?”

  “Watch your mouth,” she warned. “You know, it goes on after the shampoo.”

  He looked up at the elegant chandeliers adorning the ceiling and pleaded for understanding. Finally, it hit.

  “Oh, you mean conditioner. It’s not called cream rinse anymore.”

  “Whatever it’s called, Missy needs a bottle. It’ll keep her hair from snarling.”

  “You mean tangling.”

  “Don’t annoy me — snarl works just as well as tangle. She’s got long hair in case you haven’t noticed. If you can’t be bothered to pay attention to these things maybe you should just get it all cut off.”

  She dropped an artichoke into his basket.

  Chad looked at it curiously, picked it up, then yelped and chucked it back again. He stared at his stinging thumb, shocked to see a drop of blood oozing out. He sucked it clean.

  “Don’t even go there. Missy’s hair is gorgeous and what is that thing?” he asked, glaring at it.

  “That’s an artichoke and it’s mine.”

  “You can have it. They should come with warnings. How do you even go about eating something like that without a shark suit?”

  “I could show you, they’re really good.”

  “I’ll get back to you on that.”

  “Right.”

  They continued on and a bunch of asparagus joined the artichoke. “Here, one for you too,” his mom said, dropping a second bunch into the basket.

  Chad stopped abruptly. “It’s her,” he murmured to himself.

  • • •

  Alice turned to consider the object of her son’s sudden attention. The young woman was picking through the tomatoes very carefully. Someone that finicky wasn’t exactly encouraging, but hey, if she could manage to get Chad to go out once in a while that wasn’t Alice’s problem. Any woman able to interest her son at this point gave Alice newfound hope. It was a start anyway. About bloody time, too.

  Alice sidled closer and whispered, “She’s pretty.” This wasn’t interference. It wasn’t! She was being helpful, for crying out loud. This did not constitute goading him into maki
ng a move. Oh, go to hell!

  “Uh huh,” Chad said absently.

  The situation was veering into the Twilight Zone. It was doubtful Mr. Doesn’t Miss A Thing even heard her! This was the most amusing thing she’d seen in a long time.

  Alice swatted Chad on the arm to get his attention. “Romeo! Why don’t you go over and talk to her before she catches you staring?”

  Chad dragged his focus back to his mother and frowned. “Because she’s not the most receptive woman I’ve ever met. I have to handle this delicately. I don’t want her to think I’m stalking her so we’re just going to happen to bump into her. Get it?”

  Alice pursed her lips and contemplated her son. “Are you stalking her?”

  His grin was the one she loved the most, the impish dimple in the corner giving him away when she would scream something as outlandish as, “Who left frogs in my bathtub?” As an only child Chad had no one to blame so he relied on his charm. It worked, damn it — every single time.

  “Not yet,” he said with a wink. “But I might consider it if she doesn’t give me the time of day soon.”

  Satisfied with his answer, Alice stepped aside and waited for the show. That poor young woman didn’t stand a chance.

  • • •

  Piper was lingering over the bell peppers when a masculine hand suddenly came around her from behind and picked up the very pepper she just set down. She pulled back and turned, all set to glare accusingly at the presumptuous shopper but her composure took a staggering hit when she saw who it was. Oh boy, he really did piss her off. She looked up at him and said imperiously, “Excuse me,” and turned to stalk off.

  Alice Thomas rolled her eyes and stepped forward to rescue the rapidly dissolving opportunity.

  “No honey, I wanted a yellow pepper not the red.” She turned her weary smile on Piper and shook her head sadly. “Men, they don’t always listen do they?”

  Piper eyed her suspiciously. Was this sweet little woman the arrogant prick’s mother? No, no way. Then Piper looked more closely. The dimples were a match.

  “Not that I’ve noticed,” Piper mumbled and started to move along but it’s not easy to shake off a determined mother.

  “Wait, don’t I know? You’re Victoria Zimmerman right? Hazel’s daughter? Yes, from Chester Park! I knew I knew you.”

  Hazel? Zimmerman? Who was this woman kidding? It was almost impossible to keep a straight face but Piper managed somehow — but just barely. Talk about a transparent approach. Piper never realized that mothers would willingly play wing for their sons. How disturbing was that?

  “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t grow up here,” Piper said, still moving down the coolers.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” Alice replied, right on her heels. “I swear you look just like her.”

  “It’s okay.” Piper said, biting her lip but smiling just the same. “No sweat.” Then she was gone, escaping through the Employees Only doors.

  • • •

  Chad watched her leave, not necessarily discouraged but stumped about what tactic to try next.

  Alice looked at her son and shrugged.

  At least his stop at the store wasn’t a complete waste of time. Chad dropped by the deli and bought a sandwich for his lunch before driving his mom home. He wolfed it down on his way to the site, arriving just in time for his meeting with the architect.

  Twenty minutes later they were bent over Chad’s hood looking at the plans spread out across the top when he heard someone shouting his name. Chad looked up and saw the stocky man dressed in stiff denims, a sweat-stained shirt, and a hardhat rushing over.

  “What is it, Bill?” Chad asked.

  Bill gulped for air. His words came out in a breathless rush. “Hanson wants you right away in the southeast corner.”

  Chad slid the plans back to the architect. “That looks good. I’ll let Dwyer know about the plumbing changes. Excuse me.”

  He slipped on his hardhat and followed Bill across the work site, skirting an excavator on its way down an earthen ramp and into what would eventually be underground parking. A line of dump trucks were waiting to follow it down, ready to be filled.

  When they reached the southeast crater Bill pointed into it just as Hanson looked up and saw them. He waved Chad down. Chad took a second to pick the easiest route into the hole before hitting the slope. Still, there was no way to stop the dirt from leaking into his shoes on the way to the bottom.

  “What’ve you got?” Chad asked.

  “You’re not gonna like this,” Hanson warned. “Foundation’s still here from the brewery that burned down in the teens.”

  “We knew that.”

  Hanson nodded. “But we didn’t expect them to have filled it in with whatever the hell they wanted to throw away. We’re coming across old railroad ties and spikes, assorted steel machinery all twisted and tangled, cables and — ” He set off at a brisk walk with Chad hurrying after him. Then Hanson stopped and pointed at the rusty edges of several old barrels partially exposed in the crude dirt wall in a haphazard way.

  “They’re not empty,” Bill said ominously.

  A sudden chill swept through Chad as he stared in alarm at what they’d dug up. “What the hell is that?”

  “No fucking clue but obviously we can’t proceed now, at least not until we get the go-ahead from the state. Minimum — this puts us off schedule by two weeks just for excavation, if we’re lucky. My guess is closer to six weeks, especially if there were leaks.”

  Chad swore. “McPherson’s not gonna like this.”

  “That’s why I like my job just fine, boss.” Hanson was grinning, suddenly glad that he wasn’t the one who had to deliver the bad news to “The Money.”

  Chad groaned. “All right, I’ve got some calls to make. In the meantime, why don’t you concentrate on the northeast? That section wasn’t part of the same property so it should be clean.”

  “I already sent the three-sixty over there to join the other excavator.”

  Chad shook his head. “I forgot. I saw it on my way over.” He rubbed his brow with a heavy hand then took a deep breath. “Let me know right away if you find any more nasty surprises.”

  “Will do.”

  Chad let loose with a muttered string of curses as he climbed back up to grade. It pissed him off that they were hitting a snag so early in the project.

  The phone in his pocket started vibrating. He pulled it out and cupped his ear so he could hear over the noise.

  “Chad Thomas.”

  “Daddy?”

  “Missy?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why are you calling? You know you’re not allowed to use your phone in school.”

  “I need my Dora sleeping bag. Can you bring it to Grandma’s?”

  Chad looked around and returned the nod of a crewman.

  “This couldn’t wait?”

  “I need it,” she whined.

  “Fine, I’ll drop it off. Now hang up like a good girl before you get us both into trouble.”

  She giggled. “I’m calling from the bathroom.”

  “Good-bye, Missy,” he said firmly.

  Deep lines cut in around Chad’s reluctant smile as he shut his phone. He couldn’t decide which of his eight-year-olds was going to challenge him more. Right now, Kenny was a typical boy. But Chad had a hunch it would be Missy that worried the hell out of him once she hit her teens.

  • • •

  Piper loved visiting Highland Park on her rare nights off. Soon, soon she was going to have a lot more of those.

  Now, after seven, the evening sunlight fell across the choppy water, making it glitter and shine. It was stunning. Rejuvenated by everything around her, Piper beamed up into the broad oak, elm, and maple leaves twisting and fluttering in that same breeze. She glo
ried in it, relishing the way it ruffled her hair. In some deep, profound way she knew she was home. Funny, because this was a new city for her, miles away from her home base, her family, her old life. Yet, there it was again, that deep sense that she was right where she was meant to be.

  Piper ambled along the serpentine path past the sandy beach. She smiled at the group of young girls packing it up for the night, shaking the sand out of their towels while an iPod played music from a colorful bag on the ground.

  The smell of Coppertone carried her away to another beach, another group of young girls racing over the hot sand in their bare feet. Memories of how good the cool water felt were so vivid Piper stretched her toes in her shoes as if standing in it now. The music might have changed, and that wasn’t Gretchen’s boom box slowly cooking away, but the rest? No.

  It seemed only yesterday that she and her friends went shopping by themselves. She laughed now at how seriously they took finding that one perfect suit, but they all wanted to look more grown up and though they didn’t say it aloud — sexy. Piper remembered how her triumph turned to bitter disappointment once her parents had their say. Her impassioned pleas ineffective, she shuffled back to the store with her mother to exchange her beloved bikini for a more modest one-piece.

  Now, as an adult, she understood her parents’ objections. They were worried, that’s all. Of course the girls wanted to accentuate their budding assets and catch the eyes of the boys but at the time it seemed that their parents were clearly against them. They didn’t understand! Piper smiled to herself. Of course they did. The girls wanted to be liked, pursued, and maybe even kissed. Their parents, however, wanted nothing of the kind. Too bad they didn’t have a lot of say in the matter. Even though the girls couldn’t pray their way into an A cup they still managed to gain admirers. Piper nurtured warm thoughts of that lost summer of early adolescence and those innocent breathy sighs of her youth. Why do we all have to grow out of that?

  She turned and watched a young father run past, his hand on the back of the bicycle seat, struggling to keep up with his son as the child pedaled furiously away while teetering on his training wheels. That’s how it is. Life goes on and pretty soon that little boy will forget all about his bike helmet and reach timidly for some girl’s hand for the first time too.