by Robin Kaye
CHAPTER 10
“Damn, talk about piss-poor timing.” Slater figured the only way it could have been worse was if Grace had knocked on the door ten minutes later. But then, if she had, he had a feeling he and Rocki would never have heard her.
He put his hand on the crystal doorknob one room over, which, if he remembered correctly, was the room he was supposed to have slept in. Right now, he just wanted to knock his head against the door. It wouldn’t help the problem he had going on in his pants, but it might take his mind off it.
Slater stepped into his assigned room, let out a frustrated breath, and tossed his boots on the floor beside his duffel.
He hadn’t planned to go there with Rocki. It had just happened, but he couldn’t say he wasn’t happy about it. He’d taken one look at her big blue eyes and all he could do was kiss her. Once he had a taste, once he felt her beneath him, neither of them had thought of stopping—until Grace’s interruption. Yeah, that was the death knell. Rocki had stepped so far back she might as well have been in the next state.
From the first second he set eyes on Rocki, he wanted her. Want, he could handle. He didn’t think the fact that he wanted her more than anyone he’d ever met was concerning—after all, Rocki was pretty extraordinary. It was all the other stuff he was having a problem with. Like the way he thought about her—even when he knew he shouldn’t go there. It was as if she had somehow implanted the image of herself in his brain and invaded his thoughts at the weirdest times. Then there was the way he saw red that first night they’d met when he heard she was taking the subway home alone at two in the morning. He had no idea why that bothered him. If it had been anyone else, he wouldn’t have given it a thought. After all, they weren’t together, and it wasn’t as if she didn’t have a ride to the train. All he knew was that he wouldn’t have slept if he hadn’t seen that she’d gotten home safe and sound. At the time, he wasn’t sure why he cared, but the problem was he did, and unfortunately, it was just getting worse, and he didn’t know what the hell to do about it.
He unzipped his bag and dragged out a clean pair of jeans. Okay, maybe not freshly laundered but at least they didn’t look as if they’d been slept in—he hoped. He dug through his duffel for a T-shirt—a white one, and then grabbed the only collared shirt he owned. He shook it out with a snap, and then gave it a once-over. It was a little wrinkled, but what the heck. He threw it over the hook in the bathroom and hoped the wrinkles would steam out—that was if he turned the water to hot. Right now, he had his doubts. If things with Rocki kept going the way they were, he wouldn’t be able to take a hot shower while they were in the same country—maybe the same hemisphere.
Slater hated taking cold showers almost as much as he hated stopping things when they were just getting good; sexual frustration was not his friend. So he chickened out, hopped into a hot shower, and took himself in hand and wondered if Rocki was doing the same thing. He let his imagination run wild, and it took all of a few minutes to find his release.
He hadn’t been looking forward to spending the day half-hard, but then he didn’t think it would hurt to keep Rocki’s mind on something other than her brother’s condition. Slater looked forward to taking her mind off her troubles just as soon as he had a minute alone with her.
After he dressed, he halfheartedly messed up the bed he hadn’t slept in, and then pulled the sheets back before heading toward the kitchen. He hoped beating Rocki downstairs would take some heat off her. He liked Grace and Teddy, and as funny as it was that Rocki felt like a teenager getting caught making out, he didn’t want to make her any more uncomfortable.
Slater slipped out of his room and heard Rocki’s shower going. He did his best not to picture her naked with water running over her body and failed miserably. Shit, he wasn’t the kind of pervy guy who pictured every woman he knew naked—well, not until he’d met Rocki at least.
He ran his hand through his still-wet hair and did his best to put the brakes on that particular train wreck. Shit, he’d gotten off less than fifteen minutes before and his dick was already working on a zipper tattoo. He might as well have been a horny teenager.
He needed a few minutes, so he spent some time looking around the house. Last night he’d been too concerned about Rocki to fully appreciate the place. It was just as nice as he suspected when he’d first set eyes on the mansion. He blew out a low whistle when he stepped into what he thought might be the living room. “So this is how the one percent live.” The Turkish carpets looked old and worn, but beautiful. The furniture was probably antique and every piece had been polished to a shine. The crystal chandeliers gleamed in the morning light, a baby grand piano was dwarfed by the size of the room, and fresh flowers were scattered throughout.
He followed the scent of bacon frying through the massive formal dining room to the kitchen, stepped in, and spotted Teddy sitting at the table. “Good morning.” He met the man’s eyes over the newspaper.
“So I hear.”
There was no pussyfooting around with Teddy, apparently. Slater couldn’t help but respect him. The man went right for the jugular.
“Theodore.” Grace shot the old man a warning look and then turned a smile on Slater. “I hope you slept well, dear.”
“Yes, it’s a very comfortable house. Thank you.”
Teddy stood and gave Slater the hairy eyeball treatment before picking up his coffee and heading to the counter. “Is Racquel on her way down?”
“I don’t know, sir. I heard the shower going when I passed her room.”
Teddy didn’t look as if he bought it, but then Slater really didn’t care. He was pleasantly surprised when Teddy grabbed a mug from the cabinet. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
Grace stepped beside him. “Cream and sugar is on the table. I’m making a batch of huckleberry pancakes. We picked the berries last summer when the kids were here. They’re Racquel’s favorite. With any luck, she’ll eat. I hope you’re hungry.”
Teddy poured the coffee, delivered it to the table, and set it down without throwing it at Slater. That was a plus.
Maybe things weren’t looking so bad after all. Still, he planned on sticking close to Grace. He wasn’t chicken—not at all. He chose to think of it as being strategically safe. “Grace, is there anything I can do to help? I’m pretty good in the kitchen.” Not to mention a total suck-up.
“No, thanks.” When the woman smiled, she lit the whole room—no wonder Rocki loved her so much. “I’m used to doing things on my own. Just relax by the fire, and if you’re good, maybe Teddy will share the paper with you.” Grace shot him a wink and a smile.
Teddy didn’t look as though he was happy about the idea of sharing anything with Slater. Besides, he tended to get his news on the Internet. “Do you have Wi-Fi here? I wouldn’t mind checking my e-mail before we leave for the hospital.”
“Of course. Jackson does so much of his work on the computer—he’s in investments and such—that we’ve had it installed. Teddy, get the password from the office for Slater, please.”
Teddy’s scowl told Slater he wanted to refuse, but after one look at his wife, he obviously reconsidered and motioned for Slater to follow.
Slater had known it was coming—he had just hoped it wouldn’t be so soon, not to mention before his morning coffee. Since everything was better with caffeine, he grabbed his messenger bag and the cup before following the old man to a study on the other side of the house.
When Teddy closed the heavy wood door behind them, Slater raised his eyebrows. It had been a long time since he’d received a talking-to by the father of a girl he’d dated. Actually, now that he thought about it, this would be the first.
He set his bag on the floor beside the desk and looked for a coaster on which to set his mug. Seeing none, he decided to just hold it, took a fortifying sip, and waited.
Teddy settled behind the huge desk and didn’t
look as if he was in any hurry to find the password.
The situation reminded Slater of the time when he was an E-2 and was forced to stand at attention for more than an hour, waiting for his commanding officer to acknowledge his presence. He took another swig and assumed the position as best he could while holding a mug. The minutes ticked past and Slater didn’t move a muscle.
After what seemed like a half hour but was probably closer to ten minutes, Teddy’s gaze met his. “Grace seems to think there’s something going on between you and our Racquel.”
Slater took that as an order to stand at ease. He’d never done so while holding coffee, but he did his best. “Sir, with all due respect, don’t you think that’s something you should be discussing with Rocki?”
“If I did, I’d be talking to Racquel.”
One thing he learned well in the navy was that if you weren’t asked a direct question, it was best to keep your mouth shut. It had served him well until now.
“Racquel may be a grown woman, but she’ll always be our little girl. She’s been through a lot and she doesn’t need a broken heart on top of the situation she finds herself in with Jackson. Those two are closer than any siblings I’ve ever seen. God forbid—” Teddy turned away and scrubbed his face with his hands.
Damn. Slater felt for the guy, he really did. He didn’t know much about love except for seeing how his father felt about him and his brothers and vice versa. It looked as if Teddy felt the same for Rocki and Jackson—the man must be going through hell. “Sir, it’s not my intention to do anything to hurt Rocki. I’m here to help.”
Wary eyes met his. “So that’s what they’re calling it these days?”
Slater’s fingers tensed on the cup. It was one of those heavy earthenware mugs and had it been something fragile, it would have been in pieces. “I realize this is an upsetting time for you and your family. I don’t know Jackson, but I know Rocki.” And when he thought about it, he realized that he did. He knew Rocki, maybe not as well as he wanted to, but he knew enough to know the woman wore her heart on her sleeve—it might be encased in armor but he had a feeling he knew her heart as well as he knew his own. In that respect he and Rocki were surprisingly similar. “You have nothing to worry about, sir. If I ever did anything to hurt Rocki, I’d have to answer to my father, and believe me, I’m the last person in the world who wants to tug on that particular tiger’s tail.”
“Your father?”
“Pete Calahan.”
Teddy’s eyebrows rose and a smile played across his troubled face.
“I assume you know my father?”
Teddy gave him a nod.
Of course he did. Slater was sure Pop knew everything there was to know about Rocki. It just made sense that over the years, Pop and Teddy had become pretty well acquainted. “Pop asked me to bring Rocki up here. I’m to stay with her, take care of her, and make sure she gets whatever she needs. I think Rocki’s stronger than either of you give her credit for, but no matter what happens with Jackson, we’ll make sure Rocki lands on her feet. She has an amazing number of people in Red Hook who love her and would do anything for her. I’m just one of many.
“Last night, Rocki needed a shoulder to cry on and someone to hold her. That’s what I did. And with all due respect, sir, anything else that goes on between Rocki and me is up to Rocki. Nothing you say or do is going to change that.”
Teddy gave him a hard, assessing look, and Slater felt as if he were back in the navy under close inspection. “What happened to your face?”
Ah, back to the third, fourth, and fifth degree. “My brother disagreed with something I said to his girlfriend. I was wrong. He was within his rights to come after me.”
Teddy cracked a smile. “I’m assuming you have a job.”
“I spent eight years in the navy. I just completed my secondary degree in computer security and I have a contract pending with OPEC, a job offer with Microsoft, and then there’s always the option of finding something here on the East Coast.”
“I see.” Teddy grabbed a piece of paper and scrawled something on it. “Here’s the password, Slater.” Teddy pushed the paper across the desk toward him and rose. “I think we should get back to the women now before Grace comes after me. Grace might look like a nice lady, but she’s just good at hiding her claws. Talk about yanking on a tigress’s tail. If you have any kindness toward me at all, keep an easy smile on your face for the next hour or so.”
Slater took the first deep breath he’d taken since he’d walked into the study and nodded. “Yes, sir. I’d be happy to, sir.”
• • •
Rocki slipped down the back stairs leading to the kitchen like she’d done since she was little, wanting to eavesdrop, and get the lay of the land before jumping headfirst into unknown waters.
Grace flipped pancakes and turned the bacon at the stove—it looked as if she were cooking for a crowd. Rocki sure hoped Slater was hungry because she couldn’t imagine eating more than a few bites.
The men sat at the table discussing something in the newspaper while Slater’s hands flew over his computer keyboard at lightning speed. Whoever said men couldn’t multitask had never seen Slater Shaw in action at his computer, or in bed.
Rocki shook her head. She couldn’t believe her mind went there after she’d spent her time in the shower lecturing herself about the necessity of avoiding all thoughts of Slater’s naked body, the way he kissed, and the size of his—
“Racquel.” Grace’s voice interrupted her X-rated thoughts. “Are you going to stand there all morning or are you planning to join us?”
Rocki’s face felt as hot as the griddle Grace flipped pancakes on. It only got worse when Slater turned and gave her a look that made her face feel like it was under a broiler. The worst part was that she seemed physically incapable of looking away.
He raised an eyebrow and looked as if he was holding back a laugh. That was all it took to spur her to move.
She made a beeline for the coffeepot. Maybe some caffeine would help. At least holding a cup would give her something to do with her hands. She poured herself coffee and then slid four plates out of the cabinet to set the table. When she turned, she almost ran into Slater.
“Good morning, sunshine.” He held the plates between them, leaned in, and kissed her right on the lips. Right in front of Grace and Teddy.
Rocki was so not expecting that—especially not a lingering, nibbley kiss, the kind of kiss that leads to longer, openmouthed kisses. A smacking kiss would have been bad enough, but a nibbley kiss was way out of bounds. It was a good thing Slater had a grip on the plates, because if it had been up to her, they’d need a broom.
He licked his lips and gave her a look that promised more to come. “I’ll just bring these to the table for you.”
She heard Grace sigh beside her.
Rocki looked at Teddy, expecting him to pull his usual indignant, overprotective father figure act, only to find him folding the newspaper he’d been reading, and straightening the place mats for Slater, as if her being kissed by a man in this kitchen was a daily occurrence.
Grace wrapped her arm around Rocki’s waist. “That boy of yours must have a golden tongue.”
Rocki flushed. Grace had no idea.
“Teddy took him to the study and I was afraid he would threaten the poor boy’s life. You know how protective he can be when it comes to his little girl, but when they came back to the kitchen they were all buddy, buddy, sharing the paper, and talking sports. Look at them—thick as thieves, setting the table together. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think Teddy gave your young man his blessing.”
“Blessing? Blessing for what exactly?” Was it just her or was everyone going mad? The dreamy expression on Grace’s face made her certain they’d all gone nuts. “Stop looking at me like that,” she whispered.
Grace returned to the stove, making mor
e pancakes than any of them knew what to do with. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, young lady. Now, why don’t you get the syrup out of the refrigerator and put it in a pitcher to warm?”
“You’re not getting out of this that easily, Grace.”
The woman gave her a knowing smile that only someone who had changed her diapers could pull off. “No, I don’t expect I will, but right now we have more pressing matters to deal with than your love life—”
“I don’t have a love life.”
“Oh that’s right, these days it’s called a sex life, isn’t it?” Grace clicked her tongue and shook her head before she crossed herself. “Racquel Olivia Sullivan, your mother would be rolling over in her grave if she found out you were having indiscriminate sex—”
“I’m not having sex,” she whispered.
Grace lifted an eyebrow.
Okay, she’d almost had sex, and last she checked that didn’t count. Besides, it’s not as if she planned it. And as far as she was concerned, there would be no more mattress aerobics with Slater. No, she had enough to deal with; she didn’t need to add a man like Slater to the mix.
Rocki left Grace and her eyebrow of truth, and went to collect the silverware and heat the syrup. She just wished the microwave was in a different room.
Setting the pitcher of warm syrup in the middle of the table, Rocki reached around Teddy, giving him a kiss on the cheek and placing his fork and knife on either side of his plate. She moved toward Slater and avoided his gaze. Looking at the man could be dangerous. She stood well away from him, set his knife down, and shrieked when he tugged her onto his lap. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Sweetheart, if you don’t know by now, you’re worse off than I thought.”
Teddy lifted his head and shot Slater a man-to-man grin she’d never seen before. “She’s always been a little on the hardheaded side.”
Grace laughed and set the platter of bacon on the table as if there was nothing at all unusual about the fact that Rocki was trapped on Slater’s lap. “Racquel has always been one to boss everyone around. I used to watch her as a tot and think that the man who ends up with her would certainly have his hands full.”
