Once Upon a Valentine’s

by Holly Jacobs

  “Chuck’s a boy-toy, Chuck’s a boy-toy,” she taunted with a playground lilt to her chant. “You’ve confessed that that’s the way you like it. Own your toyness, Chuck. Don’t try to hide from it. Embrace your inner toyness.”

  “Funny.” He tried to look serious, but couldn’t quite pull it off in the face of her hilarity.

  “Be the master of your toymain.” She paused. “Get it? Domain…toymain?”

  “Wow, that’s bad, Lewis.”

  “Don’t be coy, be a toy.” She laughed, cracking herself up with her own silliness.

  “Carly.” He couldn’t help but laugh, too.

  “That’s it, I’m out of toy comments.”

  “Good. Now, how about me going home with you?”

  “The kids will be there around three.”

  “Fine. Let’s go to your house then and wait for them. Afterward, what if I take you all out to eat? Another day of no cooking. That’s always a good thing in my mother’s eyes.”

  “Don’t you have to be at your mother’s? It’s Sunday.”

  “I canceled yesterday. I said I had to work.” Before she could tease him about lying, he added, “Do not comment, I’ll state for the record, I did in fact work very hard.”

  “Chuck.” Carly was suddenly all seriousness. She reached up and touched his cheek. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but no. My kids have been through enough. I’m not going to introduce them to a…” She hesitated.

  “Boy-toy?” He tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice, but wasn’t sure he managed.

  “Boy-toy in the nicest way, Chuck. You’re not sticking around. We both went into this relationship—and I use that word in the very broadest sense—knowing that. I don’t think it’s a good idea to confuse them, to introduce another man into their lives who will be leaving eventually.”

  “Don’t introduce me as your boy-toy then.” It had started off as a funny joke, but Chuck had to admit, the term was quickly losing some of its humor for him. “I’m just the cop you’re working with on the safety stuff. Nothing more as far as they’re concerned.”

  “It would be easier if I continued to keep my two lives separate.”

  “Carly, I don’t want to make your life more difficult. I also don’t want to go home without you. And I’d like to spend time with you and your kids, Carly. So, come on. Two volunteers sharing a meal with your kids. And you don’t have to cook.”

  “Now, that is a true temptation,” she admitted. “Not that I don’t like to cook.”

  “You do?”

  “It sort of goes hand-in-hand with the whole crafty thing. There’s nothing like having a new cookbook, a new recipe. I’m a huge fan of Cooking Light magazine, and Taste of Home. And let’s not even get started on my obsession with kitchen gadgets. They make my little heart go all aflutter.”

  “You are an interesting woman, Carly Lewis.”

  “I have unimagined depths.”

  He laughed. “Yes, you do. So, about this afternoon?” He kissed her neck again and she sighed twice.

  “Fine. You win. But none of this hanky-panky in front of the kids. We’re two professional associates sharing a meal and planning for our last two safety gigs.”

  He stopped in mid nibble and asked, “What time are the kids home?”

  “Three.”

  “And what time do we have to be out of here?”

  “The late checkout time is two.”

  He looked at his watch. “That leaves us fifty minutes. I think we should take total advantage of every minute we have here.”

  “Oh, do you, lieutenant?”

  “Yes.” Chuck had barely gotten the word out of his mouth, when Carly took control and saw to it they used every minute they had left as wisely as possible.

  AT TEN TO THREE, Carly dropped Chuck off at his house so he could pick up his own car, then follow her to her place. Inside, as he hung up his coat, she just enjoyed the view for a moment. He was wearing a pair of charcoal pants and a nicely fitted black crewneck sweater.

  It wasn’t a fancy outfit, by any means, but it hugged his body, reminding her that she knew that body intimately now. Images from last night left her feeling slightly breathless.

  “Carly?”

  She was standing there ogling him again. “Uh, I’ve got to run this bag upstairs before the kids come home. I don’t want any questions.”

  She needed to get the images from last night out of her mind before the kids were there, so she paused before sprinting up the stairs. “I know it’s not in the good-hostess handbook, but do you mind if I start a load of clothes? Weekends are my only time to catch up, and this weekend? Well, I’ve been otherwise occupied.”

  Laundry. Laundry was generally as antierotic as things came, but even thinking of dirty clothes wasn’t enough to totally erase the images that kept replaying in her mind.

  “I’ll confess, I’m happy to occupy you that way anytime you say.”

  Great. That wasn’t helpful in the least.

  “Listen, as for the laundry, I invited myself over. You do what you need to.”

  Doing what she needed to? Or what she wanted to? Because what she wanted to…

  Laundry. Think about the laundry.

  “Great. Thanks. Make yourself at home.”

  CHUCK WASN’T SURE what was up with Carly, but he knew that he wished they hadn’t had to leave the hotel. He could have spent the whole day there with her and still not been satisfied.

  He wasn’t sure what to do with himself while he waited for her, so he sat on the couch and picked up a Country Living magazine. He smiled as he thumbed through the dog-eared pages. He wondered if these were things Carly wanted to buy or make.

  He noticed the file that had been underneath the magazine. It was marked Valentine’s dance in a bold neon-green marker.

  He opened it and found a very neat to-do list. The band was checked off.

  Food. She had notes about the food.

  Security. Did she need security for the thing? Valentine’s was barely under a month away. Chuck didn’t normally make plans that far in advance with any woman.

  Carly arrived, bearing the basket of dirty clothes. “Thanks. I told Rhiana she was on her own for laundry, but I’ve already caved. Well, insofar as if it’s in the laundry room, I’ll wash it. I’ve got to start Sean’s clothes first. It takes a little longer with his stuff since so much of it needs to be pretreated, and even occasionally post-treated. It amazes me how he manages to find dirt even in the middle of winter when the entire city is covered by at least a foot of snow.”

  Chuck held up the paper. “I was looking at your magazine and found your file and noticed your Valentine’s dance list had security on it. Do you need someone?”

  “Yes. It’s school policy that any large gatherings must have security. And since the proceeds from the dance are a fund-raiser, they’re hoping for a big crowd. Do you know a cop who moonlights cheap?”

  “I have a guy in mind. His going rate is a dance with a certain committee chair.” He waited for the cold sweats to start as he voluntarily made plans for weeks in advance. They didn’t come. But Carly looked as if she might have caught them, though.

  She shook her head. “Chuck, you don’t have to—”

  “Hey, I went to a private school. I know it’s against the school handbook to turn down volunteers.”

  “Well, it’s just under a month away. And given the fluidity of our relationship…?” She looked as if she were going to argue more, then simply shrugged. “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.” He picked up the pen next to the folder and checked off Security. “Is one officer enough?”

  “I think that one will be fine. The school parents tend to be a quiet bunch.”

  “Hey, I met your friends and quiet isn’t quite the word I’d use,” he teased.

  “They’re a bit protective.”

  She didn’t get any further because the front door opened. “Hey, Mom, we’re home. Dad wants to tal
k to you,” a girl who had to be Carly’s daughter, Rhiana, called as she ran into the living room. “Oh, you have company.”

  A boy, who must be Sean, followed on his sister’s heels. “Who’s the guy?”

  “Rhiana, Sean, this is Lieutenant Jefferson. I’m working with him on the safety program, and he’s just volunteered to help out with the Valentine’s Dance.”

  Chuck heard the front door close and Dean—very neatly pressed—came in the room. “Carly, we need to talk about…” His sentence trailed off when he spotted Chuck. For a split second he froze.

  Chuck couldn’t decide if Dean was in shock, or merely assessing him. Chuck got up off the couch and walked over to him. His movement seemed to unfreeze the man.

  Carly’s ex nodded. “Hi, again.”

  “Lieutenant Chuck Jefferson. A good friend of Carly’s.”

  That gave the man pause. “How good?”

  Carly walked over and stood next to them. “Hey, kids, go take your stuff up to your rooms, okay?” She waited as Sean and Rhiana reluctantly left the room. “How good a friend Chuck is would be none of your business, Dean. Now what did you need?”

  He beckoned her out of the room and into the foyer.

  “Sorry, Chuck. I’ll be right back,” she said as she followed Dean.

  Carly’s house was a nice size for three people, but it wasn’t a huge mansion. Even though they’d rounded the corner into the foyer and he couldn’t see them, Chuck could still hear every word.

  “It’s about my visitation,” her ex said quietly. “I’m going out of town and won’t be able to have the kids until the third week in February.”

  She did the calculations, and knew why he’d cleared an escape route. “You’ll be out of town for four weeks?”

  “Close enough. Then we have a few weekend obligations, so I thought it would just be easier if I waited until after they’re all done. Otherwise, the kids sit alone at my place.”

  “Easier on you, maybe. But not easier on your kids, Dean.”

  Chuck noticed she didn’t mention herself. She wasn’t complaining that she wouldn’t have any time off. She was simply fighting for what was best for her kids.

  “Listen, Carly, I’m a busy man, and I can’t—”

  “Dean, I had to listen to this when we were married, but I don’t any more. And I won’t. I can’t make you take the kids. I can’t make you want to take them. Do what you have to, and you’ll have to live with the consequences.”

  “If you badmouth me to them—”

  There was a warning in the man’s words, and Chuck wanted nothing more than to go out into the hall and stand by Carly’s side. But he knew she wouldn’t thank him for it, so he held his place.

  Carly made it evident she didn’t need his help. “How could you dare suggest I’d badmouth you? Even when we were married, I made your excuses. I tried to be sure Rhiana and Sean didn’t feel as if you had better things to do than spend time with them. I tried to convince them that you cared. Even at Christmas—”

  “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

  Chuck could hear the mounting anger in Carly’s ex’s tone. He stood, poised to hurry in with help if she needed him.

  “There’s nothing to live down, Dean. You’ve made your own choices. I won’t badmouth you to the kids. I never have, and I never will. But they’re smart. Smart enough to realize how their father ranks when compared to their friends’ fathers. You never come to school functions, rarely come to any of their activities or sports.”

  “Oh, here it comes, Saint Carly and her litany of my sins.”

  “I’m not going to do this, Dean. You’ll do what you have to, and I’ll pick up the pieces. I’ve had years of experience.”

  “Have you ever thought that maybe it’s your holier-than-thou attitude that ended our marriage?” Dean’s tone implied the question was intended to hurt Carly.

  But Chuck didn’t hear any pain as she laughed mirthlessly. “No, Dean. I’m pretty sure finding your secretary naked on my couch is what ended our marriage.”

  “I’m going.”

  “Do you want to go up and tell the kids goodbye first?”

  “I already told them goodbye.”

  “Call them, okay? They’ll miss you.”

  “When I have time.”

  Chuck heard the front door open and slam shut.

  He still wanted to go to Carly, but she’d insisted she needed to stand on her own two feet, so he waited for her to come to him.

  CARLY STOOD THERE, after Dean closed the door, trying to get her anger under control before she turned and took the too-few steps back into the living room.

  Chuck was standing where she’d left him.

  “Hey, you okay?” he asked. “I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, there was just no way to avoid overhearing—”

  “No problem. It’s no secret that Dean’s…” She remembered her promise not to badmouth him, and finished, “He’s just Dean. I’m trying to learn to accept him as he is, and let go of the image I have of who he could be—the kind of father that Rhiana and Sean deserve.”

  She felt oddly empty. There was no more anger at Dean. No more anger at herself for not seeing him for who he was. There was only a sense of relief that she was over Dean Lewis.

  Chuck came and gently ran a finger down the line of her jaw. “So, will the kids be okay?”

  “I’ll see to it that they are.” That was a promise. Carly couldn’t make Dean change, but she’d do what she could to protect her kids. She tried to love them enough to make up for their father’s lack of interest.

  “And you?” Chuck asked gently. “Will you be okay?”

  “Yes, I will. I always am. I’m afraid, however that this may throw a wrench into the two of us repeating this weekend’s activities anytime soon.”

  “Let’s not worry about us now,” Chuck said. “Why don’t you go up and check on the kids, and then I’ll take you all out to supper.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive. When I make a promise, I keep it.”

  She kissed his cheek. “You’re a rare man, Chuck Jefferson.”

  “Not really, but I don’t mind you thinking so.”

  She laughed. “We’ll be down in a few minutes.”

  Both of the kids were in Rhiana’s room looking far too serious for seventh graders.

  Carly tried to infuse a generous dose of jolliness in her voice as she said, “Hey, my friend asked if we’d like to go out for dinner.”

  Rhiana ignored all mention of the invitation and zeroed in on what they’d obviously been talking about. “What did Dad say?”

  “He’s not going to be taking you for a few weekends, but—”

  “Don’t, Mom.” Normally mellow, Sean’s voice was sharp. “Don’t make any more excuses for him. We get it.”

  “Dad’s got better things to do,” Rhiana finished for her brother. “We’ve talked about it. We understand that’s just how he is. And before you get that worried look on your face, we’re okay.”

  “Kids, your father loves you in his own way.” He did. Carly knew he did.

  “In his own way,” Rhiana said. “He’s seen more of us these last few months than he did when you guys were married. We’ve figured it would ease off eventually.”

  “And that’s fine, Mom,” Sean assured her. “This way we’ll get to hang out with our friends on the weekends.”

  “Dad didn’t like to drive us anywhere, and his new place is on the west side. None of our friends lived close enough to give us a ride. And to be honest—” Rhiana’s voice dropped, as if somehow Dean might overhear “—Dad’s house was sort of boring.”

  “You know him. He works all week at work, then works some more on the weekends at home,” Sean said. “He didn’t like us watching TV because it made it hard to concentrate.”

  “So we did a lot of reading.” Rhiana laughed. “And before you tell me reading’s good for me, I know it is. But come on, Mom. I’ve been reading a
lmost a book a day when we’re at Dad’s. That’s not natural.”

  Both kids laughed, and after a moment’s hesitation, so did Carly, even though she was kicking herself for not realizing that Dean was giving the kids grief about rides. She figured they were so busy with their father that they hadn’t made a lot of other plans.

  “You two should have said something. I’d have talked to your father for you.”

  “Mom,” Sean said, “Rhi and I have it handled. You don’t need to worry.”

  “You worry too much,” Rhiana agreed.

  “So what about this cop taking us to dinner?” Sean said in a blatant attempt to change the subject.

  Carly was willing to oblige him, but first she grabbed both kids and hugged them. As they squirmed, Sean screamed, “Oh, gross.” They were growing up fast. Five more years and they’d be off to college.

  She wondered if Dean knew what he was missing, and doubted it.

  “Okay, so you two unpack and we’ll go eat,” she said and headed downstairs to check on Chuck.

  WHILE CARLY WAS UPSTAIRS with the kids, Chuck went back to browsing her dance preparations. He’d already checked off Security for her.

  The list was pretty detailed. It even included decoration suggestions from last year’s committee chair. Carly had scribbled down, “Find time to shop.” Maybe she’d like some help for that, too?

  Man, he’d just considered voluntarily shopping and that wasn’t something Chuck was proud of.

  “What’s that grin for?” Carly asked as she came into the room.

  “I was still looking at your Valentine’s to-do list and saw where you’d scribbled, ‘Find time to shop.’ I thought about volunteering to help, then remembered I hate shopping.”

  “Chuck, I can shop for decorations on my own. I do appreciate the offer to provide security. That’s one big job crossed off my list.”

  “But Carly, the thing is, as much as I hate to shop, I don’t think I’d mind if I was doing it with you.” He held up a hand. “I know how that sounded, so you don’t have to tease.”

  “Teasing wasn’t what I had in mind. Kissing you was.” As if on cue they both heard the kids racing down the stairs. “And since we’re about to be interrupted, I guess I was teasing by offering a kiss.”