The kids cheered as they raced from the room. Within seconds, footsteps thundered on the stairs as the horde ascended to what Jill supposed was a huge playroom. The Lucas family didn't seem to do anything by halves.
Rebecca glanced at her husband. "The Haynes brothers and Austin turned dating into an art form. From what I understand, there wasn't a girl in a twenty-mile radius who was safe from them."
"Cheerleaders," Elizabeth said. "Brainy types, flirts, shy ones. It didn't matter. No one was immune to their charm."
"Really?" Jill glanced at Craig, who was squirming in his chair. Travis and Jordan didn't look any more comfortable. Even Austin seemed to find the silverware on the table fascinating.
"None of us do that anymore," Craig said.
"I don't understand," Jill said. "You're saying that all the brothers were—"
"Heartbreakers," Rebecca said. "They loved 'em and left 'em. Tempting them with promises, then—"
"I never made promises," Craig said heatedly.
"I was up-front from the beginning," Travis added.
Elizabeth leaned over and kissed her husband on the mouth. For that second, their love was as tangible as the table itself. Jill felt a flicker of envy.
"We know that," Elizabeth said. "We're just teasing you because we love you."
"That's right," Rebecca added. "After all, look at how you've changed."
"Jordan hasn't," Travis said, obviously pleased to have the attention on someone else. "He's holding out and needs a woman."
Jordan shook his head. "Don't forget Craig. He needs a woman, too."
Austin lifted his eyebrows. "Maybe not."
Now it was Jill's turn to blush. "You didn't answer the question, Jordan," Craig said. "Anyone special in your life?"
"I've sworn off women."
Rebecca laughed. "We'll find you someone." She rose to her feet and began collecting dessert plates. "Didn't we just clear this table?"
"Yes, you did, and now it's our turn." Austin stood and shooed her toward the living room. "You ladies go talk about us while we finish."
"You don't have to ask me twice." Elizabeth linked arms with Rebecca. The two of them came around and collected Jill. Together they walked into the living room.
The huge space had been designed for comfort. There was a rock fireplace in one corner, with three sofas scattered around. A few wing chairs completed the conversation grouping. Tables were bare except for a couple of floral arrangements. Paintings of outdoor scenes, women with children and one seascape hung on the walls. The predominant colors were rose and cream, with colonial blue accents. The effect was that of space and comfort. Children would be welcome here. There was nothing for them to break or ruin. The room would easily seat twenty, yet gave the impression of being welcoming and intimate.
"I'm impressed," Jill said. "Who did the decorating?"
"I did," Rebecca answered. "Austin helped. We preplanned the room on his computer. After that, it was pretty easy. I assume I got lucky because I don't have an artistic bone in my body."
"You can't tell," Jill said.
Elizabeth sat in a wing chair next to a rose-and-cream-striped sofa. Jill sank down onto the couch and Rebecca joined her. She felt them staring at her.
"What do you want to know?" she asked.
Rebecca laughed. "Elizabeth, something is wrong. We used to be subtle."
"I guess we're out of practice. I suppose it's because we haven't had anyone to interrogate in so long. Not since Kyle started dating Sandy. Craig brought a couple of women around, but they obviously didn't mean anything to him."
Jill wondered if Elizabeth was implying that Craig was interested in her. She didn't know what to say to that. She and Craig were lovers. No, they'd made love. But they hadn't talked about it. In a way, she was glad. She didn't know what she wanted from him. The thought of a relationship terrified her. The situation was too close to what had happened with Aaron. A single father with kids in need of help. She refused to be used again. She reminded herself Craig was nothing like Aaron, and she believed that with all her heart. Yet she'd been wrong before. She wasn't willing to be wrong again.
"I like Craig," she admitted at last. "We're friends. But I'm really there to look after his boys. Nothing else."
"Too bad," Elizabeth said. "He's a great guy. All the brothers are. It's a shame about their family."
"I know a little about what happened with his father," she said.
Elizabeth grimaced. "That man is a bastard. I get so angry when I think about what he did to his sons." She glanced at Jill. "We tease them about their dating habits when they were young, but the truth is they're all wonderful men."
"They seem very close," Jill said.
"They had to be. I can't imagine what it was like for their mother. I don't blame the poor woman. I just wish she'd been stronger. She should have thrown her husband out."
"I agree." Rebecca sighed. "The past tainted them all. Austin lived a different kind of hell when he was growing up. It still affects him."
Jill had to consciously keep her mouth closed. Rebecca looked as innocent as a nun. She couldn't believe the other woman had actually used a bad word.
"I swear, these men are all walking around with wounded souls," Rebecca continued. "They don't want anybody inside, but they desperately need the loving. I just want to hug them all until they're healed."
"If only it were that simple," Elizabeth said. She glanced up at Jill and smiled guiltily. "Sorry. I didn't mean for this to get so serious."
"I understand," Jill said.
Rebecca leaned forward. "Be kind to Craig, Jill. He deserves that. He's one of the good guys."
Before she could continue, the men strolled into the living room. Elizabeth and Rebecca rose to their feet and walked to their husbands. There was that moment of silent communications. Hands touched, eyes met, half smiles were shared. Austin sat in one of the large chairs and pulled Rebecca onto his lap. She went easily, as if they'd performed this ritual a thousand times before. A young boy of maybe eight or nine raced into the room and joined them, squirming for a place on his father's lap.
Jill stared at the three of them. That must be their adopted boy. Both Austin and Rebecca had dark hair, while the child was blond. Elizabeth sat on a sofa. Travis stretched out and rested his head on her lap. Several more children came into the room.
Craig made his way to where Jill was seated. She held her breath as he paused, then released it when he took the place in the middle, leaving the other side for Danny, who climbed up next to him. He put his arm around the boy, then glanced at her and smiled. Their shoulders brushed. She could inhale the scent of him. For that moment, it was enough.
Be kind to Craig… He's one of the good guys. Rebecca's advice repeated over and over in her head. She knew he was a good man. She'd been touched by his kindness.
Lazy conversation filled the room, punctuated by laughter. This was a collection of people who enjoyed being together. Even the children participated. Only Jordan sat alone on the fringes of the room.
As she studied him, she realized he was single and didn't have a child. He should be exactly what she was looking for. Yet she didn't feel even a flicker of interest. She didn't want to go talk to him; she wanted to be next to Craig.
Dumb, Bradford, she told herself, but she didn't move. For this moment, she was a part of what she'd always wanted. The Haynes family circle widened enough to admit her. The fantasy of being loved for herself had finally come true. And for tonight, she was going to live it for all she could.
* * *
Chapter 13
« ^ »
The women cooed like doves. Craig watched from the doorway of the nursery as Elizabeth, Rebecca, Sandy and Jill hovered over the bassinet.
"She's beautiful," Jill said, touching her finger to the infant's tiny hand.
"Just like her mother," Rebecca said.
"Better." Sandy straightened and winced. "She looks just like her dad." She shifted her weight. "I'd forgotten ho
w much this hurt. I'm too old for this giving-birth stuff. Next time Kyle can do it."
"Next time?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. "You're thinking of having another one?"
Sandy smiled. "I think Kyle would like to, but I'm not so sure. This makes four kids. We're going to talk about it."
Jill glanced up and saw Craig in the doorway. "You want to come see?" she asked.
He shook his head. "You go ahead."
He'd already spent the better part of an hour holding the perfect little girl. Staring down at her red, wrinkled face had given him an odd feeling. He wanted a daughter.
Of course he loved his boys and he wouldn't trade them for anything, but a girl would have been great. He frowned. Although he wouldn't want one like Krystal.
"What are you so serious about?" Jordan asked, coming across the second-story landing and pausing beside him.
Craig shrugged. "Just thinking."
Jordan glanced into the nursery. "You'd think with all the kids running around here, they'd get tired of new ones being born."
"Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Every kid is special."
Jordan looked skeptical. "You've got three already. Are you trying to tell me you want another one?"
"Maybe," he said, watching Jill.
She smiled down at the baby. He read the longing in her eyes, although he doubted anyone else saw it. "You think it's true?" he asked.
"What?" Jordan wanted to know.
"The curse. You think the real reason we had four generations of boys is none of the men loved their wives?"
"I don't know. What do you think?"
Craig pushed off the door and walked over to the railing. From here he could see Louise climbing the stairs, and beyond her to the first floor. Travis and Kyle were downstairs, playing some kind of tag game with several of the children. Shouts of laughter and snatches of conversation drifted up to the second floor.
"If the curse is true," Craig said, "it doesn't say much about my marriage to Krystal."
"You got a divorce. What did you expect? You don't divorce someone you're in love with."
"Are they still gawkin' at that child? I swear, a body would think they'd never seen a baby before." Louise reached the top of the stairs, then crossed to the nursery. She placed her hands on her hips. "You women need to let the poor thing sleep. She's not going anywhere. You can look at her later."
Craig stared after her and grinned. Louise was a force of nature. She was in her mid-forties, with short blond hair and a smile that invited the world to share her joke. Her clothing was a little eccentric, with mismatching colors that somehow managed to look right. She dressed to emphasize her impressive hourglass figure and didn't look like anyone's idea of a mother, but she'd helped out Travis and Elizabeth for nearly two years. When Austin and Rebecca had their baby, she'd gone to stay with them for several weeks. Now she was going to help Sandy and Kyle.
"Go on with you now," she said, flapping her arms.
Elizabeth, Rebecca and Jill slowly walked into the hallway and started down the stairs. Sandy lingered by the bassinet.
"How you feelin'?" Louise asked, touching Sandy's arm. "Everything hurt?"
"Just about." Sandy's smile trembled at the corners. "I'm way too old for this."
"Nonsense. You're just the right age. You've done yourself proud." Louise pulled her close and held her.
Craig turned away, suddenly embarrassed for intruding on an obviously personal moment. He glanced at his brother and saw Jordan scowling at the two women.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Jordan shrugged and shifted so he was leaning against the railing. "Don't you find it odd that Louise is a part of the family?"
"I hadn't really thought about it. Travis hired her years ago, while he was still a bachelor."
"I know. But she's always around at family events. We don't know that much about her. We don't know who she really is."
"She's just Louise. What's the problem?" Craig frowned. Jordan didn't usually take a dislike to someone without good reason.
Jordan glanced over his shoulder. Louise looked up. Their gazes locked. An emotion that looked very much like pain crossed the older woman's face. Then Sandy spoke, drawing Louise's attention to herself.
"What's going on?" Craig asked quietly.
"Nothing. It's old news. It doesn't matter anymore. If it ever did."
"Damn it, Jordan, just tell me—"
"Hey, you two wanna play football?" Kyle called from the first floor.
"Sure." Jordan headed for the stairs.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?" Craig asked, following him.
"It doesn't matter anymore. I shouldn't have said anything."
There was a secret between Jordan and Louise. But what could those two possibly have in common? Before Craig could try to figure it out, he was hustled outside.
Travis and Kyle were acting as team captains. All the children were standing in front of them, obviously willing themselves to be picked first.
"Danny," Travis said.
Danny whooped loudly and jumped next to his team captain. "Look, Daddy, I got picked first!"
Craig smiled. "I see. Good for you."
Kyle picked Michael, Austin's adoptive son. The boy called on Rebecca, but she threw up her hands and said she wasn't going to play so he picked Austin instead.
Danny yelled, "Jill!"
She thought for a moment. "All right. I'll play."
Craig moved toward her. "The games sometimes get rough."
Travis nudged him with his elbow. "Don't worry, Craig, I'll take care of her."
"Me, too," Danny said, grinning.
He wanted to protest, but he didn't have the right. Jill gave him a "see there" look and went to stand next to Danny. She chose C.J., Austin chose Jonathan, and so it went until everyone had a team. Elizabeth and Jill were the only women playing. The kids varied in age and skill level, but none of that mattered. They were out here to have fun. It was warm in the sunny afternoon. Everyone was in shorts and T-shirts, except, of course, for Rebecca, who wore a sundress.
Travis hiked the ball to Jordan, who threw it long. Craig kept back, trying to make sure no one got hurt. Especially not Jill.
She was so tiny. She wore a bright blue T-shirt tucked into white shorts, so she was easy to spot in the shifting mass of players. She darted and ran. At one point, she nearly caught the ball. C.J. dove for her legs and knocked her down. They tumbled together like puppies, Ben and Danny joining the fun. Jill came up laughing. She ruffled Ben's hair, then tickled C.J. until he begged for mercy. Danny stood up and tugged her to her feet. Still smiling, she rejoined the game.
She touched Craig's arm as she jogged past. "What I lack in size, I make up for in speed and agility."
"I see that," he said.
Eventually he relaxed. He went out for a pass and caught it, giving his team the first score.
As he walked back for the kickoff, Jill fell into step with him. "You didn't tell me you'd made all-American in high school. I'm very impressed."
He wanted to puff out his chest with pride. "Yeah, well, it was a great time in my life, but I don't use it as an introduction."
"Did you play football in college?"
"Some. But six feet isn't all that big there."
Jordan called her over to hike the ball. She waved and darted away. Craig slowed as he watched her have a whispered conversation with his brother. Jordan bent low and placed his hand on her shoulder. She stared intently, nodding every few seconds. Craig felt his fingers bend into fists, even as he told himself Jordan would never make a move on Jill.
"You're falling hard, buddy," Austin said, reading his mind.
Craig forced himself to smile. "You fell first."
Austin looked at his wife. "Thank God. She's the best thing that ever happened to me."
Craig had spent countless weekends with his family, but this was the first time he remembered having to fight constant waves of envy. He envied Kyle and
Sandy their beautiful daughter. He envied both his married brothers and Austin their happiness. He didn't begrudge them what they had, he just wanted to know how he could do it, too. And this protective jealousy Jill inspired. What did that mean? Was he starting to really care about her, or just turning into a jerk?
"Ready?" Jordan called to the team.
Jill bent over the ball. Jordan stood right behind her, his hands brushing the inside of her thighs. Craig took a step toward them.
"Thirty-two, thirty-two, hut, hut, hut!" Instead of snapping the ball, Jill picked it up and started to run. Michael and Kyle got her first and grabbed her around the legs. One of the kids slipped and went careening into the pile, pushing everyone off-balance. They tumbled together. The tackle got bigger. Craig started toward them. Jill was on the bottom.
Jordan reached her first. He moved people aside until he finally pulled her out. She was dazed, but still smiling.
"I guess you're too little to play with the big boys," he said, lifting her up in his arms.
"It's the story of my life."
Before Craig could do something stupid like challenge Jordan to a fight, Jordan walked toward him, then Craig lifted Jill onto his shoulders. "You'd better keep her out of trouble."
Craig reached up and grabbed her thighs to hold her in place. "You okay up there?" he asked.
"I like the view. Am I too heavy?"
He chuckled. "Hardly. Did you get hurt in the tackle?"
"No, I'm fine."
Jill shifted to keep her balance. She'd never been on a man's shoulders before, but she liked it. She wasn't kidding about the view. She could see everything.
She rested a hand on Craig's head. His hair was soft and springy beneath her fingers. He held on to her thighs, and the feel of his fingers brushing against her bare legs sent tingles all through her body.
They moved to the sidelines to watch the game.
"What do you think of all this?" he asked as Danny was handed the ball and started to run.
"You have a wonderful family. I've never known brothers who are as close as you four. It's terrific."
"We got lucky about some things, although we fought like hell when we were growing up."
PART-TIME WIFE Page 16
