by Judy Duarte
Her gaze landed on the fireplace mantel, where two framed photographs—one of her parents’ wedding and the other of her dad in uniform—flanked a brass clock.
“I’ll need to add some pictures of the kids up there, but there’s no way I can do that before Ms. Kincaid arrives tomorrow.” Julie let out a ragged sigh.
“Relax,” Adam said. “The woman can’t expect miracles, especially when she hasn’t yet decided whose petition for custody she’ll support.”
He was right, she supposed. “I just want everything perfect.”
“I know.” He brushed a kiss on her brow that sent a tingle of warmth from her head to her heart. “Don’t worry. Once the kids are living here, you can take loads of pictures and put them all over the house. Other than a personal touch like that, we have everything else covered.”
“Let’s hope Ms. Kincaid agrees.” Because Julie had no idea what she’d do if that woman found her home unsuitable.
* * *
An hour later, Adam returned to Julie’s place, a small but appealing yellow house with redbrick trim and a green front door. A white picket fence enclosed a simple but well-manicured yard. It suited her.
He walked up the sidewalk with a brown bag in one hand and holding a canvas carry-on and Biscuit’s leash in the other. He didn’t like leaving the dog home too long. Whenever he expected to be gone any length of time, he asked a neighbor to check on her. But the woman, a kind-hearted widow, left on vacation today.
Adam yawned as he reached the front porch. The sun had set long ago. If he’d thought he was tired before, he was really winding down now. But he’d never been a quitter.
He knocked on the door.
The moment Julie spotted him on the porch and blessed him with a breezy smile, his heart took a soaring leap, jump-starting his lagging energy level.
“You’re back,” she said.
“I told you I wouldn’t take long. I hope you don’t mind that I brought the dog.”
“No, not at all.” Julie gave Biscuit a scratch behind the ears before stepping aside to let them inside.
“Did you get anything done while I was gone?” he asked.
“I put away the groceries and I washed the new sheets. I still have a load of clothes to wash, fold and put away. But you were right. Things might be coming together, but we probably won’t finish before midnight.”
His red, gritty eyes and his dragging body hoped it wouldn’t take that long. At the possibility that it might, his little burst of energy fizzled.
Julie stepped aside and let him into the house. “I can guess what’s packed in that overnight bag, but what’s in the paper sack?”
“I stopped by a liquor store on my way here and bought a bottle of champagne. I also picked up two fluted glasses.”
A smile stretched across her face. “So we’re celebrating?”
“Don’t you think we should?” He laughed. “Besides, if we leave the empty bottle and the glasses out for Ms. Kincaid to see, it’ll make a wedding night seem more believable.”
“Looks like you thought of everything.”
“I try. Besides, I’ve worked a few child welfare cases. I also know what my social workers used to look for when checking one of the homes I lived in.” He nodded toward the bay window and the front yard. “I have some shirts and pants on hangers in the car. I’ll go back for them and bring them in. Hopefully, you have some room in your closet.”
“I’ll make room.” She looked at the clock on the bureau. “It’s nearly nine o’clock. The beds should arrive soon.”
As if on cue, a diesel engine sounded outside, followed by a whoosh of air as the truck braked to a stop.
“That’s probably the deliverymen,” Julie said.
She was right. Moments later, the doorbell rang. By the time the men set up the beds in the kids’ room, and Adam hung up the last of his clothing in Julie’s closet, a beep sounded from the laundry room.
“Oh, good.” Julie brightened. “That’s the dryer. Those sheets must be done. I’ll get them.”
After they’d finished making the beds—and before Adam dropped in his tracks from sheer exhaustion—he removed the bottle from the refrigerator, popped the cork and filled two flutes. He returned to the living room, where Biscuit slept in front of an easy chair and Julie stood near the hearth, studying a family photo.
She turned away when he entered and smiled when she saw what he held.
“Let’s take a well-deserved break and celebrate.” He handed one of the glasses to Julie.
She thanked him, then took a seat on the sofa, leaving plenty of room for him. He sat next to her, close enough to catch a whiff of her lemon-blossom scent, close enough to touch. His libido stirred.
They hadn’t talked about sleeping arrangements, and while he’d like nothing more than to make love with her, he’d never let his hormones rule over his head before—and he wasn’t sure this was the time to start. Besides, taking a step like that with a woman like Julie might lead to him lowering his guard and allowing an emotional intimacy he never had with any woman.
Adam had always protected his independence and privacy. But for some reason he couldn’t figure out, he didn’t feel the need to do so with Julie.
“It was a big day,” she said. “And a busy one, but I think we’re ready for Ms. Kincaid’s visit tomorrow. The kids’ bedroom looks awesome and their new clothes are put away. Well, other than that last load in the dryer.”
He lifted his flute and studied the bubbles rising to the surface before taking a sip. He’d never really cared for champagne, but it seemed especially appropriate tonight.
“We make a good team,” Julie said.
They certainly did. And for the most part, the day had been fun—even shopping, which he usually hated.
Adam clinked his flute against hers in a toast. “Here’s to the kids and their new home.”
Before taking a sip, Julie added, “To the kids. And to you. I don’t think Ms. Kincaid would’ve even considered letting them live with me if we hadn’t gotten married.”
Adam reached for the champagne and replenished their glasses. He’d had his fill of the bubbly already, but he hated to waste it.
“What do you think about taking the kids on an outing this weekend?” Julie asked. “That way, if Ms. Kincaid talks to them, she’ll know we’re providing the kids with family activities and that they’ll be happy living with us.”
They’d certainly be happy with Julie. But she had a point. “Okay, let’s go camping on Saturday. And on Sunday, we can take them horseback riding at my buddy’s ranch.”
“I’m not the outdoorsy type,” she said, “but I’m a good sport.”
“You’d do that?” he asked. “Sleep outdoors in a tent?”
“For Eddie and Cassie? Yes.”
The thought of spending a romantic evening with Julie, after the kids went to bed...sitting under a canopy of stars, was more than a little appealing. “Just so you know,” she said, “I’ve never camped at all. I’ll try to carry my own weight, but you’ll have to give me some pointers.”
“Wear old clothes, boots or good hiking-type shoes, and bring a sweatshirt or jacket. It gets cold at night. I’ll bring the tents and the food.”
She arched a brow. “What kind of food?”
Damn. She wasn’t going to be a fussy eater, was she? “The plan is to fish for our dinner.”
“Ooh.” She scrunched her face and slowly shook her head.
“Don’t you like fish?”
“Actually, I do. But I’m not big on blood and guts, so I don’t want to have to clean them. And my mom used to say, ‘If you don’t help in the kitchen, you don’t get to eat.’”
“Don’t worry. I’ll clean them. But if it makes you feel better, I’ll have hot dogs in case the fish aren’t biting.” He lobbed a playful grin her way. �
�You’re not opposed to eating hot dogs, are you?”
“No, I can totally handle that.” She chuckled. “Tell me what I can bring.”
He wouldn’t let her contribute anything. Not when he had a full-time job and she didn’t. Besides, she wasn’t used to camping, and God only knew what kind of food she’d bring—possibly something totally inappropriate to cook or eat outdoors.
“No,” he said, “I got this. I’ll even bring the stuff to make s’mores for dessert.”
“Sounds good.” Her brow creased, and a shaky smile morphed into a frown.
“What’s the matter? You look doubtful, but you’re going to enjoy camping.”
“I don’t know about that.” She laughed. “I’m not the least bit athletic, but I promise to be a good sport.”
“I’m sure you will. Just agreeing to camp tells me you’ll make the best of it.”
“So where are we going?” she asked.
“Miller’s Creek. Stan used to take me there plenty of times. It’ll be a little rustic, but that’s what makes it fun.”
Her brow furrowed again. “What do you mean by rustic?”
“They have public restrooms, but not shower facilities. And we’ll have to cook over a campfire. But don’t worry. We’ll only be there one night. Besides, a little bit of dirt and perspiration never hurt anyone.”
“Okay.” She sucked in a breath, then blew it out. “I can do this.”
“I’m sure you can.”
Adam checked the time. It was a little late, but he called Jim Hoffman and told him their plan. As he’d expected, Jim thought it was a great idea.
“I’ll tell the kids at breakfast tomorrow morning,” Jim said.
When they ended the call, Adam decided not to call Matt about the ranch trip until morning. Matt’s uncle went to bed early, and Adam didn’t want to bother him tonight.
After they’d emptied the bottle, he asked, “Can you think of anything else we should do before Ms. Kincaid arrives?”
“Not much. Once that last load in the dryer is done and put away, we can turn in for the night.”
“Are you inviting me to stay?”
She paused for a couple of beats, then licked her lips. “Yes, I guess I am.”
“I’m glad.” He offered her a smile.
Her breath caught, as if having second thoughts.
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to check on the laundry.” She set her glass on the coffee table, then dashed off like a skittish filly.
Chapter Seven
Last night, after folding the last load of laundry and putting it away, Julie had returned to the living room, looking forward to ending the evening with Adam. That was, until she’d found him stretched out on the sofa and fast asleep, Biscuit lying on the floor beside him.
She’d been tempted to give him a gentle nudge and lead him to her bedroom, but she hadn’t. Not when she knew how tired he was and how badly he needed to sleep. So she’d brought him a spare pillow and an autumn-colored afghan her mother had made. She’d tried to carefully slip the pillow under his head without waking him, but he didn’t even stir when she tucked him in and brushed a kiss over his brow.
After locking up the house, she’d taken a shower and then gone to bed. Apparently, she’d been exhausted, too, because she didn’t wake up until morning. After making the bed, she brushed her teeth and combed her hair. Then she slipped on a robe, took her cell phone from the charger and padded to the kitchen to make breakfast and brew a pot of coffee.
She got as far as the living room, where Adam lay on his side on the sofa, embracing the pillow while sound asleep. She stopped in her tracks and marveled at his sleep-tousled hair, at his gorgeous profile.
They hadn’t slept together yet, as she’d hoped they might, but who knew what the day would bring. Besides, when they did make love for the first time, it would be best if they were both wide-awake and at the top of their game.
She had no idea how long she stood in the living room, admiring Adam and wishing he’d wake up on his own. But she’d better get moving. She didn’t want him to catch her gaping at him like a lovesick teenager.
Biscuit, who still lay on the floor beside the sofa, yawned, then got to her feet.
“Come on,” Julie whispered. “I’ll let you out in the backyard.”
She opened the sliding door for the dog, then closed it. She’d hardly taken a step toward the kitchen when her cell phone rang. She nearly jumped out of her skin, then quickly answered in a soft whisper. “Hello?”
“Mrs. Santiago?” Ms. Kincaid asked.
Julie glanced at the clock on the mantel. The woman was supposed to arrive in an hour. Was she going to come early? “Yes, it’s me.”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to reschedule my visit,” Ms. Kincaid said. “One of the girls on my caseload called in tears a few minutes ago. It’s not an actual emergency, but that child is overly sensitive and needs reassurance.”
“I understand.” And she did, but it would have been nice to know last night that they had some extra time to get the house in order.
“I’ve got back-to-back appointments the rest of the day, but I could come Monday morning.”
“Thank you. I...” Julie cleared her throat and corrected herself. “We’d all appreciate that.”
After ending the call, she turned to the sofa, where Adam had once lain and now sat.
“What’s going on?” he asked as he scrubbed a hand over his brow, brushing a hank of hair back in place.
“As bad luck would have it, Ms. Kincaid can’t make it this morning and rescheduled for Monday.”
Adam blew out a sleepy sigh. “Well, at least we’re ready for her.”
“That’s true.”
“And it’s just as well,” he said, “I have plans tonight that could stretch until tomorrow morning.”
Julie furrowed her brow. “What are you doing?”
“Taking you out to dinner.” A bright-eyed smile dimpled his cheeks. “And fixing you breakfast in bed—if you’re willing.”
“Oh, I’m definitely willing.”
“It’s not exactly the honeymoon we talked about,” he added, “but it’s the best I can do, under the circumstances.”
“It sounds perfect to me.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up around six. In the meantime, I’m going to take Biscuit home. I’ve got some things to do around the house.” He flashed her a dazzling smile and reached for his keys, his hair mussed, his clothing wrinkled.
“Don’t you want to shower first?” she asked.
“No, I’ll take one when I get home.”
Julie smiled as she watched him call Biscuit into the house, taking time to offer the dog some affection.
Thank goodness she hadn’t totally written Adam off as a flirt and a player when they first met.
He was showing real signs of being a family man—and a husband she could love with all of her heart.
* * *
The first thing Adam did when he got home was to go online and make dinner reservations at the new steakhouse in town. He was eager to see if it lived up to all the hype.
“You ready to eat?” he asked Biscuit.
Her bushy tail thumped against the floor, as if she’d understood what he’d said. And who knew? Maybe she had.
He made his way to the kitchen, where he opened a can of dog food—the kind the veterinarian had recommended—and mixed it with the dry chow. After setting the bowl on the floor, he reached into the fridge for a bottle of water.
As he chugged a long drink, quenching his thirst, he spotted the red light flashing on Stan’s answering machine. He crossed the room and pushed the play button to see who’d called.
“Hi, Stan. This is Lisa. I wasn’t able to attend that gala earlier this month, so I never did connect with Adam. And I’m afraid I misplac
ed his number. Can you let him know that I’ll be in town for a week and would love to connect with him? If he’ll call me and let me know when and where, I’ll make it work.”
She left her phone number, and Adam jotted it down on a Post-it note. But for some reason, he wasn’t eager to return her call, even though he’d promised Stan he’d meet her.
Instead, he ran a boatload of errands, finally getting home just before five o’clock.
He took a shower, shaved and got dressed, opting for a sports jacket. Then he drove to Julie’s house to pick her up. When he parked the Bronco at the curb, he took a moment to study the quiet neighborhood of homes built in the 1950s. It would be a good place to raise kids. And a nice place to come home to.
Whoa. He wouldn’t be living here. He shook off the thought of home and hearth and headed to the door.
He figured she’d be dressed and ready since it was about ten minutes after six already. He’d been prepared to see her dressed up, but he hadn’t expected her to be rocking a black cocktail dress and heels. It wasn’t quite the space girl costume of their first meeting, but it was still pretty damn sexy.
“I wondered if you’d gotten lost,” she said.
He was lost when it came to seeing her looking so classy and gorgeous, not to mention framed in the doorway like a piece of art. Her blond hair had been swept into an elegant twist, revealing a pair of pearl earrings. And she’d put on makeup tonight, but not a lot. Just pink lip gloss and enough mascara to make her pretty green eyes pop.
“You look great,” he said.
“Thanks. So do you.” He continued to study the change in her tonight. Not that she hadn’t always struck him as pretty. But dressed to the nines, she had a ladylike aura that demanded she be treated as one.
Adam had never put on any fancy airs, but he was determined to be the kind of gentleman Julie deserved this evening. At least, he would give it his best shot.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
She reached for a small clutch purse resting on a table near her door. “I am if you are.”
