by Judy Duarte
“Then let’s go,” he said.
After she locked her door, he placed his hand gently on her back and escorted her to the Bronco, her heels clicking on the sidewalk, the cadence a sensual beat. He couldn’t help stealing more than one glance her way.
When he stopped to open the gate, he caught a whiff of her scent. Who knew a hint of lemon could be so arousing?
He did his best to rein in his libido so he could be the mannerly suitor he hoped to be. “I hope you’re hungry,” he said. “I heard Sebastian’s has an amazing menu.”
“Actually, I am,” she said. “I didn’t eat lunch. How about you? Are you hungry?”
“Ravenous.” Unfortunately, the growing hunger he felt couldn’t be sated by food.
Julie had never felt so special in her life. Adam opened the car door for her, both at her house and again when they reached Sebastian’s for dinner. He’d even pulled out her chair when the maître d’ escorted them to a white-linen-draped, candlelit table for two.
She’d dated several nice guys in college. She might have married Jake, until he joined the army. Not that she didn’t appreciate the military. She had the highest regard for them. But her dad’s violent outbursts, his depression and prescription drug abuse had taken a real toll on her. And she’d made up her mind not to risk living through something like that again by avoiding men who had dangerous jobs.
But after tonight, she might reconsider. She’d never dated anyone who had such impeccable manners. Nor someone who was so darn good looking.
Sitting across from Adam, enjoying the romantic ambiance and a meal to die for, she felt like a princess.
After the waiter served their food, Adam asked, “So how do you like working at Kidville?”
“It’s been challenging at times, but it’s also very rewarding. It would be nice to be on the payroll, but I’m glad I can volunteer.”
“Have you found another job yet?” he asked.
“No, but I have an interview tomorrow morning. It would be a good position, but I really hope something opens up at Kidville. I’ve really gotten close to Karen. And I can’t think of a better employer than the Hoffmans.”
“After the Rocking Chair Rodeo takes place this spring, things should look up for them financially.”
“That’s what Jim said.” Julie took a sip of wine.
“As long as you’re able to make ends meet,” he added, “I don’t blame you for waiting for things to come together.”
“Well,” she said, “it’s a bit of a struggle, but not too bad. The house payments are lower than I’d have to pay in rent. And I haven’t had to drain the savings account yet.”
She didn’t mind talking about herself, but she preferred to know more about him, about his life, his plans for the future.
“You must like Kidville, too,” she said. “You’ve been volunteering there for six months or so.”
“I guess it’s my way to pay it forward.”
She hadn’t seen that coming, and her fork paused in midair for a moment. But she quickly recovered. “You were in foster care?”
“Yeah. And I acted out, too. Just like Jesse. I had trust issues.” He shrugged. “Anyway, after I met Stan, my life turned around. And I started making better choices.”
“That’s the Stan who was your roommate?”
He nodded. “I...uh...” His words faltered, then he cleared his throat. “I owe that man a lot. And so I try to set the same kind of example to the kids that he set for me.”
“I’m impressed.”
“Don’t be. It’s just...” He shrugged a single shoulder. “Well, I’m not perfect. Far from it. But now I can ride in the front seat of a patrol car, instead of the back.”
He might be downplaying his own participation in turning his life around, but she still found his story admirable—him, too. There was a lot to like about Adam Santiago.
“It must have been especially tough on you when Stan died,” she said. “I didn’t realize that he was so much more to you than a friend and a roommate.”
His only response was to nod. A few moments passed before he spoke again. “It feels good to mentor a kid the way I was mentored. In fact, if all goes well, Jesse may end up in the same foster home as his brother, which was my goal for him.”
“I know what you mean,” she said. “I didn’t expect to grow so close to Eddie and Cassie. It warms my heart to see them smile and hear them giggle, especially Cassie.”
“If our plan works, they’ll end up living with you.”
“I hope so,” Julie said. “I’d even go so far as to adopt them. But with their mother out of the picture...” She didn’t see the need to finish. He knew what she meant.
“I have a friend running the DNA tests, but it takes time.”
“I’ll just be happy to be their foster mother,” she said.
They finished the rest of their meal in silence, although Julie caught Adam studying her over the rim of his wineglass on several occasions.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Not a darn thing.” He gave her one of his charming smiles, setting her heart on end.
She’d been wrong about him. He wasn’t the perpetual bachelor she’d imagined him to be. He was guarded, but she understood why. He’d had a sad childhood, much like the children who lived at Kidville.
After Adam paid the bill, she thanked him for a great dinner.
“It was my pleasure,” he said.
As he’d done before, he opened both doors for her, first the restaurant’s as they exited, then the Bronco’s.
“I like your car,” she said. “It’s a classic, right?”
“Yeah. Stan and I refurbished it one summer.”
She didn’t mention that she hadn’t expected him to be so mechanical, to work with his hands. Or to drive a vehicle like this. She’d envisioned him driving something fast and flashy, like a shiny red Corvette.
There was a lot about Adam that amazed her. In fact, the entire evening had taken her by surprise. Not that she hadn’t expected their date to be pleasant—or even enjoyable. But a couple of weeks ago, in her earlier musing, she never imagined sharing an evening like this with him. The romantic ambiance sparked a warm glow in her chest and a smile in her heart.
When they arrived back at her house, he walked her to the porch.
As they stood on the stoop, their gazes met and locked. Pheromones stirred between them. Julie suspected he was going to kiss her good-night.
Even in the soft yellow glow of the porch light, she could see him clearly. The intensity of his gaze, the hunger in his eyes, threatened to steal her breath away and melt her into a puddle if she didn’t look away. So she was surprised when he asked, “Julie, can I kiss you good-night?”
* * *
This was the first time Adam had ever asked for a kiss, the only time he’d ever felt the need to. He’d always known when a woman wanted one, and there was no doubt in his mind that Julie was ready and willing tonight. But he’d started out this evening as the perfect gentleman, and that was the way he wanted to end it.
He must have played his cards right, because a slow smile dimpled her cheeks and her eyes sparkled when she said, “You just read my mind.”
He slipped his arms around her waist, but he didn’t pull her close or move too fast. Instead, he merely held her, savoring her lemon-blossom scent before he slowly lowered his mouth to hers.
The kiss began slowly and tenderly, but when she parted her lips, his control faded.
Damn. He hadn’t meant to get carried away, but when her tongue touched his, he was toast. Every bit of his common sense, along with the suave, mannerly image he’d tried to project all evening, dissipated in the crisp night air.
How could something that started out so innocent and gentle become so hot and arousing?
He had no idea. B
ut one thing he did know. He was hell-bent on enjoying every moment of it.
Julie was the first to pull away, her cheeks flushed. “I...uh...don’t know what to say.”
Neither did Adam. For a guy who’d tossed out the idea of having a real honeymoon, he found himself running scared now. What would she expect from him?
She bit down on her bottom lip, then offered him a smile. “Would you...like to come inside?”
More than anything. But if he did, he wouldn’t be able to keep up the gentlemanly facade. After kissing her, he wanted more tonight. A lot more.
Even if she was willing—and he sensed she was—making love with her was going to be a real game changer, a move he really shouldn’t jump into without forethought.
“I’d like to,” he said, “but I really need to get home. It’s pretty late, and the last few days on the job have been grueling, so I need to get some shut-eye.”
That was true, of course, although memories of that kiss were bound to keep him awake for some time.
“I’ve had days like that,” she said. “In college, during my internships and on the job when I was a waitress, so I understand. Maybe next time.”
Would there even be a next time?
Should there be?
“Sure,” he said.
Rather than risk another goodbye kiss that would weaken his resolve, he turned and headed to his Bronco.
As he reached the vehicle, her front door opened then shut, signaling the end of their evening. You’d think he’d be proud of himself for doing the right thing.
So why was regret tearing him in two?
After retreating into the house, Julie remained in her living room, fingering her lips, memorizing the feel of Adam’s kiss.
It had happened organically, sweet and gentle at the start. But within a couple of heartbeats, it had erupted with a passion she hadn’t expected, one she’d never experienced.
Adam had kissed her senseless, weakening her knees to the point she’d had to hold him tightly for fear she’d fall to the ground if she didn’t.
Whether he was dressed in a Zorro costume, serving the city of Wexler as a police detective or spending time with the kids, he wasn’t just a bachelor on the prowl, as she’d once thought. He was a great guy.
He was also clearly more experienced than she was, and that kiss alone had promised sex would be out of this world.
So why hadn’t he wanted to come in?
Sure, he’d said he was tired, and she believed him. He’d also been a gentleman tonight. Yet something seemed...off.
Or was she just disappointed that he hadn’t brought up the idea of a honeymoon?
Okay, enough of that. She was putting way too much thought into this. He’d already gone above and beyond by marrying her so she could keep the kids.
She knew how she felt about him, but he might not be that confident. Besides, it was too early in the relationship to know for sure what was happening between them. She’d just have to let things play out day by day.
* * *
When Julie arrived at Kidville on Friday afternoon, she spotted Adam’s Bronco in the parking lot. As she headed toward the classroom, the sound of children’s voices and happy chatter diverted her path to the playground instead.
She didn’t see him at first, but after scanning the grounds, she spotted him talking to Jesse near the water fountain. Just the sight of him spiked her heart rate and set off a tingle in her veins.
“Hey, Miss Julie!” Eddie called out from the top of the slide. “You’re late. Me and Cassie were worried about you.”
She smiled and approached the sweet kid’s perch. “That’s because I had a job interview in Brighton Valley.”
His eyes grew wide, and his smile faded. “But you work here. You can’t work someplace else.”
How did she explain that she had a mortgage to pay, as small as it was?
“You’ll still see me here,” she said. “I love playing the guitar and singing with you guys.” She just wasn’t sure what her schedule would look like if she got an offer from The Traveling Minstrels, a company that provided music therapists to various convalescent and veteran’s hospitals, as well as to several schools in the area.
“Guess what,” Eddie said. “Ms. Kincaid came to see me and Cassie today. She said she’s going to find a home for us, but we don’t want to go anyplace else. We like it here. Will you please tell her to let us stay? She wouldn’t listen to me, but she has to listen to another adult.”
Julie didn’t dare tell the children that she was already doing her best to convince Ms. Kincaid to let them live with her because, if things didn’t work out, they’d be disappointed. And they’d undoubtedly been let down too many times in their lives already.
“Sure, I’ll give her a call.”
“You don’t have to call her,” Eddie said. “She’s in the office with Mrs. Hoffman now. So you can just go right in and tell her we don’t need another place to live. You’re a grown-up, so she has to listen to you.”
The social worker would make the final decision. And even though they’d already scheduled the home visit, that didn’t mean Julie couldn’t give it another shot. And an idea struck.
“All right,” she said. “I’ll go talk to her.”
Eddie brightened, then slid down the slide, his feet kicking up sand as he ran toward the swing set.
Before heading to the office, Julie stopped long enough to tell Karen what she was doing.
“Good luck,” Karen said.
Julie stole a glance at Adam, who was looking her way. If things worked out between the two of them, as she hoped they would, the kids would have more of an impact on his life, too. And she wasn’t sure how he’d feel about that.
Julie’s arrival at Kidville had been a little distracting. Just the sight of her made Adam’s pulse spike, but he shook it off the best he could and continued his talk with Jesse.
“I heard you went to visit Billy,” he told the boy. “I’m glad. I know how much you miss your little brother.”
Jesse nodded. “Yeah.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Okay, I guess.” Jesse studied his shoes for a moment, then looked up at Adam. “Billy has his own bedroom. And he has a basketball hoop in the backyard. They even have a cat named Patches. And when she purrs, if you put your hand on her, it feels like she has a little motor in her chest.”
“Cool. So he’s happy?”
Jesse shrugged a single shoulder. “He said he was. And his foster parents are okay.”
“I’d heard they were more than just okay. They’re some of the best in the system.”
Jesse remained silent for a couple of beats, then he kicked at the grass. “They said I could come back and visit again tomorrow. And that I can even spend the night.”
“That’s nice. They probably see that you’d be a good mentor to your brother. That you’d encourage him to make good choices.”
Jesse scrunched his face, then cocked his head and looked up at Adam. “Like you do with me?”
“Exactly. I think you’d be a great older brother—if you had more opportunities to see Billy.”
Jesse seemed to think on that for a while, then he nodded. “Yeah, I’d tell him not to get into trouble. And I’d make sure he got his homework done.”
Adam slipped his arm around Jesse’s shoulders. “I’m glad to hear that. I have faith in you.”
Jesse chuffed. “You’re the only one who does.”
“That’s not true. The Hoffmans see your potential, and so does Mrs. Wright. That’s why they try so hard to direct you. They want you to see yourself the way we all do. You’re a bright kid. And you could make this world a better place, like I’ve tried to do.”
Jesse glanced up at him. “You mean, I could be a cop?”
“Sure. Or a doctor. Or a sci
entist...”
“Me?” he asked, still clinging to the insecurities that made him rebel against life.
“Absolutely. Believe it or not, at one time, I was headed for Juvenile Hall, but a guy I met—my mentor—told me he’d seen that place and convinced me that I wouldn’t like it there.”
“Have you seen it?” Jesse asked. “Juvie, I mean.”
“Yep. And I know for a fact you wouldn’t want to go there.” Adam gave Jesse’s shoulders a warm squeeze. “I’ve seen you play baseball. You’ve got a lot of talent. If you continue to practice and do well in school, there’s nothing stopping you from being an All-Star and earning an athletic scholarship to college. But that’s up to you. It’s your choice. And when you grow up, you could be anything you wanted to be—an astronaut, a school teacher...”
Jesse tilted his head again, the shadows of the tree leaves dappling his face, and grinned. “I think I’d rather be a cop—like you.”
Warmth filled Adam’s chest to the brim, just as it must have done to Stan—back in the day. “That’s cool. If that’s what you decide, you’ll be a good one.”
“You really think so?”
“I know so. It’s my job to tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys. And you’re definitely a good one.”
About that time, Danny called out, “Hey, Jesse. You gonna play catch with me or not?”
“I better go,” Jesse said. “I told him I’d play with him, and like you told me, a promise is a promise.”
“That’s right. Now, go have fun.” Adam watched Jesse jog toward Danny, then he glanced at the office, where he’d seen Julie disappear a few minutes ago.
Why hadn’t she stayed on the playground? What reason did she have to talk to the administrators?
Curious, Adam crossed the playground, where Eddie was swinging.
“Hey, how’s it going?” he asked the boy.
“Good, I hope. But I don’t know yet.” Eddie stopped pumping his feet, and the swing slowed.
“What do you mean?”
Eddie looked to the office. “I won’t know for sure until Miss Julie gets back. She’s going to tell Ms. Kincaid that me and Cassie don’t want to move in with people we don’t know.”
