A Family For Ronnie (Harlequin Treasury 1990's)

by Julie Caille

  The set of Luke’s mouth made her wonder if he thought so, too, but he only took her over to the counter and introduced her to two of his employees, Dave and Woody. Then he led her toward the back.

  “This is the big-screen TV area,” he explained. “And back here is where we do most of our small-appliance work.”

  “Hey, Luke!” A short, heavyset man in a worn blue T-shirt waddled around the corner, his ruddy cheeks creased in a smile. “Ronnie told me you were— Oh, jeez, is this the aunt from Boston?”

  For the first time, Luke’s hand touched the small of her back. “Yeah, Joey, this is Alicia. Alicia, this is my partner, Joey Gunn.”

  Alicia extended her hand. “Hi, Joey. Nice to meet you.”

  The chubby man grinned and bowed with old-fashioned gallantry. “Nice to meet you, too. Very, very nice,” he added, looking her up and down.

  Almost imperceptibly, Luke seemed to relax. “Don’t mind Joey,” he advised, “but don’t stand with your back to him, either. He thinks being half-Italian makes it okay to pinch women’s rears.”

  Joey slipped a pudgy arm around Alicia’s waist. “Now, honey, don’t you listen to a word this guy says. He wouldn’t know the truth if it kicked him in—”

  “Joey,” Luke warned.

  “The shins,” Joey finished innocently. He patted Alicia’s arm and let her go. “So what d’ya think of the place, eh?”

  Very conscious that Luke was listening, Alicia smiled. “It looks like you two have really built up a flourishing business.”

  “Yeah, we do a lot of TV repair. We do everything—stereos, microwaves, computer monitors. You name it, somebody here’ll know how to fix it.” Joey winked. “Got anything that needs fixin’?”

  “Not at the moment,” she said lightly. “Where did Ronnie go?”

  Joey jerked a thumb. “In the back office playing one of those computer games Luke bought him. Says he’s got to get to level five, whatever the hell that means. The kid’ll be putting me out of a job before I know it.”

  “Listen, Joey, can you entertain Alicia for a few minutes?” Luke interrupted. “I’ve got to pop a couple of chips into an IF circuit.”

  “Entertain?” Joey waggled his brows. “Hey, no problem. Take as much time as you need.”

  “And mind your manners, okay?”

  “Hands off, huh?” Joey bellowed a laugh. “You gettin’ territorial in your old age?”

  Alicia waited uncomfortably for Luke’s reply, but as usual his face gave nothing away.

  “I won’t be long” was all he said.

  * * *

  By the time they left the store, Alicia had garnered an earful of Joey’s opinions on a variety of topics, including his business partner. According to Joey, on a scale of one to ten, Luke rated about a twelve and a half. A smart woman would hang on to a guy like that, Joey had told her in a forthright tone. Alicia had maneuvered the conversation into other channels, but not before Joey had managed to slide in one more remark. Luke, he had disclosed, needed a wife to look after him.

  “Joey’s got a good heart,” Luke remarked as the three of them piled back into the Silverado. Then his tone sobered. “Actually, it isn’t so good. He had a heart attack last fall. It was a real mild one, but he smokes and he’s overweight so the next time could be fatal. His wife wants him to retire, but he won’t do it.”

  “Is his work strenuous?” Alicia inquired.

  “We don’t let him lift anything heavier than a pencil. He used to do repair work, but he gave that up.”

  “So what does he do?”

  “Management stuff. He keeps the books, places orders, schedules service calls.” Luke backed the truck out of the parking space and shifted gears. “Brain work and advertising,” he added. “He sends out coupons and flyers. I do the hiring and firing.”

  “You do a lot of repair work, too.”

  “It’s what I do best.” His quick look held a trace of defiance. “I like to work with my hands.”

  She gazed down at her fingernails, reminded that he had once called her a snob. He hadn’t understood her desire for a college education, hadn’t understood that she’d had no other choice, that the risk was too great. In her family, people went to college. They didn’t quit in their first semester to run away and get married. God, if she had done that, she could never have faced her parents.

  But she might have, she thought with the crystalline clarity of hindsight. If Luke had made her believe that he loved her, if she had known for sure that his feelings involved more than hot, physical attraction. If he had let her understand him. If he had invited her to step beyond the shadowed wall, to glimpse the hidden corners of his soul.

  At Willowbrook Mall, she suggested they split up, for the idea of shopping for a swimsuit with Luke seemed too stressful to contemplate. “It’ll be boring for Ronnie,” she explained lamely. “Why don’t we meet back here in an hour?”

  Ronnie tugged on Luke’s sleeve. “Can we go to the toy store?”

  “Sure, Ron.” Luke took the child’s hand in his large one, his inscrutable gaze on Alicia.

  She waited until he and Ronnie were out of sight, then started off in the opposite direction, frowning as she considered what type of suit she wanted. It couldn’t be too revealing because that simply wasn’t her style, but it couldn’t be too modest because it irked her to be called conservative. She wasn’t conservative, not exactly, but she didn’t intend to flaunt herself, either, as this California Babe person apparently did.

  Fifteen minutes later, she was heading for the dressing room in one of the large department stores, a half-dozen suits draped over her arm. Ironically, the skimpiest suit of all—a halter-top bikini in a tropical print—was the one that most became her. It came with a matching sarong, which made her feel both glamorous and exotic.

  Turning sideways, she scanned her reflection and, for a satisfied moment, imagined Luke’s eyes gliding over her, passion and tenderness in their slate gray depths. Then the fantasy shattered and her shoulders slumped. What good were fantasies? She’d never yet had one come true.

  She bit down hard on her bottom lip, willing herself to be strong, to be thankful for what she had. Yes, she had felt lonely and unloved, but her problems were insignificant compared to Ronnie’s. She had to stop feeling sorry for herself. And she had to stop thinking about Luke.

  She paid for the suit and was halfway back through the mall when she recalled her promise to call Nick as soon as she was settled. Maybe it was a promise she shouldn’t have made, since their so-called relationship didn’t seem destined to develop into something that could last a lifetime. Maybe this separation would have been a good way to end things between them. Still, a promise was a promise. Nick was a good and decent man, and he didn’t deserve to be forgotten.

  No matter what, she would call him tonight.

  * * *

  Luke studied the jagged line of pine trees silhouetted against the night sky. His elbows propped on his knees, he forced himself to sit motionless on the hard wooden bench, his restless energy held rigidly in check. His instinct was to pace, but that would have drowned out the sound of Alicia’s voice on the other side of the wall.

  He couldn’t make out most of the words, so he wasn’t exactly eavesdropping. He was just relaxing on his back porch, breathing in the muggy night air, listening to the hum and chirp of the night insects.

  And Alicia’s phone conversation.

  The kitchen phone wasn’t portable, but it had a long cord; he could tell she’d taken it around the corner into the living room. He guessed that she was sitting in the overstuffed chair, located just a few inches away on the other side of the wall behind him. If he were a gentleman, he’d move away.

  He didn’t budge.

  Closing his eyes, he strained to hear what she was saying. A few minutes ago he’d caught the words, “I hope you weren’t worried,” but since then he’d grasped only tone and inflection and a few disconnected phrases.

  His teeth clenche
d as he thought of Nick Easton. The guy probably owned a Cadillac, wore designer suits and read The Wall Street Journal over breakfast. He’d have lily-white hands and a salesman’s smile and muscles like limp rubber bands. He’d also have money, more money than Luke would earn in a lifetime.

  When he heard her say goodbye, he still didn’t stir. He didn’t want her to know that he knew she was finished. He didn’t want her to think he was interested because then she might think that he cared. And he didn’t care, not one damned bit.

  His lip curled. Heck, if she wanted to get involved with another arrogant, overpaid, overeducated turkey, it was her business. On the other hand, if she thought she and this Easton guy were going to take Ronnie and waltz off into the sunset as a threesome, she had better think again.

  When he was certain she had gone upstairs, he rose and headed for the road. Out of old habit, he picked out constellations as he walked—Ursa Major and Cassiopeia hugging the horizon, the North Star winking from its perch at the tip of the Little Dipper. Years ago, he’d been able to recognize a lot more—Andromeda, Draco, the twelve signs of the zodiac. Richard had taught him during the summer between his freshman and sophomore years at Harvard. Luke had been thirteen at the time. Still a troublemaker. Still struggling to come to terms with his legal adoption into the Garrick family. Still hostile and suspicious.

  God, how he missed his brother. Richard’s death had left a hole in his heart like a vast, desolate crater on some far-distant moon. Luke considered the comparison with twisted lips. No, it didn’t fit. A lifeless thing shouldn’t be able to ache as he ached. He had to accept. Richard was gone. Caroline was gone. And nothing could bring them back.

  He hadn’t felt like this since the day Alicia had returned his ring. The day she’d announced in a quavery voice that he’d be better off without her. Of course, he’d known what she’d really meant was that she’d be better off without him. He’d understood that she’d been trying to spare his feelings, but it hadn’t worked. She’d seen him as a loser, just as three sets of foster parents had seen him as a loser. And now she was back in his life. Haunting him.

  Damn her.

  He’d taken her to the store for one purpose only—to watch her face when she saw that it was a thriving business, not some two-bit repair shop. His mouth tightened. Okay, so she’d seen it. She’d even said she was impressed. So why wasn’t he satisfied? For years he had wanted to shove his success in her face, to let her know she’d been wrong about him. But now that he had done so, the victory seemed hollow.

  Frowning a little, he slapped at a mosquito buzzing near his cheek. Maybe it was just that he was past all that now. Like Alicia, he’d grown and matured. Changed. He understood why he’d been so slow as a child, why he hadn’t been able to read the way the other children could read. He accepted that he was different rather than dull witted. He knew his strengths. But while understanding helped, it had never quite chased away the shadows, the sense of inadequacy. The knowledge that he couldn’t do what came so easily to most people.

  He thought then of his father, the father who had abandoned Luke’s mother, then refused to send money even when she was ill. The father who had failed to come to his wife’s funeral, failed to come and claim his children. The father he now knew was long dead and buried.

  He could do better. He would do better.

  With Ronnie.

  Chapter Four

  “I can’t tell you how glad I am that you’re here,” Sharon Redford confided as she separated Alicia from the group standing around the swimming pool. The two children were already splashing in the water, and the noise level was rising. “Come on, we can chat while I get things ready.”

  Put at ease by Sharon’s friendly manner, Alicia followed the attractive, dark-haired woman into the kitchen, where the unmistakable signs of children and family were everywhere. A twinge of envy assailed her, the same twinge she always experienced when entering her friend Gail’s house. The similarities were obvious—a dozen childish drawings tacked to the refrigerator by “Sesame Street” magnets, crayons and cookie crumbs on the table, toys and shoes scattered on the floor. Tangible reminders of motherhood’s rewards, duties and pleasures.

  “Is there something I can do to help?” Alicia asked.

  “Just keep me company while I do a couple of things. Thanks to my husband, most of the food’s prepared. Did Luke tell you Jim is a chef?”

  “No, he didn’t.”

  Sharon removed several containers from the refrigerator and set them on the counter. “He works for one of the big hotels out by the airport. It’s a long commute, but Jim insists we live near my job rather than his.” She threw a grin over her shoulder as she rinsed three ripe red tomatoes. “He knows how much I hate to drive.”

  “What do you do?” Alicia asked curiously.

  “I’m the local school librarian. I love kids, and it works out great as far as my son, Brian, is concerned since I’m always around when he needs me.” She picked up a knife and started slicing. “I guess you know that Luke asked me to watch Ronnie after school.”

  “Yes, he mentioned that,” Alicia replied with more coolness than she intended.

  Sharon cast her a shrewd look. “You’re not happy with that arrangement.”

  “It’s nothing personal,” Alicia explained. “It’s just that we haven’t yet decided who Ronnie will be living with. I’d hoped to take him back to Boston with me, and Luke would like to keep him here.”

  Sharon’s pretty brown eyes filled with sympathy. “It’s a tough decision, isn’t it? Poor little kid. I couldn’t believe the news when I heard. I’m so sorry, Alicia.”

  “Thank you. Did you know my sister?”

  “I met her once. She was a lovely woman, very pleasant to talk to.” Sharon hesitated. “I had the impression she worked most of the time.”

  “Caroline was always a very hard worker,” Alicia agreed. She glanced toward the window, but the only man she could see from here was Sharon’s brother-in-law, Michael. “What about Luke? How long have you known him?”

  “Oh, more than a year now. Gosh, hasn’t that man told you anything? My tire went flat right outside his house on one of the hottest weekends of the decade. Brian was with me, and Ronnie was there in the house with Luke, so the two kids played while Luke changed my tire.” She set down her knife and arranged the tomatoes on a platter. “Of course, I can change my own tires,” she added impishly. “But if I can get a big, strong man to do it for me, why bother?”

  Alicia couldn’t help smiling. “Men do prove useful at times.”

  “They sure do. Anyway, after Luke finished with the tire, I invited him and Ronnie over for a swim. He accepted.” Sharon gave a chuckle. “Jim was a little surprised when he came home and found a strange man in our pool.”

  Alicia laughed. “Were you in trouble?”

  “Nah, Jim hasn’t got a jealous bone in his body. He and Luke hit it off right away, though they really don’t have a whole lot in common. Luke is Mr. Fixit, and my husband has never been able to fix anything but gourmet meals. However,” Sharon added with a twinkle, “they’re both big Rockets fans. When it comes to men, sports seem to be the universal glue.”

  “It must be wonderful to have a husband who can cook.”

  “Oh, it is. It’s just that sometimes I wish he wasn’t such a big klutz. My poor darling can barely change a light bulb on his own. I’ll tell you one thing. The woman who marries Luke Garrick is going to be one lucky lady.”

  “So you think Luke will settle down someday?” Alicia made sure the question sounded casual, as though she hadn’t any real interest in the matter. Which she didn’t, of course, except where it pertained to Ronnie.

  “I sure hope so. I’d hate to see him go on the way he is. He seems to lead such a lonely life.”

  Alicia thought of the photo she’d seen on Luke’s dresser. “But surely he must have a girlfriend,” she said, her tone as offhand as she could make it.

  “I suppose he mus
t. There was a woman named Margie for a while. And I think there was a Sue and a Lucy, but they didn’t last long.” She shot Alicia a penetrating look. “I don’t blame you for being interested. He’s a fine man.”

  Alicia lowered her gaze to the ringless fourth finger of her left hand. “I’m not interested. In fact, the last thing I’m looking for right now is a romantic relationship.”

  “Too bad. You and Luke together would have been the perfect solution.”

  “You mean because of Ronnie?”

  “I guess that’s what I meant.” Looking embarrassed, Sharon put a handful of dirty silverware into the dishwasher. “Forgive me for being so pushy. Jim says I sometimes think with my mouth instead of my brain, and he’s right.”

  “I wasn’t offended.” Alicia looked down at the floor, then something made her blurt out, “Actually, I was once engaged to Luke, but...it didn’t work out.”

  “You were?” Sharon swung around in surprise. “No kidding?”

  “No kidding. When we were much younger. I was just starting college and he was getting ready to move to Houston.” Alicia’s chest felt hollow as it always did when she thought of that period of her life.

  “Wow.” Sharon leaned back against the counter, her elbows resting on the edge. “Wow,” she repeated, shaking her head. “So it’s really awkward for you now, I guess.”

  “Yes, rather. You won’t mention it, I hope.”

  “You mean I can’t tell Jim? Darn!”

  Alicia glanced out the window again, making sure Luke was still where she thought he was. “That’s up to you. But I’d prefer that Luke doesn’t know I told you. Not that it could matter to him after all this time, but...”

  “I understand.” Sharon’s conspiratorial smile contained an element of speculation. “Believe me, I understand.”

  Before she could say anything more, a door slammed shut somewhere toward the front of the house, and a distant female voice called, “Yoo-hoo, I’m home! I gotta go shower and change and then I’ll be down!”