by Lori Foster
A rectangular, somewhat dilapidated building stood about forty feet off the shoreline. A storage shed? It looked too large for that and mirrored the styling of the house. An enormous crow circled the outbuilding, then landed on the roof.
Joe’s chest expanded with some strange emotion. It felt like … contentment. Yeah, that was it. Despite his injuries, his disgust at the situation he’d walked into and Luna’s continued rejection, he could feel himself relaxing more than he had in a year. Nature always had that effect on him. That’s why he liked to fish. Whenever he was on the water, surrounded by woods, he felt at peace and right with the world. The fresh air and the sounds of birds and rustling leaves had a way of blocking out the uglier things that usually made up his life.
He turned back around to survey his new room. The cot was bare, so he’d need to rustle up sheets and a pillow somewhere. The dresser was rickety, but it’d hold his clothes. First things first, though. He opened the patio doors to let in the fresh air, then went about putting away his things. The door that he thought would lead to a closet instead led to a small bath.
Joe put away his shaving gear, splashed his face, and finally felt ready to face the barracudas. Luckily, Luna was just entering the kitchen at the same time. She gave him a sunny smile, and he noted that Julie Rose also appeared pleased. Apparently, they’d come to a mutual decision. That relieved him.
Joe held out a chair for each woman before seating himself at the only empty chair at the head of the table. Dinah passed around a platter of sandwiches and poured iced tea in tall glasses.
“This looks delicious,” Joe said, determined to be polite. He took a bite of the chicken salad and started to nod in appreciation—and he felt a foot in his lap.
Joe choked.
Looking up from her food, Luna frowned in concern. “Are you all right?”
He nodded, wheezed, and felt a set of toes curl into his crotch before sliding along the length of this thigh, and finally leaving him.
Still a little stunned, Joe grabbed up his tea and took a long drink. Who the hell had … ?
Patricia, sitting to his left, leaned over to rub him on the back, saying sweetly, “My goodness, Joe. Are you okay?” Her hand drifted low, almost to his ass as she continued to stroke him.
On his other side, Dinah stood to hand him a napkin. “Here, let me help.” She leaned into him, pressing her boobs into his ear.
Both women wore innocent looks, even while fawning all over him. Joe looked at Luna, hoping it might have been her toes he’d felt, but she just scowled at him for all the attention the other two gave him.
He glanced at Julie Rose with serious doubts. She raised her brows without much interest. “You really should chew your food.”
“Uh …” To escape the women, Joe pushed his chair back in a rush and came to his feet. Patricia and Dinah backed up; Julie and Luna stared. “I’ve been sitting all day. I think I’ll stand.”
“While you eat?” Luna asked.
“Yeah.” He picked up his plate and paced over to the counter. “Go ahead with your lunch. I’m fine.”
Patricia seemed surprised by his behavior, but she rallied. “Well, as I was about to say, I had planned to leave within the hour. I’m anxious to meet with my fiancé again. He’s in Illinois, waiting for me.”
“Great,” Joe said, at the same time Luna asked, “You’re leaving so soon?” She glared at Joe, then added, “Don’t you think the kids need a little time to get used to Joe and me?”
Dinah waved a hand in dismissal. “We don’t want to hold Patricia up.” She smiled at Joe. “Besides, I’ll still be here, but really, it won’t matter. The kids go out of their way to be difficult.”
“They’ve never had a father figure,” Patricia added. “No one even knows who their real father is, and no other man is willing to take them on.”
“But they need a firm hand,” Dinah added. “They’re a bother to everyone in town. It’s downright embarrassing how we’re all treated by association.”
Julie threw down her napkin. “That is not true. The children are simply—”
A door slammed, interrupting whatever Julie might have said. Running feet sounded in the hall and seconds later a small, towheaded child slid to a halt in the kitchen. He was without a shirt and his bare toes were dirty. He stared up at Joe, his dark brown eyes huge, then looked at Patricia. “Who is he?”
Joe started to smile. The boy’s too-big shorts hung low on narrow hips, his mop of fair hair was tangled by the sun, wind and water, and he was tanned a nut brown. The little ruffian really was cute. Then Joe noticed a small detail, and he felt his temper spark.
Beneath the dirt on the boy’s face shone a fresh, swelling black eye. Someone had struck him, and all of Joe’s protective instincts kicked into high gear.
Chapter Seven
Joe thunked down his plate and moved forward with a purpose. When he reached Austin, the boy backed up a pace before planting his feet apart and facing off. His defensive stance gave Joe pause. He hesitated, aware of the silence behind him. He touched the boy’s chin, tilting his face. It wasn’t easy, but he kept his voice calm and moderate. “What happened to you?”
The small chin lifted another inch, and the big eyes narrowed. “Nothin’.”
Patricia came out of her chair in a rush. “Austin Calder! You’ve been fighting again, haven’t you?”
Austin glared at her. “No.”
Dinah made a rude sound. “Disobedient and a liar.”
“That’s enough.” Luna pushed back her chair and went to Joe’s side. She touched the tangled mop of hair. “Austin, I’m your cousin, Luna Clark. I’m glad you’re here.”
Austin shifted his hostile gaze to her. “Yeah? How come?”
She smiled at the challenge in his voice. “Because I want to get to know you, that’s how come. Since we’ll be living here together, don’t you think that’s a good idea?”
“I dunno.”
A young girl stepped into the kitchen. Unlike Austin, she was neatly dressed, her long, straight blond hair smooth and untangled. She wore shorts and a tank top and sandals. Her eyes, however, were as dark and uncertain as her brother’s.
Luna looked up in surprise. “Willow?”
The girl nodded and came into the kitchen, casting one quick, assessing look at the other people in the room. She stopped in front of her brother, and much as Joe had done, she tipped his chin, then made a tsking sound. “You never learn, Austin.”
Austin shook a fist. “He’s got more bruises than me.”
Joe smothered a laugh. Damn, but the little guy amused him. Sort of reminded him of himself at that age. Austin was small for nine and skinny as a beanpole, but now that Luna was here, she’d put some meat on the boy.
Willow sighed. She took Austin’s hand and led him to the porcelain sink, then went about wetting a cloth in very cold water. She wrung it out and pressed it to her brother’s eye. He obediently held it in place.
Joe didn’t know what to think about the girl. If Austin looked small for nine, Willow looked decidedly developed for fourteen. Imagining the job Luna would have keeping the boys away from her, he shuddered. She was a cutie, no way around it, and unfortunately, he knew how boys thought—having been that age once himself.
Willow eyed him. “Who are you?”
Gallantly polite, Joe held out a hand. “I’m Joe Winston. I came with Luna.”
Her small hand was cool and soft, but firm. “You’re her boyfriend?”
“I’m working on it.”
Luna laughed too loud, giving away her discomfort with that particular topic. “He’s a friend, Willow. You mentioned some trouble in the area and Joe is good at handling trouble.”
“Much like your little brother here.” Joe squeezed Austin’s shoulder.
Patricia looked scandalized. “For God’s sake, don’t encourage either of them.”
Julie muttered, “God forbid anyone be encouraging.”
Joe liked Julie more and
more by the minute. She was outspoken, stiff, and as genuinely concerned for the children as Luna. And at the moment, an ally seemed like a good idea.
Luna knelt down by Austin. “Okay, kiddo. Spill it. How’d you get the black eye?”
“Probably annoying someone,” Dinah sneered, but she shut up when Luna fried her with a look from those golden brown eyes of hers.
Austin looked very undecided, and finally Willow took pity on him. “I was walking home when some guys decided to give me a hard time. Austin has a habit of trailing behind me, playing guard dog.” She cast her brother a chastising look, which he pointedly ignored.
Joe crossed his arms over his chest. “Why does he need to guard you?”
She shrugged. “Ever since … since Mom died …” She glanced around the room, uncomfortable but determined. “Ever since then, the boys have decided I’m fair game.”
“It’s because she’s led them to that impression,” Patricia claimed.
The look of disdain Willow directed toward Patricia was far too cynical for a girl her age. “I dated a guy once, and he started bragging. Most of what he said was lies, but everyone believed him anyway.” She again looked at her aunt. “Including Patricia.”
Before Patricia could comment, Joe stated the obvious. “You’re too young for dating.”
“I’ll be fifteen soon.”
Joe nodded. “Too young.”
Luna shushed him with a touch on his wrist. “So these boys came up to you and said something unkind, and Austin intervened?”
As if taking her measure, Willow studied Luna, then sighed again. “We might as well sit down if you really want the whole story.”
Dinah objected. “You’re interrupting our lunch, young lady.”
Joe’s mouth fell open, then just as quickly snapped shut. He’d had enough. “Dinah, I don’t think we’ll be needing your services. Luna is a great cook, and I’ll be here to help her keep house.”
Dinah sputtered. “I beg your pardon?”
Luna wasn’t quite so tactful. “You’re fired.”
Dinah stared at Joe in blank surprise, then quickly transferred her gaze to Luna. “This is absurd!”
Joe waited to see if Luna would cast an evil spell on her or laugh. It was a toss-up which way she might go. She did neither, asking simply, “Do you need help packing?”
For one moment, Dinah’s face turned bright red and Joe thought she might implode. Then she threw a mean, hate-filled look at the children and stalked out.
Patricia pressed a hand to her chest. “Oh, my. That was certainly unpleasant, and perhaps ill advised.” She appealed to Joe, and he just knew that was going to set Luna off again. “Dinah can be pushy, I know, but she came to me highly recommended. She’s here every day without fail, and only complains about the kids a little. You may not realize exactly how messy and disruptive children can be. Why, they track in mud from the lake and have endless loads of laundry, and they’re forever hungry—”
“Yeah,” Joe said, interrupting her while keeping a cautious eye on Luna. She could be so damn unpredictable. “You said you were in a hurry to go, too, right?”
Both children stared at him with owl-eyed expressions. Luna actually laughed, surprising him. She took Patricia’s hand and patted it in sympathy. “It would be for the best. We’d like to get settled and spend some time getting acquainted with the kids. And you did say your intended was waiting for you. So really, why make him wait?”
Smug at the turn of events, Julie left the table. “Come along, Patricia. I’ll see you out.” The two women trailed away, leaving Joe and Luna alone with the kids.
Joe rubbed his hands together. Seeing Luna in action was pretty exciting. She was one surprise after another, and he enjoyed every moment. “Now. Let’s figure out what the hell is going on here.”
Luna wanted to hug Joe for backing her so completely. She’d first thought it might be helpful to have Patricia hang around, to acclimate the kids to yet another change. But it hadn’t taken her long to see they had no real rapport, and that Patricia had no care for their sensibilities. They’d all be better off muddling through alone.
Joe nodded to both kids. “I feel better already. Either of you hungry? We can talk while we eat. Sit down and dig in.” He dropped into his seat, tossed one tiny sandwich into his mouth, and smiled while he chewed.
Luna urged Austin into a chair. She didn’t want to smother him with concern, but she couldn’t help wincing at the sight of his black eye. “Does it hurt?”
“What? My eye?” His disgruntled tone let Luna know exactly what he thought of her concern. “Naw. It’s nothin’.” He ducked away from her hands, twisting in his chair.
Joe pointed a finger at him. “I know it’s macho for men to deny pain—I do it all the time myself. But when you’re around a woman who really cares, it’s pretty cool to have her coddle you a little.”
Austin made a face. “No way. That’s for sissies.”
Joe laughed. “Did you just insult me, boy?”
Austin looked so horrified by that prospect, Luna rushed to reassure him. “Joe here got beat up not long ago. He’s let me take care of him.”
Both kids blinked in surprise, looking first at Luna, then with skepticism at Joe.
Cautiously, Willow asked, “Because you really care about him?” which left Luna with an open mouth and not much to say. She did care about Joe, but admitting it to him would only encourage him.
Austin saved her by asking Joe, “You really got beat up?” and he sounded very dubious at that idea. Luna didn’t blame him. The idea of anyone getting the better of Joe was pretty hard to swallow, with him so big and commanding and hard.
“Yeah.” Joe stood and lifted his shirt. “Some sneaky thug got in a few sucker punches.”
Austin whistled in awe. Joe’s bruises had darkened to purple and black and pea green. “Wow, looks like a lot of sucker punches.”
“That’s because he passed out.”
Joe threw a pickle slice at Luna. “I did not pass out. I got knocked out. There’s a huge difference, woman, and I’ll thank you to remember it.”
Willow watched them with wide, cautious curiosity. “I think you’re both nuts.”
“Luna is definitely nutty, but it’s part of her charm.” Joe caught the pickle when she tossed it back to him, then he ate it. “Now, tell us what happened, okay? We want to help.”
Austin came out of his chair in a rush, his small fist again in the air. “Some asshole called Willow a whore, and I slugged him.”
Luna and Joe went mute at the passionate, colorful statement from the mouth of a nine-year-old.
Willow gasped, and her face bloomed with color. “Austin! Watch your language.”
“He is an asshole,” Austin declared. “I hate him. Next time I’m gonna break his nose.”
It was all Luna could do not to laugh out loud. She cleared her throat and fought off her smile. “Yeah, well, if he called your sister that, I agree. But you still don’t need to be saying such things.”
Thoroughly disgruntled, Willow settled back in her chair. “Mom never let him talk like that, but Patricia mostly just ignores him.”
Austin glared. “That’s cuz Patricia is a—”
Interrupting what would surely be another awesome insult, Joe said, “You know what I like to call people like that?” He leaned back in his chair. “Besides thugs, I mean?”
Austin instantly became attentive. “What?”
“Worm, slime, bottom feeder—”
“Dicks,” Austin offered.
Joe laughed again. He looked at Austin’s innocent expression and laughed until he had to wipe his eyes. After she’d worked so hard to fight off her own chuckles, Luna glared at him. “Joe …” she said in warning.
“Sorry.” With that slight grin still tipping the corners of his mouth, he said to Austin, “No, that’s as bad as asshole, and besides the fact that you’re way too young for that kind of language, it’s also rude to talk that way in
front of ladies. You don’t want to be rude, do you?”
Austin peered at both females and gave a shrug of indifference.
“Of course you don’t. So if you have to insult someone, use your imagination, okay?”
Scratching his ear, Austin concentrated for a moment, then said, “What about scab, toe jam or snot?”
Willow groaned, but Joe nodded, his eyes alight with laughter. “Perfect. See, you can be man enough to cut out the swear words and still put him in his place.”
“But,” Willow interjected, “you’re not man enough to attack him every time he says something ugly to me.”
“I’ll find a big stick next time. Or maybe a rock. Or …”
Willow huffed in exasperation. To Luna, she said, “I walk to town every day and one way or another, the guys find me, even when I try to cut through the woods like I did today. They like to nettle me because Austin always gets so riled.”
“They pester you cuz you’re pretty and they want to do nasty things to you.” Austin turned his shrewd gaze on Joe for confirmation. “Ain’t she pretty?”
Joe’s expression softened, and he gave a slight nod. “Very.”
Satisfied, Austin turned back to Luna. “Willow looks like our mom.”
Solemn, Joe said, “Then your mom must have been very pretty.”
Both children became subdued, so Luna tried to move the conversation forward. “Why are you walking to town?” She no sooner asked the question than Willow got evasive and looked away. “Willow?”
“She takes piano lessons,” Austin offered.
“Really?” Why did she act so secretive about it? Luna wondered. “So you’re a musician? I’m impressed.” No reaction. Luna sighed. “Why are you walking, Willow? Especially when you know there’s likely to be trouble?”
“Because no one’ll drive her.”
Willow appeared ready to choke her brother. “I have a mouth, rodent, so quit speaking for me.”