by Lori Foster
Willow nodded. “I can take my piano lessons in the afternoon. That’d work out, don’t you think?”
“Who teaches the lessons?” Luna wanted to find the person and offer thanks. At least Willow had had some constructive influence in her life. Hopefully, it could be arranged so that the schooling and the music lessons would all fit in.
Julie raised her brows. “Why, I do. And she’s an excellent pupil.”
“Aunt Patricia said we couldn’t afford lessons,” Willow confided. “Ms. Rose teaches me for free.”
Amazingly, Julie actually blushed. To hide it, she grew even more prudish. “It’s my pleasure. You’re a delightful and talented student. What type of teacher would I be if I ignored that?”
Touched, Luna smiled at her. “You’re obviously a wonderful teacher.”
“Yes, I like to think so.”
“And from now on, we’ll pay.”
Julie didn’t argue the point. “That’d be fine.” She tipped her head toward Willow. “I’m relieved I can still work with her, but it’s always concerned me that she walked to and from town. I didn’t like it at all. I decided today was the last time, which is why I drove directly here to discuss it with Patricia yet again. She refused to see it as a problem.”
It was a good thing she’d sent Patricia away, because Luna felt volatile with anger. Smiling wasn’t easy, but she managed. “I’m not at all like Patricia.”
Julie eyed her colorful peacock earrings, her shimmering purple tank top and the numerous rings on her fingers. “Yes, I can certainly see that.”
She didn’t sound insulting, so Luna just nodded. “We’ll make sure Willow has a ride at whatever time you think will work best.”
“Wonderful. We’ll start school next Monday, say nine o’clock? That’ll give you all week to get acquainted with the children and to get settled in.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Julie stood. “I should be going now.” She offered Luna her hand. “It’s been a pleasure making your acquaintance.”
“Same here.”
Next, she stuck her hand out to Joe. “Mr. Winston. Thank you.” After a brisk, man-to-man handshake, Julie headed out. Luna was relieved to see that other than a perfunctory farewell, Julie had no interest in Joe.
With only the slightest limp and a crooked smile, Joe walked with them to the door. On the way, they discussed Julie’s fees—which Luna considered reasonable—and Luna invited her to come back at any time to visit. She had a feeling that even though Julie was new to the area, she could prove a good source of information.
On the front porch, Willow hung by Julie’s side, anxiously asking questions about what they’d study, how much time they’d spend together. Austin still had reservations, until Julie told him they’d start with science, which included collecting and studying bugs from around the area.
Because she patiently answered all of Willow and Austin’s questions, it was another fifteen minutes before Julie was able to leave. Her car had just disappeared from sight when a loud, sporty jeep turned down the driveway, kicking up gravel and dust and filling the air with loud music from the car stereo.
Willow glanced at the approaching vehicle, alert, cautious. Like a rabbit frozen in the headlights, she went utterly still. Her voice dropped to a near whisper. “That’ll be Clay Owen and his buddies, Darren and Lee.”
Luna put an arm around her. “The boys who bothered you earlier today?”
Willow nodded.
Eyes lighting up with anticipation, Joe rubbed his hands together. “Perfect timing.” He went down the porch steps and across the yard to greet the young men.
Knowing Joe would likely do more cursing, Luna turned to the children. “You two should wait inside.”
“No way.” Austin leapt down the porch steps in one bound to land beside Joe. He attempted to mirror Joe’s stance with his skinny legs braced apart and his arms folded over his bare chest.
Willow shook her head at her brother. “If I can keep him alive till he hits his teens, it’ll be a miracle.”
Both amused and sympathetic at Willow’s awesome task, Luna hugged her. Willow stiffened, but she didn’t pull away. Luna chose to see that as progress. “You’ve done an awesome job so far. But now that I’m here, maybe I’ll be able to help.”
“Maybe.” The jeep came to a halt. After a contempt-filled glance at the boys, Willow went back to the door. “I’ll wait inside.” Without looking back, she said to Luna, “Good luck.” The screen door closed with a bang behind her.
She’d need some luck, Luna thought, watching Joe smile in anticipation. She decided to join him and strolled down the steps to stand on Austin’s other side.
Unaware of the pending confrontation, Clay Owen cut the engine. After the disruptive music, the sudden silence exaggerated the throbbing tension in the air. For several moments, Clay sat behind the wheel studying Joe with curiosity.
Luna had to admit he was a good-looking young man. Dark brown hair, a summer tan and an athlete’s strong body probably made him popular with most of the girls. Like a prizefighter’s belt, he wore his cockiness with a pretentious show of pride.
One boy sat in the passenger seat beside Clay, his long, muscular arms spread out along the seat back. The other boy was behind them, without a seat belt, his feet propped up on the seat beside his friend’s arms. They were drinking colas, wearing dark aviator-style sunglasses and ball caps turned backward.
Finally taking his gaze off Joe, Clay glanced around, apparently looking for Willow. He opened the jeep door and climbed out. Shielding his eyes with one hand, he stared up at the house. “Is Willow around?” he asked of no one in particular.
Austin puffed up like a rooster ready to defend the hen house. “You’re in big trouble, Clay.”
He pulled off his sunglasses to reveal penetrating, dark green eyes. “That right, squirt?” He laughed and started to swagger toward the house, unconcerned with Austin’s anger.
He drew up short when Joe casually moved forward, putting himself in the way. Clay stopped so abruptly, he spilled some of his cola. “Hey.”
Clay was a tall boy with wide shoulders, but Joe towered over him, six feet, three inches of hard muscle. Clay took a hasty step back. “What’s up, man?”
“My name is Mr. Winston, not man.” Joe smirked at the disrespectful tone. “And you’re trespassing.”
Joe had sounded almost cordial, but still Clay looked worried. “Trespassing? Naw. Patricia doesn’t care when I’m here.”
“I care.”
Clay swallowed. “Uh, where is Patricia?”
“Gone.” Joe’s grin epitomized evil delight. “From now on, you deal with me.”
“And me,” Luna said, unwilling to be cut out of the equation. “I’m Luna Clark, Willow’s cousin.” She held out her hand, making Joe frown.
Eyes wide, Clay accepted her hand in a brief, hurried shake. “You’re here to take care of Willow and Austin?”
“That’s right.” Joe waited, not budging.
Clay again looked around. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s simple enough.” Joe raised his brows. “You were rude to Willow, and you put your hands on Austin. That’s unacceptable behavior. Until you learn some manners, you’re not welcome here. Now I suggest you get in your car and leave.”
His mouth fell open. He glanced back at his friends, who stared in shock. With obvious disbelief and a heavy dose of bravado, Clay faced Joe again. “You’re threatening me?”
Luna rolled her eyes and laughed. “Of course not. Joe doesn’t threaten children.” Joe didn’t bother replying.
Clay choked at being called a child. “But …”
Aware of the insult she’d dealt him, Luna fought off a smile. “The thing is, I don’t want Willow insulted or Austin struck. Did you see his eye?”
Austin glared at Clay, the eye in question narrowed meanly.
Rather than answer, Clay pointed a finger at Austin. “That little weasle started the troub
le this morning. I was only trying to talk to Willow when he jumped on my back.”
“You called her names,” Austin accused, his small body bunched to attack again.
With a nervous laugh, Clay said, “Nothing she hasn’t heard before, and besides, we were just funning with her.”
Joe caught Austin before he could move. He pulled him to his side and held him there. “Leave, Clay, and don’t come back unless Willow invites you.”
Clay looked undecided for only a moment before he straightened his shoulders and lowered his voice. “I want to see Willow first. I need to talk to her.”
Luna shook her head. “Nope. She went in when she saw you drive up.”
Frustration darkened his eyes. “Just call her out for a minute.”
“She doesn’t want to see you.”
Clay cursed and threw down his can of cola. “Listen, if this is about the brat, I didn’t mean to black his eye. He jumped me and got hurt in the scuffle. It’s not my fault he got in the way of my elbow.”
Shored up by Clay’s foolish bluster, his friends again snickered.
Joe shook his head. He bent, picked up the half-full can of Coke, and tossed it into the driver’s seat of Clay’s car. It foamed out all over the expensive leather upholstery, sending Clay into a panic.
“Jesus!” He jerked off his shirt and ran to the jeep to mop up the mess. His two friends scrambled to assist him. They tried not to look worried, but Luna saw right through them. This was probably the first time they’d ever run across anyone like Joe Winston, and they didn’t know what to make of him.
She’d had a similar reaction the first time she met him, so she understood how they felt. Joe inspired awe, fear and, if you were female, lots of interest.
With a total disregard for their disgruntlement, Joe joined the boys at the jeep. Austin kept pace with him, thoroughly enjoying himself. “Don’t throw garbage in the yard and don’t call Austin names.”
Clay whipped around to face off with Joe, his sopping shirt held in his hand. “My stepdad is going to be majorly pissed about this, you just wait and see.”
“Yeah? Good.” Joe held the jeep door open for him. “Maybe he’ll give you a swift kick in the butt, like you deserve.”
Comical outrage suffused Clay’s face. “Not at me. At you!”
Joe nodded to the car. “Get in.”
The cordial tone was long gone. Luna sighed. With no other apparent choice, Clay did as he was ordered. Joe pushed the door shut, then leaned in to say, “Tell your daddy to give me a call. I’ll look forward to talking to him.”
“He’s my stepfather,” Clay clarified.
“Whatever. In the meantime, I think I’ll give the Welcome County police a call. I’m willing to bet you’ve broken a few ordinances here today.”
Clay’s gaze darted between Luna and Joe. He tried for a cavalier scoff that fell flat. “I have not.”
“Loud music, speeding, no seat belts, profanity, littering … I could probably think of a few more. See, I used to be a cop, so I know the rules and I make a damn fine witness.” Joe straightened and looked at each boy in turn. “If I make a complaint, they’ll show up at your door to question you about it.”
Clay drew a deep breath and frowned.
“You might just be fined, or they might take you out in handcuffs. Either way, you think your stepdaddy will like that?”
Clay remained silent.
Joe shook his head. “You know, Clay, you’re old enough, probably smart enough, to try acting like a man instead of a punk. You’ll find life is a little easier if you do.”
Luna stepped forward. “But until you do, until you can visit without the foul mouth and nasty attitude, stay away.”
Clay chewed his upper lip. After a moment, he turned his head and stared toward the house. The seconds ticked by before he muttered a soft curse under his breath, then started the jeep and drove off. Luna noticed that he didn’t speed this time, and he immediately turned the music down.
Austin kicked a small rock in their general direction. “Cowards.”
With an expression like a thundercloud, Joe leaned down, caught Austin under his arms, and raised him to eye level. Knowing how bad Joe’s ribs probably hurt, Luna fretted—but she didn’t interfere. Joe seemed to be doing pretty darn good all on his own. His arms didn’t shake, and he didn’t appear to be straining at all.
“Listen, you,” Joe said, all seriousness now, “real men don’t gloat.”
Austin hung limp in his hold, his feet dangling well off the ground. “What’s that mean?”
“It means when someone is defeated, you don’t kick rocks or call them names. To do so leaves you without dignity and makes you a coward, too.”
“I’m not a coward.”
“No? Then don’t lower yourself to their level by acting like them. When I talk to the cops, I want to be able to assure them that you’re on your best behavior. Any altercations will start and end with them, not with you. Understand?”
Serious and sincere, Austin nodded, but at the end, a big grin split his dirty face. “It was awful fun to watch, though.”
Joe held his grim expression for three seconds more before he laughed. “Rodent.” He set Austin down and ruffled his untidy hair. Dust flew up around him.
Joe looked at his hand, at the dust still floating in the air, and asked, “Do you think you could help me unhitch Luna’s car? Then maybe we can check out the lake, swim and do a little fishing. What do you say?”
“Sure! We’ll have to dig up some worms for bait, though.”
Luna wrinkled her nose at that prospect until Joe turned, caught the back of her neck, and hauled her close for a kiss on the forehead. “Is that okay with you?”
If he kept up with those casual, possessive touches, Luna would soon be mush. Aware of Austin shifting restlessly beside them, Luna nodded. “That sounds like a great idea.”
Joe didn’t release her. Instead he pecked her mouth and smiled. “Wanna come with us?” And then, near her ear, “I’d love to see you in a bikini.”
Luna swatted his chest. “I think I’d rather get the lay of the land. But you two go on. And have fun.”
“Spoilsport.” With another kiss, Joe headed off.
Watching the two males saunter off side by side did something funny to Luna’s heart. She heard Austin laugh, and felt like laughing, too.
Damn Joe Winston, did he have to be so good at everything? Not only was he too sexy for words, but he was kind and gentle, macho and brave, understanding and reasonable and … She swallowed. He was everything she’d ever thought a man should and could be.
But he wasn’t for her.
She turned away to head to the house and saw a curtain drop over the window. Uh oh. So, Willow wasn’t as disinterested in Clay as she’d claimed. Had the young man seen her peeking out? Luna had a feeling Clay wouldn’t give up.
She winced. It didn’t take a psychic to see that this was going to be trouble. But at least this gave her and Willow something in common.
Caring about the wrong guy … Yup, that was right up Luna’s alley. She and Willow could commiserate with each other. At least with Willow it was likely no more than infatuation.
For Luna, she knew it was much, much more.
Chapter Eight
High on a hill facing the house, mostly concealed by scrubby shrubs and weeds, the man shook his head. Careful to keep the sun from glinting off the lenses, he lowered the binoculars to the ground, then pulled the “big ear” headphones off and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Joe Winston appeared to be making himself right at home.
Following him hadn’t been easy after all. Winston had spotted him early on, forcing him to put even more distance between them. He could have taken the time to switch cars, but then he’d have run the risk of losing them altogether. Besides, it wouldn’t be catastrophic if Winston found out about him. It’d change his plans, but it wouldn’t change the end results. Things were just easier this way.
For
now.
He used his forearm to wipe sweat from his eyes. The damn summer sun was relentless, beating down on him in waves. Too bad he couldn’t take a nice cool dip in the lake out behind the house, as Winston and the little boy planned to do.
He sat up, keeping his body concealed by the brush. The Smith and Wesson nine-millimeter pressed into the small of his back. It was hard, uncomfortable, but he always kept it on him. Like Winston, he was always prepared, but unlike Winston, he chose to carry a gun instead of a knife.
Being armed was only one of the many things they had in common. Being ruthless was another.
And a common enemy—now that made a third.
Maybe he and Winston were more alike than he’d first realized.
Impatient, annoyed, Dinah stood out back of the estate, hidden in the shadows of the small guest house next to the in-ground pool. It was risky coming here, but she’d never been fired in her life, and she didn’t like it.
After a twenty-minute wait, he finally slipped out the patio doors and came to her. When he reached her, she started to speak, but he shushed her with one venomous look. His hard hand closed on her upper arm and dragged her farther away, deeper into the surrounding landscape until they were completely hidden behind a lush rhododendron in full bloom.
He grabbed her other arm and slammed her up against a sturdy trellis. They were of a similar height, but still he overpowered her. “What the fuck do you mean, coming to my house like this?”
Dinah’s heart raced. Oh, God, she’d never seen him so angry before. She’d always considered him too suave and sophisticated for an outburst. Perhaps she’d made a mistake coming here. “I … I wanted you to know. I got fired.”
His dark brown eyes seemed fathomless in the dim night. After a heart-stopping moment, he dropped his hands. “The cousin fired you? Why?”
His fair, immaculately styled hair reflected the moonlight, forming a halo around his head. Dinah recovered her aplomb and straightened. “Who knows? She’s ridiculous, very eccentric, just as you said. But she brought someone with her.”