Dark Water

by Talty, Jen

“I think you’re nuts, but if you think it will help, I’m all for it.”

  Not the answer he was expecting, and it took him a moment to collect his thoughts. “Help with what?”

  “Just…things.” The first flicker of emotion flashed from Andy’s brown eyes as they glossed over.

  “I want to help.” Frank wasn’t sure what to say because he just couldn’t get a good feel for Andy, other than he was scared. More like terrified. Frank’s little brothers were all easy reads. Then again, the worst thing they’d ever gone through was two months without cable because they lived in some weird places over the years. “You can trust me.”

  “Whatever.”

  “I’m here if you want to talk.” Frank decided this wasn’t the time to push. It was painfully obvious that Andy needed to keep all emotions at bay in order to get through his visit with his father. The less upset the kid got, the easier it would be for him in the long run. Andy was what was important. Nothing else. “What’s taking her so long?”

  “She probably wants to look nice for you or something.”

  “She always looks nice.”

  “You should see her the morning.” Andy still just sat on the couch, eyes fixated on the television screen, and he barely breathed, or so it would seem. He didn’t even crack a smile when he made the obvious joke.

  “That bad, huh?” Might as well play into things. Maybe he could get Andy to lighten up a bit. But nothing. Not even a half-smile. “You’re going to be okay.”

  Andy cocked his head and looked Frank dead on. “I don’t want to live with my father.”

  “Tell me why.”

  “I can’t,” Andy said, his lower lip quivering. “Please don’t try to make me talk.”

  A million thoughts ran through Frank’s head, none of them good. The water had stopped, and a faint humming noise echoed in the background. He figured it was the blow dryer. It was close to four-thirty, time was limited. He shifted his body so he could loop his arm around Andy. “I won’t, but I’d like you to think about what my job means. How I can use it to protect you and Lacy.”

  The boy remained incredibly still. The muscles in his little body appeared to be rigid and stiff. He continued to look Frank in the eye when he said, “I hope so.” Then suddenly he relaxed and smiled, like all was good in the world.

  Frank opened his mouth to say something, but didn’t know what to say. The abrupt change could have come about because maybe Andy was beginning to trust him.

  “What’s the score?” Lacy questioned when she appeared in the family room, startling Frank. “Didn’t mean to scare you.” She placed her hand on his shoulder.

  He snapped his head around and felt his lungs collapse. Her long brown hair hung over her right shoulder falling against her breast, which was covered by a tight, cream-color sweater. “Just didn’t hear you coming,” he admitted, totally annoyed with where his thoughts had gone. Besides, he should have heard the door open and her footsteps coming toward him, but it did explain the sudden change in Andy. Trust had nothing to do with it.

  “I hope the Bills win,” Lacy said, gliding her hand down his arm in a lover-like gesture. It occurred to him that not only would they be sharing a bed, but they’d really have to make this look real in front of Andy. That unnerved him.

  “Not likely. The Giants are up fourteen to zip,” Andy said giving Frank an elbow in the ribs. “You are so going to owe me five bucks.”

  “Huh?” Frank blinked a few times, then shook his head. Hell, he was a cop. He should have gotten the hint right away. “What was the spread?”

  “Bills by three.”

  “Guess I picked the wrong team.” He rose, looking down on Andy who gave him a faint knowing smile. Andy had something to say, but for some reason, didn’t think saying it would help. Frank was going to have to change his mind, and soon. Something told him time was running out.

  * * * * *

  Lacy watched as Ms. Lazzery drove off down the dirt road, Andy tucked away in her back seat. A sense of dread filled Lacy’s mind, body, and soul. This could very well be the beginning of the end for Andy. She wanted the visit to go bad, but then she worried it would make her look bad. But if the visit went well, that could also make her look bad. “This is so unfair.”

  “Nothing is going to be decided right now,” Frank said, looping his arms around her middle and resting his chin on her head. “I think how he behaves when he comes back will have more of an impact on the judge than this short visit with his father.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” The smell of smoldering wood from the neighbor’s bonfire burned the inside of her nose. She leaned her head back against his firm chest and closed her eyes. “Between the mixed messages he’s gotten from Taylor over the years and what’s going on with us, he’s going to be one confused kid. What if he acts out and I can’t control him?”

  “You don’t really control him now.”

  “You’re not helping.” She sighed and pulled away. Feeling comfortable in his arms was going to drive her insane. When she lived in Vegas, she’d spent the first six months with a man she’d thought she loved. She’d thought he loved her back, but he turned out to be a liar and a loser. She’d learned not to trust. “This isn’t going to work.”

  “Yes, it is,” he said. “Together we can give him a stable environment.”

  “Based on a lie?” She shook her head hard. “We don’t love each other. We don’t even know each other. No way can we pull off a fake marriage.”

  “Let’s go inside. We don’t want people to hear this conversation, much less see us arguing.”

  She let him put his arm around her, guiding her toward the door. She glanced up at the sun. A big, white puffy cloud glided across it, barely shielding the bright rays. “I’m scared.”

  “So am I.”

  Stopping at the door, she tilted her head and caught his gaze. “You? What do you have to be afraid of, besides losing your sex life?”

  Frank arched a brow. “That’s not going to happen.” He gave her a gentle shove.

  “You have to promise me you won’t do anything to compromise my situation. That means no women, no sex.” After entering the trailer, she went straight for the refrigerator and pulled out a couple of sodas. “Not even phone sex or internet sex.” She’d thought about a beer, but she didn’t want to risk having that on her breath when Ms. Lazzery came back with Andy. More importantly, she didn’t want to relax around Frank. She needed to be sharp so that if she did say yes, she could set the ground rules. Like no women. That was a deal breaker.

  “I don’t plan on being with anyone other than my wife.” He took the soda she offered and smiled at her as if she was naked.

  She swallowed. “No sex.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because we don’t love each other, that’s why.” The thought of sleeping next to him every night made her nipples tingle and tighten. Thank God for padded bras.

  “Didn’t stop us the other night.” His fingers threaded through hers and he tugged her toward the couch.

  She followed, but told herself it was because she couldn’t afford to be alone when Andy was with his father. She just needed someone around to help her through the lonely hours. Anyone would do, even Frank. “The other night was different and you know it.” The couch sagged as she plopped on it. “But since we are on the subject, Andy asked where we would live.”

  “We can live here if you want, but I’ve got a nice two bedroom not far from my parents’. They could help out when we’re both working.”

  Why was it the man had to have reasonable answers for everything and look so damn sexy in the process? “I want to see your place.”

  “Let’s go now.”

  “Now?” She swallowed again. “I need to be here when Andy gets back.”

  “Ms. Lazzery said if it was going to be before nine, she’d call. She even told you that sitting around waiting wouldn’t help your nerves.”

  “What does she know,” Lacy said. “Fi
ne, let’s go.” She leapt from the sofa, and without looking back, headed straight for his truck.

  He quickly followed her and before she knew it, they were headed down the road in an uncomfortable silence. She wanted to say something. But what? Thank you? Thanks for what? It wasn’t like she’d asked him to help her. He kind of just showed up and took on the role.

  Actually, they got caught.

  He pulled into the private driveway by his parents’ house. The road looped around by a few other houses and then dead-ended in a driveway. She glanced around looking at a nicely groomed lawn and two quaint porches with two separate doors that sat kind of kitty corner by the lake. You could see the lake from the porch, but it also had a good view of the road. It seemed the front of the house was overlooking some wooded area in the shoreline. There was a two-car garage, but Frank pulled in next to the garage. “How can you afford a place on the lake?”

  “My family owns all the houses here,” he said, opening the door for her. “Originally, there was just the house on the hill.”

  “Where your parents live?”

  “Yep. My great-grandfather built it, and then we started multiplying, so he just kept building houses.”

  “Kind of nice.” She sighed. Being a part of a family wasn’t anything she’d ever planned on, and this one seemed way too close for comfort. Literally.

  “Do you think Andy will be okay with switching schools?”

  “He’d have to if he moved in with Taylor, and he did mention he’d like to go to school with your brothers.” Everything was becoming surreal. Discussing these things like they were normal just made her feel as if she’d lost all control. “This is nice,” she said, following him to the front porch. It wasn’t much to look at. Simple. Comfortable. But nice.

  “My cousin Patty lives in the studio apartment right across from me. We share the main outer door. Her dad, my uncle, lives upstairs.”

  “I liked Patty.” She remembered her from the party. She seemed quiet, but not shy. Reserved maybe. But very sweet.

  “She and I are very close. We’re more like siblings than cousins.” Frank shoved a key into the lock and pushed back the main door, which led to a small hallway with two more doors.

  The blood in Lacy’s veins rushed through her body. Her pulse raged out of control. Something about seeing where and how Frank lived intensified the attraction she had for him. Coming here was turning out to be a huge mistake.

  “This isn’t quite what I had planned for tonight.” He tossed his keys on a table next to the door.

  She glanced around the small family room trying to calm her breathing. His apartment was clean and neat. Everything had a place, but it had no personality. The walls were boring white and the furniture a boring tan and brown. She could spruce it up with some area rugs and maybe a few throw pillows with matching covers. Lucky for her she knew how to sew. That would save a lot of money.

  She blinked a few times, mentally kicking herself for thinking along those lines. Even though she’d pretty much decided she was going to marry him, it was still temporary. They’d end up divorced within five years.

  Five years. That was still a long time.

  “What did you have planned?” she asked, barely remembering herself what he was supposed to do tonight.

  “Wait.” Quickly, he kissed her temple and jogged across the small room into what appeared to be the kitchen, but the doorway was too small for her to get a good view. Moments later, he reappeared with a dozen roses and a smile. “I’d forgotten these.”

  “They’re beautiful.” She fought the tears as she reached for the lovely bouquet of pink and red flowers. No one had ever given her roses before. Come to think of it, she wasn’t sure anyone had ever given her any flowers. “You shouldn’t have.” Burying her nose in the petals, she took a long sniff.

  “I wanted to.”

  “Thank you.” It took every ounce of energy she had to make sure her voice sounded strong and confident. She didn’t want him to know she was once again on the verge of losing it.

  “Shall I show you the rest of it?”

  “Sure.” She kept the roses close to her chest. The flowery scent calmed her nerves, but didn’t distract her mind or body from the man resting his hand on the small of her back. It felt warm and comforting. Supportive.

  She resented that.

  She wanted to be able to do it all on her own. That had always been important to her.

  “Not sure what I’m going to do with my desk and stuff, but this would be Andy’s room.” He nudged her toward the open door right off the family room.

  The room wasn’t big, but bigger than what he was used to. “I’m sure he’d like to keep all the furniture he has now.” She stepped back and surveyed the area. Empty space between this bedroom and another door, which she assumed was the dining room. “We could put your desk over there and get one of those room dividers to give you some privacy,” she heard herself say. “Just a thought.”

  “It’s a good one.”

  “Bathroom?”

  “Just one, right over here.”

  Two doors were nestled in a small hallway on the other side of what would become Andy’s room. Taking in a deep breath, she trudged forward. Might as well get a good look at where she’d be sleeping. Steadying her hand, she gripped the doorknob.

  “It’s not much.” He stepped around her picking up something from the floor and tossing it into what she assumed was a closet. “I didn’t really expect to have company.” He gave her a boyish smile as he wrestled with the covers.

  Without really thinking, she placed her flowers on the dresser and started helping him make the bed. She tried not to look over at him, but couldn’t help it. He wasn’t buff, but underneath his clothes, she could see the clear definition of his muscles. She remembered every inch of his delicious body.

  “What side of the bed do you want?”

  “Huh?” She blinked. She wasn’t sure if she heard him correctly.

  “I guess we can figure that out later.”

  All of a sudden, the room started to spin. Her heart raced and the only thing she could focus on was Frank sauntering across the room toward her.

  “I wanted to do this at a restaurant and make a big deal, but it doesn’t look like that is going to be the case.”

  “Do what?” she croaked. He didn’t have to go through the motions. All he had to do was hand her the ring and it would be a done deal. They’d get married, move in, and start praying it didn’t backfire.

  He knelt before clutching her left hand in his. “Lacy,” he started, “I’ve thought you were the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen since the moment I laid eyes on you.”

  Why was he doing this? “Frank, please.”

  “Shhh.” He wiggled her hand. “Let me do this right. You deserve that.”

  Deserve? She didn’t think ‘deserve’ was the proper word, but she took a deep breath and let him continue.

  “Something about you makes me feel like together we can do anything.”

  Now he was getting corny. Almost too corny. That didn’t really fit him. She knew he was kind and respectful, but sentimental? Mushy? She didn’t think so, but at this point, she wasn’t going to argue. It was probably the only proposal she’d ever get.

  Something sparkled between his fingers and her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t really expected him to go buy a real ring. It couldn’t be real, but it looked so beautiful. It wasn’t large, but it was round and shined brighter than any star she’d ever seen. He slid the silver band slowly over her finger.

  “Marry me,” he said, almost sounding like he was all choked up himself. “And it fits, too.” He let out a dry chuckle.

  Knowing her mouth was gaping wide open, she tried to close it, but couldn’t. She just stared down at her finger, now sporting an engagement ring, and gasped.

  “Was that a yes?”

  She clamped her mouth closed and swallowed. “I think so.”

  “You think so…or y
es?” He rose, taking her hand and resting it on his broad chest.

  “Is that real?” Oh, God? You didn’t just ask that, did you? But she knew she did. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s real.” He smiled, pressing his lips against her fingers. “Do you like it?”

  “Uh-huh,” was about all she could manage. Never in her life did she ever think she’d have such a fine piece of jewelry, much less an engagement ring.

  “So?”

  “So, what?” She brought her hand closer to her face to admire the ring more closely. On her hand, the diamond looked huge. This thing must have cost him a small fortune.

  “I never thought proposing to you would be so hard.” He tilted her chin with his thumb. “Will you marry me?”

  “Yes,” she heard her voice loud and clear. Strong and confidant. That scared her. It shouldn’t have been that easy to say yes to him. “You really shouldn’t have done this. When this is all over, I’ll give it back.”

  “No you won’t.” He leaned in closer. “You won’t want to.”

  She stared into his beautiful eyes for a long moment. He could see right through her and she knew it. Something told her he knew her deepest fears, darkest secrets, and wildest fantasies.

  “Frank!” a female voice rang out, breaking the trance. “Frank! Where the hell are you?”

  “Back here,” he said. “My cousin Patty will have to learn to knock.” He pressed his lips hard against Lacy’s. She hadn’t been prepared for the kiss or the quick swirl of his tongue against hers. Even more shocking was when her tongue greeted his with intent of keeping it inside her mouth, but then he pulled away just as quickly, leaving her breathless.

  “Reese is looking for…” Patty stopped at the doorway. “Shit, I’m sorry.”

  “Damage already done. What about Reese?”

  Lacy didn’t like the mention of Reese’s name. The whole scene earlier gave her the creeps. She knew Reese was just doing his job, but sometimes cops could be so…her husband was going to be a cop. Once again, she questioned her decision to allow Frank into her life.

  “Hi, Lacy, it’s good to see you again.”

  “You, too,” Lacy said because it was true. She really did like Patty.