Stand-In Father (Intimate Moments)

by Warren, Pat

  “I think so.”

  “Be up-front and do it in a nice way, and you won’t hurt the other guy’s feelings. He’ll respect you for being honest. Understand?” Or did he overexplain it? This counseling of kids wasn’t as easy as it appeared on the surface. Kids took things so literally, Alex had come to realize.

  “Yeah, I do.”

  Listening, Megan wondered how talking with Ryan came so easily to Alex when he’d never been around children much. His advice was good, on target, teaching her son to think for himself, something that wouldn’t have occurred to Neal. She took over a plate of cooled cookies and set it on the table. “Can I interest anyone in a glass of milk?”

  Two male voices sang out with a resounding yes. She poured, then sat down and took a cookie for herself.

  It had been quite a day, Megan thought, half-listening to Alex and Ryan discuss the merits of chocolate chip cookies versus peanut butter. She’d felt a bit blue this morning, picking flowers on the hillside, wishing she could turn back the clock to the first day Alex had arrived and do things differently.

  Then, like a wish fulfilled, he’d returned, and she’d spent the most glorious afternoon of her life. Just looking at him warmed her. Remembering the way he made her feel, the way he touched her, kissed her, made love with her, had her skin humming and her senses quivering. And he’d said he was falling in love with her.

  She wasn’t certain she believed him. Perhaps he thought that now, but was it a lasting emotion or a fleeting one? As for herself, she was head over heels, absolutely, wildly in love with him. But she’d been too much of a realist for too long to actually count on something coming of this wonderful union. Maybe it would, but the chances were greater that he’d get bored with her and the life she represented and go off to look for greener pastures.

  Especially since she’d learned that he was heir to a huge fortune. What could she in all honesty offer a man like that? She wasn’t well-read, hadn’t had the time or energy to do more than glance at the newspaper in years. She’d had no opportunity to travel, not like Alex who’d been everywhere. She knew little about art or opera, about fine wines or aperitifs, about haute couture or haute cuisine, about tennis or bridge—the things she’d read the very rich were well versed in. How could she get along with his family, converse with his friends, impress his business associates?

  If this relationship was to develop any further, what would they have in common outside of the bedroom? The very question was depressing.

  “Mom, what’s wrong? You look sad.” In imitation of his mother, Ryan, too, looked suddenly sad.

  Brightening for her son’s sake, Megan put on a smile. “I’m fine. So, how’re the cookies?”

  “Great. I only had two little ones. Can I have one more?”

  “Only if you promise to brush your teeth twice as long.”

  Giving her a chocolaty smile, Ryan reached for another cookie.

  Megan shifted her gaze to Alex and saw that his eyes were shadowed. Was he having second thoughts, too? Was he regretting his impulsive rush into her waiting arms? Was he wishing he’d never mentioned that fearful four-letter word, love? Or was there something more he hadn’t told her, some secret from his past still troubling him, the something his father had insisted he tell her? If so, when would he trust her enough to confide in her totally?

  “My turn to offer a penny for your thoughts,” she told him.

  His smile came easily, erasing the shadows. “They’re X-rated.”

  The heightened color spread quickly as she glanced at Ryan, who fortunately was too busy chewing to notice. “Maybe later, then,” she answered, rising. “I’ve got to get these baked goods wrapped for Emily.”

  Alex stood, as well. “I’ll help you. Matter of fact, we can take them over tonight if you like.” Walking over to where she was reaching for the plastic wrap from a high cupboard, he bent his head and kissed her ear before whispering into it, “And stop somewhere to neck in the car. How long since you’ve done that, Ms. Delaney?”

  “You are a bad influence,” she murmured. Scooting from beneath his arm, she turned back to her son. “Time for your shower, Ryan. Tomorrow’s going to be a big day.”

  He downed the last of his milk. “After tonight, I won’t have to go to bed so early, will I, Mom? I mean, for the summer?”

  “We’ll see.” She wiped the table with her dishcloth and gathered up the empty glasses. “Wash your hair, too.”

  “Aw, Mom.” His footsteps dragged.

  “You heard me. I’ll be up to check shortly.”

  Alex picked up the towel and began drying the pans she’d recently washed after baking. “You’re a tough lady.”

  “Have to be.” She started packaging the cookies into one-dozen lots.

  Alex tossed aside the towel, went to her and took her in his arms. When she looked up at him, he noticed that her eyes seemed worried. “What did make you sad a minute ago?”

  She shrugged. “Not sad, just thoughtful. A lot has changed for me today. It takes some getting used to.”

  “For me, too.”

  “Yes, of course. I want to take this slowly, Alex. I don’t want any of us to get hurt. And especially not Ryan.”

  “We will. Don’t worry so much.” Only he, too, was worried. How was Megan going to handle the story he had yet to tell her, the one about the transplant-recipient list? And how was he going to find the right words? “Everything’ll be fine.”

  “Will it?”

  He tipped his head to the side. “Let’s not overthink things, Megan. Let’s enjoy the ride.” His mouth teased the corners of her lips, then settled into a deep, breathtaking kiss.

  When he touched her, when he kissed her, all worrisome thoughts fled from her mind. But even as she let him take her deeper, Megan knew that at the end of every ride, reality waited.

  Megan paused to yawn behind her hand, then returned to her registration book. “That’s Glenn Richards and Louie Mendell,” she repeated to the two men standing in her foyer. “For one night only, is that right?”

  “Right you are, honey.” Glenn, the taller one with curly auburn hair, a lock falling boyishly onto his wide forehead, leaned on the top ledge of the desk, his flirtatious brown eyes skimming over Megan. “Nice place you got here.”

  “Thank you.” She took a step back, uncomfortable with the stranger’s closeness. “Will you be paying by credit card or check?”

  “Here’s my gold card,” Louie said, tossing it onto the desk. He had a shorter, stocky build and sandy hair. He flashed deep dimples at her. “Any chance we can get something to drink around here?”

  “We have iced tea available in the lounge all day.” Megan ran his card through and waited for approval.

  “I think he meant something stronger,” Glenn added.

  “I’m afraid not.” Megan copied the approval number onto the slip, then took Glenn’s card in hand.

  “Both of these rooms have king-size beds?” Louie asked.

  “Yes, they do.” Finished with the authorizations, she handed each man their copies. “We don’t have air-conditioning, but there’s a nice breeze at night if you open the window. There’s a complimentary newspaper there on the ledge and breakfast is served from seven to nine. Any questions?”

  “What do you do for excitement around here?” Glenn wanted to know.

  “Not much,” Megan answered, the same question she’d been asked by traveling salesmen looking for fun many times over. “There’s a restaurant in town called the Cornerstone that has very good food. But for alcohol or other excitement, you’d have to drive farther. Twin Oaks is fairly quiet.”

  “You can say that again. Good thing we brought a bottle.” Louie picked up his bag. “Would you have any mix available?”

  “Just water,” Megan told him.

  “We’ll go for a drive and look around,” Glenn said.

  “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your rooms.”

  Glenn sent her a broad wink. “Yes, ma’a
m.”

  Upstairs, after she opened both doors, Louie stepped in front of Megan, checking out her ring finger none too discreetly. “What’s a pretty woman like you doing buried in a burg like this?”

  She was not amused. “I like this burg.” She handed them their keys. “Enjoy your stay.” Sidestepping him neatly, she went back down.

  “I don’t think you impressed the lady,” Glenn told his friend.

  “Give me time,” Louie answered.

  In the kitchen, Megan yawned again, not giving her latest guests another thought. She was used to one-nighters who’d seen her billboard and wanted the coziness of an inn along with all the amenities a first-class hotel offered at lower prices. She’d likely never see these two again after morning.

  Another yawn had her closing her eyes momentarily. Spending yesterday on Ryan’s field trip had put her way behind in her work, even with Grace helping out. But it had been fun. She and Alex had wandered the small park area, keeping an eye on their young charges, along with the other six chaperones. They’d kept the conversation light, laughed a lot and gotten splashed by a couple of exuberant kids, including young master Ryan Delaney.

  After stopping for burgers and shakes, they’d come home exhausted but happy. She’d had to do her baking after getting Ryan to bed, even though Alex had all but begged her to skip it. It had been past midnight when she’d finally fallen into her own bed. Although Alex had broadly hinted that he wouldn’t mind if she’d stop in his room for a while, Megan had declined the invitation. Not only was she too tired, but the very thought of sneaking out of a man’s room before dawn, shoes in hand, had turned her off mightily.

  And, of course, she’d been up at six as usual, preparing breakfast, serving, cleaning up. No rest for the wicked, she thought, even though she’d been considerably less than wicked.

  Alex, too, had been up early and off to several meetings with the Parsons group and bankers right after breakfast. He’d told her he wasn’t sure when he’d be back. That was fine with her. She wasn’t very good company as sleepy as she was. Maybe if she hurried to do her baking now, she could sneak off to bed earlier tonight.

  Or have the late evening free to spend with Alex.

  Getting out her pans, Megan smiled. Odd to be thinking about being with a man again. Maybe they could go for a ride, provided Grace would hang around in case Ryan needed something. Necking in the car, as Alex had suggested last night, even sounded like fun. Or they could have dinner somewhere other than a pizza joint or a hamburger stand. She could be waited on instead of doing the serving. Now there was an appealing thought.

  She heard heavy footsteps on the stairs and decided the two men she’d just checked in were probably going out in search of excitement. Had to be them because the two other paying guests were on all-day tours, Mrs. K was in her room and Alex was still out. Even Ryan was gone, visiting at his best friend Bobby’s house two doors up the winding road. Ear cocked as she took out sugar and flour, she heard their rather loud voices as they paused to inspect the lounge, then returned to the foyer. She also heard the roar of a powerful engine and recognized the sound of Alex’s car. Megan felt a rush of pleasure knowing she’d see him in minutes.

  But instead, she heard excited male voices greeting one another like old friends. Curious, she quietly stepped into the dining room, listening.

  “Alex Shephard, you old dog,” Louie Mendell said. “I can’t believe we’ve run into you.”

  “Me, either,” Glenn Richards added. “Where the hell you been, man? We haven’t seen you in probably a year or more.”

  Alex’s voice was lower, less enthusiastic. “I’ve been around. Good to see you, Glenn, Louie. What are you doing around these parts?”

  Louie made a face. “Business trip. We’re calling on stores all the way to Sacramento. Daddy’s threatened to cut off the money flow if I don’t earn my keep. Says I spend more time playing than working.”

  “And he’s right.” Glenn laughed heartily. He could afford to since he lived off a generous trust fund left to him by his grandmother. But Louie’s father owned a string of auto-parts stores up and down the West Coast and held on to the family money with a stingy fist.

  “Life’s tough at times,” Alex commented dryly, well aware that his old buddies hadn’t worked too many days of their lives.

  “What are you doing here?” Glenn asked. “Got a little sweetie stashed away far from home?”

  “No. Business trip, like you.”

  “Hey, Alex, remember two years ago when we took the Black Sheep down the Baja coast fishing?” Louie chuckled. “Hell, we didn’t get much fishing in, but we sure downed a few, didn’t we?”

  “Yeah, I remember.” Those had been the good old days, Alex reflected, when he’d thought his good health would last forever.

  “You sure had a great time with that gorgeous blonde with those long, long legs,” Glenn recalled. “What was her name again? Bubbles? Or was it Bambi?”

  “It was Bianca,” Alex corrected.

  “Man, she was sure a hot one.” Louie wiggled the fingers of one hand as if they’d been singed, then laughed. “When we going out again? I could sure use a little blond diversion. My old man’s tightening the choke hold and I’m not a happy camper. You still have that sailboat?”

  “Sure do. Mitch and I were out on it just last week.” And all he’d done was wish Megan had been with him, Alex recalled.

  “How’s old Mitch doing?” Glenn asked. “He’s such a stick-in-the mud, getting married like that, having kids. He still as dull as dirt?”

  “Actually, he’s very happy. He’s got a great family.”

  Louie squinted up at Alex. “That so? Better him than me. No broad’s going to tie me down. Right, partner?” He punched Glenn lightly on the shoulder.

  “You got that right.” Glenn eyed his old college friend. “You did the right thing divorcing, Alex. Why settle for one when the sea’s full of ’em, eh?” He nodded toward his Lexus with his chin. “Want to come along and tip a few, reminisce about the old days? This place doesn’t have anything but iced tea. What kind of a man drinks that garbage?”

  In the dining room, Megan thought she’d heard quite enough. Quietly, she backed into the kitchen.

  She hadn’t liked the two men she’d checked in earlier. Hadn’t liked their roaming eyes and their bordering-on-rude remarks. But then, she’d seen and heard worse. To discover that they were old friends of Alex’s—old drinking and carousing buddies—disappointed her. They reminded her too much of Neal and his pals. She hadn’t imagined that Alex, too, might be like that.

  With a sigh, Megan set to work on her baking.

  In the parking lot, Alex shook his head. “Can’t make it this time. I’m working on a land purchase in town. I just came back for some papers,” he lied.

  Glenn wasn’t buying his excuse. “Look, it’s already late afternoon. Can’t you change your plans?”

  Actually, he could, but he didn’t want to. He’d finished up at the bank and gone in search of a nice quiet restaurant away from the madding crowd that one of the Parsons sisters had recommended. He’d found the Hideaway, scoped it out and made a reservation for eight tonight. Then he’d hurried back to the inn to persuade Megan to go out with him.

  The last thing Alex wanted to do was to go drinking with two guys from his past, friends who seemed oddly out of sync with what he wanted to do. “No can do. Since you’re staying here, too, maybe we can get together tomorrow.”

  “We’re leaving in the morning,” Louie said, annoyed. “Damn, Alex, we haven’t talked in months. Can’t you spare old friends a couple of hours? Call and reschedule.”

  Glenn shored up the argument. “We were close once, Alex. You and me, Louie and Patrick. What happened?”

  Alex wasn’t sure what had happened. Even as short a time as a year ago, under similar circumstances, he’d have gone with them without hesitation. But things had changed. He had changed.

  Still, both Louie and Glenn were a
part of his past. A part he’d have to put to rest perhaps. Maybe he needed to explain himself.

  Alex checked his watch. “All right, but just one drink.”

  “Great!” Louie dug out his keys. “You know of a place around here?”

  Following them to the Lexus, Alex nodded. “There’s a tavern about three miles off the highway. I haven’t been inside, but it looks decent.”

  “Who said we want decent?” Louie asked with a laugh.

  “I’ll drive and you guys follow.” He wasn’t taking a chance on being without wheels if his old drinking buddies decided to make a night of it.

  “Like old times, eh, Alex?” Glenn asked, opening the car door.

  “Yeah,” Alex answered thoughtfully. “Like old times.”

  Megan heard a car engine leap to life, then the squeal of tires. She waited to hear Alex’s footsteps coming into the kitchen. After several minutes of silence, she wiped her hands on a towel and walked to the front to look out. Both cars were gone and Alex was nowhere to be seen. He’d gone with his old friends.

  And why wouldn’t he? she asked herself, going back to the kitchen. He couldn’t resist the pull of the good old boys. Neal had been coaxed out by his so-called friends easily and often until he’d run out of money. Only Alex would probably never run out of money. She had no idea if his two friends had big bank accounts, but not to worry. Alex was flush.

  Megan blinked back tears. How could she have let herself believe, even for a short time, that he’d prefer her over the world he’d come from? Unlimited money, fast boats and flashy cars, women willing and able, and the time to indulge oneself. Who was she to compete with that?

  The disappointment was that she’d thought he was different. From Neal, from those two lunkheads with the greedy eyes. She’d wanted desperately for him to refuse their offer and turn instead to her.