A Hero for Tonight

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A Hero for Tonight Page 11

by Roni Adams


  Mary held her gaze steady. “It’s not my business, and you know I never interfere in my son’s life.”

  Krista smirked. “You don’t?”

  “Don’t get sassy to me, miss.” Mary’s eyes narrowed. “You’re like a daughter to me.”

  She leaned back against the sink for support. This couldn’t be more embarrassing. “It’s fine. Trust me.”

  “I love you, but I don’t want to have lunch with you, too.” Mary set down the vegetable peeler and wiped her hands on a towel from her lap.

  Krista crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not Shane’s girlfriend, so you don’t have to worry about me joining the exes club.”

  As she held her stare, Mary’s eyes filled with tears. “Your mother and I used to fantasize sometimes that you and Shane would grow up and fall for one another.” She swiped at her eyes and chuckled. “But as the years went by, it was more than apparent you two were more likely to kill each other than love each other.”

  Unbidden and unable to stop it, scenes from the night with Shane flickered like an old-time movie in her mind. Shane’s eyes as he teased her, his smile, and the way his hands caressed her, taking her to heights no other man ever had. Her mouth went dry and her palms dampened. “I’m not going to lie and tell you nothing happened between us, but trust me when I tell you it was...” She waved her hand trying to find the delicate word.

  “A hook-up?” Mary offered. “I get it. I was young once, believe it or not. I know all about such things, even at my age. Just be careful. The last thing this family needs is to lose you because of Shane.”

  Krista watched Mary tear up again and reach for a tissue. This was exactly what she’d wanted to avoid. What she and Shane did wasn’t just between them. It affected everyone, and that was the reason it had to stop. Mary was sick. She didn’t need anything to get worked up about. As far as Krista knew, the doctor hadn’t gotten back to them with any test results yet, but the overemotional woman before her wasn’t the normal Mary. Until they knew what they were dealing with, everything else had to be pushed aside.

  She choked back her fear as Brittany and Melissa returned.

  The little girl held up her hands. “All clean.”

  Mary beamed and grabbed the wiggling fingers. “Beautiful.”

  “Shane, we’re having cupcakes!” Brittany bounded to the doorway.

  Krista looked up as he stepped into the kitchen. His gaze held hers for a half a heartbeat.

  “Chocolate or vanilla?” Shane bent toward the little girl, grabbed her hand and twirled her around as if they were dancing.

  Brittany laughed as her dress billowed around her. “Chocolate! They are so good. You’re going to want to eat ten!”

  “You think I can eat ten of them?” He patted his stomach.

  “If Shane eats ten cupcakes, he might not pass his PT test at the end of the month.” Krista’s gaze took in his rock hard abs. It would take more than a few cupcakes for Shane to be out of shape.

  She looked up, and he had this sparkle in his eyes that told her he would love to say something to her if they were alone. But the company in the room held his tongue.

  “What’s PT?” Brittany danced across the room to the table where Mary still sat.

  “It’s sort of like you have in gym class,” Mary explained. “As a marine, Shane has to pass a test to show that he’s physically fit every year.”

  “Oooh.” Brittany reached for a piece of cheese from the platter and then stopped. “May I have a piece, please?” she asked.

  Krista watched her friend beam at the little girl with pride as if she’d taught her the manners. Mary was dying for grandchildren; it was so obvious. If only Shane had fallen for Melissa. She glanced at the two of them who were having a conversation about the tests Shane would have to pass at the end of the month. Her heart twisted at the thought of Shane with the other woman, but she knew him way too well. She could tell by his body language, the way his eyes shifted, he had absolutely no interest in the other woman. The notion filled her with pleasure even as she knew the two of them together weren’t a good idea. When his eyes met and found hers, she looked away.

  Mary pushed back from the table. “Brittany, can you carry that platter and we’ll take it out to the living room?”

  When she stood up, Krista noted the way she swayed for a second before grabbing the table.

  Shane was by his mother’s side in a second. “Ma? What’s wrong?”

  Mary put her hand to her head. “Nothing, I’ve been getting a bit lightheaded when I stand up too fast. That’s all.”

  “When did Dr. Sullivan say he’d have those tests back?” His voice was short and clipped.

  “I’m fine, dear.” She brushed off her son’s help and walked across the kitchen to the doorway. “Its Thanksgiving week; I’m sure I’ll know something Monday.”

  Shane met Krista’s gaze, and he could see she was as frustrated as he was. There was no telling his stubborn mother what to do.

  Melissa looked from one to the other. “Is this too much for her? Should we go?”

  “No. Seriously, no. You’re a great help, Melissa. If you weren’t here, she’d feel she needed to be doing more, so it’s great that you’re here. Honest.”

  “You mentioned tests.” She shook her head. “Never mind. It’s not my business.”

  Shane reached into the drawer and pulled out the wine opener. “She had a bad dizzy spell last week at the store. Come to find out she’s been exhausted lately but hadn’t said anything. She saw the doctor, but he didn’t find anything right away.”

  “They ran some tests, blood work, that sort of thing. We won’t know anything until next week,” Krista added as Shane poured three glasses. “Maybe it’s a vitamin deficiency or something. She forgets she isn’t young anymore. At forty-five, she needs to take better care of herself.”

  “She’s a lot younger than my parents.” Melissa looked to Shane. “She must have had you pretty young.”

  Krista knew the story of the young bride very well. “She was nineteen when she had him.”

  Melissa took the glass of wine Shane handed her. “I know you two must be worried. Hopefully the doctor will get back to her soon.” She glanced between them once more and then left the room.

  Shane walked over and held out a glass of wine. When Krista went to take it, he held on until she met his gaze.

  “Now, isn’t this a funny case of déjà vu?”

  “Stop it.”

  His lips twitched as he released the glass. “I’m not doing anything.”

  “Yes, you are.” She took a sip of the red wine. “Your mother knows what happened.” That oughta take the wind out of his sails.

  “What?”

  She tipped her head as she relayed the news. “Apparently, the cabbie told her all about picking me up in the wee hours of the morning and looking like I was doing exactly what I was doing.”

  “This damn town. What did she have to say?”

  “Not much. Just wanted me to know she knew, I suspect.” She wasn’t about to mention the lunch club comment and get him stirred up about that whole thing again.

  Shane seemed to be digesting the information. His gaze went to the closed kitchen door, and then back to her again. He grinned. “Well, if the cat’s out of the bag...” He lowered his head.

  Krista took two steps back. “Don’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Are you kidding? Melissa’s here, and Brittany. I’m not doing this.”

  “Not doing this here? Or not doing this ever?”

  She couldn’t look at him. She turned around and set her glass on the counter to fiddle with the few dishes still in the sink. Shane moved closer, his body heat directly at her back. When he nuzzled her hair, pleasure rolled over her in a familiar wave, and she grabbed the side of the sink, her eyes fluttering closed.

  “You smell so good. That’s what I remember the most, how incredible you smelled.”

  He kissed the spot beneath he
r ear, and her neck arched as flames of desire licked through her.

  “That’s what you remember most? How I smelled?” She forced herself not to moan with pleasure as desire licked its way up her spine.

  He ignored her question, continuing his hot kisses along her skin. “I want you in my bed again, Krista. I don’t want what happened to be just a casual thing.”

  She bit her bottom lip. If she was honest, she didn’t either, but her head was screaming at the insanity of it all. She scrunched her neck to make him stop kissing her. “It’s not a good idea.”

  His hands slipped to her waist. Gently, he turned her around until she was trapped in the circle of his arms.

  “Stop over-thinking this.” He searched her eyes as if to see what she was thinking.

  “That’s what you said the other night.”

  He tucked her hair back behind her ear. “And wasn’t that fun?” Smiling, he brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “Let me come over tonight. We’ll do the family thing, dinner, dessert, then leave, and I’ll come to your place.”

  Her mind screamed that this was a bad idea. Her body screamed back that it didn’t care. Her heart, well, that was better left out of it. Either way, she didn’t have to decide when he was this close. “I’ll think about it. But back off while we’re here, and I mean it.”

  Lifting both hands in surrender, he took a step back. “Okay. I will be the perfect gentleman. Content with having you to myself later tonight.”

  “Maybe,” she cautioned.

  Before she knew his intentions, he swooped in and captured her lips. The kiss was hard and fast and incredibly hot.

  “Think about that.” Then he strutted away.

  Shane tried to not watch Krista too much during dinner, but he couldn’t seem to stop glancing her way. All he could think about was their upcoming night together. He definitely had no clue which way tonight would go. One thing about her, she was a hard one to read.

  Dinner should have been awkward with the odd makeup of people and underlying drama, but the conversation flowed effortlessly and the laughter wasn’t in the least bit forced. Melissa and Shane’s father talked at length about plants and different hardy varieties that she could use around her yard.

  He was relieved to see color in his mother’s face once again, and she ate more than he’d seen her eat in a long time.

  “I don’t know what is wrong with me today. It’s as if I have a bottomless pit.” She laughed, tucking into her mashed potatoes and gravy.

  Shane watched his father take her hand. “How can you resist with all this good food? The girls did a great job.”

  Mary agreed. “They sure did. Thank you again, ladies. It actually felt good to step back and let someone else run the show.”

  Krista twisted her mouth. “You were in there every step of the way; don’t make it sound as if you weren’t involved.”

  “Yes, well, you girls did the hard part. I want you to know I appreciate it.”

  Shane raised his wine glass. “Here’s to another fantastic Thanksgiving dinner with great company and awesome food.”

  “Here, here.” The others raised their glasses in unison.

  Brittany wiggled in her seat. “Can we have cupcakes now?”

  “Pretty soon.” Shane pushed back his chair. “How about you ladies have a seat in the other room while Dad and I clean this up.”

  Krista stood. “You guys will just dump it all on the counter in there. I’ll supervise the process.”

  Gary winked. “She’s as big a boss as your mother.”

  “I learned from the best,” she replied, picking up a pile of plates.

  “Well, I’m not going to sit back and let all of you handle this. I’ll help too.” Melissa stood. She handed her daughter the basket of rolls. “Here, Brit, can you carry this to the kitchen and help Krista put them away?”

  Mary stood. “I’m going to sit in the other room for a bit if all of you young people have this under control.”

  Shane followed Krista. “Something’s not right.”

  “She’s just tired, Shane. Calm down.”

  His dad walked into the room, and Shane turned to him. “I can’t believe the doctor doesn’t have the results back yet.”

  Gary ran a hand around the back of his neck. “I know. I’ll call his office tomorrow, but I don’t know if they’ll be in the day after the holiday and all.”

  “You’d think Dr. Sullivan would realize how worried we are.”

  “It could be something as simple as an iron deficiency or her thyroid; I’m sure it’s nothing more serious. If it was, he’d have called and had her come in right away. Dr. Sullivan won’t take chances.”

  Shane walked back into the dining room and glanced through to the living room where his mother sat on the couch. Her feet were up on the stool and her head back with her eyes closed. His heart squeezed. He never saw his mother rest. Not unless she had the flu. Could that be all this is? A simple flu bug?

  Brittany skipped into the room. “What else can I carry, Shane?”

  “How ’bout this?” He handed her the almost empty bowl of dressing.

  Melissa and Krista worked together assembly line style at the kitchen sink, one rinsing, one loading the dishwasher. Once everything in the kitchen was under control, he slipped through the sliding glass door to the back deck. It was warm for November, but he still should have grabbed his coat. Hopefully, the crisp air would clear his head. Between his worry about his mother and his growing need for Krista, he was having a hard time focusing.

  When the back door opened, his heart skipped a beat thinking Krista was coming out to join him.

  It sank just as quick when Melissa stepped through the opening.

  Chapter Eight

  Shane hadn’t had a one-on-one conversation with Melissa since their last date, and he wondered now if this was the moment she was going to call him out on it.

  She wrapped a cape-like coat around her shoulders. “It was so nice of your mom to invite us. It was much better than sitting home alone just the two of us. I know Brittany had a lot more fun.”

  “You’re not leaving already, are you? We haven’t had dessert.”

  Melissa smiled. “No, Krista just put coffee on, but I thought I’d get some air. Seems like you had the same idea.”

  “Yeah. A heavy meal like that means you take a nap or keep moving so you don’t fall asleep.” He watched her make her way across the deck in her heels.

  “I think your mom is having a little nap.”

  “You don’t know her, but this is not at all like her.”

  “That’s what Krista said. I know you’re worried, but honestly, there’s nothing you can do by worrying. You’ll just have to wait for the test results and then handle whatever it is or isn’t.” She laid her hand on his forearm. “But I certainly understand the fear. If it were my parents, I’d be concerned as well.”

  “Thanks.”

  Her hand on his arm felt awkward, and he hoped she wasn’t going to make a move toward something more. Shane tucked his hands in his sweatshirt pocket.

  She removed hers. “Hey, I thought maybe I should clear the air a bit.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I know we went out a few times and for whatever reason it wasn’t working. I just don’t want you to think it was you. I’m, um, not really in a place for anything right now. I thought I was, and I enjoyed our dinners, but honestly, for me, it’s not time for a relationship.”

  Relief washed over him. “Well, I suspected that. I mean, that’s why I backed off.” Okay, that was a little white lie, but it wouldn’t hurt anyone to let her think that.

  “It’s hard with Brittany, too. I don’t want her to get close to anyone who might not stay in our lives; you know what I mean?”

  “I do. But here’s my thought on that. How about we all stay in your lives as friends,” he offered. “Then there’s no worries about that?”

  Melissa smiled softly. “I think we’d both like that.” Sh
e turned to look out across the yard. “We had a house like this, with a big yard I mean. I think that’s one of the harder things when a marriage ends—losing your home.”

  Shane shifted and shoved his hands deeper in his pockets. He wasn’t very good with the whole “cry on my shoulder” thing. Still, it must’ve been hard to have the rug pulled out from under you and have to start your life all over. Not sure what to say, he was relieved when she pushed away from the deck rail.

  “I better go make sure Brittany isn’t getting too annoying.”

  “I’m sure she’s not. Hey, will you do me a favor? Will you ask Krista to come out here? I need to talk to her, and I don’t want my folks listening.”

  Melissa frowned. “You two are really worried about your mom, aren’t you?”

  Actually, his reasons for wanting Krista alone had nothing to do with his mother’s health, but he grabbed onto her great excuse and hung his head a bit. “Yeah.”

  Melissa laid her hand on his arm and squeezed. “I’m sure whatever it is she’ll be fine. She’s got terrific support behind her.”

  Shane watched her go, for the first time not wondering why he couldn’t meet the right woman. He’d already met her; now he just had to figure out why Krista, and what to do about it.

  The woman in question stepped out onto the deck, glad she’d grabbed her coat before coming outside. The deck was empty this time of year and the pool closed up. A few leaves dance across the wooden planks and she shivered as she crossed the enormous space.

  “I never realize how big this deck is until it’s empty.”

  Krista’s heart pounded. Shane turned toward her, but he wasn’t smiling. What had he talked about with Melissa? Did he decide he wanted to date the other woman after all? Who could blame him? Melissa was beautiful and smart, and, well, not the girl who annoyed him most of his life. She knew it had been a bad idea to sleep with Shane, so if he’d decided the same thing, why should she be upset? Her stomach heaved at the thought of going back to the way they were even if it was the smart thing to do.

  “Coffee’s on,” she offered.

 

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