Bad Boy Heroes Boxed Set

by Patricia Ryan

  Which only got better from there. Donovan’s Sluggers—they were sponsored by Beth’s diner—were leading four to two at the end of the fifth inning when Beth waved to her from the grass. She was with Ronny, Linc and the woman he was dating, Jane Meachum.

  “Hey, is there room up there?” Beth called out.

  “Yep, come on up.”

  Annie watched Beth say something to Ronny, who pointed across the field. Beth nodded, and followed by Linc and Jane, climbed over people to get to Annie. Ron loped to the other side of the diamond.

  “Sorry we’re late,” Beth said when they reached Annie, greeted the Murphys and sat down. “I got held up.”

  “Nothing’s wrong, is it?” Annie asked, scooting over.

  “No, just business. It’s picked up since the races started.” Beth looked drained. Her usually serene eyes were sad, and for once the red color of her sweatshirt didn’t complement her dark looks. She was pale.

  Annie had tried to talk to her about Tucker Quaid after she’d confessed her attraction to him that night at Crocodile’s. But Beth had told her that, because of Ronny’s attitude toward Tucker, their relationship was a dead end and nothing could be done to change things.

  “How’s Matt doing?” Linc settled in next to Jane, who sat beside Suzie.

  “He got a homer first time at bat and a single and a double after that.” Grace’s voice was filled with grandmotherly pride.

  “He should be up again soon,” Annie told him.

  Linc smiled pleasantly enough, but he too seemed unhappy. However, the big-eyed woman next to him appeared to have found paradise. She stared at Linc adoringly.

  Rosa gave Linc a smile and he winked at her. “What about your boy, Rosa?”

  “Tommy got on base twice,” she said proudly.

  “Super.”

  “He’s younger than Matt. This is his first time for Little League,” Annie put in. “He’s doing great.”

  Linc watched Rosa for a minute. He was worried as hell about her. Which was only one of a whole swimming pool full of concerns he had right now. If he wasn’t careful, he was gonna drown in them.

  We found somebody to help Rosa, didn’t we, buddy?

  Frowning, Linc shook his head. He didn’t want to talk to God now. He was not a happy camper.

  You think I don’t know that? God asked.

  Linc pretended to watch the game.

  So, how’s Jane?

  Fine.

  I sent her to you, you know.

  My, haven’t we been busy lately.

  Anger’s good Linc. It’ll spur you on to decide what to do.

  No decisions to be made, he told God as the other team got on base.

  There are always decisions to be made.

  Hey, lay off tonight, will you? I’m trying to enjoy the game.

  Are you going to call Margo when you get back home?

  Yeah.

  Good, she needs to talk to you. It wasn’t nice of you to miss the last two Sunday phone calls.

  I have to stay away from her

  Why?

  You were there a couple of weeks ago. You know what almost happened.

  Do you really believe she can take you away from me that easily?

  Can’t she?

  Mmm. Let’s watch the game, now.

  Oh, sure, as soon as we get into something interesting, you clam up. You got a mean streak in you, God, you know that? He thought he heard God chuckle.

  “Linc?” Jane asked. “Are you all right?”

  He glanced over at Jane and his mood lightened. She looked so innocent in her prim little white blouse under the navy jacket and matching slacks. Please, don’t let me hurt her. “I’m fine. Hey, thanks for coming with me tonight. When we made the date, I forgot about Matt’s game.”

  “I love baseball.”

  And everything else Linc enjoyed—and needed in his life. Like God. Like going to Bible study—she’d attended two of the sessions he’d held these last weeks, even though her daddy’s church offered them, too. She also liked watching reruns of Emergency on TV, Italian food and walking in the rain.

  And, he suspected, she liked him a whole lot. More than once she’d indicated that a real kiss, a warmer-than-chaste hug would be welcome. For some reason, he’d never initiated either.

  “Who’s Ronny with?” Linc asked Beth as the side was called out and he tried to distract himself from his introspection.

  Beth stared across the field. “He saw a girl he knew. I think her name’s Lily. I wondered why he was so interested in Matt’s game tonight.”

  Annie chuckled. “Is she nice?”

  “I haven’t met her, but he’s talked about her some.” Beth scowled. “She dresses like we used to.”

  “We turned out okay, Bonnie.”

  Beth forced a smile. “Oh, look, our team’s up.” She pretended to concentrate on Matt but she was watching her own son. He seemed less sulky with Lily Hanson than he’d been for the last few weeks.

  “Oh, God, look!” Suzie’s comment, and how she shot out of her seat, had Beth’s mind back at the field; she stood, too.

  Matt had hit a drive to first. The baseman fumbled it. The pitcher, coming to the baseline, picked it up and tried to tag Matt, but missed. The umpire, however, called the runner out.

  Everybody was on their feet from the Sluggers’ side of the stands, including Linc, who was yelling like an Outlaw, not a town minister. “What’s the matter, ref? You need glasses?” he shouted.

  Matt’s startled look turned to adolescent outrage when he realized he’d been called out. He yelled something to the ump.

  Immediately Joe jogged out to first base.

  “Oh, no, I hope he doesn’t get mad.” Beth saw Annie’s fists clench at her sides.

  Reaching out, Beth grasped her friend’s hand. So many bad memories faced Annie every day since Joe’s return. Though her faith in Joe was a lot stronger than Annie’s, Beth also held her breath.

  Joe headed right for his son; when he reached him, he put his arm around Matt and drew him off to the side. Matt said something, and Joe leaned over and spoke in his ear. Matt shook his head hard. Again Joe spoke to him and Matt nodded; more advice from Joe and Matt shrugged and headed to the dugout.

  Then Joe faced the umpire.

  He made a comment.

  The umpire said something back.

  Joe gestured to first and to the baseline.

  The umpire answered, then shrugged.

  Finally, Joe nodded. Turned. And jogged back to the dugout.

  The breath escaped Annie in a whoosh.

  Beth patted Annie’s arm. “Seems okay, kid.”

  The game began again, but a few plays later, Beth’s gaze drifted back to Ron. He and Lily had gone to the playground and were pushing Faith and some of her friends on the swings. Beth smiled at them. Ronny was going to be all right. Just a few more weeks of weekend jail. Now if she could just stay away from Tucker like she promised.

  “Beth, you okay?” Linc had grasped her arm and gave her a questioning look. “We won, honey. And you’re frowning.”

  “No, I’m fine.” Or least I will be, she thought. Her eyes straying to Ronny again, she vowed she would be. Fine. Without Tucker Quaid. Someday she’d even be able think that thought, make that promise, without feeling the prick of tears behind her eyelids.

  “Okay, Bonnie, if you say so. How about coming to get ice cream with me and Jane?” He scanned Annie and Rosa, and included the Murphys in the invitation. “You guys, too. My treat.”

  “You’re on, Jess,” she said to her brother.

  *

  AN hour after the game, Linc eased open the door to his apartment and stood back so Jane could go inside before him. He followed her in, and reached for the light switch.

  A soft, lithe hand stopped him. “Don’t.” Jane’s voice was sweet. But husky.

  Though he was a man of God, he was still a descendent of Adam; he leaned back against the door in the darkness. Only the sliver o
f moon peeking in through the sheer curtains illuminated them. He reached for her waist and brought her to stand before him. “You’re pretty tempting, do you know that, Jane Meachum?”

  “Am I?” She stepped closer. Her trim navy pants fit her hips loosely.

  His hands flexed on her sides. “Hmm.”

  “It’s taken you a long time to get this close,” she whispered. “And then you needed urging.”

  He slid his arms further around her and he shoved back the memory of the feel of Margo, supple and muscular beneath his fingers. “I don’t want to push you into anything too soon.”

  A heartbeat later she said, simply, “Push.”

  Linc drew in a breath and drew her closer. She smelled like peaches. He was only five-nine, but he had to bend down to reach her mouth. It was soft against his. He pulled her closer and kissed her gently. When she cradled his neck in her hand, and moved against him, his body responded.

  But it was her moaned words that doused his ardor. Her Linc, against his mouth flashed Margo, like a brilliant billboard advertising hot sex, before his closed eyes. Linc, she’d told him, take me home. Make love to me.

  It was blasphemous to think of one woman while you were kissing another. An insult to both of them. He wound down the contact as diplomatically as he could.

  Getting the message, Jane stepped back from him and he groped the wall for the switch. When he flicked on the light, he could see questions in her eyes. Her pretty brown hair had fallen into her eyes and he brushed it back. “Let’s take this slow,” he said.

  Not angry, just confused, she cocked her head. “Because of my father?”

  He chuckled. “Your daddy’s the furthest thing from my mind right now, sugar.”

  Jane sighed. “You have a Gatsby quality about you, you know that? Like you’ve lost the great love of your life.”

  Looking her in the eye, he said honestly, “I have.” He rubbed her shoulders. “But contrary to good old Jay, I don’t want to pine my life away for her.”

  “What do you want, Linc?”

  “A wife and family and a normal life.” Like I never had.

  Her smile was sunshine bright; he didn’t understand why it caused him pinpricks of pain. “All right, let’s take it slow.”

  Smiling falsely—he wondered if dissembling was a sin—he asked, “How about some pizza and…some music?”

  “You’re on, good Reverend.”

  Hmmm, who would have thought the good Reverend had a kinky streak?

  Damn it, Margo, he thought, heading for the phone to call the pizza place. Get out of my mind.

  Miraculously, she did. By ten o’clock, he and Jane had devoured a Pizza Supreme with everything on it, two beers each and he was showing her how to do The Stroll from the sixties.

  She’d taken off her jacket and shoes and leaned against the back of the couch. “Really. Linc, that’s so…dumb.”

  “Come here, woman, and try it.” He was having fun.

  She pushed off from the sofa just as the phone rang. He groaned. She angled her head. “Shall I screen it? I got pretty good doing that for my dad.”

  Hell, he was only human. Winking at her, he shrugged. “Give it a try.”

  “Hello,” she said sweetly when she picked up the receiver. Linc saw her frown. “Um, yes, Reverend Grayson’s here. Who’s calling?” Another hesitation. Then she chuckled. Covering the mouthpiece, she said, “The woman says she’s Ma Barker. That’s a new one.”

  All the air and good humor and sexual interest in Jane drained out of him. He took the phone. “Turn that down, will you?” he said to her and then into the receiver, “Hello, Margo.”

  “Well, it sounds like Jesse James is having himself a grand old time.” Her words were meant to tease, but her tone was raw.

  After lowering the music, Jane sat demurely on the couch, and crossed her pretty legs.

  “Um, I am. How are you?”

  “Just peachy.”

  “Hold on a sec.” He covered the mouthpiece, said to Jane, “Sorry, be right back,” and headed for the bedroom. Once there he closed the door and flopped on the bed. “Margo.”

  “What?” She sounded sulky.

  “What’s going on?”

  Silence.

  “You’re upset.”

  And even longer silence.

  “Margo? Talk to me.”

  “Have you screwed her?”

  “Oh, honey, that’s beneath you.”

  A very long pause. “I’m sorry. It kills me to think of you touching her.”

  “This isn’t helping anything, love.”

  A longer silence. “Is she why you haven’t called?”

  “No.”

  “Is what happened two weeks ago why?”

  “Yes.”

  “I shouldn’t have pushed you to that.”

  “Margo—”

  “Listen, never mind. Go back to your girlfriend. She’s good for you. Forget I called.” Before she hung up she whispered, “Forget about me.”

  The phone went dead. The annoying beep beep beep drummed in his head. Finally, he said into the mouthpiece, “I wish I could.”

  *

  ANNIE AND ROSA settled in the living room alone, sipping some tea. They’d gone to Porky’s Ice Cream Shoppe with Linc, Jane, the Donovans and the Murphys, and then had come back here. Their daughters had just retreated to Faith’s room. It was getting late, and Matt and Tommy, who had gotten ice cream with the team, would be home momentarily. This was Annie’s first opportunity to talk to Rosa alone.

  Not that Annie was anxious to explain about Joe. What could she say without sounding trite, or worse, betraying? Yeah, he beat me up, but he’s better now. It’s not like you and Sam. Lord, would Annie’s situation with Joe cause Rosa to not seek help?

  “Rosa, I need to tell you something.”

  The woman’s kind blue eyes held a question. “Something’s been wrong all night, hasn’t it?”

  “Not wrong exactly.”

  “You acted funny about the boys’ coach.”

  Silently Annie thanked God for the opening. “I know. I was afraid he was going to fight with the umpire about the bad call against Matt.”

  “Why? He seems like a nice man.”

  “I know he does. And maybe he is. Now.”

  “Now?”

  “Rosa, do you know Coach’s last name?”

  “Yes, it’s Murphy. I read all the information on the sheet.”

  “He’s Matt’s father.”

  Her eyebrows arched in surprise. “Matt’s name isn’t Lang, like yours?”

  “No, Lang is my maiden name.”

  “Are you saying Joe Murphy is…he’s your…”Reflexively the woman grasped her waist. “Oh, no, Annie, he’s the one that…”

  Annie grappled for courage. Rosa might not be able to say the words aloud, but Annie could. “He’s the one that beat me up.”

  “But he’s so nice. I’ve talked to him a couple of times.”

  “I know. And maybe it’s real. Joe claims he’s a recovered batterer.”

  “What’s that?”

  Taking in a deep breath, Annie explained the term and also Joe’s long years of therapy. Though she might be betraying confidences, she wouldn’t let all Linc’s work with Rosa, and how far the woman had come in two weeks, go to waste. More important, she couldn’t let Rosa’s plan to seek help go by the wayside.

  “I don’t know what to say,” Rosa told her after Annie finished the story.

  Annie leaned over the coffee table separating them. “I told you this story so that you don’t think Sam’s going to miraculously change. If Joe has changed, he managed it with a lot of counseling and hard work. And it took years.”

  Rosa stared at her mutely.

  “Do you understand, Rosa? Sam won’t change unless he gets a lot of help.”

  Before Rosa could answer, there was a commotion in the kitchen. Joe and Matt and Tommy trundled into the living room.

  “… really good, Tom.” Joe
’s low voice was a pleasant rumble.

  “My dad helped me with hitting, Tommy. And see what I did?”

  “Will you work on the catching with me, Coach?”

  “Hello, everybody.” Though Annie was disturbed by the bad timing, her greeting was pleasant.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Hi, Ma.”

  “Hi, Annie.” Joe’s face held the flush of victory and a deep sense of contentment. He looked younger, less weary. He smiled at Rosa. “Mrs. DeMartino.”

  Rosa froze. Stared at Joe. Christian woman though she was, she couldn’t keep the look of contempt from her face. Then, automatically, she sidled back in her chair.

  At her expression, and silence, Joe also stilled. His face drained of color. He studied Rosa, then he shot a look at Annie. She was stunned by the pain in his eyes, the bleakness.

  For the very first time since he’d walked out of her life, five years and ten months ago, she felt sorry for him.

  *

  HE HAD TO escape. Before his face cracked. Before his shoulders, brittle and unyielding, slumped with the weight of his guilt. He was bruised from the inside out and wasn’t sure how to deal with it.

  But he couldn’t flee. As he went through the motions of saying good night to his kids, and ended up reading a short passage from the sayings book to Faith, he forced himself to deal with reality.

  “Read me what face the music means, Daddy.”

  Ah, irony.

  Joe cleared his throat. “When old-time soldiers were dismissed from the army for bad behavior, they were often made to march slowly between the ranks of former comrades. Drums and other instruments marked their time. Meeting the unpleasant head-on came to be known as facing the music.”

  So, Murphy, he told himself as he stared at the book, face the music. Annie had obviously told Rosa DeMartino about him. And he didn’t have to stretch far to guess why. He’d processed Rosa’s forms for counseling himself, and though no specifics were given, she’d asked for Carol Lopez, who was a domestic violence counselor. It didn’t take Einstein to figure out the rest.

  Rosa was an abused spouse.

  And Joe was the enemy. That Annie had told her about him was no more than he deserved, but it knifed him inside.

  “You okay, Daddy?” Faith asked as she cuddled into him on her canopied bed.

  “Just fine, princess.”

  “You look sad. Like Mommy used to all the time.”