by Anna Adams
Zach distrusted Kendall’s earnest tone. He’d proven he knew how to spin a story. Zach would have liked to warn Olivia against her father’s attempt to coerce her back into the fold.
But he saw her make a decision. Her expression firmed in a patient smile that acknowledged twenty-seven years of emotional tug-of-war between them.
She gently detached herself from her father’s hand. “You’d like me to run home every time something bad happens because you think you can fix all my problems. I’m glad I can ask you for advice, but this time I know what’s best for my child.”
Zach admired the effort she made to avoid hurting her manipulative father. Kendall saw himself as the patriarch of their small family, but Olivia was the source and the flow of the bond between Evan and her father. She protected her son and gave her dad room to run until he crossed the boundaries she’d set for Evan.
She slid her hands into her back pockets, and Zach’s palms burned as if he were tracing the firm flesh that filled out her jeans. Only one thing seemed to be missing in Olivia’s life. Why hadn’t another man fallen in love with her? Why hadn’t she, so capable of love, fallen for someone else?
What had he and Olivia been to each other? Every time he passed within arm’s length of her, he fought an urge to touch her, to wrap himself in the sound of her voice, the passion of her arms clinging to him.
He backed away from her and her father. He had to be careful. He couldn’t afford to fail again with a woman who’d given him a child.
He’d bent over backward trying to be a good husband to Helene—until she’d gotten sick of his trying so hard. After the accident he’d gone a little crazy, driven too fast, forced himself to fly, though he was so frightened he’d made mistakes. He’d loved too quickly, needed too much. He’d stopped taking those kinds of chances the day he’d known he was going to be Lily’s father. She’d mattered more than his own loyalty to the Navy or his confusion about the past that felt like a gaping wound.
He turned his head, mesmerized by the slide of Olivia’s black hair over her shoulder. The strands curled around her full breast as she turned her father toward the front of the mobile home.
His aquarium plan today hadn’t been all for Evan’s benefit. He’d wanted to be alone with both of them. His son and his son’s mother. He heard himself breathing. He’d wanted to know how she felt about him—not as Evan’s father, but as a man.
She slid her hand over her forehead, dragging her hair into one smooth section at her back. Her breasts rose, and he could almost imagine cupping their full weight.
His pulse ratcheted to a near stop. He wanted her. She’d belonged to him once. Had Helene been right about his unconscious feelings for Olivia?
“Let’s get this thing out of here,” she said to her dad. “Zach, you said there’s a place he can park it?”
Her tone was normal. He tried to sound natural, too, as if her generosity of spirit in the face of her determined father’s tyrannical ways hadn’t made him see her in a whole new light. He cleared his throat.
“Follow my car. They have gas and electricity hookups.”
“You’re sending me to a public campground?” James’s shock was almost laughable.
Zach eyed the gleaming vehicle. “Looks to me as if you’ve got yourself a glorified camper there.”
“Dad, Mom, come look!” Excitement surged in Evan’s voice. “I can see you on TV.”
Olivia scanned for the short-circuit cameras her father would use for security. “Dad.” The edge returned to her voice.
“Well, you may not be worried about safety, but I’m vigilant.”
And maybe his extra care was a good thing. James Kendall had helped Olivia raise a normal, happy little boy who didn’t seem to demand or take advantage of his privileged life. All Evan seemed to want was a family, a real one with a mom and a dad and his “grampa” and himself. He had all the pieces.
For the first time, Zach wondered if he and Olivia might have married and made it work when she was so young.
He forced himself to step away from that mystery. Thinking about what might happen could put ideas in a man’s head.
What kind of dad would risk disappointing a son as happy with life as Evan?
OLIVIA HID A YAWN behind her hand as Zach stopped his car at the B&B that night. In the back seat, Evan’s head lolled, too.
“He’s asleep again,” Zach said.
“Yeah. You guys were both pretty tolerant.”
She felt a little guilty. After they’d checked her recalcitrant father into his camping space, she’d used the extra equipment he’d brought along for her to catch up on some work. Zach had kept Evan busy, racing astoundingly dexterous dinosaurs in colorful cartoon cars over a variety of video racetracks. And when they’d been ready to leave, Zach had stowed the laptop and scanner and fax machine in his trunk.
She’d protested against appropriating the new laptop, but her father had smugly replied that the one she’d brought with her wasn’t strong enough to handle the workload if she intended to play in the Smokies indefinitely.
And she couldn’t say how much longer she’d be staying.
“Did you finish your work tonight?” Zach asked.
“Not really, but I left an e-mail list of tasks for Brian, and I can take care of a few more things after Evan goes to bed. The work’s never done.”
Zach shrugged, a picture of nonchalance—so perfect a picture, he made her suspicious. “Lily and I have some stuff to do in the morning. I could swing by for Evan on my way to pick her up.”
Olivia formed the word “no” on her lips, but managed to swallow it before it escaped. Zach wanted to take their son with him. A morning without her might make a good start for him and Evan. The more time Evan spent with Lily, the better for both children. And she could use a few more hours to work on the current issue.
“Okay.” She dragged the word out unintentionally. “But you’ll take my cell phone number?”
“Olivia.” Amusement deepened his tone. “I have a child. I’m checked out on caring for humans under aged ten.”
His claim brought the past back like a slap in her face. “Now that’s Navy talk.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” He sounded wistful. “Sometimes their terminology works best. Yes or no?”
“Yes.” She couldn’t help a touch of caution. “But you’ll be careful with him?”
Zach’s only answer was a low chuckle that chased along her nerve endings as if he’d actually touched her.
“Why are you laughing?” She shifted, trying to distance herself, but her body responded slowly, as if its yearning were stronger than her reluctance to get involved again.
“I’m always surprised you survived your father,” Zach said, “but you have a little of him in you.”
“Just his tendency to overprotect.”
And not to like being laughed at. And one other thing. If she could control Zach’s every movement on his first outing alone with her son, she would have. Gladly—which meant one thing more. She wasn’t wise enough to be ashamed.
CHAPTER TEN
THE NEXT MORNING Evan flew down the steps to greet Zach the second he parked at the B&B. Olivia waited in the doorway, tall, deceptively fragile-looking and alone. When Evan turned back, she lifted her hand in a halfhearted wave.
Evan stopped with an exaggerated sigh. “Girls worry too much,” he said. “Mom,” he bellowed, “I’m fine.”
Olivia’s pinched face kind of bugged Zach. Did she think he was going to run off with their son? He waved over Evan’s shoulder, giving her room to panic. This was as new to her as to him, and they’d both have to adjust.
Putting on his confident sheriff’s face, he lifted his voice. “We’ll come back for you, and you can help us feed the animals.”
She nodded, and a stronger smile lightened her gaze.
Evan flapped his hand at Olivia again before scrambling into Zach’s car. “How long do we have to drive before we get to Lily’s house, Dad
?”
“A few minutes, but I need to stop at the post office first. Do you mind coming with me?”
“Nope.” He gave a little skip. “But don’t you have a mailbox at your house? We have one in our building. It’s a little gold box in the wall, and Mom lets me open it with our special key.”
It sounded magical. “I live up on the mountain, and it’s easier for the post office to deliver my mail down here.”
“Oh. Okay.” Evan moved his hand so Zach could open the car door and then climbed across Lily’s booster. After he put on his seat belt, Zach shut the door and went around to the front.
They drove around the courthouse to a small, square, clapboard building. Zach opened the door marked “In” for Evan, but the boy stopped on the threshold.
“It’s dark in there, Dad.”
He eased his hand into Zach’s, and Zach squeezed. “There’s a light on the counter.” Mrs. Banks, the elderly postmistress angled it to shine on the patron’s faces as if she was an investigator for a secret government agency. “You’ll be able to see better as we move up in the line.”
About then, Evan bumped into the backside of Mike Henderson.
“’Scuse me,” Evan said, shuffling into Zach. “I didn’t see him, Dad.”
“Wait a minute and your eyes will adjust.” Zach dropped his hand to Evan’s head.
“Hey, buddy.” Mike wrung Zach’s hand. “I want to thank you again for saving my wife at the bank.”
A sharp memory of his rage that day made Zach glance at Evan. He didn’t want anger like that to touch his son. “It was just my job, Mike. Hey, Evan and I are going to pick up Lily and then head to your store after we leave here.”
“Are you planting?”
“Picking up seed for the animals on my land. The weather’s getting colder.”
“Good idea.” Mike Henderson stuck out his hand to Evan. “Nice to meet you, young feller.”
“Hi.” Evan shook Mike’s hand, but his usual self-confidence seemed to ebb. The dark post office and the big man might be scary to a little guy. Zach gripped his son’s shoulder, trying to give him comfort. Evan glanced up and leaned into his father’s leg in a gut-wrenching gesture of trust.
“Mr. Henderson,” Mrs. Banks said, “I have a few things for you.”
The other man turned around, and Evan eased away from Zach’s leg. As Mike turned from the counter a second later, he tipped his UT Vols ball cap and patted Evan’s back. “See you later. Maybe Tammy can find some apple fritters for the young ones. She’s been picking apples all week.”
“I think we’re doing that next Saturday at my grandparents’ anniversary party.” Zach eased forward.
“Smart of Seth to put you bunch to work.”
Behind them, Mrs. Banks cleared her voice. “See you later, Mike.” Zach led Evan to the counter.
Mrs. Banks tilted her banker’s light until it shone on Evan’s face, painting him paler than he was. “Good morning, young man.”
Evan nodded. “Hello.”
“Looks like you, Zach.”
Mrs. Banks waited for him to speak, her pale blue eyes glittering behind large, old-fashioned glasses. If she and James Kendall ever got together, they’d put the rest of the news services out of business.
“Thanks,” he said.
She still waited. So did he. Evan reached for the papers fluttering from Mrs. Bank’s bulletin board. “Kitties. Does this say they’re giving kitties away?” he asked. “I’d like a kitty, Dad.”
“We’ll have to ask your mom.” Answering to “Dad” should give Mrs. Banks plenty to chew on.
She must have thought so too because she finally resorted to doing her job. “Not much for you today. Couple of bills and an ad from that home repair center over in Knoxville. You planning to do something to your house?” She passed his mail through the rusty screen that blocked her from her patrons and her patrons from their mail.
“I don’t know how they got to me way out here. You wouldn’t think they’d bother with someone an hour and a half from the store.” He started to leave, but plucked a lollipop from the bowl Mrs. Banks stocked on the patron side of her counter. She wasn’t all ruthless snoop. “For Evan.”
“You take another one for Lily and give both your little ones some sugar from me, hear?”
“I’ll do that.” Turning, he handed the candy to Evan.
“Thank you,” the boy said to Mrs. Banks.
“You’re welcome, son. Now save that and eat it when you give your sister hers.”
“I will,” Evan said quietly.
“Thanks again.” Zach pushed through the door and trailed Evan, blinking, into autumn sunlight that had burned off the twisting whorls of haze that gave the Smoky Mountains their name. “What do you think, Evan? Pretty country?”
“Yeah, but scary mailmen.” Evan scrunched up his eyes. “What kind of sugar are you supposed to give me and Lily?”
“That’s Southern for a kiss.”
Evan rubbed his face with both hands. “I don’t need any. I’m a boy, you know.”
Zach grinned with pure happiness. His son was easy to love. “Let’s go pick up your sister.”
OLIVIA WAS so deep in next month’s layout she didn’t hear the phone ring at first. On the second ring, she picked up her cell, but then realized it was the room telephone. She typed a last quick note into the e-mail she’d been putting together for Brian and then picked up the receiver. “Olivia Ken—Hello.”
“Zach told me he’d be here at 9:00. It’s now 9:13, and he’s interfering with my plans for the day. Where is he?”
“Helene?” Steeling herself for battle, Olivia pulled off her glasses.
“Of course. How many ex-wives can one man have? Except, of course, you weren’t a wife.”
Olivia refused to be annoyed or offended. “He and Evan left here a little while ago. I’m sure they’ll be with you soon.”
“How long ago?”
Long enough that Olivia felt a little concern he hadn’t made it to the posh side of Bardill’s Ridge yet. She looked at her watch. He’d been a little early for Evan. She couldn’t be sure how long they’d been gone, and she didn’t want to make more trouble for him. “Maybe he stopped somewhere on the way.”
“How long are you and your son staying in town?”
“I don’t know, but Helene, we have nothing to do with you. We never did.”
“Don’t kid yourself. Unless Zach has a commitment phobia, something—or someone—held him back during our marriage.”
Helene could be right and wrong. Sheriff in his hometown, deeply involved in his sprawling family’s life, and most of all, trying desperately to father his children, Zach seemed to have no problem committing. In fact, he took on enough to keep him busy every second of every day. Since she’d known him—even six years ago—he’d always been on his way somewhere to do something.
But he’d never truly committed to her, and obviously, his commitment to Helene had broken down. “Let’s be honest with each other, Helene.” She wasn’t a Kendall for nothing. “I don’t know what went wrong between you, and I don’t want to know. It’s none of my business. I just want to get along well enough with you to keep both our children happy.” The silence lasted so long she suspected the other woman had hung up on her. Just as well. Her pulse seemed to be hammering in her ears. Her head could explode any second now. “Helene?”
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy with Leland and my life now, but I wasn’t the bad guy with Zach, and his family thinks I was. I never stood a chance with him, and I see him trying harder with you already.”
“Maybe—because of Evan.”
“Then Lily must not matter as much to him. He didn’t try as hard with me.”
“That’s ridiculous. He just learned from his problems with you. He does love Lily, and you know it. I hope he’ll love Evan as much.”
“Aren’t you a Goody Two-shoes?”
If she were, this woman would try her character beyond sav
ing. “Not particularly, but you lose nothing if Zach and I manage to be friends.”
“I’ll have a problem if Lily loses something.”
Stunned, Olivia didn’t know what to say. Helene must have changed her mind about wanting Zach out of her life. Unless that had always been face-saving.
“I need to know Zach’s a good dad—to Evan and to Lily.” Olivia pushed her finger around the telephone’s keypad. “And I’m thrilled Evan gets to have a little sister. He loves her already.”
Helene hesitated again. “She’s glad to know him, too.”
Olivia quickly forgave her grudging tone. “So that’s where we stand. On the same side.”
“Honestly, I can’t say I want to. I always knew there was someone else, and I’ve built you up into a monster.”
Olivia took a deep breath. Was Helene willing to change her attitude? Olivia figured she should be the angry, suspicious one. Helene had gotten everything Olivia had dreamed of back then. “I know I’m a horrible shock to you, but I want Lily to be happy, too,” she repeated. “I’d no more hurt her than I’d risk causing Evan harm.”
“Zach’s just driven up.” Anger edged back into Helene’s voice, but she inhaled deeply, too. “I guess you and I declared a truce?”
Olivia bit back the protest that she’d never wanted to argue in the first place. “I’m glad.”
“I don’t think I’ll tell Zach we talked.”
“I have no problem with private conversations.” Zach had kept plenty of secrets before and this one couldn’t hurt him.
ZACH PARKED in front of the blue clapboard feed store with its sign swinging on rusty hinges and the usual crowd of farmers passing the time of day. How would Evan compare the place to James Kendall’s expensive bit of paradise on wheels?
Zach helped Lily out of her booster seat while Evan came around the car trunk. Straightening, Zach took both his children’s hands.