She burst out laughing while she eased her hand away.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“I’m completely serious. My campaign for governor is ready to launch. I need you in Michigan to do my releases and position papers.”
“You want me to uproot my kids, who just lost their father, move again, this time to Michigan, where we know no one?”
“I know about your husband. You haven’t been here long enough to put down roots.”
“How did you find me?”
“Through your sister. She’s pretty well known for her work at Kensington State. Academia is one of the first places politicians look for staff members. Once I found her, finding you was easy.”
“You went to a lot of trouble.”
“You’ve always been special to me. How could I forget you?”
“I kept telling myself the same thing when I was working all day, going to school at night plus riding herd on Callie all by myself…” she said with a bitter edge to her voice.
Mike looked down at his hands.
“I had no idea what you were going through. I got Carly pregnant, so I married her. The love thing wore off a long time ago.”
“Are you still married?”
“Until my son turns eighteen. But we go our separate ways…if you know what I mean.”
“Isn’t infidelity going to hurt your campaign?”
“We can play the dutiful couple for the next ten months…we’ve done it long enough.”
“You’re still married yet you want me to sleep with you?”
“Until I get a divorce. Then I want to marry you.”
“When will that be?”
“I don’t know yet. Why don’t you come home with me tonight…see if the chemistry is still there?”
She knew the chemistry still lived between them but the trust didn’t.
Mike’s eyes looked at her with passion…the way they used to on a Saturday night, after a party. She felt herself weakening. One time, what would it hurt? Who’d know? Jim would know.
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“What’s the difference?”
“Why not? We’re adults. You’re not married…” His gaze held hers.
“I’m committed to someone…sort of.” She chewed her lip.
“Sort of committed?”
“I can’t go home with you tonight.” She looked down at her hands.
Mike leaned over to kiss her again, with more heat. He leaned in closer, slipping his arm around her waist, his fingers caressing her back through her dress. She put her hand on his chest to stop him, but touching him only served to add to the heat. As she felt herself weakening, their food arrived. Sunny to the rescue.
“The food is very good here,” Sarah said, trying to divert Mike.
“Not as good as you,” he murmured, cutting off a slice of steak.
They ate in silence for a few moments.
“I’m staying across the street at Gracie’s Mansion,” Mike said. “In case you change your mind. Second floor, first door on the right. This time I don’t have to put a tie on the door.”
His eyes glittered as his laugh resonated in her head. One night with Mike. Tempting.
Mike…charming and devastating as ever.
“Tell me about your son.” She focused on her fish, avoiding his stare.
“Jared. He’s amazing.”
Mike launched into a story about his son’s high school football career then asked her about her children. Their comfort level with each other returned as if by magic. He listened closely, laughed at her funny anecdotes and took her hand during the sad ones. She felt the years strip away, like falling through a time machine. It’s not real, he’s not real. I have a life. Though alarm bells sounded in her head, like gravity on a tumbling leaf, she couldn’t stop falling.
The cold night air slapped them to attention, removing the drowsiness and comfort of the satisfying meal.
“Let’s walk a little,” he suggested.
They walked around the block. She pointed out landmarks and favorite shops. They strolled the empty streets of Willow Falls, huddled together against the chill of the dark, wintry night. Mike tucked her arm through his, maneuvering her close to him. As they turned down Madison Street, a big evergreen tree blotted out the moonlight and the glow of street lamps. Mike steered her up against him in the darkness. He kissed her passionately while unzipping her coat. He slipped his hand inside and rested it on her breast, emitting a little groan as his fingers closed over the soft flesh. She caught her breath, surprised by his bold action, but didn’t pull away.
“Sarah, I need you,” he breathed into her neck, his fingertips skimming across her velvety skin bordering the dress’s neckline. He slid her dress down a bit, off her shoulder. The cold air on her skin brought reality crashing home. She gave her head a tiny shake then stepped back and closed her coat.
“Stop,” she said, pushing against his chest.
“I’m sorry. I got carried away. I want you as much now as I did then.” he said, releasing her.
“Twelve, thirteen years later? Things change, life…life has happened. I have a man who loves me, a good man who I love.” She zipped up her coat.
“It won’t happen again.” Mike cast his gaze down at the pavement.
“Again?”
“I’m here for a week. I’d like to see you. Besides, you’re still considering my offer for work, aren’t you?”
“An offer? I didn’t hear anything about salary…you don’t expect me and my kids to live on love, do you?”
Mike laughed.
“I’d love to take you to a deserted island so we could live on love.”
“I’ll bet.” She smiled despite herself.
“All right. I’ll get you a real proposal. I’ll call you when I have a package ready.”
“You’re serious?” Her eyebrows shot up.
“Absolutely. One thing I need you to understand. No matter what you think of me now, I loved you with all my heart when we were in college.”
“I know, Mike,” she said, quietly, “didn’t do me much good though, did it?”
“When you needed me, I wasn’t there for you. Worst mistake of my life.”
“Time for me to go home.”
They were silent on the ride home. At her house, she put up a hand in warning to stop Mike from kissing her. Sneaking a glance at the window, she felt relief to see Jim wasn’t there. He trusts me. After the warm car, Sarah shivered in the sudden cold assaulting her on her way up the walk.
* * * *
Surrounded by student papers, Jim sat on the sofa, wearing his reading glasses, holding a red pen when Sarah walked in the door. Scottie was asleep. He'd given Laura a five minute warning fifteen minutes earlier. He looked up at Sarah. Her face was a bit pink. Cold outside. But otherwise she looked intact. Her hair wasn’t mussed or perfectly combed either, both a dead giveaway pointing to a lustful evening. He watched her hang up her coat. Everything’s zipped up. He let out a breath he didn’t realize he held. He glanced down to check his watch, up at her then smiled…nine thirty-five.
“Not a whore yet?”
He smiled.
“You could never be a whore,” he said, getting up.
She cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Not what you said before.”
“Did you kiss him?” Jim capped his red pen and dropped it on the coffee table along with the paper he had been reading.
“I don’t want to talk about Mike. Coffee?” She closed the closet door.
“I guess you did, then. Tea sounds good,” he said, irritated at her evasion.
“I don’t want to fight with you.”
“You didn’t sleep with him, did you?” Jealousy rose in his chest, dread mixed with anger.
“Of course not.” She filled the kettle, put it on the stove then turned on the flame.
“Good.” He reached into the cabinet to retrieve two mugs.
&nbs
p; Their hands met at the tea canister. He closed his fingers over hers and stepped closer to her. His heart beat wildly in anticipation of her kiss. She tilted her head up. Will she still want me after kissing Mike? His pulse fluttered as fear shot through his veins. He put his hand on her waist, feeling her softness through the knit fabric of her dress.
“Sarah…”he murmured as he closed his eyes, lowering his mouth to connect with hers.
She placed her palms on his chest. The touch of her fingers turned him on. Desire trumped fear as he pulled her closer. Her lips were as soft and willing as ever. His tongue glided over hers, caressing until a small moan escaped her throat. He felt her go soft against him, her breasts pushing against his chest when her arms linked around his neck. He slipped his hands down her back to cup her bottom. Nothing was different. Jim moved his lips to her neck, feathering light kisses down to her collarbone as blood rushed between his legs. He closed his fingers over her breast as the water boiled and the tea kettle screamed in his ear.
“Tea?” She muttered.
“You.”
He reached over to turn off the burner before leading her to the bedroom. After they made love, Sarah stretched out, snuggled up to him and fell asleep. He flopped his arm around her waist and closed his eyes but sleep didn’t come. Was she making love to Mike or to me?
Chapter Twenty
In the Old Victorian on Bay Street
Christmas was five days away when Kit picked up Zoe from school.
“I’m making the most of my time with you.”
“What do you mean?” she faced her mom.
“We’re going to bake together. I bought some new polish so we can give each other manicures…”
“Did you get dark sea green?”
“Of course!”
Zoe clapped her hands together.
They were close, again, painting each other’s nails, gossiping about celebrities while cooking in the big kitchen.
The next morning, she helped Zoe pack. The girl could barely contain herself waiting for her father to drive up. Tunney arrived just before Johnny pulled up in front of the old house in a big, black limousine.
Zoe ran outside and threw herself in her father’s arms. He hugged her then swung her around like he used to. He smiled and laughed, happy to see his daughter. Kit stood by the front door looking him over. The tour had changed him. He sported punky hair and tight leather pants. Once they were inside, Kit hung up his coat, then handed him a steaming mug of coffee.
“Colder than hell up here. Nice house, Kit.”
She hung back. Johnny pulled her into a big hug.
“You’re looking…uh…good, Johnny. Sit down,” she said, stepping away from his embrace.
“Who is this?” he asked, looking at Tunney.
“This is my friend…” she said, then immediately corrected herself, picking up on Tunney’s frown, “my boyfriend, Tunney Nichols.”
Johnny walked over to Tunney and stuck out his hand. They shook hands.
“Nice to meet you, Nichols.” he said. Turning to her he said, “Told you you’d be back on your feet in no time.”
“Luck, Johnny,” she said, walking over to Tunney, slipping her hand in his.
“Daddy, aren’t you going to ask Mommy to marry you again,” Zoe blurted out.
“Whoa! Zoe, where did you get that idea?” Johnny asked.
“You said you had a proposal for her…”
“Yeah, but not that kind of proposal, baby girl.”
“Then what?” she asked.
“Kit, being on the road is complicated. Ace, who runs the shit for the band is having trouble keeping up with things. They’re looking for an assistant. I volunteered you for the job. You could still be on the road, write your dumbass book or whatever. You’d have a job, anyway, make a few bucks. You’re real organized, with your lists and all. Ace went for it. So I’m offering you the job…”
“Daddy…you’re not getting back together with Mom?”
“No, Zoe. Who told you we were?” Johnny raised his eyebrows.
“You did, Daddy. Why not? You used to love Mom. Why did you stop?”
Kit shifted from foot to foot, her gaze dropped to the floor.
“That’s between me and your mom, baby.” Johnny put his arm around the girl.
“But I want you to love her. I want us to be a family again.”
Kit’s chest tightened at the note of hysteria in Zoe’s voice. She’s going to have a meltdown right here, right now. In front of Johnny.
“We’ll still be a family, just differently. Kit, did you do this?” Johnny turned to her, anger clouding his face.
“Don’t be mad at her. This is me…what I want.” His daughter tugged on his sleeve.
“Sorry, baby, but you don’t get to call the shots on this. It’s over, Zoe. Try to accept it. I have a girlfriend now…out in the limo. Seems your mom has moved on, too,” he said, looking at Tunney with a flash of jealousy in his eyes.
“You brought a girlfriend here?” Kit asked, shocked.
Tunney moved over to stand next to Kit. His hand slipped around hers again.
“I want Zoe to meet her.”
“Is she coming skiing with us?” Zoe asked, tears beginning to form in her big eyes.
“Why not? She’s nice. You’ll like her.”
“I thought…just you and me, Daddy.” Kit saw tears in her daughter’s eyes and the flush of roiling emotions color her daughter’s cheeks.
“A guy’s gotta have his girl around. Come on, we’ll have fun. Marla isn’t like your mom, she’s young, she’ll take you shopping…do girl stuff.”
Tunney bristled, but Kit squeezed his hand.
“You’ll still have lots of time with Daddy, right, Johnny?” Kit put in, hoping Johnny would back her up.
“Yeah, baby girl. Yeah. Wait till you meet the members of the band. Stoke has kids, too, so you won’t be the only one.”
“Johnny, no drugs or anything, right?”
She chewed her lip.
“Of course not. Wouldn’t think of it. She’ll be safe with me.”
The front door burst opened and a tall brunette woman about twenty-three years old walked in.
“Staid, when are we going? The car’s cold. Crap, everything here is cold.”
Johnny introduced Marla to everyone as his girlfriend. Zoe ran up to her room and slammed the door. Her mother followed.
“Go away,” the girl called tearfully through the door.
“It’s me, sweetheart.”
“Mom…I’m so…so sorry!”
“Please let me in.”
She unlocked the door. Kit plopped down on the bed next to her. She put her arms around her daughter.
“Don’t be mad at your father. Getting back together isn’t right for us. I do have a new life. I’m fine now.”
“But I want you two back together.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart…not going to happen. Our being apart or together has nothing to do with you…just with us. We don’t want to be together, please try to accept us this way.”
“Do I have to go with that…that…Marla person?”
“You do. She’s Daddy’s choice. You can still have fun with Daddy. He’s so happy to see you. He loves you, Zoe.”
“Are you going to accept the job, Mom? Then at least you’ll still be with us.”
“I belong in Willow Falls now.”
She hugged her mother. Kit ran her fingers through the girl’s golden locks.
“We’ll make up lost time when you come back,” She stroked Zoe’s back. “Let’s go. Your dad has traveled a long way to get you. This will be a real adventure. You can tell me all about it when you get back.”
“I wish you were coming, Mom.”
“I love you, too, honey,” Kit said, kissing her daughter’s forehead.
Mother and daughter came down the stairs slowly, with their arms around each other. Zoe sniffled softly. When they got to the bottom, Johnny tossed an envelope on the
coffee table.
“Here’s a ticket to join us if you decide to take the job. I hope you do.”
“Thanks, Johnny. Don’t count on it.”
“A great opportunity, babe. The guys are great.”
“We loaded Zoe’s stuff in the limo while you were upstairs,” Tunney said.
Kit gave him a nod.
Zoe bid her mother a tearful goodbye. She gave Tunney a hug. Johnny hugged Kit too tightly. The three piled into the limo and drove off. Kit couldn’t control her tears as she watched her daughter drive away, waving long after they were out of sight.
When she went inside, Tunney had a cocktail waiting for her. Christmas music played on the radio.
“Are you going to take that job?” he asked her.
“Doubt it.” She took one sip of the Cosmo, then another.
“That’s not a direct no.”
“Can’t I think about it for a day or two?” She sank down into the sofa.
“You can think about it for a lifetime.”
“No reason to get huffy.”
“Who’s huffy?” He cocked an eyebrow at her.
“And sarcastic. You are.”
She took out leftovers to reheat.
“Don’t you think this affects me a little?”
He pulled out lettuce, cucumbers and tomato for a salad.
“I’m probably not going to take the job, but I want a chance to think about it for a minute or two.”
She put her hand on her hip, moved her lips silently then picked up her drink.
“Should I time you? Better yet, maybe I should go, so you can think…”
He put down the knife then wiped his hands on a dish towel.
“Come on, Tunney. Back off a little. Let’s just be together. Only five days until Christmas. I don’t want to fight with you.”
She tugged on his sleeve, then snaked her arms around his waist when he wouldn’t move.
He took hold of her hands in his and leaned back against her.
“Then tell me you’re not going to take the job. Tell me to sell my share of the business in Seattle. Tell me you want to live with me here in Willow Falls forever. Tell me…”
She put her hand over his mouth. He turned and she got on tiptoe to kiss him. He pulled her closer as he deepened the kiss.
Now and Forever 4, The Renovated Heart Page 18