by Tina Susedik
Chapter 6
Hogan eased away from the traffic lights. His low-slung Corvette idled quietly as he contemplated what to do with the rest of his Saturday night. Hell, it was only 6:15. The majority of his day had been spent at the office in downtown Milwaukee preparing for a weeklong trip overseas. He hated traveling, but the trip was necessary.
While his family did own plastics companies and he played a major role in it, his job there served as a cover for the FBI. While he was growing up, his parents also owned an antique shop. Each of their four children was expected to help. His expertise in antiquities made him the perfect candidate to investigate the influx of stolen WWII Jewish artifacts from foreign shores.
The smugglers were excellent at diverting the shipments from port to port so the authorities, including himself, were constantly one step behind them.
At times Hogan thought maybe his department at the FBI had a mole. Someone who was feeding information to the organization’s leaders. But after spending endless man-hours digging into fellow employees, nothing had surfaced.
A local man, Tony Angelino, whom they suspected of having ties with the smuggling ring’s leader, was known for his escapades with women. His sources told him the man was heading to the zoo tomorrow. So, he’d spend the day tailing the asshole through monkey houses and elephant pens, hoping to catch him meeting with someone higher up in the organization. Why they chose the zoo was beyond him. What a waste of a weekend.
At least Hogan wasn’t going to be the only agent at the zoo. Angelino had eluded them before when the FBI hoped to catch him meeting with others in the organization. This time he wasn’t to follow the crook, but call another agent when Angelino was sited. That agent would watch him and pass the information on until someone observed the man with one of his cronies.
To top it off, he was being sent overseas next week to work with Interpol. Under the guise of investing in a plant in France, he was actually meeting with an informant regarding the stolen artifacts.
Hogan slammed his palm on the steering wheel when he got stuck at the fourth stoplight in a row. “Damn it. At this rate I’ll never get home.” But why he bothered was beyond him.
His condo was nothing more than an over-sized, three bedroom, glorified apartment. It didn’t matter where he lived, though. He only needed a roof, walls, and a place to sack out after a long trip or a day at work. He’d been in his place for months and, except for sheets, towels, and the bare necessities like his coffee pot and flat-screen television, everything else was still in boxes, stacked in rows against walls.
Resting his elbow on the window frame, he tugged on his bottom lip, waiting for the light to change. That’s what he needed. A change. He was tired of being alone. What he wanted was someone special to go to at the end of the day. A warm woman, their children, and a place to relax.
He pictured a boy and a girl to help work in the yard on the weekend or to play football with. His wife would bring him something cool to drink while he took a break from mowing the lawn. After a hard day in the yard and the children were put to bed, they’d soothe their aching muscles in a whirlpool tub.
The house would be a large Victorian concoction with a wraparound porch, complete with a swing hanging from chains. There, he and his wife would sit on warm summer evenings, talking about their day, planning their future. She would snuggle up against him, his arm slung around her shoulder, her long red hair draped across his bare arm. His heart pounded in his ears at the vision of blue eyes gazing at him, promising an evening of love and passion.
“Hell,” he muttered. “I sound like an old man waiting for retirement, or one of my buddies trying to convince himself being married was better than being single and picking up any women he wanted.”
A horn blared behind him and someone yelled at him to get his rear in gear. As he drove away, he realized the woman in his dream was Cassie Jordan. He nearly slammed on his brakes at the thought. How could only one encounter with the woman make him long for stability? He was thirty years old and had made it this far without it. He was happy.
Happy? He had to face it. He was as lonely as a blind man on a deserted island. His heart did a jig thinking of Cassie again. He tried to slow down his breathing by going over the details of the overseas trip his team discussed during the day, but to no avail.
Hogan had questioned his sanity all night as sleep eluded him. Whatever possessed him to kiss her? He liked to get to know a woman longer than a few hours before he took the next step. It was like some unseen hand had pushed him toward her, guided his mouth toward hers, and ever so lightly swept his lips across hers. Once he realized Bess’s sister, Susie, was actually one of their suspects, he should have left.
During his tossing and turning, he wondered why the FBI didn’t know she lived in the house he’d gone to. He should have had that information, but then the newbie, in charge of watching Cassie’s house, had written down West Lake Street rather than Lake Street West. Trying to prove himself, he decided he could remember her description and hadn’t taken a picture of her along with him. The man had been staking out the wrong house.
Hogan squirmed in his seat to adjust his hard-on. He pressed his foot on the gas to pull away from yet another set of lights, when he caught a flash of red hair at a fast-food restaurant.
Man, she’s got me so befuddled, I think I’m seeing her. Much to the dismay of the driver behind him, he slowed down. He smiled when the woman in the parking lot removed a child from the car while two others stood beside her. He couldn’t believe his luck. His smile broadened and his stomach hitched like a jumping bean. He resisted the temptation to rub his hands together and howl like a wolf.
“Hmm. I suddenly feel very hungry for a double cheeseburger.”
Having passed the restaurant’s entrance, Hogan turned at the nearest intersection and headed back. He wished he’d driven his old stand-by ten-year-old Bronco instead of the Corvette. He certainly didn’t know Cassie well enough to predict how she’d react to such an expensive car, so he parked a block away. The less she knew about his finances, the better. The blue jeans and green plaid flannel shirt he wore to work on the weekends were so basic he could fit into any crowd.
Hogan hadn’t been in a fast food place in years. The odor of onions and greasy fries hit him in the face. The noisy squeals of children set his nerves on edge. Once they started putting in play areas, the noise rose to a level so high that even his deaf grandfather complained about it. Being able to see Cassie, though, would make the stop worthwhile.
Restraining himself from immediately searching her out, Hogan went to the counter and ordered. With his tray in hand, he turned to the eating area.
Be cool, man. Pretend you’re simply trying to find a place to sit. Act surprised to see her. He passed empty tables and booths then stood at the entrance to the children’s area. This was crazy and so obvious it was ridiculous. Why would a single man in his right mind purposely enter the mayhem unless he was looking for someone? Just as he was on the verge of leaving, he saw one of Bess and Rob’s girls.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door.
“Cassie?” he asked in what he truly hoped was an astonished voice. “I thought I recognized Emily. Decided to take the kids out for supper, huh?”
Cassie’s eyes widened. She held a fry a few inches from her lips.
“Auntie Susie,” Emily whispered, leaned over the table, “it’s Mr. Hogan.”
Cassie put the fry down and smiled, her eyes shining in a way that he hoped was joy at seeing him.
“I see him, sweetie. We’re a bit of a mess here, but would you care to join us?” Cassie grabbed a napkin and wiped ketchup from the table. “They tend to use every inch of available space.”
“What’s everyone having?” he asked, setting his tray on the table across from Cassie. Billy sat in a highchair at the end of t
he booth, gnawing on a fry. Hogan rubbed his hand over the baby’s soft, downy hair. “Hi ya, squirt.”
Emily scooted across the booth to make room for him while she and Jazmine explained their food. He nearly laughed at the adoration in Emily’s eyes. “Sounds like quite a banquet.”
“What are you having, Mr. Hogan?” Jazmine asked.
“Let’s see.” Hogan opened his wrapper. “Looks like a super, duper, whopper of a sandwich, doesn’t it?” Then he picked up his straw, tore one end of the wrapper off, put the bare tip in his mouth, and blew, sending the wrapper flying toward Jazmine, who squealed. He slid the straw into his drink and took a sip. “Mmm. A chocolate shake. I love chocolate.” He winked at Cassie. “Don’t you?”
Cassie’s face turned red, and she made a gurgling sound in the back of her throat. She coughed. Was she choking? He touched the back of her hand. “Cassie? Are you all right?”
She ran her fingers through her wayward hair. “I guess I’m just a little tired.”
“Rough day?”
“It really wasn’t that bad, but there should be a rule that says when we’re young, we’re allowed to bottle up some of our childhood energy and save it for a rainy day. You know, a day like today when you’re desperate to entertain three kids.”
Hogan laughed at her comment. “I hate to say it, but you do look a little worn out.”
“I feel a lot worn out,” she admitted, pushing a wisp of hair behind an ear. “I don’t know how mothers do it.”
“From what my sisters always say, it comes with the territory. Though, most mothers aren’t given three kids all at once.” Hogan dipped a fry into his ketchup. “When they come one at a time, you get used to them one at a time. My sisters are always saying they don’t know how parents of twins or triplets manage.
“It’s all in what you’re used to. Also, when they’re in their home territory, they have plenty to do. Toys to play with, special places to hide. I bet you don’t have a lot of toys for kids to play with, do you?”
Before Cassie answered, Emily piped in. “Auntie Susie doesn’t have a lot of toys, but we had lotsa fun today. Right, Jaz?”
Jazmine stood on the seat and put an arm around her aunt’s shoulders. “Ya, lotsa fun.”
Hogan glanced at Cassie. Even though she was tired, he thought she was cute with her hair in a ponytail. She didn’t have on any makeup, but that just gave her a wholesome, clean look. Even the dark smudges under her eyes didn’t detract from her beauty. She must not have slept enough last night.
Of course she didn’t, you idiot. You kept her up until midnight, and they probably had her up at the crack of dawn.
“So what did you guys do all day?”
“Well, Auntie Susie made us some of her super-duper, humongous rolls for breakfast,” Emily said.
“With lots and lots of frosting,” Jazmine added.
“Then we went up to the attic and dug in boxes . . .”
As Cassie listened to her nieces relate their day, she was surprised and pleased to hear they’d had fun after all. She realized now she had been so worried about keeping them occupied, she hadn’t paid much attention to the fun they were having.
Warmth spread through her. Maybe she would make a good mother someday. She shot a sideways glance at Hogan and thought he would probably make a good father. His deep laughter at something Billy did sent warm waves up her spine and made her toes curl. And oh, lord, his chocolate comment nearly sent her into a tizzy.
She brought her mind back to what was going on around her. Billy was bouncing up and down in his chair yelling, “Mo, mo.”
“Is he trying to imitate a cow or something?” Hogan asked.
Cassie joined her nieces as they laughed at his question. “No. I gave the kids horseback rides and he learned how to ask for more. He must be remembering.”
“How many rides did you give him?”
“I’m not sure, but between the three of them it must have been hundreds,” she answered, twisting her neck to release the aches creeping in. “At least it felt that way.”
“No wonder you’re exhausted, if you did all that in one day,” Hogan commented before taking a sip from his shake. A loud slurping sound from his now empty cup sent the girls into peals of laughter.
Jasmine put her chin in her hands. “Tomorrow we’re gonna go to the zoo, Mr. Hogan.”
“You are? Aren’t you the lucky ones.”
“Yup. I gets to see the monkeys.” She suddenly pouted and tears filled her eyes.
“What’s wrong, honey?” Hogan asked her.
“We were s’posed to go today, but the mommy and daddy monkeys were keeping their babies inside ‘cause of the rain.”
“But why are you so sad?”
“What if it rains tomorrow and the monkeys can’t come out and play?”
Hogan reached across the table and tapped Jazmine playfully on her nose. “You want to know what I heard on the way here?”
Both Jazmine and Emily nodded so hard, Cassie thought their eyeballs would fall out and roll across the table.
Hogan leaned back against the booth and draped an arm over the back. Little tingles washed over her body at the tight way his shirt stretched over his chest. Curly dark hair showed through the opening at the neck of his shirt. As he rubbed his finger thoughtfully over his mouth, she imagined those lips moving slowly over her body. His voice broke through her erotic thoughts.
“I heard that tomorrow is going to the best, most beautiful, warmest fall day ever in the history of fall days. What do you think of that?”
Jazmine jumped up and down and clapped her hands. “Yea, I gets to see the monkeys tomorrow.” Then she turned to Cassie. “How far away is tomorrow, Auntie Susie?”
“Only one night, sweetie,” she answered with a hug to keep her niece from bouncing off the seat.
Emily was quiet for a moment. “Mr. Hogan, can you come with us?”
“I’d love to, Emily,” Hogan replied. “But it depends on what your aunt says.”
Emily turned pleading eyes to Cassie. “Please, Auntie Susie? Please say yes. Mr. Hogan is very nice.”
Jazmine placed her hands on either side of Cassie’s face and looked her straight in the eyes. “Please, Auntie Susie. Maybe Mr. Hogan likes the monkeys.”
Cassie choked back a laugh at his beseeching eyes that from him somehow didn’t look ridiculous on a grown man. She imagined it melted a few hearts along the way.
“Please, Auntie Susie?” he copied the girls. “Mr. Hogan does love monkeys.”
Then in a lower tone that vibrated through her body, he added, “And I can be very nice.”
Her nieces she could fight, but she was lost at Hogan’s raised eyebrow and hangdog pout. She shook her head. “What can I say? I’m outnumbered by a bunch of sad-eyed beagles.”
“Beagles?” Hogan asked, his brows lowering in a frown.
“Yes, beagles.”
“Can he come? Please. Can he, can he?” Emily begged, her hands folded together in prayer fashion.
“Oh, all right, he can come. He’d just better behave himself. That’s all I ask.”
“Of course he can behave. Can’t you, Mr. Hogan?” Emily said, her voice sounding as if he couldn’t do anything else but be good.
Hogan’s eyes twinkled. “Well, of course I can behave myself, Auntie Susie.” He paused, his lips lifting into a seductive smile. “At least I’ll try my hardest.”
“I can’t ask for much more than that, now can I?” Cassie came back with a smile, ripples of pleasure curling through her. “Mr. Hogan, do you have any uncles?” Jazmine asked.
Cassie cringed. She knew what was coming.
“Why, yes, Jazmine, I do.” Hogan’s forehead creased in a frown.
Jazmine knelt on the
seat, leaned her elbows on the table. “I have sixteen uncles, Mr. Hogan.”
“Sixteen, huh? That’s quite a lot.”
“Yup, sixteen.”
Cassie took Jazmine’s hand. “Now, Jazmine, what did we say about lying this morning? You know I don’t like it and neither does your mother. Remember what I said would happen if you lied again?”
Tears welled up in Jazmine’s eyes, tugging at Cassie’s heart. “Now tell Mr. Hogan how many uncles you really have.”
“None,” she mumbled to the table.
“We used to have an uncle, Mr. Hogan,” Emily said.
“Really?”
Cassie wondered about his question. Was he interested in her answer for himself? “Girls, I think it’s time you go play.” Cassie rose from the booth to let Jazmine out.
The girls were halfway to the play area when Jazmine turned around and ran back to Cassie. “Can we still go see the monkeys tomorrow, Auntie Susie?” She buried her face in Cassie’s lap. “Please, please. I won’t lie no more.”
“I’ll think about it, Jazmine. Now go and play.”
Cassie ignored Hogan’s penetrating stare as she wiped ketchup from Billy’s face.
“Don’t you think you were a little rough on her?”
Cassie kept her eyes on Billy. “No.”
“Cassie, she’s just a little girl.” Hogan put his hand over hers. “Little girls and boys sometimes make up stories.”
Cassie finally looked up at Hogan, hoping what she’d heard him say didn’t show on her face.
“Being little is no excuse. There is never a good reason to lie about anything.”
From the emphatic way Cassie made that statement, Hogan realized he was touching on a sensitive subject. Someone in her past obviously had lied and hurt her terribly. Maybe the “uncle”?