The soft touch of his lips on her neck, then on her cheek, brought about a few unwanted tingles. Without turning around, she said, “You’ll find a phone in the kitchen so you can call a cab.”
“I have a cell phone, and I prefer to walk.”
“Do you know where you’re going?”
“I have a good sense of direction, no pun intended.”
She could hear the smile in his voice, and even though she didn’t want to, Renee couldn’t help but smile back. “Try not to get lost. I’d hate to have to explain that to your friends and your nephew.”
Clasping her shoulders, he turned her around. “This isn’t over, Renee. While I’m in town, I’m going to explain to you what happened, when I think you’re ready to hear it. And I plan to make it up to you, somehow, some way.”
“Go back to the hotel, Pete.” She’d said it with such minimal conviction, she expected him to argue. She also expected him to kiss her in earnest, or at least try.
Instead, he moved back and returned his hands to his pockets. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With that, he walked out the door, leaving Renee alone to ponder his words. If she knew what was good for her, she’d avoid him until she was assured he’d left town. But where Pete Traynor was concerned, Renee couldn’t claim any real common sense.
After hanging her coat in the hall closet, she kicked out of her heels and started to undress on her way to the bedroom. She made quick work of her nighttime ritual and donned her favorite blue satin, thin-strapped short nightgown, as if she dressed for a lover. But she hadn’t had a lover in some time. Since Pete. Back then, her life had revolved around seeing the film to fruition, then fighting for her very position at a studio that had been swallowed up by a huge conglomerate. A battle she’d lost because of her inability to hang on to a director they’d never believed she would sign in the first place. Irony at its best.
Since her return to New Orleans, she’d deliberately discarded any thoughts of meeting a man or dating or sex. Yet tonight, as she climbed beneath the covers in her desolate bed, she realized that Pete had unearthed all those natural desires she’d tried so hard to keep at bay. Worse, he’d resurrected feelings that she’d ignored for the sake of her emotional health.
Now Pete Traynor was back in her life, making her remember, making her feel, and she couldn’t afford to do either.
WHEN PETE WALKED INTO the dimly lit sitting area, his attention immediately landed on the pint-size outline jutting from behind the curtained window across the room. He looked to his right to find the door to Evan and Ella’s room closed, signaling the couple had retired, and understandably so, since they most likely assumed Adam was asleep. Evidently his nephew had decided a late night game of hide-and-seek was in order.
Pete took his time emptying his pockets, setting aside the card key and his wallet on the coffee table dividing the blue brocade sofa and club chair. Once that was done, he strolled to the window and yanked back the curtain, bringing about Adam’s giggle.
“What are you doing up, Adam Turnbow?” Pete said, his tone only half-scolding. He’d never been able to muster more than minimal sternness where Adam was concerned, and the kid knew it, evidenced by his toothy grin.
“I’m not sleepy.” He rubbed his eyes in contradiction.
“You should be.” Pete hauled him up in his arms and started toward their designated bedroom to the left. “We need to be quiet so we don’t wake up Evan and Ella.”
“They’re not asleep. I saw them outside on the porch, kissing.” His tone held all the disgust of a four-year-old who had yet to discover the benefits of the opposite sex.
Pete set Adam on his feet in front of the bed closest to the wall. “That’s not polite, kiddo, spying on people.”
“I wasn’t spying.” He frowned. “I had a bad dream and got scared. You were gone, so I went to see Evan. That’s when I saw them outside.”
Pete realized he should have warned Evan about Adam’s periodic nightmares. He should have stayed with Adam instead of accompanying Renee to her apartment. He should remember that the boy still needed him, if only for a while longer. “I’m here now, bud, and it’s time to go to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.”
Adam climbed onto the bed and stood, arms outstretched at his sides. “Airplane.”
In accordance with the normal bedtime routine, Pete picked Adam up beneath his rib cage and spun him around. He made a mental note to tell Craig about this ritual, to make certain that Adam kept much of the same routine in Pete’s absence. And that thought weighted Pete’s chest, right around the area of his heart.
After one final spin, Pete tossed Adam onto the unmade bed, tucked the covers beneath his chin, then took his usual spot beside him. “Okay, buddy, time to shut those eyes and shut it down.”
He wriggled his arms from beneath the sheet. “Do you like that lady, Uncle Pete?”
“What lady?” he asked, although he suspected he already knew the answer.
“Renee.”
“Yes, I like her.” More than anyone realized, especially her.
“Do you kiss her like Craig kisses my mommy and like Evan kisses Ella?”
Unfortunately, not recently, and not because he hadn’t wanted to. Five more minutes in her apartment, and he would have tried. He might have tried more than that. “We’re just friends.” Even that was a stretch.
Adam seemed to ponder that for a moment before he asked, “Does she have any kids?”
“No, she doesn’t have any kids. And you need to stop the questions and go to sleep.”
Adam held up his pointer finger. “One more.”
Nothing new there. The kid was a master at sleep avoidance. “Okay, but only one more.”
“Can she come with us tomorrow?”
Pete hadn’t expected that at all. “Do you want her to come with us?”
“Yeah. I think she’s pretty.” He wrinkled his upturned nose. “But I don’t want you to kiss her.”
Not much to worry about there, Pete decided. And he highly doubted Renee would agree to accompany them on their sightseeing excursion, unless he found some creative way to convince her. Then again, the answer to that dilemma was right before him, wearing blue race-car pajamas and a smile that had been known to melt many a woman.
Maybe that wasn’t exactly playing fair, utilizing his nephew’s charm in order to spend more time with Renee. But as far as Pete was concerned, he could use all the help he could get. “Okay, we’ll ask her in the morning.”
Adam held out his arms. “I love you, Uncle Pete. You’re a good daddy.”
As Pete embraced his nephew, he realized that all the glowing reviews and coveted awards he’d won could never measure up to a moment like this, when in one little boy’s eyes, he played the role of hero.
But he wasn’t a hero, or a dad. He was only a man who had been influenced by unforeseen circumstances, and those circumstances had changed his view of the world forever. At one time he’d known who he was and what he wanted from life. Now he wasn’t so sure.
He did know one thing. Saying goodbye to Adam would be one of the hardest things he’d ever have to do, and so would saying goodbye to Renee Marchand again.
CHAPTER FOUR
RENEE COULDN’T IMAGINE who would be ringing her doorbell at such an early hour. And she didn’t understand why the mystery visitor hadn’t been announced before being allowed up. Of course, it could mean the building’s manager had finally answered the repair request she’d made a few days ago. Then again, it was Saturday, and she doubted he’d pay the maintenance man overtime to fix a minor bathroom faucet leak when it could wait until Monday.
She looked through the peephole and saw two wide brown eyes staring back at her—eyes belonging to none other than Pete’s nephew. How could she resist such an adorable little guy?
For a moment she hesitated, recognizing that her own face was absent of makeup and her attire less than appropriate for greeting guests—a plush black towel wrapped around her
dripping hair and a seen-better-days blue terry robe covering her body. Oh, well. Although she’d always taken pride in her appearance, she’d learned a long time ago to leave the vanity to Hollywood glamour girls. After all, Pete had given her no notice, so what he saw was definitely what he got.
Renee unbolted and opened the door to find Adam standing in front of Pete, a bag clutched in his hands and a cheerful smile on his face. “Well, well, what have we here?” she asked. “Looks like someone’s been to Café Du Monde. Is this a bribe?”
“It’s breakfast,” Pete said. “Mind if we come in and share it with you?”
“I suppose that can be arranged.”
Renee stepped to one side, and as they walked in, she noticed both looked morning fresh and well-groomed—Pete in his soft wash jeans and denim jacket, Adam in a pair of beige corduroys and a dark green windbreaker, both sporting matching black baseball caps. And there she was, wearing old terry, pale skin and pink wool socks.
When they entered the living area, Adam handed off the bag to Pete and headed straight to the floor-to-ceiling window. “Wow, Uncle Pete. Look at that.”
“Yeah, it’s quite a view, kiddo.”
Renee regarded Pete, whose attention was focused on her instead of his nephew or the window. “How did you manage to get up here without security ringing me?” she asked.
“Your friend, Donny, was just about to leave his shift. Since he recognized me from last night, and I told him I wanted to surprise you, he let me in. Didn’t hurt that I gave him that autograph, or that I had the kid with me.”
She made a mental note to have a word with dear Donny. “How resourceful. But it might have been nice if you’d given me some warning so I could have dressed in something more appropriate, or at least combed my hair.”
“You look great. And by the way, Adam thinks you’re pretty.” He laid his palm against her back, leaned closer and whispered, “And he’s right.”
Feeling somewhat self-conscious, Renee strode through the living room, crouched beside Adam and pointed at the sights. “That’s the river and the ship port.”
He turned his sweet smile on her. “I want to go see the boats.”
“If you wait until tomorrow, the cruise ships will be coming in to let off the passengers and pick up some more. You can see how fast they load on all the food and baggage.”
His eyes went wide. “Can I go on the ship?”
“Not this time, buddy,” Pete said from behind them. “Maybe some day I’ll take you.”
Adam was surprisingly serious for a boy his age. “I have to go to Japan first.”
Renee looked back at Pete. “Japan?”
“Adam’s new stepfather is taking a position there with his investment company,” Pete said. “They’ll be meeting us at the airport end of the week and they’ll travel on to Japan from there.”
Renee immediately noted the regret in Pete’s voice. It matched the sadness in his dark eyes. “I’m sure you’ll find an opportunity to visit.”
Pete ran a hand over his jaw. “It’s a world away, but I’m going to make the time.”
“Can I watch cartoons?” Adam asked.
Renee straightened and ruffled his hair. “Of course. I’ll turn on the TV then I’ll grab some plates for breakfast.”
“Do you have any coffee?” Pete asked.
Renee pointed to her right. “I have some brewing in the kitchen. What would you like to drink, Adam?”
“Can I have some coffee, Uncle Pete?” He looked and sounded hopeful.
“The last thing you need is caffeine, kiddo.”
Renee laughed. “I have some juice. Would that work?”
“I like juice.” Adam turned from the window and dropped down onto his belly on the rug positioned in front of the entertainment center, his tiny palms bracing his chin. “I’m ready to watch the cartoons now.”
“Manners, Adam,” Pete said.
“Please, Renee.”
Taking the hint, Renee tuned into a Saturday morning program then walked into the kitchen, Pete close on her heels. He remained immediately behind her as she turned to the cabinet to retrieve two mugs.
“Sorry about that,” Pete said. “Adam likes to make himself at home wherever he goes.”
“He’s just a little boy, so he’s excused.” Renee started to admonish Pete about his lack of manners but decided not to make an issue of his surprise appearance. As difficult as it was to acknowledge, she didn’t mind having him in her apartment. During the day. With his nephew in tow. “So what do you two have planned?” she asked as she poured the coffee.
“Just the usual tourist stuff. Maybe do some souvenir shopping. That kind of thing.”
Renee took two small cobalt-blue plates from the cabinet, turned and handed them to Pete. “For you and Adam.”
“Aren’t you going to have a beignet?”
She shook her head. “I’m allergic to them. If I even eat one, then my hips balloon to the size of a blimp.”
He set the bag and plates on the counter and moved closer to her. “I don’t have any complaints about your hips, or any part of you, for that matter.” He followed the comment with a subtle brush of his palm along the curve of her hip, and Renee responded with a slight shiver that she didn’t invite, yet couldn’t control.
When he drew a line along her jaw with a fingertip, Renee managed to say, “Might I remind you that a minor child is only a few feet away, should you have a mind to try something?”
Pete studied her face, from forehead to chin, then settled his gaze on her mouth. “First of all, he’s completely mesmerized at the moment. Secondly, we walked through the Quarter this morning, so he saw a few things that he probably shouldn’t have, including a couple who were engaged in activities that didn’t involve only a simple kiss.”
Nothing about Pete’s touch was simple, something Renee had discovered three years before. Nothing about him was simple, or at all easy to ignore.
In an effort to avoid his touch, Renee sidestepped him and strode to the refrigerator to retrieve the juice. “Apple or orange?”
“Apple’s his favorite. And we want you to come with us today.”
Renee turned, bumped the door closed with her bottom and clutched the glass container to her chest. “We? Or is that you?”
Pete strolled to the refrigerator and stood immediately before her. “Actually, it was all Adam’s idea.”
“Oh, really?”
He braced one palm on the refrigerator and leaned closer. “Yeah, really. On one condition.”
“What condition would that be?”
“That I don’t kiss you. He thinks it’s yucky.”
Renee could vouch that kissing Pete had been anything but yucky, yet she hardly expected a four-year-old to understand that. “As much as I’d love to show you around, I have quite a bit of work I need to take care of.”
“Your sister says to take the day off.”
“Which one?”
“Charlotte, although Melanie thought it was a good idea, too.”
Wonderful. Her schedule had been dictated by a committee of meddling siblings. “You met Melanie?”
“Yeah, when I went to ask Charlotte if you could have the day off. They’re both nice women.”
Right now Renee could think of several things to call her sisters, and nice wasn’t one of them. “I still have to get dressed, dry my hair, that sort of thing. I’d hold you up for at least an hour.”
“That’s not a problem. You’re worth the wait.”
Renee turned away from Pete, so shaken by his provocative voice, his overt charm, that her hand practically shook as she poured the juice. Without giving him an answer, she brushed past him, walked into the living room and set the glass on a coaster on the coffee table behind Adam. “Here you go, sweetie.”
Adam sent a cursory glance her way. “Can we wait until this is over, Uncle Pete?”
Renee turned to see Pete holding a plate stacked with beignets in one hand, his coffee cup in the
other. “Not a problem, kiddo. Renee has to get dressed.”
Pete set the plate on the table next to the juice, reclined on the sofa, long legs stretched out before him, and sipped his coffee, as if he planned to stay awhile. She gave him a champion scowl and prepared to issue a protest when Adam said, “I’m glad you’re coming with us, Renee.”
Now she faced a certain dilemma—bow out gracefully and disappoint a little boy, or agree to go and spend the day with a man whose appeal went beyond adequate description.
She looked at Adam, who stared at her expectantly, then back at Pete, who favored her with a wide grin. Two charming peas in a pod who had her exactly where they wanted her. However, Adam wanted nothing more than for her to play host. On the other hand, Adam’s uncle seemed determined to wear her down, one heated look at a time. And darned if it wasn’t working.
If Renee allowed logic to come into play, she could view this as part of her job. She’d served as tour guide for certain guests before, although none had been quite as special as Pete. But if she handled the situation carefully, she could probably convince Pete to utilize the hotel for a few spot scenes in his movie. A fantastic promo opportunity that would be, and well worth the battle to resist the director.
“I’ll try not to be too long,” she said, and when Adam went back to his program, she mouthed to Pete, “You owe me.”
She didn’t stick around long enough to receive a response, but she could imagine what he was probably thinking—that he had a few creative ideas on how to pay up, and that could cause Renee major problems, and possibly earn her a lot of pleasure.
“THESE TOURISTS are totally clueless.”
Seated on a bench in Jackson Square, Pete turned his attention to Renee from Adam, who was having a fake tattoo applied at a booth a few feet away. “They’re clueless about what?”
She shifted toward him slightly and rested an elbow on the back of the bench. “With you wearing that baseball cap turned backward, and those sunglasses, you look like an average dad. They have no idea they’re in the midst of creative genius.”
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