Keeping Her Safe

by Sherry Lewis

  He ruffled Marissa’s hair and leaned forward to tie her hood. “You want me to help you with your bike, don’t you?”

  She nodded.

  “Well, if you go now, I’ll help when you come back, okay?”

  “P’omise?”

  He smiled and touched the tip of her nose with his finger. “I promise. Now hurry, before Brittany gets upset with both of us and your mom decides not to take you to the zoo this weekend.”

  “You’re coming with us to the zoo. You helped with the roses.”

  “That’s right,” Adam said. “I did.”

  “And we can see all the animals. And have cotton candy. And popcorn. And you can give me a piggyback ride, too.”

  Adam cocked an eyebrow at her in an expression he already knew would earn a giggle.

  She didn’t let him down, and her laugh made him smile in response. “Will you?” she asked. “Give me a piggyback ride? P’ease?”

  He shook his head in mock exasperation. “I suppose. Now go.”

  She beamed up at him, allowing a tiny flicker of triumph to show in her eyes, then pivoted away and raced down the hall toward the front door.

  Adam smiled to himself. He’d been had—by a four-year-old. He wouldn’t even bother to deny it. In fact, he’d been on the losing end of the battle with his defenses since the minute Marissa and DJ appeared in his life.

  He waited until he heard the front door close, then paced to the telephone and punched in the number for Chuck’s office.

  Chuck answered on the second ring. “Tobler.”

  “Chuck. It’s Adam.”

  “Where in the hell have you been?” Chuck demanded. “You’re supposed to call me once a day.”

  “I’ve been busy with daddy things.”

  “Daddy things? What do you mean, ‘daddy things’?”

  “Things fathers do for their children,” Adam explained.

  “I know what a daddy is,” Chuck snarled. “What I don’t know is why you’re pretending to be one.”

  “Because Marissa needs somebody to help her and DJ’s too busy at the store. Besides, it’s a good way to keep an eye on them.”

  “So, have you got anything new on Galloway?”

  Adam shook his head, as if Chuck could see him from halfway across the city. “Not yet. Anything new on your end?”

  “Nothing. Just make sure you’re there when trouble starts and not playing house.”

  “Don’t worry,” Adam snapped. “Everything’s under control. I’ll be there no matter what. I have no intention of letting anything happen to DJ and Marissa.

  “What’s the matter with you?” Chuck asked. “Bad night or something?”

  “No. Nothing like that.”

  “Then why are you in such a lousy mood?”

  Adam couldn’t tell him he’d spent the night thinking about DJ. Or that he’d spent more time in a week thinking about children of his own than he ever had. Or how tired he was of living alone. Or how desperately he needed to tell DJ the truth.

  He could almost feel Chuck’s suspicion through the wire, and they played a waiting game, each determined to make the other speak first.

  “Keep your eyes and ears open,” Chuck said at last. “And be ready for anything. If Galloway hurts DJ or Marissa, you’re the one who’ll pay for it—I guarantee it.”

  In more ways than one, Adam thought But he said only, “I’m not going to let Galloway hurt them.”

  Chuck made a noise on the other end. “I heard Christina Prescott called you the other day. What happened with that?”

  “She just wanted to hear my version of DJ’s meeting with Galloway. She was ready to leave the conference and fly home, but I think I calmed her down a bit. At least, she hasn’t shown up here yet.”

  “No, but she’s been on the phone with Dodge every day. Sounds like she’s a basket case. Are you sure Galloway hasn’t done anything we can get him for?”

  “I’m sure. Believe me, I’m not going to hesitate to call SLPD the minute he crosses the line.”

  Chuck spent a few seconds digesting that. “You think he will?”

  Adam could be honest with Chuck. “I’m sure of it. I can see it in his eyes. And I’ll tell you one thing for sure—if Christina Prescott did come home and show up here, he’d slip up in a heartbeat. He’s one angry SOB.”

  “Just keep an eye on him,” Chuck said, as if Adam needed to be told.

  “I will.” Adam tried to keep the irritation from his voice, but he knew a little must have come through.

  “Good,” Chuck snapped back. “We understand each other perfectly. Now, get back to work.” And he hung up before Adam could say another word.

  Adam slammed down the receiver, aware for the first time of the tension in his shoulders, the tightness in his jaw and the stiffness in his neck. Walking slowly across the kitchen, he gripped the window frame with both hands and wondered how he’d come to care so much about DJ and Marissa in such a short time. He’d met women in the two years since his divorce, but none that had made his heart yearn to fall in love again.

  He stared out the window for a long time, but he didn’t see anything until several minutes had passed. Slowly he became aware of the trees along the street and the cars in the parking lot at DJ’s store.

  She would be there, he knew. Dressed in some ridiculous getup and those god-awful boots. If he went to her now, she’d listen and ease his concerns with those deep brown eyes of hers. Without saying a word, she would make him believe everything would work out.

  Closing the blind, as if blocking out the scene could remove DJ from his mind, he turned away. The last thing he needed was another woman in his life. He’d lost too much during his marriage to Victoria, and life with DJ wouldn’t be any different.

  She would want someone steady for Marissa. Someone she could count on to be home in the evenings and do daddy things. But he couldn’t offer any guarantees.

  Look at him now. He’d left home at a moment’s notice to take this assignment, and he had no idea when he’d be free to go home again. DJ deserved much more than he could offer, and it would be unfair to lead her to believe otherwise.

  He walked back to the table, lifted the screen on the computer and tapped the space bar. He would work on his damned report and he’d keep his eyes open whenever Galloway was around. And somehow he’d find a way to stop wishing things could be different with DJ.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ADAM WALKED SLOWLY behind Marissa’s wobbling bicycle as she guided it down the sidewalk toward the corner. The sun had dropped low in the western sky, shadows fell across the concrete and the early-evening air had grown almost cold.

  He’d been ready to call it quits and go back inside until DJ had come home from work a few minutes ago. Marissa had gotten her second wind, and even Adam had found the prospect of practicing for another half hour more interesting. After all, DJ needed to see what Marissa had learned.

  When they reached the corner, he helped Marissa turn her bike around so she could start back toward her mother. The child gripped the handlebars and concentrated on steering back over an uneven spot on the sidewalk, then beamed at him.

  He smiled back. He liked making her happy.

  She turned away and waved to DJ. “Mommy, look!”

  DJ pushed to her feet and started down the steps. “I’m watching, sweetheart.”

  Adam tried not to stare, but each time he saw DJ she seemed different. And each time, he had the sensation that he was getting his first glimpse of the real woman. At first, the sensation had bothered him. But he’d decided over the past week that it would take years to understand all the facets of her personality. He wished he had years to spend.

  Tonight she wore jeans and sneakers and a long white sweatshirt that fell past her hips. Her dark hair reflected the last rays of the evening sun, and her sudden smile brought on the surge of longing he’d learned to anticipate each time he saw her.

  Marissa slid down from her bike and raced toward her mot
her before Adam fully realized she’d stopped moving. “Did you see, Mommy? I rode all by myself.”

  He caught the bicycle an instant before it crashed to the sidewalk and watched while DJ wrapped her arms around her daughter and swung her into the air.

  “I sure did. You’re doing great, sweetie. Just great.” She kissed Marissa’s cheek loudly.

  Squealing with delight, Marissa grinned at Adam for half a second, then started wriggling from DJ’s grasp.

  “She’s a natural,” he said. “A few more practice sessions and she’ll be riding on her own.”

  DJ lowered Marissa to the ground, and the girl hurtled herself at him without warning. Wrapping her arms around his knees in a generous hug, she nearly knocked him over. She had more energy than Adam ever remembered seeing in one package before, but her joy in life delighted him. He’d found more pleasure in simple things during the past week than he had in the past five years.

  He laughed as she released him, and tousled her hair.

  “Can I ride once more?” she pleaded.

  Adam would have let her, but DJ shook her head. “I think you’ve put Adam through his paces long enough for one night. He has work to do, remember? Besides, we’ve got a big day tomorrow, and you need to get to bed early tonight.”

  Marissa almost pouted, but then she brightened again. “Can I ride tomorrow?”

  “Yes, if we get back from the zoo early enough. Now, put your bike away and feed Holly her supper.”

  Marissa danced away again. “Okay.”

  “Right now,” DJ warned.

  As if on cue, the dog bounded out of a hedge and wagged the rear half of her furry black body at Marissa. The child laughed and dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around the wriggling animal. “Are you hung’y?”

  Holly yipped.

  “Okay. Come on.” She started to run away, but DJ called after her.

  “Take your bike with you.”

  Marissa raced back toward them, gripped the bicycle by its handlebars and guided it around the corner of the house.

  Smiling, Adam watched until they’d disappeared from view, then turned back to say something to DJ. But in the half-light of dusk, with the breeze carrying the musky scent she wore across the space between them, the air seemed too close, and he had trouble drawing a steady breath.

  DJ smiled up at him. “Thank you for helping her with her bike. I hope she wasn’t too bothersome.”

  “Not at all. I’m the one who’s getting the best end of this deal.”

  She laughed. “What makes you say that? Are you using it for research?”

  “No.” He heard the gruff note in his voice and wished he could take the word back. She couldn’t know how guilty he felt each time she reminded him of his lie—the lie that might save her.

  Her smile faltered a little. “Well, thanks anyway.” She turned to walk away, but he didn’t want her to go. He didn’t want to stand here in the shadows alone.

  Without warning, he was filled with an urgent need to belong somewhere. Worse, he wanted to belong here, with the woman standing before him, and the child who wanted him to be her make-believe daddy.

  He tried to push the idea away, but he couldn’t. He wanted her to stay.

  He reached for her. His fingers touched her elbow, and a gentle warmth spread from his fingertips up his arm. He closed his eyes, afraid she’d pull away from him, but she didn’t move.

  He looked at her again, wishing he could ask her to stay with him, but he couldn’t speak. He wasn’t good with words. He’d never been able to easily express what he felt. Whenever he tried to say what was in his heart, it came out all wrong. But he needed her company. If only for the moment.

  “I didn’t mean to offend you,” she whispered.

  He found his voice. “Offend me? I thought it was exactly the opposite.”

  Her lips curved into a smile, but her eyes revealed a different emotion. Everything about her was open and giving and vulnerable, and he wanted her. He couldn’t think about tomorrow or forever. He could only think about tonight.

  He reached for her again and slowly pulled her toward him, still half expecting her to draw away. She shivered slightly, then melted against him.

  Relieved, he cradled her in his arms. He could feel the rapid beat of her heart and the softness of her breath through his shirt. She felt so good in his embrace, so right in his arms, the implications frightened him.

  Her gaze traveled slowly across his face and silently answered the question he’d been trying to find words to ask. They’d gone too far already for him to walk away without hurting her. And when she found out the truth about him, what would she think then? How could he ever look himself in the eye again, knowing he’d hurt her?

  He didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t want her to see the fear in his eyes, so he dipped his head and touched her lips with his as he’d imagined doing the night of the barbecue. They felt feathery soft beneath his, just as he’d known they would. Her breasts brushed against his chest, robbing him of his next breath, and he waited again for her to pull away.

  She didn’t.

  He deepened the kiss and crushed her against him. All the passion he’d managed to ignore over the past few years erupted within him; all the need he’d been suppressing rose to fill him; all the hunger he’d denied consumed him. And he knew there would be no going back from this moment. He’d given a part of himself to this woman.

  He groaned softly in the back of his throat. She responded to the sound, demanding more from the kiss than he’d given so far. The world reeled under his feet as she strained upward and sighed softly into his mouth. He pulled in the sound with his next breath and accepted what she offered in return.

  “Hey!” someone shouted.

  As if she’d been shot, DJ pulled away from his embrace and the world screeched to a halt with an almost-audible crash.

  “Hey!” Marissa shouted again. “Look who’s over there!”

  Adam tried to make sense of her words at the same time he cursed himself for giving in to his instinct while Marissa was nearby. How would they ever explain this to her?

  To his surprise, she didn’t seem interested in them at all. Instead, she pointed to something behind him. “Look!” she insisted again.

  Adam looked, half expecting the dog to dart out at him from behind a bush or to drop a stick at his feet. Instead, he realized someone was standing in the deep evening shadows across the street. A second later, he recognized Larry Galloway, and his already fading passion evaporated.

  Galloway must have realized they’d noticed him, because he stepped out of the shadows and started across the street He tried to look casual, as if he’d just arrived, but Adam knew he must have been there a while. Just as he could tell by the ice in his expression that he didn’t like what he’d seen.

  Adam cursed himself silently and reminded himself once again of his reasons for being here. He’d lost sight of his objective. He’d let desire overshadow his duty.

  He still didn’t know what Galloway really wanted with DJ and Marissa. It might be true that he wanted nothing more than a chance to know his daughter and granddaughter. But most likely it was more than that. And Adam had exposed DJ and Marissa to needless risk.

  Well, he couldn’t let it happen again. From here on in, he would have to ignore DJ’s charms and close his heart to Marissa—at least until he knew they were safe from any possible harm. Obviously, he couldn’t get emotionally involved and still protect them.

  DJ stood beside Adam and struggled to calm her breathing as she watched Larry cross the street. Apprehension and anticipation seemed to war with each other, both in her relationship with Adam and in the idea of Larry Galloway being her father.

  A week ago, she’d been so certain of her life, of her goals, of her dreams. Now she didn’t even know who she was. From the minute Larry had appeared, she’d even lost herself, and she’d turned to another stranger—Adam—to ground her. She’d kissed him as if her life depende
d on it. And maybe it did. She just didn’t know anymore.

  Larry looked older than her mother. And hard, as if his life had taken him down difficult paths. It probably had. If her mother hadn’t admitted the truth, DJ would never have believed his story.

  She couldn’t picture Christina Prescott in love with Larry Galloway. In her wildest dreams, she couldn’t imagine the two of them together—even when he was as young and handsome as he’d been in the photograph.

  She could sense Adam tensing at her side and realized she could still taste his kiss on her lips and feel the strength of his arms around her. She’d abandoned all reason the instant he’d touched her. She’d given herself to his embrace as if she expected it to go on forever. But the instant she’d pulled away, harsh reality had flooded back over her. How had it happened that two men—two total strangers—had so quickly taken over her life?

  The instant the question formed, she knew the answer. Her mother. She rubbed her forehead with the tips of her fingers and tried to force away the resentment that filled her when she thought of Christina dashing about Europe while DJ dealt with the fallout of her decisions.

  Until a week ago, she’d felt so close to her mother. Now, Christina seemed as much a stranger as Larry and Adam. And instead of running into Adam’s arms, DJ should be concentrating on Larry—her father. She didn’t know yet how she felt about him showing up after all these years. Or what she wanted, now that he had. Or even what she needed him to say or do to make up for all the time he’d been gone.

  To her surprise, Larry touched her shoulders lightly when he reached her and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Unaccustomed to the display of affection, she drew back almost without thinking, then forced herself to relax.

  “This is a nice surprise,” she said with a smile. “I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”

  Larry rolled his eyes. “Are you kidding? Now that I’ve finally found you, I’m not going to pass up a single chance to spend time with you.”