After That Night

by Ann Evans

  The day was winding down, and frankly, Mark would be glad when it was over. What he’d told Jenna was true. He wasn’t used to this kind of gathering, this lazy, jovial, close-knit interaction among people who’d known you all your life. Today there seemed to be no hidden agendas. No political maneuvering. No need to see and be seen. Jenna’s relatives appeared to be decent, hardworking families with a couple of oddballs thrown in the mix to make it interesting.

  Still, he knew he must seem like the alien invader in her immaculate universe, and she didn’t really want him here. Her agreement to his plan to date each other had come grudgingly and soaked in pessimism. Watching all the kids today with their parents had almost made him concede that she was right. Parenting looked like a lot of work. But surely if it was impossible, people wouldn’t keep doing it, he reasoned. Time to adjust, he thought. That’s all I need.

  Trent McNab took the first turn. He hadn’t sought Mark out again since Aunt Wanda had interrupted them, thank goodness.

  Okay, big guy. Bring it on. Let’s see what you got.

  Half-a-dozen throws later, Mark was still sitting high and dry. Losing interest quickly, Trent shrugged and headed off in the direction of the beer coolers.

  No competitive edge, Mark thought as he watched the man walk away. I go up against softies like you all the time.

  A few others took a turn. Jenna’s father. Even Petey and J.D. No one came close to sending him down. Following his predecessors, Mark came up with a few playful taunts to egg them on, but that just made the throws wilder. He began to get bored. Maybe it was time for someone else to take a turn on the ledge.

  Then Christopher McNab came up to the pitcher’s plate.

  If Lauren Hoffman had said anything to Christopher McNab, Mark could just imagine the detective pressing her for more information. He’d be more skilled at it than his brother. He’d also been eyeballing Mark all day, and there’d been no disguising his look of resentment when both Petey and J.D. had chosen to sit next to Mark, instead of their uncle.

  Mark glanced at Jenna. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her, and she looked pleased. He took that as a bad sign.

  May as well go down fighting, Mark thought. No sense letting the guy think he has me running scared.

  He whooped loudly. “Let’s go, Detective,” he shouted. “Knock me off and then you can head for the doughnut shop.”

  He could practically hear Jenna’s gasp from the distance that separated them. To his credit, Christopher McNab didn’t rile easily. He just smiled.

  He threw his first pitch. It hooked to the left. Mark started to relax a little. Evidently the entire McNab clan didn’t have one good pitching arm between them.

  “You do see the target, don’t you, Detective?” Mark shouted.

  He waved at Jenna, giving her a look of mock terror. She smiled back at him broadly.

  Mark barely had time to register that fact before he saw the next ball coming his way. He heard it clang against the target. The ledge folded underneath him and he went down. The water was so cold it made him gasp. He came up sputtering and slinging water away.

  He clung to the side of the tank, listening to the applause and whistles of Jenna’s relatives as they reveled in his fall. When he opened his eyes, he saw Jenna approaching, a beach towel clutched in one hand. She passed it to him when he climbed out, her expression one of satisfaction.

  Mark pressed the towel against his face. “I’ll bet your brother would have gone through his entire paycheck to knock me off.”

  “I tried to warn you,” she said smugly.

  “I don’t think Trent likes me. And Christopher doesn’t bother to hide his feelings.”

  “You men act like gorillas beating your chests.”

  He stopped toweling his hair to look at her sharply. “Anyone else in the family I ought to know about?”

  “You’ll have to find out for yourself.” She smiled back over her shoulder as she walked away. “But maybe it’s really the McNab women you need to watch out for, not the men.”

  A few moments later Christopher approached him. It occurred to Mark that if he wanted to make points with Jenna, he might need to have her brothers on his side.

  “Nice throw,” he told the man.

  The detective’s lips twisted in amusement as his eyes took in Mark’s soggy appearance. “You okay?”

  “Nothing an hour in the sun won’t take care of.”

  Christopher started to walk away. Mark called to him, and he swung back around with an expectant look.

  “You know,” Mark said, “I don’t have any intention of hurting your sister.”

  “That’s good,” Christopher replied. “Because if you did, it wouldn’t matter how much money you have or who you know. I’d take you apart with my bare hands. I don’t spend all my time at the doughnut shop. Sometimes I’m at the gym. You understand?”

  “I believe I do.”

  Seemingly satisfied, Christopher nodded and left him.

  An hour later Mark’s clothes were still damp, but at least he wasn’t cold any longer. He probably looked like hell, but no real damage had been done.

  Most of the family had headed home—tired and happy, with lots of kisses and hugs for their relatives. Mark had felt slightly uncomfortable witnessing their goodbyes. In his entire life he could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times he’d seen his father and mother kiss in public. There were some things you just didn’t do in the Bishop family, and showing affection openly was one of them.

  Jenna had stayed longer to help with the cleanup. When it was finally time to go, Mark walked her to her car carrying a soundly sleeping J.D. in his arms while Pete shuffled tiredly in front of him.

  J.D.’s head lolled awkwardly against his shoulder. Mark repositioned the boy more comfortably, thinking that this was probably one of the better moments of fatherhood. He wondered how it would feel to hold his own child like this. If Jenna could only be made to see reason…

  She looked sideways at him. “Is he too heavy?”

  “He’s fine.”

  They reached the minivan, and he placed the boy into the car seat. Mark held the kid’s space cannon and let Jenna buckle him in since he didn’t have a clue how the child seat worked. On the other side of the car, Pete was already crawling into the back seat. He looked half-asleep.

  J.D. roused a little as his mother finished, and his eyes found Mark’s face. His smile could have melted the heart of a stone dragon. “Will you come to see us again?”

  “Sure will.”

  The kid dropped back to sleep instantly. With a glance at Pete to make sure he, too, was buckled in, Jenna closed the car door and leaned against it. They stood there quietly for a handful of heartbeats, caught in the awkward moments of goodbye.

  “Nice day,” Mark said at last. She stood so close he could see every freckle across the bridge of her nose.

  “Very nice,” she agreed with a soft sigh.

  “I like your family.”

  “You were a good sport today.”

  “You don’t have to sound so surprised. I’ve got quite a few good qualities.”

  She grinned. “Evidently modesty isn’t one of them.”

  He inclined his head toward J.D. “Your son thinks I’m pretty cool.”

  “He’s young and easily impressed. Anyone who’s met Captain Treadway gets his vote. The rest of the family is a lot tougher.”

  “I noticed. I thought your brother Christopher was going to ask for fingerprints.” She blinked rapidly, and he realized that she thought that wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility. With a quick laugh he added, “I’m kidding, Jenna.”

  She laughed, too, and seemed to relax. A honeyed breeze had tossed a few strands of silky brown-gold hair against her temple. He reached out and stroked them back into place, then let his forefinger gently brush the curve of her cheek. She didn’t move, didn’t turn away, but beneath his touch, the skin pinkened.

  “You got some sun,” he
said.

  She nodded and looked at him in that nervous, quick way that told him she didn’t trust him at all. “Too much exposure is such a risk. I’ll have to be more careful. ‘’

  He ignored that vague warning. He was bone-weary. The day had been as demanding as negotiating the deal for Castleman Press. Surely he deserved some reward, didn’t he?

  The possibility was too tempting to be postponed a moment longer. He pulled Jenna closer and lowered his head, eager to connect with her firm, sweet-tempered mouth.

  She didn’t resist. In fact, he saw enough in her face to compel him to continue. Just one, he thought. Just a goodbye kiss.

  But in the next moment, there was a fretful sound from J.D.’s side of the car. “Mom! Where’s my blaster?” the little boy asked worriedly.

  “Right here, pal,” Mark replied and placed the cannon in the boy’s outstretched arms.

  Jenna gave Mark a small smile. Missed opportunity, that smile said. His mind rebelled, rejecting it. But he knew as well as she did that the moment had passed, so he bullied himself into acceptance. His hand shaped itself around her cheek again, and then dropped lightly to his side.

  “I’ll be in touch,” he said, then walked away before he could change his mind.

  CHAPTER TEN

  JENNA WAS STILL THINKING about that near-kiss two days later.

  She and Lauren were seated in Vic’s office, and she tried to concentrate on what her friends were saying, but every time there was a lull in the conversation, her resolution slipped. She was back to revisiting those hours at the park, and in particular those moments by the car. She couldn’t help it. It wasn’t every day a handsome, powerful man who just happened to be the father of your baby pulled you into his arms and made your senses crumble like a wall of sugar.

  Of course, the really thorny part was that kisses from Mark Bishop were the very things she should be trying to avoid. She didn’t want him in her life. She didn’t want complications. She certainly didn’t want to get involved with a man who might find all this new-father stuff an interesting diversion right now, but who would inevitably be bored to tears by the time the first baby pictures were in an album. Staying power. That was what she needed in a man if she was ever going to get married again. Not someone who could slap the breath right out of you with the promise of a kiss.

  “So we’re in agreement?” Vic’s voice dragged her back to the present.

  Jenna knew vaguely that Vic had been discussing the details of a new advertising client the magazine had signed—Treasures, a manufacturer that specialized in wedding attire. She’d been going on and on about how the president, Avery Lundquist, was getting ready to make a huge market push nationwide and FTW would be ideal to showcase their fashions.

  “Absolutely,” Jenna said brightly. “Whatever you say, Victoria.”

  Lauren made a small tsking sound. “She wasn’t listening to a word you said, Vic.”

  “Too late,” Vic said flatly. “We’re all going.”

  Apprehension flared in Jenna’s stomach. Oh, dear, what had she agreed to? She sat back in resignation. “All right, I wasn’t listening,” she admitted. “Where are the three of us going?”

  Vic, who’d been pacing the room with her usual restless energy, swung around. “Don’t try to back out now. Avery is hosting a party tonight to kick off their new campaign and we’re all going.”

  “Oh, all right,” Jenna said, relaxing in her chair again. She wasn’t fond of big company parties, but sometimes she had to make the effort for the sake of the magazine. Time to dig out her only cocktail dress from the back of the closet.

  “Avery?” Lauren said with a raised brow. “When did you get on a first-name basis?”

  “It seemed time,” Vic replied with unaccustomed vagueness. “After all, he’s agreed to take out a huge spread in the next issue.” Vic threw a pointed look in Jenna’s direction. “That ought to make you happy, since you’ve been harping about signing bigger clients.”

  “Not bigger,” Jenna said. “Just more punctual about paying their bills.”

  “Avery Lundquist has deep pockets. He’s charming. Well connected. His involvement with FTW means more exposure. He’ll be good for us.”

  “Are you sure it’s just FTW you want him to take an interest in?” Lauren asked.

  “I haven’t decided yet, but promise me, both of you, you’ll wear something tonight that will knock everyone’s socks off. We need to look professional, but sophisticated. Even sexy.” She cast Jenna a warning look. “Don’t you dare wear that boring little blue thing you trot out every time we have a dinner to go to.”

  “I’m an accountant,” Jenna protested. “I’m not supposed to attract attention.”

  “Well, do it, anyway,” Vic said. “An association with Avery’s company could help propel us into the big time. The right people are going to be there tonight.”

  Lauren caught Jenna’s eye and winked before she spoke to Vic. “Too bad it’s not a business lunch, instead of dinner. Jenna has a great red suit that really catches a man’s attention.”

  TEN MINUTES LATER Jenna was back in her office, wondering how she was going to fulfill Vic’s request on a budget that didn’t allow for many extravagances. Vic went to a lot of these shindigs for the sake of the magazine, so she had a closet full of dresses, but Jenna didn’t, and she hated spending money on something she’d get so little use from. Darn it, she wished she had more spine! She needed it to stand up against her best friend’s persuasive ways.

  She picked up a handful of pink message slips, wondering if she’d have time to duck out of the office early and visit the boutique on the corner. She really didn’t want to go to this thing tonight. She wanted to sit down with a pad and pencil and figure out the best financing she could hope to get on the Victorian.

  Her secretary buzzed her, saying Mark Bishop was on hold. The perpetual serpent in her Eden. She punched the button and answered in her most professional office voice.

  “You sound angry,” he said.

  “I am.”

  “At me?” he asked, and she could hear the ribbon of a smile in his voice.

  “No. It’s a work thing. You I just find a pesky annoyance. Like a mosquito in your bedroom at night.”

  “Jenna,” he said in a throaty whisper that made her giddy, “you know, don’t you, that your bedroom is just where I’d like to be? Is that an invitation?”

  She was glad he couldn’t see her face. Her cheek felt like fire when she pressed her hand against it. “Did you have a specific reason for calling?” she asked. “Besides being obscene?”

  He laughed, a sound that could wrap around a girl’s heart. “Actually, I did,” he said. “I know it’s short notice, but I’d like you to go out with me tonight.”

  “I can’t. I have plans.”

  “A date?”

  Did he sound disappointed? She couldn’t be sure. “A business thing,” she told him. “I’ll be bored to death, I’m sure, but you know how these required appearances are. I’ll bet they won’t even have a dunking tank.”

  “Blow it off,” Mark said. “I have something much more interesting in mind.”

  “Can’t. I’m committed.”

  She heard him sigh heavily. “Tomorrow, then?”

  “If I say no, will you think I’m trying to avoid you?”

  “Yes. And I’ll just redouble my efforts.”

  “In that case…yes. Tomorrow night. You can join me and the boys. It’s two-for-one pizza night at Pepino’s.”

  “That wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

  She smiled into the receiver. She’d just bet it wasn’t. “Sorry,” she said. “You wanted to be part of my exciting life, and this is it. I’ve had this date set with J.D. and Petey for a week, and I don’t want to disappoint them.”

  “I’ll pick you up,” he said, and didn’t sound a bit discouraged.

  After they hung up, Jenna speculated about tomorrow. Aunt Penelope’s party had been full of other dis
tractions, with no time for intimate conversation. Even though the pizza parlor was noisy and bound to be crowded with kids, it would really be like a first date with Mark. What would they talk about? They seemed so far beyond the usual mundane conversations already. She glanced down at her stomach. They could talk about the baby….

  What if he tried to kiss her again? Allowing that would definitely be a mistake. She realized that her fingers had unconsciously gone to her bottom lip, as though she could actually feel his mouth on hers.

  “Idiot!” she scolded herself.

  SHE WAS LATE getting away from the office, so that by the time she reached the dress shop, it was nearly closing time and she let the saleswoman talk her into buying one of the first things she tried on.

  Then, to make matters worse, everything at home was chaos. She’d forgotten her brothers were coming over to pack up her father’s truck for the trip to North Carolina tomorrow morning.

  The men in her family were heading off on their annual trek to the McNab-family cabin. The two-bedroom log home had served as a weekend and vacation retreat for four generations, and every year her brothers and father set time aside to drive up and winterize it. Now that her mother was gone, it was Jenna’s job to guarantee that the men got up there with enough comfort food and warm clothing to make the trip enjoyable. While the boys dawdled over a quick dinner of leftovers, Jenna rushed through packing the grocery box and making sure her father’s duffel bag had enough warm clothes. Christopher and her father were still arguing good-naturedly over whether there was room in the truck to take extra lumber. Trent was trying to sneak chocolate-chip cookies out of the plastic container she’d just set on the kitchen counter.

  Jenna smacked her brother’s hand. “Get out of there,” she ordered. “Those are for the trip.”

  “Why can’t we go?” Petey complained from his place at the dining-room table. It was about the fifteenth time he’d asked the question.

  “Because you have school,” Jenna answered for the fifteenth time. In another hour she had to be at the dinner party, and she hadn’t even showered yet.