He looked up at his friend. “By the way, what’s going on with you and Claudie? You never mentioned your evening visit to the bookstore.”
The ladder skidded to the left. Bo cursed fluently. “Nothing. She called the boat to tell me that Eve was looking for you. Why she felt the need to warn you, I haven’t a clue, but she sounded kinda down, so I went over. We talked. I went home. End of story.” He glared at Ren, challenging him to say more.
“Are you boys fighting again?” an amused voice interrupted. “Maybe you need naps, too.”
Ren looked over his shoulder to find Sara standing a few feet away, hands on her hips, a smile on her lips. In frayed shorts and a baggy gray T-shirt, she looked fresh and appealing.
“I just got Brady down. How about a break? Sandwiches and iced tea on the patio.”
They followed her to the rear of the house, where a plate of fruit and thick sandwiches on French rolls awaited on a picnic table shaded by a large green umbrella.
“I hope you’re hungry, Ren,” Sara said, smiling.
He smiled back.
“Would you prefer cola, Bo?” she asked, dropping her gaze from Ren’s.
“That would be great, if you have it.”
“No problem.” She pivoted on one heel and dashed to the house.
Bo made a gagging sound. “What?” Ren asked.
“She’s falling for you, big time.”
Ren’s heart did a little spin. “Do you think so?”
“I’m gonna barf.”
“Why?” Ren asked, exasperated.
“It hasn’t even been a week since you and Eve broke up, and you’re already hitting—” He wasn’t able to complete the thought because Sara returned.
“You and Eve broke up? Really?”
Ren heard the concern in her tone. “Yes. She took a job in New York. Her dream job. I’m truly happy for her,” Ren said, trying for a casual note.
Sara handed Bo his can of soda, then sat down woodenly. “Wow.”
Ren wished he had a clue what she was thinking.
“Why are you here?” she asked suddenly. “Shouldn’t you be more upset or something?”
“He’s taking out his anguish on your eaves,” Bo said, his tone amused. He grabbed Ren’s hand and held it out for her to see. “Look at those blisters.”
“Oh, my gosh!” she exclaimed, frowning. “They’re starting to bleed. I’ll get the first-aid kit.”
She disappeared into the house.
“Cretin,” Ren said, noting Bo’s satisfied smirk.
Bo took a sandwich off the plate. “It was your idea to come here today.”
A few minutes later, Sara returned out of breath. “I hate this house. Any time you want something, it’s like running a marathon.” She drew her chair close to Ren’s and took his hand in hers. With a frown on her brow and bottom lip clamped between her teeth, she tenderly cleaned the raw-looking blisters on his fingers and palm with a cotton ball soaked in peroxide.
Ren tried to inhale her scent, but his nostrils crinkled from the odor of the astringent. Bending lower, he tried again. Fresh air and mustard. When she glanced up, he spotted a dab at the corner of her lips. He also had a clear view down the neckline of her shirt. No bra. Perfect, compact breasts that made his throat constrict and other parts of his anatomy swell.
Forcing himself to look away, Ren glanced at Bo, whose knowing smirk made Ren glower.
“You could try magnets,” Sara said, pulling an adhesive strip out of the first-aid box. “Keneesha said she tried them on a burn once, and they worked great.”
“I’ll be fine,” Ren said, hoping that was true. He was lusting after a woman who probably shouldn’t even be talking to him. Surely her asshole lawyer had told her that.
She finished her task, then scooted back, looking from Ren to Bo. “That does it. You’re both fired.”
Ren, who’d just downed a gulp of tea, sputtered, “I beg your pardon?”
She ran a hand impatiently through her hair. “This is a stupid job. An endless job. It’s too much for three people. I should have known that.”
Ren pulled out a chair at the table and pointed to it. “Sit down. Have a drink. It won’t look quite so daunting after you eat something,” he promised, although he knew she was right. The entire house needed work, and neither he nor Bo was a carpenter.
“You shouldn’t have to pay for any of this out of pocket, Sara,” Bo said. “The house is part of your sister’s estate. Let the estate pay for the repairs.”
She sighed. “It’s so frustrating dealing with the attorney who handles this case. He never returns my calls. He was a friend of Hulger’s, and I don’t think he ever liked Julia. I know he doesn’t like me.” She frowned. “Someone from his office called me at work yesterday to change my appointment—again. When I told him it was urgent, do you know what he said?”
Bo shook his head.
Ren tried to stop her from saying more, but she blurted out, “He said to stall Ren, so they could do a little investigating. He made it sound like I should ask for a healthy sum up front—something about quid pro quo, then worry about the custody battle later.”
Ren exchanged a look with Bo.
Bo said, “I smell a feeding frenzy.”
Ren nodded. He didn’t know the attorney but obviously the man had heard the Bishop name and saw dollar signs—and the opportunity for a little legal extortion.
Bo chewed for a minute, then said, “You know, Sara, I have a friend who’s a remodeling contractor. He’s good, reliable and cost-effective. He owes me a favor. Want me to give him a call?”
Sara’s face lit up. “I’d love it, but…I’m not sure I can afford it. The painter’s bid will take most of my savings.” She looked down as if embarrassed to be discussing her finances.
“I could pay for it,” Ren said. Seeing her frown, he added, “If you take your lawyer’s advice, I’ll be paying up front just to have you consider letting Brady take the DNA test. This way, the money would directly benefit you and Brady, not the estate.”
Sara sat back, looking dumbfounded. She turned to Bo, who nodded. “Sounds like a good deal to me.”
She took a deep breath and slowly let it out, then stuck out her hand. “You don’t have to pay. I should have agreed to the test before. It’s the right thing to do.” Her eyes filled with moisture. “It always was. I was just afraid of losing him.”
Ren’s mouth dropped open. “No. That’s not what I meant. You don’t have to decide right now. Talk to your lawyer—”
She interrupted. “He’s not my lawyer. He doesn’t care what happens to Brady or me as long as the estate looks good on paper. I don’t care what he says.”
A pain sliced open Ren’s heart. “I promise you that you won’t be sorry. You’ll never lose Brady. And I am going to pay for the painting.”
She ducked her head and put on a false smile. “If you could save me from the Rancho Carmel lynch mob…”
She rose abruptly and dashed into the house. Ren looked at Bo. “Wow, I didn’t see that coming.”
Bo nodded. “Gutsy lady. I know I don’t have to ask this, but you will treat her fair, right?”
“You know I will,” Ren snapped. The two glared at each other in silence until Sara returned—the portable phone in her hand.
“It’s Claudie,” she said. “There’s something wrong with the espresso machine, and she thought you might be able to help, Bo.”
Bo put the phone to his ear. His look of surprise changed to a smile as he listened. “Jiggle it a little harder,” he said. “That worked for me the other night.”
Sara let out a small giggle, and Ren grinned as he saw Bo’s face flood with color.
Bo rose and turned his back. “Listen, we’re winding things up here, so I’ll stop by on my way home. Okay?”
Sara looked at Ren questioningly. He answered her with a shrug.
Bo mumbled something else, then passed the phone to Sara, who listened for a minute before saying, “I’m
sorry. I wish I’d known. I’ll be down as soon as Brady wakes up from his nap.”
She pushed a button on the receiver and placed the phone on the table. “Keneesha didn’t come in this morning. She sent a kid over to tell Claudie she wasn’t feeling good. She’s been like this for over a week, but won’t see a doctor. Claudie thinks it might be diabetes. We’re really worried about her.”
Ren suddenly felt a little sheepish about his offhand attitude toward her friends. “Would she go to a doctor if you and Claudie took her?” he asked. “There’s a clinic near the hospital that deals with non-emergencies.”
Sara sighed. “Maybe, but I don’t want to expose Brady to any germs if I don’t absolutely have to. Maybe I—”
Ren didn’t let her finish. “Diabetes can be life-threatening. It’s not something you treat lightly. Bo and I could look after Brady and the bookstore this afternoon, while you and Claudie take Keneesha to the doctor.”
Sara seemed stunned, as did Bo.
Even Ren wasn’t really sure why he’d made the offer. A part of him wanted to do something for Sara after she’d agreed to the DNA test. Another part didn’t want to spend a long afternoon in an empty house.
REN’S GOOD MOOD was put to the test the minute he walked into the bookstore.
“Sara told me about the deal,” Claudie said, meeting him before he took a step inside. “I don’t like it. You may not be the scum I thought you were, but I ain’t completely convinced you’re not up to something. Just don’t forget—I’m here, and I’m watching you.”
Ren politely replied, “Good afternoon, Claudie. Beautiful weather we’re having, isn’t it?”
She snorted and backed up a step so he could walk past her to the coffee bar. He noticed a hand-inscribed sign on the brass espresso machine that read, Out Of Survice.” The misspelled word touched his heart. He glanced over his shoulder. “The jiggling didn’t work, huh?”
Her usually impassive face turned red. “I gotta get something out back. Don’t steal nothin’.”
He watched her stride confidently away, noting her outfit—jeans and a white Henley buttoned to the throat. Quite a change from the woman he’d first met that night in the bar with Bo. He speculated about what—or possibly who—had inspired the transformation.
His musings ended when a door opened at the rear of the store, and Sara walked in with Brady. The little boy’s arms were filled with stuffed animals, which he dropped the instant he saw Ren. With a howling cry of joy, Brady raced across the room.
Ren dropped to one knee and opened up his arms to catch him. “Hi, big guy. Did you have a nice nap?”
Brady began chattering away. Ren was beginning to be able to catch a few recognizable words. He listened closely, but saw the amused look Sara gave Claudie.
“We should hurry, Claudie, before Kee changes her mind. She wasn’t wild about this idea, but I begged. Do you want us to wait until Bo comes?” Sara asked Ren.
Feeling confident, Ren shook his head. “How hard can it be?”
An hour later, when Bo sashayed in, Ren was looking for blood. “You dirty rotten coward,” he cried. “I can’t believe you did that.”
Bo blinked with mock innocence. “Did what? I fell asleep. So, sue me.”
“We had a rush, for Christ’s sake. Nine customers, and Brady!” he exclaimed. “I don’t know how Sara does it.”
“Hey, this wasn’t my idea,” Bo challenged.
“I helped you scrape paint.”
“Well, now we’re even. I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Yes, but you’re too late. The rush is over, and Brady’s settled down with a book.” He gave Bo a steely look. “You owe me, Lester. Tonight. You baby-sit while I take Sara out to dinner.”
“Maybe I have a hot date tonight. Did you think about that?” Bo asked.
“Does Claudie know?”
Bo turned away and headed to the coffee bar. “Okay. I’ll do it.” He twirled a small screwdriver and asked, “Isn’t it a little premature to celebrate? You haven’t even taken the test.”
Ren’s stomach turned over. He’d ordered the test kit online when he’d gone home to change. With express delivery, it would arrive Monday. Then, it would be a four-to-six week wait. A lot could happen in that time.
“This isn’t about celebrating. It’s about spending quality time with the woman who might be the aunt of my child.”
Bo looked up from his work. “Might not be, too.”
Ren didn’t want to consider that possibility. Fortunately, the jingle of the bell over the door offered him a diversion.
SARA CLOSED HER EYES and took a deep breath, then added a spritz of cologne. A date. She was going out to dinner with Ren Bishop.
In the distance she could hear Bo and Brady jabbering about something. She’d already prepared a self-rising pizza for the two of them. Nerves and awkward embarrassment kept her from lingering in the kitchen, so she’d hurried back to her room to fuss with her dress.
She turned sideways to study her image in the cheval mirror. The twisted silk fabric was sculpted in a baby-doll style that made her legs look longer than they were. The low-heeled sandals helped, too.
“Sara?” Bo called from the hallway.
“I’m dressed. Come on in.”
Brady tumbled in, tripping over his feet. He sprawled face-first on the carpet, but before Sara could go to him, he bounced back to his feet, laughing.
“Man, the ability to do that would have come in handy in my drinkin’ days,” Bo said, chuckling.
Brady crawled up on her bed and started bouncing. “Hey, monkey, that’s a no-no,” Sara said, reaching for him. He bounced away in glee.
Bo chased him down amid shrieks of feigned terror.
Sara withdrew a light sweater from the drawer and turned to look at the two “boys” wrestling on her bed. “I know somebody who’s going to sleep like a rock tonight.”
Bo sat up looking winded. “Yeah, me.”
He tilted his head and gave Sara a thorough look. “Very nice.”
“I haven’t been on a date in so long, I’ll probably try eating my soup with a salad fork.”
Brady tackled Bo from behind. Bo leaned forward, drawing the child over his head but catching him before he hit the floor. “Let’s go eat, wild man. Pizza?”
“Pissa,” Brady exclaimed and dashed away.
Sara stopped Bo from following. “I probably shouldn’t be doing this, but I couldn’t resist the chance to play grown-up. Sometimes, I think my mind is turning into two-year-old mush.”
Bo clapped his big hand on her shoulder in a supportive manner. “Go out. Have fun. Forget about the rest and don’t worry about Brady. I’m no wimp like Ren. I can take it.”
Wimp? She’d have asked for an explanation, but the doorbell took away her breath. She was going out on a date. A real live date.
“Wow!” Ren said, handing her a lush bouquet.
“Thank you!” she exclaimed. “They’re beautiful. Look, Brady, pretty flowers.”
Brady grabbed the hem of her dress and yanked hard, trying to reach the flowers. Ren gently removed the material from the little fist, then picked him up. Together they leaned toward the roses. “They smell nice, don’t they? But women are like flowers, Brady—they don’t appreciate it when you grab them. You need to treat flowers and girls very gently.”
His serious tone seemed to make an impression, because Brady sniffed but didn’t touch. “That was pretty sexist,” Bo muttered. “I could never get away with that.”
Sara laughed. “You guys are really something.”
Ren seemed oddly shaken by her happy reception. He looked at Bo and said, “Can you handle the flowers, too? I don’t want to miss our reservation.”
Bo accepted the bouquet with a curtsy.
Giggling, Sara kissed his cheek, then knelt to hug Brady. “You be good for Bo. I love you.”
Brady waved from the door, as Sara and Ren pulled away. Sara looked over her shoulder, feeling a trifle let down.
“I expected that to be more traumatic. I’ve never left him at night before.”
Ren glanced at her but didn’t reply. She made small talk on the drive to the restaurant, but it seemed oddly one-sided.
Once seated at a table overlooking the river, she asked Ren, “Is something wrong?”
There was a pause before he spoke. “Bo said something to me earlier about this being a celebration…because you’d agreed to the test.” His eyes were dark with emotion. “That’s not what this is. I…I don’t want you to think I’m trivializing your feelings, your fears. I asked you out because I’m attracted to you and I like spending time with you,” he said somberly.
Sara couldn’t repress the smile that bubbled up from her heart. “Ren, I had my doubts about this, too, but Claudie helped me put it in perspective.”
“She did?”
“She said, ‘A free dinner’s a free dinner. Go for it.’”
He seemed momentarily nonplussed, then laughed. “She gave me some advice, too,” he said, his lips twitching in mischief.
The look was so Brady, Sara’s heart almost stopped.
He leaned forward as if to impart a secret. “She said, ‘No kissing, no touching and, above all, no oysters.’”
Now Sara was also laughing. “Good. I don’t like oysters. I don’t know what I’d do if you made me eat them.”
He studied her for a moment, then said, “You’re far more beautiful than I realized.”
Her pulse quickened. “I am?”
He nodded. “Yes, and normally that wouldn’t be a problem. But I just figured out I’m very attracted to you—and that is a problem.”
Her heart fluttered wildly at the word attracted. “Because of the paternity issue.”
“No, actually. Because of me.”
“I don’t understand.”
He sighed. “As Bo would so eloquently put it—my social life sucks. Eve called off our engagement less than a week ago, and here I am drooling over you. Don’t you think that’s just a little emotionally immature?”
Sara perked up as if someone had given her a shot of adrenaline. “You’re far too sophisticated to drool, Ren. But I appreciate the compliment.”
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