Kiera looked at her cup. How could she tell Sam what kind of man Matt had been? An abusive husband and father; a drunk who more than dabbled in drugs, as well. No kind of father to Avery, or to Cory.
When she didn't answer, Sam reached across the table and took her hand in his. It was an unexpected gesture for both of them. The contact sent a tingle of pleasure rippling through Kiera's body. Rather than jerking away, she curled her fingers around his warm, rough ones, and looked into his eyes.
“You can be honest with me, Kiera. I know Matt was no saint, honey.” He glanced away briefly before returning his gaze to hers. “We weren't close, but he was my blood. Cory and little Avery are all that's left of him, and of my family. I guess maybe that's why they're so important to me.”
The admission made him swallow hard, and Kiera thought it must be the first time he'd fully realized why the children had made such an impact on him.
“Matt was...probably not how you may remember him, Sam. Not at the end. I suspect he was heavy-handed with Cory, and with Chelsee, too. Chelsee had turned to drugs in a very big way. They'd already given Avery to your relatives to raise when the accident happened.”
Sam had not let go of her hand. He held it easily within his grip as Kiera spoke, his thumb caressing her knuckles, silently encouraging her to continue.
“When they were killed, Cory was placed in interim foster care with the Landrum family.”
“You don't care for them.” It was a statement rather than a question.
Kiera hadn't realized how transparent her feelings were. “No.” She moistened her lips. “I don't care for them at all.” If she told Sam what had happened, there was a good chance he'd go over and beat Charlie Landrum to a pulp. “That's why it's so important—”
“It's important to me, too, Kiera. Look, I'm not trying to put a fly in the ointment here, but—Cory and Avery—they're the only family I've got now. It's up to me to keep the family together. My family.” He let go of her hand and leaned back in his seat.
Kiera took a deep breath. No matter how nice Sam Tiger seemed to be, he still intended to take Cory. And what did she really know about Sam? He seemed different from Matt, but...what if he wasn't? How could she let Cory go back into a questionable situation? It was bad enough that she had to let him stay at the Landrums' tonight. She knew Charlie Landrum wouldn't physically hurt Cory, but emotionally—she shook her head. Charlie was a lout.
“We're going to have to work something out, Sam.” She took a sip of her drink. “I've been worried sick about Cory.”
“He seems like a bright kid. Why does he need a tutor?”
“He's mildly dyslexic. That causes him some reading and spelling issues. There's grant money right now for tutors for the Indian kids, but my job here is really on the bubble, what with all the cutbacks.” She sighed. Might as well level with him. They needed to work together for Cory's sake. “I'd thought—if my job was cut, at least I could work with him at home, you know?”
“I take it you're ‘it'? I mean—as far as extra help for him goes.”
Kiera gave a sniff of disgust. “The Landrums couldn’t care less. They're in it for the money. The school has had its own set of cutbacks and problems. Kids like Cory fall through the cracks. By the time they make it to middle school—” She shrugged.
Sam nodded. “I remember those days. I know what you're saying.”
“And Avery—between you and me, I've already made sure DHS knows I want her to be with Cory. I don't think your relatives really wanted her. From what I understand, they're an older couple.”
Sam shook his head. “I don't have any relatives. They've gotta be Chelsee's folks. Maybe her parents.”
“Most likely. That’s not information they would give me, anyhow—at least, not at this point.” Kiera sipped at her drink. “No matter what, Sam, we agree that we want what's best for the kids.”
“Yeah.” He looked up at her, his dark eyes bleak. “It's just a matter of deciding what that will be. Your house...or mine?”
Chapter Four
Oh, boy. She was not going to give an inch, and he’d just ticked her off with that last line. She sank her perfect white teeth into that soft, kissable lower lip of hers and raised her eyes to his. If looks could kill, he'd be a dead man.
“And—just where would your house be, Sam? You don't have any kind of permanence.”
“Yet.”
“Yet. And how long will it be before that happens? Next month? Next year?'
“That's not fair, Kiera.” Dammit! She'd hit home with her accusations. But he didn't have to explain to her. He owed her nothing.
“I'm not worried about being fair, Sam Tiger!” She leaned across the table, almost upsetting her drink in her urgency. “I'm going to do the fair thing for Cory. He has no one else but me, and I—” Her voice broke, and she stood up quickly, grabbing her purse. “Excuse me,” she choked out.
Sam came to his feet, solidly blocking her way. She ran right into him, and it took a second for him to realize that she was blinded by tears. He steadied her reflexively then pulled her close to him.
She stiffened as his arms came around her, but after a moment, she relaxed and laid her head on his chest. Then, she cried, her shoulders shaking silently.
“Put your arms around me,” he said quietly.
She did it without question, and he stroked her hair.
“Is something wrong?” The cashier stood behind them, holding a dishcloth.
“No. Everything's fine.”
Kiera started to pull away from him, but he held on tightly to her. She must have been worried for quite some time about his nephew. And now that everything was about to work out, a new cause for anxiety had arrived on the scene—him.
But what did she expect him to do? He'd come as quickly as he could to see about Cory. He hadn't even known about Avery. And he hadn't known about Kiera Leslie, either.
She felt wonderful in his arms, even though she was crying and upset. He could imagine what she might feel like if things were different between them. If there was a way of being friends rather than adversaries.
“Is there somewhere we can go...more private?” Circumstances being what they were, he hesitated to suggest going back to her place.
“My house. It's not far from here.” She swiped at her eyes as he released her. She started toward the door, and Sam followed, reaching to open it from behind her. She turned to look at him. “I can trust you, can't I, Sam?'
He nodded grimly. “Yeah. You can trust me.”
* * * *
“I feel like an idiot,” Kiera said after they'd been driving for a few minutes in silence.
“You shouldn't.”
“I'm so sorry, Sam.” She shook her head.
“Don't apologize. It means a lot to me to know you're that passionate about looking out for Cory's best interests.”
Kiera turned the corner from the main street into her neighborhood. “I've been doing everything alone for so long,” she said in a low voice, and Sam got the feeling she was talking to herself rather than offering excuses for her behavior.
Before he thought, he spoke. “You're not alone anymore, Kiera.” She darted a glance at him, as if she thought she hadn't heard correctly.
“I think,” he said carefully, “we could be a good team. For the kids.”
She nodded, but seemed somehow disappointed at his last words.
As she turned the Malibu into the narrow one-car drive, Sam gave a low whistle. The little house was old, but it was well-cared for. A post World War II brick home, as were most of the others in this area, it bore the look of a home that could have used a man's hand around the place. The wooden gate had been tied shut at the side of the house, and the trim could use a coat of paint.
Kiera had been alone, it seemed, in everything; not just in trying to see to Cory’s welfare.
“Well, here we are,” she said with forced cheeriness. “It's not a Better Homes and Gardens house, but at least I'm not
paying rent somewhere.”
“It's—wow, Kiera.” Sam opened his door and got out. She looked self-conscious as she shut her door and glanced over the car top at him. Their gazes locked for a moment.
“This is really...nice,” he said finally, his voice rough. This was an accomplishment. Kiera owned her own home. Already. She was young, he thought once more. She was single. How had she managed? Tutoring couldn't pay much. And she'd said her job was in jeopardy. She might lose this place if that happened.
Getting a grip on himself, Sam walked around the car to where Kiera stood. “It's beautiful, Kiera. A good place.”
She blushed with pleasure at his awkward compliment. “Thanks. I wouldn't go so far as to call it beautiful. Not yet. But it will be, when I'm done with it. I—I know it needs work. When I get a bit of money ahead, I want to paint the trim and the porch, and do some work on the fence and the gate—” Excitement filled her voice, but when she looked at Sam she stopped, giving a short laugh. “Come on. Let's go inside. You probably think I'm crazy, getting so thrilled over hiring a painter.”
He smiled in return. “No, I don't. If I had a place like this, I'd be the same way.”
They walked up the sidewalk to the front steps and Kiera pointed to the porch light. “See? I just had this replaced a couple of weeks ago.”
“Looks great.”
She laughed. “You can't truly appreciate how ‘great' it looks since you never saw the other one. It was original to the house, I think.” She unlocked the door and Sam followed her inside.
“Here. Let me take your coat and hang it up,” she offered. “Unless you'd rather wear it.”
“It's warm in here,” he said softly, pulling off his jacket. As he spoke the words, he realized he meant them in more than one context. The heat was up, keeping the air temperature warm, but it was more than that. The atmosphere was inviting, and comforting. This was what a home should be. The kind of home he'd always wished for, as long as he could remember.
“Oh, I'll turn the thermostat down.”
“No, Kiera. It's fine.”
“I keep it toasty in here. My one splurge. Seems like I'm cold a lot in the winter.”
“Really, it's fine.” Sam sat on the couch as Kiera hung his jacket in the hall closet. He took a deep breath, catching a familiar scent. “Sage,” he said aloud.
“Yeah.” Kiera came back around the corner and sat beside him on the couch. “It's cleansing. The Indians—” She gave a short laugh. “Well, I don't have to explain it to you do I? Sorry.”
They were both silent for a few seconds, then Kiera said, “About the coffee shop—I've been under a lot of pressure lately. I've been wondering if I'm going to have a job when July rolls around. I was hoping to get this all set in place with Cory before that happened. If I don't have a job, they'll put him elsewhere.”
“And he wants to come here. With you.”
Kiera sighed heavily. “I'm the best choice for him—or I was, until you showed up.”
“Yeah. Sorry to rain on your parade.”
Kiera turned to look at him. “You didn't. I'm glad you're back. Cory needs us both. He's just lost everyone familiar and dear to him these past few months. His face lit up like I've never seen it before when you walked in, Sam. Such joy—well, I'll never get that kind of adoration from him. I've been thinking about that since the minute it happened. His heart was in his eyes. He loves you.”
Sam couldn't speak for a few seconds. If only she knew! His thoughts had been going down that same track, only, he was remembering it a little differently. He was remembering the way Cory had made certain to include Kiera in the Burger World dinner plans, assuring her that Sam “wouldn't mind”.
One thing he knew for certain. Kiera was right when she said that Cory needed them both.
“Kiera—what the hell are we gonna do?” All this jet lag and seeing Cory again, the unfamiliar responsibility he felt resting on his shoulders to pull the family together, was beginning to seem to be an impossibility. As much as he felt it was his duty, as much as he wanted to be the one to step up to the plate for Cory and Avery, the timing wasn't right. He had no permanent place. He was on thirty days' leave right now. And he hadn't been completely honest with Kiera—couldn’t be, until he could fully trust her. He had the option to re-up the first of March, if he chose to do so.
“Where are you going to be staying?” She asked the question carefully, he thought. As if—as if she might have something in mind.
“I haven't gotten a place yet. Most apartments want a six-month lease. I'm so unfamiliar with Oklahoma City after having been away so long, I'm not sure where the ‘good places' are any more.”
“What's the rest of the story, Sam?”
He shot her a quick glance. It was time to come clean. He sighed. “Kiera, I wasn't sure what the situation was with Cory. I'm on thirty days' leave—til the first week in March. Then, I have a decision to make. I'll either re-up, or I'll muster out. I have to tell you—as bad as Iraq was, getting out scares the hell outta me. I've been in the Marines all my adult life, since I graduated from high school.”
Kiera's eyes mirrored her emotions readily enough. Surprise, empathy, and understanding, followed by a look that Sam could barely give credence to—the start of what might be caring—for him. It made his gut tighten, like just before he was getting ready to go on patrol.
Before Sam had time to think about that look, or what it could mean to their relationship, Kiera looked down and sat forward.
“Sam...what would you think about staying here? With me?” She looked up at him, meeting his eyes, and he could see the uncertainty, and fear of rejection. The breath went out of him, like she'd punched him with that question. He was quiet, unable to answer for a few seconds. But when he saw the hurt enter her face, he reached for her hand, drawing it into his firmly.
“Kiera—that's about the sweetest thing anyone's said to me in years.” His stomach and chest were tight, but not with the familiar tension of going into battle or facing down an enemy. That, he could've dealt with. He'd grown used to the harsh reality of the life he'd come to accept as his lot. He'd pushed his dreams aside because, as he'd told Kiera, being in the military was all he'd done since he'd graduated. Barely eighteen, he'd been glad to leave his existence behind and move into the adult world as something more than he thought he could ever become if he'd stayed there in the one-horse town he'd grown up in.
Now, this woman was inviting him into her life. Looking at the vulnerability in her eyes as he held her hand, he didn't think this was all for Cory's sake, though he supposed he could be wrong. God, though, he hoped he wasn’t.
“Sweet?”
He smiled at her confused look. “Maybe you weren't trying to be ‘sweet' but to me, what you're asking means—everything.” How could he explain all the times he'd wondered if he'd ever find anyone? The nights when he'd drift off to sleep, dreaming of settling down in a real home, with permanence, rather than wondering where he'd be shipping out to next?
She was waiting, thought, for him to continue and give her some kind of explanation, and either accept or reject what she offered him.
“Your home is—just about perfect.”
Disbelief sprang into her eyes, and he moved closer to her. “Hear me out, will you? We've got a lot to discuss.”
“Okay.” Her voice sounded tight and strained, as if she were preparing herself for his rejection.
“Kiera, moving in with you would solve everything as far as me finding a place to stay, but it could cause you some really big problems. What if the school board finds out? Don't they have a morals clause?”
She shook her head. “I don't know. I don't think so. And no matter what, it's not—like that.”
Sam had to smile. No matter what, someone would say it was ‘like that’. She was too trusting. Even of him.
“How do you know you can trust me?”
She sat back and regarded him with a questioning look. “Are you saying I can�
��t?”
He laughed softly. “No. I'm not saying that at all. But I don't think you go around inviting men to move in with you as a general rule.”
“I don't, Sam. But you're different.”
“Different? How do you mean? You don't really know me—”
“I know more than you think.” She raised a brow.
“Cory been tellin' tales?”
She laughed at his phrasing. “Don't worry. To him, you're a superhero. You can do no wrong.”
He shrugged, giving her a grin. “Now, I've gotta worry about falling off my pedestal. Pretty scary.”
“It's just for thirty days.” Kiera circled back to the thing they had to settle. “I'm truly not worried about it. It would be really hard—and expensive—to find a place to stay for that length of time.”
Sam nodded, knowing she spoke the truth.
“You're a gentleman, Sam. I truly do trust you.”
He sighed. Right now, he was wondering just how much of a gentleman he could remain. Even superheroes had their limits.
Chapter Five
Kiera watched for his reaction. For a moment, he'd been about to confide in her, she thought, but then he'd turned it aside, made a joke of it. Oh, Sam what are you afraid of? She felt close to him right now. She couldn't help thinking of the words he'd spoken. He'd called her offer ‘sweet’ and she hadn't understood at first. But in light of the way Matt had turned out, it made her wonder about his early years. She'd never heard Cory once mention his grandparents. What kind of life had Sam Tiger had up to now? She hadn't missed the wonder and the relaxation on his handsome features when he'd come through her door. Although she was proud of her little house, she knew its faults. It was old, and although she'd made some critical repairs in the last two years, she still had a lot to do.
“I couldn't just stay here,” he told her, his brows knitting pensively. “I'd want to pay you something.”
“Nonsense. You'd be my guest. I don't charge company for their beds.”
A Heart for a Heart Page 2