Accidental Family

by Fasano, Donna

  "I don't want to argue anymore, Robin."

  There was a hint of pleading in his clear green gaze. And something else, too, she noticed, a weariness in the set of his jaw.

  "I don't either."

  His brows rose in query, and she could tell he didn't believe her.

  "I didn't come in here to fight with you," she assured him.

  He didn't speak; he simply leaned back in his chair and waited.

  A sudden case of nerves had her rubbing the thumb of one hand into the palm of the other. She could kick herself for not planning what she'd meant to say, for now it seemed that no words would come.

  She looked down at her hands, and then out the window as she stalled for time. Time in which to compose a speech. A request. A compromise. A flippin' haiku. Something!

  She heaved a breath and licked her lips.

  "I came," she began slowly, "to talk about us." She waved her hand to indicate the two of them. "Things have changed since our... argument."

  She looked at him. He gazed at her, his expression masked, totally unreadable.

  Finally he commented, "You expected our relationship to remain the same after the things we said to each other?"

  "But this…" She shook her head. "This coldness between us isn't good for Tony. It frightens him."

  "Yeah, well it's a cruel world out there. Maybe the sooner he finds that out, the better."

  The bitterness in his voice surprised her. She'd never heard him talk that way before. His laughing and joking might be irritating as hell, but she preferred it to this. His harshness was disconcerting.

  "Jonas, you don't mean that," she said. "We're supposed to shield him from all the bad stuff life has to offer." Very softly, she added, "That's what guardians do."

  The sound that came from him had a derisiveness that kept it from being described as a laugh. This wasn't going at all as she'd thought, and there was a moment of tense silence before she spoke again.

  "I know that when we first agreed to take care of Tony together, we really didn't get along very well."

  "We couldn’t stand each other."

  She chose to ignore him. "But I felt like that was changing. We were growing closer."

  Although she wasn't talking about their lovemaking, the short sentence brought those nights to her mind with such vivid clarity that every inch of her skin flamed hot. Her gaze darted to his face, and she could tell his mind had also gone straight into the bedroom. A wave of mortification hit her with enough force to make her reach out and grasp the edge of the desktop.

  She could feel her mouth working, but no sound came out. Finally she stammered, "Well... I... What I mean is..."

  "I know what you meant," he said. He leaned back in his chair, the tension in his voice easing as he commented, "I know you weren't talking about our being together, but I don't like to think you're flustered or embarrassed about what happened between us. You took comfort in me, and I took comfort in you. It's as simple as that."

  He had summed it up in such a neat, tidy little package.

  "But you do have to admit," he continued, "sex was the catalyst that changed our relationship for the better. Once we'd slept together, we began treating each other with a little more... consideration… a little more kindness."

  She felt uneasy following the path this conversation had suddenly taken and was determined to veer into another direction.

  "And getting back to that place," she said, "where we treated each other with kindness… that's what I'm interested in. That's what I want to talk about."

  A glimmer came to his eye, but she sensed an impulsive spark of maliciousness there that put her on her guard.

  "So," he said flippantly, his mouth twisting in a lop-sided grin, "you want to spend more nights comforting each other?"

  "Of course I don't!" she snapped.

  Before she realized it, he'd pushed himself from his chair, rounded the desk and grasped her upper arms in his strong hands.

  "Are you sure?" The three short words he whispered were harsh and taunting. "We were so good at it."

  Robin was stunned silent. They had been good together, and she'd loved the nights she'd spent in his arms. But there was so much anger and bitterness in his tone right now.

  Her eyes widened and she parted her lips to gasp when he covered her mouth with his.

  His kiss was hard, and rough. And it felt like heaven to taste him again.

  Robin lowered her eyelids, and reveled in the heat of his lips on hers, in the fire of his tongue when he deepened the kiss. His hands slid along her back and pulled her close.

  He smelled so good, tasted so good, felt so good. Her hands rose almost of their own volition, sliding behind his neck, her fingers entwining in his silky hair.

  ~ ~ ~

  Despite the fury coursing through him, Jonas was carried away by the pure enjoyment he derived from Robin's body being pressed against his. He hadn't realized just how much he'd missed the physical part of their relationship over the past few days. Hell, that was an utter lie if there ever was one. He'd missed her. There was no denying it.

  The luscious, hot taste of her on his tongue sparked a desire deep inside him that pulsed with a heavy beat. He wanted desperately to lose himself in her. Completely. But he couldn't allow that to happen.

  He couldn't explain the anger that reared like a deadly snake when she'd followed him into the office. It made no sense. He'd known that she'd used him, that he'd used her. That their nights together had been nothing more than taking solace in each other. But saying the words, hearing them come out of his mouth had made him furious. He'd wanted so much more, he realized in that moment. He'd wanted Robin to want him. Like he wanted her. He wanted her to love him. Like he loved her. But it was so obvious that she just didn't feel that way. How else could she stand there so cool and untouched when he mentioned their night of sexual abandon?

  The thought enraged him to the point that he'd rushed at her, had forced himself on her. He should be appalled by his actions. Yet, here he was continuing his assault.

  He pulled back a scant fraction of an inch, just enough to whisper her name against her swollen lips. Shame and embarrassment welled up inside of him as he looked down into her beautiful face. Thank God her eyes were closed.

  However, they didn't remain that way.

  He watched her lids rise, slowly, almost languidly, and for a moment, he allowed hope to spring up inside of him. Maybe, he thought, this kiss could solve all their problems. Maybe it would bring them together. But the instant of confidence was dashed when he saw her icy gaze; it was enough to freeze him to the core.

  Well, she wouldn't know how he hurt. Never in a million years. "See?" he jeered before she had a chance to speak. "See how good we are together?"

  ~ ~ ~

  Robin knew he was pushing for a fight, even though he'd voiced otherwise when she'd first entered the office. She stepped away from him, squared her shoulders and straightened her spine, refusing to give him the argument he was looking for.

  "Damn it, Jonas," she said, feeling her throat swell with distress as she reached up and wiped away the moist remnants of his kiss. "I came in here to apologize for the things I said when we argued. I came in here hoping to smooth things over with you because I think the way we've been treating each other is affecting Tony. We should try to get along. For Tony's sake."

  "For Tony's sake," he repeated.

  His voice had gone flat.

  "Yes." She struggled hard to regain her composure.

  His face gave away none of his feelings. "So, what you're saying is that you want us to be nice to each other."

  "Exactly."

  Now we are getting somewhere, she thought, if I could only forget that kiss ever happened; if I could just uncurl my toes and quash the need he stirred.

  "Even though," he went on, "so much has happened between us? We've made love, Robin." He gave a disgusted snort. "Let me rephrase that, we've had sex. We've revealed that we've been blatantly
using the other. And you've made it quite clear that you feel my work isn't worth the paper it's written on." His dark brows rose as he asked, "And you want us to pretend to be friends?"

  There was incredulity in his question. As she saw it, she had two ways to go here. She could allow herself to be infected by his ire and lambaste him, and she wouldn't have a problem giving as good as she got. Or she could remain calm.

  In the end, she decided calm was the best method.

  "Jonas, I respect your work," she told him. "It may not be my choice of reading material, but I respect what you do. Okay?"

  He didn't even blink in response.

  "And as for you using me and me using you..." She bit her bottom lip for a split second as she chose her words. "That's all in the past. What's done is done. We need to find some way to get beyond it."

  He ran his fingers along the length of his strong jaw. "No matter how hard we try to get beyond it, the past always affects the future. What does the future hold for us, Robin? What's going to happen in the weeks and months ahead?"

  They were legitimate questions, ones she'd spent hours puzzling over lately.

  "I don't know," she answered him, the honesty in the words unmistakable. "I can't say what tomorrow will bring. I don't know what my plans are. All I do know is that I love Tony. And I know you do, too. And the two of us will have to take that into consideration in whatever actions we decide to take."

  He folded his arms across his chest and he seemed to press himself as far away from her as he could. The ever widening distance made her feel more alone than she'd ever felt in her life.

  "I will promise you, though," she told him quietly, "that I'll be up-front about my plans. Whenever I finally make them."

  She'd hoped that he'd reciprocate that promise, but when he didn't, she silently turned and walked out of the room.

  Robin went into the kitchen. She filled a mug with water and put it into the microwave to heat. As she took a tea bag from the box, she thought about what a mess this co-guardianship had turned out to be.

  "Robin!"

  There was a panicked quality in Jonas's voice when he called out to her that made her feel sick. She rushed across the kitchen.

  Maybe he'd had second thoughts. Maybe he'd decided to forgive her for the things she'd said during their argument. God, he was so angry. Maybe he'd come to understand the need for a better relationship between the two of them for Tony's sake.

  She poked her head into his office, leaning heavily on the doorjamb. What she saw infuriated her. The man hadn't even taken the time to think on their discussion. Evidently he thought so little of the things she'd said that he'd immediately put her request for a friendlier relationship out of his head and turned to the task of opening the day's mail. He sat now with his head bent over one particular letter. She still couldn't believe how easily he could aggravate her. Did the man have to be such an ass? Damn, but he could infuriate her with the smallest amount of effort on his part.

  "What is it, already?" she snapped.

  When he looked up at her, the concern shadowing his gaze caused her breath to catch in her throat.

  "I think," he said quietly, "we may be in trouble."

  Chapter Nine

  He seemed to stare right through her. Then his gaze dropped back down to the paper he held in his hand. Silent seconds ticked by. She could stand the tension no longer. "What?" she asked.

  When he didn't answer immediately, the anxiety that coursed through Robin sharpened her tone as she asked, "What is it, Jonas?"

  His eyes leveled on her again.

  "This letter is from my lawyer," he said. Then he corrected, "Our lawyer."

  The frown planted firmly between his brows sent apprehension flashing through her like a bolt of lightning.

  "It seems that the insurance company wants to settle," he said.

  "You mean the company that insured the cabin where Jeff and Sara… died?" The final word snagged in her throat.

  "Yes," he said.

  The news had her a bit confused. She stepped farther into the room. "But isn't that a good thing?"

  "It is."

  "Well, then I don't understand."

  "It seems the insurance company," Jonas said, plowing ahead, "has found gross negligence and is going to make Tony a very wealthy little boy."

  She paused. Jonas seemed to be delivering information that should make him happy, but his continued concern only caused her bewilderment to increase.

  "Our nephew will want for nothing for the rest of his life," Jonas said.

  Why wasn't he smiling? Robin felt her hands begin to tremble. Something was coming, something bad. She could feel it in her bones.

  "Would you explain what's going on?" she pleaded. "Why are you so upset over what should be great news? Well, not great news. I'd rather have Jeff and Sara here, but…"

  He inhaled deeply and raked his fingers through his collar-length hair. Robin realized that, during the many days that she'd been living in the house with him, he'd never taken the time to have his hair cut. She also realized she liked it just the way it was.

  "The State Insurance Commissioner has gotten involved and has petitioned the court. And now the judge is requesting a progress report."

  Even though his voice was quiet, each word seemed to explode like a stick of dynamite.

  "A progress report?" She felt her mouth go dry. "But why?"

  "Well, isn't it obvious?" He slapped at the letter lightly with the backs of his fingers. "Tony's going to come into a lot of money."

  "But why should that have anything to do with the judge? We were granted custody. We're Tony's aunt and uncle." After only a moment's hesitation, she added, "And besides all that, we're married."

  "And under what circumstances did we marry, Robin?" he asked.

  When she opened her mouth to answer, he stopped her by raising his hand, palm side out.

  "Allow me," he said. "We flew to Vegas, rented a car and went directly to a drive-through wedding chapel so we would be granted custody of our nephew. And now Tony's going to be rich..."

  She gasped at the implication. "But we didn't do it for the money!"

  "You know that, and I know that." He arched his brows. "But do you honestly think that the judge will believe it? Can you look the woman in the eye and tell her you didn't expect your nephew to be awarded compensation for the accidental death of both his parents?"

  Her tone was weak as she replied, "I never thought about that... I never knew..."

  "Yes, you did," he said. "I told you right up front that I was having a lawyer pursue the matter."

  Jonas's words jogged her memory. She remembered telling him that no amount of money would take the place of Jeff and Sara.

  "But what can the judge do?" she asked. "Like I said before, we're married."

  "But we didn't marry for love," he said.

  The derisiveness in his tone made her want to flinch.

  "We didn't even marry with Tony's best interests in mind. The truth is, we married for our own selfish reasons." He tossed the letter onto the desk. "Try explaining that to the judge and see how much sympathy you'll get."

  Robin swallowed. "Then we'll lie." It was an irrational thought, she knew, but she was suddenly scared to death.

  Jonas shook his head. "All the judge would have to do is talk to that young court clerk. What was her name? Anita? Alice? Whatever. She'd remember how we reacted to each other. Sniping and snarling." Then he hissed. "She'd probably even admit she was the one who planted the idea of marriage in our heads to begin with. God, what a mess."

  She lowered herself into the padded, high-back chair near the desk. "Maybe we didn't marry under the best of circumstances, but why should that matter? Tony doesn't have any other family besides us. I mean, your mom is busy caring for your father. He's only got you and me to look after him."

  Robin felt as though she was thinking aloud, and she didn't much like where her thoughts were going. Finally, when the crux of the matte
r formed as a solid idea in her head, she uttered a gasp.

  "They couldn't take him away from us, could they?"

  There was foreboding in Jonas's eyes, in his face, in the silent language of his body.

  "The courts can do anything, I'd imagine," he said. "I'm sure you've heard the phrase 'money is power.' Who knows what might happen? Maybe the courts wouldn't give him to someone else, but they might make us decide who he should be with, you or me. Then again, they might appoint their own guardian."

  "Dear God." Robin barely heard her whispered words as blood whooshed through her ears. Nervous perspiration prickled across her forehead. Was that where she and Jonas were headed? she wondered. On opposite sides of a custody battle?

  She didn't like the thought. Not at all.

  "I wouldn't take you to court over Tony." But even as the words were leaving her mouth, she couldn't help but wonder if they were true.

  It wasn't about the money. That issue held no real meaning for her. She loved her nephew, and she'd come to love taking care of him. Feeding him. Calming his fears. Kissing his boo-boos. Laughing at his innocent antics. She wanted to spend the next twenty years raising him into a man her brother and sister-in-law would have been proud of.

  Suddenly she realized that she'd fight heaven and earth to get the chance to do it.

  Her gaze slid from his, and she stared at her hands where they were clasped tightly in her lap.

  "I'm almost glad you don't mean it," Jonas said quietly. "It's proof that you've acquired one hell of a motherly instinct. My sister was completely wrong about you, Robin."

  She could almost hear a tiny smile in his words, a kind of... affection. But when she looked up at him, his eyes held intense emotion, as though he was experiencing an overwhelming anguish that he couldn't express.

  Well, she knew exactly how he felt. And she wanted to reach across the desk and touch his hand. She wanted to let him know she understood. But she didn't. There was some huge, invisible wall that stood in her way.

  "Listen," he said, "we're supposed to have a meeting with the lawyer on Monday. I can't believe how swiftly the courts are moving on this. I'll call Amy and ask her to keep an eye on Tony. I don't want you to worry about this. There's not a whole hell of a lot we can do at this point."