by Coleen Kwan
“Then don’t get me one. Problem solved. I can take care of myself.”
No, you can’t. Derek kept his mouth shut as his grandfather shuffled about the kitchen. If he left Otto alone, he was sure something would happen to the old man, and another tumble might leave no alternative but a nursing home. Otto would loathe that.
He called the agency that he’d hired Estella through and told them the situation. The sympathetic woman he spoke to said she’d send him a few suitable résumés as soon as possible.
Derek ended the call and gazed at his difficult grandfather. The sunlight streaming through the window highlighted Otto’s papery cheeks. Since the accident, he hadn’t been outside much, and he was beginning to look anemic. His grandfather needed a change of scenery, some sunshine to boost his vitamin D. An idea took hold in Derek’s mind.
“Hey, Granddad, would you like to come with me and Hannah to the lake tomorrow?”
Otto turned to him in surprise. “Why?”
“You’ve been cooped up inside for too long. Thought you could use some fresh air.”
“We’ve never gone to the lake.”
We’ve never done anything together. But that wasn’t an argument for today, if ever.
“You don’t have to do anything with us,” Derek said. “Hannah and I can swim, and you can sit and read a paper or something.” He was making this up as he went along. He wasn’t even sure if Hannah was free tomorrow, but if she was and he asked, he was sure she’d agree. He’d make out it was to help his grandpa, which it was, but it would also be great to spend an afternoon at the lake with her.
“Who’s Hannah?” Otto asked, still looking wary.
“Hannah Willmett. You remember the Willmetts.” Otto had never cared how much time he’d spent at the Willmetts, but he knew who they were.
“Any relation to Joe Willmett?”
“He was her grandfather.” He was also the person behind Derek’s business success. Without Grandpa Joe’s encouragement, he shuddered to think where he’d be now.
“We played pinochle once. He cheated.”
Derek shook his head. How To Lose Friends and Alienate People, by Otto Carmichael. “Yeah, well, Joe’s dead now, so you don’t have to mention that to Hannah. So are you coming? We’ll be going in the afternoon.”
“Is she a chatty Kathy, this girl of yours?”
My girl, Hannah. It had a nice ring to it. “No, she’s not. She’s really nice. So, you’ll come?”
“I’ll think about it.”
If Otto didn’t want to go, he would’ve said it straight out, so Derek was encouraged. Now, he just had to get Hannah to come too. As a health professional and caregiver, Hannah could take a look at Otto and make sure he was in okay shape. That’s how he’d sell it to her, but as he picked up his phone to make the call, he found he was as excited as if he were asking her out on a real date.
Chapter Nine
The lake sat a few miles out of town, a circle of placid, blue-gray water reflecting the surrounding pine forests and distant mountains. In summer it was a popular place for picnics, swimming, and trail walks, and on a Friday afternoon there were plenty of people enjoying the warm weather, but luckily it wasn’t too busy. Which was just as well because Otto hated crowds and would have demanded Derek take him back home if the picnic area had been swamped.
With Otto in the front passenger seat, Derek used his rearview mirror to get a glimpse of Hannah sitting in the back. This morning he had helped her paint the bedroom of her new house, but Amber had showed up, which meant he hadn’t had a chance to kiss Hannah again.
All day he’d thought of kissing her. Caleb’s warning about squeaky clean boy scouts still pricked his conscience from time to time, but he had built up his excuses. Hannah knew he was no boy scout, and she hadn’t exactly fought him off when he’d kissed her yesterday on the back porch of her house. If it hadn’t been for that stray cat…
For the trip to the lake she’d changed into a skimpy, pink-and-green sundress that floated over her legs and hugged her breasts. She looked so cute and sexy he had trouble concentrating on his driving.
As they pulled up in the parking lot, he snuck another glance at her in the rearview mirror, and she winked at him, causing his blood to tingle. Damn, it was going to be hard keeping his hands to himself. They both got out and waited while Otto maneuvered himself and his crutches out of the vehicle. Derek had forewarned Hannah not to leap to his granddad’s aid, as that only irritated him.
“This place has changed since I was last here,” Otto said as he slowly limped toward the water. “Too many people. And kids. Too much noise.”
“It’s quieter over there.” Hannah pointed to a stretch of grass away from the barbecues and picnics. There were a few wooden benches shaded by trees and overlooking the lake. “Why don’t we grab one of those benches? It looks like we’ll catch a nice breeze coming off the water there.”
“I can get there on my own,” Otto grumped. He paused, glancing at Hannah and Derek. “You two can go off on your walk or whatever.” His tone was slightly more conciliatory.
Derek and Hannah stood and watched as Otto slowly hobbled away.
“He’s not too bad on those crutches,” Hannah said.
“He’s a fighter, but he does need a care assistant. I have another person starting next week, but I’m not holding my breath.” And he only had another week before he was due back in L.A. If he couldn’t find a care assistant for Otto, the only alternative might be a nursing home. That was a battle he dreaded, a battle he’d probably lose. And then what? Would he have to give up L.A. and everything he’d achieved and move back in with his granddad? He wasn’t relishing that.
“I hope it works out.” She shaded her eyes against the blazing sun. “It’s too hot for a walk, and that water looks great. Do you want to go for a swim?”
His problems faded at the prospect of seeing Hannah in a bikini. He’d already noticed the bikini straps underneath her skimpy sundress.
“Sure.” He tried to sound cool but inside he was thrumming with anticipation.
They walked down to the beach and dropped their bags in an empty spot. Derek was already wearing his board shorts, so all he had to do was pull off his T-shirt. Hannah stripped off her sundress. His throat dried at the sight of her in an orange bikini, the triangles of the top hugging her full breasts, while the bottom scrap of fabric molded her lower belly. She looked as luscious as a slice of mango, and it was all he could do to stop himself sliding his hands over her warm, smooth skin.
He realized he was breathing hard and staring at her, making no attempt to hide his mental undressing of her. She was staring back at him, too, but when their gazes collided she glanced away.
“Come on,” she said hurriedly. “I’m dying in this heat.”
He followed after her as she hustled to the water. Every brain cell of his was glued to the hypnotic sway of her butt in front of him. The sun beating down on his skin was nothing compared to the lust scorching inside him, so it was good to reach the water and dive in. The cold water gave him camouflage, but did nothing to cool his libido. No chance of that when Hannah was nearby. The sun gleamed on her wet skin, and the droplets of water clinging to her body only made him want to grab her and kiss her more.
“It’s been ages since we did this,” she said. “Remember those scorching Sundays during summer when it was too hot to do anything?”
Only too well. He remembered coming to this lake with Caleb and Hannah. Sneaking glances at Hannah in her bikini, just like today. He remembered his raw jealousy when Rick had tagged along and monopolized her attention. Well, Rick was gone forever, and he was here with her.
“I remember you shrieking when I got you with my water gun,” Derek said.
She laughed. “You hit me square in the face! It stung.”
“Now I feel bad about that. Here, you can get me back. I’ll be a sitting target.”
“I don’t have a water gun.”
“Well,
use your hands. Improvise, woman.”
She smacked the water, spraying it full into his face. He spluttered and blinked. “Go on, again.”
She used her legs to kick water at him, and he stood there, not dodging an inch.
“It’s no fun if you just stand there and take it,” she complained.
“You want me to squeal? Okay.” He clutched his hands together and mimicked a few girly shrieks until she burst out laughing.
He waded closer. Desperate to touch her, he thought maybe he could duck her in the water as an excuse. A sudden blast of water hit the side of his head. Taken completely unaware, he wiped his eyes to see a kid smirking at him a few yards away with a giant water gun in his hands.
“Sorry ’bout that!” a man called out before he sternly addressed the boy, “Bobby, you shouldn’t have done that. Apologize right now, please.”
The boy’s face fell. “Sorry, mister,” he mumbled at Derek.
“Uh, don’t worry about it. He was just fooling around like I was.” Derek waved at the man and boy to show there were no hard feelings.
The father guided the boy away, and soon they were happily horsing about in the water.
“Kids, huh?” Hannah said.
“Yeah.” Derek cast another glance at the father and son. They looked so at ease with each other. How did that happen? “They look like they’re having fun.”
“You sound envious. Are you thinking about having kids one day?”
He swung back to Hannah, shocked by her question. “What? Jeez—no!”
“You don’t have to act so horrified.” She wrinkled her brow at him. “Don’t you ever want children?”
He was standing waist-deep in cold water, yet he was sweating. “I haven’t thought about it much, but I don’t think I’d make a great parent. Not with my upbringing.”
“I think you’re selling yourself short. Just because your mom neglected you doesn’t mean you would neglect your kid. I mean, if we went by your reasoning, then I shouldn’t have kids either because of what my mom did to me and Caleb.”
Neither she nor Caleb talked much about their mom running off when they were young, but Derek knew it had scarred them deeply, knew because he hid his own scars from when his mom had abandoned him. He eyed her cautiously. “So, you want to have kids?”
“One day in the future.” She lifted her shoulders. “A very long day away. When I’ve finished school and got a good job.”
“You’d make a great mom.”
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You think?”
He touched her cheek. “Yeah, I do.”
“Oh, Derek.” She placed her hand over his, clearly moved by his words. “That— Thank you. And I don’t care what you say, you’ll make a great dad, too.”
He doubted that, but it was kind of her to think so. They stood together for a while, not talking, just touching each other while sunshine and water shimmered around them. Then a group of teenagers ran shrieking into the lake, breaking the moment.
“Is your granddad okay over there by himself?” Shading her eyes, Hannah peered toward the bench where Otto sat. “Maybe we should go talk to him.”
“He likes being on his own,” Derek said. “Besides, often I don’t know what to talk to him about.”
“We’ve got some clients at the nursing home who are solitary, too. You know what I find works? Photo albums. Even the quietest resident perks up when they start talking about their old photos. It jogs their memory, helps them remember the good times.”
Derek nodded. “I might try that sometime.” Although he wasn’t sure Otto had many good times to remember. Or if he had any photo albums to start with.
Hannah squinted at the sun which had passed its zenith. “My evening shift starts at three,” she said. “I can’t be late or my boss will chew me out again.”
He pressed his lips together. Earlier today, while painting with Hannah and Amber, he’d heard all about Vera, the starchy supervisor who resented Hannah for reasons unknown. Derek’s hackles rose as his protective instincts kicked in. How could anyone not like Hannah?
“I won’t make you late.”
Their time together was running out. Not just here today at the lake, but in general. He had to return to L.A. in a week. After he left, when would he see Hannah again?
He waded closer to her. Reaching out, he trailed his fingers over her shoulder, relishing her damp, warm flesh.
“What time do you get off?” he asked, unable to keep the gruffness from his voice.
“Um, eleven thirty.”
“I could come by your place.”
He shouldn’t be doing this. Helping her paint her house in broad daylight was one thing, but visiting her late at night was something else completely. This was crazy, reckless. But he couldn’t contain his need for her anymore. One night with Hannah wasn’t enough. As much as they both denied it, there was a fire between them that defied logic. And judging by the way she’d kissed him on the back porch, she felt it too.
She looked startled. “At midnight?”
“Why not? I don’t have to get up early for anything.”
He thought she’d shake her head right away, but instead a small, doubtful frown settled on her forehead. His optimism rose.
“I don’t have much energy after finishing late,” she said.
“That’s okay,” he said. “I’ll provide all the energy.”
“When I get home I like to watch TV and just chill out.”
“Sounds good to me. We can just chill out or whatever.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Whatever?”
“Yeah.” Whatever covered a lot of ground. He cupped his fingers under her chin to tip up her face. He wanted her to know how much he craved spending another night with her, but also that she had the final say. He brushed his thumb across her lower lip, greedy to touch her, and felt an answering shudder run through her. “It’s completely up to you, babe. You’re in charge here.”
Her tongue darted out to lick his thumb before she drew out of reach. “Whatever, huh?”
“That’s right.” His voice was hoarse. He was practically begging for her permission. He just hoped she was thinking the same “whatever” he was.
She screwed up her eyes at him, and then, without warning, she splashed some water at him. “Okay, come over and watch TV tonight,” she said, breezy and offhand. As she turned and began heading back to shore, she added over her shoulder, “Or whatever.”
God, he never knew Hannah could be such a tease. And such a turn on.
He wiped his face and surged through the water after her. She picked up her pace, leaped out of the water, and ran up the beach to their pile of clothing. By the time he caught up with her, he was breathing deep, though not from the physical exertion.
Derek pressed a hand to his knee to stop it from jiggling. He snuck another look at the clock above his granddad’s television set. It was only nine o’clock. Another three hours to kill. How was he going to make it? He shifted his feet again, dragging them against the carpet.
“Something wrong with you?” Otto muttered from his nearby armchair. “You got ants in your pants or something?”
Derek started. “Nothing.” He tried to settle his limbs, but the restless itch in them quickly became unbearable.
His grandpa sighed. “Why don’t you go down to Jimmy’s? It’s a Friday night, plenty of young people there.”
Derek shook his head. “I’m not in the mood.” Tonight there was only one thing on his mind.
Otto cleared his throat. “I’ll call you if I have any problems.”
Derek blinked at his granddad. “You promise?”
Otto’s brow furrowed. “I just said I would, didn’t I?”
“That’s good to know, but I think I’ll hang around here for a while.”
His grandfather shrugged and turned his attention back to the television, where Doomsday Preppers had just come on. Derek rested his head on the couch and gazed up at the ceiling.
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br /> “You like her, don’t you?” Otto said when the ads came on.
Derek looked up. “Huh?”
“That Willmett girl. You like her.”
Jeez, this was the first time his granddad had ever brought up the subject of girls. “Yeah, I like her.” No point hiding that.
He waited for Otto to say something more, but the old man just stared at an ad for fried chicken, and then the show came back on.
“Hope you’re using protection,” Otto muttered, eyes still glued to the TV screen.
“Huh?” Derek jerked upright.
“You heard me. Don’t want any little surprises down the road.”
What the hell? Was that the extent of his granddad’s relationship advice? Practice safe sex? Well, maybe that was all Otto knew about relationships, and at least he was showing an interest in Derek. Maybe this was his granddad’s way of demonstrating that he cared.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Derek muttered.
Chapter Ten
The headlights of Hannah’s car pierced the night, picking out the quiet streets of her neighborhood. As she pulled into the driveway of her dad’s house, she couldn’t ignore the quick thrum of her pulse. It had been there all through her evening shift, that undercurrent of tension and excitement running through her veins, making her feel like she’d gulped a strong cocktail. Like the mojitos she’d downed the night she’d fallen into bed with Derek.
She turned off the ignition, cut the lights, grabbed her bag, and hopped out of the car. The house cast a deep shadow over the driveway, and she’d forgotten to leave the porch light on. A light breeze rustled the nearby bushes. She spun around, nerves vibrating, just as a tall, instantly recognizable figure walked up the driveway toward her.
“Hannah,” Derek murmured.
Relief and gladness flooded her, forcing her to admit that yes, all night she’d been looking forward to seeing him again. “Hi.”
He paused in front of her, shadows swathing his face. “Long shift?”
Long and tiring, but her tiredness lifted as she breathed in his scent on the warm night air. She nodded. “Coming inside?”