Last Chance Family

by Hope Ramsay

  The uncertain look on Rainbow’s face shattered him. He connected with it in so many ways. Would she ever forgive him for taking Tigger away? Would she feel abandoned?

  He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Be good, kiddo.”

  He stood up, only to find Elsie giving him a sharp-eyed stare. Elsie’s gaze took in his pajamas and then moved beyond to sweep the living room. The church lady was clearly seeking out evidence of hanky-panky. No doubt she’d heard that he’d taken Charlene home from the fund-raiser last night. He wasn’t about to give Elsie any time to interrogate him, so he looked at his watch.

  “Gee, it’s getting late. You don’t want Rainbow to be tardy for her first day at Sunday school, do you?”

  She gave him thirty more seconds of the evil eye and then took Rainbow by the hand. “C’mon, sweetie, you’re going to love Sunday school.”

  Mike stood in the doorway watching as Rainbow and Elsie headed down the stairs. It took a lot for him to close the door. As she walked away, it was almost as if a big hollow place opened up in his chest.

  Damn, he needed to get his emotions under control. Coffee might help. He headed off to the kitchen, where Tigger immediately assaulted him, wrapping herself around his ankles.

  Feeding time. The cat showed him nothing but disdain except early in the morning right before he put down food. He opened a pouch of cat food for her and then poured a cup of coffee for himself.

  He leaned against the counter watching the parking lot, which seemed surprisingly busy this morning. Folks around here really took their Sundays seriously, didn’t they?

  He gradually became aware of the water running in the master bathroom. Charlene was taking a shower. An image of her naked and wet flashed through his head. A part of him—not his rational brain—wanted to go help her get clean. He could wash her back… or something.

  He leaned against the countertop staring at nothing out the window, while he tried to sort out his feelings. Lust for the girl next door ranked pretty high on the list. Followed by the gut-wrenching tightness in his chest every time he thought about Rainbow being raised by Andrea Newsome.

  He hated the idea.

  But what the hell could he do about it? Let himself get sucked into a love affair with Charlene? Stay and raise Rainbow himself? Marry Charlene and become a day trader and a daddy?

  No. No. No. No.

  The lonely little kid at his core raised his battered head. Mike paid attention to that boy.

  That boy had taught him to be independent. That boy had built walls. That boy lived behind a poker face. That boy walked out on Angie and saved Mike’s life because Richard probably would have killed him sooner or later.

  That boy knew when to walk away. And right now that kid was screaming that the stakes in this game had gotten way, way too high.

  Charlene stood in the kitchen doorway, her hair wet, her stomach empty, and her heart suddenly racing. Mike leaned against the counter, his head hung low. He seemed to be struggling to draw breath.

  She crossed the room and put her hand on the middle of his back. His T-shirt was soft, the body beneath it hard and warm.

  He straightened and let out a big breath. “Sorry.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Killer heartburn,” he said, then immediately changed the subject. He moved toward the coffeemaker, shaking off her touch. “You want some coffee?”

  He turned and gave her a quick glance. That’s all it took.

  Her heart wrenched, and she responded the way she always did when confronted with unspoken pain. She encountered it often, usually in the eyes of animals. But it was there, beyond that mild-mannered expression he tried to wear. He was hurting. She reached up to stroke his cheek. Her fingers encountered his warm skin and rough stubble. That touch flipped her switch. Electricity flowed inside her.

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as her fingers moved over his face to his ear and up into his bright red hair.

  “Don’t,” he whispered, but he made no attempt to move away. He reminded her of an abused animal that growls when all he wants is a little kindness. She cupped the nape of his neck and pulled him down as she rose up on tiptoes.

  She gave him a soft, gentle kiss. Nothing deep or sexy, just a little kiss, intended to comfort. But it didn’t stay that way. Mike grabbed her by the cheeks and pulled her up into the kiss like a man starving for love. His tongue stroked hers. His right hand dropped to her hip, and he yanked her forward and into his chest.

  Her knees almost buckled. But she didn’t fall, because Mike had her. His hand found the small of her back as he sagged against the counter. They leaned together, thigh to thigh, chest to chest. The kiss turned utterly carnal. His hand wandered up over her spine to her breast. He palmed it. Her nipples came alive. He groaned.

  And her whole body throbbed.

  She broke the kiss and looked up into his face. His eyes had dilated with desire. His breath sounded ragged. His skin flushed red.

  “I want you,” he said in a hoarse voice. “I want to strip you naked and do it right here in the kitchen.”

  His words ignited a bad-girl fire that pretty much torched her reservations about him. “Okay.”

  His gaze widened. “I’m not a reliable bet,” he said.

  She laughed. “You think I don’t know that?”

  “Oh.”

  She could almost feel him having second thoughts. And she had no intention of allowing that. She’d have the rest of her life to regret this choice. Or not.

  Which would she regret more? Letting her reservations about him put the kibosh on this? Or spending the rest of her life wondering if maybe she should have bet on Mike Taggart?

  Heartbreak was her middle name. “I’m a gambler,” she whispered. “And sometimes the long shots pay off.”

  “Not usually,” he said.

  “Maybe not. But I’m the eternal optimist.”

  Call him crazy. Call him desperate. Call him immature. Whatever. But when Charlene started to move her hips against him, he put his brain in neutral and let his body take over. He lost himself in Charlene’s deep, sweet, amazing kisses. She tasted so fine. Like nothing he’d ever tasted before. She had curves in all the right places, and her touch made his skin catch fire.

  And maybe something else began to stir inside him, but he was too drunk on lust to identify it. Besides, he was preoccupied by her breasts, which were as amazing to touch as they were to look at. And she smelled really good, too.

  He needed more skin. Right now. So he pulled the T-shirt over her head and spent one smoldering moment feasting his eyes on her breasts. And then he feasted his mouth on them.

  Damn. He’d wanted to touch her boobs from the first time he’d seen her in one of her tight sweaters. But they weren’t her only charms. Her butt was nice and round and soft. And she was making these really great noises that were an utter turn-on.

  He wanted to bury himself in her.

  Now.

  “Uh, you want to do it here? I’m ready.”

  “Yeah, I noticed,” she said with a laugh as she touched him through his pajamas. He couldn’t breathe for a while as she kept it up. She had magical hands.

  “Uh, look, we need to decide. Here or in the bedroom?”

  She glanced at the kitchen window with its direct view to the busy parking lot. “I think bedroom.”

  “I’m glad someone’s thinking.” He hoisted her up into his arms.

  She let go of a little squeak of alarm.

  “Don’t worry, dollface, I didn’t drop you last night, and I won’t do it now.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder. “You carried me like this last night?”

  “You don’t remember? You lost your shoes. I couldn’t let you walk on the gravel.”

  “Sadly, no. And I’m kind of ticked off about it. Cinderella moments like that don’t happen all that often, you know.”

  Somewhere in his brain an alarm went off. “Listen, doll, I’m not Prince Charming. Please
don’t confuse me with that guy.”

  “I know,” she said as she twirled the hair at the base of his neck, sending shivers down his spine. “And I’m not really Cinderella.”

  He turned and looked into her face as they arrived at the bedroom door. God almighty, this woman had a face any fool could read.

  She would fall for him.

  “I’m going to break your heart,” he said.

  “I know.”

  He hadn’t expected that. “You do?”

  Her eyes went dark and mysterious. “Stop thinking, Mike. Just take me to your bed, okay?”

  The words were like magic. He carried her across the bedroom floor, put her down on her feet, stripped off her clothes, and had his way with her.

  CHAPTER

  25

  She awakened inside the circle of Mike’s arms, skin to skin. The summer sun turned the window blinds golden. The light seemed so fresh, so new. As if she was seeing that precise color for the first time in her life.

  Mike Taggart had breathed new life into her. She’d been so alone for the last few years, so stuck in her routine that she’d forgotten how it felt to wake up cradled in someone’s arms. She looked around the room, and everything seemed different.

  But these feelings couldn’t be trusted. This after-sex giddiness had overtaken her before, and unfortunately her silly brain had mistaken it for love. It would be better to label it lunacy. That way she could avoid making the mistakes she’d made in the past.

  Mike would be gone in a few days. And this euphoria was really more like a river at flood stage. It would tear through her life uprooting stuff for a while. It would be exciting and dangerous. But eventually her life would settle back between the riverbanks. She’d go back to her routine.

  But right now, she would stay for the pleasure of it because Mike sure did know how to give and take pleasure. She closed her eyes and snuggled into him, listening to his even breathing.

  She was thinking about waking him up for another round when his phone rang.

  She turned and studied him as he groped for the phone. Sleep lines creased his face. His hair stuck out in all directions. He looked as if he’d been had—a few times. Which made her feel hot all over. He checked the caller ID, and then he glanced up at her.

  His poker face was back.

  He threw his legs over the side of the bed and pressed the talk button at the same time. He stood up and walked into the bathroom. Clearly the call was private. But being the niece of a first-class southern busybody, Charlene got out of bed and listened at the door.

  Only every other word was intelligible, but she got the gist of the conversation. The call had come from someone in Vegas—someone involved with the World Series of Poker.

  She let go of a sigh and headed back to the bed, where she found the T-shirt and sweatpants she’d borrowed from him. She put them on and then sat there for a long moment.

  Tigger jumped up on the bed and meowed loudly. Without thinking, she stroked the cat’s head, between her ears. Tigger closed her eyes and pressed up into the caress.

  “I know,” she said to the cat. “He’s going back to Vegas. Sooner rather than later.” A knot formed in her throat.

  The cat climbed into her lap and curled up, purring loudly. “Are you worried, too? Tim Lake can’t take you. And Mike’s going to leave you behind.”

  The cat meowed as if she were actually carrying on a conversation. “Poor Tigger. What’s to become of you? And me?”

  She contemplated this rhetorical question while simultaneously wondering why the conversation in the bathroom was taking so long. Did Mike have someone waiting for him back in Vegas?

  Oh, boy, that was a poisonous thought. It didn’t matter if he did. She didn’t want to fall in love with Mike. She knew that would be a fatal mistake.

  The doorbell rang just as reality blasted through her.

  “It’s gotten busy in here all of a sudden,” she said to Tigger. She picked up the cat and placed her on the carpet. Then she padded out to the front door and looked through the peephole.

  Wilma Riley stood on Mike’s stoop wearing a lavender, one-of-a-kind, go-to-church dress that she’d probably designed herself. Charlene decided it would be a good thing to hide from Wilma, but then Wilma hollered loud enough for everyone in the Edisto Pines Apartments to hear.

  “Don’t pretend you’re not in there in Mike’s apartment, Charlene. I know good and well that you are. I saw Mike carry you off last night, and since I have your keys, I’m thinking you probably want to talk to me.”

  Charlene jerked open the door. Wilma stood there with a disgusted look on her face as she took in the oversized T-shirt, baggy sweats, and messy hair.

  Wilma rolled her eyes heavenward. “When will they learn?” She shook her head. “I’ve got your purse and your keys and your wallet and your shoes. I looked all over for your common sense but couldn’t find it.” She held up the items.

  Charlene blushed. “Sorry, Wilma.”

  “Don’t apologize to me. I’m happy to help.”

  They stood there for an awkward moment. “You know, hon, he’s not the staying kind,” Wilma said in a much kinder tone of voice.

  “I know.”

  “Okay, just so you’re clear on that.”

  “I am.”

  “All right, guess I’ll leave. And if you decide you need someone for a pity party in which we verbally emasculate the entire male species, you know where to find me.”

  “Thanks, Wilma, I appreciate it.”

  “It’s nothing. But next time, hon, you might want to go easy on the mantinis.”

  And with that, Wilma turned and headed down the stairs.

  Charlene closed the door just as Mike, wearing his PJ bottoms, came out of the bedroom. “Sorry about that. It was business.”

  “I figured.” She held up her purse and evening shoes. “My keys have been returned. So I’m thinking maybe it might be better all the way around if I just scooted home now.”

  He frowned. “You don’t have to go.”

  “I know. And truly, I had a great time this morning. But we both know this was just a little fun between the sheets. And I don’t think I should be here when Rainbow gets back.”

  Charlene slipped out the front door before Mike could react. And when the door slammed in his face, he had a moment of self-doubt.

  She left him? She left him?

  Wow.

  His pride wanted him to go right over to her place and drag her back. He briefly envisioned something like throwing her over his shoulder the way he did with Rainbow when she misbehaved.

  But the other part of him—the careful part—was happy to let her go. She had called it correctly. The events of the morning had been triggered by lust.

  But still, he couldn’t believe that Charlene, adorable girl-next-door, was completely unfazed by buddy sex. Somehow that didn’t fit his notions of her.

  Still, she’d made it easy for him to walk away.

  And given the news he’d just gotten, letting her go would be wise all the way around.

  Dragon Casinos had finally offered a short-term sponsorship deal. They wanted Mike to wear their logo during the upcoming World Series of Poker, and they were willing to pay him a bundle to do it. And if he made it into the top ten money winners, they promised him a long-term contract.

  Paul had been justifiably proud and happy about the work he’d put into schmoozing these guys, especially since Mike had been out of pocket for the last couple of weeks. The Taiwanese owners of Dragon Casinos were giving him twenty-four hours to accept the deal. And if he accepted, he needed to be back in Vegas by Thursday, at the latest, to meet with the principals and sign the contract.

  He’d be a fool not to take this deal.

  But for some stupid reason, he’d told Paul he needed a little time to think about it. Paul’s reaction had been priceless. He’d spent five minutes yelling at Mike and accusing him of getting all mushy over a kid.

  Paul had it hal
fway right. Mike had gotten mushy over Rainbow. But if it were just Rainbow, he’d be okay leaving her with Timmy. No, Rainbow didn’t have him second-guessing his life. But Rainbow and Charlene together sure did.

  Angel sat in the back booth at the Kountry Kitchen nursing a cup of coffee, a hangover, and a broken heart.

  He should not have chased after Dave last night. Savannah might have told him to go for it, but he should have known better. A man like Dave, who was not ready to come out or even accept himself, could not be bullied or chased or seduced into it. Chasing him like some crazy person was not the right approach.

  Angel looked down at the worn Formica tabletop, tracing the geometric designs with his fingertip while he counted up all the stupid mistakes he had made last night.

  Starting with drinking too many mantinis. Not to mention driving after consuming that much alcohol. He had behaved in a shameless, dangerous manner. He was ashamed of himself.

  He vowed that no matter how bad the situation got at the animal shelter, he was never, ever going to suggest a bachelor auction again. AARC had raised a lot of money last night, but people had behaved badly. He was not alone, but that did not make him feel any better.

  “I thought I might find you here.”

  Angel looked up in astonishment. Dave Underhill stood beside the booth with his fingers jammed into the pockets of his jeans. His dark hair curled over his forehead. He was so handsome.

  “I should apol—”

  “No.” Dave sat down in the facing booth. “I should apologize for yelling at you.”

  “You want some coffee, handsome?” Flo called from the counter.

  Dave looked up and gave her one of his to-die-for smiles. “Uh, no thanks.”

  “So where’s Charlene taking you to dinner?” Flo asked.

  “Don’t know yet. I guess it’s up to her.”

  Flo winked and hurried off to refill empty cups at the other end of the dining room.