“I understand if you don’t want to. But I had to ask.” He started to stand, his expression one of disappointment. Or hurt.
She could understand that. She’d been wounded soul-deep whenever she thought someone had slighted Lily. Quickly, she caught his arm, keeping him there on the porch.
“Of course I can, Aaron. It’ll make my scheduling a little iffy the first day—getting two of us ready to get there on time when I haven’t been going anywhere that early in the day—but if the two of you don’t mind—“ She shrugged. “I’d be glad of the company.”
He smiled, and all her warning mechanisms failed in the onslaught of his heat and light. Impulsively, he leaned across and pulled her forward, hugging her.
“You saved my life and my sanity!” he murmured, and she laughed.
“Keeping a sweet little girl for a couple of days? Sort of sounds like an exaggeration, but you’re welcome.” For the briefest of moments she lingered in his embrace, then gently scooted back and stood up.
“Chloe might have redecorated the kitchen by now. Can we go in yet?”
He stood, still smiling, but not quite as broadly. Worry seeped back into his expression. She could see it in the fading smile, the slight tightening of lips.
She understood that, too, though. She’d left Lily with Brian once, when she’d gotten to go to an out-of-state training in Philadelphia. Lily should have been safe with her own father. Still, she’d worried. And her worries had proved unfounded, as far as Lily’s physical safety. The child had been fine. Only Luz’s life had fallen apart not long after.
“If you’re not sure—” They said it together, gaped at each other, and cracked up like kids.
“Grown-ups!” Chloe chided behind them. “Come in. You’re ruining the surprise.”
Aaron shrugged. “We’ve been ordered in by Grumpy Troll.”
Chloe stuck a tongue out. “Don’t call me that! I hate grumpy trolls!” Then she grabbed Luz’s hand and tugged, excited again. “Hurry, Luz! It’s just for you!”
She practically dragged Luz into the kitchen and waved at the table. Mounds of whipped cream and fresh strawberries buried a sliced pound cake, arranged artistically enough to appear in any cooking magazine. She’d even brought a couple of mint leaves along, and garnished the top with a few sprigs.
“Wow!” Luz reached out and hugged her. “Incredible, Chloe! I can’t believe you did all this yourself.”
“Well, Dad bought the stuff,” Chloe admitted, then plopped into the nearest chair. “Let’s hurry and eat so we can bring the stuff in!”
“Stuff?” Luz looked at Chloe, then glared at Aaron. “Stuff, as in—” She stopped short of accusing Aaron of assuming she’d be available. Chloe wasn’t to blame for having a father who apparently expected everything and everyone to simply fall in place with a smile—or a hug. She flushed, anger curling slowly through her. She’d relished the hug, not as a reward for babysitting a girl she was fond of anyway, but as a brief, intimate moment between them. Had that been as calculated as bringing his daughter’s clothes with him?
Chloe dug into her own dessert, and Luz reluctantly began eating her own mound of fruit and cake, reminding herself over and over that Aaron, not Chloe, was the villain here.
Something of her agitation must have puffed out between the bites of whipped topping, though, because Aaron straightened in his chair and looked at her, clearly puzzled, and Chloe wolfed down her own food and pushed her chair back with a clatter.
“Dad, can I go get the stuff?” she asked, her impatience transparent. “You all aren’t ever going to finish!”
He considered that for a second, and then fished his keys from his pocket. “Be careful on the stairs, and shut the doors in and out.” He clicked the lock to open the doors, and Chloe bolted from the kitchen.
He wouldn’t have shocked her as much if he’d reached out and hit her. He’d sent Chloe out alone? To carry in who knew how many suitcases? She shoved her own chair back, but was dumbstruck to hear Chloe’s feet clattering back up the porch steps and into the living room.
“You look—shocked by something,” Aaron muttered. “What in the name of—”
Chloe popped into the room, beaming. Carrying a large, but not huge, box full of model horses and ponies.
“Neat, huh?” she asked, arranging them around and between the plates of dessert. “I’ve named them all, too.” She sniffed. “You can’t even think of a name for one little kitten!”
“Chloe, that sounds pretty rude.”
She shrugged. “I’m just saying.” Then she grinned at Luz. “Sorry. You’ll think of a good name sometime.”
Luz picked up one of the models and examined it, but Aaron continued watching her, frowning. Suddenly his eyebrows shot up and he pointed at her. “I know what pis—what set you off!”
Luz glared at him, but he continued anyway.
“You thought she went to get clothes! You assumed I had assumed—”
“Dad, I’m going to need clothes—”
“Chloe, Luz and I are talking—”
“No, you’re all mad and so is she!” Chloe’s cheer evaporated, replaced by the hard expression she’d worn so often when she first started riding.
“Chloe—”
She turned on her father in a fury, her face red with emotion. “You ruin everything! You started fighting with Mom and now that I have Luz, you’re fighting with her, too! I don’t want Luz gone—” She stopped, choking on anger and pain, and hurled one of the horses against the wall. “Stupid horse!” Then she fled the room, her footsteps pounding across the porch.
Aaron lurched to his feet, and Luz, too, jumped up. He headed after his daughter, but Luz looked out the kitchen window, and as she expected, saw Chloe heading toward the barn. Ann’s truck had been moved from the construction site to the barn, so she and Ram were probably taking a break or visiting the animals.
She punched Ann’s number.
“Hey, what did y’all do to Chloe?” Ann’s voice asked immediately.
“Long story. Can you watch her? Her father and I need to have a discussion.”
“Um, sure. I don’t know how you talk to a crying kid.”
“Practice.” Luz ended the call and headed out the back door, heading Aaron off as her rounded the corner of the house.
“Chloe—”
“Is with Ann. She’s fine.”
“But—”
“Aaron, I don’t mind keeping Chloe while you’re gone. But we need to talk first.”
For a minute, she thought he’d refuse, that he’d just barrel past her and race on to the barn.
Then he drew a deep breath and nodded. “We can take a few minutes.” He headed back, slanting a sideways glance at Luz. “So how on earth did you cut me off like that?”
She snorted. “I outrun horses regularly when they don’t want to go where they should. No city boy’s beating me!”
They went in through the kitchen door, and Luz went over to fish water bottles out of the refrigerator.
Aaron took his without comment, and setting it aside, watched Luz drain hers.
“At least I wore you out,” he murmured.
“Please! Walking out of the kitchen? Don’t forget I spent the morning helping Ann and the gang move lumber and dig post holes!”
“I can’t leave Chloe with Ann too long,” Aaron said, after a moment, finally opening his bottle and drinking. Then he recapped the bottle and pushed it away with a sigh.
“First graders—children—throw tantrums sometimes,” Luz pointed out gently. “And really, we weren’t even arguing—were we?”
He shrugged, then pushed himself up from the table and paced around the small kitchen, stopping to look out the window.
Finally, he turned around. “It’s hard, Luz. I don’t want to baby her too much—to cripple her. The counselor we saw in Alabaster said we couldn’t dwell on the past, but that I needed to know she wouldn’t just magically put everything behind her, either.”
She stood and moved closer, wishing she could wipe Chloe’s pain away—and his. “Aaron, no marriage is perfect. People disagree. But—”
He closed the distance between them and hugged her gently. “Thanks, Luz. You’re a good friend.”
The heat of his body pressed against her burned, but he was already loosening his hold, moving back. Putting distance between them. She bit back a sigh. Patience. She’d been alone since her divorce. He’d lost his wife less than two years ago. Maybe when he came back…
“I should go,” he said. “Thanks for everything. I’ll pack clothes for Chloe—and Luz, I want to leave emergency money—”
“Aaron, I’m not a babysitter. There’s not going to be an emergency. And if you think you can’t trust me to take care of Chloe, then we need to make other plans.”
“But—it’s just—I’d do it no matter who I left her with.”
Luz shook her head firmly. “No. Keep your money. Have a safe trip. Now, let’s go get your daughter.”
“Luz, there’s something I want you to know.”
“What?”
“When I get back home, I have to call Esme. She needs to know. Maybe she’ll want to see Chloe tomorrow.”
The words bit into her, but she masked her annoyance carefully. “Over a temper tantrum? A misunderstood reaction to our conversation? Aaron—”
“Chloe has to come first, Luz.” He sighed. “I just wanted you to understand why I was calling Esmeralda.”
She stiffened, and brushed her hair away from her face. “You don’t have to tell me anything about Esmeralda or anyone else, Aaron. I thought I told you before—you’re not worth fighting for. No man is.”
She walked to the back door, and paused to look back at him. “I’m going to see if Ann needs anything. If Esmeralda lets you bring Chloe, please have her here at a reasonable time.” She went out and closed the door behind her, wishing the fury bubbling through her could take away the frustration of losing again. Because she had no doubt that sooner or later, the sexiest woman in Rose Creek would get her man.
Chapter Fourteen
She hadn’t lost it. Luz discreetly slipped her heels off and wiggled her feet, massaging one with the other before sliding her shoes back on. Then she finished the water on her desk and glanced at the clock on the far side of the room. The kids would be coming back from P. E. in a few minutes, and then she’d send them on home.
They’d been a bright group, quick with answers and reasonably well behaved. She’d fed off their energy, chuckled inwardly at how predictable some of the behaviors were—the tattling, the feuds over small things, and the perpetual attempts to get away with minor infractions.
She’d been careful not to favor Chloe over the others, and Chloe, obviously well schooled by her father, never once called her by her first name instead of Ms. Wilkinson.
Esmeralda had come by, professional and courteous, and called Chloe out for a few minutes, and Luz hated the pinprick of resentment that wouldn’t go away. She wasn’t Chloe’s mother. She tried to credit Aaron’s reasoning, tried to believe that if her daughter had gone through what Chloe had, she’d overreact sometimes, too. She just couldn’t make herself believe that Aaron needed to call Esmeralda over a temper tantrum.
“Luz, dear,” the principal said from the door. “I know your students are almost back, but you have a visitor.”
Mrs. Carter’s voice vibrated with excitement or pleasure; Luz really didn’t know the woman well. She pushed her feet into her shoes a little more firmly and stood, all color draining from her face as Brian stepped into the room.
“Brian! What the hell are you doing here?”
Mrs. Carter’s face blanched. “You weren’t expecting him? I thought…”
“He’s my ex-husband, Mrs. Carter!”
“Yes, but he said you all might be getting back together. Oh, dear, I am so sorry!” Voices outside grew louder—the first graders coming back from the gym.
“You leave at once!” the principal spat at Brian. “I should have you escorted out by the security guard. Lying to get into a school—”
“Luz—”
She ignored him, stepping out into the hall. “Come on in, Miranda,” she greeted the first child in line. “How was P. E., everyone?”
“Let’s go, Mr. Chambers,” Mrs. Carter repeated. “Right now.”
Luz focused on the students, but after a minute, she heard footsteps leaving.
Thank God!
“Was that your husband?” one of the girls asked, and several of the students giggled, but most seemed to assume that it was.
“No, just some man I used to know.”
“Oh, a friend.”
“A friend came to see you—”
“Take your homework folders and sit down, please.” She passed out the folders, recognizing most of the names, not answering any further questions.
Chloe took her folder without comment and went to sit down, quiet and unhappy. Luz wondered if she missed her dad already. He’d always traveled, though, apparently, so that seemed unlikely. Maybe she was just tired after the chaotic weekend they’d spent with sleepovers and disappearing dogs…and wrestling matches. Heck, she missed Aaron already herself.
• • •
Aaron leaned back into the softness of the couch and stretched an arm out along the back, looking at the remote lying on the coffee table in front of him. He thought about turning on the television, but decided not to. Instead, he’d grab a couple of hours of sleep, eat, and head back to Texas. Back home.
Maybe now that the Alabaster chapter seemed over, he’d be able to have a home again, to make a home for Chloe. The detective he’d spoken to most often had said their questions were all answered. No one thought now that he must have known that his wife not only cheated, but that she was the main player in a sex club. The ugliness haunted him. She’d been killed by a man who’d become infatuated with her, who decided he would no longer share her with anyone—not even the fool of a husband who didn’t know he existed. The detective had shaken his hand and thanked him for all his cooperation. Then, with mild embarrassment, the man told him how sorry he was that the story turned so sordid, that the media found the story of Stella the dominatrix more engrossing than the story of the hero wife shot dead protecting school children.
Aaron was so tired. He glanced at his watch. He’d drink one glass of Scotch, nap, and then get up and go home. Chloe would love him coming home sooner than expected. He got up and poured a drink, then walked over to look out the window. Would Luz be as happy as his daughter to see him?
His phone rang, and he pulled it out and glanced at the screen. Esmeralda Salinas. His chest tightened, and he sat the drink down on the windowsill with a shaking hand as he accepted the call.
“Esmeralda, what’s wrong? Is Chloe?”
“Calm down,” the counselor said crisply into the phone. “I just wanted to let you know I did speak to her at school.”
“How was she?”
“Fine. A little upset, but nothing major.”
Relief surged through him, although he wondered why she’d called him to tell him that Chloe was fine. Maybe Luz had been right and he shouldn’t have mentioned the incident at all.
“You know Luz is subbing, right?” She held a slight pause, not for an answer, but to build suspense. “I have to say, I was a little surprised about Mrs. Carter being okay with that.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Well, you know, after she was charged with negligence in Atlanta and all. A lot of schools wouldn’t hire her, I imagine.”
“What?”
“You didn’t know? Aaron, I assumed she would have mentioned—after all, that’s why she’s not teaching.”
He couldn’t think, couldn’t get the questions out, so he just waited, afraid what he would find out abou
t Luz next.
She continued after a moment. “Of course, they did clear her—well, her husband was very well-connected. Still, I have to admit they cleared her, so I guess Mrs. Carter went with that.”
Again, silence, and then the knockout punch.
“It was just so strange. The little girl who almost died was her husband’s. Apparently, Luz didn’t want to give up the little girl when she found out her husband was cheating on her again. And then for the little girl to be drugged in class…well, I guess the kids at school are safe. She’s not involved with anyone, there, right? But can you believe—her ex husband dropped by the school today. Just out of nowhere. No one at school could quit talking about why he’d suddenly just show up there.”
He slumped against the wall, anger and fear pounding through him, making him unable to support himself for a minute. Again. Luz had a hidden life, full of secrets and lies, and he’d turned Chloe over to her to keep.
She’d never told him about being charged with hurting a child, never told him her teaching career had ended with a criminal investigation instead of a parent’s illness. Stella hadn’t told him about her damned bondage games, either. Not the same secrets, but the same exact betrayal.
He picked his drink up and gulped it down. Then he stuffed his cell phone into his pocket and decided he’d stuff everything in his suitcase and leave immediately. Go home and pick up Chloe, and to hell with Luz. And Esmeralda. Even Rose Creek.
Then he stopped and made himself take a breath. He pulled his phone out again. Esmeralda said reluctantly that Luz had been cleared. He could check on that with a few clicks on his tablet.
He glanced at the time. School was almost out for the day. He couldn’t wait. His first priority was Chloe—she couldn’t go home with Luz. Not until he checked into Esmeralda’s information. And anyway, if Luz’s ex-husband were there, would he have his daughter with him? Aaron needed to think, but couldn’t. With clumsy fingers he dialed the school’s number and asked to speak to the principal.
Mrs. Carter came on the line, calm and pleasant as always, and he asked her to send Chloe home with the counselor, assuring her that everything was fine, but that a personal problem made the switch necessary. She seemed hesitant, but said that she’d let both women know.
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