She seemed to regret that admission, pursing her lips. But Brett had already figured she came from money, even if she didn’t have any now. But to be fair, he didn’t relish telling Mandy that Tess had earned the money for the dollhouse herself. So they both had their secrets.
“Want to stay? We’re reading a very good book,” Tess said temptingly.
“Well…” She glanced at Brett, as if seeking his permission to intrude.
“C’mon,” he invited her. “The frog’s just gotten stuck under the lily pad.”
Tess’s eyes danced under black silken bangs. “And Daddy’s going to read him out of there.”
“Sounds very intriguing.” She sat on the edge of the bed, beside Tess, easing her crutches to the floor.
“Get the uniforms ordered, Mandy?” he asked.
“Two. They’ll be here by Friday.”
“The newer style?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent.”
Mandy eyed him expectantly. “Wonder if Charlotte will be able to handle the new look?”
“Jack and I vowed that we’re finished with the old polyester tents. You, uh, just happen to be the first person to need a uniform.” Sensing she was about to protest the unlikelihood of the claim, he began to read about the frog.
By story’s end, the frog was atop a lily pad and Tess was snoozing between the adults. Carefully, Brett eased off the bed and rounded the footboard to grab the crutches from the floor and help Mandy to her feet. Quietly they made an exit.
Closing Tess’s door behind them, Brett took Mandy’s arm. “That was nice.”
Her eyes glimmered with mischief. “We’re not finished. I’m on a bedroom tour and yours is next.”
He thought about the other boarders who took too much pleasure in minding his business. How they’d involve themselves if they suspected he and Mandy were getting serious. Still, it couldn’t hurt to give her a quick peck.
He led her to his door to find it was locked. “Della does that whenever my medical bag is in here,” he murmured with some disgust. “She’s afraid somebody’s going to come looking for drugs one day.” He fished into his pants’ pockets for his key ring, all the while gazing down at Mandy leaning against the door frame. She stretched to give him a kiss.
“Want me to check your pockets for you?”
“And run of the risk of forgetting all about my keys? No way.”
They shared a soft chuckle, only to be interrupted by the sound of footsteps. It was Beatrice, presumably on her way from the bathroom, dressed in a robe, carrying a toiletry caddy.
“Glad to see you’re back safe, Mandy,” she said with a curious smile. “Not that the town isn’t entirely safe. I mean, what with your crutches and all, you might have fallen. So what did you make of Ivy’s place?”
“Very nice—”
“Her landlord is such a nut, taking pictures whenever he likes. I think a person should have the right to say no to a shutterbug. Don’t you?”
“Oliver was a bit much—”
“And how is that book coming along? Most exciting.”
“I’ve been too busy so far to make any progress.”
Beatrice beamed understandingly. “There’s always hope for tomorrow.”
“And we’ll see you tomorrow, Beatrice,” Brett intoned.
The librarian finally moved on, disappearing through her own door. Brett swiftly slid home his key and they pushed inside.
He flicked on the wall switch. The bedroom was neat and masculine, done in tans and browns. Bookshelves crammed with medical journals lined one wall, a desk with computer dominated another. His bed, king-size with a carved wooden headboard, took up most of the space.
He watched Mandy tour the room, pause to admire the burl headboard.
“I think I’ll sit on the bed. Take the weight off my poor ailing leg.” The crutches hit the floor as she hit the mattress.
“You aren’t really ailing.” He scooped up her crutches, leaned them against his dresser and sat on the bed beside her.
“Hey. A little more bedside manner, please.”
His eyes narrowed. “It could have been much worse, a major fracture that would have kept you in a cast for months.”
“In any case, it’s all your fault, parading around in low slung jeans and no shirt.” Even as she spoke, she was unbuttoning his shirt. “Gives a girl ideas she can’t easily erase.”
“Now, Mandy, I thought you only wanted a tour.”
“I lied.” Kneeling on the mattress she pushed him flat on his back.
Brett closed his eyes, aware of her hands pushing aside his shirt, skimming his hair-dusted chest. His pulse pounded in his ears as he tracked her tongue flicking his nipples, her fingers loosening his pants.
The rest happened too fast for rational thought. He began reaching inside her clothes, touching her satin skin. They rolled and tussled, explored intimate places.
“You have any condoms?” she asked.
He did. In the bottom drawer of his dresser under some old shirts. He bolted up to get one. Easing back on the bed he gave a shudder as she sheathed him. Then gave another shudder as she hooked her hips over his and took him inside her. Locking onto his mouth she began to rock him with feverish intensity.
Their climax was a quick explosion.
“I just couldn’t wait anymore,” she confessed softly, rolling off him.
He raised up on an elbow, touched her damp brow. “I meant to plan our first time a little better than that.”
She smiled coyly. “But it was fun.”
“Yeah.” He curved an arm around her and fell back on the pillows. “Let’s just rest here a minute. I want to hold you…”
“DOC? DOC! You in there?”
Brett’s eyes popped open. “Yes, Della?”
“Didn’t you hear your phone ring?”
He hadn’t. But it was obvious why. He kept the ringer on low so it wouldn’t startle him too much in the middle of the night. And on this particular night, Mandy was curled up on the phone side of the bed, snoring softly, even now. Apparently, it took a lot to wake her up.
“What is it, Della?” The query proved enough to wake his beauty. He put a gentle hand over her mouth just long enough to whisper, “Please keep quiet.”
Accepting her nod of sleepy bewilderment, he jumped to his feet, zipped up his pants and moved to the door to open it a crack.
“You sleeping already?”
He raked a hand through his hair. “Just dozed off, I guess. Anything the matter?”
“Jeremy Tyson just phoned. Seems Kiley believes she’s in labor.”
“Again?” He rubbed his eyes.
“It’s likely to be false, of course. Should I put them on to Rochelle?”
“No, Kiley’s just a frightened child herself and Rochelle doesn’t have the patience. I’ll take a run over there.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
“You happen to have their address? All those units in their complex look alike, especially after dark.”
“There’s a red car in the drive and the white lawn furniture I gave them. Oh, and the porch light will be on.”
“Guess that will have to do,” he said rather reluctantly.
“By the way, have you seen Mandy?”
“Why?”
“Well, I thought I heard her crutches on the stairs a while back, so I heated up an extra cup of cocoa—”
“Ah, the old, ‘here’s a cup of cocoa, now tell me all the town scoop you heard today’ trick.”
Della laughed. “Very funny. I’m only trying to make her feel welcome. And it was my custom to bring Emmaline a cup to that room most every night. I miss the company.”
“Mandy is back.” He saw no recourse but to admit it. “Looked in on us while I read to Tess.”
“But I knocked on her door and got no answer.”
He gave her a gentle nudge away from the doorway. “Della, I really must get dressed, go see about Kiley.”
Della put a ha
nd to her heart. “Oh! Yes. Pardon me.”
“Try the porch swing for Mandy. She likes the night air.” Making sure Della took the stairs, Brett slipped back into his bedroom. Mandy was reclining, just as he’d left her. “C’mon! C’mon! You’ve got to get back to your room before Della returns—before anybody sees you.”
“What is your problem, Brett?”
“This is just the sort of juicy situation that would get tongues wagging.”
“No one could know anything for sure.”
“Della, for one, knows I was in bed. I look…rumpled.”
“Is there real harm in admitting I rumpled you?”
He stared at her in disbelief. “How crazy is this? Acting like a couple of horny kids on spring break!”
“Is it so outrageous for them to see you fall for someone?”
“Someone I hardly know, yes! This town is full of available women who bring me flowers and food, who complain that in two years time they can’t get past first base with me. Now suddenly I go nuts for a kook in gold shoes and tight pants who hits a car while clocking my assets. This scenario couldn’t be crazier from the Fairlane point of view.”
“We’ve done nothing wrong. I haven’t even lured you near wrong yet.”
“Still, they’d gleefully hash it to bits. Doc and the new stranger, whooping it up.” He grabbed her crutches and handed them to her one by one as she struggled off the bed.
“You care too much what they think. You’re a good doctor and they all know it.”
He was flabbergasted. “You still don’t see it do you? It’s Tess I’m looking out for. She’ll hear the whispers about us. Demand to know why I had the new lady in my bedroom at night with the door closed. If you don’t mind, I’d rather keep her world uncomplicated as long as possible.”
Her eyes went dewy. “Are you the best father in the world or what?”
He was startled by the turnabout and fumbled for words. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me in a long time.” He gave her a quick kiss and left.
Chapter Nine
By week’s end Amanda had decided that Brett had miraculous powers far beyond medical science. With his own special sweet talk, he’d convinced her to stick with file-room duty until she was back on both feet again and in full uniform.
She got her first taste of freedom on Friday. About eleven, the UPS man delivered her uniforms. Then about twelve-thirty, Brett ushered her to an examination room and ceremoniously removed her Ace bandage. Leaning back on the table, she stretched her mended leg in the air and rotated her foot.
“That feels like heaven.”
“Why not take a test drive?” Brett grasped her ribcage and eased her to her feet. “Put weight on it slowly. Take a few cautious steps.”
She stood on her own power, then moved forward with one bare foot and a shod one. “You know, I don’t have my other shoe along. Thought you were planning to remove the bandage tomorrow—at the house.”
“I was. Originally. As it is, we can dig up something for you to wear home. A pair of shoes belonging to someone else on staff.”
“Hope you know I’m now officially done with the file room.”
“Thanks for being a sport about it all week.”
“I mean, I’ve got my footing and my uniform. I’m not even finishing out the afternoon in there.”
“Look, that’s okay.”
“It is? Who’s going to tell Charlotte?”
“Jack and I are going to speak to her this afternoon about your move up front.”
“Whew. Wouldn’t mind being miles off for that.”
He grinned. “You could be blocks off.”
“What is all this about, Doc?”
“I have a favor to ask.” He paused, looking a trifle shy. “You don’t have to do it.”
“What!”
“Della phoned to say she’s got a leaky kitchen pipe. She was supposed to take Tess to the dentist at two and it’s left us in a jam.”
“Which problem am I more qualified to solve?”
“Della would be thrilled to discover you could manage the plumbing. But we’re hoping you can spring Tess out of school early and drive her over to the dental office.”
Amanda was struck speechless by the very idea. He was trying to entrust his precious child to her. A month ago she wouldn’t have appreciated or even understood the gravity of the act. But she was growing in perspective due to his influence.
With an uncertain look, Brett went on. “I could ask someone else, but Tess likes you so much, longs to know you better. And you could use the fresh air and exercise. Seems like a good match on such a nice autumn afternoon.”
She struggled to find her voice. “If you want my help, sure.”
“You can even borrow my Corvette if you like.”
“Wow! This just keeps getting better and better.”
“Know how to drive a stick?”
She smiled playfully, touched his chin. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
Brett caught her hand and nipped her fingertips. A hard, short rap on the door, however, put a quick stop to it.
Rochelle entered. “Oh! I didn’t realize you were in here, Mandy. Foot better?”
“I haven’t felt this good in a long while.”
Rochelle dismissed her and focused on Brett. “About that call I took from Della.”
“All fixed. Mandy is going to pick up Tess at the school.”
“Oh!” Rochelle was shaken. “But usually I am the one to fill in.”
As if in appeasement, Brett dipped his head to hers. “I want you here. Jack and I intend to have The Chat with Charlotte and need you to watch the counter.”
“I see.” The redhead nodded slowly and soberly, as if in consultation on the fate of a burn victim.
“Surely you’d like to see that archaic uniform policy change for your own benefit,” Amanda said, joining in.
Rochelle eyed her coolly. “You’re a little new to worry about our policies.” With that, she whirled out the door, shutting it behind her with a smack.
Amanda made a face at the door. “You know, Brett, it would serve her right if you kept her in polyester.”
He laughed out loud.
THE MOMENT AMANDA made eye contact with Tess from the doorway of the kindergarten room, the child snapped into action. She abandoned her puzzle project and scooted up to Ivy’s desk. Digging into the pocket of her purple bib overalls, she produced a small, folded sheet of paper. “I forgot to give you this.”
Ivy took it with a puzzled look. “What is it?”
Tess puffed up her little chest. “A note from Daddy.”
With a raised brow, Ivy opened the paper. “The dentist, eh?”
Tess nodded.
Amanda entered the room. “Della can’t make it. Has a leaky pipe. So Brett sent me over in his shiny red Vette.”
Suddenly Tess’s blue eyes grew huge. “Hey, Mandy, where’s your crutches?”
She beamed. “I’m cured.”
“That’ll be the day,” Ivy mumbled. She instructed Tess to collect her backpack and to put the puzzle back in place on the shelf. Then she ushered her old pal out the door.
“Aren’t these shoes hideous?” Amanda complained, lifting one white Oxford in the air. “Rochelle lent them to me in a deliberate attempt to make me look like a frump.”
Ignoring her friend’s playfulness, Ivy glanced up and down the quiet corridor to make sure all classroom doors were closed. “He’s actually trusting you with his kid now?” she quietly vented.
Amanda wiggled her artistically shaped brows. “He seemed most concerned that I know how to handle a stick. Zoom, zoom, zoom.”
“Very funny.”
“I am teasing, of course. Tess is his world. And I am very flattered that he has so much faith in me.”
Ivy sighed. “It’s plain to everyone that the child adores you, too.”
“Strange, I’ve never found kids very appealing as a group. All that yelling and running. But I do l
ike Tess. The secret must be that they’re more attractive singly, versus in a pack.”
Ivy groaned with exasperation. “Hon, kids in general are a huge responsibility. A child like Tess, with above-average intelligence and nerve, is especially high maintenance.”
“She reminds me of myself, you know, full of spunk and verve. I can’t help but wonder how I would have turned out if I’d had an attentive father like Brett and a house full of loving boarders supporting me.”
Ivy pressed her lips together briefly as if stifling her temper. “I was so hoping this wouldn’t turn into a little family threesome deal so fast.”
“What do you mean?”
Ivy poked her friend’s chest. “All three of you know how tough it is to suffer the loss of a woman, you with your mother, Brett and Tess with Brett’s wife Sarita. For Brett’s part, it has to be at least part of the reason he is being so cautious about getting involved again.”
“What’s your point?”
“Brett is allowing you to become attached to his child. He is expecting you to take the responsibility seriously.”
“I can get her to the appointment on time, if that’s what you mean.”
“That’s only part of it.”
“I’m not going to hurt them, Ivy. If that’s what you really mean.”
“That is the gist of it.” Ivy gazed back through the window in her classroom door. “I wish I had more time to explain further. But I don’t. Children are wrestling. And other things. I gotta go.”
Tess charged out then, with her backpack strapped onto her back like a rocket. “Oh, wow, are we gonna have fun or what!”
“Responsible fun,” Amanda replied, grasping the child’s hand. “If there is such a thing.”
IT WAS NEARLY SEVEN o’clock before Brett spotted his sleek Corvette pulling into the Scherers’ driveway. Relief and irritation swelled inside him in equal amounts as he shot up from the porch swing.
Mandy and Tess exited the car with giggles, carrying sacks. Together they crossed the grass to the front walk. Mandy wore tight slacks and a blouse he’d never seen before, sunglasses perched on her nose and a floppy hat on her head. She was swinging a fabric purse. Now that she could walk on her own, she was making a show of it with a most provocative sway. Tess, dressed in much the same manner right down to the specs, was imitating her walk.
Flirting With Trouble Page 11