by Maddie James
“Yeah, Sam. Right. I understand.”
“Good. Then get upstairs and get ready for bed.”
J.J. crossed his arms again and shifted his weight to the other hip. “Sure Sam. You're the boss. Anything you say.”
Sam eyed him. “Then get going.”
“Sure.”
Sam heaved a deep breath, trying to expel some of the anger he'd allowed to well up inside him. J.J. turned and Sam raked all ten ringers through his hair as he watched the boy round the table—except J.J. didn't head for the hall stairway as instructed, he headed for the back door. And in a flash, before Sam could react, he was gone.
* * * *
Sam's house had been quiet for the last hour but Lucki was still hesitant to leave her front porch. The fact that Sam and J.J. had argued made her a bit uneasy. She hadn't wanted the two of them to have words, she'd simply wanted Sam to acknowledge the fact that J.J. was getting out of hand. But when the younger brother had stormed out the house, Lucki literally felt Sam's anguish. She was troubled for him. And with the splat of the screen door, she knew nothing had been accomplished between the two of them. She was tempted to follow J.J., to give him a piece of her mind as well, but thought better of it. The child probably needed some down time. Some time to be alone to sort out what was going through his head. She'd at least grant him that.
He'd come back about forty-five minutes later, quietly easing through the front door. She'd heard no angry words from either brother, only saw lights periodically being turned on or shut off in the house as they'd readied for bed.
Now the house was dark and Lucki should be heading to bed herself, but something nagged at her insides, refusing to let go. She hurt for Sam and J.J. And she didn't know how to put things right between them. The shuffling feet along her sidewalk nearly startled her at first, then she recognized Sam's silhouette in the dim street light's glow. She watched his dejected form slink up the porch steps and slide into the seat beside her on the porch swing. It was dark, and she couldn't actually make out his expression, but as he stared straight ahead, she knew he was about at the end of his rope.
“Rough night?” she whispered.
Sam heaved in a huge sigh and reached over to grasp her hand in his. He closed his fingers over hers and thumbed her knuckles lightly as he propped both their hands on his thigh. Lucki had to stifle the shiver that wanted to burst up inside her at his touch, reminding herself that this was Sam. Her friend. Her neighbor. All he was after at the moment was comfort. And she shouldn't be feeling what she was feeling. Not for Sam.
She looked at him. “Are you okay?”
“I royally screwed that up,” he replied.
“He'll survive. The question is, will you?”
Sam looked at her then. “I'm not sure.”
At that moment, Lucki wanted to reach out and stroke the back of her fingers over his cheek, but she stopped herself. It was just that he looked so lost, so forlorn. She gulped and kept her hands where they were.
“Tell me what happened.”
Sam blew out a breath. “He lied to me, Lucki. He said he didn't do it.”
“Do you think that's possible?”
He shrugged. “You heard Lamar. What do you think?”
“I think it's probable that he lied.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“But you didn't make accusations, of course, did you?”
“What?” Sam released her hand and turned toward her on the swing. “Of course I accused him. What else would I do?”
Lucki pulled her hand back onto her lap. Her palm was hot where they'd touched. “Well, for starters, you could have asked for his side of the story.”
“Ah, hell, Lucki. He just would have made something up.”
“Maybe, but you might have gotten the real story out of his own mouth, rather than you putting him on the defensive by making accusations.”
Sam stared into her eyes. “I did that, didn't I?”
“It sounds like it.”
“Where did you get so smart?”
“Six years working with kids in the parks department and a minor in child development, that's where.”
“I should have listened to you all along.”
“That's not the problem here, Sam. You've got to deal with J.J. again. And it's going to have to be soon. You didn't actually get anything settled, did you?”
Sam gazed out over her front yard. “Sure I did. J.J.'s on probation, indefinitely. He doesn't sneeze without my permission. No Spud. No gun. No extra activities. And he has to get a part-time job to pay for the damages at Lamar's. I'll make sure that kid doesn't do squat without clearing it by me from now on.” He settled his gaze back on her face.
Lucki blew out a breath that lifted her bangs. “You didn't put it all to him like that, did you?”
Sam rose and peered down at her. “Hell, of course I did! The little juvenile delinquent has pulled his last stunt.”
Reaching out, Lucki grasped Sam's wrist and pulled him toward her, making him sit down again. She ignored the stirring she felt at the touch. “Sam, you're really an ass, you know that?”
“What?”
Lucki almost chuckled at the amused look on his face.
“You're a complete ass. No wonder J.J. stomped out of the house. You can't treat him like an equal one moment, giving him free rein for months, then pull the rug out from under him and act like a dictator the next! Talk about sending conflicting messages.”
Sam stared at her some more. She could see the uncertainty and even the hurt playing over his face.
“Where did I go wrong, Lucki?” he asked quietly. “I thought raising J.J. would be simple enough. I provide for all his needs. I'm there every evening but it just isn't enough, I guess. It's just that with opening up the clinic, every minute I have is devoted to something there. I never realized how much Freedom could benefit from medical services. It takes a lot of my time. The thing is, I know I should be there for him, it's just impossible to do so. What am I going to do?”
Lucki studied Sam's face. Her heart went out to him. “Sam, look. J.J.'s going through a bad time. He grew up without a father. You left when he was just a toddler. And his mother died only a year ago. It's been a big adjustment for him with you coming in here and playing the parenting role, just as I know it's been an adjustment for you. Being the small town doctor was never in your plans, I know that, but sometimes plans have to change.
“J.J.'s hurting, Sam. It's difficult for him to express his feelings. And the fact that he's going through adolescence isn't helping things either, you should know that. I'm not so sure that what you did tonight was all that wrong. Probably most parents would have handled it the same way. In fact, if your own parents were here, they probably would have gotten the same treatment you did from J.J. You haven't done a bad job, Sam. Really. Nobody ever said raising a child was a piece of cake. It's a hard job. Tonight, you just found out how hard it can sometimes be.”
Sam swallowed; his eyes played over her face as he contemplated her words. After a moment, he said, “I thought I was the smart one, here. The medical doctor. The guy who left small town Freedom to see the world and make something out of himself. Guess I was wrong. Somehow, during all the time I was gone, you went and got all smart on me.”
Lucki smiled. This time she reached out and took Sam's hand in hers. She wasn't prepared however, for the intense look that crossed his face. “I. .I've just had a little more experience with kids, Sam. That's all.” She released his hand and patted his thigh. A thought flashed through her head. “Come to think of it, that's not a bad idea.”
“What's not a bad idea?”
Lucki stood and walked to the porch railing, her hands deep in her jeans pocket. She refused to acknowledge that she put them there simply to keep from touching Sam. “I think I may have a solution to your problem. At least a start, anyway.”
“Yes?” Sam had stepped up beside her and they stood facing each other as they leaned against the railing. He wa
s close. Lucki backed up a step.
She hesitated, then blurted out her idea. “Let me take J.J. for the summer. He could go into Peabody with me every day, kind of act like my assistant. Then I could get him involved in some of the sports programs I've got going. We've got a dirt bowl basketball league for kids his age that meets during the day. Every Friday afternoon we have sand volleyball. And of course, he could sign up for baseball. It's already started, but I can get him on a team. He needs this, Sam. It will get him into shape and let him meet some new kids. And it will keep him occupied and out of your hair this summer while you're trying to work things out at the clinic. I think it's the perfect solution, what do you think?”
Sam stood before her shaking his head. “I see no reason for J.J. to ride thirty miles over and back to Peabody everyday with you. He'd be a nuisance before the first day was out. This is your job, Lucki. I don't want to put it in jeopardy.”
“Oh, pooh.” She waved a hand at him. “J.J. isn't going to do anything to put my job into jeopardy. Besides, keeping kids off the streets and active in something other than shoplifting, sneaking smokes, and littering the city with graffiti is my job. One more kid won't be a problem. Besides, I really can use the help. Please, Sam. Think about this. It might make a difference.”
Sam exhaled heavily, still keeping his gaze on Lucki's face. “I'd have to pay you something. I can't expect you to take him off my hands all summer, and you not get compensated.”
Lucki pushed at his chest with both hands, then wished she hadn't. “Don't insult me, Kirk. I'm not taking one red cent from you if we do this. I love J.J. like he was my own brother. I want to help.”
“Then there's got to be something else I can do for you, Lucki. What is it?”
Lucki watched Sam's eyes. At some point, he'd stepped closer again. It was difficult to read exactly what those eyes were saying. In reality, she didn't want to know.
A thought crossed her mind.
“Actually, Sam, there might be something you could do for me.”
“What is it?”
His voice was way too low and husky. Almost.. sexy. Lucki bit her lip. “I need a date.”
His eyes widened.
She hurriedly added, “You know me, Sam, I've gotten myself into a pickle. I kind of, sort of, told someone at work that I already had a partner for the Peabody Parks Department Fourth of July picnic. I told them that because this guy I work with is always coming on to me.”
Sam's eyebrows arched.
“Anyway, I need a date. I'm sure you've got a friend around somewhere you could fix me up with, don't you? Just one date. For one afternoon. Oh, and make sure he has a little bit of athletic ability because we're going to have to compete in all the two-man events. Can you do that for me Sam?”
By the time Lucki finished her little speech, she was completely out of breath. At least she guessed it was from her speech, Sam hadn't taken his eyes off her lips for the past two minutes. “Sam?”
“Uh, yeah, Lucki. Find you a date? Sure. Piece of cake.”
Lucki sighed and grinned. Sam frowned and walked back to his house.
Chapter Four
Find you a date? Someone to compete with in al the two-man events? Sure, Lucki, whatever you say. Sam grumbled and punched his pillow. Three hours earlier Lucki had said those exact words to him. I'm sure you've got a friend somewhere you could fix me up with.
Yeah, right. And I've got a castle in Kalamazoo that I'll make you a lovely deal on. He'd thought about it for the past three hours. Had mentally gone through the list of his single friends living here in Freedom. One or two who lived in Memphis. But every time he imagined Lucki and one of his friends together, participating in silly, adolescent games like hip-to-hip jello racing, he got all hot and queasy.
The mental pictures he conjured up literally made him. .agitated.
He didn't want Lucki with any of those guys.
Fred Malone was the first guy he'd considered. Fred, now the owner of the best service station in town and the only wrecker for miles, had made a pretty good life for himself. He'd known he'd wanted to take over his father's station since he was eight years old. Sam could still hear Fred boasting, all through high school, that women loved a good mechanic. “Service with a smile!” he'd say, bragging that he was the best “tool man” in town.
Sam crossed him off the list when he thought of Fred servicing Lucki. Then there was George Murphy. George had left for college the same time as Sam but came home after one year of academic probation and his pockets empty. Today, he owned the bakery down the street from Sam's clinic. Once, when Sam had stopped in early for some coffee, George had invited him back to watch him kneading the dough. “How do you know when it's ready?” Sam had asked. George just lifted his gaze and grinned. “You just know, Sammy. Just like you know when a woman is ready. She's all soft and pliable, smelling sweet and musky; feels like putty in your hands.”
On the remembrance of that conversation, Sam checked George off the list as well. And on it went.
Mike West, an electrical inspector, always bragged about being a boob man. He didn't want Mike inspecting Lucki's boobs.
Curtis Back claimed legs were his specialty. Said the longer they were, the tighter they wrapped around him. Lucki's legs were too damned long and too damned tight. No.
Earl Fletcher, a guy who moved into town right before Sam returned, played a little jazz trumpet at Shaky Jakes just out of town. Claimed the things he did with his lips could drive women wild. No!
Finally, he eliminated every single bachelor in town, minus Lamar Thompson. Him, he nearly considered. And then there was Reverend Halcomb. .
Lucki would kill him.
Each of his single fraternity brothers were checked off the list post haste. There were a couple of guys he knew in medical school, but they were married to their careers right now. There was no one.
No one he would trust with Lucki.
Save himself.
Why in the hell had Lucki put herself—and him—into this stupid predicament?
He didn't like the fact that Lucki had lied to her co-workers because some jackass was coming on to her. He didn't like that, not one bit. And the fact that she hadn't thought to ask him to take her to the Peabody Parks Department Fourth of July picnic sorely aggravated him.
Come on, Kirk. She was only asking you for a favor. It wasn't personal. But if she needed some help, why didn't she just come out and ask him to help her? To be her date? Was he not athletic enough? He tried to work out as often as he could. Even ran a couple miles a few times a week. Or was it just that she didn't consider him “date” material?
Hell, face it, Kirk. She still considers you the boy next door. Always had, always will. It's time you get thoughts of Lucki and her thigh-cut bathing suit out of your mind. She's your friend, pure and simple, and the mere fact that she hasn't asked you to take her to the picnic justifies that she thinks the same about you, old boy. You're her friend. End of story.
But you'l be safe with me. Don't you understand that, Lucki?
Or would she?
Sam rolled over taking the sheet and blanket with him. He'd never get to sleep. Thinking of spending the rest of his life as Lucki's “friend” was a hell of a note to try to get to sleep on, anyway.
* * * *
Sam had half listened for the phone all day. When he was out of the examination rooms, studying patients charts and what not, he'd lent half an ear to the conversations Kathleen was having at her desk. Not a single, one-sided conversation indicated that Lucki was having the least bit of problem with J.J. Funny, his little brother was finally safe and cared for, for once, so he could completely concentrate on the clinic, but he couldn't get his mind off what J.J. and Lucki were doing all day today. Actually, he couldn't get his mind off Lucki. Any day.
It was becoming an annoying, pleasant, aggravating habit.
But he would deal with that later. Now, he couldn't wait for them to get home, praying that J.J. had not wreake
d havoc with the Peabody Parks Department and Lucki Stevenson's job. The chime over the door sounded. Last patient gone. He glanced at his watch: ten minute until five o’clock. Lucki should be home any minute. If he hurried, he just might make it home about the same time they pulled into her drive.
He tossed a folder on Kathleen's desk. “Can you finish up here, Kathleen?”
Glancing up from her work, Kathleen simultaneously pushed her glasses further up on her nose. “Go home, Sam. I'll lock up on my way out.”
“Sure you don't mind?”
A sly grin broke her face. “I said get outta here. You've been pacing the floor all afternoon.”
Sam lifted one corner of his mouth into a crooked smile and shook his head. “I'm outta here.”
* * * *
Lucki glanced to her right. J.J. sat with his head leaning against the passenger door window. His arms were crossed and he was feigning sleep underneath his narrow, dark sunglasses; his ball cap was slung low over his eyebrows. She knew he was faking it. And he knew she knew it, as well. The day hadn't exactly gone off without a hitch but she wasn't worried. After all, boys will be boys. J.J. would settle into the routine sooner or later. Today was just an adjustment. A petty flaw. A tiny kink in the plans. It was a minor disagreement between one of her boys and J.J.
Then why did she feel so damned guilty?
Because I promised Sam his little brother would be safe and well cared for. And now. .now I'm going to have to explain this slight skirmish.
Or perhaps she could say nothing at all.
Groaning, Lucki faced the stretch of road in front of her. They'd be in Freedom in five minutes, pulling into her driveway in seven. She'd better set things straight with J.J. before they got there. He hadn't spoken a word since they'd gotten into her truck. And try as she might to ignore the rowdy situation she'd seen some of her tougher boys instigate, she'd had to intervene. J.J. was square in the middle of it, but she hadn't gotten the entire story out of him.
Pulling over to the side of the road, she drew in a steadying breath and punched J.J. on the shoulder.