He puttered around the house until ten-thirty, then showered and dressed for the party. As he left the house, the sun bore down on him, letting him know it was going to be a brutally hot day.
“Mr. Man!” Hannah greeted him as he came through the gate that separated the two yards. “It’s a happy birthday day!”
“Indeed it is,” he replied. He held out the gift he carried. “I don’t suppose you know who this pretty present might be for?”
“For me!” She took the present and jumped up and down. “Come on. Mommy is inside getting stuff ready to cook on the barbecue.”
Caleb followed Hannah through the back door and into the cool interior of the kitchen. Thank goodness he’d made certain they had central air before it got so warm.
Erica stood at the counter slicing tomatoes. Clad in a turquoise-colored backless sundress and wearing her hair braided into a single strand down her back, she momentarily stole Caleb’s breath away with her beauty.
“Hi,” he said. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Sure. While I’m slicing the tomatoes, you can peel the carrots for a relish tray.” She handed him a vegetable peeler and a bag of carrots.
“What can I do, Mommy?” Hannah asked, obviously eager to take part in the preparations.
“Why don’t you set out the napkins and the cutlery on the picnic table outside,” Erica suggested.
“Okay.” Hannah grabbed the boxes of plastic utensils and the package of gaily decorated napkins, then skipped out the back door.
The moment she disappeared from sight, Caleb took Erica by the shoulders and spun her around to face him. “How’s the mother of the birthday girl doing?”
Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled with pleasure. “It’s a wonderful day for a celebration, Caleb. I feel magnificent.”
“You look more than magnificent,” he said, wondering if he’d ever tire of looking at her. He couldn’t imagine not wanting to gaze into the luminous blue of her eyes, or to watch the expressions on her lovely face.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” Her eyes, a per fect match for the turquoise dress, flirted with him and her lips, pink and shiny, beckoned him. His heart raced as he dipped his head to kiss her.
He’d intended a light, playful kiss, but the instant his mouth met hers, his desire for her raged nearly out of control.
Greedily, he took possession of her lips, knowing he would never be satisfied until he had the experience of making love to her. And he sensed the hunger in her…the hunger for him, and that only stoked the flames of his desire.
The doorbell pealed, a jarring sound that effectively doused the fire raging between them. They sprang apart like guilty teenagers caught in the act by their parents.
“Saved by the bell,” he whispered, his words rewarded by her musical giggle.
In the next fifteen minutes, the house quickly filled with people. Sherry and her husband, David, were the first to arrive, quickly followed by Erica’s brother Keith, his wife, Amy, and their three children.
Caleb took change of the barbecue grill, preparing the charcoal and setting it alight. As the flames died down and the charcoal turned gray, Keith approached him with a friendly smile.
“Erica was just telling me you’ve accomplished wonders in that house of yours,” he said.
Caleb nodded. “Yeah, I’m pretty pleased with the results. Other than a little bit of finish work, the place looks like new.”
“You intending to sell?”
“Haven’t decided yet.” Caleb smiled at Keith. “I like this neighborhood. I’ve grown especially fond of a couple of my neighbors.”
Keith looked over to where his sister was chatting with Amy and Sherry. “You’ve been good for her,” he said softly.
“She’s been good for me,” Caleb countered.
“No, you don’t understand. When Erica’s husband left her and Hannah was so sick, Erica shut herself off from everyone, including me and Amy. She crawled so far inside her shell nobody could reach her except Hannah.” Keith smiled and looked back at Caleb. “But, I see her opening again. Finally, after all these years, I see hope in her eyes. If it’s at all possible, try not to hurt her.”
Caleb looked at him in surprise. “I have no intention of hurting her.” He frowned, ignoring the bell of guilt that rang in his head. He prayed that when he finally told her the truth, it wouldn’t cause her any pain.
“Good. Erica is the only family I have and I care about her a lot, although she doesn’t seem to realize that.”
“Oh, I’m sure she knows,” Caleb protested.
Keith frowned thoughtfully. “I wish I could be sure. We weren’t real close when we were growing up. She was only twelve when I left home for the army. She was mad at me when I left, and I don’t think she ever really forgave me.”
He shrugged, a light flush stealing over his features. “And how about that kid?” Keith gestured toward Hannah, who was chasing one of her cousins, her hair flying wildly as her giggles filled the air. “God, I can’t believe how great she looks, how completely healthy.”
“She’s a special little girl,” Caleb said.
“Yes, she is, and that’s why I keep nagging Erica to share her with her cousins. It’s important to me that Hannah and my children are close. Kids need family.”
“I agree,” Caleb replied.
“Good.” Keith offered him another smile and Caleb had the feeling the conversation was more than just idle talk.
“How’s the charcoal?” Erica called as Keith wandered off.
“Ready to cook on,” Caleb returned.
“Looks hot,” she observed as she approached.
“Why, thank you, ma’am,” Caleb said teasingly. “I was hoping you’d think I looked hot when I put on these shorts.”
She laughed and nudged him in the ribs. “You’re terrible,” she exclaimed. “Just for that, you get to cook all the hamburgers.”
The afternoon flew by. They ate hamburgers and hot dogs, played games with the kids, ate cake and ice cream and sang “Happy Birthday” to Hannah.
It was nearly four when Hannah started to open her presents. She exclaimed in delight over the game from her cousins, squealed happily as she unwrapped a pup tent and plastic flashlight and canteen from Sherry and David.
At that moment Caleb knew he’d made a mistake. The doll had been a terrible mistake. Clarity rang through his mind and he realized he’d bought the doll for Katie, who loved ruffles and frills, and tea parties and dolls.
But, Katie was dead. And despite the fact that Katie’s heart now pumped in Hannah’s chest, Hannah wasn’t Katie, would never be Katie.
Grief seared through him. Raw grief that momentarily stole his breath away. Despite the technology that could place the heart of one child into the chest of another, nothing would miraculously bring back his child. Katie was gone, and the doll was wrong…all wrong for Hannah.
Hannah opened the present and smiled politely. “Thank you, Mr. Man. She’s very pretty.”
“She is pretty,” Caleb agreed. “But I don’t think she’s right for you. How about tomorrow you and I go back to the store, return the doll and then you can pick out something you really want.”
Hannah looked at her mother, who hesitated a moment then gave a subtle nod. “Okay,” Hannah agreed happily. “Maybe I can trade her in for a baseball mitt.”
Caleb smiled and nodded, his heart still aching with residual emotion. From tea parties to baseball mitts, it was time to say goodbye to the little girl who had once been his. He would always grieve for her, but his grief was finding a place in his heart that didn’t hurt quite as much, quite as often as it had.
“And now, it’s time to unveil my real birthday present,” Caleb said. “Why don’t we move the party to my backyard for a few minutes?”
Soon the party had congregated beneath the hidden tree house. “Let me see, let me see,” Hannah exclaimed, jumping up and down with excitement. “I know it’s going to be the bestes
t tree house in the whole, wide world.”
“Okay,” Caleb laughed. He climbed up the stairs and quickly removed the drop cloths, revealing the structure beneath. Painted white, with two small windows complete with pink curtains, the tree house was every child’s dream. But Hannah’s name was carefully painted above the small doorway, proclaiming it her dream alone.
There was a moment of stunned silence. “Oh, Mr. Man, it’s so perfect.” Hannah threw herself into his arms and hugged him tight. “I knew it. I knew it would be the bestest in the world, and it is.”
Caleb closed his eyes and hugged her back. This time, as he smelled the sweet child scent of her, felt her snuggly warmth, there was no confusion in his mind. This was Hannah, not Katie.
And although a piece of his heart would always belong to the child he had lost, there was still enough left to love Hannah as well.
He released Hannah and watched as she and her cousins scampered up the stairs to the tree house. He realized that in the space of the last few minutes, a profound healing had taken place in his heart. For the first time since Katie’s death, he realized he could survive, that he was truly going to be all right.
Erica watched her daughter playing in the tree house with her cousins, her heart soaring with every giggle that resonated in the air. There was no sound sweeter in the world than that of children laughing, and she couldn’t remember a time when Hannah had had so much fun.
She looked over at Caleb, who was visiting with Sherry’s husband. He looked tremendously good in his navy walking shorts and short-sleeved shirt. He caught her gaze and smiled at her, a smile that weakened her knees and sent a rivulet of heat through her.
“Great party, Erica.”
She turned and smiled at her brother. “It’s been a perfect day.”
Keith looked over toward the tree house, then back at her. “It’s good to see them all together. They’re terrific together.”
“Yes, they are,” she agreed.
“Why don’t you let Hannah come home with us, spend the night? We could have her back here at whatever time you decide in the morning.”
Tension exploded inside Erica’s stomach. Spend the night? A night when Hannah would not be safely beneath Erica’s roof? A flutter of familiar fear washed over her. “Oh, Keith, I don’t think…”
“Let us share in her life,” Keith interrupted. He placed a hand on Erica’s arm. “Please, Erica. I can’t tell you what it would mean to me and Amy and our kids if we could be a real, close family.”
She hesitated, torn between her fear and her love for both her brother and her child. “It’s already been such a big day for Hannah. Why don’t I let her go home with you just for the evening? I’ll pick her up around ten and we’ll plan an overnight visit for another time.”
Keith opened his mouth as if to protest, then apparently thought better of it and merely nodded. “Okay,” he agreed.
Erica reached out and gave him a quick hug. “It’s a start, right?”
He laughed. “Yeah, it’s a start.”
By six, the party was winding down. Sherry and David said their goodbyes and left, and Amy and Keith and their brood, plus one, quickly followed.
“I’ll help with the cleanup,” Caleb said as he pulled down strands of crepe paper and wadded them up.
“You don’t have to do that,” Erica protested half-heartedly, then flashed him a smile. “But it’s nice of you to offer.”
His answering smile once again sent rivers of warmth flooding through her, warmth that intensified as she realized they had the house to themselves.
Hannah was gone for the evening, and if Caleb de cided to kiss her, there would be no real reason for him to stop for a very long time.
She carefully focused her attention on putting the last of the leftovers away in the refrigerator and tried not to think about the potential of an empty house and Caleb.
Thirty minutes later both the kitchen and the backyard were back to normal. All the extra food had been dealt with and the trash had been bagged away.
“How about a tall glass of lemonade?” she asked Caleb, feeling ridiculously nervous as he stood by the table and gazed at her.
“No, I don’t think so.” He took several steps toward her.
Erica swallowed, realizing her mouth was achingly dry. “Coffee?”
His eyes glittered darkly. “No, thanks.” Two more steps. He now stood close enough to her that she could see the silver flecks in his eyes, feel the body heat that radiated from him.
“Then…what would you like?” she asked breathlessly.
“You.”
The word sizzled through her and if he hadn’t reached for her at that moment, she would have thrown herself at him.
Their mouths met in fiery splendor as the tension that had been building between them for the last month exploded in a volcano of emotion.
His mouth was hot…hot enough to light a fire in side her, and when he finally broke the kiss, she took him by the hand and led him through the living room toward her bedroom.
As they walked, her heart beat out a thunderous rhythm. She knew they were about to cross the final boundary, become more than neighbors, more than friends.
He’d made no promises to her, spoken no flowery words of love, but at the moment that didn’t matter. She wanted him, with or without a commitment of any kind. This was her choice, and she didn’t care about tomorrow or forever…just tonight…with Caleb.
She recognized exactly what she was doing; her mind wasn’t addled by party gaiety or fogged by desire. She wanted to feel Caleb’s hands on her, his lips on her. She wanted to touch him and feel his body take possession of hers…even if it was just for a night.
Her bedroom was lit with the dusty gold of fading twilight and shadows danced on the walls as night moved to steal the last of the day. When they entered the room, he released her hand and took a step back, his eyes sparkling pools of desire.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice deep and husky. “I want you so badly I ache with it. For the last couple of weeks I haven’t been able to think of anything else. But I want you to be sure…I don’t want you to think this was a mistake in the light of tomorrow.”
When he was finished, Erica didn’t say a word. Instead, she reached up behind her neck and untied the halter top of her dress, then allowed it to drop to her waist, exposing her naked breasts. He had his answer.
In two long strides, he had her once again in his embrace, his mouth moving hungrily over hers. Her breasts were pressed tight against the fabric of his shirt, but she didn’t want contact with the material. She wanted to feel his chest, his firm, warm skin intimately close to hers.
With her mouth still connected to his, she moved her hands up to unfasten the shirt buttons. Her fingers fumbled and tripped over themselves in her eagerness to undress him.
He laughed, a low, sexy chuckle, and helped her with last of the buttons, then tore the shirt off and tossed it to the floor.
His hands worked to unbraid her hair and loosen it from its confines. Once it was freed, he wrapped his fingers into it, tugging her head backward so his mouth could press against the throbbing pulse point at the base of her throat.
Then, with slow, but purposeful movements, his fingers unwound from her hair and moved to the zipper at her waist. When he unzipped it, the dress released itself from her and fell into a turquoise pool at her feet.
Someplace in the back of her mind, she was grateful that she’d worn her lacy briefs instead of the sturdy white cotton ones. Gently, he walked her to the bed and eased her down on the rose-colored spread, then stepped back, his eyes intently holding hers, before trailing down the length of her.
As his gaze touched her intimately, she felt no need to cover her near-nakedness, no self-consciousness whatsoever. She saw in his eyes that he thought she was beautiful, sensed his desire in the tension of his body.
She opened her arms, beckoning him to join her. He took off his walking shorts, revealing a pair of
black briefs that emphasized his slender waist, slim hips and his urgent need of her.
He joined her on the bed and they tangled together as their mouths once again sought each other’s. His kiss was demanding, greedy, and Erica met it with a deep hunger of her own. She felt as if she could kiss him for an eternity and even that wouldn’t be long enough.
When he finally broke the kiss and lowered his head, his mouth finding the taut peak of one breast, she cried out in wonder.
Had it been this magnificent before? Had Chuck’s touch ever moved her to such heights? No…never in her life had she experienced the kind of liquid fire Caleb’s touch stoked in her veins.
As Caleb continued to kiss her breasts, his tongue flicking teasingly across the tender tips, Erica ran her hands down his glorious back, reveling in the play of strong muscle beneath warm skin.
Her fingernails dug into his back as his hands left her breasts and instead trailed down her ribs, across the expanse of her abdomen and lingered at the low-cut band of her panties.
She didn’t want his hesitation, didn’t want him to tease her. She moved her hips provocatively, felt his swift intake of breath, then his fingers were on her, caressing her through the thin silk.
Closing her eyes, she gave herself over to the sweet sensations that coursed through her. Then his fingers were no longer on the silk, but beneath it; then the panties were gone altogether and the tension inside her climbed higher and higher. She felt her release approaching and stopped moving, wanting…needing him to go there with her.
She opened her eyes and spoke his name, a whisper of yearning. He groaned in reply and rolled on top of her. She vaguely realized that at some point he’d removed his briefs.
His lips took possession of hers at the same time he entered her. For a long moment neither of them moved, as if afraid a single motion would instantly carry them over the edge.
He raised up slightly and looked at her, then raked a finger across her lower lip. “I’m sorry. I want this to last forever, but I’m afraid it’s going to be too fast….”
In a Heartbeat Page 11