About That Man (12 page)

“How about it, Tommy? Does a burger sound good?” Walker asked.

“Can I have a milk shake, too?”

“Anything you want,” Walker told him.

“Within reason,” Daisy amended.

“Spoilsport,” Walker accused.

She met his twinkling eyes. “Someone around here has to do what's sensible.”

“And you've designated yourself for that role?”

Though her every instinct was to give Tommy anything and everything he wanted, yes, that was precisely what she had done. She nodded. “I have.”

“Then I guess I'll just have to think of some way to make sure you learn to lighten up,” Walker told her. “We'll start at lunch.”

Where they would be in full view of half the town, Daisy realized with dismay. Walker's tactics weren't likely to be subtle or unobserved. What had she been thinking when she'd suggested they meet her at Earlene's?

She knew the answer, of course. She was thinking that for the very first time in her adult life, she was going to feel as if she were out with a family of her own. Maybe it was a fool's illusion, but she wanted it to last as long as possible.

 

Daisy's face was far too revealing. Walker had watched the expressions shift during his teasing, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to pinpoint exactly what was troubling her so. Clearly, he'd said something. Was it
the accusation that she was being a little too sensible for Tommy's good? Was it the taunt that he was going to get her to lighten up? He hated not being able to get a fix on her the way she seemed capable of doing with him.

“Hey, Uncle Walker,” Tommy said, drawing his attention.

“What?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure you can. You can always ask me anything.”

“What's pot?”

Walker felt his heart slam into his ribs. All thoughts of figuring out Daisy fled. If Tommy had asked him to explain the birds and bees, he couldn't have been any more disconcerted. He forced himself not to overreact, to keep his expression and his tone neutral.

“Why do you want to know about pot?”

“I heard some kids talking outside the high school.”

Walker was more shocked than he should have been. He would have anticipated it in Washington, but not in Trinity Harbor. He had managed to delude himself that this place was far removed from the influence of drugs.

“What were they saying?”

“That really cool kids use it.”

Walker sat on the edge of the boat and drew Tommy around to face him. “Really cool kids do
not
use it,” he said adamantly. “Kids who try marijuana—that's the actual name of the drug—could really mess up their lives. For one thing, it's illegal, and you can get in a lot of trouble. For another, it can lead to using more dangerous drugs, drugs that could kill you.”

Tommy's eyes widened. “You mean even a kid could die like Mama?”

“Exactly.” He met Tommy's gaze directly. “If you ever
see any pot, I don't care who has it, I want you to tell me or Daisy or Tucker at once, do you understand me? That's very important, Tommy. I know that tattling on your friends isn't considered cool, and in most instances, I'd agree, but not about this. Okay?”

Tommy's head bobbed up and down.

“When you heard this at the high school, do you know if the kids had any or were they just bragging?”

“I guess they were just talking. I'm not really sure. They didn't try to give me any or anything. I don't even think they knew I was around. They don't pay much attention to younger kids like me.”

“Were these kids you know?”

“Not really. They're in high school.”

“Is this the first time you've ever heard anyone talking about pot?”

Tommy looked at the ground and scuffed the toe of his sneaker in the dirt. “No,” he said softly. “But I never had anybody to ask before. Mama was really sick the last time I heard about it. And then I guess I forgot.”

“That's okay. You did the right thing by talking to me now.”

“Are those boys gonna get in trouble?” he asked worriedly.

“If they're caught with marijuana, yes, they could get in big trouble.”

“Don't they know that?”

“They should, but it's not up to you to tell them. You come to me or Daisy or one of her brothers next time you hear anything like this, okay?”

“Okay,” Tommy said, apparently satisfied with Walker's responses. “Could I have a cookie now?”

“Sure. Bring me a couple, too.”

As soon as Tommy had gone, Walker released a sigh. He needed to talk to Tucker about this and find out what the hell was going on down here. In a town this size, they should be able to keep a better watch on drugs, especially around a school. He vowed to track Daisy's brother down before the weekend was out.

And he needed to tell Daisy herself, to warn her that she was going to have to be incredibly vigilant about the kids with whom Tommy spent time. That was not a prospect he was looking forward to. She was bound to jump to the conclusion that he was criticizing her ability to keep Tommy out of trouble. He'd already discerned that she was highly sensitive on that subject, anticipating disapproval of her parenting skills at every turn. Too bad. This was a talk they needed to have.

He was still considering the best way to go about bringing up the subject when he and Tommy went to meet her at Earlene's. The restaurant was even more crowded than it had been on his last visit, this time with a mix of tourists and locals. Daisy was already in a booth, though, looking flushed from her walk and, in his opinion, more desirable than ever.

His arrival drew several speculative glances and a few whispers, something that made him feel vaguely self-conscious as he and Tommy headed for the back to join Daisy. Despite his better judgment, Walker squeezed into the booth next to her and let Tommy take the side across from them. She frowned when his thigh brushed hers and stayed there. He noticed, though, that she didn't move away. In fact, she sent a challenging glare in the direction of some of the more obvious spectators. The offenders
quickly developed a sudden interest in their meals and the whispers died down.

“How was your walk?” he asked.

“Lovely,” she said, turning her attention back to him. “There's a wonderful breeze today, but summer's definitely just around the corner. Did you two get a lot of work done on the boat?”

“Some,” he said.

“Uncle Walker and me had a long talk,” Tommy chimed in, startling Walker. “About marijuana.”

Daisy choked on her sip of iced tea. “I beg your pardon.”

“He says it's really, really bad,” Tommy explained.

Daisy's indignant gaze clashed with Walker's. “It certainly is. How did this come up?”

As the waitress approached, Walker deliberately nudged Daisy with his elbow. “Why don't we order now? I'm starved.”

“Fine,” she said, eyes flashing over the postponement. “But this discussion isn't over, not by a long shot.”

He chuckled at her fierce expression. “Yes, ma'am.” Then he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “You must be hell on wheels in the classroom.”

The corners of her mouth twitched unmistakably. “And don't you forget it.”

Walker seriously doubted if he could even if he wanted to. Daisy kept surprising him in the most unexpected ways. Despite her obviously genteel Southern upbringing, the woman refused to back down from a fight. He'd be willing to bet those ancestors of hers had given the Yankees a royal fit.

M
arijuana! What on earth was a ten-year-old boy doing asking about drugs? Daisy couldn't imagine, but she certainly intended to find out at the very first opportunity.

She had waited through an endless lunch, then waited some more while Tommy dragged Walker off to explore the shops in town. She had been tempted to go along just to see how Walker would handle the crowded aisles in the old houses that had been converted into boutiques, but had decided to let them go without her. The phrase “bull in a china shop” came to mind, when she envisioned his broad shoulders squeezing past displays of delicate Christmas ornaments. Then, again, Tommy was probably going to head straight for the toy store to see what he could persuade his uncle to buy. He'd been talking a lot lately about the train he'd seen in the window, and Walker struck Daisy as an easy mark.

Sure enough, they had come home with not only the train and track, but enough accessories to set up a village the size of Trinity Harbor. She had insisted they wait until after supper to assemble it.

“You don't think you might have gone just the tiniest bit overboard?” she asked Walker when Tommy had gone to get a screwdriver from the drawer in the kitchen.

“He liked the train.”

She had also seen the spark of excitement in Walker's eyes as they'd started assembling everything in the middle of her living room floor. “Did you ever have a train when you were a boy?”

He looked up from his examination of the locomotive. “No. Why?”

She grinned. “I just wondered. You seem almost as fascinated by all this stuff as Tommy is.”

“Every boy ought to have a train, that's all.”

“Did your sons?”

Regret filled his eyes. “No,” he said tightly.

Daisy let the matter drop. It was evident that he was making up for more than his absence from Tommy's life. He was trying to make up for years of neglecting his own sons, too. She doubted he needed her to point that out.

She sat back for the next two hours and watched as the two of them turned her living room floor into an elaborate train setup. The minute they had it running, though, she called to Tommy and tapped her watch.

“Time for bed.”

He glanced toward his uncle, clearly hoping for a reprieve, but Walker shook his head. “She's right. It's getting late.”

“You can read for a little while,” Daisy told him. It was a habit she'd been trying to encourage. It was certainly better than having little heart-to-hearts about drugs, which was what his uncle seemed inclined to do.

Once she was satisfied that Tommy was in bed, she turned on Walker. “Let's go outside. We need to talk.”

When they were settled side by side on chaise longues, she said, “I think you'd better explain to me how the topic of marijuana came up today.”

“He asked me about it,” Walker said quietly. “Believe me, I was as floored by his mentioning it as you are.”

“How does he even know about it?”

“Apparently he overheard some kids outside the high school talking about it.”

Daisy felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. She knew there were drugs in Trinity Harbor. It seemed no place was immune these days. Tucker had even told her how to spot evidence of drug use among her students, but Tommy was still in elementary school. To think that he was being exposed to such things was obscene. Worse, it was because of her. He was at the high school because he was coming to meet her at the end of the day.

“This is all my fault. He walks over there to meet me when he gets out of school.”

“Don't be ridiculous,” Walker said. “Those kids are the culprits, not you.”

“Did he say who they are?”

“He said he didn't know them, but he could be covering for them. I stressed that he's to tell you or me at once if anything like this comes up again.”

“Do you think he will?”

“I hope so.” He glanced at her. “What do you think of this Gary, who's been helping him with the boat?”

“He's new in town. I haven't met his parents. He stayed for supper the other night, but I couldn't get much out of him. He seems like a nice boy, very polite, but perhaps troubled about something. I suppose it's not easy being the new kid in town. I heard his father was retired from the military.”

“How old is he?”

“Thirteen.”

“Isn't he a little old to be hanging out with Tommy?”

“He's at the same school. Middle school and elementary kids are in the same building. They probably got to know each other on the playground.”

“Well, keep an eye on him,” Walker said, his expression grim.

She was shocked by the implication. “You don't think a friend of Tommy's is involved with drugs, do you? Tommy said he didn't know the kids.”

“I know, but we're going to have to be alert with everyone he spends time with.”

Too restless to sit still for this troubling conversation, she began to pace back and forth on the deck, fully aware that Walker's gaze followed each step she took. That only added to her unease.

“I suppose you're going to use this as an excuse to take Tommy away from me,” she said, pausing in front of him and ready to do battle if he tried.

Walker stared at her. “Why on earth would I do that?”

“Because I haven't protected him from such things.”

To her annoyance, a smile tugged at his lips. “And you think he'd be more protected in Washington?”

She dared to allow herself a momentary feeling of relief. “I see your point,” she said, then picked up her pacing again with Walker's attention once again riveted on her.

“You have to speak to Tucker,” she said eventually.

“I intend to.”

She started toward the house. “Should I get him over here now?”

Walker reached up and snagged her hand, preventing her from going anywhere. “Tomorrow's soon enough.” He
gestured toward the chaise she'd abandoned. “Settle down. Let's just sit here and enjoy the peace and quiet. You don't know what a rare treat this is for me.”

She remained standing, her hand clasped in his. Walker thought this was peaceful? Daisy was jumpy as a june bug with her hand enfolded in his. If the conversation had been disconcerting, his touch was downright provocative.

Every nerve tingled. She was fairly certain all of her senses were operating at full throttle. She could hear every leaf rustle, every bird's chirp. She could smell the last of the scented daffodils by the back steps. The river was calm tonight, but she could hear the waves lapping at the shore. She could spot every single star in the darkening sky. When one tumbled toward earth, she sighed and made a wish.

She turned, then, and caught the amusement on Walker's face. “What?”

“I was just wondering what you wished for.”

She sank down on the edge of the chaise and tugged her hand free of his. She couldn't think when he was touching her like that. “How did you know I made a wish?” she asked.

“I saw the falling star, too.”

“Did you make a wish?” she asked, curious to know if he was at all superstitious, at all whimsical. Most of the time she thought he took himself far too seriously. Then again, he seemed not to take her seriously at all.

“Of course,” he said.

“And?”

“I wished that there would be a lot more nights like this one.”

Her pulse ricocheted unsteadily. “Do you mean that?”

“I always mean what I say. I can't remember the last time I sat outside like this and just let my mind wander. I'm usually listening for the sound of bullets being fired.”

“In your neighborhood?” she asked, horrified. That was where he intended to take Tommy?

“I'm exaggerating,” he said. “But only a little. My neighborhood's safe enough, but I work in enough bad areas that subconsciously I'm always on alert. I never relax the way I have today. I can honestly say it's been hours since I thought about work. You have no idea how rare that is.”

She knew that Tucker often took his work home with him, too. How much worse it must be for someone in law enforcement in a place like Washington. “Your work must be very difficult,” she said.

“Sometimes. And sometimes it's incredibly rewarding.”

“Right now, though, it must be awful,” she said, her gaze resting on his face. “Frances told me about the little girl who was killed. I'm sorry.”

“Me, too. They buried her today. Watching that made my heart ache,” he admitted. “And it makes me furious. I'll find the slime who did it, though. I won't rest until I do.”

“You really care, don't you?”

“This isn't a job to do unless you let it matter. You have to believe in right and wrong. You have to want the bad guys behind bars.”

“It must be frustrating, though, when they don't stay there. Tucker finds that infuriating,” Daisy told him.

“Oh, I have my go-arounds with the prosecutors who plea-bargain or let some bleeding heart lawyer talk them
into treating a hardened kid as a juvenile, rather than as an adult. If you work the streets long enough, you know exactly which ones will be back again and which ones can maybe be saved.”

He glanced over at her. “Take this kid, Rodney. He's the same age as Tommy. He saw this shooting go down the other night, but he refuses to talk. He thinks the teenagers involved are his friends, and he's determined not to squeal on them. This time he's just a witness, but next time he may decide he needs to prove himself to them. Unless his mom can get him away from there, he's doomed.”

“How terrible. Will she be able to do it?”

“Doubtful. She's a struggling single mom. She works hard. She loves her kid, but Rodney spends too much time without parental supervision. Naturally he wants to belong to the gang he sees ruling the neighborhood. It's partly a way to be cool, partly self-preservation. If he's one of them, he thinks he has a better chance of staying alive.”

“When the exact opposite is true,” Daisy concluded.

“Precisely.”

Walker's description confirmed everything bad she'd ever imagined about big city life, especially in Washington. She would never let him take Tommy there.

“You would raise Tommy in a place like that?” she demanded, practically shaking with indignation. She stood up and glowered at him. “I won't allow it. Do you hear me, Walker Ames, I will not allow it.”

She had barely turned to go when Walker was on his feet, his arm firmly around her waist from behind, holding her snugly against him. She fought to ignore the riot of sensations his touch aroused.

“Slow down,” he ordered. “First of all, I haven't even
agreed to take Tommy. Second, if I do, he's not going to be living in the worst part of D.C. I'll get him into a good school. There are plenty of decent neighborhoods and law-abiding kids around.”

She twisted around until she could face him. “Most of those kids are in private schools, I imagine. Can you afford that?”

“If I have to.”

She started to say more, but he touched a finger to her lips, silencing her.

“I love it that you care so much, but I'm not the enemy,” he said. He smoothed a curl away from her cheek, then let his hand linger.

Daisy felt her pulse jump. Suddenly all thoughts of Tommy and any desire to argue fled in the face of the raw desire she saw in Walker's eyes. When had any man looked at her like that, as if he had to struggle with himself to resist her? Never that she could think of.

Walker's arm was still snug around her waist. Her thighs brushed against his. Her hips seemed to sway until she was fitted more tightly against him. And then there was no mistaking the fact that he wanted her.

Her blood pounded. Heat pooled low in her belly. And a need so fierce it shocked her slammed through her. If taking Tommy in had been an act of rebellion, then this was insanity, pure and simple. But recognizing that didn't seem to temper her desire one bit. She wanted Walker. She wanted to experience the pure recklessness of seizing the moment, of feeling vibrantly alive.

When his mouth settled over hers, a little moan of pleasure escaped. It was enough to inflame him. The kiss turned demanding. His hands cupped her bottom until their
bodies fit together intimately. Nothing had ever felt more right.

But it still wasn't enough. Daisy felt like screaming with the frustration of all those layers of clothes separating them.

“Hot,” she murmured, reaching for buttons. His, hers, it didn't matter. She just wanted the sensation of skin against skin.

Her knuckles finally grazed Walker's bare chest. His skin burned beneath her touch. Her hands slid beneath his shirt, reveling in the crisp curls of hair, the muscles under well-toned skin, all that heat.

She heard a ragged groan, but couldn't be sure if it was his or hers.

Then, as suddenly as things had gone up in flames between them, she felt the chill of the evening breeze against her skin, felt herself being lifted and set aside, then abandoned.

Her eyes fluttered open and she stared, dazed, at the man who stood before her, raking his hand through his hair, looking sexily disheveled from her attack on his clothing.

“I'm sorry,” he said, not meeting her gaze.

Since all of her clothing was still neatly in place, she couldn't imagine what he had to be sorry for. Embarrassment flooded through her. “No,” she whispered. “I apologize. I…I don't know what I was thinking.”

He tucked a finger under her chin, forcing her to look up. This time his gaze was direct. “You have nothing to apologize for,” he said fiercely. “I'm the one who took advantage.”

She gestured toward his shirt and gave a shaky laugh. “Oh, really?”

A smile started at the corners of his mouth, then faded. “Would you feel better if I mussed you up a bit, too?”

“Actually, yes,” she said.