Dad in Training (2 page)

As Molly bounded up the porch steps, the door opened, and Steph pushed the screen door wider to allow her entrance while managing to keep three dogs from escaping.

“Hello, Fred.” Molly scratched her friend’s border collie behind the ears and then gave the terrier’s fur a fluff and nuzzled her cheek against the Airedale’s head. “Who do we have here?”

“Sam, and this one’s Trixie.” Steph pointed to the terrier.
“Their owners aren’t here yet.” She glanced at her watch. “They should be coming soon. I have to leave for my other job.” She lifted her head, her expression growing curious. “You’re grinning.” She tapped her index finger against her cheek. “Let me see. I’m guessing most of your kids were absent today.”

Molly smiled at Steph’s banter. “Sorry to disappoint you, but they were all there.” She arched one eyebrow. “But you’ll never guess what happened.”

“You got a raise?”

“I don’t look
that
happy.” With the three dogs tangling around her feet, Molly made her way into the living room, tossed her handbag onto a side table, and plopped into an easy chair. “I met someone.”

That comment caught Steph’s attention, and a Cheshire cat grin spread across her face. “You mean…Mr. Right?”

Air shot from Molly’s lungs. “No. Never.” Her voice sounded like someone evading the truth.

Steph gave her a questioning look.

“Just kidding,” she said, hoping to undo the suspicion she’d caused. “I met Brent Runyan.”

Steph’s hand flew to her heart. “Wow! Brent Runyan. I’m impressed.” Her hand dropped to her side as she settled onto the sofa. “I need a seat so I can contain myself.” She leaned forward, emphasizing the Cheshire grin. “Who in the world is Brent Runyan?”

Molly felt her jaw sag as she shook her head at Steph’s antics. “You’ve heard of Runyan Industrial Tool Corporation. The building on Rochester Road.”

Steph looked blank.

Molly’s arms lifted in a helpless gesture and then dropped to her side. “The empty building on Rochester Road. I told you about it.”

Finally recognition sprouted on Steph’s face. “Is he the owner?”

“Brent Runyan. Runyan Industrial Tool Corporation. What do you think?”

Steph lifted a shoulder. “Okay, so I’m a little brain dead. I spent my day with five barking dogs.”

Hearing the word
dogs
, all three animals skittered to Steph’s side. “Get lost,” she said, waving her hand at them before refocusing on Molly.

“You’re as bad as some of my students. ‘Down’ is all you need to say and then show them. They’ll catch on.”

Steph rolled her eyes. “Let’s talk about this Runyan character.”

Molly had a better description than character.
Good-looking
worked for her. Steph’s look bored through her, and Molly knew she’d better get on with it. “Okay, I suppose, I can’t expect you to remember every empty building I’ve given a longing look.”

“You’ve eyed a ton of them.”

Images flashed through Molly’s mind—empty office buildings, industrial businesses, grocery stores. She’d never found one that would work as perfectly as the Runyan building, but the cost was prohibitive. Most buildings were.

“Did you ask this Runyan guy about the building?”

Steph’s voice dragged her from her ruminations, and she sank against the cushion. “Not really. When I mentioned it was empty, he said, ‘That’s temporary.’ I question that, though. How long has it been since I’ve had my eye on that building?”

“It’s your guess.” Steph unfolded herself from the chair and glanced out the window. “I thought I heard a car.”

Molly understood. “I know you have to leave for work.”

Steph gave a faint nod and ambled back toward her chair. “I have to wait for the owners to get here and pick up their pooches.” She leaned her head against the chair back. “I wish I could get one full-time job instead of two part-times, but as long as I want to do doggie day care, this is it.”

“You need a building, Steph, and do this job on a grander scale.”

Steph lifted her head. “You’re optimistic.”

“When I find a building, you could make a living with the dogs then. No need for a second job. It’ll work.” Molly’s chest tightened, thinking of Steph’s dream and then her own. “I know your neighbors get upset when the dogs are noisy.”

Steph’s face mirrored her concern. “You and I are like kids waiting for a dream to happen. When will we grow up?” She sat again and closed her eyes. “That’s not fair. You have a real job. When will I grow up?”

“We’re both grown up, but we care about dogs. I enjoy teaching, but if I could have a dog shelter, that would be my ultimate dream. Then I could run other Teacher’s Pet programs there, and you could use some space for your day care. It would be wonderful. Perfect.” Molly leaned forward, wishing she had a house instead of a condo. Then she could have a dog of her own. “You know, I believe God has plans, and I’m hoping having a shelter is His plan for me…eventually. I have to learn patience.”

“Patience.” Steph’s head made a slight nod.

They sat in silence as Molly pictured her long-awaited dream and assumed Steph was doing the same. Money. That’s what they needed. Both of them. “I’d better let you get ready for work.” She rose and moved toward her handbag.

Steph stood, too. “What will you do now?”

Molly hung the bag on her shoulder. “About what?”

“The building. Is this Runyan guy someone you’ll see again? Aren’t you going to pursue it?”

“Yes. I just have to figure out how.” Molly adjusted her shoulder strap and then straightened as her mind sparked an idea. “Hold on. Are you working tomorrow night?”

“I’m not off until Friday.”

“I’ll go alone then.” Disappointed, she made her way toward the door.

“Go? Go where?”

“To the softball game. My principal knows Brent Runyan. They’re on a team together, and they play tomorrow night.”

“Isn’t that a little obvious?”

“I’ll see what I can find out from Rob tomorrow. I could go and cheer them on.”

Steph pressed her palm to her cheek, her eyes widening. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am serious. Why not? If I went with someone, I wouldn’t look so suspect, but it’s worth it. I’ll see him again, and maybe we’ll talk.”

Steph stared at her with an “I can’t believe you’d do this” expression.

“Okay, so it’s probably a dumb plan.” Molly grasped the strap of her shoulder bag. “What else can I do? I need to find out what he means by ‘temporary’ without making it a big deal.”

Steph shifted closer, her mouth curved in one of her taunting looks. “Are you sure it’s just the building you’re interested in?”

Molly jammed her fists against her hips and scowled. “Yes, I’m sure.”

A look of temporary defeat settled on Steph’s face. “Having money for a building would make a difference.”

“Money talks, but when money isn’t available, I talk.”

Steph leaned down and wrapped her arm around Molly’s shoulders. “Poor guy. He doesn’t know what he’s in for.” She gave Molly a hug.

Molly hugged her back and then opened the front door. One thing she appreciated was a good friend who really knew her. Steph understood, and she was right. Poor Brent Runyan wouldn’t know what hit him.

She sent Steph one of her Cheshire cat grins and then stepped outside and closed the door, but Molly didn’t move. Something had hit her, too. Something that jarred her pulse
with excitement and with dread. She rubbed her temple and headed to her car.

The building had to be her focus and not Brent Runyan and his gorgeous eyes. Romantic notions weren’t an option. As a Christian woman, she’d set the atonement for her mistakes.

The Runyan building settled in her thoughts. She wanted that empty building. It was perfect, but before she turned the key in the ignition, the building faded behind a pair of midnight-blue eyes.

B
rent stood in left field and waited for the next batter in the lineup. The other team had two men on base and a good hitter at bat. Brent knew he had to concentrate. With one out and the game separated by one run, this was it. One slip-up and they could lose the game.

The sun had lowered in the sky, and a direct glare hit Brent in the eyes. He adjusted his cap, dug his fist into the mitt, and squinted into the bleachers. A glint of gold caught his attention, and his jaw dropped. Molly. What was she doing—

A sharp crack and cheers from the crowd jarred his senses. Instinctively his eyes shifted as the ball blasted toward him. He raced backward, angry at himself for being distracted, then lifted his arm and felt the ball smash into his glove. He drew back and shot the ball, head high, to the catcher. The runner on third slid toward home base, but the catcher caught the ball and tagged him. Out.

Brent’s heart jolted. He’d been saved from a mishap, and they’d won the game. He tossed his glove in the air and ran toward his teammates, as they thumped each other on the back. Someone grasped him in a bear hug and others followed.

“Great game, Brent.”

“Good save.”

Pure luck. He smiled and nodded, unwilling to admit he’d almost lost the game with his foolish distraction. He looked into the stands, but the golden hair had vanished. His imagination wasn’t that creative. He knew it was Molly, but what in the world was she doing there?

“Great job,” Rob said, wrapping an arm around his shoulder before pummeling his back with the flat of his hand. “Let’s celebrate. Want to stop for a drink?”

“How about a sandwich and some coffee? I missed dinner.”

“That works for me.” Rob pulled out a handkerchief and wiped sweat from his face. “This is only May. I hate to think of the heat this summer.”

Brent nodded without really listening. Ahead of them, Molly waited near the stands alone, holding a soft-drink cup.

Rob faltered beside him and came to a halt. “Molly? What are you doing here?”

Just the question Brent had on his mind. He waited for her answer.

She smiled and shrugged. “I heard you mention softball yesterday and thought I’d stop by and watch. You know, cheer on my favorite principal.”

Rob chuckled. “Am I getting a little apple-polishing here?” He threw his head back and laughed. “We’re heading out to pick up a bite. Want to join us?”

Brent watched her face light up as her gaze drifted toward him.

Her eyes grazed his. “Would you mind?”

He wasn’t sure if the question was directed to him or Rob, so he didn’t respond. If he’d answered, she would have been able to tell he minded. She addled him, and he couldn’t control his attraction. On top of that, she asked too many questions, questions that dug into sensitive issues. Brent played in today’s game to get away from the tension. Here she was with her innocent face digging up problems he preferred buried.

Rob’s voice cut into his thoughts. “Mind? Not at all, I invited you.”

She didn’t shift her gaze from his, and an uneasy feeling crawled up Brent’s back. His reservation got lost in her dazzling green-flecked hazel eyes. “Where are we going?” He turned his question to Rob.

“How about National Coney Island? It’s not far. North on Dixie Highway.” He shifted from Brent to Molly. “Sound okay?”

Molly shrugged. “It’s fine with me.”

If he could only think of a good reason to—no, he couldn’t. If he backed out, Rob would make a big deal out of it and want to know why. He tossed the possibility around in his mind, but when he opened his mouth, he heard himself agree.

Rob clapped his palms together. “Great. Let’s go. I need something cold to drink.” He mimed a swig from an imaginary bottle.

Brent watched him lead the way with Molly at his side, flustered by her slender figure, the ponytail and her flawless skin. She bounced along with each step while he trudged behind her, his shoulders tensing with anticipation, and his heart jigging faster than his plodding feet. He despised the absurd feeling.

Molly climbed into a red SUV while he settled into his ebony sports car. She belonged in something flashy and fun like a sports car. He belonged…where? Something solid, he supposed, but definitely not red. Black fit him better.

He sank into the leather seats, questioning his sanity and shaking his head as if the motion could knock some sense into him. He didn’t get involved with women. He didn’t have time, and his life was too complicated already.

Molly watched the dark sports car flash past her, raising dust from the parking lot. She gripped the steering wheel, wondering if she was making a mistake. Brent didn’t seem
eager for her company, although why should he? Maybe if he got to know her better, he’d recognize her sincerity about her work.

Her back rigid with purpose, Molly drove away from the park and headed north on Dixie Highway. All she’d wanted to do is get to know more about his empty building. She winced, knowing that that was only part of the truth.

How could she introduce the subject of his building during their conversation? With her determination, she would make a blue-ribbon effort.

Sunlight beat against her arm and glinted in her eye, and she adjusted the visor. She’d felt as sunny as the sky while she watched the game, hoping she’d have a chance to talk with Brent, but now her hope darkened like a storm cloud. Brent could easily evade her questions again.

Maybe she’d read more into things than there was. She remembered Adam’s comment the day before. The boy had said dogs weren’t like people. They sure weren’t. Dogs were honest. That’s one of the things she loved about them. No pretenses. They let her know immediately how they felt about her. They either wagged their tail and licked her hand or bared their teeth. She never had to guess with a dog.

With her pretext of cheering on the game, she’d been deceiving. Brent was no different. She closed her muddled thoughts and turned into the restaurant parking lot. Guessing got her nowhere. Brent and Rob stood outside the restaurant entrance waiting for her. Molly parked and headed toward reality.

Inside, the scent of onions and chili powder mingled in the air. The hostess guided them to a booth, and Rob slipped in one side, sitting in the middle of the bench, so she slid to the wall on the other side, making room for Brent.

Rather than joining them, Brent stood beside the table, eyeing the seating arrangement. Molly’s stomach knotted, waiting for him to ask Rob to move over. She struggled to hold back her mortification.

Instead Brent gestured toward the back of the dining room. “I need to wash my hands.” Without pause, he turned and walked away.

Molly pulled her gaze from his retreating back.

Rob leaned against the seat back. “You surprised me today.”

“I did?” She hoped her voice sounded normal.

“Seeing you in the bleachers. Thanks for coming. I always hope a few of the staff will show up, but it’s rare.”

“I’m glad I came.” She had to restrain her hope. “You said I should see Brent shag a ball, so I did.”

He chuckled. “He’s good, isn’t he? And we won. Maybe you’re our lucky charm.”

She forced a grin, her ulterior motive intensifying her guilty conscience.

Grateful for the distraction, Molly relaxed when the waitress arrived with the menus. Rob grasped them and handed two to Molly and placed one in front of himself.

The woman lifted her pad. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Unsweetened iced tea with lemon,” Molly said without looking at the menu.

Rob eyed the choices. “I’ll have a soda.” He patted the extra menu. “I’m not sure what he’ll have.” He gestured in the direction Brent had headed, then tilted his head. “Here he comes. You can ask him yourself.”

The waitress walked away, pausing to talk with Brent. When he returned to the table, Brent peered at the two booth benches, obviously noting that Rob was sitting close to the edge. He grasped the menu from the table and slid into the seat next to Molly.

“I’ll only be a minute,” Rob said, rising from his seat and striding toward the back.

Brent perused the meal choices without responding.

Drawing in the fresh fragrance of soap that mingled with
the scent of chili dogs, Molly opened the menu and studied it before placing it back on the table. “Are you upset about something?”

In slow motion, Brent lowered his menu, one eye narrowed as if he were scrutinizing her comment. “Why?”

“I don’t know why. You just seem tense.”

“I can’t decide what to order.”

She knew it was more than that. She stopped her questions and refocused on the entrée choices.

As she did, Brent shifted on the bench and looked at her.

His eyes glinted as an unbelievable sensation slid along her chest. “What?” The question shot from her mouth.

He leaned his shoulder against the booth cushion and arched a brow. “Since I have you captive—” he motioned to her pinned beside him “—how about answering my question?”

“Your question?” Her mind flashed over their conversation. “You mean why I thought you looked upset?”

“No.” A grin stole to his face. “Yesterday I asked you about Teacher’s Pet.”

“Oh, that question.” The unexpected discussion of her program thrilled her. She chuckled. “It’s a program I developed for some of the learning-disabled students at the school. I had the idea of putting dog training and student training together.”

“Dogs? In school?”

His dubious tone caused her to falter a moment before she responded. “And kids.”

He looked confused, and she paused, taking the opportunity to let her gaze sweep across his broad shoulders before she shifted her eyes to his bare ring finger resting on the table. Attractive. Really good-looking, even a little witty, but his tone concerned her. “Don’t you like animals?”

“Too much work. They make messes and tear up things. I don’t want to be hur—” He blinked, then continued, “To waste time caring for pets. I have enough going on in my life.”

Her spirit sank, and a sound in his voice made her sad. She couldn’t stop herself from asking: “Have you ever owned a pet?”

She felt him stiffen beside her, and she knew for certain she should have followed her good sense and not pushed the subject.

“Once. It’s just too much for me.”

Too much what? This time her intelligence halted her next question. “The program helps the students, too. I hope you like kids.”

He drew in a deep breath. “I do.”

Despite what he’d said, she’d struck a sour note with him in some way. Something bothered him. A lot. “These are special-needs students, remember?”

He rested an elbow on the table and lowered his chin. “How does the program work?”

Interest flashed in his eyes, and Molly took advantage of the opportunity. Once he understood her program, he might realize why she wanted his building. Molly pulled back her shoulders. “Students who often experience failure feel inadequate and can become discipline problems. They don’t respect themselves, so they don’t respect others. My idea has been to see what happens when kids who have certain learning disabilities work with dogs.”

A questioning look rose to his face. “Is this program for kids of all ages?”

“Yes. School-age kids.” His curiosity drove her forward. “This technique has even been used with autistic children of all ages. As students teach the dogs to respond correctly to single-word commands—you know, words like
sit, stay, off, down
and
come
—they are also learning behavior modification and gaining skills.”

Brent’s mouth pulled at one edge. “You mean the kids learn to sit, stay and come.”

A frustrated breath slipped from her. “No.”

“Just teasing,” he said, wiping the toying look from his face.

“When the students realize they’ve succeeded in teaching the dog something, they feel successful, too. It’s amazing.”

“You really believe in this system, don’t you?”

“I do.” She gave an emphatic nod. “It works. They learn pride, and they learn how good behavior is rewarded just like the dogs are rewarded.”

“How are they rewarded?”

The waitress appeared beside them with their drinks. “Sorry. We have a crowd tonight.” She set the drinks on the table and asked for their orders. Brent ordered a Coney Special, and Molly decided on a tossed salad rather than the large fries he’d ordered.

Brent gave a toss of his head. “See the guy standing over there? Ask him what he wants. He owns the other drink.”

The waitress looked over her shoulder, nodded and headed for Rob, leaving them alone again.

Molly didn’t want to stop their conversation now and answered his last question. “We reward the dogs with bits of dry dog food each time they follow their rules.”

His eyes crinkled with his grin. “I meant, how do you reward the students?”

“Oh.” She flashed him a helpless look. “The kids are rewarded by gaining respect and learning that they can accomplish something.”

“And that works? Their behavior changes.”