From Roses To Thorns - Sequel To "From Nanny To Wife" (2 page)

"You get up first," Ryan told her.

Hope sighed. "You're a cruel man, Ryan Kendall. A cruel man."

In one swift motion Ryan had Hope trapped beneath him. "I can be good." He lowered his head. "Let me show you." No sooner had his lips touched hers and the cell phone on his bedside table rang.

Hope moaned. "The vacation is definitely over."

"I'm sorry," Ryan whispered.

Hope touched his face. "Don't be sorry. It's all right. Answer your phone."

Ryan rolled off Hope and reached for his phone. He flipped it open. "Hello?" he snarled.

"Hello, Ryan."

"What the hell do you want?" he demanded to know of Laura.

"Who is it?" Hope mumbled.

Ryan placed his hand over the phone. "Laura."

"What is she doing calling you?" Hope asked her smoky gray eyes flashing with anger.

"Why are you calling me?" Ryan asked.

"Zoe's birthday is on Saturday," Laura said. "I want to spend some time with her."

"No." Ryan threw the covers back and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

"Please," Laura said softly. "It's her birthday. I just want to give her a present and spend a few minutes with her."

"After everything you have done you have some nerve asking me if you can see Zoe," Ryan said coldly. "As far as I'm concerned you have no daughter." He closed the phone and dropped it on the bedside table.

"Are you all right?" Hope inquired.

"No," Ryan growled. "She makes me so angry."

Hope crawled across the bed on her hands and knees. She rose to her knees behind Ryan and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Take a deep breath and try to calm down, love."

Ryan did as Hope suggested and took a deep breath. Slowly his stomach unclenched. "She wants to see Zoe and give her a birthday present. Should I let Laura see her? Did I do the right thing by telling her no?"

"I can't answer your questions, honey," Hope said.

"How do you feel?" Ryan said. "If you were in my shoes what would you do?"

"I would never let Laura near Zoe," Hope stated. "Laura has all ready shown that she's not fit enough to be a mother. Look at what she did to her own sister's child. She hit the poor child just because he broke a vase. I would do everything in my power to keep Zoe from getting hurt." She caressed his ear with her lips. "I know why you're second guessing yourself. Laura is Zoe's mother and even though she's not a good one you don't want to deprive Zoe of knowing her."

"I want what is best for Zoe," Ryan said. "I don't want her growing up hating me because I kept her from her mother."

"That little girl would never hate you," Hope said. "She thinks you've hung the moon and stars. I have an idea. Why don't we talk to her? Ask her what she wants."

The door opened at that moment and Zoe ran into the room.

"Perfect timing, little one," Hope said. "We were just talking about you."

"Come here, baby girl," Ryan said. "Daddy needs to talk to you." He scooped Zoe up and set her on his lap. She laid her head against his chest. "Your Mommy wants to see you. Do you want to see her?"

Hope tucked a strand of Zoe's long brown hair behind her ear. "Daddy and I won't be mad if you say no and we won't be mad if you say yes. Do you want to see her?"

"No," Zoe murmured.

"That's okay." Ryan kissed her temple. "You don't have to."

"Let's go find out what Gordon is making for breakfast," Hope said to Zoe as she got off the bed. "Let Daddy get dressed."

"Okay," Zoe said.

Ryan set Zoe on her feet. "Daddy will be down in a little while."

Hope put on her robe and then held out her hand to Zoe. "I bet we can talk Gordon into making us chocolate chip pancakes."

Once breakfast was over Ryan kissed Hope and Zoe goodbye and left for the office. Traffic was bumper to bumper. By the time he pulled into his parking space he was ten minutes late and well on his way toward a splitting headache. Killing the engine, he grabbed his briefcase and got out of the car. He shut the door and made his way toward the entrance. When he entered the building the security guard who was stationed near the doors nodded his head in greeting.

"Jason," Ryan said to him. "How is your wife?"

The security guard smiled. "She's well, sir. The baby is due any day now."

"Keep me posted," Ryan said.

"Will do, sir."

Ryan stepped out of the elevator a few minutes later to find Pam and Harvey kissing. He quickly looked away. "Break it up, you two."

Pam shoved Harvey away. "S-sir, I-I-" She broke off, blushing furiously.

Ryan turned his head and glanced at his lawyer of ten years. Harvey Finch was a bald slightly over weight man in his early forties. He wore glasses and had brown eyes. A reputation for being a ruthless lawyer, he saved Ryan on more than one occasion. "This is neither the time nor the place for such behavior. Harvey, do we have a meeting this morning?"

"No," Harvey said.

"I didn't think so." Ryan walked toward his office. "Say goodbye to Pam and then leave. Pam, please bring me a cup of coffee and a Tylenol."

"Yes, sir," Pam squeaked.

Ryan moved into his office and placed his briefcase on his desk. He unbuttoned his suit coat and sat down. Just then the phone on his desk rang. He snatched up the receiver. "Hello?"

"I forgot to tell you to have a nice day."

Ryan closed his eyes and let Hope's words wash over him. "It's not likely to happen, sweetheart. This day is starting out crappy. I don't look for it to get any better."

"I'm sorry, love. Is there anything I can do?"

"Yes," Ryan said. "Be there when I get home."

"You can count on it."

"I will call you later," Ryan promised.

"I'm taking Zoe to the park, so call my cell phone."

"I will do that," Ryan said. "Bye, sweetheart."

"Bye."

Ryan hung up the phone. "Pam!" he called out.

"I'm coming, sir." Pam hurried into the office. "I had a difficult time finding the Tylenol." She set a cup of coffee and the Tylenol in front of Ryan.

Ryan's eyes went to her left hand and the rings she wore. "When did you do it?"

"Do what, sir?" Pam asked her light blue eyes filled with confusion.

"When did you marry Harvey?"

Pam began to fidget. "I…we flew to Las Vegas last weekend. It was one of those spur of the moment kind of things. We wanted to invite you and Hope, but you were in Paris. How-how did you know?"

"I saw your rings," Ryan explained. "I know you and Harvey have been on a few dates, but I did not know you were this serious." He removed the cap from the bottle of Tylenol and shook two pills into the palm of his hand.

"I love him, sir."

"I don't doubt that." Ryan downed the pills with a drink of coffee. "I just wonder if you know what you're getting yourself into."

"With all do respect, Mr. Kendall, my personal life is none of your business," Pam told him.

"It's not, as long as it doesn't interfere with my business."

"It won't," she vowed.

Ryan nodded. "Good. Then let's get to work."

Hope sat on a park bench and watched as Zoe played on the slide with other children. It was a perfect day to be outside. The sky was a baby blue and there was not a cloud in sight. A light breeze made the warm temperatures bearable. While Hope kept an eye on the little girl she thought ahead to the upcoming weekend. On Saturday Zoe would turn four. A party was being planned by Hope and Maggie. They had decided on inviting everybody to the house for a cookout followed by cake and ice cream.

"Hope."

She turned on the bench and saw Jenny approaching with her three children. "Hi you guys."

"Kids go play with Zoe," Jenny said. "I'll be right here keeping an eye on you. Kenny, no throwing rocks." She sat down next to Hope. "The kids were driving me crazy. I had to get them out of the house before I snapped."

Hope smiled at Maggie's daughter. "I brought Zoe so she could play with the other kids."

"You should have called me and we could have gotten them together for a play date."

"I'll remember that next time." Hope checked on Zoe and spotted her on the swing.

"Mom tells me you're having a party for Zoe," Jenny said.

"I am," Hope said. "You should be receiving your invitation in the mail today."

"I'll keep an eye out for it." Jenny scanned the playground and caught her four-year-old son throwing a rock. "Kenny!" she yelled. "You throw one more rock and I'll paddle your behind." She sighed heavily. "I swear that boy is going to grow up to be a trouble maker."

"He'll grow out of his rebellious stage."

"I hope so. I'd like to enroll him in pre-school, but I don't think he's behaved enough for a classroom." Jenny shrugged. "I might give it a try and see how he does."

"You never know. It might be good for him," Hope said. "I- uh-oh. He has another rock."

Jenny rose from the bench. "I'm going to tie his hands behind his back."

"Good luck," Hope said with a grin.

"Thanks. I'm going to need it."

Hope and Zoe spent the rest of the morning at the park. They left shortly before twelve-thirty and headed home. Gordon had lunch ready and they ate it outside on the patio while watching Bob play with a chew toy. After lunch they went inside to find something that would occupy them for the rest of the afternoon. They settled on coloring in a new coloring book and then putting together a puzzle.

That evening found Hope in the kitchen preparing dinner. She was stirring the sauce for the spaghetti when Ryan strolled into the room.

"Something smells delicious," he said.

"I made spaghetti," Hope informed him.

Ryan kissed her. "Where is everybody?"

"I gave Maggie, Gordon and William the night off. Zoe ate a little while ago and then took her bath. She's in the family room watching a Disney movie." Hope smiled. "I wouldn't be afraid to bet she's asleep. She's had a long day."

"She's not the only one." Ryan rubbed the back of his neck.

"Sit down," Hope said. "Dinner's ready."

"Do you need any help?" Ryan asked.

"No. I have everything under control."

Hope carried the pot of noodles to the sink and drained them in a colander. She shook the excess water from the cooked pasta and dumped it back into the pot. She poured some of the sauce in the pot and tossed the noodles in it. Taking the pot to the table, she put it down in the center and went to fetch the garlic bread from the oven. She transferred it to a breadbasket and carried it to the table. After a trip to the refrigerator to get the ice tea she joined Ryan and saw he had prepared a plate for her.

"Anything interesting happen today?" she asked, picking up her fork.

Ryan poured him a glass of tea. "Pam and Harvey are married. They flew to Vegas last weekend."

Hope arched a brow. "That was rather sudden. I hope they don't live to regret it."

"If anyone will have regrets it will be Pam." Ryan reached for a piece of bread. "Harvey doesn't stay married long."

"How many times has he been married?" Hope took a sip of tea.

"Five times. Pam will be his sixth."

Shocked Hope gaped at him. "You're pulling my leg."

Ryan smirked. "Afraid not, sweetheart."

"My God. What was Pam thinking marrying him?"

"She claims she loves him," Ryan said.

Hope loaded her fork with spaghetti. "I hope he feels the same way."

"That makes two of us," Ryan muttered. "Anything interesting happen to you today?"

Hope grinned widely. "Jenny showed up at the park with her kids. Remind me to make sure we don't have any rocks in the backyard on Saturday."

"Kenny?" Ryan guessed.

"Yes," Hope said.

"That kid breaks one of my windows and I swear I will stick Harvey on him," Ryan declared.

Hope laughed.

Chapter 3

"I want to go," Zoe said.

"No."

"I want to go," Zoe repeated, stamping her foot.

Hope gazed down into the little girl's moss green eyes and tried not to smile. The expression on Zoe's face was one of defiance. It was at times like these when she reminded Hope of Ryan. Father and daughter hated being told no. "You can't go, sweetheart."

"Why not?" Zoe demanded to know.

Hope held back a sigh. "You know why. Your Daddy and I are going to buy your birthday present."

"I can help you," Zoe muttered.