Head Over Heels (27 page)

Thane locked the door again but looked through a tear in the newspaper to see Gunnar driving away in his Hummer. Gunnar remembered a lot from their past. Thane wondered if Gunnar recalled the line he had said to their mother a few years before he left the family home. Thane would never forget.

Even being separated from Thane for only a day, Kari felt like she missed a part of her body, like an appendage had been removed without her knowledge and she had phantom pains to remind her of its existence. She felt a pressure on her inner thighs that reminded her of when Thane had been nestled between her legs.

Not talking to Thane felt like a punishment. She couldn’t bring herself to call or see him. After only a day, Michael missed him. No matter what they did during their mini vacation, he asked about Thane, more than he asked about his father. As hard as Kari tried being both mother and father to Michael, he started to show signs that he needed a male figure in his life.

She couldn’t understand it. Kari hadn’t missed a female figure in her life when her grandfather had raised her on his own. Who was she kidding? She’d joined every team she could as a teenager to have a semblance of sisters. She’d watched female-centric talk shows to hear other women’s views on life and careers and men, especially men.

She didn’t want to deny Michael a complete family. That didn’t mean she needed to find a substitute. Thane wouldn’t be a replacement for Jarrod.

“You’re getting that faraway look in your eyes again.” Reagan draped her arm around Kari’s shoulders while they walked down the quiet boardwalk.

“Dreaming stuff I shouldn’t be considering.” Kari patted Reagan’s arm. “I screwed up so badly. Not only am I confused, but I allowed Michael to get sucked into my mistakes.”

“You keep saying that, but you haven’t considered the idea that what you’ve done isn’t a mistake.” Reagan lowered her voice when they got close enough to Michael for him to catch their conversation. “Has he called?”

Kari shook her head.

“Don’t sweat it. Like you said, he’s in mourning.”

Kari nodded and felt something next to her hip vibrating. She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone, hoping it wouldn’t be Frank. When she saw Thane’s name across the screen, she stopped.

“What?” Reagan released her hold and stared at Kari. Then her eyebrows rose to her hairline. “Thane?” she whispered.

Kari didn’t respond to her friend. She swiped her finger over the screen and answered the call. “Kari Meyers speaking.” She had to regain some professionalism in this relationship in the slim chance Thane actually wanted her as an agent.

“I need you.” His gruff voice powered through the phone and it felt like his words alone stroked her skin.

Kari’s breath hitched enough that she had to put her hand to her chest. “Excuse me?” She wanted him to repeat himself.

Before he spoke, she listened to the noise on the other end and the clamorous sounds grabbed her attention. Had he gone back to Florida to train? He could be standing in the center of a locker room.

“The girls.” Thane seemed out of breath.

Heat rose up Kari’s body until he spoke again.

“I can’t handle all of these little girls. Will you please come to the shop and help me with them?”

She exhaled. She’d forgotten Thane had promised dresses to some middle school children. “I’m with my son.”

“Bring him and Reagan. The girls are about Michael’s age.” Thane grunted. “Don’t climb up on that, sweetie.”

“They didn’t come with a teacher or parent?” Kari crossed her legs to keep her excitement contained. She didn’t care in what capacity Thane wanted to see her. He could have contacted anyone in his family, but he’d called her.

“One guidance counselor. She can’t handle them either. No, no. I’m on the phone.”

Kari heard giggling on the other end and couldn’t help but laugh herself. She’d been the sole adult during a field trip and sleepover. For someone who hadn’t been around a lot of small children, Thane did show some patience.

“I can’t stay very long.” She heard Thane sighing.

“Hopefully, it won’t take very long. I know this is not a young boy’s dream. I appreciate you coming by to help. Trust me. I’ll make it worth your while.”

Kari couldn’t hide the beaming smile that split her face. “An hour. That’s all.”

“Thank you.”

The screaming in the background got louder.

“Um, can you hurry?” Thane asked.

This time Kari couldn’t help but laugh. “Let me corral the team. We’ll be right there.” She disconnected the call before she could say anything else. As she put her phone back into her purse, she looked at Reagan and Michael. “We have to go.”

“Aw, Mom. Back to the hotel already? It’s not even night yet.” Michael stomped his way over to Kari.

“Oh, no. Walk correctly and take that attitude out of your voice right now or we will go back to the hotel.” Kari glared at her child, who quickly adjusted his gait to something lighter.

“Sorry, Mom.”

“Don’t say that you’re sorry. Say you apologize.” She bit the inside of her cheek when she realized she had quoted Thane.

“Yes, ma’am. I apologize.” He stood in front of Kari with his head down.

“Thank you.” Kari kissed the top of Michael’s head. “Mr. Wells called.”

Michael snapped his head up and beamed. Kari glanced at Reagan, who winked at Kari.

Kari continued. “He needs some help and asked that we come by his boutique.”

“Boutique? What’s that?” Michael asked.

“Probably somewhere you don’t want to be. But we won’t stay very long. I promise.” Kari would play it cool with Thane. Even though she knew that all bets would be off as soon as she looked into his eyes.

* * * *

With all the newspapers removed from the glass and door, Thane split his attention between the front door and the line of quiet, but excited, girls standing in front of him. Each time he glanced at any of them, a wave of chirpy giggles followed.

He had to thank his mother for his ease in dealing with children. Each time she’d had an event where she had to be around a lot of kids, she brought him and his brothers along. He learned not only patience from her, but also control that commanded respect.

In the past few years, he’d gotten used to being around little boys when he mentored students at baseball camp. When Mrs. Sortoberg had brought the girls to his shop, they had all squealed like little piglets as they hopped around him. Thane had stopped that quickly.

“I need you all to act like the beautiful young ladies you are,” he told them.

That statement had halted their excited behavior. However, he did use those first chaotic moments to call Kari, thinking if she heard the ruckus, she would offer to come over and help him. At least he’d hoped she would. She hadn’t disappointed him. Now he hoped that when she saw the girls behaving, she wouldn’t be too shocked.

Thane didn’t subscribe to the antiquated idea that a man should wait a certain number of days to contact a woman. He hoped Kari appreciated him being a man that stood on his own two feet. He certainly liked the fact that she worked hard and made time for her child and friends.

“Isn’t this fun?” Arlene, wearing all red this time, smiled as she waddled around the showroom.

“A blast.” Thane tried keeping his attention on Arlene while watching the girls and the door. “I’m glad to be able to continue this tradition my mother started.”

Until he saw the looks on the children’s faces, he hadn’t realized how important this moment meant to them.

“You have to admit that this is something special. They get a pretty dress for a dance tomorrow.” Arlene patted Thane’s cheek.

“Mr. Wells, why do you keep looking at the door? Do you want us to leave?” A blond girl with the biggest brown eyes kept her head down while still casting her eyes up to look at him.

A chill crept up the back of his neck as he regarded her. In his quest to spot Kari as soon as she arrived, he had neglected his guests. Queen Elizabeth would be so disappointed in his behavior.

Thane crouched down in front of the child. “What’s your name?”

She glanced at Arlene before answering. “Gayle.”

He held up his hand to her. “Nice to meet you, Gayle.”

Again, she paused before accepting his well-intentioned handshake. “Nice to meet you.”

He pulled his hand back. “You are absolutely right. I’m being a rude host by not giving you all my full attention. Thank you for calling me on my bad behavior.”

Gayle turned her head up to look at Arlene, who simply smiled.

“For that reason, you can be the first one to look at the dresses.” He waited until she acknowledged his statement before he moved.

The girl beamed and jumped around before Thane stood.

“I don’t think it was right how you were treating us either. Can I go to the front of the line?” A chubby African-American girl said from the back of the line.

“Sometimes you get what you get because of how you act. Come at me respectfully, and you’ll get my attention.” He approached the girl and put his hand on her shoulder. “Think about that from your current spot in the line.”

He felt her shoulders slump down. “Don’t worry. There will be plenty of great dresses to choose from.” He patted her shoulder, which she firmed up.

He peered up when he saw sunlight reflecting off a windshield and gleaming through the door. His heart pounded when he noticed that Kari had pulled into the lot.

Thank God.

“Excuse me.” Thane strolled by Arlene and went to the door.

Before Kari exited the car, he had the door open, ready for her to come inside. As soon as he saw her in her tight jeans, he forgot about the girls and the dresses and even his name. Her clingy T-shirt had him jealous of the fabric that got to cover her soft skin.

Kari opened the back door and helped Michael. He bolted by her to run up to Thane.

“Hey, Thane. I mean, Mr. Wells.” Michael hugged him and then peered in the store. “You have a lot of girls in there.”

“I know.” Thane patted Michael on his back. He glanced at Reagan first. “Hi, Reagan. Thanks for helping.”

“Hey, kids are my thing. I’m like a child whisperer.” Reagan smiled.

“You yell a lot though.” Michael scratched his head.

“You are such a joy to watch.” Reagan peered down at him and stroked his head.

“I know sarcasm when I hear it.” Michael screwed up his little mouth.

The banter between the two had Thane laughing until he looked at Kari again. “Hi.”

Kari smiled. “Hi.”

Silence lingered between the two of them. Thane didn’t break his stare from Kari until he got hit from behind. He turned and found Gayle holding up a light blue dress.

“Can I have this one? Ms. Sortoberg said I have to ask you first.” She looked like a million dynamite fuses had been lit in her tiny body and would detonate soon if he didn’t answer her.

“Have Ms. Sortoberg help you in the dressing room to see if it works for you.” Thane nudged the child toward the guidance counselor.

“Wow. I was kind of expecting a train wreck in here.” Reagan walked into the store. She turned to Thane. “You seem to have everything under control.”

“Yes, they do seem to be falling in line.” Kari screwed up her lips, but not out of anger. She looked like she was trying not to smile.

“It was selfish of me to demand so much of your time, especially now with your family here.” He moved closer to Kari. “I wanted to see you again no matter the situation. Is that okay?”

Kari’s mouth opened but she didn’t say anything. Thane didn’t want to render the woman speechless. He liked hearing her talk.

Michael shrank back against Kari. “So many girls.” He looked up at Kari. “May I wait in the car, please?”

Before Kari could answer, Thane spoke. “Hey, I have a quiet office in the back. There’s even a computer in there.” He looked at Kari. “That is if your mother doesn’t mind.”

“That’s very kind of you, Mr. Wells.” Kari’s light voice floated to his ears and caressed them.

“
You
call me Thane.” He put his hand on Michael’s shoulder. “Come on. I’ll get you to the office. Then your mother and I will get these girls out of here. Sound good?”

“Sounds great.”

Once Thane got Michael situated in his office and closed the door just enough to block the girls but still let Kari see inside to keep an eye on her son, Kari took Thane’s arm and pulled him into the corner.

“Before you get ahead of yourself, I want to tell you that I don’t like being manipulated into doing things.” Kari crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t use me.”

Thane had hoped she wanted to steal a kiss when she pulled him to the side. Her speech brought him back down to earth. Knowing what he knew about her, he understood her stance.

“I would never use you, well, except for one thing.” He held up his index finger. “You are still a sports agent, right?”

Her hard countenance cracked and she laughed. “You think you’re cute, don’t you?”

“No.
You
do.” He traced his index finger over her heart. He felt it pounding through her thin shirt. “We can stand here and talk more about my appeal, but I have a whole room full of young girls looking for dresses. Will you help me?”

She nodded. “Yes, I will. But I have to ask you a question first.”

Thane stared at her.

Kari asked, “What’s the surprise you have for me?”

“Oh, yes. I want to invite you to a dance at the Oceanfront Community Center.” He saw Kari’s eyebrows knit over her eyes.

“Is this the same dance you’re outfitting the girls for?”

He nodded. “Besides donating dresses, my mother also chaperoned the event. I would love it if you would come with me.”

“As your date?” Kari lowered her arms to her side.

“Yes.” No games. He liked this woman. He wanted her to know his serious intent.

“Hmm, me at a middle-school party.”

“You and Michael and Reagan, although I’m sure Michael won’t like it. Girls and all.” Thane ushered her to the main showroom where the students stood obediently in line until he returned. “I remember being his age and my mother dragging me to these events.” He shook his head.