Lucky Charm (20 page)

She grinned, appreciating Derek's foresight. After a quick shower, she headed downstairs to see what the day would bring.

“Gabrielle!” Holly exclaimed, obviously happy to see her. “Dad, Gabrielle's up!”

“I can see that,” he said wryly. Derek faced her from across his kitchen, coffee mug in hand. “Sleep well?” he asked, somehow managing a straight face.

She nodded. “I haven't had such a good night's sleep in ages. I'm glad I have a few more nights here, at least. Nice, comfortable bed.”

“Can I get you some coffee?” Derek asked.

She nodded. “I'd love some.”

“In the meantime, make yourself at home and grab some breakfast.” He pulled a mug out of the cupboard.

Gabrielle looked in the refrigerator, the cabinets and pantry. Settling on a bowl of corn flakes and milk, she joined Holly at the table.

“So what are you up to today?” she asked the girl.

She shrugged. “I'm not really sure. I think this girl I met when I first got here gets home from vacation today. Maybe she'll remember to call me.” Holly propped her chin in her hand.

She didn't seem like the normally cheerful kid Gabrielle had come to know.

Derek joined them and Gabrielle shot him a questioning look.

“What's wrong?” he asked his daughter.

“I just miss Mom,” she admitted. “Not that I'm not having fun with you.”

He rose and ruffled her hair before sitting down again. “I understand completely.”

After pouring her milk, Gabrielle began to eat her cereal, pausing to enjoy her coffee. Derek had already added milk and sugar to it for her, the way she liked it. She smiled. “Hey, I just had an idea,” she said to Holly.

The young girl raised her gaze. “What is it?”

“Well, I need to go grocery shopping for a few things. No offence, but I eat a little differently from the way you and your dad do,” Gabrielle said.

“What do you mean?” Holly brushed her tangled hair off her face and resettled herself more comfortably in her seat.

“I use skim milk instead of regular or soy, and have Special K instead of corn flakes for breakfast. That kind of stuff. If you and your dad want to hang out with me today, I thought maybe we could take that trip to Target first.”

Holly's eyes regained their sparkle. “Can we, Dad? Please? I want to check out those clothes Gabrielle told me about.”

“And I thought maybe we could pick up a couple of DVDs later? I need you to tell me what's out now and what's good.” Gabrielle directed her comments to Holly. “If your dad has a DVD player?”

“I do,” Derek said.

“Awesome idea. Dad doesn't have
On Demand
like we have at Mom's and I've already missed some of my favorite shows and movies.” She put one foot on the floor and began her typical excited bouncing. “Can we do it, Dad? Huh?”

Gabrielle glanced down at her mug, trying not to meet Derek's gaze. She didn't know if he'd appreciate her suggestions without asking him first, but she couldn't stand seeing Holly so sad.

“Sure thing,” Derek said. “Why don't you go shower and get dressed?”

She pushed her chair out and grabbed her cereal bowl, placing it in the sink. “Back in a few.”

“Take your time! The stores don't open for hours!” he called to her retreating back.

Gabrielle chuckled. “Actually Target opens at 8:00 a.m.”

He rolled his eyes and groaned. “Don't tell her that. We'll be finished by nine and have the entire day ahead of us to kill.”

“I'm sorry. I should have asked you before I suggested it to her. I don't want you to have to do something—”

“Don't be silly. It's fine. You made her smile and I appreciate it. It's been hard for her being away from her mother for so long.”

Gabrielle stared at the lone corn flake swirling in milk. “And you think she's safe with me?” She wasn't worried about her own safety. So far she'd been burglarized twice and been left harassing notes, but there had been no physical threats to her safety. Still…

“I'll be with you at all times, so, yes, I think she's safe with you. I worry about
both
of you,” he said, his voice filled with caring. “And as long as I'm around, nothing is going to happen to you.”

She smiled, and before she could answer, the phone rang.

He answered. “Hello?”

A few minutes later, he hung up, looking none too pleased.

“What's wrong?”

He held up one finger and called out to his daughter. “Holly, did you get into the shower yet?”

“No!” she yelled back.

“Then don't bother. Fred had a run-in with a mud puddle and Grandpa wants you to help give him a bath!”

Gabrielle shook her head and laughed. “That's one way to kill time before shopping.”

To Derek's surprise, Gabrielle insisted on helping with the dog's bath. They all changed into shorts and old T-shirts and headed outside to meet up with Hank and Fred.

“I got the shampoo,” Holly said, running out from Derek's house with her favorite bottle.

“He's gonna smell like a female,” Hank complained, turning toward the house to retrieve a different one.

Holly perched her hands on her hips. “And what's wrong with smelling like a lady?”

Derek chuckled. “Nothing…unless you're a man.”

Gabrielle laughed. “Come on, let's turn on the hose.” With Holly by her side, they walked to the back of the house.

He vividly remembered those long legs draped over his shoulders last night, and he'd woken up with them tangled around him this morning. His groin hardened, ready for another go with her.

“Easy,” he muttered as he turned away from the women who were returning, live hose in hand.

Derek grabbed Fred's collar, holding him in place. Hank poured the shampoo over the stinky, mud-caked hound, and Holly scrubbed him down with both hands and the rest of her body until she was covered in soap bubbles. Gabrielle waited patiently with the hose.

Once Fred was soaped down, Hank stepped aside and went into the house for towels, or so he said. Derek had a hunch he was just avoiding the work.

“Let 'er rip,” Holly called out to Gabrielle.

She squeezed the hose and ran it over the dog, while Holly again rubbed him, trying to rinse him off. Besides Holly, Derek took the bulk of the dousing, since he was crouched nearest to Fred. By the time they were finished, everyone was soaked.

Everyone except Gabrielle.

She dropped the hose at her feet and wiped her hands on the towels Hank had left on the picnic table.

“Wait, I still see soap on Fred,” Derek said.

“I've got it,” Gabrielle offered.

He shook his head. “You're dry. I can do it.” He picked up the hose before she could argue. “Holly, why don't you dry Fred off?”

“I thought he had more soap on him?”

“No, I just said that because you and I look like drowned rats and Gabrielle is just a little too dry, don't you think?” Hose in hand, he stepped toward her.

Her eyes opened wide as she realized his intent. “You wouldn't.” She raised her hands in front of her, as if to ward him off.

He grinned. “Why wouldn't I?”

“Daddy!” Holly shrieked, laughing at the same time. “That's so mean!”

“Listen to your daughter, Derek.” Her hands still raised in submission, Gabrielle stepped back.

He stalked forward.

She edged back. “Derek,” she said in warning.

He really shouldn't.

But she was so dry and…tempting. “How about I give you some warning? One, two…three.” He pressed the hose and directed the long stream of cold water her way.

She squealed and ran, but he was faster. Catching up to her with the hose, he gave her a thorough dousing before releasing the makeshift weapon and letting it drop to the grass.

She was bent over, panting and laughing, while from behind them, Holly was giggling like he'd never heard before.

Gabrielle raised her head and glared at him, but he saw the beginnings of a grin on her face.

“I couldn't help myself,” he said.

“I bet.” She stood up straight and pushed her wet hair off her face.

He took in her gym shorts and the T-shirt she'd borrowed from him for the occasion. The
white
T-shirt, which was now sheer. Her breasts rose and fell beneath the flimsy material, her nipples rosy and hard, pressing through the light cotton.

He swallowed a groan, unable to think of anything except wrapping her in his arms, pulling her to the ground and making love to her right here, right now. And from the sultry look in her eyes, she knew exactly what he was thinking.

“Dad!”

Holly's voice brought him to his senses.

“Yeah?” he asked, his gaze still focused on Gabrielle.

“Fred's dry and he's trying to get free. Can I let him go?” she asked.

He turned his gaze toward his daughter. “Why don't you take him to Grandpa's house, so he won't get into any more trouble out here?” he suggested.

“Good idea. Then I'll take my shower so we can go shopping!” She pulled on Fred's collar and somehow got the dog to follow her toward the house.

Derek picked up a dry towel from the table and tossed it to Gabrielle, then grabbed one for himself.

Neither of the adults spoke on the way back to Derek's. They didn't need to. Holly did all the chatting for them. His daughter was happy and still laughing over Fred's bath and her father's unexpected fun side.

He was too preoccupied with his own thoughts. They'd all been comfortable with one another. They'd had fun. Holly was happy.

Somehow Fred's hosing had become a
family
affair.

T
O
D
EREK
,
IT WAS OBVIOUS
Gabrielle loved Target. She insisted they could find everything they wanted in one place, including food. They didn't, however, which necessitated a trip to the local supermarket. But this was only after they'd loaded up the trunk with all the new clothes, hair accessories and DVDs Gabrielle and Holly had chosen.

Derek marveled at how quickly the time had passed in the store. Even more, how much fun he'd had shopping with Holly and Gabrielle. How often had Marlene asked him to join her on a shopping trip? Too often to count, and she hadn't always been referring to sitting around the women's department while she tried on clothes. As he'd made more and more money, she'd asked for his opinion on items for their new apartment, for Christmas presents for Holly, her parents and his. He'd always rejected the idea outright.

He'd thought his time could be better spent working, even on the weekends. In his job, he'd found an escape from reality—he hadn't had to face the truth of his life. He'd abandoned the woman he loved, married a woman he didn't and he wasn't happy. All because of that damn curse. More than once today, he found himself struck by a twinge of guilt when he found himself enjoying the day.

The three of them strode to his SUV, Holly climbing into the backseat behind Derek, who was seating himself in the driver's seat.

Gabrielle opened the door just as someone tapped her on the shoulder.

She gasped in surprise, then turned.

A young woman with her hair in a ponytail, wearing sunglasses, beige pants and a cream top stood before her.

“Yes?”

“Can I talk to you a minute?”

“Do I know you?” Gabrielle asked.

“Who is it?” Derek asked from inside the SUV.

She held up one finger to stall his question.

The young woman shook her head. “No, you don't know me. I used to be Mary Perkins's assistant before I quit. You're Gabrielle Donovan, the author, right?”

Gabrielle nodded. She was glad she'd already opened the door and Derek was within hearing distance if she had to yell for help.

“How did you know I was here?” Gabrielle asked.

The woman glanced around warily. “I've been following you since you left the house this morning. I was just waiting for the right time to approach you.”

A chill raced through her and Gabrielle rubbed her hands up and down her bare arms. “What can I do for you?” This woman didn't strike Gabrielle as a stalker, nor did Gabrielle think the woman wanted an autograph.

“It's more what I can do for
you.
Here. Take this.” She held an envelope out to Gabrielle.

She accepted it warily. “What is it?”

The woman shook her head. “You'll see. I only ask one favor.”

Gabrielle tipped her head to one side. “What is it?”

“Forget you ever met me.” She started to walk away, then turned. “Good luck,” she whispered, then crossed the parking lot and disappeared behind a row of cars.

Gabrielle climbed into the SUV, shut her door and hit the door-lock button as quickly as possible.

“What was that all about?” Derek asked.

She inhaled a deep breath. “Just a fan,” she said pointedly to Derek, wanting to wait until Holly was out of earshot.

He nodded.

Meanwhile, she opened the note, but the only thing on the paper inside was a name.

A name she didn't recognize.

 

S
HARON TWISTED HER HANDS
together. The closer she and Richard got to Tony's apartment, the more nervous she became. It was one thing for her to stalk Tony from a distance. It was another to confront him, face-to-face, with her fiancé by her side.

And that was Richard's plan.

They still weren't on the best of terms. His disappointment about what he called her lack of faith in him was clear. At the same time, she'd called their sex life and compatibility into question. Their issues were now, officially, out in the open.

But before they did anything else, they had to get to the bottom of the blackmail threat first. They could worry about whether they still had a relationship to save later.

When they got to the apartment and found nobody home, a neighbor helped them out by informing them she'd just seen the entire family depart for the playground behind the building. Sharon and Richard headed there next.

Sharon slowed as they approached the chain-link fence that surrounded a swing set. Mothers gathered around their toddlers, and a couple sat together on the bench by the sandbox.

“Tony,” she whispered, pointing to the bench.

“That's him?”

She nodded.

Richard started forward, but Sharon placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. “Wait.”

“Don't you want to confront him?” Richard asked, appearing confused.

“Of course I do. But
I
want to do it. If you just start asking him questions, he's bound to get defensive. Then we won't find out anything.”

Richard nodded. “Fine. Let's go. I'll let you do the talking.”

She drew in a deep breath. “Okay.” She'd already given a great deal of thought as to how she'd handle Tony when she finally confronted him. She'd had plenty of time while she'd been secretly watching him.

At first, she'd been nervous at the thought of facing him again. Now she was petrified, though it helped to know she had Richard by her side.

She closed her eyes and counted to ten. “Okay.”

She stepped forward, but this time he stopped her. “Sharon.”

“What?”

“I'm proud of you,” Richard said. “It's nice to see some of that spunk return. I was beginning to think all the progress you'd made for yourself had disappeared when the pictures showed up.”

She smiled grimly. “I appreciate you saying that.” Maybe he really loved her for who she was, after all. “I'm just sorry this is touching your life, your campaign. So. Let's go.” She shrugged his hand off, needing all her composure to face Tony.

He inclined his head and together they approached the couple on the bench. Tony wore faded jeans and a red T-shirt. The woman beside him seemed relaxed and happy.

Sharon wondered if she was about to upset the balance in Tony's relationship the way he'd upset hers.

Tony knelt down in front of the young boy Sharon had seen the other day.

She leaned against the chain-link fence separating the road from the playground and cleared her throat. “Tony?”

At the sound of his name, the man's head whipped around fast. She wondered if he recognized her voice, then called herself silly.

He rose to his feet, staring at her as his gaze narrowed in recognition. “Sharon?”

She nodded.

From behind her, she felt Richard slip his hand into hers. She appreciated the silent support.

Warily he approached her. “Watch him?” he said to the woman she assumed was his wife, pointing to the child.

Warily, the other woman nodded. She seated herself on the edge of the sandbox, but her gaze remained firmly on Tony's back.

“I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see you.” He stepped closer.

Although rationally she knew she was safe, she was glad to have the fence between them. “Because my friends were here first.”

“They grilled me.”

“And you lied to them.”

He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and shrugged. “I have a family to protect now.”

“Look, it's because you have a family that I'm hoping I can appeal to your sense of decency. You'll notice I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt by assuming you've developed one.”

She studied him. He was still handsome, although his features were more hardened than she remembered, his attitude gruffer. She supposed prison could do that to a man, and she shivered.

Richard released her hand and slid his arm around her back.

“Who's the suit?” Tony gestured to Richard.

Sharon squared her shoulders, meeting his gaze. If he was her blackmailer, he already knew that not only did she plan to marry Richard, but also that he was running for mayor. “My fiancé,” she said, still giving him some leeway.

“Well, I'll tell you what I told your friends. I didn't keep the photographs. The cops took them all and there's no way you're pinning any trouble you have now on me.”

Sharon hated herself for thinking it, but she almost believed him. The arrogant man she remembered was gone. In his place stood a beaten man who appeared content to live his life simply. He looked too scared of being connected to the photographs to have taken the risk again. Then again, he'd been a good liar once before.

“I hope you realize they're harsher on repeat offenders if you're lying,” Richard said.

“Hey, don't make assumptions you can't prove.”

Sharon glanced over. A muscle throbbed in Richard's temple, a sure sign he was holding back his anger and disgust at Tony. This time
she
squeezed his hand to calm him down.

“Listen, all I want to know is how someone could have gotten ahold of one of the photos,” Richard asked in a controlled voice.

“And I'm telling you the police have them all.”

Sharon gripped the fence harder. “Tony, you have a family you want to protect. I understand that. But if I don't find out who's blackmailing me, I won't ever have a family. Don't I deserve that chance? Don't you think you owe me at least that?” she asked, her voice rising.

Tony exhaled hard.

“Honey, don't you think you should tell her?” The woman from the sandbox walked up beside him, holding the child in her arms.

Tony stiffened.

“Tell me what?”

The brunette put her hand on his shoulder. “A few months ago, Tony got an anonymous phone call.”

“What did they want?” Richard asked before Sharon could.

Tony groaned. “The same thing you do. The person wanted to know if I had copies of the pictures.”

“All the pictures?” Sharon asked. “Of all the women?”

He shook his head. “Just you.”

She winced. “And what did you say?”

He slung an arm over the fence. “Again, I told them what I told the rest of you. I have no damn photos. The cops took everything.”

“Why keep this to yourself?” Richard asked. “Why didn't you just admit it to us when we asked?”

He rolled his eyes. “For one thing, I didn't know those friends of yours from Adam, so I wasn't telling them anything.”

“And me? Why didn't you tell me?”

“Because…” He leaned closer to them, whispering the rest. “The person who called me was an ex-con I'd met in prison. He was trying to make a buck by getting his hands on those pictures for someone and selling them. I'm not supposed to have contact with anyone I met in the joint. And I don't intend to violate my parole and screw up my life again.”

Richard nodded slowly, seemingly more satisfied with this answer. “What's the guy's name? The one you met in prison?”

Tony kicked at the dirt in front of him. Obviously he didn't want to get any more involved than he already was.

“Stan. Stan Mancusi,” the woman beside him said softly.

“Calls himself Stan the Man,” Tony muttered. “He's into petty shit. Anything to make a buck. And he's local,” he added grudgingly. “You can probably find him in any one of the seedier bars on the docks in Salem.”

“Thank you,” Sharon said.

Tony shrugged. “Felicia's right. I owe you,” he said without meeting her gaze.

Sharon glanced at the other woman. “I appreciate it.” And she hoped Tony would give Felicia the kind of life she deserved.

Sharon and Richard were silent on the way back to the car.

Once inside, Richard turned to her and asked, “Why did you say you might never have the family you want?”

“Because we obviously have a lot to discuss when this blackmail thing is over. If you have to drop out or if the picture or pictures are published, I'll be responsible for ruining your career and your dreams. I don't expect you to forgive me for that.”

He shook his head harshly and turned the key in the ignition. “Damn, you don't give me enough credit. Or maybe you just judge all men by that dirtbag's example and I never realized it until now. Do you think that whatever we have to discuss will stop us from getting married? Or that I would really hold something that happened
to
you against you?”

She didn't answer. It seemed every time she tried to speak, she made things worse between them.