Paradise (4 page)

“Hey! The big guy’s here!” Eddie hustled over to the playpen and hoisted his nephew high over his head. “Hey, Buddy, what’s doin’?”

The baby squealed and a long strand of drool landed on Eddie’s shirt. “That’s my guy.” He hugged the baby, tucked him in the crook of his arm and walked back to the desk. The boy settled quietly and played with Eddie’s watch.

JT hurried over to them. “Hey, boy, ain’t you gittin’ ta be a big ‘un. I tell you, Nick, he’s gittin’ so big, he’ll be out huntin’ gator afore you know it.”

Nick’s grin widened. “Hopefully, we have some time before that --”

“
Sweet Home
Alabama
” chimed into the office. They all stared at each other.

“Oh, yeah, that’d be me. Peggy Jean just got that new ring on the cellular. ‘Cuse me.” JT pulled his cell phone from his belt loop and wandered to the corner of the office.

Eddie couldn’t take his eyes from Robbie, but she refused to meet his again. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, but she was the most intriguing woman he seen in a long time and in beautiful packaging to boot. Her milky white skin with just the hint of a few freckles across the bridge of her nose went straight to his groin. Was she that pale all over? He’d give his favorite rod and reel to find out.

“Are you sure? Sorry, honey, I know’d you been through this four other times, but we’re supposed ta have three more weeks.”

In unison, four heads -- Drew’s included -- turned toward JT.

“I’m on my way, babe. Keep your knees together.”

JT turned to the questioning group. “Listen, Miz. Miller, I’m sincerely distressed, but I won’t be escortin’ you this week. Peggy Jean’s water just broke. Evidently, the latest Pearson is anxious ta arrive. Three weeks early. Damn! Sorry ta leave you in a lurch, Nick. But you know how they git if they can’t curse you n’ all your ancestors in the delivery room.”

“Go, man.” Nick smiled. “Get there before the stork.”

With a wave, JT shot out the door. Robbie’s mouth hung open. “He’s married? With four kids?”

Nick smiled brightly. “Almost five.”

“So, does this mean I won’t be touring the Okefenokee this week?” Her voice had a distinctly happy tone that puzzled Eddie. She sounded like she was glad JT couldn’t make it.

Nick’s eyes shifted from her to Eddie. He shook his head and moved to the computer. “Let me check the schedule and see who else is available.”

“You already know everyone else is gone. Why are you wasting Ms. Miller’s time?” Eddie challenged, trying to keep the laughter from his voice. “I’m the only one left. Remember, you wanted me to handle the office this week?”

Before Nick could counter him, Eddie turned to Robbie. “Ms. Miller, I’d be delighted to escort you and your boyfriend. Nick can bring the kids down here and work the office. That’ll give Fran some peace, and we’ll be able to make the Channel Ten review. Good plan, don’t you think, Nick?”

Nick cleared his throat and stared pointedly at him. He ignored his brother’s dark look and glanced at Robbie.

“I guess that works for me, but if it’s too much of a problem, we could always re-schedu --”

“No, no problem at all.” He cut her off, giving Drew a squeeze. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed her gear. Damn. Was that a rolling suitcase? “You have gone camping before, haven’t you?”

“Er, yes. Yes, I have.” The color in her cheeks deepened.

“I see,” he said, hiding a grin. “Then the first thing we need to do is get you a backpack. Sorry, no Samsonite allowed in the canoe. We’ve got a few extras around here someplace. Come on, Drew. Help me pick out a nice backpack for the pretty lady.” He strode across the office, his hiking boots echoing on the hardwood floors, and rummaged through the large walk-in closet set in the far wall.

“Vuitton,” called Robbie.

He stuck his head around the corner of the door. “Beg pardon?”

“Vuitton. My bag is Louis Vuitton not Samsonite. There’s a big difference.” She sniffed.

“Well, it doesn’t much matter if it’s Vuitton or Gucci or Cardin.” He chuckled. “It still isn’t going in the canoe. By the way, where’s your boyfriend? Is he carrying Vuitton, too?”

“Like I said, Robbie,” Nick interrupted, giving him a thin lipped grimace.

Eddie shrugged and gave Drew a “what’s with him” face before returning to the closet to resume their search.

“Fran and I are disappointed we won’t get to introduce you to the wonders of the wetlands, but Eddie knows the swamp like the back of his hand, and I’m sure he’ll give you a grand tour. Uh, Eddie, do you have a minute? I want to show you some new, er, rigging I just picked up.”

He stuck his head out of the closet again. “Did you say ‘rigging’?”

“Uh, yeah, come on outside and I’ll show you.
Now!
Robbie, make yourself at home. We’ll be right back.” Nick yanked open the door, sending the bell jangling wildly.

Drew giggled at the sound. “Here,” Eddie said, shoving the baby at her. “Hold onto the big guy. We’ll be right back.”

“But I --”

Ignoring her surprised look, he followed his brother from the office and outside to the parking lot.

“Rigging? What the hell is rigging?”

Nick checked to ensure they were out of earshot. “Look, Eddie, I appreciate your help, but I know you, and I don’t want any funny business. I saw that once-over you gave her.”

Eddie rolled his eyes.

“Keep your hands and other body parts to yourself. Don’t screw this up. There’s been more than one mix-up here. Her boyfriend isn’t with her. The only reason I’m agreeing to this is because we’re stuck. There’s no one else available.”

So, he’d be alone for a week with a beautiful woman. How did he get so lucky?

Nick removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fran’s going to have a cow when she finds out. Look, we need that lady’s good publicity for business. You know we’re doing great during the season, but we need more tour traffic in the off months.”

Nick was warming to his subject. Since they were kids, Eddie could recognize the signs. The softer Nick spoke, the more serious he was.

“That means families, couples and, the occasional women’s group,” he continued in a low voice. “That won’t happen if she reports that McGraw Tours was just a bit too accommodating. So keep your pants zipped and your dick behind the zipper. Come on, we have to re-pack your gear into one canoe.”

He followed his brother to the remaining SUV and began re-arranging and paring down the supplies. Yup, Nick was nothing if not specific.

“Don’t you think you’re being unfair? This business means as much to me as it does to you and Fran. I’m not going to do anything stupid.” No point in confessing he already had. It’d just make Nick’s blood pressure go up. “Just because I enjoy a little female company, doesn’t mean I screw every one I meet.”

“No,” grimaced Nick, “just every other one.”

“You know, I’ve changed a lot since I’ve been back. In case you haven’t noticed, Big Bro, I’m thirty-five and all grown up. So I was a little wild when I was a kid, it doesn’t mean I still am.”
Damn, he never lets go of anything.

If his brother only knew how far off base he was. The days of chasing anything with boobs was long past, and it was all Nick’s fault. Nick had no idea how much he envied him. If he didn’t love his brother so much, this jealousy would eat him up.

All the hot, willing babes in the world couldn’t compare with an adoring wife and five kids who thought you hung the moon. To be an event when you walked into your house, to have kids yell and babies squeal, to have them jump around and vie for your attention simply by coming in the door was something Eddie would give his eyeteeth to have.

He’d seen it so many times since he’d returned, it almost hurt to visit his brother’s house. Well, almost. The kids gave him quite a welcome, too, but it wasn’t the same. They weren’t
his
family.

He’d stepped up his efforts to find a nice, sweet country girl, but every time he found “The One,” something always made him back off. He looked at his brother wryly. If only he knew.

Exhaling loudly, Nick rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, that lady’s review is important. I want your word you’ll be a perfect gentleman and keep your hands off her.”

“All right, all right,” he conceded. “I get your point. I won’t lay a finger on
Little Miss Louis Vuitton Luggage
.”

“Good,” gritted Nick through clenched teeth.

“Even if she does have the most delectable ass I’ve ever seen.” He ducked but his brother swatted his head anyway before stalking back toward the office, leaving Eddie to follow.

* * * * *

“Robbie? Drew? Where are you?” Nick called.

Eddie, right behind his brother, gaped through the window at the empty office. Where were they? Robbie didn’t strike him as a kidnapper. They’d only been gone ten minutes. The bell almost fell off the hook when Nick slammed through the door.

“Hey, how about we play with this nice giraffe? You really don’t want to gnaw on that nasty ol’ gator, do you? Who knows where it’s been.”

Eddie stood in the small lobby and stared at his brother who returned his puzzled look.

“Come on out of there, young man,” a gentle voice coaxed. They followed the sound behind the counter to find a nicely rounded, jean-clad derriere sticking out from beneath the front desk.

“How about this lion? Grrr. Want to chew on his head?”

This was too good to pass up. Eddie leaned around the desk and whispered. “I’d rather chew on something a little softer.”

She came up sharply, and he winced when she bumped her head on the edge of the desk.

“Ouch!” She backed out on her knees, rubbing her head. “I never claimed to be a nanny.” Drew immediately followed her, holding out his arms.

Robbie picked up the giggling toddler, balancing him on her hip. Bending her head, she brushed a soft kiss across the baby’s downy hair. “You are one busy fella.”

Eddie’s insides wretched as a yearning to take them both in his arms overtook him. How could the sight of Miss Vuitton with a baby invoke such a powerful feeling?

“Sorry about that, Ms. Miller,” said Nick. “Sometimes he gets too playful.”

“No problem. I usually don’t do kids well, but he’s cute, even comes equipped with his own drool machine. So, is the rigging all in order?” she asked as the baby gurgled a greeting. She continued to play, teasing Drew with the plastic lion. Her smile for the boy wrapped around Eddie’s heart. Nick cut off his view and lifted the baby, assuring her that the rigging was all in order.

Eddie shook his head. The moment and the emotions passed. He glanced at Robbie again. She rubbed her head, giving him a reproachful look.

“The rigging…is all rigged.” Eddie smiled, ignoring Nick’s frustrated stare. “Now, back to finding you a substitute for your
Louis Vuitton
camping gear.” He chucked his nephew under the chin and sauntered toward the closet.

“Well, I better get back home before the rest of boys wake up,” said Nick.

“Boys? You mean you have
five
boys
?

Nick’s deep laugh resonated throughout the room. “Just enough for my own basketball team. Anyway,” he continued, “they gave Fran some pain pills in the emergency room, and I’m afraid she won’t hear the beasts tearing down the house. You’ll probably be gone before I get the rest of them dressed and back here. We’ll have a ball minding the office while she sleeps.”