Wish on the Moon (14 page)

"And you have a propensity for acting
irresponsibly and recklessly. Ray doesn't need more headaches or
worry about the store. I won't let you damage what he's spent his
life building."

Her fingers strained around the folder with
her notes until she almost bent it in half. "You're giving me more
credit than I deserve. I can't damage much in six weeks."

"You could get a damn good start."

The hope that had sprouted inside her almost
wilted. Almost. She never gave up without a fight. Slamming the
folder with her ideas and plans for earning her dad's love into
Mitch's hands, she said, "Try to keep your eyes open and your brain
uncluttered by what a terrible person I am when you read that. If a
trip to Arizona, an ad campaign, a website and a promotion that
will bring new and younger customers into the store will damage the
business, I want to know how."

She spun on her heels and slammed the door as
she left her father's office.

***

After supper, Mitch went to Ray's study. He
and Laura had been civil at supper but that was it. He leaned back
in the leather chair and opened the folder. Why couldn't she live
with the status quo? That had been her problem as a teenager too.
Never satisfied. Always rebelling. At least that was what he'd been
told. But in this last altercation she'd said something about
getting her father's attention.

Mitch impatiently brushed the paper clip from
the clump of papers. Of course, she'd had Ray's attention. She was
his only child. Why wouldn't she have it?

Unless Ray hadn't been able to relate to an
adolescent, a developing woman. Had he backed off? Did she read
that as her father withdrawing his love?

Is that why she wanted to take over now? To
get Ray's attention? Well, he'd be damned if he'd let her make a
mess of Ray's store just to get his attention. She and Ray would
have to work out their differences on some other front. If they
could.

Mitch flicked open the folder impatiently,
planning to give it a quick once over. But he got caught by the
phrasing, the captions, the rough ideas for ads and a website. They
were good, all of them. She must have worked like a dynamo all
afternoon to get this done. The whole campaign was based on the
principle that the sterling jewelry was unique, intricate, and
affordable for all ages and everybody--sweethearts, sisters,
mothers, fathers, brothers.

But a spur of the moment trip to Arizona?
Now? He was studying the rate of supply when the study door flew
open.

"We can't find Puffball!" Tears rolled down
Mandy's cheeks. "Mommy called the cleaning lady and she let her out
this afternoon." The child sniffled. "And it's raining and
Puffball's gonna get wet!"

Mitch pushed the papers away, stood, and
scooped Mandy into his arms. He felt at a loss, but he knew he had
to do something to comfort her. He did what his mother had always
done for him, hugged her close. "Cats aren't like people. They
don't mind rain."

"But she's an inside cat. And we're not at
home. She won't be able to find her way back."

Mitch knew nothing about cats, little about
calming Mandy's fears. "Where's your mommy?"

Mandy hiccupped. "She said not to bother you.
But she's gonna get all wet too!"

"She went out to look for Puffball?"

Mandy stuck her finger in her mouth and
nodded.

Mitch strode to the kitchen and set Mandy on
the counter. Nora was emptying the dishwasher. "I wanted to go out
too, but Laura wouldn't let me. She's going to get soaked."

Mitch headed for the foyer closet and pulled
out his trench coat. On his way out the sliding glass dining room
doors, he said, "Don't worry. Everything's going to be all
right."

He didn't know if he was assuring himself or
them.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Mitch saw the blink of a high-powered
flashlight near the south corner of the yard. What would they do if
they couldn't find the damn cat? How would they tell Mandy? Why
hadn't Laura asked his help from the beginning? Did she think he
wouldn't care? He'd do anything for that little girl.

He dodged through the pouring rain towards
the light. When he reached Laura, she had pulled her wool hood over
her head, but she was drenched.

"Give me the light and go inside. You're
going to catch pneumonia."

Even in the shadows, he could see a sparkle
of defiance in her eyes. "And you won't?"

Don't fight. Be practical, Riley. "Have you
been working around the yard?"

She pushed aside branches of spirea to peer
into the base of the hedge. "No. I've just been looking wherever a
cat might hide. She knows her name, but she hasn't come."

He took Laura's arm as the rain dribbled
through his lashes and down his face. "That only means she has more
sense than we do. She might be dry in the crook of a tree--"

"That's it!" Laura popped up. "The tree
house. Why didn't I think of that?"

He ran beside her in the rain, hoping the
treehouse was the answer. When Laura tripped over a gnarled tree
root, Mitch caught her against him. Suddenly he knew he'd gone to
Harrisburg to escape being close to her, to avoid more sharing,
more feeling. He wanted to kiss the rain from her cheeks, the tip
of her nose, the peak of her lips, but when she regained her
balance, he urged her forward.

They reached the treehouse and Laura thrust
the flashlight at him so she could scramble up the ladder.

"Wait. You won't be able to see." He held the
light so she wouldn't misstep and climbed up behind her. At the top
he swung the bright streak around the small covered cubicle.

"There she is!" Laura stretched out her arms
to the cat.

The animal looked much smaller and Mitch
realized Puffball was as wet, if not wetter, than they were. She
meowed sharply and hissed when Laura tried to grab her.

"She's going to fight. Wait a minute." Mitch
set down the light and took off his trench coat.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to wrap her in it so we all get
back in one piece. She still has her back claws."

"You'll ruin your clothes."

Of all times for Laura to pick to be
practical. With quick, economical movements he wrapped the cat
before she could dart away. "They'll dry. Let's get her back to
Mandy."

Laura took the light and led the way. Nora
and Mandy were waiting with towels in the kitchen. Ray looked on in
wry amusement.

Mitch flipped his wet hair away from his
forehead and unwrapped the cat on the floor. She was half of her
normal size, her hair matted and flat. Mandy ran to her, hugged
her, and kissed the top of her wet head. The cat meowed twice as if
thanking her mistress for her concern.

Laura stripped off her poncho and laid it
over the counter. "I'm going to take her upstairs to the bathroom
to dry her off."

Mitch's wet sleeves stuck to his upper arms.
"I'll carry her up for you."

"Can I help?" Mandy asked.

Laura swept her damp hair back from her face.
"You'd be more help if you get your nightgown on and spread a towel
for her on your bed. I'm sure she'll want to snuggle after being
out in the cold all night."

Mandy studied the drenched cat. "Okay. Maybe
she can sleep under the covers with me."

Mandy scampered up the stairs in front of
Laura and Mitch. Puffball hung limp in his hands and meowed.

Mitch crouched and settled Puffball on the
bathroom rug. Laura's leg brushed his ear as she opened the vanity
and removed a towel. "Sorry," she mumbled.

The bathroom was average size but confining
with two adults and a cat, especially when the other adult was
Laura. "Your slacks are wet," Mitch noted. "You ought to
change."

She gazed at his trousers molded to his
thighs. The look they exchanged was steamy and sexual. Neither was
paying enough attention to Puffball. With a lurch, the cat zoomed
for the door and darted down the hall. Mitch took off after
her.

Puffball had reached the top of the staircase
when Mitch swooped her up and tucked her under his arm. "Gotcha.
Believe me, this is for your own good. It won't be so bad, you'll
see." When he saw Laura standing in the bathroom with a smile
threatening, he felt ridiculous.

Apparently Laura couldn't suppress a giggle.
"I talk to her all the time."

The squirming animal kept Mitch from
responding. When he quickly slipped past Laura into the bathroom,
she stepped inside and closed the door.

This time, he kept a firm grip on the cat.
Laura knelt on the floor and toweled Puffball gently but applied
enough pressure to soak up the moisture.

Every once in a while Laura's gaze met
Mitch's and a surge of energy zipped through him. Inadvertently,
his eyes slipped to her damp blouse hugging her breasts. Since when
couldn't he direct his line of vision? His grip on Puffball tensed
and she meowed.

Laura asked, "Do you want to change
positions?"

He shook his head and sat cross-legged
fashion with Puffball across his thighs. If he concentrated on the
cat, he wouldn't think about the woman.

Sure. Except when her fingers accidentally
grazed his knee, except when her face was so close he could lift
her chin and kiss her, except when the scent of her perfume made
more potent by the clinging moisture practically inebriated
him.

All in all, the process took about ten
minutes. But to Mitch it felt like a lifetime. As soon as the cat
was as dry as possible under the circumstances, he stood and opened
the door. Puffball streaked down the hall to Mandy's room. He
noticed Laura had wrapped her arms around herself. He watched her
closely and she shivered. It took most of his self control not to
pull her into his arms and surround her with his body heat.

He said, "I'll light a fire so you can warm
up. I'm sure Mom already has tea brewing."

As he turned to leave, Laura's voice stopped
him. "Mitch, thanks for your help. Puffball's important to
Mandy."

"I know." He grinned. "But not even Mandy's
going to get that animal to sleep under the covers." When Laura
smiled, her upper lip moved to the side in an enticing way. Mitch
said abruptly, "See you downstairs."

***

Laura kissed her daughter good night, petted
a still damp Puffball, changed into her nightgown and robe, and
thought about Mitch running down the hall after the cat. She
giggled again. Somehow, at that moment, he hadn't seemed so
straight-laced. And sometimes when he watched her with those
intense blue eyes... How she wished she could read his mind.

The first floor was quiet when she reached
the foyer. Listening closely, she heard the soft buzz of voices in
her dad's quarters. But not Mitch's deep baritone.

She stepped into the living room and saw
Mitch poking at a log on the grate. Flames spurted and spread.
Stepping away, he closed the mesh curtain. He'd changed into jeans,
and his red and black checked flannel shirt looked worn and
soft.

He saw her immediately. "Ready for bed?"

The question took on more meaning than it
should have. She felt her cheeks flush as her breath caught in her
throat. "I decided to be warm and comfortable," she finally
managed, sitting on the sofa. She noticed the mug of tea on the
coffee table. It had a touch of milk just the way she liked it.
Doug had never done that for her. He'd been as independent as she.
She didn't serve him; he didn't serve her. Maybe they'd missed
something. The caring felt nice.

"The fire should help you warm up."

"Dad and Nora don't want to enjoy it?"

"They're busy playing dominoes." Mitch sat
next to her.

Silence seemed preferable to conversation. It
was like that with Mitch. She and Doug had chattered incessantly.
They were always on the move. With Mitch she could be comfortable
sitting quietly. Why was she making these comparisons anyway?

Mitch broke into her thoughts. "There's
something I want to ask you."

Her heart beat faster. "Ask."

"The Business Association is hosting a
Halloween party on Saturday. Ray thinks we should go. He said you'd
know a few of the store owners there. It's at the Country
Club."

Would this qualify as a date? No. Mitch had
made it clear this was business. "Years ago, the store owners took
turns having the party in their homes. Times have changed. Do they
still wear costumes?"

Mitch moved his legs so they weren't so close
to hers. "Yes. Can you get something together? I'm renting an
outfit from a costume shop. If you want to do that--"

"Everything's probably picked over. I have a
few ideas. One of them should work." She didn't say more but
waited. He didn't really want to talk about the Halloween
party.

"Laura, about our discussion earlier..."

Mitch looked uneasy and she knew he was going
to turn her proposal down flat. "It was more of an argument."

"I'm sorry I jumped on you like that." The
apology was said quickly but with too much sincerity for her to
doubt he meant it.

"About the store or about my dad?"

He sighed and settled back into the sofa.
"Let's stick to the store for now."

The easier of the two she supposed. She
relaxed into the cushions too. "You don't want changes either."

Mitch stretched his arm along the back of the
sofa, brushing her hair. "I didn't say that. Change takes thought.
I'm not used to doing something because it seems right. I do
research and analyze statistics first."

"That's why I want to go to Flagstaff." She
moved her hands with excitement as she talked. "To see the
operation myself. I truly think this would be good for the
store."

"Your ideas for the sales campaign are good
and we still have time to implement them."

It took a moment for his praise to sink in.
"You're behind me on this?"