Читать книгу His Secret Child - BEVERLY BARTON, Beverly Barton - Страница 9

Two

Caleb hit the rewind button on the VCR and cursed himself for a fool. Why the hell had he brought along the tape of last season’s final playoffs game—the last baseball game of Caleb Bishop’s illustrious career—when watching himself in top form was an excruciating torment?

“You’re a glutton for punishment, aren’t you, Bishop?” he said to himself. “How many times are you going to watch that damn tape?”

When he stood, he tossed the remote control onto the sofa and headed for the kitchen. His stomach rumbled, as if on cue, the moment he entered the neat, white kitchen. Glancing at the clock on the microwave, he noticed that it was nearly noon. He hadn’t eaten a bite since he’d gotten up nearly four hours ago.

For the past ten days he had shut himself off from the rest of the world. Living like a hermit, he hadn’t even answered the telephone for the first few days. But Tallie’s insistent messages warning him that if he didn’t pick up the damn phone before long, she was going to drive down from Nashville and personally kick his butt, encouraged him to make contact with the outside world.

Caleb pulled a box of cereal from an upper cupboard, retrieved the milk from the refrigerator and prepared himself a bowl of comflakes. The supply of groceries Sheila Vance had brought him was nearly gone. Within a day or two, he’d either have to make a trip into town or ask Sheila to do some shopping for him. He liked the idea of giving Sheila a call. More than once he had stopped himself from contacting her and using any pretense to lure her over to his house. But she’d made it perfectly clear that she wasn’t interested in a brief affair. No, she wouldn’t be. His instincts told him that Sheila was still the type of girl who’d want a long-term commitment from a guy. And he simply wasn’t the kind of man who made a woman promises he couldn’t keep.

Just as he downed the last spoonful of soggy flakes, the telephone rang. Damn, why couldn’t Tallie leave him alone! He jerked the receiver from the wall hook by the back door and growled into the phone.

“Yeah, what do you want now?”

“And hello to you, too,” Hank Bishop said.

“Hank?”

“Yep. Who’d you think it was?”

“Tallie,” Caleb replied. “Our little sister is driving me nuts trying to keep tabs on me from Nashville. You’d think with a husband, a baby and duties as first lady of the state, she wouldn’t have time to pester the hell out of me.”

Hank chuckled, the deep sound reverberating from his chest.

“Well, you know our Tallie. She can’t keep her nose out of everybody else’s business.”

“So, what’s up, big brother? Or are you checking on the washed-up has-been, too?”

“You’re going to have to stop feeling sorry for yourself sooner or later,” Hank said. “Why don’t you do all of us, yourself included, a big favor and make it sooner?”

Caleb snorted. “Humph. Straight to the heart of the matter, as always. You make it sound so easy. Just pick myself up by the bootstraps, dust myself off and do. . .do what, big brother? I wasn’t the smart, straight-arrow type like you. And I wasn’t the hell-raising rebel like Jake. All I ever wanted was to play baseball. Since I was just a little kid. Now, that’s gone. Forever. And I don’t have the slightest idea what to do with the rest of my life.”

“How about starting by being grateful you have the rest of your life.”

Caleb knew that his older brother meant well, but Hank didn’t know what it felt like to have his life out of control, his dreams destroyed and his future uncertain. No, Hank was the type who, no matter what happened, would always take charge and find a way to do the honorable thing. If Hank were in his shoes, he’d already have mapped out a new course for his future. But then, Hank was the smart brother. Caleb was the dumb jock.

“Yeah,” Caleb agreed. “I suppose being a pitcher with a useless right arm is better than being dead.”

“Are you still moping around the old homestead?” Hank asked. “Haven’t you even been into town? I’ll bet folks are dying to see you and welcome the local hero back to Crooked Oak. And there’s probably more than one cute girl who’d like to ease your loneliness.”

Caleb chuckled. There was no point denying his ladykiller reputation, not to his own brother, who knew him better than anyone else alive. “As a matter of fact, I met a rather interesting woman the first day I came back.”

“I thought you hadn’t left the house.”

“This particular woman was here when I arrived. She’d aired out the place, brought in groceries and had my supper waiting for me.”

“Are you talking about Tallie’s friend? What’s her name? Mike Hanley’s kid sister? The one who married Dan Vance?”

“That’s the one. Sheila Vance.”

“If I remember correctly, I’d say the woman isn’t your usual type.”

“Maybe I’d like to try something different for a change,” Caleb said. “I’ve had my share of airheaded beauties. Sheila may be a plain Jane, but there’s something about her that—”

“It’s called quality,” Hank said. “Tallie thinks highly of Sheila. Seems she’s had it pretty rough, widowed so young and trying to raise a child on her own. Think twice before you use a woman like her to ease your loneliness.”

“If you’re warning me not to hurt Sheila, save your breath. Tallie’s already read me the riot act.”

“Good for her.” Hank cleared his throat. “Why don’t you come up to Virginia and stay with me for a while?”

“I might later on. But for now I just want to stay put to try to figure out who the hell Caleb Bishop is if he’s not the star pitcher for the Atlanta Braves.”

“You’ll figure it out.” Hank sighed loud enough for Caleb to hear him.

“Do me a favor, will you? Call our little sister and ask her to leave me alone, at least for a few days.”

“Will do. Talk to you in a couple of weeks.”

“So long.” Caleb hung up the receiver, then glanced out the kitchen window at the vast backyard and thickly wooded area behind the house. If he was a hunter and fisherman, the way Hank was, he could pass the time with a rifle or with a rod and reel. And if he was a hard-living SOB like Jake, he could hit every bar in town and ease some of his frustration in a few fistfights.

But baseball had been his only passion for so many years that he could barely remember ever caring about anything else. As a teenager, the only other thing that had interested him had been his 1980 Camaro—the car he had wrecked, the car Tallie had put back together years later.

Cars. Hmm. Maybe he needed to buy himself a fixerupper street rod and—Hell, how could he do any work on a car when his right hand was practically useless to him?

Sheila and Mike owned a garage, didn’t they? He could stop by and talk to them about helping him find something special—maybe another Camaro—and he could hire them to do most of the work. He could hang around the garage and watch, and occasionally do a few things himself.

Okay, Bishop, admit the truth. You need an excuse to see Sheila Vance again. An excuse she’ll buy without any question.

“All right, I admit it,” he said out loud to himself. “I don’t know why I can’t stop thinking about Sheila. Maybe it’s because she’s so different from the women I’ve always dated. Maybe it’s because winning her over would be a real challenge.”

Think twice before you use a woman like her to ease your loneliness Caleb heard Hank’s warning once again.

Sheila was no kid. She was a thirty-year-old widow, not some naive innocent. A pang of guilt hit him square in the gut. At least not this time, an inner voice said. Okay. Okay. So Sheila had been a shy bookworm when he’d known her twelve years ago. And yes, he’d been pretty sure she was a virgin the night he made love to her. But it wasn’t as if he’d forced himself on her. She’d been more than willing for him to be her first lover.

She was in love with you, you bastard!

But that was then and this is now. Sheila was no starry-eyed, infatuated innocent anymore. If they had a brief affair now, they would meet on equal terms—two lonely people in need of companionship.

Who the hell was he kidding? Sheila Vance was no more in his league now than she’d been when they were eighteen. He had no right to even consider seducing her. But, God help him, he knew that given half a chance he’d take her and to hell with the consequences.

Mike Hanley placed the hot Reuben and fries on the desk in front of his sister. She glanced up from the computer and smiled at him.

“Thanks. I’m starving.” She shoved back her chair, stood and headed for the small rest room adjacent to her office.

“Don’t you think it’s time we talk about it?” Mike said. “You’ve put me off every time I’ve brought up the subject.”

Leaving the bathroom door open, Sheila washed and dried her hands. “What’s there to talk about? Caleb’s back in Crooked Oak for a brief visit and when he’s pulled his life back together, he’ll be gone again.”

“Well, it doesn’t look like he’s in any hurry to leave. He’s already been here ten days and hasn’t even put in an appearance in town. The natives are getting restless for a good look at the big celebrity.”

“I suppose Caleb was the main topic of conversation over at Pete’s Cafd, wasn’t he?” Sheila returned to her desk, opened the styrene food container and growled hungrily when she picked up the sandwich.

“Caleb Bishop has been the main topic in town ever since your son told all his buddies that the great man had arrived.” Mike sat down on the edge of the battered old wooden desk, reached out and grasped his sister’s chin. “Sticking your head in the sand isn’t going to work, you know. Crooked Oak is a small town. If Caleb stays—and it looks like he’s going to—then sooner or later he and Danny are going to come face-to-face. What happens then?”

Sheila swallowed the delectable mouthful of corned beef. “Nothing happens. There’s no reason for Caleb to suspect anything. After all, not a soul in town ever questioned that Daniel was Danny’s father. Why should Caleb?”

“Because Caleb is one of four people who knows you and he had sex twelve years ago.” Mike released her chin. “Have you talked to Susan lately?”

“I’ve been avoiding her calls,” Sheila admitted. “I know she’s going to do just what you’ve been doing—torment me.”

“Honey, it’s your own conscience that’s tormenting you. You’re feeling guilty for lying to Danny about his father. And you’re scared to death that somehow he and Caleb are going to find out the truth.”

“I won’t let that happen.” Sheila broke a French fry in two. “I will not let Danny get hurt because of my mistakes.”

The telephone rang. Sheila jumped, then glared at the noisy object.

“Want me to get it?” Mike asked.

“No, of course not.” Sheila lifted the receiver. “Hanley Garage and Tow Truck Service.”

“Sheila? Have you seen my brother today?”

“Oh, hello, Tallie, how are you?”

Mike’s eyes widened and his mouth curved into a smile. “Tell the first lady I said hello. I’m going back to work. Mr. Chapman is coming by in about an hour to pick up his Suburban.”

The minute Mike left the office, Sheila lowered her voice and said, “I haven’t seen Caleb since the first evening he got into town. Why would you think I’d seen him today?”

“Well, I talked to him earlier and he promised me that he’d get out for a while this afternoon.”

“What makes you think he’d come to see me?”

“Because he said he planned to stop by the garage and talk to you and Mike about finding him an antique car that the three of you could restore together.”

“Oh!” Oh, my God! The last thing she wanted—the very last thing she needed—was a reason to spend any time with Caleb. But if he did come by and hire Mike to help him restore an old car, how could she possibly refuse? What reasonable explanation could she give for not taking his money?

“Look, I can trust you to watch out for Caleb. He’s lonely and vulnerable right now,” Tallie said. “Without someone to keep close tabs on him, he’s liable to let the first pretty face he meets get him into trouble. The last thing he needs is some hero-worshiping fan to get her claws into him.”

“What do you expect me to do about it?” Sheila asked. “Besides, if he doesn’t ever leave the farm, then it’s highly unlikely that some crazed female fan is going to seduce him.”

“All I’m asking is that if Caleb needs a little female companionship while he’s in town, you provide it for him.”

“I’m afraid your idea of companionship and your brother’s are two different things. And believe me, I’m not sleeping with your brother as a favor to you.”

“Hell’s toenails,” Tallie said, moaning dramatically. “I don’t expect you to. It’s just that he’s all alone and you’re all alone and—”

“I’m not all alone,” Sheila told her. “I have family. Danny. Mike and his Christy. And I have dated Pat Lawley a few times recently.”

“Pat Lawley? My heavens, Sheila, you’re four inches taller than Pat and five years older. I like Pat, but he’s hardly the man for you.”

“Pat and I are the same height. And he’s twenty-seven, which makes him three years younger than I am.”

“Doesn’t matter. Pat’s not right for you.”

“You aren’t implying that you think Caleb is the right man for me, are you?”

“Well, maybe not But I do remember a time when you had quite a crush on my brother. If he’d had any sense back then, he would have snapped you up before Dan Vance married you.”

“Tallie!”

“Oh, all right, I’ll stop trying to play matchmaker. If you’re not interested in Caleb for yourself, then try to find him some nice girl to date while he’s in town. And I mean nice.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks. And give me a call in a few days and let me know how he’s doing. Okay?”

“Okay.”

After hanging up the phone, Sheila rested her elbows on the desk and cradled her chin in her cupped hands. If Tallie hadn’t been Caleb’s sister, she would have told her the truth twelve years ago. When she had discovered she was pregnant, she’d gone straight to Susan Williams, who had been the third member of their friendship triangle. Sheila hadn’t wanted to keep the truth from Tallie, but she had convinced Susan and herself that if Tallie knew the child she was carrying belonged to Caleb, then Tallie would tell her brother. And the last thing she’d wanted was to ruin Caleb’s big chance to play college baseball.

She might have felt differently about things if Caleb had loved her. But he hadn’t. He’d taken her out on graduation night and she’d suspected all along that the date was a repayment for her valuable assistance in helping him pass his final exam. What had started out as a pleasant evening spent with a friend had turned into a passionate night that she had never been able to forget. She had lived off the memory of that one night for twelve years. She had lain in Dan Vance’s arms during the intimate moments of their marriage and thought about the night another man had made love to her. And she suspected that Dan had known and had forgiven her for being unable to forget the man who had fathered her child.

A gentle tapping on the open door alerted Sheila of a potential customer. She looked up to see Caleb Bishop poised in the doorway, his long, lean frame silhouetted by the afternoon sunlight behind him. Her heart skipped a beat. Her stomach fluttered. Damn him for still having such a potent effect on her. Damn him for coming back into her life and unsettling her peaceful existence. And damn him for unwittingly putting Danny’s security at risk.

“Hello,” he said. “Have you got time for me?”

She wanted to scream no loud and clear. She wanted to tell him to go away and leave her alone, to stop sending her into turmoil with his nearness. But she couldn’t say or do anything to alert him that she was afraid of him, that his presence in her life was a danger to both her and her son.

“Sure. What do you need?” She whirled the swivel chair around, shoved it back and stood to face him.

I need you, honey, he wanted to say, but didn’t I need to set you up on that old desk of yours, spread your legs, unzip my jeans and. . . His thoughts wreaked havoc on his body. His sex enlarged and tightened uncomfortably.

He removed his cap and fiddled with it in his large hands. “I, er, I thought maybe you and Mike could find me an old hot rod to restore. I couldn’t do all the work myself—” he raised his limp right arm “—but I thought I might keep the car here and y’all could help me fix it up. It’d give me something to do to pass the time.”

“What’s the matter? Have you gotten tired of holing up at the farm and feeling sorry for yourself?”

He grinned, that devastatingly cocky grin that countless female fans swooned over. Sheila wanted to shout to the world that he had bestowed that special smile on her years before he’d become a baseball star.

“Yeah, something like that.” He took several tentative steps into her office. “So, do you think you can find me a car?”

“I’m sure Mike can, if you tell him what you’re looking for. He’s working on a van right now. Why don’t you go on out to the garage and talk to him?”

“Do you still tinker around on cars yourself?” he asked. “I remember you were almost as good a mechanic as Tallie.”

“Occasionally I get my hands greasy,” she said. “If Mike needs my help. But mostly I handle the office and take part of the tow truck calls.”

“I remember when Gramps and Dan first went into business together. It was right after Gramps’s first heart attack and the doctor told him he couldn’t work at the factory any longer. Dan had been recently widowed and left his job in Chattanooga to come home to Crooked Oak and put his life back together. Sure never thought he’d wind up marrying one of Tallie’s friends.”

“Dan was a good man and we had a good marriage, despite the difference in our ages. I still miss him terribly.”

“Yeah, I guess you do.” Caleb’s body relaxed enough that he felt comfortable moving in a little closer to Sheila,. “But at least he left you with a child. I imagine having Dan’s son makes living without him easier.”

Myriad emotions tightened Sheila’s chest. For one brief moment she couldn’t breathe. Her instant reaction to Caleb’s comment was fury. She wanted to pound his chest with her fists and tell him that her child was his son, not Daniel’s.

A long, seemingly endless moment of silence strung out between them. Say something, Sheila told herself. Say something before he wonders why you’re reacting this way. But before she could think of an appropriate response, a woman’s soft voice called from the doorway.

“Hi.” Smiling directly at Sheila, Donna Fields curled her small hand and waved her fingers in greeting. “I stopped by to see if my car’s ready.”

Glad for any interruption, Sheila breathed a sigh of relief.

“Oh, Donna, come on in.”

The elegantly slender woman, a mane of mahogany red hair falling around her shoulders, entered the small office. She halted beside Caleb, who had turned and openly admired the woman’s physical beauty.

“Hello,” Donna said. “I don’t think we’ve met Are you a customer or a friend?”

Caleb reached out and took Donna’s hand, gave it a lingering squeeze, then grinned devilishly, flirtatiously. And the Green-eyed Monster soared inside Sheila like a jet plane in flight. Did the man have to try to charm every woman he met?

“I’m an old friend and a potential customer,” Caleb replied. “Caleb Bishop, at your service, pretty lady.”

“Caleb Bishop?” Donna practically gushed with enthusiasm and pleasure. “Tallie’s brother. The baseball player.” She pumped Caleb’s hand. “I’ve heard so much about the Bishop brothers from Tallie that I feel as if I know all three of you.”

“I’m sure she told you that I’m the handsome one.” Caleb’s smile widened. “By the way, how do you know Tallie? You weren’t one of her high school friends. Believe me, I’d remember if you were.”

Oh, yeah, Sheila thought, Her he would remember.

Donna laughed, obviously charmed by the man who still held her hand. “Actually, I met Tallie when I was dating Peyton.” She chucked at his puzzled expression. “Oh, there wasn’t anything serious between your brother-in-law and me. We were just friends.”

Sheila rose from the chair, squared her broad shoulders and stood beside Donna. Might as well let Caleb get a good look at the two of us, side-by-side, get the comparison over with and come to the conclusion that any man would—that Donna Fields was a beautiful desirable woman and Sheila Vance was a big, plain country girl.

“Your car’s ready,” Sheila said. “I’ve got your bill.”

Donna rummaged in her purse, pulled out a credit card and handed it to Sheila. “I’d love to stay and chat, but I have an evening class, so I have to rush back to Marshallton for a dinner date with a colleague.”

“We’ll have to get together soon.” Sheila processed the bill, then returned the card to Donna. She pulled a set of keys off a nearby hook. “Here’s your keys. Your Corvette’s parked in the side lot.”

Donna took the keys, gave Sheila a quick hug and whispered in her ear, “Is Susan pregnant yet?”

“Not yet,” Sheila replied softly. “Keep your fingers crossed. She and Lowell are going in for some tests next week.”

Donna shook her head, then turned to Caleb. “Nice to have finally met one of Tallie’s brothers.”

“Would you be interested in seeing more of one of Tallie’s brothers?” Caleb asked.

“Oh, that’s a tempting offer, but I’m afraid I’ll have to decline. You see, I’m taking a group of my students from the junior college to England during spring break and I’m going to be terribly busy from now until we leave.”

“Maybe when you get back.”

“Maybe. If you’re still in Crooked Oak.”

Caleb watched the strikingly lovely redhead’s departure, every male instinct within him admiring the sway of her shapely hips.

“Donna’s a beautiful woman, isn’t she?” Sheila commented.

Caleb suddenly realized that Sheila had witnessed his practiced come-on to Donna. Damn! When it came to pretty women, he seemed powerless to stop himself from flirting. Sometimes the flirting led to other things, but more often than not, it didn’t. However, Sheila would probably judge his actions as those of a philandering jock. After all, he did have the reputation, didn’t he? And if he were completely honest with himself, he’d have to admit that the reputation had been fairly earned.

“Yeah, she is beautiful,” Caleb said, then turned his attention to Sheila. “So. . .do you think I should ask her out when she gets back from England?”

“That’s entirely up to you,” Sheila said.

“What kind of woman is she?”

“A very nice lady.”

“Too nice for me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Do you think we’d make a good pair?” he asked.

“In some ways,” Sheila said. “Just like you, Donna isn’t interested in a commitment. She dates, but she never gets serious about anyone.”

“A woman after my own heart.” Caleb chuckled. “So Donna likes to play around and—”

“She’s a widow who’s still in love with her husband. She dates, but she doesn’t play around, so if you want a sex partner—and I’m sure you do—then Donna’s probably the wrong choice.”

“What about you, Sheila? Are you a woman who’s still in love with her husband?”

I was never in love with Daniel Vance. But I can hardly tell you that fact, any more than I can tell you that Danny is your son or that you’re the man I fell in love with when I was just a foolish teenage girl.

“A part of me will always love Daniel.” And I will always be grateful to him for marrying me and giving your son a father. “But, no, I’m not in love with him.”

“Mmm. So, if Mike can find me a car, would you be interested in helping me fix it up?”

“Me? I don’t think so. But I’m sure, if the price is right, Mike will help you.”

“Why not you?”

Caleb studied Sheila Vance closely. A slight pink flush stained her cheeks. He grinned. His blatant survey obviously embarrassed her.

She was as different from Donna Fields as an oak tree from a red maple. Donna was breathtaking, colorful and delicately feminine. Sheila was strength and simplicity and looked like the type of woman who could plow a field, fight off a band of renegade natives and give birth—all in the same day.

“Let’s just say that I’m not interested, okay?” She had no intention of being one of Caleb Bishop’s pastimes while he was visiting Crooked Oak. She wasn’t going to volunteer to amuse him for the next couple of weeks, until Donna got back from England or until some other pretty girl caught his eye.

“You’re a hard-hearted woman, Sheila Vance.”

“I’m a—”

“Hey, Mom. Practice was great. Pat said I’m going to be the Bulldogs’s star pitcher this year.” Danny Vance raced into the office, a wide, warm smile, identical to his father’s, spread across his face.

Sheila’s heart missed a beat. Damn, she’d lost track of time. Why hadn’t she remembered that Pat Lawley was going to drop Danny by the garage after Little League practice today?

“Did he? That’s wonderful, Danny.” Sheila forced a smile to her lips. Well, the inevitable had happened. Caleb and Danny were in the same room together. And strangely enough, the world hadn’t come to an end. Yet.

“So, this must be your son,” Caleb said.

“Yes, this is Danny.” Sheila grasped her child’s shoulders and turned him around to meet the one man on earth she’d assumed he would never meet. “Danny, this is Caleb Bishop.”

“Wow wee, Caleb Bishop!” Danny jerked out of his mother’s grasp and rushed over to Caleb. “Man, this is great. Just wait till I tell the guys that I met Caleb Bishop. Right here in my mom and uncle Mike’s garage. And Pat. He’s a big fan of yours, too. Pat Lawley’s our coach. We’re the Bulldogs. You ought to come to a game. You’d—”

“Danny, slow down,” Sheila said. “You’re talking Mr. Bishop to death.”

“Yeah, sorry.” Danny bowed his head sheepishly. Smiling closemouth, he cut his glance in a sideways gesture she’d seen Caleb make time and again when he was being repentant. “I’d like your autograph, Mr. Bishop. I’ve got a brand-new ball. Do you think you could sign it for me?”

“Call me Caleb. And I’d be glad to drop by your house any time and sign that new ball.”

“How about tonight?” Danny lifted his head and Sashed Caleb a brilliant smile. “You could come to dinner. Tonight’s pot roast Mom put it in the Crock-Pot early this morning. She’s a great cook and—”

“Danny!” Sheila cautioned him again. “Mr. Bishop. . . Caleb may already have plans for dinner.”

The boy gazed pleadingly at the man and Sheila’s heart ached for her son. A boy who missed the only father he’d ever known. A boy who had found a role model in a star athlete.

“Sorry,” Danny said.

“As a matter of fact, I don’t have any plans.” Caleb clasped the boy’s shoulder and smiled down at him. “And I’d love to eat some of your mama’s pot roast tonight.” He glanced over Danny’s head and made eye contact with Sheila.

“We eat a little later, now that Little League season has begun,” she said. “Come by around six-thirty.”

“Thanks,” Caleb said. “I’ll go talk to Mike about finding me a car.” He focused on Danny momentarily. “See you tonight, slugger.”

The moment Caleb left the office, Danny jumped up and down, screeching the way only an eleven-year-old boy could.

“Caleb Bishop is coming to my house for dinner tonight! The Caleb Bishop. Holy cow, Mom, I’m going to be the envy of every guy at school tomorrow.”

Yes, Caleb Bishop was coming to their house for dinner tonight. And she would have to watch them together—Caleb and Danny, father and son—and pretend that everything was normal. Right or wrong, no matter what, her first obligation was to her son. She had to protect him at all costs. Caleb didn’t matter. She didn’t matter. And any feelings she still had for the man were unimportant.

She could not allow Caleb to become a part of their lives and then walk away from them, as she was sure he would do. She might be willing to risk her heart again for the pleasure of being with Caleb one more time. But she would never put Danny’s security and happiness at risk. Not even for Caleb.