Читать книгу The Super Mum - Karen Smith Rose - Страница 9

David knew he had to deep-six any desire he felt for this woman. Escaping from whatever had come over him, he straightened and took a healthy step away from her. “I’d better get the milk going.”

She blinked those very blue eyes at him. What was it about Angela Schumacher that got to him?

“Sure.” A look of self-protective pride spread over her face, mixing with another emotion. Disappointment maybe?

They weren’t going to talk about what almost happened. That would make it more real. At this point, he could turn off his attraction to her and set himself on the right course. He was here because of her son.

End of story.

She busied herself wrapping cookies in tin foil. “Sledding will be a real treat for the kids today. Last year we only went twice. Did you go often as a kid?”

The questions about his background shouldn’t have thrown him, but they did. He didn’t know how much he wanted to reveal. It wasn’t as if he had anything to hide—his life was an open book, if anybody wanted to look. But his life hadn’t ended up where he thought it would, and there had been disappointments along the way for him, as well as his family.

“We lived on a farm, so there were a lot of places to go sledding.”

“What kind of farm?” She looked genuinely interested.

“A dairy farm. Dad still keeps it all running, but I don’t know how much longer he can do that.”

“What about your mom?”

“She died when I was in my teens—of ovarian cancer.”

“I’m so sorry. Losing a parent is rough. My parents were divorced, and I didn’t see my dad much after that. It’s not nearly the same thing, but it’s why I know how Anthony feels,” she said.

“We’ll see if we can’t do something about that, starting today.”

The smile she gave him tightened his gut and made other physical reactions start happening, too. He wondered if she knew what a powerful punch she packed as a woman.

He was going to stay out of striking range.

By the time he and Angela finished in the kitchen, the kids were dressed and ready to go. Anthony wasn’t coming anywhere near David, but that was okay.

Angela had taken a few minutes to slip into ski pants and a jacket. The outfit was a brilliant turquoise with a yellow stripe. She was petite but not demure. Feminine, yet not passive. He thought of the fiancée who’d left him because his career had been ruined…because she’d wanted some of the fame his dad had dreamed of for him. Jessica’s leaving while he’d worked in rehab to regain use of his leg had seemed like a crushing defeat. Fate double dealing him. At twenty-eight, he still couldn’t figure out women, and for the past couple of years had stopped trying. He dated, but never seriously. Sometimes he felt as if he were out of step with the rest of the men of his generation who hopped from one woman’s bed to another, as if sex and relationships were some kind of game. Maybe it was his upbringing, but he’d never felt like that.

A half hour later, as David unloaded his toboggan from the rack on his SUV, he saw Angela lifting a saucer from her van. Michael grabbed it and, struggling with it, took off through the cluster of kids and adults at the top of the hill.

“Michael, wait,” Angela called after him.

David hollered over to her, “I’ll watch out for him. Take your time.” He started off toward Michael.

Soon he was aware of Anthony following, a good ten feet behind him. This Big Brother thing was going to be a hard sell. But if he didn’t push, the nine-year-old might come around. Most kids did because they missed the male figure in their life who wasn’t there anymore…because they felt as if a piece of their life was missing.

The next hour seemed to fly by in a mixture of runs down the hill, trudges back up, laughter and adrenaline rushes—mostly because of getting too close to Angela, not the speed of sledding down the hill.

Anthony just sort of buzzed around at a distance, giving David curious looks now and then, acting sullen and withdrawn otherwise. He’d met up with a friend, and at one point the two boys had joined David on the toboggan. Afterward, Anthony had gone his way again. As Angela kept a close eye on everyone, David noticed she oversaw the outing but didn’t sled herself. Did she feel she couldn’t have fun when the kids were around?

Although she was holding a cup of hot chocolate and breathing in the warmth, her nose and cheeks were red. They’d have to leave soon.

In spite of an inner voice telling him to stay removed, David approached her. “How about taking a run down the hill with me?”

“I don’t think so,” she answered politely.

“Are you afraid I’ll dump you in the snow?”

She gave him a genuine smile. “Maybe. I’m not a speed junkie.”

“You don’t like roller coasters?”

“I avoid them at all costs. I turn an ugly shade of green.”

“I doubt that. Come on. You need to show your kids you can join in the fun.”

“I do?” She looked a bit defensive.

“Sure. I think one of the reasons kids keep a distance from their parents is because they think their parents were never kids. Or have forgotten what it was like to be a kid.”

As she gazed out over the snow-covered vista and the pines beyond, she seemed to think that over. Her focus went to Olivia, who was tubing down the hill with a friend. Then she concentrated on Michael, who was in his own world, spinning his saucer on a snow patch. Anthony had taken his sled and was doing belly flops down the hill.

A tall man had arrived a few minutes ago with his daughter, and Angela had spoken to him for a while. David had definitely noticed. That same man was standing by a picnic table, watching his daughter, who was sledding with Olivia.

“Hey, Jack,” Angela called to him. “Can you keep an eye on my kids for a few minutes?”

“No problem,” he called back.

She turned back to David, “All right,” she agreed. “One run.”

“You have to smile, so they think you’re having fun even when you’re not.”

She laughed, and he liked the sound of it. He liked her.

A few minutes later he was positioning the toboggan. “It’ll be easier if I hop on first. Then you slide back between my legs.”

Her eyes grew a bit bluer and wider, and for a moment she looked as if she wanted to run. Maybe he’d been wrong about a mutual attraction. Maybe it had been wishful thinking.

“This will be over quicker than you can say your name.” He hopped on before she could change her mind, then motioned in front of him.

After brief moments of hesitation, she sat at the foot of the toboggan, then levered herself backward until she was between his legs, closer to his chest.

He realized he was going to have to put his arms around her to guide the toboggan, unless she wanted to handle steering. “If you want me to guide the sled, I’m going to have to put my arms around you and take hold of the lead.”

“Fine,” came her small low voice.

This had been such a bad idea. His knees were lodged against her hips. After he slid forward, his arms went around her and he felt her tense. But then she handed him the rope.

“Stay loose,” he warned her, his chin practically touching her shoulder. “If we do capsize, it’ll make the tumble easier.”

“Do I really want to do this?” she muttered, looking toward heaven.

His arms were under hers now. In spite of the cold he felt the warmth from her body, the heat of whatever sexual attraction was zipping between them. It wasn’t one-sided.

She wore a pull-on knit cap, and it almost touched his nose as he used his leg to push them off. “Hold on,” he suggested as they tilted over the crest of the hill and began their descent.

She did hold on. Her hands clasped his arms, and the rush of wind, the bite of cold rising from the snow, the accelerated speed as they picked up velocity, weren’t as thrilling as having this woman in his arms. As they flew down the hill, she lay into his chest. He leaned forward to protect her. The ride was exhilarating. Her perfume mingling with the pine and winter was intoxicating. The rush that went through him surpassed anything he’d ever felt on the football field. That was most surprising of all. He’d thought he’d lost that adrenaline lift forever. But here it was today, because of Angela Schumacher.

The ride was over as quickly as it had begun. One moment the toboggan was speeding, the downhill slope propelling it. The next they were coasting to a stop.

Neither of them spoke or moved, although other sleds and tubes careered down the hill around them. Riders jumped off, grabbed their leads and marched up the hill again for another run.

But David and Angela just sat there.

“That was something,” he said just to get her to talk.

When she glanced over her shoulder, their faces were very close. “It was indescribable.”

Her lips were so prettily curved, her chin as petite and delicate as the rest of her. He wanted to kiss her more than he wanted to take another ride like that. But if he did, he’d ruin his chance to get to know Anthony. He’d ruin their chances of maybe becoming friends. He’d ruin the path he’d set for himself to make success a priority, his store and working with kids all the purpose in life he needed.

He inched back away from her. “I’m glad you liked it.”

When she saw he was extricating himself, she slid forward and then climbed to her feet. Slapping her hands together to warm them, she grimaced. “I think it’s time to go. The kids have got to be as cold as I am.”

He wasn’t cold at all because of the fire that had started burning inside of him—a fire he knew could only lead to trouble. “Maybe we could round them up and have more of that hot chocolate. Anthony hasn’t even looked me directly in the eyes yet today, and I’d like to accomplish at least that much.”

“Hot chocolate it is. I think there are a few cookies left, too.”

They began trudging up the hill. The snow was wearing an icy sheen from the movement of the sleds on top of it. Near the top, one of Angela’s booted feet slipped.

Before she could topple sideways, David wrapped an arm around her. They were body to body again, and he wondered if he should have just let her fall.

But he couldn’t have done that.

As soon as she regained her balance, she pushed away. “Thanks,” she mumbled, negotiating the rest of the climb herself.

David was beginning to see that Angela Schumacher was a modern day, independent woman.

Maybe.

Jessica had taught him that actions weren’t always a good indicator of what was going on inside a woman’s head. After the accident that had killed one of his friends and ruined his career, she could have earned an Academy Award for her smiling visits of support, the cards she sent him in rehab, the telephone calls that had assured him he’d be on top of the world again in no time.

The day after the accident, everyone had known his NFL dreams were dust. Including Jessica. Maybe she really hadn’t known how she’d felt. Maybe she’d been trying out a role to see how it fit. Maybe she hadn’t felt any love at all, but had simply wanted to ride his jersey into a life of fame, fortune, big houses and luxurious cars. She’d walked away because she’d signed up for a fiancé different from the one she’d gotten.

Loyalty and promises kept were rare commodities these days.

Angela was shaking when she reached the top of the hill. Her trembling had nothing to do with the cold and everything to do with David Moore. Teenage crushes were long ago and far away and had no right to reach out and grab her now. Just because his eyes seemed to swallow her up. Just because his smile made her toes curl. Just because he listened as if she really had something to say. None of that could excuse this reaction.

Olivia came running over to her.

With a nonchalance she wished she could feel, David offered, “I’ll round up Michael and Anthony and stow their gear.”

“I’ll warm up the van and get out the snacks.”

As Olivia dragged her tube behind her, they walked toward the van in the parking lot. “Do we have to go home?”

“Sure do. You’re going to turn into an icicle otherwise.”

When Angela pressed the remote to open the doors, Olivia asked, “How did it feel going down the hill with Coach Moore?”

What should a mother say to that? “It was over so fast I hardly remember it.”

Liar, an inner voice accused.

“He’s a real hottie, isn’t he?”

Angela just stared at her daughter. She was only seven, for goodness sakes. “Where do you pick up this language?”

“I watch TV,” her daughter said impishly, then added, “I hear the middle-school girls talking on the bus. Everybody does. I don’t live in a bubble, Mom.”

Whatever happened to seven-year-olds playing with baby dolls, putting puzzles together or skipping rope with friends? Even Olivia wanted an MP3 player for Christmas, and Angela had no doubts she probably knew how to use one.

Still with that grin, her daughter added, “I think you like him.”

Oh, terrific! Apparently her reactions to the man were obvious even to Olivia.

“Coach Moore is going to spend some time with Anthony, I hope. That’s it.”

“You don’t want to go out with him?” Olivia asked with her eyes narrowing.

“Of course not. When would I even have time?” She dropped her arm around Olivia’s shoulders. “I’ve got a life daughter, dear. I’ve got you and Anthony and Michael. What more do I need?”

“You still miss Daddy, don’t you?”

As always, when her kids asked a question like that, Angela paid complete attention. Dropping down to Olivia’s eye level she admitted, “I miss what we once had. I miss another adult in the house to talk to…someone I’m connected with in a special way. But I can’t control what your dad does. I wish he’d visit with all of you more, but he’s trying to get a new business up and running, and that keeps him busy.” At least that was the excuse Jerome was giving. It was also his excuse for not sending timely child support payments.

“I miss Daddy, but I don’t miss you and him arguing about him never being there.”

Kids saw and heard everything and she had to remind herself of that every day. “Things are just different now. We’re a different kind of family. And that’s okay.”

“So…” Olivia drawled. “Don’t you want to go to the movies or something with Coach Moore?”

“No,” Angela returned, straightening. “That’s not on the agenda. As I said, he’s going to be Anthony’s friend. Then maybe your brother won’t be so miserable all the time.”

“Yeah. Then maybe he’ll stay out of my room.”

Ten minutes later they were inside the van, drinking hot chocolate and munching on chocolate chip cookies. David had encouraged Olivia to take the front seat beside her mom while he sat in back of Angela and Anthony sat beside him. Of his own accord, Michael had crawled into the van’s third seat. They’d left the door open a bit on Anthony’s side.

“Your mom makes great cookies,” David commented.

“Some moms don’t bake at all,” Olivia remarked over her shoulder, sounding shocked, as if that was inconceivable.

Suddenly one of Anthony’s friends was standing at the van door.

“Hi, Simon,” Angela greeted him. Simon was in Anthony’s class and also had played Little League with him.

Simon pointed to David. “My dad says he played for the NFL.”

Anthony cut a sideways glance to David. “You didn’t tell me that. Is that true?”

Angela was all ears herself.

“I was drafted by the NFL and I went to training camp, but I never got a chance to play. I was in a car accident that messed up my leg.”

“That was rotten luck,” Simon stated emphatically. “My dad says you’re a great coach, now, though. The Raiders won almost all their games.”

“Your dad must be a football fan.”

“He’s always in front of the TV watching sports of some kind. Mom doesn’t like it. That’s why she said we’re gonna cut down a Christmas tree tomorrow, and he has to go along.”

“That’d be neat to cut down a Christmas tree,” Anthony said wistfully.

Angela saw David studying her son. Then he said, “I’m great with a saw. If you and your mom want to pick out a tree, I could cut it down for you.”

“Can we do that, Mom?” Anthony asked, excited.

Angela loved seeing that sparkle in her son’s eyes. She’d missed it the past few weeks. If cutting down a Christmas tree would help put a smile on his face, she’d freeze off her toes and fingers again tomorrow. She was also willing to try to put her reactions to David into deep freeze, too. “If Coach Moore’s willing to saw it for us, I guess we can.”

“That’s a plan, then,” David stated. “Why don’t I meet you at the Christmas tree farm around two?”

“Two will be fine.” Angela told herself she was just looking forward to the outing because it was something Anthony wanted to do for a change. It didn’t have anything to do with the fact that David would be along.

After Simon had taken off for his family’s car, David opened the door on her side of the van. “I’d better be shoving off.”

“Wait,” she called, before she thought better of it.

Already out of the van, David closed the door and stood before her window.

When she pressed the button, it rolled down a bit. “Thank you,” she said softly, meaning it. “Are you sure you want to go tomorrow?”

“I’m sure. It’s been a long time since I’ve cut down a Christmas tree. I’ll see you at two.”

With a wave, he headed off toward his SUV, and Angela couldn’t help staring after him. He was three years younger than she was, a bachelor and way too intriguing. Reluctantly, and with a sigh, she came back to reality. She was a single mom with responsibilities and no spare time. This outing tomorrow was for her children’s sake, and she wouldn’t forget that.

After Anthony closed his side of the van, she switched on the ignition. “Buckle up.”

As the kids fastened their seat belts, she did the same, all the while remembering the feel of David’s body around hers as they’d sped down the hill. For those few moments, she’d felt young and free and alive again.

With another sigh she backed out of the parking place and started for home.

As Olivia, Michael and Anthony ran from tree to tree, squabbling about which one would be perfect in their living room, David asked Angela, “Do they ever agree?”

She laughed. “Once in a great while. I’m just so glad to see Anthony is a part of this today. He’s actually excited about something. He’s been moping around for so long, I was afraid he’d forgotten how to have fun.”

To his surprise, David was having fun, too. He usually related to kids one-on-one, not in a family setting. This was different. But there was no other way to reach out to Anthony and have him reach back.

As spokesman, Anthony ran over to them and pointed to a Douglas fir. “That’s the one we want.”

Michael complained, “I like the one over there.”

“It’s not as tall,” Olivia berated him. “We want a tall tree.”

Out of the blue, as if he’d been thinking about it all day, Anthony asked David, “I know you don’t play in the NFL, but do you know guys who do? I mean, you went to their training camp and all.”

“I’ve kept in contact with a few. Do you know Duke Smith of the Redskins?”

“Wow! Duke Smith! Yeah, I watch him on TV.” Anthony looked at the tree and then back at David. “Maybe you’d like to help us put up the tree. Whaddya think, Mom? Can he?”

“And he can stay for supper,” Olivia piped up.

Angela looked flabbergasted by her daughter’s invitation.

If he helped with the tree, David knew more questions about football were going to come up. He also knew something else might come up that he should probably tell Angela about. It was the incident that had started him mentoring in the first place. Yet all of it was personal, and he and Angela weren’t on that level yet.

When he was silent, Angela recovered her composure and asked, “Do you have other plans? You probably cherish your free time on weekends.”

“I do. But I haven’t helped put up a Christmas tree in years. Are you sure you want me there?” he asked Anthony, looking straight at him.

The boy met his eyes this time. “Yeah. Last year Mom tried to do it herself and the whole thing fell over the next day. It was a mess.”

When Angela laughed self-consciously, David could have kissed her. She was so cute when she blushed. “Your son is a practical kid.”

“He doesn’t want more of his favorite ornaments to break. I can’t say I blame him.”

“At least they picked a straight tree.” He grinned, as he took his saw from the sled they’d brought along to transport the tree.

After David cut down the fir and arranged it on the sled, Anthony asked if he could pull it, and Michael insisted on helping. David motioned down the trail to the barn where the proprietor of the farm was bagging the trees so they were easier to take home. All the kids started down the hill, cooperating for a change.

“That won’t last long,” Angela said with a smile.

David knew Olivia’s invitation had taken Angela aback. “I don’t have to stay for supper. I know you weren’t prepared for that.”

For a few moments, she looked over the rows and rows of fir trees, as if debating with herself. Then she said, “All the kids want you there. I think they’re starved for a father figure. The question is, do you want to be that? Mentoring Anthony is one thing. Having two other kids pile on is another.”

“You’ve got great kids. I’m a novelty right now. Hopefully Anthony and I can form a friendship that will help him. But if your other two kids want to be part of that, I don’t mind. I intend to give Anthony alone time, though, because I think that’s what he needs.”

“You’re right about that. He and Jerome never spent a lot of time together, but whenever he could, Anthony tagged along with his dad.”

“We could just stop for a pizza on the way home,” David suggested, not wanting to put her to any bother.

“Pizza’s okay once in a while, but I try to get them to eat wholesome food whenever I can. I have leftover roast beef in the fridge. I’m thinking of hot roast beef sandwiches, if that’s okay.”

“That sounds fine. You really do try to be Super mom, don’t you?”

She bristled a bit. “Is there something wrong with that?”

“No. Not if it doesn’t wear you out.”

Her shoulders relaxed. “It does. But as long as I can do it, I’m going to try.”

They could hear the kids chattering as they trudged down the trail. They could see them. But David knew the trees blocked the kids’ view of them. No one else had followed them into these rows of trees, and it almost felt as if they were alone in the middle of nowhere.

Angela was looking up at him with those big, blue eyes. He’d taken off his gloves after he’d cut down the tree so he could rope it to the sled. Now he was glad he had. Her swingy hair brushed against her cheek, and he pushed it back, letting his thumb linger on the softness of her skin. Her eyes grew bluer and wider, and he saw the same desire there that he was feeling. They were both wondering—wondering what a kiss would be like…wondering if a fire would start…wondering if the earth would move.

He rarely acted on impulse anymore. But now, desire drove him to seize the moment, answer some of his questions, discover if the chemistry he was feeling was real. When he bent his head, she raised her chin. His lips covered hers.

Did the kiss last for an instant? Or maybe an hour?

There was no time as heat exploded in his body…as he pushed his tongue into her mouth…as she responded quickly and fiercely.

When her children’s laughter soared up the hill to them, he broke away and stepped back, feeling turned inside out.

That was impossible. The kiss had begun and was over in a few seconds. How could he be so fully aroused? How could he want to lay her down in the pine needles and the patches of snow and take the passion she seemed willing to give?

He’d thought his questions would be answered after a kiss, but there were only more of them. “I shouldn’t have done that. The way Anthony is feeling right now, if he senses anything going on between us, he’d never let me become his friend.”

“You’re right,” she murmured. “And I’m not looking for…for…for an involvement. I don’t have time. I don’t have the energy. Men cause me nothing but disappointment.” She brought her hand to her lips when she realized she’d said out loud what she was thinking.

“I’ll try not to disappoint you where Anthony’s concerned,” he vowed solemnly. “Come on. We’d better catch up.”

She didn’t argue, and he knew she didn’t want to linger, either. She’d obviously been hurt, maybe by someone other than her ex-husband. They both had scars that would keep anything from developing except a hot affair.

And it would be hot. That sample kiss had told him that.

But he had to put Anthony first.

He’d make sure he stayed away from Angela Schumacher. That was the only reasonable thing to do.