Father in Training

new lovers.

'We've got to get some more sleep,' she said, shifting to give him more room next to her.

'Why?' he asked as he settled on the pillow and drew her close. She rested her head on his shoulder.

'They'll be back this afternoon. We need to look rested.'

'The fact that they're coming back is all the more reason not to waste time.' He leered at her. 'Besides, I have my reputation to think of.'

She slipped her leg between his. His hand rested on her bare hip. She no longer thought about stretch marks or imperfect flesh. Kyle had seen it all, touched it all, tasted it all. He found pleasure in her body and that was enough for her.

'You've redeemed yourself a hundred times over,' she reminded him. 'It doesn't matter that you couldn't hold back the first time. Trust me, your control is amazing. I have the weak knees to prove it.'

His control was amazing, as was his ability to discover exactly what pleasured her. In four days, he'd learned more about her body, her likes and dislikes, than Thomas had learned in thirteen years of marriage.

He brushed her hair out of her face. 'You're good for me.'

'I'm glad.'

Contentment stole over her. Here in this bedroom, lying on sheets musky with the scent of their bodies, she felt as if everything would be all right between them. The world couldn't hurt them here. All things were possible.

But even as she sighed softly and smiled into his chest, worries stole over her. They couldn't stay in this room forever. In a few hours, she would go pick up her children, and life would return to normal. Then what? She didn't want to think about it, but she didn't know how to avoid the questions. What would happen then? Would they date? Continue as lovers? What did Kyle want of her? What did she want of him?

He exhaled. 'I think you're right, kid. I need to sleep for a couple of hours. I'm not as young as I used to be.'

She ran her fingers through the dark hair on his chest. 'I don't see a single gray hair.'

'They'll be there soon enough,' he murmured. His body relaxed next to hers and his breathing deepened.

She listened to the rhythmic thudding of his heart. She wanted to hold on to him forever. Sometime in the last four days, she'd started to think of what life would be like with him there all the time and it frightened her. Not just because of who he was, but because of herself. She wasn't the kind of woman who inspired life-changing love in a man. She wasn't sure she was enough to keep Kyle happy. She hadn't been able to hold on to Thomas. No other woman had been able to get Kyle to commit to a long-term relationship. What made her think she could do any better?

Everything she knew about him told her he was wrong for her. Everything he did for her proved that he was the perfect man. Which was she supposed to believe? Which was right? Could she risk it again? What happened when things got rough? What happened when he had to make the hard choices? How could she trust him to think of herself and her children before he thought of himself? Did she even have the right to expect that?

She turned onto her back and stared at the ceiling. She wanted a partner, not a playmate. Was she wishing for the moon?

Kyle shifted toward her in his sleep, as if he missed her closeness.

'Sandy?' he mumbled, obviously not fully awake.

'I'm right here,' she said, reaching over and touching his short dark hair. The individual strands felt like silk through her fingers.

'Love you,' he whispered as his eyelashes fluttered against his cheek.

Her fingers froze. What had he said? That he loved her? She continued to stroke his head, all the while fighting back her tears. What a way for him to tell her. When she couldn't ask him to repeat it, or if he'd even meant it. She didn't know which would be worse. For the words to be true, or for them to be a lie.

Chapter 14

Life was good, Kyle thought as he picked up the next report. He studied the name on the folder, then searched through the file cabinet until he found where it went and slid it in place. He continued to whistle tunelessly as he worked on the filing. He could feel the sun shining through the office window and onto his back. It was another beautiful day in Glenwood. The last bright moments of summer before-

'What the hell is wrong with you?' Travis grumbled as he came into the room. 'You're whistling, for God's sake.'

Kyle grinned at his older brother. 'You look like hell.'

'I feel like hell. Mandy ate something bad yesterday and I was up all night with her. What are you so cheerful about?'

Kyle closed the top drawer and pulled open the second one. 'Just life, big brother.'

'That's disgusting.' Travis squinted at him. 'You're doing the filing?'

'Dottie had a doctor's appointment.'

'You hate the filing.'

Kyle shrugged. 'It's not so bad.'

Travis stared at him for a second, then shook his head. 'You're not a well man,' he muttered as he left the main office.

Kyle didn't bother pointing out he'd never felt better. His life was perfect. He reached for the next report and chuckled. Okay, it could be a little more perfect if he and Sandy could find some privacy and make love. Since the kids had come home from camp the previous week, they'd all spent time together. He was crazy about her children, but there were times when he wanted school to start so they would go to bed early and leave Sandy and him with enough of the evening left to have some adult fun. Still, he wasn't complaining. Sandy hadn't shut him down and he'd thought she might.

He walked to the front window and stared out at the park across from the sheriff's department. All the way to the park to pick up the children from camp, he'd been terrified that she was going to tell him it was over. But she hadn't. After collecting the kids, they'd gone out to dinner and heard all about their time away. Everyone had had fun. Even Lindsay made a couple of friends. That night, he'd left Sandy and her children at their house and made the solitary walk back to his own place. For the first time in three nights, he'd slept alone in his bed. He'd used her pillow so he could smell her sweet scent and pretend she was with him.

He knew now that was what he wanted. He'd thought long and hard about it, and he'd decided to risk it all. He loved Sandy and he wanted to marry her. All he was waiting for was the right moment to tell her how he felt.

He wasn't sure if he was going to propose right off. She might need a little convincing. After all, on the surface, he was as bad or worse than Thomas. But he'd learned the truth about himself. He didn't just skate by on his good looks. There was more to him on the inside. He was willing to be there for Sandy and her children, no matter what it cost him personally. He returned to the file cabinet and started whistling again.

The phone rang. Not the main business line which would be picked up at the front of the station, but the private line businesses often used if there was a problem but it wasn't urgent.

'Glenwood Sheriff's Department,' he said. 'Deputy Haynes speaking.'

'Kyle, it's Wilson Porter, from the Ragged Elephant. I've got a problem.'

Kyle grimaced. The Ragged Elephant was a trendy boutique at the mall. Teenagers loved the exciting new fashions, but the store had more than its share of trouble. 'Let me guess. Shoplifters checking out the new fall line.'

'You got it. I'm holding the kids in my office. They're pretty young and scared, but I'm not going to let them off.'

'I understand. I'll be right there.'

He hung up, then reached for his cap. As he walked down the hallway, he called out to Travis. 'Shoplifters at the Ragged Elephant. I'll radio you and let you know how many I'm bringing in.'

Travis followed him into the hallway and nodded, 'I really want school to start,' he said. 'The teenagers are getting restless.'