Kate Kelly - A Deliberate Father

“You’re one to talk,” Nell countered. “I have the kids. What’s your excuse for hanging around here instead of going out and having fun?”

“I’m still recovering from Peter What’s-his-name. Talk about a total lack of judgment. I’m not looking at another man until I know for certain he’s the one.”

Nell leaned her chin on her hand. “You think there’s The One for everyone?”

“There is for you.”

She let the comment pass. She didn’t want her fortune told tonight, or any other night. “I think Tanner plans to sell the house.”

“I was afraid of that. Has he said anything definite?”

“No, but he almost had a heart attack when I told him what I was paying for rent. I don’t know what I’m going to do if he raises it. Any other time, I’d suck it up and look for a cheaper apartment, but right now… Tony’s been phoning the kids again. I know he’s up to something. He’s not getting those kids. I don’t care if he is their father. He’s an abusive alcoholic, and Jacob and Lacey are not living with him. Ever.” She gulped back the fear in her throat.

Melody sat beside her and slipped her arm around Nell’s shoulders. “It’s going to be okay. There are far worse things than looking for new digs. And Tanner, sure he’s focused, but I think underneath that polished exterior lives a good man. Tell him about the adoption. A few weeks one way or the other, what difference does it make to him for selling the house? He’ll understand.” She smiled. “After the adoption, we’ll look for a new apartment together. No way am I staying here without you and the kids.”

Nell leaned against her friend for a second before pulling away. Melody was right. They’d survive moving, could maybe even afford a nicer place with Melody sharing the rent. But not until the children were legally hers. The social worker had emphasized over and over the need to provide a stable home atmosphere. Jacob and Lacey had been in this apartment for two years now, half of Lacey’s life. Moving was bound to stir up some of the anxieties they’d worked hard to leave behind. Jacob had already reverted to hiding in his tent, although he’d dismantled it before people came for dinner.

She picked up her bottle and drank the last of her beer. At the very least, she’d try to convince Tanner to delay the sale of the house. Maybe Melody was right. Maybe he’d understand.

A SCREECH JERKED JORDAN out of a deep sleep the next morning. He blinked at the alarm clock. Eight o’clock. It was the weekend, wasn’t it? Forty miles and a universe away, his condo would be quieter than a church.

Another screech ripped through his open window, followed by a full belly laugh. “You’re it.”

Jordan groaned as he burrowed into his pillow. That would be Jacob. The laugh, no doubt, was Nell’s.

“Am not. You didn’t touch me.” Lacey, his little kitty cat.

Jordan catapulted out of bed, pulled on a pair of jeans and stalked to the window. His kitty cat? Man, one day and the place was driving him nuts already.

A reluctant smile spread over his face as he watched Nell let Lacey tackle her to the ground. Jacob piled on top of them with a whoop. All he could see of Nell was one hand waving in the air, and her overalls-clad legs.

A memory of his mom playing tag with him in a park blindsided him. She’d take him to the park down the street early on Saturday mornings before whatever lout she’d hauled home the previous night woke up. He lived for those mornings with his mom. How could he have forgotten them? He snapped the blind closed. He hoped Nell changed her clothes after breakfast. He needed to talk to her this morning, and he didn’t want any distractions.

A giggle from outside followed him as he wandered over to the kitchen corner and dug his espresso machine out of a box. As soon as he talked to Nell, he was out of here. He didn’t know where he was going, just that he was. A solid twenty-four-hour stint at Dunstan Lane was more than enough; the walls were closing in on him. He already knew way more than he wanted to about his tenants, and yet he knew next to nothing about Nell. He’d hoped to talk to her last night, but after supper she’d explained she and the children had a winding-down-the-day routine that was important to adhere to. She didn’t have time for him. Well she’d better make time this morning or he’d have to let her know who was boss. He dumped water and coffee into the machine, turned it on and headed for the shower.

A lukewarm trickle of water dripped down on him. “Oh, come on.” He thumped on the side of the shower-head, regretting his action as the sound of cheap metal reverberated through his head. Hell. He peered at the taps. Yup, that was supposed to be hot water. He turned the tap off and tried the other one. An even smaller trickle of cold water eked out.

Starting the day without a shower was not acceptable. But it was his first morning, and obviously there were a few kinks that had to be worked out. He splashed cold water on his face and reached for a towel that wasn’t there. Okay, maybe he needed to unpack before heading out. He’d have a coffee, then corner Nell and find out what the problem was with the water. At least he’d had enough water for coffee.

But no milk. Jordan slammed the refrigerator door closed. He took a sip of black coffee and spit it out. He could throw back shots of Scotch, bourbon and tequila, but he could not drink his coffee without milk. Without thinking, he strode to the door and threw it open.

“Nell!” he bellowed.

The three of them froze midchase. Nell’s eyes were as round as saucers as she swiveled toward him. For God’s sake, the overalls were bad enough, did she have to wear another damned cropped shirt?

She rushed toward him. “Are you okay?”

And suddenly, just like that, he was.

NELL STOPPED A FEW FEET short of Jordan. Wowzers! Her lungs collapsed, devoid of oxygen. Of course she’d seen half-naked men before. But this…Jordan’s chest…. She bent over at the waist and tried to catch her breath. Hopefully, he’d think she was winded from playing with the kids, not overwhelmed by the sight of his magnificent torso. She slowly straightened and just as slowly, sucked in some air. His shoulders were wide, his chest broad with a sprinkling of dark hair that very nicely arrowed down over a flat tummy and disappeared into his low-riding jeans.

She peeled her tongue off the top of her mouth and managed to tear her gaze away from all that manly muscle and skin. She raised her eyebrows. “Problems?”

“You do know it’s the weekend, don’t you? Some people like to sleep in. It’s not even nine o’clock.”

Nell tried to hide her smile. It looked like someone had the grouchies. “Children don’t sleep in. Ever. But—” she held up her hand to halt his protest “—because this is your first day, we’ll be nice and move our games elsewhere. Okay?”

His scowl deepened. “I’m sorry for grumbling, but I got off to a bad start. There’s no water and I don’t have any milk for my coffee.”

She swallowed a curse. How many times had she asked Mrs. T. to wait to do her laundry until midafternoon when most of them were out of the house? Maybe she should send Tanner up there to chew her out.

“Jacob.” She twisted round and beckoned him over.

Jacob smiled shyly at their new landlord. “Hey, Mr. Tanner. Look, the sun’s out finally.”

Tanner looked around the side yard as if seeing it for the first time. “Yeah, nice day.” He turned to Nell. “Is this a double lot? Can you subdivide here?”

Unbelievable. The guy probably never switched off. “Jacob, would you run upstairs and get Mr. Tanner the milk? Lacey?” She curled her arm around the sweaty little girl when she ran to Nell’s side. “I have to go down to the basement to fix the pump. You can stay outside, but you have to play in the backyard. Okay?”