All I Ever Wanted (23 page)

Naomi followed him to the door. “Thank you for a wonderful day.”

She was so polite it set his teeth on edge. He should probably keep walking, but he was already turning and drawing her into his arms. His hungry mouth cut off her gasp of surprise. He wanted her to remember the passion they’d shared, the heat. One hand wrapped around her waist; the other pressed her hips against his growing erection.

Need trampled though him. The little moans Naomi made in the back of her throat drove him on. When he lifted his head, they were both breathing hard. He’d remembered as well and it had been worth it.

“I need to get out of here.”

Her fingertips gently swept across his lips. “I want to be with you, but her room is next to mine. She’s never woken up once she goes down for the night, but…”

He kissed her. “You’re a good mother. Kayla has to come first.”

She leaned her forehead against his chest. “I should have known you’d understand.” Her head lifted. “You’re a very special man, Richard Youngblood.”

“With you I feel that way.” Palming her face, he kissed her long and deep. “See you at two tomorrow.”

“We’ll be waiting. ’Night, and thanks for everything.”

“The pleasure was all mine.” He left with a huge grin on his face. By the time he reached his truck he was whistling.

Chapter 14

Naomi could do nothing but smile at the enthusiasm of Kayla on her “date” with Richard at the Children’s Museum. She hardly wanted to leave his side to do the hands-on activities. What warmed her heart even more was that he seemed to understand this new turn of events. He was as patient with her as ever.

“Don’t get ‘the look,’ and I didn’t expect you to act any other way, but thank you for being so wonderful with Kayla,” Naomi told Richard, who was standing beside her.

He curved his arm around her shoulders. “Told you, I sort of like her.”

Naomi leaned into him before she could stop herself and straightened. “I believe you did.”

Richard dropped his arm and slid his hands into his pockets. Naomi felt badly, but she wasn’t sure she wanted other people to know about them.

“Why hello, Mrs. Reese.”

Naomi jerked around. Her eyes widened on seeing her principal. “Mrs. Crenshaw.”

“Hello, Mrs. Crenshaw,” Richard greeted. “How are you doing?”

“Fine. Thank you, Dr. Youngblood.” The middle-aged woman nodded toward the children’s activity of painting. “I’m here with my two grandchildren, who are visiting from Albuquerque. I see Kayla doing the same project.”

“Yes,” Naomi said slowly. She wanted Mrs. Crenshaw to move along before Kayla returned, but her boss seemed in no hurry to leave, especially since her husband joined them.

“Naomi, you know Mr. Crenshaw. Bill, this is Dr. Youngblood, the wonderful veterinarian who came to our school last week.”

The men shook hands. Out of the corner of Naomi’s eyes, she saw the children stand with their artwork.

“I better get the twins,” Mr. Crenshaw said. “They’ll take off and we’ll never find them.”

Mrs. Crenshaw patted his arm as he passed. “They’re eight and a handful. I can’t believe my quiet, studious son has two girls who test every limit we’ve set.”

“And you wouldn’t take all the gold in the world for them,” Richard said knowingly.

She laughed. “You’re right, of course. I love Derrick, my son, but the love for grandchildren is different. You’ll understand one day.”

Naomi moved her shoulders restlessly. Principal Crenshaw was looking at Richard. Naomi didn’t want to get married, but she discovered the possibility of Richard marrying another woman and having children didn’t set well.

“Look what I painted,” Kayla said as she ran up to them. “Hi, Principal Crenshaw.”

“Hello, Kayla. That’s a nice watercolor,” Principal Crenshaw said.

Kayla smiled as she looked at the picture of three people on horses. “It’s me, Mama, and Dr. Richard on our first date. Today is our second.”

Mrs. Crenshaw lifted her gaze to Naomi. “Oh.”

Naomi opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

“Good job, Kayla.” Richard hunkered down. “You’re becoming quite the artist. I’ll have this one framed for you to put in your room.”

Mr. Crenshaw joined them with the identical twins dressed alike in white shorts, pink T-shirts and ponytails tied with pink-and-white ribbon. “I just caught them.”

“Exploring is good for developing the mind, Grandfather,” they chorused.

Apparently this wasn’t the first time their grandfather had heard this. He knew them well because his hand remained on each of their shoulders. He shook his head. “I don’t need any more gray hairs.”

“Gray hair is distinguished looking,” one said.

“Very,” said the other.

Mrs. Crenshaw’s lips twitched. “We’d better be going. I’ll see you Monday morning.”

“Good-bye,” Naomi said, wishing she had had a moment to ask Principal Crenshaw not to mention the date. She wasn’t a gossip, but it might come out when she was talking about her grandchildren … which she always did when they visited.

Richard came to his feet as they walked away. “You all right?”

It didn’t take two guesses to know what he was talking about. “I won’t be able to work Monday for all the questions, not to mention the sly looks and whispers.”

“Will you be all right?” he asked.

Naomi studied him as closely as he was studying her. As usual, he was sensitive to her mood and concerned. No one had ever been so in tune with her feelings. “How did Kayla and I get so lucky?”

A smile took the worry from his face and caused her to sigh. He was so handsome, beautiful in fact, and for the time being he was theirs.

“Luck had nothing to do with it.” His arms circled her waist. “So, I’m officially off the market?”

Kayla squeezed in between them and looked expectantly from one to the other. “You gonna kiss her again?”

Naomi blushed. Richard picked up Kayla and kissed her cheek before setting her on her feet. She giggled.

“Kayla, you shouldn’t say things like that in public,” Naomi told her, glancing around to see who might have heard. Kayla hadn’t been quiet when she asked.

“Why?” she asked

Naomi leaned down and answered in a hushed whisper. “Because kissing is private.”

Holding the painting with one hand, Kayla promptly pointed to a couple. “I saw Mrs. Catherine and some of the other women kissing at the table after the program I was on with Mrs. Catherine. And they’re kissing over there.”

A young couple was indeed kissing, her hands still on the stroller.

“Always knew Kayla was smart. Can’t fight facts.” Richard smacked Naomi on the lips and caught Kayla’s free hand. “Let’s see what else they have here.”

Walking beside Richard, who was talking quietly with Kayla, Naomi decided she could be uptight about the change in her and Richard’s relationship or take another cue from her daughter and just enjoy. She looked at Richard, who happened to glance at her. Her heart thumped. Her body heated.

The choice was easy: Enjoy.

* * *

Naomi didn’t know what to expect Monday morning at school, so she was thankful when everyone acted normally on seeing her. Richard had already had a talk with Kayla about dating being “private.” She liked the idea of something special between them and promised not to tell. He was coming over that night to help with her homework.

Naomi loved her daughter, but she hoped she went to bed early that night. Last night she had been too keyed up and hadn’t fallen asleep until almost nine. She and Richard had watched a movie. His hands didn’t move anyplace they shouldn’t have, and not a piece of clothing was discarded. Since she didn’t have a satisfied smile on her face the way she did after they made love, it was probably for the best.

“Naomi, are you all right?”

Naomi straightened and glanced around in the cafeteria at Ms. Hightower and hoped her face wasn’t flushed. “Yes. Just thinking.”

Kayla’s teacher’s frown didn’t clear, then her eyes widened. “Oh, my. Isn’t that Sierra Navarone? I’ve seen her in magazines and on the Internet news with that gorgeous husband of hers. That’s one lucky woman.”

“Blade would say he’s the lucky one. Excuse me.” Naomi crossed to Sierra, who was standing on the landing of the steps leading down into the cafeteria. She looked stunning, and completely at ease in a beautiful cream-colored suit that probably cost three months of Naomi’s salary. In her arm was a notebook.

“Hi, Sierra.” Naomi stopped in front of her. “I have lunch duty this week and can’t leave.”

“No problem. I thought you’d want to know that the Allens accepted your counter-offer. Congratulations.”

Naomi gasped, then hugged Sierra. She had taken the hint from Sierra and taken another seventy-five hundred dollars off the asking price. “Thank you.”

Smiling, Sierra handed her a notebook. “Mr. Allen called me yesterday, and I had my inspector go out at six this morning. As I thought, the house is in excellent condition despite having been left vacant. They were smart enough to leave the water on and have a neighbor water the foundation. This is your copy.”

“I still can’t believe it.”

“Perhaps this will help.” Sierra held out a gold heart-shaped key ring with two keys. “The same key opens all doors.”

Naomi’s trembling hand closed around the key ring. “I get them now?”

“I told them you were a teacher with a small daughter and since your credit score was excellent and the down payment good, the sale should go through without a hitch. I added that you were anxious to move in and have the house ready by the time school was out,” Sierra told her. “By the way, a locksmith reset the locks; those are new keys. I have one, but I’ll turn it over to you as soon as you sign at the mortgage company. It can be Kayla’s when she’s older.”

“I don’t know how to thank you,” Naomi said.

“That smile on your face is enough.” Sierra looked behind her. “And here she comes.”

“Hi, Mrs. Sierra. The monitor wouldn’t let me go until I finished my corn.” Kayla screwed up her face. “I don’t like corn.”

Sierra leaned down to her. “I dislike green peas and brussels sprouts.”

“Yuck!” Kayla said.

Naomi squatted down to her daughter. “Can you keep another secret?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She held up the keys. “We got the house.”

Kayla hugged her. “Can you start thinking more about the brown puppy now?”

“Your daughter will go far in life.” Sierra chuckled.

“That’s definitely a possibility.” Naomi came to her full height. “Thank you again.”

“My pleasure. I better go before we have a visitor.” She checked her watch. “I promised Rio a full week of no problems.”

Frowning, Naomi glanced over Sierra’s shoulder. “Where are they?”

“One’s at the school’s entrance and the other is just off the hallway. The things I do for love.” Sierra leaned over and whispered, “Your and Kayla’s names are engraved on the key chain. There’s room enough for another name. Good-bye.”

She meant Richard. Some of Naomi’s happiness faded. Their relationship wasn’t forever.

“Mama, you look sad,” Kayla said.

Smiling, Naomi scooped her up to hug her before putting her down. She needed that hug. She’d just enjoy the time with Richard with no regrets. “Just thinking. How about we invite Richard over tonight and celebrate?”

“Yeah,” Kayla shouted. Her mother put her finger to her lips and smiled back at her.

* * *

“I can’t believe it.” Holding Richard’s hand, she walked though the house that afternoon. She’d driven there straight from work. She hadn’t been able to wait. She’d called him and he’d met her there.

On arriving, she was happy to see that the front yard had been mowed, the rosebush trimmed back, all the windows washed. Sierra was as efficient as usual.

“You did it.” Richard kissed her on the cheek. “I’m proud of you. What do you want to tackle first?”

She held her hand to her chest and laughed nervously. “I don’t know.”

“Let’s start at the top with painting and move down to the floors. Once that’s done, you can make the draperies. I can seed the backyard to get the grass growing. Luckily that type doesn’t need much water.”

Naomi looked out the patio door. Kayla was jumping, trying to grab a plum from the fruit tree. “I think she likes it here.”

Richard’s arms went around her waist and he pulled her back against him. “She’s a wonderful little girl. Anywhere you are, she’s happy. You’re a good mother. It wasn’t easy, but she’s proof it was worth every sacrifice.”

He understood that so well. And she’d been alone until she came to Santa Fe. She angled her head and kissed his chin. “Despite my talk of being independent, I like having you to talk to, be with.” She grinned. “Among other things.”

“Yeah. I better go say good-bye to Kayla and get back to the office.”

“Will I see you tonight?” she asked as he started out the door.

“Count on it.”

Laughing, Naomi watched Richard lift Kayla so she could finally reach the fruit. Taking it from her, he went to the outside faucet and washed it, then gave it back to her. She took a bite and then offered the plum to him. Together they shared the fruit. Kayla loved him so much. He was easy to love. He—

With a jolt, Naomi realized she loved him as well. She staggered as if that would take the thought back. It didn’t. How could she have let this happen? She’d promised herself she’d never be vulnerable again. Not even to a good man like Richard.

Her fingertips covered the lower half of her face. He must never know. She was too vulnerable where he was concerned. If he knew, he’d push for a deeper relationship. This was all she could handle now, perhaps forever.

Richard must never know she had fallen hopelessly in love with him.

* * *

The next evening, Naomi was humming to herself, cleaning out the cabinets beneath the sink of her new home. The uncertainty of the night before was gone. She was going to take one day at a time.

She reached farther back under the cabinet. A lizard darted close to her hand. She screamed, barely missing hitting her head when she jerked back. Without thinking she ran, screaming Richard’s name. He’d been painting Kayla’s room. He met her in the hallway. “What is it?”