Do Not Disturb (7 page)

"Brett." J.T. nodded, gave Brett a quick
handshake and sank down next to his wife, stretching a long deeply tanned and
arm along her shoulders. 

"Hello, honey. Come give your grandma a
kiss." Ruth smoothed her square dance skirt over her knees, then tapped
her pale, freckled cheek with her finger.

Kelly ran over to her grandmother, snuggling
close.

"Sit down, Brett." Allison pointed to
the chair next to the sofa. Moving the matching footstool by the chair, she sat
on the floor, her back against the cloth-covered furniture.

"Yes. There we were dancing away and
suddenly." Ruth clutched her chest, her gray curls bouncing as she shook
her head. "Calvin fell over. You remember Calvin, Allison. Donny's
father."

"Sure, Mother. I remember him." She shot
her eyes toward Brett, rolling them slightly. "Is he OK?"

"Lord knows. Probably had a heart attack. You
know he eats like a horse. That man." Ruth slapped her husband's leg.
"He's your age isn't he J.T.?"

"Sure is Ruth." J.T. grinned, deep lines
forming in the leathery skin on his forehead. "But he's been smoking and
drinking all his life." He winked at Allison. "He didn't have someone
like your mother here to keep him in line."

"Stop that, J.T." Ruth swatted his arm.
"Allison's friend here'll think you're crazy."

"No ma'am.” Brett smiled at the older couple.
“He’s probably just thanking you for making sure he didn't have a heart attack
tonight, too."

"That's right, Ruth.” He patted his flat
stomach. “You listen to the boy."

"All right, Mother, Dad. You can stop
now."

"So what do you do, Brett?" J.T. nodded
his head in Brett's direction.

Would he answer? Allison looked up expectantly.

"My daughter and I moved here in June from
Arlington, Virginia. You know, the Washington, DC area. And we're still getting
settled."

That’s not what he asked, Brett. Allison narrowed
her eyes slightly. Answer the question.

Linking his hands together, Brett leaned forward
in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees. "But I've started a little
business at home."

Allison's eyes opened with interest. Now we’re
getting somewhere.

Brett nodded to J.T. "What kind of business
are you in, Mr. Hill?"

Drat. He did it again. Smoothly switching subjects
to avoid talking about his work. She glanced over to her eager to explain
father.

"J.T. Call me J.T." He rubbed his palms
down the tops of his faded jeans. "My four sons and I have an auto repair
shop. Yeah, I've been a mechanic ever since I got out of the army back in
‘58."

"What kind of cars do you work on?” Brett
slipped to the edge of his chair. “Domestic? Foreign?"

"Domestic mostly. Not much into those foreign
jobs." J.T. rubbed his narrow chin. "But my boys think we should
expand. Why I was just saying the other day..."

"Dad, I'm sure Brett's not interested in your
plans for the shop."

Brett lay a hand on her shoulder. "Actually
I'm very interested." He looked back at her dad. "I've been restoring
a 1957 Thunderbird convertible and I could use some expert help."

"Fine car there, Brett.” J.T. bobbed his head
up and down. “Fine car. I'd be glad to help you out. You need some parts? Body
work?"

"A little of everything. This is my first
effort at a restoration."

Allison stared at Brett. His face grew animated as
he talked. More tidbits, she thought, but still not the whole story on this
man. Her mind re-focused when she realized everyone had stopped talking and
they were staring at her.

"What?" She looked from Brett to her
parents.

"You'll give Brett here directions to the
shop won't you?" Ruth repeated.

"Sure. Of course." She turned to face
Brett. "You're going to the shop?"

"Absolutely." Brett rubbed his hands
together. "Your father's expertise is just what I need."

"Well you come on out anytime."

Her mother pushed herself off the sofa and held a
hand out to her husband. "Let’s go J.T. We've still got a bit of a drive
ahead of us."

"But you just got here." Allison
untangled her long legs and stood. Her mother was up to something, they never
dropped in for just a few minutes.

"We just stopped in to say hello." Ruth
followed her husband out the room. "We were down near MacDill Air Force
base and this was on our way home." She motioned to Brett. "Don't you
get up now. We'll see you soon."

"You can count on it," Brett called out.

“He’s quite a looker,” Ruth whispered in Allison’s
ear as she gave her a hug by the front door.

“Mother.”

“Come on, Ruth, leave Allison alone.”

“You have a good time, honey.” Her mother’s laugh
trailed behind her as she grabbed J.T.’s arm and kissed his cheek.

#

"Time for your bath, Kelly." Stopping at
the door to the family room, Allison looked at her watch.

"Mom." Kelly groaned and rolled to her
back on the floor. "It's Saturday."

"And it's late." Allison tapped her
watch with her finger. "Say goodnight to Mr. Tyler."

Brett shrugged at her please help me look.
"Sorry, kid, can’t help you."

“All right.” Kelly dragged out the words and
ambled to the back of the house. “I’m going to stay up sooo late when I get to
college.”

“Yes, dear, I’m sure you will.” Allison smiled at
the joke. Kelly threatened to do all sorts of things when she went away to
college, knowing Allison would just ignore her.

As Allison strolled toward the couch, Brett
reached out and grabbed her hand. "Come here." He pulled her down on
his lap.

Placing her hands on his chest, she tried to
stand. "What are you doing?"

He looped his hands around her waist, holding her
down on his leg, allowing her back to rest against the chair arm.

"You'd better keep your voice down if you
don't want Kelly back in here."

One look at his smiling face and her heartbeat
doubled. Her knees rested against the inside of a muscled thigh, his strong
hands pressing her against his body, her face now only a few inches from his.

"You going to kiss me this time?" He
leaned closer to her lips, his voice low and raspy. “Or do you want me to do it
again?"

She ached to touch his rough, unshaven face again.
Trace the hard lines of his jaw, run her fingers over the thick, short, blonde
hair. She’d touched him earlier, but hesitated now. This was different. A touch
of intimacy, not comfort. Everything about him was enticing her, but she didn’t
move.

"I guess it'll have to be me again." His
hand traveled up her back, shifting her head down to his.

She closed her eyes as their lips met. A soft
kiss. Then his head twisted slightly, angling into her. He parted her lips and
pressed harder, slowly, encouraging her lips open.

She slid her hand from his chest to his shoulder,
then around his neck. The stubble of his beard scraped her skin as her fingers
wandered around to his face.

The small move sent Brett into action, his tongue
invading her mouth.

A jolt of pleasure raced from her mouth down her
body. He massaged the small of her back, while his other hand positioned her
head for a deeper kiss.

Each touch by his hand or movement by his mouth
flamed her desire. It’d been so long since a man had kissed her. And no man had
ever kissed her like this. Brett seemed ready to devour her.

She wanted more. Moving her tongue against his,
she pushed her way into his mouth. She felt his intake of breath.

He leaned back in the chair and slipped his hand
up her back to press her breasts against his chest, holding her so close she
could feel him panting.

"Mom, I'm ready for bed."

Allison jerked back so fast she fell out of his
lap and onto the floor in front of the chair.

"OK." She screamed, slapping her chest,
gasping for air. "I'll be there in a sec."

Brett lay with his head back in the chair, his
eyes closed, his chest heaving, a smile on his face. He slowly cracked his
eyelids and held out a hand. "Need help?"

"How do I look?" Allison jumped up,
straightening her clothes.

"Like you've been thoroughly kissed." He
sighed. "Beautiful."

"Oh my god." She placed her fingers on
swollen lips. "I can't go in there like this."

He curved his fingers around her leg. "Sure
you can. Kelly won't notice."

"Are you sure?" she whispered. Her
daughter was pretty perceptive.

"I'm sure." Brett sat up. "Tell her
we were laughing at something on television if she asks. That’ll explain your
flushed face." He gave her leg a gentle nudge. "You worry too much,
darling. Go say goodnight to Kelly."

He was leaning with his back against the front
door, one ankle crossed over the other when Allison returned through the hall.

"So how'd it go?"

Stopping a few feet from him, she shrugged.
"All she wanted to talk about was the pool party she's going to
tomorrow."

Brett slid away from the door and snagged her
hand. "See. Nothing to worry about."

He opened the front door and stepped out, taking
her with him. "I'd better get going." He rubbed a finger along her
lips. "Unless you want to kiss some more?"

"You'd better leave. It's late."

He looked to his left and right, then tugged her
into a full embrace. "I checked. No neighbors looking and it's dark."
He kissed her neck and ran his hands down her back to her buttocks.

He moved his lips to her cheek, then tilted his
head back. "Sure you don't want to neck some more?"

"Neck?" Allison laughed. "Is that
what we were doing? Necking?"

"Well, it does sort of feel like we're back
in high school again, doesn't it?" He smiled. "Always sneaking
around. But this time we're avoiding our kids instead of our parents."

"Strange isn't it?"

"Yes. And I think it's time to find some
privacy for us. No kids. No interruptions." Brett kissed her forehead.
"What do you think?"

She knew what he was saying. And what her body
wanted. But...

"Allison?"

"I don't know, Brett." She bit her lip.
"It's been so long and I don't really have time for a relationship and I'm
not even sure I want a relationship..."

"Hey." He pulled her head to his
shoulder. "Let's just take it slow and see what happens. We've both been
burned and we're a little scared."

"You're scared too?"

"Sure. A little. But not so much that I want
to stop seeing you. I want to get to know you better."

He released her, resting his hands on her
shoulders. "I do think we deserve a little happiness too. We can't live
only for our children."

She sighed. He was right. She loved Kelly, her
family, her job. And she was so busy. But being with Brett, experiencing
feelings she’d only dreamed about when she was younger. And it was so different
now. With a man. A man like Brett.

"We'll figure it out, darling. Don't
worry."

He backed down the steps.

She wanted to follow.

While waiting for her e-mail messages to load
Thursday morning, Allison reviewed her calendar. If she shopped during lunch,
bought the food, cleaned and cooked tonight, then everything would be ready
when the girls showed up tomorrow afternoon for the party.

Rolling her office chair around to the monitor,
she started reading. A message from Brett?

"I talked to Susie a couple of times this
week and she told me your week was packed, so I thought I'd reach you this way.
At least you can fit me in at your convenience. But don't delete me. It would
really hurt.”

Hmmph. She wasn’t that busy. Resisting a glance at
her calendar, which would agree with Brett, her parents, and her boss, she kept
reading.

“Caroline’s excited about coming to Kelly's
sleepover party Friday night. I can't believe you're brave enough to have a house
full of pre-teen girls all night long. Should I be impressed or arrange to have
you committed?”

Committed, definitely committed, she decided as
the memories of pre-pubescent giggles reminded her to add earplugs to the
shopping list. She needed her sleep.

“Anyway, I'm volunteering my company to help
chaperone for a few hours. I'll bring the wine. Don't say no. And if you have a
date with one of your jet setting boyfriends, just break it. See you tomorrow
night.  Brett."

She smiled. He is persistent. And the man could
really kiss. She touched her lips briefly. Not that there'd be any kissing with
Kelly and her friends hovering nearby.

She hit the reply button and typed a short
message.

"What woman can resist such a gallant offer?
I'll have Roberto cancel his plans to fly in with a five-course gourmet meal
from Rome and we’ll have some gourmet cheese and crackers to go with your
wine.  Allison."

She pressed send and brought up the next message.
Fifteen minutes later, when she’d finished reading her first group of mail, a
new one from Brett popped up.

"Guess you're at work early. Although, I
can't say much since I'm working, too. But I bet I'm more comfortable in my
shorts and bare feet than you are in one of those corporate suits and high
heels. Have a nice day. Brett."

Shorts and bare feet. She groaned. That’s an image
she didn’t need drifting around in her head all day. She’d never get any work
done.

She glanced at her desk clock. So he's working at
seven-thirty. What does he do on his computer so early in the morning? She
examined his email address and signature line. No indication if this was a work
or personal email account.

Scrolling back to the first message, she saw it’d
been sent at eight the night before. So, she thought, tapping the screen with
her pen. He's on his computer a lot. All hours.

This Friday you're telling me what you do, Brett.
No more skirting the subject.

She leaned back. He didn’t say whether he had on a
shirt...

#

"I think we're safe there." Allison
pointed to the far side of the back porch. She set the wooden tray loaded with
cheese and crackers on a small glass topped table positioned between two webbed
porch chairs.

Brett poured the wine into matching crystal
goblets and placed the bottle on the floor under the table. “Fancy glasses,
Allison. I’m impressed.”

“You should be. They’re my finest yard sale
stemware.”

“Ahhh. Only the best for us.” He sat down and held
his glass up for a toast. "To another adventure together."

"May we survive until the girls are in
college." She clinked her glass against his. "The time when we won't
know what they're up to."

“To future peace of mind.”

She placed a slice of cheese on a cracker and
offered it to him. He popped it in his mouth.

“How was Caroline's trip?"

Looking out the porch screen, his gaze rested on
the palm trees in the back yard. "OK, I guess,” Brett answered, his voice
taking on the same edgy tone that surfaced each time he spoke of his ex-wife.

 He took a sip of wine and waited so long before
speaking again, Allison wondered if something bad had happened. What she
thought was an innocent question had dismissed Brett’s carefree mood.

“She’s usually quiet about their visits. I think
they stay busy. Shopping. Eating out. Movies. Anything her mother can think of
to avoid talking. Watching them together it's sometimes hard to believe they're
related."

He continued to stare straight ahead. "I gave
up trying to understand her mother a long time ago."

She could identify so well with what he was
saying. Was it really that hard to find a relationship where the couple did
understand each other?

"Did she change much after you got
married?"

He shifted in his chair, his discomfort visibly
increasing.

I'm sorry." She touched his arm. "You don't
have to tell me anything."

"I don't mind.” Placing his hand over hers,
he pressed it into his arm. “It's just embarrassing that I married someone so
wrong for me."

"Everyone makes mistakes," Allison said
softly. But at least she didn’t marry James. One mistake avoided.

"Is that what happened to you?" He
turned to look at her. "Did you marry young and pick the wrong
person?"

She held her breath. What should she say?

"Allison?” He tugged on her hand. “Is
something wrong?"

Why was she hesitating? He didn't have a perfect
past. But admitting to Brett...She sorted through her thoughts. Maybe she could
talk about some of it.

"Kelly's father and I met when I was a junior
in college. I stayed at school over the summer for an internship and he was in
medical school. We were both so focused on school most of our dates were at the
library. I know now that the only thing we really had in common was our
overachieving personalities."

Everything from her disorderly past tumbled around
her logical brain. Yes, his past wasn’t perfect, but hers was...

He rubbed his thumb along her fingers. "Go
on," he encouraged, his voice soft with comfort.

"My social life in high school was fairly
limited. I had friends, but very few dates." She motioned up her body
toward her head. "The guys liked girls they didn't have to stand on a box
to kiss. And I was very much into good grades." She leaned her head back
and sighed. "I had such plans then."

“I don’t need a box to kiss you.”

She smiled. Where was he when she was so alone in
high school?

“I think we fit together rather nicely,” he added.

The fit of his body against hers and where they
lined up...yes, they did match up physically.

“But we’ll test that some more later. Keep
talking.”

Kissing would be much more fun than talking. And
easier.

“Allison.”

This was harder than she’d thought it would be.
She’d never talked about her past to another man, other than family or her
boss. And even they didn’t know most of what happened. Just the results. Kelly.

“I want to know you.” His deep voice rumbled his
sincerity.

She plunged ahead, suddenly wanting him to
understand where she’d been, where she was going. "I got a scholarship to
Duke. I loved college. Dated more then. I was no longer the smartest in my
class, but I was still goal oriented and didn't want a relationship to
interfere with my plans. Until James."

She stopped. "You don’t want to hear this.
It's really boring."

He squeezed her fingers. "I told you, I want
to know you and your past is a part of you."

"He was the first guy I knew that was more
into his future than I was. Older, on his way to being a doctor. My first real
crush I guess."

She tried to remember them together. It seemed
more like an old movie that she’d seen over and over, but never been a part of.
It was difficult now to identify with that college student. She picked up her
glass and held it out. "I’ll need more if I'm going to keep talking."

She watched his large hand on the wine bottle as
he filled her glass. There was no memory of James’ hands, only the feelings of
a terrified young woman.

"We dated that summer and fall. By Christmas
of my senior year I was pregnant." She glanced at Brett, his face still
visible as the sun set over his shoulder. Concern shading his face, but no
shock.

He grabbed her hand, not caring that it had turned
clammy and cold. "Oh, darling, I'm sorry."

"Yeah." She nodded, then looked away.
"Not very bright for someone who graduated at the top of her high school
class was it?" She shook her head. "I was on birth control pills, but
that December I was stressed out taking exams, staying up late. Somehow I
missed one pill.” She clenched her fist, her nails digging into her palms.
“Just one."

Silently he waited for her to continue.

She could still see the package, the foil intact,
the pill resting there staring at her. She’d taken it immediately, rushed to
the medical library and spent hours searching for the reassurance she
desperately needed. And found it. The odds of getting pregnant were very low.
She believed she had beaten the odds. Even when her next period was almost
non-existent, she convinced herself it was fine, just nerves. But she couldn’t
deny the truth of her second missed period.

“I found out in March.”

He lifted her hand and pressed it to his heart.
"Did you get married then?"

"No." She sat up straight. "We’d
broken up over Christmas, but James said we'd get married when I told him. I
even agreed, though I was fairly sure I didn’t love him. Just seemed the right
thing to do.” She gritted her teeth. “I was just so devastated. I couldn’t think.
Couldn’t believe how stupid...” She stopped again, taking a deep breath.

She’d made the vow that day at the student medical
clinic. Never to lose control again. To set her goals, plan her life and be
sure of the outcome.

He continued to rub the tops of her fingers, the
bottoms warm under his touch and the heat of his chest beneath his shirt. His
heart pounded under her palm. A strong caring beat.

“Anyway.” The words spilled out, breaking free
after being pent up for years. “I told my parents. One of the hardest things
I’ve ever had to do. They’d been so proud of me. The scholarship. Me being the
first one in the family in college and everything...but they were so
supportive. Whatever I wanted to do they were behind me. But...” Her voice
cracked.

“Allison.”

“James’ parents definitely had a different
opinion.” She shook her head slowly. “There was no way their precious son was
going to be trapped by a girl who didn’t fit into their social circles. How
could he even think about marrying the daughter of a...a...mechanic.” She
turned to Brett. “They acted like my family was in prison for murder. All
because we didn’t have a lot of money, I wasn’t good enough for their only
child.”

“What did James say?”

“He didn’t know what to do.” Crossing her ankles,
she slid them under her chair, balancing her body on the edge of her seat. “As
I explained, James is different. He’s very, very smart and focused on medicine.
But he doesn’t have a lot of...” She shrugged. “I guess it’s common sense. His
parents have always pretty much told him what to do. And he does it.”

“So he just listened to them rather than marrying
you?” Brett’s voice was edgy, tight with anger.

“He might have gone against them if I’d pushed,
but deep down I knew the marriage would’ve been a mistake.”

“And what are they like now?”

“Now?” Her brows arched. “Who knows? I’ve never
met them and neither has Kelly.”

“You’re kidding.”

She felt him tug involuntarily on her arm. He
seemed more shocked at this news than her pregnancy.

“They paid child support until James finished
medical school and could take over. I always felt like they were paying me to
stay out of his life.”

“I’m sorry. And poor Kelly. Not to know her
grandparents.” He smirked. “Not that they seem to be worth knowing.”

“I took all the money they sent and put it in the
bank. Never spent a dime. Figured she could use it when she’s out of school.”

“Why?” He laced his fingers through hers. “I’m
sure you needed it when you were just getting started?”

“I didn’t ever want to feel that I owed them for anything.
Wanted to do it myself. If they didn’t want me or Kelly, I didn’t want or need
them.” She rubbed her palm along her leg, up and down. “How can people be so
wrapped up in their place in society to think that others are beneath them?”

“That’s all that’s important to some
people...money, jobs, titles.” He leaned back in his chair with a thud.
“They’re wrong.”

Allison watched his face and body turn defiant,
obviously lost in his own memories.

“Yes, well, it’s their loss not knowing Kelly.”

“Family doesn’t matter to everyone, Allison.” His
face softened. “But Kelly’s still a lucky girl. She has you, your parents, and
I’m sure the rest of your family to make up for what her society grandparents
probably don’t even know how to give.

Brett dropped their linked hands to his thigh,
individual thoughts replacing words as they absorbed what they’d shared.

They were still silent when Kelly raced up beside
them.

"Mom. Mom." She crooked her finger at
her mother. "Can you come here?"

Allison slid her hand from Brett’s grip.
"What's wrong, sweetie?"

Kelly used her whole hand to motion for her mother
to come with her. "We need you for something."

Allison looked quizzically at Brett and shrugged.
"Must be girl stuff. I'll be right back."

A few minutes later Allison approached Brett’s
chair, her purse in her hand. “I need to go to the store. I'll only be a few
minutes."

"Anything wrong? Want me to go for you?"

She lowered her voice to a whisper. "It seems
Caroline has a new experience and I'm not prepared for it. I'd been planning on
buying some supplies for Kelly, but thought I had a little more time."