Don't Let Go (2 page)

“Here we go.” He gave her a gentle push.

Annalee turned to Mrs. Luisi. “How’s Todd enjoying middle school?”

“He likes it. Math’s coming pretty well for him, thanks to all the extra help you gave him last year, Mrs. Donovan. Sorry… I mean, Ms. Mondello.”

Annalee didn’t dwell on the slip. “I’m glad he’s doing well.”

“He still talks about you. Says none of the teachers at the middle school are as nice or as pretty as you are.”

“Oh.” She gave a little laugh. “Well, I’m flattered.”

“Mom, look at me.” Marissa’s cry caught their attention. Her grin was huge as she sailed through the air. “Look.”

Her mom nodded and smiled. “I see.”

“Higher, make me go higher,” Marissa begged.

“A little higher. Not too high,” Eric answered.

Warmth flooded Annalee at the ease with which he entertained the little girl. Someday, he’d make a fabulous father.

How different would her life be if she’d married someone like Eric? If she’d picked someone honest and kind from the start, she might be watching her own children on the swings.

He caught her watching him and winked.

A few minutes later, the child’s mother broke the magic mood. “Marissa, honey, time to go now.”

“Aww…” Marissa groaned.

“We’ve got to get your little brother home.”

“Mom’s the boss.” Eric caught the chains of the swing and walked it to a stop. The girl frowned, then reluctantly slid off the seat.

“Tell Todd hi for me,” Annalee said.

Mrs. Luisi smiled. “I will.” Then she gave her daughter a pointed look. “Say thank you to the nice man.”

Little Marissa whirled and grabbed Eric around the legs in a hug. “Thanks.” She ran to her mother, turned, and waved goodbye.

He grinned and waved back. “Catch you next time, Marissa.”

As Marissa walked away with her mother and brother, Eric turned to Annalee. “Ready to go?”

She smiled. “Yes. I should be getting Bobo home, anyway.” The dog’s ears perked up at the mention of his name.

It didn’t take them long to reach her spacious ranch style home. She might have lost the husband, but she’d kept the house. “Here we are.” She hesitated, reluctant to say goodbye. “Would you like to come in, maybe have a cup of coffee?”

Red danger lights whirled in her brain, and the hair on her arms prickled. He inspired feelings she hadn’t experienced since her divorce. But they weren’t only physical reactions. His companionship took her back in time, to the days when her dreams were bright and shiny.

“I can’t, but thanks.” He nodded at Bobo. “Let me get this guy into the house for you.”

She tried not to let her disappointment show. When she unlocked and opened the door, Bobo did not immediately barrel inside. Instead, he lingered in the hallway, dancing nervously and watching Eric eagerly.

Annalee rolled her eyes. “Looks like somebody else wants you to stay a while.”

He gave the dog a brief salute. “Another time, Bobo.”

Her smile felt tremulous. “Well, it was good seeing you again, Eric. You take care.” She extended her hand to him. When he took it, his touch quivered through her whole body. Her breath quickened, and she couldn’t look away. She was mesmerized by his eyes, the irises a light blue rimmed by navy.

Suddenly, she was transported twelve years into the past, to another doorstep. They’d been this close then. Closer. As she remembered, Annalee’s lips tingled and her nipples puckered
.
He gazed at her just as he had that long ago night, but he was no longer an inexperienced boy. He was a man.

A memory of her and Eric, holding each other, kissing, flashed in her brain. She snatched her hand from his grasp. God, she was losing it. The first man who revved her motor since the divorce was her best friend’s kid brother. And didn’t he have a girlfriend?

Way to go, Annalee.

He released her hand, and the moment vanished. He smiled. “I’ll be seeing you.”

****

Eric took his time walking back to his sister’s house for two reasons—to cool his head and to give his libido a chance to settle down. As he kicked aside some leaves on the sidewalk, he remembered how Annalee tried to hide her expression when he’d said she was beautiful. Hadn’t anyone told her that before?

He hadn’t lied. She was lovelier now than she’d been as a girl. Her shape had filled out, and her breasts were fuller, her hips rounder. He’d been tempted to test that roundness himself, but he’d been a good boy. It was hell being close to her again and allowing himself nothing more than to touch her hand. If he’d kissed her the way he wanted to, she definitely would have felt his raging hard-on.

Right. Wouldn’t that be a hell of way to scare her off.

But God, how he’d wanted to kiss her. Her lips were as full and rosy as they’d always been. He wanted to run his fingers through her glossy dark hair. Her velvety brown eyes were as soft as the petals of a pansy. Once those eyes had gleamed with mischief and vivacity, but now they were wary and shadowed with hurt.

Eric’s fists clenched. What he’d give to grab Denny Donovan by the throat and drop kick him for putting those shadows there.

He wanted to erase the hurt and do so much more. If she’d let him. He’d almost told her that on the doorstep, but some instinct made him wait.

He stopped short when a squirrel scrambled in front of him. It climbed a nearby birch tree and from there leapt to a telephone pole. Maybe it was the same one who’d teased Bobo.

He lengthened his stride, trying to walk off his frustration, to ease the knot in his gut.
Shit. Now that I can finally tell her how I feel, she’s not ready to hear me.

He’d had a terrible stutter growing up. It plagued him through elementary and middle school, and was no better in high school. He’d been teased by some and pitied by others, which pissed him off.

He hadn’t been a total outcast, though. He’d had loyal friends and got high marks in school. Teachers learned not to call on him in class, but his writing skills were sharp and he excelled in math and science, essential for his profession as an engineer. In high school, he learned the bullies backed down when he fought back. Though it cost him a few afternoons in detention, it gained him respect.

Still, the stutter had tormented him and circumscribed his social life. Meeting new people had always been a bitch, not because he was shy, but because there was no way of knowing how they’d accept him and his stutter. When he went out to eat, he dreaded ordering from a menu. He ordered what he could say, whether he wanted it or not. And dating was a disaster.

Except for prom night twelve years ago.

They stood on her parents’ doorstep. Though it was late, Eric felt as jazzed as if he’d drunk a dozen cups of coffee, black. Because of Annalee. He needed to tell her what an awesome time he’d had. How much he cared about her. But his stupid tongue let him down again. He blocked. His chin and jaw tightened up, his lips contorted as he tried to get the words out.

“Th—th—th—” His face heated with frustration and despair. She’d hate him. Think he was stupid. He’d never have a chance with her.

She took his hand. “Thank you,” she said. “I had a great time.”

Then, as if on impulse, she brushed her mouth against his. Maybe she’d only intended a brief, friendly embrace, but as soon as their lips touched, he ignited. He slid his arms around her and pulled her to him, firmly but carefully. She was smaller than he, so delicate. He didn’t want to hurt her. When her breasts flattened against his chest, the spark flared to a bonfire. Before he knew it, Annalee had slipped her arms around his neck. His lips parted, searching for her tongue.

Suddenly, the kiss ended, and Eric wasn’t sure which one of them broke it. His lips tingled and bubbles fizzed in his head. Annalee looked dizzy, too. He stepped back, then fell sideways off the stoop, his arms flapping crazily.

“Umph!” He landed in the honeysuckle bush. After a moment’s confusion, he sprang up and brushed a leaf from his hair.

Annalee’s eyes and mouth were round with horror. “Are you okay?”

He was awesome. He was fantastic. That kiss… Now he knew what people meant by “walking on air.” His mouth stretched into a goofy smile, and he gave her two thumbs-up to show he was all right. He stumbled once more before he made it to the car.

Before he drove away, he saw her still on the doorstep, her hand lifted in farewell.

He knew, in that instant, he was in love with her.

****

Inside the house, Annalee kicked off her muddy shoes, then hurried to the bedroom to change out of her wet gear. She emerged dry but still chilly. Maybe it was nerves. She’d nearly made a fool of herself with Eric. What had she been thinking?

Coffee was just the thing to warm her up. Bobo followed her to the kitchen, whining softly, wondering what she’d done with his new friend.

As she poured water into the coffeemaker, the phone rang. “Hello?

It was Dee McIntyre, Eric’s sister. “Do you want Thom and me to pick you up tonight?”

Annalee sighed, dreading that evening’s high school reunion. Their fifteenth year. “No, thanks. I’m going to drive myself.” Then she wouldn’t have to stay long, wouldn’t be trapped if she wanted to bail in a hurry.

“You mean so you can pop in, say a few hellos, and duck out early?” Dee knew her too well.

Annalee pulled a chair out from the table and sat. Bobo trotted over and nudged her free hand with his nose. She scratched the monster behind his ears. “The only reason I’m going at all is to show everyone I haven’t fallen apart since the divorce.”

“Aw, you want to deprive the gossips of all their fun. You’re at least going to sit with us, aren’t you?”

“Yes, of course.”

“That’s good. ’Cause otherwise I won’t have anyone to talk to besides my husband, and it’s not like I’ll be able to drink.” Dee was pregnant with her first child. “I can’t have any fun now that I’m knocked up. Yesterday, Thom found my secret stash of chips and confiscated them. No fair.”

“He’s worried about you getting too much salt. It’s not good.”

“Hey, whatever happened to indulging a pregnant woman’s cravings, huh?” She sighed. “So about tonight. Have you heard if Dickweed’s showing up?”

Dickweed
was Dee’s nickname for Annalee’s ex-husband, also a member of their class.

She squeezed the phone’s handset. “Oh, he’ll be there, I’m sure. Denny’s the original hail
fellow well met. He’s not going to miss a chance to connect with all his high school buddies and lord it over them. Besides, where better to show off his sparkly new wife?”

Dee made an unintelligible sound. “His…what?”

“Yes, Denny has remarried. I take it you haven’t heard?”

“No. And you’re just telling me this now?”

“I only found out yesterday. Sandra Widdicombe ambushed me in the Smart Savings’ parking lot.”

Bobo was bored with the conversation. He padded over to the refrigerator and stole the dish towel hanging from the door handle. Annalee snatched it from him before he could make a getaway. “Give me that, you.”

“What?”

“Sorry, I was talking to the dog.” She set the slobbery towel on the table. “Anyway, I was putting groceries in my trunk when Sandra rushed over, full of sympathy.”

“I’ll bet.”

Annalee could still picture Sandra’s oh-so-sympathetic expression and the syrupy concern in her voice, neither of which masked her avid curiosity.

“Oh, Annalee dear, I just heard about Denny’s marrying that little waitress. From some café, wasn’t it, or diner? Marlie something?”

Annalee remembered standing by her car, plastic bags hanging from her numb fingers, her mouth gaping in surprise. Her mind an utter blank. If it had been a movie, she’d have snapped back with a clever, withering remark that would have left Sandra crawling away in humiliation.

Instead, she simply blinked and muttered, “What?”

Not her finest moment by any measure. Sandra was in her glory, though, regaling Annalee with all the gory details. Making sure to include the requisite clucking and murmurs of sympathy.
“We all think it’s disgraceful, what Denny’s done. But you’ve been wonderful, Annalee. Such a lady, rising above it the way you have. So brave. You just keep your chin up, dear.”

“That bitch.” Dee snorted. “I’m sure she was hoping you’d burst into tears right then and there.”

“I’m sure.” Annalee twisted the phone cord around her finger. “Afraid I didn’t give her the satisfaction.”

“You big meanie.”

“I know.” She laughed, but even to her own ears, it sounded forced.

“So…” From Dee’s hesitant tone, she wasn’t sure how to proceed. “Are you okay with it?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Denny’s a free agent. He and I don’t even talk anymore.” Any love for him died long ago, extinguished by years of deception and disrespect. “I’ve moved on and obviously he has, too.” Round and round went the cord. She didn’t give a tinker’s damn, as the saying went, what her ex did. She had her house, her job, and her independence. What else did she need?

Annalee blinked. Her finger was purple. She quickly uncoiled the cord and changed the subject. “You should see the killer dress I bought for tonight.”

“Can’t wait. By the way, did I tell you my brother’s in town?” Dee changed the subject so quickly Annalee almost got whiplash.

“No, you didn’t, but we ran into each other earlier. When I was walking Bobo.” She didn’t mention that, thanks to Bobo, she nearly ran into a tree as well.

“Oh, really?” Eric’s sister drew out the last word—
realllyyy
.

Annalee rolled her eyes. “Yes, and what’s that little tone of yours supposed to mean?”

“Oh, nothing,” Dee replied airily. “I knew he went out this morning. I merely find it interesting that of all the people he might encounter, he bumps into you.
Very
interesting.”

“Do you really, Inspector Clouseau?”

“Yes, indeed. Given the fact he’s had a major crush on you all these years—”

Annalee pulled at the collar of the sweater that now felt too tight around her throat. “A
crush
?”