Love To The Rescue (18 page)

It seemed only a short time had passed before she awoke from a serious face licking.

“Go away, Rover, I’m sleeping. Get back on your own bed, you bad dog.” She rolled over onto her other side.

“Get her again, Rover!”

Amy startled and then smiled, recognizing the voice. “Why are you getting my dog to do your dirty work?” she asked, her eyes still closed.

“So you’re awake?” Kevin sat down on the bed beside her.

“Is it too late to ask for my key back?” Amy cracked one eye open. The love of her life sat there, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “I distinctly recall emphasizing the fact that that key and access code were only to be used in case of an emergency.”

Rover leapt off her bed and settled back on his own doggie bed.

“This is an emergency. I require a kiss from a beautiful blonde and this was the first house I thought of,” explained Kevin, lying back on the comforter, his head on the other pillow, hands stacked on his chest.

“It had better be the
only
house you think of,” countered Amy, swatting his arm. She glared at Rover. “Some watch dog you are. Aiding and abetting. Waking me from a sound sleep.”

“In his defense, Rover charged downstairs when he heard me come in. Met me at the bottom of the stairs with his tail wagging. If he hadn’t recognized me, it could have gone quite badly.”

“Maybe I should hire a stranger to test your theory some night.” Amy raised one eyebrow.

“Could result in biting, stitches, a lawsuit...”

“Right. Dumb idea.”

Kevin yawned. “I just completed the shift from hell. If the government set the legal drinking age at eighty, it would make my job a lot easier. There are way too many people whose thought processes totally shut down when they drink. Alcohol causes some people to do the damnedest things.”

“Poor guy, close your eyes, and relax that stressed body and mind.” Amy slipped out from under the comforter, reached over and rubbed his temples.

“If you keep touching me, not one inch of me is going to relax.” Kevin moaned in pleasure as she continued massaging his face and then moved down to his neck and shoulders. “Keep working your way down. It feels wonderful so far.”

“I’ve had a hard day, too, you know. It’s Monday, and that means Girl Guides. Those girls ran me ragged and drove me crazy tonight.” And then she noticed the grin on his face. “What?”

“Sarah’s teacher left a message on my cell phone this morning. When I called her back, she requested I drop by after school today to discuss Sarah. I cringed at the thought, but she surprised me with the news that my daughter is now performing at her grade level. Miss Caruthers asked me what I’d done to bring on such a significant change in attitude and such a remarkable academic improvement in her student.”

“And what did you tell her?”

“That Sarah has a new mother substitute who deserves all the credit.” Kevin gently pulled her shoulders forward and kissed her nose. “I suggested you accompany me to the next parent interview. Sarah’s teacher says she’s eager to meet you.”

Amy felt herself redden with the praise. “I just helped her with her printing and reading, helped her sounding out her words and showed her how to hold a pencil in the proper manner. Nothing special.”

“I beg to disagree. You’ve won over Sarah’s heart, and that is priceless. She trusts you. She loves you and more importantly, she feels loved not just by me but by all of us. Mrs. Harris is praising you at every turn whenever one of the church ladies drops over to the house for a cup of tea. You’re just a halo short of sainthood in her opinion. And it takes a lot to make an impression on Mrs. Harris. I don’t think I even passed muster with her at first.” Kevin chuckled while he wound strands of her hair around his fingers.

“On Saturday morning over pancakes, Mrs. Harris asked me, what was my favorite cake? I immediately answered red velvet. Tonight after Girl Guides, she served Sarah and me a huge piece of red velvet cake with a glass of milk. That cake was delicious!” Amy grinned and playfully bobbed her eyebrows. “Next Saturday, I’m going to mention how much I love butter tarts.”

Kevin chuckled. “The week after tell her carrot cake. That’s my favorite.”

“I was so tired that I didn’t even stay for a second piece of cake. Just tucked Sarah into bed, which has become as much of a Monday night ritual as the meetings have.”

“Won’t hear any complaints from me.” Kevin grinned. “You could stay and tuck me in, too, if you’d like.”

“Mrs. Harris would chase me out of the place with a broom to my behind. She’s a good Catholic woman and wouldn’t condone any bedroom monkey business no matter how innocent.” Amy wagged her finger at him.

“You’re probably right.” Kevin conceded. “But I overheard her talking to Mrs. Jenkins when I arrived home last night. I caught the words ‘lovely young lady’ and ’serious some day’ before I entered the kitchen and interrupted their conversation.”

“And you concluded she was talking about me?”

“The two of them blushed as red as a tomato when they realized I’d overhead part of what they’d said.” Kevin chuckled. “Good detective work tells me they were discussing us.”

“Detective work? You’re not a detective, and you told me you’d always passed on the opportunity to move your career in that direction.” Amy tilted her head.

“I’ve been reconsidering the idea. Pays more.” Kevin shrugged.

“What promoted this decision? Does the difference in our net assets bother you, Kevin?” Amy propped herself up on one elbow.

“No. Well, maybe a little. Never mind the fact your late husband provided for you if the unthinkable happened, which it did, you’re just too successful of an author for my own good. But I’m okay with it. It’s not that. It’s time I face a new challenge. I’ve decided to start doing some plain clothes assignments, special duties work. Move my career toward the investigative side.” Kevin grinned.

“Well, Mr. Future Detective, do you suppose Mrs. Harris suspects we’re not playing Monopoly when you’re over here?” Amy met Kevin’s eyes.

“No way. She doesn’t suspect a thing,” said Kevin, grinning.

“I bet.” Amy punched his arm.

“I always report that I cleaned you out of all your money and properties in record time. Mrs. Harris just thinks you stink at Monopoly.” Kevin covered his head while she pummeled him with her pillow.

“No Monopoly for you tonight, mister.” Amy leapt off the bed. “I’m starving and I’m making myself a sandwich.”

“If the choices are Monopoly or food, I’ll choose food tonight. I haven’t eaten a thing since coffee break this morning.” Kevin swept her up in his arms and headed out of the bedroom. “Cook for me, woman, before there’s nothing left but skin and bones on this frame.”

At the top of the stairs, Kevin brushed her mouth with his lips and then deepened the kiss. Amy became vaguely aware of him carrying her back into the bedroom. And then he lowered her onto the bed, started unbuttoning her pajamas top.

Monopoly won out over sandwiches.

****

The next morning, Amy opened her eyes and discovered herself wrapped in Kevin’s arms. She smiled as he softly snored, lying beside her in the huge bed. She attempted to slip out of his embrace without waking him, but no such luck.

“Don’t worry,” mumbled Kevin, sounding half asleep. “I called Mrs. Harris last night so she wouldn’t worry. I told her something came up, and I wouldn’t be home until morning.”

Amy tilted her head. “Did you use your cell?”

“No, your phone.”

“You have caller I.D. at home.”

“Yeah.” Kevin’s eyes flew open. “Oh, crap!”

“The good Catholic woman is going to know you were here.” Amy chuckled. “In fact, she probably caught on to exactly what part of you
came up
.”

Kevin scrubbed his face with his hand.

Amy grinned. “Pitiful display of police work. Some detective you’ll make, foiled by caller I.D,” she teased.

Kevin playfully lunged for her.

She screamed and raced out of the bedroom. Rover followed her. “No way. My dog needs to go outside and I’m hungry. How does a veggie omelet sound?”

Kevin grabbed a quick shower, donned his clothes, and wandered downstairs to the kitchen ten minutes later.

Amy turned toward him and burst into tears.

“What on earth happened?” he asked, wrapping her in his arms.

“I...I...totally forgot...until I just glanced at the calendar,” stammered Amy, between sobs. “Today is September 27.”

“So?” Kevin leaned back and met her eyes.

“Two years,” sobbed Amy. “My husband died, two years ago today.”

Chapter 14

How could she have forgotten what day it was?

September 27th brought all the remembered pain and torturous heartache to the forefront of Amy’s mind. And the realization that she hadn’t remembered the anniversary of her husband’s death until she’d glanced at the calendar almost brought her to her knees.

Kevin had been wonderful, holding her while she sobbed, whispering comforting words in her ear. When she’d finally wrangled control over her emotions again, she noticed his completely bewildered expression. For a man who appeared at a total loss, he’d acted remarkably well.

“Thank you for...for...” Amy stammered.

“Sweetheart, I wish I could do more.” Kevin kissed the top of her head, patted her back as if comforting a crying child.

“Just being here, holding me...”

“Amy, honey, I’d do anything to spare you this pain. Trust me, I know how you feel. I mourned the loss of my marriage until I realized it was a blessing in disguise. Barbara didn’t love me. I’m not certain she ever loved our child. At least, not enough to stay and stick it out.” Kevin sighed. “Divorcing me, and then leaving the country was actually an unselfish act on her part. Had she stayed we would have made each other miserable, totally destroyed Sarah’s happiness and sense of security in the process.”

“How could she not love someone so precious?” Amy hiccupped and reached for a tissue.

“I’ll never understand Barbara either. But your situation was totally different. You loved your husband dearly.” Kevin brushed a strand of hair off her face. He paused for a few seconds and then added, “Anyone could see that you’re probably still in love with him.”

Amy leaned back, met his eyes, uncertain if she’d heard regret or resignation in his tone. Had that observation wounded his heart? Surely, Kevin was aware of how much she loved him. “Allan will always be tucked away in a corner of my heart, and September 27th will always be difficult for me. But I love you so much it frightens me sometimes. And having Sarah in my life is such a blessing.” She almost blurted out the admission that sometimes she felt like a real mother, but caught herself. Kevin seemed to welcome her help with Sarah, and he didn’t complain that she was overly-insinuating herself into his daughter’s life.

“Amy, darling, we both want what’s best for Sarah. She adores you. But you never mention whether or not you’d want to be married again. And I’ve been reluctant to bring up the subject. Maybe we’re both a little gun shy.”

Amy felt her eyes well with tears. She hated sharing her most intimate thoughts or worst fears with anyone. She tried to avoid feeling so vulnerable to another person’s opinion of her, and she refused to relinquish the highly-valued sense of power, independence, and control over her own life that she’d acquired at an early age.

But Kevin was different. She believed he wouldn’t judge her, no matter what she confided or shared with him. She took a deep breath. “Truthfully, the thought of remarrying frightens me. My father died of cancer when I was only seven, and a year later my mother remarried. I remember being thrilled—I’d acquired a new daddy—and then...”

“What happened?” inquired Kevin, frowning.

“Robert MacArthur was killed in a car accident four months after I turned sixteen. The police suspected a drunk driver, but the hit and run case was never solved.” Amy wiped at her tears. Losing her beloved stepdad in an unsolved drunk driving accident had haunted her for years. And then she’d lost Allan to a drunk driver, too. History repeating itself in the cruelest way. “My stepfather’s sudden senseless death devastated my mother. Over the years, I realized Mom loved Robert so much more than she ever loved my father. My parents only married because Mom discovered she was pregnant with me. She told me Dad cheated on her more than once, but she truly loved my stepfather. He was funny and faithful and such a nice man.”

“How tragic that must have been for both of you.” Kevin kissed her cheek. “Did your mother eventually accept his death, move on with her life?”

“She turned to prescription drugs and I suspect a few street drugs, too, to dull the pain of losing my stepdad.” Amy heaved a sigh. “She died three months later of an overdose one day while I was at school. I found her when I returned home from cheerleading practice.”

“Oh, Amy. That’s horrible.” Kevin tucked her head under his chin.

“The coroner ruled her death accidental; she hadn’t committed suicide. I believe in time she would have straightened her life out again and become the wonderful mother she was before my stepfather’s death. But it wasn’t to be. Fate robbed her of the opportunity.”

“I’m so sorry. What happened to you?”

“The courts sent me to live in Edson with my namesake, Aunt Amelia, and Uncle Jimmy. I hated living in such a small northern town. As soon as I graduated from high school, I headed back to Calgary and attended the University of Calgary on scholarships and student loans and completed my degree in English. I’ve been writing almost every day of my life. Either for high school and college newspapers, or magazines, and novels. You name it, I’ve written it. Now I can concentrate on what I love most, writing romance novels.” Amy straightened her back and looked him in the eye. “Okay, enough of this. I’m all cried out. How about that omelet I promised you?”

“Can I ask you a question first?”

“Kevin, you can ask me anything. You should know that by now.” Amy leaned back on his lap, looked deep into his eyes.

“Are you reluctant to consider marriage again because of what happened to your dad and your stepdad and your husband? Do you think every man that comes into your life will meet a similar fate?” Kevin stared at her, expectantly