Rekindled Dreams (Moon Child) (9 page)

She stepped aside. “Sure.”

Simon wondered what caused the frown. He guessed she felt wary about trusting him. Her green eyes reflected sadness. Not what he’d hoped to see. What could he say to turn her thoughts in the direction he wanted?

He clasped her hand. “I should have called but I was busy trimming days to get back here. Worked eighteen hour days fell into bed and crashed. The next day I began the routine again.”

She nodded. “I’ve also been busy. My billing service has grown. So has Jenny.”

What wasn’t she telling him? Surely he could talk her doubts away. He followed her to the family room and headed for the cradle. Jenny was beautiful. Her hair had grown and darkened a bit. She opened her eyes. Hazel, not the true green of her mother’s. He touched her hand. “Hello, you’re pretty.”

“I agree, but I’m her mother.”

Had there been a tremor in Dana’s voice? Should he ask what was wrong or wait for her to tell him? He opened the bag he held and removed a white bear wearing a tutu, a match to the pink one he’d bought weeks ago.

“Found this in the airport gift shop. I was right. It’s a duplicate of the other.”

Dana laughed. “A lucky find. She has the start of a collection.”

Her laughter contrasted with the lack of merriment in her eyes. “If I find a hundred I’ll buy them.”

“There’ll be no room for her,” Dana said.

“You have a point.” He stepped away from the cradle. “How are you?”

“Back to normal except for a few pounds to lose.”

“How did you spend the past few weeks?”

“Caring for Jenny, building the business and looking for a new house. And you?”

“Physical training, weaponry and learning a lot about computers. The physical was fun. The computers not so much.”

Simon drew a deep breath laden with roses and her. Did she regret what had nearly happened the last time he’d been here? He’d pushed. Thank heavens he’d pulled back. Still, he’d acted like the Simon of old. He’d taken off. He’d ignored an important person. He’d even taken a few minutes to talk to Aunt May. Had he blown his chance with Dana? This time he wasn’t leaving. He had to find a way to make things right.

“I spent yesterday signing partnership papers with Matt.”

Though Dana smiled her eyes remained sad. “May told me when she stopped by a short time ago.”

“Did she tell you how long the process took?”

“She did and that you have an apartment in town.”

Simon’s hands clenched. What else had his aunt said? Was something other than his neglect troubling Dana? Years ago she’d held problems inside. Though he wanted to ask he wouldn’t push. She wasn’t one to lean on anyone. Learning what he wanted to know would take time and patience. Time he had but patience was his weakness.

She met his gaze. “Thanks for telling Matt about my ventures. His wife is a client and she’s referred two of her colleagues.”

“Glad to be of assistance.”

He wouldn’t tell her yet about his ultimate goal. “Matt found the apartment for me and the movers arrived this morning. Could you spend the afternoon helping me settle in?”

“I’ll see if Madge is available to watch Jenny.”

“You can bring her. The apartment is clean and just filled with boxes. They’re even in the right rooms.”

Dana nodded. “Then we’ll come. Her infant seat is in my car. I’ll need to pack the diaper bag.”

“We’ll need to take your car. Matt dropped me off.”

Lines furrowed Dana’s brow. “Why?”

“I need to buy a car on Monday.”

“You don’t have one.”

“Living in the city with public transportation made one unnecessary, especially with parking expenses. Buses and cabs worked.”

While Dana packed the diaper bag, Simon pulled the car from the garage. He carried Jenny outside and fastened her into the car seat. When Dana left the house, he gulped a breath and wondered where the five pounds she’d said she needed were located. She seemed as slim as ever, though her breasts were fuller. He slid into the passenger’s seat and wished his jeans weren’t so tight. His cock ached, His hands fisted. There would be no kisses or caresses until he was sure Dana would join him in the quest for pleasure.

Was she able to have sex? Jenny had been born two months ago. He knew there were restrictions about pregnancy and sex. None of his friends on the force had been married and the topic had never arisen. He could ask Matt but he’d feel like a fool. There had to be a way to learn. He couldn’t ask Dana. Even thinking about voicing the question made his face feel hot.

* * *

Dana followed Simon and the infant carrier from the covered parking space at the apartment complex. He opened the door of his apartment and waited until she stepped inside. Beyond the foyer the room opened to reveal the living room where stacked boxes filled a corner near the window. A dark brown leather couch stood beneath the windows across from a wall where shelves surrounded a huge television. A leather recliner completed the furnishings.

“No coffee table?” she asked.

“Broke the glass top and a new one is being made. Where do you want to start? Here or in the kitchen?”

“Here. The person using the kitchen should be the one to stow the utensils, cookware and staples. You’ll need to be able to find what you need.”

She glanced beyond the half-walls framing the entrance to an efficient kitchen large enough for a table and chairs. The white appliances gleamed.

Simon grinned. “You’ll have the easy part.”

“Not necessarily. Any special way you want the books organized?”

He shrugged. “Just put them on the shelves for now. I’ll decide later.”

Dana opened the first of a half dozen boxes. She placed books on the shelf. The wide variety of non-fiction surprised her. Of fiction there were few mostly mysteries and suspense stories.

In the second box she came upon a small wooden chest. Curiosity stung. She opened the lid. Tears filled her eyes when she saw the boutonnière from their prom. A scene flashed in her thoughts. She and Simon had danced so close only the full skirt of her gown had parted their bodies. She lifted a small duck she’d won at the fireman’s fair. She’d presented the yellow toy to him. The program from graduation caught her attention. With a quick movement she opened the booklet and read what she’d written.

With all my love, Dana.

Several hours later they had argued. Simon had walked away. She’d meant those words when she’d written them. How did she feel now?

Her hand tightened on the box. She had loved him. She might still feel the same but could she move past the day he’d walked away? Or the days she’s waited to hear from him? The hurt form the past acted like a damper on the embers of love.

With a sigh she set the box filled with memories on a shelf. Only with time and honesty could the burning hurts be soothed. She returned to opening boxes and shelving the contents on shelves or setting pictures and diplomas aside for Simon to hang.

“I’m done here.” She broke down the last box and added it to the pile. “Where now?”

Simon stepped from the kitchen. “Looks great. You’re quick. There’s the bathroom plus the linen cupboard and the bedroom.”

She wasn’t ready for the intimacy of the bedroom. “I’ll take the bathroom." Towels, hygiene equipment and linens would keep her from thinking about sex.

That thought brought to mind the kisses they had recently shared. Her body reacted. Would they find the passion they had shared and be skin to skin again. A pulsing began low in her belly. Not the time for those thoughts.

As she unpacked the boxes in the bathroom, Jenny cried and stopped. Dana finished the box of linens and allowed curiosity to send her toward the living room. Simon held the baby as though she was a football. He moved in a slow dance and crooned nonsense. Dana’s pulse galloped. She wished for a video camera to record the event.

“You two having a moment?” she asked.

“Looks that way.” Simon grinned. “She stopped crying when I picked her up but she’s dripping. I’ve no experience with diapers.”

Dana opened the diaper bag and spread a changing pad on the leather sofa. She took Jenny from Simon and quickly changed her daughter. With a glance she noticed Simon watch her movements.

“I think I could do that. No pins to push through.”

Dana chuckled. “Modern conveniences.” She handed him the wet diaper. “Put this in the garbage.” Jenny’s mouth opened. Her face scrunched and she cried. “Hungry, puss?” Dana asked.

Simon snatched the diaper. “I’ll be in the bedroom.”

Dana nearly laughed at his hasty retreat. She sobered. Did he think breast feeding was ugly or was there another reason for his flight? He’d seen her breasts. When hey were teens he’d done magical things with hands and mouth. Just thinking of those days brought desire flooding her body. She settled on the couch and opened her blouse.

After Jenny burped Dana fastened the infant in the seat and went to find Simon. He stood in the bedroom with a sheet in his hands. She hesitated before entering. “Let me help you.” She walked to the far side of the king-sized bed and slid the bottom sheet over the corners of the mattress.

Simon tossed her the end of the top sheet. “There’s something I need to ask.”

Dana braced her shoulders. “What?”

“Why the hell did you marry Randy?”

The anger in his voice startled her. She sucked in a breath. “I wouldn’t put out so he proposed.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Her hands clenched. “Did you expect me to wait until you got over your tantrum? Forever if that suited you.”

He glared. “He took what should have been mine.”

Dana straightened. She seldom lost her cool but Simon had pushed her into the boiling cauldron of anger. Her hands fisted. She fought the urge to physically attack him.

“Excuse me. He didn’t take. I gave. What makes you think my virginity was yours?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Yes you did.” Her fists tightened. So did her throat. “Tell me this. Where were you? Dead? Married? You threw what we could have had away when you ran.”

“Dana.”

“Did you call? Send a note or an email? Anything? Your aunt never said a word about you until she told me you refused to attend the wedding.”

“Dana.”

“For your information, your name wasn’t on my list. You chose your life and I had no place beside you.” She pushed past him.

“I should have called.” He reached for her.

She batted his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

“Just listen. I intended to call you but every day passed and I didn’t. Became harder to try.”

She wheeled to face him. “After a week of marriage I believed I’d made a mistake. They my parents were killed in a car accident. For all his selfishness Randy helped me with my grief. For several months I thought we could make the marriage work. Then my parents’ estate was settled and he reverted.” Tears streamed down her face.

Simon groaned. “I didn’t know. I didn’t try to discover what you were doing. I’m here now.”

“So am I and I’m leaving.”

“What will you do if your business doesn’t work?”

”Return to my old job.”

“As a secretary?”

“As a nurse.” Her tears stopped but she had to leave before more was said and she started crying again. Why couldn’t she show anger without becoming a fountain? She glared. “I’m taking Jenny home.”

His shoulders slumped. “I won’t stop you.”

She wanted him to say he would give her time to settle and put her anger aside. He wouldn’t call. Like always he would turn on his heel and walk away. Regret shone in his eyes, a sentiment she couldn’t believe. What they could have found together had cracked like a basket of dropped eggs. She hurried to the living room and packed her things. She slung the diaper bag on one shoulder and lifted the infant seat.

“I’ll take that.” Simon’s hand brushed hers.

“Thank you.” She ignored the arrows of flame shooting to her core. She pushed aside the yearning in Simon’s blue eyes.

As Dana fastened her seat belt, Simon put his hands on the driver’s door. “Drive carefully.”

“Always.” As she pulled into the street she remembered she hadn’t told him about Patricia’s threatening call or the spate of late night hang-ups.

Chapter
8

Simon stood on the sidewalk and watched Dana drive away. He’d blown it again. The apartment keys dug into his palm. The bubble of anger broke. Disgust with himself flooded his thoughts. Why hadn’t he called her during the early days of his flight from Fern Lake? For ten years he’d ignored the nightly appearance of her in his dreams. In the morning he’d shoved those memories away.