In a Heartbeat Read online

  “Does somebody pay you to meddle?” Erica asked.

  Sherry leaned forward once again and touched Erica’s hand. “Nobody has to pay me. I meddle because I care. You’re young and beautiful and bright, and you’re wasting so many gifts.”

  “We’ll discuss this later, Sherry.” Erica shot her a meaningful look, then gazed at Hannah, who apparently sensed the tension between the two grown-ups. A little frown danced across the center of her forehead.

  “Are you and Sherry mad, Mommy?”

  “No, sweetie.” Erica grabbed Sherry’s hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “It’s all right for friends to disagree and still be friends.”

  Hannah nodded. “Sometimes my dream friend and me disagree.” Hannah wrinkled her nose in distaste. “My dream friend likes to play with dolls and I don’t.”

  “Dream friend?” Sherry looked at Erica.

  “You know…an imaginary friend,” Erica explained.

  “Mr. Man used to have a ’maginary friend called Curly the Cowboy,” Hannah explained, then giggled. “And he let Mr. Man chew tobacco.”

  “This Mr. Man sounds utterly fascinating,” Sherry said.

  “I’ll tell you what I find fascinating,” Erica replied. “That the conversation is being dominated with talk of a man who is nothing but a neighbor. Can we please change the subject?”

  Sherry gazed intently at Erica, then shrugged. “Okay. Have I told you the latest gossip at the paper?”

  As Sherry launched into an entertaining monologue of office politics, Erica leaned back against the booth and tried to relax, tried to shove away thoughts of Caleb McMann.

  Thoughts of the handsome man had been disturbing her ever since the last time they’d talked. When he’d told her about his wife’s illness, her heart had opened just a touch to him.

  Here was a man who’d faced enormous adversity and he hadn’t run away, he hadn’t turned his back. Instead, he’d faced the pain and the heartache of loss.

  Just before he left, as they’d lingered for a moment at her door, she’d had the distinct impression that he wanted to kiss her. She’d seen the kiss in his eyes and it horrified her that for just a moment, she’d wanted to feel the warmth of his mouth against hers.

  However, before any contact had occurred, he’d backed away, making her wonder if she’d only imagined that kiss in his eyes.

  Crazy…she didn’t even know the man at all. She didn’t want or need another man in her life. She had decided long ago that she would never again allow herself to be vulnerable, allow a man to hurt her…or hurt Hannah. They were fine all by themselves. A man had no place in their lives.

  So, why was she wondering about Caleb’s kiss? Crazy.

  “So, when are they actually going to start installing the air-conditioning unit?” Sherry asked, making Erica realize she’d exhausted the topic of office gossip and had moved on.

  “Tomorrow. From what the workmen told me, it’s going to be a fairly big job. New ductwork is going to have to be put in and some of the old pulled out.”

  Sherry wrinkled her nose. “Sounds like a mess.”

  “Who cares about the mess? We’ll be cool as cucumbers this summer.”

  Hannah giggled. “Cool as cucumbers. Pretty as peas.”

  “Soothing as squash,” a deep male voice added.

  “Mr. Man!” Hannah exclaimed in delight as Caleb appeared next to their booth.

  “Hi, pumpkin.” He tapped the tip of Hannah’s nose, then smiled at Erica and Sherry.

  Warmth flooded through Erica at the brilliance of his smile. Drat the man anyway, she thought as she felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

  “Hi. Sherry Burnett. And you must be Caleb McMann. I’ve just been hearing so much about you,” Sherry said, somehow successfully avoiding the kick Erica sent her beneath the table.

  “I told her you’re building me a tree house,” Hannah said.

  “I am and now that the sun is shining once again, the roof is going on one day this week.”

  “Oh, goody!” Hannah exclaimed.

  “Please…join us.” Sherry scooted over to allow him to sit next to her. She studiously ignored the glare Erica sent in her direction.

  “I’ll sit for just a minute. I’m meeting a contractor for lunch, but I don’t see him here yet.” He smiled at Erica. “How are you? The rain sort of made us all prisoners in our houses,” Caleb said.

  She nodded. “I’ve been busy.”

  He smiled, that damnable grin that made his eyes twinkle. “You know what they say about all work and no play.”

  “Yeah…it makes a person productive,” she retorted, then flushed slightly, knowing she was being unusually surly.

  “On the contrary…it makes a person cranky,” Sherry said, earning her another pointed frown from Erica. “Don’t mind her,” Sherry said to Caleb. “I understand you bought the house next to Erica’s.”

  As Caleb and Sherry talked about the renovations Caleb was doing, Erica found herself studying the man who had been occupying too much of her thoughts.

  This afternoon he looked far too attractive in a short-sleeved blue pinstripe shirt, the silvery blue stripes perfectly matching his eyes. The short sleeves displayed shapely biceps and tanned flesh. His dark hair was slightly tousled, several strands boyishly errant across his forehead.

  She suddenly realized his gaze was on her. He was watching her watching him. She blushed again, irritated with him, and even more irritated with herself.

  She toyed with her paper napkin, then straightened the silverware next to her plate, still acutely conscious of his lingering gaze.

  “Mommy. I have to go to the bathroom,” Hannah whispered.

  “Okay, honey. I’ll take you.” Erica excused herself and her daughter, wanting to kiss Hannah soundly for her perfectly timed nature call.

  In the bathroom, she splashed her face with cool water, wondering why every time Caleb McMann was around, the room temperature seemed to climb to uncomfortable heights.

  It felt remarkably like sexual attraction. But it couldn’t be, because Erica refused to accept that kind of chemistry in her life. Sexual attraction inevitably led to sex, which led to hope and promises that even tually would be shattered and broken. She’d learned that the hard way.

  However, Erica also knew that no matter how she denied it, she was attracted to Caleb McMann, and that made him the enemy.

  “We were just talking about movies,” Sherry said to Erica as she and Hannah returned to the booth. “Did you know that the Uptowner is playing classics all week?”

  “Really?” Sherry knew how much Erica loved the old classics.

  “And tonight they’re playing one of your favorites,” Sherry continued, “It Happened One Night.”

  Erica smiled as she thought of the Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert romantic comedy. “One of the best movies ever made, as far as I’m concerned.”

  “My sentiments exactly,” Caleb agreed.

  “So, if you both love that movie and it’s playing tonight, why don’t the two of you go together to see it?” Sherry smiled, looking immensely pleased with herself. “I’ll be glad to baby-sit Hannah.”

  “Yeah, go with Mr. Man, Mommy. I want Sherry to baby-sit me!” Hannah declared, instantly becoming an unwitting accomplice in Sherry’s evil matchmaking scheme.

  Caleb’s gaze once again sought Erica’s, those bewitching eyes of his soft and sexy. “I’m free this evening. I’d love to take you to the movies.”

  “And Hannah and I will spend the evening finger painting and eating junk food,” Sherry added.

  “Oh yes, Mommy. I love finger painting and I love junk food,” Hannah replied like a tiny parrot.

  Erica frowned at Sherry. She’d done this on purpose, manipulated her daughter with bribery and maneuvered Erica into a corner where to refuse would not only make her look churlish, but would disappoint Hannah as well.

  She would kill Sherry later, she decided. Late at night…in the dark…when nobody would know.
r />   “All right, but we’ll go dutch,” she said, hoping he understood that she didn’t consider the outing anything like a real date.

  He nodded, amusement flickering in his eyes. “That’s fine. Whatever makes you comfortable.”

  It would make her comfortable if his eyes didn’t shine quite so brightly, if his shoulders weren’t so wonderfully broad. And she’d be really comfortable if she could pull on an old pair of sweats and watch the movie alone in her living room while Hannah played in her room.

  “I think the movie starts at eight. Why don’t I pick you up at seven-thirty?”

  “Great!” Sherry chimed in. “She’ll be ready.”

  “Then I’ll just leave you three ladies to finish up your lunch.” With a nod, he turned and left them, heading for a table in the front of the restaurant where a white-haired man was already seated.

  “Whew…that’s some neighbor,” Sherry said when he’d gone.

  “I’m going to kill you,” Erica muttered in an undertone.

  Sherry laughed. “Mellow out. It will be good for you.”

  “I can’t believe you did that.”

  “Did what?” Sherry held out her hands in mock innocence. “I didn’t do anything.”

  “You know perfectly well what you did, and I’m going to make you pay.”

  “Mommy, are you and Sherry disagreeing again?” Hannah asked.

  “Yes, honey. We are,” Erica replied.

  Hannah smiled and reached for her mother’s hand, then for Sherry’s. Putting the hands together, she beamed at them both. “Friends can disagree and still be friends,” she said proudly.

  Erica looked at her daughter, then looked at her best friend, then laughed and shook her head ruefully. “You win this round, my friend. But if you persist in your meddling, I’m going to resort to vile methods to make you stop.”

  Sherry grinned. “I’ll worry about that later. Right now I’m too busy worrying about finger painting with an almost-six-year-old.”

  They finished their meal, then Sherry insisted she take Hannah home. “There’s no point in bringing her over later. I’m off for the rest of the day and this will give you all afternoon to get ready for your big date.”

  “It isn’t a date,” Erica corrected heatedly. “It’s two neighbors who just happen to be going to the same place and sharing transportation. And really, I don’t mind bringing Hannah by later.” A stab of panic tightened Erica’s chest. Hannah had never been away from her before for any real length of time. What if something went wrong?

  Sherry smiled and patted Erica’s arm as if reading her mind. “Hannah will be fine, Erica.”

  “Yeah, Mommy, I’ll be fine,” Hannah exclaimed, her cheeks pink with the excitement of a new adventure. “I want to go with Sherry.”

  Erica nodded, emotion clogging the back of her throat as she saw how eager her daughter was. She’s growing up, Erica thought with a sharp pang. It’s natural that she would look forward to a little independence, a little time away from Mom.

  Sherry stood. “Come on, squirt. Let’s go to my place and see what fun we can find.”

  As Sherry and Hannah left the restaurant, Erica fought back a renewed surge of panic.

  Somehow in the past few minutes things had spun completely out of her control. Not only was Hannah going to spend an entire evening away from her, but she was supposed to spend the evening in the company of Caleb McMann. She wasn’t sure which was more frightening.

  “Katie, you know you’re supposed to buckle up,” Caleb said to his daughter in the back seat of the car as he turned onto the highway. He looked at his wristwatch and frowned.

  They were running late. Mrs. Henderson, his housekeeper, was down with the flu, leaving Caleb to get his daughter ready for school while he also prepared for a day of meetings. He stepped harder on the gas and once again shot a glance in his rearview mirror.

  “Katie Rose…if I have to stop this car and buckle you up…” he warned.

  She stood and leaned over the front seat with a giggle. “If you stop the car, I’ll just give you a big kiss, Daddy Doodle.”

  Caleb had no opportunity to reply. He had a single, clear picture of the truck that crossed into his lane. A bright red semi with a shiny silver grill…how odd that the driver didn’t appear to see his car.

  Before the imminent danger could register in his mind, there was an incredible cacophony of sound—screeching metal, shattering glass, crushing pain in his chest, the inability to breath…then nothing.

  Caleb awoke, gasping for breath, covered with perspiration and crying his daughter’s name over and over again.

  He sat up, surprised to find himself on the sofa, surprised that he had been having a nightmare. It had felt so real. The truck…Katie Rose…that horrifying moment when he knew a crash was imminent.

  He swiped his face with trembling hands, then reached for the glass of iced tea on the coffee table. The ice cubes had melted, but he hoped the sweet tea would take away the bitter taste of agony.

  He drank deeply of the lukewarm liquid, then checked his watch. Six-thirty. He had an hour before it was time to pick up Erica.

  He’d met with the contractor whose men were working on the house just after one. The meeting had lasted until after two, then Caleb had come home, worked a little bit, then decided to stretch out for a short nap.

  For months, he hadn’t been sleeping well at night. Sleep, instead of bringing rest, brought dreams…dreams of his daughter, haunting nightmares retelling the past, night after night evoking in him the recurrent struggle to change the events that had brought him to this place in time.

  This was the first time those dreams had invaded a nap. He stood and padded into the kitchen, fighting off a wave of depression. Would he ever again enjoy sweet slumber unbroken by dreams of death and guilt? Would he ever awaken from a night’s sleep without the bitter taste of loss in his mouth?

  As he ate a quick microwave dinner, the haunting images faded. In the past five days, the workers had been busy in the kitchen. The old wiring had been replaced and updated, as had the plumbing.

  New appliances were now in place and the old paint that had covered the cabinets had been sanded away to reveal the lustrous oak beneath. There was still a lot of work to be done in here, but when it was all finished, the kitchen would be a showplace.

  Caleb finished his meal, then went upstairs to the master bedroom and bath. A moment later, standing beneath the hot spray of a shower, his thoughts turned to Erica.

  A date. He was actually going on a date. He scrubbed the minty soap bar across his chest and shook his head in amazement. It had been a long time since he’d dated…since before his marriage to Judith. He hoped he didn’t make some awful mistake, somehow manage to alienate or offend Erica Clemmons.

  Dating Erica involved a tremendous gamble. If she decided she couldn’t stand him, wanted nothing to do with him, then his involvement with Hannah would come to an end as well.

  It probably would have been smarter for him to remain a friendly neighbor and nothing more. But the moment he’d seen Erica sitting in the booth at the restaurant, pleasure had rippled through him…a pleasure that he believed had nothing to do with her daughter. It had been the pure emotion of a particular man happy to see a particular woman.

  His attraction to Erica frightened him just a little bit. He couldn’t be sure how true it was. Would he still be attracted to her if she weren’t Hannah’s mother? If she wasn’t part of a package deal, would he still be drawn to her? There was no way for him to separate her from Hannah, and that made it difficult for him to assess his attraction to her.

  He leaned forward and lifted his face to the shower spray. It was too soon to know what was going on in his own head, too soon to try to sort out the emotions Erica and Hannah stirred inside him.

  One day at a time, he told himself as he stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel. How many days did it take to heal a heart? He shook his head ruefully. It sounded like the setup to a b
ad joke.

  But it wasn’t a joke and Caleb didn’t know the answer. He only knew that the thought of spending the evening with Erica invigorated him, made him both nervous and exhilarated….

  Chapter 5

  “Erica, this is the fourth time you’ve called in the last two hours,” Sherry said with a sigh of exasperation. “Hannah is fine and perfectly satisfied. Just like she was the last time you called…and the time before that…and the—”

  “Okay, I’m sorry. I’ll admit, I’m a little bit neurotic.” Erica waited for Sherry to protest this self-assessment, but Sherry remained loudly silent.

  Erica looked at her wristwatch. A quarter after seven. She fought a rising sense of panic as she realized Caleb would be arriving in the next fifteen minutes. “If it’s any consolation, I probably won’t have time to call you again before he gets here.”

  “What are you wearing?”

  Erica looked at her bed, where no less than a dozen different outfits were tossed helter-skelter, then gazed downward. “At the moment, I’m clad in a white bra and panties.”

  “Great!” Sherry laughed. “That should move things right along.”

  “Ha, ha,” Erica replied dryly. She sighed. “I’m having trouble deciding what to wear.”

  “That’s odd, isn’t it?” Amusement lit Sherry’s voice. “I mean, why is what you’re wearing a big deal if this is nothing more than just two neighbors sharing transportation to a movie?” She didn’t wait for a reply. “Wear that pastel green dress that you wore two weeks ago when we met for lunch. It’s casual but attractive, and unless you want to greet him in your bra and panties, you’d better hang up and get into it right now.”

  “Okay…kiss Hannah for me.” With these final words, Erica hung up.

  What she wanted to do was greet Caleb at the door in her oversized terry bathrobe and fuzzy slippers, cancel the date due to a strange ailment that had suddenly appeared. She wanted to crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head, hide from the attractive neighbor who both excited and confused her.

  And what was it about the man that excited and confused her? Those blue eyes of his warmed her whenever they lingered on her, yet filled her with curiosity as she sensed shadows beneath their blue depths. His sense of humor delighted her as his patience and gentleness with Hannah awed her.