Doorstep daddy (21 page)

_{"Family. His grandfather was some big politician there before the son came to Philly years and years ago. Are you having fun yet?"}

_{"Absolutely." Callie grinned. "It's strange without the kids, though."}

_{"No bickering. No broken dishes. No To bathroom or not to bathroom, that is the question."' Richard sighed happily and swiveled his hips in time to the music. "I love the kids, but it's
great
to be alone with you."}

_{"Hey! Richard. Richard Holiday!"}

_{Callie turned with Richard to find a handsome man grinning at them and dancing with a very pretty woman. Richard laughed. "My God. Jared. What are you doing here?"}

_{"The Chilean consul was one of my first clients when I opened my own law practice, so Allison and I got invited," the man replied. "I thought I might see you here, since I know you're connected somehow. You remember my wife, Allison."}

_{"Of course." Richard took Allison's hand and suavely kissed it. He touched Callie's waist, adding, ' 'This is Callie Rossovich, woman extraordinaire. Callie, meet my cousin Jared Holiday and his wife, Allison."}

_{Greetings were exchanged as the song ended and Callie found herself bussed on the cheek by the Holidays. This must be one of the elusive cousins Richard had talked about.}

_{"She is extraordinary," Jared agreed.}

_{"Hardly," Callie said ruefully.}

_{"Don't listen to her," Richard said dismissively.}

_{"We won't," Allison promised, grinning at Callie.}

_{"I just realized how much time has passed since we saw you at your brother's funeral," Jared said seriously. "I feel badly, Richard. We meant to keep in touch better than we have."}

_{"I know. I've been swamped with the kids and moving, so I haven't been much better."}

_{"How are the children?"}

_{Richard chuckled. ' 'Adjusting/'}

_{They chatted with Jared and Allison a little longer, the men catching up, until a new song started and people began dancing around them.}

_{Callie smiled as she and Richard were crushed together by the dance crowd. If this was Richard's idea of being alone, he must barely feel crammed when in New York City rush-hour traffic. Jared and Allison danced away.}

_{The music slowed. Richard pulled her closer and swirled her in time to the music. He didn't ask her to dance; he just assumed. She couldn't find it in her heart to tell him he might have assumed wrongly. The evening held so much promise she wanted nothing to ruin it. She
wanted
to dance with him and that was all that mattered. He just hadn't asked first. The man was entitled to get away with machismo once in a while.}

_{She melted against him as the lights dimmed. Their thighs brushed together. One of his hands rode low on her hip, his fingers just above the curve of her derriere. His other hand cuddled hers to his chest. Their cheeks touched.}

_{Callie smiled to herself as his cologne, sharp with sandalwood, teased her senses. She couldn't remember the last time she'd danced intimately with a man. She felt pretty and pampered and incredibly feminine. She felt desire and desired. When was the last time she'd felt that way with any man?}

_{She couldn't answer. She had this response to Richard, and that was all that mattered. She would take this night and keep it in a mental memory book, already filled with images and sensations of him. She would take out the remembrances to make her smile and feel loved, even if for just a moment, long after her midnight hour
struck. Even though she wasn't Cinderella with a time clock to punch, a midnight of sorts would eventually arrive. A darker midnight from which she would never return.}

_{But not yet, she thought, snuggling closer to Richard as "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" played out to the end.}

_{Later, she and Richard caught up with Jared and Allison again and had a longer talk. Callie liked them both, Jared reminding her of Richard. Allison was indulgent of her husband and very kind to her. But mostly Callie indulged herself with Richard and loved every minute of it. They splurged on every item the endless buffet table held. They laughed over trying to do the macarena and the matchups of amateur diplomats to their respective countries. They sipped shared champagne.}

_{Callie was floating by the time they left the ball. She swore her feet hadn't touched the ground since the second round of champagne. Richard was the ultimate escort: attentive, witty and sexy. She had been with a wonderful man in a sensational setting and her top had stayed up all evening. What more could a girl ask?}

_{"One thing," she murmured aloud as Richard walked her to her door.}

_{"One thing what?" he asked, smiling and taking her hand.}

_{"Oh, nothing really." She smiled at him. "I was just thinking this was a great evening. A perfect evening."}

_{They stopped at her door. "You are a wonderful woman, Callie."}

_{She chuckled. "You are a great suck-up."}

_{He grinned. "Keep thinking that. I don't mind a bit"}

_{He leaned down and grazed the corner of her mouth with his hps. Callie's breath caught in her throat. He
touched the other corner with a second butterfly kiss. Her head spun from the sensations.}

_{Wanting a full kiss, Callie sought his mouth with her own. He eluded her, still giving the barest of kisses on her face. He ran his hands down her arms, sending shivers of awareness through her.}

_{She had warned herself to indulge in the fantasy only so far. She had made it a point to join the fun without causing repercussions. But somewhere the lines had blurred, and now she wanted more than indulgence and fun. She wanted reality and emotions. She couldn't use the excuse that this was a dream and she didn't try.}

_{"Come in for coffee," she said in a low voice, knowing the invitation included more.}

_{He raised his head. "Are you sure you want me to?"}

_{"Oh, absolutely."}

_{She put her hands to his face and pulled him into her kiss.}

_{Chapter Ten}

_{Richard looked at the breakfast mess and muttered, "Back to reality."}

_{Had last night happened? Everything seemed in a haze. And yet he could easily see Callie again, so beautiful in that gown, laughing and sensuous. He could feel her moving slowly against him, every inch of her body swaying in time to the music. He could also feel her naked body moving urgently once again with his, taking him inside her, making love in a way that scored his heart.}

_{He wished he'd been able to stay with her until morning. A week ago she'd been practically living with him. Due to illness, maybe, but he didn't care. His house seemed empty without her. It seemed even emptier to have left her behind in her own bed.}

_{What was she thinking right now? What was she regretting yet again? If only he hadn't had to leave after making love - but it had been late and the kids were with Gerri, not the best of situations to allow him to indulge himself and Callie further.}

_{Commitments. He had them, and Callie had shed them.}

_{Richard cursed, hating his thoughts.}

_{"I didn't do it," Jason said, having overheard his uncle as he entered the kitchen.}

_{I did,
Richard thought. "I was just thinking out loud."}

_{"About what?" Jay dumped a used cup in the kitchen sink.}

_{"I don't know." Richard sighed, knowing very well. "I was thinking about Callie."}

_{"Oh." Jason scratched his nose. "You like her, don'tcha?"}

_{"Yes, I do." It was a relief to admit it to somebody, even a seven-year-old boy.}

_{"She's more fun than Joey's mom." Jay made a face. "She made us watch a dumb movie called
Little Women
because it was... 'lightning.''}

_{"Enlightening."
Richard smothered a smile. Jason's movie tastes ran to
Space Jam
and
Casper.
"Enlightening" was hardly his style.}

_{"She wouldn't let me play video games, either," Jay complained further. "She said it was childish.
I am a.
child!"}

_{Richard laughed helplessly.}

_{"It's not funny, Uncle Richard," Jason said. "Can we have Callie back?"}

_{"I wish." He wanted Callie in so many ways.}

_{"Why don't you just go get her?"}

_{Kids were to the point even when they missed it, Richard thought. The truth was, he was afraid to seek her out after making love. If he did, the Pandora's box of emotions was bound to open. He couldn't face that, so what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.}

_{As the day wore on, however, a bright Sunday that invited walks in the woods, long drives down country roads and warm cider before fireplaces, Richard tried to concentrate on loading dishwashers and clothes dryers
and faxing buyers' needs to his contacts in the Far East. The work week on the other side of the world would be starting in a few short hours. He wished his had started already, just so he could get past the agonizing Sunday.}

_{By five o'clock he could stand the uncertainty no longer, and he dialed her number from his office phone. She answered on the second ring.}

_{"Hello?" Her voice sounded strong and sure.}

_{"Hi," he said.}

_{He could feel the charged pulse of sensuality between them over the telephone line. "Richard."}

_{"I wanted to thank you for coming with me last night," he said, and immediately hated the lame words. He cleared his throat and got to the point. "I wanted to see how you were after last night. After making love."}

_{He glanced around his office, just in case one of the kids had snuck into the room. Well, Mark was playing blocks on the floor, but he didn't count.}

_{"I...I don't know."}

_{"Really?" This was progress. At least she wasn't regretting it and rejecting him as he'd feared. "I wish I could have stayed. I wanted to."}

_{"Don't apologize for that. You had to go home to the kids. How did they do with my sister?"}

_{"She enlightened them with
Little Women
and no video games."}

_{Callie chuckled. "I'm surprised they didn't tie her up and torture her."}

_{He refused to be deterred from the subject of their lovemaking. "Last night was special for me. I hope for you, too."}

_{"Yes." Her voice was low.}

_{Richard straightened. This really was progress. "Callie... have you changed your mind?"}

_{"Oh, Lord." She sighed heavily. "No. Yes. I don't know. I'm confused."}

_{"I'll come to you." Mark knocked his blocks over, drawing Richard's attention. His budding plan deflated faster than a popped balloon. "No, I can't. I have the kids. You come here."}

_{"No. I'd rather do this over the phone."}

_{"That sounds ominous. Let me - "}

_{"No, no. Unless you're sending me Girl Scout cookies, stay where you are. I need some space. Or a swift kick in the pants. I'm all over the place emotionally."}

_{"Okay. Let's back up the truck and start again," he said, wanting to head her in the right direction. She was halfway there. He hoped. "You're no longer sure our lovemaking was a mistake. And you're confused about that."}

_{"It never should have happened a second time. I'd like to think it was fancy clothes and too much champagne, but I think popcorn and jeans would have made no difference. I guess I'm lonely and needy."}

_{"Jeez, you're not a bag lady."}

_{"Bag lady!" Mark repeated happily.}