Kids Is A 4-Letter Word (10 page)

John Sterling’s face came to Jo again, this time in alarming clarity. She stood up to shake the unsettling feelings her aunt had stirred. “It’s getting late—I’d better go.” She headed toward the door, then turned around at the last second. Hattie still sat at the table, cradling her teacup. “Thanks for the talk, Hattie.”

Her aunt smiled and nodded wisely. “Just remember, Jo, a hard man is good to find.” She raised her cup in a goodnight salute. Jo smiled and shook her head, then pulled the door shut.

“I
CALLED TO ASK YOU
to bring your puppy the next time you come over.”

Whistling under his breath, John walked into the kitchen in time to overhear his son’s words. He frowned, hands on hips. “Jamie, who are you calling at this hour?”

“Jo,” the little boy said matter-of-factly, not bothering to cover the mouthpiece.

John’s heart vaulted.
“Jo Montgomery?”

“Yeah.”

Astounded, John gasped. “Where did you get her number?”

“If you dial zero, the lady that answers will tell you everything,” Jamie said earnestly. “Do you want to know where Jo lives, too?”

“No!” John sputtered. “I mean…” He thrust out his hand. “Give me the phone, young man.”

“Bye, Jo,” Jamie said breathlessly into the mouthpiece. “Daddy wants to talk to you now.” He tossed the handset to John and scooted out of the kitchen, just clearing his father’s light swat.

John cursed under his breath as the handset slipped through his fingers and bounced twice on the hardwood floor. He scooped it up and juggled it a few seconds longer before he raised it to his ear. “Hello?”

“Hello,” Jo said, the laughter clear in her voice.

“Jo, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe my son called you.” He laughed nervously, wondering if the man she was involved with was sitting—or worse,
lying
—beside her, rolling his eyes at the Sterling family antics. “We interrupted your evening,” he asserted.

“Not really,” she replied. “I’d just returned from visiting my aunt Hattie. She lives in the other side of my duplex.”

“You don’t have…company?” he asked lightly.

“Just Victor, my dog,” she said, then laughed. “By the way, I didn’t get to tell Jamie that I usually don’t take Victor to work with me.”

John relaxed. “I guess the Sterling men keep hoping you’ll make exceptions in our case.”

“The picnic was an exception,” she said pointedly.

He grinned. “Then we’re wearing you down?”

She laughed again. “You both get points for persistence.”

“I had a good time today.”

“It was fun.” Her voice sounded cautious.

He took a gamble. “I can be fun without my three groupies, too.”

She was silent for a few seconds during which he was sure she could hear his heart thumping across the line. Finally she said, “John, I’ve always made it a rule never to mix my business and personal lives.” Was that the tiniest hint of regret in her voice, or was he simply wishing too hard?

“Okay,” he said, not even trying to keep the disappointment from his voice. “Business it is.”

After an awkward pause, Jo said, “I need to swing by your house Monday morning with my laptop, if that’s okay.”

“Fine,” he agreed quickly. “In case we’re already gone, I’ll leave a key under the mat.” He coughed lightly. “I want to thank you again for making the arrangements with Kid-Scape—you must do a lot of work for them to be able to call in a favor.”

She laughed, a musical sound. “Well, actually, I’m still vying for their business, but I think I’m making progress.”

“I wish you luck,” he said, then winced as a crashing sound reverberated from upstairs. “I have to say goodbye,” he said. “Unless my ears deceive me, I’d say yet another piece of the boys’ bedroom furniture has bitten the dust.”

“Are they okay?” she asked, sounding alarmed.

“I don’t hear any screaming, so that’s a good sign,” he said. “I’ll talk to you soon, I hope.”

“Soon,” she parroted softly, then quickly added, “Goodbye.”

John stared at the phone for a few seconds, then turned and bounded up the stairs.

“S
O WHAT DO YOU THINK
?” Pamela Kaminski asked, turning sideways. Jo blinked and glanced at her mother who seemed a bit awestruck by Pam’s silhouette in the shimmering minidress.

She looked back to her curvaceous friend. “It’s smashing, Pam. The gold is perfect with your hair.”

“Think so?” the blonde asked, squinting in the mirror.

“You look cold,” Helen said, frowning.

Jo elbowed her. “Mother, please,” she hissed out of the side of her mouth.

“Well, she does,” Helen whispered. “That’s not a dress—it’s a belt.”

“Try the black one,” Jo urged, smiling at her friend.

When Pamela disappeared into the dressing room, Helen sighed loudly. “Josephine, I cannot believe you’re actually helping this woman pick out a gown to wear on a date with
your
boyfriend.”

Jo inhaled deeply. She should have her head examined for inviting her mother to join them shopping. “It’s not a date, mother—it’s a business obligation and I don’t mind.”

“You’re practically
asking
him to be unfaithful,” her mother mumbled.

“I trust Alan,” Jo said earnestly. “And Pam, too.” More man she trusted herself these days. She rubbed her eyes and stifled a yawn. John Sterling had haunted her dreams all night
and she’d awakened feeling cranky. A distracting morning of shopping had sounded appealing a few hours ago. Now it stretched before her like a life sentence.

Minutes later, the demure black dress cast aside and the gold belt-dress bagged and paid for, Jo strolled toward the food court between her best friend and her mother. “How about ice cream?” she asked, trying to cut through the tension emanating from her mother.

“I’m game,” Pam said cheerfully.

“Are you sure?” Helen asked, cocking one eyebrow toward Pam. “That zipper looked a bit strained to me.”

Pam’s eyes narrowed, and Jo angled herself between the two women. “Now, Mother—” She broke off when Helen was jostled from behind.

“Well!” her mother huffed as a child streaked by. Jo’s breath caught when she recognized the unfurled edge of a black towel.

“Jamie!” John’s voice reached her ears through the crowd. “Come back here, right now!”

Jo sprinted forward and caught the edge of the towel just as the boy yelled, “I’m Peter!”

She pulled him up short, then spun him around. His frown changed to a huge grin when he saw who held him. “Hiya, Jo!” he exclaimed.

John jogged up to them, bouncing Billy on his hip, with Claire lagging behind. “Jo,” he said, his voice full of surprise.

“John,” she acknowledged, alarmed at the rush of pleasure she felt. He wore a dark green leather bomber jacket and loosefitting jeans topping athletic shoes.

He swung Billy to the ground, then straightened and grinned, brushing back waves of auburn hair from his forehead. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Jo?” Helen asked, walking up with a small frown. Pamela’s eyes were devouring John’s bare left hand and Jo was dismayed at the twinge of jealousy that pulsed through her. Quickly, she made introductions, feeling ridiculously nervous
as Pamela extended her beautifully manicured hand to John and batted her gorgeous eyes.

John nodded to Pam, then turned back to Jo and smiled, sending her pulse racing. “Shopping?”

She waved toward her friend. “Pam needed a party dress for tonight.”

“A business engagement,” Pam quickly assured him. “Jo was good enough to lend me her boyfriend as an escort. I’m not currently seeing anyone,” she told him with a slight tilt of her head.

“Hey, Jo,” Jamie said, tugging on the hem of her shirt. “When are you bringing over your puppy?”

Billy raised his arms to her. “Poopy diaper,” he said. Jo winced, then bent over to pick him up.

“Jo,” Claire said, stabbing her glasses back in place. “Daddy said you’re coming to decorate our house while we’re at day care this week. Can’t I stay home with you?” she pleaded. “I want to help.”

“Me, too!” Jamie yelled. “I want to stay with Jo.”

“Me, too!” Billy shouted, sticking out his bottom lip.

“That’s enough,” John said. “Jo can’t work if she’s got the four of us underfoot, can she?” He reached for Billy, but the toddler only tightened his grip around Jo’s neck.

“Don’t worry, Claire,” she said, winking. “We’ll work out something.” Then to John, she asked, “Shopping?”

He looked sheepish. “Not really. The VCR is broken.” He frowned in Jamie’s direction. “And I was hoping to find something here to entertain them while Mrs. Harris cleans the house.” He lowered his voice and leaned toward her. “Any ideas?”

Jo thought for a few seconds. “There’s a pet store down the west wing,” she said, pointing.

He brightened. “Great idea. Come on, Billy,” he said. “Let’s go see the puppies.”

Billy clapped his hands and allowed John to take him. The older children shouted goodbye and scampered ahead.

“The rest rooms are a few doors down,” she said to John. “They probably have a changing table.”

“I’m trying to potty-train him,” John said, frowning at his youngest.

Billy’s face screwed up. “Monster potty.”

They both laughed, locking gazes for a few seconds. Jo’s heart thumped against her chest. When she remembered their audience, she looked away. “Well,” she said, “good luck at the pet store.”

“Nice to meet both of you,” John said, inclining his head to Helen and Pam.

“The pleasure was mine,” Pam said smoothly, offering him a model smile.

Jo watched him walk away, laden with Billy and a diaper bag, fighting the urge to follow them. Pam walked up beside her and watched, too. “Yummy,” she said, her eyes reflecting blatant admiration.

Helen pursed her lips and smirked. “I didn’t know you were so fond of children, Pamela.”

Pam’s gaze was still glued to his retreating backside. “I didn’t say I wanted to marry the guy, just—” Her eyes snapped to Helen as if she suddenly remembered who she was talking to. “Just
see
him,” she finished with a smile.

Protective feelings curled low in Jo’s stomach, but she remained silent. She had known it would only be a matter of time before Pam discovered the eligible John Sterling. The two of them might even hit it off.

The thought bothered her immensely.

E
ARLY IN THE EVENING
Jo drove to her office to work on the Patterson presentation. Because hers had been the last firm granted permission to bid on the day-care account, she had less time to prepare, but her software lent her a huge advantage in the design stage. A few hours tonight, a few more tomorrow, and she’d be ready for the presentation Monday afternoon. As she turned on her computer, she chuckled at Jamie’s adamant assertion that the day care was boring. Within two
hours, she’d assembled a media room and a nature room just as he’d described.

Jo relaxed in her desk chair and stretched her arms overhead. She felt sure the Pattersons would be pleased. Mentally she ticked off the hours until she made her proposal. Three o’clock Monday afternoon. While reaching for her calendar, her hand touched the Sterling home file, and Jo opened it impulsively.

She itched to begin the project. Although commercial jobs were her bread and butter, the residential jobs were some of her favorites because they unleashed her creativity. And the Sterling house…well, she was looking forward to making it more comfortable and homey for the children. Guilt over her lie to the Pattersons pawed at her. Making sure John’s kids had a warm, attractive environment was the least she could do.

The peal of the delivery bell broke her reverie. Jo glanced at her watch. Nine o’clock—but some of her new vendors delivered at odd hours. She glanced down at her tattered jeans and faded pink jersey. At least it wasn’t a client. She picked up her ring of keys and headed to the front door, frowning at the shadow of a large man through the lightly frosted glass. She was always wary when she worked alone, especially at night When she reached the door, she yelled, “Do you have a delivery for Montgomery Group Interiors?”

“Sort of—Jo, it’s me…John Sterling.”

Her pulse leaped and she immediately thought the worst Had he discovered her little lie? Had he come by to confront her? What on earth was she going to say? Her hand shook as she tried to insert the key into the lock.

John had convinced himself on the drive over that delivering the catalog she’d left at his house was a legitimate excuse for seeing Jo. But now, standing in the semidarkness and shouting through the woman’s office door, the idea seemed slim at best.

“John,” she said from the other side of the door, “what are you doing here?”

He couldn’t tell if she was annoyed or simply surprised.
Say something provocative. Sterling.
“I wanted to see for myself a woman who works while her boyfriend goes out with her beautiful girlfriend.”

A few seconds passed. “Is that all?”

So much for provocative. “No—I brought a catalog you left at my house.”

She was silent for so long John wondered if she’d walked away from the door. Well, one thing was sure—she wasn’t nearly as anxious to see him tonight as he’d been to see her. He cleared his throat. “How about if I just leave it here on the doorstep?”

She swung open the door and squinted into the glare of the outdoor light. “Sorry,” she said, offering him a small smile. She looked all of eighteen in her jeans and adorable ragged sneakers. She blushed, fingering the hem of her shirt. “I wasn’t expecting anyone.”

He looked into her big brown eyes, unnerved by the longing she evoked in him. “You look great,” he said softly.

She laughed awkwardly. Peering toward his car in the darkness, she asked, “Are you alone?”

“Yeah,” he said. “My in-laws came down from Atlanta to spend the night with the kids, so I’m on my own.” He thumped the catalog. “Mrs. Harris found this under Billy’s bed, and since I knew you were working late…” His voice petered out because she crossed her arms under her breasts and his throat suddenly closed. She was not wearing a bra and she obviously felt the chill.

“Would you like to come in for a few minutes?” she asked. “I was just about to make some coffee.”