Killer Career (22 page)

The transfer made, she flashed Dade a smile of thanks. Their eyes
met. His were as warm as a fireplace, as deep as Lake Michigan. As
usual, his dark hair stuck up at impossible angles. His jeans molded
to his muscular thighs. She glanced away, but had to look back.

This was bad. Maybe keeping busy would help.

While Dade carried out the mashed potatoes, Julie glanced around and
found a platter of dressing she could bring into the living room.
That should distract her from eyeing Dade.

When she reached the connecting door, he swung it open. They stood
face-to-face. Her breath caught. She felt like running, but couldn’t
move. Where would she go? What excuse could she give? She was not a
coward. She could handle this. Sure.

“On the way over, I heard the forecast. All hell’s about to break
loose,” Dade said. “High winds, blowing and drifting snow.”

He was right. Any minute all hell would break loose, but it had
nothing to do with the weather. Something was welling up deep inside
of her, so powerful that soon she couldn’t hold it back.

“I hope the storm waits a little while. I’d hate for the lights
to go out. I like to see what I’m eating.”

“There’s always candles.” Dade flashed her a look which made
her heart stop.

Her mind supplied the details. The two of them were alone, bathed in
reflected candlelight, maybe from a nightstand. Not here, but
somewhere more comfortable, say in her bed, or his.

She glanced at Dade out of the corner of her eye. His expression was
innocent. She’d probably made too much of what he’d said. He
liked saying silly suggestive things for a laugh. He couldn’t be
thinking the same wild thoughts.

“Well, we better get the rest of the goodies on the table,” she
said in her most cheerful voice.

“While we can still see.”

They laughed. The tension was broken. He’d teased her, nothing
more.

She had to eat. She always coped better on a full stomach. When she
was hungry and her blood sugar dipped, she got all shaky and nervous,
like now.

“Happy Thanksgiving, everybody,” a cheerful voice called out from
the living room.

“I better help Mom,” Dade said, darting away.

Julie stood still, biting her lip. He’d sounded awfully eager to
escape. Maybe he had read her mind and didn’t want to embarrass
her. Maybe he’d guessed she cared more for him than she should. If
only she could crawl under the dining room table like a dog. Then
someone could just pass down a plate with food on it, so she wouldn’t
have to meet Dade’s eyes.

She smiled at the absurd thought, as she also went out to greet
Dade’s Mom in the hallway.

Marcia’s cheeks were rosy. Her usually dark hair and coat were
plastered with a white film, signaling the start of the snowstorm.

“You’re here just in time,” Garrett said, coming up from behind
them. “The food’s ready. The team’s losing. We may as well
eat.”

“Thank goodness the game isn’t close or we’d starve to death,”
Marcia said in a mock severe tone.

“I’d never do that to my favorite mother-in-law.” Garrett
placed a welcoming kiss on Marcia’s cheek before divesting her of
her coat. “You can all go into the dining room.”

“Before you disappear with that, young man, tell me where you’re
hiding my daughter.”

“Where else? She’s in the kitchen.”

“I’m her mom. I know better.”

Dade rejoined them in the dining room, where Avery appeared, turkey
platter in hand. Gazing at her mother, her eyes were lit with a
secret smile. They’d always been close. Watching them together
brought back memories of Julie’s own mother. She swallowed past a
lump in her throat. If only she could get Mom back, for even one
moment.

* * *

“Here goes nothing,” Garrett said, standing at the head of the
table and brandishing the electric knife.

Dade sat across from Julie. She tried to limit the hungry looks she
cast in his direction and pretended interest in Garrett’s finesse
at carving the turkey. After that she studied Avery, who stood at
attention beside her husband, gathering the slices onto the waiting
platter.

“Cooked to perfection,” Garrett pronounced, depositing the knife
on the table.

“Of course it is. I expect nothing less from my multi-talented
husband.” Avery leaned against Garrett and planted a large wet kiss
across his mouth.

“Aha, the truth comes out. It was Garrett who did the work. He must
have gotten the turkey ready before slipping into the family room to
watch the game. I should have known,” Dade said with a laugh.

“For that, you don’t get food,” Avery said, kicking her brother
lightly in the shin.

“Only kidding.”

“Well, I didn’t do it all, but I do deserve some credit. I poured
the melted butter and kept the turkey from getting dry.”

“I must say, you do have your talents.”

“That’s only a small portion of them. If you’d like, I could go
into more detail,” Garrett said, leering at his wife, who looked
back at him in amusement.

“Spare me, please. I’m her brother. I don’t want to know.”

Listening to the banter, Julie felt a stab of jealousy, along with a
feeling of warmth. The lovebirds had been married over a year, yet
they couldn’t get enough of each other.

She told herself she was happy for her friend. Garrett was a good man
and a wonderful husband. It was a natural progression that he should
assume the role of Avery’s confidant which had been previously
occupied by Julie. Still it hurt to lose the special closeness she
and Avery had shared.

She felt a little at odds. Happy couples always made her wish she
were a part of a twosome. She glanced at Dade. If only some day it
could be she and Dade.

Marcia took that moment to hold out the corn dish to her. Soon, Julie
was so busy passing around plates and platters she had no time to
feast her eyes on Dade.

After the main course, she helped clear up. She grimaced as she
spread out the desserts. It was hard not to feel let down as she
viewed the off limit confections.

Still, she didn’t feel right about leaving the table. She had
willpower. She could resist. She had to, for her health’s sake.

Julie declined the pumpkin pie, which looked scrumptious. Then Avery
reached for the plate of chocolate chip cookies. “I live for these,
Mom. I was hoping you’d make them.”

As Avery handed the plate to Dade, the tempting aroma of milk
chocolate wafted through the air. Julie breathed in deeply and eyed
the cookies wistfully. She was dying to take a bite, but dare not
break down.

Dade caught her longing gaze. “Poor Julie, you do miss your
chocolate, don’t you?”

“I’d kill for a cookie right now, but if I had one, I’d feel
lousy tomorrow.”

“I’ll pass them up too and join you in your abstinence.”

“You don’t have to. Your mother made those. You should have
some.”

“But I insist. Mom understands.”

As if hypnotized, she stared into Dade’s deep blue eyes. His look
took her breath away. Cookies forgotten, she felt the heat rise up
from her neck to her face.

“Hey, pass them over. I’ll do justice to those cookies,”
Garrett said.

As the cookies and the other desserts made their rounds, Marcia
turned to Julie. “I’m sorry. I should have remembered. Next time
I’ll make sugar free.”

“You don’t have to change your recipe for me.”

It was embarrassing to be made a fuss over.

“You’re family, Julie. You deserve to be considered. Remember
that,” Marcia said.

“She’s right and don’t you forget it. You’re very important,”
Dade said, giving Julie another look that made her heart flip.

“And all of you are very special to me. I don’t know what I’d
do without you. Why don’t you sit back and enjoy your dessert. I’ll
clear up in the kitchen.”

She washed the bowls and platters, loaded the dishwasher and then
turned to head back. The room turned dark. She thought she’d
blacked out, but then realized the electricity had failed. It was
hard to get her bearings. Where was the door to the dining room?
Amazing how she couldn’t remember, though she’d been here often
enough.

A warm hand encircled her waist, making her stomach do a nosedive
like on a roller coaster.

“Hey, little girl. Are you lost,” a soft voice asked.

Yes, hopelessly. “Will you rescue me?”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Then don’t.” She knew full well what she was implying.

His arms tightened around her waist. She could barely breathe. Her
lips trembled, straining to touch his. It didn’t matter who or
where she was. She was lost and never wanted to be found.

The door from the kitchen creaked. As it swung open, Julie and Dade
sprang apart.

“I’ve got the matches. I know there are some candles in the hutch
somewhere,” Avery said. “Mom, do you know where you got them
before? I can’t remember where I put them.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll find them. Why don’t you sit down?”
Garrett said.

“Well, at least we got dinner in,” Julie said quickly.

“But there’s more,” Avery said. “Mom, sit over here, okay?”

In the surreal glow of candlelight, Avery turned to her mother.
Taking her hand, she said with a wide smile, “I won’t be the baby
of the family much longer.”

“You don’t mean?”

“Yes, yes, I do. You’re going to be a grandmother.”

“Oh, my God,” Marcia said with a squeal. She reached over and
enveloped her daughter in a bear hug.

As if to join the celebration, the lights burst on.

“Avery, that’s wonderful,” Julie said.

Marcia moved back so Julie could get her hugs in. Now Avery had it
all.

Dade gave up in his attempt to reach his sister and headed toward
Garrett instead. “Congratulations. No one’s paying attention to
you, but I know you had a hand in this.” He slapped Garrett on the
back.

“That’s not all it was,” Avery said.

“Hey, potty mouth, careful of what you say. You’re going to be a
mother.”

“I’m still me. Besides, it’s a long way off. A whole six
months. Anyway, we want you and Julie to be the godparents, okay?”

“Fine,” they answered in unison.

Dade’s eyes held a speculative gleam. Julie would give anything to
know what he was thinking. Was it crossing his mind as it did hers
that by being godparents they’d be bonded in a special way, almost
as if the child were their own?

Dade’s child -- it would have dark hair and blue eyes, unless the
mother’s genes were dominant. Then it would have blonde hair and
green eyes. A fierce surge of possessiveness swept Julie, as if the
imaginary child were hers. Dade couldn’t have a baby without her.
She wouldn’t let him. But how could she stop that?

“We godparents will handle our end of the deal, but you’ve got to
promise something,” Dade said.

Julie interrupted her daydream to listen to Dade, who’d turned
serious.

“Sis, promise you won’t take chances. Don’t let anything happen
to you or the baby. It’s bad enough with you and Garrett to worry
about.”

Tears welled in Avery’s eyes. In a choked voice she said, “I’ll
be careful. And thanks, Dade. I kid around a lot, but I do appreciate
everything you’ve done. You’re like the father I never had.”

A lump formed in Julie’s throat. She blinked rapidly. Kurt Donovan
was a sore subject. No one had any idea where Avery and Dade’s
father had disappeared. One day, while his children were in grammar
school and his wife at work, he’d slipped out of their lives,
leaving a scribbled goodbye saying, “I can’t handle this family
thing. I’m going solo.”

They’d seen him drunk too many times not to know what he meant. He
loved the bottle more than his family.

Though Julie had lost her own father, at least she’d been fortunate
enough to experience his love. She had some wonderful memories to
fall back on and that meant a lot. Her heart ached for the Donovans,
who’d not been as lucky.

Garrett, attuned to his wife’s feelings, placed a protective arm
around her. “I’ll always be there for you, hon. I guarantee our
kid will have both parents. And you’ll be a great mother. I know
you’ll do things right, before and after the baby is born.”

Avery turned her lips up in a weak smile.

Julie caught the flicker of doubt in Dade’s eyes and knew what he
was thinking. He wouldn’t be a wet blanket and emphasize his
doubts, yet he was worried. Garrett’s concept of being careful was
way too close to Avery’s.

As reporters, the two were addicted to drama. They lived for the
beat, following their news leads relentlessly. Pregnancy would be a
contest to the finish. Which would win, Avery’s maternal instincts
or her ambition?

“Hey, guys, relax. We’ll be fine,” Avery said.

“That’s my girl.” Her mother gently removed a strand of hair
from her daughter’s cheek and tucked it back safely inside the pony
tail.

“I wonder if I’ll be a worrywart too, when I’m a mom,” Avery
said. Her shining eyes belied the criticism of her words.

“You’ll be a great mother. I just know it,” Marcia said, with
tears welling.

Watching Marcia, Julie felt a fresh onslaught of emotion. How it must
hurt to know your husband didn’t care enough to be with you at
important moments like this.

It was especially sad because in all the years since her husband had
left, Marcia had never shown any interest in another man.

There were many lonely people out there. Thank God, at least Dade was
here with her now. Julie snuck a sideways glance at him to reaffirm
his presence.

Their eyes met. What she saw took her breath away. Right then she
knew that no one else would do. Like Marcia, she’d found her man.

Chapter Twenty-Six

With goodbyes singing in his ears, Dade stepped onto the front stoop.
His gaze lit appreciatively on the virginal snowfall. He was a sucker
for beauty and this was a dilly. Puffs like shaving cream perched on
the tree branches and nearby roofs, spilling over onto the ground,
hiding the hibernating grass, transforming the evening’s darkness
into glorious brilliance.