Rekindled Dreams (Moon Child) (5 page)

Dana nodded. “A friend and my ride here. Jenny’s father is dead.”

“I’m sorry.”

I’m not. Dana kept from speaking aloud.

“Can your friend come in? He said something about having your keys and a need to retrieve your things.”

Dana straightened. She’d forgotten Simon had driven her car here. She’d never told him where to find her house. “Tell him yes. He won’t stay long.”

The woman’s forehead wrinkled. “Didn’t you work here a few years ago?”

“Med/surg.”

“I’ll let people know you’re here.” The nurse left the room.

Moments later Simon appeared in the doorway. His tawny blond hair looked as though he’d run his hands through the strands a dozen times.

“You all right?” He asked.

“Sore and tired. Do you want to see her?”

“Yes.”

“She’s in the bassinet.”

He approached. “She has your hair.”

“What there is. It’s lighter than mine.”

“What will you name her?”

“Jennifer Alexa Collins for my parents but I’ll call her Jenny.”

“Hello, Jenny.” He turned from the bassinet and sat on the chair beside the bed. He placed a hand over hers.

Warmth crept from the touch. Dana’s heart sped. She didn’t know what to say. Ten years of neglect seemed a wall too high to scale.

“I’ll bring your things tomorrow after breakfast. If you’d like, after the funeral I’ll come and take you and the baby home.”

Why was he being so nice? Did he feel guilty about abandoning her? “I planned to call a cab.”

“Not a problem for me to come. That way I can leave after the service at St. Andrews and avoid the cemetery and the catered luncheon at the mansion. Eating there would give me indigestion.”

Dana grinned. “Know how you feel. I remember the mandatory Sunday dinners. All stuffy and only topics selected by Mr. Grantlan were allowed to be discussed. No matter what I thought, I had to agree with him."

Simon laughed. “He grilled me about my grades, football and my friends. He kept reminding me to select ones who would improve my status. I hated those meals.”

“Sometimes Rob came in for questions like that. Or Patricia for failing to attract a wealthy husband. Never Randy. He could do no wrong.”

Simon nodded. “Nothing changes.”

“When Randy and I divorced I felt like I’d been sprung from jail.”

“Know what you mean.”

Dana closed her eyes. Years ago she hadn’t believed life with the Grantlans had been as miserable as Simon had said. Her two years with Randy had shown her how true Simon’s words had been. But that didn’t give him an excuse for his actions the day after graduation.

Chapter 4

Simon left the bedside and returned to the bassinet. He wanted to hold the baby, to cradle her against his chest, protect her and watch her flourish. For the second time in his life he had plunged into love. Her mother had been the first,

He smiled. Her fuzzy red-gold hair would darken to match Dana’s rich auburn. The eyes opened but he couldn’t tell the color. Would they turn green like Dana’s or darken like...? He slammed that thought away. With a finger he stroked her hand. Soft. The aroma of lotion or powder reached him. Tiny fingers curled around his and his heart swelled as love swept through him.

How could Randy have demanded Dana abort this child? Anger bubbled closer to the surface. If his cousin had been alive Simon would have fought him with more skill than he’d possessed when they were children. He drew in and exhaled deep breaths. Randy had been a selfish bastard.

He turned toward Dana. “She’s amazing.” The urge to protect mother and child strengthened. What did Dana hear in his voice? He didn’t want to frighten her. He wanted to sweep her into his arms but first he had to earn the right.

“She’s wonderful and mine,” Dana said.

“What will you do now? I doubt Robert Grantlan will give you a cent for his grandchild.” He returned to the chair beside the bed. He knew  little about Dana’s life other than she had married and divorced his cousin.

“Why would I ask the Grantlans for anything? Randy denied being the father loudly and often. His name won’t be on the birth certificate.”

“How will you support her?” He wanted to know as much as about what had happened in her life and in her marriage.

Dana closed her eyes. “We’ll be fine. In the divorce settlement I received the house and some money in return for not naming him as Jenny’s father. His choice and seconded with threats from Robert Grantlan.”

“Bastards,” Simon’s jaw clenched. How typical of his relatives by marriage.

Dana’s hand touched his. “They were but I prefer forgetting the short association with them.”

In her voice he heard a sliver of ice. “Guess my uncle by marriage decided you and your child weren’t suitable to be Grantlans.”

She nodded. “You’re so right.”

“How will you manage?”

“We’ll be fine until my new business grows.”

"How can you run a business and care for a baby? Is there good child care in Fern Lake?”

She laughed and the sound raised memories of Dana at the lake. Simon’s hands clenched.

“I’m running a billing service for health care professionals, especially those in solo practice. I’ll save them time and prevent re-billing. Already have five clients and several who are interested. Once I have ten, I’ll sell the house and buy a smaller one.”

“Good luck.” Actually he wasn’t sure what her service did.

“What about you. Your aunt said you’re a police officer.”

“Was.”

“What happened?”

“Worked Narcotics. Infiltrated a gang. Division head made a wrong decision that got my partner killed and me shot.”

She turned toward him. “Are you all right?”

“All healed. Shot in the upper thigh and missed all my vital parts. I asked for a transfer. When I was cleared for duty discovered the heed had shoved the request in a file cabinet. Tried to give me a new undercover gig. I quit.”

“Typical behavior.”

Was he that predictable? Did he always bail when life didn’t head the way he wanted. Another thing to consider when he had time to think. “You may be right.”

She covered her mouth with her hand to conceal a yawn. “I’m beat.”

“You worked hard this evening.”

“I did.”

“Plus the stress of visiting the funeral home. Was exhausting for me and I wasn’t in labor.”

“I don’t know how your aunt can be around then.”

“She truly loves Robert but she does escape to Florida several times a year.” He pulled the keys from his pocked. “Show me the ones I’ll need.”

She took the keys and separated two. “Front door. Key from garage into the house. You could stay there. Six bedrooms. Save you from added relative time.”

“I checked into a motel. Staying at the mansion wasn’t an option I wanted.” He looked from Dana to the baby and wished the time was right to say what circled in his thoughts. He drew deep breaths and felt his cock harden. Much more time with her and he would embarrass himself.

He pushed to his feet and bent to kiss her cheek. At the same time she turned hr head. Their mouths met and fused as though held by magnets. He slid an arm around her shoulders. Hers circled his neck. Lips parted. Tongues slid to caress. She tasted sweet. His cock pulsed against the fly of his slacks. He wanted her. He needed her. She filled the empty places of his life. He wanted to move onto the bed to cover her and ravish her until he was her only thought.

Simon put his hand on the mattress and pushed away. He couldn’t allow the fires of passion to control. He stepped back.

“Simon,” she whispered.

He groaned. What a cretin he’d become. Scalding thoughts burned. Let her go.

Dreaminess flared in Dana’s eyes. Her lips seemed swollen. He wouldn’t apologize for taking what he wanted. She’d given and taken as avidly as he had. He’d better leave before creating an impossible situation. The firestorm had burned away too many reasons telling him this was wrong.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

She didn’t speak. Her gaze followed as he backed toward the door. What was she thinking? He’d kissed her like a man released from a dungeon craved the sun. She had responded with the same urgency.

Outside her room he slumped against the wall. What now? He could do nothing until he knew where he headed. He reached the elevator.

Logistics. Time, place and the right words could make what he wanted to happen become real. He hated being in limbo but he needed to discover a new direction.

He found Dana’s car and followed the directions to her house in an upscale development built where there'd once been a single house. After parking in the garage, he entered the house and collected the suitcase and infant car seat. He set them on the walk and called a cab.

Fifteen minutes later, the cabby dropped him at the funeral home. His rental car stood alone. After loading Dana’s things he stopped at a sandwich place for a ham and cheese and a beer to go.

Back at the motel he stripped to his boxers, turned on the TV and sat at the table to eat. As he drained the beer, the kiss flooded his thoughts. His cock pulsed against his boxers. More memories rose. Moonlit nights at the lake under a massive oak, kissing Dana. He slipped off her shirt and kissed her breasts through the bra. She slid her hands beneath the waistband of his shorts to stroke him.

With a groan he stood. No sleep would arrive until he took the pressing matter in hand. He strode to the bathroom, turned on the shower, stripped and stepped inside. He ran his fingers over the head before grasping the shaft. Pulling memories of Dana’s caresses he began to pump using one hand and the other to stimulate himself. He felt her mouth close over him as she had done in the past. He thought of the times he’d brought her to climax with hands and mouth.

His movements took on speed. He pressed against the cool tile lining of the shower wall. “Come on,” he moaned. With a shuddering breath he increased the tempo. With a spurt, he erupted. He remained slumped against the tile and water poured over him.

After grabbing a towel, he dried and returned to the bedroom. He needed to put his life in order, maybe take a loan from Aunt May and return to college. He pulled on sweats and sprawled on the bed. Had the heated kiss meant anything other than two lonely people trying to connect?

* * *

Dana closed her eyes to keep memories of the kiss inside. So like and unlike other kisses they had shared. And so different from Randy’s hard demanding mouth. She needed to understand what had happened. She’d kissed Simon as if she’d sought nourishment for her heart. He had responded with as much passion but he’d seemed embarrassed. Had the kiss been a mistake?

She knew nothing of his life since the day he’d walked out of her life and vanished. Sure he’d told her a few things but they were trivial. Did he have someone in his life? His tawny blond hair, blue eyes and dimpled smile had made her want to pant. The total picture he presented was of a man to fill dreams and fantasies. She and Simon were strangers who had known each other in a different time.

Though she regretted her marriage to Randy she was thankful for Jennifer Alexa Collins. Though her parents had wished her happiness they hadn’t liked her choice of a husband. When they had died Randy’s show of sympathy had given her hope but hope had died when he’d learned she hadn’t inherited much. She groaned. Dwelling in the past didn’t help.

What would she do tomorrow when Simon brought her things? She knew what she should do. Tell him she would call a cab to take her and Jenny home. Though the attraction remained strong how could she involve him in her plans for her life? Randy was Jenny’s father. Her dead ex-husband had made Simon’s life miserable during the years he’d lived with the Grantlans. How could he accept his cousin’s child?

Memories came in clusters. Junior high school when she and Simon had been friends who often studied at the library together. High school and the football games and cheerleading. The friendship had become puppy love and progressed to kisses, caresses and heavy petting sessions. Simon respected her desire not to go all the way until the night of graduation. That night he’d wanted sex. She hadn’t been ready to take that step. She’d wanted college and time to learn who she was. He had walked away.