What it Takes (32 page)

Kelsey turned silently back to the sink and washed the few dishes they’d used, watching Patrick through the window.

“I guess so,” Janelle answered her own question quietly, walking to her sister. “The kids want the two of you to come up and tell them good-night.”

“Okay,” Kelsey said. “Let me finish here first.”

“I’ll do that.” Janelle took over washing dishes as Kelsey went upstairs to tell the kids good-night.

When Patrick came back into the room, Janelle turned to him. “I’m so sorry,” she said again. Patrick waved her off as he shook his head. “I was coming to tell you that the kids wanted you to come up and say good-night to them.”

“Oh, well, I can do that,” he said and went upstairs. He heard Kelsey still in Zach’s room, so he went into Zoe’s.

“The movie was fun,” Zoe said as Patrick knelt beside her bed.

“It was, wasn’t it?” Patrick agreed.

“Will you be here when I wake up?”

Patrick nodded.

“Good,” she said through a yawn.

“You get some sleep and we’ll play again tomorrow,” Patrick promised. Zoe sat up and gave him a hug.

He stood and walked into the hallway. He passed Kelsey on his way to Zach’s room and brushed her hand with his. She met his eyes and bit her lower lip as she walked into Zoe’s room.

“Good-night, Zach,” Patrick said as he knelt beside the bed.

“‘Night, Patrick,” he said.

“Did you have a good time today?”

“Yeah,” he replied with a grin. “That was a good movie.”

“It was, wasn’t it? I guess I’ll have to watch the first two,” Patrick said.

“Yeah. We’ve got ‘em.”

“Good. I can watch them with you this weekend.”

“And can you show me some of your ninja moves tomorrow?” Zach asked.

Patrick chuckled quietly. “I’d love to, as soon as you get home from school.”

“Yay,” Zach cheered just before he yawned.

Patrick leaned over to ruffle his hair. “Good-night. See you tomorrow.” He stood and turned to leave and saw Kelsey standing in the doorway. He smirked at her as he walked toward her and took her hand.

“Good-night, Patrick. Good-night, Aunt Kelsey.” Zach said.

They told him good-night again then went downstairs. Janelle had picked a movie to watch, one that happened to be a favorite of Patrick’s. He was a little disappointed when Kelsey sat in the armchair, but he sat on the end of the couch closest to her. As they watched the movie, he made jokes and impersonated some of the characters, making Kelsey and Janelle laugh so hard that they had tears in their eyes. After the movie ended, Janelle went to bed and Kelsey moved to the other end of the couch.

“What do you want to watch?” she asked as she slowly scanned the onscreen guide.

“I really don’t know. I don’t watch much television,” Patrick said, staring at her profile, thinking he’d rather find another way to pass the time. “I rarely have the time.”

“I know what you mean,” she said, ignoring his gaze. “Always something else to do.”

“How about this?” he asked when she flipped to an older holiday themed movie and then put the remote on the coffee table.

When she sat back, she slid closer to him and curled her feet under her. As she stared at the television, he studied her profile and marveled at the serenity in her expression. He was sure he’d never seen her looking so relaxed and happy. Certainly not around him.

She looked at him, showing the dimple he loved so much. He wanted to lean over and kiss it and wondered whether she would stop him. He could picture the two of them, lips together, prone on the sofa and his body stiffened.

“Mind if I get a snack?” he asked suddenly, needing to get away from the temptation Kelsey was presenting in the darkened room.

“Help yourself.” She waved to the kitchen and he quickly left the room.

He stood at the kitchen island and watched her run her fingers through her hair. As she did this, he swallowed hard. It was becoming harder to suppress his primal urges around her. All he wanted to do was kiss her, hold her, press her body against his, and, if she were willing, carry her up the stairs into her bedroom and make love to her. But then, her mother would be right about him and that really wasn’t why he’d come for a visit.

Patrick shook away the thoughts and focused on finding a snack. With his plate piled with crackers, cheeses, and summer sausage, he walked back into the living room and sat beside Kelsey again. As they watched TV, she occasionally reached over and took something off of his plate. He wasn’t sure she realized she was doing it until their hands brushed and she looked up at him. She mumbled an apology and put her hands in her lap, but he could see her fingers twisting together in slow, constant motions. Ten minutes later, she abruptly told him good-night and left the room. He had to smile at her discomfiture, pleased beyond measure to know he wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

Nineteen

“S
o, when do you start filming again?” Kelsey asked quietly as she stretched out on the porch swing and wrapped a blanket around her legs. Janelle had taken Zoe grocery shopping, leaving Patrick and Kelsey alone to wait for Zach to get home. They’d just moved outside to the porch to watch for Zach’s bus.

“Early January,” Patrick answered, leaning against a column close to the steps. “You?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Patrick lifted an eyebrow in surprise and folded his arms across his chest. “You don’t have anything lined up?” Would she stay in Virginia until she had a reason to return? How long might that be?

“No,” she replied, shaking her head. “But I do have some auditions in early February.”

He breathed a small sigh of relief.

“Where will you be working?” Kelsey asked.

“In LA.”

She nodded and bit her bottom lip. “With whom?” she asked hesitantly.

“You mean with which actress?” She nodded and Patrick looked up at the ceiling, trying to recall the name of the next woman he’d be working with. He hadn’t given it any thought since he’d met Kelsey. “Brianna,” he said and furrowed his brow, “Talbot?”

“Never heard of her.” She laid her head against the back of the swing and focused on the driveway.

Patrick saw the worried look in her eyes and hoped he understood the reason for her questions. Was she thinking Brianna Talbot would replace her? He should reassure her that she had nothing to worry about. “No, you wouldn’t have,” he said quietly. “She’s fairly young, early twenties.” He moved behind the swing and gently pushed it after she sat up. “Too young for me,” he added with a wink.

“I didn’t know you had limits,” she teased and Patrick laughed once and shrugged. Kelsey swallowed. He watched her brow wrinkle and smooth several times. “So what kind of movie is it?”

“A romance,” Patrick answered, starting to feel uneasy.

“Ah,” she muttered. “So, will you have a love scene?”

He had known the question was coming but still felt uncomfortable and looked away. “Well, it is part of the story.”

“I’m sure,” she murmured, almost inaudibly.

He recalled his love scene with Kelsey and couldn’t help but smile. He’d never done a love scene that felt so intense.

Of course, he’d never been in love with his co-star before.

“I’m sure it won’t be nearly as exciting.”

She tilted her head and looked at him. “As exciting?”

He could feel the heat rise in his cheeks. Had he really said that out loud?

“As ours?” she prompted.

He stopped pushing the swing and rested his hands on the back of it, trying to figure out what to say next without saying too much.

She peered at his face. “Are you blushing?”

He purposely avoided her scrutiny. “No,” he snapped and took another deep breath. “You have . . . I hope you can agree that our love scene was pretty . . .” His brow furrowed and his eyes finally met hers. There was a constriction in his chest as he got lost in her crystal-clear eyes. He’d forgotten she was newer to this business and probably didn’t realize that his arousal on set was not normal. “It was intense.”

Kelsey’s cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink and she turned away again. Patrick couldn’t tell whether she was remembering the scene too or staring at something else. “Aren’t they all?” she finally asked, keeping her eyes fixed on the road.

“Not for me,” Patrick said. It was his chance to tell her how he felt and he watched her, waiting for her to look at him again.

“Oh,” she sighed as she pushed the blanket off her lap and stood. “I need to go get Zach now.”

He bit back a curse. “I can do that.”

She finally looked at him, a smirk on her lips. “No.” She held up her fist. “Bus driver, CB radio, popular movie star.” She raised a finger for each. “Not really a good combination.”

“I see your point. I’ll go in and make his snack then.”

He remained where he was as she walked away. When she was off the steps, a few paces away from the porch, she turned and grinned at him.

Kelsey resumed her walk along the driveway and let her mind drift to the conversation she’d just had with Patrick. She felt pleased with the knowledge that he actually seemed to care for her. Remembering their love scene and the kiss they’d shared, she hoped his feelings went beyond lust. She hoped they were much more serious.

The bus stopped, Zach jumped off, and gave Kelsey a quick hug as he asked where Patrick was. It hadn’t taken long for Aunt Kelsey to be replaced as his favorite person, at least temporarily. Kelsey told Zach that Patrick was fixing his snack and he ran down the slight slope of the driveway as she called out orders. She shook her head and laughed, knowing he probably hadn’t heard a word she’d said.

The sound of an engine caught her attention and she glanced at the road. In the distance, she could see a car coming in her direction, faster than it should have been. She cursed silently and walked a little faster when she recognized the car as Richard’s. Kelsey’s foot hit the porch as Richard turned onto the driveway and barreled toward the house. She prayed he’d stop before he reached her.

He did, but not before running over the wall of the planter box in the middle of the circle in her driveway. Kelsey grabbed the blanket from the swing and stood in the center of the steps, folding it as he got out of the car and approached her.

“Kelsey dear, how nice of you to greet me,” Richard slurred.

“Why aren’t you at work?” She laid the folded blanket over the rail of the porch then returned to the top of the steps.

“Geez, you sound like my nagging wife,” he replied with a scowl that slowly turned into a wicked sneer. “I’ve been celebrating.”

“Oh?” Kelsey crossed her arms as he climbed the first step. “What do you have to celebrate?”

“Bowl games, baby.” He held up his hand, waiting for a high five. She raised an eyebrow and he grudgingly lowered his hand.

“Let me guess,” she said dryly as her eyes narrowed menacingly. “You’ve been in touch with your bookie again.” He laughed and nodded. “Unbelievable.”

Richard shrugged arrogantly as he looked away and his expression turned sour. Kelsey followed his line of vision and her stomach clenched.

She’d forgotten about Patrick’s car.

“So what’re you doing here? Visitation’s not until tomorrow,” she said, hoping to draw Richard’s attention away from the rented BMW.

He turned to her, his face dark as a thundercloud. “Is that her reward?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The car! The fucking Beamer! Is that Janelle’s reward for filing for a divorce?” He climbed the next step.

“No,” she stated, barely able to keep the panic from her voice. “Why would I reward her for that?”

“It’s yours then?” he asked, speaking over her question. “Why the hell do you need two cars? You’re not even here for most of the year.” A sneer spread across his face. “You’ve got too much money, Kelsey dear.”

“You shouldn’t concern yourself with my money.” She hoped he didn’t notice the shakiness in her voice.

“Oh really?” He climbed the last stair, forcing her to take a step backward. “I think you could be a little less selfish with it.”

“I bail you out every time you ask,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “What more do you want from me?”