Accidentally Yours (15 page)

Grant leaned back in his chair. “You’re not interested in me, are you?”

“What?”

“In me. This is all just about your brother.”

“What else is there?”

“I thought you might be into me. You know, as a guy.”

“Why?”

His smile turned rueful. “You’re an attractive woman, Frankie. A little strange, but I like that. You’re passionate, you’re smart.”

Was he making fun of her? She felt her face get hot. “I’m already helping you get Nathan. You don’t have to say that other stuff.”

“I’m not saying it for a reason other than I want
to. I find you interesting. Maybe we could go out sometime. To dinner maybe. Or lunch. Lunch is pretty safe.”

Was he talking about a date? She didn’t date. She couldn’t remember the last time a guy had asked. Dating.

She tried to get her mind around the concept, but it was difficult. It was like that part of her was dead. She could remember high school and liking boys and going out, but not for a long time. Not since what had happened.

“I can’t,” she whispered. “It’s too hard.”

“Okay. I won’t push you.”

His voice was gentle, as if he liked her. She tried to remember the last time someone had liked her.

For a moment, it was like the sun coming out on a cloudy day. There was a burst of light and a sense of warmth, of belonging. She could see possibilities. Normal, she thought. She could be normal. It was always there, just out of reach. If she was willing to get help…

No. No. This was better. Focus. She could focus on Nathan. On what he was. On how he’d hurt her. He’d lied. He hadn’t come back. He’d left her alone with the blood.

“Part of the problem is Kerri Sullivan,” Grant said. “She’s a natural. She comes across as honest and engaging. It’s a powerful combination. Plus she has that sick kid. She’s the underdog. You can’t fight that.”

“She’s lying.”

“I don’t know that she is and I’m not sure it matters. Plus it’s obvious that the kid likes your brother. Kids and dogs. If they like a person, then he must be okay.”

She didn’t want to think about the boy. That reminded her of Daniel. Daniel, whom she missed. Nathan had loved that little boy.

“The planning commission will be meeting soon,” she said. “We have to come up with something before the meeting.”

Grant leaned toward her. “Frankie, I like you a lot. I respect your lack of interest in me, so I’m going to tell you the truth. You can’t do anything to hurt Nathan. It’s too late. He’s either going to get the permits or he’s not. I’m out of it. I’ve been chasing him for too many years and I’ve always come up empty. I’m going to move on.”

“I don’t understand. You can’t give up.” She needed him. He hated Nathan. They had that in common.

“I’m going to L.A. I’m tired of the rain and the disappointments. I’d rather chase celebrities and take pictures than keep beating my head against the wall. You should think about letting it go, too. You’re still young. Live your life. Find somebody. Be happy.”

He rose. “Good luck, Frankie.”

And then he was gone.

She stared after him, unable to believe he’d given up and walked out. How could he? She clutched her
coffee in her hands and counted quickly, repeating the numbers in her head until she could think clearly.

She could still do this, she told herself. She didn’t need Grant. She would keep on fighting…she would destroy her brother. Even if it killed her. Even if. Because there was a voice inside of her. One that warned that if Nathan went down, she just might go down with him.

“Y
OU’RE A CELEBRITY
,” Linda said when Kerri walked into her office.

“Hardly.”

“I saw your interview. You did great.”

“I had a media coach who asked a lot harder questions than the woman from that afternoon talk show. It was pretty easy.” Kerri waited while her friend collected her purse so they could go to lunch. “Not that I want to repeat the experience. It was freakish to be in a studio, answering questions. Not my thing.”

“You were great and you looked good, which is just as important.”

Kerri laughed. “It is, which is weird of us, but there we are.”

Linda grabbed a file from her desk. “I have to drop this off in the lab. It will just take a second.”

“Not a problem.”

Kerri walked with her down the long corridor. She hadn’t been in the research center since she’d shown up several weeks ago to yell at Dr. Wallace.
Back then the building had been quiet and dimly lit. Now it was bright and bustling. There were dozens of people in white lab coats going from room to room. The air was warm and filled with…something. Promise, maybe, although that could be wishful thinking on her part.

They stopped in front of a large lab. Kerri could see through the glass into a big room with workstations and complicated equipment and people wearing masks and goggles.

“That’s a little scary,” she said. “What are they doing?”

“You want the scientific details?”

“I wouldn’t understand them.”

“Then they’re working on a cure. Let me give them this paperwork and we can head out. How about Chinese?”

“Sounds good.”

Linda disappeared through a door next to the lab. Kerri watched the scientists at work but had no idea what they were doing.

“Mrs. Sullivan.”

She turned and saw Dr. Wallace walking toward her.

“Hi. I’m waiting for Linda. She’s dropping something off and then we’re going to lunch.”

“I see. Well, good.” He paused and looked at her, as if expecting more.

She cleared her throat. “So, is it going well here?”

“We have several plans of attack. This group here is looking at how enzymes interact with the immune system. Popular wisdom points us in other directions, but I keep a small team working here. I still think there’s something we’re missing. I may be wrong. But with the additional money Mr. King provided, I’ve added more equipment to help us find out.”

Kerri crossed her arms over her chest. “Nathan gave you more money?”

“Five hundred thousand. I thought you knew.”

“He never said anything.”

“He phoned a couple of weeks ago. He said I could have whatever I needed. Of course what we really need is focus and time. Time is the most important thing. There isn’t enough.”

He stopped talking and looked uncomfortable, as if he realized time was her enemy, as well.

She sucked in a breath. “I need to ask you something. I’ve been wondering…”

Did she want to know? But she had to hear the truth, even if it was ugly.

“Is it my fault Cody’s sick? Could I have done something while I was pregnant? Is it genetic?”

“No,” Dr. Wallace said without hesitation. “It’s nothing you did. It’s not chemically induced or transmitted through food. A gene goes wrong. Who is to say why? A random chance event? Bad luck? As for genetics, I can’t say. There is no indication it passes from parent to child. Siblings are no more at risk than
the general population. We know it attacks children, mostly boys. Hormones are a possibility. Hormones and the enzymes. I know there’s something there.”

He continued talking, but she wasn’t listening. She was trying to figure out if it was okay for it not to be her fault.

“So it could still be me,” she said.

“Do you need it to be you?” he asked. “Do you need someone to blame? Someone other than fate or God or circumstance?”

“I don’t know.”

“Blame me,” he told her. “Blame me for stopping. For not moving forward. For not believing in myself enough.”

“I can’t.”

“Then why can you blame yourself?”

Good point. “I’m not sure this is the right time for logic.”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “Life is hard enough, child. Don’t make it more than it is.”

“Thank you.”

“I have done nothing.”

“But you will. I have faith.”

“The expectation of miracles is a heavy burden.”

“I know,” she told him. “I’m sorry to put that on you.”

“It doesn’t weigh as much as blame.” He nodded at her and walked into the lab. A few seconds later, Linda came out.

“Ready?” her friend asked.

Kerri nodded. She glanced back at the lab one last time. Would the miracle happen in time? She didn’t know and found herself grateful that she couldn’t see into the future. Without knowing the outcome, it was a whole lot easier to have hope.

R
EX WAS POSSIBLY
the most handsome man Kerri had ever seen in person. He was tall, blond and muscular to the point of being intimidating. If his hands and feet were any indication, he could probably make a living starring in porn films. When he put his hands on her waist and thigh, she practically had to cover her mouth to keep from giggling.

“We will strap you in here and here,” he said, his voice faintly accented. Rex had been born in Germany. “It is not comfortable, but it is secure. You are not a professional. Secure is better, yes?”

“Oh, yes. I’m big on secure. Use whatever you want.”

“We will have to cut part of your costume for the straps. The skirt will help hide the lines.”

“I’ll just sew it up later. Not a problem.”

“Good.”

He reached for a harness and had her step into it. His big hands worked the buckles and Velcro, touching her inner thighs and crotch in the process. Kerri braced herself for the explosion of sensation—after
all it had been nearly a decade since a man had touched her
there.
But she felt nothing. Not a quiver or a hint of yearning. Just the need to giggle.

Not good news, she told herself. She was always hot and frothy when she was around Nathan. She wanted to be able to reassure herself that her reaction was about need and not the man, because if she was wrong, she was in big trouble.

After he finished strapping her in, Rex stood. “You will lean into your jump. Like this.”

He demonstrated by holding his arms out at his sides and leaning forward, like a runner straining for the finish line.

“You aren’t making the jump on your own. You’ll be pulled forward, and gravity will help. The lines are made from a special material that is practically clear. From a distance, they almost disappear. We’ll use smoke to blur the scene, as well.”

“Won’t people wonder why there’s smoke?”

Rex shrugged, several large, impressive muscles bunching and releasing. “It is the only way. Making someone appear to fly in the real world is a challenge, Kerri. We are doing the best we can.”

He sounded almost hurt. She smiled up at him. “You’re being wonderful and I really appreciate it. I know this is a lot of work and not how you usually spend your day.”

“Working on movies is not always interesting,
but they pay very well and my job makes it easy to get women into bed.”

“Always an important consideration.”

“I like women,” he said, then grinned. “Actually I like sex.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

“Are you busy later? We could go to dinner.”

“Me?” She doubted she was his usual groupie type. Rex was gorgeous and seeing him naked would provide a memory that would stay with her forever. She supposed she should be flattered. She was pushing thirty and not the least bit glamorous.

Her gaze slid a little left to where a familiar man in a well-tailored suit stood while talking on his cell phone. His mouth thinned with what she guessed was impatience and she had a flash of sympathy for whoever had just screwed up. Nathan didn’t suffer fools.

He was difficult, imperious, arrogant, and no one she should get involved with. But there was something about him that called to her and made it impossible to even consider Rex’s slightly scandalous invitation.

“I don’t think dinner would be a good idea,” she told him. “Not that I’m not tempted.”

“Are you sure? I’m very good. I have a lot of experience.”

“I’m guessing you’re beyond good, Rex. But I don’t do one-night stands. I get involved, and then what would happen? You’d go back to Hollywood and
I’d have a crush on you. I’d start calling on a daily basis, you wouldn’t like that. You’d want to let me down gently, but eventually you’d be forced to change your cell phone number and get a restraining order.”

Rex looked confused. “Because of one night of sex?”

She nodded. “I’m trying to save you from a hellish time.”

Nathan walked over. “How’s it going?”

Kerri smiled at him. “I’m explaining to Rex that I’m not a good person to get involved with. You know how easily I give away my heart. I’ll start stalking him and it will get really ugly. I’m not sure I’m getting through.”

Nathan frowned. “Are you saying he—”

Kerri moved close. “Tell him how long it took me to get over you, Nathan. How I nearly destroyed your life.”

Nathan’s expression warned her she would have some explaining to do later, then he turned to Rex. “Trust me. You don’t want to go there with her. No matter how much she tempts you.”

Rex took a step back. “Okay. Good to know. Thank you for being so honest. I’ll get the practice jumps ready so you can try them with the lines.”

He scooted away as fast as his massive thighs would take him. Nathan waited until they were alone, then asked, “What was that about?”

“He asked me to dinner, which was really a polite way of asking if I wanted to have sex.”

Nathan’s gaze narrowed. “He’s fired.”

“Don’t be silly. He can’t help himself. Look at his face, his body. He’s beyond perfect—he’s another species. I can’t help but wonder what he looks like naked.”

“Apparently he would like you to find out.”

She grinned. “No thanks. And don’t get all pinchy. I’m curious, not intrigued. He’s no one I’m interested in.”

“You said you wanted to see him naked and I’m not pinchy.”

“You can’t see your face.”

She had the thought that he was jealous but dismissed it. Nathan couldn’t be—that would imply he cared. Theirs was a business relationship with some interesting side trips. Still, it was a pretty cool fantasy. Or as her nine-year-old would say—sweet.

“We have to talk,” Nathan said.

“About Rex?”

“About a charity function.” He named the date. “Are you available?”

“Sure.”

“It’s formal.”

“Like a ball? I’ve always wanted to wear a tiara.”

“If it’s important to you.”

“Kerri, we are ready for you,” Rex said.

“You can only stay if you promise not to laugh,” Kerri told Nathan. “I’m about to make a big fool out of myself. No critical remarks are allowed.”

“You don’t have to do this at all.”

“Yeah, I do. It’s time for Wonder Mom to make an appearance.”

She followed Rex over to the platform that had been built to simulate the top of a building just beyond the fence at Cody’s school. The plan was that she would jump from one building to another, then catch a falling beam. In truth, she would be harnessed and jump with the aid of a line that would both pull her in the right direction and keep her from falling. There would be a net in case she messed up and the beam in question was a Hollywood prop, made of foam rubber and weighing about five pounds. It, too, would be on a line.

Even though she knew nothing was going to go wrong, she was nervous as she stood on the first platform. Rex stood beside her, his huge hand on her shoulder.

“Run straight forward. Not too fast. You need momentum, not speed. Your jump starts at the mark. Lean forward. Gravity and the momentum will carry you forward. Bend your knees for the landing. On the other side, regain your balance and run toward the middle of the building. The beam will fall, you will catch it and the world will be saved.”

She laughed. “If only that were true.”

She followed him to the starting point—a square on the platform marked with blue tape. Everything was in place. For a second she wondered how much
this was costing Nathan—she’d demanded to fly for her son and he’d made it happen.

“Ready?” Rex called.

She nodded and waited for him to call “Go!”

On his cue, she ran toward the edge of the platform. She overshot her jumping point, but launched herself anyway and had to suck back a scream as she began to fall.

Lean, she told herself through the terror. Lean and push and—

Her feet hit the second, lower platform. She staggered a little, having forgotten to bend her knees. When she’d regained her balance, she jogged toward the center of the platform, looked up and shrieked as a massive beam dropped toward her. Rather than catch it, she put up her arms to protect her head. The beam bounced off her and landed on the platform. She straightened and winced.

“We probably need to practice that last bit,” she said.

Rex shrugged again, moving those impossible muscles up and down. “Not bad for a first try. We will go again.”

So they did. On her second attempt, she managed the jump, but still covered her head and crouched as the beam tumbled toward her. By the fourth practice run, she managed to complete the sequence without messing up.

“Two more runs,” Rex told her. “Then we move to the school.”

She looked up at the godlike man. “You must think I’m crazy for doing this.”

“Nathan said your little boy is sick. That you do this to make him feel better. You’re a good mother. I’m happy to help.”

A god with a heart, she thought and smiled. “Thank you, Rex. That’s so sweet.”

“I think we would be good together,” he said. “In bed. I can do things women like.”

“I’m sure you can, but this isn’t the best time for me.”

“You’re with Nathan, aren’t you? That’s why you told me you would stalk me.”

Her attention slid to the man in question. “We’re not together.”

“You will be,” Rex said glumly. “I can tell. But when you get tired of him, you can call me. I’ll give you my card.”

She didn’t know which to address first—his confidence that she and Nathan would hook up or his unexpected interest in her.

“Are you intrigued because I said no?” she asked. “Does that make me a challenge?”

“Partly,” Rex admitted. “But mostly it’s because of your son. You really care about him. I like that. You lead with your heart. I don’t meet a lot of women like that.”

“Then stop dating women in the business.”

“But they’re so beautiful.”

She gave up. Rex didn’t want to change and she had no idea why he thought he wanted her. She would take the compliment and let it go.

Two hours later, she was pulling on her Wonder Mom boots in an empty classroom at Cody’s school. Second thoughts had been replaced by third and fourth thoughts.

“I’m crazy,” she muttered to herself as she straightened and stomped her foot into place in the cheap white boots. “I can’t pull this off. Even if I don’t kill or maim myself, no one is going to believe the stunt. Talk about dumb.”

“Are you trying to commune with a distant planet?” Nathan asked as he entered the room.

“What? Oh.” Kerri reached up and fingered the hot rollers. “I decided that I should look good as I plummet to my death. That way everyone talking about what an idiot I was will also add that I looked good doing it.”

“You’re not an idiot.”

“I feel stupid.”

“Why? You want to give Cody something to believe in.”

“A mom with special powers? He’s too old for that.”

“No one is too old for a miracle.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Hey, you’re supposed to be the cynical one, not me.”

“I thought I’d check out the view from the other side.” He moved close. “You’ll do fine.”

“I hope so.” She stared into his dark eyes. “Thank you for doing this. I know it’s been a big pain and a bigger expense.”

“I’m happy to make you fly.”

She put her hands on Nathan’s chest. “Rex told me he can do things women like.”

“He’s never going to work in this town again.”

She smiled. “Don’t be mad. It’s funny. He’s funny. I’m not interested.”

Nathan didn’t say anything. She supposed there wasn’t a good, winning response. He wasn’t going to admit
he
was interested, but he didn’t want her seeing anyone else. Which she kind of liked.

“Rex isn’t my type.”

“You said you don’t have a type.”

“I don’t. But if I did, it wouldn’t be him.”

He stared at her for a long time, then his gaze dropped to her mouth. Was he thinking about kissing her? She found herself wanting that kiss, and his touch and whatever else he was offering.

Someone tapped on the open door. “It’s time.”

Kerri stepped back and began removing the curlers.

“I’ll see you on the other side,” Nathan told her. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

Kerri fluffed her hair, sprayed it into submission, then slipped on her cape and took the stairs to the roof.

The school looked a lot different than the mockup she’d practiced on. There was also the unfortunate issue of the building being much higher than the platform. There were several people hovering just out of sight, behind large pieces of complicated equipment. Rex waved her over.

“There is smoke,” he said as he secured her harness and the lines, then tugged on them. “It will not hurt you. You will be afraid, but you are safe. The worst that will happen is you will fall into the net. The lines will slow your fall and you will be fine.”

Kerri had a vision of herself tumbling to a broken arm or leg. Neither fell under her definition of fine.

“You will go to your mark, then begin to run. Lean forward as you jump.”

“Bend my knees when I land, keep my balance, catch the beam,” she finished. “What was I thinking?”

“That you will make your son proud of you and that will give him hope.”

She smiled at Rex. “Good answer.”

Without warning, he grabbed her shoulders, pulled her close and kissed her.

His mouth was as hard as the rest of him, but yielding. He kissed as if he meant it, with interest and just enough urgency to be flattering. He didn’t push, pressing his lips to hers but not taking things further. So much for not kissing any man in ten years, she
thought humorously. Apparently she was making up for lost time.

She put her hands on his and gently pulled him away. If she could find the mental time and energy to amuse herself while she was being kissed, then something was really wrong.

Rex stared at her, then sighed. “I tried.”

“You did good.”

“Not good enough. Come on, Wonder Mom. It’s time to save the world.”

Kerri walked alone to the mark on the roof. While she’d practiced and in theory should be fine, she found herself shaking as she stared across what seemed like an impossible distance to the building in front of her. Smoke swirled around her, creating a sense of otherworldliness, as if she’d stepped into an alternate universe. She could see much of the town, the blue sky, feel the light breeze on her face.