Catch 'n' Kiss (Are You Game?) (19 page)

When Leigh quieted and her sobs had turned to sniffles, Jody eased her away and handed her some tissues. “Feel better?”

Leigh shook her head. “Why does he hate us?”

The million-dollar question. No mother wants to have to answer that. Not when the
he
in question is the child’s father. “I don’t think he hates you, Leigh.”

“But he doesn’t love us either.”

Jody closed her eyes and prayed for strength. She wouldn’t lie, but at fifteen Jody didn’t think Leigh was old enough to process the truth either. “He loves you the best he can.” Jody wasn’t about to include herself in that notion.

“Well, it’s a seriously shitty way.” Leigh pouted and Jody breathed a little easier. If she was resorting to childish pouting then she wasn’t as upset by the lack of fatherly love Colin possessed as Jody feared.

“Life is shitty sometimes. But we can’t let those bad things destroy the good,” Jody said.

“I know.” Leigh sniffed into her handful of tissues. “But it still fucking sucks.”

“Leigh, language.” It didn’t matter how crappy the situation, Jody wouldn’t let her rule about swearing slide.

“Aw, Mum, c’mon. It’s not like Amy’s in the room,” she whined.

Dan chuckled and Jody gave him the evil eye, prompting him to cover up with a fake cough.

Leigh’s head swivelled back and forth, her gaze bouncing between the adults like spectators at a tennis match. Before her daughter could say anything, Jody said, “Why don’t you go wash your face and I’ll see if Uncle Luc has any of that ice cream you love.”

“Ice cream before dinner?” Leigh’s voice rose with hope.

“Yep. I think today calls for dessert first, don’t you?”

“Yes.” Leigh bounded off the couch and ran from the room.

“So is that a treat, a reward, bribery or distraction?” Dan asked.

“I have no idea, but I figure we could all do with something frivolous and pleasurable right now.” Her gaze caught his just as she said the word pleasurable and all sorts of adult pleasures flitted through her mind. She’d love to lose herself in his arms right now. Sink into the oblivion of pure ecstasy Dan delivered. Except that wasn’t happening any time soon. After last night and today, Jody wasn’t ready to add another complication to her life.

And Dan O’Conner was one huge complication.

Dan had no idea what was going on. Jody had gone completely cold on him. It was like a switch had been flicked. Dinner had been interesting. She’d avoided looking at him, and if she’d said more than two words directly to him he’d hand over his beloved Ducati. Luc had given him a questioning look across the table that Dan couldn’t even begin to answer. Luckily, the girls and Cassie had carried the conversation enough to cover up any lag in talk.

Jody was currently in Luc’s living room with the girls. They were watching a movie from Luc’s collection. A chick flick. Which meant he and Luc were more than happy to be stuck in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner.

“Wanna tell me what happened?” Luc asked as he took a stack of dirty dishes from Dan.

He shrugged. “If I had a clue I would.”

Luc straightened. “You two didn’t have a fight or something?”

“Hell, no. I can’t even pin-point when exactly she started giving me the cold shoulder.”

“What happened with Leigh after we took Amy out of there?”

“Nothing. There were no more big revelations. Although it does appear as though Leigh mentioning me set off the ex.”

“I wouldn’t have thought he’d care. There has to be something else driving the sudden shift in behaviour.” Luc began loading the dishwasher. “I’ve got someone looking into his recent activity.”

“Does Jody know?” Dan could only imagine her reaction if she didn’t.

“Not specifics, but she knows I’m not staying out of it this time. I did that when she caught him cheating on her and look where that got her, years of crappy treatment.”

“He cheated on her? Is he an idiot?” Dan didn’t expect an answer really. As far as he was concerned, the guy had to be stupid to let Jody go.

Luc chuckled. “Among other things.”

“Look.” Dan tried to collect his thoughts. “I’m not sure where this thing between me and Jody is going, but I can tell you where I want it to end up. I like her. A lot. I like spending time with the girls already, and we’ve barely managed a few hours. She intrigues me, not to mention gets my engine revved with just a look.”

“Whoa.” Luc put up a hand. “I don’t need to know any of that. And I’m not just talking about you two getting it on. All I need to know is that you’re serious, and I think you’ve proven that in the last twenty-four hours.”

Dan nodded.

“But you’ve just been given a front row seat to her less-than-pleasant past, and I’m not all that sure that all the emotions and drama associated with it aren’t still weighing on her mind. She swore she’d never get involved with a guy again when Colin walked, and I believe she meant it, which is why you and her raises more than my eyebrows.”

Dan pretty much figured the spectre of her past stood between them. He just had to work out how big of an obstacle it was. “Neither of us expected to connect the way we do.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing, because if she’s got time to think about something she’ll worry it to death before she ever gets started.”

“So what are you saying?” Dan asked. If anyone could give him some insight it would be Jody’s brother.

“It’ll be an uphill battle.”

“But it’s winnable, right? You’re not suggesting I give up?”

“What? No. I’m making sure you understand how difficult and stubborn she can be. Shit, she stayed married to that idiot out of stubbornness. She’d probably still be married to him if he hadn’t been the one to walk.”

“He walked? She didn’t tell him to go?”

“Put it this way, I think he got to the punch line first. She was ready to leave, had made the decision, but the girls made it harder to just up and go.” Luc ran his hand over his head. “Look. I shouldn’t be telling you any of this. It should come from her. I just think you need to really be sure you want to continue seeing her. Those girls, all of them, have been through enough, and if you’re not in it for the long haul then back out now.”

“I’m in it as deep as a man can get.” It wasn’t a confession of love. He’d save that for Jody, but he figured Luc would understand what he was saying.

“Good. Good then.”

Neither of them had a chance to say anything further because the bundle of energy that was Amy came barrelling into the kitchen. “Uncle Luc, Uncle Luc. Cassie said you can make us popcorn. Can you?”

At thirteen she hadn’t quite given up some of her childishness, but Dan could see the woman starting to unfold inside her. “Aren’t you still full from those two hamburgers you ate at dinner?” he asked.

“No. In fact my tummy is so empty it’s aching.”

Luc laughed. “Yeah, right, your eyes have always been bigger than your belly. Give me five minutes and I’ll bring a bowl of salt and vinegar popcorn in.”

“Yes!” She fist-pumped the air and disappeared back the way she’d come.

Luc shook his head. “Her energy levels always amaze me. I wish I could bottle it. I’d make a fortune.”

“She’ll lose some of that when she gets older. My sister was the same. Then she hit puberty and turned into a slug that we had to drag out of bed every morning.” Dan leaned against the kitchen counter. “Do you have a popcorn machine or do you use the trusty old saucepan?”

Rubbing his hands together, Luc opened the pantry. “Neither. I’m a microwave man all the way.” He pulled out a box of microwave popcorn and tossed it at Dan. “You pop, I’ll get the toping ready.”

Jody could not believe she’d agreed to this. After she’d made the decision—again—to distance herself from Dan, she’d done the complete opposite. Again. Okay, so the girls—or more pointedly, Amy—were the reason she’d said yes, but she still had to take responsibility for her own actions. If it were anyone but her, she’d conclude the woman chopping and changing her mind was bipolar. Instead, she had to admit she was totally smitten and not willing to do what her brain kept telling her she should.

“C’mon, Mum.” Amy grabbed her hand and tugged her towards the ice. “Quick.”

“What’s the rush?” Jody stumbled as she tried to walk on the thin blade of metal on the bottom of the very uncomfortable boots she’d spent the last ten minutes lacing up.

“I want to beat Leigh.” Amy let go and raced for the opening in the barrier that surrounded the ice rink.

“Be careful,” Jody called out. She shouldn’t have wasted her breath. Amy was off and running. Literally. Her long, colt-like legs took her across the icy surface so fast Jody’s head spun. “Jesus.”

Dan chuckled behind her. “I doubt
he
can even help you with that one.”

She sighed and glanced over her shoulder at him. “You’re right. Nothing short of Valium can help with that one once she gets going.”

“I don’t think you need to worry.” He indicated the ice rink with his chin. “She’s already got the hang of it.”

Jody turned back to see Amy skating past as though she’d been doing it all her life. “Oh my God, look at her.”

“She’s a natural.” Dan moved beside her and took her elbow. “C’mon, your turn.”

She allowed him to guide her onto the ice. Her knees shook, which didn’t help, but she did manage to stay upright. At least she did the first time around. The second saw her getting a little too confident and paying the price. One slightly bruised backside. And while the fall had hurt, it wasn’t enough to have her leaving the ice. Both the girls were whizzing past with the speed and skill only the young possessed.

And Dan. Well, he’d obviously done this more than once. He spun circles around her, tugged her along when she was steady and picked her up off the ground when she wasn’t. In spite of all her doubts and fears where this man was concerned, she couldn’t deny she always had a good time with him. The girls did too. They laughed and joked and played like they’d been doing it together forever, and Jody couldn’t remember the last truly carefree day they’d had.

She made her way off the ice and sat on a bench to watch the three of them play tag around the rink. She was pretty sure Dan could catch either of the girls without any trouble, but he made it a game by stumbling and slipping whenever he got close to one of them. After Friday night and Saturday, she was eternally grateful for the happy smiles on the girls’ faces—the rippling joy of their laughter as they chased each other around. Tears stung the backs of her eyes and throat. They owed Dan for today.

Jody quickly wiped at her eyes as the three of them headed her way. The girls giggled as they both tried to barge through the exit together. Dan scooped his arm around Amy’s waist and pulled her off her feet to break the standoff. He swung her around and plonked her back on her blades as Leigh bounced in front of her.

“Dan said we can get an ice cream. I want a strawberry one.”

“I want chocolate and vanilla,” Amy yelled.

“Okay, keep it down. I’m right here, Amy.” Jody laughed as both of them shouted yes and raced off in the direction of the kiosk.

“You want one?” Dan asked.

She turned back to face him. “Are you kidding? It’s freezing in here already. I’m not making it worse by eating ice cream.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure I’m up for a cone, but what about a hot chocolate? We can sit over by the kiosk where it’s a little warmer.”

Jody glanced over to where Leigh and Amy waited impatiently for someone to come and order their ice creams. “Okay. A hot chocolate sounds good.”

“If you’re not up for more skating we can take your boots back now. I’m happy to supervise the girls for the rest of our allotted time.” He offered her his hand.

She slipped her cold fingers inside his warmer ones and let him pull her to her feet. “I think I’ll take you up on that. These things are killing me. I think I’ve got blisters on my heels.”

“I’ll get the first aid kit from the counter. They should have some cream and Band-Aids.”

They made their way over to the girls and it wasn’t until they reached the counter that Jody realised they still held hands. Dan didn’t make a big deal out of it, he just casually slipped his hand from hers to retrieve his wallet out of his pocket.

“Why don’t you go grab that table?” He pointed to the table farthest from the rink. “The girls and I will carry everything over.”

“Okay.” She limped away, her feet suddenly hurting beyond a mild ache.

“And get those boots off so I can take a look at your feet,” Dan called out behind her.

Jody waved her hand and kept going. She was afraid she’d never make it if she stopped to answer. Sliding into a cushioned seat, she immediately began unlacing the hundreds of hooks. Hundreds was an exaggeration, but it certainly felt that many by the time she had both boots unhooked and her wet-socked feet out.

“Mum, you’re bleeding!” Leigh cried as she rushed over.

“What?” Looking down, Jody saw a patch of blood on the back of one heel. Okay, blisters were a tame definition. Gingerly, she peeled her sock down and off. Sure enough, she’d rubbed her heel raw.