Meet Me Under The Mistletoe (O'Rourke Family 5) (4 page)

It wasn’t Shannon’s business, but it sounded awful. Families belonged together. Her mother had picked up the family and moved with Keenan O’Rourke whenever necessary. They’d lived all over the Seattle region when Shannon was a kid, though mostly in small towns, rather than the city.

“Maybe you should consider working with graduate students,” she murmured instead of speaking her mind the way she wanted. Alex’s wife had made her decisions; there wasn’t any point in criticizing them. “You might enjoy it more.”

“They’re assigning me a group of graduates after the first of the year. And I guess it isn’t that bad,” he said thoughtfully. “I miss the work more than the travel, but it’s an interesting challenge to mold future engineers.”

“How about doing consulting on the side?”

“I’ve thought about that, but it’s taken longer than I expected to get settled.”

Shannon made a mental note to talk to Kane. Her
brother hired the brightest and best for his company, and she didn’t doubt that Alex McKenzie fell into that category. Of course, if she said anything to Kane about Alex, he’d ask questions she didn’t want to answer.

Jeremy sat watching them and she noticed a frown growing on his small face. She hadn’t said anything more about him eating some of the Thai food, not wanting him to dig his heels in and refuse. She’d simply put the hamburger and fries in front of him, and waited.

“You said I could try some,” he announced abruptly.

“That’s right. What do you want to try first?”

He pointed to her plate.

“Mmm, yummy choice. That’s the peanut chicken I told you about. It’s sweet, with ground peanuts and coconut milk.” Shannon served some onto his plate, holding back on the fresh spinach that came with the chicken—there was no sense in pushing her luck. “There you go.”

Jeremy regarded the food with the expression of a mouse confronting a lion, but he slowly picked up a fork. His smile brightened as he chewed, then quickly finished the sample she’d given him. “Can I have some more?”

On the other side of the table Alex stared in wonder. “
May
I have some more,” he automatically corrected.

“Okay. Can Daddy have more, too?” Jeremy asked.

Shannon choked and Alex spotted the smile she was trying to hide. “Yes,” she said, “your daddy may have more, too. You both can have anything you want.”

Alex doubted that.

What he wanted, and what he should have, were two entirely different things. His attraction to Shannon was inappropriate, ill-timed and utterly impossible. For Jeremy’s sake, as well as his own, he had to keep it hidden.

Just then she flicked a small amount of sauce from her lip with her tongue and his body hardened.

Keeping his response to Shannon hidden might not be easy, he thought with resignation.

Much later, after tucking Jeremy into bed, Alex stared into his own dark fireplace and brooded.

He liked sex.

Always had.

After getting married, he’d had opportunities to go to bed with other women, but the idea of being unfaithful to his wife was repugnant. Lack of fidelity, among other things, had cursed his parents’ relationship.

What would Kim say if she knew he was having sensual thoughts about Shannon O’Rourke? He shook his head at the question. Kim would probably say something reasonable and measured like…those feelings are normal…don’t beat yourself up over it…it’s all right. Her Zenlike calm had irritated him sometimes, but he reminded himself it was what he’d wanted. His wife had rarely raised her voice, much less become angry.

He was back to square one, not knowing what to do about Shannon. She might be able to help Jeremy, but what if his son got more ideas about her becoming his new mommy?

And what if he got more ideas about taking her to bed?

Alex couldn’t have a no-strings affair with his next-door neighbor. Besides, for all of Shannon’s modern sophistication, he didn’t think she was a “no-strings” type of woman.

He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease his tight muscles, but it was useless.

When had life gotten so damned complicated?

S
hannon sipped her cup of tea and glanced around the crowded coffee shop.

The Seattle area was a coffee lover’s mecca, and cheerful Christmas shoppers filled the store to capacity. Couples seemed to be in force today, replete with loving looks and affectionate gestures toward one another. For some inexplicable reason the scene made her think about Alex McKenzie. On the other hand, maybe it wasn’t inexplicable.
Everything
made her think about Alex.

Sighing, Shannon put her cup on a collection tray and slipped from the store.

Small leaves, scattered by a cold breeze, danced across the sidewalk and into the street. Another sigh escaped as her cell phone rang.

“Hello,” she answered.

“Shannon, it’s Alex.”

She stopped dead in her tracks. “Alex. Hello.”

“Are you in the middle of something?” His voice sounded oddly stressed and she frowned.

“I was doing some Christmas shopping, but I’m done now. Is something wrong?”

“No. That is, nothing serious. But I’m involved in something urgent, and Jeremy is at the day-care center. He says he isn’t feeling well. I doubt it’s anything, and I hate to ask, but I’m really—”

“I’d be happy to pick him up,” Shannon said instantly. “He can stay with me until you get home.” There was a long silence and she bit her lip. “Alex, are you there?”

“Yes. I appreciate the offer. I shouldn’t be too late, I hope no later than mid afternoon.” He gave her directions to the day-care center, then rang off.

Shannon stood stock-still for a minute, filled with both shock and alarm. She knew even less about sick children than she did about children in general.

“This isn’t about you,” she muttered, annoyed with herself. “It’s about Jeremy.”

It was also about Alex, and the confusing way he seemed to blow hot and cold. She’d hoped they could be friends after their second dinner together, but he’d sounded so uneasy telling her about Jeremy.

She shook her head.

Men were stubborn about asking for help. It seemed to wound their pride to think they couldn’t handle everything themselves. Or maybe Alex’s problem was something else—something even more incomprehensible than the male ego.

“And men claim women are unpredictable,” Shannon muttered as she unlocked her car and jumped behind the wheel. Handling a sick little boy would probably be a piece of cake compared to dealing with a grown-up Alex.

At the day-care center an older woman met Shannon at the door. “Miss O’Rourke? Hello, I’m Helen Davis. Please come inside. I’m afraid Jeremy is upset.”

“What happened?”

“We told him you were coming and he seemed pleased. Then one of our aides offered to mend his stuffed rabbit while he waited, and things went down from there.”

Shannon’s eyebrows shot upward. “She didn’t try to take Mr. Tibbles away from Jeremy, did she?”

“Not…exactly.”

“Shannon,” yelped a small voice, and Jeremy raced forward, practically leaping into her arms. He clutched her neck with surprising strength.

“Hey, kiddo. It’s okay.”

He looked at her, his blue eyes brimming with tears. “The lady wanted to poke Mr. Tibbles with a needle.” He scowled at Mrs. Davis as if she’d sprouted horns and a tail.

“That’s too bad. Do you want to come home with me?”

“Uh-huh. Mr. Tibbles wants a nap.”

Poor little guy. He couldn’t admit he wanted to sleep, so Mr. Tibbles was taking the blame. Shannon stroked the dark hair away from Jeremy’s forehead. He felt warm, but kids always felt warm to her.

“Let’s go,” she said quietly, carrying him out to the car.

When they arrived home, Shannon settled Jeremy in the living room. He quickly curled up on the floor with a pillow and blanket, Mr. Tibbles clutched to his chest. Sucking his thumb, he watched the cheerful village beneath the Christmas tree until he fell asleep.

Alex raced down the freeway, pushing the speed limit, a thousand things on his mind, including the frightened student he’d just left at the University Health Center.

Rita Sawyer, a brilliant sixteen-year-old prodigy, had come to him with a problem.

A
big
problem.

Big enough to make him call Shannon and ask for a favor he would have given almost anything not to ask.

Alex flexed his hands on the steering wheel, angry all over again. If he ever found out which football player had thought it was fun to seduce an underage girl, the slithering little snake would stop laughing in a hurry. Unfortunately, Rita had been too upset and scared to tell him who was responsible.

He pulled into the drive and regarded the side by side condos. Shannon’s side glowed with warmth and welcome in the early twilight of the Washington winter day. His house seemed cold and aloof.

“Stop that,” Alex ordered beneath his breath.

He wasn’t a fanciful person. Buildings weren’t endowed with anything more than brick and wood and plaster.

Shannon opened the door before he could knock and she put her finger to her lips. “Jeremy’s asleep,” she said softly. “I think he has a slight fever, but it doesn’t seem bad.”

“You mean he’s really sick?”

He practically pushed Shannon to one side. It was only when he saw his son sleeping on a large pillow that his breathing slowed. One of Jeremy’s arms was around Mr. Tibbles, and the other was stretched out to touch the controls of the toy train.

“God,” Alex muttered, rubbing the back of his neck in an attempt to ease tense muscles. “He’s been complaining of tummy aches and stuff every few days, asking to go home. The day-care center thought he was just crying wolf again.”

Shannon sat next to Jeremy and stroked the hair from his forehead. It was such a naturally caring gesture that Alex’s chest tightened. She seemed able to reach Jeremy when everyone else had failed. He didn’t understand why—she was so different from Jeremy’s mother.

“He might be getting a cold,” she said softly. “But I doubt it’s serious.” Her auburn hair fell over her shoulders, spilling across a fuzzy white sweater. She looked like an angel, and Alex forced himself to look away, fixing his gaze on Jeremy.

There was nothing angelic about Shannon O’Rourke. Angels did not twist a man’s guts into knots.

Seeming unaware of his scrutiny, she smiled and rose. “Would you like some soda, or maybe some wine? You look like you could use a drink.”

“Cola, if you have it.”

“I’ll be back in a moment.”

She disappeared into the kitchen and he heard the clinking of ice against glass. Still concerned, he knelt and felt his son’s forehead for himself. Warmer than normal, but nothing serious.

Slumping down on the couch, Alex rubbed his face and tried to release the tension gripping him. Everything was all right. In a few days Jeremy probably wouldn’t even remember it was Shannon who’d come to the rescue instead of his daddy.

Kids were resilient.

How many times had he heard that?

Doctors, child psychologists, pastors, well-meaning acquaintances—people felt they had to say something when they learned about Kim’s death. Everyone had a support group they thought he should join, or a counselor to
see…or a single female relative he should call, who was reputed to be a good listener.

He didn’t need a good listener; he just needed to take care of his son and make sure nothing ever hurt Jeremy again.

Alex swallowed.

It was hard to escape the feeling that if he’d been home in Minnesota more often, Kim might have been diagnosed earlier. Another few weeks of treatment might have made the difference in her recovery. But he hadn’t been there, and all the guilt in the world wouldn’t change things now.

“Alex?” Shannon had emerged from the kitchen and was holding out a glass. He didn’t know how long she’d waited to catch his attention, but a faint frown creased her forehead.

“Thanks. I appreciate you picking Jeremy up.”

She shrugged one shoulder. “I told you I’d be happy to help out.”

She astonished him. His parents had shown him that most people needed or wanted
something;
they didn’t offer to help someone out of the goodness of their hearts. And a woman like Shannon, whom every wealthy bachelor in Washington must be chasing, certainly couldn’t
need
or
want
a widower with a young son who wouldn’t let go of his toy rabbit.

Alex cleared his throat. He could go nuts trying to figure out Shannon and her motives; she was far too complicated.

He accepted the glass, took a sip of the cola, then put the drink down on a polished wood coaster. It would be best if he made an excuse, took his son and left as soon as possible.

“So you think Jeremy has been trying to get attention by pretending to be sick?” she asked in a low tone.

“Yeah.” Alex grabbed the cola again. “At least I did, but
now I don’t know what to believe. If he’s really ill…it’s enough to make me crazy. I can’t lose him.”

“You aren’t going to lose him,” Shannon said softly. “Children get colds and tummy aches. It’s rarely serious.” She’d called her mom an hour earlier and been assured of that fact. “And children make up stories to get attention. It’s part of being a kid.”

Alex cocked his head. Weary lines bracketed his mouth and she wished she could smooth them away.

“Do you speak from experience?”

“Of course.” She smiled. “My youngest sister put on ‘dying diva’ performances worthy of an Oscar. Fortunately my mother was less gullible than the rest of us.”

“What, no award-winning performances from you?”

“Nope. I was the perfect child.”

He chuckled, casting a quick glance toward the Christmas tree where Jeremy lay, still soundly asleep. “No way. Didn’t we establish that you were pretty wild? You probably gave your mother premature gray hair and an ulcer to boot.”

Shannon felt her smile become fixed and she nearly tossed out a smart remark, agreeing to Alex’s assessment. But he needed to be reassured that Jeremy would be all right.

“The truth is that after my father…when we lost him, I kept things bottled up.” She rubbed the back of her neck, searching for an explanation she’d never voiced aloud. “We all reacted in our own way, and I decided to be the one who didn’t cause trouble.”

“Shannon, please. You don’t have to talk about it.”

“I don’t mind.” She grinned wryly. “Actually, I
do
mind, but that’s okay. Dad was killed in an accident working for a lumber company. After it happened, I never let anyone know how I felt, or how much I hurt…about anything.
I’d say something clever or tease or make a joke, but I wouldn’t cry or make anyone sad. That was my idea of not making trouble.”

“That meant you were all alone.”

Startled, Shannon gazed quickly at Alex. He sounded appalled, but he also understood. In a house filled with her mother and brothers and sisters, she’d been alone.

She shivered and drew back. She hadn’t intended to strip her soul bare, but that was how she felt.

“It wasn’t so bad,” she said in instinctive denial. “The point is, I got through it, and I didn’t turn out to be such a horrible person, did I?”

“Not horrible at all.”

“And with some time and a lot of love, I’m sure Jeremy will be all right, too.”

Alex swirled the cola in his glass. Shannon hadn’t said anything new, but it meant more coming from her. She’d been there, gone through what Jeremy was going through, and she had seen her brothers and sisters go through it as well.

“Then you’re saying I shouldn’t worry.”

She gave him a quick smile. “Of course you’re going to worry. You’re his daddy. My mom says worry is in a parent’s job description.”

He liked the way she said
daddy
. Not
father
or
parent
, but
daddy
. Any man could father a child; not all of them were daddies. His own father was the perfect example—a man with so many personal problems, he didn’t have energy to think about the kids he’d helped create.

“I’m no expert,” Shannon murmured, “but I called my mother and talked to her after picking up Jeremy. I know
you’ve been concerned, and thought she might have some advice. After all, she raised nine children and we all lived to tell about it.”

“I don’t think I could handle nine. Just having one has me overwhelmed.”

“You might surprise yourself. Mom says it doesn’t get easier with each child, but you become more shock-resistant.”

“She sounds smart. Maybe she can tell me how to help a pregnant sixteen-year-old prodigy,” he muttered, his mind unable to erase the memory of the fear in his young student’s face, and the knowledge that something had irrevocably changed her life. No matter what Rita decided to do about her baby, it was something she’d live with forever.

“Sixteen?”

“Yes. That’s why I asked if you’d pick up Jeremy. A member of the football team seduced her as part of an initiation challenge. She told me after class. She’d been crying… I couldn’t leave without doing something.”

“I’ll kill him.” Shannon’s eyes flashed furiously.

“Get in line.”

“I mean it, Alex. What’s his name?”

“I mean it, too, but she wouldn’t tell me his name.” Alex gazed at Shannon’s passionate expression, fascinated. He’d reacted to the situation as an intellectual, coolly, professionally, though he’d been outraged; Shannon’s reaction was purely from the heart.

The philosophical concepts of yin and yang, opposites that complemented each other, crept into his mind.

No
.

He surged to his feet.

“You’ve been terrific, but if Jeremy’s really coming
down with something, then we’re exposing you to his germs unnecessarily. I’d better get him home.”

Her eyebrows shot upward. “What about your student?”

“She’s with the counselors at the school health center. They’re going to work with her. I shouldn’t have said anything, but I wanted you to know there was a good reason I asked for your help,” he said quickly.

It was a lie.

He’d told her because he’d needed to talk about the situation with someone else. It was odd, but the school counselors had frustrated him with their guarded responses. He was a careful man himself—a man who avoided emotion—yet he’d wanted to hear
someone
explode in outrage on Rita’s behalf.