problems to. She was keeping him at arm’s length, and that made him even more determined to learn more about her. “Thanks again for helping my mother. You probably think I’m overprotective, but she was in a bad way when I first moved here.”
“I understand she lost her best friend.”
“I meant healthwise.”
“Sometimes depression can bring on physical problems,” Marilee said gently. “I’ve spent a lot of time working with the elderly, and no matter how old a person gets they want to feel productive.”
They had reached her door. Sam gazed down at her, thinking no woman had a right to look that good in sweats. She had been pretty as a young girl and still was, though the years had softened her features. “I remember how lovely you looked in the Christmas parade the year you were crowned homecoming queen,” he blurted without thinking.
Marilee couldn’t hide her surprise. “That was a long time ago.”
“You wore a red velvet dress and tiny flowers in your hair.”
“Baby’s breath. I can’t believe you remember.”
“How could I forget? You stole the show.”
Marilee had been avoiding direct eye contact until then, but when she looked up she found him studying her curiously. A light breeze ruffled his dark hair. She remembered how Grady sprayed his hair each morning with something he bought at a beauty supply house that promised extra hold. It would have taken hurricane-force winds to muss the blond mane that he was so proud of. She wondered if she would spend the rest of her life comparing men to Grady. But how could she not, after all the years she was married to him? He might be out of her life, but one did not forget sixteen years that easily. Marilee had absolutely no business staring at Sam’s hair or the dark lock that had fallen onto his forehead. Or feeling flattered that he’d remembered how she’d looked in the Christmas parade all those years ago.
“Did you and Grady have children?”
“A son. He’s fifteen.”
“I remember being fifteen and thinking I had all the answers and everybody else was stupid.” He surprised her with a sheepish grin. “I wasn’t any better at sixteen and seventeen. I suppose that’s why I stayed in so much trouble.”
Marilee chuckled. “Yes, I remember they voted you the boy most likely to spend his life in San Quentin.” He smiled at that, and she tilted her head back slightly. “Are you still bad to the bone, Sam Brewer?” She couldn’t resist teasing and hoped he didn’t think she was flirting.
“I must not be too bad if you’re standing out here in the dark with me.”
He stepped closer, and Marilee froze. She felt her breath catch in the back of her throat. His face was only inches from hers. He was too handsome for his own good, and for one wild and insane moment she thought he was going to kiss her. Instead, he reached around and opened her door.
“Good night, Marilee,” he asked. “Don’t forget to use the chain on your door until I can fix it.”
She realized she was holding her breath, and when she let it out, hot air gushed from her lungs with such force it made her light-headed. She swayed slightly.
Sam caught her, a look of concern crossing his face. “Are you okay?”
“F-fine,” she said, annoyed that she had been so taken in by his good looks that she’d almost swooned. Swooned, for heaven’s sake! Nobody did that sort of thing anymore.
“You looked mighty nervous there for a moment. You didn’t think I was going to kiss you, did you?” An easy smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Charm and sensuality oozed from him. Yes, he was as bad as they came, at least where women were concerned. “You’re still a scoundrel, Sam Brewer.”
Without another word, Marilee hurried inside and closed the door, securing the chain with trembling hands. On the other side, she heard Sam laugh softly. His morals were still lower than a gopher hole. And wasn’t it just like him to assume he was going to make the repairs to her house? Well, he had another think coming because she wasn’t about to let that…that hellion inside her house, much less in her life.
She came to a halt. Wait a minute. Why was she so upset? The answer came quickly. Because he’d made her feel pretty and breathless and dizzy and she didn’t want to feel those things. She just wanted to feel numb, because it took the sharp edges off her emotions and made life bearable right now.
Marilee suddenly felt bone tired. She dreaded the mess that waited for her in the kitchen and longed for sleep, an escape from worrying about what she was going to do with her life. She dragged herself into the kitchen to set up the automatic coffeemaker and her mouth formed an O of surprise. The room was sparkling from top to bottom. Winnie.
SAM RETURNED HOME AND STOOD inside the living room, gazing about as though seeing it for the first time. Everything appeared the same, but he felt different somehow, and he knew it had everything to do with Marilee. He wondered if she knew just how close he had come to kissing her. Kissing her! He could only imagine how she would have responded. In fact, she probably would have punched him in the face. He grinned. He liked his women feisty; it was more challenging that way.
Where was her damn husband? And what about the kid?
Nell looked up from her recliner. “You’ve been up to no good, Samuel Brewer. I can see it in your eyes. I hope you weren’t fresh with that young woman. She has enough on her hands, what with losing her husband to the town floozy.”
So that was it, he thought. Marilee’s husband had obviously left her for another woman and taken the kid. Is that why she’d tried to hang herself? No doubt she was feeling the sting of rejection, and Sam knew exactly what she needed. He’d known his share of widows and divorcées, and he knew how to work them.
“And you can wipe that smile right off your face. Marilee is different from the sort of women you’ve known.”
“Mom, I’m hurt,” he said. “I wouldn’t think of taking advantage of her situation.”
“I know you better than you know yourself, young man.” Nell suddenly smiled. “Oh yes, guess who called while you were out? Shelly. Remember her? The two of you were married briefly. She promised to call back.”
Sam’s shoulders slumped. The last person in the world he wanted to talk to was his ex-wife, who usually called him because she needed money. As if he hadn’t been generous enough, she’d already taken him to court twice to raise her alimony. He’d let her get away with it because he’d felt guilty. He should have known the difference between love and simple infatuation. He should have worked harder at the marriage. But he had taken the easy way out. He had bought back his freedom.
As if on cue, the telephone rang. Sam stared at it.
“Aren’t you going to answer it?” Nell asked.
Giving a weary sigh, Sam picked up the phone. His ex spoke from the other end. “Hello, Shelly, what is it this time?”
“Sam, I’m so glad you answered,” she said, sounding near tears.
He rolled his eyes heavenward. She needed something and her needs ranged from
