first, he didn’t answer, then he surprised Melissa by returning her smile. “I might. What are the prizes?”
“There aren’t any,” Eric said flatly. Both boys had moved to Melissa’s side and were glaring at him as if he had no right to intrude upon their fun.
“Well, I guess I’ll pass, then,” David said. “Maybe I’ll join you in a different game sometime.”
“Nothing else to play.” Richie scowled at him.
“He doesn’t have kids’ stuff because he doesn’t like them,” Eric told his brother with his usual solemnity.
Melissa didn’t look at David’s face, and held back from saying anything. She hadn’t found anything in the house that would keep two lively boys happy and occupied. Now she sensed an instant tightening in David’s body as he stood beside her, but it wasn’t her place to correct the boys. Maybe Eric told the truth. Maybe David didn’t like kids. It was hard to tell about things like that, and his beautiful home and lifestyle didn’t give a clue. In fact, she hadn’t seen any evidence during her earlier tour of the house that the young boy he had once been had ever lived here.
“Maybe we can find some stuff for you, boys,” David said, ignoring the remark about his not liking kids. He’d been too busy in the world of lawyers and politicians to know whether the remark was closer to the truth than he was willing to admit.
“That would be nice, wouldn’t it, boys?” Melissa said, but their expressions didn’t change.
“Sorry, I have to run. I just dropped by to see if Inga and Hans were being helpful,” he lied. He knew the Swedish couple would rally to the cause, no matter how much extra work it created.
“Oh, yes, they’re wonderful. Inga fixed us a nice lunch, and the boys ate every bit of it.”
“Good. And you’ve found working space?”
“The small sitting room will be fine. It’s lovely with the windows overlooking the garden.” She knew the sitting room had been his mother’s, and Melissa was curious about the woman who had raised such a purposeful, solitary son.
“I have a late meeting tonight so I’ll have dinner in town. If you need to reach me, tell Inga and she’ll pass the message along.” He turned to say something to the boys, but his usually articulate tongue failed him. All he could come up with was a quick “So long. See you guys later.”
Later that afternoon, the boys were down for a nap when the delivery truck arrived with a bright red swing set, jungle gym and small merry-go-round.
Melissa was working in the sitting room when she saw Hans and another man setting up the playground equipment in the backyard. Who would believe it? David must have stopped at a store on his way back to the office, bought everything and paid extra to have it delivered that very afternoon.
She was delighted, and totally surprised. Maybe he was bent on hiding from everyone what a softy he really was.
She remembered how he’d smiled at her as she sat on the ground with blades of grass caught in her hair. Why had he come back to the house? He’d warned her that he would hardly ever be around, but he had been here when they arrived this morning and he had shown up again after lunch. Even though she was pleased by his attention, she wasn’t comfortable with it. Maybe this whole arrangement had been a big mistake, she thought—until she reminded herself that this was the perfect place for the boys until the right home was found for them. She knew that Eric and Richie would be ecstatic with the playground equipment, and she was relieved that the boys could play outside, while she worked and kept an eye on them through the sitting room windows. The only sad part about the gift was that it would never replace the male companionship David could have given them.
Chapter Three
“Burning the midnight oil, are you?” David teased later that evening as he leaned up against the door frame of the sitting room and smiled at her.
“Just a little.” She saw that his tie hung loosely, his white shirt was wrinkled, and he was carrying his summer jacket. “You look as if you’ve had a full day.”
“It’s been a long one. How did things go with you? Did the play stuff get here?” He walked over to the back window and squinted out into the night. Decorative patio floodlights spilled out into the yard, and she could tell that he was satisfied by what he saw.
“Yes, they’re great. The boys loved everything. Especially the jungle gym. You should have seen them. They looked like a couple of monkeys, climbing and swinging—and scaring the daylights out of me.” She laughed. “They’re working up some tricks to show you.”
The tired lines in his face eased. “Really? I mean, after that little episode this morning I thought I rated number one Grinch.”
“Children are very adaptive and forgiving, if you give them a chance.” She almost added that they were great teachers, too. She suspected that David could learn a lot about himself if he spent a little time with Eric and Richie while they were here.
“I’m sorry I reacted so strongly about the fountain. It’s just that it was one of the things that my mother prized, and I felt protective of it.”
“I understand. You have a lovely house, and the boys need to respect that. Thank you for taking them in while we find someone who will give them a good home.” She got up from the desk. “Well, I think I’ll call it a day. How about you?”
He sighed. “I have some briefs to look over, and I’d best get started. Of course, you could agree to try some of my famous hot chocolate and give me an excuse to procrastinate a little longer.”
An automatic refusal was on her lips. “No telling how early the boys will be up and about. I really should get to bed.”
He nodded, as if he had expected her refusal. “Yes, of course. Good night, then.”
Somehow she sensed that his brisk tone was protective and a cover-up for lonely feelings he didn’t want her to see. His obvious need to talk with someone touched her.
“Come to think of it, a warm drink does sound good,” she mused. “Maybe I’ll change my mind. That’s a woman’s prerogative, you know.” She laughed and met his steady dark eyes.
“So I’ve been told.” David smiled. He liked the way she was able to change her mind without any long drawn-out justification. She seemed to be perfectly at ease with herself, and he realized that there was no need for him to play a role or keep his guard up when he was with her. “Come on, then. We’ll mess up Inga’s kitchen and get bawled out for it in the morning.”
He led the way into the kitchen, and Melissa perched on a high stool at the breakfast counter while he prepared the cocoa. A shock of hair drifted across his forehead, and his rumpled appearance made him seem less formidable than usual. She wondered if he ever relaxed enough to wear something comfortable, like jeans and knit shirts.
She was surprised at how efficient he was in the kitchen. He had two steaming cups of hot chocolate ready in no time, and sat on the stool beside her as they sipped the hot drink.
“Mmm, delicious. You’re a man of many talents, I see.”
“Hot chocolate is about the peak of
