Dream a Little Dream (Chicago Stars, #4)(53)

It was Rachel’s greedy ways that had brought down the Temple and Dwayne Snopes. Her greed had brought down Russ, too, because if it weren’t for her, he’d still be working security, still working the job that had made him feel like a man.

And now she was settling back into Salvation, just as if she hadn’t done anything wrong. Now she was using Gabe the same way she’d used G. Dwayne, but the crazy son of a bitch was too stupid to see what she was doing.

Russ had tried to talk to his ex-wife about Rachel and how she was to blame for everything bad that had happened to him, but she didn’t understand. She didn’t understand how none of this was Russ’s fault.

He needed a drink, and he turned toward Donny’s place. A couple of drinks would settle him down. They’d make him forget that he had no job and that his wife had kicked him out and that he couldn’t take care of his kid right.



“Is he going to be here?” Edward asked on Saturday morning as Rachel parked her precious Escort behind the snack shop.

No need to ask who he was. “Mr. Bonner’s not as bad as we thought. He’s given me a job and let us live in the cottage. He’s also made sure I have a car to drive.”

“Pastor Ethan got us the cottage and the car.”

“Only because Mr. Bonner asked him to.”

But Gabe remained Edward’s enemy, and he refused to be swayed. On the other hand, he’d developed an unbending loyalty to Ethan, who apparently sought him out regularly at the day-care center. Rachel reminded herself she’d have to thank him for that, even if she choked on it.

Day care had been good for her son. He still hadn’t made any close friends, but he was a little more talkative, a bit more demanding—although with Edward, that was relative. Twice now, when she’d told him it was bedtime, he’d said, “Do I have to?” For him, that was a major rebellion.

“Wait till you see the playground.” She handed him a shopping bag filled with some toys to keep him occupied for the day, then picked up a sack that held their lunches and a few snacks. As they walked toward the playground, Horse dangling from his hand, she saw how much stronger he looked. His legs and arms were tanned, and there was a liveliness to his movements that she hadn’t seen since his illness.

“The playground’s all fixed up,” she said. “And look. We added some picnic tables, so you’ll have a place to sit and draw.”

She’d bought him a new coloring set that included a sixty-four count box of crayons instead of a skimpy twenty-four, then she’d purchased new sneakers for him, as well as pajamas printed with race cars. When she’d let him pick out an inexpensive T-shirt, he’d bypassed the childish cartoon designs and chosen one that said Macho Man.

She glanced down at her own clothes. She cleaned the dirt and paint from her black oxfords every day, and they were holding up well. Thanks to Annie Glide’s wardrobe of old housedresses, she hadn’t needed to waste a penny on herself.

Just then, Gabe’s pickup swooped into the lot accompanied by a wake of dust. Edward slipped behind the turtle where, she suspected, he intended to make himself as invisible as possible. She headed for the truck and watched Gabe step out, all lazy grace and boneless elegance.

Yesterday he’d given her the key to Cal’s house so she could search for the Bible while he went out to dinner with Ethan. It hadn’t been there, but she appreciated the fact that he’d trusted her enough to let her look.


His eyes caressed her as he came nearer, and she grew dizzy with the memory of how he’d felt inside her two days earlier.

“Good morning.” His voice was deep and husky with sexual promise.

The breeze lifted the hem of her skirt so it brushed against his jeans. “Good morning yourself.” Her tongue felt clumsy in her mouth.

He slipped his hand under her hair and curled it around the back of her neck. “No electrician today.”

But they weren’t alone, she was having her period, he didn’t know about Edward, and he still controlled her paycheck. With a reluctant sigh, she drew away. “I can’t afford you.”

“Are we back to that again?”

“I’m afraid so.”

He didn’t say anything. He simply frowned at her paint-spattered orange dress and oxfords, which seemed to annoy him more each day. “You left those jeans of Jane’s on the bed when you were looking for the Bible. Why didn’t you keep them?”

“Because they weren’t mine.”

“I swear, I’m buying you some today.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “No jeans. Give me a raise instead.”

“Forget it.”

A good argument was just what she needed to distract herself, and she splayed a hand on her hip. “I’m working my butt off for you, Bonner. There’s not a man in the world who would have done as much as I have for what you’re paying, which, in case you’ve forgotten, is barely minimum wage.”

“That’s true,” he replied agreeably. “You’re the best bargain in town.”

“I’m getting sweatshop wages!”

“That’s why you’re such a bargain. And don’t forget that you’re getting paid exactly what we agreed to.”

A lot more, if she considered the fringe benefits of house and car. Still, at this rate, she’d never be able to set anything aside, and if she didn’t find that Bible, she and Edward would be stuck in Salvation forever.