The Challenge(61)

“?‘My’ Chief Ranger Mack? Or no possessive, just the title?”

“Whatever you prefer,” he said, opening the car door for her, and she swept inside in the wide skirt she had worn to dance in.

She waited until they’d gotten a few miles down the highway on the way back to Fishtail. “This is where, after all the nice things you said, we get hit by a truck. We both get killed and the romance never happens.”

“You watch terrible movies. I’ll have to give you some homework assignments.” He pulled off the road then, with the red light on the roof flashing, and turned to her. “This is where I tell you to shut up, because I love you.” He kissed her then and left no doubt in her mind how he felt about her. She was smiling and breathless when he stopped.

“That was very nice. I guess we’re not dead after all.”

“Apparently not, and we’re going to the Pollocks’ for lunch tomorrow. May I escort you?”

“Yes, you may. Juliet is going with her father.”

He drove up in front of her house. Juliet was at Tom’s for the night and going straight to the Pollocks’ from there. She had taken her dress with her.

Harvey walked Beth to the door and stood towering over her. She stepped neatly aside and smiled up at him. “Would you like to come in, Chief Ranger Mack?” she invited him, and he smiled broadly.

“Very much,” he said, walked in, and the door closed softly behind them.





Chapter 18


Tom and Marlene had survived more than a week of Marlene’s self-imposed quarantine. Tom wasn’t happy about it, but he had agreed to respect it. He had no idea how long she was going to impose it on them. Months probably. Maybe until the anniversary of Bob’s death in August. But her children were still going to refuse to accept him. They had the upper hand now, with drunk driving accidents and a possible fumbled suicide, and he and Marlene had played right into their hands by getting caught making love in the kitchen. He still cringed when he thought about it. He missed Marlene terribly.

Juliet had just left for school. His housekeeper didn’t come in on Tuesdays, so he was alone cleaning up the kitchen when the doorbell rang. At that hour, it was usually a FedEx from one of his clients. They were still amused by his new address in “Fishtail,” Montana.

He opened the door with a distracted expression with his phone in one hand, juggling a stack of files in his other arm, expecting to see the FedEx man, and he found himself looking straight into Marlene’s eyes. She was breathless and looked like she was about to rob a bank.

“Did something happen?” He was certain that Justin would do something bad again, it was just a question of when. “Is Noel okay? Justin?”

“They’re fine. I’m not okay. Can I come in?”

“Sure.” His heart beat faster just looking at her, and he tried not to let it show. Just being that close to her drove him insane. He wanted to reach out and hold her.

“I’m really not okay,” she said bluntly. “I can’t stand it. I miss you too much. I don’t care what my kids think. I need you.” She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. He was so startled, he dropped his armload of files on the floor and put his arms around her and pulled her tightly against him.

“I need you too,” he said breathlessly, “like air. I love you. What are you saying to me? Are we going to have a showdown with your kids?”

“Not yet. Can’t we keep it secret for a while?” she said, as he pulled her inside and closed the door.

“Whatever you want. I’ll agree to anything, just so we can be together. Juliet won’t be home ’til six.” He grabbed her hand and raced her up to his bedroom. They flew into bed, tore off each other’s clothes and made love, and then talked about how to handle the future. It was not going to be easy. Nothing was resolved, and Justin was still an accident waiting to happen, but Marlene was back in Tom’s arms, and it was all he needed for now. They were addicted to each other. It was even more powerful, more flammable, and more dangerous than love.



* * *



—

All the usual cast of characters were coming to the Pollocks’ for Thanksgiving lunch, plus a few new ones. Juliet and her parents would be there. Tom and Beth would be coming separately, but they were on good terms. June was coming without Tim, who would be spending the holiday with his father at a hotel in Billings. Her new beau was in Chicago, so she was alone but happier this year. The Browns and Matt and Benjie, who were practically family, would be there too. Marlene and her boys were coming. She had given them two options. They could stay home with her, if they couldn’t stomach seeing Tom and being polite to him. Or, they could go to the Thanksgiving lunch and be courteous to him. They didn’t have to be warm and fuzzy, but they had to be polite if they wanted to go to the lunch. They had opted for polite but said they wouldn’t speak to him. The Pollocks had invited Harvey Mack, after his heroic rescue of their children. Including him was the least they could do. Thanks to him, they had much to be thankful for.

Anne had set a beautiful table, as she always did. Caterers had provided the traditional meal she served every year. It was everyone’s favorite dinner. They had served it at lunchtime since their children were small. They were all bigger now. Benjie was the only younger child, and next year they’d have the Browns’ new baby, who would be seven months old by then.