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Authors: Debra Salonen
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seen you with Zach. You’re patient and kind, and he knows you love him no matter what kind of jerk he’s being at the moment.”
Before she could say anything else, he added, “Lucas would be lucky to have you in his life, Kris.”
She cocked her head so earnestly his heart twisted in his chest. “You really think I’m a good parent?”
He nodded. “Of course. You were the first person I thought of asking to be my housekeeper, but I knew that wouldn’t be fair to you. I couldn’t afford to pay you what you’d deserve, and you’re right—people would gossip. But if we got married, you and Zach would be on my insurance. And my house is paid for, so you wouldn’t have any rent. And you could use my car.” He felt embarrassed listing the mundane, practical advantages. They were hardly reasons for marriage. Forget love, what about the car payment?
Kristin took a deep breath, which caused her bosom to press against the thin material of her tank top. Donnie looked away. This was business; he wasn’t going to let hormones play a factor.
“I don’t know, Donnie. A part of me wants to throw caution to the wind and say yes, but I have a reputation for making impulsive decisions. I’ve spent the past ten years trying to overcome that image. What would people think if we suddenly got married?”
“The ones who know our history—which, in this town, is just about everybody—would probably think we were back in love.”
“But we’re not.”
Love. Donnie had no intention of going down that road again. Twice was enough. “My dad used to say that a scalded cat fears even cold water,” Donnie said. “So this will be purely a business arrangement. We could sign some kind of prenuptial agreement that states we take away exactly what we brought into the marriage—no more, no less. Although I’d throw in half the proceeds from the sale of the house into the settlement.”
“You’re selling your house?”
“Air marshals are based in large cities because they’re on call a lot of the time. That’s why I agreed to let Lucas move to Los Angeles and live with his mother this fall. I’d hoped to move there, too, after my training.”
“But now?”
He shrugged. “Obviously, I can’t count onSandy’s help. So, what I’d like to do is keep Lucas in school here while I’m in training, and then sell the house once I have a permanent station.
“Or, if I’m based on the West Coast, I could commute until he starts high school and make a move then.”
“What about your mother? Won’t she want to return once your aunt is better?”
He sighed. “We had a long talk last night. She was honest with me—and with herself—for the first time. She loves Lucas and she’s glad that she was here for me when I needed her, but she’d like to travel more. Maybe even date again. I told her it was about time, and we both think she’d be happier in Texas.”
He looked down. He didn’t want her to see how much it embarrassed him to have to admit this. “She already raised her family, Kris. Lucas is my responsibility, not hers.”
“Do you have any idea where you’d be stationed?” she asked a minute later.
He shook his head. “No, but San Francisco is only five hours away. If I could get SFO or Oakland, I’d have it made. Then,” he continued, “if you and Lucas and Zach got along, we might be able to put off moving until both boys are done with school. Assuming you wanted to hang around that long.”
Kristin looked up sharply. “I’m through moving, Donnie. This is it. I hope to buy a house, put down roots.”
“I’ll sell you my house, Kris. By the time I’m stationed, your business will be established and you won’t have any trouble qualifying for a loan.”
Both were silent for a few minutes, then Kristin said, “I don’t know what to say. Marriage is a big deal, Donnie. It’s legal.”
“It’s only a big deal if we make it one,” he told her, knowing even as he spoke that wasn’t
Before she could say anything else, he added, “Lucas would be lucky to have you in his life, Kris.”
She cocked her head so earnestly his heart twisted in his chest. “You really think I’m a good parent?”
He nodded. “Of course. You were the first person I thought of asking to be my housekeeper, but I knew that wouldn’t be fair to you. I couldn’t afford to pay you what you’d deserve, and you’re right—people would gossip. But if we got married, you and Zach would be on my insurance. And my house is paid for, so you wouldn’t have any rent. And you could use my car.” He felt embarrassed listing the mundane, practical advantages. They were hardly reasons for marriage. Forget love, what about the car payment?
Kristin took a deep breath, which caused her bosom to press against the thin material of her tank top. Donnie looked away. This was business; he wasn’t going to let hormones play a factor.
“I don’t know, Donnie. A part of me wants to throw caution to the wind and say yes, but I have a reputation for making impulsive decisions. I’ve spent the past ten years trying to overcome that image. What would people think if we suddenly got married?”
“The ones who know our history—which, in this town, is just about everybody—would probably think we were back in love.”
“But we’re not.”
Love. Donnie had no intention of going down that road again. Twice was enough. “My dad used to say that a scalded cat fears even cold water,” Donnie said. “So this will be purely a business arrangement. We could sign some kind of prenuptial agreement that states we take away exactly what we brought into the marriage—no more, no less. Although I’d throw in half the proceeds from the sale of the house into the settlement.”
“You’re selling your house?”
“Air marshals are based in large cities because they’re on call a lot of the time. That’s why I agreed to let Lucas move to Los Angeles and live with his mother this fall. I’d hoped to move there, too, after my training.”
“But now?”
He shrugged. “Obviously, I can’t count onSandy’s help. So, what I’d like to do is keep Lucas in school here while I’m in training, and then sell the house once I have a permanent station.
“Or, if I’m based on the West Coast, I could commute until he starts high school and make a move then.”
“What about your mother? Won’t she want to return once your aunt is better?”
He sighed. “We had a long talk last night. She was honest with me—and with herself—for the first time. She loves Lucas and she’s glad that she was here for me when I needed her, but she’d like to travel more. Maybe even date again. I told her it was about time, and we both think she’d be happier in Texas.”
He looked down. He didn’t want her to see how much it embarrassed him to have to admit this. “She already raised her family, Kris. Lucas is my responsibility, not hers.”
“Do you have any idea where you’d be stationed?” she asked a minute later.
He shook his head. “No, but San Francisco is only five hours away. If I could get SFO or Oakland, I’d have it made. Then,” he continued, “if you and Lucas and Zach got along, we might be able to put off moving until both boys are done with school. Assuming you wanted to hang around that long.”
Kristin looked up sharply. “I’m through moving, Donnie. This is it. I hope to buy a house, put down roots.”
“I’ll sell you my house, Kris. By the time I’m stationed, your business will be established and you won’t have any trouble qualifying for a loan.”
Both were silent for a few minutes, then Kristin said, “I don’t know what to say. Marriage is a big deal, Donnie. It’s legal.”
“It’s only a big deal if we make it one,” he told her, knowing even as he spoke that wasn’t
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