Free A Little Bit of Déjà Vu by Laurie Kellogg Page A

process.
    The tightness in his jeans now proved what a true sicko he was.
    Then again, maybe a few nights in Maggie’s bed were just what he needed to end his twisted obsession. Although, after nineteen long years, it would most likely exacerbate the problem. Making love to her would either cure him or kill him.
    ~~~
    Margie bit her lip, stung by Jake’s attack on her husband’s character. She refused to boost his ego, telling him how she’d burst into tears when she’d seen the news coverage of his wedding while sitting in the airport that day, and how Dan had held her and comforted her all afternoon.
    It hadn’t escaped her notice when Jake reminded his son that he hoped to reconcile with Alex’s mother. Roxanne’s picture on the mantel testified to how much Jake must still love her.
    “Your ex-wife is beautiful.” She gestured toward the fireplace. “Maybe our grandchild will inherit her gorgeous red hair.”
    “I suppose it’s possible. But I’m sure a shared grandchild isn’t what your cousin had in mind when she orchestrated our reunion.”
    “No, I think it was an attempt to atone for her past sins.”
    “By matchmaking?” He snorted, obviously finding the idea as preposterous as she did.
    Too many years had passed, and Margie had been hurt too much to ever consider getting involved with Jake again. Not to mention, she could never betray Dan by having an affair with the man who’d inspired so much jealousy. She’d never forget the hurt in Dan’s eyes several years after they were married when he discovered the copies of Sports Illustrated hidden in her bottom dresser drawer with Jake’s picture on every single one.
    She rasped past the lump in her throat, “I never expected you to have a son Alex’s age.”
    Roxanne’s pregnancy must have been the reason Jake ignored the certified letter Margie sent, explaining her abortion. When she called him to tell him about their baby, she was groggy from the sedative. Jake hung up on her before she had a chance to fully explain. Her mistake had been waiting until she was clearheaded the following morning to call him back—after her mother had thrown out his unlisted phone number.
    Less than a week later, the green delivery confirmation postcard arrived with his signature, leaving no doubt he’d received her letter. Perhaps, by then, he’d learned Roxanne was expecting.
    “Alex’s arrival came as a bit of a surprise to us, too.” Jake chuckled. “You’d never guess to look at him today he was born almost two months premature.”
    Okay. So much for that excuse. She had to face the truth. Jake had simply been relieved to be let off the hook—just as her mother had insisted he would be.
    “Roxy never let me forget that I finished playing the Super Bowl after my coach got the call to let me know she’d gone into premature labor. She couldn’t understand, if I’d sat on the sidelines worrying while they chartered a flight for me, it wouldn’t have gotten me home any sooner.”
    “Did you win?”
    “Not that year. But two years later we did.” He tipped his head and studied her. “You had to have known I was Emma’s teacher. Why the hell didn’t you tell me who you were the first time I called your house?”
    Good question. All her reasoning eight months ago now seemed ridiculous. “Would you believe because I’m a coward? I kept hoping they’d get tired of each other and break up. After I didn’t fess up the first time we spoke, it just got harder to say anything.” She glanced at her watch. “I should get home so I’m there when Emma comes in. She may need to talk.”
    He followed Margie out to her car and opened the driver’s door for her. “So—should I assume from the way you pretended not to know me you don’t want to tell the kids about us?”
    She didn’t even want to discuss it with him, let alone her daughter. “Do you want them to know?”
    “Not really. Except I’ve found when people try to hide the truth it usually