Free Tea and Destiny by Sherryl Woods Page A

saved from another close encounter with the man who’d been awakening her senses from a deep slumber, she closed the office door behind her and left for Key West.
    When Hank walked into the kitchen after taking Paul and Tommy on a tour of the construction site, he found the counter littered with the makings of peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. A trail of milk extended from the refrigerator to the kitchen table. Ann obviously wasn’thome yet. He’d been hoping earlier that she’d be there in time to go along with him and the kids. He’d even considered waiting for her, but Paul and Tommy had been too eager to leave and he hadn’t wanted to look quite so obvious about wanting to include Ann in the outing.
    He was wiping off the counter when Jason came in.
    “I was going to do that,” he muttered defensively.
    “It’s no big deal. How about getting the milk off the floor before somebody slips?”
    “You’re so hot to clean up, do it yourself,” Jason said, taking off and slamming the screen door behind him. Hank’s temper kicked into overdrive.
    “Jason, get back here this instant!” he ordered as he yanked open the back door and hit the porch at a run. Jason already had one foot in the yard, the other on the bottom step. He turned slowly and came back onto the porch.
    “Who’s gonna make me?” he said, facing Hank toe-to-toe, even though he stood barely shoulder height to him. Hank had to admire the kid’s guts, if not his sense or his rotten attitude.
    “You don’t really need to ask that, do you? Now get back in here, mop up the milk and go to your room. While you’re in there, do a little thinking about minding your manners. If I ever hear you talking to Ann the way you just sassed me, I’ll tan your hide till they can use it for shoe leather.”
    “Real tough guy, huh? Why don’t you just go back to Miami and leave us alone,” Jason muttered, but he went back in and cleaned up the floor.
    When Jason had stalked off to his room, Hank fixed himself a sandwich, took out a beer and sat down atthe kitchen table to wait for Ann. He couldn’t get his mind off Jason. The boy was trouble just begging to happen. Maybe what he needed, aside from some old-fashioned discipline, was an improved sense of self-worth. Maybe in the morning, after Jason had done a little thinking about his behavior, he’d talk to him about an after-school job. Good hard work and a little cash in his pockets might do wonders for him. He’d ask Ann about the idea tonight. If she agreed, he’d find something for him to do at the construction site.
    Funny how he was starting to look forward to talking things over with her. He’d never been particularly anxious to get home after work before, but now he could barely wait to leave the office behind. It was nice having someone to share the day with, someone whose opinions he increasingly respected.
    Face it, Riley, it’s a hell of a lot more than that. She’s getting under your skin.
    All he’d been able to think about during the Super Bowl was the way her skin had burned beneath his touch, the way her cheeks had colored when he’d brushed them with his fingertips, the way her lips had parted breathlessly when he’d pressed an innocent good-night kiss against her brow. It had taken every ounce of willpower in him to keep from claiming more. He’d had to remind himself over and over that he had ruled out a casual affair with this woman days ago. His body, unfortunately, hadn’t gotten the message. Even now it tightened at the vivid memories.
    Where the hell was she? It was after eight and there was still no sign of her. He knew the nightly routine now. The little ones should have had their baths and been tucked in by eight. He walked into the livingroom and found Melissa still sitting in front of the TV, a thumb stuck in her mouth, her blanket clutched tightly in her other hand. Tommy, still wearing the hard hat Hank had given him, and Paul were racing their miniature cars