Page 6

CHAPTER 6

Before the night was over, Chip crawled into bed at the Armstrong house. He wanted to sleep at Bea's house, but they had to make sure things were ready to move and Rhea didn't want to inundate Beatrice before she had a good night’s sleep.

Yes, she'd found out that Missus Hardy's name was Beatrice, but she'd insisted that Rhea call her Bea since 'we're going to be fast friends.'

And Chip? He got to call her 'Aunt Bea.'

Worried about the move the next day, Rhea stepped out onto the back porch so if she started to pace, she wouldn't wake up the Armstrongs.

Dressed in her sleep pants and a flannel top she walked down the steps to the grass and wiggled her toes in the cool green under her feet.

It felt good to be connected to the earth.

It felt good to breathe the cool night air.

It felt good to be in Fallport.

"Rhea?"

Her breath, that she'd just pulled into her lungs, was gone.

The moonlight shining down from the sky showed her what her ears had already told her.

It was Brody, moving across the green.

"Brody."

He smiled at her just before he passed under the massive tree that stood in the green between all of the Armstrong homes. It was something to see during the day but at night it had a kind of magical feeling.

When Brody reached her side, she was looking up at the sky.

"I didn't take the time last night to look up at the sky."

He turned beside her until they were shoulder to shoulder, and he looked up at the sky overhead as well.

"Is it always like this?"

She swore she heard him smiling.

It was a silly idea, but there it was.

A feeling that she couldn't shake.

Much like the way she leaned in closer to his warmth.

"You know, I don't think I look up at the sky all that much. But... it is beautiful."

"It is." She felt it down to her bones. "In the city it's hard to see stars. If the moon is out, it's harder. But I think sometimes I see a planet. Those are brighter so it's easier. At least that's what I've read."

"Astronomy wasn't something I paid attention to. Joshua and Gabriel earned the Merit Badge. I think I was sleeping through that part of camp."

"Merit badge?"

He laughed softly. "I was a Boy Scout," he admitted. "All three of us were. And Kay and Rachel were Girl Scouts."

Rhea moved to the steps and sat down on the deck, leaving her feet on the cool grass and earth. "I didn't do scouting, but I think from what I've heard, I would have liked Cub Scouts more than Brownies. The only thing that would have made me want to do Girl Scout stuff was the cookies."

Brody moved over and sat down beside her, his feet a little darker in the grass.

Her own were pale, but she rarely went outside without shoes or socks.

"I like the cookies," he agreed. "We have at least one Girl Scout unit here in Fallport, so if you want cookies, I can hook you up."

She laughed, covering her mouth with her hand so she didn't make too much noise.

"What did Boy Scouts sell?"

He shrugged. "I only went to meetings because I caught a ride with my cousins. My dad and mom thought it would be good. And it was." He sighed and leaned back, bracing his elbows on the deck. "I got a lot out of it, but mostly because my cousins pulled me along with them. I owe them a lot for their help."

A moment of silence fell between them before he turned toward her leaning heavily on his elbow.

"Have you thought about putting Chip in Cub Scouts?"

She looked down at him and smiled.

"I... I'm not sure if he's old enough, but I think that would be fun for him. I just worry about scheduling stuff like that. I couldn't ask Bea to take him to meetings if I'm working."

Brody dropped his gaze for a minute and when he looked back up at her, she had to let out a breath.

He was a handsome man.

And it was strange that she kept rediscovering that over and over again.

"I think we could swing it. Let me ask my cousins."

Rhea tensed a little at that.

She hadn't had much experience getting help from others and while she wanted her son to have these experiences, she didn't want to put pressure on the people around her.

She wanted to form relationships that would be good for both of them, but she didn't want to push and make things awkward. "I... I'm not sure that would be a good idea."

Brody moved his hand, and she felt his finger brush against her sleeve.

Rhea licked her lips and looked down into his face.

"I'm sure we can work something out." The moon shone brightly enough to see his earnest expression.

She wanted to lean on him, but she'd been in town less than... two days?

Hardly enough of a relationship to expect his family to give her son rides to events and meetings.

That might come in time, but this soon?

She wasn't about to ask.

"So, tomorrow-"

Rhea was startled at the mention.

They'd talked earlier as they were cleaning out some of Bea's things from the two regular bedrooms.

Stopping for a quick break for a sugary snack and water to replace some of the energy they'd burned off, both at the park and carrying boxes to the outdoor shed.

It was Bea who suggested that Rhea could go out in the ambulance with Brody for part of his next shift.

"I think," Brody continued softly, "it might be a good idea for you to come with me."

She hesitated. "I'm not sure Bea could handle him all by herself."

"She handled me when I was a little older than he is, and she was a master at that."

"Well that was... a few years ago."

Brody's snort of laughter made her smile. "Thanks. I think."

"It's just that this is happening quickly. I was thinking we could have a few days to ease him into something like... something like an overnight babysitter."

Brody frowned at her. "You had that at your last job, right?"

"It was a little different," she was trying to find the words. "There was a daycare facility. They had different caregivers over the time he was there, but the building was the same. They had a schedule, and he was used to it. We barely had time to talk about his nighttime schedule. It feels like we'd be throwing Bea into the deep, deep end of the pool."

"Okay," he reached out and touched her hand sending her whole system into shock. "What if we go over there a few hours ahead of time. Take your things to her place and settle in. Then we give it a start. You can come with me for an hour or two and check in with them. If it's too much, I'll drop you off there at our first opportunity and try again next shift."

She looked at him and shook her head. "Why do you have to be so... reasonable?"

He sat up on the steps. "Me?"

She nodded and watched him pat down his long-legged sleep pants.

"What are you doing?"

He continued to pat around his hips and thighs.

Rhea saw the way his movements pulled his pants across his hips and even in the low light of the moon it was impossible to ignore what Brody had under those pants.

She doubted that he'd intended to do that, so she had to turn away, studying something in the darkness as he answered her.

"Just searching for my phone so I can record you saying that I'm reasonable. Who knows when I might need that."

She shook her head and looked at him again, focusing on his face. "I think you're just trying to get your way."

"With you?" He smiled. "That sounds promising."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to have a bit of trouble with you. Not just tonight but on a daily basis?"

He smiled from ear to ear. That she could see in the moonlight. "I'm just happy that you're talking about every day."

Rhea shook her head. "I'm too tired for this." She leaned down a little. "For you."

He lifted his head, and she had to pull back a little.

"Don't be afraid, Rhea."

"What?" She frowned as her brow furrowed a little. She felt her skin tighten between her brows. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Me?" He shook his head, frowning a little. "I don't think you're afraid of me, per se."

"I'm not."

"I'm not going to fight about it tonight, Rhea."

She startled when she felt his gentle touch on her arm again.

"Brody-"

"I'm not trying to scare you, Rhea."

She drew in a breath, but didn't move away from him.

Or his touch.

It was the wrong decision, but there they were, under the moon, barefoot in the grass.

And it had been so long since she'd felt like a woman.

A mother? Sure.

An EMT? same.

But a woman?

She'd forgotten what that was like.

But sitting next to Brody?

It was hard not to think about it.

He had a way of looking at her like he saw her.

Saw beyond the job and Chip.

It would be only too easy to lean into Brody. Into... whatever this was. In less than two days he'd stepped into her life, and he treated Chip like...

He treated Chip like he mattered. Like how a man should treat a child in his life.

But he did that with his cousin's children so it shouldn't be a surprise.

That was what she'd expect of family.

Charles' family had been the polar opposite. They'd been proud of Chip. That he was born. They bought him things, but they hardly came around and didn't want to touch him much. Charles had explained it, saying he'd been raised like that. Like a throwback to a different era, children should be seen, not heard, and only interacted with when they could behave themselves. Or as his mother explained, "When he's able to be interesting, bring him by."

They didn't understand and didn't show an interest in learning anything about Chip. Going so far as to stop answering calls or seeing them after Charles had passed.

Brody shifted closer and she swore she could feel the heat rising off of his skin.

The awareness of him.

She’d never had this before.

Still…

The last thing she was going to do was let this new life... this new start get messed up because her coworker was handsome.

And damn near irresistible.

Rhea stood up, feeling the altitude change, and little light headed.

Brody was up a moment later, watching her with interest.

Or at least that's what it looked like in the dark.

And really, how could she know anything about him?

She took a step up toward the deck. "I should get some sleep."

* * *

Brody looked at her and saw the tension in her body.

He hadn't intended to touch her, but his intentions had gone out the window. There was just something... magnetic about Rhea Russell.

He wanted to touch her.

Have her lean against his shoulder.

Hold her in his arms.

Crazy?

Well, they call it being crazy in love.

Love.

No.

Definitely not.

He was interested.

That's for sure.

But love?

"I'll," she swallowed and took another step back until the outside light anchored to the wall fell over her features, giving him a good look at her face, her expression, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Call me when you get up." He smiled when her lips pressed together, the tension evident in her stance. "No rush. I just want to make sure I've got everything set for tomorrow."

She nodded and he turned around to leave.

"Brody?"

It felt like a physical touch.

Her voice against the back of his neck. Trailing over his shoulders.

He turned back and looked at her, standing there in the moonlight.

"Yeah?"

He watched her expression change several times. He wondered if that meant that her thoughts were changing about him just as fast.

"Thank you, Brody." She smiled and the moonlight made her look like she had a halo around her. "Thank you for everything."

Rhea Russell was beautiful, but she was also dedicated, he could tell that in minutes of knowing her, but she was also someone he'd never be able to walk away from. Not completely.

That was obvious.

He'd lived through thousands of nights like this in Fallport, but having her here?

That was a whole other lifetime.

This... with her here?

Things were different.

He was different.

And it was all because of her.

Crazy in love?

Maybe just crazy.

But it was what it was.

And things were never going to be the same.

He nodded and gave her a smile. "You're my partner, Rhea. I'm here for you." He lifted his head, drawing a breath deep into his lungs. "You and Chip. You two are part of the family now."

With that he turned and headed back to his place across the green.

Regretting every damn step he took.