Midnight Caller. Diane Burke
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Erin retested the water temperature for Jack’s bath, then stepped aside. Jack held on to the safety rail and lowered himself onto the nonskid mat. Erin placed clean pajamas and a towel on the toilet seat cover and made sure the walker was placed safely within reach. “I’ll have hot chocolate waiting for you when you’re done.”
Jack, already covered head to toe with soap bubbles, grinned at his mother. “With whipped cream and marshmallows, please. And can I have one of those chocolate chip cookies you hide over the ’frigerator?”
Erin chuckled. “We’ll see. Make sure you clean behind your ears.”
She walked down the hall and entered the kitchen. “Who was at the—” A rush of pleasure raced through her body at the sight of the man standing beside her aunt. Dressed in a dark gray suit, white shirt and patterned tie, he was even more handsome than when she’d seen him at the park. And those eyes—should be a crime walking around looking so good.
“Hi. Remember me? I didn’t bring my rabbit with me. Hope you don’t mind,” he said.
Her aunt chuckled and busied herself wiping the counter.
“Of course, I remember you, Detective Marino. Please, sit down. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Call me Tony.” He slipped off his jacket and loosened his tie. “Hope you don’t mind. It’s been a long day.”
“Not at all. I know how you feel. The ER can be stressful at times, too.”
“You work at the hospital?” Tony raised an eyebrow and wondered if she knew Cynthia Mayors.
“I’m a nurse in the emergency room,” she said with a nod.
“Would you be likin’ a spot of coffee, lad?” Tess asked.
Tony acknowledged her. “That I would, ma’am.”
“Call me Tess. You’ve already met my niece, Erin.”
Tony extended his hand to Erin. He smiled broadly, his teeth even and white against his tanned skin. “Nice to meet you again, Ms. Erin O’Malley.”
There it was. Gorgeous smile. Eyes so captivating it was difficult to look away. Because of her instant attraction to him, Erin expected the familiar goose bumps when her hand slid into his grasp, but she wasn’t prepared for this strong pull of emotion and found it surprising. Even a bit confusing. What was the matter with her? He was a cop, remember? Cop, as in don’t-even-think-about-it cop. Not to mention the fact that he was a hunk. In her experience the words male and hunk in the same sentence always spelled trouble, always caused pain.
Tony released her hand. His smile reached his eyes, tiny lines crinkling at the corners just as she remembered.
“I’m glad you called. What time do you want me to pick the two of you up?”
“I…I’m not sure,” she stammered. “The bus leaves at eight-thirty.”
“I’ll be here at seven-thirty. That should give us plenty of time to load anything Jack needs and get there with time to spare.”
“Sounds good to me,” Tess answered for Erin and placed mugs in the middle of the table. She picked one up and handed it to Tony. “See if this nonalcoholic Irish coffee doesn’t cure what ails you.”
“Nonalcoholic Irish coffee? Isn’t that an oxymoron?” Tony lifted the cup and sipped the dark liquid. Feigning an Irish brogue, he said, “I just had meself a drop of pure magic.”
Tess blushed like a schoolgirl.
Erin chuckled. This guy can charm the socks off of anybody. When the phone rang, she gestured for her aunt to remain sitting and got up to answer it.
“Hello?” The soft rumble of conversation from the table drifted toward her and made it difficult to hear. She strained to listen for a voice on the line. “Hello?” The silence continued and an insidious trickle of fear knotted her stomach. She slammed down the phone.
Erin knew Tony had noticed the trembling in her hands when she rejoined them at the table and, ashamed of herself for being so easily scared, she folded them on her lap. Feeling the need to explain, she shrugged and said, “Heavy breathing. Hang-ups. Nothing to get upset about.”
“How long have you been getting these calls?” Tony asked.
“Since Thursday.”
“How often?”
“Hard to say. No set times or frequency.”
“Except at night,” Tess interrupted. “He’s been calling five, maybe six, times a night. No one in this house has had a solid night’s sleep in days.”
“Have you reported it to the police?” Tony asked.
“Erin has a thing about police. She hates cops. Didn’t she tell you?” Tess ducked the censoring look from Erin.
Tony’s lips twitched. He seemed to be struggling not to grin. “Hate cops, do you? Well, you’re either a convicted felon who’s done hard time or a lead-foot driver with multiple tickets. Which one is it? My nickel is on lead foot.”
Tess laughed out loud. “See, lass. They don’t call him a detective for nothing.”
“About those calls?” Tony’s eyes held concern and kindness.
“I filed a complaint earlier today,” Erin assured both of them.
“The best bet is to let your answering machine screen your calls,” Tony continued. “Pranksters won’t call for long if their calls are never answered. I don’t think they have as much fun heavy breathing into a recorder.”
Tess chuckled.
“I think I’m going to change my number and let the answering machine screen the calls,” Erin said.
“Wow, hitting them with heavy artillery. They must have scared you a little more than you’re willing to admit,” Tony said.
She stared into his eyes. Her silence communicated how right he was.
A young boy’s voice filled the air. “I’m ready for my hot chocolate and cookies.”
All three adults turned when Jack entered the room. Erin and Tony stood to greet him.
The boy, his wet hair plastered to his skull and still dripping on his blue and green dinosaur pajamas, scooted his walker up to the table. “Hi. You’re the man from the park. What are you doing here?”
Erin’s eyes met Tony’s and a grateful smile graced her lips. “He’s giving you your wish, Jack. He’s going to be your dad-for-a-day.”
THREE
Erin’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes burned. I will not cry. I won’t. She watched from across the parking lot as Tony and Jack inched their way toward the front of the bus line. It had never been more evident to her than now that she couldn’t be everything her son needed. He needed a dad in his life. A dad she had been unable and unwilling to provide. Sadness threatened to overwhelm her. A lone tear escaped and slid down her cheek.
Tony paused before boarding the bus and looked over his shoulder. His eyes locked with hers. He winked, just as he had when they met, sending her a silent assurance that he understood and everything was going to be okay. Then, he lifted Jack to carry him up the steps.
Erin shook her head when she looked at Jack. His cowlicks stood at attention no matter how hard she had tried to gel, mousse and spray them into place. But it was Jack’s grin, so wide it barely fit his face, that clenched her heart.
“Bye, Mom,” he yelled, waving furiously. His contagious excitement made Erin bounce and wave in return despite the tears that stung her eyes. Her baby was growing up.
From the second they had passed through the turnstiles, Erin