Welcome to Bluestone 1 - Bluestone homecoming (13 page)

Trinity smoothed the poodle skirt against her
hips and twirled, watching her reflection in the mirror. She hoped
others would be dressing up for the first Friday Movie Night as
well. She had already made a big enough fool of herself in front of
the town.

Her stomach was in knots at the thought of
seeing Leo for the first time since their kissing session. She’d
chickened out at school and hid in her office the past two days
when he picked up Max. His kiss, his touch, and then his comment
about a proper bed had sent her into a minor panic. She hadn’t been
with a man since college, and that had ended so disastrously she’d
run home in disgrace. If she made love with Leo, she was going to
have to tell him about her child.

The one she’d given up for adoption.

She never talked to anyone about it, not even
Lily. It was the hardest thing she’d ever done in her life, and she
just wanted to bury it. It had happened in another life, to someone
so different than she’d become. She wished her parents could see
that, at least.

But she wouldn’t think about it anymore
tonight. She’d been looking forward to tonight for weeks, and she
was going to have fun.

She trotted down the stairs, where her family
was gathered. They’d decided not to attend. Her father disapproved
of the choice of
Grease
as their first movie, saying it
wasn’t wholesome. Regardless, she was going, earning another mark
against her.

She decided to walk down to the lakefront,
and already heard the pulse of 50s music. When she turned the
corner, she saw many townspeople had turned out. Several blankets
were spread on the lawn in front of Lily’s launch place. A few
enterprising souls selling popcorn and snow cones. But no one was
in costume.

Trinity caught Lily’s arm as she stood in
line for corn dogs. Lily wore a pink denim jacket and rolled-up
jeans, and her ponytail—her go-to hairstyle—had a scarf tied around
it. “What’s this?” Trinity demanded.

“I’m a Pink Lady.” Lily smiled as she took in
Trinity’s costume. “You look great.”

“No one else is dressed up.”

Lily waved a dismissive hand. “No big deal.
Have fun with it. It’s our first time. People will get into the
spirit. Look.”

Trinity followed her gaze to see two
gentlemen in leather jackets and slicked back hair sauntering
over.

“What’s happenin’, hot stuff?” Max asked.

Trinity cracked up at the boy’s smirk. “Wrong
movie, but nice try.” She bent to brush a kiss over his cheek, then
straightened to face his father. “You two look great. Thank
you.”

“Yeah, well, I thought we’d go for the spirit
of the thing.” Leo glanced around. “Nice turnout. I didn’t expect
concessions.”

“Me, either. Maybe next time we should set up
one, to help pay for the projector.”

“I told you not to worry about that. I found
a nice spot over there by that tree, and Mom packed a picnic.” He
pointed to a blanket and picnic basket, situated with a great view
of the screen. “I did a trial run with the projector earlier, so
hopefully everything goes smoothly.”

“Thank you.” She smiled and wished she could
kiss him, but wouldn’t in front of Max and Lily. He looked adorable
with his thick dark hair slicked back, the collar of his jacket
turned up, the snug white T-shirt across his firm chest beneath.
He’d done this for her, because she’d asked him to. When had a man
ever made an effort for her? Why couldn’t she stop herself from
falling in love? He’d been very clear that their time together was
limited.

“Want a corn dog?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“Max and I are going to get one. We’ll meet
you, okay?”

She was unpacking the picnic basket—a bag of
chips and three sandwiches, two on Kaiser rolls and one on wheat
bread, a pack of brownies and bottled water—when the movie started.
People around her applauded as the opening credits rolled, and Max
and Leo returned to the blanket with corn dogs and popcorn.

“It’s a cartoon?” Max asked in disbelief.

“Just the beginning,” Trinity laughed.

Watching Grease with a nine year old was a
different experience. She hoped most of the sexual innuendo went
over his head. She twisted to look at Leo. “I don’t remember this
movie being quite so racy.” No wonder her father had
disapproved.

Leo shrugged. “We didn’t get it, maybe.”

“Are you humming?” she asked.

He winked. “I know the words.”

“Then sing.” She’d heard some of their
neighbors singing along with the familiar songs.

“Not likely.”

“What kind of wagon?” Max turned around to
ask.

“Cushy,” Leo said without missing a beat.

Max frowned. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“It’s Fifties slang,” Leo countered.

“Oh. Weird.” Max turned back to the movie and
imitated the motions of the dancers during “Greased Lightning”
while Trinity choked on her laughter.

Leo grinned. “Warm enough?” he asked.

She looked into his smiling eyes and wanted
to kiss him, but she had no idea how Max would react to such a
thing. “I’m good.”

“You look adorable.”

“You too.” Her face heated under his admiring
gaze, and she lifted her hand to hover over his hair. “What did you
put in there?”

“Practically a whole bottle of gel. It’s
crunchy, see?” He pressed her hand to his head and the stiff hair
did indeed crunch.

“Sexy,” she laughed.

“Hey, you wanted people to dress up. I didn’t
want to actually put pomade in my hair. No telling what it would
take to get it out.”

“I appreciate your effort,” she said, tilting
her face up. Maybe he’d take the initiative. But no, he sent a
glance toward his son and turned back to the movie.

But he was humming.

***

“Need a ride home?” Leo hefted a sleeping Max
onto his shoulder—he wouldn’t be able to do that much longer—as
Trinity folded the blanket on top of the repacked picnic
basket.

She smiled. “It’s only a couple of
blocks.”

“So no difficulty for me to drop you
off.”

She dipped her head, but a shiver ran through
her before she looked at him and smiled. “Okay.”

“You got that?” He nodded toward the
basket.

“It’s empty, Leo. Remember all the trips to
the Landing’s bathroom?” She gestured to Max’s back.

“Right.” He lifted the boy higher on his
shoulder. “Let’s go.”

He got the boy into the SUV that he’d parked
in Lily’s lot and buckled him in while Trinity put the basket in on
the other side. She was in the passenger seat before he could come
around to hand her in, not allowing him the opportunity to touch
her. God, he wanted to touch her. His hands practically shook with
the need.

Less than five minutes later, they were in
front of her house, and that was including time in traffic with
others leaving the same area at the same time. Damned small towns.
At least she was happier tonight than she’d been the night of the
town hall meeting.

He put the truck in park and killed the
engine. “Did I mention you look adorable tonight?”

She glanced in the back seat at his sleeping
son. “You—appreciated my costume.”

“So next week’s movie is Sixteen Candles—you
going to wear a mini skirt?”

She laughed. “I haven’t worn a mini skirt in
years.”

He leaned over and put his hand on her knee,
beneath the hem of her skirt. She drew in a sharp breath, and her
pupils grew huge as she looked at him. He rubbed his thumb across
the top of her knee, that smooth skin, and captured her mouth with
his.

He’d wanted to do that all night, taste her,
feel her. She wrapped her arms around him, giggling when her
fingers tangled in his crunchy hair. Giggling. Christ. He had to
love a woman who could laugh while he was making love with her.

Had to love…

Too soon to love. Right now he was happy just
to feel, feel her mouth open beneath his, the warmth of her breath,
the taste of strawberries on her lips as her tongue slid along his.
He pulled her closer along the seat, wanting her body pressed
against his, and she whispered his name against his mouth.

The SUV turned bright suddenly, and Leo eased
back to see the front porch light had been switched on, as had the
lights down the walk. He thought he saw Trinity’s father’s shadow
in the doorway.

“A signal?” He nodded toward the house.

She closed her eyes in resignation. “I
suppose.”

A sound from the back seat drew his attention
and he straightened, checking over his shoulder to see Max’s eyes
still closed. But he knew the kid wasn’t asleep. Hell. Did the kid
know he’d been kissing Trinity?

“Should I walk you to the door?”

“Probably not.” She smoothed her hands over
her hair and flipped her ponytail. “I really need to get my own
place.” She smiled. “Thanks for the evening. For dressing up, for
the picnic. For the movie.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Maybe. Good night, Leo.” She pressed one
last quick kiss to his mouth and slipped out of the SUV.

He watched her walk up the sidewalk, skirt
swaying, saw the door open before she got there. He waved at her
father before she stepped through the door, but the other man
didn’t return the gesture. Instead the light went off, the door
closed with a sense of finality.

***

“Miss Madison, we have a problem.” The
principal, Mrs. Nacimiento, stepped into Trinity’s office and
closed the door.

“What is it?” Trinity closed her laptop.

Mrs. Nacimiento inclined her head toward the
hall. “I have a student in my office I’d like you to speak
with.”

“What student?”

“Max Erickson.” The older woman angled her
chin up. “He said since you and his father are involved, he doesn’t
have to follow school rules.”

“He said what?” Trinity pushed to her feet.
“Let me talk to him.”

“Is it true?”

Trinity’s stomach tightened in anxiety. She
had to be honest, even if her job was on shaky ground. “We’ve
been—seeing each other. Nothing serious. More of a flirtation.”

Mrs. Nacimiento shook her head, her brow
furrowed. “Trinity, what are you thinking? He’s a parent. You serve
his child.”

“We’re just—” She couldn’t defend it. She was
in love with Leo. She’d known it would be a bad idea, getting
involved with him, but she hadn’t expected Max to use it to his
advantage. “Let me talk to Max.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“He has to know he can’t manipulate me,”
Trinity said. That he’d tried broke her heart.

She wished she had more time to reason out
what she was going to say. She smoothed her hands on her skirt and
followed Mrs. Nacimiento next door into the principal’s office. Max
lounged in one of the naugahyde chairs as if he was sitting on
throne.

Mrs. Nacimiento looked from Trinity to the
boy, then stepped out, leaving Trinity alone with Max. Trinity
leaned on the desk facing the boy, who grinned—his father’s grin,
damn it.

“I heard you told Mrs. Nacimiento that you
don’t have to do what anyone says anymore because your dad and I
are friends.”

Max lifted a casual shoulder, another Leo
mannerism. “I saw you kissing. I figured you could get me out of
trouble.”

“Why would I do that?”

“To make my dad happy.”

“You think it will make your dad happy that
you’re disobeying and getting away with it? I don’t think so. I
think he’d be surprised to find out you’re trying to use me to get
your way. I think he’d be sad and upset.”

“But you can make him understand.”

“Understand what, exactly?”

Max lowered his gaze to his jeans and rubbed
his palms up and down his thighs. “Why I’m always in trouble.”

“He understands. He knows how you feel.
That’s why he came back.”

“Then why did he go in the first place?” For
the first time his demeanor changed, and he looked like a
vulnerable little boy.

“I don’t know, Max.” They’d never talked
about it, about Liv, about what it had been like to lose her. That
was why she could say she and Leo weren’t involved. They’d kissed,
but had never discussed serious things, like his past, his job,
their future. He’d be gone by summer. “I think maybe he was
hurting. Maybe he didn’t know how to help you until he went away. I
don’t know. I know he’s here now and you’re the most important
thing in his life.”

Max’s expression shifted back to cynical. “He
wants me to be like him.”

“Let me tell you a little secret.” She
crouched to look into his eyes. “All parents want that for their
kids. Some are better at seeing when their kids aren’t the same
than others. I think your dad would listen if you told him. But I
also get the feeling you like playing baseball.”

“My dad’s pretty good.” Max looked at his
hands. “I’d like to be like that.”

“I think he would love to teach you. He loves
playing ball with you. I mean, would you have ever thought your dad
would be coaching?” She smiled.

Max smiled, too.

“But you have to do your part. You have to be
respectful, and you have to behave, and you can’t use your father’s
friendship with me to keep from owning your actions.”

Max shifted. “Are you going to tell my
father?”

“Not about this.” But she and Leo definitely
needed to have a conversation about their relationship and its
possible impact on Max. “You need to apologize to Mrs. Boller and
Mrs. Nacimiento, all right? And keep your nose clean for the rest
of the school year.”

Once Max had gone back to class, she prepared
herself to face her own music.

***

Leo trotted up the steps to Trinity’s house
and rang the doorbell twice in his impatience. Her parents would
love that, he was sure. Some day he needed to find out why she
still lived at home, with all the restrictions placed on her, but
today he was too anxious to tell her the news. He rang again, and
heard footsteps, then the door opened and Trinity stood there. He
stepped back for a moment just to appreciate her. She’d changed
into a T-shirt and jeans after school, and it looked like maybe
she’d been cooking.