Substitute Father

As Kealey could have predicted, the bowl slid from Hannah’s hands, tumbling on to the rug, scattering popcorn in every direction.

“Uh-oh!” Hannah exclaimed, her eyes widening. She looked at Luke as though expecting a rebuke.

But his calm demeanor didn’t change. “Won’t take a minute to clean up. I’ll help.” And he did, his big hands scooping up the popcorn far more rapidly than Hannah’s tiny hands could do on their own.

Kealey wondered if his unflappable reaction was for her benefit. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d seen a prospective foster parent fake a performance.

Luke rose when all the spilled popcorn had been picked up. “Come on, Hannah. We’d better wash those hands and get a fresh bowl. This time we won’t fill it quite so full.”

She scampered behind him toward the kitchen.

When Luke and Hannah disappeared from her line of vision, Kealey turned, noticing that the two boys were staring at her.

She smiled, directing her words to both boys. “Do you like staying here with Luke?”

Brian immediately looked wary. “It’s okay.”

Realizing they wouldn’t respond to the usual questions, she changed tactics. “Did you have any pets at home?”

Surprised, Brian stared for a moment. “We had a hamster, but he died. We were gonna get a dog when we moved to a house.”

“You can’t have dogs in an apartment,” Troy explained.

“I know. They need yards,” Kealey replied. “That’s why I don’t have a dog.”

Brian drew his brows together. “Really?”

“That, and I live alone and work long hours. That wouldn’t be fair to a dog.”

“That’s what Mama said,” Troy told her.

Kealey’s heart ached for these children who had so clearly loved their mother. “Then she must have been a very wise woman.”

“She was the best,” Brian replied fiercely.

“I’m sure she was,” Kealey said, knowing it probably was true. Also knowing how vulnerable the children were without a mother’s protection.

“We like Luke’s dogs,” Troy told her, dividing his attention between her and the golden retriever. “Bentley got left without a home just like us.”

“He did?”

“Somebody dumped him out in a field when he was little,” Brian explained. “And he was real sick ’cause he hadn’t had nothing to eat.”

Just like these children, Kealey realized with a pang.

“But he’s all better now,” Troy told her. “Except for one leg that got broke when he got hit by a car.”

“Luke did surgery on him,” Brian offered. “He’s okay except he can’t run a long ways.”

“Bentley probably likes being close to home anyway,” Kealey responded, touched by their story—and even more by the image of a strong Luke rescuing a forgotten puppy.

“That’s how Luke got Spencer and Kate, too,” Troy told her, referring to the cats. “They didn’t have a home neither.”

“And Miles and Ginger,” Brian added.

So many orphans under one roof, Kealey realized. All except Luke himself. Which was why she had run so fast the first time they’d met.

“Fresh bowl of popcorn,” Luke announced as he returned to the room, with Hannah close behind him. “Did I miss anything?”

Kealey shook her head, unwilling to talk about what she and the children had just shared. Luke’s kindness had affected her too much and she didn’t want him to know it. Meeting Luke’s far too beguiling gaze, she realized she couldn’t make that mistake again.

LUKE SWUNG AROUND the rink, gaining speed on his in-line skates as he neared the turn. Brian, Troy and Hannah had eagerly jumped on his idea to go skating. It was something they’d done before losing their mother. And Luke wanted to inject as much normality as possible into their lives.

And he had to admit that he loved skating as well. He often took to the streets on his skates, enjoying the workout, the speed and the exhilaration. But he thought the controlled environment at the rink was safer for the children. No rough spots to cross or potholes to avoid.

Since it was Saturday afternoon, the rink was crowded. Luckily his last appointment had been just after noon. Wayne was still at the clinic, closing up. His assistant had volunteered, knowing the kids needed the excursion. A single man, Wayne was devoted to the animals in his care. He also had a huge soft spot for children.

Keeping an eye on Brian, Hannah and Troy, Luke allowed them some distance to interact with the other kids. It was important for them to make friends, to be drawn into a world other than that of adults. They’d had too many serious responsibilities lately. It was time for some fun.

Luke glanced up, surprised to see Kealey hovering near the rails. He wondered if their fun was about to end. It wasn’t that she was a bad person, she was just so uptight. If he hadn’t been accustomed to being badgered into a multitude of blind dates by Rachel, Luke would not have willingly met Kealey since she was so different from the relaxed, open women he usually dated.

Knowing it couldn’t be avoided, he skated toward Kealey, coming to a tight stop directly in front of her.

Appearing startled, she stepped back.

“Looking for us?” Luke asked, noticing that the slight flush in her cheeks was rather attractive.

She cleared her throat. “Yes. Your assistant told me where to find you.”

Rather than replying, he watched her, noting that doing so made her even more uncomfortable.

“Wh-which made it easy to find you,” she stammered.

He took pity on her. “So, what are you doing working on a fine Saturday afternoon?”

She firmed her shoulders. “Mine isn’t a nine to five, Monday through Friday job.”

“I know,” he replied mildly. “From Rachel.”

She flushed at the reminder and again he wondered what wound her up so tightly. “I need to make my week’s evaluation.”

“Got any more cases after ours?”

Kealey drew her brows together, looking confused. “No. Why?”

“No reason you can’t evaluate and have fun at the same time,” he replied. “Let’s get you some skates.”

“No, really—” she began, obviously flustered.