Under the Boardwalk

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Connor pulled up to a small house in a town about thirty minutes from Damon’s casino. The outside was well maintained, unlike the dilapidated older houses surrounding it. He double-checked the number against the paper Maria had given him, before climbing out of his car and walking toward the front door.

He’d been waiting for this moment for so long, his palms sweat like he was on his first date. In Connor’s life, not much affected him anymore. Until he’d met the dark-haired sexy woman with a smart mouth and an obvious reluctance to get closer-which was just fine with him since he didn’t want anything long-term or serious either. He just couldn’t get her out of his head and he hoped like hell this date would be a good start.

He was heading up the driveway when a young kid, probably a neighbor, followed a basketball that rolled across the grass and came to a halt by Connor’s feet. He appeared about six or seven years of age. His dark hair stood straight up as if he’d slept wrong, had a cowlick that wouldn’t tame, and had been avoiding a hairbrush for days.

“Hey, mister.”

Connor knelt down on one knee. “Hey, yourself.”

“Whatever you’re selling, we don’t need.” The boy puffed out his chest as if he were the man in charge and stared Connor down.

Connor could well relate to the kid’s bravado, having been a similar tough guy in his day, and he stifled a laugh. “Don’t worry. I’m no salesman. But who are you anyway, the neighborhood welcoming committee?” he asked wryly.

The kid shook his head. “I just take care of what’s mine.”

“Then go on home and do that,” Connor said, chuckling. Gone were the days when a kid should play alone in the streets, and Connor glanced around, wondering if someone was looking out for him.

“I am home.” He pointed his thumb back toward the gray house and wrinkled his nose, looking at Connor as if he were a complete moron.

An uneasy feeling crawled up Connor’s spine at the same time he heard a familiar voice call out. “Joseph Anthony, get yourself into the house now!”

Connor stood, looking toward the house to see Maria standing beside the open screen door. Ignoring him, she waved toward the kid, motioning for him to come inside.

“Aw geez, Mom.” Joseph stomped up the driveway and into the house, ducking under his mother’s arm.

His mother. Holy crap, Connor thought.

Maria said something low to the kid, something Connor couldn’t hear, before she stepped back out onto the front porch and shut the door behind her. She folded her arms across her chest in the defensive posture Connor had come to recognize. “I see you found the place okay.”

“I have a good sense of direction,” he said, finishing the short walk up the stone path to the house.

She nodded. “You can leave now if you want to.”

He narrowed his gaze. “Tell me why you think I’d want to.” Stupid statement since he now understood her reasons for keeping him at a distance and putting off any overtures he’d made.

“Because you wouldn’t be the first, for one thing.” She studied him warily.

Hell, he thought, running a hand through his hair. He should have just accepted her signals and backed off. He was a guy who only knew how to take care of himself and chose his women accordingly. He’d made a promise at a young age-he’d never be a bastard like his father and run off on a woman and a kid. Someone who wasn’t an adult and wasn’t responsible for the choices of those around them. The easiest way to accomplish that had been to pick women who liked their affairs free and easy.

His nerves jumped as he walked up the two steps and joined Maria on the small stoop. He found himself at an unusual loss for words.

In full defensive mode, Maria stared him in the face, daring him to glance away or back down. “I’m sure your interest in me didn’t include a kid. Joey and I are a package, so now that you know, why don’t you save us both a lot of grief and take off.” Tension and distrust emanated from her in waves.

She was obviously testing him. Forcing him to make a decision before anyone got hurt. Smart woman, he thought. Once again he wished he’d heeded her signals, yet at the same time, he was still drawn to her, even more so now that he knew there was more to her than just the cocktail waitress he thought would be good in bed. Oh hell, he’d sensed that all along. Wasn’t that why he’d pursued her relentlessly?

“Maybe you underestimate me,” he said. Just as he’d obviously underestimated her.

She shrugged. “That remains to be seen.”

He glanced at her and felt his reserve softening. He’d only seen her at work, in a tight “Damon’s” T-shirt and black miniskirt. Now he viewed her in a different light. Dressed for their date, she wore a pair of black pants and a light blue sweater with a nice, deep V that accentuated her lush curves. Gone were the sneakers; in their place, black shoes with a slight heel. And when he looked into her wary eyes, he noticed she’d put on a minimal amount of makeup, enough to entice but no heavy artifice to cover the real Maria.

She hadn’t hidden a damn thing from him now. “You look nice.”

“Thanks,” she said, ducking her head.

He’d obviously taken her off guard and was about to do so again. “Where’s his father?”

She shrugged. “Couldn’t tell you. There’s fifty states. Since he’s not paying child support and my attorney can’t find him, I’d assume he’s somewhere in the other forty-nine.”

Connor nodded. So that explained her wariness. Abandoned himself, he understood. “And you expect me to run scared like he did.”

“Like I said, you wouldn’t be the first.” Her voice quivered despite the outward show of bravado, reminiscent of her son.

Connor turned and glanced at his car parked on the street. Freedom lay a few feet away. He rolled his shoulders, the pain lodged in his back intense. He should just walk down the steps, climb into the car, and take off, putting miles and distance between himself and Maria and her son. He wanted to run before he replicated the mistakes his father had made. Before he hurt a kid the way he’d been hurt. And if he spent any time with Maria and got to know her kid, that could be the end result.

But a distinct memory stopped him from taking off. The one of his mother, dressed for a date just as Maria was now, dropping Connor off at a neighbor’s who watched him when she had to work. He doubted he could call it babysitting, since no money was exchanged. They were two single parents doing each other favors in order to make ends meet. His father had already been long gone. And his mother had never come back. The neighbor, as nice as she was, couldn’t afford to keep Connor in addition to her two other kids, and his trip through foster care had begun.

Connor had always blamed his father for the kind of childhood he’d had, while making excuses for his mother’s decisions. Looking at Maria now, Connor was forced to acknowledge that he’d been wrong. His mother’s choices were as selfish as his father’s had been.

Maria waited, saying nothing while Connor sifted through his memories and his own choices. Here stood a woman who cared enough about her child to put his needs before her own, and he admired her for it.

And here he stood, a man who could follow his heart and get to know this woman or let fear rule his life and make him walk away. Connor swallowed hard. “Who watches him while you’re out?”

She tipped her head toward the run-down house next door. “A neighbor.”

Connor winced at the similarity. For years he’d worked with the kids at the center, and their stories didn’t affect him on a gut level. This woman and her child did.

Just go, a voice in his head yelled to him. Before it’s too late to get out. But then he’d never know what he was missing in life.

So instead he heard himself saying, “Why don’t you get him and we can all go out for a burger.”

Maria’s eyes opened wide, then a cautious smile tilted her lips and he relaxed a little more. He owed it to himself to take this chance and prove to himself he wasn’t like his old man. He hoped like hell he could handle it.

• • •

Quinn drove to Ari’s house while she followed in her own car. It was hard for him to believe they’d made love a few hours ago and he’d compromised his case and his integrity as a result. He trusted her, dangerous as that notion was.

He heard the sound of hammering from inside the truck as he pulled to a stop in front of Ari’s parents’ home. He exited the vehicle and met her on the front lawn near where she’d parked on the street behind him.

“Do you hear that?” She shook her head. “I can’t stay here.”

Without thinking, he grabbed for her hand. “You don’t have to.” He had the perfect solution for her problem. “Do you like dogs?”

“More than monkeys, though I have to admit she’s growing on me.” Ari gestured to the window Spank had appropriated as her own.

He chuckled.

“Why?”

“You can stay at my place while your parents are constructing. My real place,” he amended. Quinn hadn’t realized what a huge burden he’d been carrying until he’d unloaded the truth on Ari. With her knowing he was a cop, he didn’t have to tiptoe around her and could bring her deeper into his life. Something he hoped he didn’t come to regret later.

She stopped and turned toward him. “You’d let me stay there?”

“As long as you watch my dog.” The companion he trusted to be there without conditions.

Her eyes opened wide. “Isn’t that like the equivalent of giving me a drawer in your apartment or us sharing a toothbrush?”

He was scared to death that it meant more than a mere dating convention, but what the hell. By admitting he was a cop, he’d entrusted her with his life. How much more serious could this possibly be?

To forestall any further conversation on the subject, he plucked her key out of her hand and led her into the house. “Did your mother say what she wanted?”

Ariana had finally called Elena back and she’d instructed Ari to bring Quinn home for a “chat.”

“Just something important that affects us all,” she said, her words vague. “Mom? Dad? Anybody home?” she called out over the workers and the noise.

“Let’s try the kitchen,” he suggested.

“Nothing good ever happens in there,” she muttered.

Laughing, he took the lead and walked into the room. The sight in front of him proved Ari right.

Spank sat in a baby’s high chair with various jars of creams set out on the tray. And Sam straddled a chair in front of her, brush in hand, painting a white mask over the monkey’s face. “It smells delicious, Elena,” Sam yelled without looking over her shoulder.

“Just rank them in order of what you like best,” Elena called from another room.

“Aren’t there laws against animal cruelty?” Ari asked jokingly.

“In addition to truancy laws.” Quinn strode toward Sam, tired of the kid’s games.

She turned to face him and rolled her eyes. “You always think the worst of me.”

“Because lately you’ve been proving me right.” He leaned a hand against the counter, meeting her gaze.

“Well, not this time. It’s a half day. Parent-teacher conference, not that I have any parents.”

“Ouch,” Ari whispered in his ear. Then to Sam, she said, “So what are you two doing?” In an obvious attempt to lighten the mood and break up the argument, Ari pulled a chair up beside Sam.

“Elena wants me to see how these smell.” Sam waved a hand over the jars. “But Spank decided to try them on herself, so I figured why not help her?” She giggled and Quinn took three steps back.

This was the second time since meeting Sam that he’d heard her laugh from pure joy. Both times had been in this house. “So you’re playing dress-up?” he asked.

Ari shot him a look at the same time Sam said, “You’re so dense. We’re testing scents, but don’t worry, they’re all natural. Nothing’s gonna hurt Spank.”

“I am so relieved,” he said.

Ari kicked him in the shin. “I take it Mom gave up on the fish oil?”

“Fish oil?” Sam wrinkled her nose.

“Don’t ask.” Ari ruffled Sam’s hair. “As long as she’s moved on, we’re all in good shape. Hey, it’s quiet in here.” She glanced around, suddenly realizing the noise had stopped.

Quinn had just noticed the same thing.

“I think the crew took off early today. Igor said they had to finish up another job.” Sam rose and pulled some paper towels off the roll, wet them, and sat down with the monkey again.

“Who’s Igor?” Ari asked.

Sam cleaned off Spank’s face, then released her from the high chair. “He’s the foreman in charge of this job,” Sam said with the authority of someone who lived here.

Quinn narrowed his gaze. “Where did you say Elena was?”

“I didn’t.” Sam shoved her hands into her jeans pockets. “She’s in the other room but I know she wants to talk to you guys.” She fidgeted in her chair. “Elena, Quinn’s here to talk to you,” she yelled at the top of her lungs. “Hurry up and come here.”

Elena laughed as she strode into the room. “There’s no rush, Sam. I’m not going anywhere.”

Sam glanced up at Ari’s mother with wide-eyed adoration. “Okay, okay. Can I stay when you tell him? Please, please, please?”

Ari put a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Why don’t you and I go into the other room and let them talk. You can tell me what’s going on with you.”

Quinn rolled his shoulders. If Ari didn’t want to remain and hear what Elena wanted to discuss, she probably already knew what it was. “Why do I get the feeling that everyone in here knows what Elena wants to discuss except me?” he asked, looking at Ari.

She shot him a guilty look. “I don’t know for sure, but I have a hunch. Let’s go,” she said, holding a hand out to Sam, who left the room grumbling.

“What’s going on?” he asked Elena.

She placed a folder on the counter. “I’ve been doing some research. I contacted the Division of Youth and Family Services about becoming a foster parent for Sam.”

Shock rippled through him. Whatever he’d been expecting, it wasn’t this. “That’s a huge responsibility.”

Elena nodded. “I raised two girls. Of course I know that.”

He lowered himself into one of the kitchen chairs. “And how does your husband feel about this?” Quinn asked, all the while sorting through the idea in his mind.

There was no doubt Sam needed a home and every possibility Elena and Nicholas could provide one. A good one. One that would make Sam happy. Quinn had thought he was out of options, a group home being the only solution. Now Ari’s family was offering him hope and he had to admit he was optimistic. Cautiously optimistic.

Elena joined him at the table. “Nicholas is fine with the idea. He’s a good man, and when he heard about Sam’s situation, of course he agreed she should come live with us.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s noble, Elena, but you can’t…” How could he say this delicately? he wondered. “You can’t adopt Sam just to help fill the void left by Zoe’s absence.”

Elena whacked him on the shoulder. “Bite your tongue at such a suggestion. First off, Zoe’s coming back. And secondly, both my girls are adults. They live their own lives, and Sam coming here would have nothing to do with that,” she assured Quinn.

“What did Family Services say?” he asked next.

“They went into a lengthy explanation about the requirements, the classes, home inspections, and time it takes to approve a family.” Elena waved a hand, dismissing the process as unimportant. “But Sam doesn’t have that kind of time. She can’t go on living in an environment where she knows she isn’t wanted. It’s not healthy and it’s bad for her self-esteem. Besides, she can stay here.”

“Can I, Quinn, please?” Sam came bouncing back into the room.

“I tried to restrain her.” Ari followed after her, a concerned expression on her face. “But Sam insisted on being here when Mom told you her idea,” Ari said to Quinn, neither expressing support for her mother’s decision to take Sam in, nor protesting it.

And given her family history and problems with her relatives, Quinn couldn’t figure out which side she came down on. Right now he only wanted to smooth the worry lines and promise her everything would be okay. How could he when he wasn’t sure what was bothering her?

He only knew what upset him and he turned to Elena. “So Sam knows about your plan?” Quinn asked.

Elena’s nod confirmed his fear. Nothing about the foster care system was easy or guaranteed, and he hated to have the kid’s hopes raised once more only to endure disappointment later. It was one thing for his heart to beat faster in his chest and for him to feel the potential excitement of a solution he once thought impossible. It wasn’t okay for Sam to be led on a journey of false hope.

“Isn’t it cool?” Sam asked. “And Elena’s willing to look into adoption,” she said, awe in her voice. “Somebody wants me!”

Oh shit. This thing had gone too far in a short time. “I have some connections,” he said, trying to take back some control. “Let me see if I can speed up the reference and home check.” His being a cop who vouched for the Costas family would go a long way toward helping with references.

Neither Zoe nor Ariana had mentioned anyone in the family having a criminal record, but the department ran thorough checks, including fingerprinting, and that was just the beginning of potential problems and snags.

“Hey, Quinn.” Sam poked him in the shoulder. “Me and Ari and Zoe can be sisters! Did you see pictures of Zoe? She looks just like Ari. How awesome is that?”

It was frigging fantastic, Quinn thought. If he could make it happen. Until then, everyone had to keep their wits about them.

“When she comes home, my Zoe will love you,” Elena assured the young girl.

He glanced at Ari. She leaned against the counter and remained silent, looking as torn as he was. But the one thing that stood out as if he could read her mind was her guilt over her knowledge about her sister. Now that she knew Quinn was a cop and she could believe his claim that her twin was alive, keeping the truth from her mother was eating away at her. Quinn understood.

Like Ari, he hated the deceit, but Elena was too unpredictable to trust. She’d just proven she would act on emotion, not common sense. And he was certain Ari agreed or she would have begged him to fill her mother and father in on the situation regarding Zoe, too.

He shook his head, pushing thoughts of the Damon sting out of his mind. He had to deal with Sam first and he walked over to her side. “There are no guarantees this will work,” he reminded her. “Elena and the whole family need to go through the approval process.”

“They’ll pass,” Sam said with certainty. “And then even Spank can be my sister.”

She laughed again, but her words sobered Quinn. There was also a home evaluation they’d need to pass. “I’m not sure the monkey’s going to help this situation,” he said, imagining one of the uptight social workers walking into the house, with construction and various relatives all around them and a monkey diving into their lap. He shook his head. Why couldn’t life ever be easy?

“What are you saying?” Elena asked.

“Is having a monkey living with you even legal in this state?” Quinn wondered aloud.

“Quinn!” Sam wailed, while Elena glanced away.

Apparently she hadn’t checked out the legalities, and he wasn’t one bit surprised. As a cop he had to know many things, but this wasn’t something he’d encountered before.

He ran a hand through his hair. “Okay, one step at a time. Since teenagers are so much harder to place, the department’s been known to put things through faster if something special comes up. Let me make some phone calls and let’s see if we can get the process going. Elena, you and Nicholas are going to have to take eight weekly training sessions.”

Elena swiped her hand through the air, a gesture she seemed to favor. “I raised two children. What can they possibly teach me that I don’t know?”

He rolled his eyes. “Nobody gets out of those classes, so get yourself signed up and start them immediately. They’re three hours each,” he added for good measure.

“Do not tell that to Nicky,” she ordered everyone in the kitchen. “He has no patience for classes, but once he’s there, he’ll do it for Sam.”

The girl beamed and for the first time Quinn realized she wasn’t wearing her hat. Her hair was hanging long down her back, and she was truly happy. He’d just have to make sure this worked out for her or die trying.

“What about Spank?” Sam asked, holding the monkey’s hand. “If my caseworker sees her and it’s not allowed, they won’t let me come here and that can’t happen.”

A long, drawn-out sigh came from the other side of the room. Quinn glanced over at Ari. “I suppose if I can handle a dog, I can handle a monkey,” she said, obviously resigned to doing her part in this scheme. “Since I can’t stay here and get any sleep during the day and since Spank hates the noise, I’ll take her with me,” she explained to her mother.

“Where?” Elena asked, hands perched on her hips.

“I’ll be staying at a friend’s,” she said vaguely. “We’ll work out the details later, okay?”

Elena kissed her daughter on the cheek. “You’re a good girl, Ariana. But let’s see if Aunt Dee and Uncle John can take her first. They’re used to her from spending their days here, and that would keep her close for Sam.”

Ari smiled, but there was no eager light in her eyes.

Quinn wasn’t sure exactly what was bothering her, but she’d offered her help along with his house. Because that’s what Sam wanted.

His gut told him the Costas house could very well be the right place for this child. Sam felt it. Hell, he enjoyed their warmth and giving spirit. Even their eccentricity appealed to him, making him feel at home in a way he’d never experienced before. He felt himself sinking deeper into the quicksand of this family and damn but he didn’t mind at all.

Yet when he looked at the woman who had spent the night in his bed, the woman who was his most intrinsic link to the Costas clan, he realized despite Ari’s offer, she’d begun to withdraw from her family.

And he had a hunch if he didn’t get her out of here, then Ariana pulling away from him would come next.