Local Hero

me, if that’s what you mean.”
    “Good.” He did as she’d imagined he might, and ran a finger along her jawline. “Because the fact is, Mrs. Wallace, I’d like the kid without you, or you without the kid. It just so happens that in this case, you came as a set.”
    “That’s just it. Radley and I are a unit. What affects him affects me.”
    Mitch tilted his head as a new thought began to dawn. “I think I’m getting a signal here. You don’t think I’m playing pals and buddies with Rad to get Rad’s mother between the sheets?”
    “Of course not.” She drew back sharply, looking toward the office. “If I had thought that, Radley wouldn’t be within ten feet of you.”
    “But . . .” He laid his arms on her shoulders, linking his hands loosely behind her neck. “You’re wondering if your feelings for me might be residual of Radley’s feelings.”
    “I never said I had feelings for you.”
    “Yes, you did. And you say it again every time I manage to get this close. No, don’t pull away, Hester.” He tightened his hands. “Let’s be upfront. I want to sleep with you. It has nothing to do with Rad, and less than I figured to do with the primal urge I felt the first time I saw your legs.” Her eyes lifted warily to his, but held. “It has to do with the fact that I find you attractive in a lot of ways. You’re smart, you’re strong, and you’re stable. It might not sound very romantic, but the fact is, your stability is very alluring. I’ve never had a lot of it myself.”
    He brushed his linked hands up the back of her neck. “Now, maybe you’re not ready to take a step like this at the moment. But I’d appreciate it if you’d take a straight look at what you want, at what you feel.”
    “I’m not sure I can. You only have yourself. I have Rad. Whatever I do, whatever decisions I make, ripple down to affect him. I promised myself years ago that he would never be hurt by another one of his parents. I’m going to keep that promise.”
    He wanted to demand that she tell him about Radley’s father then and there, but the boy was just in the next room. “Let me tell you what I believe. You could never make a decision that could hurt Rad. But I do think you could make one that could hurt yourself. I want to be with you, Hester, and I don’t think our being together is going to hurt Radley.”
    “It’s all done.” Radley streamed out of the office, the graph paper in both hands. Hester immediately started to move away. To prove a point to both of them, Mitch held her where she was. “I want to take it and show Josh tomorrow. Okay?”
    Knowing a struggle would be worse than submission, Hester stayed still with Mitch’s arms on her shoulders. “Sure you can.”
    Radley studied them a moment. He’d never seen a man with his arms around his mother, except his grandpa or his uncle. He wondered if this made Mitch like family. “I’m going over to Josh’s tomorrow afternoon, and I’m staying for a sleepover. We’re going to stay up all night.”
    “Then I’ll just have to look after your mom, won’t I?”
    “I guess.” Radley began to roll the graph paper into a tube as Mitch had shown him.
    “Radley knows I don’t have to be looked after.”
    Ignoring her, Mitch continued to speak to Radley. “How about if I took your mom on a date?”
    “You mean get dressed up and go to a restaurant and stuff?”
    “Something like that.”
    “That’d be okay.”
    “Good. I’ll pick her up at seven.”
    “I really don’t think—”
    “Seven’s not good?” Mitch interrupted Hester. “All right, seven thirty, but that’s as late as it gets. If I don’t eat by eight, I get nasty.” He gave Hester a quick kiss on the temple before releasing her. “Have a good time at Josh’s.”
    “I will.” Radley gathered up his coat and backpack. Then he walked to Mitch and hugged him. The words that had been on the tip of Hester’s tongue dried up. “Thanks for the drawing board and everything. It’s really neat.”
    “You’re welcome. See you Monday.” He waited until Hester was at the door. “Seven thirty.”
    She nodded and closed the door quietly behind her.

Chapter 7
    She could have made excuses, but the fact was, Hester didn’t want to. She knew Mitch had hustled her into this dinner date, but as she crossed the wide leather belt at her waist and secured it, she discovered she didn’t mind. In fact, she was relieved that he’d made the decision for