Read Online All Shook Up by Susan Andersen - Free Book Online Page B

I was the stuff they turn into cat food.”
    J.D. watched the two women grin at each other.
    “Can I watch the big screen for a while, Grandma?”
    “That’s entirely up to your mother.”
    “Mom?” Tate showed her a winning smile.
    “I suppose. Keep in mind that we won’t be staying long, though. I don’t want to hear any whining about being pulled away in the middle of a program.”
    “’Kay.” The screen door slammed behind him as he ran into the house.
    Sophie turned her attention back to Dru. “I’m surprised to see you this time of day—but delighted, needless to say. C’mon up. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
    “No, thanks; I’m afraid I don’t have the time. I’ve actually come to beg a favor.”
    “What’s that, dear? Oh, but first, I don’t believe you’ve said hello to J.D.”
    Rocking back on her heels, hands thrust in her shorts pockets, she leveled a cool-eyed gaze on him. “Hello, J.D.”
    “Drucilla,” he said, and watched with satisfaction asher eyes narrowed at him, becoming a great deal less cool in the process.
    She tilted her face up to her aunt. “Would you watch Tate for me for a couple of hours? Candy canceled at the last minute, and I’ve got a walk-through with that conference-site committee for the Spokane Dentists Association.”
    “When?”
    “Now, actually. The representatives are due in about twenty minutes.”
    “Oh, darling, I’m sorry. I have an appointment at ten with Dr. Case, to go over some new strategies to get these damn mood swings and hot flashes under control. And Ben went to Wenatchee for the monthly Gun and Rod meeting; he won’t be back until tomorrow morning. Maybe…let me think…oh, dear, who could we get to fill in?” Then a brilliant smile lit her face. “I know!” She turned to J.D. and his gut did a little twist. “Didn’t you say you were going to work on the porch roof this morning, dear?”
    “You are?” Dru demanded at the same time that he said warily, “Yeah?”
    “Well, there’s our solution. Tate can stay with you; he’s a good little helper. And it will only be for, what did you say, darling, two hours?”
    “Yes, but—”
    “Perfect,” Sophie said with satisfaction.
    J.D.’s rocker came to a dead halt. “I don’t know about perfect,” he said flatly. “You’ve only known me for one day. You want to leave a ten-year-old kid in my care? Hell, for all you know, I could be a card-carrying member of Pedophiles R Us.”
    Sophie laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous, dear.”
    “He’s not being ridiculous,” Dru said. “We don’t know him from Adam, and I don’t know that I want to entrust my child into his keeping.”
    Though she was only agreeing with what he’d said, for some reason it put his back up. “Oh, get a grip,” he snapped. “I don’t lust after little boys, and I’m not going to hurt your kid. I don’t have a lot of experience with boys his age, but we can sure as hell muddle along on our own for a couple of hours.”
    “And what are your other options, darling?” Sophie inquired with gentle reason.
    “I could always—” Dru looked at her watch. “No, I guess I couldn’t.” And after all, his police record had been totally clean. She blew out a gusty sigh. “All right, fine.” Tacking on a grudging “Thank you,” she climbed the porch steps and pulled open the screen door, poking her head into the house. “Tate, I’m going back to work. You’re going to stay with J.D. for a little while.”
    “Cool,” came the distracted reply from the great room. The volume on the television rose a notch.
    “I can tell he’s real concerned,” J.D. said, deadpan. Then he shrugged. “’Course, I haven’t gotten him alone yet.”
    Dru stopped dead and J.D. could practically see sparks from the electric-blue gaze she locked on him. “Don’t even joke about that,” she snapped. “I’m taking a huge step here, leaving my son with someone I barely know. I’ll be damned if I’ll listen