Page 30 of The Playboy and the Widow
Katie placed her hands over her face and burst into sobs.
If Cliff had been feeling guilty before, it was nothing compared to the regret that shot through him at Katie’s teary tirade. He’d lost his favorite lure;hefelt guilty, and she was crying. He didn’t understand any of this, but the one thing he did know was that he couldn’t bear to see the youngster so miserable. Without forethought, he left the helm and went over to Katie. He picked her up and hugged her against his chest before turning to steer the sloop with Katie cradled in his lap. “It’s all right, sweetheart,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her.
“But... I... lost... your... lucky lure,” she bellowed.
“It was just an ordinary lure. You can buy me another one just like it, and then that one will be my luckiest lure ever.”
“I’m... so-o-o sorry.” She kept her face hidden in his shoulder.
“I know.”
“I’ll never ever get into your fishing box again. I promise.”
She raised her head, and Cliff wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. The surge of tenderness that overtook him came as a surprise. He’d been angry, but he was over that. There were more important things in life than a silly lure, and he’d just learned that an eight-year-old’s smile was one of them.
“We’ve both learned a valuable lesson, haven’t we?”
Katie responded with a quick nod. “Can I still be your friend?”
“You bet.”
Her returning grin was wide.
“You want to learn how to steer the sailboat?”
She couldn’t agree fast enough. “Can I?”
“Sure.”
Diana felt the burden of guilt lift from her shoulders. She enjoyed Cliff’s company and liked the way he’d included the girls in their dates. He’d gone out of his way to be good to her, and she would have hated to see everything ruined over a lost lure. He had a right to be upset—she was mad herself—but anger and regret weren’t going to replace his “silver baby.”
Diana watched as Cliff patiently showed Katie the importance of heading the sailboat into the wind. The eight-year-old listened patiently while Cliff explained the various maneuvers. He looked up once, and their eyes happened to meet. Cliff smiled, and Diana thought she’d never seen anything more dazzling. From now on she wasn’t listening to anything Shirley Holiday had to say. She knew everything she needed to know about Cliff Howard.
Remembering how good Cliff had been with Katie after she’d lost his lure made the days that followed the sailing trip pass quickly as she anticipated seeing him again. They’d left the marina, had dined on Kentucky Fried Chicken, Katie’s favorite, and had headed back to Diana’s house. Cliff had discreetly kissed her goodbye, invited her to dinner and promised to phone.
Joan sauntered into the kitchen, paused and glanced at the two chicken TV dinners sitting on top of the kitchen counter. “Is Cliff taking you to dinner?”
“Good guess.”
Joan wrinkled up her nose. “I hate to tell you this, but Katie’s not going to eat chicken unless it’s from the Colonel.”
Diana opened the microwave and placed the frozen meals inside. “She’ll live.”
“A starving woman wouldn’t eat that, either.”
Diana sighed. “You’ll enjoy the chicken, so quit worrying about it.”
“Okay.”
The phone rang, and Joan leaped to answer it as if there were some concern that Diana would fight her for it.
“Hello.”
Diana rolled her eyes as her daughter’s voice dipped to a low, seductive note, as though she expected Justin Bieber to phone and ask for her.
“Oh, hi, Cliff. Yeah, Mom’s right here.” She placed the receiver to her stomach. “Mom, it’s Cliff.”
Diana wiped her hands dry on a kitchen towel and reached for the phone. “Hello.”
