H: A Time for Healing
Chapter 21
"Of course," she replied, ignoring the use of her nickname for the moment. Belatedly her mind registered the fact that he was not dressed for the office. Turning the stroller down the sidewalk, she peeped at him from beneath her lashes. He had fallen in step beside her, his fingers taking Jezebel's leash from her unresisting fingers as he patiently answered Kieran's questions about his department Hummer. The breeze was ruffling Horatio's red hair, the early evening sunlight glinting off the ginger highlights. Jo found herself wanting to run her fingers through it, tousling it even more. Feeling that he was being observed, Horatio looked at her, catching her staring. Jo felt her face grow warm and was glad for Liam asking impatiently when they would be at the beach.
While her nephews kept the conversation with Horatio going, Jo used the opportunity to think about the direction her thoughts were taking in regards to the Miami Lieutenant. She was finding it increasingly difficult to deny that the attraction she felt to him – physically and emotionally – was growing stronger with each passing day. Unlike her sister Jilly, who had often had a new boyfriend every month prior to meeting and marrying her husband, Jo could probably count the number of boyfriends in her life on one hand. It wasn't that she didn't want to date or wasn't attracted to the men she met, she had patiently explained to Jilly on more than one occasion, there just wasn't enough time in her day for dating. There always seemed to be something more pressing. However, Jo considered thoughtfully as they turned onto the beach path, since meeting Horatio, for the first time in her life perhaps, she was experiencing the desire to drop everything, so that she could spend time with that one special person who could make her heart pitter-pat with just a smile.
"I think this might be a good place, Jo." She jumped at the sound of his voice, looking up at him quickly, realizing that they were indeed now at the beach. 'He must know what I was thinking,' she thought guiltily, as she quickly took in the shady spot he had chosen.
"Fine, Horatio. Jezzie can be in the shade and I'll be able to let Aidan play in the edge of the sand here. Kieran, Liam, wait for me to get Aidan settled before you take off toward the water." As Jo began to extract the 18-month-old from the stroller, Horatio's blue eyes appeared in her line of vision.
"Why don't I go with them, Josie?" His voice was low, keeping their conversation from little ears. "We can toss their football on the beach for a while. That might keep them out of the water." Grinning, Jo looked him in the eye asking,
"Seriously Horatio? Did it ever keep YOU out of the water, given the chance, when you were 8?" Her heart did a serious flip-flop in her chest as he smiled boyishly at her, shaking his head.
"Nope. And I don't expect it to now, Sweetheart." As she watched his retreating form lope down towards the water with her nephews, Jo wondered what he had been like as a boy.
"He probably got whatever he wanted flashing that smile and those blue eyes at his mother, I would guess," she remarked to Aidan as she carefully spread the extra large beach towel on the ground she had brought with them.
For the next two hours, while Jo and Aidan built a sand city complete with houses and roads, Horatio and her nephews tossed the football back and forth, only occasionally finding an excuse to wander into the surf.
"Auntie I don't' think I can walk home!" That was Liam, dropping dramatically on the beach towel, pushing his hair back from his forehead. "Did you see us playing football out there? Mr. Horatio is really good. He throws the ball much better than Dad," he added in a stage whisper as Kieran and Horatio approached the beach towel. "Do you have any snacks? I'm starving," he added eyeing Jo's bulging beach bag.
"I've got some juice pouches and a bag of fish-shaped crackers for the three of you to share," she answered him. "Play with your brother a moment while I dig them out, would you please." While all three boys pushed plastic trucks through the sand, Jo delved into her bag for the snacks. She was aware of Horatio dropping down beside her, his citrus scented aftershave tickling her nose.
Horatio watched Jo efficiently dole out the juice pouches and crackers, smiling when she offered him one.
"I've got bottled water too, if you'd rather," she smiled as he shook his head.
"No thank you Josie," Horatio grinned at her. "I'm good."
"Yes, you are, Lieutenant," she answered unthinkingly, before realizing she had said out loud what she had been thinking. Jo knew her face was turning red. As much as Josie was a nickname she disliked, when Horatio said it, it sounded more like an endearment, like when he called her Sweetheart. Some ginger colored hair had fallen across his forehead and she found that she wanted to move it off to the side, maybe continuing to slide her fingers into the red-gold waves. Horatio watched as she blinked her eyes, and busied herself with getting a bowl of water and some cookie bones out of her bag for Jezebel.
"What are you thinking, I wonder, Josie?" he asked softly, his voice only loud enough for her ears.
"Sir, may I speak to you a moment, if you have a moment, sir?" Kyle hesitated on the threshold of the office building as Lieutenant Allen, phone to his ear, nodded toward him and motioned him inside. Hoping he was doing the right thing, the young soldier stepped inside.
"That's fine, Jilly. I hope you're feeling better. Say hello to Aunt Flo and Josie for me." There was silence for a moment as the Lieutenant drummed his fingers impatiently on the metal desk, before Jasper clicked off his phone and turned to Kyle.
"I've got a few minutes Kyle. That was my sister," he gestured toward the phone. "Well, my other sister. She's visiting Aunt Flo and Josie in Florida. What did you need to see me about?"
"Your sister Josie, sir." Kyle shook his head. "I mean I wanted to talk to you about Lieutenant Caine." Jasper Allen sat up a little straighter in his chair.
"I'm listening."
"I … have a picture sir." Kyle held out a photo, a crease running down the center of the dog-eared paper. Lieutenant Allen slowly took the well-worn paper, sensing that this was something of value to the young soldier. Looking down he saw Kyle, in army garb, smiling for the camera, his arm around an older man in a dark suit. Both men had the same ginger-red hair and blue eyes. The resemblance was startling and Kyle saw the light dawning in the older soldier's eyes.
"Lieutenant Horatio Caine is my father sir." Kyle shifted his feet, not sure what to say next, so he simply waited to see what his friend's reaction would be to that announcement.
"Sit down, Harmon." Jasper Allen gestured to the empty chair nearby. "I think you have some explaining to do," he said gruffly, but not unkindly. "Talk to me, from the beginning," he added, leaning back in his chair.
"The s'mores were a wonderful idea, Horatio!" Jo enthused before popping the last delicious morsel of the gooey treat into her mouth.
"Come out with me on Saturday evening, Josie?" Horatio's softly spoken question caused her to look at him, as she licked the last of the melted chocolate and sticky marshmallow from her fingers. He lowered himself down beside her on the step of the deck, his nearness doing funny things to her breathing.
"I'd like that Horatio," she paused, reaching for her glass of wine sitting on the deck.
"I think I heard a 'but' in your answer Sweetheart?" Horatio asked, his blue eyes sober. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and kiss the bit of melted marshmallow on her upper lip away.
"I have to make sure Aunt Flo," Jo wasn't allowed to go any further as Aunt Flo caught wind of what she was about to say.
"Josie, don't be absurd. Of course, go out with the good Lieutenant if he's asking you, dear. Don't worry about me – or your sister or nephews. Jilly and the kids can stay here Saturday night. Kieran and Liam can help with anything I need and Jilly can watch Aidan. So, Lieutenant," Aunt Flo looked at Horatio with a pleased expression on her face, "Josie will be happy to go out with you on Saturday. She can stay out as late as she likes. We'll be fine. Now, I'll go supervise those boys getting cleaned up while you two relax." Two pairs of blue eyes watched the elderly lady carefully make her way into the house, struggling a bit with the heavy glass door. Before Horatio could get up to help her, Kieran appeared and the door opened and she disappeared inside. Jo looked at the man seated beside her.
"That's settled," Horatio said with a smile. "Now, I've been wanting to do something since I sat down," he added when Jo didn't immediately answer him.
"What's that, Horatio?" she asked bemusedly. For an answer, he reached a hand toward her, gently moving the stray hair from her face. Then, very deliberately, he put his finger beneath her chin, stroking her lower lip with his thumb. Jo was perfectly still, reminding herself to breathe, in and out, in and out, while waiting for his next move. Slowly that hand slipped around her to her nape, the long fingers caressing her neck until she felt her insides melting like the chocolate and marshmallow she had just been eating.
"You have," he murmured, dipping his head closer, "a bit of marshmallow, just there." Jo felt a warm finger caress her upper lip."
"What do you plan to do about that, Lieutenant?" she asked breathlessly.
"I think you have a pretty good idea, Josie," he answered, his eyes as blue as the ocean.
Any and all thoughts of reminding him that she didn't particularly like that nickname left her as his mouth brushed against hers.
Inside the house, two pairs of curious hazel eyes watched the couple on the deck steps before being shooed away by Aunt Flo. Before turning out the light in the kitchen, she took a moment to watch her favorite niece return the handsome Lieutenant Caine's kisses.
"It's about time," she smiled to herself, before turning to follow the sound of young boys voices arguing over who was going to sleep on the sofa.