Restoring Hope by C. P. Smith

in the ecstasy of her body. Then, slip into sleep, tangled in her warmth, and the knowledge that she was his.
     
     
     

Chapter Nine
     
    Maman Rose paced, and Big Daddy watched as the old woman talked to herself. It had been building for a week now, her agitation. He’d seen T-Hope and Nic enjoy their time at the party the same as her. They’d eaten and laughed with each other, but then something changed on the dance floor. Near as he could tell T-Hope had put a stop to whatever had been brewing between them all night. Then they’d left suddenly, and the way Nic had been watching her all night, if they had been holding hands he’d have laid money down they’d have ended up in bed, but they hadn’t. Barely talking, both deep in thought, they’d left like strangers just sharing a ride.
    The past week Hope has been too quiet. Doing her job but not interacting, just pulling away from everyone. She’d been working there three weeks, and some of her walls had come down as she’d joked with him, with Rose and all the staff. Now she was back to business as usual, and he had a bad feeling she had more than one foot out the door ready to leave.
    “Dis’ won’t do,” Rose mumbled to herself, concerned that she’d lost control.
    “Rosie what you mumblin’ ‘bout?”
    “Nic’s ain’t been here in a week old man and Hope act like she do when she first come.”
    “Den’ work your magic, espesces de tete dure .”
    “ Mon Dieu, what you tink’ I doin’ here? Hush you.”
    Rose paced her mind scheming. She needed a way to get them in the same room ‘cause she had no doubt that they were avoiding each other even while living a floor apart. Looking around the room for any inspiration, she actually considered causing a grease fire when T-Hope was on duty so Nic could rush in and save Hope like a white knight. Chuckling at her foolish thoughts, her eyes landed on the softball league schedule.
    “Big Daddy?” Rose shouted excited.
    “Standin’ right here old woman why you shout?”
    “Tell me you got a softball game soon.”
    “ Oui, tomorrow at one, why?”
    “‘Cause Maman got idea yes she do.”

    Seven days, seven fucking days he’d avoided her, tried not to think about her one floor below him. He’d also tried not to watch her leave from his second floor window, as he worked on designs for some wealthy couple that wanted to gut a historic home, destroying everything that made it unique. Now Hope was walking towards the softball diamond, wearing a T-shirt and shorts that fit her like a glove. Nic wanted to moan at the sight of her.
    She’d covered her hair with a baseball cap and wore sunglasses, like she was in disguise, and part of him thought that was exactly the point. One of these days she needed to tell someone what she was hiding from or who.
    Big Daddy had called, said they needed a catcher for their softball game and would he fill in. It didn’t once occur to him that Hope would come. He’d brought Nicky; he loved to watch Nic play. It was Kat’s day, but she was more than happy to let him go, said she would stop by and watch, as well, make a family day of it. He hadn’t commented it was easier to let her do what she wanted. He had no intention of ever going there again, he’d told her that in no uncertain terms. But, she was so full of her own perceived allure she figured she could bide her time, and he’d give in. Watching Hope walk towards him dressed down in shorts and a tee, he had a new definition for allure. Forget skintight dresses and spiked heels, this all-American girl look worked just fine.
    He knew the minute Hope saw him sitting on the bench—she hesitated. He watched as she turned her head and said something to Big Daddy and when the man looked his direction, he knew she’d asked what he was doing here. He tried not to let that bother him, he had his own reasons for staying away, and she’d had her reasons for stopping the kiss—but that didn’t stop him from wanting