Tempted by Love: Jack Jock Steele (The Steeles at Silver Island Book 1)

by Melissa Foster

  Shelley reached for Steve’s hand and said, “Tonight we have the honor of singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to two very special ladies. My mother and our new little friend Hadley.”

  Daphne’s pulse skyrocketed. She looked at Jock, who was grinning, and said, “Did you…?”

  Jock shook his head. “My mom and Jules.”

  “Hadley can’t hijack Lenore’s birthday,” Daphne said.

  “Oh yes she can,” Lenore said. “You’re with my grandson, which makes you family, and we celebrate family.”

  Daphne was so deeply touched, she could do little more than listen as Shelley said, “Hadley will be three years old next week, and we are thrilled to share in this special moment with her. Shall we?”

  Shelley and Steve began singing “Happy Birthday,” and everyone joined in as they carried two cakes—one big and one small—to Lenore and Hadley. Levi lit the candles on each, three for Hadley and several for Lenore. Steve set the larger cake in front of Lenore and Shelley placed the smaller one in front of Hadley as they finished singing.

  Hadley sat up, her eyes bright and wide. “Mine?”

  Laughter filled the air, and Shelley said, “A girl after my own heart.”

  “Yes, it’s yours, princess,” Jock said. “Ready to blow out the candles with Grandma Lenore?”

  Hadley nodded.

  Everyone counted. “One. Two. Three!”

  Hadley and Lenore blew out their candles, and applause rang out. Jock took the candles out of Hadley’s cake. Hadley thrust her hand into the frosting, grabbing a fistful of cake, and held it up to Jock’s mouth. “For Dock.”

  As laughter and cheers rang out, Jock stole another piece of Daphne’s heart, by letting her little girl feed him her cake.

  Daphne held her breath, feeling like she might cry she was so happy. She pushed to her feet and ran to Shelley, hugging her tight. “Thank you so much for including Hadley. You didn’t have to do this.”

  Shelley didn’t let go. She held her tighter and said, “Thank you, Daphne. I hope we can celebrate many more birthdays together.” When they ended their embrace, Shelley was teary-eyed again. She tugged Daphne into another hug and said, “Sorry. Just go with it.”

  AFTER THE LONG fun-filled day and too much cake, Hadley fell asleep on Jock’s shoulder while he and Daphne enjoyed a few stolen kisses and mingled with his family and friends. But Daphne was nowhere ready to go inside and call it a night. She loved seeing this lighter side of Jock with the people he’d grown up with. It seemed to her that this was where he belonged. Even with the tension between him and Archer, over the course of the day, Jock had flourished. He seemed more at ease, and at the same time, he stood taller and his eyes sparkled brighter, as if connecting with everyone had breathed new life into him. He and Archer were still giving each other a wide breadth, but even if this wasn’t the trip to heal their wounds, it was definitely a move in the right direction.

  Jock took Daphne’s hand and said, “Come with me, my love.”

  My love. She adored that! “Where are we going?”

  “To ask my mom to hold Hadley so we can dance.”

  He led her to Shelley, sitting with Margot Silver and Gail Remington, whispering behind their hands. They looked like they belonged on a postcard about friendship. Shelley, with her easy floral style and voluptuous curves, radiating warmth and joy, and Margot, tall and lean with perfectly coiffed hair cut just below her ears, exuded an air of elegance in flared black slacks and an expensive silk blouse. Gail was a Glenn Close lookalike with a pointy nose and sharp chin, trusting eyes, and dressed in an earthy fashion. Her patchwork skirt brushed the tops of her Birkenstocks, and her batik blouse might look casual on someone else, but she pulled it off as though it were a designer piece made just for her. Daphne had spent a long time talking with Shelley’s closest friends, and she’d found Margot to be anything but pretentious and Gail to be sharp-minded and curious, although very laid-back.

  “Excuse me, ladies,” Jock said.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” Shelley said. “I need to talk to Daphne. Margot was just telling me that she was going to turn away a bridal shower because the resort is booked, so I told her I’d take it!”

  “You did? That’s fabulous!” Daphne bounced on her toes. “I bet you’ll be swamped with business once you get started.”

  “If I had known that Shelley would even consider taking on events, I’d have been sending her business ages ago,” Margot said.

  “Hold on. You’re doing events now, Mom?” Jock asked. “I thought Archer wasn’t okay with that.”

  “I’ll deal with Archer, and it’s only one event. I just want to see how it goes.” Shelley looked at Daphne and said, “It’s a fall shower, which means we don’t have much time to prepare. I was thinking we could talk about it at breakfast tomorrow.”

  “With Archer?” Jock scoffed. “Good luck with that.”

  Shelley shook her head. “Not with Archer—with Daphne. I need her help.”

  “I’d love to help,” Daphne said, wondering how she could help enough over breakfast to make a difference.

  “Mom, we’re leaving tomorrow afternoon, and I was hoping to show Daph the island before we catch the ferry,” Jock said.

  “Of course. How else will she get island fever?” Gail teased, trading secretive looks with Shelley and Margot.

  “I’d love to talk over breakfast,” Daphne said. “I have some ideas. And once we’re back on the Cape, we can email, text, or talk on the phone.”

  Shelley breathed a big sigh of relief. “Perfect.”

  “I look forward to it,” Daphne said.

  Jock put a hand on Daphne’s back and said, “Mom, I don’t want Daphne put in the middle of anything with Archer.”

  “Don’t you worry, honey. I talked with your father about this, and he’s all for it. We’ll talk to Archer tomorrow and make sure there’s no trouble.”

  “It worries me, but I trust you to handle it.” He kissed Hadley’s forehead and said, “Would you mind holding Hadley while I dance with my beautiful date?”

  “My pleasure. Give me that sleeping beauty,” Shelley said as she reached for Hadley.

  “You two are adorable together,” Margot said, looking at them with an endearingly soft gaze.

  “Thank you.” Jock put his arm around Daphne. “Daph could make anyone look good.”

  “You’re not too shabby, either, Jack—Jock. I’ll get used to that, I promise,” Margot said. “Maybe you two could drop a few hints to my kids about how wonderful it is to have Hadley around. I swear kids these days have an aversion to marriage or something. I have five children and not one grandbaby yet. Did I tell you that Keira said she’s sworn off dating?” She looked at Daphne and said, “Keira is my beautiful daughter who, unfortunately, puts more energy into her bakery than she does her personal life.”

  “Jules mentioned that,” Shelley said. “Keira told her that cupcakes were sweeter than men.”

  Jock scoffed. “That seems a little harsh.”

  Gail gave him a discerning look. “I love my Roddy, but there are definitely times when I’d gladly take a cupcake over him.” She leaned forward in her chair and said, “Maybe we could set up one of my boys with Keira and change her mind.”

  “I don’t think so,” Margot said. “She dated Jamison in high school, remember? That did not end well.”

  “How did I forget that?” Gail settled back in her chair and crossed her legs. “My Jamie has his head in the stars. Literally.”

  “Jamison is an astrophysicist,” Jock explained.

  “Wow. I’ve never met an astrophysicist. I didn’t meet him tonight, did I?”

  “No, he’s traveling. He can go on forever about planets and galaxies,” Gail said with a wave of her hand. “But he is clueless when it comes to women. Now, my boy Rowan? He’s going to make a fine husband one day.”

  “I know Rowan and Joni,” Daphne said. “They’re really nice.”

  “Daphne, did you have a
chance to meet Fitz yet?” Margot asked.

  “Yes, Jock introduced me. He was lovely.”

  “On that note, I think I’d better get my girl out of here and onto the dance floor before Mrs. S and Mrs. R marry her off. Thanks for watching Hadley, Mom. We won’t be long.”

  “Take your time.” Shelley rubbed Hadley’s back and said, “I love baby-girl snuggles.”

  As Jock led Daphne toward the dance floor, he said, “I doubt anyone has ever described Fitz Silver as lovely.”

  “What did you want me to say? That he struck me as the kind of guy who knew all the right things to say to make a good impression but I’m pretty sure that when he cuts loose, there are no holds barred?”

  “That would be accurate.”

  Jock’s sisters and their friends were dirty dancing, and the Silver brothers were practically salivating over them. “Really, guys?” he said as they walked by.

  “It’s a small island,” Fitz said.

  Jock shot them a harsh stare and led Daphne away from them. He gathered her close, swaying sensually to the fast song. It felt so good to be in his arms, she didn’t want to think about Fitz or anyone else, but she was too excited at the idea of helping his mother to hold it in.

  “I can’t believe your mom is going to do an event. I’m so excited to help her.”

  He held Daphne a little tighter and said, “Yeah, that was unexpected.”

  “This place is gorgeous and lends itself perfectly to formal affairs and casual celebrations.”

  He trailed feathery kisses across her cheek, heating her up with every touch of his lips. “Mm-hm.” He pressed a kiss beside her ear and nipped at her lobe, sending pangs of lust darting through her. “How about we have our own private celebration?”

  She wound her arms around his neck, loving the seductive look in his eyes, and said, “Everyone is going to know what you’re doing to me if you keep this up.”

  The song changed to a slower one, and they watched with amusement as Levi pulled Tara out of Fitz’s clutches to dance with her and Wells claimed Leni, who tried—and failed—to wriggle out of his arms. Steve brought Joey out for a dance, and Lenore grabbed Margot’s husband. Jules tried to coax Grant into joining her, but Grant stalked off toward the bar, so she snagged Archer instead, her voice carrying in the night. “Get your butt up here or I’m never talking to you again!” Archer relented, and they joined Brant and Sutton a few feet away from Daphne and Jock. When Fitz and Indi joined them, Jules called “Swap!” and pushed her way in to dance with Fitz, leaving Indi to dance with Archer.

  “It’s like musical arms,” Daphne said.

  “As long as you’re in mine, I don’t care what they do. I have wanted to dance with you since Gavin and Harper’s wedding, which is weird, because I’ve never been a dancer. But that night I had the overwhelming urge to take you in my arms.”

  She’d wanted that, too. “You did?”

  “Hell yes. I wanted to know how you’d feel pressed against me, how our bodies would fit together.” He brushed his lips over hers and said, “Perfect.” He kissed her softly. “It was hell keeping my distance from you. You were so gorgeous in that blue dress, and all those guys were checking you out, but I didn’t want to complicate your life.” He gazed deeply into her eyes, causing butterflies to swarm in her belly, and said, “I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time.”

  Did he have any idea how romantic he was? “I have to believe that everything in life happens for a reason. I wish I had never married Tim, but if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have Hadley. If I didn’t have Hadley, I couldn’t have helped you find your way past your triggers. And if we hadn’t gone through that, I wouldn’t be here dancing with you beneath the stars on this beautiful island on what has turned out to be one of the best nights of my entire life.”

  “God, angel, how did I get so lucky to find you?” He lowered his lips to hers, taking her in a knee-weakening kiss that sang through her like a symphony.

  “Get a room!” three female voices called out.

  Their lips parted on a laugh. They looked over and were met with cheesy grins by Jules, Indi, and Leni.

  Jock’s dark eyes found Daphne’s, and he said, “A room sounds good to me.”

  That sounded great to her, too. But most of the guests were still there, so she said, “We can’t leave yet. Everyone will know why we’re leaving.” She lowered her voice to a whisper and said, “But we can dance, and kiss.”

  “You’re killing me softly, baby.”

  They continued dancing, kissing, and whispering their desires. When a new slow song came on, Steve cut in to dance with Daphne, and Joey was excited to dance with Uncle Jock.

  “Do you mind, son?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Jock laughed and kissed Daphne one last time before handing her over to his father and sweeping Joey into his arms.

  “Are you ready to run for the hills yet?” Steve asked.

  “Why would I run for another hill when I’m already on the one with the best people and the best view?”

  “Sounds like someone is catching island fever,” he said warmly. “It happens, you know. The sea air, the views, the romantic nights. Shelley and I fell in love on a night just like this.”

  “All in one night?”

  “I fell in love with Shelley the first second I met her. She was the most spectacular girl I had ever met. She was beyond confident, and over that first summer she put me through the ringer. Have you heard this story?”

  “No, but I’d like to.”

  “I grew up in Trusty, Colorado, and when I went away to college, I met Alexander Silver and Roddy Remington. We did everything together. We caused trouble, but we studied hard—you know, college days. The summer after our freshman year, Alexander and Roddy came home to work with their families, and they invited me along. I got a job working with Shelley’s father here at the winery. I didn’t know squat about vineyards or wines, but I wanted to be close to my buddies. Shelley was sixteen at the time. She strutted into the office one day when I was talking with her father, and she said, ‘Excuse me, college guy, but I need to speak with my father alone.’” He chuckled. “She still calls me that sometimes. Anyway, her father didn’t appreciate the interruption, and he told her as much. She said she didn’t think he wanted me to hear that she had just decked his new vine guy for groping her butt and that her father needed to fire him. The vine guy was a seventeen-year-old kid who her father had taken on to help his buddy out.”

  “I cannot see Shelley punching anyone, but good for her.”

  “My wife is fierce, stubborn, and the happiest, warmest woman I have ever met. Where do you think Archer gets his stubbornness from?” He glanced at Archer, deep in conversation with Grant, and said, “It’s a shame that you’ve only seen this side of him. He’s a genuinely wonderful man, a gifted vintner, and yes, I’m biased, but all these people here are his friends, too. That should tell you something.”

  “I don’t think Archer is a bad guy. People lash out when they’re hurt. If he and Jock didn’t care about each other, they wouldn’t fight.”

  “You’re a wise woman. It’s no wonder Jock is turning his life around.”

  “I think he’s been trying to find a way back here for a while. I just offered a little support.”

  “You did more than that. I bet you didn’t know that he inherited his mother’s gift of happiness. Jock was a cocky kid, but he was a happy kid. Before the accident, he had this energy that drew people in. He was the guy who never let anything stand in his way. He lost that light, and that belief in himself, for a very long time. It’s nice to see it coming back. And you’ve sparked something wild in my wife, too, with your idea of hosting events here. You’re a whirlwind, Daphne. You and Hadley are changing lives and taking names, and I feel lucky that our family has come into your path.”

  “We’re lucky, too. But you should know that even before Jock found those hidden parts of himself again, he drew people in. Hadley saw something special in him, and s
he was not going to let go until she held it in the palm of her hand. He drew me in, too, and I’m so glad he did, because what Hadley saw is the most loving heart either of us has ever known.”

  WHEN JOCK FINALLY got Daphne back in his arms, he kept her there. They danced and kissed, gazing into each other’s eyes like lovers who had been together for months rather than weeks, which was exactly how he felt. When guests began leaving, they said goodbye to friends with promises of future visits, and to his grandmother, whom they would see in the morning at breakfast. His parents offered to put Hadley to bed and keep the baby monitor with them, allowing Jock and Daphne a little adult time, and he wasn’t about to complain.

  After helping his siblings clean up from the party, Jock drew Daphne into his arms and said, “Is it crazy that I missed that, too? Cleaning up?”

  “Yes,” Leni said as she walked by with Sutton and Jules. They plopped into chairs, took off their heels, kicked their feet up on the edges of each other’s seats, and started gabbing.

  Jock wanted to visit with his family, but he also wanted to take a walk with Daphne. He pressed his lips to hers and said, “Is it okay if we hang out with them for a minute?”

  “Of course. This is your only night with your family. Enjoy it.”

  They joined the others as Levi came out of the winery. Jock kept his eyes on the doors, watching for Archer.

  “Where’s Indi?” Daphne asked.

  “She went for a drink with Wells.” Leni rolled her eyes and said, “I told her not to, but that woman is stubborn as a mule.”

  “Jealous?” Jules teased.

  Leni scoffed. “Hardly. But I think Archer was. He basically threatened Wells. But Indi can take care of herself.”

  Levi sank down in a chair beside Jock and said, “Damn, what a night. It was nice that you were here, Jock. Everyone is talking about how glad they were to see you and to meet Daphne and Hadley.”

  “Mom and Grandma are so in love with both of you,” Sutton said to Daphne.

  “That makes three of us.” Even in the moonlight Jock could see Daphne’s cheeks pinking up. He pulled her closer and kissed her.