All of Me: Rod & Daisy Duet Box Set

by A. D. Justice

  I want that for Juliana, Isa, and myself.

  This is the first time I can remember wanting to surround myself with an enormous, extended family since my mother died. A few friends, along with my sister and niece, are all I’ve cared about since that day. Watching the interactions between parents, siblings, and cousins in this house full of love has shown me what I’ve closed myself off to having all these years.

  My unexpected revelation is all thanks to Daisy. Because she was kind enough to invite me when I didn’t deserve her thoughtfulness, I’ve experienced something I thought was found only in fiction. I would’ve remained locked away in a purgatory of my own making, especially at this time of year when old nightmares haunt me the most. I hope the idyllic memories we’re making now will replace the terrible ones I’ve held on to for far too long.

  Watching Daisy laugh and tease her family members has stirred the feelings I’ve tried to repress. They aren’t gentle nudges or soft whispers in my ear anymore. They’re deafening shouts, demanding I correct the mistakes I’ve made and tell her exactly how I feel about her before it’s too late. Maybe I’m reading her signs wrong, but she seems to be warming up to me again.

  “Rod, do you want a refill on that drink?” She offers to take my glass with an outstretched hand.

  Or maybe she’s just being an excellent hostess and I’m wishful daydreaming.

  She helped her mother clean the kitchen after the masses descended on the food like a bunch of vultures. I’m still sitting at the kitchen table, though everyone else has moved into the den, Chelle included. Like a creepy stalker, I haven’t been able to take my eyes off Daisy all day. This corner seat offers the best view in the house.

  “No, thank you. I’m finished.”

  I push back from the table, walk directly toward her with a predatory swagger in my step, and watch her eyes grow wider the closer I get. She can read my thoughts, though I’m not exactly trying to hide what’s on my mind. She walks backward until her back hits the sink and cranes her neck to look up at me. When I reach around her to rinse my glass, I intentionally trap her between my arms. She inhales sharply before her breaths become ragged, her chest heaving to keep up with the rapid pace.

  Electricity ignites fire in my veins when I intentionally brush my fingertips along her arm before placing the glass in the dishwasher. Déjà vu hits me hard, along with the sense I felt when I first met her. Somehow, someway, she and I are connected in a profound way. It’s the same sensation that makes me feel her presence before I see her face. The feeling we’re linked by some unseen force that keeps pushing us together.

  “Thank you again for inviting me to have Christmas with you. You have an amazing family. I may just stay here and move in with your parents. They’d adopt me, I’m sure of it.”

  “I think you’re right. Mom was bragging about how you helped her cook breakfast this morning before most of the house was awake. Now Dad’s trying to figure out how to wake you early every day so he doesn’t have to cook.” We move to the table, taking a seat beside each other.

  “I can see him now, sneaking around my bedroom door, lightly knocking on it, then running back to his room. He’s probably up there right now setting the alarm to wake me at six in the morning, then he’ll play dumb about it tomorrow.”

  We chuckle together, imagining all the ways her dad could achieve his goal. It feels good to laugh with her. This easiness flows naturally between us, I don’t know why I’ve fought so hard to stay away. Do I believe a deep, everlasting love develops after knowing someone in such a short time? Not at all. But I developed a genuine affection for her after spending every day and night with her in my arms on the island. Every minute I spend with her only makes me want more, and that hasn’t happened with anyone else I’ve met. Watching her with Jules and Isa in the weeks after our trip cemented my affection, leaning more toward the L-word I’m still hesitant to verbalize.

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying being here with my family. They go a little overboard at times, but they love everyone with their whole heart. Any one of them would give you the shirt off their back. I couldn’t ask for a better support system. It’d be great if we all lived closer together, but life had other plans. You’ll get to meet my sister later today. She’s one of a kind.”

  “What does that mean? Is that good or bad?”

  “She’s the best.” Daisy grins and shrugs her shoulders, but I detect a hint of mischief below the surface.

  “I’m sure she’s great, but there’s no way she’s better than Mahoe. You’re still the best, Daisy. You always will be.” I mean that with every fiber of my being.

  “That is the best compliment you’ve ever given me. I may swoon from the sweetness. Who knew Hot Rod was a closet softy?” She’s teasing, but her eyes soften despite her best efforts not to be affected.

  “Can we keep this little secret between us? I’d hate to ruin my terrible reputation around Atlanta. Rumors would be rampant. People will say all kinds of crazy things.” I lean toward her and keep my voice low, like a secret only shared between two friends.

  “Oh, yeah? Such as?” She crosses her arms over her chest and tilts her head to the side. I love how she tests me, never accepting the smooth lines or sweet talk without proof.

  “Something along the lines of I’m turning in my bachelor card. Or hell must have frozen over because I’m finally ready to settle down with one woman. If they knew the truth, though, they’d see they’re way behind on their gossip. That happened a few months ago when I met the perfect lady.”

  “I’m sure there will still be one or two females who will challenge that notion, see if they can tempt you away from the one who captured you. Someone is always waiting in the wings, ready to test your resolve.” Her bravado wanes, but she refuses to give up. I’m sure she’s also referring to my inappropriate behavior on the island.

  Ogling the girl at the waterpark was one of the worst colossal blunders I’ve ever made. I can’t exactly explain my actions were only a desperate act of self-preservation without removing all doubt of what an asshole I am. If I sabotaged our relationship from the start, I wouldn’t have to wonder every day if Daisy would leave me eventually. The nameless girl was only a means to an end, and nothing more. I don’t even remember what she looks like.

  If I could change that act of stupidity, I would do it in a heartbeat.

  “Their games won’t do them any good. They wouldn’t stand a chance against my girl. I don’t care who they are. You know, there was a time I thought I had to push her away for her own good, to keep her safe from me and the reputation I’ve lived up to over the years. But the truth is, I’ve regretted my actions since that very second when I hurt her, but I don’t think she’ll ever give me a chance to make amends.”

  “She would doubt your long-term sincerity, one-hundred percent. It’s too easy to get caught up in the North Pole, the inviting household, and all the warm feelings the holidays bring. The same way it’s too easy to lose your inhibitions while you’re on vacation in a tropical paradise. But put the beach and the holidays together, and you’ve got a sure-fire recipe for disaster. You’ll have to do a lot more than whisper a few pretty words to convince her otherwise. Here’s some sage advice for you, though, free of charge. If you run every time something unexpected scares you, you’ll miss out on a lot of beautiful surprises.”

  “Couldn’t I say the same to you, though? If you won’t give me a chance to make up for being the dumbest man on earth, you could possibly miss out on the love of a lifetime. Maybe it won’t work out. Maybe we’ll be horrible together and decide we’re better off as friends. But what if we are meant to be a couple? What if destiny has already decided for us?” What she doesn’t realize about me yet is, I’ve never been one to give up on my goals easily, and I’m not changing that anytime soon. Especially not where she’s involved.

  “Let’s get through this trip first, Rod. We’ll see how it plays out when we’re back home in our usual element. If you still fe
el the same while you’re not surrounded by my entire family, then we’ll talk. If not, we’ll know fate had nothing to do with this.”

  I lean back, fold my arms across my chest, and consider her rebuttal for a moment. Is this a test? Did she only say it to see how hard I’ll fight for her? Or is this how she feels, and would it be inconsiderate of me to push for more?

  “How about a compromise? If you don’t like my idea, no harm, no foul. I’ll respect your wishes and we’ll continue as we are now. If you agree, then we’ll give it an honest try.”

  “What compromise do you have in mind?” Her deadpan expression gives nothing away about what’s going on inside that beautiful brain of hers, but I know her better than she realizes.

  “We’ll use our time here together as one long date. We can start over from the very beginning, if you will give me a clean slate. Instead of starting in the middle of a relationship, we’ll take it slow and actually start from the start, so to speak.”

  “This sounds suspiciously like a fairy tale. I’ve already heard one fable from you, Rod. Right before I moved out of your hotel room and into my own. You were ready to settle down and put all your efforts into building a relationship with me. We both know how well that worked out. What right do you have to ask me to trust you again?” Her face changes, and a lingering grimace replaces her normal approachable expression. The pain of my betrayal obviously still stings.

  “You’re right. There’s no reason you should trust me or even want to be with me again. I gave you my word I’d respect your wishes, and that’s exactly what I’ll do. I’m sorry I even said anything and hurt you all over again. That’s the last thing I’d ever want to do.” With a quick squeeze of her hand, I turn to leave the room and give her some space away from me.

  As I pull away from her, she tightens her grip on my hand and holds on. When I look down, I see the fear swimming in her eyes. Despite the warning bells clearly blaring in her mind, she dares to put her trust in me again. Against all odds, I think she still wants to believe in the dream. Is there a glimmer of hope still in her? What I know about Daisy is, she doesn’t trust others easily, especially men, and she’s a realist. She doesn’t live in a fantasy world or repeat mistakes she’s made. Even considering giving me yet another chance is out of the ordinary for her.

  She just needs time to realize the truth for herself. If she didn’t feel the same about me, she wouldn’t want to trust me again.

  “If I do this, it’ll be your absolute last chance with me. Ever. I can’t impress upon you how serious I am, Rod. Everyone deserves a second chance, I wholeheartedly believe that, but you’ve used your two chances with me. I’ll never speak to you again if you screw this up and hurt me like you’ve done before. Changing your mind is completely fine and your prerogative—as long as you’re upfront and honest with me about it. That’s all I’m asking. No more stupid games. We could still be friends in that case. But I won’t forgive more lies and broken promises. Don’t say it if you can’t see it through.”

  She means every word of her warning, and if I mutter promises I have no intentions of keeping, I’ll lose her forever. For the first time, the ramifications of my words and deeds weigh heavily on my shoulders. Businessman Rod thrives because he never misses a deadline, never disappoints a client by giving less than his very best every time.

  Personal Relationship Rod needs a lot of work.

  I drop to one knee in front of her, surprised she’s halfway to agreeing to try again. “Daisy, I’ve realized what an immature asshole I’ve been, and I’ll never be that person again. If I get spooked, I promise to talk it out with you, to share why I’m freaking out so you can help talk some sense into me. Juliana has tried, but I wouldn’t hear her out. Now I know I have to make some serious changes if I want to be happy. To be honest, I’m learning as I go. I’m seeing everything with fresh eyes, and I’m not proud of everything I’ve done.”

  “You’re too good at saying all the right things and making it sound so easy. Don’t be the man anyone else thinks you are. Be yourself. Any man who takes care of his family the way you do is a good person at heart. You’d be much happier with yourself if you’d be that man all the time. Fighting against your inherent nature only makes you miserable. No one is asking you to change who you are. Maybe we’re asking you to finally be the man we already know you to be.”

  I couldn’t feel more exposed if I were standing in front of my high school English class buck naked. She sees through the cracks in my mask, past the façade of the cold, detached man I show the world. Despite my best attempts to scare her off, she genuinely likes the real me.

  “Give me one more chance to prove myself to you. That’s all I need. You won’t regret it.”

  She presses her lips together and softly shakes her head. I can almost see the wheels turning in her mind while her eyes bounce around the room, careful to avoid meeting mine.

  “All right, I’ll try your plan for the next few days. We should know in that time if we both still feel a spark. But I’ll warn you once more. This time, it’s complete honesty or nothing, Rod. That’s not asking too much. It shows you respect me. I won’t accept anything less.’

  “On my mom’s good name, I give you my word. I’ve been hot and cold, all in and all out, and a complete wishy-washy pussy. But I’ve also been miserable without you. All that bullshit is behind me. I won’t disappoint you again.”

  “I don’t expect perfection, so you don’t have to make lofty promises. Just be the man you hide from the rest of the world.”

  “Fair enough. You want him, you’ve got him for as long as you’ll have him.”

  When I lean closer to press my lips against hers, there’s no way I can deny my feelings for her are real and powerful. The fire burning between us is hot enough to spontaneously combust, and a simple touch from her is like throwing gasoline on an open flame. A soft moan escapes her throat and I feel it touch my soul. Her fingers thread through my hair, pulling me closer, and I deepen the kiss.

  She pushes against me when my tongue glides against hers, deliberately slow and sensual. If the increasing heat in this room is any indication, I’d say the spark has lit the fuse inside Daisy, and she could join me in reaching the temperature of the sun at any moment. Not wanting to rush the moment, I slow our feverish pace. With my forehead leaned against hers and my hands cupping her face, I close my eyes and relish the tender moment with her.

  “You’re the best part of me.”

  My whispered confession comes straight from my heart. Drops of pure love fall from her eyes and roll over my fingers. Then I softly kiss her eyelids until her tears dry and offer a silent thank you to the universe for giving us one more shot.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Daisy

  I’m not naïve or stupid. This charade between us will last through the holidays, while we’re away from home and we’ve suspended reality, then it’ll fizzle and disappear when we return to Atlanta. Juliana is out of the hospital and she said she’s having the best Christmas for as far back as she can remember. Isa has her mom here, so Rod can still play the part of the fun, carefree uncle. For the time being, his only responsibility is his company, and that’s the only thing he’s fully committed to besides his small family.

  The best I can hope is our time together makes it easier to decide what I should do. Hopefully, the next two weeks will provide an answer. I have no delusions Rod and I will fall madly in love and live happily ever after together. I washed away those silly dreams with the outgoing tide in Punta Cana. I’m more concerned with how we’ll co-parent, or I should say, if we do. As long as we can remain friends once the fleeting desires wane, I’ll consider that a win.

  The problem is, I’m not immune to his charms. His smooth lines, appealing smile, and tempting personality are nearly irresistible. His promises sound so sincere, making me dare to wish they were real. He’s dangerous to my mental health because I’m constantly questioning my sanity around him. When he kisses me, I lose any semb
lance of reason and self-control and I forget why I shouldn’t trust him with my heart or my body.

  “Daisy, we’re singing Christmas carols, roasting marshmallows around the firepit, and blending piña coladas—your favorite frozen drink.” Dad walks in to get more rum and ice. “Come outside with us. Rod looks lost without you.”

  “Okay, let me finish wrapping this present for Marlee and I’ll be right out. Landen insisted on getting her a gift from him. No alcohol for me, though.”

  He stops and studies me for a moment. “All right. There are still plenty of marshmallows to go around. Join us when you’re finished.”

  “Right behind you.”

  After I put my sister’s present under the tree, I join the rest of my family and friends around the pool area. Mom is grilling steaks at the outdoor kitchen while Dad stokes the firepit with more wood. My extended family occupies all the lounge chairs, mostly couples snuggled up and singing familiar carols. Granted, it’s mostly poor singing, but with a lot of gusto.

  I glance around the tiki-lit pool until my eyes stop on Rod. He’s sipping a tequila sunrise, but he fixes his gaze on me. The smoldering hot intensity in them reaches out and grabs me, impulsively pulling me to him. When I’m only steps away, he moves his legs to give me room to sit in my place—between them, leaned against his chest, with his arms around me.

  Tracy and Kevin both raise their eyebrows in surprise, but I refuse to make eye contact with them. This situation is awkward enough without their silent questions. Juliana tries to hide her smile behind her glass, but she’s more pleased than shocked. Then I realize no one else has even batted an eye toward us. My family must assume we’re a couple already since he’s here for the holidays.

  Mom walks over and gives me a glass of her homemade hibiscus plum tea. “Here, sweetie, it’s your favorite tea. Once Marlee gets here, there won’t be any left.”