Be Mine Forever: A Valentine (Single Father Romance)

by Lexy Parker

  I thought about Philip and wondered how he had changed since losing his wife. He was a subdued man, but without knowing him better, I couldn’t say if that quiet strength I sensed in him was a part of who he was before the tragedy or a result of the tragedy. The little wrinkles around his eyes and mouth told me he was prone to smiling, I just hadn’t seen it yet. I imagined he smiled a lot when he was around his little girl. I’d seen that softer side when he had been on the phone with her that night.

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Jamie. It was one night,” I reminded myself as I headed for the shower.

  I liked him, but I would take Dani’s advice and rely on my experience to guide me. I wouldn’t jump in with both feet like I had been prone to do in the past. I was going to take it slow. I didn’t want to be hurt—not again.

  Chapter 19

  Philip

  Sadie and I had got out of the house early so we could enjoy breakfast together at what we now declared our favorite diner. I loved that she was willing to pass up an extra thirty minutes with her friends to hang out with her dad. I knew it wouldn’t always be the case and planned on taking advantage of every minute I could.

  Our friendly waitress Grace was on duty and recognized Sadie the moment we walked through the door. She quickly sat us and got me coffee and Sadie some orange juice while we looked over the menu.

  “Are you off to school?” Grace asked Sadie.

  Sadie nodded. “Yep. I’m having breakfast with my dad today instead of my friends.”

  Grace smiled. “That is very kind of you.”

  Sadie grinned, clearly happy someone was acknowledging the sacrifice she was making. “Thank you. I’ll take the french toast please.”

  “I’ll have an omelet,” I said, handing over our menus.

  “It’s almost Valentine’s Day,” Sadie announced, kicking her feet under the table.

  I nodded. “It certainly is.”

  “I still don’t have my new dress,” she reminded me.

  “I’ll go by a couple stores today and see what I can find,” I told her.

  She nodded. “I’ve changed my mind.”

  “Oh? What have you changed your mind about?” I asked, wondering what she had planned.

  “I want a pink-and-blue dress,” she declared.

  I smiled. “Pink and blue. I will keep my eyes open for exactly that.”

  “And I want it to be puffy,” she added.

  I nodded. “Of course. Sparkles?”

  She shrugged. “Only if you can find it.”

  I laughed. “Good to know.”

  “I think I want McDonald’s for our dinner,” she said, her nose wrinkling as she appeared to be deep in thought.

  “McDonald’s?” I asked, not really thinking of the fast-food burger joint as a nice restaurant, but happy to take her wherever she wanted.

  She nodded. “Yep. I want a milkshake and chicken nuggets.”

  “I can do that. I’m looking forward to spending my Valentine’s Day with you,” I told her with a smile.

  “Me too. I can’t tell you details, but we are making gifts for our parents in class,” she told me.

  “Oh, you are, huh? What is it?” I teased.

  “Daddy! I can’t tell you. It’s a surprise.”

  I laughed. “Oh, I understand. Well, I’m very excited to see what you give me.”

  Grace delivered our breakfasts and we quickly dug in. I kept an eye on the time. I couldn’t be late for work. Plus, I was looking forward to seeing Jamie again. I had barely had more than a few minutes to talk to her over the weekend. I didn’t want her to think I used her for sex and didn’t want to talk to her anymore. I most definitely wanted to talk to her and so much more.

  I found myself spacing out, thinking back to that night with her. I had gone to dinner with no intention of doing anything more than eating a good meal. The kiss had been intoxicating, stealing away all my good sense. Sex had not been on my mind until I had picked her up. Then, it had been all I could think about. That part of me had been locked away for so long, I had worried I would forget how. It had taken every tiny ounce of self-control I had in me to hold out for as long as I did.

  “Are you okay, Daddy?” Sadie asked.

  I looked at her, blinking. “What?”

  “You have a funny look on your face,” she told me.

  “I’m fine,” I said, embarrassed to have let my mind wander. “Are you about done? We need to get going,” I told her, pushing my plate away.

  She nodded. I left some cash on the table and headed out. I was really looking forward to seeing Jamie again. I wasn’t sure what the protocol was. Could I kiss her while we were both at work? Did I play it cool, keeping my distance?

  It was our turn at the school drop-off line. “See you later,” I told Sadie as she jumped out of the truck.

  “Bye, Daddy!” she called out, clearly excited to get inside.

  I was very happy she had seemed to adjust quickly. It was a huge relief to know I didn’t have to worry about her feeling alone. By the time I had got to the office, Clay was already out doing his own deliveries. My sheet was on the desk waiting for me along with a note saying he’d catch up with me later.

  I was almost glad he wasn’t there. I knew he was still waiting to hear about my date with Jamie. I had been very vague on Friday night and told him we’d talk later. That talk hadn’t happened. A small little part of me couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. I knew I shouldn’t, but it was there. Telling Clay what happened would make it all real.

  I parked the delivery truck in back of the flower shop, then took a quick look in the mirror to make sure there wasn’t any leftover omelet in my teeth before heading for the back door. She opened it, looking as nervous as I felt. I did what came naturally—I leaned down and kissed her. Just like that, all the awkwardness and tension faded, and it was just us being normal again.

  “Good morning,” she said with a smile.

  “Good morning to you,” I said, following her inside the shop.

  She was in a pair of skinny jeans that hugged her curves, knee-high boots with a sensible heel and another one of her thick sweaters. Her hair was up in another messy bun, little stray hairs falling over the back of her sleek neck. I had an urge to put my lips on the pale skin, remembering the way she smelled and the way she had tasted.

  “I only have a single delivery today. I think everyone is saving their money for the big day,” she said, glancing back at me over her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, feeling like that was the right thing to say.

  She laughed. “It’s really okay. Wednesday and Thursday will be plenty busy enough.”

  “Oh, that’s right. Sadie has requested a new dress and a dinner date,” I said with a laugh.

  “That’s very sweet. Where are you taking her?” she asked.

  I grinned. It came naturally, almost surprising me how easy it was to smile around her. “McDonald’s.”

  She burst into laughter. “That sounds like the perfect place to take a young lady for dinner. I imagine she must be very excited.”

  I nodded. “She is. Now, I have to find a dress. She has requested a pink-and-blue puffy dress.” I groaned.

  She looked at me, then around the shop. “You know, it’s really slow today and I have several long days coming, I was thinking of closing early. I’d be happy to go with you to look for a dress. I can show you around to the kids’ stores in town,” she offered.

  “Really?” I asked, surprised by her offer.

  “Yes, I’m not doing anything, and I have a feeling you could use a little help with this very important job. Finding the right dress is not an easy task. I don’t even try to do it on my own,” she said with a small laugh.

  “That dress you had on for our date, did you pick that out?” I asked her.

  She shook her head. “Sadly, I cannot take credit for that. My sister-in-law picked it out. She’s my fashion guru.”

  “Really?” I asked, surpris
ed to hear she had a brother. She hadn’t mentioned him the other night.

  “Dani is a little fashion queen.”

  I nodded. “I only have a few deliveries today. I could be done by two or so. Is that too early for you?” I asked her, suddenly very anxious to spend more time with her.

  “That works perfect for me. Do you want to come by here?” she asked.

  “I’ll drop off the delivery truck and pick you up here,” I told her.

  “Perfect. It’s a date then.”

  She went to the cooler and grabbed the single arrangement going out for delivery and handed it to me.

  “It’s very pretty,” I told her, admiring the purple flowers.

  “Thank you. I’ll walk you out,” she said with a smile.

  We walked out the back, the air chilly but not overly so. I put the flowers in the back and turned to face her. I didn’t want to leave.

  “I should get going,” I mumbled.

  She nodded, looking at me expectantly. I stepped closer to her, reaching up to caress her cheek with my hand. Her skin was so smooth under my calloused hands. I leaned down and kissed her, a soft brush of my lips over hers. She was the one to deepen the kiss. Her lips parted, allowing me entry into her mouth. My tongue slid over hers, dueling before things became too much and I had to pull away.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, her fingertips going to her lips.

  “Don’t be. I’m sorry. It’s just, it’s been a long time for me and you, you undo me,” I said, my voice harsh.

  She smiled. “I understand.”

  “I’m going to get out of here. I’ll be back soon,” I told her, giving her a quick kiss before going around to get in the truck.

  I took a few deep breaths, calming my racing libido. The woman was under my skin. I had a taste of her and sex, and I wanted more. I had several years to make up for. I reached for my phone and called Clay. I was seriously going to have to look for a babysitter. I couldn’t keep relying on him. He had his own life.

  “Clay,” I said when he answered.

  “What’s up? Did you get the list?”

  “Yes, I got it. It looks like I’ll be done early for the day,” I said, easing my way into the topic.

  “I hope that’s okay,” he replied.

  “Yes, actually, very okay. Um, do you think you could pick Sadie up from school today? I need to pick up a dress for her for our Valentine’s Day date,” I told him.

  He chuckled. “I don’t envy you, and of course I will pick her up. I like hanging out with the little munchkin.”

  “I’ll start looking around for a babysitter, at least for these little situations,” I told him.

  “Hey, don’t worry about it. My babysitting services were part of the package. I’m happy to watch her,” he assured me.

  “Thank you. I don’t think I’ll be more than a couple hours.”

  “Take your time. You wouldn’t be going on this little dress hunt with a certain someone, would you?” he asked.

  I chuckled. “Actually, yes, Jamie offered to go with me.”

  I heard him laughing and waited until he was done. “Good. I’m glad things are going well for you. I can’t wait to meet this woman.”

  “Soon. I’m not sure where things are going right now, but I am enjoying her company,” I told him.

  “Then enjoy it. Don’t rush it. Take your time and give yourself a chance to enjoy her company,” he advised.

  “I will. Thanks again and no sweets,” I ordered.

  “Hey, Uncle Clay can’t be showing up without candy.”

  “Yes, he can.”

  I hung up and pulled out of the alley. The sooner I finished my deliveries, the sooner I could spend time with Jamie.

  Chapter 20

  Jamie

  I stepped into the small bathroom in the back of the shop, touching up my makeup. I should have closed early and ran home to change and freshen up. Knowing my luck, I would have missed him when he returned and then he would think I stood him up. I wasn’t going to risk that happening. The tiny bathroom mirror and the minimal makeup I had in my purse would have to do.

  I heard the front door and groaned. “Damn it. Seriously?”

  I headed out front only to find Philip standing in the shop, staring at the sympathy flowers. I was seriously going to move those. They brought too much sadness. Everyone had some connection to death and the flowers only served as reminders of a sad time.

  “Hey, you could have come to the back,” I told him.

  He shrugged. “I’ve never seen the shop from this side. I wasn’t sure if you were still open and didn’t want to rush you.”

  “I’m ready to lock up. I haven’t had a customer in over an hour,” I told him, anxious to leave with him.

  I locked the door, turned the sign, and took a deep breath.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “I am. We have a mission and we cannot let a little girl down,” I told him.

  “I won’t. I will buy fabric and figure out how to make it myself if I have to.”

  “I don’t think it will come to that. Let’s go,” I told him, heading for the back of the shop.

  He followed me out, opening the door for me like a true gentleman. Once in the truck, I gave him the directions to the first store.

  “What size is she?” I asked him.

  “Seven,” he answered quickly.

  I smiled. I loved that he knew exactly what size she wore. I had a feeling my dad would have never been able to shop for clothes for me without my mother’s help. It was cute that Philip was so attentive. It was then I reminded myself he had to be. He didn’t have the luxury of someone else buying the clothes for his daughter.

  “Here’s a pink one, but I don’t see any blue,” I said, putting it back on the rack.

  “She likes the frilly ones, with lots of poof and sparkles,” he said, a hint of disgust in his voice.

  “I was a lot like that in my younger years. My mother spoiled me. I was always in the fanciest dresses. Every birthday party I was invited to or holiday gathering, I always had a new dress. Purple was my favorite color, but I was partial to pink as well.”

  He laughed. “I don’t think I would have guessed you were the dressy type.”

  I burst into laughter. “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.”

  He immediately looked horrified. “I didn’t mean that. I meant, you seem more comfortable in jeans and sweaters.”

  I smiled. “I am. By the time I was twelve, I had ditched the dresses and was all about following my brother around.”

  He chuckled, breathing a sigh of relief. “Good.”

  “I’m sorry about Valentine’s,” he said, coming to stand beside me.

  “Sorry?” I asked with confusion.

  He nodded. “I should offer to take you out, but I had already promised Sadie.”

  I reached out and touched his arm. “Don’t be sorry. I wouldn’t be able to go anyway. I have plans,” I told him.

  The look on his face was one of hurt and irritation. “Oh.”

  “No. You don’t understand. I’m going to be with my sister-in-law,” I told him.

  He looked even more confused. I realized I was going to have to tell him about Gage. He’d told me about his wife, somewhat, which meant I had to tell him about Gage. I didn’t tell him right away. We browsed the store a little more before heading back to his truck. When he got in, I reached out and touched his hand before he started the truck.

  “Something wrong?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “No, I want to explain about Thursday.”

  “Jamie, you don’t have to. It’s none of my business.”

  “I want to.”

  He turned to look at me, giving me his full attention.

  I took a deep breath. I had never actually told anyone what happened. People just knew. Saying it was going to be difficult.

  “Dani is, I mean was, married to my brother, Gage,” I started.

  He nodded, encouraging
me to continue.

  “My brother…” I cleared my throat, suddenly feeling a little tickle, making it difficult for me to speak.

  “Jamie, what is it?” he asked, reaching out to take my hand.

  “Gage was killed in action the day before Thanksgiving. He was in Afghanistan,” I said the words that nearly broke my heart in two.

  He looked down at the seat, as if collecting himself before looking up and meeting my eyes. “Marines?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “I felt you had some connection, the way you touched my tattoo,” he said, his voice solemn.

  I offered a small smile. “Yes. Dani is struggling. I mean she is strong, and she puts on a brave face, but I know all these first holidays are really hard on her. Thanksgiving was a blur. I don’t even remember the day. We were both numb. Christmas was horrible, but together, we made it through. Then there were the New Year’s celebrations and now, we’re facing Valentine’s.”

  He nodded. “Trust me, I understand.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about what you’ve been through,” I said.

  “It was a long time ago. I only meant I understand what Dani is going through. You being there for her, that’s good. I can tell you from experience what you are doing is very helpful,” he assured me.

  “Thank you. It feels like so little, but it’s all I have to offer.”

  “Jamie, trust me, you are doing more for her than a sympathy card or condolences will ever do. She’ll heal with time and your help,” he said, leaning forward to give me a quick kiss.

  “Thank you. I only told you because I didn’t want you to think I had some other plans,” I told him.

  He laughed. “I’ll admit, for a second there I did think maybe you had a date with someone else.”

  I shook my head. “Nope, not even close.”

  “Good, now that we’ve got that out of the way, tell me where to go next. I’ve got to find a dress or learn to sew by Thursday,” he said, starting the engine.

  I giggled. “I would almost pay to see you sitting at a sewing machine, a measuring tape around your neck as you put together a dress.”