by Patt Marr
“Good for them!”
“Then a tabloid printed a news story that really got the rumor mill spinning. I’m from a political family, so my hide is tough. But the girls can’t stand it that I’m seen as heartless and insensitive while Bruce is the long-suffering lover.”
“I’m with the girls.” He stood abruptly as if he couldn’t sit still another minute. “I don’t like to see Daniels get away with this.”
His righteous anger made her smile. It was great having a champion. “The girls are determined to shut Bruce down. That’s why they got me on the show. Don’t you think a big-haired babe in pursuit of her dream date ought to give Bruce and my parents a reality check?”
He threw back his head and laughed heartily. It was remarkable what this man did for her morale. She’d even stopped minding that he was way too good-looking.
“Now that I think about it,” he said, still chuckling, “that kiss you gave me at the door… That was probably more for the congressman than it was for me.” His adorable lopsided smile dared her to deny it.
She shrugged innocently. “Just following orders. The girls said to make it look ‘real good.”’
“I expect it did!”
She was lucky he was such a good sport. “If I got a little overenthusiastic, I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about,” he assured her.
“I was really nervous.” It was a relief to admit it.
“Really? It was a great kiss. Perfect, in fact.”
This guy said all the right things. “You did okay yourself,” she said, wanting to return the good feeling.
“Yeah?” His grin turned shy. “I’m a little out of practice.”
“Out of practice!” It was her turn to laugh. “You? Pete Maguire? The man Cheryl wanted to go ‘exploring’ with?”
“I couldn’t believe she said that.”
“Well, you are pretty cute.”
“Cute?”
“Okay, good-looking.”
“Let’s change the subject.”
He was embarrassed. Her ex wouldn’t have been. He’d have relished the compliment and fished for more. “If you want to change the subject,” she said, “you’ll have to do it.”
“Fine. I will.”
Watching him search for a topic, she smiled, delighted to know there lived a charmer who wasn’t totally self-centered.
“This date we’re doing,” he said thoughtfully, “it won’t be on TV for a while. Right?”
“They said in about six weeks.”
“That’s quite a while. What are you going to do about the rumor mill until then?”
“Things should be better at school after tonight. There were a lot of kids here.”
“But what about Daniels? Six weeks is a long time.”
“I know. I guess I’ll just try not to worry about it.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks. I’ll need it. But I really will try. Worry tells God I don’t trust Him, and I do.”
Something crossed his eyes that could have been cynicism, perhaps unbelief. She never argued religion, but the Lord had taken care of her so well, she’d never be ashamed of Him. “The Bible says God will ‘devour any who would rise up against me.’ I believe it.”
Pete’s eyes narrowed, and she thought he was going to dispute the point. But he leaned forward, touched her hand and said, “You’re one hundred percent right.”
“I am?” She couldn’t help sounding surprised. “A second ago, I didn’t think we were on the same wavelength.”
“It took me a second to switch gears. It’s been a while since someone’s quoted scripture to me. You know, I used to help out with our youth group.”
A deep gladness filled her heart. “I’m so happy you know the Lord!”
She’d barely said the words when she wished she could take them back. Such a mix of emotion passed across Pete’s face that she couldn’t begin to read them all, but she recognized anger and resentment. How could she not, when she’d known them herself?
Pete rose from the table and carried their plates into the kitchen.
Silently she asked God what to do, what to say. She glanced over to her Bible on the coffee table, wondering which scripture she could read that would help Pete the most. Maybe something in John.
But Pete strolled back into the room, and she canceled the Bible study. His lady-killer smile was back, firmly in place, and his eyes glowed with mischief.
“Sunny, how would you like to shut Daniels down right away?”
This guy could really switch gears. “Well, I’d love it.”
“What if the media were here when I pick you up for Part Two of our date? Let them get photographs of you greeting me at the door the same way you did tonight. How about that?”
Pete truly was an ally if he could offer to help her, but how could she talk about trusting God one moment and, in the next, take matters into her own hands even more than she already had?
“Pete, I appreciate the offer, but you don’t have to do this for me. God really will protect me.”
Those bad-boy eyes lifted innocently. “You don’t think God uses people to carry out his plans? For all you know, I could be an angel in disguise.”
She laughed at the thought. Would God send her a handsome charmer, especially when He knew how much she didn’t trust them? Actually, He might, though Pete’s feet seemed planted pretty firmly on the ground.
“Are you sure about this?” she asked, hardly believing this particular guy would set himself up as a media target. He didn’t know what it could be like.
“Oh, I think I can make myself kiss a pretty girl when it’s for such a good cause. Besides, it’s part of the job. As far as angel assignments go, I got lucky. If it hadn’t been you, I might have been assigned to Brad.”
She smiled and the good feeling went all the way to her toes. He could be an angel, the way he made her feel that her problems were only tiny white specks on a big, fluffy cloud and contentment was fingertip near.
But he looked nothing like any storybook angel she’d ever seen, not with that lock of black hair falling over his brow, the wicked half smile and the teasing gleam in his eyes. If Pete really were her angel…that was some disguise.
Pete parked his truck in Sunny’s drive and sucked in a deep breath. It was the sequel to the circus of the first part of their date, only worse. This time there were several media vehicles, not just the Dream Date van, and a couple of squad cars with rotating lights that added to the general confusion. And there was a really big crowd.
His mother always said he was a born protector, but this time he may have overdone it.
Sunny sat on her steps, probably waiting for her cue. Purple bougainvillea cascaded down the side of her condo, a brilliant backdrop for her lush coppery hair. She was a beautiful woman all right.
She’d warned him she was going to take her girls’ advice and pretend she was “wild about him.” He wasn’t sure what that entailed, but whatever it was, he could handle it. It was past time somebody helped Sunny get Bruce Daniels out of her life.
Wearing a headset, looking in charge of things, Meggy walked up to his truck. “How’re you doing, bro?”
“Just peachy,” he said, trying to hide his nervousness. “Can we get on with this?”
“We’re ready and rolling. Go for it.”
Determined to silence Sunny’s ex-fiancé once and for all, Pete put a big smile on his kisser, got out of the truck and walked up the driveway with his arms spread wide.
Sunny leapt to her feet, ran to meet him and, just as they’d planned, bussed him smack on the mouth. He returned the kiss, dragging it out, giving it all he had. It was only for show, but it made his heart pound as hard as if it were real. Her lips were soft and giving. She held on to him as if she’d never let go.
“Wow!” he heard Meggy murmur. It must look real if Meggy was impressed.
Even though he knew Sunny was only pretending, he liked the feel of her hands around hi
s neck. Taking her face between his hands, he rained kisses over her brow, her cheeks, her eyes, and ended with one on her mouth that he deepened. He pulled her to him, and the sweet burn was more than he’d expected.
It was all an act, he kept telling himself. But when he broke the kiss, he leaned his forehead against hers, breathing hard.
“Whew,” Sunny whispered. “That was great.”
Her sweet praise deserved another soft kiss. Just one, but she yielded her mouth so sweetly he forgot how to count.
“Pete?”
“Hmm?”
“You can really kiss.”
She made him feel like he’d done something great. “I guess it’s like riding a bike,” he joked, pulling away. “You never forget even if you’re out of practice.”
Sunny knew her ex had practiced more than most, but he had never kissed her like that. One more of Pete’s kisses and she would melt where she stood.
“That dazed expression on your face is perfect,” he said. “I think that’s the look you’re going for.”
That was fortunate. Dazed was all she could manage. “Do you think we’re overdoing this?” she muttered, daring a peek at the enthusiastic crowd.
“I don’t think so. Act like I’m talking sexy to you,” he murmured, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
It felt as if he were.
“Where’s your gear?”
“At your feet, I think.” Funny how a person could lose her bearings on her own driveway.
They parted, and he hoisted her pack.
“Looks like it’s seen some wear. Dream Date didn’t supply you with new?”
“They offered, but I preferred to bring my own.”
He took her hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. “Don’t forget to look wild about me.”
That would be easy. With his dark hair gleaming in the early-morning sunlight, with those eyes and that smile, who could forget? What woman wouldn’t appreciate Pete?
Certainly the crowd of teenage girls did, judging from their noisy approval. She waved to them as he slung her gear in the truck, opened his door and stood aside for her to climb in.
“Nice truck,” she said, sliding to the middle of the seat.
He raised an eyebrow at the way she’d left him barely enough room. “This must not be your first date in a pickup.”
“As a matter of fact, it is, but I’ve observed. Unless they’re married, the girl sits by the guy in a pickup.”
“All the better to cuddle up to her guy,” he agreed, climbing in beside her.
Sunny draped her arm around his neck. “How’s this?”
“Nice move.”
She looked into his eyes with what she hoped was a dreamy expression. “Now, I’m going to ask you something very personal.”
He tipped her chin up with one finger. “How personal?”
“Very.” She loved the smell of his woodsy aftershave.
“Ask away.”
“Okay. Let me see. How many miles per gallon?”
His blue eyes crinkled at the corner and his stomach shook with quiet laughter. “I don’t know. The pickup’s a rental.”
“You rented a pickup?” She brushed a lock of soft black hair off his forehead as if she had the right. “A pickup isn’t really your choice of ‘Transportation on a First Date’?”
“Actually, it is,” he said, nuzzling her chin, “but Old Red is kind of shy.”
“Your truck has a name?”
“It’s a rule. Keep a vehicle over ten years, it gets a name.”
“I’ll have to remember that.”
“You don’t have a pickup, do you?” he said, testing his instincts.
“No, that was something else the girls dreamed up for me.”
“And your favorite form of transportation is…?”
“I have a Chevy that I drive to school and a Jaguar that was a engagement gift from my parents who thought a champagne convertible was the perfect car for Bruce’s wife.”
“You don’t like it?”
“No, I love it. But it’s a little hard to explain on a teacher’s salary.”
“Still, it was a nice gift.”
“They gave Bruce a house.”
“No wonder he wants to stay engaged.”
He rubbed his nose against hers before kissing the tip. She’d always thought nose-kissing was rather silly, but it wasn’t bad, not the way Pete did it. It wasn’t easy, keeping this light. Trying, she murmured, “That was a virgin nose you just kissed.”
His stomach shook again. “Nobody ever kissed your nose before? How about this hand?”
He took her hand and placed a sweet kiss in the palm. It was such a tender gesture Sunny nearly forgot to breathe.
“Is our audience getting this?”
Sunny stole a look. “There’s a cop grinning at us, and my girls are going to hurt themselves, the way they’re high-fiving each other. Brad’s still got his camera on us.”
“Okay, one more big kiss and the show’s over.”
Gathering her in his arms, pulling her across his chest, Pete kissed her as if he were starving for her. It was only an act, Sunny’s mind screamed, but the rest of her just didn’t know the difference.
Pulling back, he smoothed her hair. It was such a simple, unexpected gesture, but it stirred something inside. Watching him back out of her drive, she was so glad he’d come into her life.
“You were terrific!” She had to say it, at least this once. “If that doesn’t silence Bruce, nothing will.”
His slow, sexy smile nearly took her breath away. “Think they’ll wonder how we could get so hot and heavy on a first date?”
“Part Two of a first date.”
“Right. That explains it.” He laughed softly, shaking his head. “I just hope your reputation isn’t worse now than it was.”
“You’re not saying I’m ‘easy’?”
“Oh, no, not me. I’m not crazy enough to rile a wild woman when there’s no place to run.”
“I was pretty wild, wasn’t I?”
“No—” he grinned “—you were perfect.”
Chapter Four
Turning in her seat, noticing the TV van had caught up with them, she asked, “How long do you think the Dream Date crew will stay with us?”
“Meggy said they would head back once we started up the trail.”
“How long should we wait to make sure they’re gone before heading back ourselves?” They had agreed they wouldn’t actually do Part Two of the date. She didn’t feel right about camping overnight with a guy, and Pete said he understood.
“Not long. We could do something else after they’re gone,” he said, glancing her way to check out her reaction. “Would you like to get something to eat? We don’t have to end the date early.”
He really did have the sweetest smile she’d ever seen on a guy. It always started in his eyes. She would love to spend more time with him, but he’d already done so much for her, she didn’t want to take advantage of his generosity. With studied nonchalance, she said, “Whatever. You decide.”
The words were barely out of her mouth when she knew she’d pushed the nonchalance too far. She’d sounded indifferent, as if she could have cared less, and she didn’t feel that way at all. They waited through an entire signal light in silence.
“I guess we don’t have to decide now,” he said quietly.
Dating was the pits. It was for kids who believed in magic and miracles, not for has-beens like herself who knew for a fact that fairy dust fades. She needed to make things right, but she’d never been good with words. She’d majored in physical education, for goodness’ sake. She was a person who did it, not said it.
Lord, help me to know what to say to Pete.
It was only a little prayer, but it gave her the strength to risk rejection. “How about getting a pizza?” She tried her best smile. “Or a steak? My treat. You choose the place.”
He glanced away from the road, checking her out, and a smile slid into p
lace. Giddy, she breathed silent thanks. They’d hurdled the bad spot.
“Let’s have pizza,” he said decisively, “but I’ve got to warn you, I’m not a ‘one-topping’ kind of guy. I like them to run it through the garden, and I’ll need a salad, too, so it’ll cost you. Think you can spring for all that?”
She’d bet her last nickel Pete would eat nails before he’d let her grab the check, but she was so happy they were comfortable again, that she’d have bought his meals for a week.
“I’ll buy the pizza,” she said, “if you’ll buy dessert.”
“Ice cream?”
“Fine, but it’s got to be pistachio. I love pistachio. What’s your favorite?”
“Vanilla. I’m not much of a risk taker, although there is this place in the valley that sells peanut butter mocha fudge. I like it a lot. Want to try it after the pizza?”
“As long as it’s nowhere near San Josita. I don’t think I could take being a celebrity there again today.”
“No?” He gave her another quick glance. “You were good at it. Even I couldn’t tell you were pretending.”
It hadn’t felt as if she were. “They won’t be linking me with Bruce anymore. What shall I say when they ask me about you?”
“Do you think they will?” He seemed astonished at the possibility.
She laughed. “They’ll talk all right.”
“I guess pretty teachers always get talked about. Now that I think about it, we kept pretty close tabs on our art teacher and the blond teacher who taught French or Spanish. I forget which. They were knockouts. Who did your friends talk about?”
“The dating habits of the nuns at Our Lady of Tears didn’t generate much gossip.”
“Our Lady of Tears? Never heard of it.”
“It’s a girls’ boarding school near Carmel.”
“All girls?” he asked, horrified, or pretending to be. “Did you like that?”
“Did I like what?” She knew what he meant. She’d had this conversation before.
“A school with no guys.”
“We saw guys,” she said, assuming a lofty air.
He lifted a brow. “With a telescope trained on the beach?”