"Aren’t children just so cute at that age." Constance shook her head in amusement. Her face brightened with motherly love.
"Mom, don’t you think we should gather up the kids and let Luke open his presents now?" Natalie asked, standing. "Then we can all cool off with a scrumptious bowl of ice cream."
"I’ll get everyone together," Joshua volunteered, bolting up from his chair. If Dominique didn’t know better, she would swear he was just as uncomfortable as she was.
She bit her lower lip. I knew this wasn’t a good idea.
Natalie laid a gentle hand on Dominique’s shoulder on her way by. She leaned down, whispering in her ear. "I could use a hand setting out the presents, if you would like to help."
"Absolutely," Dominique agreed in a breathy sigh of relief.
A cool breeze fluttered though Dominique’s hair as she followed the gliding steps of Joshua’s sister to the table covered with presents. Still she could feel eyes staring her down. This time not just one set, but several. Determined to no longer look as out-of-place as she felt, she pushed her chin up high and forced her muscles to relax.
"I’m really glad you decided to come," Natalie said kindly, rearranging the boxes wrapped in various happy birthday papers on the table. "Joshua was looking awfully disappointed when he thought you weren’t going to show."
Dominique angled her head toward Natalie. She was a bit surprised that he had wanted her there so badly. Gazing across the yard, she saw Joshua standing in the middle of all the children, spinning Kalvin around in his arms. She decided it wasn’t her that he had wanted there, but her child. She just came along with the package.
"Hey, don’t let my father get to you," Natalie drifted into her reverie.
"I’m sorry. What did you say?"
"My father, I could tell he made you a bit uncomfortable on the patio," Natalie pointed out. "Don’t let him get to you."
Dominique didn’t know what it was about the petite, auburn-haired woman, but the more she spoke to her, the more she felt a bond developing between them. She had only known Natalie for a few minutes, and already she felt she could trust her and tell her most everything. "Does your family have something against bartenders?"
Natalie laughed. She leaned against the table, raising a hand covered in beautiful, gaudy diamonds to shield her deep hazel eyes from the blinding sun. "It’s not just bartenders. Believe me. My parents are from the old school--my dad especially. You know, the type that feels a woman’s place is in the home, bearing children and waiting on her husband hand and foot. That kind of thing."
"And Joshua, does he have the same views about women?"
"Naw, Joshua is a modern day man." Natalie shook her head. "He’s always viewed men and women as equals. He believes that it should be both the man and the woman’s responsibility to take care of everything from the bills, to the household chores, to the children."
Dominique heaved a sigh. "Funny, but he hasn’t come off to me that way."
Natalie smiled in amusement. "My brother is a hard one to figure out, but once you do, you’ll know exactly what he’s thinking just by looking at him. Take Heather for instance." She nodded slightly to the patio. "I still haven’t figured them out. They’re all wrong for each other. She claims to love children, but she doesn’t want to have anything to do with them. She’s snotty and hates family gatherings. All things that make my brother tick! He doesn’t love her. I can tell. He may care for her, but it’s not love. And she doesn’t love him either. Why the two of them are even wasting their time is beyond me."
"She definitely has a cold pair of eyes." Dominique shivered.
"Oh, you mean the way she’s looking at you." Natalie chuckled, slapping a hand through the air in an indication she should dismiss the thought. "Ignore her. She’s just jealous."
Dominique’s brows drew together. "Jealous of what?"
"My brother’s time, of course." Natalie clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. She tossed her auburn hair behind her back with a quick swipe. "That…and you. Has she ever met you before today?"
Dominique shook her head.
"That explains it. The job you’ve given my brother is cutting into the time he has to spend with her. Not to mention the fact that you’re young, beautiful, and have a child whom he has obviously quickly grown attached to. The only tid-bit of security Heather may feel is from your job, if she even knows anything about what’s behind that."
Dominique tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. There it was again--the reference to her job. She wanted to ask what Natalie had meant by that, but before she could, a swarm of happily screaming children bombarded the table.
Seven
Joshua made a mental note to thank Natalie the minute he caught her alone. If she hadn’t taken Dominique under her wing and showered her with kindness, he was certain Dominique would have felt completely out of place. Instead, she looked perfectly content sitting next to his sister talking about who knew what while everyone indulged on cake and ice cream.
The party was turning out to be a big success; not that he had feared anything otherwise. Luke was having the time of his life and now had more new toys and other gifts than he knew what to do with. And best of all, Joshua didn’t think he had ever seen a smile so wide across little Kalvin’s face.
"Joshua." Luke pulled at his shirt until his big brother was forced to bend forward so he could whisper in his ear. "Is it time?"
"Are you sure you don’t want to play with your new things for a while longer?" Joshua whispered in return.
"I’m sure." Luke nodded eagerly. "I can play with them later."
Straightening, Joshua quickly scanned the crowd gathered in the yard. Natalie seemed to have disappeared. Sauntering over to Dominique, he asked, "Where did Natalie disappear to?"
"She had to run to the ladies room inside the house," Dominique answered, squinting from the blinding sunlight. "Is there something I can do?"
"Actually, if you don’t mind, yes. We need to gather Luke’s presents and get them inside the house so they won’t get wet."
"Wet?" Dominique looked puzzled.
"It’s time for a time-honored Divine birthday tradition." Joshua’s eyes sparkled with amusement. "Water hose tag."
Dominique’s hand flew, palm out, in front of her chest in a stopping motion. "Okay, I’ve heard of tag, but what does a water hose have to do with it?"
"It makes it so much more fun. Instead of running around trying to touch people with your hand, the kids take turns using a water hose instead. You get drenched with the water and you’re it."
"Sounds like it’s time for us adults to head back to the patio," Constance Divine sang as she passed by them. "If you don’t want to get soaking wet, Dominique, I suggest you do the same, dear."
"I know I am." Heather scurried quickly behind Joshua’s mother. "If any water gets on my new silk shirt, it will be ruined."
"Who wears a silk shirt to a six year old child’s birthday party anyway?" Dominique muttered, rolling her eyes to the sky.
Joshua leaned forward. A slight smile quirked the corners of his thin lips. "Trust me, only Heather," he whispered in Dominique’s ear.
She gasped. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that out loud."
Joshua chuckled. "It’s all right. Heather takes some getting used to, but she’s really a nice woman."
"Yeah, I can tell," Dominique said dryly.
"Uh oh, they’re dragging out the water hose," Natalie observed as she approached. "Time to gather up the gifts."
"I’ll help you," Dominique volunteered.
"Hey, Nat, are you going to join us?" Joshua asked as they walked away.
"Not today, dear brother. Unlike you, I believe I’m getting a little too old for water hose tag," Natalie called over her shoulder.
"Ah, you never gets to old to play in water," Joshua countered.
~ * ~
"He’s such a kid." Natalie shook her head as she began loading her arms with boxes. "I don
’t think that man will ever grow up."
"Kind of like Peter Pan, huh?" Dominique giggled, gathering her own load of boxes.
"That’s what mother always calls him."
Carrying more than their arms would normally allow, Dominique began to follow Natalie toward the house. The battle of water hose tag had already started behind them. The children screamed gleefully when the water covered them from head to toe. Dominique was halfway to the patio when she felt her own back grow cold from water gushing against her. Sprinkles sailed over her head.
She spun around, her focus landing on the culprit with the water hose in hand--her son.
"Uh oh, sorry, mom," Kalvin hollered. He was doing his best not to laugh, but the battle didn’t last long before he had to give in.
"You!" Dominique screamed, pointing a finger from under the armful of boxes. "You did that!"
Kalvin giggled. All the other children had halted in their spots, gazing at her wide-eyed as if waiting for her to blow her top.
Dominique turned back around to find herself face to face with Constance Divine. "Should I take those for you?" Constance asked through a wide smile.
"Would you please?" Dominique handed the gifts over to her. "I believe it’s my turn to take possession of that hose."
"Oh no! She’s coming," Joshua yelled when Dominique began stomping in the grass toward them. "Kalvin, run!"
Dominique broke out into a run herself, tackling Kalvin and the hose to the ground. Water sprayed into the air, falling like rain on top of them. They laughed together as she wrestled the hose away from him. Standing, she gazed around to find someone who was still dry. She instantly spotted Joshua. "Oh, the biggest kid of them all and he’s still dry," she yelled, flashing him a mischievous grin. "We can’t have that now, can we?"
Joshua’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Uh oh."
~ * ~
"She’s beautiful, you know?" Natalie arched a brow. She picked up a dishtowel from the counter in the Divine kitchen, drying her hands as she watched her brother rearranging the refrigerator to accommodate the leftover birthday cake.
Having had his fill of water hose tag, Joshua had sought the refuge of the house, changing into a dry suit of clothes before helping his sister with the cleanup in the kitchen. "Who’s beautiful?" he asked. His head still stuck in the fridge, his voice came in a muffled tone.
Natalie leaned against the counter, casting a glare out the window. "Dominique. She’s far more attractive than Heather."
Joshua straightened, turning to glare at his sister. "What’s wrong with Heather?" His eyebrows shot up. "I thought you liked her."
"We tolerate her," Natalie corrected, raising an objective finger in the air. "We tolerate her because you like her but she’s all wrong for you, Joshua, and I think you know that."
"I think I should be the one to decided who’s right or wrong for me, Natalie," Joshua stated sternly. Natalie was his favorite of the three sisters and yet she had the agitating knack of butting into areas of his life in which she had no business. All their lives she had always tried to tell him who he should and should not date. When he brought a girl home to meet their parents, she was the first to point out all that was wrong with the girl and why he shouldn’t go out with her again. The problem was, nine times out of ten she was right!
"Josh, the two of you have nothing in common." Natalie crossed her arms over her chest. "She’s a snob! She’s hates family get-togethers, can’t stand children, and has her nails so deep in you that you can’t see it. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that she’s only after your money. She puts on this act to make you believe she wants everything in life that you do, and you buy it hook, line, and sinker."
Joshua huffed. "You’re wrong. Yeah, she’s not crazy about family events. I’ll grant you that. And she’s not very good around children. She’s an only child. She’s accustomed to being the center of attention. You can’t fault her for that. It’s how she was raised. But she makes me happy, and that’s all that matters." He whipped around, slamming the refrigerator door shut. Trinkets that decorated the top of the fridge rattled from the force.
"If that were true, yes," Natalie conceded. She stepped away from the counter and walked closer to the window. "Josh, you’ve been lonely for so long that I don’t believe you remember what true happiness with a woman is like. You’ve forced yourself into believing that Heather makes you happy, but she doesn’t. She makes you happy." She pointed outside to where Dominique had taken Joshua’s place as the entertainer of the mob of children. "I can see it in your eyes every time you look at her. If you only realized how your face brightened when she showed up for the party. I haven’t seen that glow, that look of uncontrollable desire, since…well, since Margot."
Joshua clenched his jaw. He fixed a potent stare on his sister. Inside, his heart bled from hearing someone else speak her name. Margot represented a time in his life that no one in the family talked about anymore. Those had been the most wonderful years of his life, and at the same time the most painful, and his family understood that.
"What’s holding you back? The fact that she’s a bartender, too?" Natalie continued to pry. "What happened to Margot was a terrible tragedy. What happened to your baby was even worse! And the things you did after their deaths were not too pretty either. But neither was your fault. You’ve tortured yourself over it all long enough and now you’re making Dominique pay for it, too?"
"I’m not making Dominique pay for anything except my salary for babysitting her child."
"You’re wrong. How blind can you be? She’s attracted to you. It’s so obvious! And you’re falling for her, too, but you’re fighting it tooth and nail and I don’t believe for a second that Heather is the reason for your battle. Let Margot and your past go, Josh," Natalie said softly. Walking over to him, she placed a caring hand on his shoulder. "It’s over. It’s done. Nothing in the world can change it and nothing can bring it all back. Let it all go."
"I have let it go," Joshua insisted. His tone was blatantly cold and harsh. He slapped away her hand. "And you need to butt the hell out of my personal life."
Tears brimmed in Natalie’s hazel eyes. Joshua knew his cruel words went straight to her heart. It wasn’t often he spoke to her with such exasperation. Clenching her fingers into fists at her sides, she lifted a shoulder. "If that’s the way you want it. Just remember I’m here for you when you’re ready to come to your senses." Leaving the conversation at that, she spun on her heels and returned to the back yard.
Joshua walked over to the window, placed his hands on the counter before it and gazed at Heather, who had yet to move from her chair on the patio. He scanned the yard until he found Dominique. Luke, Kalvin, and a few other boys had tackled her, and she was rolling on the ground, laughing merrily.
Despite his anger over his sister’s intrusion into his personal life, he felt his heart soften as a streak of heat jolted through him. Somewhere inside, he wondered just how much of what his sister had said was right. Was Heather really all wrong for him? Was he really falling for Dominique? He had been putting up such a battle to control his heart.
And he was miserably losing that battle.
~ * ~
Dominique stood, still laughing slightly, and brushed the grass from her sun-dried blue jean shorts. Sneaking a quick glance at her wristwatch, she realized it was nearing two o’clock. She was sweaty, sticky, covered in grass and would definitely need another bath before heading to work that afternoon. To her surprise, a part of her longed to stay at the party--not for Kalvin, but for herself--yet she knew if she didn’t leave soon, she would never make it to work on time.
"Kalvin honey," she called over the joyous screams and yells. "We have to go, son."
Kalvin bolted across the yard and came to a screeching halt just inches from her feet. His bottom lip poking out in a pout, he cried, "But, Mommy, I don’t want to go. I’m having too much fun. Can’t we stay longer?"
Dominique kneeled down to her son’
s eye level. That horrible look of disappointment that she hated so much was forming on his sweet little face. "I don’t want to go either, baby, but Mommy has to go to work soon and I still have to shower and change."
Kalvin’s gaze dropped to the ground. He shuffled his feet sadly, and she felt as if she would cry.
"We’ll come back soon and you can play with Luke some more. Okay?"
Kalvin heaved a disappointed sigh. "I guess so." Reluctantly, he spun around and allowed Dominique to lead him toward the patio. They were halfway there when Joshua stepped out of the house. The look on little Kalvin’s face lured him their way.
"What’s wrong?" he asked. Kneeling down, he ran a soft finger over the child’s cheek.
"Mommy says we have to go." Kalvin pouted. "I don’t want to go. I’m having too much fun."
Joshua straightened. His eyes slowly scanned Dominique all the way up until they locked with hers. Her heart began to somersault wildly, but what she sensed behind his usually gleaming green eyes made it halt in mid-air.
"Must you go?" he asked. His tone had lost the soft, sexy appeal and sounded more cold and harsh than anything.
An alarm went off in Dominique’s mind. She didn’t believe the harshness was intentionally directed to her, but something had obviously upset him. "I’m afraid so. I have to be at work in two hours. You are still going to be able to baby sit tonight, aren’t you?"
"Of course! As a matter of fact--" Joshua scratched his chin thoughtfully, "--I have an idea. Why don’t you leave Kalvin with me and we’ll come to your house when the party’s over?"
Dominique hesitated, unsure if she felt comfortable with Kalvin in a car, considering Joshua’s sudden mood change.
As if sensing her reservations, Joshua changed his tone, imitating that of a two year old, and added, "Come on, Mommy. You know we have such fun together. And you can trust me. I’m a responsible driver."
An amused grin curled the edges of Dominique’s lips. Then Joshua and Kalvin mocked pouted expressions, begging with her to say yes. "Well…all right. But don’t wait too late before bringing him home, and don’t go anywhere else."
The Devine Babysitter Page 8