Fries Before Guys (Cupid's Cafe Where love is on the menu Book 5)

by Ashley Lauren

  “So, what?”

  “Are you going to tell me what you wished for?”

  Tammy stared at him. “I already told you I can’t.”

  “Oh.” Jack’s voice was laced with disappointment.

  “I don’t get it.”

  “Well…” Jack began, “I hoped we had wished for the same thing.”

  Tammy’s eyes popped open. She hadn’t exactly wished for Jack to kiss her but… Tammy nudged Jack’s shoulder with her own. “Don’t worry you’ll like my wish even better.”

  Jack had nothing to say to that, and they spent the rest of the evening talking about the constellations in the night sky. Jack’s knowledge of the stars seemed almost endless while Tammy was completely clueless.

  But Jack was an excellent teacher. He pointed up at the sky. “Look there.” He guided her through the constellations with his finger, one by one. The Big Dipper. The Little Dipper. Draco. Hercules. Sagittarius. Scorpius. Cassiopeia.

  Tammy found herself lost in his words, like a child learning something for the first time. It was an awe-inspiring moment that she never wanted to end. It was one of the simplest dates she had ever gone on but at the same time, it was the one that made her heart melt the most.

  “Well, it’s getting late. I don’t want to keep you too long,” Jack suddenly announced.

  Tammy frowned but didn’t say anything. She was slightly disappointed that the date was over so quickly. She was having such a great time.

  “Okay,” she said.

  Jack helped her up, offering her a hand. When Tammy got up, she noticed a couple standing underneath a well-lit archway.

  “What are they doing?” Tammy asked.

  “Ah. There’s this tradition here that says whoever kisses underneath that arch will get married, but the catch is, it doesn’t specify that you’ll marry the person you kissed.” Jack ran his hands through his hair, giving Tammy a quick glance. “Kind of silly, isn’t it?”

  Tammy bit her lip, suddenly feeling the urge to give into the superstition. Throwing caution to the wind, she squeezed Jack’s hand and pulled him toward the arch. I might as well try for a second wish. With all the confidence she could muster, she got on her tippy toes and brushed her lips against his. A jolt of electricity zinged through her body, and she couldn’t decide if it was the magic of the arch or her own passionate reaction to Jack’s soft lips.

  Chapter 13

  Jack’s surprise at Tammy’s kiss evaporated within a second. He was too caught up in the feeling of her draped around him to worry about why she’d kissed him. Jack rested his hand on the small of her back and pulled her in just a little closer. His heartbeat thrummed in his head like a hurricane swirling around him. He felt the thrill of nerves and intense excitement of the kiss. For a moment, Jack felt like a teenager kissing under the bleachers.

  Jack wanted to pull her in even closer, but he heard several whistles and a few cat calls. He broke away, feeling breathless. His eyes locked with Tammy’s and the rest of the world faded away again.

  He’d just met Tammy but for some absurd reason, he wished he could stop time. Jack wanted the opportunity to freeze this moment and spend hours, maybe even days, memorizing Tammy’s face, because when he looked into her eyes, he saw a future he’d thought had been lost to him. With her, his life’s journey could be fill with laughter, companionship, and dare he say it…love.

  Emotions flickered across Jack’s face, changing as quickly as the sunlight dancing across moving water. It grabbed at Tammy, and she felt herself being drawn into her own pleasant fantasy. Tammy found herself picturing her life with Jack. What it would feel like to spend her life with this man, to sit on the porch together drinking lemonade, and watching their children playing on the lawn? It would be heavenly. They’d hold hands when they walked along the beach and grow old together, doting on their grandchildren.

  “What are you smiling about?” Jack whispered in her ear, his hot breath tickling her skin.

  She shivered and closed her eyes trying to gain some composure. She’d been caught daydreaming and couldn’t let him realize the huge leap she’d made from a kiss to grandchildren.

  “N…Nothing…” Tammy stammered.

  Darn it. Her heart was beating a mile a minute and she wasn’t as steady as she’d like to be. There was just something about this man that made her feel so alive. It was a strange and exhilarating feeling that Tammy was getting addicted to.

  “Do tell,” Jack pressed.

  “It’s nothing really.”

  There was no way Tammy was going to admit to Jack that she had already fantasized about their life together. She was almost certain it would scare him away.

  “Fine.” Jack dropped the subject, a slight frown on his face. “But if you’re not going to tell me… then I get another kiss.”

  He grinned and before Tammy could react, he placed his hands on her cheeks and gently guided her face toward his. Once again, they kissed under the arch and Tammy secretly hoped that the arch’s magic worked on her and Jack.

  Tammy felt her knees going weak as his lips continued to dance on hers. Her arms slipped around his neck; the perfect fit. It felt right to kiss him. A warm, tingly sensation crawled up her spine and settled in her heart, making it swell with happiness. He was the one. This was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. No one else had felt this right. They were like two puzzle pieces finally coming together.

  Jack eventually pulled away, smiling wildly down at her. “Come on, let’s go.”

  He took her hand and led them back to their picnic. Together, they gathered up their things and started the walk back home. The moon was high overhead, illuminating the way. The streets were quiet and serene, adding to the romantic moment. Tammy’s head rested on Jack’s shoulder as they walked. She let out a contented sigh.

  After a short walk, Jack guided Tammy back to his house. There was a sole light shining through the living room window. The loud sound of cartoons could be heard coming from the TV. No doubt Dixie was still awake, even though it was past her bedtime. Jack shook his head and opened the door.

  “Dixie? Mom?” he called out.

  Dixie came barreling toward them, hugging her father’s legs affectionately.

  “There you are. Shouldn’t you be in bed, young lady?” He lifted an eyebrow in her direction.

  She shook her head and bounced on her toes. “I wanted to say hi to Tammy.”

  “Okay, but then it's bedtime.”

  Jack moved out of the way. Instantly, Dixie rushed forward, jumping into Tammy’s arms. Tammy smiled and picked the girl up, holding her against her hip as they touched foreheads and smiled at each other. As Jack watched them, another knot loosened in his chest. He had not seen his baby girl this comfortable around another woman in ages. It seemed like a miracle that he had found someone that both he and his daughter liked.

  “Maybe you should go to bed before your dad gets mad at you, okay?” Tammy whispered in Dixie’s ear.

  The little girl nodded eagerly, wiggling her way down to the ground and promptly running up the stairs to her room.

  “How do you get her to listen to you like that?” Jack asked, amazed. “Do you carry around magic pixie dust and sprinkle it on her when I’m not looking?”

  “Maybe.” Laughter danced in Tammy’s eyes.

  “Could you give me an extra bag or something?”

  Tammy patted his shoulder. “Sorry, I’m all out at the moment, but she’s in bed now so you should be okay until morning.”

  “This is Dixie we’re talking about. She doesn’t simply go to bed. She almost always starts trouble first. Besides, I don’t see Alfred, so there’s your first clue that she’s up to something.”

  Jack waved for Tammy to follow him, and was surprised to find Alfred asleep in the living room, laying on the couch alongside Jack’s sleeping mother. The dog woke up and looked at his master, but didn’t bother to get up. He just nuzzled his head further into the older woman’s lap inste
ad. Alfred closed his eyes again, and his snores quickly started echoing throughout the room. Maybe I should look into getting Mom hearing aids. The snoring and the blaring TV were more than enough to keep Jack awake.

  He gently shook his mother. “Mom. Wake up. I’m home.”

  When she didn’t wake up, he put in a little more effort, causing her to wake up with a start.

  “What is it?” she asked, her voice tense, her eyes searching the entire room until they fell on her son. “Oh, it’s you, Jackson. You’re back. Where’s Dixie?”

  “In bed. Don’t worry. Everything is fine. You can go home now. Do you need a ride?” he offered.

  “I can drive, don’t you worry.” She got up, pushing the sheepdog’s slobbery head off her lap. Wiping down her skirt, her hand came into contact with the sticky saliva and she grimaced. “Mangy mutt,” she grumbled under her breath, angrily shaking her head.

  “Mom, this is Tammy,” Jack said.

  Hs mother smiled and Tammy and then stared at her slobbery hands. “It’s nice to meet you, Tammy. I’d shake your hand, but that white monster drooled all over me. I’m going home to shower.”

  She nodded to Jack, grabbed her purse and keys, and headed out the door.

  “I take it she isn’t a fan of dogs,” Tammy commented.

  “Nope, but Alfred loves her anyway,” Jack said. “Okay, let’s survey the house for any damage. I’m pretty sure Dixie was up to something. She always is.”

  “You should really give her the benefit of the doubt once in a while. Maybe she was well behaved this time.”

  “Hmm, you have a point, but I’m telling you she did something. I can just feel it.”

  “What? Are your daddy senses tingling?”

  “As a matter of fact, they are,” Jack grinned in her direction. “If you didn’t know, I’m Super Dad.”

  Tammy laughed at his nonsense. Minute by minute, Jack was becoming even more appealing. Not only was he intelligent, but he was a perfect gentleman, and now, he was showing off a perfect sense of humor. Was there anything about this man that Tammy wouldn’t like?

  “Come on, let’s check upstairs,” Jack said after surveying the ground floor. Tammy nodded, following him up the staircase. Her hand slid up the banister, feeling the rich mahogany wood. Jack’s house was at least five times better than the shanty of an apartment she kept on the east side of town. Maybe she should consider teaching at the university… No, she was too invested in the little ones to ever give up her job.

  “I knew it…” Jack’s voice was low. He stepped forward, toward a dark-colored door. “She’s been in my study. I’ve told her a million times that she’s forbidden from going in there…”

  At this point, Jack was speaking more to himself than to her.

  Jack pushed open the door and gasped. Tammy stuck her head in and surveyed the chaos that had taken over the room. Half of his books were pulled off the shelves. Papers were scattered across his desk. A rather large spider plant was now on the ground, the pot completely shattered.

  Jack didn’t seem to see any of that. His eyes were fixed on something in the center of the room. Tammy followed his gaze and saw a purple dress spread out on the floor. There was a juice stain on it, surrounded by cookie crumbles.

  “How could she do this…?” he whispered to himself, falling to his knees near the dress. He clutched it in his hands, his eyes welling with tears. “Ellie used to love this dress… she… she…”

  Tammy put the pieces together. Dress on the floor… His wife’s name was Ellie. Dixie had just ruined a treasured possession of his late wife. Tammy felt awkward. She had no idea how to react in a situation like this. After a few seconds of indecision, she stepped forward, kneeling beside him. Her hand rested on the small of his back, rubbing it gently in an attempt to soothe him.

  “I’m sure she had no idea what she was doing or how much it meant to you.” Her voice was low. “She’s just a little girl…”

  Jack shook his head and crawled forward to a picture frame laid face down. He grabbed it slowly. The glass was completely shattered, but Tammy could see Jack in a tuxedo next to a lovely woman in white. Tears ran down his cheek as he looked at the photo. Jack clutched it to his chest, breaking down. “I told her not to come in here… Why does she always have to cause so much trouble?”

  Tammy’s heart broke for him. She couldn’t imagine the depth of his pain.

  “I couldn’t handle keeping my wife’s belongings, so I gave most of them away. But I kept these so that it would feel like I still had a part of her with me anytime I came into this room, but now, they’re ruined.” Jack put the picture down and sat there, a vacant look in his eyes.

  “Don’t say that. All you need is a new frame for the picture, and it’ll be as good as new. And the dress, I’m sure we can take it to a dry cleaner, and they can get out the stain. It’s no big deal,” Tammy said softly.

  “No big deal?” Jack threw his hands in the air. “This was my wife’s dress! She loved this dress, and her own daughter doesn’t even know it. Dixie apparently thinks it’s some plain old dress that she can ruin like everything else I buy her, but this dress means so much more…” Jack trailed off, looking into the distance.

  Tammy remained quiet, waiting for Jack to fill the silence. She hurt for him but knew that she should give him the time he needed work through his loss.

  “This is the dress that she wore on our first date. It was a bitterly cold December night. I told her it would be too cold to wear something like this, but she was adamant. She wanted to wear it, and I couldn’t tell her no. She had these beautiful, blue eyes that just couldn’t be denied.”

  Tammy could feel her heartache at his painful story. The tautness of his face and desperation in his voice made Tammy want to wrap her arms around him and make the pain go away, but she couldn’t bring herself to touch him. He still loved his wife and Tammy couldn’t intrude on that memory.

  Instead, she tried to offer a few words of comfort. “It’s okay. Ellie isn’t mad. She would be proud of the daughter you managed to raise by yourself. You don’t need a dress or a photo to honor her memory. As long as you keep her deep in your heart, she’ll always be with you.”

  Jack didn’t respond. He remained statue-still, clutching the velvet fabric of his late wife’s dress. The wonder and hope Tammy felt that evening about Jack dimmed. He was a wonderful man, but she couldn’t compete with a cherished memory.

  A single tear trickled down Jack’s cheek. It spurred Tammy into motion. There was something she could do!

  Chapter 14

  “I’ll be right back,” Tammy announced, getting up. Jack didn’t respond and just sat there, a lost expression painted on his face.

  She stepped out of the room and made her way down the hall, looking for Dixie’s room. Finally, she found it and gently opened up the door. As to be expected, Dixie was not asleep but sitting in her bed, drawing in her notebook. She gave a little squeak of surprise when she saw Tammy entering her room. She quickly threw down her crayons and pretended to be asleep.

  “Dixie, I know you’re awake. I just saw you.” Tammy’s voice was stern as she addressed the little girl. Dixie slowly opened up her eyes. “Come on, you have to apologize to your dad. You’ve really upset him.” Tammy took both of the little girl’s hands and hoisted her up.

  Dixie blinked a few times. “What did I do?”

  “Don’t play this game with me. We both know you snuck into your father’s study and played with your mom’s dress.”

  Dixie hung her head. “I didn’t mean to spill my juice on the dress!”

  “I know you didn’t honey, but you still went into the study. You know you shouldn’t. Come with me and apologize to your father. He’s very sad.” Tammy held out her hand, waiting for the little girl to grab it.

  “Okay…” Her voice was meek.

  “Good girl,” Tammy said, squeezing the girl’s hand. She towed her out of the room and together, they made their way back to the stu
dy.

  “Is he mad?”

  “Mostly he’s sad. He loved your mommy very much, and that dress was very important to her. So, he wanted to keep it safe to remember her. Does that make sense?”

  Tammy paused in the hallway. Then, she got down on her knees and held the little girl out from her. She looked into her eyes, trying to make sure Dixie understood. “He just doesn’t want you to play with those things like they are toys because they are special to him.”

  “Okay,” Dixie nodded.

  Tammy could only hope that Dixie took the message to heart. Dixie pulled out of Tammy’s arms and crept into the study. Tammy followed her, watching her little fingers wiggle and shake, not able to stay still. Dixie walked up to her father and paused, her arms still shaking. She stood there for a few seconds and then launched herself at her father, hugging him tightly.

  “I’m sorry Daddy. I didn’t mean to make a mess. I won’t play with mommy’s things ever again.”

  Dixie titled her father’s head up so that he was looking at her. Her lip quivered, and she reached out with her tiny fingers to touch one of her father’s tears. “Don’t cry, Daddy.”

  “Oh, pumpkin…” Jack wrapped his arms around his daughter and sighed into the top of her head.

  Tammy knew that Jack was a good father and would forgive Dixie. She didn’t understand the significance of losing her mother yet and what that pain had done to her father.

  Jack tugged Dixie free of him and looked into her eyes for a few seconds. “It’s okay… I forgive you. Do you really promise to never do that again?”

  “I promise.” She nodded and moved to rub her nose against her father’s in a tiny Eskimo kiss.

  Jack smiled and pulled her to his chest again. “I love you, baby.”

  “I love you, and I love Mommy even though she's in heaven,” Dixie whispered.

  Tammy saw Dixie’s words hit Jack like a physical blow. His smile evaporated, and his eyes became glassy. He sucked in a breath and whispered back, “I know, baby. She loves you, too.”