His Kind of Wonderful (Sugar Bay #2)

by Kinsley Gibb

  “Huh?” Wide eyes blinked at her from behind dark framed glasses. He pushed them up his nose and stared at her in confusion. He’d never made a play for her, respecting the hands off vibe she’d erected between them. She figured he needed Dani for editing purposes, which far outweighed his need to get laid, especially when he had others more willing to be his playthings.

  She shook her head, pointing behind him, placing a finger over her lips. With her eyes she coaxed him to play along. She cleared her throat and channeled her inner seductress. “Professor, you’re so good—the best I ever had. I especially like that thing you do with your tongue—so many guys don’t know their way down south, so when you—”

  “Yes?” Higgins looked intrigued and leaned forward in his chair. Dani rolled her eyes at the professor’s eagerness and looked at Joe balancing on the chair’s thin back legs try to get closer without falling.

  “When you come from behind and lick up my—“

  At that moment Joe’s chair finally protested the misuse and dumped his ass on the floor and a loud clatter rang in the busy coffee shop.

  “Shit.”

  Dani giggled and Joe shot her an angry glare from his spot on the floor. Patrons got out of their chairs to help but Joe waved them away. Others were riveted at the sight of a sexy alpha male sprawled on the floor and one lady snapped a shot with her phone. Joe grimaced. “I’m okay. I slipped, that’s all.” He stood and addressed the room, “Let this be a lesson to the youth here. Don’t try to balance on the back legs of your chair, fellows. Just don’t do it. Listen to your mother. She knows best.”

  A few moms with preschoolers giggled and murmured to their children who pointed at Joe. Everyone returned to their business while Joe focused his attention on Dani and Isaac.

  “Very cute.”

  Isaac shrugged. “I just followed her lead.”

  Dani crossed her arms over her chest. “What are you doing?”

  “Having my coffee.”

  “No. What are you really doing?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Uh huh. Nothing to do with a favor for Derek?”

  “Nope.” He shook his head and she knew he’d die before he confessed so she grabbed Isaac’s sketches and shoved them inside her bag.

  “We’ll discuss this later, Professor. I’ve got to go.”

  ***

  Joe knocked on the front door to the farmhouse Dani lived in with Dylan and her three daughters. After his shift, he’d gone home for a shower and a change but knew he needed to talk to Dani as soon as possible.

  Several minutes went by with no one coming to the door. He heard raised voices on the other side so someone was home. He tried the doorbell and waited.

  At last he heard the sound of booted feet running towards him. The door was flung open and Esme stood blocking the entrance. Joe took in her outfit of rain boots, tutu and tiara. “Where’s the flood?”

  “Joe, come and save us!”

  “Save you from what, little bit?”

  “Godzilla’s in the house!”

  “Godzilla?”

  “Yes. Come on.” She took his hand in her much smaller one and did her best to drag him down the hall. “Alex needs backup. Aunt Dani’s on the counter and won’t come down. Janie is too busy laughing so they’re not much help.” They rounded the kitchen corner and Joe came to a stop.

  The normally clean kitchen slash family room was wrecked. Containers of various shapes and sizes were strewn about. Towels and clothes were spread into small piles on the floor.

  Wait—was that a sheer negligee? Was it Dani’s?

  “Stop messing with your phone and come help, Janie.” Dani said from her perch on top of the kitchen counter. The sight of her long legs in her frayed jean shorts distracted him for a second but then he saw Esme’s twelve-year old sister standing on top of the family room sofa filming with her iPhone.

  “Are you kidding? This is good stuff and I’m sending it to America’s Funniest Home Videos. We might win something.”

  “Joe’s here!” Esme’s voice bordered on bullfrog deep and got everyone’s attention.

  Dani’s gaze snapped to his and her already red face got redder.

  Interesting.

  “Roaarrrr! You’re going down, Godzilla.” The warrior cry took Dani’s attention away from him and they watched as eight-year old Alex chased a freakishly fast lizard toward the kitchen with a broom. The little warrior wore tall winter boots and gloves along with her shorts and t-shirt.

  The Grayson girls certainly had a flair for fashion.

  “For the love of God, Alex! You’re not supposed to be chasing it towards me.”

  Sure enough the little guy had darted across the dark wood floors towards Dani.

  “Make it stop. Make it stop. For the love of Pete, make it go away.” Dani danced on the counter as if the lizard planned to make the monumental leap and nibble on her toes. She did have cute toes so maybe it was possible. He’d nibbled on her toes a few times in his dreams before he woke up guilt ridden for having sex dreams about Dani. But damn, he couldn’t be blamed for what he did in his sleep, could he?

  Dani let out a screech as the lizard darted under the island and pulled him back to the matter at hand.

  “What exactly are you girls trying to do?”

  “We created barricades with laundry piles but when I chased it towards the piles, it got lost and by the time I found it, it took off again.” Alex maneuvered to the far side of the island. “But don’t worry, Joe. I’ve got this.”

  He smiled at her confidence and let her enjoy the hunt.

  “So now we’re trying Aunt Dani’s underwear.” Esme piped up next to him and swung their joined hands back and forth. “It’s see through so we can see where it goes.” He heard a groan from the kitchen and leaned against the counter.

  “Is that right? See through, you say?”

  Esme nodded with gusto, her eyes super wide. “Yeah, even her panties,” she said in a stage whisper as if the concept of see through underwear was flat out strange.

  “Esme. Stop talking.” Dani stood with her hands on her hips. The glare she sent might have been intimidating except for the fact she stood on top of the kitchen island and wasn’t in a position to do much. But Esme wasn’t taking chances and scooted closer to him. From behind his leg, she muttered, “But why? It’s just Joe.”

  “Because you’re not supposed to talk about Aunt Dani’s see through underwear to anyone.” Alex said from under the kitchen island, her voice muffled. He saw her crawling form slide the broom under the island. “Remember, she’s got a whole drawer full of secret big girl stuff we aren’t supposed to open or touch.”

  His gaze shot to Dani’s. He lifted an eyebrow in question and he could tell she wanted to stomp her feet in frustration but somehow refrained.

  “Please, Esme.”

  “Oookaaay.” Esme shook her head in exasperation and he ruffled her hair without touching the sparkly tiara.

  He leaned down to her level. “We’ll talk later, kiddo.”

  “No you will not. Joe, if you’re done having fun at my expense, come over here and take care of the lizard.”

  “But I’ve got it, Aunt Dani.”

  Dani’s sigh was telling. “Well, hurry it up then.”

  Like a flash, Alex threw a clear Tupperware container over the lizard and sat back on her heels. She turned to Joe. “Okay. Now I need your help. I put on gloves just in case I had to touch it, but since you’re here, you can take care of it.” She sent him a winning grin showing off her newly grown big front teeth.

  “Got it. You did a good job though, Alex. You protected the girls and you caught it all by yourself.”

  Her smile was big and proud. “Thanks, Joe.”

  He lifted the container and caught Godzilla by the neck. He took it towards the French doors that led to the back patio with Alex and Esme trailing behind him.

  “Truth be told, all th
at screeching was distracting. I didn’t want to kill it, but I didn’t want to touch it either and the silly thing wouldn’t run towards the doors we left open. It kept coming deeper and deeper into the house, like it wanted to live with us.” Alex shook her head then turned to him with a thought. “Maybe we should let it live in Janie’s old dollhouse in the attic? Wouldn’t that be fun?”

  “Over my dead body.” He heard Dani mutter and grinned, remembering the attic had been turned into Dani’s bedroom. But then he started thinking about what she slept in and the hot image got stuck in his mind and his body responded—a wholly unwelcome response considering his two chaperones were both under the age of ten.

  ***

  The Florida sky flamed with pink, orange and lavender when he pushed Esme in the swing he’d helped Derek build. Alex had long since taken off her boots and gloves. She was busy conquering the rock wall they’d designed. The play set was like none other and it had been a blast to build. The girls loved it and he loved hanging out with them while they enjoyed the details he and Derek had added to suit each child’s personality. A rock wall and swinging bridge for the active Alex, a princess tower and swing for Esme and a lookout hammock for Janie to read in private or stargaze at night.

  “Higher, Joe,” Esme commanded and he obeyed.

  He grinned at her happy squeal and pushed harder so she could fly. Her legs pumped hard trying to sustain the momentum.

  “More, more.”

  “If she falls off, Dylan will have your head.”

  He turned and saw Dani walk towards them with drinks in hand. He took a moment to enjoy her loose-hipped walk with her flower covered cowgirl boots. She didn’t fit into his image of a PhD candidate. Today she’d left her dark hair long and loose, which she seldom did. It was always up in a loose bun or some kind of clip thing but he liked it down. With it blowing in the wind, she looked like a gypsy fairy.

  “All cleaned up?”

  She made a face. “Yes. Our little adventure has left me with a lot of laundry to do.”

  He chuckled. “Why not just fold it up again and put it away?”

  She gave him an incredulous look. “Because it touched my clothes.”

  “Got it—lizard cooties.”

  “Something like that.”

  They fell silent and he continued pushing Esme on her swing.

  “Girls, you’re mom is back with groceries so you might want to help.”

  Esme vaulted out of the swing mid-air and his heart skipped a beat thinking she’d hurt herself but she took off running. “Mommy!” Alex passed her halfway to the back door. “That’s not fair! I’m first.”

  “Not if I beat you, you’re not.”

  Screaming ensued until Dylan met them at the door. The girls attacked her, each vying for the first hug. “Mommy! Mommy!”

  Dylan let herself be fought over and waved at him over their heads. He waved back and the threesome disappeared inside.

  ***

  “Thanks for the cupcakes.”

  He growled and the sound sent a thrill down her spine. “You’re welcome,” he said, not sounding the least bit gracious, more like a grumpy old man.

  She sat on the empty swing Esme left behind and pushed off with her toe. “Tsk. Tsk. Growling at your girlfriend.” She shook her head. “Not very romantic of you.”

  “Yeah. Sorry about that. Something about the lack of sugar does that to me. ” He moved behind her, grabbed the swing and took over pushing her.

  “I feel ya.”

  He maintained a steady rhythm and she relaxed into the movement Esme loved so much.

  “So that’s the Professor?” he asked and she looked back at him. His glower might have been intimidating if she hadn’t known he would never hurt her.

  “Pardon?”

  “The coffee shop guy.”

  “Yes. That’s the guy I’m having a hot and heavy fling with because I lack morals and don’t care about hurting his wife.”

  He gave her a measured look. “Our charade won’t work if you’re seeing someone.”

  “About that—you were going to explain?”

  “I will but first tell me why you meet him so often if you’re not having a relationship?”

  She bristled. “Joe, this faux relationship is in no way real and I don’t have to tell you anything.”

  “Fine. I’ll tell Derek what I overheard.”

  She exhaled a harsh breath. “I was messing with you and you know it.”

  “It sounded real to me—and very naughty at that.”

  “All ad lib. Trust me. I would never mess with a married man.”

  “Then why meet up with him?”

  “None of your business.” He looked ready to argue. “Trust me, Joe. It’s nothing.”

  “If you say so, but you should be careful. Derek is concerned about the guy’s reputation and how it’ll affect you.”

  She laughed. “That fear is completely ridiculous.”

  “I know how Derek can get so I won’t tell him what I heard but, seriously, watch yourself. You might not be interested in him but you don’t know how the professor sees the relationship. When a girl looks the way you do and spends time with a guy, he’s going to get ideas.”

  She pulled back. “Is that so?”

  “It is. You’re from the city but this is a small town and your reputation is serious business. It’s like a fucked up telephone game and if people start thinking you’re with a married man, it’s a hard thing to shake and it’ll come out worse than it is. Just stay away from the guy because it looked cozy and it’ll mess up our pretend situation.”

  She fought the juvenile need to roll her eyes and pushed off the swing again. “About that—I’m still waiting for an explanation.”

  Joe took over pushing again and she heard a heavy sigh. “I didn’t want to do it, but Lisa didn’t give me a choice and your name was the first that came to mind.”

  “The crazy lady from the bakery?”

  “Yep. She’s married to my mentor and lately, she’s been acting crazy—chasing me, flirting with me.” She heard the frustration in his voice and looked back at him. He shook his head. “She won’t take the hint that I’m not interested.”

  “Why not? She’s attractive—if you like the slightly unbalanced type.”

  “Please. Just like you don’t mess with married men, I don’t mess with married women. There are too many single women to go that route.”

  “True.”

  “Besides, I would never hurt George and if I tell him about her behavior, it’ll devastate him. But man—she’s ignored every avoidance maneuver I’ve tried.” His pushes seemed to be fueled by his frustration and soon she was flying higher than ever.

  “That sucks.”

  “It’s like she’s got an Armor All shell—everything rolls off if she doesn’t want to hear it. It’s the weirdest thing.”

  “And having a pretend relationship will somehow protect you.”

  “I hope so, but mainly it was so I wouldn’t have to participate in the bachelor auction.” She looked back and met his glare. He pushed the swing harder.

  “Oops,” she said, grinning. She was glad he couldn’t see her smile.

  “Yeah. Thanks to you and the crazy MacKinnon ladies, I’m in the damn auction I wanted to avoid in the first place.”

  “It’s for a good cause.”

  “I would have written a check.”

  “Yes, but now you can raise even more money. Imagine, the ladies of Sugar Bay will be clamoring for a chance to have an evening of your undivided attention.”

  “Call me a Neanderthal but I prefer to do the chasing.”

  “You are that,” she agreed and he grabbed the swing and brought her to a full stop. She turned in the seat and grinned when she saw his scowl. She couldn’t help but notice, even with the frown, he was still sexy.

  “So glad you find this amusing, Dani.”

  She stood and shrugg
ed. “Hey. Gotta find joy wherever you can.”

  “True. Although I am glad it was your name that first came to mind. Any other girl would try to turn this situation into a reality but I know you won’t.”

  “I won’t?”

  “Of course not. You can barely stand me.”

  “That is true.” Not really but maybe she was a better actress than she thought. “What about Derek?”

  “Let me worry about him.”

  “It’s your face.”

  “Yeah, but what else can I do? Without George I might have ended up in jail or completely lost. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am now.”

  “He’s that important to you?”

  “Yeah. He is.” Joe’s voice had softened and he stared into the distance as if lost in the past. Dani was surprised to notice while they’d been talking, the sky had darkened as night settled around them. A few stars twinkled in the sky, some shone more brightly than others and she rubbed the goose bumps along her arms. It wasn’t cold but the drop was noticeable in her thin t-shirt and shorts.

  Joe stepped close and covered her hands with his. He rubbed her arms slowly. “He’s the guy that took an interest in a fatherless kid who was doing really stupid things.”

  Dani had never seen Joe look vulnerable. For the entirety of their relationship—rocky as it was—she’d seen him cocky and arrogant, charming to others and aggravating to her. Seeing a human side of Joe was surreal. “Okay. I’ll help.”

  “Thanks, Dani. I appreciate it.” She sucked in a breath at the slow smile he gave her. It was different than the ones he usually sent her way—not teasing or full of arrogance or made her want to smack him silly. It certainly wasn’t full of charm like the ones he threw around for others. This smile was softer and she realized it was the first conversation they’d had that hadn’t ended in an argument or ribbing.

  His smile died when she didn’t reciprocate but she couldn’t. She felt odd, like her equilibrium was off.

  “I think I’m too old for the swing.” She took a breath and moved towards Janie’s lookout tower, her favorite spot of the structure. She climbed to the top and heard him follow. A rope hammock was slung between two anchoring posts but she didn’t sit down. She hadn’t yet discovered a graceful way to get in the damn thing and wasn’t interested in him laughing at her efforts. She moved to the railing and looked out at the view of Dylan’s property.