His Kind of Wonderful (Sugar Bay #2)

by Kinsley Gibb

  “Fine,” he muttered and changed his grip on the bags.

  “Let me help you with that.” Joe grabbed the bags from Tyler. He stood staring at Dani while she searched her purse for an appropriate tip.

  She dug out a twenty-dollar bill and held it out.

  Tyler stared at it. “That’s too much.”

  “Keep it, kid.” Joe said from beside her. The town was aware of Mrs. Cunningham’s struggle as a single mom with six kids. Money was tight and they depended on Tyler’s income. Childhood had skipped him. The poor kid was head of the household already. Dani was glad he’d received grants and scholarship money for college in the fall.

  They watched Tyler’s internal battle as he debated between taking charity and being able to treat his younger siblings to something. At last he nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Thanks.”

  Dani pushed open the studio door. “See you later” she said but he’d already dashed away.

  She met Joe’s gaze and he shrugged. Dani led the way to the back of Derek’s workshop where magic was performed on items others left for dead. The workshop was littered with projects in varying stages of progress. Eventually they would be transformed into treasures. They found the magician, himself, sanding a tabletop made from barn boards. He glanced up and grinned at the sight of Joe holding lunch.

  “Finally.” He wiped his hands on a rag. “I’m starving.”

  “You’re always hungry. How does Anabelle put up with you?”

  “She likes my big appetite.” Derek said with a shit-eating grin. He followed Joe to the kitchenette and rummaged through a bag.

  Dani groaned and Derek laughed.

  “Want one, brother?” He asked Joe and grabbed two sandwiches, a bag of chips, a salad and a cookie.

  Joe shook his head. “I’m good.”

  “You sure? I always order extra. Dani eats like a pig, but I’ll sneak you one if you distract her.”

  “Hey!” Dani punched her brother, not bothering to hold back, while Joe chuckled.

  Derek rubbed his shoulder. “Watch it! Anabelle won’t like it if anything happens to me.”

  “Then she should tape your mouth shut everyday before you leave home,” she muttered.

  Derek grinned, unwrapping a sandwich. “What’s going on, man? I haven’t see you in a while.”

  She felt Joe stiffen beside her and glanced at his face. He looked pained and a little bit guilty. They watched Derek take a huge bite out of his Cuban sandwich and close his eyes in pleasure.

  “Derek, we have something to tell you.”

  “Okay,” he said and finished his bite. He looked from one to the other and wiped stray crumbs from his mouth. He leaned back in his chair. “Everything okay?”

  “We’re moving in together.”

  Derek’s gaze snapped to Joe, his eyes narrowed. Tension coiled within the room. Dani felt a strange need to defend Joe. “It’s only pretend, Derek.”

  “Explain.” Derek shot back without pause.

  “Joe and I have been pretending to be a couple to distract Lisa and his assorted harem.” She felt Joe’s glare but ignored it. She didn’t want his damaged face on her conscious. “You were being bossy so I wanted to annoy you. I let you believe we were seeing each other.” She met her brother’s narrowed gaze with a grimace and continued. “But it’s all harmless and nothing to worry about.”

  “Nothing to worry about,” Derek parroted then took another bite of his sandwich. He looked from one to the other for a moment. “So you’re not dating?”

  She shook her head. “Nope.”

  “That’s good then. I was worried.”

  Joe stiffened and Dani held his forearm.

  Derek continued. “Being a pretend girlfriend to help is one thing but moving in? Is that really necessary?” He glared at Joe. “And without a chaperone?” He crossed his arms over his chest and cocked a brow. “I don’t think so.”

  “I’m twenty-nine Derek. I don’t need a chaperone.”

  “Yes, you do. I’ll call Anabelle.” He pulled out his cellphone.

  “Wait. What?”

  “From what Anabelle has said, the auction has caused Joe’s harem to go ape shit with adoration. I can kind of understand how stepping up the level of your pretend relationship will work, but I’m not letting you stay in his house without a chaperone.”

  “So what does that mean exactly?” A blood vessel throbbed at her temple. “Anabelle will be my chaperone?”

  “Nope,” he said and she let out a relieved sigh.

  “Anabelle and I will chaperone this weekend.” He lifted the phone to his ear and waited for Anabelle to pick up.

  Her face burned. “Is that really necessary Derek?”

  “It is.” He turned his attention to Joe. “Anabelle and I will be over Friday night after work. That won’t be a problem, will it?”

  “Of course not. You guys sort it out. I’ve got to run.” He turned to Dani. “I’ll see you later.”

  She nodded and watched Joe’s fine form walk away—so much for starting her research. She glared at Derek who held up a finger. He turned away from Dani to croon a message to his beloved while Dani simmered next to him.

  Once Derek was done, she rounded on him. “You’re being ridiculous. One, Joe is your best friend. Two, I’m over eighteen. Three, he’s not remotely interested in me that way.”

  Derek lifted an eyebrow. “Anything else?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I haven’t heard you say anything about you not being interested in him.”

  “Oh, right, that.” She willed away the blush that had spread over her face.

  Derek stared at her, as if waiting for her to deny being charmed, smitten, and in lust with his best friend. “Exactly.” He waved to the bags of food. “Eat something before the boys get here.” He grabbed a sandwich and a familiar notecard fell out.

  She reached for it but he grabbed it first.

  “What’s this?”

  “Nothing. It’s for me.”

  Derek lifted an eyebrow and read it silently.

  “I think Tyler has a crush on me.”

  “Yeah?” He flipped the card over.

  “It’s not a big deal. It’s just a crush so don’t go all GI Joe on him. He’s having a hard enough time, as it is.”

  Derek nodded, still looking thoughtful. “You sure it’s Tyler sending these?”

  “Pretty sure. I get them off and on. Usually on days we get delivery, so I think it’s him.” She held out a hand and he surrendered it to her. “They’re really sweet. He’s going make some girl very happy one day.”

  “Is that right? Girls dig that kind of stuff?”

  “Do girls like it when guys leave thoughtful notes? Let me think—of course, you dork. Don’t you leave notes for Anabelle?”

  Derek’s ears turned a little red and she laughed.

  “You’d better get on that, brother. Girls love that stuff.”

  “Hey, I do stuff.”

  “Please, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”

  “Not that, punk. I make stuff for her.”

  “Yeah, I guess that works.”

  “Your card has an unusual typeface. I don’t think it’s from a personal computer. It looks old school—like it’s from an actual typewriter.”

  “He’s probably using an old typewriter. Bless his heart.”

  Derek grunted. “Sounds like you like him?”

  “I don’t but I don’t want to hurt his feelings either.”

  Derek nodded. “How often have you been receiving the notes?”

  “For a couple of weeks now but don’t worry about it. We need to discuss this chaperoning business.”

  Derek’s preoccupation with the note disappeared and he glared at Dani. “Trust me on this, Dani. It’s for your own good.”

  “But—“

  “Eat. You know you’re hungry.”

  “I’m not.”<
br />
  “You are.”

  Her stomach chose that moment to rumble and Derek gave her a knowing look. She unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite.

  ***

  Joe picked up the basket of fruit, vase of roses and teddy bear off his porch and opened the door. He juggled the gifts and dropped them on the coffee table along with the rest of the gifts. Not including the donations he’d received at work, so far he’d received six floral arrangements, eight fruit baskets, and five boxes of assorted cupcakes—two from the Decadent Den and three boxes made from scratch. He now had enough stuffed Beanie Boo animals to start a collection but he planned to give them to Esme and Alex when he visited again. The baked goods and food items, he’d taken to work and gotten additional ribbing from his friends. Those bastards were enjoying his nightmare a little too much. It was tempting to not bring the goodies in but he knew he couldn’t eat it all by himself.

  It was sweet of the ladies to send him gifts but it was too much. If he didn’t owe so much to Linda Vitas Hospice, he would back out of the whole bachelor auction business immediately. But as it stood, only the memory of his aunt kept him on the auction block.

  He grabbed a Sam Adams from the refrigerator and headed to the back porch. He took a deep breath of gulf air and nursed his beer. After a while the familiar ebb and flow of the waves relaxed him.

  Despite his best efforts, more memories of his aunt surfaced. Images of Aunt Eugenia over the years—her standing in welcome that first night after the Sheriff dropped off when his dad had been shot, her cheering on the sidelines during soccer season, her crying in her bedroom when he’d come back from his first juvenile offense, her clapping like mad when he’d graduated. She’d probably been so grateful he’d actually managed to accomplish that milestone. As a child, she’d been his support and he’d broken her heart. He’d left for college and hadn’t come back until her last call.

  Even then, it hadn’t been to show her all his accomplishments to justify being away for so long and make her proud, it had been to say goodbye. It had been to late. She’d managed a few more days after his arrival before she passed. The brief time had barely been enough to deal with the shock much less to say goodbye.

  It hadn’t been enough.

  For weeks after her death, he’d remained drunk. Filled with guilt, he’d holed himself inside the cottage and only came out during the fierce summer storms. He’d done that only because he’d been able to release his anger while lightning and thunder railed around him.

  Why hadn’t she called earlier?

  How long had she known?

  Why didn’t he visit more?

  Why had she lied when he’d asked how she was during their weekly calls?

  But the truth remained, he should have known. He should have been there for her. He should have come visited and not relied on the phone. Maybe then, he’d have noticed her physical condition, maybe then they’d have been able to detect the cancer in its early stages, maybe then she’d still be alive.

  He was a fucking heartbreaker.

  Derek was right to protect Dani from him. She deserved a good and honorable guy. She deserved someone who didn’t hurt those around him down.

  He didn’t want to let Dani down.

  ***

  “I need help.”

  “Of course you do, dear.”

  Dani pulled a face at her sister, Dylan, who stood in Janie’s room.

  “No seriously. Janie, you are the fashion guru of the house.”

  “I am that, Aunt Dani. What are you looking for?”

  “I want to look like a girl.”

  “You do look like a girl.” Alex looked puzzled.

  “I meant I want to look sexy.”

  Three blank faces stared at her.

  “I want Joe to notice me.”

  Dylan got a knowing look in her eyes and grinned. “Oh, I think he notices you, Dani.” Dylan snickered and brushed past her. “He practically inhales you with his eyes,” she muttered so only Dani could hear.

  “What’s that mean, mommy?” Curious Alex had ears like bats. She could detect the barest whisper.

  Dylan sighed. “I’ll explain when you’re older, Alex.”

  “I want to push him to the next level. I want to make him wild.”

  “Okay.” Dylan looked at her oldest child. “Janie, I think you can handle this, can’t you?

  “Easy.”

  “Good. Alex, let’s get out of their way.”

  “But I want to stay.”

  “I’m making white chocolate chip cookies—your favorite.” She started out the door. “Knock him dead, Dani.”

  “For my purposes, I need him very much alive.”

  Dylan laughed.

  Alex looked torn between staying and finding out more big girl gossip or making her favorite cookies.

  Dylan called out from the hall. “You can lick the bowl!”

  “See ya.” Alex was still eight but she had her priorities.

  Janie looked thoughtful as she studied Dani. She walked around her aunt pulling her shirt and lifting her hair.

  “You’re making me nervous, kid. Tell me it’s not impossible.”

  “It’s not impossible, Aunt Dani, I know just what we’ll do.”

  ***

  Dani tasted the salt air as she pulled Thelma into the drive. She killed the engine and took a deep breath. She tucked her hair behind her ear and pulled the mass of brown waves to stream over a single shoulder. Janie swore the hair product she’d put in Dani’s hair would work despite the salt air. She hoped so. She had no desire to look like an overdressed poodle for her big seduction.

  The slamming of the front door caught her attention and she saw Joe amble down the porch steps. She got out of the car and heard him curse under his breath. She glanced his way but his expression had cleared. Dani moved to the back of the Wagoneer and opened the door.

  “Let me get that.”

  “That’s alright. I just brought a few bags. I can handle it.”

  He sent her a sharp look. “I know you can, Dani, but let me help you.” Joe took the heavy bags and left her with the smaller ones.

  “Derek and Anabelle are on their way.”

  She made a face. “Sorry about that.”

  Joe shrugged. “What are you going to do? He loves you. He doesn’t trust me with his little sister. I wouldn’t trust me either.” His eyes remained on her face, almost like he didn’t want to look below her neck.

  Hell no.

  She hadn’t suffered through Janie’s critique and spent hours planning the perfect outfit for him to ignore her. While most people would question taking fashion advice from a preteen, Dani knew Janie wouldn’t lead her astray. Between studying, Janie poured through the contents of Vogue and InStyle magazine. She knew what was hot and what was not whereas Dani studied Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. While Austen was classic reading, her knowledge of Pride and Prejudice didn’t tell her how to dress sexy so she’d gone straight to her niece for fashion advice.

  She lowered her voice and channeled a sultry and seductive sex kitten. “What Derek doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

  Joe’s gaze snapped to her. “Are you feeling, okay?”

  Damn. Instead of sultry, she’d sounded like a dying bullfrog. The blog she’d read swore men found a lowered voice to be seductive. She needed more practice but not today. Dani cleared her voice. She’d try again another time.

  “Yes. I’m fine. I wanted to remind you, I’m an adult. That’s all.”

  Joe looked in pain. He mumbled something about soccer and stats.

  “Joe?” She placed her hand on his forearm and he stiffened.

  He stepped back. “Wait, Dani. Derek is my best friend.”

  “I know that.”

  “Okay.” His eyes dropped to her outfit at last. She stood still and tried not to fidget like she usually did when she was nervous. The slouchy cream sweater slipped down her arm a l
ittle and his eyes widened. Who knew the sight of her shoulder and collarbone would command such a reaction. His eyes skimmed past the loose sweater and lingered on the length of her bare legs exposed by her short sequined skirt. Dani resisted the urge to pull the skirt down. Although many of her jean shorts exposed the same amount of leg, being in a skirt was a different matter—especially the brief skirt she had on. Maybe it was the elevated heels she wore—very different than her usual flats. The combination of the skirt and the heels made her legs look very long and Joe was transfixed.

  She shifted her weight to the other leg and watched his legs widen. Joe must be a leg man.

  “Okay,” she said while he stared. Her voice seemed to catch his attention and prompt him to speak again.

  He cleared his throat and looked into her eyes. “Good. You need to remember that. Because as much as I’m aware that you’re an adult, I cannot—I will not, jeopardize his trust.”

  “Well this weekend is going to be hard then.”

  “You’re telling me,” Joe muttered, probably to himself but she heard him. The frustration in his tone gave her a secret thrill.

  “By the way, I’ve decided on your payment for my extra cooperation.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Okay.” He stood arms akimbo. “What are your terms?”

  “Besides the research assist, I’ve decided upon extended kissing.”

  His eyes widened and he shook his head. “Come again?”

  “Think of it as an all you can eat buffet—except exchange food for kisses. I want unlimited kissing to go along with the sexual research. I want to get every detail, every nuance of the varying stages from deep kisses to heavy petting to explosive orgasms. And since you don’t plan to see it all the way through to actual intercourse, I want extra on the front end, so to speak.”

  “I’m not sure about this.”

  “It’s either you or Higgins.”

  Joe’s expression was fierce. She knew she had him.

  “No.”

  That surprised her. “No? You won’t grant me unlimited kissing and extended foreplay?”

  “No, I mean yes. I meant, no, you will not be kissing Higgins.”

  Of course she wasn’t. She didn’t want to climb Higgins the way she did Joe. If there was anyone she wanted to complete her research with, it was Joe.