His Kind of Wonderful (Sugar Bay #2)

by Kinsley Gibb

  “Is that what the big secret is about?”

  Joe shrugged. “I didn’t say that. But I will say she thinks you and Dylan’s approval hinges upon her having a PhD. She feels a lot of pressure to succeed.”

  “That’s bullshit. We’d love her regardless of whether she finished her doctorate. We just assumed that’s what she wanted and we wanted to support her. I mean she’s always had her head stuck in a book. Hell, that’s why I wanted her to work at the studio. It’s a low stress job that gave her plenty of time to study.”

  “You need to make sure Dani knows this.”

  “I will.” Derek took a sip of his drink. “So the Professor wasn’t looking for Dani to model for him? I had a bad feeling about that.”

  “Yeah, you weren’t far off track with that feeling but she’s not going to do it.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Trust me. He’s fully aware if she sits as his model in any state of undress, his ass is mine. You won’t have any more trouble with him sniffing around Dani, I’ve already confronted the bastard.”

  “I guess you would.” Derek sent him a knowing look.

  Silence reigned between the two friends.

  “How long have you known?’

  Derek didn’t bother to prevaricate. “That your pretend relationship was a sham?”

  “Yeah.”

  Derek shrugged. “Since the beginning.”

  “Bastard.”

  Derek grunted and took a sip.

  “The whole time?”

  “Yep.”

  “And you let me suffer.”

  “Basically, yeah.”

  His best friend’s grin was wide and self-satisfied. It made Joe want to punch the guy’s teeth out.

  “At first I wanted to test your self control.”

  Joe narrowed his eyes but Derek continued as Joe weren’t seriously contemplating Derek’s demise.

  “It was fun watching the two of you scramble and act all cool.”

  “I ought to beat you.”

  “Go ahead and try if it’ll make you feel better. Just don’t mess up my pretty face too much. Anabelle’s rather partial to it.”

  “I don’t know why? You’re an ugly s.o.b.”

  Derek’s laugh was cocky as if he knew nothing was further from the truth and even if it were, it wouldn’t matter anyway because he had his girl. Arrogant bastard.

  “You should call her.”

  “Why would you want me to? I’ve got to be the furthest thing you want for your sister.”

  “Not necessarily.”

  Silence settled between them while Joe absorbed his friend’s comment. “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “But I’m not—“

  “Man, you’ve got to let the past go. You were young and stupid but you straightened yourself out and became a great guy as a result. The town is downright proud of you. Even as a new comer, I can see that. They adore you. They know you’re nothing like your dad.”

  Joe felt the knot in his chest loosen. He didn’t know what to say.

  “Let go of the past Joe. Stop punishing yourself for your old mistakes and for your father’s mistakes.”

  His eyes burned. Damn. Derek hadn’t minced with words.

  “I’m not good enough for her.”

  “Bullshit. I wouldn’t have let you touch her if I thought that. Anabelle has mocked my attempts at matchmaking but I think I did pretty well until you guys screwed it up.”

  “That was your idea of matchmaking?”

  “Yep.” He chugged the remainder of his Sam Adams. “I should start a damn service.”

  Joe jerked back, incredulous. “Yeah, you do that, but don’t quit your day job.”

  Derek grin was smug. Joe thought back to all the times he worried about Derek’s concerns over anyone touching his little sister and the frustration he went through when he held back in respect for Derek. “Bastard.” Derek was lucky Joe didn’t shove him off his stool.

  “Do you know how painful it was in the beginning—the torture or wanting but not having? Looking but not touching? All because I didn’t want to mess up our friendship?”

  Derek grimaced. “Yeah. Anabelle accused me of being a sick bastard for having so much fun, but hey, what can I say?”

  “Asshole. I had the worst case of blue balls ever recorded. I almost got hyperthermia from the number of cold showers I took.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, you lasted far longer than I gave you credit for. Extra points for effort.”

  Joe shook his head. “You’re sick in the head, you know that?”

  “Sorry, man.” Derek gave Joe his best pitiful look.

  “Put those dimples away, man. That only works on the chicks not on dudes.”

  “There was no other way to play it out. Dani is flat out stubborn—too stubborn to listen to me. If I’d have stood by and vouched for you, she wouldn’t have found you near as interesting.”

  “Gee, thanks. I might get a big head.”

  “You know what I’m trying to say. You should thank me.”

  Despite Joe’s incredulous glare Derek went on. “Because I said no, you became ten times more desirable in her eyes.”

  “Your faith in my charms is staggering.”

  “Worked didn’t it?”

  “For about two seconds.”

  “That’s because you suck. Not because you’re not worthy but because you wimped out.”

  “I’m not smart like her.”

  “Who is, man? Besides, you’ve got a decent brain. I don’t worry about you messing up the gene pool for the next generation, if it makes you feel better.”

  “Don’t take up motivational speaking, Derek. You pretty much suck at it.”

  Derek chuckled. “You’re doing fine, Joe. Your side income is making serious bank. Not many people do that with their hobby. It’s nothing to sniff at. So it doesn’t matter that you’re not book smart. You’re a ‘hands on’ type of guy. A doer. No shame in that.”

  The bartender put an order of onion rings in front of them and Derek slid them away from Joe.

  “Hey, that was mine.”

  “Lay off the onions, man. I’m just helping you out. You haven’t sealed the deal yet, whereas, my girl loves me, onion breath and all.”

  “That’s debatable. Anabelle’s probably too nice to say anything to hurt your fragile feelings.”

  Derek sent him an arch look. “Stop deflecting. The question is—what are you going to do about Dani?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Then you really are a dumbass because, by my estimate, you’re smart. You have honor. You jumped through hoops to avoid hurting George’s feelings. You took care of and honored your aunt Eugenia—and don’t give me that shit about how you were wild as a teenager and left home to join the Marines. Your aunt understood and never blamed you. It’s normal to want to see the world. You came back. In the end, you came back and took care of her. She could have called you back sooner. She knew you would have come.”

  “I would have.” Joe sighed. “I would have dropped everything if I’d known.”

  “She knew, man. She was probably hoping to beat the cancer and didn’t want to worry you. You always said she had that ‘do or die’ attitude.”

  “I could have saved her.”

  “No, you couldn’t. You’re not God. You have to let go of the guilt. There was nothing you could do. Cancer is a son of a bitch. You have to stop blaming yourself—you didn’t let her die, you don’t walk away from those you love, and you are not your father, so you can’t use that as an excuse to give up on the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

  Derek thumped Joe’s back. Hard.

  “She’s my sister and pretty fantabulous—that is, if you can get over her crap taste in music, bullfrog singing voice, messy housekeeping skills, complete inability to cook—“

  “I like cooking.”

  “Well, you s
ee—you’re freaking perfect for each other. But no, seriously man, you’d be a loser if you don’t claim her because of your assumption of not being good enough. We wouldn’t be friends if I thought you sucked.”

  Hope filled Joe. His heart began pounding at the possibility that it would work, that he was worthy of her. “She is pretty fabulous. She’s so smart and hot—God, is she hot. And the sex is incredible—“

  “Hey! Woah—stop right there. If there’s one thing a man never wants to hear—scratch that—two things. It’s that his dick is cute AND details about his sister’s sex life. So stop. For the love of our friendship—just say no.”

  “Sorry man.” Joe’s face felt warm. The guy had a point.

  He slid off the stool. His mind already filled with plans.

  He had a brainiac to catch.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Dani packed the last of her belongings in Kurt’s old car. She hadn’t realized she’d brought so many of her things but then recalled the slow migration of belongings over the course of their faux relationship. She took one last glance at the cottage and started to leave when something demanded she go back.

  She entered the cottage with a heavy heart knowing she’d never be back again. There would be no reason to. The quilt Joe had utilized as a chastity belt lay folded on the sofa. She chuckled, remembering his desperation to erect any and every barricade in the beginning.

  She opened the door to Joe’s study and recalled the afternoon of their first real kiss. Just as it had been that afternoon, light streamed through the window and puddled on the floor while dust motes danced about the silent room. She ran her fingers along the shelves stacked with books and let the memory roll over her.

  After a few minutes, she turned to walk out but a feeling came over her so she paused and turned back. Slowly, she walked to Joe’s desk. Books were neatly stacked on the corner. A message board filled with photos and images along with a few notes hung above his desk. An old and yellowed image of his aunt was tucked up high. She moved closer to see the family resemblance and noticed a familiar looking notecard tucked under the photo. Dani had an unexplainable need to touch it but it was too high. She started to pull his desk chair out for a boost but the chair was caught on something. Dani kneeled to untangle the chair from the fabric that had been caught on the caster wheels and discovered the fabric had been covering a large object.

  Curious, she pulled it back and found an old typewriter—a really old typewriter—the kind of typewriter that came from estate sales and had a tendency to drop letters. Her heart began pounding high in her chest. She pulled it out further. Was it possible? She shook her head at the fanciable notion. She rooted around his desk for a piece of paper to disprove her theory. Finding one, she slid a scrap in and began to type.

  What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.

  Her heart burst as hope filled her. It was the same typing from all those notes she’d been sent. She climbed on the desk and removed the tack from the yellowed notecard.

  “Holy cow,” she breathed. It was the same cardstock used for the notes.

  She sat on his chair as the implications hit her. Joe had been the one to send her the notes all along—not Tyler.

  “So now you know.” Joe stood in the open door. She hadn’t heard him drive up.

  “How?”

  “I paid Tyler to help me out.”

  “So it was never him?”

  “No, sweetheart. It was me all along.”

  “I thought it was Tyler and that he had a crush on me.”

  “Yeah, well, he was embarrassed about that. So I had to pay him extra to keep quiet and to continue delivering the notes.”

  She rubbed a hand over her face, embarrassed.

  “But why?”

  “I wanted you to know how special you are—how much I love you—even when I couldn’t tell you myself. And then after we started our pretend relationship, I continued because I couldn’t figure out how to tell you without giving you false hope.”

  She thought about all the times she’d hoped the sender had been someone she could realistically love. Then she remembered all the times she’d tried talking to Tyler, wanting to soften the blow of what she saw as his unrequited love. Dani groaned.

  “Hey now, sweetheart.” Joe seemed to know her train of thoughts and wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t feel bad about Tyler. From the way Charlie tells it, he’s found love with the dog groomer. She’s more his speed. You’re a little fast for him.” He winked.

  “Yeah?”

  “You’re more my speed.”

  “So you’re done thinking you’re not good enough for me.”

  “Someone convinced me I was an idiot.”

  “So you talked to Derek, huh?”

  “Yep.”

  “And you’re both still alive?”

  “Yep.”

  She settled in his arms and savored the feel of his strength. “Just so you know—I love you, Joe.”

  He squeezed her tight and gave her the kind of hug that every woman wanted—the kind of hug that said how much you were loved and adored and that everything would be okay. “I love you too, Dani. Thanks for not giving up on me.”

  A sheen of moisture glistened in his golden eyes and her throat tightened. She pulled back. “How could I? According to Derek’s assessment—I have a freakishly stubborn nature.”

  Joe chuckled and nuzzled the soft skin behind her ear.

  “Well, thank God for that.”

  For moments thereafter, while the light rays dimmed in the quiet room, they rediscovered one another. With hushed whispered and fierce passion they celebrated their newfound love.

  Epilogue

  The sound of the surf surrounded their little cocoon. A light breeze drifted over them and Joe looked down at his wife who snuggled beside him.

  His wife.

  Married for three months and although it felt surreal to say the word ‘wife’, he never got tired of it. Never had he imagined Dani would find him worthy. But somehow she did and she agreed to share her life with him, to be his. For that reason alone, he would never give her cause to regret her decision.

  His wife.

  His heart squeezed in his chest and he caught his breath. Her soft cheek beckoned and he gave in to the temptation and stroked her. These days, sleep claimed her easily. Derek had mentioned Anabelle had been the same in the early stages of pregnancy. Instead of walking like normal men did, his friend had strutted like a peacock throughout Anabelle’s pregnancy. You’d think he was the first guy to impregnate his wife but Joe had to admit to a certain thrill that went through him when he thought of the life he and Dani had created together. He wanted to thump his chest and roar to all and sundry. What a sap he’d become. He brushed a kiss to her forehead.

  His wife.

  Dani moved in her sleep.

  “Joe,” she murmured and blindly stroked his face—the same way his aunt had a lifetime ago.

  His heart stilled and a warm presence filled him. The usual feeling of sadness when he thought of his aunt no longer lingered and he knew his aunt had bestowed on him a pardon encouraging him to forgive himself and to release the guilt that had ruled him for so long.

  His wife.

  He was a lucky man. She often shared his workspace and while he developed new designs, she wrote naughty stories for her many fans. He took his role as research consultant seriously and was happy to provide a daily source of inspiration. He grinned. Role-play was a new game for them but for the sake of her art, he was up for the sacrifice.

  Joe thought about her first cover and how she’d coerced him to model for Professor Pervert as the inspiration for her hero. Derek had crowed for months on that. He shook his head but embarrassment and heckling from Derek was a small price to pay for Dani’s happiness. For the next cover he’d dress as a Viking hero. He had to admit the thought of wielding a big ass sword was fun and even Derek had admitted to some envy
when he saw the props Professor Pervert had in storage. Although Dani had repeatedly asked him to call the professor by his last name, the moniker was stuck in his brain. But he tried in front of the guy. According to Dani, Higgins wasn’t a bad sort, just misunderstood.

  His Dani had a kind heart. Brilliant and independent, she had her own code of conduct and value system. For that he’d be eternally grateful since through her love, she’d brought about his redemption. He’d been certain no one could love him, but she had. Not just for his exterior package, but for his whole being—mind, body and soul—mistakes and all. He was humbled.

  His wife.

  She was his moon, his stars, and his eternal happiness. He snuggled her closer, maneuvering an arm around her. His eyes drifted shut as contentment filled him and he let the sound of the lapping waves lull him to sleep.

  Life was good.

  Thank you for reading Dani and Joe’s story. Reviews are gold to indie authors. Please consider leaving a review at your favorite retailer and Goodreads to help readers find His Kind of Wonderful. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter. I’ll send you a free short story as a gift.

  Other books by Kinsley Gibb

  Sugar Bay Series

  His Kind of Perfect – Anabelle and Derek - available now

  His for Christmas – free short story when you sign up for my newsletter on my website – Derek and Anabelle’s first Christmas together

  His Kind of Wonderful – available now

  Dani & Joe’s story

  His Kind of Crazy - Winter 2015

  Charlie & Heath’s story

  Contact the Author

  Email: kinsleygibb@gmail.com

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  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8425583.Kinsley_Gibb