by Rita Herron
And she refused to give in to the ridiculous desire to check the Blalock driveway again. If Zeke had a date, she was happy for him. After all, his daughters deserved a woman in their lives and so did he. And she wouldn’t have to feel guilty about possibly misleading the girls today.
She sank onto her bed and placed her hand over her suddenly churning stomach, an image of Zeke’s dark chocolate eyes popping into her mind. Why did the idea of Zeke with another woman make her feel queasy?
Minutes later, her doorbell rang, jerking her from her troubled thoughts. She drank a glass of water, hoping to calm her stomach as she blotted Zeke from her mind. Then she opened the door and saw her date standing at her front door, outlined by the lights of Zeke’s minivan as he pulled in the driveway next door.
Chapter Five
“Daddy, we’re gonna see Paige!” August leapt out of the car into a full run with Summer following on her heels.
“Wait!” Zeke zeroed in on the expensive sports car parked in Paige’s driveway. “You can’t go charging over there! Paige has company.” Zeke juggled a bag of groceries, the contents almost spilling as he darted after the girls. Then he noticed a tall, thin guy standing on Paige’s front porch and paused. The man’s long hair was clasped into a ponytail, making him look artsy. And he was driving a Ferrari sports car. Paige’s date? Apparently he had money.
Damn. He didn’t want to intrude, but August and Summer were already barreling up the steps, their faces animated. They’d talked nonstop about Paige and the tea, and he’d spent the last half hour trying to tamp down their hopes.
He put the groceries on the porch and hurried to retrieve his daughters before they embarrassed him further by inviting themselves along on Paige’s date. The pony-tailed man stepped aside as Summer and August side-swiped him and nearly bowled him over, bombarding Paige with their chatter.
The man’s impeccable designer slacks and polo shirt suddenly made him self-conscious of his clothes. He wished he’d had time to clean up before seeing Paige again, especially since the guy on her doorstep looked like a model for a men’s clothing magazine. The cat and dog odor permeating his clothes had become second nature to him, but the animal hair and blood staining his dark slacks might turn off a woman. Paige’s soft voice wafted toward him as she spoke to Summer and August, then her whimsical laughter filled the air and heat spread through his veins.
He climbed the steps and edged near the stranger. Zeke stood a good foot taller than the man, and outweighed him by thirty pounds, making his ego swell slightly. Would Paige notice the difference?
“Hi.” Paige grinned sheepishly at him. “Zeke, this is Dash Huntington.”
He instantly assessed the man’s pale, lean face. Family money. If he owned a dog, he probably had a white poodle he kept clipped and adorned with bows.
Zeke extended his hand and pumped the guy’s hand vigorously, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing when Dash winced slightly. Dash Huntington didn’t look as if he’d worked a day in his life. His hands were bony thin, soft skinned, and his nails manicured.
“Nice to meet you,” Zeke said. “I live next door.”
“Hello,” Dash said in a cultured voice. “Your children were just introducing themselves.”
“Daddy, did you see his car?” August asked wide-eyed.
“It’s a ’vertible,” Summer said.
“Yes, I see.” Zeke unconsciously noted the comparison between his practical minivan and the customized red sports car. “Nice wheels.”
“I like it.” Dash’s grin revealed straight white teeth.
August pointed to Dash’s hair. “How come you gots a ponytail?”
Summer wrinkled her nose and cut Dash off before he could reply. “It looks like a girl’s.”
“And you smell funny.”
“Do you gots on perfume?”
“August.” Zeke fought a smile as Dash’s eyebrows arched into peaks above his startled eyes.
“It’s cologne, imported from Italy,” Dash said, patting his jaw.
“Well, uh, girls, Dash and I have to be going.” Paige shifted on her right foot, the hem of her skirt rising to reveal trim long legs. And that no-nothing top hugged her curves in all the right places. Zeke had the sudden urge to ask her to change. Did she have to look so damn sexy to go out with this guy?
His gaze locked with hers and a moment of insanity passed between them—desire, hot and bold, flamed in the sparkling green irises of her eyes and heat pummeled through his body. Paige licked her lips and swallowed, the fine column of her throat working as she took a deep breath, her enticing breasts falling and rising with such gracious aplomb that his eager body hardened with lust.
Somewhere in the recesses of Zeke’s befuddled brain he felt one of his daughters tugging on his sleeve. Still, he was reluctant to break the moment, because he realized in that split second of time, Paige was attracted to him. The thought brought a surge of unexpected emotions—desire, lust, protectiveness and something else…tenderness. And a longing so deep he suddenly ached with it.
Then August jerked his hand. “Daddy, are we still gonna roast hot dogs?”
“And camp out?” Summer asked.
He shook off the spell and Paige blushed, then turned toward her date, the moment lost in time, but imprinted in his memory forever, straining at his consciousness while he deliberately tried to shake it away.
“Yes, girls, we’re going to camp out,” he said. While the two of them go off and do who knows what? Dash placed his hand at the small of Paige’s back and spots flashed behind Zeke’s eyes. Red, fiery spots, bursting into flames, exploding like tiny firecrackers.
“That sounds like fun, girls. Roast some marshmallows for me.” Paige backed away from the guy’s touch and stumbled inside her front door. A gratifyingly barbaric reaction hit Zeke when he realized she’d shied away from the other man’s touch. “I’ll find my purse and we’ll go.” Her voice sounded shaky and he wondered if she might change her mind and stay home. Wishful thinking on his part.
He had to forget about Paige, had to curb his desires and concentrate on making his children happy. His girls were the reason he hadn’t asked her for a date.
“Let’s go, Daddy,” August whined, tugging at his sleeve. “I wanna make a fire.”
Summer didn’t seem as anxious. She simply stared at Paige as she walked out.
Paige knelt and brushed Summer’s hair with her hand. It was such a loving, automatic response that Zeke’s chest tightened. “I had fun today, girls. Thanks for letting me come to your school.”
A wealth of emotions bombarded Zeke. His daughters were starved for a woman’s attention, they were already getting attached to Paige. But Paige had made it clear she didn’t want a family.
“Mr. Turner and June Bailey called and want watchdogs,” Paige said. “Maybe a golden retriever or a Lab.”
Zeke nodded. “I’ll give them a call and see what I can find.” Then he turned to the twins. “Let’s go, girls. We need to set up the tent before the sun fades.”
“Enjoy your little backyard outing,” Dash said, leading Paige toward the flashy car.
A snarl curled on Zeke’s lips and the word that froze on his tongue was one he definitely couldn’t voice with his daughters present. Instead, he led the girls away and encouraged them to help him gather kindling to light a fire in their outdoor brick barbecue pit.
A few minutes later Zeke stared into the flickering flames, contemplating this wild attraction he had for his neighbor. The burning embers popped and cracked, sending off a wave of heat that had him sweating and imagining long lazy nights with a certain woman in his arms. He grimaced as he backed away from the heat. The flames were sizzling hot, almost as hot as the fire Paige had ignited within him. And he needed to stay away from both of them.
PAIGE TRIED TO relax and make small talk as Dash zipped the sports car in and out of traffic, but her mind kept straying to the Blalock backyard camp-out. She’d never had a family to
speak of, just her and her mother. Family evenings like the one the Blalocks had planned were something she’d always wanted to have growing up.
Minutes later, Dash maneuvered the sleek car into the parking lot of the country club where the party was already underway. They climbed from the car and Dash guided her through the lovely garden up a winding sidewalk toward the pool area. Loud rock music blasted from inside, spilling onto the patio and filling the balmy spring air, and dozens of people filtered back and forth from the indoor room to the wooden deck. A creek gurgled nearby, and dogwood and honeysuckle blossoms added a heavenly fragrance to the air. Tables laden with a variety of food and beverages seemed to be drawing a crowd. Couples danced on the patio and voices and laughter drifted to the walkway. “How do you know Amelia?” Dash asked.
“We met at the boutique where I work,” Paige said. “And Derrick and I grew up together. How about you?”
“Well, I haven’t actually met Amelia. Derrick and I belonged to the same fraternity in college at Stanford.”
“Are you in the security business also?”
He shook his head. “No, investments. I was raised abroad. Dad always dabbled in the stock market. I guess I followed in his shoes.”
Paige wound her fingers together. Her date’s upbringing was so vastly different from her own that she wondered if they had anything in common. She studied his features, hoping for a spark of attraction to surface, but his slender build and polished tone gave him an air of stuffiness, especially compared to Zeke’s muscular frame, husky voice and easy grin.
But Dash was single and unencumbered by family. Zeke wasn’t. He had two adorable daughters and…well, he was adorable himself, but that was beside the point, she thought, frustrated.
Dash took her hand and she tensed, then forced herself to relax, willing herself to focus on his positive features. He was well-dressed, probably had his suits custom-tailored. Heck, he might even have contacts in the design field. He folded her hand into his, and she tried not to wonder if he had other things in mind. Hand-holding—no big deal.
But his palm felt smooth and slightly damp, and the scent of his sweet, cloying cologne enveloped her, stifling the warm night air. As they climbed the steps, she spotted Amelia and relief swamped her.
She waved at her friend. “I’m going to talk to Amelia.”
“Fine. I’ll find Derrick and get us a drink.” His lips brushed her hair as he leaned close so she could hear him over the noise. Paige flinched slightly, unsettled by his touch and vaguely aware that if Zeke had brushed his lips against her hair, she would have stopped breathing in anticipation of more to come. All she could think about now was putting distance between Dash and herself. Thankfully, he went to the bar to get them drinks.
“Paige!” Amelia threw her arms around her, a glass of champagne tipping precariously to the side.
“Congratulations!” Paige hugged her. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I’m happy for myself,” Amelia said with a giggle.
Paige laughed and pulled her aside. “So when is the big day? And where is that hunk you talked into commitment?”
Amelia laughed again. “He’s around here somewhere. Guess what?”
“What?”
“Instead of eloping, we decided to get married in the church and I want you to make the wedding dress!”
“That’s great!” Paige’s heart thumped in excitement. “When’s the wedding? I hope you’ve given us lots of time to plan so I can make you a special gown.”
“Early August,” Amelia said. “I’m having my dream wedding—bridesmaids, flowers, the works.”
“August? That’s only eight weeks away,” Paige said in alarm. “We’ll have to shop for a pattern, look at different styles—”
“I know, it’s going to be so much fun!” Amelia squealed, her bracelets jangling.
“Let’s look at dresses soon so I can see what you want,” Paige suggested. “Traditional? Something old-fashioned? Low-cut? A long train?”
“Don’t worry tonight.” Amelia gestured toward Dash as he approached with the wine. “Just have fun, Paige. You work too hard, you know.”
“Yeah, I know.” Paige grinned at the sincerity in Amelia’s voice and thought of the friendly argument they’d had repeatedly over the past few years. Amelia had always been the partyer, Paige the loner.
Derrick sauntered up and grabbed Amelia, swinging her around for a lip-locking kiss. The crowd cheered. Paige blushed as Dash’s gray eyes twinkled with mischief. A Jimmy Buffet tune wafted from inside and couples filled the patio using it as a makeshift dance floor.
“Come on.” Dash grabbed her hand, tossed down the rest of his drink and practically dragged her to the dance floor, swooping her around in circles. For the next hour, they danced and gyrated to a dozen songs. In between, Dash allowed her to rest long enough for him to down another scotch. Paige stopped counting after his sixth drink. She also switched to soda, deciding without a doubt she would be driving herself home.
Two hours later, she decided she’d had enough of the party life. Booze flowed freely among the crowd and as the night wore on, her impatience with her date flared. They whirled through a round of popular tunes, but when Buffet belted out with “Why don’t we get drunk and screw…” Paige excused herself and found the ladies’ room.
When she emerged, ready to go home, Amelia and Derrick were snuggled in a corner in a passionate embrace. To her horror, she noticed some of the guests had decided to go skinny-dipping in the pool. Even worse, her date was playing sharks and minnows with the party animals, wearing nothing but his Rolex and silk boxers.
Paige retreated to a corner alone, contemplating whether or not to call a taxi, or borrow Amelia’s car and head home. But the tiki torches flickered in the inky darkness of the night and her thoughts strayed until she found herself dreaming of roasting marshmallows over a camp-fire, singing silly songs with four-year-olds, and cuddling up to her handsome, sexy neighbor. When her dreams shifted to include a relationship and marriage with more babies, she decided she’d gone insane.
She found Dash and finally coaxed him into letting her drive home. As soon as he climbed into the car, his head fell back against the seat and a loud, undignified snore rumbled through the air. So much for his charm.
Disgusted, she realized she had no idea where he lived. As drunk as he was, how could she in good conscience let him drive himself home from her house? There was only one answer. And she didn’t like it—not one bit. She couldn’t.
He would have to spend the night.
ZEKE AND THE girls had charred the hot dogs, scorched the marshmallows and accidentally dribbled melted chocolate all over their shirts. The girls had eaten so many s’mores Zeke worried they would have stomachaches, if they slept at all. He tucked them into the sleeping bags, rushed to check on the kittens and the salamander the girls had adopted, glanced next door for the zillionth time to see if Paige had returned, then dragged Henrietta out of the garbage and settled her into the tent for the night. At least the dog was sleeping. But she’d gotten into the chili he’d put on his hot dog, and it hadn’t agreed with her stomach. She would probably keep him awake all night.
If the thought of Paige not being home didn’t do it first. He checked his watch.
“Is she home yet?” Summer whispered.
“No.” He winced, realizing he’d given himself away.
“Think she’s all right, Daddy?” August asked.
“I’m sure she is. I’m just keeping an eye on her house because of that neighborhood watch thing I told you about.” He hoped his voice sounded sincere.
“Uh-huh.” August giggled as if she’d seen through his white lie.
“I didn’t like that man with the ’vertible,” Summer piped in.
“He gots an awesome car,” August said. “But he looks like a girl.”
“And he gots beady eyes.”
“And he stinked, too.”
Zeke thumped his fingers on his watch.
“Go to sleep, girls.”
“Night, Daddy,” both girls chimed.
“Night, sweethearts.” Zeke kissed them again, then turned off the flashlight just as headlights beamed in the driveway next door.
“That Paige?” Summer whispered.
“I don’t know,” Zeke said in a soft voice. “And we shouldn’t keep tabs on her.”
“Don’t you like her, Daddy?” August asked.
Zeke glanced through the tent window to watch Paige climb out of the car. “Of course I like her. But she’s only a friend.”
“Don’t you think she’s pretty?” Summer asked.
“Well, yeah, sure.”
“You wanna kiss her?” August said.
Summer made a hissing sound. “Oooh, kissin’s yucky.”
“We’re not going to talk about kissing. Now, good night, girls.” Zeke chuckled. He had no intention of opening up a can of worms by answering that question. Plus he wanted the girls quiet so he could hear what was happening next door. Straining to see without being too obvious, he arched forward and peeked through the bottom opening, unzipping the tent slightly for a better view.
To his surprise, Paige exited from the driver’s side, went around and opened the car door for Dash. Then she leaned over, put her arm around him, and the guy draped his arm over her neck. The man was holding her so close Zeke thought they were going to fall on the ground together. Geez. Was the guy going to paw her right in the yard?
And where were his clothes? He was in his boxers!
“Why’s that man got on his underwear?” August asked.
Zeke swallowed. Exactly what I’d like to know. “I don’t know, honey. Maybe he spilled something on his clothes or something.”
Paige hit the garage opener and the door slid open, then the two of them walked slowly inside, still holding onto one another as if their bodies were cemented together. He scrubbed his hand through his hair, lost his balance and fell forward on his nose.