by Beth Andrews
If she was in Houston she wouldn’t think twice. Texans were friendly folks, the kind who helped out a girl when she needed it. But who knew what these Pennsylvanians were like. East coasters were different, especially the northern variety.
A light, female laugh drifted up from a doorway and she tiptoed toward it. Saw a set of narrow stairs leading down to the first floor. Daphne hurried down, peeked around the corner and gave a huge sigh of relief to find the kitchen...and Gracie.
“My savior,” she said, only then noticing the handsome boy with short brown hair and a swoon-worthy grin who stood on the other side of the counter. “Oh, not you,” Daphne told him. “Though I’m sure you’re a very nice person.”
“Daphne,” Gracie said, not the least perturbed to find a guest sneaking down what was obviously an employees-only stairway, or that said guest was now hiding behind said stairway wall like a creeper. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just having a bit of a clothing issue.” She started to turn to show Gracie what the problem was, but then realized she would be flashing the boy, too, so she stayed very still. “I can’t zip up my dress.”
The boy raised his eyebrows but thankfully didn’t get all weird about a strange woman saying she needed help getting into her clothing. “Guess that leaves me out?” he asked in a tone that sounded hopeful—as if he wanted her to disagree.
She laughed. She loved kids, teenagers most of all. And it was obvious this one was a charmer. “I think, in this situation, that would be best.”
“All right, though I should point out, I’ve been zipping zippers since I was three.” He grinned at her, then at Gracie. “I hate to brag, but I was really advanced for my age.”
Gracie sent him a serene smile. “That must be why you couldn’t tie your shoes until you were in the second grade. Too much studying up on zippering.”
“I like to focus on one thing at a time.”
And holy cow, but that was said intensely and the meaningful look he shot at Gracie had her blushing. Wowza. In a couple of years that kid was going to be mighty dangerous to a girl’s heart.
Daphne studied Gracie. Then again, it looked as if he was already a danger to one particular girl’s heart right now.
“I wouldn’t mind someone focusing on getting this dress closed,” Daphne said. “It’s getting drafty in here.”
“Oh, right,” Gracie said at the same time the boy said, “I’ll uh... I’ll just go warm up the car, okay, Gracie?”
She bit her lower lip. “Are you sure you want to go shopping tonight?”
The boy seemed disappointed but shook it off quickly, sent Gracie a grin. “I’m running out of time. Plus, the stores are open late so...”
“Okay,” Gracie said, though she still seemed indecisive about whatever they were discussing. “Yes. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
He grabbed a coat and hat and loped off, the way handsome, charming teenaged boys did, all ease and confidence and grace. The world was his and he knew it, if only because he’d been blessed with the kind of good looks and friendly personality that appealed to the masses.
After he’d turned a corner, Daphne stepped into the kitchen and presented Gracie with her back. “Can I just say...wow. Your boyfriend is supercute.”
When Gracie didn’t answer, Daphne glanced over her shoulder to find the girl blushing so hard, Daphne worried her face might burst into flames.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Gracie said, ducking her head. She grabbed the zipper’s tab with enough force to pull Daphne back a step. “We work together. And he is a friend. My friend. Who is a boy. But we’re not, we don’t...”
“I get it,” Daphne said gently, surprised to see Gracie so flustered. She’d been so composed earlier. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
But if the way that boy had looked at Gracie was any indication, he was looking to upgrade from coworker and friend-who-is-a-boy to boyfriend with a capital B.
Unfortunately, Daphne had enough on her plate tonight without delving into her new teenage friend’s love life.
It’d have to wait until tomorrow.
Gracie tugged on the zipper. And tugged. And tugged some more. “Don’t take this the wrong way,” she said, “but could you maybe hold in your stomach a bit?”
“It’s the damn cookies,” Daphne muttered, sucking in her stomach and holding it. “If we can’t get me into this dress, I’m holding you and that chef... Douglas—”
“Damien,” Gracie amended.
“Whatever. He’s obviously the devil. And you’re in cahoots with him. Letting me eat seven cookies like that. I knew I should have stopped at six. Yes, it was that seventh cookie that did this.”
“Almost...have it...” With a final tug, Gracie pulled up the zipper the rest of the way. “There. It looks great from back here, by the way.”
“I hope so,” Daphne said. “Considering I’m giving up breathing. Mirror?”
Gracie pointed to a door off a short hallway. Daphne went through it, walking into a half bath with a full-length mirror behind the door, where she took in her reflection. The dress was perhaps a bit snug around the hips, but then she liked to show off her curves, her shape. She believed in embracing herself in all her forms—mind, body and spirit. And, if she did say so herself, she looked good.
Damn good.
Negotiating the stairs to her room would be tricky but she’d left her purse up there. Not to mention her shoes and coat. She had no choice.
“You’re a lifesaver,” she told Gracie when she reentered the kitchen.
“You’re welcome. Though I’d like to point out that during the heat of battle—me against your zipper—you referred to me as the devil’s assistant. Which wasn’t very nice.”
“It wasn’t. My apologies. I’d offer to grovel for forgiveness but let’s be honest, there’s no way I’m bending over in this dress, let alone getting on my knees. So how about you do like that song and let it go?”
Gracie slapped her hands over her ears. “Don’t mention that song. My brother watches Frozen every day. And I mean every...single...day. Bringing up that song is like an invitation to having it stuck in your head for the next twenty-four hours. It’s like one of those brain-eating worms. It just stays in there.” Her voice dropped to a horrified whisper. “Forever.”
Daphne laughed and linked her arm with Gracie’s. “Sorry. Or as you kids say, my bad.”
Gracie rolled her eyes. “Don’t make me regret liking you.”
“Oh, don’t worry. There’s no chance of that happening. I’m extremely likable.” She patted Gracie’s arm. “Which is lucky for me because I’m going to need your help putting my shoes on, too.”
CHAPTER NINE
SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
Oakes didn’t mean just the fact that over two hours ago Daphne had waltzed into O’Riley’s, Kane’s bar, looking like sin in a deep purple dress and high heels. Or that he’d spent a good portion of the last hour distracted by her presence, by her bare legs and the questions running through his head like “how did she even knew about the party?” and “why was she here?”
He’d kept his distance but had also kept an eye on her, had watched her mingling with the guests. And he noticed that she was missing her usual ease, the part of her that seemed so comfortable in any situation. Worse, the last time he’d spotted her she’d been standing alone, watching the other guests with a smile on her face, but he knew it wasn’t one of her real smiles, more like a polite, keep-your-distance smile. The kind he’d seen on plenty of people’s faces at social events he’d been attending since he was a kid.
He took a step toward her when C.J. joined him. “You brought Zach’s sister?”
C.J.’s tone was harsh. Questioning. Oakes didn’t let it bother him. His eldest brother was a pain in t
he ass, but he really did mean well. He took after their father in many ways, but in that way of meaning well and actually caring about other people was where Senior and Junior differed.
“You know I didn’t bring her,” Oakes said. “You saw me at the Ellisons’ dinner party.”
“Then what is she doing here?”
Oakes didn’t want to explain that she was his plus one to the wedding. Had hoped to avoid any and all discussion about it and just show up on Saturday with her on his arm. And that, he could see now, was a stupid plan.
“She and Charlotte got to know each other in Houston,” Oakes said. “When Zach was in the hospital. Maybe she told Daphne about the party.”
“No, that’s not what I mean. I already asked Kane and he said they didn’t invite her to the wedding. And, as you and she are friends, the question is what is she doing here, as in Shady Grove?”
Oakes sighed. Sipped his beer. “She’s my date to the wedding.”
“Oh.” C.J. paused. “Do you think that’s a good idea? Dating Zach’s sister?”
“We’re not dating,” Oakes said. “I’m doing her a favor for the weekend. And in case you haven’t noticed, she’s over there and I’m over here. We’re not together.”
“I’ve noticed that you’ve been watching her most of the night.”
Oakes frowned at his brother. “What the hell are you? A stalker?”
Kane joined them. Though they were full blood brothers and looked very similar, C.J. was broader, his blond hair cut short, his style conservative, more in tune with the CEO of a major American corporation. Kane, on the other hand, was leaner, rangier, with hair long enough to pull back into a ponytail and tattoos peeking out from under the edge of his shirtsleeves, his jeans dark and new, but his biker boots faded and worn.
“Who’s a stalker?” Kane asked, sipping a bottle of water.
“C.J.,” Oakes said. “He’s been watching me all night.”
“I’d think, if I had a woman who looked like Ivy,” Kane drawled, “I’d have my eyes on her. And not you, Oakes.”
At the mention of Ivy’s name, C.J. scanned the room as if seeking her out. Oakes followed suit, finding the gorgeous blonde holding court in the corner surrounded by three men.
“You aren’t going to put a stop to that?” Oakes asked. C.J. liked to control everything. And Oakes meant every damn thing.
“That’d be like trying to stop the sun from shining,” C.J. said in an easygoing, accepting way that about knocked Oakes back two steps.
Guess being in love really had changed C.J. Or else he’d finally smartened up enough to realize that there were some things better left alone.
“Besides,” C.J. continued, “Ivy can handle herself. Never doubt that.”
Oakes didn’t. Even though he hadn’t spent all that much time with her due to the craziness of the past few months, what with Zach’s injuries, Ivy and C.J. getting back together, her moving to Houston to live with C.J., then giving birth a few days before Thanksgiving, not to mention the ongoing medical issues with their father.
C.J. set his empty glass on a tray. “Kane, by the way, Estelle asked about seeing the baby tomorrow. Tell her she can stop by our room at King’s Crossing in the morning.”
Estelle was Kane’s eighteen-year-old daughter. The baby being C.J.’s newborn son.
“I’ll tell her,” Kane said. “But she doesn’t usually roll out of bed until around eleven. Although tomorrow might be an exception since she and Charlotte have plans, plans and more plans to do with this wedding.”
Estelle had taken to Charlotte right away. Not surprisingly as Charlotte was great. She was sweet and smart and funny, and she didn’t take any bullshit from Kane.
Plus, they were relatively close in age. And that fact, Oakes realized, made his niece and soon-to-be sister-in-law close to Daphne’s age, too.
In case he needed reminding that she was too young for him. Though Charlotte hadn’t been too young for Kane.
But just because Kane had fallen in love with a much younger woman, didn’t mean Oakes was about to follow suit and pursue anything with Daphne. It was too close to Senior’s behavior—taking advantage of young women, using his name and wealth and innate charm to draw them in, then tossing them aside when he was done with them.
“I was talking to Oakes about the fact that he brought Zach’s sister halfway across the country for a weekend getaway,” C.J. said.
“Ah, is that what this little powwow is about?” Kane asked. “I thought maybe Carrie had snuck in and was accosting him again.”
Carrie, their father’s now ex-wife, had had too much to drink at Kane and Charlotte’s Valentine’s Day engagement party and had come on to Oakes. “If I remember correctly, I was dealing with that situation just fine,” Oakes said, irritated that C.J. had put his nose into business where it didn’t belong. His brother had taken it upon himself to take Carrie aside and tell her, in no uncertain terms, to stop hanging on Oakes.
Oakes might have appreciated the backup if C.J. hadn’t acted as if Oakes couldn’t handle the situation on his own.
“You’re dating Zach’s sister?” Kane asked. “When did that start?”
“It didn’t start,” Oakes said from between his teeth. “And her name is Daphne.”
“We know her name,” C.J. pointed out, though Oakes couldn’t remember a time where C.J. had actually spoken to Daphne, other than to assure her when Zach was first brought back to Houston that he’d be all right, that he’d pull through. “Just...be careful there. There are too many ties between our families for you to start something with her. And Christ knows Zach is hard enough to get along with as it is—he’ll be an even bigger pain in the ass and want even less to do with any of us if you sleep with his sister.”
“We’re not sleeping together,” Oakes said, working to keep his voice casual, his growing irritation in check. “And even if we were, it’d be none of Zach’s damn business. Just like it would be none of yours.”
With that, he walked away. But not before hearing Kane say, “Good work, Junior. At this rate, you’ll alienate both your youngest brothers before you even get your kid baptized.”
Oakes kept walking, kept his gaze averted, avoided making eye contact with anyone. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk or for being friendly—he wasn’t interested in being the nice guy, or the easygoing, good brother. He crossed to Daphne, who was standing near the dartboard, smiling at something a small group of people were saying.
“Excuse us,” Oakes said, not recognizing anyone in the group.
Without another word, he wrapped his fingers around Daphne’s wrist and tugged her toward the corner. “Wow,” she said, somewhat breathlessly, since they had walked pretty quickly across the room. “That was rude. I didn’t know you even had it in you to be rude.”
Wasn’t that what everyone thought? That he was some pushover, always doing what other people wanted? He didn’t know whether to be pissed or not. He was a nice guy. He liked being a nice guy. He didn’t want to go around with a chip on his shoulder like Kane and Zach, didn’t need a huge ego like C.J.’s to make him feel good about himself.
Hell, he was losing his mind.
“We’re leaving,” he simply said, instead of trying to explain what was going on in his head—which he didn’t even understand himself.
She frowned. “Now?”
“No, in twenty minutes. I just wanted you to be prepared.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Rude and sarcastic all in one evening? It is a banner day.” She studied him. “What’s going on?”
What was going on was that he was irritated and annoyed and ready to leave. His thoughts were racing, he was pissed at his brothers for giving him a hard time for bringing her. He was angry at her, too, for showing up after he’d purposely not invited her.
; Plus, no matter how much he tried to deny it—to others and himself—he had sought her out tonight, had thought of her.
Lately he thought of her too much. Too often. And those thoughts were anything but brotherly.
“I’m ready to leave.” He managed to keep his voice calm and collected, even forced a smile. “If you’d rather stay, I’m sure Kane or C.J. could see you back to the bed-and-breakfast.”
“Well, considering that I’m more than capable of seeing myself back to the B and B—just as I saw myself here—I’d say I don’t need either you or your brothers to haul me back there. And even if I did need to be taken home like a child, I sure wouldn’t ask either of them. In case you haven’t noticed, Kane is busy being an almost groom and I’m sure C.J. and Ivy are anxious to get back to their baby.”
He glanced at his brothers and saw that she was right. Kane was doing his best to look interested in some conversation with his future father-in-law and C.J. stood at Ivy’s side while she spoke with Charlotte’s older sister... Sarah or Sasha or something like that.
“There aren’t any cabs in Shady Grove,” he pointed out. “No public transportation—”
“That’s not true. There’s some sort of busing system. I checked. But it stops running at nine. Small towns. So...different than the city. Anyway, I’m sure I could find a ride.”
“You’re my responsibility this weekend,” he pointed out to Daphne. “I’ll take you home. Or at least, back to your room. If you want to stay longer, that’s fine. It just looked to me as if you weren’t having a good time.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said but wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I’ve had a lovely evening. But I am tired so maybe leaving now would be best.”
They thanked their hosts and said their goodbyes. And Oakes saw the pointed glance his brothers exchanged as he helped Daphne on with her wrap. To piss them off because he was feeling contrary, he kept his hand on her lower back as they walked out into the bitter cold to his car. By the time they reached it, at the far side of the parking lot, they were both shivering.