Sweet, Sexy Heart – the Bradens & Montgomerys (Pleasant Hill – Oak Falls)

by Melissa Foster

  “Sable Marie,” their mother chided.

  “What? Someone has to look out for Amber,” Sable snapped. “You and Brindle are practically offering the guy a dowry.”

  “Don’t be so dramatic.” Their mother sat beside Amber. “Dash is kind, and he’s a gentleman, not some kind of sex-hungry pig.”

  Sable sat back and crossed her arms. “You’re not this naive, Mom, which means you either have grandbaby-stars in your eyes, or you’ve lost your mind.”

  “She has not. Sin has nothing but good things to say about Dash,” Brindle insisted.

  Amber held her hand up. “Stop. I can’t believe you all blindsided me like that. I expect this kind of thing from Brindle. Every week she has the name of some guy she’s found online for me to chat with—”

  “You’re welcome, even if you never do it.” Brindle fluffed her blond hair over her shoulder with a proud grin, speaking animatedly to Emma. “Your auntie is missing out, isn’t she? Your mama is a great matchmaker.”

  Emma giggled.

  Amber rolled her eyes. “Mom, you gave him a basket of Aunt Roxie’s love potions. Isn’t that a little desperate? And, Dad…?” She gave him her most serious look. “I can’t believe you fed me to the wolves.”

  Her father placed his hand over hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze and an apologetic gaze. “If I’d warned you, you would have gotten right back in your car and driven away, and then they’d be shouting at me.”

  “You did the right thing, Dad.” Brindle looked at Amber as she pressed a kiss to Emma’s forehead. “I don’t see what the issue is. You’ve been drooling over Dash for weeks. He’s the only guy you’ve ever gotten flustered over and the only man to pique your interest in years. He’s finally here, and he’s into you, Amber. It’s your turn to have some fun.”

  “Our definitions of fun are very different.” Amber popped a piece of scone into her mouth.

  “Thank God for that.” Sable pushed to her feet. “I have to get to the shop. I’m starting a rebuild on an engine today, and it’s going to be a beast.”

  “Good luck, and thanks for having my back.” Amber got up to hug her.

  “Always.” Sable narrowed her eyes. “And don’t let them talk you into doing anything you don’t want to do.”

  Brindle said, “You act like we’re pimping her out for tricks.”

  Sable arched a brow, and they both laughed. “Love you, Brin, but give her a break, will ya?” She kissed Emma’s head. “Take good care of my niece.”

  Sable left, and Amber sat down to finish breakfast. Her mother apologized for being pushy, Brindle urged Amber to step out of her comfort zone, and their father listened with amusement. By the time Amber finished eating, they were all joking around again. She helped her mother clean up and played with Emma, filling up on her sweetness, until it was time to head into Meadowside for work.

  Amber drove through town, admiring the fall decorations on the storefronts. She stopped at a red light just as Lindsay’s grandmother, Nina, who everyone called Nana, and several of her friends rushed out of the Stardust Café, pointing across the street, gaping and giggling. Amber followed their gazes to the park, where Dash was doing pull-ups on a tree limb…shirtless. All his muscles flexed as he effortlessly pulled his beautifully sculpted body up time and time again, his skin glistening in the morning sun. A group of young mothers stopped on the sidewalk with their strollers, blocking Amber’s view. She inched the car forward, catching sight of him again as he dropped to his feet and began stretching. Boy, he’d looked great in clothes, but nearly naked? Heat stirred low in her belly.

  The blare of horns startled her out of her reverie. The light was green, there was a line of cars behind her, and Reno was on full alert in the back seat. Oh geez! She sank down in her seat, giving an apologetic wave to the people behind her as she drove away with her heart racing, images of a half-naked Dash Pennington searing into her mind.

  “ARE YOU ALL set for tomorrow night’s Create Your Life podcast?” Shea asked over the phone late Saturday afternoon.

  “Yeah.” The irony in his situation was not lost on him. He was motivating people to do more and follow their dreams, when he felt like he was a bystander waiting for a turn at the life he really wanted.

  “Great. I rescheduled the Milas Corp’s speaking engagements for next Friday. I emailed you the schedule, and we’ve got you on a flight to LA Thursday morning. I’ll meet you for dinner, and we can go over the details for Friday.”

  “Jesus, Shea. You expect me to miss watching the game?”

  “Seriously? Do you have any idea how busy I am?”

  He laughed. “Why do you fall for that every time I do it to you? You know I don’t care if I miss the game. It’ll be good to see you.” He grabbed a dark blue sweater from a drawer in Sin’s guest room, where he was staying. “What time is my return flight Saturday?”

  “I wanted to talk to you about that. I know you don’t love celebrity events, but I really want to book you on He Said, She Said, We Said for Monday since you’ll be in town anyway.” He Said, She Said, We Said was an LA-based podcast featuring celebrities interviewing other celebrities. “And The Tonight Show had a cancellation. They can get you in Wednesday.”

  “Absolutely not.” Dash pulled on the sweater and put the phone back to his ear, catching the tail end of what Shea was saying.

  “…hottest show out there. It’ll bring more attention to the book tour.”

  “We already have enough attention on the tour. You know I hate those kinds of podcasts where celebrities pimp each other out, and I’m not flying to New York next week.” Shea had represented him for several years, and they’d become good friends in addition to business associates. Her tenacity had served him well, but she was fully aware of his plans to scale back. Not only did he need a break from the media hounds, but that morning had further piqued his interest in Amber. When she’d walked into her parents’ house, her surprise had been as palpable as the electricity humming between them. He wanted as much time as possible to get to know her better. “I need this break, Shea. I’m going back to Oak Falls Saturday. End of story.”

  “Fine,” she relented. “I figured a few days with Sin was enough of a break. I had to try.”

  He sat on the bed to put on his shoes. “I told you I’m cutting back.”

  “Yes, after the tour. But I’m worried about you even doing that. You’re a go-getter, and go-getters don’t do well with too much downtime. Remember what happened to David Green.” David Green had been one of the best tight ends in the country. He’d retired a few years ago and within six months had gambled away most of his savings, found his way to the bottom of too many bottles, and had tanked his reputation. Rumor had it that he was living hand to mouth in Mexico.

  “I’m not a drinker or a gambler, and I keep telling you, you’re wrong about me. You only think I won’t do well with downtime because you’ve never known me to take any.” But that was going to change. “I have to run, but Hawk texted earlier and said you booked him for the signing.” Hawk was one of Dash’s younger brothers, a sought-after photographer who did a lot of work with Shea’s company.

  “Your tour is a big deal, and I know how much you hate photographers. I figured if we kicked it off with Hawk instead of paparazzi, you’d be more comfortable. See? I’ve always got your back. I’ll meet you for dinner in LA, and we can talk about some of the ideas I have for next year.”

  “Shea,” he warned.

  “See you then,” she said cheerily, and the line went dead.

  Dash pocketed his phone, grabbed his keys, and headed out of the bedroom. Sin was in the living room, still dressed from practice in his sweats and T-shirt, looking at something on his phone.

  “Hey, man. I’m heading out for a while.”

  Sin looked up. “I thought we’d grab dinner later, maybe meet the guys for a beer afterward.”

  “I’m going to see Amber. With any luck, I’ll have to take a rain check on that dinner.”


  Sin’s expression turned serious. “Listen, Dash. Things are different around here than they are in the big cities you’re used to. Everyone knows everyone’s business, and Amber steers clear of drama. She’s the kind of girl who picks flowers in the park, brings you soup when you’re sick, and sends birthday cards in the mail—not ecards or birthday texts. And she’s a good friend. I don’t want to see her get hurt. Word is spreading that you’re in town. Tomorrow there’ll be even more women from neighboring towns coming out to watch the big man in action and trying to catch your eye. If you want me to hook you up with someone who can show you a good time while you’re here and won’t bat an eyelash when you leave, I can do that. But Amber is not that girl.”

  There had been hordes of women watching them coach the clinic at the field today, and Dash couldn’t have cared less. “What is it with everyone telling me Amber’s not right for me? I told you last night that I felt something different with her and wanted to see how it played out.”

  “I guess I took played out to mean for now.”

  “You of all people know I’m not a dick. I get that Amber’s a forever girl, not a for-now girl. I knew that last night when sparks flew between us and she bolted. And I’m not running, Sin. Have you ever seen me do that?”

  “Can’t say that I have. You’re pretty careful not to get mixed up with women who are looking for more than you’re willing to give.”

  “Exactly.” Writing his book had made him feel a little like a fraud. He’d given up all of his dreams except football, and after watching teammates get engaged, married, and start families, he could no longer ignore the feeling that something important was missing from his life. He’d spent the last two years reevaluating himself and his endeavors. He was still trying to figure out exactly what was missing, but for what felt like the first time since he’d started playing football, he was following his heart instead of his head.

  “Actually,” Sin said, bringing his thoughts back to their conversation, “you didn’t back off when I mentioned she had epilepsy, either. I’m sorry. I guess I’m more protective of her than I thought.”

  “I get it, and I’m glad you are. I don’t know what this is yet. How can I? We’ve barely had two conversations, and she gets adorably embarrassed every time we talk. But I’m drawn to her in a way I’ve never been to anyone before. The whole time we were on the field today, all I could think about was getting cleaned up and going to see her. I haven’t ever wanted to see a woman more than I’ve wanted to be on the field.”

  “You could have led with that.” Sin’s expression eased. “I had no idea you were that into her.”

  “This is a whole new ball game, but I appreciate you giving me the CliffsNotes on the rule book.” He headed for the door. “I’ll text you later about dinner.”

  DASH PARKED ON Main Street in Meadowside, a quaint small town much like Oak Falls, with old-fashioned streetlamps, dogwood trees lining sidewalks, and welcome signs on every door. He made his way to Amber’s bookstore and found his face front and center on a poster for his signing in the front window beside a stack of his books, surrounded by fresh fall flowers, pumpkins, rustic lanterns, and other artfully displayed books. Acorns littered the floor of the display, and a miniature rocking chair with a cozy-looking blanket draped over the back held a stack of children’s books beside a faux fireplace. There were fall-colored leaves in the back right corner and a nest with two birds in it, their heads touching. On the side of the display closest to the door, a tall WELCOME sign rested against a small wooden shelf littered with a mix of books and literary gifts. He pictured Amber meticulously setting up the display, placing each piece with the utmost care, until it was absolutely perfect.

  A bell chimed as he entered the store, greeted by the scents of pumpkin and spice, and Amber’s beautiful face as she looked over the shoulder of the petite blonde she was talking with in front of the register. A look of surprise washed away Amber’s easy smile, and the blonde standing in front of her turned. He recognized Haylie Hudson as one of the mothers from the junior football clinic.

  “Sorry to interrupt.” Dash held Amber’s gaze, enjoying the blush staining her cheeks as he strolled past several rows of bookcases. “I was—”

  “Coach Dash!” Scotty, Haylie’s son, ran out from behind a display, his sandy hair falling into his eyes. “Look, Mom, it’s Coach Dash!”

  “Hey, buddy. Good to see you.” Dash glanced at Amber, but she quickly averted her eyes.

  “Hello again, Dash,” Haylie said flirtatiously, and held up a bag. “I just bought your book for the signing.”

  “Fantastic. I hope you enjoy it.” Dash knelt so he was eye to eye with Scotty and noticed Amber’s dog coming to her side. “You did great at practice today, buddy. Did you have fun?”

  “Yes! I’m gonna be a fireman like my uncle Chet, but Mom says I can play football, too.”

  “That sounds like a good plan. Just be sure to keep your grades up. School is important.”

  “I will!” Scotty promised.

  “Attaboy.” Dash ruffled Scotty’s hair as he pushed to his feet and noticed Amber watching him with a warmer, curious expression. It sure looked good on her.

  “Can we get ice cream now?” Scotty asked his mother.

  “Dinner first.” Haylie glanced at Amber. “Chat soon?”

  “Sure,” Amber said sweetly. “Bye, Scotty.”

  “Bye, Miss Amber!” Scotty yelled.

  Haylie slowed beside Dash as she headed for the door. “See you at the field tomorrow.”

  The bell chimed as they left, and his eyes met Amber’s again, the air around them crackling as he closed the distance between them. “Nice place you’ve got here.”

  “Thanks.” She petted her dog’s head. “Are you…looking for a book?”

  “I guess that would make sense, wouldn’t it?” The store was warm and welcoming, with a dog bed beside the register and a nook of couches and mismatched armchairs in the rear, surrounded by more bookshelves and displays. To the right of the reading nook was the children’s section, with a cylindrical bookshelf made out of stacked wooden crates, decorated with faux vines and flowers climbing up the sides. The top of the shelving unit was lined with potted plants and ivy, giving it a treelike appearance. There were dozens of small carpet mats, which he assumed were for children to sit on while they looked at books. The store wasn’t just welcoming, it was homey, and Amber had obviously put her heart into every inch of it.

  “But no, I’m not looking for a book. I’m looking for a bookstore owner.” He stepped closer, and her breathing hitched. “Still busy tonight?”

  She pressed her lips into a fine line. “Mm-hm.”

  “With what? Your book club?”

  “Yes,” she said quickly, as if he’d given her a great excuse. “That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

  “You must have a very busy book club schedule. How about tomorrow night?”

  “I can’t.” She continued petting her dog, but at least she wasn’t looking away.

  “Breakfast tomorrow?”

  Her eyes widened. “Busy.”

  “Should I just meet you at your parents’ house again?”

  She laughed softly, walking over to a table displaying THIS MONTH’S PICKS, which included his book along with several others. “I can’t believe you did that.”

  “I can’t believe you won’t go out with me. How about lunch tomorrow?”

  She wrinkled her nose and shook her head.

  “Book club again?”

  She nodded, her smile widening.

  “What kind of book club is it?”

  “Erotic roman—” She blushed fiercely, her eyes widening. “Romance. It’s a romance club. I mean a romance book club. We read love stories.”

  “You’re getting more interesting by the second.” He imagined sweet, bashful Amber getting all hot and bothered over erotic romance novels. “You know, everything is better in real life.”

  “Oh my goodness,” she
whispered, looking away.

  He stepped closer, so she had no choice but to look at him. “Come on, Amber. Let me take you to dinner. I’ll show you a better time than you’ve ever had.”

  “That’s what I’m worried about. I’m sorry, but you’re just not my type.”

  “Are you kidding?” He couldn’t temper his amused tone.

  She shook her head.

  “Wow, I’ve never been told that before.” He raked a hand through his hair, trying to figure out why he wasn’t her type.

  “Sorry,” she said sweetly.

  He picked up one of his books and showed her the cover, which had a picture of him holding a football, smiling like he’d won the Super Bowl. “It’s my smile, isn’t it?”

  “What? No. I love your smile.” She quickly added, “I mean, it’s a nice smile.”

  “I don’t know. That doesn’t sound very convincing. It’s okay. I know my smile is a little ridiculous. My sisters give me grief about it all the time. They say I have a toddler smile.”

  She laughed. “A toddler smile? What does that mean?”

  “You know, the kind of smile that looks fake. It’s too big.” He smiled, showing her what he meant, and she laughed again. “So it is my smile. That’s a little unfair. How can I fix that? It’s the only one I’ve got.”

  “I promise it’s not your smile,” she said. “Your sisters are wrong.”

  “Are you sure I’m not your type? Because I see the way you look at me, and I can tell the difference between disinterest and desire.”

  “I’m sure.” She lowered her eyes, her voice unsteady.

  “I don’t get it.” And he wasn’t going to give up. Not when her intrigue basically radiated off her despite her efforts to contain it. He picked up the romance novel displayed on the counter behind a ROMANCE OF THE MONTH plaque. The cover boasted a shirtless, chiseled guy looking seductively at the camera. “I can assure you that I’m way better at whatever the guy in this book does. You want romance? Done. Sexy stuff? Never had a complaint. Cheesy lines? I can learn some. You like the cover model, right? I’ve got great abs. Look.” He lifted his sweater.