Her Surprise Engagement (Sorensen Family)

by Ashlee Mallory

  Daisy stared at the now disconnected phone for a moment before setting it down, returning her gaze to Jack outside.

  Go all in?

  That’s what she was afraid of doing. It was getting out that had her terrified.

  Daisy tried to still her nerves as she watched Jack bite into the poblano and cheese-stuffed empanadas she’d made for lunch. Not that she needed his approval, but it was a recipe she’d been tweaking for weeks and she thought she’d finally reached the right balance with the cotija cheese and spices. In fact, she was hoping that this one, along with the dessert empanada next to it, might be her own Big Mac so to speak—her mainstay entrées—for her new bakery.

  Paul, her human guinea pig, already was halfway through his and eying his sister’s. But her son wasn’t always the best test subject since spicy for him was inferno to someone like Glenda. Which was why for those with more sensitive buds, Daisy’d made a milder version, like the ones in front of everyone but Paul and Jack. Lily was waiting for her dad’s verdict before she tried hers.

  Jack’s empanada was what she’d consider possibly a level three or maybe even a four on a sliding scale of one to five, thanks to the added kick of a small serrano pepper she’d added to the mix. Not that she’d shared that with him.

  “Oh my God. That’s…really good,” Jack said, and she studied him closely, trying to see if he was being sincere. He took another even bigger bite and was eating it when she noticed his face starting to look a little flushed. “It gains a little heat as you eat it, doesn’t it?” he asked after swallowing, holding his mouth open a touch as if he was trying to cool it off.

  “Oh, you’ll get used to it. Maybe another bite will help?” she asked, trying not to laugh at the tiny beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. “Girls, how are yours?”

  Jenna and Natalie, her painfully slow eaters, took another bite and set them down to resume coloring their pictures as they chewed, looking none the worse. Having witnessed the girls enjoying theirs, Lily picked hers up and took a bite. “Hmm. Pretty good,” she said and took another.

  Daisy smiled and turned to Jack, who was trying to surreptitiously wipe his forehead with the back of his hand. “You doing okay, Jack?”

  He took another bite and tried to smile. “They’re really good.”

  “Let me get you another,” she said evilly.

  But the last bite might have been too much and Jack suddenly dropped it and went to the fridge to grab the milk, quickly pouring some in a glass then gulping it down.

  Daisy burst into laughter, holding her side as she watched him.

  He shook his head. “I don’t know how they do it. Lily? It isn’t too hot for you?”

  “No, Dad. Not really,” she said, glancing at him with amusement.

  Daisy was still laughing, wiping a tear as he studied her, suspicion suddenly drawn on his face. “What exactly is so funny?” But Daisy only shook her head, unable to talk.

  Jack walked to Lily’s plate and took a bite, chewing almost cautiously. Realization seemed to strike him as he looked at her. “This is not the same thing.”

  She nodded. “Well, technically Paul is eating the exact same batch as you and he’s fine.”

  “Yeah, but I also saw the kid wolf down a bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and not even blink.” He walked back over toward her, a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

  Before she could guess what he was about to do, his fingers were at her hips—in the exact spot he knew was intensely ticklish. She tried to fend him off, laughing as she did, but he squeezed again before catching her against him and planting a warm, poblano-infused kiss on her lips.

  It wasn’t anything overtly sexual, and if there was a rating, it would have been G-rated by the big mouse himself—even if it sent the world around her spinning.

  But it was also in front of their kids. And Aunt Glenda.

  She looked over and found all five sets of eyes glued to them, Paul’s mouth wide open. Glenda’s, however, seemed a little more pleased as she smiled almost knowingly at them. Quickly, Daisy slid away from Jack and started placing the chocolate salted caramel empanadas on a plate for dessert.

  “Why were you two kissing?” Natalie asked, first in puzzlement. “Do you like each other?”

  “Of course they don’t,” Jenna said, glancing a little uncertainly at Daisy.

  “And what’s wrong with my liking your mom?” Jack asked in a playful tone. “Don’t you like your mom?”

  Natalie giggled. “Yes.”

  “And because you like her, don’t you want to kiss her, too?” he continued.

  “I suppose so,” she admitted. “But Daddy didn’t ever kiss her. Not that I can remember anyway.”

  Daisy felt color suffuse her face and there was a moment’s pause as Jack seemed to process that before he continued. “Then he didn’t know what he was missing. So. Now that my mouth is on fire, do you think that maybe I’ve earned one of those chocolate empanadas? And then I thought we could take the sailboat out for a last trip before dinner and the firework show.”

  This earned the kids’ shouts of excitement as they all quickly finished their lunch, chatting about the firework show later that night.

  Daisy met Jack’s gaze, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

  Smooth. Very smooth.

  And despite being a bit annoyed with his maneuver in front of everyone, she couldn’t help but touch her lips, briefly wondering if they were tingling because of the peppers…or Jack’s electrifying kiss.

  …

  Jack flicked the lighter again, trying to get the sparkler to ignite while Natalie hopped from one foot to the other impatiently. Even though the fireworks show had ended five minutes ago, the air wafting across the lake already smelled faintly of sulfur, the kids had wanted to finish off the box of sparklers before heading to bed.

  “Look at this, Nat!” Paul cried as he leaned over the water and wrote something in the air with his sparkler.

  “Paul. That’s close enough,” Daisy warned from a few feet away.

  Lily and Jenna were apparently too old for something as juvenile as sparklers and were stretched out on their backs on the blanket they’d brought down to enjoy the fireworks show. Glenda sat in a chair by the fire pit, basking in the warmth from the flames, watching them all with a soft smile on her face.

  Jack looked around, feeling absurdly happy.

  Everything about today had been perfect. Sailing, swimming, enjoying delicious food prepared by a beautiful and loving woman, hearing the sound of the kids’ laughter—even when it was interspersed with arguments—surrounding them.

  It was something actually foreign to him. He had been an only child, as was Lily, and save for the occasional get-together with his cousins who lived across the country in upstate New York, life had been one of quiet and peace and, truthfully, a little loneliness. This, this chaos and laughter, was what Lily had been meant for, what he and Lara had wanted before death took her too soon.

  It made him a little sad knowing that in a few days, this vacation would come to an end and they’d all be returning to their separate homes. But he also knew that whatever thing had taken hold of him and of Daisy, it wasn’t over, and he would do everything in his power to keep her and her family a part of his—and his daughter’s—life.

  When the last sparkler puffed out, Glenda came to her feet. “Well, I’m ready for bed. Anyone care to walk with me?”

  “I think it’s time we all start back,” Daisy said as she gathered the trash into a bag. “Girls, can you grab the blanket? Natalie and Paul, go ahead with your aunt and get in your pajamas. We’ll do baths tomorrow.”

  “I bet I can get there first,” Natalie challenged her brother, who immediately darted across the lawn, Natalie rushing to catch up. The older girls moved slower, following behind Daisy.

  “Ollie and I’ll be along after I get the fire out,” he called, as Daisy took up the rear.

  Jack stood out there another ten minutes, longer than necessary to p
ut out the flames, but wanting a moment just to enjoy the stillness that—now the fireworks were over—had fallen over the lake. Of course, Officer Kenney was outside along with him, but far back in the shadows.

  “Come on, Ollie,” he said and whistled to the dog, who was chasing something on the fringe of the water. At hearing his name, Ollie abandoned his game and followed Jack. As he opened the door, Ollie rushed through and headed straight upstairs, no doubt to be with the kids.

  Jack stopped to wash the soot from his hands before heading up. When he reached the landing, he made out Daisy’s soft, calming voice as she tried to settle the kids in. Glenda’s door was already shut and a second later—almost as if she’d heard his footsteps—the light from beneath her doorway disappeared as if she’d turned her light off.

  Probably standing on the other side of the door with a glass up to her ear, he’d bet.

  He continued down the hall until he was outside the kids’ room, but he didn’t move to go inside, instead he stood at the door, watching for a moment.

  For some inexplicable reason the kids had changed beds tonight. This time Lily and Jenna were sharing one of the bottom beds, while Natalie, Paul, and Ollie were piled on the other as Daisy read from a thick hardcover book. He listened, trying to place the story. It took until the third sentence to recognize it was Harry Potter. And even though Lily had read the entire series twice, she looked engrossed as she listened to Daisy read.

  Minutes passed until finally she reached a chapter break and closed the book. “Okay. That’s it for tonight,” she said, setting the book down next to the bed as everyone groaned.

  “Oh, Mom. It was just getting good,” Paul whined.

  “Yes, but I’m exhausted.” Paul lost his argument when he yawned a second later, and Jack heard the smile in Daisy’s voice as she said, “I think we all could use the extra sleep as it’s well past your bedtime.”

  Daisy leaned down, smoothing Natalie’s brow, before running her fingers up her daughter’s tummy and saying, “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite.” Not quite finished, she then tucked the covers tightly around her daughter as she continued to whisper, “Snug as a bug in a rug, ugh, now give me a hug,” Then she proceeded to kiss her daughter loudly on each cheek, her forehead, ending with a smack on the lips. She repeated the same thing with Paul and then Jenna, each kid grinning from ear to ear at their mom as she finished.

  When Daisy got to Lily, she didn’t even hesitate to tighten the covers and do the exact same thing to the teen. And although Jack half expected his daughter to balk at being treated like a little kid or being kissed by some woman she had only known less than a week, it was hard to miss the almost wistful smile on her lips as Daisy finished the ritual. “And you thought you were going to get out of it.”

  “Are you sure you won’t read one more chapter?” Lily asked softy, which the other kids quickly echoed.

  Daisy paused as she studied Lily’s face that Jack could see was filled with wistfulness as she stared up at Daisy. “Okay. You win. One more. But I’m not kidding. Then it’s bedtime.”

  Jack’s heart swelled as he watched Daisy pick up the book and resume her reading. He wondered if his daughter remembered how Lara used to read stories about princesses and pirates to her every night until Lily could barely keep her eyes open.

  He missed Lara and sometimes forgot how much Lily must miss her even more.

  He’d meant what he said to Daisy, about dating here and there but nothing serious. Not just because he didn’t have the time for it or inclination, but because with other women, there hadn’t been that same—he hated using the overused term but it couldn’t be helped—magic. The magic and wonder that had him spending every waking minute thinking about her.

  At least, not until Daisy came into his life a few short days ago and he just…knew. It had been much the same as Lara.

  He crept down the hall more certain than ever that having this woman in both his and Lily’s lives would be the best thing that could happen to them. To all of them.

  Now he just had to convince Daisy.

  Chapter Twelve

  With Natalie and Paul already drifted off to sleep and Jenna and Lily fighting it, Daisy closed the book again.

  “All right. Good night,” she whispered.

  Jenna mumbled something incoherent in response, and Lily nestled deeper into the pillow. Oliver lifted his head briefly before resting it back between Natalie and Paul, perfectly happy where he was, and she smiled as she leaned over to turn the lamp off. She paused for a moment to give her eyes time to adjust, enjoying the soft breathing of the kids sleeping contentedly around her.

  It was moments like these that reminded her why she did everything she did.

  Carefully, she crept out of the room, leaving the door open behind her just enough to allow Ollie to get out.

  Everything was so still. Had everyone gone to bed? And by everyone, she meant one in particular.

  She strained her ears, trying to hear any sign of movement. Nothing.

  She should feel relief. Relief that she didn’t have to make a decision as to whether to take things any further with Jack.

  Only, her footsteps were a little heavier as she processed the fact that she wasn’t going to have any more time alone with Jack Harrison tonight.

  No more arguments for how wonderful things could be if she just said yes.

  No more languid looks or inadvertent touches.

  No more possibilities of a few stolen kisses…

  Not unless she wanted to.

  She paused. Could she really be that forward? Just knock on his bedroom door and hope he’ll invite her in?

  Her heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest when she realized the answer. She’d known the answer all day, really. Even before the little pep talk with Benny.

  She liked this man. Really liked him. More than anyone in a long time.

  More importantly…she trusted him.

  This—whatever it was—could be something good. And although she’d been wary of pulling the kids along with her during the process, she was also becoming more aware that this could be good for them, too.

  No. It could be great.

  Daisy stepped forward with more excitement, knowing what she was going to do but wanting to run a brush through her hair, maybe brush her teeth and do a few more things to make herself presentable.

  Her door was shut, even though she didn’t remember closing it, and when she pushed it open she held her breath at what she saw.

  Candles surrounded the room, the light from their flames dancing against the walls and ceilings, painting it in a soft glow. Romantic music was streaming from the speakers, something from Nora Jones, one of her favorites.

  And in the middle of it all stood Jack. Grinning at her in that way that made her stomach flip somersaults and her skin tingle in anticipation.

  “What? No rose petals leading a trail to the bed?” she asked, but she was smiling as she stepped into the room. Jack closed the space between them, shutting the door before taking her hand in his.

  “I considered it, but hoped you’d settle for an IOU since red roses seem to be in short supply in the flower bed.”

  She inhaled, trying to calm her shaky breath as Jack put his hands around her, resting them on her lower back as he brought her forward so the only place she had to move her head was up, staring into his bright blue eyes.

  “The kids are asleep?” he asked. “Or are you supposed to go back to read another chapter of Mr. Potter?”

  “They fought it, but after today, they were goners.”

  “I liked what you did with them, the whole snug as a bug thing? It was cute.”

  He’d been watching her? She hadn’t known he was there, and she felt silly remembering the bedtime routine. “It’s just something I’ve been doing since Jenna was a little girl and was afraid to be alone in her room. It seemed to always calm her. I continued the tradition with Natalie and Paul.”


  “You’re a great mom, you know. They’re lucky to have you.”

  The look in his eyes as he stared at her was anything but platonic, his heavy eyes having that distinct bedroom quality.

  It was as if a hot fire was lit in her lower belly, and she struggled against the long-forgotten urges that were beginning to take hold. Like wrapping her arms around those shoulders and lifting her lips to his. Or kissing the skin below that strong jawline, inhaling the musky scent, likely tinged with sweat and campfire, and sinking into everything Jack Harrison.

  Jack was staring at her lips like they were edible, and when his head dipped, she knew it was only a matter of time before—

  No. If she let him start kissing her now, she’d be a goner.

  And there were still a few things they had to discuss.

  She pulled back, taking a step away from the warmth of his body, already missing it. “How’s this going to work then, Jack? You and me? The kids?”

  Instead of looking annoyed, he just smiled as he grabbed her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing her up against him as he moved them along to the music.

  She debated pulling away again, keeping her head about her so she couldn’t be suckered in to staring too deeply into those eyes, but she liked the sense of strength and comfort of his arms.

  It was a compromise of sorts, she supposed. At least he wasn’t kissing her.

  “Well, for starters, once we arrive in Salt Lake,” Jack said, not hesitating a beat, “I thought we might all go to dinner. Or you can all come to our place for dinner. Aggie makes a mean prime rib.”