She shook her head. “No. Not at all. Collin is nice and all. But I can’t see myself getting serious.”
Dad seemed relieved. “I thought you were dating Jake McPheeters. What became of that?”
She shrugged. “We’re just friends, Dad.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Really. He’s been helpful with Aunt Dee’s estate and a good friend. That’s all there is to it. In fact, he might be getting back with his ex.”
“Oh?” Dad’s bushy brows arched. “I hadn’t heard that.”
“Well, it’s probably a new rumor.”
Dad waved at someone, and she looked behind her to see Ricardo coming their way. “Ricardo,” Dad said. “Just the man. I was supposed to be dancing with my daughter and I ran out of gas. Any chance you can take over for me?”
Ricardo’s eyes lit up. “Sure. You game, Daphne?”
“Absolutely.” She stood and followed him to the dance floor. Although he wasn’t nearly the dancer Collin was, she actually felt more comfortable dancing with him. Plus he seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself. Just as they were starting their second dance, Collin came looking for her. Ricardo seemed slightly disappointed but politely offered to dance with Karen.
Shortly after they’d exchanged partners, Daphne felt as if someone was watching her. For the second time today, she turned to see Jake staring at her. His expression was hard to read and he quickly looked away—almost as if he didn’t want to get caught looking.
As she danced with Collin, she put all her energy into the steps. So much so that she knew she was showing off. As juvenile as it was, she felt certain she was doing this for Jake’s benefit. And just admitting that made her feel edgy and agitated. Why did she allow him to affect her like that? Why couldn’t she just get over him and move on?
Chapter 11
As the evening wore on, Collin was consuming more beer than Daphne felt was reasonable. It wasn’t as if he was drunk, but he was certainly jolly . . . and loud. And it made her uncomfortable. As a result, she danced with Ricardo a couple more times and even danced with Truman once. Collin was having such a good time, he barely seemed to notice.
Then as she was taking a break and thinking about making her exit, Jake came over to speak to her. “You and Sabrina are the belles of the ball tonight,” he said in a slightly teasing tone.
“Is there anything wrong with that?” She held her head high.
“No. It looks like you’re having fun. I didn’t realize you were such a good dancer.”
“That’s more Collin than me.” She pointed to where he was now dancing with Kellie. Although that girl left much to be desired as a waitress, she did know how to move on the dance floor. “He’s a great dancer. He can make anyone look good.”
“I suppose all that beer helps loosen up the legs.” Jake gave her a curious sideways glance, and she suspected he was testing her.
She simply shrugged, suppressing the urge to defend herself. Let him think what he wanted. Why should she care?
“No offense, Daphne, but I didn’t realize you were into all that. I never thought of you as the party-girl type.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I am not the party-girl type, thank you very much.”
“That’s a relief. Because Dee had higher expectations for you than that. I’d hate to see you let her down.”
“Are you trying to advise me about my dating life now?”
“Well, I am your legal counsel.” He gave an uneasy smile.
“So was that part of your responsibility when you crafted Aunt Dee’s will? Were you expected to approve the guys I go out with?”
“No, no, of course not. But as your aunt’s attorney, I can’t help but have a concerned interest.” He tipped his head to the dance floor where Collin and Kellie had taken center stage. The couple was dancing in a very intimate manner. In a way Daphne found unsettling.
She tried to conceal her discomfort as she turned back to face Jake. “Thank you for caring,” she said coolly. She was ready to go home now. Even if Sabrina insisted on staying, Daphne was done.
“It’s just that I remember how Ryan was. How he tried to take advantage of your trusting nature. I don’t want to see that happen again.”
“Really? And what do you intend to do about it?” She tossed her half-full soda cup into the trash barrel. She was so out of here.
Jake shrugged. “There’s not much I can do about it. But as your friend, I hope you’ll trust me. And, at least for Dee’s sake, you should realize I only have your best interests at heart.” He gave her a small smile, but his eyes seemed sad. “You can trust me, Daphne.”
Now she was torn. On one hand, she wanted to tell him to butt out and go back to his ex-wife and just leave her alone. On the other hand, she treasured his friendship—more than she cared to admit. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I will keep that in mind. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m ready to call it a night.”
“You don’t want to make one last trip round the dance floor?”
“Huh?” She frowned at him, then looked back to where Collin was still dancing with Kellie—looking into her eyes as if she was the only female on the planet.
“I mean with me,” he said quietly.
She took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Sure, why not.”
The band, which was probably getting tired by now, had ended the last number and was just starting a slow song as they reached the floor. But before they began to dance, Collin came over. “There you are, Daphne. I’ve been looking all over for you.” He peered at Jake. “Hey, mate, mind if I dance with my date?”
Jake shook his head. “Not at all.”
As Collin took Daphne into his arms, she watched Jake walk away. Would he invite another girl to dance with him? But he just kept going, and unless it was her imagination, sadness lumbered his steps.
On Wednesday morning, Daphne took her coffee out to the garden. Sabrina would probably be watching for her to be on the front porch, hoping to bring her coffee over to join her. But today Daphne just wanted to be alone with her thoughts. As much as she liked Sabrina, sometimes her nonstop chatter was just too much. Especially in the morning.
She was just finishing up when the garden gate creaked. Worried that it might be Sabrina, she actually considered hiding behind the raspberry bushes.
“Good day,” called a male voice with a distinct Australian accent.
Daphne cringed. Hopefully it wasn’t Collin. She’d been trying to avoid him since Saturday night. She believed that he’d shown her his true colors. As a result her interest in him had dwindled considerably. But she wasn’t sure how to let him know. Holding her breath, she peered around the corner and was relieved to see it was only Mick.
“Oh, it’s you.”
“That’s not a very cheery welcome.” He sat in the chair across from her. “That the best you can do for your garden guy?”
She smiled. “Actually, I was glad it was you.” Now she frowned. “I was afraid it was Collin.”
“So you’ve gone cold on my mate?”
She gave him a sheepish shrug. “Sort of.”
He nodded. “I reckon I knew that.”
“He’s just not my type, Mick. He’s a nice guy and all that, but he’s not really for me.”
“Too bad.” He shook his head. “Old Collin thinks the world of you.”
“Oh dear.”
“What is it that you don’t like about him, Daph?”
She thought hard. “To be honest, the biggest problem for me is the beer drinking. I’m just not like that.”
“Ah . . . I see.”
She peered at him. “I didn’t even think you were like that, Mick.”
He chuckled. “Well, I’m not as much like that as I used to be. Back in Sydney, I mean. You do understand that Australia is the beer-drinking capital of th
e world, don’t you?”
She laughed. “I might’ve heard that before.”
“I really cut back after moving to the States. Not completely, mind you. But I like having a clear head in the morning. Helps me to focus on my work.” He set his thermal coffee cup on the table. “Having Collin around has been a bit of a challenge for me too.”
For some reason this was reassuring.
“Collin likes his beer.” Mick gave her an uncertain look. “And he likes the sheilas too. I reckon you noticed.”
She nodded. “He’s a fun guy. And interesting too. But I felt like I saw a different side of him . . . and, well, I just know it would never work.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised.”
“I don’t suppose you could let Collin know that I’m not, uh, that into him, could you?”
Mick frowned. “I learned long ago that the best way to keep a mate a mate is not to interfere with his love life. Sorry, Daph, you’ll have to sort this one out yourself.”
She sighed.
“While we’re on this topic, I should let you know that I’m not as interested in your neighbor as she appears to be in me.” He glanced over his shoulder as if he thought Sabrina might be lurking in the bushes. “In fact, I ducked over here to get away from her.” He shook his head. “I reckon that little sheila could talk the leg off of a mule.”
Daphne laughed. “That’s why I’m back here too.”
He chuckled. “We are quite a pair, aren’t we?”
She nodded. “But there is a comfort knowing you’re in the same boat. You know what they say—misery loves company.”
“Yeah. And I already promised Sabrina that Collin and I would come to her house for a barbecue this Friday. I can’t think of an easy way out of that one. I know you’re supposed to be there too.”
“Fortunately, she’s inviting a lot of other people too. So it’s not like a dinner date for four. That would be awful.”
“Oh, well, that’s a relief. I can deal with a crowd easy enough. No worries.”
On Friday afternoon, Daphne went over to help Sabrina prepare for her get-together. “Your backyard looks fabulous,” Daphne said as they were setting some things up outside. “So inviting and fun.”
“I can’t wait until the sun starts going down so I can light all these tiki torches. And even though it’s warm, I still plan to turn on the fire pit. Just for ambiance. Won’t it be lovely?”
“Absolutely.” Daphne frowned at the amount of beverages Sabrina was loading into the small outdoor fridge. “Do you think you’ll really need all that?”
“Oh yeah.” Sabrina stood up straight. “At my last count, more than thirty people are coming. I think it was up to thirty-seven.”
“Thirty-seven?” Daphne was stunned. “I didn’t realize you knew that many people in town.”
Sabrina grimaced. “I’m not sure I really do know them.”
“What?”
“Saturday night, at the Founder’s Day dance, I guess I invited almost everyone I met. At least that’s what Mick told me.”
“Seriously?”
Sabrina nodded. “Yeah . . . it’s a little embarrassing.”
“How do you know all these people are really coming?”
“Apparently, I gave them my phone number, told them to RSVP.”
“And they did?”
She nodded as she closed the fridge door. “I didn’t even recognize most of the names. I suppose I was a little under the influence that night.”
Daphne shook her finger at Sabrina. “I wish I’d known. I could’ve intervened for you. Friends shouldn’t let friends invite drunk.”
Sabrina laughed. “Well, I just keep telling myself that these strangers are simply friends I haven’t really met.”
“Let’s hope so.”
“And a number of them were your friends too, Daphne. I invited your dad and Karen. As well as our neighbors. So they’re not all strangers.” She grinned. “And of course, there’s Mick and Collin. They’re certainly not strangers.”
Daphne hadn’t really confided to Sabrina about her true feelings for Collin. But perhaps it was time. So she explained the situation.
“You’re kidding?” Sabrina frowned. “You’re dumping him just because he drinks a little beer?”
“No, it’s not just that,” Daphne said. “It’s the whole thing. He’s a nice guy, but he’s not the guy for me.”
Sabrina just shook her head. “Don’t forget that your clock is ticking. Just since I’ve been here, you’ve frittered away three weeks on Collin. And now you’re saying he’s not the guy. At this rate, you might find yourself both man-less and ring-less—by December.”
Daphne rolled her eyes. “December isn’t the drop-dead date for me.”
“If you want to plan a nice wedding it is.”
“Maybe I don’t care about a nice wedding.”
“Seriously?” Sabrina looked doubtful. “But you’ve never been married before. Why wouldn’t you pull out all the stops for one now? Just imagine what a perfect wedding you could have in May. Mick was just telling me which flowers will be in bloom by then.”
“That’s true, but I’m not sure I care.” Daphne set a bowl of tortilla chips on a table. “I think I’d rather focus on having a perfect marriage . . . more than a perfect wedding.”
Sabrina patted her on the back. “That’s what I really like about you, Daph. So down-to-earth and practical. Not like me. But you’re just what I need in my life.”
Sabrina was not exaggerating about the number of guests she’d invited. Not only was her lovely backyard full, her house was crawling with people too. Daphne was relieved there were so many. It made it easier to avoid running into Collin. And her most-recent plan for letting him know her true feelings was to keep her distance. She was also keeping her distance from another guest. She’d been surprised to discover Sabrina had invited Jake, but then considering the rest of the guest list, it made perfect sense. Daphne had exchanged a formal but slightly cool greeting with him, then kept herself busy with other people.
“I’m so glad you came,” Daphne told Wally shortly after he arrived. She’d gone out of her way to invite him several times this past week, finally persuading him that since Sabrina had made such an effort to contain Tootsie, he could at least make an effort to show a little appreciation. Besides, she’d pointed out, there would be food.
“I don’t plan to stay long,” he told her as she led him into the house.
“Well, you can’t leave before you get something to eat.” She linked her arm in his and led him to the dining room where all the food was laid out buffet style. And since he’d arrived late, there was no line. She handed him a plate and pointed out the dishes that were really good. Staying with him as he filled his plate, heaping it high, she chatted pleasantly. Then when he was done, she invited him to come outside. “Just wait until you see what she’s done to her yard. It’s beautiful.”
He glanced around the crowded yard, barely nodding. “It does look better. But where is that nasty rat dog?”
“In a back bedroom. I insisted that it was the kindest thing to do.” Daphne giggled. “I think Sabrina may have given him a doggy tranquilizer.”
“Too bad she didn’t give him a whole bottle.”
“Oh, Wally.” She gave him a dismal look. “I’m sure you don’t mean that.”
“There’s no place to sit out here,” he said with a frown.
“I saved a place for you.” She led him over to where Ricardo and his mom were seated at a little table. She’d already clued Ricardo into her little plan and although he was skeptical, he agreed to play along. “Do you know the Martonis?” she asked as they both sat down.
“You run the diner, don’t you?” Wally said to Ricardo.
“That’s right.” Ricardo pointed to his mom. “And this is my moth
er, Maria. She lives down the street.”
Wally nodded to Maria. “I think I’ve seen you around the neighborhood. Pleased to meet you.”
As Wally ate, Daphne explained how he’d been her favorite English teacher. “He actually helped to inspire me to become a writer.” She smiled at him and his expression seemed to warm up. “I didn’t even realize he was my neighbor. I was living in New York when he’d moved to the neighborhood. I was pleasantly surprised to find he was living just across the street.”
“The house belonged to my late wife’s parents,” he explained. “After she passed on . . . well, I suppose I became somewhat of a hermit.”
“Oh, I know what you mean,” Maria told him. “I was the same way after my husband died.”
“I try to get her to come to the restaurant just to be among people,” Ricardo said. “You’d think I could lure her out with a free meal. But the problem is, she’s such a good cook, the restaurant doesn’t tempt her.”
“Nonsense. I eat at your restaurant two to three times a week, Ricardo.” Maria explained how she could lose herself in a quilting project. “I get so caught up in it that several days might pass and I realize I haven’t left my house.”
“That’s when I get worried,” Ricardo confessed.
“You should be thankful,” she told him. “My quilting helps to take my mind off of other things. It’s a good escape.”
“That’s like me and my books,” Wally said. “I can read for hours and hours.”
“But being isolated like that,” Ricardo said to his mom, “doesn’t seem healthy to me.”
“That’s because you’re young. You don’t understand how older people are.” She looked at Wally. “Do you have children who tell you what to do too?”
He smiled. “My daughter. She calls me about every other day to make sure I’m eating right.” He forked into the potato salad. “Sometimes I lie to her, just to get her to leave me be.”
And suddenly, almost like magic, these two older people were chatting and comparing notes and even laughing together. It seemed that a real friendship was being forged right before Daphne’s eyes. Was there romance in the air? Maybe not. But perhaps what these people needed more than that was companionship.
Dating, Dining, and Desperation (A Dear Daphne Novel) Page 10