“Just to be clear, it’s probably too much to hope you’re dragging me to your room to ravage me instead of making me fix your sink again, right?”
Deek was joking. He wanted Annie, not her. “Oh, I have much bigger plans than that for you, Deek.” Just for the fun of it, she led him to her bedside, laid her hands on his shoulders, and pushed. It should have made him flop back onto the bed, but it was like shoving a brick wall. “Have a seat, and we’ll get started.”
She headed for her closet but then stopped and turned around. “I almost forgot. This dress is option one. Does it make me look like I have a food-baby belly?”
“No.” He frowned. “It makes you look like you’re going to a business meeting.”
Leave it to Deek to tell it like it is. “So, not sexy? At all?”
“I didn’t say that.” Deek hesitated and then cleared his throat. “You look hot in anything you wear. Especially yoga pants, which I sort of miss, by the way. What’s option two?”
Lori’s cheeks were suddenly on fire. “Be right back.” She hurried into her closet and whipped the black sheath dress over her head.
Deek thought she looked good in anything? Even yoga pants? It brought tears to her eyes. She worried she’d lost her figure in the ten years she’d been out of the dating game. He couldn’t have said anything nicer to help her confidence.
As she struggled with the zipper on the back of the blue dress, it occurred to her that maybe that was what Deek was doing. Just being nice about her figure. She was a whole lot curvier since the last time she’d been on a date.
She gave up on the zipper that was only three-quarters closed, then slipped into the tall black heels that killed her feet, but she hoped made her legs look shapelier. Her stomach roiled as she stood before Deek again. “Is this one any better?”
A grin lit Deek’s face as his gaze traveled up and then back down her entire body. The lust in his eyes made her shiver. And wish she was staying home and eating sandwiches with sexy, geeky, fun Deek instead of going on a first date with Jason.
“That’s the winner. Your date is one lucky guy, Lori. You look beautiful.”
The sincerity in his gaze made her question if the lust she noticed a moment ago could mean he was changing his mind about their relationship? Being more than just friends? Annie’d said he could date others.
Nope. Silly to think so. He was determined to win her back. “Thanks. Can you help me with the back?”
“Absolutely.” He stood and laid his hands on her shoulders before he slowly turned her around. The warmth of his strong hands seeped through the thin layer of fabric.
After he’d moved her long, curly hair aside, he gently tugged on her zipper and whispered, “This side looks great too.” When she was all zipped, both his hands slid to her waist, and he gave her a light squeeze. “Very nice.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the husky desire in his voice. Her butt was one of her greatest concerns. She did extra squats every day to stave off any more spread. “Thank you, Deek.”
He stood behind her with his hands still on her waist. The reflection showed how well their bodies fit together. She was tall, but he was a head taller. And those big hands… She needed to stop. Jason. She needed to focus on Jason.
She turned around and noticed his T-shirt for the first time. It said: You can’t please everyone—you’re NOT pizza! It made her smile. As always. “Nice shirt. But now I’m hungry for pizza. Thanks a lot.”
“You’re a little overdressed for pizza. Where’s what’s-his-name taking you?”
“His name is Jason.” Lori walked to her dresser to choose earrings. “I’m meeting him at that hot new fusion place everyone is talking about.”
Deek grabbed his phone from his back pocket. “His last name too, please. And what’s the name of the restaurant?”
“Jason’s last name is Pederson, Eliot Ness. And the restaurant is called Chuks. It’s American, Polynesian, and Hawaiian cuisine.”
“Seafood caught fresh from the oceans surrounding Denver? Makes no sense. And how do you know this guy is safe? Maybe we should have a code word or something in case you need to be rescued. If you’d like, I can put a tracker app on your phone.” He started tapping, and then his head whipped up. “That sounded stalker-ish, didn’t it? I meant for the evening. For safety… I’ll stop talking now.”
Deek was so sweet. It made her heart go all gooey.
As she slipped on her favorite dangling earrings, she said, “I’ll be fine. Jason filled out one of our applications. My sister-in-law, Shelby, ran a background check on him as we do for all our clients, and my brother, Nick, had one of his cop friends check Jason out too. They’re both very protective of me. But I appreciate your concern.”
Deek put his phone away. “Sounds like you have a great family.”
“I do.” She nodded. “But they’ve been so overly worried about me since Joe died that they can be a bit smothering at times. Like with Emily’s tuition. I wanted her to go to the best schools she could, but when I saw the price, I gave up on that idea. She’d be fine in public school; private is a perk we could live without. But the next day, I got a text from the school saying Emily would get a full-ride scholarship because her father was killed in the line of duty.”
“That’s what the money is for. I donate to the scholarship fund all the time.”
“Yeah. But that same morning, I’d mentioned to Shelby that Em couldn’t go to private school until I got my degree and a better job. Later, I found out my parents had come to my rescue and asked the school to make it look like a scholarship. I appreciate it, and if it’d been anything else, I would’ve refused, but it was for Em. I’ll figure out a way to pay them back eventually. I plan to fix up and then flip this house and hopefully make a few extra bucks to help. It’s a matter of pride, you know?”
“Sure. Except I help my dad because…he’s my father. I’d never want to be repaid. When my absentee mother came out of the woodwork and asked, it was a harder choice.”
Lori glanced at her watch and sighed. “I’m listening but late. Walk with me. I want to hear what happened.” She grabbed her coat and headed down the hallway. “Did you give her money?”
Deek caught up in two long strides and walked with her toward the garage. “I didn’t have the heart to say no when she told me it was because her husband had just died. She needed somewhere to live until she got back on her feet. It was probably all a lie, but she’s my mother. And I have plenty. So I gave her a one-time-only payout.”
Lori stopped and laid a hand on the side of his stubbled face. The woman had abandoned her son, and yet Deek still came through. “I think you are the kindest person I’ve ever met, Deek.” She laid a quick kiss on his cheek. “There’s homemade PB&Js for you and the kids. Bye.”
“Bye.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Are you sure no tracker?”
“I’m sure. I’ll be back no later than eleven, Dad.” Lori smiled and kept on walking toward the garage.
He called out, “What was that about the PB&Js?”
She glanced over her shoulder. Deek stood in the hall with a puzzled look on his face.
“The homemade part was a joke. About cooking meals for the kids—never mind. I laid everything out, but you’re going to have to put the sandwiches together yourself.”
His face brightened as a realization hit. “Sarcasm again. Will do. See you later.”
Still smiling, Lori opened her car door and slid behind the wheel. Something about being with Deek had chased away all her anxiety. As he usually did. He made the idea of fixing up her house less ominous, and he was a whiz with economics, so she’d aced her last test. Having Deek in her life had just brightened it.
What the hell was wrong with Annie? Deek was a handsome, adorable, caring man. A one-of-a-kind…and not an option for her, unfortunately.
She’d grown up in a broken home too, so she understood why Deek was working so hard to get Annie back. From all the phone calls she’d
helped Deek make, it became apparent Annie really didn’t have much free time to talk. Maybe she was more interested in Deek and Asher than she appeared to be sometimes in her haste.
Lori headed out for the restaurant, determined to make an effort to enjoy her date, hoping for the best.
After circling the block three times, she found a spot and crammed her oversized SUV into a spot better suited for a Mini Cooper. She checked her hair in the mirror and made sure there wasn’t anything in her teeth—unlikely because she hadn’t eaten since breakfast due to the food-baby tummy fear—then she worked up the courage to meet her date.
Steeling herself, she opened her car door and shivered at the icy blast of January chill as she hurried for the warmth of the nearby restaurant. She grabbed the big wooden door’s handle and stepped inside.
She spotted Jason right away as she entered the crowded little bar and restaurant. He was the best-looking man in the place. He sat at a corner table with two drink glasses. One empty and the other half-full. Had he been searching for some courage too, but in the form of alcohol?
Scents of pineapple, seafood, and, oddly, BBQ sauce tingled her nose as she forced her feet forward and across the room. Pizza was sounding better by the moment.
Jason finally glanced up from his phone long enough to notice she was almost at his table. She forced a smile. “Hi, Jason? I’m Lori.” She stuck out her hand.
He halfway stood, his gaze checking her out from head to toe before he gently shook her hand. “Great to meet you, Lori. You’re a little late. Have trouble finding the place?”
Did ten minutes constitute being late for a date these days? She’d have to work on that. “No. Just running behind a bit. Have you eaten here before?”
Instead of standing up the rest of the way and pulling out her chair for her the way her husband would have done, Jason sat and watched her slip out of her coat, his eyes assessing every inch of her.
He finally said, “Yes. It’s my new favorite. I love the combo of pork sliders and lobster rolls.”
“The lobster rolls sound good.” She picked up her menu and scanned it. She wasn’t a picky eater by any means, but the weird combinations didn’t make any sense to her.
Jason leaned closer. “I like your dress. Who designed it?”
Only a man dressed nicer than her would have asked that. By the sparkle of his Rolex and the cut of his suit, it looked as though he valued fine clothes. “I have no idea. I got it on sale at Macy’s.”
“It’s refreshing to meet a woman confident enough to buy off the rack.” The corner of his mouth lifted as if he’d been teasing. “In any event, the color goes well with your skin tone.”
“Thank you.” She’d never given a second thought to her skin tone when picking a dress. Maybe she’d pay more attention in the future.
A young, good-looking waiter appeared and asked if she’d like a drink. Before she could answer, Jason held up his glass and said, “Bring me two more while you’re at it.”
The waiter nodded politely and then turned back to her. “For you, ma’am?”
“A glass of house white wine is fine. Thanks.” She didn’t want to order something too expensive and make Jason think she was a jerk.
Jason held up a hand. “No. Don’t bring her that crap. Bring her one of these.”
“What are you drinking?” she asked.
“Don’t worry. You’ll love it.” He waved the waiter away. “Your profile said you’re a foodie like me, right?”
“I do love to eat.” Shelby must’ve snuck that in her profile after reading his application. She’d never say she loved to eat on a dating site.
“Order whatever you’d like and enjoy it to the fullest. That’s my plan. And then tomorrow, I’ll hit the gym right away.” His eyes drifted away again. As if he was bored with her.
“Yeah, I always have good intentions to work out, but then something always comes up that seems more important.” Like paint a wall or strip wood floors. But that was exercise too.
He looked at her again. “That’s why having a workout buddy is best. For motivation and to keep you honest. You’d be welcome to join me tomorrow. Gotta keep it lookin’ good, right?” Jason beamed the same smile that had looked sexy on his application, but in person, it seemed off. Maybe it was the spray tan in January that made his teeth seem unnaturally white. And his hair had so much product, it didn’t move when it should have. No one could argue that he wasn’t well groomed, though. It looked like his manicure was way fresher than hers. Even his woodsy-scented aftershave smelled expensive.
“The gym sounds fun, but I have plans with my sister tomorrow.” Lori glanced at the menu again, struggling to find something appetizing. And now low calorie and low carb to keep it lookin’ good. “So, Jason. What made you decide to pick our matchmaking service?”
He finished off his second drink. “My parents are eager for me to settle down and have kids. I work for my father’s business that emphasizes clean, family values. I want to keep the old man happy, so I figured I’d give a real relationship a chance. You have a kid, right?”
“Yes.” She nodded absently while desperately searching the ala carte menu for a low-calorie piece of fish. She’d probably add yucky steamed veggies on the side. “Emily. She’s seven.”
“Seven. That’s probably a good age. Still young enough to accept another father figure in her life?” Jason’s eyes followed their waiter as he weaved through the tables. Yearning for their drinks maybe?
“I’d never want to replace her memories of her father, but yes, I think she’d be open to sharing me with another man.”
“That’s good.” Jason nodded as he finally turned his attention back to their table to study his menu. “And never having to worry about money again would be great too, am I right?”
“I suppose.” She wasn’t sure what Jason meant by that, but maybe he was just as nervous as she was. When she looked up again to ask Jason another question, her stomach dropped.
Melanie, former best friend, and the woman who’d slept with her husband stood at the bar. Flirting with a man. Much like she used to flirt with Joe. Lori had been a trusting idiot to think it’d been harmless.
Seeing Melanie again brought back a tsunami of painful feelings. But mostly betrayal. She felt as if she really might be sick if she didn’t leave. She couldn’t deal with a first date and seeing Mel again for the first time since Joe’s funeral. “Jason, I have to apologize. My daughter had been sick last week, and I’m afraid I might have caught her bug. I’m not feeling well, suddenly. May I have a raincheck?”
“Oh. Sure, I understand. I’ll walk you out.” The relaxing of his shoulders and the relief on Jason’s face made her feel even sicker to her stomach. She’d taught clients to read body language cues, and his showed that he clearly wasn’t interested in her. Or so nervous he was relieved he wouldn’t have to go through the paces?
Dammit. What a nightmare. Maybe Deek had just been being nice about her appearance earlier.
She stood. “No. Stay and enjoy your…drinks. I’m good.” She slipped into her coat as Jason continued to watch their waiter. “Good night.”
Jason finally turned his attention back to her. “I’ll be in touch in a few days. I’d like to see you again.”
Sure he would. “Sounds good. Take care.”
Lori hurried toward the front door. As she weaved through the busy restaurant, a delicate hand landed on her arm.
A familiar voice said, “Lori? Can we talk? Please?”
She sucked in a deep breath and slowly turned to face Mel. “There’s really nothing—”
“I’ve tried texting and e-mailing, but you’ve obviously got me blocked. For good reason. But if you could find it in your heart, could we please meet for coffee one day? I miss you so much. And I’d like the chance to explain.”
The tears burning in Lori’s eyes wanted to fall, but she refused to let them. She’d loved and been best friends with Mel since elementary school. Her betrayal wa
s in some ways worse than even Joe’s.
As she gazed into a set of remorseful brown eyes, all the love Lori used to have for Mel came rushing back. But how could she ever forgive her? “I don’t know… I’ll think about it. But I have to go.”
Mel blinked back tears and nodded. “Thanks. For at least considering it, Lori. My number and e-mail are the same when you’re ready.”
“Okay. Bye.” Lori pushed on the heavy front door of the restaurant, bracing for the slap of cold air freezing the tears to her cheeks as she hurried toward her car.
After she’d started the car and cranked the heater, she headed for home, destroyed by the lack of interest from Jason and the olive branch Mel tried to hold out to her. Why should she meet with the woman who claimed to be her best friend, who’d flown into the town they’d been stationed in, to betray her with Joe?
But Mel had seemed genuinely upset and sincere.
Her traitorous heart was trying to tell her to hear Mel out, but what could she possibly say to excuse her behavior?
Lori’s stomach was either really upset now, or she was famished. She laid the back of her hand on her forehead. No fever, so she was just hungry. And way off-kilter.
She spotted Papa G’s restaurant ahead and blamed what she was about to do—eat pointless carbs and cheese she didn’t need after all the cookies—on Deek’s T-shirt. She’d wanted pizza ever since she’d read it. Or maybe she wanted the man who wore the shirt, but that she couldn’t have, so pizza it was. Hopefully, hot dough and delicious red sauce would drown out all the hurt she’d endured in the last half hour.
Jason, who wasn’t interested in her, and running into Mel, the woman her husband had turned to for something Lori apparently couldn’t give him, was just the icing on the crappiest day she’d had in a long time.
Deek was hooked. Who knew the silly animated movies Emily and Asher loved to watch were so good? He enjoyed the adult humor slipped in that went right over their heads. Hopefully, Lori was having enough fun on her date that he’d have an excuse to watch the whole movie. The kids had retreated to Emily’s room to play video games, so he looked forward to sitting back and enjoying the show in peace.
Matched For Love (Rocky Mountain Matchmaker Book 3) Page 5