by Marie Harte
He blew out a breath and pasted a smile on his face that turned genuine as he and Colin spent the evening together. Then, as he tucked Colin into bed, taken by the smell of little boy and minty toothpaste, he leaned down to kiss him on the forehead when Colin stopped him.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“What was your favorite thing about Mom?”
The tiny pang of sorrow hurt less and less with each of Colin’s questions. Mike knew it meant he was finally hurdling the agony of her passing, but he couldn’t help missing that ache, the part of Lea he could hold on to.
“That’s a tough one, buddy. I loved so many things about your mom.”
“Well, what didn’t you like?”
Mike blinked. “Huh. That’s… I guess I’d say your mom was too nice sometimes.” After tonight, he could easily classify it as the top of his dislike list. “Nice is good, but people had a habit of taking advantage of your mom sometimes, so I’d have to step on them.” He made a fist and shook it in front of Colin. “But then, that’s why I’m so big and strong. So I can protect the people I care about.”
“Like puny Uncle Flynn and Uncle Cam, and Ubie’s big mouth?” An insult he’d often heard his father say.
“Exactly.”
They smiled at each other, then Colin sat up and hugged Mike tightly. “I love you, Daddy.”
Colin never called him “Daddy” anymore. His six-year-old had stuck with Dad for the past year, trying to be a big boy.
Mike blinked away the moisture in his eyes. “You too, Colin. Now go to sleep.”
Colin let him go and snuggled under the covers. Mike turned on the night-light and left the room. He walked back into the kitchen, where he’d left his phone. He stared at it, tossing it around in his hand. No reason to call anyone, not at this hour. Quarter to nine on a Sunday night, when most people he knew readied for jobs the next morning. He walked back to his room and stared at his bed, then at the top drawer in his dresser. He’d put Lea’s picture in the closet.
Without thinking, he dialed Del’s number. His stomach flipped and his palms sweated as he waited for her to answer. Instead, he heard her sexy voice telling him to leave a message.
Not sure what to say, he hung up, then tossed down his phone and headed into the garage for some work on the heavy bag. It was going to be a long night.
Chapter 13
“So I hope your dinner went well. Colin can’t stand Noah, and Grace was a pain in my ass. So yeah, you can say ‘I told you so’ and feel good about yourself.” Mike’s voice sounded gravelly on her voice mail. “Anyway, call me if you can get your head out from under the hood of a car in that death trap you work in. Delilah.”
She sat in the office and replayed the message again, the way she’d been replaying the others. It was her favorite of the half dozen or so he’d left. He’d left this one early yesterday morning, the day after his crappy date with Grace. Del gave a nasty grin, glad he’d had a miserable time. Couldn’t have been any worse than dealing with her annoying family who still wouldn’t leave her the hell alone about her supposedly bad mood. She felt just fine. Pissed at the world and too busy to give a shit.
Putting her phone aside, she got down to business straightening out work orders and dealing with Sam’s absence. Poor guy had the flu. Or at least, he’d better. She swore under her breath and went into the garage to take care of a few oil changes and some carburetor work. The sound of heavy metal music, swearing, and male laughter echoed through the place, and she let the familiar comfort of home and work take her mind away from all things McCauley.
Hours later, someone kicked her feet. She hated that. “You’d better have a damn good reason for fucking with me,” she growled.
“Nice mouth, daughter.”
Hell. Her father.
She rolled out from under a jacked-up Chevy and stared up at her dad. “Liam.”
“Delilah.”
Behind him, someone chuckled and drawled, “De-li-lah.”
She fumed. “I know that’s you, Johnny.”
“Nuh-uh. That was Foley.”
“Dickhead,” Foley swore. “Was not.”
While they bickered, her father reached down and hauled her to her feet, ignoring her greasy fingers.
“What’s up, Dad?”
He tugged her with him. “We need to talk.”
She groaned. “I’m busy. Sam’s out sick, Lou’s doing some paint work and can’t cover, and Dale has the week off for finals. Or so he says, because if he’s screwing off, I’m gonna—”
“She’s on break,” he yelled to the guys.
“Thank God,” someone muttered.
“Now that was Foley!”
They continued arguing while her dad muscled her into the office and shut the door behind him. Then he closed the hall door as well.
“I can’t see if we get customers,” she warned him and sat at her desk. With Dale out, she had to man the front.
“It’ll keep.” Her dad rested his butt against her desk and stared at her. “So.”
“So.” She reached for the wipes nearby and tried to get at least the surface gunk off her hands.
“What crawled up your ass and died?”
“And you get on me about my language?”
“Delilah.”
She hated that now whenever someone said her full name, Mike came to mind. She thought about him all the time. Even though she’d decided not to like him anymore, it was as if her heart hadn’t gotten the memo.
“What, Dad? Seriously, I’m busy. Tomorrow I have to meet with Gil about some bigwig with money he wants to throw our way. Wants to commission two total rebuilds because he liked Foley’s work on the Chevelle and Lou’s paint on that Camaro.”
“J.T. did the mock-up for the Camaro. You going to tell him?”
“His ego doesn’t need the help, but yeah. I’ll tell him.”
“When? Because from what I hear, you’re ducking his calls, Rena’s calls, and even mine.”
“I’m busy.”
“Honey, you’re full of shit. You can’t lie to your old man.”
“Really? Then you were okay with all the stuff I got up to in my high school years?” She smirked at him. “’Cause I was lying like a rug back then, and you never caught on.”
He frowned and crossed his big arms over his chest. “Mouthy little witch. Maybe if I hadn’t been so busy keeping your brother out of jail and your cousin from getting her ass handed to her by her fuckhead of a stepdaddy, I would have seen you up to no good. But now that everyone—but you—has matured, I have the time and energy to devote to helping my little girl.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m fine. Yes, I was annoyed everyone made fun of my chicken. So what?”
He just watched her, and she had to fight not to squirm.
“Delilah.”
“Geez, Dad. Back off. I’m fine.”
“When are you seeing Mike again?”
She hadn’t figured he’d actually bring Mike’s name into the conversation. “What does he have to do with anything?”
“Nothing really.” But her dad’s satisfaction was hard to miss. “I was talking to James the other day, and he mentioned firing up the grill for a family barbecue.”
“You got an invite?” The man who tried to romance James’s wife?
“Nah, but he did mention there will be other parties before their big Fourth of July celebration. Apparently that’s the one I’m not allowed to miss. Nice to be invited. I think he’s finally accepting that Beth and I are just friends.”
“I’m probably not invited.”
“Yeah, you are. For this weekend, as a matter of fact. James made sure to let me know. You’re invited to their family barbecue.”
“Too bad. I’m busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Girl stuff.”
He didn’t even try to hide his laughter.
“Hey, I’m girly.” Del glared. “Kind of.”
“In what universe?”
It irked to know he was right. Especially since no one would bat an eye at Grace Meadows being girly. Or Maddie or Abby. Then again, Vanessa would probably rather gnaw off an arm than be associated with anything foofy.
“I’m getting a massage.”
“Where?”
She tried to come up with a fake name, couldn’t, and stood in a rush. “Okay, it’s not girly. I need to work on the house and run errands, boring stuff I don’t have time for during the week.”
“Oh, you poor thing.” Her father hugged her, squeezing the breath out of her, then pulled back. “Tell you what. I’ll fill in for Sam and Dale. You go take care of stuff today, so you’re free tomorrow and this weekend.”
“But I—”
The cell phone on her desk rang, and before she could reach it, her father did.
“Hello?” His expression turned into one of pure delight, and her heart sank. “Why, Mike McCauley. Del and I were just talking about you.”
She groaned.
“What’s that? Yeah, I was just telling Del about your dad’s invite on the Fourth. With this much lead time, I’ll make sure to clear my schedule. We’ll be there. All of us, including J.T. and Rena, if that’s okay. Oh, good. Yeah, I agree. The more the merrier.”
She started to slip toward the door when her father caught her by the back pocket of her jeans.
“Del? She’s right here. Oh, I’m sure you had a hard time getting through. But don’t take it personally. She’s been busy with work lately.”
She glared at her father, who smiled back pleasantly while thrusting the phone into her hand.
“Yeah?” she barked.
“Delilah. What a pleasure.”
Her entire body lit at that deep, husky voice. “What’s up, McCauley? I’m busy.”
Her father frowned at her, but she ignored him.
“I was calling to invite you to our barbecue this weekend. I need a plus-one and you’re it. Oh, and something else. It’s kind of an imposition, and I hate to bother you, but—”
She hadn’t made up her mind about being his plus-one yet. “You’re all about being an imposition. This phone call is an imposition. Get to it already. Before I turn forty.”
Her father grinned.
“Okay, sweetness.” She heard Mike’s humor and gritted her teeth. “Thing is, Colin has a field trip Thursday. I’m busting my hump with a new remodel for the client from hell. My brothers are all busy, and I know he’s going to be super disappointed if I’m not there. But I know how much he likes you, so I thought…”
“That I’d take your kid on a field trip?” She stared at her father, who raised a brow.
“You don’t take him. Just kind of help supervise. You show up and help the teacher, but basically it’s really to hang with Colin for the day. Probably stupid to ask. Sorry. I’ll talk to my mom, I guess.”
“No, hold on.” She liked Colin a lot. Dumb for a nearly-thirty-year-old woman to like spending time with a little kid, but his sweet innocence reminded her of what fun and youth should be like. To her father, she asked, “Can you fill in for me Thursday so I can hang with Colin at some field trip?”
Her father nodded. “No problem. It’ll give me a chance to remind the slackers out there to stop skating anyway.”
“Yeah, like I don’t know how to work the guys.” She snorted, then before she could think too hard on how good she felt that Mike had asked her to go, she answered him. “Yeah. I’ll hang with your kid.”
“You’re the best, Del. We’ll call the bet even. I’ll make you dinner this time.”
“Wait. The bet?”
“You know, the one you never made good on?”
She couldn’t believe he’d bring that up. “Excuse me. I had a meal waiting on your sorry ass, but you never showed up because you were too busy showing your girlfriend around.”
“She’s not my girlfriend. I told you.” Mike sounded calm, and his refusal to engage in debate infuriated her. “I took her around for my mother’s sake, to get her off my case after the damage you did at book club.”
“I did? So you’re saying I’m responsible for you blowing me off the other night? Really?”
“Hey. I didn’t call to argue.”
“The hell you didn’t. I can’t believe—”
“I appreciate you taking Colin. Look, I’ll spring for a greasy pizza to make peace, okay? Thursday night, after the field trip. I promise.”
She looked away from her father’s shit-eating grin and double thumbs-up. Only for Colin would she tolerate his jackass father’s attitude. “A really big pizza,” she snarled. “With pepperoni. And I want a big fat chocolate cake for dessert. For me and Colin.”
He sighed. “Yeah, yeah, fine. Now quit ducking my calls. I’ll text you details for Thursday. If you aren’t there, Colin will cry for days on end. Just sayin’.”
He disconnected, and she stared at the phone, wondering how she’d been manipulated into not only talking to Mike again, but going with his son on a school field trip and spending another dinner at Mike’s.
Expecting her father to make some smart remark, she was nonplussed to see him nod and shove her out the door. He picked up her keys and backpack and tossed them to her. “Go. Take care of your errands so you can get back here tomorrow to deal with Gil. And for God’s sake, don’t screw around on Thursday, or Beth will be upset. She loves her grandson.”
“I’m not going to mess with Colin just because his dad’s a jerk.”
“You’re a good girl, Del. No wonder you’re my favorite.” Her dad pulled her close for another hug, this one gentler than the last, and kissed her cheek.
“You know, you’d be much more convincing if you hadn’t called J.T. your favorite on Sunday night. With me standing right behind you.”
“Yes, honey. But he needs the reinforcement. Boy is self-conscious and shy.”
“How you can lie with a straight face I’ll never know.”
Her dad winked and nudged her out the door again. “My secret. Now quit your whining about shit. Get gone. I don’t want to see you here before nine tomorrow morning.”
“Hard-ass,” she muttered and left, a smile curling her lips.
She spent the remainder of the day taking care of the annoying shopping, laundry, and cleaning she’d been meaning to do last week but hadn’t. That evening she ate dinner with Rena and did her best not to jump across the table and choke her cousin.
“I mean, from what Abby and Maddie say, Mike is totally hot for you. Why would you not give the man another chance? So he went out with Grace on Sunday. From what I hear, he was miserable the whole time. He practically flew out of his mother’s house when he left Grace…at seven o’clock. I mean, how romantic could their date have been? Or do you think they had a quickie while his mom watched Colin?”
“Would you shut up about Mike McCauley?” She stabbed a fork at her cousin as she enunciated each word. “And for that matter, you’re a blabbermouth!”
“Am not.”
“Are too. You wouldn’t shut up at Abby’s book thing. Then at dinner Sunday night, you kept talking about Mike and Grace—in front of Dad and J.T.—and how I shouldn’t be upset. As if I have a thing for him.”
“Oh? So you didn’t screw all night and into the wee hours? Yes, Jenny told me all about it. Our town house has thin walls, cuz.”
Del flushed.
“Aha! You did bang his brains out. I knew it!” Rena laughed. “So easy. A big, handsome, muscular, sexy, kick-ass man enters your world, and you become a mattress. Way to go.”
“God.”
Rena continued to laugh. “Oh, man. It’s about time. I was worried you were going to turn into a house hag. Wearing your robe all day, watching soaps, in slippers…”
Del groaned.
“From what I’ve heard of his brothers, you go, girl. Get some for me while you’re at it. I’m so freaking in no-man’s land it’s sad. I think my vagina has forgotten what it’s there for.”
“Ga
g. Rena, I’m eating.”
“Anyway, so what are you going to wear for the field trip?”
Del just stared at her cousin.
“What?”
“It’s a field trip. For kids. I don’t think what I wear matters.”
“No, but afterward, when you head to Mike’s for dinner and a good wall banging, you need to be lookin’ good.”
“I’m not screwing him after dinner. I’m simply going to let him apologize and be thankful I helped Colin. Besides, I like the kid. He makes me laugh.”
“He’s so cute.” Rena sighed. “Doesn’t it make you wish you had some?”
Oddly, it did. So she denied it. “Hell no. I’m too young. Got too much to do before I have to change diapers.”
“Like what? Yell at Foley and order wrenches by the bazillion?”
“You have no idea what I do every day, do you?”
“Nope. Just like you have no idea what you’re missing by not giving true love a chance.”
“Oh no. Not this again.” Del sighed, loudly.
“Say what you want. My books might be fiction, but they’re all about finding love. Relationships are hard. Between all people. My mom’s a peach, her ex-husband a dick from hell. But you don’t see me shying away from romance.”
“Please. You work all the time. When’s the last time you went on a date?”
“I’m working toward a goal, to own my own business. That’s the difference. If a Mike McCauley fell into my lap tomorrow, I’d make time for him. You’re just scared and stupid.”
“Stupid?”
Rena nodded, but her eyes were kind. “Because your mom was such a bitch, you think everyone will treat you the same way. Come on, your dad and J.T. love you. I love you. And all the guys who know you want to do you.”
“So romantic,” she mumbled. “None of that’s true anyway. I know I’m lovable.”
“Do you?” Rena glanced at her forearm at the scar there that had gone so much deeper than skin level. “Then why haven’t you gone out with anyone seriously in years?”
“I date.”