Shayla winced. “I’m still not comfortable with that.”
Desiree nudged her. “Girl, just relax into it. Let someone clean your house. You’re providing a job.”
“That’s the main reason I haven’t canceled yet. I hate to take someone’s job.”
“Money takes a little while to get used to,” Sebastian said. “Give it a year, you’ll be paying someone to give you in-home spa treatments.”
Shayla rolled her eyes, a little smile on her lips. She put her attention on Marigold. “So what’s going on downstairs?”
Marigold glared at her. “I see your attempt to divert the attention elsewhere.”
Seanna nudged her. “It’s working. So tell us about Dane.”
Marigold narrowed her gaze. “You know he’s not my date, right?”
“You may not have come here with him, but I’d be willing to bet my right arm you’re leaving with him,” Seanna said.
Marigold rolled her eyes, her cheeks heating up. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Oh, yes. So ridiculous,” Desiree said, glancing around at the group. “The two of them clearly have zero chemistry.”
“For sure,” Sebastian said, rolling his eyes. “I think I got a contact high just from sitting across from the two of you at dinner.”
“I haven’t seen two people with happier smiles on their faces since we took Bo’s nephews to Disney World,” Maya said.
“We’re just…friends,” Marigold said, feeling her nose growing.
“Oh, please,” they all said in one form or another.
She couldn’t help her grin. “What? We are.” She dodged a throw pillow flying at her.
“Seriously,” Seanna said. “What’s the holdup here?”
She exhaled a deep breath, not wanting to get into it all, but these were her closest and dearest friends who she trusted implicitly. “He’s got some…baggage.”
“Ha!” Cassidy said from the peanut gallery.
Everyone got quiet and waited for her to expound upon her harrumph. Cassidy was a woman of few words, and when she spoke, people listened up.
She glanced up from her spot on the ottoman at the end of the bed where she was flipping through a magazine. She closed it and gave Marigold a kind smile. “I think once you reach your thirties, baggage is inevitable. It’s just a matter of whether or not you can carry it.”
They all swung their gazes to Marigold. “Well,” Seanna said. “Can you carry it?”
Marigold rubbed her forehead, thinking. “It’s baggage of the kid-type.”
Shayla looked confused. “I didn’t realize Dane had kids.”
“He doesn’t. They belong to his ex.”
“He’s not the father?” Maya asked.
“He’s not, but you should see him with these boys.” Marigold covered her heart with both hands. “He’s fantastic. I mean I don’t want to think about kids now or maybe ever. But man, if I wanted them, my ovaries would be pulsing right about now.”
“You met the kids?” Shayla asked.
“Not on purpose. She dumps them off on him unexpectedly, apparently. I was over there…well, I had been over there, and it all went wrong so I left, and then I went back to apologize, and there they were. I thought I was on Planet Zotar for a minute until he explained it all. I mean, he’s not explained all of it, but enough to where I get the picture.” She exhaled a deep breath. “I just don’t know if I can get into something like this. There’s a lot going on there.”
Maya’s eyebrows went up. “Sounds like it.” Maya was the sensible one of the bunch, the one who had all her ducks lined up perfectly until she met Bo and he threw a wrench the size of Texas into her world. If Maya could upend her life for a fantastic man what hope did Marigold have to resist Dane?
Sebastian squeezed Marigold’s leg. “Take your time, sweetie. You’re in no rush here.”
Marigold nodded, but all she could think about was the ticking clock. Her shop was only going to be open in its current location until the end of November. That was a fact. She had not renewed her lease. If she knew the hotel would be built, she could limp along until that was done and take out a cheap lease on an apartment in Panama City or Fort Walton. She could work at a grocery store or a department store for the interim. But if the hotel wasn’t happening, she was going to have to fall back on her family.
Sure, it felt wonderful to put them in their place earlier that night, but she had to face facts. No matter her path forward, she needed them. Either she was going into business with them—a partnership with her shop and their hotel, or she was going home to work in their business if she couldn’t get a decent job soon. The thought did not bring joy to her heart. And if she was being honest with herself, getting in bed with them, even if it was through a partnership, may not be the wisest choice. She just didn’t know what other realistic choice she had.
Seanna started talking to Sebastian about something, and the group sectioned off into separate conversations. Marigold nudged Desiree. “I’ve got your check for the piece I sold. It’s in my purse downstairs. Don’t let me forget it.”
“You know you’ve sold more of my paintings than anyone?”
“Seriously?” Marigold asked.
“Oh yeah. I make most my money off graphic design.”
“But painting is your real passion,” Marigold said.
“Definitely. How do you get them sold?”
Marigold shrugged. “I love them. It’s easy to brag on them and point out the emotions they evoke in me.”
Desiree narrowed her gaze. “When one of us wins the lottery, let’s open an art gallery together. I’ll paint, you sell.”
“Deal,” Marigold said with a smile, genuinely thinking she’d love nothing more. As they joined in a conversation with Shayla and Maya, Marigold zoned off into la-la land imagining herself selling art exclusively. She wouldn’t compete with the uber-classy galleries around town. She’d go for quirky and down to earth. Sure, this was an area that attracted people with lots of money, but the more affordable communities like Seagrove and Seacrest attracted people who couldn’t afford to spend thousands on one art piece. She’d love to serve that clientele. It meant more paintings for less money, but how many starving artists would love to sell a piece for a couple hundred bucks?
She imagined herself locking up the gallery like she did her store, and then shouldering her purse and walking down a little imaginary path to a house up on the cliff of the sand dunes overlooking the beach. She’d get a glass of wine, kick off her shoes, and meet Dane on the covered deck where she would cozy up to him on a loveseat.
“Right, Marigold?” Shayla asked.
“Hmm?” she asked, looking around. “Oh, yeah.” They all started laughing. “What?”
“Where were you just then?” Seanna asked. Marigold hadn’t even realized she was a part of the conversation.
Marigold shook her head. “An impossible dreamland.”
19
As Dane found was the case with most parties that had mainly couples, the women and men separated like they were at a middle school dance. Chase’s girlfriend had taken the women along with Sebastian upstairs, and they had not returned. Ashe and Ethan had mysteriously disappeared, leaving Dane glad he’d been the one to drive Ethan and him to this party so he wasn’t stuck.
Chase, Bo, Blake, and Dane had all been working to clear the dishes and clean up the kitchen, which didn’t take long with them all pitching in. Chase started the dishwasher and then scrubbed his hands together. “Well, that’s all that can be done for now. Let’s play cards while they’re tucked away up there.”
Bo, who was clearly quite at home in Chase’s house, opened a kitchen drawer and pulled out a deck. Surveying the room, he said, “How many do we have, four of us? Perfect. We can play Spades.”
“I’ll only play Spades if I can be partners with Bo ‘cause he cheats,” Blake said.
“I do not fucking cheat,” Bo said, pulling a chair out. “I just overlook a card from time to
time.”
“If you’d line ‘em up alternating red and black you could see ‘em better,” Blake said.
“You line your cards up how you want and quit worrying about how I do mine.”
“We’ll play Hearts,” Chase said, glancing at Dane. “Have you played Hearts?”
“Once or twice, but I’ll figure it out.”
“It’s easy,” Bo said. “We’re gonna lay cards in rounds of tricks. Just remember you don’t want to drag a trick unless it’s free of hearts.”
“Or the Queen of Spades,” Blake said.
Bo widened his eyes at Blake. “Will you let me tell it, asshole?” Blake shrugged, and Bo turned back to Dane. “Hearts are worth a point each and the Queen of Spades is worth thirteen points. You don’t want points in this game, so if you can avoid it, don’t win any tricks with hearts or the Queen of Spades.”
“Unless he wants to shoot the moon,” Chase said.
Bo tossed a beer cap at Chase who batted it away. “Will the two of you—”
“Just deal the damn cards before we all die of boredom,” Chase said.
Dane smiled to himself as Bo dealt. These guys reminded him of his buddies from college with whom he’d done a bad job of keeping in touch. He missed close friendships with guys who felt like brothers, which was clearly how these guys were with one another.
“So, Dane,” Bo said, dragging his cards but not looking at him, “what’s going on with you and Marigold?”
“Subtle as a rhino,” Blake said, organizing his own cards.
“Well, beating around the bush just wastes time, and so does having to deal with your unhelpful comments,” Bo said.
“Leave him alone,” Blake said.
“Oh, ‘cause you’re not curious at all.”
Blake raised an eyebrow, staring at his cards.
“That’s what I thought,” Bo said.
Dane smiled, keeping his mouth shut.
Bo stared him down. “Well?”
“Hmm?” Dane asked, playing dumb.
Bo gave him an exhausted look. “Well at least tell me how long you’ve been dating.”
“Well, we’re not really dating, I don’t think.”
“You don’t think?” Blake asked.
“Oh, so now you’re interested,” Bo said, and Blake gave him the finger.
“They’re getting to know each other,” Chase said. “Give him some time.”
“She actually just wants to be friends,” Dane said.
Chase looked up at him. “She said that?”
“Well, yeah,” Dane said.
Chase looked back at his cards. “I’m gonna keep my mouth shut.”
“Can we get that in writing?” Blake asked.
Chase laid down a card. “You can get my foot up your ass.”
They played a couple of rounds in silence, and then Bo dragged a trick and looked at Dane. “Don’t give up.”
Dane nodded, and they all kept playing, Blake and Chase both looking as if they were holding back grins.
Seeing the girls and Sebastian coming down the staircase, Chase put his cards facedown. “There they are. The most beautiful women in Walton County.”
Sebastian held his arms out wide. “Why thank you.”
Chase winked at him. “You know you’re my favorite.”
“Of course I do. But Bo’s my favorite.”
Bo grinned. “I always knew I was.”
Seanna rubbed Blake’s shoulders. “You ready, good-lookin’?”
Blake set down his cards. “Sorry guys, she’s way hotter than any of you.”
Cassidy shouldered her purse. “I’m gonna head out, too.”
Desiree jabbed a thumb at Cassidy. “She’s my ride.”
“Let me grab that check for you,” Marigold said, heading to the other room.
Dane dragged all the cards, stalling until Marigold got back. He hadn’t come with her, but God knew he wanted to leave with her. As people started grabbing their purses and dishes, several of them hugged him and he told them how nice it was to meet them. Dane wasn’t sure he’d ever been around a kinder group of people. It made him realize how isolated he’d become, sharing his world with basically just Ethan. His cousin Celia came into town somewhat frequently, and he always made an effort to see her, and he was always sure to have lunch at Jesse’s bar a couple of times a week. But other than that, he’d made no efforts to surround himself with a group like this one.
Finally, Marigold made her way to Dane with a smile. “It was a nice surprise, getting to see you tonight. You have no idea how glad I was to get your text. I was in the process of being sabotaged by my family. You were like a beacon of light in the train tunnel.”
He lifted his eyebrows. “Wow. That sounds intense.”
“Yeah, well, I weathered it, thanks to you.”
“Man, and all I had to do was send a text.”
She giggled and then gave him a closed-mouth smile. “Mmm hmm.”
He couldn’t take how much he wanted her. “So, where are you headed now?”
“Home, I suppose…unless there’s a sock on the door handle, then I guess I’ll go sleep on the beach.”
He nodded, his heart rate rising already. “Ah. Beach bum. I should have known.”
“I know. I’m a menace. I’m an embarrassment to the South Walton beaches.”
He smiled, looking away from her so she couldn’t see just how much he wanted her. “We still have those movies to watch,” he said, hoping like hell he was reading her signs correctly.
Bo showed up holding his hand out to Marigold. “Give me your keys. You’re blocking us in. I’ll bring ‘em right back.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m coming.” She turned to Dane. “I’ll see you later.”
He nodded, not knowing what that meant. Later tonight? Later, as in sometime in the future when they happened to see each other again? He watched her walk out the front door, turning back to him with a smile and a wave just before she shut the door.
Chase put his big hand on Dane’s shoulder. “You’re an absolute moron if you don’t go for her.”
Shayla rolled her eyes with a smile as she moved past them and headed out to the back door. “Y’all grab a beer and join me when you’re done gossiping.”
Dane cut his eyes at Chase once Shayla was outside. “You were single for years and didn’t go for Marigold…or did you?”
Chase let out a deep breath. “That’s an involved story.” He glanced out at Shayla, who was settling into a chaise lounge with her phone, and then he turned back to Dane. “I came close to going there a few times, but I wasn’t in a good place, and I wasn’t sure if she was either. She was a huge flirt before I met Shayla and we cut up all the time, but she never gave me a vibe that made me feel like I could open that door. And to be honest, I didn’t really want to. I was sleeping around a lot back then and she was a girl I could just hang with and not have that complication screwing things up.” He held up a hand. “Now, I’m only human, so I’m not going to sit here and say I didn’t think about it, especially a handful of times when we were drinking and it was just the two of us. But I liked her so much as a cut-up buddy, I just wasn’t ready to risk that.”
Chase looked outside at Shayla lying back in the lounge chair with her eyes closed. “When Shayla came along, it was like something out of a dream. I’d never felt like that before, even with my ex-wife. I was so thankful I wasn’t hooked up with anyone and neither was she. I swear, I’m not a religious man, but if I was, I’d say God or fate or something stepped in, because I can’t imagine my life without Shayla now. It just seems like everything’s exactly like it should be.”
Dane nodded. “That’s nice, man.”
Chase considered him. “You know I talk a lot, right?”
“Mmm,” Dane uttered, holding back a smile.
Chase waved him off. “I’ll shut up, but before I do I just want to tell you that Marigold is worth whatever trouble you have to go through. If you’re into her, and by th
e looks of the two of you tonight at dinner I’m guessing you definitely are, you need to stay the course. She’s funny and she’s real and honest, and one of the best friends I’ve ever had. To see her hooked up with a guy like you would do nothing but make me smile, man.”
Dane didn’t need it, but he certainly appreciated Chase’s stamp of approval. “You smile most of the time anyway.”
“Well, that’s true. I guess I’m just full of shit. Let’s go have a beer by the pool.”
Dane took a look at Chase’s girl out by the pool and thought about his own girl…or the one he wanted to be his…whose later may have meant tonight. He held out his hand to Chase. “I think I’ll head out.”
20
After half an hour of driving around and then sitting in a parking place in front of Dane’s condo, Marigold found herself standing in front of his door. Her fist was poised to knock, her whole body pinging around like a pinball machine. She could totally just walk away and continue her years-long celibacy run. She was comfortable in her celibacy. There were no risks involved. Safety, stability. These were things Marigold needed in her life. Having sex and opening herself up to all kinds of liability didn’t provide safety and stability. Yet here she stood.
The door opened with her fist still ready to knock. He must have heard the elevator ding. There he stood wearing a UK T-shirt and a pair of black athletic shorts, giving her a little glimpse at his yummy thighs that she hadn’t yet seen, not helping her need to stay safe and stable.
She adjusted the spaghetti string of her purse. “I was just in the neighborhood.”
Taking her hand, he pulled her inside and closed the door behind her. Without further ado, he reached down and kissed her, slow and soft, his hand gripping her hip. She let out a groan of pleasure to rival one of a porn star. It’d been so long since she’d been kissed with this much intention that she supposed her inner porn star needed a release.
He backed her against the door, kissing her like the zombie apocalypse had come and was getting ready to end them both, and then pulled away, staring at her lips like he wanted them for supper.
He stepped back from her, running his hand through his hair, seeming to get ahold of himself. “I don’t want to be your goddamned friend. I want to take you into that bedroom and lick every inch of your body. Then I want to make love to you for eight hours straight, and not stop until we both pass out. If you want that, too, then I’ll race you to the bed. But if you don’t, then I’ll walk you to your car, and we’ll forget this whole thing ever happened.”
WATERCOLOR WISHES: Love Along Hwy 30A, Book Four Page 16