“More important than your family?”
“In this case that would be a big yes.” Marla turned and placed the phone to her ear. “Marla Danaher. Yes. That’s great, Mr. Wyland! I’ll be right over. Thanks for calling.” She switched off the phone. “I have to go close a big deal. I’ll come over later and we can sort through this. In the meantime pour a few martinis down Mom’s throat.”
Charlene sputtered and waved her hands as Marla backed out and headed for the motel to meet her clients. She did a quick mental check of her portfolio. The offer forms were there. She remembered being afraid she might jinx the sale if she put them in with the other papers before she met with the couple this morning. A smile grew on her face with every mile she drove. She could see that big fat commission check now.
Poor Skipper. I’m so late tonight.
Turning into the parking lot of the Grove Motel, Marla spotted a pickup truck that looked familiar. As she got closer, the sign on the side, Big D Construction confirmed it. What in the world would Dwayne be doing here?
Portfolio in hand, she found Room 14 and tapped on the door. It immediately swung open to reveal Dwayne with a big grin on his face.
“Hey, Red, come on in.” He made a sweeping gesture toward the small sitting area. Pete and Rosalie Wyland were seated at the table. An ice bucket with a bottle of champagne and five glasses sat in the center. Marla recognized Dwayne’s little girl who sat crossed-legged on the bed fully absorbed by a Cinderella DVD.
Feeling like she’d entered another dimension, totally confused, Marla sputtered, “What…you…why are you here?”
His big hand on her back, he directed her to the table. “Rosie is my cousin. They’re relocating here so she can take over the interior design department at Dylan’s furniture business. The name change to Spring Grove Furniture and Design will be announced any day.”
Pete stood and pulled out a chair. “Dwayne came over to help us decide. Let’s get to the paperwork and have a glass of champagne.”
Dwayne’s daughter glanced at the table and asked, “Do I get some champagne, Daddy?”
“Got ours right here, Amber.” He tapped a can of soda. “Soon as we’re done with business.” He patted her head and took the empty chair between Marla and Rosalie.
Not sure whether to be miffed, Marla said, “Why didn’t you tell me the Wylands were your cousins, Dempsey?”
“I dunno, I suppose I thought it would be better if you considered them as any other clients and not my relatives.” He winked. “Don’t get your hackles up. I was doing them a favor.”
“Hmm, I can see your point,” Marla admitted. She favored him with a smile, and his reaction pleased her.
Rosalie said, “We’ve decided on the first house. There’s so much to like about it, and when we found out Dwayne built it, it was a no-brainer.”
Astonished, Marla gawped at Dwayne. “You built that house?”
“Yup, it was the first project I handled after taking over Dad’s construction company when Amber and I moved to Spring Grove. I’m proud of that house. Almost moved into it myself.”
Lips pressed, Marla shook her head. One more fact about Dempsey to add to her list of ignorance.
Marla explained the paperwork and slid each sheet across the table for them to sign. The Wylands made a decent, realistic offer. Because she was a dual agent representing both the buyer and the seller, she was sure the offer would be accepted without endless back and forth. She placed the document in her portfolio and smiled.
“I think you just bought yourself a house. The sellers are out of town until tomorrow. I’ll contact you right after I meet with them.”
Pete lifted the champagne from the ice bucket. “Time to celebrate.” The cork made a gentle sigh as he removed it. The man knew the proper way to open a bottle of sparkling wine.
“Amber.” Dwayne patted his lap. “Come sit with us while we celebrate with Uncle Pete and Aunt Rosie.”
The girl hopped into her daddy’s lap. She held the glass Dwayne placed in front of her while he poured the clear soda. “Before we toast, I’d like you to meet Ms. Danaher. Marla, this is my daughter, Amber.”
Marla took the small hand in hers. “Very nice to meet you, Amber Dempsey.”
The child grinned. “Uh huh.” Then she turned to her father. “She’s pretty, Daddy. Do you like her?”
“Yes, I do, honey.”
The unexpected warm flush crawling from Marla’s chest to her cheeks sent her stomach jittering. That small exchange between father and daughter sent her heart racing. Of course he’d answer that way. What else could he have said? It would have been rude for him to say anything else. She told herself it meant nothing. The big lummox worked for her.
Dwayne gazed into her eyes when he handed her the glass of wine, his expression unreadable. No hint of a smirk or a smile. Seeing into another person’s soul through their eyes seemed romantic bunk to Marla. The stuff of romance novels. She didn’t have a hint of what he may be thinking.
“Boss? Champagne?”
She jerked out of her reverie and took the glass. His big, callused fingers brushed against her hand, sending her pulse into overdrive. She needed to empty her glass and leave as soon as politeness permitted.
“Ms. Marla? Could you come home with us? Daddy made my favorite for dinner. We have lots and lots.”
Marla choked, champagne backing up into her nose. Dwayne’s cousins burst into laughter.
With a gasp, Marla patted her chest. “I don’t—”
“She’s right, boss. I made enough for everybody. Why don’t you join us?” He waved his hand around the table.
Rosalie shook her head. “Oh, Dwayne, I forgot to tell you. Pete and I are having dinner at Uncle Johnny’s tonight. Sorry. After the house hunting we came back here and called the kids.”
Marla was beginning to recover her aplomb. “Thank you, Amber, but my little dog…”
Amber wriggled with excitement. “You got a dog?”
“Yes, I do. He’s…”
The child tugged on Dwayne’s sleeve. “She can bring her dog, can’t she? Please, Daddy, please?” Her eyes round, she gazed into Dwayne’s face with the same expression Skipper used when he wanted ice cream.
Marla suppressed a smile. Amber had put Dwayne on the spot. He clearly struggled with what to do about it. She enjoyed his dismay.
“Well, Amber, if your daddy says I can bring my dog, I’d love to share your favorite dinner with you.” Take that Dwayne Dempsey!
Rosalie seemingly enjoyed her cousin’s discomfort as much as Marla. “Dwayne loves dogs. Don’t you, Dwayne?” She poked his shoulder. “You said you were going to get Amber a dog after you got settled in California. It’s been three years. What’s the problem?”
Dwayne raised his hands in surrender. “Look, I know when I’m being ganged-up on by females.” Facing Marla, he added, “Ms. Danaher, would you and your dog care to join us for macaroni and cheese?”
A wide grin on her face, Marla nodded. “How serendipitous. That’s Skipper’s favorite too.” She stood. “I’ll take the paperwork home, pick up my baby, and join you at your house. Half an hour?”
Amber slid off Dwayne’s lap. “Daddy, may I go with her? May I?” She grabbed Marla’s hand. “Can I come with you? I’m very well behaved.”
Chuckling, Marla squeezed her fingers. “If it’s okay with your daddy, you can come with me to get Skipper.” She gave Dwayne a sidewise glance. “I’m a very good driver, and Skipper is a very well-behaved dog.”
Dwayne rolled his eyes. “Okay, I know when I’m staring defeat in the face.” He picked up her booster seat, handed it to Marla, and smacked Amber on the butt. “You behave yourself, you hear?”
Amber bounced on her toes with excitement. “Okay, Daddy.”
The little girl chattered with excitement during the short ten-minute drive to Marla’s house. She’d probably reveal any of Dwayne’s secrets if Marla was inclined to use a child for information, which she wasn�
��t. The Wylands weren’t joining them for dinner, so this misadventure was probably a bad idea.
As they passed the condo construction site, Marla noticed a couple of workmen loading equipment into the back of a pickup. She’d ask Dwayne about that because as a rule nobody worked on Saturday afternoons.
At the door of Marla’s small house, Skipper’s greeting bark echoed from the entry the instant her key went in the lock. “I’m home, Skippy.”
Skipper was so surprised to see Amber with his mistress that he applied the brakes to his forward momentum only to skid across the slick entry floor and collide headlong into Marla’s shins.
Amber bounced on her toes and squealed her excitement at the tiny mutt. She bent forward with her arm extended.
“No!” Marla grabbed her hand. “Let me show you the way to approach a strange dog.” She formed her hand into a fist and instructed Amber to do the same. “Now, slowly reach out and let him sniff your hand. Skip’s not a biter, but when dogs get startled or scared they sometimes nip. See? Once he checks you out, you can open your hand. Okay? Now you can pet him.”
Grinning, Amber knelt, and Skipper went on his hind legs to lavish her laughing face with dog kisses. Marla wasn’t sure which one of them was more excited. She reached for the dog’s leash hanging on the coat rack.
“Let’s take him for a stroll in the backyard. He has to pee by now.”
“Doesn’t he have a doggy door?”
“I locked it after a starving stray kitten came in here and couldn’t find its way out. Hungry skunks and raccoons can smell Skipper’s kibble too.”
Amber’s bottom lip pushed out in a sad pout. “Ohhh, the poor kitty.”
Marla patted her head. “Not to worry. She got a good home. I wrapped her in a towel and took her to Miss Emmaline.”
Wide-eyed, Amber sucked in a breath. “Princess Elizabeth? Is that Elizabeth?”
“Yep.” Marla chuckled. “That’s her.”
“I love Elizabeth. She cuddles with me when Miss Emmaline babysits me. She tickles my nose with her rilly fluffy tail.”
Marla led the way through the cozy entry, across the living room, through the kitchen and out the back door.
Amber didn’t miss a single detail. “Oh, your house is pretty. It smells good too. Ours is nice, but it’s kinda plain. Daddy doesn’t have flowers and perfume and stuff.”
Knowing she’d soon find out for herself, Marla didn’t comment. A sweet, innocent child, Amber didn’t seem to have a contrary bone in her body.
Marla left them in her small, fenced back yard and went inside to change into a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. This evening wasn’t a date. She had no intention of glamming up for Dwayne. Macaroni and cheese with a man and his little girl. That’s all it was.
Chapter Four
Dwayne pulled the bubbling macaroni and cheese out of his oven and set it on a wooden cutting board to cool. Slamming car doors alerted him to Marla’s arrival with Amber. After a quick glance around the kitchen to make sure all was in order, he yanked the dishtowel from his waist and made his way to the front entry.
Amber bounded through the door, a happy fat pooch clutched in her thin arms. His heart squeezed painfully at her look of sheer joy.
“What have you got there?” He bent forward to scratch the dog’s chin.
Amber whirled out of his reach. “No, Daddy! I’ll show you how.” She held Skip’s leash, set him on his feet, and said, “Make a fist like this, then put it by his nose rilly rilly slow.”
He glanced at Marla and smiled when she stepped inside and heard Amber give him his marching orders. She raised her eyebrows, pursed her lips, and watched him follow his daughter’s precise instructions.
“What’s this bruiser’s name?”
“His rill name is Skipper, but Marla calls him Skippy Wippy. Isn’t that silly?”
“Yeah. He’d probably prefer a name like Genghis or Killer. What do you think?”
Amber released a tortured sigh. “Daaad! You’re even more sillier than Marla.” She tugged the leash. “I’m taking him out back to pee.” The dog willingly followed her in a fast trot down the hall. The back screen door banged.
Arms akimbo, Dwayne smirked. “Where’s that mouse sleep? In a jewelry box?”
Mimicking his stance, Marla stuck out her chin. “No, in a demitasse cup.”
“I thought so.” Dwayne pointed toward the back of the house. “We’d better keep an eye on those two. Come on.”
They made their way through the kitchen. Marla sniffed appreciatively. “That smells heavenly. It looks yummy too. When do we eat? I’m starving.”
Not only was she hot and vah-voom, she wasn’t afraid to reveal her healthy appetite. One more point for her. At this rate she’d surpass the perfect ten rating he’d secretly bestowed. But he was no fool. He’d keep that information to himself.
They stood inside the laundry room door and watched while Skipper explored the backyard and found several places to squeeze out a few drops. Amber followed, her mouth moving as she spoke to him.
Finally she raised her arm and called out, “Skipper’s hungry, Daddy. I hope you made enough.”
“No problem there, squirt. Come on in and get those hands washed.” He held the door open for them. “Dinner is ready, and Marla is starving.”
Marla asked, “Is it okay to take him off the leash?”
“Sure. Follow me. I brought the rest of the champagne home so you could have a celebratory glass. Sound good?”
Her footsteps echoed behind his as they returned to the kitchen. “Did you send your cousin my way?”
“Yep. She asked for a referral. I knew you’d take good care of them.”
“You have no idea how relieved I am to close that deal, Dempsey. It’s been lean pickings the past few months. Your cousin is getting a great house and the price is right.”
He reached in the refrigerator and retrieved the ice-green bottle. “That’s what I told them. Rosie likes it that I built the house. I think that’s what sealed the deal for them.”
Marla reached for the juice glass he held. “I owe you one.”
He speculated on various ways he’d enjoy collecting his debt. None of which he could say out loud because there was a child in the house. But that didn’t stop him from imagining how Marla would look if he ever managed to get her naked. He cleared his throat and turned toward the sink. “Have a seat. I’ll grab the salad and get the bread from the warming oven.”
“Isn’t this the old Crocker house? I vaguely remember attending a Fourth of July party here one summer when I was a kid.”
“Yes. I swapped it for a vacation cabin I built in Montana. Old man Crocker decided he wanted to go fishing as much as possible after he retired. They have a small condo in San Diego to escape the winters. I palled around with their son, Ryan. Do you remember him?”
“Ryan! Oh, my gosh, yes. We were in the same class at Spring Grove High. He got married last year. I think he manages the Ace Hardware store Simi Valley.”
“He owns it. I give him a lot of business.”
Dwayne set a bowl of salad in the center of the table and put three different bottles of dressing next to it. Amber skipped into the kitchen with Marla’s mouse in her wake.
“Sit down, sweetheart. Do you want milk or lemonade?”
“Milk.” She turned her gaze to Marla. “Can Skipper have some?”
“Afraid not, honey. I’ll give him his regular food and put a spoonful of macaroni on top. That way he’ll think he’s getting the same thing we are. Dwayne, do you have a small bowl or saucer I can put some kibble in?”
He took a sauce dish from the cupboard. “Here you go.”
Marla dumped the contents of a plastic snack bag in the bowl. When Dwayne set the steaming casserole on the table he dropped a spoonful on top the kibble.
“Better let it cool a minute.”
Marla took a deep, appreciative sniff of the macaroni. “No kidding. It smells so good he’d wolf it right down t
he minute I set it on the floor.”
The minute he sat, Amber said, “I get to say grace.”
“Hey, it’s my turn.”
“You can have two turns in a row.”
“Promise?”
She clasped her hands and bowed her head. “Thank you for Daddy’s good macaroni and cheese, God, and please tell him to get me a new mom and especially a dog. Amen.”
Dwayne and Marla eyed each other and smiled. He winked and ruffled Amber’s hair. “You’ll have a dog one of these days. I promise. Soon as you’re old enough to take responsibility.”
Amber dropped her cheeks to her fists. “You always say that.”
“Elbows off the table, miss.” Dwayne dished up a portion of the macaroni for her and added a spoonful of salad. “Eat all your salad and I’ll let you have ice cream for dessert.”
She pulled a long face and stuck out her tongue. “Yucky. It’s green.”
He turned to Marla. “As you may have guessed, Amber has taken a dislike to anything green.”
“Charlene’s the same way. Except for greenbacks.”
He loved her quick retorts. She laced her comments with a tinge of sarcasm, but they never smacked of meanness. Maybe one of these days they could have a real conversation. She just needed to relax.
He’d ease off on the teasing. He hadn’t understood before Friday night how she had misinterpreted his remarks. While he’d been clumsy but sincere, she’d thought he was poking fun at her. That would stop as of now.
He extended a warning hand. “Amber, that’s hot. You’d better blow on it first.” Dwayne blew on his macaroni.
Marla blew on hers. Then she blew on the dog’s dish and tested the noodles with her finger. “Oh boy, Skip. You’re in for a treat.” She set the dish on the floor between her and Amber. “Watch how fast this disappears.”
Amber giggled when the treat was gone the instant Marla set it down. “He’s a little pig, isn’t he?”
“True. If he could get to his food without my help, I don’t think he’d stop eating until his little pot belly dragged the floor.”
She looked at Dwayne. “Oh, I almost forgot to ask you. Who are the men you have working today?”
Heart of a Marine Page 4