His mother then put Izzy on the same floor with Dan and introduced them. After that, he’d heard from Abuelita that she’d conspired to have them run into each other in the kitchen and the common areas. She somehow wound up with two tickets to a Giants game at the AT&T Park when neither one of them was busy and sent them on their way. She wasn’t a horrible matchmaker, his mother.
The part about them living a mile from each other but never having met he hadn’t heard before. Odd coincidence. But a miracle?
Charley stood next to him, holding his hand. She’d just watched a romantic proposal and for the first time he began to wonder if it was so crazy to indulge her. Maybe that was exactly what he should do. He simply refused to do it as a result of pressure, but the facts were that he wanted to make her happy. There should be no harm in going out on a sailboat next month with the rest of the suckers. It might even be fun.
Charley moved away from him when Milly waved her over, but she squeezed his hand before she left. For the next couple of hours, he tried to enjoy the party. Boarders, family, friends and neighbors were spilling out of the house. He tried to avoid his ex, Ashley, obviously invited by his overly kind mother. It meant leaving each room when she entered it. This meant he had to be hyper-aware of where she was at all times. Exhausting.
He found Milly sitting on a chaise lounge. “Seen Charley?”
“She went up to the balcony looking for you,” Milly said. “You two should download the ‘find your buddies app.’ Saves you lots of time and walking.”
The patio upstairs off the third floor was a quiet, out-of-the-way spot. A place he knew well. As a child he used to hide there after a favorite tenant had left. Some of them had children who had become his friends. Many had hung out with him on days when his brothers were too annoying, his mother was too busy, and his father was pulling a long shift at the station.
Charley stood with her back to him, against the backdrop of the cresting sunset, her golden hair shimmering in the last rays. She turned slightly and gave him a smile which made his chest tighten.
“Hey, you.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him, dropping his head to her shoulder as she continued to watch the sun slip down.
“I couldn’t find you, so I came up here to watch the sunset.”
If he never heard the word sunset again it might be too soon. He took the high road. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
She turned in his arms, her hands coming to rest against his chest. “I-I have to tell you something—”
He had a feeling that something to do with what they’d heard a few minutes ago and while he might not be a sappy romantic, he had other skills. He covered her mouth with a kiss and shut her up. Her hands went to his spine and fingers drifted lightly up his back and down again leaving behind a trail of electricity. This was better than air. Better than forever. Because, and here was the truth, this was real. Charley moaned into his mouth and he smiled against her lips as he tugged her even closer pulling them hip to hip, belly to belly. She seemed ready to scale him like a monkey. And hell yeah, he would welcome that.
But just then a loud crash jolted him out of his lust, and he turned to see his mother.
23
“Today’s mood is cranky with a touch of psycho.” ~ Pregnancy meme
A shattered china teacup lay on the ground.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” his mother said. “I just didn’t know…I…I….”
“It’s okay, Mom,” Dylan said. “Let’s not have an aneurysm.”
“But the two of you! I’m so delighted! Even if I didn’t have anything to do with it.” She bent to pick up the chipped pieces of ceramic off the floor.
“Don’t.” He stayed her hands. “You might cut yourself.”
Yes, thank you, Dylan. Ever the safety nut, aren’t you?
“I have to go check on Milly. You know how she is. She needs me.” She moved so fast he only saw the back of her as she practically ran down the hall.
“Don’t let me keep you,” Mom called after Charley. “Leave that alone, Dylan. I’ll get the broom in a minute.”
“Let me take care of this.” He started to brush by her on his way to get the broom when she grabbed a handful of his shirt.
“Not so fast.”
Oh, good. His mother wanted to talk. “Yeah?”
“How long has this been going on between you and Charley and why didn’t I know about it?”
“Sorry, I forgot to ask Marco to pass you a note during recess.”
“Very funny, Dylan. I’m your mother and I should know who you’re dating. If I’d known I could have saved you the embarrassment of having Ashley here tonight.”
When she put it that way…“This is new. It just happened recently and I—”
“Didn’t expect it.” She nodded sagely.
He was about to say “so glad we had this talk” when she got a wistful look in her eyes and moved to the edge of the balcony that faced the port and gleaming bay in the distance. “Do you want to know why I came out here with my now broken cup of tea?”
Actually, he’d forgotten to ask, seeing as there were a few other things on his mind at the time, but it was interesting that she’d come to the balcony alone. In the middle of her celebration. For years, she’d been at the center of the celebration, always as happy as on the first day she’d received news of her remission.
“Why?”
“So glad you asked, son. I do this every year and no one notices I’m gone. It’s just the way I want it.” She turned to meet his eyes. “This party got out of hand a while ago.”
“Why didn’t you say something? We don’t have to do this every year.”
“I don’t mind sharing my happiness and joy with family. With my dear friends. And anyway, all I need is a few minutes to myself with my tea. I look out at the bay and count my blessings. I’ve survived losing a husband, and nearly losing my own life. I have three sons I adore, and a mother-in-law who thinks of me as a daughter.” Her green eyes pierced his. “Do you think maybe I know a thing or two about life? About love?”
“Sure.”
“I worry,” she said, hardly missing a beat. “Two of my sons are firefighters and I have no control over that. You know that I support you, even though I wish you’d chosen careers as accountants.”
He sighed because he’d heard that one before. A few hundred thousand times. This was why, if he had anything to do with it, she’d never hear about his close call.
“But when it comes to love, that’s where I can give you some real advice.”
He shoved a hand through his hair, knowing nothing would stop her now.
“You had a front row seat to how I fell apart after your father died. Yet you chose to go into the profession anyway. And you’ve never been serious about a woman. You won’t allow yourself that happiness with someone because of how it hurt me to lose your father.”
“It hurt us all.”
“But that’s the thing, honey. Instead of choosing another, safer profession, you chose to give up on love and a family someday. Did you ever ask yourself why?”
“Because being a firefighter is all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
“I know. You take risks with your life, but you’ve never risked your heart.”
She was right about one thing. Risking a heart was why he’d never wanted to be more than friends with Charley. Fear had held him back. Not just fear that she would leave, but fear that he might someday leave her. But that was then. Life was short, and he was taking what he wanted.
And what he wanted was Charley.
“Don’t worry about me. I promise, I’ve got everything under control. And I’m happy.”
Charley found Milly asleep and Abuelita snoring peacefully beside her.
Charley cleared her throat.
Milly’s eyes shot open. “Holy Ritz crackers, don’t scare me like that.”
“Sorry, but I was surprised to find you asleep. Are you that tired?”
/>
She narrowed her gaze on Charley. “Am I tired? Or maybe I’d rather close my eyes while Abuelita gives me the third degree. I wasn’t really sleeping. Just faking it so she’d stop asking me about the baby’s father. And you know what? It worked because she got bored and fell asleep.”
Charley’s gaze went to Dan and Izzy, who were dancing in the moonlight without music. “Aw. Would you look at them?”
“They’re really sweet. In a super sappy way.”
“I want that,” Charley said. “Super sappy and happy. Don’t you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I could take some sap here and there. Someday.”
“I want that for you.” Charley squeezed Milly’s arm.
“Yeah, me too,” Milly said, and Charley was surprised by the admission.
“Move over.” She squeezed in on the small space left next to Milly.
It was a beautiful night. The fairy lights strung through low branches of trees in the garden gave a warm glow to the evening. Heat lamps placed around the yard’s perimeter did their duty. The first firework went up in the distance, a green flash of light that rose in the sky and exploded in a spectacular burst of brightness. The brash sound crackled into the night air and was followed by the soft awed sounds of onlookers. Then another firework followed, this one making a high-pitched whistle before it exploded like a million stars.
Charley sensed his heat before the saw him. She turned to see Dylan walking toward her. From the moment she locked on to his gaze, he did not break eye contact. He squatted next to her and possessively placed his hand on her thigh.
“Hey.”
“Hey, Dylan,” Milly said, then turned her gaze back to the fiery sky.
“You okay there? Not going into labor yet, are you?” Dylan said.
“Nah, I’m good,” Milly said not taking her eyes off the display. “I’m glad I came. This was fun.”
Dylan’s warmth encircled Charley, chasing off the evening chill. Her heart feeling too large to fit in her chest, she glanced up at the display of lights and explosions.
When the last of the finale sparkles lit up the night, she closed her eyes and wished she could feel this happy and content…for just a little while longer.
24
“Where there’s a whisk, there’s a way.” ~ Kitchen magnet
On the short drive back, Charley was forced to listen to Milly complain about how many people had fawned all over her tonight and treated her like she was helpless. Two women had the audacity to touch her stomach without permission. Another had offered the best names for both a boy or a girl. To hear Milly tell it, they might as well have suggested she name her baby after a dictator. Still another extolled the virtues of the “family bed,” something called “attachment parenting,” nursing, and baby-led weaning.
Good Lord, this baby business was so overwhelming. How was Milly ever going to…no. Milly could and would handle this. Charley would no longer intervene. She’d learned her lesson.
Milly unlocked her apartment door and turned to Charley and Dylan. “You two mind if I fall asleep before you start going at it? I mean, thin walls and all.”
Charley winced and nodded several times.
“Thirty minutes is all I need,” Milly said, apparently enjoying herself. “I’m actually so sleepy it shouldn’t take long.”
She shut the door with a smirk, leaving Charley and Dylan in the hallway.
“That was embarrassing,” Charley said.
“Wouldn’t know. I’m not the noisy one.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Dylan wore black jeans low on his hips and a long-sleeved gray tee pushed up to his elbows. His forearms were arm candy. And there again was that old pang of desire and longing for him rising up in her, so much a part of her life that she wouldn’t know what to do without the feeling.
“What should we do for thirty minutes?” Charley asked.
“You can either kiss me or use the thirty minutes to tell me why you ran away earlier.”
She should have guessed he of all people wouldn’t buy into the Milly excuse. He knew her far too well.
“Okay. So, I was kind of embarrassed. It was a weird way for her to find out about us.”
Dylan slid his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. “Don’t run from me again, Chuck. Whatever it is, I need to know you’re not going to take off when things get tough.”
“I won’t. I promise you.” Tipping to the balls of her feet she kissed him right here in the hallway, long and lingering, the taste of him familiar and comforting but able to light her up like a cinder.
He broke the kiss and smiled at her from underneath hooded lids. “If we go inside, it will be three seconds before I have you naked and about to be very happy.”
“Ice cream,” she suggested, knowing he was one hundred percent correct. “We haven’t had ice cream since I got back.”
“True,” he said, tugging on her hand. “It’s one thing that might cool me down.”
In fact, all they needed to cool down on a summer evening in San Francisco was to simply step outside. But Charley, as a rule, never turned down an excuse for ice cream. Dylan held her hand as they walked the short block to Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous in the Dogpatch district.
She sat next to him with one hand on his jean-clad thigh, eating her cone one-handed. Over the years and through all the different restaurants she’d worked in, she’d watched couples sit together. Eventually she’d reached the point where she could pinpoint exactly when a couple had become intimate. It was in the body language. The way their bodies physically tilted toward each other, holding hands, touching hair, thighs, necks. Lips. Hot and pure envy had cut through her, nearly choking her with its strength.
And now she was the other half of one of those couples that she’d envied, with a man that meant more to her than the air she breathed. A man who would probably be upset with her when she told him about the accidental kiss. A sunset kiss. He might even feel a little betrayed. As if she’d been trying to trap him. But it had been an accident. He’d understand. Sure he would.
“What is it?” He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “I can hear you thinking.”
She choked on the ball of fear lodged in her throat and pointed to his chocolate ice cream. “I like chocolate, but there’s nothing quite like a good French vanilla ice cream a la mode with warmed Dutch apple pie in a little hint of caramel. Sometimes it’s good to get back to basics.”
He smirked. “I never thought I’d hear you say that.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, you’re going to hear me say a lot of things you never heard me say before.”
He quirked a brow. “Already have.”
“Didn’t mean that.” She stuck out her tongue and he took full advantage of that by leaning forward to give it a love bite.
The storefront door opened, and a couple came in and headed to the counter. Jenny Santana and…Sean. Naturally.
“Who’s that with Jenny?” Dylan asked casually. “I don’t recognize him.”
“Oh, that’s…I meant to tell you. You remember Sean, the guy I work with sometimes? I guess it didn’t work out in New Orleans, so he followed me out here and found a job at Sorrel’s.”
“He followed you here.” Dylan scowled. “Sean Hannigan?”
While she’d never told Dylan the full extent of her relationship with Sean, Dylan most unfortunately happened to be the person she’d confided in the most. Whenever Sean ridiculed her soufflés or tortes, Dylan got an earful and more often a text full of devil emojis. Consequently, he wasn’t the guy’s biggest fan. And that Reyes machismo seemed to be rearing its head as Dylan stared bullet holes into Sean’s back.
“Dylan.” Charley squeezed his thigh. “Earth to Dylan.”
“That guy’s an asshole.”
“I know that. But he’s not my problem anymore, or yours.” She turned him back to face her, framing his face.
Dylan’s jaw twitched, and he gave the side-eye to Sean. “But that time you called me, crying, be
cause he yelled at you in front of the entire staff? That’s a problem for me.”
“I think maybe we should go back now.” Charley threaded her fingers through his thick hair. “It’s been at least thirty minutes and now I just want to get you hot all over again.”
She’d managed to distract him, and smoldering eyes met hers. “Yeah? What did you have in mind?”
“You’ll find out.” She stood and tugged on his hand.
“Hey, Charley!” Sean called out.
She might have ignored Sean, pretended she didn’t hear him and kept walking, except for the fact that Dylan stood as still as a statue and about as difficult to move.
“Oh, yeah. Hi, Sean.” She turned to Jenny. “Sean, this is Dylan.”
“Heard so much about you.” Sean stuck out his hand but Dylan did not accept it. He simply gave him quick, sharp nod.
Awkward.
Sean recovered and pulled Jenny close. She glued her body to his like a stamp to a letter. So…that had happened. Not that Charley had any doubt Sean would close the deal in a matter of days.
“Jenny is showing me around. I had wanted to catch the fireworks at the Pier, but she convinced me it’s not worth the nightmare of parking.”
“Newbie,” Jenny said on a laugh.
“We’re just walking around the Dogpatch trying a little bit of everything. Earlier we had the crepes at Chez Maman.”
“Sean is so talented,” Jenny said. “He really knows his food.”
“Great. You must enjoy working with Charley, seeing as she’s the best,” Dylan said tightly.
Charley squeezed Dylan’s hand. There was a bit of a dare in his bold statement. A challenge for Sean to deny it. But while Sean Hannigan was a lot of things, stupid was not one of them.
“Absolutely. Sure do.”
“We have to go now. Nice seeing you.” Charley pulled on Dylan’s hand and thank God this time he moved.
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