The Good Groom

by Taylor Hart

  Heidi shook her head. “Thanks for pouring it.”

  Out of the corner of his eyes, he caught Sky looking at him. A tiny smile played at her lips.

  “No,” he said, turning to Heidi. “It’s the lady. I’m just the barista.”

  Heidi giggled really loudly. Then Marissa nudged her out of the way and laughed louder. It had a piercingly high pitch to it.

  Marissa put her hand on Dax’s shoulder. “You’re so funny, Dax.”

  Sky cackled and turned away from him.

  He wanted to join in with Sky and laugh at these silly girls, but he just patiently poured more juice for Ron and Sky. “Now, girls, I think we need to keep our focus on the project.” He carefully took a step away from them and moved to Sky, handing her the cup of juice.

  She took the cup and smiled at him. “Thank you.”

  “No, thank her.” He tilted his head back to the lady.

  Sky drank the juice, winked at him, walked to the lady, and started speaking in perfect Spanish.

  Dax felt the center of his chest warm. Sky was such a good person. She’d had her heart broken, and then she’d come here and worked her tail off. Now, she was trying to get money to keep this project going. He admired her.

  “Sky is a good woman,” someone said suddenly.

  Dax jolted. He hadn’t realized Jorge was next to him.

  Jorge laughed. “Gotcha. I knew what you were thinking.”

  Dax grinned and poured some juice for him.

  Jorge drank and smacked his lips. “Señora Sanchez is a good woman, too. I have known her since I was a little boy. She used to watch me when my mama went to work at the market.”

  “She’s kind.”

  “Ah, yes.” Jorge stared at Sky and Señora Sanchez. “She fell and broke her hip in the hurricane. Sadly, the surgery wasn’t successful, and she’s in a lot of pain now. That’s why she’s in the wheelchair.” Jorge sighed and patted Dax’s shoulder. “One starfish at a time, eh?” Then he walked away.

  Dax felt humbled thinking this lady and what she’d had to endure. He walked over to the door to put the cups and pitcher away. “I’m just going to sneak past you two.”

  Sky pecked Señora Sanchez a kiss on the cheek. “Gracias.” She then turned to him and put her hand on his shoulder.

  His heart rate spiked at her touch, and he caught a whiff of her vanilla scent.

  She leaned in. “She wants you to know that the house we are working on is the house for her daughter and husband and children, and she really appreciates what we are doing. Their house got so destroyed in the hurricane that it was not fixable.”

  This touched him even more. Not only had she broken her hip and ended up in a wheelchair, but her daughter also needed help.

  Sky pulled back. “Oh, and she thinks you’re handsome.”

  He let out a laugh and smiled at Señora Sanchez as he moved past her, going directly to the counter and putting everything back. When he came out, he paused next to the wheelchair. “Thank you for the juice.”

  “Wait. Come,” she said, motioning toward herself.

  He thought she might want to hug him, so he leaned in.

  She placed her soft, papery hands on his cheeks. Her brown eyes gazed into him, and he felt a rush of chills. “Thank you.”

  He stayed there. “You’re welcome.”

  Then she leaned in and kissed each of his cheeks, and he remembered his great-grandmother doing the same thing. When she pulled back, she kept her hands on his cheeks and smiled at him. “I love you.”

  It was so sincere. He felt the simple truth of the appreciation and the love of this lady. After a moment’s hesitation, he hugged her and said, “I love you too.”

  Chapter 11

  Sky finished eating dinner at Jorge’s table and listened to the laughter and conversation between the volunteers and Jorge and Ron.

  Dax had eaten and then excused himself. She found herself thinking about earlier when she’d watched Dax hug Señora Sanchez. The way he’d hesitated when she’d told him she loved him. But she’d heard him tell her that he loved her too. It was touching.

  She’d worked beside him the rest of the afternoon, and they’d casually joked as they worked. She found him pretty funny, even though the man had been hurt. From their conversation last night, Sky gathered that he was more broken up over his brother than he was over the woman he’d almost married. Ty’s diagnosis just made everything worse.

  Sky had almost confessed to Dax what she hadn’t been able to confess to anyone else: that she’d been weak with Paul, and that she was embarrassed of how she’d allowed herself to be treated. Her heart rate spiked. She wasn’t being professional at all.

  Jorge spoke from across the table. “Señorita, are you okay?”

  Jolted from her thoughts, she stood and cleared her dishes. “I am. Thank you for dinner,” she said, flashing a smile. “Thank you for all your hard work. I have to go do something; excuse me.” Quickly, she took her dishes into the kitchen and told Jorge’s mom thank you.

  She couldn’t quit thinking about Dax. He was amazing, attractive, and fun. Ahh! She couldn’t believe she’d started to have all these feelings for him. She had to go tell him that whatever was happening between them had to stop.

  Jorge moved into the kitchen. “Sky, there is someone at the door for you.”

  This stopped her in her tracks. “Who?”

  Jorge’s lips pinched into a line and he crossed his arms. “I’m not certain, but I think it might be Paul.”

  “Paul?” Her mind whirled in confusion.

  Jorge exhaled. “Do you want me to tell him to leave?”

  She hesitated, then pushed past Jorge. “No, thank you.” She rushed to the front door, noting that it was shut and there was no one standing inside.

  “I didn’t want to invite him in in case you didn’t want him, señorita,” Jorge said, keeping pace with her.

  Sky chided the hyper butterflies rushing through her. Just before she opened the front door, she paused, getting her thoughts together. No matter what Paul was here for, she had to face him. She’d had no contact with him in nine months.

  Jorge lingered next to her. “Are you sure you don’t want me to tell the man who broke your heart to go away?”

  Her chest warmed with gratitude. “I will be fine. Thank you, Jorge. I’ll talk with him outside.”

  Jorge nodded, but didn’t move.

  She opened the door. Yep, there he was—the man who had broken more than her heart.

  Paul wasn’t facing her; he gazed out at the street. His jet-black hair had grown longer on top, feel tousled and modelesque. She couldn’t help but compare him to Dax. He was a solid six feet and strong, but not muscled, per se. Not like Dax. He looked funny in a black T-shirt and tight black jeans.

  Tugging the door shut, she waited.

  Paul turned, flashing his rock-star grin and his cliché silver sunglasses perched on his overly tanned skin. “Sky, babe, good to see you.” He opened his arms and moved toward her.

  She stepped out of his reach, pointing at him. “Don’t touch me.”

  “Babe …” His tone had a patronizing sound to it. “Are you still fussing about the past? Because that little thing with that girl meant nothing. I love you. I had to come find you, and believe me, that wasn’t easy.”

  “Really?” she said with a sardonic laugh. “Paul, I’m going to need you to go.”

  Paul was still for a moment. She was about to repeat herself when he sucked in a huge breath and dramatically tugged off his sunglasses.

  She’d always thought Paul was gorgeous, but now she saw the real him. He used women for his own purposes. He wrote girls a song and batted his eyelashes and felt entitled to wreak havoc on their lives. He had gotten inside her head at a very vulnerable time.

  Paul pushed his lower lip into a pout. “I messed up. I really messed up, but I need you, babe. I didn’t value you, and I never should have done what I did.”

  Every part of her
wanted to yell at him, deny what he was saying, but she just stared at him and felt a tear run down her cheek. Dang traitorous tears. “You took advantage of me. My father was gone and you talked me into going to California, and then …” Her mind flashed to how used and stupid she felt when she’d caught him and the other woman in bed together.

  “I know.” His face turned to one of tortured sadness, and he raked a hand through his hair. “I know. I messed it up.” He stomped his foot and yelled out. “Ahh!”

  His outburst somehow had a calming effect on her. She stared at him while he lost it, cursing.

  “I know,” he said. “I know I wrecked everything, and I know it won’t matter to you, but the band fell apart and the record label cancelled our contract.”

  She was speechless, trying to process that the man who had hurt her so deeply was falling apart in front of her.

  After his breakdown, he turned to face her, putting a hand to his chest. “I came to say I’m sorry. And I mean it.”

  The sincerity in his voice touched her, and though she wasn’t ready to forgive him, she felt herself soften. “Okay.”

  He blinked and nodded. “I am. And I hope you’re doing better.”

  “I am,” she said, feeling strange. She’d imagined what she would say if she ever ran into him, and this was definitely not how she’d thought it’d be. Suddenly, she thought of telling Dax about this incident, and the thought made her smile because she knew he would tell her that the guy deserved a good, swift punch.

  “What?” Paul asked, noting the change in her mood. He took a step closer to her.

  “Nothing.” Her heart raced, and she collected herself. “I should get back.”

  Paul frowned, but nodded. “Okay.” He stepped out of her way, clearing a path to the door.

  Something was off. She brushed past him, once again nervous.

  Then his hand was on her arm. “Wait. Can I?”

  She shrugged him off. “What?”

  “I just can’t leave without—” Without finishing his sentence, he kissed her. Her hands reflexively pushed his chest, but his arms snaked around her waist, pulling her into him.

  The door burst open, and she heard Jorge curse in Spanish. She pushed Paul harder, but he wouldn’t let go.

  Then she felt someone else push Paul away from her, causing him to fall. Shocked, she stared into Dax’s livid face.

  “Hey!” Paul was trying to stand. “Don’t!”

  Jorge pushed Paul away again. “Get out of here. The lady does not want you here.”

  “Stop, little man!” Paul lifted both hands in surrender, but glared at Jorge.

  Hearing those words snapped Sky out of her shock. “Get out of here, Paul! Go!”

  Paul hesitated, then shook his head. “I was right. We were done a long time ago.”

  “I feel sorry for you.”

  Paul sputtered out a laugh. “Don’t feel sorry for me, babe. Your loss!”

  Sky and Jorge and Dax stood there, watching Paul stomp away like a disgraced movie bully. “I can’t believe he came here and did that.”

  “Crazy,” Dax commented.

  Sky felt like she should explain what happened. “I told him to leave and he just came at me.”

  Jorge lifted his fist in the air and shook it at Paul. “Stay away!” He turned and moved toward the house. “The minute you came out here, I got Dax, and we were watching from the window. I told Dax that he is a bad guy. He is a deceiver—you can see it in his eyes.” He winked at her and went inside.

  She met Dax’s eyes and saw the humor in them. Dax wasn’t a deceiver, she realized then. He was nothing like Paul. “Thank you,” she said, meaning it.

  Dax grinned. “No problem.” He put up a hand. “But can I tell you something?”

  “Sure?”

  He winked at her. “A football player might be an improvement over a rocker. Just saying.”

  Chemistry intensified between them, and her heart raced. She actually wanted to kiss Dax right now. “Guess you fit the role of knight in shining armor.”

  “You didn’t need any saving—you had it handled—but I can’t say I mind pushing around jerks.”

  “How come I’m supposed to be the one helping you, but I think you’re helping me more?”

  He held out a hand. “How about we can help each other?”

  Once again, she gazed into those gorgeous blue eyes. Nothing about being here, with Dax, made sense. She still didn’t have things square with Jon Kincaid and her trust. She shook her head in confusion. “I’m sorry, I can’t do this.” Rushing ahead of him, she ran into the house and up the stairs to her room.

  Chapter 12

  “You’re telling me the jerk actually kissed her?” Dax’s brother, Boston, said over the phone.

  Dax had been talking to him the past hour, going over everything that had happened in the past week. He needed to spill everything to someone. “Yeah, showed up on the doorstep and acted like he could just say he was sorry and then kissed her.”

  Boston sputtered out a laugh. “I hope you taught the guy some manners.”

  Dax grinned, knowing that Boston was always up for rumbling with pretty much anyone. “I didn’t do much. She would have had it handled—or Jorge would have handled it; he’s a good guy.”

  “Well, I’m glad it worked out.” Boston broke off, quiet.

  Dax knew what he wanted to ask, but he didn’t have an answer for him yet. “So you’re staying with Ziggy?” Ziggy lived in Denver, not too far from their mother.

  “Yeah, I’m with Zig. Ocean and Ty are at Mama’s.”

  “Cool.”

  Still, there was an unasked question. “So …”

  Dax answered before he could ask. “I don’t know.”

  “Why?” Boston demanded. “This is the first time I’ve talked to you since Ty told us everything. The first time you’ve talked to anyone but Mom. Why won’t you just get your butt on a plane and come to Denver?”

  “I told you, I still have to play this game with Jon Kincaid.”

  “Right,” Boston said, but his voice held a note of disagreement.

  Dax imagined the long text chains his brothers probably had going, all discussing if Dax would show up or not. “Oh, you gossiping ninnies sitting around talking about me?”

  “Ah, shut up, Dax.”

  Dax sucked in a breath. “I can see it’s time to go.”

  “Wait,” Boston said. “Tell me more about this project you’re building houses for.” When Dax hesitated, Boston added, “C’mon, don’t be that way.”

  Dax caved, spending the next fifteen minutes describing everything they were doing in Puerto Rico, even telling him about the old woman who kissed his cheek.

  Boston sighed. “That’s cool. Really cool. You know who would love to hear about that lady?”

  “Who?”

  “Ziggy. He’s at the gym right now, about done. You should call him.”

  Dax’s lips pressed into a thin line. His finger moved to end the call. “I gotta go.”

  “Wait! We’ve all been wracking our brains for things we could do to draw attention to ALS. And, well, maybe it would draw attention if you did let the media in. If …”

  “No,” Dax said quickly. “This project isn’t about that.”

  Silence filled the space.

  “I gotta go.”

  “Okay,” Boston said. “Love you bro.”

  The center of Dax’s chest warmed. “Love you, too. Tell Mama I love her.”

  After pressing end on the call, Dax sat on the bed in the cozy room in Jorge’s house and thought about the past couple of days. About Jon Kincaid. About Sky. About Ty. About Ziggy, his mama, Boston and Ocean.

  He thought about how he’d felt when he’d opened the door and found Paul kissing Sky. How different that seemed from a year ago with Ziggy. Sky had looked at him with such—what would be the word?—purity when she’d called him a knight in shining armor. He’d never felt that way with Sarah. Looking back, he didn’
t even know why he and Sarah had been together. Sure, she was attracted. She’d been one of the women who hung out with the football players.

  Now, he wondered if it had just been easy to be with her. And maybe … he had been prideful about Ziggy. Staring at his phone, he pulled up Ziggy’s number and pressed it.

  Three rings in Ziggy answered. “H-ey.”

  Dax moved to the window. “Hey.” There was silence for a moment, and Dax thought about what Sky had said on the beach. “I need to apologize to you.”

  More silence, then a sniff. “Bro.” Ziggy’s voice cracked.

  With a surge of longing, Dax wished he was there to hug his twin brother. “I should have trusted you. I’ve been stupid. I couldn’t say I was wrong.” A tear slipped down his cheek, and he wiped at it.

  “Dax …” Ziggy was crying. “I would never have done that to you.”

  “I know.” More tears trickled down, and Dax realized that he did know. He’d always known, but he hadn’t been able to admit it.

  “Sarah just came at me, out of nowhere, and I wish I would have thrown her on her butt. I can’t tell you how many times I wished I would have thrown her off me.”

  Dax laughed. His prissy supermodel ex-fiancée would have been outraged to be on her butt. “I wish you would have, too. Remember fourth grade, when Sam Henderson sucker punched me in the back of the head and you roundhouse kicked him?”

  Ziggy laughed. “Or what about when Billy Frank pushed Boston and Boston charged him so hard that he fell on the cement, and we were afraid Boston would break his skull, but the doctor said his head—”

  “Was the hardest he’d ever seen,” Dax finished with him, chuckling.

  Memory after memory tumbled out of them as if there had been no distance at all. Dax asked how he was doing, and Ziggy filled him in on the fundraiser, each of his brothers, and their mama. They brainstormed more ways they could help Ty and exchanged all the research they’d both been doing on the illness.

  “I have a friend with ALS,” said Ziggy. “A friend from college, Stan Stark. I don’t know if I told you about him, but he passed away a couple of months ago.”