by Amy Reece
“A date-date? A real one with no kidlet tagging along?” At Mac’s nod, he continued. “Where are you taking her?”
Mac coughed and busied himself searching for his keys. “Uh, Red Lobster.”
Darius stopped and stared at him, aghast. “Red Lobster? Dude! Is that the best you can do? Do you need to borrow some cash?”
Mac felt his face heating up, but laughed it off. “Shut up. No, I don’t need a loan. That’s Janey’s idea of a fancy restaurant and the perfect place to take a date.”
Darius burst out laughing. “You’re taking dating advice from your five-year old kid? Good call, man. How does Izzy feel about it?”
“She thinks it’s hilarious and said she’s looking forward to Endless Shrimp.”
Darius laughed again. “Izzy’s a trooper. Can’t you take her somewhere else and tell the munchkin you went to Red Lobster?”
Mac started the engine and shook his head. “Nah, I don’t want to lie to her. Besides, I promised to bring her some of those cheesy biscuits. She loves them.”
“Oh, man. Yeah, those are good. I can eat like a whole basket of them. Okay, now I’m starving. Let’s head to Tomasita’s.”
As Mac drove, he thought about how excited Janey had been to help him plan the upcoming date. Izzy had given them free rein, seeming to enjoy their interaction. He thought he caught the slightest glimpse of how a person’s priorities changed when one became a parent. Of course, Izzy had been doing it for nearly five years; he’d had less than 48 hours to get used to the idea.
They’d ended the evening Saturday with pizza and one of Janey’s favorite movies, which turned out to feature talking animals. Izzy told him this was a strong theme running though all her cinematic preferences and he’d better get used to it. He didn’t care and could barely pry his eyes away from the little girl long enough to catch what was happening on-screen anyway. He was enchanted by her giggles and the way she curled against him as they watched, making sure the popcorn bowl was within easy reach for him. Izzy had let him help her tuck Janey in her bed and let him read the bedtime story. He’d sat by her bedside until she fell asleep while Izzy returned to the living room to clean up and brew them some decaf.
“She’s amazing. Thanks.” He accepted the coffee and sipped.
“How are you doing with all this, Mac? You must be completely overwhelmed right about now.” She sipped her own coffee and curled into a corner of the sofa.
He frowned slightly when he realized she was at the other end of the couch, entirely too far away. “I don’t even know. It’s all kind of a blur. What are my chances of talking you into sliding over here?” He patted the cushion beside him.
She smiled and set her mug on the coffee table before relocating to lean against him.
“That’s better.” He put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “We just put our daughter to bed together for the first time. I’m kind of in awe.”
She tilted her face up and kissed his jaw lightly. “You are doing so great, Mac. I’m really proud of you.”
He took the opportunity to lean down and kiss her properly. “We were interrupted before,” he whispered against her lips, then stopped thinking as she opened her mouth under his. She tasted of coffee and buttery popcorn and it was all he could do not to devour her. His hand curved around her small waist and found the edge of her shirt. She didn’t object, so he let his hand slide over her smooth warm skin, reacquainting himself with the feel of it. Her fingers slipped under his t-shirt and smoothed over his back, stopping suddenly as she felt the rough, raised flesh surrounding his lower spine.
“Oh, Mac,” she whispered and threw her arms around his neck. “I know now is not the time, but I need to hear about it soon.”
He knew she was right, but right now he was more interested in the taste of her neck, right where it met her shoulder. “Yeah. Another time.”
Although he wanted nothing more than to scoop her into his arms and carry her back to her bedroom, he realized it was too soon. And then there was the presence of tiny eyes asleep down the hall. They’d rushed into bed six years ago; this time he could wait. This time was too important and he didn’t want to push her.
So, he’d reluctantly pulled away from her intoxicating mouth and gone home.
He pushed the memories of the weekend aside as he pulled the SUV into the gravel parking lot of Tomasita’s and searched for an empty spot.
***
“You ready for round three?” Mac gestured to her pile of shrimp tails. “These parmesan garlic ones are pretty kick-ass.”
“I think I’m about done. I’m going to need to beach myself when we get home.” She rubbed her hand over her stomach and groaned softly.
“You’re letting the shrimp win, Izzy. I thought you were better than that. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve lost some respect for you.” He grinned and flagged down the waiter to order another flavor for himself. “And can we get a few more of these biscuits, please?”
“More Cheddar Bay biscuits coming up.” The waiter refilled their tea and left.
“What?” he said and shrugged. “I want to take some home for Janey.”
Izzy shook her head ruefully. “It sure didn’t take her long to wrap you around her little finger. She’s already spoiled rotten by her four uncles and my dad. I expect you to discipline her once in a while, you know.”
“I’m sure I’ll get around to it, but right now I can’t imagine her ever needing it. She’s about the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Just wait. She’s on her best behavior right now because you’re shiny and new. I warned you she’s precocious; she can also throw the mother of all fits when she doesn’t get her way. I’ve had to drag her kicking and screaming from the grocery store—leaving an entire cart of food, mind you—because I wouldn’t buy her a My Little Pony lunchbox.”
“Why wouldn’t you buy her the lunchbox?” Surely she could afford it. What kind of mean person wouldn’t buy their kid a lunchbox?
Izzy shook her head, a look of exasperation on her face. “I can see I have my work cut out for me. I wouldn’t buy her a lunchbox, Mac, because I had already bought her one—Hello Kitty—at Target the day before. She needs to learn that she can’t have everything, and sometimes one is enough. We stick with our decisions.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He stared down at his plate, trying to hide his smile. A shrimp tail hit his left ear and he looked up, eyebrows raised. “Don’t start a food fight here, girl. I don’t want to get kicked out before we get Janey her biscuits.” He was enjoying himself hugely, getting to know the beautiful woman sitting across from him in an easy atmosphere. It turned out Janey had picked a great place for their date; they were able to dress casually and relax in each other’s presence without having to worry about impressing the other. She looked great in jeans and a pink, flowing top made of some sort of soft material that made him think of cotton candy. He watched her tuck a strand of dark hair behind her ear as she smiled at him. He liked her. He’d suspected it years ago, but that night had been so fueled by alcohol and desperation, he hadn’t had a chance to simply get to know her. She was fun and had a great sense of humor. She hadn’t batted an eye when he’d told her the plans for the evening and she’d made a wonderful fuss over the flowers he’d brought—pink, and as much like the ones in the picture Janey had chosen as he could find. Janey had appeared thrilled at the way her suggestions had been implemented, and accepted being left home with her Aunt Cara with good grace. She did, however, beg them to be home in time for Mac to tuck her in.
When they finished dinner and Mac had paid the check, making sure he had a little bag of the biscuits to take home to Janey, he asked her what else she’d like to do. He wasn’t ready to end their time alone together yet; he was enchanted with his new daughter and had fallen immediately and irrevocably in love with her, but he wasn’t about to forget about Izzy and the relationship he hoped to have with her. He wanted it all and had painted a nice little picture of a futur
e with the three of them together. Now he just needed to work on securing it.
“Hmm. I’m not ready to go home, either. It’s nice to have some adult time for a change. I’d suggest a movie, but I’d rather do something where we could talk more.” They’d reached his SUV and she turned to face him before he opened the door for her. “I think I like you, Captain MacNeil.”
He smiled crookedly and stepped closer. “It’s just plain, ol’ Mr. MacNeil now. I’m retired.” He leaned in to kiss her.
“I probably taste like shrimp. Sorry.”
He chuckled. “Me too. What do you say we head over to Marble Brewery? They’ve got live jazz on Monday nights.”
She was amenable, so they drove to the new brewery, which had opened just the previous summer, and enjoyed a few craft beers while the small jazz combo played. A few couples danced and he managed to convince her to give it a try.
They called it an early evening because of work the next day, and because he wanted to see his daughter before he left. Janey was fighting to keep her eyes open when they got back, and he carried her upstairs to bed while Izzy thanked her sister profusely for babysitting. Cara had already made sure Janey had taken her bath, brushed her teeth, and donned her footie pajamas, so he tucked her in bed and was three pages into a story when he noticed she was fast asleep. He closed the book and set it on her nightstand, content to sit and watch the little miracle in the bed next to him. God, I don’t how this happened, but I’m glad. I’m so glad.
Izzy came in the room and put her hands on his shoulders, squeezing lightly. He looked up into her serene face and knew he was where he belonged.
Chapter Five
Izzy
The past two weeks had been the most amazing time in her life—with the exception of the day Janey was born—but it hadn’t changed the size of the stack of boxes in her office. She’d ignored them in favor of more immediate items on her to-do list, such as payroll and paying bills. She would need to begin working on the company taxes in the next week or so; it was now or never for these damned boxes. She’d worn jeans and a hoodie today in honor of the occasion so she could spread the files out across the floor. She’d stopped for a venti soy mocha latte so she wouldn’t even have to get off the floor for coffee refills—only bathroom breaks. She heaved a huge sigh and set to work.
“Did I miss the memo about casual Tuesday?” Hugh leaned against the frame of her office door.
Izzy chuckled but didn’t get up. “Maybe it’ll start a trend. I could get rid of all my dress slacks. I am determined to get through these boxes by the end of the day tomorrow at the latest. That’s all the time I have to devote to this mess.”
“Have I told you what an amazing sister you are lately?”
“Yeah, yeah.” She waved her hand at him dismissively. “You are gonna owe me big time, Hugh.”
“You are so right. I’m sure you’ll figure out a way for me to pay you back. You always do.” He pushed away from the door and settled his large frame on the floor across from her. “I’d offer to help, but—”
“Please don’t. I won’t stick my nose in your part of the business if you stay out of mine.” It was the way their partnership worked best. She handled the financial side of the business while he dealt with clients and the actual construction issues.
“Agreed. So, what have you discovered so far?” He gestured to the scattered files.
“Not much beyond a rather extravagant number of donations to local charities. The number one recipient—by a long shot—is something called the Southwest Anti-Poverty League.”
“Hmm. Never heard of them.”
“Me neither, which is why I looked them up.” She reached for her laptop and handed it to Hugh. “They look legit, but they certainly don’t maintain their website; most of the links are broken. From what I can tell, they’re dedicated to ‘the eradication of poverty in the southwestern United States through education and direct assistance programs.’ That’s a direct quote from the website.”
“Sounds okay. How much did Lyon give them last year?”
Izzy handed him a notepad with a figure highlighted in yellow.
Hugh whistled and handed it back. “That’s a lot of charitable donation. Seems a bit excessive.”
“That’s what I’m thinking. I wouldn’t expect such a high level of giving from a business that size. There are other donations, as well. Lyon Millwork is hemorrhaging money, much of it going to charities around the country. I don’t get it.”
Hugh shook his head, clearly at a loss as well. “Anything else?”
“They underpay all their employees, except the fat cats at the top of the food chain, which doesn’t impress me. If my vote counts for anything, we’ll stay far away from Lyon Millwork.”
“Of course your vote counts, and I’m inclined to agree with you. As far as I’m concerned, you can pack the rest of this crap and send it back. We’ll find another finish carpentry firm to work with.”
She stood and stretched. “You won’t hear any arguments from me. Is it just me or did sitting cross-legged on the floor used to be more comfortable?” She rubbed her lower back and groaned. “There was one other thing I found, but…”
“But what? What is it?”
She shrugged but leaned down to pick up one of the files. “This note was attached to one of the check copies.” She handed it to her brother.
“AMCI: March,” he read. “Any clue what this means? Is it some sort of accounting abbreviation?”
“Nope to both. I hate when I can’t figure something out.”
Hugh chuckled and handed back the file. “Don’t lose any sleep over it. It doesn’t matter now.”
She slipped the file into one of the boxes and dusted off her hands. “Good. I have a million other things to do.” She shoved a few boxes aside to make a path to her desk. “I’ve thought of how you can pay me back.”
“That was quick.” He stepped over files and made his way to her sofa. “Shoot.”
She sat back in her chair and stared at her brother. “You can be nice to Mac tonight at dinner.” Her mother had invited the family over so they could have a chance to get to know him. He had been present at Janey’s birthday party on Saturday, but there hadn’t been time for much conversation in the midst of all the party activities.
“I’m always nice.”
“Ha! I mean it, Hugh. Mac is Janey’s father and he’s part of our lives now. I need my family to accept him.”
“I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around this, Izzy. You refuse to tell anyone who her father is for six years, then this guy shows up out of the blue, and bam! He’s a part of your life suddenly and spending a lot of time with my niece, and we don’t even know who he is!”
“Damn it, Hugh! He’s the father of my child! That should be enough! You need to trust I would never let anyone come near Janey who isn’t trustworthy.” He was unbelievable! She’d had enough of his ridiculous overprotectiveness! “Why don’t you call Finn and have him investigate Mac?” She watched her brother drop his eyes to his lap. “Oh, my God. You already did, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did. I won’t apologize for doing what needs to be done to protect my family. And it turns out I didn’t need to because Chrissy did it first, right after he ran into you at the mall. She called a friend in the FBI and got a full report on Mac.”
She crossed her arms and stared at Hugh through narrowed eyes. She refused to grace his statement with a response; she didn’t need to hear what he’d discovered.
“I can see you’re not going to ask, so I’ll tell you: Captain William MacNeil served his country with distinction in the Army Special Forces, earning the Silver Star and a Purple Heart when he was wounded in Iraq almost four years ago. Never married, no other children we know of. He’s squeaky clean, at least on paper.”
“Are you happy now? I could have told you all that. Mac is a good man, and you better get used to him.”
“I’ll reserve judgment until I know him b
etter. He showed exceptionally poor judgment one night six years ago. I want to be sure he makes better choices now that he’s spending time with my sister and niece.”
“You’re calling sleeping with me ‘exceptionally poor judgment’? Thanks a lot.”
“Izzy, you know that’s not what I mean! The man got drunk and had a one-night stand without making sure he used protection. That’s what I call exceptionally poor judgment. Stop twisting my words. I’m on your side—yours and Janey’s.”
“So is Mac. He and I both showed questionable judgment that night. All I can say is there were extenuating circumstances for both of us. It’s not who we are. Please, Hugh.” She realized he had a point, but needed him to understand and give Mac a chance.
He sighed and stood. “Yeah, okay. I will play nice tonight. At the very least, I owe the man my gratitude for his service to our country. Hey.” He crossed to stand next to her, then leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “I’m glad he’s back in your life.” At her disbelieving look, he said, “I am. You and Janey seem happy. I’m trying.”
***
“You look great tonight. Thanks for doing this.” Izzy reached up to smooth the lapels of Mac’s jacket. He wore a dark gray casual suit with a navy shirt, open at the collar. They stood at the edge of her parents’ porch, where she had stopped, needing to steal a moment with him before they went inside. Janey had run ahead and already let herself in.
“No problem. I’m hoping there will be more eating and less violence this time.”
She laughed and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. He’d spent every evening of the last two weeks with them and most of the weekend between. He had begun coming over directly after work, stopping by his place only long enough to lock up his gun, but when Izzy found out he was skipping his workouts to hurry to her house, she’d scolded him, and insisted he take the time to care for his back. He still hadn’t told her the details of what had happened to him, but she knew he would when the time was right. Right now he was concentrating on getting to know his daughter. He always stayed for dinner or took them out, then helped Izzy with the bath and bedtime routine. Their own routine had become sharing a couple glasses of wine while they sat on the sofa and talked, getting to know one another. Then he would kiss her goodnight and go home. She was glad he was willing to take their relationship slowly; it was overwhelming enough trying to help him establish a relationship with their daughter. Janey loved spending time with him and had taken to sitting by the window in the front room to wait for him in the evenings. Since Sunday, she’d been clutching the kitten Izzy had allowed him to adopt for her, refusing to be separated from the small ball of fuzz except at mealtime and bath time. Izzy hadn’t loved the thought of her sleeping with the animal, but Mac had convinced her it was harmless. Janey hadn’t wanted to leave it home tonight, and Izzy had needed to use her ‘mom’ voice to convince her otherwise.
