I dropped my bag on the couch and headed back to my room and the shower. I closed my eyes under the spray and I absolutely did not see Dilly’s smile against my closed lids, I definitely didn’t picture her spread out on a warm boulder in a tiny bikini, and I one-hundred percent did not wrap my hand around my raging hard-on and imagine her hands on me.
***
“How do you know Aubrey?” asked Lara, seated across from me at the bistro. Lara was gorgeous, with thick blond hair, bright blue eyes, long legs, and a quick wit, but I couldn’t stop wishing it was Dilly sitting across from me. It was a Sunday afternoon and I was out for coffee with Aubrey’s set up. It had been almost a week since my hike with Dilly and I’d only seen her in passing. She hadn’t joined me for sunset watching. She hadn’t been home until after dark most nights. I’d reminded her that I owed her a week of dinners, but she’d just smiled and asked for a rain check. She must have been having a good time with her new boyfriend. I was happy for her, I really was.
“I own the salt spa here in town. I met Aubrey at the Inn when I went there to offer a discount to their guests.”
She smiled, appearing to be genuinely interested in what I was telling her. “Great idea. Tourists won’t bring you repeat business, unless they visit the town regularly, but business is business, right?”
“That’s right,” I said, focusing on my date and pushing thoughts of Dilly out of my head. “Aubrey said you work in marketing?”
“I do. I met her at the Inn when I was staying there on a business trip. I was in town for a conference at the University. This has become my favorite place to visit whenever I have time off. I’m hoping to pick up some extra work here, so I’ll have an excuse to come here more often.”
“Got any leads?”
“Aubrey said they could offer me some work at Nora’s Inn, which would be a great start. Any chance your salt spa could use my expertise?”
“I could definitely use it. But I can’t afford it.”
She sipped her fruity tea and considered me. “What if I did a consultation, made some suggestions, showed you what I could do for you? If you still think you can afford not to hire me after that, fine, as long as you talk me up to other local businesses.”
“I can do that,” I said. “Could you freelance? Offer marketing services for on-line ventures?”
She bit her bottom lip. “I’ve been looking into that and it’s definitely on my list of possibilities. I guess I’m just exploring all my options before I start putting a lot of time and energy into one avenue.”
“Makes sense. You sure you want to talk business on a date?”
She pursed her lips. “I do think we should give this set-up our full effort for Aubrey’s sake. I’m here until Tuesday. How about we focus on the date today and I’ll meet you at your spa to talk business tomorrow?”
“Are you from Richmond originally?” I asked.
She launched into a story about her childhood. She’d moved around a lot as a kid, and she had some hilarious stories. She kept me laughing until we were both hungry and decided dinner was a good idea. She asked me questions about my own childhood and we worked our way through all the typical first date questions. She was outdoorsy like me and we decided our next date, when she was back in town in a couple of weeks, should be a hike. Aubrey was right, on paper Lara was perfect for me.
Which was why, when we stepped onto the street outside the bistro, I pulled her close and kissed her. She responded immediately and wrapped her arms around my neck. For a moment, I forgot about Dilly and got lost in a truly excellent kiss.
Lara pulled away first, her smile wide. “I had a great time tonight, Oscar. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
I walked her to her car and watched her drive away. I did not think that Dilly’s petite figure was more alluring, even though Lara had all the curves and the long legs that society said made a woman more attractive. I did not think that Lara’s choice of a large salad for dinner was far less interesting than a monster cone. I didn’t think any of those things, because Aubrey had picked well. Lara really was a perfect match for me and I knew, if I hadn’t met Dilly first, I’d be chasing Lara down and inviting her back to my place or at least looking forward to our next date with something less like dread. I sighed and started the walk home.
I was halfway down the walk to the duplex before I noticed Dilly on the porch. She wasn’t alone, and she looked uncomfortable and worried.
CHAPTER FIVE
Dilly
“I’ve done a bad thing,” I said, my arms tight around Buddy as I looked up at Oscar.
He didn’t seem convinced as he bent and patted Buddy on the head. “As long as you didn’t kidnap him, I’m sure everything will be fine.”
Buddy lifted his head, leaned into Oscar’s petting, and whined gently in the back of his throat. “I didn’t kidnap him, I adopted him.”
Oscar took a seat on the other side of Buddy, an eight-year-old German shepherd. “And that’s bad why?”
I swallowed hard, torn between the hysteria of laughing like a maniac and crying. What the hell had I gotten myself into? “I, um, I guess I should…” I patted Buddy’s furry side. Oscar didn’t need to hear my problems, my stupid choices. He was my neighbor, barely my friend. “You know what? It’s fine.” I pushed to my feet and Buddy stood with me, so trusting. “It’s late. I’m going to get Buddy settled and I…” Shit, I needed to get Buddy food and a…Did I need a dog bed? What the hell had I been thinking when I’d agreed to take him in? I could barely keep myself and my mother fully functional, how would I care for anyone else?
Oscar stood and faced me. “Wait,” he said. “I want to hear this story.”
I smiled, wishing I was the person he thought I was. “It’s late. And I’m starving. I—”
“Perfect. Don’t move.”
He ran into his side of the duplex, the door already unlocked, probably by his live-in girlfriend, and I just stood there and did what he’d asked, because I was a stupid sucker and I wanted to know what was going on.
He returned a moment later with a plastic container in his hands. “I owe you dinner, but you’ve been so busy…” He grinned. “I made this for you last night, but you weren’t home when I brought it over.”
I took the container from him. “Thanks.” I felt like crying. I was so overwhelmed by life and Buddy and it made my day so much easier not to have to worry about dinner, to know that Oscar had been thinking of me. “You really didn’t have to, but I appreciate—”
He shoved past me and walked right into my side of the duplex like he lived there. “Come on,” he said from inside my home. “It’s a chicken pot pie, so you have to reheat it in the oven to keep the crust crispy.”
I followed him inside, closing the door behind me. “I’m pretty sure I could figure it out on my own.”
He placed a pie plate on the counter and reached for the plastic container I held. Where had he found a pie plate in my house? I handed over the container and watched as he slid the enormous slice of chicken pot pie onto the plate. He pressed some buttons on the stove and turned to face me. “I can leave,” he said. “You can stick that in the oven for five minutes once the oven heats up and eat alone. Or I can stay and you can tell me why you’re so upset.”
“I’m not upset,” I said with a forced smile.
He stalked over to me, until he was so close I wanted to lean forward and let his strength hold me up. “Your eyes are sad, and you’ve got that little crinkle between your brows that means you’re worried. Let me be your friend, Dilly. Tell me what’s going on.”
Buddy settled at my feet and looked up at me, his eyes big and sad like he was worried about me, too. I hated this feeling. I hated being surrounded by pity and worry. It was fine. I could handle this. Buddy’s doggy expression was so hopeful, so loving, even though he was a big, old, tough German Shepherd. It wasn’t just about me anymore. I sat at the kitchen table and gestured for Oscar to do the same. “I met Buddy when I was volunteer
ing at the animal shelter in town,” I said. “Do you know Lola Waters? She runs the shelter.”
Oscar nodded and waited, just listening. Damn it, why did he have to be so nice? I couldn’t handle nice, couldn’t handle leaning on anyone, because it would only hurt that much more when he walked away.
“Buddy’s a sweet dog, but he’s eight years old and he’s got a limp from hip dysplasia. No one wanted to adopt him, but I just…” I sniffled. Was I crying? What the actual fuck was wrong with me? “I fell in love with him. I can’t have a dog, I don’t have time for a dog, but when Lola called me and told me she was going to have to put Buddy down, I just couldn’t let that happen.” I was full on sobbing now, tears streaming down my face. “I just couldn’t let him die and do nothing about it.”
Oscar’s warm arms wrapped around me and I let myself do something I hadn’t done in years, I let him hold me up while I cried on his shoulder. I wasn’t even sure why I was crying, except that Mom wasn’t doing well lately, she’d needed more and more from me, until I didn’t have anything left to give, and now I had Buddy who deserved so much more than me.
The oven beeped and I broke free of Oscar’s arms. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying about this.”
He didn’t let me go. “Because you’re a good person and you love Buddy and you want the best for him. I just don’t understand why you think you can’t give that to him.”
“Because I work all day and, in the evenings,…” There was no way to explain this to Oscar. “I…”
“You want to spend time with your boyfriend,” he said, giving me the lie I needed. “Doesn’t he like dogs?”
“Of course,” I said, feeling defensive of my imaginary boyfriend. “But he’s…He’s allergic. I don’t want to leave Buddy alone, but I don’t want to lose Jerome either.”
Oscar stood and put the chicken pie in the oven. When he came back to the table he took a seat across from me. “I want to help,” he said. “I can take Buddy whenever you can’t be home. I could even come home on my lunch break sometimes to hang out with him.”
Hope flared for a moment, but it quickly died. Oscar wouldn’t believe my lie for long when it was one in the morning and I had to leave to be with my mother. What kind of boyfriend expected midnight booty calls…Actually, this might just work. It’d make my imaginary boyfriend look like a dick, but it would be worth it to give Buddy the life he deserved. “I’ll come home for my lunch breaks, too. And I’ll only ask you to check on Buddy when it’s absolutely necessary.”
At some point during our conversation, Buddy had walked around the table and laid his head in Oscar’s lap. Oscar smiled down at the sweet dog and petted him between the ears. “I doubt he’s a lot of work,” he said. “Maybe we should co-parent.”
“Co-parent?”
“Sure. I’ve been thinking about getting a pet for a while and I love dogs. If we just planned for Buddy to stay with me three nights a week, you’d never have to feel like you were asking for a favor. Buddy would belong to both of us.”
Generally, I avoided commitment of any kind, but it made me feel better to know Buddy would be cared for, no matter what happened in my crazy life. “And I can give you a key to my place,” I said. “That way, if I have to be out at the last minute for any reason, you’d be able to come over and take Buddy.”
The oven beeped, and he got up and pulled out my dinner. He placed it in front of me. “Where are your forks?”
I pushed back my chair to stand, but he pushed me back into my seat with a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Sit. I want to help.”
I felt like crying again. I was the strong one and I was so convincing in that role, very few people offered me help anymore. It was kind of nice to have help. “Top drawer next to the fridge.”
He got a fork and placed it next to the plate. I dug in. “Oh. Oh, wow,” I said. “This is so good.”
“I’m glad you like it.” His smile was gentle. He was probably afraid I’d freak out and start sobbing all over him again.
I finished the meal in silence. Oscar petted Buddy and took him out to the front yard while I ate, so I didn’t feel weird eating in front of him, and I got to see that he’d be an excellent co-parent to Buddy.
“Thank you,” I said, when he came back inside. “I didn’t expect you to follow through on that silly bet. Dinner was delicious.”
He shook his head, dropping his chin like he was disappointed. “We spit-shook. I can’t back out.”
“Well, I’m letting you off the hook,” I said. “This was delicious, but you don’t need to cook any more meals for me. You’re doing enough by helping me out with Buddy.”
“A deal’s a deal. Do you have plans tonight?”
“I just have to pick up some supplies for Buddy. Lola gave me enough food for a couple days, but he needs a bed and…Well, whatever stuff dogs need.”
“Since I’m the co-parent, I’ll need some stuff, too,” he said. “And I should pay for half the food.”
Relief overwhelmed me. Relief that I wouldn’t be responsible for Buddy alone, relief that I’d be able to help my mother without abandoning my dog to isolation and solitude. Relief that Oscar was being so kind when he had no obligation to help me. The relief was followed quickly by guilt, about lying to him, and fear, that he’d be so much more likely to find out the truth about my mother if we co-parented Buddy. The kind thing to do, the smart thing to do, would be to come clean. “Oscar, I need—”
“We need all kinds of stuff,” he said. “I’ve been making a list in my head. Why don’t I run to the pet store while you keep Buddy company? I don’t want him to be alone in a strange place.”
He was already heading out of my place. I hurried after him and put a hand on his arm to stop him. “That would be great, but before you go, we should—”
“You got a dog?” a woman asked. I turned my head to see Oscar’s blond, beautiful girlfriend sitting on the stoop, looking past Oscar to Buddy by my feet. “He’s so handsome.” She held out her hand and made a kissy face and Buddy went right to her. “Hi, there.” She looked up at me and Oscar. “What’s his name?”
“Buddy,” I said. Oscar was looking down at the woman and he was smiling, a warm fondness in his expression. Damn it, he was in love with her.
“I’ll go to the pet store,” I said. “You two stay here and help Buddy get acclimated.”
I grabbed my purse from just inside the door and hurried past them and down the steps before either of them could say anything else. I was acting like a crazy person, I was aware of that. Of course, Oscar should have a girlfriend. I was happy for him. I didn’t feel the least bit jealous, because that would be stupid. I didn’t think of Oscar that way. I couldn’t think of Oscar that way or my stupid jealousy would ruin our co-parenting.
I sighed and climbed into my car. I dropped my head to the steering wheel and groaned. I had feelings for Oscar. I had to admit it, so I could get past them. I pulled in a deep breath. I had feelings for Oscar, but I was an adult with tons of dating experience. I would shove those feelings back into the box of denial where they belonged, and I would burn them to ashes.
Something banged on the window next to my head and I jerked upright and screamed with sheer terror. I gripped the wheel tight and slowly turned my head, expecting to see a werewolf or some other…No, a werewolf I wouldn’t mind, especially if he was a sexy alpha who was looking for a…It was Oscar bent over and peering through my window. Oddly, I didn’t feel disappointed not to see a werewolf. I liked Oscar’s messy hair and his crooked grin. I liked his face.
I hit the button to roll down the window and then I remembered the car needed to be running for the button to work. I opened the door and stepped out onto the street. Oscar stepped aside for me to get out, but he didn’t move far enough away.
He smelled good, like male deodorant and a hint of masculine cologne. Apparently, my box of denial was faulty. I pressed myself against the car to put more space between us.
“Are
you okay?” He reached out and put a friendly hand on my shoulder. His touch burned through me, lighting me up with want. Holy shit, when I decided I had feelings for someone, my libido really took that information and ran with it.
“Fine,” I said. “I just…” I looked over his shoulder at the trees, trying to come up with a lie, but I didn’t want to lie to him. It didn’t feel right, not anymore. But I couldn’t exactly tell him the truth, either. I sighed. I’d been up until two the night before, I’d had to go to Mom’s because she’d heard scratching at the door and was sure someone was trying to break in and I wanted, more than anything else, to go to bed and start this day over. “I’m really tired. I just need to get Buddy’s stuff before it gets any later.”
The concern didn’t leave Oscar’s expression and I worried that he knew the truth, that he could somehow see the problem was that I had feelings for him and everything would become unbearably awkward between us.
“Really,” I said, anger at myself and my situation flooding me. I didn’t want to lie to him, but telling him the truth was impossible. “I was up until after two last night. I got caught up in a marathon of that new show, the one about the cowboy and the —”
“Ranch on Mars?” he asked, his concern clearing. “I love that show.”
“Me, too.” I’d never seen the show, but I was in the lie now. That was the problem with lying. I was so used to doing it that the lies just slipped out. Now I was going to have to pretend to know what the hell happened on a ranch on Mars. “I mean the special effects…”
He popped his hands open near his head and made exploding sounds. “Mind-blowing, right?”
I nodded and faked a yawn. “And exhausting. I should get to the store before I fall asleep.”
“Molly’s going to stay with Buddy, so we can go to the store together, get it done quicker.”
I should have said no. I should have let him go to the store and gone home to bed. I should have put some distance between us, but I loved the idea of spending more time with him, and I was a selfish, selfish woman. “Okay, as long as you drive so I can nap.”
The Good Guy on my Porch (Catalpa Creek #3) Page 7
