Dating by Design Series Box Set

by Jennifer Peel

  “Let me change out of my suit and take a quick shower and I will be out to help you,” I said to her as I passed by the small kitchen.

  She waved me on. “Take your time, love. Jason won’t be here for a couple more hours.”

  I stopped dead in my tracks and grabbed onto Zander, who was trying to quickly escape. “Are you talking about Jason Hadley?”

  “The very one,” Charlene said, obviously a little tipsy. “I can’t wait to see him.”

  I glared icily at Zander and whispered, “Why did you invite Jason?”

  “Since when do you have a problem with him? I thought we were all friends.”

  “Be that as it may, he is our client, and a certain amount of decorum should be in place.”

  “You two seem to spend a lot of time together outside of your professional scope.”

  “That’s not true. I’ve been helping him.”

  He smirked at me like I was a big fat liar. “Kenz, relax. We’re going to have a great time.”

  “Sleep with one eye open, Grainger,” I warned as I stalked off.

  “Grainger?” he called out. “Wow, you must be really ticked.”

  That was a huge understatement. I had come to the beach to get away from Jason, not to be sharing a living space with him. I had to get out of there. I could rent a car and drive home, or no, I would get a hotel, that’s what I would do. The Graingers lived right next to a string of hotels, but I bet they were already booked for the holiday weekend. Home it was.

  Zander knocked on my door as I was looking up car rental places nearby on my phone. “Hey, don’t even think about leaving. You’ll hurt my mother’s feelings ... and mine.”

  “I hate you,” I called out.

  “Only because you love me,” he yelled through the door.

  I lay back on the bed and sighed. Why didn’t anything happen lately like I had planned?

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  I was a ball of nerves as I helped make dinner. At least I had some entertainment in the form of Zander’s mom. She was more than tipsy by this time. She kept trying to dance with me, and she was singing off-key into her wooden spoon in between stirring the Alfredo sauce.

  “I think I should go find Don. Don’t wait for us, if you know what I mean.”

  Uh, yeah, yuck. I forgot alcohol made her feel amorous. Maybe that’s why Zander’s dad always seemed to be in hiding.

  “Okay,” I said in a high-pitched voice. “I’ll finish up dinner.”

  She came right up to me and squeezed my cheeks. “I love you, Kennie.”

  I thought for sure I could get drunk off her breath. “I love you, too.”

  She swayed out of the kitchen. Poor Mr. Grainger.

  Zander came strolling in, shirtless and showered. “I see my mom is off to embarrass herself and my dad.”

  I ignored him and tossed the salad.

  Zander came from behind me and wrapped his arms around me. “Come on, Kenz, you know you can’t stay mad at me.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “He wasn’t sure he could get the time off, so I didn’t mention it. No big deal.”

  It was a big deal. And it made me wonder why Jason never mentioned it, either. I was feeling bamboozled.

  He kissed my cheek and let me go. “This is going to be a great weekend. Don’t think about work and don’t worry about Jason being a client. No one will ever accuse you of being unprofessional. Just relax and see where this weekend takes you.”

  I turned around with tongs in hand. “What do you mean by that?”

  He grinned mischievously. “What do you think I mean?”

  “You are so mature sometimes.”

  “Now that is something I’ve never been accused of.”

  Jason arrived as I was contemplating chucking the tongs at Zander’s head.

  “Stay,” Zander commanded before he went to get the door.

  I wanted to bolt. No, I needed to. There was a part of me that very much wanted to see Jason, but that was why I needed to stay away from him.

  Zander must have clued Jason in that I wasn’t fond of him being there. He looked tentative as he entered the kitchen with his duffle bag in hand. “Hi, Kenadie.” His trepidation was apparent.

  I felt bad about that. I wished we could go back to how it was before my hormones kicked in and before I agreed to let him use our services.

  I bit my lip. “Hi.”

  There was that smile of his. “It smells terrific in here.”

  Zander strolled in. “Yes, it does, so let’s eat.”

  “Do you have pressing plans I’m unaware of?” I asked.

  “We all do.”

  I raised my eyebrow at the mischievously grinning fool named Zander.

  “There’s an indie band playing on the pier tonight. I thought we should check them out.” He took my hand and twirled me around. “You used to be hip once. Remember?”

  I could feel my cheeks warming up. I wasn’t embarrassed, per se, but I had turned into a bit of a bore. I don’t know why, but I looked up to a thoughtful-looking Jason before I answered Zander. Jason really did have this reassuring presence about him and I had missed it. I had missed him.

  “Well, we wouldn’t want to miss that,” I replied to Zander.

  “Then let’s eat,” Zander commanded.

  “What can I help with?” Jason was all about manners. That was the difference between Jason and Zander. Zander showed up for mealtime. Jason either helped prepare or provide it.

  “Why don’t you put your luggage up? Zander and I can get this to the table.”

  “How about Zander takes my bag and I help you?” Jason countered.

  Zander, in an unexpected move, took Jason’s bag for him, leaving me alone with a man who had a way of making me feel things I hadn’t in a very long time.

  Once we were alone, Jason looked me over. “The beach agrees with you.”

  “Thanks. How was your drive?”

  He grinned. “Uneventful.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “I’m glad I’m here with you.”

  I bent my head. “You are?”

  His face pinked a tad. “I mean … you know … and everyone else, too.”

  “Even Zander?”

  He laughed for a brief moment. “Maybe.”

  “Are you hungry?”

  “You know I am.”

  I handed him the salad bowl. “We’re going to eat out on the deck.”

  “Sounds perfect.” He took the bowl.

  My first thought was how romantic it would be if it were only the two of us dining with an ocean view. This was going to be a long, tortuous weekend. I inwardly sighed and scoped out Jason’s backside as he walked toward the sliding glass door. Yes, a very long weekend.

  Zander’s parents joined us toward the end of the meal. Zander’s dad looked the same as always, bald, roundish, wearing an old Grateful Dead t-shirt and ill-fitting, faded jean shorts. He was happy to stay either in his little hideaway all day making fishing lures, or out on his boat fishing. He didn’t care too much for people. That didn’t mean he wasn’t cordial. He even kissed the top of my head when he said hello to me. Zander took more after his mom’s side.

  It was probably a good thing Jason already knew Zander’s parents, or he may have questioned whether this was a safe place to stay or not. Charlene was still being driven by her blood alcohol level. We were subjected to her slurred ramblings about her favorite daytime drama. The funny part was, she talked about the characters like they were real people and in real danger. She kept asking Jason what we should all do about it. Poor Jason was a good sport. He said, “I heard the authorities are on the case.”

  Charlene placed her hand across her heart. “Oh, thank goodness, you don’t know how relieved I am.”

  I smiled up at Jason who winked at me. I think Zander and Don were ready to crawl under their seats. It was just another night at the Graingers’.

  It was probably a good thing we were headed out. I
think Charlene needed to sleep it off and Don needed to recover from embarrassment.

  “I’m going to change.” I stood up from the table.

  “Why?” Zander asked. “You look perfect.”

  “I’m in cutoffs and a tank top.”

  “Like I said, perfect,” Zander responded.

  “I’ll second that motion.” Jason grinned.

  “Fine. I’m at least going to freshen up.”

  “Don’t be too long,” Zander called out.

  “You boys keep an eye on her,” Charlene admonished Jason and Zander. “Such a beauty, that one.”

  I smiled to myself as I walked to my room. Maybe she was half off her rocker, but I was taking the compliment and running with it. And I caught Zander and Jason agreeing, so it was totally legit.

  I brushed my teeth and looked in the small, round, hanging mirror the little bathroom in my room had. What am I doing? I asked myself. Being around Jason was causing all sorts of weirdness in my body, everything from heart palpitations and sweaty palms, to unbelievable guilt and maybe even some giddiness. I was thirty years old; I shouldn’t be feeling this way. And he was a client and dating someone. My face looked a little flush. I wanted to pretend it was the sun, but I knew the source of it. It was the attractive man who had this uncanny ability to make me feel like all was right in the world even if only for a moment.

  I met Jason and Zander in the kitchen. There I found Jason doing the dishes. I wasn’t surprised at all. It wasn’t surprising either that Zander was messing around on his phone, oblivious that his guest was cleaning up. I wasn’t sure where Zander’s parents had run off to.

  I stood next to Jason at the sink, grabbed a dirty pan, and began to scrub it. “Let me help you.”

  He gave me that beautiful smile of his. “It won’t hurt my feelings.”

  “So, why didn’t you mention you were coming?”

  His smile took a little turn downward. “I wasn’t sure I was coming.”

  “That’s what Zander said.”

  “What did I say?” Zander joined the conversation.

  “Nothing,” I sighed. I felt like they were both trying to hide something.

  “Regardless,” Jason said quietly, “I’m happy we’re both here.”

  And so was I, even though I shouldn’t have been.

  It took us no time to clean up and before I knew it, I was sandwiched between two of the best looking men on the beach walking toward the pier, which was about three quarters of a mile down the beach. I took off my flip-flops and carried them in my hand as we walked toward our destination.

  “Do you know anything about this band?” Jason asked Zander.

  “Nah, but they usually do a good job with not letting any posers in to perform. Maybe you should have auditioned.”

  “Private settings are more my style,” Jason responded.

  I had forgotten he sang and played guitar. More reasons to be enthralled with him. It wasn’t fair.

  “Did you bring your guitar?” Zander asked.

  “I figured the beach was a good setting for it,” Jason replied.

  Even more bad news, or better, depending on how you looked at it. I wanted to hear him, but I had a feeling I was done for if he was as good as he and Zander had both indicated.

  The sun was starting to set and it looked glorious above the water and skyline. I could really get used to living at the beach. Maybe I would sell my company to one of those cookie-cutter dating sites and retire early. I looked over at Jason and thought maybe that wasn’t a bad idea. I knew if I didn’t find a way to distance myself from him, I would be digging myself a hole that I wouldn’t be able to get out of, or maybe even want to get out of.

  The band was already warming up by the time we made it and there was a nice-sized crowd. I guessed we weren’t the only ones who had decided to hit the beach early. And maybe they had a following—I noticed a few t-shirts with the band’s name plastered across them. It was an all-male band, so most of the crowd was of the female persuasion.

  “Is this why you wanted to come?” I asked Zander.

  “Kenz, I’m affronted at your insinuation. I mean, you didn’t ask Jason if he was here to hit on women.”

  I looked over at Jason, who seemed uncomfortable. “He’s seeing someone.”

  “Not exclusively,” both men said at the same time.

  I looked between the two of them. They both wore the same guilty look. “Am I missing something?"

  “No.” Again with the unison thing.

  I narrowed my eyes at the both of them. “If you say so, but just so you know, I don’t believe you.”

  Zander laughed, but Jason seemed concerned.

  “Enjoy the show, Kenz.” Zander ruffled my hair some.

  His comment was right on cue. The band started up and they weren’t half bad. They had this Pink Floyd vibe going for them. My only problem was they seemed a little too popular. The crowd began to swell and I found myself uncomfortably in the middle of it. I had some issues with large crowds. Even with Zander and Jason securely by my side, I felt a little panicked. I tried to hold it together, but decided I would enjoy the concert better on the outside of the crowd. I tried to tell Zander, but he was doing what Zander did best and that was care about himself. I got Jason’s attention easily.

  “I’m going to move back some,” I practically had to yell at him.

  “Sounds like a good idea,” he yelled back.

  I nodded to acknowledge that I heard him. He took my hand, which I was sure was so we wouldn’t get separated, and led us through the crowd. I had to keep reminding myself of that, because believe me, his touch wasn’t lost on me. In fact, the hole got deeper and I wanted to drag him in there with me. But as soon as we were a comfortable distance outside of the crowd, I reluctantly let go of his hand.

  “Thank you.”

  “No problem, I’m not a big fan of crowds, either,” he admitted.

  We both stared at each other for a moment. He looked good. He was already sporting a nice tan and he hadn’t shaved. The stubble worked for him, and the washed-out, blue tee he was wearing showcased his natural born assets.

  Jason reached down and brushed a stray strand of hair from my face. The sea breeze had my hair doing its own thing.

  “I’ve missed you this past week.”

  His touch and words elevated my internal temperature. “Have you needed my advice?”

  “No, just your presence.”

  I nudged him gently. “That’s nice of you to say.”

  “I mean it.”

  “I missed you, too.” WHY DID I SAY THAT? I was yelling at myself in my head. It was completely true, but I shouldn’t have said it.

  His grin was unmistakable, so at least he didn’t think I was an idiot, or maybe he did, but he was too much of a gentleman to laugh at me.

  After that, I was pretty much oblivious to anything else, including the loud band. My mind was racing around and around Jason. All I could think of was him and the feel of his arm next to mine as he stood close to me. Or the way he smelled. It was this seductive come-to-me scent. It was working like a charm. I was relieved when the concert was over. I needed some space between us. I needed Zander as a buffer, but the jerk ran off with some woman, I was sure. All I got was a text from him that said, Go home without me and don’t wait up. Nice.

  I showed Jason the text. “Looks like Zander has been entranced by some poor woman.”

  “Who knows? Maybe this is the one.”

  “I thought you knew Zander well.”

  “You know, he may surprise you.”

  I looked up at Jason, confused by the sincerity of that statement. “I suppose so.”

  He tapped my nose. “Are you ready to head back?”

  I nodded in the affirmative.

  We both gladly walked away from the crowd into the stillness of the night. The noise from the gathering dissipated and was replaced by the soothing tones of the ocean. We walked close enough to the water that our feet were
frequently splashed by the tide coming in. We didn’t say anything, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. At least it wasn’t until Jason reached down and took my hand.

  I stopped and looked down at our clasped hands. “Why are you holding my hand?” I had never asked anyone that before.

  “It seemed like the thing to do when you walk on the beach with a beautiful woman. And you hold hands with Zander all the time.”

  “Well, we’re friends.”

  “And we’re friends, too,” he stated boldly.

  “How would Jocelyn feel about it?”

  In the dark of the night, I could still see his brow furrow. He seemed irritated I asked. “Believe me, she won’t mind.”

  I felt frozen in place. I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more at that moment than to walk hand-in-hand on the beach with Jason, but I felt guilty because of how I felt about him.

  Jason tugged my hand and brought me out of my thoughts as we began to walk again. I kept thinking I should pull my hand away, but I loved the feel of our hands together. It was a much different experience with him than with Zander. Then he began to make circling motions with his thumb across the top of my hand. It had me feeling a little light-headed. I was so starved for physical attention from a man that even the slightest touch had my hormones in overdrive.

  We walked slowly, a fact I was grateful for. I wanted this moment to last as long as it could, even though it was heavenly torture.

  A strong wave came in and caused me to falter. It pushed me into Jason, who quickly steadied me.

  “Maybe we should move farther away from the water, I would hate to lose you.”

  “No. I love being near the water.”

  He squeezed my hand and pulled me closer to him. “Then I guess I’ll have to hold on tighter.”

  I tortured myself some more and let him.

  As we got closer to the hotels and private residences, we encountered more families out partaking in the Southern tradition of crab hunting. Lots of little and even a few big kids were out with their parents, armed with flashlights, tiny shovels, and buckets.