Dating by Design Series Box Set

by Jennifer Peel

  Mrs. Marshall sat between Lana and Rick near the aisle, Jason and Kenadie were snuggled together on the far end. I felt awkward sitting next to Rick, but Mrs. Marshall insisted I sit with them. Everyone gave me smiles, but I think even Rick felt awkward. He gave me as much room as he could on the crowded pew.

  The awkwardness had only begun. Zander showed up. Zander, who claimed to only go to church on Easter and Christmas, and only then because Mrs. Marshall made him. Everyone looked as stunned as I felt seeing him there. Whoa, did he clean up well. He wore his dress slacks and shirt like they were specifically made to grace his body.

  “Zander, what a sweet surprise.” Mrs. Marshall placed her hand over her heart like a good ol’ Southern woman. “Everyone move in so there’s room for him.”

  Unless he was going to sit on someone’s lap, that wasn’t going to work. I’m sure Kenadie would volunteer to be closer to Jason, but propriety called.

  I stood up. “I’ll move to the row behind.” That would be more comfortable for Rick and me.

  “No, dear. We can all fit.”

  “Momma, we’re already packed in here,” Kenadie was the voice of reason.

  I scooted past a smug Zander.

  “I’ll sit in the row behind.” He gave me his usual smirk.

  “I got it.”

  Zander made like he was going to take my place, and had almost sat all the way down before he popped up. “I better sit with Meg. I would hate for her to get lonely.”

  “You’re such a good boy,” Mrs. Marshall praised him.

  “I’m fine, really, there’s no need.”

  Mrs. Marshall turned around. “Now, dear, we can’t have you sitting by yourself.”

  Kenadie caught my eye and gave me a sympathetic smile. “Jason and I will move.”

  Mrs. Marshall gave her daughter such a look. “That makes no sense at all.” She turned back toward me. “Scoot down, dear.”

  I didn’t dare disobey. I had heard that Southern mommas had this wicked persuasive power, and it was all true. I slid down the wooden pew and Zander immediately filled the spot. I don’t think he could have grinned any bigger. Once Mrs. Marshall was satisfied and turned back around, I slid down a little more.

  Zander scooted closer and laid his arm across the back of the pew. “Don’t be shy, darlin’.”

  “Put your arm down.” I spoke in hushed tones.

  “Why?” He wasn’t quite as quiet as me.

  I glared at him. “Because it looks like we’re together.”

  He shrugged. “People can think what they want.”

  “Really? Weren’t you the one worried about your playboy reputation being ruined yesterday? By the way, how did all the women take it when you told them you broke up with me?”

  “Haven’t mentioned it yet.”

  Huh. I faced forward, waiting for the pastor to work his magic on my soul, or at the very least help me to not think about the man who sat too close and smelled like heaven. It didn’t help when he whispered in my ear, “You look good.”

  I cracked a small smile, but did my best not to look at him because he looked good too.

  He refused to be ignored. “You’re supposed to return the compliment.” Each whisper felt like a warm blanket wrapped around me.

  I faced him and his gorgeous face. “Why are you here? I thought church wasn’t your thing.”

  He shrugged. “I was bored and all my friends are here, so I thought what the hell.”

  “Nice.” I tried focusing back on the pulpit. Where was the pastor?

  “You still didn’t tell me how fine I look.”

  “Do I need to?”

  “You bruised my ego yesterday, so yes.”

  “Is that even possible?”

  He chuckled under his breath. “I like you, Meg.”

  I nudged him with my elbow. “You look handsome.”

  “I was hoping for something more along the lines of hot.”

  The pastor had impeccable timing. He approached the pulpit and greeted his congregation.

  Zander leaned in dangerously close. I could feel his warm breath against my neck. It made me have sinful thoughts in the house of worship. “I’m waiting,” he whispered.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “You do that so well.”

  I met his penetrating gaze. “You need to pay attention.”

  “Oh, I am.” His look went through me.

  I faced forward, doing my best to pretend he wasn’t focused solely on me or that he didn’t turn me on in a way that I’d never felt before. It didn’t help that Mrs. Marshall kept glancing back at us, obviously pleased at the scene. Didn’t she know what kind of man he was? He didn’t have long-term relationships and he clearly didn’t date women like me. This was all a show for him. I had seen him behave the same way toward Kenadie.

  Kenadie’s looks didn’t help either. They bordered on pensive and troubled. Each time her gaze lingered on us, I tried to put more distance between Zander and myself, but he wasn’t having it. It was like a game to him. I was so busy worrying and paying attention to what everyone around me was doing, I didn’t get anything out of the sermon. And it left me no time to look around to see if Mr. Right had come.

  When the service ended, Mrs. Marshall jumped up like a woman half her age. It was impressive. She clapped her hands. “Time to head back to the house. We have lots of planning to do after lunch.” Why did I feel like she was staring at me with a look that said, don’t even think about not coming? How did she know I was thinking of how to get out of lunch? She was good.

  I found Zander by my side as I walked out to my truck. “I thought that was never going to end,” he complained.

  “Nobody made you come.”

  He placed his hand on the small of my back as we walked out the door. “It wasn’t all bad.”

  “You know you’re giving Mrs. Marshall the wrong idea about us, right?”

  “I like to make her happy.”

  “What a saint you are.”

  He laughed out loud in the cool fall air.

  Why did I find myself loving that sound?

  Chapter Twelve

  There I was at the dining room table with Mrs. Marshall and her granddaughter, Lana, after a delicious lunch of cheesy potato soup in bread bowls. I missed homemade meals that I didn’t have to make myself. Lana was a senior in high school and every bit as gorgeous as her aunt Kenadie. I bet she had boys chasing her left and right, especially since she was sweet as could be. I loved her Southern drawl and the way she said Nana. I could tell her grandma enjoyed it too. She was obviously the favorite.

  “I think we should do a Christmas theme since they’re getting married during the holidays,” Lana suggested.

  I nodded my approval. This was really her thing, and she knew her aunt better than me.

  “I love it.” Mrs. Marshall tapped Lana’s nose.

  I pulled up my Pinterest account on my phone and typed in Christmas Themed Bridal Showers. A ton of ideas popped up. “We could do a hot chocolate and s’mores bar?”

  “Oooh, yeah,” Lana agreed.

  Kenadie walked in all smiles with her hair slightly messed up. No need to wonder why. “Please, no games. I hate shower games.”

  “Kennie, you’re taking all the fun out of it. You shoo and leave us to it.”

  Kenadie rolled her eyes, muttering something about fifty-five more days before walking off. Her mom was a force to be reckoned with.

  I wanted to help Kenadie out. “What if we did something like a craft instead? Maybe decorated ornaments that could be given to Kenadie and Jason?”

  Mrs. Marshall’s eyes lit up. “You are the sweetest genius ever.”

  I didn’t know about that, but hey, I’d take it. “What do you think, Lana?” I didn’t want to overstep my bounds.

  “I love it. I think Aunt Kenadie will too.

  The house phone rang in the distance. Mrs. Marshall popped up. “Let me answer that. I’ll be right back.”

  I scooted cl
oser to Lana and showed her a picture on my phone. “What do you think of these invitations? I could probably copy the design.” It was gold and sparkly with a touch of pink, kind of like the wedding colors.

  “I really like those.” She was easy to please.

  “Do you know the date?”

  “I think Nana said December 17th.”

  That was cutting it close to Christmas, but this wasn’t my shindig. “Do you have a list of who we should invite?”

  Lana grinned. “Aunt Kenadie doesn’t have that many friends, but my nana is inviting every woman she knows.”

  “I bet that doesn’t make your aunt happy.”

  “Not at all, but Nana is Nana.”

  Zander decided to grace us with his presence. “Don’t forget to invite me.”

  “Boys can’t come.”

  I loved how Lana called him a boy. “Definitely no boys allowed.” I smiled at Zander.

  He threw himself in the chair next to me. “I’m all man.”

  “Questionable, but those aren’t allowed either. That’s what bachelor parties are for.”

  “Why would I want to hang out with a bunch of dudes?”

  Lana giggled.

  “Don’t encourage him, honey.” I squeezed her hand.

  “All Marshall women love me. They can’t help themselves,” Zander bragged.

  “We just think you’re funny,” Lana knocked him down.

  “I like you.” I smiled at Lana.

  “You ladies are all talk.” Zander leaned into me. “But seriously, are you almost done in here? The game is about to start.”

  Shivers involuntarily went down my spine, causing me to shake and Zander to smirk. “It’s going to be a while.”

  He stood up. “Fine. I’ll keep the couch warm for you.”

  I rolled my eyes as he walked away.

  Lana looked between Zander’s retreating figure and me. “Are you and Zander dating?”

  “Goodness, no.”

  “He’s acting like he used to around Aunt Kenadie. I think he really liked her.”

  “You think so?”

  She shrugged. “Yeah, but I don’t think she ever liked him that way.”

  “She and Jason seem really happy together.”

  “They are. I can’t wait to be in love like that.”

  “You’ve got plenty of time.”

  “That’s what Aunt Kenadie says. She didn’t like my last boyfriend. After we broke up, she told me to stay away from boys until I was thirty.”

  I laughed. “That’s good advice.” Maybe I should take it. It was only four years away.

  “My nana thinks it’s terrible.”

  “I could see that.”

  “I think she wants you and Zander to be together.”

  “I could see that too, but guys like Zander don’t want girlfriends or wives. And I’m too good for him.”

  She giggled. “You never know, though. Aunt Kenadie said she would never date or get married. I think when you meet the right person, things change, people change.”

  “You’re pretty smart for someone your age.”

  She smiled her beautiful smile. “Maybe.”

  Mrs. Marshall returned and we finished planning the shower. There was a lot to be done in the next several weeks, but I was looking forward to it. Mrs. Marshall was filling a void in my life that I knew was missing, but sometimes I felt it more acutely than at others. I missed my mom now more than ever. And home.

  Speaking of home, I couldn’t stay to watch the game. The first Sunday of every month I Skyped with my dad and brothers. It was the most technological thing my dad knew how to do.

  Zander walked me out, I’m sure at Mrs. Marshall’s insistence. The sun was just setting. I loved twilight. When we reached my truck door, I made a request. “Could you please not pit me against Eva and Cara this week?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “I’m not pitting you against them. I’m asking you to do your job.”

  “It’s causing problems. I don’t like the tension and I know they’re talking about me behind my back.”

  “They’re jealous because you do your job so well. You’re almost as good as me.”

  “It’s always about you, isn’t it?”

  “I’d like to think so.” He grinned.

  “Please do this for me.”

  “Not happening, darlin’. You’re too good for that.”

  “Thanks for nothing.” I turned to get in my truck.

  He placed his hand against the door. “Meg.” I had never heard him say my name like that before. If I wasn’t mistaken, he sounded serious.

  I looked up into his delicious eyes.

  “In life and business, you have to go for what you want. Don’t let your detractors get in your way.”

  I gave him a close-lipped smile.

  “You don’t seem to have any problem putting me in my place. Use that same attitude at work. You owe it to yourself and your career.”

  “Easy for you to say. You seem to be able to get away with anything.”

  “Not with you.”

  I kept staring at his lips. The close proximity and the sexy way he said things were making me think of how good it would feel if only I leaned in a little. Or maybe it had just been a while and I needed a good make out session. I had no doubt he would do the job nicely.

  “Moisten your lips like that again, darlin’, and I’ll think you’re going to follow through on your promise for kisses.”

  Did I really moisten my lips? I opened my truck door. I had to get away from him. He was lethal in large doses. “I gave you a whole bag.”

  “I think your lips would be sweeter.”

  “You don’t have to pretend anymore. Remember, we broke up?”

  “Goodnight, darlin’.” He walked away leaving me feeling overly heated in the cool evening air. I needed to get home. I needed my dad, a voice of reason. Not like I could tell him about Zander, though. What would I say? Hey, Dad, your sensible daughter is falling for a womanizer. And as an added bonus, I work with him. But the good news is that he’s smart and he helped me pass my statistics test. Did I mention I pretended to be his girlfriend? And oh yeah, the way he dances or makes me feel breathless every dang time I’m around him?

  I was too smart for this, for him.

  But I had a failsafe. Zander would never make a play for a woman like me.

  I rushed into my apartment and got my laptop up and running before I logged into my Skype account. I got situated at my little yellow table with Jasper in my lap, purring away. I made the call to my dad and waited for him to respond. Within several seconds his weathered but handsome face appeared on the screen.

  “Megan,” his gruff voice came through my speakers. He was the only person who called me by my given name anymore.

  “Dad.” I let out the deep breath I had been holding. Just seeing his face helped calm my nerves. “Where are the boys?”

  “They’re coming. They had to repair one of the fences near the creek.”

  “How’s the weather?”

  “It’s snowing.”

  “I bet the boys are cussing.”

  “It’s got to be done.”

  “How are you, Daddy?”

  He scrubbed his hand over his unshaven face. The gray was really coming out in his beard. His brown eyes looked tired and worn. “You haven’t called me that in a long time. Everything okay?”

  “I’m great. Job is good, school is school, but I’m doing well.” Thanks to someone I won’t mention.

  “You sure?”

  “Of course. How are you?”

  “Same old, same old.”

  “You always say that.”

  “It’s always true.”

  “How are Dakota and Marley?” Dakota was our Australian Shepherd and Marley was my horse.

  “Dakota got in some trouble with a porcupine. Had to take him to Doc Sullivan to have several quills removed.”

  “Oh no, is he okay?”

  “Stupid dog will live.�
�� My dad was all talk. He loved that dog. The thing slept with him every night.

  The boys could be heard making a racket as they tumbled into the house. “Is that our citified sister I hear?” Lincoln called out.

  “You boys keep it down. I can’t even hear myself think,” Dad yelled back. They would always be the boys even if one was twenty-eight and the other twenty-five.

  “Grumpy old man.” Colton’s head came into view. “How’s it going, sis?” Colton shook the snow out of his blonde hair to my dad’s irritation.

  “Better than you.”

  “A little snow and hard work never killed anyone.” His blue eyes were alight.

  Except Mom. I kept that to myself. “How’s Savannah?”

  A devilish grin erupted on his baby face. “Mrs. Dawson is fine. She’s working tonight at the truck stop.”

  That was the thing about ranching, or at least a ranch that had two sons. Our ranch wasn’t big enough to divide among the boys or enough to provide a good living for the two of them, especially for their future families. It was a rough, hard-earned life. The life my dad didn’t want me to have. He didn’t want me to be a Savannah. Not that there was anything wrong with waitressing at a truck stop, but it wasn’t the kind of life Clint Dawson pictured for his only daughter. The day I graduated from high school, he told me to get as far away as I could. I still remember the tears in his eyes. It was the only time I had ever seen him cry besides Mom’s funeral.

  “Tell her I said hello.”

  Lincoln joined us too. His face was wind-whipped red. “Hey, little big sister.”

  “Hey, Bubba. You look tired.”

  He ran his hands through his dark hair. “Your vision is cloudy. Dawson men don’t get tired.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Did you know the Broncos are playing in your neck of the woods next week?” Lincoln asked.

  “I know. I wish the tickets weren’t ridiculously high priced.”

  “They’re probably going to lose anyway,” Colton threw in.

  “Hey now, we need to think positive. So what if the Falcons are on fire this year? The Broncos have come through before.”