Dating by Design Series Box Set

by Jennifer Peel

  Mix that saliva with all the happy chemicals kissing released in your brain and you’d be throwing out every rule you’d ever made to be with him. And if that didn’t do it, the flush of pheromones rushing through the both of you would make the other person seem even more sexy. If Nick got any sexier . . . well . . . I couldn’t think of it. And unfortunately, I had thought about it, many times in my past, present, and probably my future.

  I focused on Skye. “Do you have any pets at home?”

  She took a second to stop texting. “We had a cat once. My dad brought her home to me in his jacket pocket,” she smiled, but it faded quickly, “after my . . . mom . . . Alessandria . . .”

  That was telling. She called her mom by her first name, her only name. I tried not to draw attention to it or react one way or the other. I waited to see if she wanted to continue, and she did after a pause.

  “Decided she didn’t want to keep pretending to be a mom anymore.”

  I was able to safely sneak a glance at her and it didn’t take a degree to recognize the pain on her beautiful face. “How old were you?” I reached for her hand.

  She took it and that bond appeared again. “Six. I mostly lived with my dad anyway . . .” She tried to sound brave.

  “It’s okay that it hurts.”

  She shook her head and looked out the passenger-side window. She was obviously trying to pretend the hurt had healed. “I overheard her tell my dad that if it wasn’t for him, she would have never had me in the first place. All I was for her was publicity. Every interview and article written about how much she loved being a mom was all a lie. She used me,” her voice cracked, “to further her career. I hate when people at school show me old magazine covers they’ve found online with her and me on them.”

  I gave her hand a gentle squeeze while my heart broke for her. “It’s hard when the people we trust most in our lives fail us. You didn’t deserve that.”

  She wiped her eyes. “My dad has always been there for me. I don’t need her.”

  “No, you don’t. The loss is hers.”

  “That’s what my dad always says. I think it’s why he’s so overprotective. I had a nanny until I was twelve.” She laughed. “I had to tell him how embarrassing that was. I’m surprised he lets me hang out with you. He’s never let any of his girlfriends take me anywhere.”

  I coughed and swerved a tad. I had to place both hands back on the wheel. “I’m not your dad’s girlfriend.”

  She gave me a crooked grin. I saw a lot of her grandpa in it. “I know. You’re friends.”

  “Sort of.”

  “You like him though, right?”

  I had to think about what to say. It was complicated. I didn’t not like him, but I didn’t want to like him. How did I explain that to his daughter? I didn’t. “Yes.” It wasn’t a lie.

  “Good.” She smiled.

  Did she breathe a sigh of relief?

  We needed to change the subject. I couldn’t ask about the cat now since she said she used to have one, so that indicated it probably died and it was associated with an awful memory of her mother. That woman now ranked right up there with Douglas for me. Who says that about their child? What Janelle told me two days ago made so much more sense. I even felt sorry for Nick.

  “Tell me what you like about Liam.”

  A dreamy giggle escaped her. “He’s so cute, but in that nerdy, glasses kind of way. Do you know what I mean?”

  “I think so.” I was picturing Clark Kent. Did she even know who that was?

  “And he’s so nice, but he’s really shy.”

  “Nice is good.” Very good, well, as long as it was genuine.

  She held her hands together. “He’s super smart too. He got into Princeton, but he’s staying in Georgia so he can be near his mom and brother and sister. He doesn’t want to leave them since their dad died.”

  “He sounds like a really great guy.”

  “He is,” she let out a wistful sigh, “but things are so different between us now.”

  “Well, he has a lot of big life changes coming up, and you’re still in high school, not to mention you live in California. He’s probably being cautious.”

  “I know, but we’re only two-and-a-half years apart and he’s come to visit before. He’s really into comic books and science fiction movies and books, so my dad took him to Comic-Con last year.”

  Of course he did. Nick needed to quit confusing me. “Did you go too?”

  “Uh, yeah, even though it isn’t really my thing.”

  I smiled at her. I would have done the same thing at her age. “The only advice I have for you is to be yourself around him. If he sees that, maybe he’ll relax and maybe someday your friendship can blossom into something more.”

  “I’ll try, but what I really want to do is kiss him.”

  To be almost sixteen again. I laughed. “He probably wants to kiss you too, but don’t rush it.”

  “How will I know when it’s the right time?”

  Oh gosh. I didn’t know if I was the right person for her to be asking, but maybe she wanted a woman to talk to about it instead of her dad or grandpa. Sadly, I had to think back a ways.

  “Um . . . it’s all in the eyes. The way the other person gazes at you, but they don’t speak. They may stare at your lips. There may even be some awkward silence. They’ll tilt their head and lean in closer. The magic of anticipation will stir between you and you’ll close your eyes and before you know it, it will happen.”

  “That sounds so romantic.”

  “It isn’t always, that’s why you should wait and do it with someone who means something to you.” Honestly, I was shocked she hadn’t kissed someone already. She had to have boys, even men who had no business doing so, clamoring after her. And I’d had patients younger than her who were already having sex and dealing with the repercussions of it. They were too young to handle the emotion of it. Many felt pressured into it. Skye’s experience or lack thereof was a breath of fresh air for me.

  “Liam means something to me.”

  I believed her. I watched her interactions with Liam that night as we played with the abandoned puppies and kittens, trying to help socialize them. There was no question that shy, lanky boy with hair of dishwater blond and thoughtful hazel eyes behind thick dark glasses was smitten by the beauty of the girl he thought was way out of his league by the way he gazed at her when he thought no one was looking. It was as if he didn’t dare hope that Skye could really like someone like him.

  He was selling himself short. Not only did I observe him with Skye, but there were young volunteers there who read to the animals, and he would help them sound out words. He did great animal sound impressions. Skye giggled as he did everything from an elephant to a lion. His smile said he was pleased he could make her smile and laugh, though he turned a few shades of pink.

  I enjoyed my time snuggling furry creatures and talking to Skye about our book. It was getting really good. The hero and heroine were locked in a battle of wills. He wanted to protect her, to claim her, and she wanted a choice. They were bound by legend and fate, but she wanted to know she was loved by him regardless. The kissing scenes were A+ too. Sad, how much I was enjoying them.

  Skye made an interesting observation while stroking the head of the cutest calico kitten. “How will she ever know the truth?” she asked, speaking of our heroine.

  Oh, that was a good question. One I was still searching for myself. If only I could script out my own ending.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Nick was waiting for us outside my townhome when Skye and I pulled up after having the best teriyaki bowls ever and one of the best nights, at least for me. Being with Skye made me feel. I missed feeling.

  We got out of the car still laughing about some of the memes she showed me at the restaurant. Apparently memes were a major form of communication between teenagers now. Who knew? Some of them were hilarious, though, like all the ones about the new eyebrow styles. I had no idea you could braid your e
yebrows or that there were accessories for them. Not trying either trend.

  Nick was leaning against the sports car he was renting for the summer. Flashbacks of that poster above my bed hit me. Thankfully, his tight T-shirt was on, but that was alluring all on its own. I had to think of something else, like the kitten that almost came home with me. He was cute and cuddly.

  I bet Nick was cuddly.

  Where did that thought come from?

  Skye gave me a big hug after we exited the car. “Can we go to the shelter again?”

  “I would love to, if it’s okay with your dad.” My eyes drifted up at the man who was walking our way, taking in the scene with a look of contentment. The snapping, crackling, and popping was back in my stomach. I took a deep breath to stave it off.

  Skye left me for the waiting arms of her dad. He wrapped her up and kissed her head. It was the most attractive sight of my life. I’m his relationship manager, I repeated to myself.

  “Did you have fun tonight?” Nick asked Skye.

  “So much,” she responded.

  He kissed her head one more time. “Why don’t you wait in the car? I want to talk to Kate for a minute.”

  Oh, no, no. We didn’t need any alone time.

  Skye was too obedient. She waved at me. “Bye, Kate, thanks for everything.”

  “Bye, honey.” That term of endearment came out of nowhere, but it felt so natural to call her that.

  Her smile said she liked it.

  “Call me tomorrow when you get to chapter twenty so we can discuss.” I was a little ahead of her because I had no life.

  “I will.” She pranced off.

  Nick looked between Skye and me; his normally brooding eyes had lightened up considerably. If I wasn’t mistaken, he was happy.

  I leaned against my car, nervous as he approached. The steamy Georgia night felt more suffocating with each step he took toward me. My back was now flush with the car, my blouse clinging to me. I had nowhere else to go. And he was close, so close.

  “Thank you, Kate.”

  “It was my pleasure. You’re lucky to have her.”

  He glanced back at his daughter. “I know.”

  “I should probably let you go. We wouldn’t want Skye to get hot in the car.”

  He pressed his lips together forming a smirk while he pushed a button on his key chain making the car start. “What were you saying?”

  “Good night.”

  “We aren’t there yet.”

  “We’re not?” I bit my lip.

  He shook his head in a mesmerizing manner. “You haven’t even asked me how my night was. Where are your manners?”

  I smiled, but not because I wanted to—he had this effect on me. “Did you get the research done you needed?”

  “There’s always more that needs to be done, but yes, it was a productive night. I think I know what direction I need to go in now.”

  “It seems like more than that. You seem almost happy.”

  “That surprises you?”

  “You surprise me.” I was becoming unguarded around him, saying what I felt. This wasn’t good.

  That earned me one of his rare genuine smiles. “The night was more productive than I thought, then.”

  He needed to quit looking pleasant. It was more appealing than the brooding sex symbol look he usually wore. “Being productive makes you happy?” My voice was uneven.

  “Among other things,” his voice became more intimate.

  I held my stomach.

  He tilted his head, noticing my body language. “Why do I make you so nervous, Kate?”

  I swallowed hard. “You are direct, aren’t you?”

  “I find it’s usually the best way to go, but lately I’ve realized there are exceptions.”

  “Let’s make this one of them.”

  He took a step back. “Okay, Kate.”

  I felt like I could breathe again. “Thank you.”

  “Are we still on for Saturday?”

  “I don’t ever remember agreeing to it.”

  “Agree to it now . . . please?”

  “Maybe someday that word won’t sound so strangled coming out of your mouth.”

  “See how much I need you? Come with us on Saturday.”

  I hemmed and hawed.

  “You know you want to.”

  That was my problem.

  “Are you really going to pass up a Bogie and Bacall marathon?”

  That did sound like fun, and I said I needed more fun in my life. “Okay, you win.”

  His eyes sparkled like someone who got their way. I was sure he was used to it. “We’ll pick you up at six.”

  “I can—”

  He pressed his finger to my lips. “Unless you think this is a date, your rules don’t apply to me.” He bent down as if he was going to kiss my cheek. “Do you consider it a date?”

  He had me dazed and struggling to find air in the hot end-of-July weather. “No,” I managed to eke out.

  “Then we have no issues.” He closed the small gap and his warm lips brushed my cheek, leaving sparks behind. “Good night, Kate.”

  I placed my hand over the spot his lips left their mark as if to preserve the electric pulse that remained. It almost felt like . . . magic. I stood motionless for several seconds until I came to my senses.

  “Have fun on your date tomorrow night,” I called out.

  He shook his head and kept on walking without responding to me.

  Skye gave me a goofy grin and wave. I could only imagine what the scene with her dad and me looked like.

  My sterile environment had suddenly become contaminated with a flood of emotional bewilderment. I was going to have to make an appointment with myself at this rate.

  ~*~

  Thank goodness it was Friday. I didn’t have to see any crazed Nicholas Wells fans and I didn’t have to attend the connection meeting because my client didn’t need a match. Hopefully we kept it that way. My mental well-being was counting on it. The only downside was my lunch with Meg was cancelled. Her morning sickness was turning into an all-day sort of thing. Poor thing. Maybe it was a good thing, though, since she texted, I need the down-low on you and Nick.

  I’m his relationship manager.

  According to Nan, she has a feeling about you two.

  Oh great, Nan and her feelings. I’d heard about them. She had them about Kenadie and Jason and Meg and Zander. I’d more than heard about Meg and Zander, I saw with my own eyes how she did everything in her power to push those two together. So she’d made a couple of good calls.

  Is Nan there with you?

  Not yet. She had a late date last night.

  I admit I was curious to know how that went. Has she said anything to you about Jack?

  Are you trying to change the subject?

  What subject?

  Clever, Kate. She’s acting pretty giddy. She says she hasn’t felt this way since she was a girl and her husband asked her on a date.

  That’s sweet.

  It’s fun to watch between puking episodes.

  I’m so sorry. Can I bring you anything?

  Between Nan and Zander, I’m good. Yesterday he brought home every flavor of popsicle imaginable because I told him they sounded good.

  I never thought I would say this, but he’s a keeper.

  You and me both, sister. I better go, the porcelain god is calling.

  Take care! Let me know if you need anything.

  I didn’t hear back.

  I remembered those days. I never thought I would feel better, and just when I started to, it was over. Those were the darkest days of my life. The days where the rules were hatched and started to be honed.

  My first rule back then was no men ever. I eased up on it after the dust had settled and my hormones went back to normal. It still took me two years to go on a date. And I’d only had one semi-serious relationship since, meaning we dated for three months on and off. He was a nice podiatrist. We both knew it wasn’t going anywhere. There were no sp
arks. Nick’s kiss on the cheek did more for me than any kiss from any man, to be honest.

  Why was that?

  I rubbed my cheek.

  What was it about Nick?

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, Kate, you will never believe who texted me.” Skye’s voice rang through the Bluetooth on my drive home

  I was pretty sure I could guess by her excitement level, but I didn’t ruin it by guessing. “Who?”

  “Liam,” she sang.

  “What did he say?”

  “Hi.”

  I refrained from laughing. That was anticlimactic. “That’s a start.”

  “What should I say back?”

  “I would start with, how are you, so he knows you want an answer back.”

  “That’s good. Then what?”

  “I would wait to see what he says back.”

  “Okay, okay,” she kept repeating herself. “Do you think I should invite him to come with us tomorrow to watch those old movies?” She was jumping too far ahead.

  “Well . . . I would wait to see how your conversation goes. But you should probably ask your dad first if he would be okay with it.”

  A large rush of air came through loud and clear. “I know, but he’s kind of overprotective. Do you think you could ask him?”

  Her sweet voice had me wanting to say yes, but . . . “Honey, it would be best if it came from you. Just be honest and tell him why you like Liam.”

  “Okay,” she didn’t sound all that okay. “Maybe I won’t even ask Liam.”

  “How about this, if your dad says no, I’ll help you convince him.” What was I getting myself into?

  She squealed. “You’re the best. I’m going to text Liam back now.”

  “Good luck. Remember, nice and slow.”

  “Got it.” She hung up like her dad, without saying goodbye.

  Skye’s call put a smile on my face. That girl was working her way into my heart, breathing life into it again. I was happy she had called because I needed that boost before I had to face what was at home when I arrived. My mom’s Volvo sat in front of my townhouse, empty. That wasn’t a good sign. She had a house key, so I assumed she waited for me inside.