As she folded the dry ingredients together, she considered her time with Alex's daughter. Though she spent hours every day with children in her job, she didn't get the opportunity to have quality one-on-one time with them. Spending days with Maddie made her want a child of her own even more. Motherhood was another thing Randy had stolen from her.
She went about mixing the ingredients.
The eggs, butter, and oil went into the mix, and she took her frustration out on the dough. How damn selfish could a person be? He wanted his cake, which was her and everyone else's cake too. How many affairs had Randy had in their short marriage?
Her phone rang, shaking her from her mind meandering, and she reached to put it on speaker.
"Hi, Mom." Outside of bill collectors, no one else called. Then there was the ringtone that gave her away.
"Tell me about your rock star."
"He's not mine." That might be true, but it didn't mean she couldn't razz her mom. "But he did sleep here the other day?"
"You were safe, right? I mean sexually safe. You know what I always told you."
Mercy scooped spoons of dough onto a baking sheet. "I know, no glove, no love."
"That's my girl. Now give me the details."
"Oh, brother. I'm watching his daughter, and he had a rough night with her and was dead on his feet, so I told him to sleep in my bed." She didn't elaborate and say she'd been smelling his cologne since that day, so in her mind, she slept with him nightly. "I guess I didn't get your wild gene. I'm more laid-back, like Dad."
"Every relationship needs a responsible party. Your father is mine."
Mercy thought about Randy, again. She was like her father and was Randy's safe, boring place to land. She was the steady Freddy, and that was probably why he cheated on her. He loved home-cooked meals, a clean house, and pressed shirts, but he needed more in bed. She wasn't a freak in the sheets. Wax belonged in candles and rope on a clothesline.
"I'm glad you and Dad complement each other."
"Your prince will come, sweetheart. Until then, toads can be fun."
There was a knock on the door. "Maddie is here. I've got to go. Tell Dad I said hello." She started for the door.
"Honey, try to live a little. You know I'm teasing about the rock star, but don't make all men pay for Randy's misdeeds."
"I won't." She hoped that was true. How was she ever supposed to live her dream of being a wife and mother if she punished all men for another's stupidity? "Love you." She ended the call and opened the door.
Alex stood on the porch with Maddie. On his face, he had faded flowers and smiley faces. Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, he stood in front of her wearing mismatched shoes and an endearing smile.
"Maddie picked out my clothes."
Just then, Mercy fell a little in love with Alex. She touched his cheek and glanced at Maddie. "What did you use to decorate your daddy's face?"
Maddie grinned. "Purple marker."
"Come on in. I was about to put cookies into the oven." She led them into the kitchen and pulled out a chair. "Do you want me to see if I can get that off your face?" She popped the tray in the preheated oven and set the timer.
He chuckled. "While I love the upgrade, it would be nice to have it gone." He took his phone out and pulled up his photos. "I've got it captured for posterity. I don't need to keep it in place."
Was this the same man who confronted her about the panties in the diner? No, … this was a softer, kinder Alex.
She got Maddie started on a workbook, then went to the bathroom to get her makeup remover.
"Have a seat." She wet a cotton ball with remover and leaned in close. His cologne wrapped around her like a hug. "I like you in smiley faces and flowers. It softens your edgy demeanor."
"You think I'm edgy?"
She tilted his head to the side and wiped at a flower. "We met on less than friendly circumstances."
He smiled, and her heart stilled. "Are you ready to admit to leaving something on my fence?"
"I am not. It's not because I'm dishonest, but that I'm embarrassed. I'm not a groupie, and my mother told me to do something daring, so … there's that."
"You need some excitement in your life?"
A smudge of purple remained that she wiped with her thumb. "As you can see, I'm a simple woman with an unremarkable life."
"I can help you spice things up."
Her adrenaline surged. Was he flirting? "What did you have in mind?" She was sure it wasn't a come-on, but the thought of doing something exciting with Alex made her ovaries dance.
"I'll figure it out." He bit his lower lip, and she was convinced that was what did it for most women he met. A gnaw here and there, and they'd be stripped down and ready for his pleasure.
"Should I be excited or terrified?"
"Maybe a little of both."
"I'm not jumping out of planes or wrestling alligators."
His low rumbling laugh vibrated the air. "No risk of that. I'm not doing either of those, but we'll find something that will get your heart racing and won't kill you."
He stood, his arm brushing against hers when he walked toward Maddie. "Hey, Mads, Daddy has to go."
She melted into a puddle watching them.
Maddie threw her arms around his neck. "I miss you."
"I'll miss you too." He stepped back. "I'll pick her up before dinner."
"Why don't you come for dinner? Maddie and I can cook something."
"Really? Should I be excited or terrified?"
"Maybe a little of both. I mean, whatever we have will be complimented by things from the garden. But Maddie is helping and thinks everything should be sprinkled with chocolate chips."
"I love chocolate-glazed carrots."
"I bet you do." The timer went off, and out came the cookies. "If you wait for a second, I'll plate you a few to take with you."
"Are you after my heart?" Another panty-dropping smile lifted his lips.
"Lord, no, I wouldn't know what to do with it." She put several warm cookies on a paper plate and passed them to him.
"Something tells me you know all about hearts." He bent and kissed her cheek. "See you tonight, Mercy." He walked out the door.
She stood there for several seconds until Maddie pulled on her sleeve. "Can I have a cookie?"
"You bet."
Once Maddie had her cookie and milk, Mercy put the remover away and planned for the day.
This wasn't a date, but she was as nervous as a teen on prom night. She checked her hair twice. Since she licked her gloss off once already, she slicked on another coat.
When he tapped on the door, her heart dropped into her stomach. On the way to the door, she chastised herself for thinking the dinner was anything more than a kind gesture. She invited him, not the other way around.
“Maddie, your Daddy is here.”
She raced from the kitchen to the door. "Do I look pretty?"
Someone else was after Alex's heart. It was heartwarming to see how much they bonded in the short time Maddie had been here.
"You always look pretty." Mercy braided her hair and worked a few small daisies into it.
She swung open the door, and Alex stood with matching shoes and two bouquets.
"These are for my favorite girls." He handed the gerbera daisies to Maddie and the larger bouquet of mixed flowers to her.
How long had it been since she received flowers? Smelling them filled her with giddiness.
"Thank you, Alex. Are you hungry?"
"Starving. What are we having?"
She walked to the kitchen and rummaged under the sink for mason jars to put the flowers in.
"I thought we'd grill chicken and serve it with a salad Maddie and I made from things I grew in the garden."
"I can grill."
"You grill?" She couldn't imagine him doing something so domestic.
"I cooked a lot when I was a kid, and barbecuing was my favorite because it created fewer dishes to wash."
"You were wise
for a kid."
"I think it was laziness back then, but now I try to work smarter and not harder. Is the grill out back? I'll get it ready if you're okay with that."
"That would be awesome. The yard is fenced, so Maddie can play out there."
"Come on, Mads, let's barbecue."
Maddie skipped beside Alex like she was always there by his side. He stepped up to the challenge of parenthood quickly, despite his arguments.
She put everything she needed for their dinner on a tray and walked out the back door to find the barbecue lit and Maddie walking Alex around the yard. She pointed out all the vegetables and fruits she learned that afternoon.
This was a little piece of the Walton's or Mayberry that she always wanted but never got.
Heat poured off the barbecue, burning anything on the grill, but to make sure it was clean, she took the scraper and moved it across the grate.
"That's not your job." Alex raced toward her and squeezed in close before taking the scraper. "You worked all day, let me grill the chicken." He nodded toward the table. "You sit."
"Do you want a beer?"
He shook his head. "No, but a glass of water would be great. If you tell me where to go, I can get it myself."
"I'll get it for you while you cook the chicken."
Back with the glass of water, she called Maddie over to wipe her hands before asking her to serve the salad. Maddie liked helping, but that didn't surprise her because most people wanted to feel needed and valued.
After plating the chicken, they sat down for dinner together.
"Do I have a grandma?" Maddie tucked her legs under her body and leaned toward Alex.
His expression was thoughtful, as if weighing his words. "Your grandmother and grandfather have both passed away."
"Are they in heaven with Mommy? Maybe they can take care of her."
Mercy swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm sure they will." What five-year-old asked that kind of question? No doubt, one that did a lot of caring for someone else.
Alex gripped his silverware so hard that Mercy was certain he'd leave dents in the metal. "It's like an endless loop. For every poor decision we make as adults, there's a kid that pays the price."
She laid her hand on top of his and rubbed gently across his knuckles until the tension faded.
"I never wanted … you know, and this was why. No child should have to do what I did, and it bothers me that Maddie went through it."
"Life was pretty darn good to her if you ask me. It gave you to her. She's a lucky girl to have someone who has been through what you have and come out the other side. You have something inside that few people do—perspective."
They looked at Maddie, who picked the strawberries from her salad and pushed the lettuce aside.
"You need to eat it all if you want banana pudding."
"Banana pudding with vanilla wafers?" Alex rose in his seat, and she imagined him as a child. The exuberance over pudding and cookies charmed her.
"And whipped cream."
He closed his eyes and looked to the sky. "I found nirvana, and it's in a small town named Aspen Cove. I'm starting to see why Samantha loves it here."
"That's easy; it's because Dalton's here and love makes you do crazy things … even move to a speck of a town in the Rockies."
She coaxed Maddie into two more bites and gathered the plates. When she came out with the trifle bowl full of pudding, they clapped.
With bellies full and everyone happy, Maddie went inside to sit on the sofa and read a book while Alex helped clean up.
"Thank you for helping." She wiped her hands on a towel and took a few steps toward the living room and Maddie when Alex reached out and stopped her.
"Mercy … I don't know how to properly thank you for all you've done. You have been a wonderful influence on Maddie and me."
She was close enough to see the specks of gold in his eyes.
"It's my job."
He shook his head. "No. It's more than that. I can hire you for babysitting, but I can't pay someone to care, and it's obvious that you do."
His proximity did crazy things to her body. Unlike her mother, she'd never been a groupie, but she was a real fan of Alex, not the musician but the man.
"She's amazing, and so are you." Her chin dropped. "It's been my pleasure, and in the short time she's been here, she's blossomed."
"You're making a difference in our lives."
"And you in mine."
He moved closer. " This might be a weird question, but can I kiss you?”
"Me? Why me?" She looked behind her expecting to see someone else.
"Why not you?" He ran his thumb down her cheek as he inched closer to her face.
"Because I'm me."
His lips brushed against hers. "And I like you."
"Well then, you better kiss me."
She expected a crash of lips and teeth, but the kiss was slow and sweet. She no longer had to wonder what his lips would be like on hers— this was her nirvana.
"That was perfect," he said against her lips. When he stepped back, he looked at her like she was the only woman in the world. "Since you made me dinner, how about I take you out for a meal?"
Her heart filled with fear and excitement. What was happening with them?
"Are you asking me on a date?"
He bit his lower lip, and when it popped free, he said, "Yes, I believe I am."
"It's a date then."
His lips touched hers briefly. "Friday? I'll arrange for a sitter."
"We can bring Maddie."
He shook his head. "It's a date, and that means two people having a nice time together."
"Okay." Energy pulsed through her. "What should I wear?"
"If it were up to me, you'd wear nothing, but something casual nice will do."
Her cheeks heated. What the hell was casual nice? "I haven't been on a date in years."
He rubbed his chin. "I don't think I've ever been on a real date."
She lifted her brows. "You should know, I don't put out on the first date."
He laughed. "Neither do I."
"You're such a liar." She tapped him on the arm with a fist.
"Seriously. I'm telling the truth. I haven't ever put out on a first date. Maybe that's only because I have never been on one.” He touched her lips again in a brief fly by. "I'm looking forward to you being my first, Ms. Mercy Meyer."
They walked into the living room where Alex hoisted Maddie to his hip, and after a wave goodbye, they left. The only thing that proved the night was real was the half-eaten bowl of banana pudding and the tingle on her lips.
Chapter Twelve
Since Samantha wanted to finish the album so they could have downtime between its completion and the Fireman's Fundraiser, there wasn't much time to indulge, and Alex didn't think there were enough kisses between the barbecue and his date with Mercy on Friday. They were working long hours, and by the time he picked Maddie up, he was exhausted. All he could do was take her home and spend quality time until it was her bedtime.
But now that Friday was here and he managed to get a sitter, he was revived and ready to go.
"Are you sure you have everything you need?" he asked Louise.
"Honey, I've got eight kids, if I don't have it, they don't need it."
He watched Maddie cautiously approach some of Louise's brood.
"Do you think she'll be okay?"
She looked over her shoulder and laughed. "She's fine. I haven't killed one yet, not that I haven't been tempted. Give her five minutes to warm up to the girls, and they'll be fast friends. Are you sure you don't want her to spend the night? We're happy to keep her."
While a night with Mercy sounded tantalizing, they weren't moving that fast. She was different. Maybe he liked her because she wasn't like the rest. Her expectations weren't the same, and he wanted to aspire to be the man she thought he was. The way she looked at him made him feel better than the playboy he'd been. For Maddie and her, he'd do better.
>
"I'll be back by nine to get her. Mercy says a consistent schedule is good for Maddie."
"Without a schedule, you don't have a life." Louise laughed. "You don't think I have eight kids because the little ones stayed up all night, do you?"
He stepped back. "I'm not ready for more."
"Problem is, they multiply like rabbits. You start with two, and before you know it, you've got a fluffle."
"A what?"
"Lots of cute little bunnies. Now get and have a good time. Maddie is going to have the time of her life. It's s'mores night, and that's one sticky chocolatey mess."
He backed up a few feet before turning away.
"Don't forget flowers because most women are a sucker for them. You might get lucky if you show up with a bouquet."
He chuckled. "You know what? I'm already lucky just to have this date."
"You're a smooth one."
He waved and walked down the sidewalk. "Call me if you need me."
He climbed into his SUV and headed to the corner store. This parenting thing was hard. There was so much to consider, but the dating thing really had him stumped. Was it wise to bring her flowers twice in one week? Would she think he was angling to get between her thighs? He was, but not for simple sex. He'd be in Aspen Cove for the time being and having someone to share his life with looked appealing.
He parked between the corner store and the pharmacy, knowing flowers couldn't hurt. His mom used to buy them and say they were from his father. Somehow, the lie made his abandonment less painful.
Just as he reached for the handle, Doc called his name. The older man waved an envelope above his head while he ambled forward.
"Came today. I was going to drop it off at your place, but since you're here, thought I'd save myself the trip." He placed the paternity test in his hand.
Why did his heart beat wildly like an animal trapped in a cage?
"Thanks, Doc."
"Well, are you going to open it?"
It sat like a snake in his palm, ready to bite. As soon as he opened it, his life would change. If Maddie was his, that meant more changes were coming. What happened when they went on tour? How would she get to school and home each day? Who would watch her once summer ended and Mercy went back to work? If she wasn't his, what did that mean? Every time she called him Daddy, his heart danced. Who knew the one thing he avoided his entire life—fatherhood—could bring him such joy? "Eventually. Right now, I'm picking up flowers and then my date."
One Hundred Lessons (An Aspen Cove Small Town Romance Book 15) Page 8
