Doc set his hand on Alex's shoulder. "Son, no matter the results, just remember that DNA don't make a daddy."
That was the awful truth. "I know." He lifted the envelope. "Opening this will only confirm what I know in my gut. Maddie’s mine."
"She was yours the day you decided that to be true. Enough about that, go get your date."
Alex folded and shoved the envelope into his pocket and strode into the store. Things were changing all right; he had a house, a daughter, and a date.
He entered the Corner Store and walked into some kind of negotiation. The older couple who owned the store shook hands with a woman.
"End of the month, then?"
"You'll get the keys."
He moved to the front where buckets of water held flowers. He took all they had and placed them dripping on the counter.
"Looks like you either screwed up or you're sucking up," the man said.
"Neither, it's date night."
The younger woman cocked her head to the side. "Are you the drummer for Indigo?"
He wasn't in the mood for fan behavior, so he pointed to his hair. "I'm not that guy." Not anymore.
"You look just like him."
He paid his bill and picked up the flowers.
"They say everyone has a doppelganger." He studied her for a moment. "You look like that girl from a beer commercial."
"I get that all the time, and if it brings more people into the Corner Store, I'll pretend I'm her and sell autographs." She held out her hand for a shake. "I'm Jewel, and I take over this fine establishment next month."
He nodded. "Nice to meet you." He pivoted on his heel and fled before anyone else could waylay his progress. If he didn't get to Mercy's soon, she might think he wasn't coming.
They sat at a small table in Trevi's Steakhouse in Copper Creek. The soft murmurs of couples talking mixed with the smell of garlic and spices. The dim, romantic lighting made the place perfect for a first date. He'd have to thank Dalton for the suggestion.
Mercy sipped her glass of wine while Alex drank a soda. He rarely imbibed because he'd once read that addictive personalities ran in families, and he worried he'd end up with the alcoholic gene.
"You didn't have to buy out the store." She set her glass down. "Right now, there's a wife somewhere thinking … where are my flowers?"
"I couldn't choose and realized I didn't have to. I'm learning that I can have it all, so why shouldn't you have every flower?"
"I bet you made Phillip and Marge happy with the sale."
"If not them, then the new owner."
"There's a new owner?"
"I walked in on the handshake. The new owner is a woman named Jewel."
She fidgeted with her silverware and rearranged her glasses for the third time.
He touched her hand, covering it with his. "Are you nervous?"
"No. Yes." She took in a long, deep breath and huffed it out. "Okay, I'm worried."
"About?"
She pointed to him and back to her. "This. What is it? Where is it going? I keep asking myself if I'm stupid to think you'd be interested in me when you have so many beautiful women leaving you sexy lingerie." She lowered her head. "Is she pretty?"
He squeezed her hand. "Is who pretty?"
"Jewel. Even her name is alluring."
He slid his chair closer. "I didn't stay around long enough to look." He'd never tell her she looked like a beer commercial model because that was irrelevant. The only person who grabbed his attention was Mercy. "I had this hot date with a sexy schoolteacher."
"You're just saying that because you want to get lucky tonight."
He lifted her hand to his lips and left a lingering kiss on her palm. "I have it on good authority that's not happening, so the thought didn't cross my mind when I said you were beautiful."
"Liar."
"About you being beautiful … no way, as for the getting lucky, a man can dream."
Their dinner arrived. He had the ribeye, and she had the filet. They ate and talked.
"What's it like being you?" she asked.
He finished his bite and swallowed. "It's not as sweet as you'd think. No one ever takes the time to know you as a person because all they want is a piece of you. A check mark on their list of things to do in life."
"But all these women fall in love with you."
He shook his head. "Not with me, but with who they think I am, and what they think I can offer. It gets old after a while."
"I bet it does. While I'm no musician, I know what it feels like to be marginalized. Randy, my deceased husband, loved that I cleaned and cooked and did laundry, but he …" She swallowed hard, and he worried she would choke on the words. "He obviously didn't think I was good in bed or his tastes were different than what I offered because he cheated." Her eyes grew wide. "You're the second person I've ever told, but did you hear that story about the man who got his … you know … bit off in a car accident?"
"Who hasn't, it was international news." His eyes grew wide. "That was your husband?"
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "It was so embarrassing."
"His stupidity is not a reflection on you. He was an idiot for cheating and a bigger one for getting his dick bit off."
Something worried her. He saw it in the way her eyes dulled.
"Maybe it all comes back to me. If I'd been better for him, he wouldn't have had to look elsewhere."
If Randy weren't already six feet under, he'd be happy to send him there. "Did you wait until marriage before you had sex?" He didn't want to call it making love because thinking about Mercy loving anyone but him didn't sit right.
"No. I'm not a prude."
"You certainly don't kiss like a prude. Was the marriage sex good?"
"I thought it was good for him. I mean … he always … you know."
"But did you?" Part of him wanted her to say never because that meant he'd be able to give her something her former husband didn't or couldn't.
"There was one time, but it seemed like a fluke."
He wanted to throw his fists in the air, but she didn't need his arrogance. What she needed was his reassurance.
"It wasn't you. Some men don't know when they have a good thing. They ruin it searching for something better, but it's rarely out there."
"Is that what you did? Were you looking for something better?"
He shook his head. "No, I wasn't looking for anything until I found you."
Chapter Thirteen
Mercy nearly swooned at that statement. Alex Cruz was one smooth operator.
"I bet you say that to all the girls."
He sat back and seemed to study her. With a shake of his head, he said, "Nope, I've only said it to you, but there's one other girl I could say it to, and the words would hold."
Her heart sank. For once, she would like to be the only one. "Maybe you should tell her."
He grinned. "Are you jealous?"
Yes, she was. It was a ridiculous emotion. You either had the heart of a man, or you didn't.
"No, I'm not."
"Liar."
She rolled her eyes. This was becoming their game, but she'd play along. "Okay, it's not that I'm lying, it's that I'm embarrassed to admit that I like you more than I want to."
He lifted a brow. "You don't want to like me?"
"I already like you. It's trust that I'll struggle with."
"My career isn't the kind that will give you peace of mind, but don't bury your heart with your dead husband."
He was right, and she knew it, but how could she trust a man who had a string of groupies at every venue?
"Look, I'm making more of this date than it probably is, and I apologize."
He took her hand in his. "Though I'm not ready to buy the ring, this is a real date. Not a ploy to get you naked and in my bed. If I just wanted someone between the sheets, I don't need to wine and dine them. I've got twenty new lingerie pieces to prove it, but you know which are my favorite?"
"I don't wan
t to know."
"Yes, you do, because they are a pair of pink cotton panties."
She pulled her hand away and covered her face. "So embarrassing."
"So cute." He waved the waiter over to pay the bill. "I hate to cut our date short, but I've got the other girl I didn't know I was looking for until she found me, waiting. She has a strict bedtime, or she gets cranky."
As fast as her heart sank, it rose like pretty colored helium balloons were attached to it.
"Maddie is a lucky girl."
"Nah, I think it's me who's lucky. You don't know what you're missing until you get a taste of what you never had."
"Sounds like a country song."
"Not yet, those almost always come with broken hearts, and I'm not planning on breaking any in the near future."
If that wasn't swoon-worthy, she didn't know what was. Thankfully, the chair had arms she could grip, or she would have been in a puddle beneath the table.
As soon as the check was taken care of, Alex held her hand and walked her to the valet. While they waited for the SUV, he kissed her like every word he'd said during dinner was real. Could a heart as fractured as hers ever mend? She hoped so because love was all she ever wanted.
Tuckered out but happy, Maddie ran to the door when they arrived at Louise's.
Alex had planned to take her home first, but Louise's house was on the way, so they figured they'd get Maddie and then take Mercy home, but once in the car, Maddie begged Mercy to come to their house and tuck her in. When those hazel eyes looked into hers, she couldn't say no.
He led her inside to a living room of black and metal and glass. There wasn't color around unless Maddie's one-eyed tan bear counted.
Alex's house was as warm as an ice cube and as inviting as a barbed-wire fence.
"I know, it's like entering a black pit."
"That's being kind." She moved around the perimeter, skimming her fingers across the empty bookshelves. "Do you have pictures or stuff you've collected along the way?" Maddie tugged on her hand. "Come see my room."
Mercy said a silent prayer that Maddie's room wasn't as unwelcoming and sighed in relief when she entered and found a toy box full of dolls and a bed made but covered in stuffed animals. There was nothing on the walls except for a purple flower and a smiley face drawn in marker.
"I see she's beat you to the decorating."
"I'm at a loss when it comes to making the place homey. I'm rarely anywhere more than a few weeks."
That was a grim reminder that Alex wouldn't make Aspen Cove his permanent residence. And what would he do with Maddie? Would she get boarded out during the school year, or would he hire some cute little French au pair to take care of all his needs?
"You okay?"
She pushed her thoughts aside. "Yes. Fine."
Alex slung his arm over her shoulder. "One thing I know for sure is that fine is never actually fine. You want to talk about it?"
"There's nothing to talk about." She walked deeper into Maddie's room. "Where are your pj's kiddo? It's time for bed."
Maddie attempted to snap her fingers. "Dang it. Can't I stay up with you?"
"Not a chance, Mads, you need to get some sleep if you want to have breakfast at Maisey's before I go into the studio."
That got her moving. Maddie took her Disney Princess pajamas from her dresser and changed. With a tug, she dragged Mercy into the bathroom.
"Look at my toofbrush. It plays music."
Alex put a dab of toothpaste on it and pressed a button, making the music start.
"She brushes until the music shuts off."
"That's awesome." Mercy loved that he dove headfirst into parenting. "Where did you get that?"
"Amazon, where I get everything else I never knew I needed, like more hair ties." He opened the bathroom drawer to show at least twenty different types. "This looks full now, but by next week there won't be one anywhere. It's like they evaporate overnight. Who knew girls were so expensive?"
"They don't have to be."
"Oh, please. Boys need tennis shoes, shorts, jeans, and T-shirts. Girls need everything. There are dresses and skirts and sandals and tennis shoes and hair ties and barrettes."
Mercy's shoulders shook with her laughter. "Okay, I get it. Girls need more."
Maddie's toothbrush stopped singing, and she opened to show Alex her teeth. "Into bed, Fred." He patted her bottom, and she laughed.
"I'm not Fred; I'm Maddie."
"Yep, and it's past your bedtime."
Maddie ran to her bed and jumped on top, and after a few bounces, she climbed under the blankets. "I'm ready."
Mercy cocked her head to the side. "Do you read her a story every night?"
"No, we have our own thing. I'll be right back."
Mercy sat on the edge of the bed and tucked the blankets in around Maddie. This was the dream.
"Did you have fun with the Williams' kids?"
"Yes, I want to go back and play. Do you think I can go tomorrow?"
"You're staying with me tomorrow because your dad is trying to finish a project so he can spend more time with you, but maybe we can get Louise to bring the kids to the park. Would that be fun?"
"Yes."
Alex returned with his guitar and stood by the bed. "You play her music?"
"Every night." He moved to the end and sat on the corner. "I wrote this song for Maddie."
He strummed a chord and started to sing. And boy could the man sing.
Your chestnut hair, and your soulful eyes.
They sing to my heart.
A tiny nose, and a toothless grin.
They sing to my heart.
Your trust and your love.
They sing to my heart.
Little girl of mine
You have my heart
The song continued for several verses, and when Alex finished, Maddie was asleep, and Mercy was in tears.
They moved slowly out of her room and closed the door behind them.
"You okay?"
"I'm perfect."
"That's a hell of a lot better than fine." He walked her into the living room, where he leaned his guitar against the wall.
"I didn't know you played the guitar or that you sang."
"There's a lot about me you don't know." He sat and pulled her into his lap.
"Tell me more. I want to know Alex the man, not only Alex the sexy drummer from Indigo."
"Sexy, huh?"
"You know you are. You have your own fan club."
He situated them so her legs rested on the couch, and her back leaned against the armrest.
"None of that matters to me. All I care about right now is how you feel about me."
"If I'm on the fence, will you write me a song?"
His hand settled on her thigh, and a sizzle burned through the cotton fabric of her dress to her core.
"You want me to write you a song?"
"Seriously? Yes, I want a song. Will you tuck me into bed each night and sing it to me?"
"The logistics are tricky, but I'm sure we can figure something out." He cupped her cheek and pulled her in for a kiss. When he leaned back, she saw eyes darkened with passion. "Stay the night with me."
"I can't. It's too soon."
He nodded. "I understand." Disappointment oozed from his words.
"Do you?"
He nodded. "Yes, you're different from the rest. You're not a one-night stand. You want more."
"I'm not sure what I want, but this is enough for now."
It would be easy for her to say yes to a night of passion, but what would be left in the morning? Her body screamed full speed ahead, even her brain was on board, but her heart put on the breaks.
They kissed for the better part of the next hour. Alex risked a squeeze of her breast, and that's when she knew she needed to go because if she didn't leave now, she'd be naked and in his bed within minutes.
"I need to go." He let out a slow, sexy groan that nearly changed her mind. Did he make the same sound w
hen he made love? She closed her eyes and pictured him nude, braced above her body, arms flexed, muscles taut. "Holy hell. I … I've gotta go." She hopped off his lap and took several steps back. Alex was as hot as a flame, and wasn't it dangerous to get too close to the fire?
"But someday you'll stay, right?"
"That might send the wrong message to Maddie."
"What message? That I care for you and I want to make love to you? It's not like I'm going to lay you on her twin bed while she sleeps. We can be discreet."
"Discreet just sounds like a dirty little secret. I've had enough of those in my life."
His sigh came out a half breath and half growl. "I'm going to change your mind about men, about me, and about staying the night." He lifted from the sofa and retrieved his key from the entry table. "Take my SUV. I don't want you walking home alone."
She took the keys from his hand and moved to the door where he kissed her once more.
"Just so you know, I want to stay, but I know I shouldn't."
He walked her to his car and opened the door. "I know you shouldn't, but I want you to stay too. Next date, Maddie will have a sleepover, and so can we. No pressure, just think about it."
She adjusted the seat and mirrors and backed out of his driveway. All the way home, she couldn't think about anything else.
Chapter Fourteen
When morning came, Alex flopped onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He tossed and turned all night, thinking about Mercy and her kisses, and he was exhausted. If one of her kisses touched his soul, then what would making love to her be like?
The lack of sleep made his limbs heavy, and he climbed out of his bed and slogged toward the shower. His jeans, which he'd discarded in the corner of the room last night, caught his attention. Or the letter peeking out of his back pocket did. How could he forget the test?
He bent over and swiped the envelope, turning it over and over while his stomach churned. What if Maddie wasn't his? What if she indeed was?
One Hundred Lessons (An Aspen Cove Small Town Romance Book 15) Page 9
