Jace chuckled. After their impromptu jaunt to his parents’ house, which still had him a little boggled, they’d dropped off his bike at his place and set out on foot to explore the city. He thought he knew everything there was to know about the Big Apple, but seeing it through Dixie’s eyes was like looking at a whole different world. They’d grabbed slices of pizza for a late lunch, and she’d insisted on eating outside as she people watched. She noticed things he’d never given a second thought, just as she was now. And she picked up scents like a bloodhound. To Jace, the city smelled like garbage and occasionally like roasted peanuts. But Dixie followed her nose to the Portuguese bakery, where they shared the most delicious honey cake he’d ever eaten, and she stopped to smell the flowers at a floral shop he must have walked past hundreds of times and had never really thought about. He wondered if she’d been that happy when she’d received the roses he’d sent.
She looked up at him and said, “Please tell me you’re not usually like all these people.”
“I could, but it would be a lie.”
“Oh my God, really? The guy who found the most beautiful spot in all of Peaceful Harbor takes the incredible sights and sounds of this city for granted? That’s a shame.”
“That’s life, Dix. Don’t you ever get so busy back home that you don’t take time to see the sights of the harbor?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Every time I walk outside I can smell ocean breezes, or if I’m across town, I’m admiring the mountains. I love it all, and I wake up happy to be there. I mean, the city is really cool, but I would never want to live here. If I did, though, I’d want to experience it each day. Otherwise how boring would life be? I’d feel like a robot going from cabs to buildings, moving through life without really living.”
“Says the woman who doesn’t want to go into any of the shops. Not that I’m complaining, but I thought all women liked to shop.”
“The only thing I want to shop for are gifts for my babies, but if you need something, we can shop.”
“Your babies? Do you have a double life I don’t know about?”
“I mean my nieces and nephews. Can you imagine their sad little faces if they knew Auntie Dixie went all the way to New York and didn’t bring them anything? I’m not into breaking hearts. We need to find a few toys.”
They stopped at the corner to wait for the light to change, and while Dixie was checking out people and skyscrapers, Jace’s eyes were riveted to her. He had the same love for experiencing the world, but not when he was in the city. When he was in any of the big cities where he worked, he was usually hunkered down and focused on business. Dixie made him want to reevaluate that part of himself. Why did he overlook the very things he loved about life when he was in those places? It wasn’t like he couldn’t focus on work while still taking time to enjoy the areas. She was right about Peaceful Harbor, though. He’d found that spot, and he’d returned there every time he was in town. It called out to him, but what that meant, he wasn’t sure.
She pointed across the street and said, “There’s a souvenir shop.”
“That’s crap. We should go to FAO Schwarz and get them something really special,” he suggested.
“Oh, fancy. Okay, Mr. Moneybags.” The light changed, and the crowd pushed forward. Dixie held on tight and said, “You lead. I’ll follow.”
“It’s about a ten-minute walk. Are you up for it? We can take a cab if you want.”
“Are you kidding? And miss out on all this?” She waved one hand. “Let’s walk.”
They headed for Rockefeller Center, and from the moment they entered FAO Schwarz, Dixie’s eyes were wide with fascination. She dragged Jace over to the big dance-on piano with neon lights around the keys, above which was a mirror image on the ceiling.
They waited in line, and when it was Dixie’s turn, she stepped onto the keys and reached for his hand. “Come on. Do it with me.”
“Go for it. I’ll watch,” he said, enjoying seeing her so carefree.
She crossed her arms, jutted out her sexy hip, and tapped her foot on one of the keys in a monotonous rhythm. “Unless you want to torture all these people with this sound, you’d better join me.”
Just as Jace was about to relent, an adorable little boy with a shock of black hair bounced on his toes and said, “I’ll play with you!”
“I would love that, if your mama says it’s okay.” Dixie smiled warmly at the woman holding his hand.
“Me too!” another little boy yelled.
“Can I play, too?” a little girl with pigtails asked her father.
Dixie waved them all up to the keyboard and proceeded to dance across the keys with the giggling children in tow. Jace took pictures as she hopped and danced, earning unforgettable smiles from the children and their parents.
When she finally came off the keyboard, the kids hugged her, the parents thanked her, and Jace fell a little harder for the enchanting redhead who was changing his world one minute at a time.
More than an hour later they walked out with gifts for all of Dixie’s babies, which he found out didn’t just extend to Bones and Sarah’s three children, but also to Truman and Gemma’s little boy and girl and Jed and Josie’s son. She was particular about the gifts being just right for each child, and it was fascinating to watch her choose. She bought a pink stuffed unicorn for Bones and Sarah’s new baby, Maggie Rose, because she said Maggie Rose was unique in that Sarah was pregnant with her when she and Bones first met. She bought a yellow cab for Bradley, who loved cars, and a street cleaner for Hail, who was into work trucks. She said she was going to tell them all about the city and knew they’d want to play Big Apple afterward. She bought an adorable stuffed giraffe for Lila, who was a year and a half, because as the middle child, she needs to stand out. For Kennedy she bought a make-your-own fairy garden because she loved all things fairy and princess related, and for Lincoln she got a tiny drum with a trumpet and a tambourine inside, because he loved banging on things.
“You’re going to need a suitcase just for these gifts,” he said, carrying her shopping bags as they left the store.
“But can you imagine their happy little faces?”
As they walked to Rockefeller Center, he looked up at the darkening clouds, hoping the rain would hold off a little while longer, and said, “You’re a thoughtful auntie, Dix.”
“Thanks. From what I saw the other night, you’re a pretty fab uncle, too. Have you ever thought about having kids?”
“Never…” He debated the rest of his answer, having hardly admitted the truth to himself, but one look at Dixie and it came out unbidden. “Until Thane was born.”
“Interesting. Are you saying that Mr. No Roots has the baby itch?”
“No,” he said with a shake of his head. Baby itch? Was there such a thing? “I’m not ready for kids, and I’m not ready to give up my freedom, but that sweet boy makes me feel something I’ve never felt before. Seeing him with Jay and Rush gave me perspective and made me realize if I don’t have a family one day, I might miss out on something pretty incredible.”
They came to the area that served as an ice rink in the winter but was now filled with diners eating under umbrellas, but Dixie was looking at him, not the view.
“What?” he asked.
She looked away and said, “Nothing.”
He leaned over the railing, the pit of his stomach sinking. He couldn’t even bring himself to think about Dixie in the arms of another man, much less having children with them. “I bet you’ll be a great mom, Dix.”
“Thanks.”
He tried to quell that unfamiliar ache in his gut and changed the subject. “This is the ice skating rink in the winter. Do you skate?”
“I’ve never tried.” She moved closer and nudged him with her shoulder. “What about you? I can’t imagine you on skates. Then again, I never imagined you in a bright blue suit, either.”
He hooked his arm around her neck, making her laugh. “I used to be great at it. You’ll have to come ou
t this winter and I’ll teach you.” He led her toward the Channel Gardens, which was what he’d really wanted to show her.
The Channel Gardens were built in a narrow promenade between two large buildings. They were one of the city’s greatest secrets, with six granite pools and fountains, each with a large fountainhead sculpture, surrounded by beautiful flowers and leafy plants. Just as he’d hoped, Dixie’s face brightened when she saw them, and it lit him up inside.
“What is this, right here in the middle of the city?” She hurried over, touching the plants with her fingertips.
“The Channel Gardens. I thought you’d like them.”
“It looks like you haven’t had your nose in your phone every time you were here after all.” She leaned into him. “These are gorgeous.” She pointed to one of the sculptures. “Is that a sea nymph?”
He nodded. “The sculptures are nereids and tritons. Two hundred years ago this was the site of the first botanical garden in the state.” He pointed to the buildings and said, “That’s the British Empire Building and the La Maison Francaise. The promenade we’re walking along represents the English Channel that separates the two countries for which the buildings were named.”
Dixie looked up at him with a curious expression. “How do you know all of that? Oh wait, I almost forgot that you liked history. I didn’t realize how much until I saw your bookshelves this morning. They’re loaded with history books.”
“I told you I liked history.”
“But you didn’t say you were a history buff.” A raindrop fell on the apple of her cheek. Another hit her eyelashes. She closed her eyes and tipped her face up toward the sky. Dixie opened her eyes when it started raining harder, turned her palms up, and twirled as rain pelted her. Her arms glistened, her shirt quickly became drenched, and her hair stuck to her shoulders.
All around them people rushed for shelter, and there was Dixie, the badass biker who could bring a man to his knees with one cutting remark, twirling and laughing.
She was utterly and completely mesmerizing.
Clutching the bags in one hand, Jace drew her into his arms, and when their eyes connected, the truth spilled out. “You are too damn hard to resist.”
He lowered his mouth to hers, and in that moment he didn’t feel the sheeting rain slicking his skin or hear the traffic noises that had never before seemed to halt. There was only Dixie’s softness pressed against him, her warm, eager kisses, and the sweet pleasure-filled sounds luring him deeper in to her.
Jace didn’t know how long they stood in the promenade making out, but when thunder rumbled and lightning split the sky, they both startled. He kept her close as they ran for the street, and he hailed a cab. They climbed into the cab, soaked to the bone, laughing and kissing on the ride to his place, and continued in the elevator. They stumbled into his apartment in fits of laughter. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much fun. As they tugged off their boots, he realized this was the last time he’d come home with Dixie. Hell if that didn’t gnaw away at him. He liked his solitude, thrived on it.
And yet here he stood, unable to imagine coming home without her tomorrow after he dropped her off at the airport.
THEY CHANGED OUT of their wet clothes, and Dixie towel-dried her hair, feeling lighter and happier than she had in a long time. They had Thai food delivered and ate while sitting on the couch, serenaded by the driving rain against the windows. The dark evening sky stole what light had lingered when they’d arrived, leaving a romantic glow throughout the loft. It felt strangely natural to be sitting on Jace’s couch in her cutoffs and T-shirt, sharing food from each other’s plates and talking about silly things.
“Favorite food?” she asked, her eyes trailing down his jeans to his bare feet. Even his feet were sexy.
He waggled his brows and said, “Do you even have to ask? It’s you, Dix.” He snagged a noodle from her plate. “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?”
“I used to think it would be cool to go far away, like Greece or Paris. Someplace exotic and special.” But after the last couple days, the thought of going anyplace special without him just felt lonely.
“And now?”
“I went on a road trip alone last fall, and besides the ride, which of course was great, what I enjoyed most was seeing my cousins and meeting friends. I don’t think being a solo world traveler is in the cards for me. You travel a lot and seem to like it. Where do you go from here, after I leave?”
He set his plate on the coffee table and took a drink of his whiskey. “I’m meeting with Maddox in Boston Thursday, and then I head to LA to prepare for the launch. Back to business as usual. How about you? You’re going to the Cape next week for Justin’s art show?”
“Yes. I’m going to the opening on Wednesday, and I’ll come back Sunday for my business as usual.”
“Are you staying with your cousin?”
She set her plate down and turned to face him. “No. I didn’t want to cramp Justin’s style. One of the girls who runs the book club works at Bayside Resort, which is right on the water in Wellfleet. I rented a cottage there.”
“Not too shabby.”
“It should be fun. Thanks for letting me stay here with you. I bet you’ll be glad to have your place to yourself again,” she said a little tentatively.
He put his arm across the back of the couch, brushing his fingers along her arm. “I’m not looking forward to it, Dix. It’s been nice having you here.”
“I’ve had a great time.” She was itching to know more about his life, and she knew this might be her only chance. “Can I ask you a personal question? You don’t have to answer.”
“Go for it.”
“I’m just curious what your life is really like. I know you own the company with Maddox and you design bikes, and it seems like you’re always going places to open offices or shops, but I don’t really know what you do.”
He finished his drink and set the glass on the table. “I guess you could say that I oversee the creative aspects and expansion of our business, while Maddox’s forte is the business itself. We have directors of operations and managers who oversee our operations and report back to us. Maddox and I work together to review operations on a monthly basis, but he oversees the business end on a day-to-day basis, while I focus on scouting new locations, working with our engineers and designers to come up with future concepts, that sort of thing. I work primarily out of LA, but once we close the deal for the Boston headquarters, that’ll be my home base. I’ve got an assistant who keeps my days in order, and she’s got underlings who report to her.”
“And when you travel, do you have girlfriends in different areas? Do you have buddies everywhere you go, like you do in Maryland?”
“Girlfriends?” He shook his head with a cocky smile. “No ties, Dix. You know that about me. I’m not an asshole, but I’m sure as hell nobody’s Prince Charming, either. If I meet a woman I’m interested in, we might hook up, but that’s the extent of it. And despite what you might think, I’m not a guy on the prowl, getting together with women left and right. That’s not my priority. I put all of my focus into growing the business and have been doing that forever. Sex has never been anything more than a way to kill some stress.”
She swallowed that bitter pill and said, “You really don’t answer to anyone.”
He shook his head. “I haven’t in so long, I don’t think I’d know how without fucking it up.”
That stung, but she’d known that about him, hadn’t she? He’d been nothing but honest, and she couldn’t blame him for her hopeful heart.
“How about you, Dix? I can’t believe you’re not hooking up with guys behind your brothers’ backs.”
“Isn’t that what I’ve spent the last forty-eight hours doing?”
He laughed. “You’ve got me there.”
“I try to meet guys through friends,” she said honestly. “But I haven’t found anyone worth hooking up with for so long, it’s embarrassing. And now that
you’ve ruined me for all men…” She said it lightly, just to hear that laugh again, and she was rewarded in kind.
“Damn, you are good for my ego.” He leaned closer and slipped his hand to the nape of her neck, bringing their faces so close she could smell the whiskey on his breath. He looked into her eyes and said, “You’re good for my soul, too. I’ll never forget a minute of our time together.”
Her heart skipped. She wanted to remember every second of it, too. “Do you still want to tattoo me?”
“Almost as badly as I want to kiss you.”
That made her feel good all over. “Do you tattoo lots of women?”
“Never. That would be like bringing a woman to my apartment. It’s not something I do.”
“I’m here,” she reminded him.
“I know. I’m still trying to figure out how you managed that.”
She smiled. “You invited me.”
“That’s what I meant. How’d you get so deep into my head before I even kissed you that I forgot my own rules?”
“That’s what I want to remember on my way home tomorrow, so shut up and kiss me, Stone. If I like it, I’ll let you tattoo me.”
“No pressure or anything,” he said as he lowered his mouth to hers.
His rough hand gripped the back of her neck as he moved over her, his broad chest pressing against her. He made love to her mouth as thoroughly as he made love to her body. His tongue swept deep and invasive, his mouth ground against hers, and he made the most appreciative, erotic sounds. Her skin flamed from scalp to toes. When their lips finally parted, she was light-headed.
His cheek touched hers and he whispered, “Shall I get my tattoo supplies?”
“Uh-huh,” she said absently.
Taming My Whiskey Page 19
