The Nine-Dollar Daddy

by Day Leclaire

  “No, I don’t. But I do need to eat and pay my rent,” she argued. “Come on, Freddie. Be a darlin’. I can’t afford to lose my job. How about if I went back to washing up?”

  Her boss shuddered. “You about bankrupted me with all the dishes you broke. That’s why I made you a waitress.”

  “I could bus tables.”

  “Please, Cassidy. Don’t say stuff like that. You know I’m on heart medication. Look...I’ll provide you with a good recommendation. Heck, I’ll even lie.” Freddie shrugged. “Best I can do, under the circumstances.”

  “There’s not a chance you’re going to save this job,” Ty informed her in an undertone. “The best thing you can do is walk away. I’ll help you find another one. With the Fiesta coming up, it shouldn’t be too tough.” At least, not until she’d worked her new job for a few hours and her employer saw her in action. “If push comes to shove, I’ll hire you myself.” He’d have to find a nice, safe occupation for her—like stuffing pillows or something.

  “But—”

  “Please, Cassidy,” Freddie whispered, “I can’t afford the trouble.”

  That stopped her. With a dignity that impressed the hell out of Ty, she whipped off her apron and handed it to the owner. “I’ll be back tomorrow for my paycheck. Thanks for hiring me in the first place.”

  Without another word, she headed for the exit, words of encouragement following her the entire way. Clearly, she was well liked here. Ty grimaced. With one annoying exception. It was a darned shame.

  She turned on him the instant they hit the sidewalk in front of the café. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” she demanded.

  “Saved your hide?”

  “You got me fired!”

  He corralled her toward his pickup. “The way I see it, I saved you from a customer bent on rearranging that pretty face of yours.”

  “I—you...” He’d actually managed to distract her. Amazing. “You think I’m pretty?”

  A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Drop-dead gorgeous would be more accurate. Hadn’t anyone told her that before? At a guess...no. Well, that would change. Right now. “I think you’re beautiful.”

  Rose-soft color highlighted her sweeping cheekbones. “Why...thanks. But that still doesn’t let you off the hook.” She worked on rekindling her anger with a regrettable amount of success. So she wasn’t one to have her head turned with flattery, he noted. Good for her. “I needed that job. If you’d have just let me handle it—”

  “You’d have been a shade wiser and a hell of a lot sorer.”

  She hesitated, her vulnerability peeking out again, turning her eyes to charcoal. “Do you really think he’d have hurt me?”

  “If he’d ever gotten his footing, he’d have decked you.” While she chewed that over, he opened the door to his pickup and loaded her in. With any luck, by the time she awoke to her surroundings, they’d be under way. “I’m sorry I lost you that job. I’ll put out a couple of feelers tomorrow.”

  “No, thanks,” came her immediate response. “I can manage on my own.”

  “I’m sure you could,” he agreed, stripping off his ruined shirt. He reached into the back seat of the extended cab and grabbed the spare tee he kept there. He couldn’t help but notice that her eyes tried to swallow up her face and her mouth went fishing for flies. Apparently, there was something about him she liked. She turned her head away so fast her braid did the Texas two-step and he buried a grin. Too late, sweetheart. I already caught you staring. He climbed behind the wheel and started the engine. “You’ll let me help you find a job anyway.”

  “Why’s that?” she questioned, a hint of strain threading her voice.

  “Because, as you pointed out, I was partially responsible for getting you fired.” He pulled into traffic, pleased that she hadn’t insisted he off-load her at the nearest bus stop. Seeing him bare-chested must have thrown her good and proper. He’d have to remember that. “This way, I have a chance to redeem myself.”

  “Oh. Okay, then. You can help.”

  He half expected her agreement to sound grudging. It didn’t. It came across as... Generous. As though she was helping him. The sheer illogic of it amused him no end. She didn’t want his assistance finding a job because it ran counter to her independent nature. But if her compliance would make him feel better, she was happy to go along. Crazy woman. He slid her a quick look. Crazy, kissable woman.

  “You never did say what you were doing at the café,” she prompted, the beginning of a frown puckering her brow.

  “I came to talk to you about the Yellow Rose.” That much was true enough. He wouldn’t mention his other reason. With luck, he’d just do it, assuming the opportunity presented itself.

  Her frown deepened. “I was afraid of that.”

  “I know you’re not happy about these dates, so I thought we’d go over your application privately and rerun it. That way, we can make sure you’re matched with the best possible candidate.”

  “I don’t want to date anyone.”

  “I understand that. But for Hutch’s sake, you’re going to have to. I figured you should at least have a decent selection of men.” Damned magnanimous of him, all things considered. Not that Cassidy saw it that way.

  She set her chin in a manner identical to Hutch. So that’s where the little squirt had learned it. “I don’t want even one man, let alone a whole slew of them.”

  “I wasn’t exactly offering a slew,” he retorted, vaguely insulted. “Just a couple of alternatives.”

  With a little sigh, she leaned back against the seat. Her careworn hands bunched the skirt of her dress, pleating the light blue folds before smoothing out the creases. “Hutch thinks he’s being helpful.”

  “I know.” He waited.

  “I’m...I’m not interested in a relationship.”

  “I know that, too.”

  “So why are you doing this? Why agree to date me?”

  For a brief instant, he was tempted to explain about the kiss. Considering how skittish she was about this dating business, he thought better of it. Instead, he decided to show her. He pulled the pickup to the curb outside her apartment complex and switched off the engine.

  Unbuckling his seat belt, he leaned across the space separating them and unfastened hers, as welL “What happened last time made me curious.”

  She stilled, freezing up so fast it felt like a blue norther had lost its way and come screaming down on San Antonio, bringing with it a blast of icy arctic air. “What are you talking about?” She knew. Knew, but refused to admit it aloud.

  “I’m talking about that kiss.”

  Her misty gray eyes widened in alarm. But he caught the momentary glimmer of another reaction, as well. A hint of answering curiosity. “Nothing happened,” she protested. “We barely even touched lips.”

  Ever so cautiously, he cradled her face in his palms. Her skin was soft. So soft he worried about scraping her with the roughness of his hands. “Then there’s nothing to be concerned about.”

  “I’m not,” she fibbed.

  The lie was so blatantly transparent, he didn’t bother calling her on it. “Good. So this time when I kiss you, you won’t get angry, right?”

  While she took a few precious seconds to weigh the pros and cons of her response to that one, he eased her deeper into his embrace. She didn’t resist, didn’t protest, so he did what came naturally. He kissed her. Fully. Like he’d wanted to ever since that last aborted encounter. Their lips met as though they’d practiced a thousand times before. Joined easily, melded completely. She tasted incredible, like a brand new flavor he sensed would be his permanent favorite.

  His reaction was as instantaneous as last time and far more intense—perhaps because it was a real kiss rather than a fleeting touch of lips. So much for needing further proof. One kess and he’d know. And he did. Knew with every fiber of his being. Cassidy Lonigan was his future—a sweet, hot, delicious, permanent sort of future.

  He didn’t rush. The wo
man in his arms wasn’t a treat he intended to hurry. Hell, she wasn’t a treat at all. More like...destiny. And one didn’t fight destiny any more than one galloped headlong through it. One worked toward it, fulfilled it, explored it. And enjoyed the hell out of it. He sank into her, intensifying the kiss. Yeah. One enjoyed every destined moment.

  She made a small sound deep in her throat, an intriguing combination of surrender and rebellion. Her hands fattened on his shoulders even as her tongue crept into his mouth, slipping home like a thief in the night. It surprised him. He’d never thought Cassidy a woman of half measures. She struck him as the all-ar-nothing type. And she proved it the next instant.

  Rolling onto one hip, she wrapped her arms in a stranglehold around his neck and slanted her mouth more fully over his. And then she consumed him as if he was an ice-cold dessert served up on a scorching hot afternoon. She wriggled closer and her knee plowed onto his lap, damn near emasculating him. Sheer instinct had him catching her leg just in the nick of time, his palm rasping across her bare skin.

  Her gasp burst into his mouth and he absorbed the slight shudder that shot through her. Curious to confirm the cause, he stroked his hand upward from her knee. Her pulse jolted in response and a soft moan of longing reverberated against his chest. How long had it been since she’d last been touched, he wondered, since a man had slipped a hand beneath her dress and given her pleasure? Had anyone ever caressed the sensitive skin along her thighs or massaged the taut muscles of her legs until she relaxed so deeply she couldn’t move? Did anyone ever see to her needs, or was she the one who always gave? It struck him as past time that she be on the receiving end of a little TLC.

  She broke off the kiss with a groan and buried her face in the crook of his neck. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I did that.”

  “Nothing to apologize for. I’m sure as hell not offended,” he soothed with a tender smile. “But next time, I think we’ll pick someplace a little more private.”

  Cassidy peered around in surprise, as though just realizing their location. Her eyes grew wide again. “How do you know where I live?”

  “Hutch supplied your address when he filled out the application.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t look pleased. “You mean we’ve been sitting outside my apartment—”

  “Necking,” he offered helpfully.

  “I can’t believe this happened.” She ripped free of his arms and glared at him. “This is all your fault.”

  “You’re right. And I take full responsibility for your forcing yourself on me.” He nudged the conversation in a slightly different direction before she gathered her wits enough to verbalize her indignation. “Can you arrange for someone to stay with Hutch for the next few hours while we review your application? I thought we could go somewhere private and decide how to handle it. Maybe have dinner together.”

  “After what just happened?”

  He wasn’t quite certain what one had to do with the other. But she’d seen a connection, which was the important part. “All the more reason, don’t you think?”

  She stewed for a moment. “I—I don’t know. I guess we could.”

  If that was an agreement, it was one of the most reluctant he’d ever heard. “Is that a yes?” he asked.

  She hesitated for a split second more, then nodded. “It’s a yes. We might as well get it over with.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  She had the grace to blush, not that she retracted anything. Stubborn woman. “I was scheduled to work tonight anyway,” she said. “So I’ve already arranged for a neighbor to keep an eye on Hutch. If you’d give me a minute to change, I’d appreciate it.”

  “Sure thing.”

  He’d hoped she’d ask him up to her apartment. He didn’t want to push, but the more he learned about her, the more comfortable he’d feel about that kiss they’d shared. He still had a tough time believing she was the woman he’d spend the rest of his life with. Two days ago, he’d have sworn that people couldn’t fall in love at first kiss—until he’d locked lips with Cassidy.

  “Care to invite me up?” he prompted, well aware she had no intention of doing any such thing.

  “I wasn’t planning to,” she confirmed with devastating honesty.

  “I realize that.” He gestured toward the apartment building. “But since Hutch has his nose pressed to the window, you might want to change your plans.”

  “There’s not much to see,” she informed him casually. Too casually.

  He reached out and tugged on the end of her French braid, wondering why she didn’t want him to join her. It was almost as though she had something to hide. “It’s going to happen at some point. You might as well get it over with.”

  Her breath escaped in a gusty sigh. “I’m being ungracious, aren’t I? My Aunt Esther always told me it was one of the worst sins I could commit.”

  “Oh, I’d have thought there were a few worse ones.”

  “You’re right,” Cassidy confessed. “And I even came up with one or two of them to prove it.” She offered a charmingly crooked smile. “Okay. I’ll be polite. Would you care to come in for a cup of coffee, Mr. Merrick?”

  He inclined his head. “Thank you, Ms. Lonigan. I’d like that very much.”

  It didn’t take long to troop up the two flights of stairs to her front door. Hutch stood there waiting for them. “Hiya, Try.”

  “Hey there, kid.” He started to ruffle the thatch of blond hair, but at the last instant thought better of it. No doubt Hutch considered himself too old for that. Instead, Ty fisted his hand and held it out, carefully bumping knuckles with the boy. It wouldn’t do to accidently bruise him. He suspected Cassidy wouldn’t take it well.

  “Mrs. Welch just left,” Hutch said as they walked inside the apartment. “We’re supposed to let her know if you want me to stay with her this evening. So...” He cocked his head to one side. “What are you doing home?”

  “I...” A blush licked at her cheekbones as she closed the door. “I was fired.”

  Hutch’s mouth dropped open. “Again? What happened this time?”

  She darted a quick glance in Ty’s direction, then looked hastily away. “I was distracted and dropped a tray on a customer,” she muttered.

  Hutch whistled. “Wow. That’s a new one.”

  She scowled at Ty, letting him know where she placed the blame for the incident. “With any luck, it won’t happen again.”

  “Man, I’d be really ticked if someone dropped a tray on me. Was he hurt? Did he yell? Did he kick up a ruckus? Is that why you got fired?”

  She suffered her son’s questions with amazing good humor. “Fortunately, Ty kept the customer from getting too upset.”

  Hutch stilled. “Ty was there, huh? When you dropped the tray?” A knowing gleam sparked in his bright blue eyes. Damn, but the kid was smart. “Interesting.”

  Cassidy’s color deepened, raging across her face like an out-of-control brushfire. “Yes, he was there. Now, if you don’t mind, I have to change. Mr. Merrick and I are going... are going...” She trailed off in confusion.

  “On your first date?” Hutch offered helpfully.

  “I guess you could call it that,” she admitted. If it gets one of their dates out of the way, Ty read between the lines. “We’re going to review my application form. Why don’t you entertain Mr. Merrick while I get ready. See if he’d like a drink.”

  “Okay.”

  Head held high, Cassidy swept from view, the door to her bedroom shutting behind her just shy of a slam. Through the hollow-core panel, Ty heard an odd scuffling noise and Cassidy’s muffled voice saying something he couldn’t quite catch. But before he could ask about it, Hutch spoke up.

  “She’s never done that before, you know,” he commented.

  “Slammed the door?”

  “No. Dropped a tray on somebody.”

  “I’m relieved to hear it. Though I suppose it was only a matter of time.”

  Hutch snickered. “She does trip a lot. She keeps
saying it’s because she’s shorter in her head than in real life.”

  Ty grinned ruefully. “Trust me. I know all about those extra three inches.”

  “Yeah.” Hutch matched his grin—a purely masculine moment. “They sometimes get me, too. Especially when she gets excited and starts waving her arms around. Gotta be a fast ducker. You wanna sit?”

  Ty eyed the two ancient chairs the living area had to offer. A scrapbook stuffed with papers rested on one. He could just read what had been scrawled across one of the loose bits of paper: Great new apartment. Very roomy. He glanced around. She considered this roomy? His closet had more space. He examined the chair again. It probably couldn’t handle much more weight than the scrapbook, he decided. The other wasn’t much better. Neither looked capable of containing him for longer than two seconds flat before splintering. “I’ll stand, thanks.”

  “Okay. You wanna drink?”

  “Sure.”

  He followed Hutch into the kitchen. There wasn’t much furniture in here, either, though the place had been scrubbed spotless, as if to make up for the vast expanse of emptiness. A table had been pushed against the far wall, one leg shored up with a phone book. Two mismatched chairs were tucked neatly underneath each end. Squashed next to the counter was a refrigerator older than Willie. As far as he could see, they didn’t own any small appliances—no toaster or coffeemaker, let alone a microwave.

  Hutch rummaged in one of the cupboards and Ty caught a glimpse of the contents. Two plates, two bowls and two glasses. That was it. It told a grim story. The boy removed one of the glasses, opened a nearly empty refrigerator and grabbed a quart of milk. He poured Ty a glass and handed it to him.

  “I didn’t think the computer was gonna pick you,” the kid commented as he returned the carton to the refrigerator.

  Ty took a swallow of milk, guilt souring the taste. It wasn’t bad enough he’d helped Cassidy out of a job. Now he was as good as snatching the last drop of milk from their mouths. You don’t need this sort of hassle, he’d blithely told her. The best thing you can do is walk away. Hah! Did she have any financial reserves to get by on until she found another job? He suddenly realized that Hutch was waiting for an answer and shrugged. “I didn’t know the computer would pick me, either. But I’m glad it did.”