Saving Love

by Jen Talty

  She wanted to laugh but figured that would be rude. “I’m sure looking through the want ads can wait an hour.” She pulled her cell from her back pocket and handed it to Dakota. “Put the address of the school in my maps app.” She ran her fingers across River’s pink dress. “I took dance for years when I was a little girl. Observation days are very important.”

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?” he asked.

  “Not at all.”

  “You’re a lifesaver,” he said, letting out a long breath. He set his daughter down. “Go get in Daddy’s truck. I’ll be right there.” He kissed River’s cheek.

  “Yay.” As soon as River’s feet hit the ground, she took off running.

  “I’ll have to call the troop leader and give them your information. You’ll need to show your ID,” he said as he tapped on the screen of her phone. “It’s about a twenty-minute drive from here. I’ll give you some cash to get some dinner on the way back, okay?”

  She wasn’t about to argue that since all she had were dry ramen noodles. “What kind of food would you like me to get Sky? Does she have any dietary restrictions? Or is there something you don’t want her to have?”

  “She’ll want you to stop at the Pig Pit. It’s a barbecue place. They do a great pulled pork takeout platter. Just get the big family deal and bring it back here since I’ll need to feed myself and River too, and of course make sure there’s enough for you and Wyoming.”

  “Your family has some interesting names,” she said with a hint of sarcasm.

  “I could say the same about you and your son.” He winked.

  Butterflies formed in her gut. Every conversation she’d had with Dakota ended up with a tinge of flirtation. Not a lot, but enough to remind her that she was indeed a woman.

  Something she had been trying to forget.

  Which was impossible when standing in his presence.

  Devastatingly handsome would be the only way to describe Dakota with his ice-blue eyes and jet-black hair. And who didn’t like a little facial hair on a man? It wasn’t a lot, more like a thick five o’clock shadow. Just enough to make her want to reach out and run her fingers across his cheek.

  But she refrained.

  Her days getting involved with men were over. Even the good ones weren’t trustworthy. It didn’t matter if a man didn’t use a fist to get his point across; she’d learned the hard way that there was always an imbalance of power, and that was not something she could be on board with.

  Ever.

  “I figured if I was named after a state, so should my kid.” God, she hoped he didn’t bring up Wyoming’s father. Even though she’d created a believable story about what happened to his dad, her throat turned dry thinking about having to tell the tale. In all the conversations she’d had Dakota, not once had he questioned her living alone with her baby. She hoped that continued.

  “I might get slapped for saying this, but Alabama is a sexy name.” He handed back her cell. “I like the way it rolls off my tongue.”

  Heat rose to her cheeks. She tried to think of something to say, but all she did was stand there with her mouth hanging open like an idiot.

  “I’ll bring back dessert,” he said.

  “That’s not necessary.”

  “I insist,” he said. “I best be going. With you stopping to get food, we’ll probably be about a half hour behind you. Here’s a key to my house. Make yourself at home. There’s even a bottle of red wine I opened yesterday on the bar. Help yourself if you’d like.” He held her gaze for a long moment. “Maybe we can share a glass when I get back?”

  “Okay.” Why the hell did she agree to a drink? No. Just no.

  “Wonderful. I’ve been wanting to get to know you better.” He inched closer, resting one hand on her hip. “I think you’re a special lady.” He pressed his lips firmly over hers and in a firm kiss that lasted longer than appropriate for friends, neighbors, or any two people who weren’t romantically involved.

  And yet, she couldn’t pull away.

  That was until her son pressed his palm on Dakota’s face.

  “I think that’s my cue to leave.” Dakota smiled. “Thank you. I owe you one.”

  “I might know of a way you can repay me, but we can discuss that tonight,” she said.

  “I look forward to some adulting tonight.”

  Oh, Lord. What the hell did she get herself into?

  “I’ll carry the ice cream, Daddy.”

  Dakota handed his little girl the bag. “I’m so proud of you. You’re an amazing little dancer.”

  She did a curtsy. “Why thank you, Daddy.”

  “Make sure you thank Miss Alabama for picking up your sister so I could stay and watch.”

  “I will.” River skipped across the garage and into the house. The last few years had been rough, but River always took things in stride. Even when Lunar was taking her last breath, River was spreading love and joy. She told her mother that she’d take care of Daddy, and she told him that Mommy was going to a place where she’d no longer feel pain and could look down on them and watch over them.

  He blinked, keeping the tears from stinging his eyes. It had been two years since his beloved Lunar had died. Most people told him it was time to move on. Everyone tried fixing him up, but a day didn’t go by that his heart didn’t ache for what he’d lost and what his girls were missing out on, and he just couldn’t bring himself to even look at another woman.

  Until Alabama pulled into his driveway with a wad of cash and desperation etched into her scared blue eyes.

  He’d seen that look before in a woman, and it ate away at his soul.

  But there was more to Alabama than the dark secret that lurked in her past. He could see the hint of the woman she once was and the person she strived to be for her son.

  “Daddy!” Sky came racing at him from the kitchen. “Look at the patch I got today.” She waved something in front of his face as she flung herself into his arms. Thank goodness his girls took after their mother with their petite frames, because when he’d been eight years old, neither one of his parents could have caught him midair.

  “What is it?” He gave her a big bear hug and kissed her cheek before resting her on his hip.

  “It’s a baking patch, and I brought home a cake that I made all by myself. We can eat it with the ice cream. Miss Alabama already has dinner on the table.”

  “That’s awesome.” He set Sky down and wandered into the kitchen. The smell of pork and sweet barbecue sauce filled his nostrils. A plan formed in his brain. She needed a job. He needed a nanny. It should be a union made in heaven. That is only if she wanted that kind of employment. Not everyone was cut out to be a caregiver. So far, she’d interviewed for five very different kinds of positions that had nothing to do with children. Maybe she didn’t want to be with kids all day. Maybe she needed a break from her own kid. A lot of moms worked, and there was nothing wrong with that.

  Lunar worked, though not full time, but she was dedicated to helping the abused break the chains that held them hostage. Lunar would him to help Alabama any way he could.

  “Thanks so much for picking up dinner,” he said.

  “Not a big deal.” Alabama carried her son on her hip as she set the table.

  “Let me do that,” he said, taking the plates from her hands. “Wait. There are only three here. Aren’t you joining us?”

  “I don’t want to intrude on your family time.” She batted Wyoming’s hand from her face as he tried to grab her ear.

  “Well, I insist.” He snagged another plate. “And I won’t take no for answer. Nor will my girls. You two do want Miss Alabama to stay for supper, right?”

  “Yes!” River twirled around, still wearing her dancing dress.

  “Will you? Please?” Sky finished putting the napkins and silverware on the table. “I want you to try my cake.”

  “I don’t know,” Alabama said, shifting her nervous gaze between her baby and Dakota. “Spending alone family time is so important.�
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  “Do you have pressing plans?” He suspected she didn’t. She’d been in town for less than a week, and the only time she left the tiny house had been for job interviews.

  “No. Not really.”

  “Good. Besides, I have something I want to talk to you about, after we eat. Now let me go get the high chair. It’s in storage. Along with the playpen. I’ll get that out too. You might like that for when you’re outside.” Before she could even respond, he ducked back into the garage. In the fourth bay, he’d put all the baby stuff he’d finally planned on giving to Goodwill but had yet to call them to come collect it. Maybe he’d let Alabama go through it and see what she wanted before doing that. He found the two items easily and with more excitement than he understood, practically ran back into the house.

  “You really didn’t have to go to all that trouble,” Alabama said as she rocked back and forth, bouncing up and down with her son, who seemed to be slighted agitated by something.

  “It was right in the garage.” He unfolded the high chair. “Think he might like pulled pork if we grind it up good?”

  “He’s a garbage plate. He’ll eat anything you put in front of him, but let’s not give him too much. He’s never had pork before, so I have no idea how he’s going to react.”

  “He’ll probably make a mess. That’s what my girls did the first time we gave it to them.” He tested the high chair, making sure it was secure. “Okay, little man. Are you going to let me put you in this contraption?” Outstretching his arms, he wiggled his fingers.

  Wyoming screeched with delight as he flung himself forward.

  “Sky, get a handful of Cheerios and put them on the tray,” he said.

  “I’m shocked he’s letting you do that. Normally, he’d rather sit on my lap.” Alabama folded one arm across her middle and raised one hand to her face. She bit down on one of her fingernails.

  “Let’s eat while it’s hot.” Quickly, he snagged two wine glasses and poured some of his favorite vino. He sat at the head of the table and served up the pork to his two girls before passing it on to Alabama. “This really is the best pulled pork you will ever have.”

  “It smells delicious,” she said.

  “It was our Mama’s favorite, and Daddy likes to get it at least once a week,” River said, lifting the pork sandwich to her mouth. A big chunk fell out the back end and landed on her plate. “But Mama didn’t buy it at Pig Pit. She made her own, and it was even more delicious.”

  “I bet it was. Most mama’s cooking is,” Alabama said. “Except for mine. I feel sorry for Wyoming because I’m about the worst cook ever.” She held a fork with a small amount of pork on it in front of her son.

  He took a small bite without grabbing the fork or tossing the food on the floor.

  Dakota’s girls would have had that barbecue sauce on the ceiling by now.

  “I can’t believe that’s true,” he said.

  “I have a couple of things I can cook well, but what I really need is a cooking class,” she said.

  “I’m sure a good cookbook will help, and I’ve got tons in the cabinet next to the fridge. Help yourself.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it,” she said with a strained smile.

  “Miss Alabama. May I ask you something?” Sky set her fork on her plate and wiped her fingers on her napkin.

  It was hard not to puff out his chest with pride over the way his daughter behaved. Some moments, it was hit or miss with his girls.

  “Of course,” Alabama said.

  “My mama named me Sky because she gave birth to me outside while she and Daddy were on vacation. I came before the ambulance could get there.”

  “You came so fast, Daddy barely had time to call 9-1-1,” he said with a laugh. “We were torn between Star and Moon.”

  “That’s because our mama’s name was Lunar,” River said.

  “In the end, we decided that the sky holds the stars and moon together over the earth, so we named you Sky.” He reached across the table and batted River’s nose. “And we decided to name you River because while mama was pregnant with you, we used to go sit in the park by a little creek, and your sister would talk to Mama’s tummy, telling you how she was going to take you rafting down the river.”

  “That’s so cute,” Alabama said. “But we seemed to have gotten sidetracked, Sky. What was your question for me?”

  “I know my dad was given the nickname Dakota because that’s where he was born. Why are you and your son named after states?” Sky asked.

  “I will gladly answer that when someone tells me what your father’s real name is.”

  He groaned and rolled his eyes. He hadn’t been called by his given name since he’d been seventeen, and he didn’t want to be called it now.

  “He hates that.” River covered her mouth and giggled. “It’s Wayne.”

  “The tickle monster is going to come out for that one.” He waggled his finger in his daughter’s direction before turning his attention to Alabama. “It’s your turn.”

  “For the record, Wayne is a good name,” Alabama said. “The story behind my name comes from where my father proposed to my mom, in Birmingham, Alabama. I’m just glad they didn’t name me Birmingham.” She ran a hand over the bald head of her son. “I named this little guy Wyoming because when he was born, I had planned on moving there, but I ended up in Montana instead.”

  “While we love the great state of Montana, I think Wyoming is a much better name for a young man.” Dakota stuffed the last bite of his dinner in his mouth before shoving his plate to the side. “Girls, are you all done?”

  They both nodded.

  “Then why don’t you go watch a show for a bit and let me talk to Miss Alabama. We’ll let our meal settle and then have some ice cream and cake.”

  “Okay, Daddy.” Sky pushed back her chair and took her sister by the hand. “Wonder what grown-up stuff they have to discuss,” she whispered.

  “Maybe they’re going to kiss,” River said, glancing over her shoulder.

  Dakota smacked his forehead. “Sorry about that.”

  “No worries.” Alabama lifted her glass and took a small sip. “You have great kids.”

  “They are pretentious as hell, and when they turn into teenagers, it will most likely be the death of me.” He grabbed the bottle and topped off their wine.

  “That’s usually the way things work,” she said.

  “Mind if I ask you a really personal question? About Wyoming’s father?”

  Her eyes grew, and if he wasn’t mistaken, she held her breath for a good half a minute before letting it out slowly. She tucked her hair behind her ears. “He’s not in the picture.”

  “I don’t mean to pry, but I have a proposition for you that would be mutually beneficial, and I just want to know what the situation is.”

  “Wyoming’s father has made it quite clear that he doesn’t want to be a father. His name is not on Wyoming’s birth certificate. He’s not a bad person, just not father material, or husband material for that matter.” She handed her son a piece of bread. “So, what might this mutually beneficial proposition be?”

  “You need employment, and I need a nanny. It’s not the best paying job, but it’s more than you’d make waiting tables at the diner, and you wouldn’t need to hire your own babysitter. I figure I would take your rent off the top of your salary. I can pay weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Whichever you prefer.”

  “Wow. That’s quite a generous offer.” The corners of her mouth tipped into a smile.

  He chuckled. “Looks like you’ve been thinking about the possibility.”

  “I’d be lying if I said the thought didn’t cross my mind when you fired Candice. I just wasn’t sure how to approach you on the subject. I mean, we barely know each other, and I have no qualifications in childcare.”

  “You’re a mother. I’d say that’s about the best qualification I could ask for.” Of course, he knew that wasn’t really true. He’d seen his fair share of bad parenting from bot
h mothers and fathers. But Dakota trusted his instincts, and he believed inherently that Alabama was a good person. Whatever she was running from, it wasn’t because she’d done anything wrong.

  Quite the opposite.

  He could tell.

  “There is one big problem with my job,” he said. “Sometimes I’m gone overnight, or even for a week. It almost never happens. My boss tries not to assign me a case that’s going to take me away from my girls for any length of time, but it could happen. You’d move in here, of course, if I were to be gone overnight. And you’d be paid more, obviously.”

  “What about the dog? I’m sorry, dogs frighten me, but I hate that he’s currently barricaded in the other room. I mean, he’s a sweet dog.”

  Buster. He was going to have to get them used to each other, and quick.

  “I can bring him to work with me on some days, but he’s a good dog; he listens to the girls, and he listens to you. I know he’s got a deep bark. And he makes a lot of noise when people come around, but the only thing he’s good for is licking people to death.”

  “Well, I need the money, and you need a babysitter, so I guess I need to learn to like dogs.” She stretched out her hand. “Shall we shake on it?”

  “Absolutely.” His cell rang. He glanced at the screen. “I’m sorry. That’s my boss. I have to take it.”

  “No worries. I’ll start cleaning up from dinner.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” he said.

  “I don’t mind. Besides, that cake really smells good, so the faster this is cleaned up, the sooner I get a piece.”

  “Then, by all means, have at it.” He stood and stepped out into the cold winter night. He leaned against the railing and stared at the Crazy Mountain range in the distance. White clouds floated across the darkening sky. He’d never mind the cold. Having been born and raised in North Dakota, harsh—brutal—winters were the norm.

  He glanced over his shoulder. Alabama moved about his kitchen with ease.

  “Hey, Hank.” Dakota held his cell to his ear. “I’m sure you heard what happened with Candice by now.” He scratched at the side of his face. Growing a slight beard had been the one thing he allowed himself that his late wife would have given him hell for. She didn’t hate facial hair; she just preferred he didn’t sport it.