Dare to Dream (Carolina Beach #1)

by C. A. Harms

  Darren reached down and picked her up. “You okay, Vi?”

  She nodded, and for the first time since he opened the door, she looked away from me and back at her father. “She’s pretty, like a princess.”

  He swallowed hard, making his throat bob. “Yeah,” he said, looking back toward me with a smile, “she is, baby.”

  I blinked, doing my best to hide the effect her words and his response had on me.

  “You live in the blue house.” I turned my attention to Vivian and cleared my throat.

  “Yes, I do,” I said with a nod.

  “Well, girls, let’s step aside and let Greer come in,” Darren insisted.

  I was a little worried about Vivian’s reaction, but when she took my hand, the worry faded. She led me inside and kept hold of my hand as we walked to the kitchen.

  The house was gorgeous, but you could tell a man and two little girls lived here, meaning it was complete chaos inside, but it worked for them. The tall floor-to-ceiling windows were gorgeous, just like the view he had of the ocean through them.

  “It’s amazing,” I said as I looked out the windows that lined his dining area.

  “That view is the reason I bought this house,” Darren said as he stared out them with me.

  The girls had now moved on to the pile of dolls in the center of the room, which occupied them fully.

  “After Violet, I knew we needed more space,” he said as he leaned against the countertop that separated the kitchen and dining area. “I found this place a week before Lynn passed. It was run-down and in desperate need of a facelift. I made an offer the night before she died.”

  My heart ached for him.

  “She hadn’t even seen it,” he added. “I was gonna come in, gut it completely, and surprise her once it was finished.”

  I stepped forward and placed my hand on his arm, causing him to look at the very spot I was touching.

  “Sorry,” he whispered, as if he were worried about bringing her up.

  “Don’t ever be sorry for talking about her or your life together.” I truly meant it. “Our memories are all we have left of those we’ve lost. If we stop sharing those memories, then we stop remembering them, and that would be a shame.”

  His eyes met mine, and for a moment all he did was stare back at me with a look I couldn’t quite explain that was neither a smile nor a frown. “You’re pretty great, you know that?” he said finally, a small smile pulling at his lips.

  “I try,” I said with a shrug, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Something tells me you don’t have to try hard,” Darren added, then he did that thing I had seen him do more than once today at lunch. His eyes focused on my lips as his tongue rested against his lower lip.

  And it did the same thing now that it had done to me then. It made my stomach flutter and my heart race.

  I had never in my life wanted someone to kiss me as much as I wanted this man to.

  “Greer,” Vivian said, breaking our trance, and we turned to face the girls. Both were sitting in the middle of a heaping amount of dolls and doll accessories. “Come play dollies,” she added as she patted the space next to her.

  “Viv, she doesn’t want to play dolls,” Darren said.

  I looked back at him, placing my hand to my chest dramatically. “As a matter of fact, dolls are my most favorite thing to play.”

  He smiled, and the dimple in his left cheek made an appearance. He held out his hand in the direction of the girls, “Well, by all means.”

  I winked at him just before I moved to the pile and sat down in the space between the kids. They moved in closer to my side and began handing me the clothes that apparently went with the doll I picked up. Their giggles and chatter were comforting. I felt as if I had always been a part of their lives. They welcomed me, and nothing had ever felt greater.

  I glanced at Darren and found him watching the three of us from where he was still leaning against the countertop, his arms crossed over his chest and a smile upon his face. He looked from Vivian to Violet before his gaze finally found mine. He offered me a smile just before mouthing, “Thank you.”

  He didn’t know there was no need to thank me; I truly enjoyed every moment of this. I’d have to make sure he knew that later. But for now, I had two little girls to play with.

  Chapter 11

  Darren

  The girls adored Greer. They’d swarmed her like bees to honey since she’d arrived. And if I wasn’t mistaken, Greer was just as consumed with them. The only female interaction they’d had since Lynn’s death was with my mother, due to the constant travel of Lynn’s parents. I was thankful for that connection every day, but I can’t lie; I was loving the happiness on their faces now as they played with dolls and danced around the living room to the Frozen soundtrack as I sat back and watched. Greer’s laughter mixed with the laughter of my girls was almost magical. It was the best kind of song, playing on repeat. If I hadn’t known better, I would never have guessed the three of them had only officially met hours ago. It felt as though they’d known each other forever. Watching them together warmed my heart more than I ever could have imagined, but the sight was also bittersweet. I’d always imagined Lynn cuddled up on our couch with one of our girls on each side. Now Greer sat in her place, smiling and snuggling close to my daughters as Vivian played with her hair and Violet held her hand.

  But life was getting easier to bear and the guilt I would’ve once felt at the sight wasn’t as prominent as before. Violet’s eyelids began to droop as she curled in closer to Greer and laid her head on Greer’s lap. Almost instantly Greer began combing her fingers through Violet’s hair. Her affectionate, caring side shone brightly, making her even more beautiful.

  I may barely know her, but no one could deny she had a compassionate heart, full of so much love.

  ***

  “Are they both asleep?” Greer asked as I stepped out onto the deck and handed her a glass of wine.

  “Yes,” I said. “They both slowly gave in after they talked about you for at least ten minutes.”

  She smiled as she lifted the glass to her mouth. I couldn’t help but watch closely as it came in contact with her plump, full lips, distracting me from my thoughts. The way she tipped the glass and the way her throat bobbed when she swallowed was so sexy.

  “I had a great time; they’re both amazing,” she assured me as she lowered her glass and brought it to rest on the deck railing.

  I was lost for a moment watching her profile as she looked out toward the water in the distance. She appeared so at peace, so settled. It was a feeling I wasn’t familiar with. Instead I found myself wanting to do whatever it took to keep her.

  I stepped closer and my movements caused her to look up. Without any further delay, fearing if I didn’t do it now, I wouldn’t make the move, I lifted my hand and skimmed my palm over her cheek as I slid it farther into her hair.

  “I don’t think I told you that you’re amazing,” I whispered as I moved my body even closer to hers, feeling her chest pressed firmly to mine.

  “You did, but I sort of like hearing it,” she confessed as her eyes shifted from mine to my mouth, then back again to meet my gaze.

  There was a silent pause just before I moved in, finally closing that last amount of distance between us. Her lips pressed to mine, and I hooked my arm around her waist and held her as close as I possibly could. A gentle brush of my tongue caused her lips to part, and I moved in, taking full advantage. That was the kind of guy I was, demanding, greedy. I just hadn’t been him for so long. But Greer ignited a need inside me that had been hidden someplace down deep.

  It felt extraordinary to be a man with needs and wants and to act on them again. It was freeing and natural, and I knew in that moment that had I allowed my desires to go as far as my mind was screaming for them to go, I would have had her backed up against the house and panting my name in seconds.

  But I had to move slowly, not only for her but for me. Because Greer, I could already t
ell, could be very addicting.

  I pulled back from the kiss and rested my forehead against hers, and for a moment we both just remained connected, breathing as evenly as possible. My pulse raced and my body hummed from just one kiss. My lips tingled, begging for more.

  She slid her hand beneath the back of my shirt, and the connection ignited my need again as I took her mouth once more. This time, I devoured her lips. The desire to stop was now long gone, replaced by deep hunger.

  “Darren,” she panted against my mouth as she dug her fingers into my back.

  “I know,” I said, though I wasn’t sure why. Maybe I was telling her I felt it too, or maybe I was agreeing that this was just too much.

  I was torn between stopping this before it went further and taking what I needed.

  “Daddy.”

  My daughter’s voice broke us apart, and I backed away from Greer as if an ice-cold glass of water had been dumped over me.

  Greer fumbled to right herself and knocked her wineglass onto the floor in the process. The look on her face gave me all the confirmation I needed that the moment we’d shared was now over.

  Chapter 12

  Greer

  I woke to the sound of someone tapping on my door. I crawled out of bed and begrudgingly trekked down the hall toward the front door without bothering to check my appearance. And yes, I may have groaned and pouted the entire way too.

  Boots, my new fury friend, trailed behind happily, only further adding to my irritation.

  Little feline asshole.

  He is a morning person—well, kitty—and I am not. I’ve been woken up too many times by him purring and rubbing up on me. Most mornings I would count to ten, trying my best not to nudge him off to encourage him to go play in any other part of the house. I loved sleeping in, so I had to wonder who in the hell could be knocking on my door at eight in the morning. Without looking through the peephole, I flipped the lock and opened the door, squinting as the sunlight poured in.

  I was literally tackled, no joke, causing me to stumble backward as I struggled to stay upright.

  “Greer,” two very happy little girls squealed as they held on to my bare legs that peeked out from beneath the T-shirt I’d worn to bed the night before. But they didn’t seem to mind.

  When I looked toward the door and found Darren grinning as he took in my appearance, I saw he didn’t seem to mind either.

  Men were so easy.

  Heat rose in my cheeks as he checked out my legs, his gaze rising higher and higher, narrowing in on the hem, which had lifted from the way Vivian was clinging to my waist.

  “Daddy said we can take you to breakfast with us,” Vivian added just before she noticed the cat circling our feet.

  “Kitty,” Violet yelled, making Boots jump, then freeze in place before taking off like a bullet. It was almost comical. Both girls hurried off after the cat, and I instantly felt very exposed and tugged on my shirt as I turned back toward Darren, only to find him standing closer than before. So close I could see the golden-brown flecks in his eyes.

  Over the last week, I’d spent almost every waking moment with him and the girls, so growing attached to those golden flecks, and every other part of Darren, was impossible to avoid. He was an amazing man, and not just because he was gorgeous, with broad shoulders and the kind of arms made for holding a woman close and making her feel safe. He was also truly the sweetest man I’d ever met. He was almost too perfect.

  “Don’t cover up on my account,” he said with a sinful smirk. “I like this look.”

  He surprised me by wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling my body against his, and pressing his lips to mine. Not that I was complaining in any way. I truly loved his take-charge personality. I moaned against his lips, before I could stop myself. In my defense he was a really great kisser.

  He pulled back and pushed away the stray hair hanging near my eye. “Good morning,” he whispered in a low, seductive tone, making me smile. “So what do you say,” he added, still holding me close, “are you hungry?” He grinned wickedly.

  How could one simple question sound so dirty? “Very,” I said, in no way referring to food either. And from his grin, I think he picked up on that too.

  “Pancakes!”

  I jumped at the sound of Violet’s voice, and when I tried to move out of Darren’s hold, he refused to let me go.

  “You better go get ready,” he said. “They’re both like vultures when they get hungry. They’ll start eating everything edible in your kitchen if you make them wait long.”

  I glanced over my shoulder and found both girls swarming around the snack bar that held fruit, muffins, and other goodies, and realized he wasn’t fibbing.

  I rushed to the bedroom to make myself presentable, hoping I could keep the girls from going on a binge-eating rampage. As I dressed, I found myself doing what I’d always done in any other relationship I’d ever had: questioning it all.

  Who was I kidding? This would end. I’d have to go back to my life in Missouri, and when I did, leaving them would destroy me. I could already feel myself growing attached to the girls and their father, to his kisses and the gentle way he touched my back when standing next to me. I didn’t know if he realized he did that, but I noticed. I noticed everything he did, and the idea of not having it made my stomach ache.

  I pulled on some jeans and sat on the edge of my bed, holding the shirt I’d just retrieved from the closet tightly in my hands as I listened to the girls giggling in the other room and Darren speaking to them in his deep, soothing voice.

  I could get used to this.

  I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath.

  This was all too fast, wasn’t it? He barely knew me, and I barely knew him, yet I felt like I fit into his life. It was scary. I came to Carolina Beach to gain some perspective and find the my way in life, to find a way to strive in the middle of all my heartache. Yet now I was even more confused.

  A knock on the door make me jerk in surprise. “Greer,” Darren said from the other side, “they found your muffins.” He chuckled, and his comment made me smile. “I put them on top the refrigerator so they couldn’t reach them, but I can see their minds working overtime to figure out a way to get to them.”

  I imagined them climbing on top of the cabinets to retrieve the treats. I was sure they would attempt it if they found a chair or stool they could push into the room.

  I stood from the bed and pulled my shirt over my head before moving toward the door, quickly forgetting my concerns as exhilaration for yet another adventure with the girls and Darren took over.

  Chapter 13

  Darren

  My girls were in pancake heaven. I’m talking piles of them with assorted toppings and enough syrup to feed half the country. And in the center of the pancake explosion was Greer. She was actually the ringleader, and who was I to attempt to control it?

  There was so much syrup. If I’d gathered the three of them for a group hug, we’d need the Jaws of Life to pull us apart. I think Greer even had it in her hair. All three of them had long ago abandoned their silverware and were now using their fingers instead. But their laughter warmed me more than I had ever dreamed possible, to the point I barely noticed the looks of shock and the whispers of those around us. I’d grown dependent on the laughter of my girls, and I was finding I’d become addicted to Greer’s as well. It was hypnotizing, and even when she laughed so hard she made a goofy little snort, I still found it to be one of the sexiest laughs I’d ever heard. Each moment I spent with her and each smile she gifted me made me feel like I should thank whoever had insisted she come here to get away. I’d gladly be the man to rescue her from whatever she felt she needed rescuing from.

  I was staring, and I wasn’t about to deny it. As if she could feel my eyes on her, she looked my way and once again flashed me the sweetest smile. For a moment I remained frozen, feeling as if the wind had suddenly been knocked out of me.

  No matter what it took, I wanted to keep Greer around
. In such a short time she’d become an important part of my day and an important addition to my girls’ lives. I could tell she already loved them. She didn’t seem to care that a four-year-old was now running tiny, sticky fingers through her long, blonde hair. Even though I knew it had to hurt when she pulled, Greer didn’t even flinch. She only smiled and tipped her head back, allowing Vivian to continue. Meanwhile, Violet fed her pieces of pancakes straight from her fingers, and Greer happily took the sticky, soggy mess between her lips. The laughter from my little girl when Greer pretended to munch on her fingertips made me ache so deep.

  I was a wreck on the inside, but I wanted more crazy, disastrous breakfasts and dinners like this. And more of everything when it came to Greer.

  ***

  When Greer suggested we take a walk after our meal, I was game. What better way to wash some of our mess away than playing in the ocean? Sticky hand in sticky hand, the four of us walked side by side along the beach as the breeze coming in from the water gave us some relief from the warm afternoon.

  The girls loved the water. I’d taken them both to the beach often to watch sunsets and even a few sunrises. It was the best part about living within walking distance of the ocean. Even though we didn’t have our bathing suits, we still splashed through the small waves.

  When the girls had enough, they moved back onto the sand and carefully began constructing a castle out of sand and some leftover cups a not-so-environmentally-friendly beachgoer left behind. I took the opportunity to sneak up behind Greer and wrap my arms around her, pulling her body back against mine. She came willingly, allowing her head to rest back against my chest even as she watched the girls. I closed my eyes for a moment, because the things I was feeling made my chest ache so intensely.