Catch 'n' Kiss (Are You Game?)

by Cahill, Rhian

  Jody’s forehead crinkled, her eyebrows rising almost to her hair line. “Really?”

  Her scepticism didn’t sit well with him. “Yep, and because you’re obviously convinced I can’t fix it, I’ll add an incentive to take me up on my offer. I’ll buy dinner for you and the girls, and if I don’t have the machine working by the time you finish eating, I’ll buy you a new one.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Jeez, what is it with men and proving they can fix things?”

  “What do you mean?” Had someone else offered to repair her broken washer?

  “You and Luc. He’s already tried to convince me to let him look at it.”

  “Does he know anything about the mechanics of a washing machine?”

  “Probably not, but that wouldn’t stop him from pulling it apart if I said yes. But never mind that, the damn thing is less than a year old, so it’s covered under warranty. I’m pretty sure I’d void that by letting you look at it.”

  “Probably, but what if it’s something simple that me fixing wouldn’t void the warranty, and you wouldn’t have the expense of calling out the service company.” Dan was reaching. Unless she’d forgotten to plug the machine in and switch it on, she’d still have to call the repairman or risk voiding the warranty even if he could fix the problem.

  “Thanks, but no.” Jody bent over and retrieved her handbag. “Now if I don’t head home and get organised I won’t get to Luc’s before midnight, and if I don’t have a washer for the rest of the week I need to wash tonight.”

  “Isn’t Luc a thirty-minute drive from where you are?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “Well, my place is only about ten and my washer works. Drier too.” Dan held his breath.

  “You’re offering to let me use your machines? What’s the catch?” She eyed him sceptically.

  “No catch. Well, other than you actually have to spend time with me outside of work.” He grinned.

  “Why?”

  “Why not?” He wasn’t sure why Jody needed a reason, but he’d give her one. “It’s just one friend loaning their washer to another. No strings.”

  “In my experience there’s always a string or two.”

  Dan held up his hands. “Nope, no strings.” He grabbed a pen and her sticky note pad, and scribbled down his address. “Here. If you want to take me up on my offer I’ll be home all night. If not, no worries.”

  Jody eyed the note then met his gaze again. “You really do only live ten minutes from me.”

  “Yeah, a lot closer than your brother’s place.” Dan pushed to his feet. “Anyway, come or don’t, doesn’t matter to me, but with the girls having to get up for school tomorrow, I would think cutting some time off your evening might guarantee them getting into bed at a reasonable hour.”

  Dan got all the way to the door before she stopped him.

  “Wait.” She hustled to catch up with him. “If you’re serious I’d love to use your washer, but there’s one condition.”

  He didn’t think it was the kind of condition his body craved. “Shoot.”

  “I’ll bring dinner.”

  “I don’t—”

  She grabbed his arm. “Please. It’s already made anyway. I put a hotpot together before I left for work this morning. I’ll just bring it with me. Oh, and the girls. I don’t like leaving them home alone at night.” She smiled.

  “What time should I expect you?” Dan wasn’t about to argue. If she felt comfortable enough to introduce him to her kids he wasn’t about to say anything to make her change her mind.

  “Seven? That gives me time to get home, gather the dirty washing, dinner and the girls.”

  “Great. See you then.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Jody wasn’t sure what Leigh’s latest outburst was about. She’d been hostile from the moment Jody had gotten home. Amy on the other hand was being the perfect child. She wouldn’t have worried if they weren’t currently pulling up to Dan’s house. There was nothing worse than a child misbehaving in front of others, and Jody turned in her seat to look at both girls.

  “Please be on your best behaviour. Dan has been kind enough to let us use his washer and drier, so I don’t want to thank him by bringing a couple of naughty kids into his house.”

  “Then why’d you bring us?” Leigh sat in the front seat, arms crossed and a frown on her face.

  “Why wouldn’t I bring you?” Jody asked.

  “Because we might cramp your style.”

  “What? Why would you say something like that, Leigh?” Jody was flabbergasted. Who was this child and where had her pleasant daughter gone? One weekend away for work and she’d turned into a monster.

  “Never mind. You don’t get it.” Leigh grabbed the door handle and yanked it open.

  Before Jody could reply, Leigh slammed her way out of the car and stomped towards Dan’s front door. What the hell was going on?

  Amy sighed dramatically from the backseat. “Sometimes she’s so selfish.”

  Jody turned to look at her youngest daughter. “Why do you say that?”

  “Because Leigh wants to be home so that Benji can ring her.”

  “Benji?”

  “He’s some stupid boy at school that’s going to ask her out or something.” Amy’s cheeks flushed with colour. “I overheard her talking to Monica on the way home.”

  Ah, so Leigh had finally discovered boys. Jody took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She’d been dreading the whole boys talk and she had hoped for another year of ignoring that particular subject, but obviously she couldn’t put it off any longer. The girls both knew the basics, they’d had those talks often enough. But Jody had avoided talking about dating, what was okay, what wasn’t, and what to expect from any boy interested in them.

  Jody found it mildly amusing that both she and Leigh were dealing with interest from the opposite sex. Then again, she hoped Leigh wasn’t dealing with the same level of interest. She didn’t want to even think about the possibility of her daughter having sex yet. Christ, she was only fifteen. Except she’d heard kids were becoming sexually active a lot younger now days, and the thought of her child being one of them terrified her.

  “Mum, are we going to sit here all night?” Amy asked.

  “Oh, no.” Jody pulled the keys from the ignition and put them in her pocket as she climbed out of the car. By the time she’d opened the tailgate on her SUV, Dan was beside her.

  “Here, let me carry that for you.” He reached in and picked up the basket of dirty clothes. “Is that dinner I smell?”

  “Yes. It’s just a basic beef stew.” Jody didn’t want him to think she’d gone to any trouble on his account.

  “Nothing basic about that smell. My taste buds are already watering with anticipation.” He grinned at her then walked towards the house. “C’mon, I’m starving.”

  Jody followed Dan into a nicely decorated house. Most of what she saw had a woman’s touch and it suddenly struck her that he might have a woman in his life. Her gaze darted over to him to find he was watching her carefully.

  “Do you like it?” He indicated the living room with the lift of his chin. “My mum and sister helped me decorate when I first bought the place.”

  Relief swamped her. She wasn’t sure what surprised her more. The fact she’d never thought to ask if he was involved or the spike of jealousy that had stabbed her in the belly when she thought of him with someone else. “It’s great. Very homey.”

  “That was what my mum said they were going for. C’mon, let’s get a load in the washer and then we can have some of that yummy smelling food.” He turned and headed down a ceramic-tiled hallway. “Girls, there’s a Play Station and computer down this way in the family room,” he called over his shoulder.

  “Oh, no. I didn’t even introduce you to the girls. Dan, this is Amy and Leigh.” Jody felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment as she pointed to each of her daughters in turn.

  Dan paused and spun around to face them. “It’s nice to finally meet
you both. I’ve heard so much about you from your mum, Luc and Cassie that it feels like we’ve already met.” He smiled. “C’mon, I’m sure I’ve got a game or two you’ll like.”

  Jody had to prompt both girls to say hi before they followed Dan deeper into the house.

  Amy walked ahead of her, bouncing along right behind Dan and asking a million questions while Leigh dragged her feet about ten paces behind Jody. The two couldn’t be more polar-opposite in mood if they tried. Resigned to spending the evening with grumpy and happy, she hoped Dan didn’t mind sharing his time on the teenage emotional roller coaster with her.

  “Wow. Leigh, you have to come see this.” Amy disappeared into a room at the end of the hall.

  “Jeez, could she be any more juvenile?” Leigh muttered as she brushed past Jody and followed her sister through the doorway.

  Jody raised one eyebrow at Dan. “What?”

  His smile seemed shy and totally un-Dan like. “She’s found my electronic game collection.”

  “Game collection?”

  “Yeah, I have every one ever produced.” He shrugged. “I’ve been collecting them for years.”

  She popped her head in the door to see the girls both had devices in their hands. “Hey, don’t touch—”

  “No. It’s okay. They all work and they’re supposed to be played with,” Dan said.

  “But what if they break them?”

  He laughed. “If they’ve survived this long, I’m sure they’ll come out unscathed today. And if not I’ll just fix them.”

  “You can do that?”

  “Yep, washers aren’t the only thing I know how to repair.” Dan turned and walked into the kitchen. “The laundry is this way.”

  Jody followed him through a gorgeous kitchen. Stainless-steel appliances, gloss-white cupboards and black-marble countertops made the space a cook’s dream. She’d love to have a kitchen like this, but on her budget that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. “This is amazing. You must cook up a storm in here.”

  “Ah, yeah, no. I’m not much of a cook. My mum uses it when I host the family dinners though,” he called out from the room on the far side.

  She joined him in an area far too fancy for a laundry. “My God, even the dirty clothes get a great room to hang out in.”

  Dan looked around them then shrugged. “The people who remodelled the kitchen did the laundry and bathrooms as well. I got a cheaper deal getting them all done together.”

  “Well, if these two rooms are anything to go by the bathrooms must be gorgeous.”

  “Let’s get a load on and I’ll take you on a tour.”

  Jody looked for somewhere to put the crock-pot in her arms.

  “Here, I’ll take that into the kitchen while you sort your wash. Do I need to plug it in?” He took the heavy pot from her.

  “No. It was just easier to grab the whole thing than pull out the inner pot and worry about burning something on it.”

  “Okay, I’ll set the table while you get a load on.”

  She watched him walk away and wondered what the hell she was doing in his house. She’d managed to sabotage her decision to keep her distance at every turn. Rolling her eyes at herself, she crouched down and began sorting the washing into lights and darks. By the time she’d thrown the lights in the machine, Dan was back, leaning against the doorjamb. His close scrutiny made her nervous, but that was nothing compared to the look in his eyes. They smouldered, the desire he felt for her going unchecked as he watched her.

  “Um, I’m not sure how this works…”

  Dan pushed off the wall and stalked towards her. Her pulse spiked and her breathing turned choppy—jagged. “Here, let me show you.” He crowded in close and leaned over her to press the buttons on the control panel. His breath fanned out over her neck, sending a shiver down her spine and goose bumps racing to catch up.

  “Mum! Leigh won’t let me play with the Game Boy!” Amy yelled from out in the kitchen.

  Jody jumped and Dan immediately moved away. When Amy came charging into the room they were no longer in a compromising position, and Jody turned her attention to her daughter.

  “Please don’t yell, Amy.”

  “But Leigh’s hogging the Game Boy and I want a turn.”

  “You can have a turn when she dies or whatever it is that happens when a game is over.”

  Dan laughed. “You obviously aren’t a game fan.”

  “Well, no, not really.” Jody smoothed a hand over Amy’s hair. “We’ll be eating in a moment, so go tell you sister to put the game away and wash her hands.”

  “There’s a bathroom across the hall from the games room, Amy,” Dan added.

  “Sorry about that. They’ve been at each other’s throats since I walked in the door this afternoon.” She headed in the direction of the kitchen. “I better make sure there’s no blood spilled in your bathroom.”

  Walking quickly, Jody made her way to find the girls and make sure they weren’t embarrassing her further by fighting over the soap.

  Dan sat on his sofa in a death match with Amy. Leigh was sulking on the other side of the room with the Game Boy she hadn’t let out of her hands since she’d arrived. Momentarily distracted by the brooding teenager, the younger one took him out.

  “Yes!” Amy pumped her fist in the air. “Die, sucker, die.”

  “Language!” Jody called from the kitchen where she’d insisted on cleaning up after dinner.

  “Fun police strikes again,” Leigh murmured.

  Dan arched an eyebrow and looked at Amy who shrugged and said, “She’s pissed at Mum for making us come here tonight. Some guy from school was supposed to call and ask her out, but she’s not home to answer.”

  “Amy! Shut up!” Leigh looked ready to launch across the room and strangle her sister.

  “You two aren’t fighting again are you?” Jody asked from the doorway.

  He glanced over and saw the frown on Jody’s face, the concern in her eyes, and tried to pacify her a little. “Amy beat me again. She’s a tough one.”

  Jody smiled. “She always thrashes me at Wii bowling.”

  Ah, so they did have a game console at home. “I didn’t know you played. I can hook up the Wii and challenge you to a game if you want.”

  “No, it’s okay. I’m going to fold that first load of washing while the other takes its turn in the drier.”

  When Jody left the room, he glanced back at Leigh who was still shooting daggers at Amy. “You think this guy won’t call back if you’re not there to pick up?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not even sure he’ll call. He told his best friend who told my best friend, so it might not even be true.”

  Dan could tell she wanted it to be, and while he wasn’t sure where Jody stood on the whole dating thing, he felt he should at least try to make Leigh feel better. “You know, if he likes you, really likes you, he’ll keep trying until he talks to you.”

  Her face brightened. “You think so?”

  “Definitely. But if he doesn’t, he’s not the guy for you.”

  “Why not?” She’d gone on the defensive again, her brow wrinkling up in the same way Jody’s did when she was about to go to battle over something.

  “Because if he’s not prepared to put in some effort to be with you, then he doesn’t deserve to spend time with you.”

  “Oh, so I should play hard to get? That’s what Monica’s older sister said.”

  “No, I just mean if he gives up after ringing you once then he obviously wasn’t that interested. But I’m betting he either talks to you at school tomorrow or rings tomorrow night.” He’d probably stepped over the line by giving Jody’s daughter dating advice. He’d have to tell her what they’d talked about before Leigh or Amy mentioned it to their mother. “Who wants some ice cream?”

  “Me. Me. Me,” Amy chanted.

  “Chocolate or vanilla?”

  “Both.” She grinned at him and he couldn’t resist tweaking her pert nose.

  �
�Hey.” She rubbed the tip with her hand.

  “Leigh?”

  “No, thanks. I don’t need the extra fat.”

  Uh-oh, he wasn’t touching that comment with a ten foot barge pole. “Right. One bowl of chocolate and vanilla ice cream coming up.”

  Dan quickly made up a bowl for Amy and took it back to the games room. Certain they were both occupied for the moment, he went in search of Jody to confess he’d blundered into a parent-type conversation with her eldest daughter. He might not be a father, but he was pretty sure he’d handled the discussion correctly. Hopefully, Jody thought the same.

  He found her on the floor in the laundry. She had three piles of folded clothes around her. Hunkering down beside her, he picked up a shirt from the basket and attempted to fold it. Jody laughed and took it out of his hands.

  “Give me that. Watch.” She grabbed the shirt under the armpits and shook it out. Then she folded the thing in half, bringing her hands together. After that, she tucked in the sleeves and folded it twice lengthways until it was a neat little square of fabric. “See. Easy.”

  “Yeah, right,” he grumbled as he picked up another shirt to give it a try.

  “How do you fold yours then?” she asked as she quickly made another neat square with a pair of shorts.

  “I don’t. I hang them all up.” He dipped his chin close to his chest. “It’s easier.”

  Smiling, she turned her head to look at him. “Why do men always take the easy way?”

  “I can’t speak for all men, but I’m all for cutting corners where I can.”

  “Yeah, cutting corners.” She snatched up a pair of shorts and snapped them out, making them crack like a whip.

  “Hey, just because I cut corners with my laundry doesn’t mean I cut them everywhere.”

  She let out a burst of air. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have implied you do.”

  “Speaking of the easy way, I, um, may have overstepped the lines of our friendship just now with Leigh.”

  Her gaze snapped up to his. “What?”

  “Oh, wait, that didn’t sound right. Let me explain.”