by SJ McCoy
She jumped when Spider set a plate in front of her. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.”
He didn’t move away. “Do you two know each other?” He jerked his head toward TJ.
“Not really. Don’t worry, though; it’s not a problem.”
He laughed. “I didn’t think it was.”
She felt foolish. She’d thought he was looking out for a female customer who was by herself. Apparently not.
“Sorry. That came out wrong. He’s a friend of mine.”
“He is?”
“Yeah.”
Dani watched as TJ got up from his table and came toward them. He didn’t look happy.
“Is everything okay?” asked Spider.
TJ rubbed two fingers over the crease between his brows. “I don’t know.” He looked at Dani. “Is it?”
“Everything’s fine with me. I’m here having a sandwich.”
“Really?”
Was he some kind of crazy? She’d have thought it was apparent that yes, she was just sitting here eating. “Do you have a problem with that?”
Spider was looking as puzzled as she felt.
“No problem, as long as you’re not here because of me.”
She made a face. “Why would I be? I live around the corner, and I came for a sandwich.” She was wishing she hadn’t now.
“You’re not following me?”
She had to laugh. “Err, no. Sorry. I’m not. If I’d known you were in here, I wouldn’t have come through the door.”
He looked uncertain for a moment, then he shook his head. “Okay.” He turned around and went back to his table where Terry, the old guy in the wheelchair, was sitting. She couldn’t help but like him as he gave her a grin.
“Dare I ask what that was about?” asked Spider.
She shook her head. “You can ask, but I don’t know myself. I interviewed him this afternoon for the magazine I work for. It would appear that he now thinks I’m stalking him.”
“Hmm.” Spider looked puzzled. “Okay. Well, enjoy your sandwich.”
“I’ll try.” Thanks to TJ, she wished she’d gotten the damn thing to go. She felt his gaze on her and looked up. He wasn’t glaring any more. Instead, he had that same curious look as he had when she’d first seen him in the limo. She looked away. She had to. The longer she looked at him, the more drawn to him she felt, and that made her the crazy one.
Chapter Three
“Good morning.” TJ was pouring himself a mug of coffee when Grace came into the kitchen.
“Good morning. Did you two have a good weekend?”
“We did. It was great, thanks. I love Montana. I envy you growing up there.”
“Yeah. We had it good. It was a great childhood.”
“In a wonderful place. You should go up there more. There’s something about the mountains. They’re good for your soul.”
TJ nodded. “Do you want one?”
“Please.” Grace gave him a puzzled look. “Did I say something wrong? Is there a reason you don’t go back to Montana much?”
“No. No reason at all. I used to go sometimes, between tours. And then after the last one …” He shrugged. “I haven’t felt much like going anywhere. I’ve been meaning to take a trip up there since we all went up for your engagement party. You’re right. That place is good, it does you good.”
“It does. I love it. Don’t feel you can’t take time off if you want to, you know. We can handle things here if you want to go.”
“Thanks. I will at some point.”
Grace smiled. “I hope it’s soon. I want to return the favor for you covering for me on Friday. Did the interview go okay?”
“Yeah. It was fine. I think I did all right. She had a whole list of questions, and I answered them.”
Oscar came in to join them. “Did you talk it up and charm her?”
TJ scowled. “No.”
His brother raised an eyebrow. “I hope you at least hid your animosity?”
He shrugged.
Grace looked from him to Oscar and back again. “Animosity?”
TJ shrugged again.
Oscar looked a little shamefaced. “Members of the press are not TJ’s favorite people.”
“I see.” Grace was starting to look concerned. “I wish one of you had told me this sooner.”
“There was no need,” said TJ. “I didn’t mind doing it, and I told her everything she wanted to know.”
Grace tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ll give her a call to follow up this morning.”
TJ nodded. “Sure.” Maybe that would be best. He knew he hadn’t exactly made the best impression on Dani Walsh. He hadn’t been able to focus while she interviewed him on Friday. His mind had jumped back in time. He’d been reliving the past—events that were more important to him. He wasn’t lying. He’d given her everything she wanted, but he knew Grace could probably smooth things over if she talked to Dani herself.
He picked up his coffee. “I’ve got a lot to do this morning.” He nodded at Grace and Oscar and made his way to the storeroom in the back where he’d set himself up with a desk and his own little office space.
~ ~ ~
“This is Dani Walsh.”
“Hello, Dani. This is Grace Evans. I’m calling to apologize that I wasn’t able to meet with you on Friday. I know you met with TJ, but I wanted to follow up and make sure that you got everything you needed.”
“Oh. I see.” Dani hadn’t been expecting anything like this.
“Did everything go well? I’d be happy to meet with you if there’s anything else you need.”
Dani thought about it. TJ had answered all her questions about the fundraiser, but, of course, he hadn’t been any help in getting to know Grace Evans. “Well, if you have the time, I’d love to meet you. You know, we like to give some insight on the characters behind the stories we cover, and …”
Grace chuckled. “Of course. I know people want the lowdown on the girl who managed to hook her claws into Oscar Davenport.”
Dani smiled. She was starting to like Grace. “And you don’t mind?”
“I’ve got nothing to hide and a lot to gain.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean I want all the publicity and all the donations I can get for the center. If I’m a matter of interest, then I don’t mind using the opportunity. It’s not like it’ll last long anyway. I’ll be yesterday’s news by the end of the week.”
Dani smiled. She liked Grace’s pragmatic approach. “Well, I plan to keep you in the news until at least next week’s issue of the magazine—after the dinner and auction.”
Grace chuckled again. “Of course. So, when and where do you want to meet? Would you like me to come to you?”
“No. There’s no need. I don’t mind coming back to the center.” Not only didn’t she mind, she wanted to. After what she’d read about TJ this weekend, she wanted to see him again. This would give her the chance to observe him going about his business. She hoped she’d see a different guy than the one who’d been so uncomfortable being interviewed—and so indignant when he’d thought she was following him around on Friday night.
“That’d be great. When?”
Dani clicked on her calendar. “I could do tomorrow afternoon, at four?”
“Great. I’ll see you then.”
Dani hung up with a smile. That was the first time she’d spoken to Grace. Alan had set up the original appointment and just told her she was going. She was interested in meeting her. And if she was honest, she was just as interested to see TJ again. He hadn’t exactly made the best impression on Friday—afternoon or evening—but there was something about him. She’d felt drawn to him each time she’d been in his presence. It was stupid, she knew that much. She wasn’t normally the type to overlook an asshole personality for the sake of a guy’s looks, but she didn’t think that was what she was doing with TJ. He wasn’t an asshole. From
what she’d read about him over the weekend, he was a good guy. A regular hero. But he’d lost his friends in Afghanistan. She shook her head. She couldn’t let her mind go there. She got up from her desk. She needed to get out of her office, go find someone to chat to in the break room—anything rather than let her mind go near what TJ must have gone through. She didn’t know, couldn’t know, but she knew she had a better idea than most.
~ ~ ~
“TJ, TJ, TJ, come play!”
He tried to look stern as he looked down at the little guy who was tugging on the leg of his pants. It didn’t work. Big blue eyes smiled back up at him.
“Come on!”
“I can’t yet. I still have work to do. You know I don’t come out to play till five.”
The grin faded, and Jayden’s bottom lip slid out. “What time is it now?”
TJ looked at his watch. “Four twenty. You play with the others for forty minutes, and I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
“That’s a long time.”
“It’ll go quickly if you play with Levi and Bryson.”
Jayden looked back at his little friends who were chasing each other around the play area. “It’s more fun when you play, too.”
TJ smiled. “And I told you. I will. At five.” He looked at his watch again. “Or maybe a bit later if I spend much more time standing here talking to you.”
“Okay. But you promise?”
“I promise.” TJ smiled as he watched the kid run back to his friends and join in. Jayden’s mom looked over at him and mouthed sorry. He shook his head. He didn’t mind at all. He loved playing with the kids—it did him as much good as it did them. They didn’t have fathers around, and he was happy to be a male role model in their lives. He doubted he’d ever have kids of his own. As much as he loved kids, this would probably be as close as he got to being a dad. He turned to go back into his office in the back and stopped dead when he saw her. Dani Walsh. Why did he feel someone gut punched him every time he saw her? Probably because she was a journalist, and she brought back memories of the pain they could inflict.
To his surprise, she smiled warmly and came toward him. His heart started to race. What did she want? And why were his feet carrying him to meet her? He hadn’t asked them to. He’d much rather turn around and walk away.
“Hi. It’s good to see you again.” She held her hand out to shake with him.
He stared down at it, wondering why she was offering it, then looked up to meet her gaze. A second gut punch sent the air rushing out of his lungs. He knew it had nothing to do with her being a journalist—and everything to do with the way her light hazel eyes sparkled, the way her bottom lip quivered as she ran her tongue over it nervously. “Hi.” He managed to pull himself together and shake with her. He wished he hadn’t. Her hand felt good inside his. A burst of electricity shot up the length of his arm.
She smiled. Damn, she was beautiful. “I think we got off on the wrong foot on Friday. I know you don’t like reporters, but I’m not all that bad. It’s my job. It’s not who I am.”
He nodded, wondering why she wanted to tell him that. “It’s all on me. I should have been more courteous, at least. And then on Friday night, I thought …”
She smiled again, making him forget what he’d thought, what he was saying even. He was surprised to find himself smiling back. “I know. I get it. It was a fair assumption that a journalist might be stalking you, I suppose. I just want to let you know that’s not who I am. It’s not how I operate.”
“Why?”
“Why don’t I work that way?” She looked puzzled. “Well, because I respect people’s privacy. I told you this is my job, it’s not who I am, I don’t—”
He shook his head. “No. I mean, why do you need to let me know all this? What does it matter what I think?”
She dropped her gaze for a moment. Why had he put her on the spot like that? He didn’t know. Maybe part of him was hoping that she was a decent person trying to connect with him as another decent person. Or maybe he was just crazy? She looked back up at him with a smile. “I didn’t want you to think that I was back to talk to Grace because of anything you did. You gave a good interview; it would have been enough. And since I’ll be covering the dinner and auction next weekend, I thought it’d be nice if we didn’t have to avoid each other.”
He nodded. “Of course. I won’t make it uncomfortable for you.” He smiled. “In fact, let me know if I can do anything to help. When I set my own prejudice aside, I know that you’re helping the center out, really.”
She smiled back. “Thanks. I’m hoping to.” She looked around. “This place does a lot of good.”
“It does. I’m glad you get to talk to Grace. She’s the one who makes it all happen.”
For some reason, she looked pleased with that. “I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
They both turned as the office door opened and Grace stepped out. She smiled and waved at them.
“I’d better let you get on with it, then.”
When she smiled up at him, he wished they’d gotten off to a different start.
“Okay. I’ll see you next Friday, I guess.”
He stared at her for a moment, not understanding, then it dawned on him. “At the dinner? Yes. I’ll see you then.”
~ ~ ~
Dani reached out to shake his hand again. It was probably overkill, but it was the only way she could think of to somehow try to connect with him. Her hand felt small as he wrapped his fingers around it—small and safe. She looked into his eyes. “I’ll look forward to it.” She let go of his hand reluctantly and made her way over to the office where Grace was waiting for her.
“I’m guessing you’re Dani.”
“Yes.”
Grace shook with her. “I’m Grace. Come on in.” She closed the office door behind them and gestured for Dani to take a seat. “It’s good to meet you. I’m sorry I wasn’t here on Friday.” She hesitated and then looked Dani in the eye. “And I hope I didn’t make a mistake by not just rescheduling for today.”
Dani smiled. Did Grace know that her first encounter with TJ hadn’t gone wonderfully? If so, how? Had he told her? “No. This works out even better. I got to meet TJ on Friday, and now I get to meet you, too. It gives me more of an idea of the team that runs the place.”
“It does.” Grace smiled again. “TJ does a great job. He’s been the force behind getting us set up properly. We weren’t exactly compliant before he came in.” Her smile faded. “Though, I’d rather you didn’t mention that in the article.”
“Of course not. I’m not going to write anything that could cause problems for you. My interest is in helping you to get publicity—good publicity. I admire what you’re doing here. It’s important, and I’m happy to be able to help in some small way.”
“Thanks. And don’t underestimate just how important a role you can play. Your magazine reaches lots of readers—and lots of pockets.”
“It does. I plan to end the article with an appeal for donations. Believe me, I’m in your corner.”
“Good, and I’m in yours, too. I know the gossipy element appeals to readers and boosts sales, so I’m happy to give you the inside scoop on Oscar and me.”
Dani laughed. “I can see it’s going to be a pleasure doing business with you.”
“I hope so. We can both benefit, and it seems we’re both aware of each other’s delicate issues.”
Dani nodded. “Absolutely. When you say the inside scoop, I appreciate it, and I promise you, I won’t abuse it.”
“I know.” Grace smiled. “You don’t seem the type, and I’ll be open with you, but I’m not going to tell you anything you can twist against me.”
Dani had to laugh. “I wouldn’t twist anything. I’ll let you read the article before I submit it, and if there’s anything you’re not happy about, we can revise it together.”
Grace grinned. “Perfect. Shall we get started?”
&nb
sp; “Do you mind if use my recorder?”
“No, go ahead.”
Half an hour later, Dani closed her notebook and switched off her voice recorder. “That’s awesome. Thank you.”
“Thank you. That was easier than I expected. And if you need anything else, we can talk about it at the dinner.”
“Yes. I’m looking forward to it.” She smiled. “There are always fun and games at a bachelor auction. I have no doubt that something will happen to add an element of interest to my story.”
Grace smiled. “Have you met Terry?”
Dani nodded. “Yes. He seems like quite a character.”
“Oh, he is. And he’s going to be one of the bachelors up for auction. It might be worth you having a chat with him if you’re looking for an element of interest. I doubt he’d tell you his story, but I’m sure he’ll be at the center of one on the night. I know there are a few ladies who are going to get into a bidding war over him.”
Dani had to smile. “That’s awesome. Is he here now?”
“No, he’s at home this afternoon. He has some of the guys over to his place on Tuesdays, helps them fill out job applications and lets them use his address.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. If you thought he was someone who relied on the shelter, you had him wrong. He’s part of the center. Maybe he’s its heart. At least for the vets.”
“I’ll make sure I catch up with him. Would you mind letting him know that I’d love to talk to him?”
“Of course.”
They both turned at the sound of a knock on the door. Grace leaned to one side to look through the window and smiled. “Are you okay for time? If you are, you can have a word with the man who attracted your interest in the place.”
Dani nodded. She didn’t particularly want to talk to Oscar, but she could hardly refuse.
“Come in,” called Grace.
