Daddy 101 (American Romance)

by Leigh, Jo

  He coughed. Well, choked. He heard Dani clear her throat. The presoak instructions held his rapt attention. Dani, however, got it in gear. She walked toward the door, then stopped.

  “I’ll call you as soon as I check on Pete,” she said. “And don’t forget to dry the sweaters on the rack.”

  He dared a glance and was rewarded with a guilty little smile. It would do till she got. home. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll do my best.”

  Then Chloe grabbed Dani’s hand and pulled her away.

  “Don’t forget the cat,” he called out, not wanting to deal with that particular feline all day.

  “Right!”

  He listened for a while. Chloe’s entreaties got more urgent. The cat hissed. Dani was patient and never raised her voice. Finally he heard the front door close. He was alone. With the laundry. Have mercy.

  SHE COULDN’T CONCENTRATE. Dani petted the pregnant dachshund on the exam table and forced herself yet again to banish Alex from her thoughts. The pup was actually in good shape. It was her owner that needed calming. Thank goodness there hadn’t been any real emergencies today. Just routine exams, a couple of shots and of course, Pete.

  Alex’s dog was improving, although not quite as quickly as she’d have liked. She would keep him on the IV for another twenty-four hours. On the other hand, his appetite was picking up, and that was a good sign.

  It occurred to her that while she wasn’t happy that Pete was still not up to par, she was glad that Alex would have to stay for at least one, probably two more days. Just the thought of him in her house, waiting for her, was enough to make her pulse speed up.

  That she was so pleased annoyed her. She knew full well that the longer Alex stayed the worse it was going to be when he left. She already liked him too much. And she wanted to believe him too much. He made it so easy, with his convincing words and his expressive eyes.

  “Well?”

  Dani jerked away from her thoughts of Alex and realized she’d been staring at Edna Bickle for who knows how long, while Tinkle, her unfortunately named dachshund, was flat on her back while Dani rubbed her tummy.

  Dani stilled her hand and continued her examination, flustered that she was so unable to control herself. This time, she made it through, gave Edna the good news that Tinkle was the picture of health and sent dog and owner off. All of it without thinking of Alex even once.

  It was 12:10 and she had one more patient to see: a kitten who needed her shots. If she hurried, she could be done in about five minutes, and then she could head over to the diner, pick up lunch, then be home at 12:45. She hurried.

  AT 12:45, DANI OPENED her front door. The first thing she heard was laughter. Female laughter.

  Dani walked quickly toward the kitchen and put the bag of turkey sandwiches on the table. Again, the sound of feminine laughter assailed her, and it was no TV or radio program. That was a woman. Here. In her house. With Alex.

  As she headed toward the laundry room, she heard it again, only this time, more than one voice pealed in glee. She felt her temperature rise and her adrenaline kick in. Who had he brought here?

  Dani turned the corner and stood at the door to her pantry. Alex was too busy to notice her arrival. Too busy with three women, all of whom she knew, all of whom were supposedly friends of hers, and one of whom had a pair of Dani’s bikini panties in the air, twirling it around, which Alex tried to grab by getting very, very close. To make matters worse, her washing machine was open, and suds, lots of suds spilled out of the top, down the sides, onto the floor and into the still-waiting piles of laundry.

  Crystal Crane, the woman with the panties held aloft, was leaning back over the dryer. Her crop-top T-shirt was pulled so high that Dani could see the undersides of her nonbra-clad breasts. One more inch, and she’d be fully exposed. Dani held her breath as Alex reached higher...then he stopped. Leaned back. Put his hand down.

  “You win,” he said. “You can keep them.”

  Crystal didn’t move. She knew what position she was in, and she had no qualms about how suggestive she was. “Come on, Alex. Don’t be such a party pooper.”

  “This isn’t a party,” he said, his voice quite firm. “And I appreciate you ladies trying to help, but I’ve got things under control now.”

  “Do you really?” Dani said.

  Four pairs of eyes turned to her. All extremely wide.

  “Dani,” Alex said.

  “Dani” came the Greek chorus.

  “Yes,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “Dani. Whose house this is.”

  Crystal finally pulled her hand down. She didn’t let go of the panties, though, she just put her hand behind her back. “We came over to ask Alex—”

  “If he wanted to be—” Karen Stovall said, interrupting.

  “Part of the opening ceremonies—” Jean Crocket added, butting in.

  “This weekend,” Crystal finished.

  “He won’t be staying that long,” Dani said. She turned her gaze to Alex then, and got some tiny bit of satisfaction that he looked exceedingly guilty. “Pete will be on his feet by Friday.”

  “That’s great,” he said. “But...”

  “But he already said yes,” Crystal said. “Didn’t you, Alex?”

  Alex didn’t look at Crystal. But he did nod. “That I did.”

  “He’s going to take pictures with people,” Jean said. “And sign autographs. With him there, I’ll bet we can get TV coverage from Albuquerque. Maybe even national coverage.”

  “We’ll get more people here than we ever dreamed,” Karen said. “Imagine. The Sexiest Man in the World right here in Carlson’s Gap. We’ll raise a fortune.”

  “National coverage,” Dani said, her heart sinking as if it were a stone. “I see.” She did, too. All that talk about how he didn’t want the publicity was just that. Talk. The first chance he got to flaunt his fame, and he leapt at it as a starving dog leaps at a bone. “Mind telling me what happened to that?” She pointed to the washer.

  “Oh, I think that was my fault,” Jean said. “I guess he’d already added the detergent.”

  “No, I added the detergent,” Karen said, holding up her hand as if she were a guilty schoolgirl.

  “Uh-oh,” Crystal said. “I did, too.”

  “Swell,” Dani said.

  “We’ll pay for any repairs,” Crystal said, moving now toward the door, and escape. “Won’t we?”

  “Of course,” Karen said, picking up the cue and moving, too.

  “Right,” Jean added.

  Then the three women walked past her, fast, and were on their way out. No one bothered to say goodbye. Alex hadn’t moved.

  “I can explain,” he said.

  “No need. I understand completely.”

  “I don’t think you do.”

  He pointed to a folded stack of towels on the counter. “I got the one batch done just fine.”

  “I told you, you don’t need to explain. Besides, I’m late. I brought you a turkey sandwich. I’d appreciate it if you could call the repair service. I can’t afford to be without the machine for long. The number is right there on the side.”

  “Wait a minute. Weren’t you here to have lunch with me?”

  “That was the plan. But plans change. I have to get back to work.”

  He moved toward her, and she stepped back.

  “Look, I didn’t ask them to do this,” he said. “I really was doing fine before they showed up.”

  “You don’t owe me any explanations. Just please get the washer fixed.” She turned, anxious to get away. Even as she felt it, she knew her disappointment was silly. Hadn’t she known all along who he was? That whatever he said was bound to be some kind of a lie?

  “Wait.”

  She stopped.

  “Don’t go. I don’t want to leave it like this.”

  She turned once more to face him. “Like what?”

  “You’re angry.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Please stay. You don’t ha
ve to. But I’d appreciate it. I didn’t know they were going to come in here and mess with your things. If I had, I would never have opened the door. I thought they were your friends.”

  “I thought so, too.”

  “For what it’s worth, I don’t think they meant any harm.”

  “Of course not. Look, forget it. It’s fine. Really. I just have to get back—”

  He was in front of her somehow, with his hands on her arms. Standing close. Looking down into her eyes. “You can’t think I wanted this to turn out badly.”

  She couldn’t look back at him. Not at those pleading eyes. If she did, she would start believing him again. “Let me go please.”

  “Not till you look at me.”

  “Alex, stop it.”

  He let go with his right arm, and raised his fingers to her chin. He lifted her head up until she was forced to meet his gaze. “Please, Dani.”

  She wanted to believe his eyes. That was the whole problem. He looked so sincere, as if it mattered to him that she was upset, that he’d upset her.

  “I wanted so much to do this one thing for you,” he said. “And I’ve screwed it up royally. Give me another chance?”

  “What for?” she said, hating to say the words, but knowing she had to. “You’re a guest. A visitor. You don’t have to do anything to impress me.”

  “I’m not trying to impress you.” He shook his head. “No, that’s not true. I am. But not the way you mean it. I know it sounds stupid, but I wanted to make things easier for you today. To take care of this damn laundry so you wouldn’t have to. I thought it was going to be a piece of cake.”

  “Most things aren’t. At least, not for me. I imagine you’re pretty used to seeing things go your way.”

  “Dani, just because I have some money doesn’t mean the world bows down in front of me. I have my own struggles.”

  She felt a stab of guilt. Of course he had his struggles. They were just worlds away from her own. “I’m sony. I really didn’t mean that as a put-down.”

  “Those women, I...”

  “I understand.”

  “Do you?” he said, taking hold of her arms once again. “I thought they were friends. They said—”

  “I can imagine what they said. The women in this town aren’t going to let up, you know. They’re going to keep traipsing over here, trying to get your attention. You’re big news in a town this size.”

  “I wish more than ever they’d never run that stupid article.”

  “Do you? Really?”

  “Now what’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I think you might be enjoying some of this notoriety, that’s all. And who could blame you? It’s got to be a thrill to know the world looks at you as the sexiest man alive.”

  “How do you look at me?”

  She paused, terribly conscious of his hands on her arms. The heat from his skin went right through the material of her blouse, and coursed up and down her body as if it were an electrical charge. “I can see how they came to anoint you.”

  He smiled for the first time since she’d been home. “Does that mean what I hope it means?”

  “I don’t know. What are you hoping for?”

  “That you find me half as sexy as I find you.”

  She closed her eyes. He’d almost had her. “Alex, please...”

  “God, what? Why are you looking at me like that? Can’t you see I mean what I say? I find you incredibly sexy, Dani Jacobson. I didn’t get any sleep last night, just thinking about you downstairs. I haven’t called my office. I haven’t even asked about Pete. All I can think of is you.”

  “Don’t do this to me!” She pulled herself away from him. “Is this some kind of game you’ve invented? Torment the poor country girl? Let her imagine that you’re really interested, when it’s completely clear to anyone with half a brain that you couldn’t possibly be? Well, it’s not funny. And more than that, it’s not nice. So cut it out, will you? Just cut it out.”

  She turned quickly and headed toward the front door. All she wanted was to be away from him. But he caught her and held her still. Forced her to turn around again. To look up at his wounded gaze.

  “I’m not doing that, Dani. Dammit. I wouldn’t do a thing like that.”

  “How do I know? I don’t know you at all.”

  “Yes, you do. Or you could. If you’d let yourself. I’ve done nothing but tell you the truth since we met. And I’m not lying now.”

  “Just like you weren’t lying about being the Sexiest Man in the World?”

  His brows came together. “What are you talking about?”

  “Oh, please. You were awfully quick to say you’d stay for the weekend.”

  “Of course. What does that have to do with anything?”

  “You like the attention. You like the women slobbering over you. Don’t deny it. Why else would you agree to stick around this Podunk town? What could you possibly want here?”

  “You.”

  “Stop it.”

  “I won’t. Not until you listen to me.”

  “You think I’d ask you to take pictures and sign autographs?”

  “No, you wouldn’t but your friends did. So I said yes.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t have.”

  “Why? Why is this such a bad thing, Dani? Tell me.”

  “No. Just please leave me alone, would you? You can stay here for Pete’s sake, but I think it’s best that we stay clear of each other.”

  “No.”

  “What do you mean, no? I’m asking you politely to leave me be.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Sure you can. And you will. Come the weekend, you’ll be on your way to New York. I’ll be some fading memory. It’s really quite simple.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. There’s nothing simple about you.”

  She shook her head. “Look, I’ll call the repairman. You don’t have to. I’ll just call from the clinic.” She walked toward the door again. Determined this time to leave, no matter what he said or did.

  “Dani!”

  She didn’t stop. She wouldn’t, not for anything. There was nothing he could say that would make the outcome any different. But if she stayed, if she listened to him, she’d just get hurt much, much worse.

  “Dani, don’t go.”

  She turned the handle.

  “Dammit, stop.”

  She opened the door.

  “Dani, I want you to come to New York with me. You and Chloe.”

  Chapter Nine

  Dani couldn’t move. Her hand froze on the doorknob. “What did you say?”

  “I said I want you and Chloe to come with me to New York.”

  Against her better judgment, she turned. She expected to see him laughing at his colossal joke. But he wasn’t. “You can’t be serious,” she said.

  “I am.”

  “We’ve known each other two days.”

  “Sometimes two days is enough.”

  “Enough?”

  He nodded and walked slowly toward her. “Enough to know that this isn’t ordinary attraction. There’s more going on here, Dani, and you know it.

  “I don’t believe that.”

  “Only because you don’t want to.” He was very close to her now. He reached behind her and pushed the front door closed.

  She had to look up to see his face. What she didn’t understand was her reaction to his absurd suggestion. Her pulse raced, her heart thudded in her chest. She could feel the excitement as if it were a living thing inside her.

  “You can’t deny it,” he said, his voice a whisper. “You can’t tell me you don’t feel this thing between us. This pull. I see it in your eyes, Dani. We both know something very strong is happening.”

  “I can’t,” she said.

  “Why not?”

  “Because I don’t believe you.”

  “I’d never hurt you.”

  “Yes, you would. You wouldn’t mean to. It wouldn’t start out that way. But you would.”

>   “No.”

  “I’m okay for New Mexico, but not for New York. If you think about it for even a minute, you’ll see that.”

  “Why do you do that?”

  “What?”

  “Put yourself down like that.”

  “I’m not.” He was too close to her. It was hard to think straight when she could feel his heat. “I’m just being realistic.”

  “Don’t you realize I’ve been to New York before? And Paris and Los Angeles and all over the damn world. I’ve seen what’s out there. And what’s right here. And I want you.”

  “Why?”

  He looked at her with those eyes of his, and she could feel her resolve weakening. It was stupid, childish to listen to him. To think he could be serious. But then he moved those last few inches, and his kiss wiped logic clear away.

  Alex took refuge in the kiss. He’d stunned himself with his words. He hadn’t had any idea he wanted Dani so much, or that he would blurt it out so plainly. She obviously took his finesse away as well as his breath. But thinking would have to come later. Now, all he wanted was to float away with her kiss.

  Her lips were so giving, her tongue so eager. Her responsiveness worked him up in a heartbeat. When she moved her hips closer, rubbing against him, he was sure she could tell what she did to him. There was an innocence to her, mixed with a heat that was undeniable. That’s what it was, of course. The intriguing blend that made Dani who she was. She was intelligent, but hadn’t lost her childlike sense of fun. She was beautiful, but didn’t use it to manipulate. Sensuous, yet guileless. As strong as steel and as soft as velvet. He wanted her so badly it scared him.

  She pulled back, and he could see the flush on her cheeks. Her lips were still parted and inviting, and he had to force himself not to take her into his arms again. But he’d already pushed too hard. He didn’t think he’d blown it, but he’d come close.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” Dani said, taking yet another step back.

  “What question?”

  “Why?”

  He smiled. She really didn’t get it. Didn’t believe him. Well, why should she? He barely believed it himself. “Because,” he said, trying to figure out his answer even as he spoke. “Because you’ve done something to me. I can’t explain it. All I know is I can’t stop thinking about you. There’s something strong going on between us, and I don’t want to just leave it here. I don’t think that would be fair to either of us.”