He got out of the cruiser and pushed through the door into the building. Angie was sitting at her desk and Jason Parkman, her “boyfriend,” sat perched on the edge of the desk in golf attire, leering at her bare legs.
Daniel was instantly on alert. Jason was too…perfect. His clothes were never wrinkled, his shoes never scuffed, and Daniel often wondered if he cut his prematurely salt-and-pepper hair on a weekly basis because it was always the exact same length. Even worse, the man was perpetually nice—nice to the point of being irritating. And though he never flaunted it, Daniel knew he came from a wealthy family, just like Richard.
Richard had been a nice guy, too, and possessed that same air of casual sophistication. He’d once told Daniel he fell in love with Angie’s quirky personality and admired her spunk and free spirit. But he’d had a dark side no one knew about. At least Angie had gotten a pretty fantastic kid out of the deal. And since Jordan only saw his dad a couple of times a year, Daniel had been the only consistent male role model he’d had.
As Daniel came through the door Angie looked up and flashed him a nervous smile. “Hey, Danny.”
“Hello, Daniel.” Jason slid off the desk, extending a hand to shake. Daniel gripped it firmly.
“Jason,” he said, being polite for Angie’s sake.
“How is Sydney today?” Angie asked with that teasing look he’d grown accustomed to this past week, since he was getting it from everyone, despite how many times he insisted he and Sydney were just friends.
“You wanted to see me?” he asked his sister.
“That’s my cue to leave,” Jason said, leaning over to kiss Angie, making Daniel glower behind his sunglasses. He could have the decency not to do that when Daniel was around.
“Bye, sweetie,” she said, watching him leave with a sappy, lovesick expression that made Daniel want to vomit. The man had her completely snowed.
“Bye, Daniel. See you next weekend.”
“Don’t even say it,” Angie said after he was gone.
“I didn’t say a word.”
“Yeah, but you want to. I just don’t get why you don’t like Jason. Everyone else likes him. Even Abbi, and she hates all men!”
Which was why it sucked being the only man left in a family full of gullible women.
“I’ve been seeing him for six months. When are you going to accept that he and I are serious? I love him.”
He would never accept that, because this relationship wasn’t going to last. “He said he would see me next weekend. What did he mean?”
Angie took a deep breath and blew it out. “Okay, now I don’t want you to get mad—”
Daniel groaned and rolled his eyes. When she started a conversation that way, he knew it would be bad. “What did you do?”
“Just listen,” Angie pleaded. “I probably told you that Jason has a house on the coast, off the cove in Stillwater.”
“Yes, you’ve told me.”
“Well, he’s invited the family to come stay for the weekend.”
“The whole family?”
“Mom can’t come because she has to work, but Beth and Dee will be there. And Jordan, of course. And I said you would come, too.”
“Angie—”
“Danny, please. It would mean so much to me. And I know you won’t believe it, but it will mean a lot to Jason, too. He loves me, and he knows how unhappy it makes me that you disapprove. He wants to give you a chance to get to know him.”
She got up from her chair and grabbed his hands. “Please, Danny? You know you owe me. Big-time.”
He hated it when she played the guilt card. She had been an enormous help when April had been dumped in his lap. He hadn’t had a clue what he needed to buy or what to feed her. Angie had saved his behind. And April’s.
“Pretty please,” she said. “Do this for me and I swear I’ll never ask another favor from you ever again.”
Well, they both knew that was crap. But this weekend obviously meant a lot to her. And maybe if he did go, it would be an opportunity to somehow to drive a wedge between her and Jason.
“How long would we be gone? Because if you recall I’ve taken an awful lot of time off work lately.”
“We would drive there Friday evening after work and come back Sunday afternoon.”
“When?”
“A week from this Friday.” She steepled her hands under her chin. “Please.”
Daniel cursed under his breath. He knew he was going to regret this… “Fine, I’ll go.”
She squealed and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you so much! You’re the best brother in the world!”
“All right, all right,” he said, disentangling himself.
“This is going to be so much fun! Dee is going to bring Jake and Beth is bringing Louis.”
“So everyone is bringing a date but me?”
Her smile evaporated. “Um, yeah. I guess so. I hadn’t really thought about that.”
Wonderful. So everyone would pair off and he’d be left with April and Jordan? Sounded like a blast.
“You can bring someone, too.”
“Who? I haven’t been on a date in over a month. I’m not seeing anyone.”
“Hey, why don’t you ask Sydney?”
“Sydney and I are not dating,” he snapped. And it had been hard as hell keeping his hands to himself the past few days. He didn’t know why but he found her…fascinating. The way she looked, the way she moved. The scent of her skin. He couldn’t stop thinking about touching her. And it was obvious she wanted him, too.
And a commitment.
What was it with women? After suffering through such a rotten marriage, why would she want to do that to herself again?
“Ask her anyway, as a friend. She can bring Lacey. That will give Jordan someone his own age to hang around with. And Sydney can help you with April.”
That actually wasn’t a bad idea. But would she agree? Maybe if he made it part of the job, and offered to pay her.
“Why aren’t you dating her, by the way?” Angie asked. “I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
“How do I look at her?”
“Like she’s a nasturtium, and you’re a bee looking to do some pollinating.”
“Nice,” he said, shaking his head, unable to suppress a laugh.
“And you two were going at it pretty hot and heavy on the dance floor Friday night.”
“I’m not dating her because she just wants to be friends.”
“That’s never stopped you before.”
“Yeah, well, this is different.” He could see Angie was waiting for him to elaborate. “She wants a real relationship.”
She gasped. “Oh, horrors! A real relationship?”
“I don’t want to hurt her.”
“Again, that’s never stopped you before.”
“Sydney is different. I…I like her. She deserves better than someone like me.”
“If you like her that much, have you considered the possibility that you might be ready to have a real relationship?” He glared at her, so she shrugged and said, “Or not.”
“I’m happy being single. Indefinitely.”
“And childless?”
The way she said it made Daniel feel like an ogre, when he was only doing what was best for April. “April will be better off with her real family. With two people to raise her. I can’t give her what she needs.”
“How’s the search going?”
Not well, unfortunately. “The P.I. called yesterday and said that he may have tracked down a cousin of Reanne’s in Utah. But to know for sure, he has to actually go there, and that will cost more than I can afford right now.”
“I would think that if Reanne had wanted this cousin to have April, she would have made sure that happened.”
“I want to exhaust all possibilities before I resort to adoption.”
Angie’s tight-lipped silence said she didn’t approve. Nor did his mom, or his other sisters. But if they were asked to take in a virtual stranger�
��s baby, he’d bet they’d react the exact same way.
And he wasn’t going to rehash his motivations all over again, because Angie wouldn’t listen anyway. “I have to go.”
“Let me know what Sydney says so I can tell Jason.”
She had better hope that Sydney agreed to go, and if she didn’t, Daniel was able to find someone else who would. Because he’d be damned if he was going by himself.
“I SAID stop!” Lacey shoved Shane as hard as she could and watched him roll off the couch and land with a thud on the den floor. He’d gone too far this time—way too far.
He scrambled to his feet. “What’s the matter with you?”
She glared at him as she refastened her shorts. “What’s the matter with me? Are you dense? I asked you to stop about five times.”
He looked confused. “Every girl says stop. That doesn’t mean she actually wants you to stop.”
Was he serious? “I actually wanted you to stop!”
“Why?” He was completely mystified. He honestly couldn’t believe she didn’t want him groping her. “What’s the big deal?”
She picked one of his tennis shoes up off the floor and threw it at him, nailing his right arm.
“OW! Lacey!” The other shoe went flying and connected with his left leg. “Lacey, stop it! What is your problem?”
“We are so done,” she said.
Disbelief played across his face. “You’re breaking up with me?”
“I’m breaking up with you.”
Shane pulled back his shoulders and puffed out his chest, which wasn’t all that impressive considering how skinny he was. It made Lacey think of the way Jordan’s tank top strained over all that muscle.
She should want her boyfriend to kiss and touch her, but when Shane did, she just felt…uncomfortable. And the whole time he was kissing her today, she was thinking about Jordan.
“I could name a dozen other girls who would come running if I snapped my fingers,” he sneered.
She picked up his shoes and shoved them at him. “Then start snapping.”
“You bitch,” he snarled, and for a second he looked as if he might hit her. She’d seen her dad look at her mom that way before. He’d never actually hit her, but there were times when she thought he’d probably come close.
So Lacey did what her mom would do. Instead of backing away, she stood her ground, looking Shane right in the eye.
If he’d been considering violence, he changed his mind. He grabbed his shoes and stormed down the hall toward the front door. “You’ll regret this.”
“I seriously doubt that,” she mumbled, following him. When he was out the door she shut it behind him, fell against it, and exhaled. Thank God that was over. Maybe she should have felt bad or guilty for wounding his pride, but all she felt was relieved. For weeks she’d been unhappy with Shane, but she hadn’t let herself admit it. Maybe she’d thought that a jerk of a boyfriend was better than no boyfriend at all.
Until she met Jordan. Until his voice sent chills up her arms, and she looked into his deep, dark eyes and felt all tingly inside. Of course, Jordan didn’t know she existed, but that was about to change. She would make him notice her.
She was good at that.
Lacey heard the side door open and had this sudden vision of Shane sneaking back in to beg her forgiveness. Then she heard her mom calling her.
“In here,” she answered.
Her mom appeared in the living room doorway holding April who was gnawing on a teething ring, drooling all over the place. “I just saw Shane leave and he looked upset. Did you guys have a fight?”
“We broke up.” She walked over to her mother and took April from her. April bounced excitedly, reaching for her hair and yanking it.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry.” Sydney folded Lacey in her arms until they were all bunched up in a three-way hug. Both she and April smelled like soap and baby powder.
“Actually, I’m fine. It was my decision.” She backed away and noticed her mother’s shirt was drenched. “Jeez, Mom, you’re all wet.”
“Huh?” Sydney looked down at her shirt. “Oh, I was giving April a bath. It’s like trying to wrestle an octopus. I came home to change. Why did you break up with Shane? He seemed nice.”
“Let’s just say he has hearing problem.”
Her mom frowned. “What do you mean?”
“He doesn’t listen when I say no.”
Her brows rose. “Oh. Well, good for you, then.”
“Besides, he was pissed about me getting a job and he would have given me a hard time about it.”
“You went to see Angie today?” She gestured for Lacey to follow her to the bedroom.
“I filled out an application.”
Her mom handed April over then she stripped down to her underwear, tossing the wet clothes into the hamper. “And?”
Lacey sat on the bed with April, who promptly tried to climb out of her arms. “She hired me.”
“Oh, honey, congratulations! When do you start?”
“Tomorrow. Early.”
“Do you need a ride?”
“They’re picking me up.”
Sydney nodded, then turned to her closet. She chose a loose-fitting blue sundress and pulled it over her head.
“Why are you wearing that?” Lacey asked.
“Because it’s comfortable.”
“But you have a really nice figure. You should show it off.”
Her mom gave her a look. “This coming from the girl who wears jeans three sizes too big?”
“Because I don’t have a figure.”
“And who am I showing it off for?”
Lacey shrugged. “No one in particular.”
“I’m babysitting, not looking for men.”
Well, with Daniel around she didn’t have to look far. She had to know that he was gorgeous, and even Lacey could see that he liked her. What possible reason could she have not to date him? It would be kind of cool to have a cop for a stepdad.
“Just so you know, Daniel’s working the afternoon shift tonight so I won’t be home until after eleven,” her mom said.
She shrugged. “Whatever. I’m probably going to bed early anyway.”
“I just didn’t want you to worry.”
No, she didn’t want Lacey to think she was over there playing tonsil hockey. “You know, I really like Daniel. And I can tell he likes you. A lot.”
Her mom shot her a stern look. “Lacey!”
“What? He does.”
“We’re just friends.”
“Do you make out on the dance floor at Moose Winooski’s with all your friends?”
Her mom’s cheeks turned bright pink. “Who told you that?”
So it was true. “This is a small town, Mom. People talk.”
“Despite what we did or did not do at Moose Winooski’s, Daniel and I are just friends. End of story.”
“Well, Veronica said he looks like he would be a good kisser.”
“He’s a little old for Veronica.”
“Ew! Gross, Mom. She didn’t say she wanted to kiss him. She was just…speaking hypothetically.”
Which reminded her, she had to call Veronica and tell her she’d dumped Shane. Veronica would be happy, since she thought Shane was a narcissistic tool.
“I should get going.” Her mom took April from her. “You know where I am if you need me.”
Lacey got up and followed her to the side door. “Mom?”
Her mom stopped and turned. “Yeah, honey.”
“I don’t mean to nag about you and Daniel. I just…I want you to be happy. You deserve it.”
Her mom smiled. “Thank you, sweetie. And I want you to know how proud I am of you for standing up for yourself with Shane. For not letting him pressure you into something you’re not ready for. There will be other guys. Guys who treat you with the respect you deserve.”
“I know.” In fact, she was hoping she’d met one already.
CHAPTER NINE
SYDNEY
STEPPED OUT the side door and started across the lawn, thinking that, for all the grief Lacey gave her sometimes, she was one hell of a sweet kid. Then she saw that Daniel’s police cruiser parked in front of his house and sighed.
Not again.
This was the second time he’d been by today. He’d been by twice yesterday, too. In fact, he’d been by the house at least twice every day that week. As if he was keeping tabs on her or something. He’d said he trusted her, but now she wasn’t so sure.
Monday he’d had been gone only two hours when he came back home, claiming to have forgotten a form he needed to give his boss. She’d believed him, and even bought his excuse when he showed up again later that afternoon to “grab a soda since I was in the neighborhood.” Tuesday, he’d supposedly forgotten his wallet when she was almost positive she’d seen him take it with him in the morning. Then he’d stopped by around one “for a bite to eat.” But he’d mostly just played with April, and had barely touched the pizza Sydney had reheated for him.
Yesterday morning, he said he’d spilled coffee on his pants and needed to change them, and though there was a stain, she suspected he’d done it on purpose to have an excuse. Then, yesterday afternoon, she’d taken April grocery shopping and he had appeared in the parking lot as she was loading the van. He said he happened to be driving by and saw her, but she had the feeling he’d actually followed her there.
Maybe, being a cop, he just naturally mistrusted people. But it was beginning to get on her nerves.
Even so, it didn’t stop the warm, wistful feeling she got every time he walked through the door. It didn’t stop her from constantly second-guessing herself, and questioning her decision to keep their relationship platonic.
Every one of her instincts was telling her that even though Daniel said he didn’t want to settle down, their relationship would be different somehow. But she was also sure lots of women had thought that. Right up until the minute he broke their hearts.
What if she fell in love with him and ended up brokenhearted like all the rest?
And what if she didn’t? What if she was different? What if he fell in love with her, too?
Was it worth taking a chance? Worth the risk of being hurt?
What she needed was a sign. She needed proof that he was capable of changing.
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