by Marie Harte
“Eileen’s nice to everyone. Too nice sometimes, that’s why me and Foley step on the ones that get out of line.”
“Will you step on me if I say the wrong thing?”
She sounded so serious that it took him a moment to realize she was teasing. “I might.” He lowered his voice. “Then again, I might make you pay for it in bed.”
“When we eventually get around to that.” She sounded breathless. Good to know it wasn’t just him.
“Oh, we’ll get around to it.”
“Really?” She smirked at him. “Because I’ve never had to work so hard to get a man to take me to bed before.”
He felt shy and stupid and annoyed. “Hey, I’m trying to be a gentleman.” It didn’t help matters when she laughed. “I can be suave.”
“I don’t want suave or sophisticated. I want you.”
They pulled into Jacob’s driveway in the pricey Manzanita Bay area.
“Was that an insult or a compliment?”
“That didn’t come out right,” she teased, mimicking him from earlier. “My point is I like you just the way you are. Don’t change, Sam. You’re a gentleman at heart. And I appreciate your concern.” She patted his thigh. “There’s no place I feel safer than with you.”
Now he was blushing for sure. “Yeah, yeah. You’re laying it on a bit thick.”
“Have I told you how much I love to see you turn red? You are so cute.” She unbuckled her seat belt and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. Then she caressed the other side of his face and froze him to his seat. “I sure do like kissing you. You always smell and taste so good.”
Reminders of how she’d tasted him last night went straight to his cock.
“Damn it, Ivy,” he growled. “I was ready to go in, and now I gotta wait out another hard-on. What are you doing to me?”
She blushed, looking edible. Man, he wanted to go down on her so bad right now.
“Sorry.” She moved back. “But I do like kissing you. Deal with it.” From the back of the car, she grabbed the peanut butter cookies she’d baked, then waited for him outside while he took a moment to collect himself.
He soon joined her by the front door. Jacob’s house—and Eileen’s too now, Sam thought—sat right on the water with a private deck and a boat parked out back. A large two-story with wooden shingles, it had a Craftsman design. And he’d never in a million years have enough money to buy something so expensive.
“I hope she likes me,” Ivy said as she brushed the front of her skirt, the other hand gripping her plate of cookies.
“She’ll love you. Trust me.” He rang the doorbell.
Eileen answered in seconds. “I was waiting for you two. Come in, come in.” She closed the door behind them, then gave Sam a big hug. Sam thought she might have surprised Ivy, because the look on Ivy’s face when Eileen gave her as warm a welcome made him smile.
“These are for you,” Ivy said shyly, holding out the plate.
“Oh, peanut butter.” Eileen smiled. “My favorite.” She took the cookies. “It’s so good to meet you, Ivy. So, this is the place.” Eileen waved an arm at the interior.
Ivy stared, wide-eyed, not that Sam could blame her. He felt totally out of place in the designer home. It had built-ins made of quality wood, antique furnishings he worried would break under his weight, and fresh flowers. For no reason. Not like it was a holiday or anything. He felt like he’d been stuck in the middle of one of those millionaire house-hunting programs Eileen was addicted to.
“Let me take your coats.” Eileen hung up their jackets in a big hall closet. Sam would have tossed them over the couch, like they did at Ivy’s.
“Wow. This place is gorgeous.” Ivy looked out the back windows at Manzanita Bay. Twinkling lights on the boats out at sea gave the outdoors a romantic vibe…if Sam were prone to feeling that kind of stuff.
A glance at the big, round dining table off the living area showed an aqua-blue tablecloth, floral centerpiece, and lit candles. Four place settings had already been laid out, with crystal glasses Sam feared breaking. Did the guy not own any plastic cups, for God’s sake?
“…will be right out,” Eileen was saying about Jacob, who apparently toiled over the stove in the closed-off kitchen. “Would you like the grand tour, Ivy?”
“Are you kidding? I feel like I’m on House Hunters: Seattle.”
It was like he and Ivy shared the same brain sometimes.
Eileen laughed and took Ivy away. Sam would have followed, but Jacob ventured out from his gourmet kitchen. “Sam. Nice to see you.” He strode forward with a big smile and held out a manicured hand. Dr. Jacob Wynn, DDS, had warm, blue eyes behind designer frames. He radiated sincerity and looked like the stereotype of what all older men should aspire to in his khaki pants and button-down, light-blue shirt.
Sam had dressed for the occasion—because it was Eileen after all—in clean black jeans and one of Foley’s sweaters. The dark-gray one, because it was clean and hid stains, according to Foley.
“Where’s this Ivy I’m hearing so much about?”
“She’s getting the third degree from Eileen on a ‘tour’ of the house,” he said, using air quotes.
Jacob grinned. Man, he had some nice, straight, white teeth. Then again, Sam wouldn’t exactly trust a dentist with crooked, yellow fangs.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’ll take a beer.” He followed Jacob into the kitchen and sat at one of the stools by the eat-in island, careful to make sure he sat apart from Jacob and didn’t make any sudden moves. Normally he liked making others scared of him. But not people he cared about. And with Jacob soon to marry Eileen, the dude would soon be family. “Thanks.” He accepted the bottle and, parched, chugged half of it. “Ah, that hit the spot.”
Jacob grabbed a bottle and drank as well, no doubt to make Sam feel at ease and not like a total slob for not using a glass.
“So, how have you been?” Jacob asked. “We haven’t seen you in a few weeks.”
Sam glanced around and leaned toward Jacob. “I’ve been keeping my distance. What is with Eileen and this wedding? She’s like Bridezilla on crack.”
Jacob smothered a grin. “An apt description.” He sighed. “I don’t know. I think she’s nervous, so she’s throwing all her energy into the wedding to ignore her cold feet.”
Sam hadn’t considered that. “Think she’ll take off?”
“No. At least, I hope not.”
Great, now Jacob looked anxious. Nice job, idiot. Freak out the host, why don’t you?
Fortunately, Eileen and Ivy returned.
“Sam, have you seen this house? It’s amazing.” Ivy paused when she spotted Jacob. “Oh, hello. You must be Jacob. I’m Ivy.” She held a hand out and shook Jacob’s.
“A pleasure to meet you.”
They stood smiling at each other. Sam knew what the other man saw—a gorgeous, sweet blond way too good for Sam. Ivy wore a long denim skirt and a pretty green sweater, her hair down, curled over her shoulders. She looked like a damn dream, and Sam worried he’d wake someday to find her gone.
He felt Eileen’s stare. “What? Do I have something on my face?”
“You mean, in addition to that annoyed frown line right there?” Eileen tapped him between his eyes and laughed when he swept her into a hug, lifting her feet off the floor.
“My momma’s getting married.” Sam knew she loved when he called her that, and making her happy felt good. “I can’t wait to see you walking down the aisle.”
Ivy smiled at them.
And everything felt right. Eileen, his dream mom; her almost husband; and his girl—all together.
The dinner went better than he’d hoped. Eileen treated Ivy the way she treated Cyn—like a second daughter. He and Jacob lamented Eileen’s wedding mania while Ivy defended her, saying the stress of hosting
such an event would freak anyone out.
Eileen beamed.
Jacob kept the conversation flowing away from wedding talk, which Sam appreciated. When dinner ended, Jacob stood to clear the table. “You and I have dishes, Sam.”
An odd command, since Jacob never let anyone lift a finger at his house. A guest was a guest. Period.
But a glance at Eileen and her nod toward the kitchen had Sam rethinking things.
“Ah, Ivy might want to—”
“Shoo.” Eileen waved him away. “I want to talk to Ivy about wedding stuff I don’t want Jacob to hear.”
“Sounds good to me.” Jacob made his escape into the kitchen.
“I won’t tell him.” Sam didn’t want to leave Ivy alone. Eileen had a funny look in her eye.
“Yes, you will. You’re male. You all share too much.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Go.” Eileen pointed in the direction of the kitchen, ordering him around like he was eleven all over again.
Ivy stared, wide-eyed, at the petite Eileen and her fiery authority. “I’ll be fine, Sam. Better do what she says.”
“See? Ivy’s a smart girl. Boy, why are you still standing there?”
“Fine. I’m going.” But before he headed in to join Jacob, he warned her, “I’ll be right in the kitchen if anyone needs anything,” in his meanest, most respectful voice.
Ivy could hold her own. Besides, Eileen seemed to really like her. It was all good.
And it was even better when he joined Jacob for a slice of devil’s food cake and milk.
“Thanks.”
Jacob nodded. “I’m glad you like it. I made it myself.”
Of course he had. The guy probably shit rainbows too. Everything he touched seemed to turn to gold. Not that Sam minded, since the guy was marrying Eileen, but being near Jacob too much made Sam feel inadequate. He’d never be able to offer Ivy a place like this on the water. A sense of peace and sophistication.
Sam was engine oil and beer. Curse words, fighting at Ray’s, and rescuing stray mutts from the street. Ivy was sweetness and light, neatness and a tender smile. Man, he was fucking doomed.
“I know that look, and it’s not good.” Jacob shoved the plate of cake at him. “Eat and forget your worries.”
“Hey, this is good.” Sam ate the whole piece in under a minute. Stress eating while he worried about Ivy? Nah, it’s just good cake.
“More?”
“Hell yeah.”
“Don’t worry, Sam. Eileen likes her. I can tell.” Jacob dished him another piece. “Oh, and you don’t have to worry about me and Eileen.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I first met Eileen, I knew.”
Sam forced himself to swallow before talking. It was one thing to gross Foley out, another when it came to Eileen’s man. He had to make a good impression—until the guy was married and family. Then all bets were off. “You knew what?”
“That she was the one for me. I knew the moment I met her I wanted to marry her.”
“That soon?” Sam felt a rush of nerves. Because he’d felt the same way about Ivy. But he didn’t have Jacob’s track record when it came to women. Jacob had been married once, had a beautiful daughter and grandkid to boot. He could do committed.
“That soon,” Jacob agreed. “When you know, you know.” Jacob smiled. “And like I said, don’t worry about Ivy and Eileen. Your mother likes her, I can tell.”
Yeah, but Eileen could be protective as hell. After that mess with Jennifer, the woman had said some things to the girl and her parents that had shocked even Sam. He groaned. “You don’t think she’s gonna grill Ivy or anything, do you? I don’t want to scare her off.”
“Who, Eileen? You know her better than I do. What do you think?” Then, because Jacob had a soft heart, he cut Sam another piece of cake. “More milk?”
Sam sighed. “A bigger glass would be great.” He lost himself in chocolate, and not the bitter kind.
Chapter 15
Eileen studied the first girl Sam had brought to meet her in over ten years. Oh, Sam had brought friends of his home before. She’d fix them a meal or a snack and let the boys have their sleepovers. As they got older, she’d feed everyone before the boys and their friends hit the bars. Though Sam wasn’t hers by blood, she’d cared for him when Louise hadn’t. Which had pretty much been all the time.
Yet Sam had never brought home a woman he looked at the way he watched Ivy. Like the girl was something precious. Like he was scared she’d leave if Sam didn’t remain close. That, and there was a curious fascination there, as if Sam couldn’t not look at her.
He had good taste. Ivy was charming. Not only pretty on the outside, but on the inside as well. She’d been courteous and easy to talk to. Eileen liked her. But this was about Sam. She’d have to be thorough.
Ivy sat on the couch, watching the bobbing lights of passing boats on the water. The waxing moon lit up the night sky, turning it into a magical evening. Then again, everything felt magical to Eileen lately. She couldn’t believe in just a few short months, she’d be marrying the man of her dreams. Oh, she knew Jacob worried she had her concerns about the wedding. But she’d worked those out. Now she simply stressed about making the day a success, which had to do with logistics, not emotions.
She wanted that same happiness for Foley, who seemed to have it with Cyn. But the man she worried about most sat in the kitchen with Jacob. Sam and his vulnerable heart—would they be safe in Ivy’s hands?
“Yes?”
Eileen blinked.
“You’re giving me that look,” Ivy pointed out. “Did you want to ask me something?”
Eileen decided to go tits-out firm. If the girl couldn’t handle some tough talk, she wasn’t the one for Sam. And the boy could hem and haw about just meeting the girl, but hell. Eileen knew her boy, and he was hooked. “I have a few questions.”
Eileen had intended to be pointed with the girl, but Ivy looked so nervous, so young, suddenly, she didn’t have the heart to lay into her. “So you and Sam. Are you two serious?”
Ivy shrugged. “We kind of just started dating.” The word dating sounded rusty on her tongue. “I like him a lot. He’s sweet.”
“Sam is sweet.”
Ivy nodded. “He seems so tough, but he’s a nice person at heart. I mean, he can hurt a guy. I saw him beat up a man at Ray’s. But the man deserved it. Sam’s been nothing but kind to me.” Ivy blushed.
Eileen would bet that wasn’t all Sam had been to Ivy. “He’s a sweetheart of a giant, but because of his size and, let’s face it, that stare, people can think the worst about him. Foley and I watch out for him.” A warning.
Ivy nodded. “I think he’s lucky he had you, and he knows it. It’s what he hasn’t said about Louise that made me realize that. You’re a good woman, Eileen. Helping him like you did.” Ivy smiled, and that soft look had no doubt pierced right through Sam’s ironclad heart. That her boy had actually mentioned Louise to Ivy at all spoke volumes. “I don’t know what he was like as a boy, but he’s a good man. I like him a lot.”
The girl had stared like a lovesick calf at Sam when he hadn’t been looking. Eileen knew that look. Hell, she used it all the time with Jacob, but she kept that to herself. “I’m thinking you like him a lot more than as a casual friend.”
“We’re dating.” Ivy nodded, then she smiled. “I like being with Sam. He makes me laugh.”
“He’s a little smart-ass.” Eileen laughed. “Always has been.” She paused. “Have you seen his house yet?” That was something Ivy should know. If the girl was afraid of dirt, Sam was not the man for her. “Because the man you’re dating might have a soft spot for animals, but he’s got a god-awful sense of organization.”
“He showed me his room to prove Foley wrong about calling him a hoarder.” Ivy and Eileen
chuckled. “I’ve seen his stacks,” Ivy admitted. “He’s not the neatest man I’ve ever met, but hey, it’s his room.”
“His stacks. Lord. That boy and his collections.” She shook her head.
“I don’t mind.” Ivy paused. “From the things he’s said, I get the feeling he didn’t have a lot growing up. That life with Louise wasn’t…the best.” Ivy shrugged. “So maybe he keeps what’s important to him now because he can.” She nodded. “We all have our stuff. What’s best about Sam is that he’s got a killer smile. And he’s such a good person.”
Eileen felt it. This girl—she saw the real Sam. “Ivy, how are you not married with sixteen babies by now? How old are you?”
Ivy blinked. “Ah, twenty-six.”
“Sam is thirty-two and never been married. You?”
“No. I was engaged once.” Some drama there—Eileen could see it. “But it didn’t work out. I’ve been single for a while. Men can be too clingy.”
“Tell me about it.”
Ivy snorted. “I was doing fine on my own. Then I found Cookie at the back door. And soon after, I found Sam there too.” She sighed. “Now I have two boys in my life, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Eileen envisioned wedding bells for Sam, though she had no intention of telling him and scaring him away. “One thing you should know. Sam can be skittish. Go easy on him.”
Ivy laughed. “Easy on him? He should go easy on me. He can be kind of intimidating.”
“You can handle him. You have the stomach for it. I can tell.”
They smiled at each other.
“So can I ask you a wedding question?” Ivy asked.
Eileen perked up. “Sure.”
“What’s your theme? Colors?”
The rest of the evening passed with the ladies talking wedding details until Sam and Jacob joined them and turned the conversation toward the water and boating, with a promise to take everyone out on the bay when the weather grew warmer.
Before Eileen knew it, Sam and Ivy had departed.
“Well?” Jacob asked as they got into bed. He pulled her into his arms, and she laid her head on his chest.
