His Kind of Wonderful (Sugar Bay #2) (12 page)

Dani was having a hard time believing it herself. “What can I say? It was like lightning. One minute I was minding my own business, and the next we’re moving in. But that’s love, right,
sweetie
?” She patted Joe on his cheek. The force made him wince and he caught her hand in his before she gave him with another love tap.

“Ouch,
honey
.” He gave her a pointed look.

“Damn, I’m strong. Did I hurt you,
sugar
?”

“
Just a little
.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

“Of course not.” He linked their hands together and pulled Dani close.

Lisa looked from Dani to Joe then back to Dani again, as if she couldn’t figure out what he saw in Dani. “Fine. I’ll forward you the notes, then.” She turned away as if the sight of them together was too much.

They were silent as they watched her walk away. As soon as the door closed behind her, Dani turned to Joe. “
I need a favor
, you said.”

Joe’s smile turned sheepish. “I’m sorry Dani. I know it’s getting crazy, but it’s just until the worst of it dies down. I’ll owe you one.”

“Yes you will, but that’s okay. We’ll just expand our research.”

Joe’s eyes turned smoky. “How so?”

“That’s a surprise but having you nearby will make it easier to commence with my project.”

“Yeah. Easy.” His voice had taken on a rusty quality.

Dani squirmed in her seat at the possibility of living with Joe, no matter for how briefly. She wasn’t sure how it would turn out. On the positive side, she was eager to begin her research, yet on the negative side, being his pretend girlfriend was hard already—he was so charming—she had to brace herself at every turn or she’d turned into a lovesick fool. Living with him night and day—beneficial yet possibly torturous. The symbiotic relationship was beginning to morph into something she wasn’t sure she could handle.

“Why don’t you back out of the bachelor auction? You can blame it on me. Tell them I don’t like the attention you’ve been getting.”

“As much of a pain it’s been, I can’t back out now. I found out Linda Vitas Hospice will get a sizable donation out of the proceeds.”

“What’s that?”

“That’s the hospice that helped my aunt towards the end. So if I can help raise money for them, I will. Even if the crazies have come out.”

She sighed. “Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll be your full time body guard.”

“Yeah. Well, I might need it because now we need to tell Derek.”

Cheese and crackers.
Derek. For a moment she’d forgotten about her overprotective brother. “Well, come on then, no time like the present.”

They left Cuppa, Cuppa and made the short walk to Derek’s studio. When they neared their destination, they saw Tyler at the entrance.

Tyler froze when he saw them walking towards him. Like clockwork, his face turned beet red.

“Hey there, Tyler. How are you doing?”

“Fine,” he muttered and changed his grip on the bags.

“Let me help you with that.” Joe grabbed the bags from Tyler. He stood staring at Dani while she searched her purse for an appropriate tip.

She dug out a twenty-dollar bill and held it out.

Tyler stared at it. “That’s too much.”

“Keep it, kid.” Joe said from beside her. The town was aware of Mrs. Cunningham’s struggle as a single mom with six kids. Money was tight and they depended on Tyler’s income. Childhood had skipped him. The poor kid was head of the household already. Dani was glad he’d received grants and scholarship money for college in the fall.

They watched Tyler’s internal battle as he debated between taking charity and being able to treat his younger siblings to something. At last he nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Thanks.”

Dani pushed open the studio door. “See you later” she said but he’d already dashed away.

She met Joe’s gaze and he shrugged. Dani led the way to the back of Derek’s workshop where magic was performed on items others left for dead. The workshop was littered with projects in varying stages of progress. Eventually they would be transformed into treasures. They found the magician, himself, sanding a tabletop made from barn boards. He glanced up and grinned at the sight of Joe holding lunch.

“Finally.” He wiped his hands on a rag. “I’m starving.”

“You’re always hungry. How does Anabelle put up with you?”

“She likes my big appetite.” Derek said with a shit-eating grin. He followed Joe to the kitchenette and rummaged through a bag.

Dani groaned and Derek laughed.

“Want one, brother?” He asked Joe and grabbed two sandwiches, a bag of chips, a salad and a cookie.

Joe shook his head. “I’m good.”

“You sure? I always order extra. Dani eats like a pig, but I’ll sneak you one if you distract her.”

“Hey!” Dani punched her brother, not bothering to hold back, while Joe chuckled.

Derek rubbed his shoulder. “Watch it! Anabelle won’t like it if anything happens to me.”

“Then she should tape your mouth shut everyday before you leave home,” she muttered.

Derek grinned, unwrapping a sandwich. “What’s going on, man? I haven’t see you in a while.”

She felt Joe stiffen beside her and glanced at his face. He looked pained and a little bit guilty. They watched Derek take a huge bite out of his Cuban sandwich and close his eyes in pleasure.

“Derek, we have something to tell you.”

“Okay,” he said and finished his bite. He looked from one to the other and wiped stray crumbs from his mouth. He leaned back in his chair. “Everything okay?”

“We’re moving in together.”

Derek’s gaze snapped to Joe, his eyes narrowed. Tension coiled within the room. Dani felt a strange need to defend Joe. “It’s only pretend, Derek.”

“Explain.” Derek shot back without pause.

“Joe and I have been pretending to be a couple to distract Lisa and his assorted harem.” She felt Joe’s glare but ignored it. She didn’t want his damaged face on her conscious. “You were being bossy so I wanted to annoy you. I let you believe we were seeing each other.” She met her brother’s narrowed gaze with a grimace and continued. “But it’s all harmless and nothing to worry about.”

“Nothing to worry about,” Derek parroted then took another bite of his sandwich. He looked from one to the other for a moment. “So you’re not dating?”

She shook her head. “Nope.”

“That’s good then. I was worried.”

Joe stiffened and Dani held his forearm.

Derek continued. “Being a pretend girlfriend to help is one thing but moving in? Is that really necessary?” He glared at Joe. “And without a chaperone?” He crossed his arms over his chest and cocked a brow. “I don’t think so.”

“I’m twenty-nine Derek. I don’t need a chaperone.”

“Yes, you do. I’ll call Anabelle.” He pulled out his cellphone.

“Wait. What?”

“From what Anabelle has said, the auction has caused Joe’s harem to go ape shit with adoration. I can kind of understand how stepping up the level of your pretend relationship will work, but I’m not letting you stay in his house without a chaperone.”

“So what does that mean exactly?” A blood vessel throbbed at her temple. “Anabelle will be my chaperone?”

“Nope,” he said and she let out a relieved sigh.

“Anabelle
and I
will chaperone this weekend.” He lifted the phone to his ear and waited for Anabelle to pick up.

Her face burned. “Is that really necessary Derek?”

“It is.” He turned his attention to Joe. “Anabelle and I will be over Friday night after work. That won’t be a problem, will it?”

“Of course not. You guys sort it out. I’ve got to run.” He turned to Dani. “I’ll see you later.”

She nodded and watched Joe’s fine form walk away—so much for starting her research. She glared at Derek who held up a finger. He turned away from Dani to croon a message to his beloved while Dani simmered next to him.

Once Derek was done, she rounded on him. “You’re being ridiculous. One, Joe is your best friend. Two, I’m over eighteen. Three, he’s not remotely interested in me that way.”

Derek lifted an eyebrow. “Anything else?”

“What do you mean?”

“I haven’t heard you say anything about
you
not being interested in him.”

“Oh, right, that.” She willed away the blush that had spread over her face.

Derek stared at her, as if waiting for her to deny being charmed, smitten, and in lust with his best friend. “Exactly.” He waved to the bags of food. “Eat something before the boys get here.” He grabbed a sandwich and a familiar notecard fell out.

She reached for it but he grabbed it first.

“What’s this?”

“Nothing. It’s for me.”

Derek lifted an eyebrow and read it silently.

“I think Tyler has a crush on me.”

“Yeah?” He flipped the card over.

“It’s not a big deal. It’s just a crush so don’t go all GI Joe on him. He’s having a hard enough time, as it is.”

Derek nodded, still looking thoughtful. “You sure it’s Tyler sending these?”

“Pretty sure. I get them off and on. Usually on days we get delivery, so I think it’s him.” She held out a hand and he surrendered it to her. “They’re really sweet. He’s going make some girl very happy one day.”

“Is that right? Girls dig that kind of stuff?”

“Do girls like it when guys leave thoughtful notes? Let me think—of course, you dork. Don’t you leave notes for Anabelle?”

Derek’s ears turned a little red and she laughed.

“You’d better get on that, brother. Girls love that stuff.”

“Hey, I do stuff.”

“Please, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”

“Not
that
, punk. I make stuff for her.”

“Yeah, I guess that works.”

“Your card has an unusual typeface. I don’t think it’s from a personal computer. It looks old school—like it’s from an actual typewriter.”

“He’s probably using an old typewriter. Bless his heart.”

Derek grunted. “Sounds like you like him?”

“I don’t but I don’t want to hurt his feelings either.”

Derek nodded. “How often have you been receiving the notes?”

“For a couple of weeks now but don’t worry about it. We need to discuss this chaperoning business.”

Derek’s preoccupation with the note disappeared and he glared at Dani. “Trust me on this, Dani. It’s for your own good.”

“But—“

“Eat. You know you’re hungry.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

Her stomach chose that moment to rumble and Derek gave her a knowing look. She unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite.

***

Joe picked up the basket of fruit, vase of roses and teddy bear off his porch and opened the door. He juggled the gifts and dropped them on the coffee table along with the rest of the gifts. Not including the donations he’d received at work, so far he’d received six floral arrangements, eight fruit baskets, and five boxes of assorted cupcakes—two from the Decadent Den and three boxes made from scratch. He now had enough stuffed Beanie Boo animals to start a collection but he planned to give them to Esme and Alex when he visited again. The baked goods and food items, he’d taken to work and gotten additional ribbing from his friends. Those bastards were enjoying his nightmare a little too much. It was tempting to not bring the goodies in but he knew he couldn’t eat it all by himself.

It was sweet of the ladies to send him gifts but it was too much. If he didn’t owe so much to Linda Vitas Hospice, he would back out of the whole bachelor auction business immediately. But as it stood, only the memory of his aunt kept him on the auction block.

He grabbed a Sam Adams from the refrigerator and headed to the back porch. He took a deep breath of gulf air and nursed his beer. After a while the familiar ebb and flow of the waves relaxed him.

Despite his best efforts, more memories of his aunt surfaced. Images of Aunt Eugenia over the years—her standing in welcome that first night after the Sheriff dropped off when his dad had been shot, her cheering on the sidelines during soccer season, her crying in her bedroom when he’d come back from his first juvenile offense, her clapping like mad when he’d graduated. She’d probably been so grateful he’d actually managed to accomplish that milestone. As a child, she’d been his support and he’d broken her heart. He’d left for college and hadn’t come back until her last call.

Even then, it hadn’t been to show her all his accomplishments to justify being away for so long and make her proud, it had been to say goodbye. It had been to late. She’d managed a few more days after his arrival before she passed. The brief time had barely been enough to deal with the shock much less to say goodbye.

It hadn’t been enough.

For weeks after her death, he’d remained drunk. Filled with guilt, he’d holed himself inside the cottage and only came out during the fierce summer storms. He’d done that only because he’d been able to release his anger while lightning and thunder railed around him.

Why hadn’t she called earlier?

How long had she known?

Why didn’t he visit more?

Why had she lied when he’d asked how she was during their weekly calls?

But the truth remained, he should have known. He should have been there for her. He should have come visited and not relied on the phone. Maybe then, he’d have noticed her physical condition, maybe then they’d have been able to detect the cancer in its early stages, maybe then she’d still be alive.

He was a fucking heartbreaker.

Derek was right to protect Dani from him. She deserved a good and honorable guy. She deserved someone who didn’t hurt those around him down.

He didn’t want to let Dani down.

***

“I need help.”

“Of course you do, dear.”

Dani pulled a face at her sister, Dylan, who stood in Janie’s room.

“No seriously. Janie, you are the fashion guru of the house.”

“I am that, Aunt Dani. What are you looking for?”

“I want to look like a girl.”

“You do look like a girl.” Alex looked puzzled.

“I meant I want to look sexy.”

Three blank faces stared at her.

“I want Joe to notice me.”