Reflecting On Wishes (The Wishes Series) (20 page)

Her mother laughed and sat down on the edge of Lilah’s desk. “Well, from what I’ve been told, he was still dating his high-school sweetheart and she got pregnant. She didn’t want to have the baby but Jake told her he would take full custody and responsibility. He didn’t want her to terminate the pregnancy or give their baby up for adoption. The girlfriend had the baby and signed her rights away and continued her college career and never looked back. Jake is a single dad and apparently a damn good one. You already know from the report we got back from the lawyers that he runs a tight ship on the family farm
, and has ever since his father retired.”

Lilah went back into the bathroom and rinsed the toothpaste from her mouth and came back into her bedroom.

“I can’t even begin to understand how someone could give up their baby or what the reasons are for it. But I can say I have the utmost respect for him already for manning up and taking care of his child.”

“I agree with you on both counts. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I also believe a person’s character shines through in the toughest of times. I’ve never met him or his family
, but I already have a soft spot forming for them.” Her mom stood up and started to walk out the door when she turned back and winked. “By the way, your brother is coming with us. It might have something to do with the fact I told him everything I told you.”

“Oh good grief, t
his is business. You act like you’re marrying me off or something! It’s so embarrassing!”

Her mother’s laughter echoed down the hall as she walked away.

The trip to Dakota’s grandparents and then parents’ house went quick. As always, they all made Angel feel warm and welcome. The amount of farm fresh food they loaded them up with was enough to feed a small army but Angel wasn’t complaining. It didn’t get much better than his GiGi’s peach and blackberry preserves, which Angel now had a half dozen jars of to take home with her. She missed seeing his mom and sister, but according to his dad, they had a charity they were visiting that they were considering taking under their wing.

Pulling down the driveway to Dakota’s house literally took her breath away. It was lined on either side with Southern Live Oak trees that were of medium stature. The Spanish moss that draped the branches brought a true southern plantation feel to the place. Given a few more years and they would be tall and thick enough for the branches to completely drape over the curving driveway. It was beautiful in an ethereal way, as if it were the pathway to a heavenly place.

Angel was in love. Of all the time Angel and Dakota had known each other, she had never been to his home. The day she’d had her accident was actually the day before she was supposed to go there for the first time. It was exciting and more personal between a couple when you spent time with them at home in their own space.

A smile tilted her lips as she looked out the window and his log home came into view. For the first time, she admitted to herself they were a couple and didn’t feel like running scared. In fact, it made her feel at ease despite how dysfunctional they were at times. In the front of the ranch-style home there was a wrap-around porch that had a smooth entrance. No stairs to make her feel nervous about getting inside without needing help. She could roll right in unassisted. There were two porch swings and a couple of rocking chairs made of roughly hewn logs that had been
stripped of their bark and bore thick cushions made of brown suede leather to match the cushions on the swings. It was the perfect place to relax in the afternoon as the sun went down. She could picture them sipping sweet tea, listening to the clinking sounds of the wind chimes on either end of the front porch. Or even an early morning, drinking coffee as dusk turned into dawn with his arm around her shoulders and her head resting on his chest. A warm feeling centered in the pit of her stomach as she thought about all the possibilities.

Dakota parked his truck and got her chair out before he opened her door for her. In one swift swoop he had her in his arms and pressed to his chest. The kiss he gave her rocked her to her core. This is what real love feels like, she thought to herself. Once he sat her in her chair they went inside and the cool rush of the air conditioning greeted their warm bodies. It smelled like him, sandalwood and spice, the perfect greeting to elicit her senses into feeling at home. It was not only fresh and clean
, but the living area was beautiful. Two large reclining chairs of the same brown leather as the cushions on the furniture on the porch flanked one side of the room and a matching leather sofa with a lounge on one end filled the rest of the room. The fireplace was large and inviting. It would provide comforting warmth on a cold winter night. She could imagine curling up with him in front of the fire creating a heat of their own. Her cheeks pinkened from her wayward thoughts but she couldn’t keep from smiling.

A flat-
screened television was mounted above the fireplace. Book shelves flanked each side. The one on the right was filled with an eclectic collection of everything from
Shakespeare
and
Charles Dickens
, to
Stephen King
and
John Grisham
. A stereo system and DVD player with rows of movies filled the other. Windows lined the entire front room letting in an abundance of natural light. She followed him into the open kitchen and sighed. Again, it was simple but lovely. There was plenty of space on the black granite counter tops, and the center island had comfortable looking bar stools lining one side. From the front door you could see the entire room all the way to the patio doors. The wood flooring made it easy for her to maneuver around in her chair and the fact that there was no clutter helped. The berth around the center island was wide enough for her to get around and the double oven was low so she could even reach the bottom one on her own. The wood cabinets didn’t have doors on them; they were open front and had an antique style light stain. All the appliances were stainless steel and well cared for. It was obvious he took pride in his home and didn’t let being a bachelor be an excuse to not be clean.

“It’s really beautiful, Dakota. Did you design it all yourself?”

“Thank you. I did most of it with pointers from my mom and sister. I pretty much knew what I wanted though.”

“Well, I’m im
pressed. It’s simple and warm, a very comforting place.” She took one of the sacks he carried in and started taking vegetables out, laying them on the counter.

He reached for her and slid his fingers through her hair at the nape of her neck, pressing his forehead to hers. “I want you to feel comfortable here. I want that more than anything.” His voice was deep and soft. She took a deep breath of him and closed her eyes. His lips, so warm and tender, took hers in a slow and steady kiss. Letting it build up until they both were breathing heavy as he planted one last kiss on her forehead.

Back to emptying the sacks, Angel took a shaky breath and cleared her throat. “So what can I do to help?”

“I’m going to fire up the grill,
and then we can wash the veggies to cut up for a salad. In fact, how about I scoot that barstool to the side so you can reach the sink and the counter that way you can make the salad.”

“That s
ounds good, big guy. Set me up.” She smiled at him and felt her heart full nearly bursting with love and respect for him. He was going out of his way to make her feel comfortable, instead of feeling awkward for being in a wheelchair. It was working too.

By the time he had the lemon pepper chicken on the grill, Angel had the salad chopped and tossed. He taught her
how to make his favorite dressing which turned out to be a delicious balsamic vinaigrette that was both sweet and savory. She slathered butter and garlic over a baguette GiGi gave them while watching with surprise when Dakota hooked up an ice cream maker and whipped up a batch of peach ice cream to start freezing for dessert.

“You’re going to make me never want to leave if you can make good ice cream.”

“Aha! My plan is working,” He shouted, taking her by her waist and lifting her in his arms and spinning them around. Her laughter was that of pure, unadulterated joy. He made her feel utterly alive.

He carried her to the back patio and gently sat her down
, scooting her chair up before going back inside. He came out with a tray filled with bowls of salad and the steaming, crusty garlic bread that made her mouth water. When he returned on his second trip, he had a bottle of red wine, glasses, and a bowl of marinated olives that he said he remembered had been one of her favorites from their first date. That seemed like forever ago. He pulled the chicken off the grill putting it on plates for them, while she poured glasses of wine and tore off chunks of bread to put on their plates. Once he sat down across from her, he gave her a smile that melted her heart. It nearly brought tears to her eyes to see him so happy after all the heartache she had caused him. And if she were honest with herself, she would admit that the only reason she had ever pushed him away was because she didn’t feel like she deserved him in the state her body was in now. But the thing she finally realized now was he didn’t see her as broken or faulty, nor did he think of her as a burden. He simply loved her as she was, just as she loved him.

***

Dakota wondered how he got so lucky as to have her here, sitting across the table from him with such a stunning smile on her face. He felt fortunate to have this feeling of peace and ease between them after so many struggles. The simple things like cooking together or going to visit his family were part of the everyday life he wanted with her. As it was now, the conversation flowed easily and he felt more relaxed and completely happy than he had in a while. It had something to do with the way her body language spoke to him. No longer was she tense or in a defensive stance. The smiles weren’t forced and the worry lines in her forehead were gone.

At
the homes of his family members, she had been both polite and outgoing, easily drawing his grandparents into conversation. While they were visiting his dad, Angel had talked to him about his recovery and physical therapy, listening intently and voicing her thoughts on his hard work and dedication. It seemed like their conversation gave her more hope and certainly added to her determination to work hard. She’d started questioning him on what they would start on first for her therapy, which they were going to begin tomorrow. He loved seeing this side of her. Her competitive, no nonsense attitude was starting to come out again and it made him proud of her.

As they finished lunch, Angel cast a longing glance at the swimming pool. “What do you think about taking a few laps around the pool? I didn’t bring a swimsuit but I’m not opposed to swimming in my bra and panties
…if you’re sure no one is going to sneak up on us.”

It took everything in him to keep from groaning at the thought of her nearly naked and wet. He gestured to the six foot privacy fence that surrounded his backyard and nodded. “I promise no one will sneak up on us. In fact, I’ll go lock the front door and grab some towels after I carry our plates in. You relax and enjoy your wine. I’ll be right back.”

She laughed, probably because of his eagerness but he didn’t care. He would lock this place down like a fortress to get her clothes off and that was a fact. It didn’t take long before he joined her outside again. He nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw her lounging in her chair in a pale pink bra and bikini underwear, her head resting back and her eyes closed. Her body was trim but curved in all the right places. As he walked towards her she opened her eyes and smiled. He felt like he had a knot in his throat so large he couldn’t swallow.

Taking hold of the hem of his tank top he pulled it over his head, giving his chest a little flex. What was it about her that made him want to pound his chest and show his prowess like a beast? He kicked off his shoes while she watched every move he made. Socks off next, followed by him tugging down his basketball shorts and leaving him in black boxer briefs. He laughed when she gave a low whistle.

“Yeah, that was how I felt when I walked out and saw you there like that, so sexy.” When he spoke it came out in broken syllables. Again, he was probably sounding like a dolt but what was a guy to do when his brain stopped functioning for all intents and purposes in the presence of such a gorgeous woman?

“Trying to make me feel at home by swimming in your underwear too?”

“I’m that kind of guy, willing to sacrifice anything and everything for my lady.”

“Oh yeah? So I’m your lady now?”

“Yeah, you are. That okay with you?”

“More than okay
, actually. I’d be pissed if you didn’t feel that way.” She held her arms open to him.

He dropped the towels on the ground next to the stairs and went to her, picking her up and sealing his mouth over hers. It was a wonder they made into the pool without falling in head first
. He was too busy tasting the sweetness of her mouth to pay much attention to anything else. Even when they were chest deep he didn’t show any signs of letting go of her, nor did she of he. Instead, he pressed her back to the wall of the pool and filled his hands with the softness of her bottom and pulled her flush against him, grinding their hips together in slow circles. Her nails scored down his back and her teeth turned sharp bites into the sweetest bit of painful pleasure that he returned with just as much passion.