“This is ridiculous,” I groan. “I’m only going for dinner because River asked me to.”
I pace back and forth in front of the full-length mirror in the enormous master bedroom. After choosing a simple, summer T-shirt dress, I showered and got dressed, all the while trying to convince myself to just go and get it over with. Now that I have exactly seven minutes before the hour he gave me is up, I’ve changed my mind.
I don’t want to go.
The cabin landline phone rings and I pick it up hesitantly.
“Hello?”
“You have six-and-a-half minutes until dinner is ready. Come on over,” the sexy, deeply male voice commands.
Ace Sharp. Fucking Ace Sharp.
“I’m not so sure—”
“River is mixing the salad for us now. She’s excited to have company.”
Mentally sighing, I fortify my nerves and agree to his demands. “Using your daughter is coercion, you know.”
“Is it working?” he asks lightheartedly.
“It is,” I admit.
“Then it’s an effective tactic. Get your ass over here and have dinner with us.” He chuckles and hangs up the phone.
I can’t help but laugh, too, as I hang up the receiver and start my walk over to his house. It’ll probably take longer than the six-and-a-half minutes he insisted on, but it won’t hurt him to wait a few extra minutes for my arrival. It’s just an added bonus for me that it’ll make him wonder if I’ll actually show up or not. Can’t let him think he gives the orders and I jump, especially after what an ass he’s been to me.
When I first saw him walking across the field toward me, I actually did the fabled double take. The first thing I noticed was the way his masculine, take-charge gait commanded everything else to move out of his path. His muscular arms swung easily at his sides. His steps were sure and steady under his thick thighs. As he neared, I noticed how his T-shirt, wet with sweat and streaked with dirt, clung to his chest and broad shoulders. When he reached me, I realized the state of his clothes was the result of hard work rather than that of an unkempt man. The subtle undertones of his clean, masculine scent were obvious.
His beard had a slight fade to it, enhancing his looks even more. Judging from his tan skin, the natural blond highlights in his light brown hair were no doubt from the time he spent out in the sun. The anger and irritation were clear in his smooth, Southern drawl when he spoke, but it was the depth of his emerald green eyes that told me the truth. The rough exterior, the bristle in his words, and his gruff tone were all an attempt to hide a deep pain. If the eyes are the windows to the soul, his left no doubt he was still reeling from something.
All the more reason why having dinner with him and River is a one-time deal. I can’t help him with his issues when I can barely help myself. My thoughts return to that day with Bobby and Cyndi, and my mood automatically darkens. I’m convinced I’ve conjured the devil himself when my cell phone rings and Bobby’s picture displays on the screen. My feet halt in place and I stop myself just in time from throwing my phone against the nearest tree. After I decline the call, I open his contact information and block him completely from calling or texting me.
There’s nothing he can say that I’d want to hear now.
My feet move a little slower and my step has a little less spring in it as I approach Ace’s door. Before I can knock on it, the door swings open widely and an energetic little green-eyed girl flies out at me. She must have been born with springs in her feet judging by how high she can jump. My arms catch her just in time as she plasters her little body against mine and her little arms wrap around my neck. Exactly like my heart wraps around her little pinkie finger.
“I have toys in my room. Do you want to come play with me? You can be Sparkly Susan and I’ll be Dazzling Diva. Then we can play dress-up. I have lots of pretend clothes.” She rambles on rapidly while I concentrate on deciphering her words. Every “l” sounds like a “w” in her sweet voice.
“River, take a breath,” Ace chuckles from the foyer. “Are you going to let Layne come in the house?”
River laughs, just now realizing that we’re still on the front porch. “Of course, Daddy. Let’s go inside, Waynie.” Without removing her arms from my neck, she uses them to tug on me, leans her body toward the house, and wills me to walk inside.
Her adorable antics leave me no choice but to smile and walk into the house with her still attached to me.
“You can put her down if you want.” Ace smiles warmly.
“No!” River objects and squeezes her arms and legs around me even tighter.
“I think maybe I’ll just hold her for a little longer,” I reply jokingly.