for now and moved on to her hamstrings.
“Tight rope, yep.”
Glad she understood his position, he pressed forward.
“You’re brilliant and I barely finished my bachelors degree.” Having no patience for the classroom and preferring action to theory, he’d had to finish it through an online program while he worked.
“You have a loving family and I’ve got no one. Your family is my extended family and I don’t want to fuck it up.”
He massaged her calves, but his eyes were on her ass. From his point of view Dani’s ass was a perfect heart-shaped mound of femininity—high, tight and round. A perfect handful for when he—scratch that. He couldn’t afford to think about that—too dangerous.
He took a deep breath. “You’re incredibly hot, Dani. I know I wasn’t supposed to notice, but there it is—out in the open.” He moved to her feet. She didn’t kick out at him and he took it as a sign she wasn’t ticklish. “But I’m not good enough for you. Derek knows this and I know this.” Personally he didn’t think anyone was. He’d watched her date a string of guys and most of them made him shake his head. If she’d found someone worthy, he’d have supported her decision, wished her well, and steered clear. But she hadn’t found anyone worthy—that was the problem. He’d had to remain nearby so he could help Derek watch out for her. So the tortures in being near her without having her had continued and now this.
“So I want to make sure you know this before we begin. I’m a fucking heart breaker so whatever happens, don’t let me break your heart.” He pulled back. “Okay, Dani?”
She didn’t move.
“Dani?”
She responded with a snore.
Well, shit.
***
Dani stood at the counter of the Decadent Den and waited for Charlie to bring out Janie’s birthday cake. It would be the piece de resistance for the surprise dinner tonight.
The back of the house door swung open and Charlie backed out carefully.
“Tada!” The two-tiered cake was an explosion of pink and white sugary sparkles. The layers were purposely lopsided, like a tilt a whirl. The composition was held together by magic. It reminded Dani of Janie, who balanced precariously in the land between woman and child—one day child-like and innocent and the next worldly and so grown up.
“What? You don’t like it?” Charlie cocked her head to the side, a frown between her eyebrows. “Too much? Damn, I thought you’d like the additional detailing I painted gold.”
“No. I love it! She’s going to love it.” Dani squealed and did a happy dance.
“Now, that’s the kind of reaction I like from my customers.”
“I can’t wait until she sees it. It’s gorgeous, Charlie. Dylan and Janie are going to love it.”
“Dani, have you been on Facebook today?”
“No, Mrs. MacKinnon, I’ve been running errands for Dylan this morning and haven’t had the chance.”
“Well you need to check it out, girl. Your boyfriend’s photo is going viral.”
“What? Let me see that.” Rather than check her phone’s tiny screen, she walked over to where Mrs. MacKinnon sat. When Charlie’s mom turned the laptop towards her, Dani gasped.
“Damn, that boy is fine,” Charlie said over Dani’s shoulder.
“Uh huh.” True. Joe was beautiful. The photographer had produced hot and sexy images despite his initial frustration. There was no constipated zombie staring back at her—only a very hot and extremely yummy alpha male.
“That’s a pretty blasé reaction to that very hot photo. Tired of him already?”
“Of course not.” That she’d been the one to put that look on his face was surreal. Just thinking about that inspirational session locked up in his study made her warm.
“Look at that blush. That girl hasn’t had her fill yet. Not by a long shot.”
Dani felt her cheeks burn at Mrs. MacKinnon’s words. At this rate, she never would get her fill. She’d barely had a sip. That she’d fallen asleep on his
“Tight rope, yep.”
Glad she understood his position, he pressed forward.
“You’re brilliant and I barely finished my bachelors degree.” Having no patience for the classroom and preferring action to theory, he’d had to finish it through an online program while he worked.
“You have a loving family and I’ve got no one. Your family is my extended family and I don’t want to fuck it up.”
He massaged her calves, but his eyes were on her ass. From his point of view Dani’s ass was a perfect heart-shaped mound of femininity—high, tight and round. A perfect handful for when he—scratch that. He couldn’t afford to think about that—too dangerous.
He took a deep breath. “You’re incredibly hot, Dani. I know I wasn’t supposed to notice, but there it is—out in the open.” He moved to her feet. She didn’t kick out at him and he took it as a sign she wasn’t ticklish. “But I’m not good enough for you. Derek knows this and I know this.” Personally he didn’t think anyone was. He’d watched her date a string of guys and most of them made him shake his head. If she’d found someone worthy, he’d have supported her decision, wished her well, and steered clear. But she hadn’t found anyone worthy—that was the problem. He’d had to remain nearby so he could help Derek watch out for her. So the tortures in being near her without having her had continued and now this.
“So I want to make sure you know this before we begin. I’m a fucking heart breaker so whatever happens, don’t let me break your heart.” He pulled back. “Okay, Dani?”
She didn’t move.
“Dani?”
She responded with a snore.
Well, shit.
***
Dani stood at the counter of the Decadent Den and waited for Charlie to bring out Janie’s birthday cake. It would be the piece de resistance for the surprise dinner tonight.
The back of the house door swung open and Charlie backed out carefully.
“Tada!” The two-tiered cake was an explosion of pink and white sugary sparkles. The layers were purposely lopsided, like a tilt a whirl. The composition was held together by magic. It reminded Dani of Janie, who balanced precariously in the land between woman and child—one day child-like and innocent and the next worldly and so grown up.
“What? You don’t like it?” Charlie cocked her head to the side, a frown between her eyebrows. “Too much? Damn, I thought you’d like the additional detailing I painted gold.”
“No. I love it! She’s going to love it.” Dani squealed and did a happy dance.
“Now, that’s the kind of reaction I like from my customers.”
“I can’t wait until she sees it. It’s gorgeous, Charlie. Dylan and Janie are going to love it.”
“Dani, have you been on Facebook today?”
“No, Mrs. MacKinnon, I’ve been running errands for Dylan this morning and haven’t had the chance.”
“Well you need to check it out, girl. Your boyfriend’s photo is going viral.”
“What? Let me see that.” Rather than check her phone’s tiny screen, she walked over to where Mrs. MacKinnon sat. When Charlie’s mom turned the laptop towards her, Dani gasped.
“Damn, that boy is fine,” Charlie said over Dani’s shoulder.
“Uh huh.” True. Joe was beautiful. The photographer had produced hot and sexy images despite his initial frustration. There was no constipated zombie staring back at her—only a very hot and extremely yummy alpha male.
“That’s a pretty blasé reaction to that very hot photo. Tired of him already?”
“Of course not.” That she’d been the one to put that look on his face was surreal. Just thinking about that inspirational session locked up in his study made her warm.
“Look at that blush. That girl hasn’t had her fill yet. Not by a long shot.”
Dani felt her cheeks burn at Mrs. MacKinnon’s words. At this rate, she never would get her fill. She’d barely had a sip. That she’d fallen asleep on his
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