Chapter 20
DALTON
“Hey, Rosie. Are you nearly ready?” Sage calls out to her sister, and I can’t help but listen in.
Rosie hurries over to the side of the room, a tray of dirty glasses in her hand. We stand by the register, and she looks around the restaurant. “It’s really busy this evening, and I told Lucia that I would stay and work the evening shift.”
“Oh, man. I have a date, and I have to go home and get ready.” Sage looks nervous. “I guess I can always take an Uber or something so you can have the car.”
I head over to them and give her a smile, hoping she doesn’t think I was deliberately eavesdropping. “I couldn’t help but overhear you, and I think I can offer a—”
“Nope,” Sage says quickly.
“Nope what?”
“Nope, I can’t babysit Toby tonight. I’m sorry. I have a date—a very promising date—and I cannot be rude again.” She gives me a pointed look, and I fake an apologetic smile.
“Actually, I don’t need you to babysit Toby, but thank you for not offering.” I present her with a wry smile. “I was going to say, I can give you a ride home and then drop you off at your date if you want.”
She looks at me in surprise, her eyes studying mine for a couple of seconds. Like she’s trying to figure out whether this is a real offer. “I guess so, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all. Consider this an apology for me ruining your date the other night.
” I look down and pretend to bow. “The lady wasn’t able to make it to the ball, and that was my fault.
Is your date tonight with the same Prince Charming …
” I stop as she glares at me. “Still a sore spot, me calling him Prince Charming?”
“Not at all; however, it turns out he actually was not happy that I missed the last date, and I never heard from him again.” She taps her fingers against her thigh and stares at me expectantly.
“I am so sorry. I really didn’t mean to ruin your date.”
“It’s okay,” she says, shrugging. “Tonight should be much better. Parker seems like he’s really nice and funny, and we’re going to grab drinks and dinner. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Okay, shall we get going then? I wouldn’t want you to not be able to dress up as much as you might want to so that you can impress Spider-Man.”
“What are you talking about?” She stares at me like I’m crazy.
“You said his name was Parker, right? I assumed maybe he went by Peter Parker.”
“Very funny.” She rolls her eyes at me.
“What? You’re the sort of woman who deserves a superhero. Don’t you think so, Rosie?”
“Maybe she wants Batman or Superman.” Rosie gives me a wide smile and winks. “Are you Bruce Wayne or Clark Kent?”
Sage hits her in the shoulder before I can respond. “Really, Rosie?”
“What?”
“Let’s go.” Sage ignores her sister and steps toward me. “If you’re ready, of course.”
“I’m ready.” I nod.
As we walk to my car, I look over at Sage and debate whether or not to ask my next question.
“What was Rosie going on about? Was she saying that I’m Batman or Superman? I didn’t realize she thought I was a superhero.”
“She was just joking. Didn’t you know she wants a career in comedy one of these days?”
“No, I didn’t know. I thought she wanted a career in trying to date Brett.”
“Ha-ha, very funny. She’s no longer interested in him anyway. She’s barely seen him. Speaking of Brett, have you heard anything from him about my dad?” She pauses and looks down.
She looks somber, and it’s always a surprise when I see her serious like this. Like she’s vulnerable and she can be easily broken. She’s so strong that I know she hates coming across like this.
“Actually, when we get in the car, I can call Brett if you want. Last thing I heard was that he was following up with some leads. I gave him your mom’s phone number, and I know he was going to ask her some questions.”
“Cool,” she says with a warm smile. “I mean, he might not be able to find my birth dad, and that’s okay.”
“You want to know who your real dad is, and I hope he can find him. Brett is the best, so if anyone can find him, it’s him.”
“Yeah, it’s weird, you know? A part of me feels like I shouldn’t even want to know.
He obviously didn’t care about me, and I did have a dad growing up.
It wasn’t like I had no one, but there’s a part of me that wonders if I met him, if we connected, if we could have that sort of father-daughter relationship that I see other people have, like Rosie and our dad have.
” She sighs and lowers her voice. “I always wondered why he seemed to prefer her, and I never understood. I just thought maybe I was too loud, too annoying, or maybe as the oldest one, I wasn’t deserving of the most love, but it’s because she’s his birth daughter.
She’s his flesh and blood, and no matter how much he cared for me, it just wasn’t the same. ”
“I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt”—I stop and stare at her—“that a real man loves a child no matter what the DNA report says. A child doesn’t have to be your blood for you to love them,” I say.
She smiles at me. “Thanks for that. I don’t mean to disparage my dad, but you know …” She shrugs.
“I get it.” I reach out and squeeze her hand. “The strongest bond is love, and DNA has nothing to do with your heart.”
Her lips tremble, and I give her a quick, warm hug. She hugs me back, and I can feel her take a couple of deep breaths.
“It’ll all work out as it should,” I whisper before we pull apart and get into the car.
“You can come in if you want. I’m not going to be super long. I’m just going to take a quick shower and change.”
“Okay, thank you.”
I think about teasing her and asking if she wants me to join her in the shower, but then I think about the evening we had earlier, and I don’t want to ruin that memory.
I don’t want to cheapen that moment of her opening up to me with a sexual innuendo.
There is a time and place for everything, and this isn’t the time.
We head up to the condo, and Sage immediately walks over to the kitchen and opens the fridge.
“You want something to drink?”
“No, I’m okay. I can help myself. I know the place well.”
“True that, I suppose, as this is Lucia’s place. You know it even better than me.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying living here.”
“I really am. It was so generous of you, Lucia, and Izzy to let Rosie and me stay, and I really do hope that in the next couple of months, you will let me start contributing and paying rent.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” I say, not wanting her to feel like she’s indebted to Lucia or me.
As much as I like teasing her about her wanting to date a rich man, I don’t want her to be uncomfortable.
I don’t want her to stretch her finances too thin.
The tips that she makes at the restaurant are good, but they’re not amazing.
She’s not making six figures. She’s not making enough to pay rent and bills and save up for her own place, which is what I know she wants.
She heads into the bathroom and gives me a wide smile. “I’ll just be a couple of minutes or ten,” she says, waving her hands toward the living room. “Make yourself at home.”
I nod and take a seat on the couch. I wonder what it would be like if she were getting ready for me and if we were going on a date.
I really wish that I were the one taking her to dinner, flirting with her, spoiling her, but I’m not good enough.
I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind since that kiss, even though I know I have to.
One of these days, I’m going to have to let go of any wish or hope that we can explore the growing attraction between us.
“We’re nearly there,” I say to Sage as I pull up outside the restaurant.
She’s leaning forward and buzzing with excitement. The air in the car is palpable and filled with tension, and I’m frustrated that she’s so obviously looking forward to her date with Parker.
“This place looks amazing.” Her eyes widen at the ornate brass door that leads to one of the most exclusive establishments in town.
Whoever this Parker is, it is obvious that he is loaded.
“This is the sort of place where dream dates are made,” she says wistfully as she looks over at me. “I can’t believe he invited me here on a first date.”
“Oh, why is that?” I try not to be surly.
“This is the type of place where you should propose.” She giggles girlishly while playing with her hair.
“You think so?” I grunt.
“I more than think so. This place is lush. Definitely a ten out of ten, and I haven’t even gone inside yet. This is the place where dates become more than just dates.” Her voice is breathless.
“It’s the venue where you could have a really cool double date as well,” I say casually to her.
She nods with a smile. “Yeah, I guess so.” She grabs her phone and looks at it.
“Double dates would be really fun here.”
“I suppose. Well, Parker said he’s here. I guess I’ll get out now.” She looks over at me and swallows hard. “Thanks so much for being sweet tonight.”
“You’re welcome.” I stare at her lips, and she shifts uncomfortably. “It’s always a pleasure.”
“Yeah.” She licks her lips nervously and fumbles as she unbuckles her seat belt. “Well, I guess I’m off now.”
“Want a goodbye kiss?” I whisper, and she blushes before quickly shaking her head.
“I’ll see you later. Enjoy your evening, Sage.”
I watch her get out of the car, wearing her bright red dress, her long, dark hair hanging down her back. The last thing I want is for her to enjoy her evening.
I frown when I see a tall man with a bouquet of flowers step toward her. He’s handsome, and he’s young, and I can’t help but notice the shiny Rolex on his wrist as he hands her what appears to be a dozen red roses.
“What the hell?” I mumble.
The man looks like he has the potential to be meaningful in her life.
He looks like he’s hoping to become her boyfriend or her husband.
I feel something in my gut twisting, and I know I’m not happy.
A searing surge of jealousy climbs through me, as well as a stirring of unease. No man is that perfect.
A thought bubbles into an idea suddenly, and I grab my phone. It rings twice before Sandra picks up. Sandra is an old friend from my previous life.
“Hey there, Dalton. Long time no see.”
“Hi. What are you up to this evening?” I ask, knowing I have to act fast if my plan is going to work.
“About to order a pizza and watch Love Is Blind: UK. Have you—”
“Would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?”
“I would love to go to dinner. Just you and me?” She sounds eager.
“Well, it’s actually a double date,” I say, ignoring the momentary feeling of guilt. “A friend of mine suggested it.”
I know my words are not exactly true. Sage didn’t suggest a double date, yet I laughed and joked that this was the perfect place for one.
Even if she was slightly distracted. I am going to pretend like I thought she’d agreed to a double date with me tonight.
I know it will be tricky. I know I am being deceitful, but I have to see if she and Parker connect.
I have to see if they have something and if he is a good guy.
I truly want the best for her, but something in me has to be there.
I want her to see what it would be like to go to dinner with me as well, to allow her the opportunity to compare the two of us.
Our personalities, our looks, the way we both make her feel.
I want her to put us up against each other and find him lacking.
“Can you get to the restaurant within the next ten minutes?” I practically bark into the phone.
“I can be there in five if you send me the address.” I can hear the smile in her answer.
“Good. I’ll be waiting for you outside,” I say. “And, Sandra?”
“Yes, Dalton?”
“Remember, this is a double date and not anything crazy special.”
“Sure thing, Dalton. This is going to be so amazing.”
“Yeah, it will be.”
I hang up the phone and feel guilty for using Sandra in this way, but I’ll make it up to her. I’ll send her flowers, chocolates, and a card tomorrow, apologizing for using her. She’ll understand. She’ll have to.
All is fair in love and war. Even if this is neither love nor war.
Sage and I are not in love, but there is something between us.
Even though I know I should allow her to have this date to flirt with Parker and get to know him, I can’t.
I want to be there to make sure she’s okay, to make sure she isn’t making any poor decisions.
She has no one in this town other than her sister, and I know what men are like in this superficial city.
I want to be her protector. I want to make sure she finds a good guy.
And maybe, if I am honest with myself, I want to make sure she doesn’t find a guy who isn’t me.
Which doesn’t even make sense, because I am emotionally unavailable.
I don’t want to think about my reasoning too deeply because then I’ll have to answer questions I don’t even want to think about right now.