Chapter 4
4
K ent snagged the beer that Rex offered and took a healthy swig while he watched his daughter do a flip off the diving board, biting his tongue when he wanted to tell her to be careful. Everyone kept telling him he needed to lighten up when it came to Elle. While he knew they were all correct, it was impossible when you were both the mother and father.
Nicky and Annabelle sat in the round plastic kiddie pool, pouring water over his knees and laughing. Nicky certainly wasn’t shy when it came to other kids and women, but he did tend to be reserved around men.
That poor boy. To have a father who popped in and out whenever he felt like it, but not care enough to be a real dad was something Kent couldn’t comprehend. It pained him every day that Eleanor only had a few brief moments in her mother’s arms. Eleanor had only been nineteen and had her entire life ahead of her. Kent might not have loved her, but he knew no matter what, he would have been the same kind of father he was now. The only difference would be he’d be sharing time with Elle’s mother.
“Kisses, Daddy!” Annabelle stood up in the pool, opening and closing her fingers.
Rex bent over and gave her a big kiss. “Hey, Elle, mind coming over and watching these two crazy lovebirds while I talk to Kent?”
“Not at all.” Elle climbed out of the pool, wrapping a towel around her waist, which Kent noticed was starting to change. On the way over, Elle had mentioned that one of her friends had gotten her first training bra, and she was thinking she needed one, too. Kent nearly died right there.
But he wasn’t so out of touch that he didn’t know that reality was right around the corner, along with all the other things that came with becoming a young woman. Tilly and Maren had both offered to help him in those areas. As did Jackie.
But no one could take the place of a mother. Something that Elle would never experience and that pained him in other ways.
He stood, Nicky holding on to his calf, looking up at him with sad blue eyes.
“You want a kiss, too?” Kent asked.
The little boy nodded.
How could Kent refuse? He scooped him up, planting a loud raspberry kiss on his cheek like he used to do when his daughter had been that age. Nicky squirmed and giggled, kicking his little legs. If Kent ever met the boy’s father, he’d punch him before he got the chance to say hello.
“Be a good boy for Elle,” Kent said.
“I will!”
He set Nicky down and followed Rex to a table near the deep end of the pool. It always amazed Kent how rich Rex and his wife were, yet for the most part, they lived a modest life. They could have a ten-million-dollar home, but instead, they lived in a middle-class neighborhood, drove middle-class cars, and both worked. The only real difference, besides their net worth, was that they put their money where it counted: helping people who didn’t have the same luxuries. And Tilly actually made a difference in the world.
“I take it you heard back from Darius.” Kent had only met Darius Ford a few times, but he was a good friend of Arthur’s and had helped him and Rex with tracking down information about people over the years. Darius was the kind of guy that if you needed someone found, he’d be able to locate them with the snap of his fingers.
“I did.” Rex rested his ankle over his knee, tipping back his longneck. “Her ex isn’t a very nice boy.”
“Boy?”
“Well, he’s twenty-three, which is so young to be a father.”
“I was twenty when I had Elle, and Dixie’s only twenty-three,” Kent said, wishing he hadn’t sounded so defensive because Nicky’s father didn’t deserve defending. “Tell me what Darius dug up.”
“For starters, he has a record.”
Kent glanced over his shoulder. The second Nicky spied him, he waved frantically. Kent smiled, waving back. Damn kid was going to steal his heart.
“Please tell me it wasn’t for any kind of abuse,” Kent said, turning his attention back to his buddy.
Rex was a few years older, but they had gone through fire training together. Rex had been shocked that Kent had a kid, and Kent had been shocked Rex was loaded. Even more shocked when Tilly walked back into his life and bam, next thing you know, the dude’s married with babies.
Lucky man.
“Unlawful entry, larceny, and a few possession charges. He’s never done time, only a few nights in county lockup and probation.” Rex pushed his sunglasses down and peered over the rims. “His boss at the auto shop said he quit because he got some great new opportunity on the west coast.”
Kent tipped his beer, glancing up at the office over the three-car garage where Dixie was interviewing for a job as Tilly’s assistant. Good for her. She needed an opportunity like that.
“Do we know where, exactly?” Kent wasn’t the kind of guy that wished bad things on other people, even criminals, but he so wished this jerk-off was out of the picture, for good.
Rex shook his head. “His landlord said he didn’t pay his last month’s rent and just left one morning.”
“What the hell did she see in an asshole like that?”
“Not much, according to Darius’ sources,” Rex said, shoving his glasses back. “She broke up with him before she had Nicky. He claimed the kid wasn’t his. She did the whole paternity thing and nailed him for child support.”
“Which he’s barely ever paid, according to Jackie,” Kent muttered. He understood she needed help financially, but if this Daniel guy was going to keep fucking with Nicky’s heart, then no amount of money would be worth it.
“She tried taking him to court, but according to the records, she had to bail because she didn’t have the money to continue.” Rex pushed his phone across the table. “That’s where she was living until a few weeks ago. She was evicted when she couldn’t pay the rent.”
Kent stared at the run-down trailer in a dumpy park. He’d seen worse. Hell, he’d lived in worse.
“She lost her job waiting tables when she could no longer afford daycare.”
“Jesus Christ.” He’d seen his share of hard times, but he’d always managed.
Jackie had told Kent things were rough for her niece, but she also said that Dixie had been making it work. That she was tough, resourceful, and stubborn. Obviously, she’d lied to her aunt until she couldn’t lie anymore. He understood pride. Respected it. He also respected a person who could ask for help when they truly needed it.
“You know my wife does a background check on everyone she hires, right?”
“She hasn’t hired Dixie.”
“Yet,” Rex said. “But she did the check anyway because she had one of her feelings and you know how Tilly gets when she wants to help someone.”
“This is beginning to feel like spying. I just wanted to know what happened to her ex. What kind of man he was since she’s babysitting my daughter, and I don’t want that kind of crap to touch Elle.”
Rex leaned forward and tapped his finger on the table. “Her bad judgment one night doesn’t make for a lifetime of poor decisions and just because he’s a deadbeat, doesn’t mean she’s not a decent person.”
“I never said that.”
“She’s a good woman. All three references she gave talked her up as this strong, independent person, with a good work ethic, and a kind heart. Even the landlord who evicted her and the restaurant owner who had to fire her, said they would have given her a second chance had she been able to pay her bills or have regular daycare. They all knew her situation and hated doing what they did, but they had businesses to run.”
“Hard to do when you’re in that vicious cycle.”
“She’s just a woman who is down on her luck and needs a break. Tilly sees this all the time, and I would bet the sports car my wife made me sell that she hires Dixie.”
“That would certainly help her get on her feet, and I know Jackie plans on babysitting Nicky to help her, but what if this Daniel asshole shows up? That’s the last thing she and her son needs.”
“This coming from the man who gets his panties in a wad when paternal rights are screwed with.” Rex held up his hand. “Let’s get to the heart of the matter. You’ve got the hots for Dixie.”
Kent tried to stop the corners of his mouth from curling into a smile but gave up. “That’s beside the point. Even if I acted on that, and I won’t, I certainly wouldn’t feel threatened if her ex showed up, but it would concern me for Elle, which is why I’m not going to pursue her.”
“Like hell you’re not.” Rex shook his head, laughing. “You can’t stop looking at her. Man, you’re practically drooling.”
“I am not,” he said, still smiling. Any man with a pulse would notice Dixie. “But she is super sexy.”
“Really? You think so? I don’t know. I haven’t really noticed her or anything.”
Kent balled up a napkin and tossed it at Rex. “You’re a married man, and Dixie is… she’s… well, off-limits.”
“To just us married folk? Or any man, other than you?”
Kent sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Any man.”
“Why’d you drop out of college?”
Dixie swallowed the thick lump that had formed the second she’d gotten in Kent’s car an hour ago. Between fighting her attraction and wanting this job, her nerves were frazzled to the point she could barely string together a coherent thought. She stared at Tilly and cleared her throat. The interview had gone along well enough thus far. Now it was time to be honest because hiding the truth hadn’t been working out too well.
“It was hard enough being a single mother; adding the expense of college, it was just too much.”
Tilly leaned back in her large white leather chair, resting her delicate hands on the armrests. “You wanted to be a social worker?”
“I wanted to do something in social services or maybe women’s health.”
“It must have been hard for you to give up your dreams.”
Dixie shook her head. “Nicky means everything to me. I don’t see it as giving up anything when I’ve gained him.”
“I like you,” Tilly said, smiling. “Starting salary is forty thousand?—”
Dixie went into a coughing fit. No way could she have heard that correctly. The most she’d ever made had been fifteen thousand in one year.
“Are you okay? Do you need some water?”
“No, I’m good. Please continue,” Dixie said, mentally preparing herself for a different number.
“As I was saying, the salary is forty thousand. You’ll have two weeks paid vacation, five sick days and five personal days. I don’t roll them over to the next year. I work from home two days a week and in the office or visiting various programs and shelters the other three, and I expect you to come with me most days. If I need you at an evening function, I usually let you off work early that day or come in later the next day. I have a full-time nanny, if you need her services, but you’d have to work that out with her. My foundation also has a daycare on-site. If you need medical insurance, I can add you, but that comes out of your salary. You can look over the plan and let me know at any time.”
Dixie curled her fingers over the hem of her sundress to keep them from shaking. Her heart pounded so loud she thought for sure she wasn’t hearing everything right. “Are you offering me the job?”
“It’s yours for the taking.” Tilly stood, holding out a folder. “The details of the job offer and all the responsibilities are in this packet. Take tonight and read this. You can let me know tomorrow if you want the job or not.” She leaned across the desk. “I hope you’ll take it.”
“Thank you.” Her hands trembled slightly as she took the folder. She fought the tears forming in her eyes. “I won’t disappoint you.”
“Is that an acceptance?”
Dixie nodded.
“Well, all right, then,” Tilly said. The way her mouth tipped up into an elegant smile radiated confidence. “Let’s go downstairs and celebrate.”
Dixie stuffed the papers in her purse and followed Tilly out of the office and down the staircase that led to a back corner in the family room off the kitchen.
“Do you like white wine?” Tilly asked as she reached into a wine cooler.
“I do, thanks.” In the matter of three days, she’d landed a job and not just any job. Her aunt was right. This would be a fresh start. Her only worry now was Nicky.
“You look deep in thought.” Tilly set two glasses on the white granite counter adorned with green and light-gray swirls. The entire kitchen looked clean. Crisp. It had white and light-green shaker-style cabinets and a whitewashed wood floor.
Laughter filtered through the screen door. Nicky jumped from the side of the pool into Kent’s arms, screaming to do it again. Elle hung on her father’s back, egging Nicky on. He’d managed being a single parent just fine, which gave her hope. But it pained her how being around him affected Nicky. He craved male attention, and Kent was all male. Elle didn’t seem to be as needy around females, but she had Jackie, and from the looks of it, Tilly as well.
“It’s been a rough few months, and I’m a little overwhelmed with how quickly things are changing. I’m kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“I’m a good read of people, and I think it’s more than that.” Tilly pointed to the pool. “Nicky sure is attached to Kent.”
“He’s usually more guarded with men.”
“Why is that?” Tilly asked.
“His father stopped coming around to see him six months ago.” The only time Daniel ever really spent time with his son was when she pushed it, a decision she now regretted. “Stopped paying child support nine months ago.”
A soft, tender hand rested on her shoulder, sending warmth to her heart.
“Have you tried to find him? Take him to court?”
“I ran out of money and lost the energy.” She leaned against the island, sipping the butter-flavored wine, her taste buds exploding with excitement. The wine she’d been used to tasted like ethyl with a mix of berries. Taking a bit more into her mouth, she swirled it around, savoring every drop. “My mother left my dad when I was four, but really, she left me. She’s a bit of a free spirit and not cut out to be a nurturing mother. But my dad was so amazing that somehow he managed to make up for the lack of motherly affection. I thought I could do the same for Nicky.”
“Where’s your mother now?”
“She recently remarried and is living in the Panhandle. I think she’s finally settling down.”
“Do you feel loved by her?” Tilly asked.
Dixie nodded. “One thing about my mother is that she has never lied to me. She doesn’t make promises she knows she won’t keep and neither did my dad. I feel like I’ve been lying to Nicky because I really don’t believe his father loves him, much less wants to be in his life.”
“You’re a good mom, and Nicky will be okay, especially since we’re going to have to make sure he marries Annabelle. Look at them.”
The two toddlers walked across the concrete patio holding hands. “At the last daycare I had Nicky in, the teacher always told me he didn’t play nice with the other children.”
Tilly laughed. “My very first nanny quit because Annabelle was too much for her.”
“But she’s so calm.”
“Annabelle? Calm?” Rex said as he stepped through the sliders. “Your son has put a spell on that child because she’s normally a holy terror.” He waved a baby monitor. “Lucas is awake.”
“He’ll want milk,” Tilly said.
“I’m on it.” Rex breezed by, stopping to give his wife a brief kiss.
Dixie turned her attention to the backyard and gasped as Kent placed his hands on the side of the pool, pushing his upper body out of the water, showing off what could only be described as a twelve-pack. The water beaded off his tanned skin, gliding down like condensation on a frosted mug.
“Not too bad to look at,” Tilly whispered.
Dixie jumped, startled. “Oh, I wasn’t?—”
“Oh yes, you were.”
“Okay, maybe a little.” Every time she could, she stole a glance at Kent. She’d thought she’d been hiding it well, but now that he was shirtless, it would be hard to take her eyes off him.
“I’m told he works out all the time. Rex says it’s because he’s sexually deprived.”
Dixie’s cheeks burned as her jaw dropped open. “I doubt that. He’s got to have tons of women throwing themselves at him.”
“In the almost four years I’ve known him, he’s never had a girlfriend. Rex has known him for about ten years and said he’s seen him with two women.” Tilly held up two fingers. “Two.”
That had to be impossible. Then again, the last time Dixie had sex was over a year ago and before that had been when she’d gotten pregnant. “Maybe he’s just really discreet.”
“Why don’t you go find out?” Tilly raised her glass. “I dare you.”
Dixie waggled her finger. “No… no… no. I’m not interested.”
“And I’m not blond.” Tilly opened the door. “Hey, Kent, can you come here a minute? Dixie needs help with something.”
“I can’t believe you just did that.”
Tilly looked over her shoulder and winked. “I think Elle could use some help with the rug rats.”
Dixie pressed her backside against the counter, steadying herself as she heaved in a deep breath, her mind trying to find something, anything, that she could possibly need help with so she didn’t look like a complete ass.
“What’s up?” Kent inched closer, his muscles flexing with each step.
“Um… Um… I need your keys. I think I left my bag with my bathing suit in the car.”
He raised his hand, his finger landing on her shoulder. Holding her breath, she glanced down just as he flicked the string to her suit.
“Oh.” Nah. She didn’t look like an ass. She looked stupid. “Guess I wore it.”
“Guess so,” he murmured, his bare toes touching her flip-flops. “Anything else you need help with?”
His dark-mahogany orbs twinkled with a mischievous glint that stole her breath and made her flesh line with goosebumps.
“I think I’m good,” she managed to ground out.
He stood so close, her chest heaved into his hard body.
“I think you need to be kissed.”
“I… I… don’t think so.”
His index finger traced her lower lip.
The room spun. Her insides sloshed around like a teenager about to drive a car for the very first time. Her eyelids fluttered closed against her will as he brushed his mouth over hers, drawing her lower lip between his.
Her legs went limp as she leaned into him for support, clutching at his strong shoulders. His warm tongue slid into her mouth, swirling, teasing, tasting.
He cupped her face, gently breaking off the kiss, his thumbs fanning her cheeks. “I have no idea what I’m doing or why I’m doing it.”
“That makes two of us.” She dropped her hands to her sides, hoping he’d take a step back. She needed a little breathing room. “We shouldn’t have done that.”
“Probably not,” he muttered.
“I’m trying to get my life back on track and right now that doesn’t include?—”
He hushed her with his index finger. “We both have other people in our lives who come first. I get it. So, for now, why don’t we enjoy a nice dinner with our kids and friends.”