Chapter Four
S aturday afternoon, Amanda sipped sangria at the barbeque while Stef and Rylee enjoyed lemonade because they were still nursing. The day was warm, and the breeze was cool as they sat on the patio, which gave them a great view of the fenced-in backyard and the volleyball game going on toward the side.
Horseshoes were slated to start after volleyball.
She was in no hurry to maim.
After all, it was nice here and she wanted an invite to come back.
With a sigh, she sat back and glanced around.
Abby, Christa, and Loni and Lori—famous local bakers she’d seen on TV—sat in lawn chairs in the corner by the kids, watching the little ones play with the toys Amanda had brought for them. The colorful balls were a big hit at school, so she knew Noah, Dillan, and Mindy would enjoy having some here today too.
It had been another great week at the preschool, but she was enjoying the downtime…and observing a certain handsome neighbor of hers as he out-spiked, out-saved, and out-served every single player, including her sister, Mel, and Lyndsey.
And those women were amazing.
She flicked her gaze over the male players. Every last one was easy on the eyes.
“What’s the frown for?” Rylee asked.
Amanda wanted to be like her when she grew up. The gorgeous woman was Dex’s wife, Gabe’s sister, an ESI operative, and mother to little Sophia, currently asleep in her arms. In other words, Superwoman.
Instead, she was just frumpy Amanda, the boring, single schoolmarm.
She shrugged. “Just realized how dull my life is.”
“Dull?” Stef raised a brow.
Another Superwoman. Stef was married to Mac, owned her own graphic design shop, and was mother to Matthew, currently sleeping in her lap.
“Didn’t you just get back from teaching abroad?” the woman asked.
“Well, yeah.” She sipped her drink, trying not to think about why she left.
“Takes guts to move to a new country without knowing anyone,” Rylee pointed out.
Stef nodded. “That’s certainly not boring.”
She shrugged again. “I guess.”
Her gaze wandered back to the volleyball game, and she decided to use it to change the subject.
“All the ESI guys are handsome,” she said. “Is it a prerequisite or something?”
Her friends chuckled.
“Or something,” Stefanie muttered with a grin.
Rylee motioned toward her brother. “Gabe is handsome too.”
She flicked her gaze to the tall, muscular sheriff with gorgeous blue eyes manning the grill. “I agree. So is Holden, and neither of them work for ESI, so the handsome trait must be part of a different prerequisite.”
Stef sipped her lemonade before quietly setting it on the table. “You think the guys are handsome now, wait until it gets warmer, and their shirts come off.”
Amanda’s pulse hiccupped at the thought of seeing Dante’s, no doubt, delectable torso. She could tell it was well-defined by the way his T-shirt spread across his broad shoulders and chest as she watched him jump up and spike the volleyball.
He was wearing mirrored sunglasses today and he looked dead-sexy in them. Her pulse had yet to level off.
Seeing him shirtless?
She blew out a breath. “Not sure I could handle that.”
“Oh, you’ll manage.” Stef grinned.
Rylee chuckled. “Yeah, just like us—with a big smile on your face.”
Her chuckle echoed with the others.
“Here’s to our handsome men,” Stef said, lifting her cup, and Rylee followed suit.
Amanda kept hers on the table and waited.
“Aren’t you going to toast?” Stef asked.
She shook her head. “No, I’m not part of it. I don’t have a man.”
The women paused a moment before they sipped their drinks and set their glasses down.
“You know, Amanda, you could be,” Rylee said, and Stef nodded. “There’s a very single, very handsome, very eligible man right over there.”
She didn’t bother to look. “Not happening,” she said. “And like I told my sister and Lyndsey a week ago, please don’t try to set me up with Dante.”
Rylee raised a brow. “You can’t tell me you don’t find him attractive because you blush whenever he’s around.”
Darn, she’d hoped no one had noticed.
“Of course, I find him attractive, but that’s not the point.” She blew out another breath. “He’s a widower, and I’d rather let him decide when he’s ready to date and whom he wants to date.”
“He might be readier than you think.” Stef grinned.
Amanda frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Have you seen the way he looks at you?” the woman asked, a brow quirked.
She jerked her head back. “What? He doesn’t look at me any different than you guys.”
Stef chuckled. “For someone educated in education, you sure are wrong.”
“It’s true.” Rylee nodded. “He’s good at keeping it sly, but we girls have been dealing with these military types for a few years now. We know their ways, and Dante likes to glance your way.”
She blinked and stared from one woman to another, unsure if they were serious or delusional.
“It’s true.” Stefanie nodded. “He stared at you all the while you were talking to Gabe before.”
She smirked and waved her hand in front of her face. “I’m sure he was just curious as to what Gabe was grilling.”
“No.” Rylee shook her head. “He was definitely more interested in your backside than the steaks.”
The girls laughed.
So did Amanda, but she still thought they were mistaken.
“They’re right, he is definitely attracted to you,” Loni said as she neared, apparently within earshot. “Even I can see it and I’m going blind.”
Amanda inhaled and stared at the beauty who nonchalantly poked fun at the degenerative eye disease Emily had told her about.
“I’m sorry, you’re not used to my humor,” the black-haired beauty said. “It’s okay. I’m okay. The medication your sister has me on is keeping my disease at bay for now.”
“Olivia is your eye doctor?” Amanda asked.
Loni nodded. “Yes. Dr. Kramer recommended her before he retired last year.”
“Well, my sister is brilliant,” Amanda stated honestly. “So, I’m sure you’re getting the best of care.”
“I agree.” Loni grinned.
“You have another sister who is an eye doctor?” Stef asked.
“Yes,” she replied, proud of her big sister. “Olivia is three years older than me. She got the brains. Emily got the athletic prowess, and I got…” She waved at herself. “The messy middle.”
The women laughed.
That’s what Amanda did. She made people laugh. But since that usually made those people feel good, it made her feel good too.
“You’re not messy,” Stef said. “Christa says you run a very organized class.”
Warmth spread through her chest. She smiled, pleased to hear a parent had noticed. “I try.”
“You don’t need to try,” Rylee stated, readjusting a sleeping Sophia in her arms. “Sounds like you already do.”
“Speaking of do…” Loni said, dropping down into a vacant chair. “What do you think about Dante predicting that rainstorm last Saturday?”
Stef’s eyes widened. “I know. That was something, wasn’t it?”
“I’ll say.” Amanda nodded. “When he first said we should move the party inside because it was going to rain, I thought he was joking because the skies were clear and blue.”
But thanks to him, fifteen minutes later, everyone was inside his house when the skies let loose.
“Think it was a fluke?” Loni asked. “You know, like a one and done.”
Rylee snorted. “Oh, nothing about that guy says he’s the one and done type. Wouldn’t you agree, Amanda?”
Considering her mind had jumped ship and was currently swimming in naughty waters, she lifted her fingers and made a zipping motion by her lips.
Amusement lit Stef’s eyes. “Pleading the Fifth, huh?”
She nodded.
“Smart.” Rylee smiled.
The others laughed and she joined in.
“What’s so funny?” Mac asked, lumbering near with Dex and Dean on his tail.
Dante sauntered over to the kids, a bottle of water to his lips.
“Just girl stuff,” Stef replied smoothly, lifting her face for Mac’s incoming kiss.
Dex and Dean extracted kisses from their women, leaving her to wait it out. It wasn’t uncomfortable at all. She laughed inwardly and sipped the drink she’d nursed all day.
“So, you ready to play?” Mac asked her.
No. Probably never.
Amanda cocked her head. “Don’t you want to rest?”
That volleyball game had been energetic with a capital E. And she would know, since her gaze had barely strayed.
“Nah.” Mac shrugged and sucked down a bottle of water as did his two buddies. “We’re good, right, Dex?”
Dex nodded.
“Thanks for filling in for me, Amanda,” Stef said, a slight grin tugging her lips.
Would the woman be happy about it later? Amanda didn’t have a great track record with horseshoes.
“You sure you don’t want to play?” she asked.
Stef shook her head. “No, I’m content right here.”
The adoring look that stole across the woman’s face as she gazed at her sleeping son spoke the truth.
“Okay, then.” She finished the last of her sangria and set her empty cup on the table before rising to her feet. “I’m really not that great at this, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
That was putting it mildly.
“Aw, you’ll be fine,” Mac assured as she walked with him toward the horseshoe court that ran along the side fence to the back corner, on the opposite side of the yard of the children.
As she passed the volleyball area where another game was about to start, her sister gave her a thumbs up. “Go easy on them, Amanda.”
She snorted. “Very funny. I’m the best player on the other team.”
“True.” Lyndsey grinned. “I hope you guys are paid up on your insurance.”
Mac and Dex laughed, and Dante smiled as he joined them near the first pitching platform. “So, you’re not a horseshoe shark?”
Another snort rushed up her throat. “More like a horseshoe guppy.”
He laughed, and the sound sent a round of goose bumps over her skin.
“Okay, you two take this pit, Dex and I will take the other and start us off.” Mac nodded to them before walking with Dex to the other end of the court where the horseshoes lay.
Amanda’s heart rocked when she realized by being on opposite teams, it meant she had to stand next to Dante for the entire game. And with his sunglasses currently hooked on the neck of his shirt, his warm brown gaze was accessible.
Super.
A round of nerves surfaced to tickle her spine. She pushed them aside. It was ridiculous. She’d been around plenty of handsome men before. Dante was no different.
Only he was, because she was attracted to him.
She remained quiet and calm as Mac and Dex threw their first round. No ringers. Maybe she wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe she’d actually keep her horseshoes in the pit. Or at least the court. Or Gabe’s yard.
Maybe it would rain.
She glanced at Dante. “What’s your take on the weather today?”
He glanced up at the sky then back to her and smiled. “No rain. Sorry.”
Inhaling, she nodded and took the shoes from him that he’d kindly picked up for her.
“You’re first,” he said, motioning toward the pitcher’s box.
She watched Mac and Dex move to the side. “You might want to move away from the fence and stand on the other side so you can run…if need be.”
The guys laughed. She didn’t. She was serious.
Amanda pointed to the yard side of the court and waited until the grinning guys appeased her.
It was for their own good.
She turned to Dante. “You, on the other hand, should move toward the fence, since I’m right-handed and it’s on the yard side, so if it slips, you’re in the clear.”
“It’s okay, Amanda!” Dex called. “Just throw. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
She snorted. “That’s what my cousin said. He learned the hard way.”
“Oh?” Dex blinked at her. “What happened?”
“I broke his glasses,” she replied.
Dante stepped closer. “That’s not so bad.”
She bit her lip. “They were on his face.”
Dex and Mac’s laughter was drowned out by Dante’s. She was mesmerized at how much younger the handsome man appeared in the carefree state.
“He didn’t complain about it much after that,” she said. “Mainly because he was in the hospital with a broken jaw. And nose.”
The men started laughing again.
“The horseshoe left an indentation on his forehead. Thankfully, it had only been a plastic one, so that indentation eventually faded. Not the scars from the stitches, though.” By this time, Mac and Dex were sitting on the ground, heads in their hands as they shook, while Dante leaned against the fence, holding his stomach. “Funny thing was,” she said. “It formed an upside-down horseshoe. Poor kid gained the moniker, ‘Unlucky Larry.’ Boy, were they right.”
“Amanda, you have to stop…” Dante muttered between fits of laughter.
She smiled. “That’s what my cousin said.”
He snorted and clutched his ribs. “Seriously. I can’t breathe…”
“He said that too.” Amanda couldn’t help herself. Something inside told her that the guy needed this, so she continued with her story, “I tried to visit him in the hospital to tell him how sorry I was, but he scurried off the bed and cowered in the corner as he pointed at me and said, “Nnnnnnn! Nnnnnnn!” His jaw was wired shut, so I took that to mean ‘no’. He avoided me at outings after that.”
Not that she blamed him.
“At least he probably won the match, right?”
Fighting a smile, she slowly shook her head. “He was on my team.”
The guys laughed for another full minute before Dex and Mac retook their stance—a few feet away from their pit—and motioned for her to play.
After Dante wiped his face and inhaled several times, Amanda pushed the past from her brain, stepped into the pit, and careful not to step beyond the foul line, tossed the horseshoe, happy to see it land inside the pitching platform.
“Yes! No maiming,” she said.
Granted, it was still on her side of the court, but at least no one was hit. She stood aside and watched Dante’s fine form as he tossed his shoe and it landed next to the stake.
“One for us,” Dex said.
Amanda didn’t feel like a loser. How could she when she got to watch Dante in action?
For the next ten minutes, she landed four more on the other side of the court, but only two of them were within the pitcher’s box. One fell short, and the other hit the backboard.
But no one was maimed.
She moved in to take her turn.
“Hang on,” Dante said, walking up to her. “Can I give you a few pointers?”
He already had.
Considering his proximity had already caused two prominent ones on her chest, she only managed to nod.
Big mistake. He stood behind her and lightly grabbed her wrist before pulling her arm back. Every inch of her body was acutely aware of the man, especially where they touched as he practically spooned her in the middle of the sheriff’s backyard.
Try as she might, Amanda barely heard his instructions, too lost in the unfamiliar sensations rushing through her body.
“Okay?” He turned her to face him.
She blinked a few times, and because he was no longer touching her, she snagged a few floundering brain cells and said, “Umm…”
Okay, apparently not enough brain cells.
Dante smiled and the warmth in his gaze funneled straight into her. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “But could you repeat everything you just said? I couldn’t hear you over the blood sloshing through my ears.”
His smile widened.
“Crap. I said that last part out loud, didn’t I?” She kind of maybe leaned into him a little, too.
“Yeah,” he whispered. His gaze dropped down to her mouth, and there went her brain cells to flounder again.
“Look out!”
From a foggy distance, Amanda heard the warning, but it was the way she was yanked against Dante and pinned between him and the fence that captured her attention.
And she thought her body had been acutely aware of him before?
Now it was in sensory overload as she felt practically every inch of his hard body. And he had a lot of hard inches.
Then she felt a jolt shake through Dante as something smacked him and reverberated through to her.
He drew back slowly. “You okay?”
She blinked again, noting the volleyball bouncing near their feet. “Yeah. Are you?”
“Yep.” He didn’t move away.
She wasn’t complaining.
“You’re not about to go, “Nnnnnn…nnnnnnn” are you?” she asked, biting her lower lip.
Laughter softened his gaze and shook through him as he set his forehead to hers. “What am I going to do with you, Amanda?”
She had a few suggestions. Quite a few, but never got to voice them as his son came running over.
“Daddy! You saved Miss Amanda from da ball and Dillan says you’re a superhero.”
Dante released her and stepped back to lift his son into his arms. “I’m not a hero. Just your dad.”
Amanda stepped close to set a hand on Noah’s arm. “Your daddy did save me from that ball. Don’t listen to him. I think he’s a superhero too.”
Noah smiled. “Me, too. Come on, Daddy. Let’s play.”
Dante glanced at Mac and Dex. “I’m being summoned. Are we close enough to call it a game?”
Mac nodded. “Yep. We’ll call it a tie and have a tiebreaker next time.”
“You better bring helmets,” she said with a grin.
Dex laughed. “And up our insurances.”
She winked. “Good idea.”
Later that evening, she told herself it was a good idea to agree when the others suggested she walk home with Dante and Noah.
Foisted on the poor guy again.
Because she lived five houses away, Amanda had walked to the barbeque. Apparently, Dante had done the same.
If it hadn’t been for a creepy feeling on her way over of being watched on her walk to Lyndsey’s that afternoon, she might’ve shot down the offer and stayed another hour. But it would be well past dark then, and she had no desire to repeat that experience in the dark or on her own.
Walking back with someone was the smart decision…even if that someone was becoming too interesting and attractive to ignore.
By the time they made it to her house, she noted Noah had fallen asleep on his father’s shoulder. Her heart swelled at the sweet sight.
Amanda smiled at Dante and mouthed a thank you before she rushed her churning hormones inside her house.
Grateful she hadn’t had that creepy feeling again.
Thankful she hadn’t made a bigger fool of herself.
Blessed that cute, little Noah had fallen asleep and saved her from…herself.