Chapter 14 #2
She was drop-dead gorgeous, and he was suddenly concerned about taking her to an event where she’d meet other guys better suited for someone like her than he’d ever be.
“Duke? Is everything all right?”
“Uh, yeah, all good.”
“Are you sure you want us to go with you? Wouldn’t you rather hang with your friends without having to worry about us?”
“No, not at all. I want you to come. If you’re up for it, that is.”
“I’d love to.”
“All right, then.”
“All right, then. You’re sure you’re okay?”
He was about to say what she wanted to hear so they could get on with their outing, but when he opened his mouth, the truth came spilling out. “I was okay until I saw you all…” He waved his hand in her direction. “You look beautiful, and you took my breath away for a second. Or two.”
She stared at him long enough that he wasn’t sure if he’d made a huge mistake telling her the truth. “That’s very sweet of you to say.”
“It’s the truth. You’re gorgeous, and the last thing I want to do is prove your mother right about anything…”
She came over to him and placed a hand on his chest.
Her touching him that way nearly stopped his heart.
Then she went a step further by going up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “You’re nothing like the kind of men my mother described, and for what it’s worth, I think you’re rather beautiful yourself.”
He snorted with laughter and embarrassment. “Sure, I am. I’m a freaking wildebeest next to you.”
“You’re beautiful inside and out, and I don’t want you saying mean things about my friend Duke. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Her smile… Goddamn if it didn’t turn him inside out, especially when she directed the full force of it in his direction.
While she gathered sweatshirts for herself and Jax, he stood perfectly still, overwhelmed by the last five minutes in which it seemed like everything in his life had changed for the better. She thought he was beautiful—inside and out. What did that mean? How should he proceed from here?
He felt less certain of himself with her than he had with any other woman he’d ever spent time with. He’d had his share of girlfriends, dates and hookups, but no other woman had ever left him as dazzled as she did, even the one he’d thought he might marry.
As he carried Jax in his car seat down the stairs to the truck, he was as tongue-tied and flummoxed as he’d been in years. His heart hammered in his chest, his mouth had gone dry, and his palms were sweaty.
Christ have mercy. He was a grown man in the throes of the deepest crush of his life, and if he wasn’t careful, he’d scare her away by being a weirdo.
While she secured Jax to the base of the child seat, he got in the driver’s side to wait for her to be ready to go.
They pulled out of the driveway and headed for North Harbor.
After a couple of miles passed in silence, he felt her looking at him.
“What?”
“Is everything going to be different now?”
He glanced over at her. It was a lot like looking directly into the sun. “What do you mean?”
“You said nice things about me. I said them about you. Does that change everything?”
“What if it did?”
“I’d be sad if we were awkward with each other. I thought we were becoming friends.”
“We are friends. I don’t want to mess that up any more than you do, but I can’t help that when I look at you, I just…”
“What?” she asked, sounding as breathless as he felt.
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “It’s important to me that I not take advantage of your need for the apartment or our proximity or anything that would be inappropriate.”
“That’s the last thing you could ever be.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just do. That’s not how you roll. You’re a gentleman, or my grandmother wouldn’t have given you the time of day.”
“Oh, well… I was kinda rough around the edges when she met me.”
“You’re not anymore.”
“Sometimes I am.”
“Well, I haven’t seen that. I’ve seen a kind, generous, sweet man who helps people without expecting anything in return other than friendship. I see someone who goes out of his way for me, which is something I’ve never had before.”
“I like helping you.”
“I know you do, and that makes you the sweetest man I’ve ever known.”
He scowled. “I’m not sweet. Quit saying that shit.”
“It’s the truth, so don’t be grumpy about it.”
“You’re supposed to think I’m tough and intimidating.”
“Oh, didn’t realize that. Sorry.” Under her breath, she added, “Not sorry.”
“I heard that.”
Her laughter was almost as captivating as her smile.
“The mood’s apt to be a bit somber tonight. Heard they found Jim Sturgil’s body.”
“Oh no. That’s so sad. Poor Tiffany and Ashleigh. And his parents…”
“I know. He could be an SOB, but you’d never wish something like this on him.”
“No, never. Even Tiffany said that.” McKenzie pulled out her phone. “I texted her to tell her how sorry I am about the news and to let me know what I can do for her this week.”
“I’m sure she’ll appreciate the support. She may even be there tonight.”
“I feel so bad for her. What a tough thing to see a child through.”
“For sure. But she and Blaine are a strong couple. They’ll love her through it.”
“Love her through it. What a sweet way to put it.”
“Cut it out with that sweet crap.”
McKenzie laughed. “Sorry, but I only speak the truth.”
“Maybe I should finally get some tats on my face to make me look tougher.”
“Even if you do that, I’ll still think you’re sweet.”
“Damn it. Clearly, I’ve played this all wrong.”
“From where I’m sitting, it seems like you’ve played it all right.”
“You really think so?”
“Uh-huh.”
“So, like, if I was to say, ‘Hey, McKenzie, you want to go out to dinner with me sometime?’ you might actually say yes?”
“Ask me and find out.”
“Oh, um, so, like… I should ask you now?”
“Were you doing something else?”
He gave her a side-eyed look. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Very much so. Aren’t you?”
“Not as much as you are.”
That only made her laugh harder.
“Keep laughing at me, and I might not ask you anything.”
“You will.”
If only he still couldn’t feel the exact spot where she’d kissed his cheek.
He would never wash that spot again. Now you’re just being ridiculous.
That might be true, but not even his internal narrator could ruin the euphoria of realizing that she liked him as much as he liked her and if he asked her out, she’d say yes.
Since they were approaching the marina, he decided to save that question for later.
When they were out of the truck, he took the baby seat from her and carried it toward the pier, where a crowd had gathered inside the restaurant and around the picnic tables outside.
Evan McCarthy and Owen Lawry were seated on stools outside with their guitars.
“You’re in for a treat. Those two are great together.”
“Who are they?”
“Evan McCarthy and Owen Lawry.”
“Evan McCarthy who sings ‘My Amazing Grace’?”
“Yep, that’s him. His folks own the marina.”
“I had no idea! I love that song. I saw him with Buddy Longstreet and Taylor Jones last summer.”
“He’s become a big deal over the last few years, but he still pops in to play here any time he’s home.”
“Wow. You never know who you’re going to meet on Gansett Island.”
“That’s very true.” Duke hoped with everything he had that she didn’t meet someone she liked better than him.