Chapter 4
Deacon
I adjusted my tie and ran a hand down my stomach to smooth my shirt as I walked from my room toward my two friends sitting on the couch.
Emi and Sybil clapped as I strutted into the room.
Our other roommate, Marcus, was out of town visiting his girlfriend in Chicago, so I was left with the women’s catcalls alone.
Having them all plus our fur roommate, Cupcake, as friends the last two years had been the closest I’d come to family since leaving the Air Force.
This run-down house on the East Side of Des Moines had been home to a lot of laughs, even though Sybil moved out after winning the lottery the year before.
“Are you going to a job interview?” Emi asked.
“Take it in, E.” I held open the jacket and did a spin for my roommate, earning a whoop from both women. “First look is free. Second one will cost you.”
She snort-laughed and threw a pillow at me I dodged.
“As if it’s a first look. I beg you to put on clothes around here all the time.
” Emi was what I imagined an older sister would be like—she was never happier than when she was in charge, but she kept the house running smoothly.
We’d met when I answered her ad for a roommate.
After a background check and one of the most intimidating interrogations of my life, she’d invited me to move in.
Cupcake jogged into the room, sensing play was happening, but spotted the pillow on the floor and burrowed in for a nap.
“I’ve seen more of that green footprint tattoo on your ass than anyone could want. ”
Sybil was not at all like a sister given our history of casually hooking up, but all that ended when she met her fiancé. “Why are you so dressed up?” she asked. “Hot date? Parole hearing?”
“Remember my friend’s little sister is in town for a few months?
She lost her plus-one for a wedding, so I said I’d step in.
” I snagged my keys and wallet from next to the TV.
“Definitely not a hot date. He’d kill me if I tried anything with her.
” Willow had been different from what I expected, though.
She was beautiful, with those curves and what promised to be thick thighs under the dress she was wearing.
But then she’d cried, those big eyes welling with tears.
I never handled a woman crying in front of me well—it sent me into problem-solving mode, and it had reminded me I shouldn’t have noticed how hot Cruz’s little sister was.
I had a mission, and it was to support her.
“You look quite dapper,” Emi said. “Wait!” She scrambled off the couch and Sybil motioned for me to twirl again, assuring me she’d pay for the second look if needed.
She could afford it. After winning the lottery, Sybil could buy just about anything—or anyone—she wanted, not that she wanted anyone besides her fiancé, the donut shop owner turned medical researcher. “I’m sure she’ll love having you on her arm.”
“And you can give her this,” Emi said, returning with a pink rose. “I bought a dozen since they were on sale at the grocery store, but I can share.” She handed over the rose, which was just blooming, and I wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
I gave a little bow of thanks and said goodbye to my friends. On the way to my truck, I waved at the kid next door who was reading on the porch, his leg in a cast propped on a chair nearby. “Looking good, old man,” he yelled.
I opened the door to my truck and pointed at his book. “What are the Lannisters up to?”
He shrugged and held up the book. “Mostly just murder and betrayal.” Jayden’s mom worked a lot, so I’d been hanging with him when I could while he was laid up. “Preparing me for the next time I massacre you at chess!”
“Your trash talk is getting better,” I said with another wave. “And you’re on.”
Cruz’s place wasn’t far, and the sun was dipping in the sky when I turned into the driveway.
As I approached the door, there was one solid bark from the other side, and I smiled.
I got Cupcake at the same time Cruz adopted Gus, but one of us was the born dog trainer and it wasn’t me.
Gus would be silent and waiting until given the release command no matter who was on the other side of the door, and I was glad Willow had that protection.
I heard her saying something behind the closed door.
“Damn it, dog, move!” I heard more shuffling. “I can’t get to the door!”
“Tell him ‘at ease,’ ” I called through the wood.
“What?”
I chuckled and twisted the rose between my fingers. “At ease. That’s the command to stand down.”
I heard her say it, and then a breathless Willow swung open the door. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were painted a dark pink shade that made her features stand out even more than the first time I met her. “Sorry,” she said. “He was blocking the door.”
I raised one shoulder and did my best not to let my gaze drop to the front of her dress, which dipped low and then hugged her chest and stomach.
Willow definitely did not look like anyone’s kid sister.
“Gus is a force,” I said, stepping inside and scratching him behind the ears.
The big-ass German shepherd was a beast and looked as intimidating as ever, but right now his tongue lolled out of his mouth and his tail wagged furiously. “Good boy.”
“I still feel bad that you’re giving up your Saturday night to go to a stranger’s wedding with me, and now I’ve made you wait on the porch.”
“Glad Gus is on duty.” I handed her the rose. “This is for you.”
Her cheeks pinked further. “Oh my gosh. You didn’t have to do that.
” She was cute when she blushed, not kid cute but like I wanted to wrap her up in a hug.
“Let me find something to put it in before we leave.” She hurried into the kitchen, and I dipped to give Gus a few more pets.
She wore heels that had straps around the ankles, and I followed the lines of her calves to the dress’s hem while playing with Gus.
“I didn’t forget about you, buddy.” I pulled a dog treat from inside my pocket and tossed it down the hall for him.
“He didn’t chase it,” she said, returning to the kitchen and standing next to me, her shin near my sleeve, and I stood before I did something stupid like rub her leg.
“He won’t until you tell him he can,” I said.
The dog looked between us, eager to go find his treat.
I leaned down and said near her ear, “Say ‘release.’ ” I regretted the action immediately because, leaning in, I inhaled her scent before backing away.
She smelled like flowers on a beach, and I tried to catch another lingering trace in the air.
“Release!” She said it so excitedly that it almost startled Gus, who only paused for a second before disappearing down the hall. Willow grinned. “How cool is that?”
“I know,” I said, holding open the door for her. “Pretty sure that dog is trained to do Cruz’s taxes and oversee a multilevel marketing operation.”
“Cruz said he meant to leave a list of all the commands, but he forgot and hasn’t emailed them to me yet.”
I held out a hand to help her into the cab of my truck, feeling how soft her palm was in mine. “I can help you out. I’ve seen most of them.”
She pulled herself into the cab, squeezing my hand in a way I enjoyed. “Is your dog trained like this?”
“No,” I said, reluctantly letting her hand go once she was settled in the seat. “We got as far as ‘sit’ and ‘eat’ and called it good.”
I hit the button to start the engine and flipped the switch to warm her seat.
“Those are the only commands you really need, right?”
“Sit and eat?” My instinct was to make a joke about how those commands were usually a good starting place for me with women, but I bit my tongue. “They get the job done,” I said instead. “Now, are you ready to party?”
“No,” she admitted. “But there will be cake, right?”
“Exactly,” I said, backing out of the driveway. “Sit and eat.”
“And dance,” she added.
I smiled over at her as we took the exit onto the interstate. “Definitely.”