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  And he wanted to hide her away? Like she was a dirty little secret?

  She was the treasure, not him, and she deserved better.

  Could he give her better?

  “I love you, Momma. I’ll come again soon.”

  No need. I’m always with you.

  He walked home. As he slipped inside, he noted the dogs were quiet—still sleeping? Jude, Brock and his dad were seated in the living room. Shadows rimmed Brock’s eyes, and lines of tension surrounded Jude’s mouth.

  “Something wrong?” he asked.

  “No, no. I was just explaining to the boys that women don’t wait forever, and if they aren’t careful, someone will come along and snatch up the one they want.” Virgil patted his shoulder. “Want to tell us what kind of beasts you got in your room? They almost busted down the door when I got home.”

  At the sound of his voice, both Adonis and Echo barked.

  Daniel ignored the hard clench his dad’s words had caused. “Come meet the new members of our family.” He strode down the hall, opened his bedroom door.

  Adonis and Echo darted into the hall. Everyone chuckled, even Jude, and a sudden sense of contentment closed around Daniel. Not quite reaching him internally, not yet, but soon. The potential was there.

  He just had to figure out his next move with Thea.

  “Dad,” he said as the dogs played, “if I wanted to…date…someone…someone like Thea Mathis—”

  Virgil’s eyes rounded. Jude and Brock—the bastards—excused themselves.

  “I want to point out that I said date. Date her. Not marry her.” Should have stayed quiet. But he was already in the fire. Why not dance in the flames? “I don’t know how long our relationship will last. Maybe a few months, maybe even a year.” His longest relationship had lasted six months. Things had heated up while he was in basic training but had ended soon after he’d first shipped out. “I don’t want you disappointed when things end.”

  His dad gave him another pat on the shoulder. “Son, I have a confession to make. I stopped by the inn today and spoke with Carol. She suspects something’s been goin’ on between you and her daughter, and she told me Dorothea is a fragile flower with dark secrets you don’t have the strength to help her carry. Now, I took exception to that. My boy is strong. The strongest. But you have dark secrets of your own, and the two of you, you need light, not more darkness.”

  What secrets did Thea have?

  The ultrasound photo…

  “Thea is strong all on her own,” he said. “She doesn’t need to be carried.”

  “That’s good. That’s real good.” Virgil smiled at him. “But I agree with you. About the relationship. With so many secrets between you, the two of you will never last.”

  What! His dad, the eternal optimist, thought Daniel would crash and burn?

  “I’m worried about you, son. You haven’t been living, and it pains me.”

  After all his hard work, everything he’d done to make his dad happy, he’d failed. From day one, he’d failed.

  He’d have to do better. He’d keep going forward, as his mother would have wanted, but he’d make a new plan. He’d show his dad he could live—really live—if only for a little while.

  He was going to openly date Thea. If she would have him.

  * * *

  DOROTHEA PUT THE finishing touches on her outfit. The dress had a large heart cut out of the center to reveal another layer of fabric with black and white stripes and a bow; it accentuated her hourglass figure. At least, she hoped. The waist was drawn tight by a second bow. While one side of the hem reached her knees, the other side fell to her ankles. She wore boots and lacy socks that peeked over the edge.

  For the finishing touch, she painted her nails purple. All the while, she tried not to think about Daniel. If he wouldn’t risk a real relationship with her, she wouldn’t risk…what? What wouldn’t she risk? Her heart? She already loved him.

  Just because they started in secret didn’t mean they had to end that way. They could be together, and she could pour her love into him. All of it. Nothing held back. And feel as if she’d been stabbed in the chest every time he denied dating her. Every time she had to lie to her mom and sister.

  Her phone rang, Lyndie’s name appearing on the screen. “Hey, you,” she said in greeting.

  In lieu of a response, Lyndie said, “Bring John to the Scratching Post, okay?”

  Revisit the site of her date with Daniel? She pushed out a heavy sigh. “Why?”

  “Ryanne is singing tonight, and she could use our support. Also, her former stepbrother is in town. Do you remember Maxim?”

  Maximum hotness, they used to whisper anytime he’d visited his dad. Sweet guy, if a little rambunctious.

  “I do.” And really, it had been years since Dorothea had supported Ryanne’s amazing talent. “You had me at Ryanne. We’ll be there.”

  “Thank you. You won’t regret it. Or maybe you will. I guess we’ll find out.” She hung up.

  Oookay. That was a bit odd.

  “If you’re going to date my teacher, you might as well make yourself useful and convince him to give me an A.”

  Holly had entered her room unannounced. She must have used a key she wasn’t supposed to have. At least her funeral attire had been replaced by a brown top and black jeans.

  The brown was as shocking as her presence. Since Dorothea’s return, Holly had mostly only worn black, as if she was in mourning—over seeing each other again. Was she finally thawing?

  “I hope you’re not implying I—” she began.

  “Bone him? I’m not implying. I’m flat-out stating it.” Holly spread her arms. “Bone him and get me an A.”

  “I’m so out of practice, I might get you a D.” Except, she remembered a time her lack of practice hadn’t mattered. As she’d writhed on Daniel, her instincts had worked just fine. Better than fine.

  “At least I’d pass.” Holly scratched her cheek and shifted from one foot to the other. “Don’t worry about the inn. Mom and me will take care of things while you’re out.”

  The unexpected offer threw her for a loop. “I fired you.”

  “Well, you just rehired me to work the weekends. Congrats!”

  A compromise was better than nothing, so she nodded. “Thank you. But just to be clear, you’re not planning to burn the place to the ground, are you?”

  “Nah. I just want to prove I’m better at managing it than you are.”

  “Ah. That makes sense. I look forward to coming home and finding you curled in a ball, sucking on your thumb, crying for mercy.”

  “In your dreams,” Holly said, the corners of her mouth twitching.

  They were having such a sweet moment. Zero arguing. She decided to push for a little more. “Listen, Halls, I want you to know—”

  Holly exited, shutting the door behind her with a loud thud.

  Abrupt beginning, and an even more abrupt end, but still Dorothea smiled with megawatt brightness. This was progress, pure and simple. While she wasn’t sure what had heralded the change in her sister’s attitude, she knew she would be forever grateful for it.

  “Oh, and by the way, Teach is here,” Holly shouted through the doorway.

  Her stomach twisted. The date. With John, who was as sweet as sugar. Surely he could lure her affections away from Daniel.

  Her phone beeped, signaling a text had just come in. From Jazz. Ugh.

  Guess what! I’m coming to Strawberry Valley in the morning to do a special on the earthquakes and hail damage and possible tornadic activity in the coming months. I’d love to chat with you.

  Jazz was coming to town? Gag!

  There were no other hotels nearby, which meant he would have to stay at the inn. The idea horrified her.

  Could she really a
fford not to rent him a room?

  Decisions, decisions.

  She had until morning. Tonight she would have a good time with a good man. They would talk and laugh and, who knows, he might kiss her at her door. Fingers crossed. That way, his kiss would be the last she’d had, not Daniel’s.

  That thought saddened her.

  I’ve got it bad. And I need it good.

  What on God’s green earth was she going to do?

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  DANIEL EXPERIENCED A series of reactions when Thea and her date walked inside the Scratching Post. The first? A near heart attack. She. Looked. Amazing. A good deal of material was cut out of the top of her dress—he wanted to undo the little ribbons at her collar with his teeth…

  Next came the urge to grab his woman and whisk her away. Then the desire to strip her and take her—to brand her and slake his hunger. Last, the impulse to grab Hillcrest by the throat and teach him the error of his ways.

  Never touch what’s mine.

  Nope, not last. Last was the need to stand on the bar and shout to one and all, I’m dating Thea Mathis. We’re a couple. Deal with it.

  But he resisted. His timing, and his methods, had to be perfect.

  “You looking for a fight?” Brock asked. “Because I will wingman the hell out of a fight.”

  “I’ll let you know.” He stayed put, watching, waiting as Thea stepped deeper inside the building. She hadn’t yet noticed him in the corner, playing pool with his friends.

  Hillcrest draped his arm around her waist as he ushered her to the bar, where Lyndie waited and Ryanne hustled to fill drink orders. Every muscle in Daniel’s body tensed. If Hillcrest spread his fingers, he would make contact with her ass.

  “He’s definitely looking for a fight,” Jude said. “I wonder how many casualties there’ll be tonight.”

  “At least two.” Brock eyed the man beside Lyndie as if he’d just been issued a new government hit list, and he’d found target number one. The guy was smiling at her, tugging at the ends of her hair.

  Was she on a date, as well?

  Better question: Did Brock seriously want to date the kindergarten teacher who wasn’t smoking or drinking or trying to pass lingerie off as clothing?

  “She runs and hides from me,” Brock said.

  “Who? Lyndie?” Daniel asked, playing dumb.

  A stiff nod. “I thought she was afraid of all men, but turns out it’s just me. As if I would ever hurt a woman.” Brock rubbed the back of his neck. “I did some digging. As a kid and even while she was married, she was admitted to various ERs in the city. She had a suspicious number of broken bones for being, and I quote, ‘overly clumsy.’”

  Daniel popped his jaw. Thinking back, he could remember all the times Lyndie had been “sick” and missed school. His senior year, she’d opted to be homeschooled.

  Poor girl. “Considering the hole I dug myself,” he said, “I’m probably the last person who should give you advice, but I’m going to, anyway. Start slow. Keep your interactions short and sweet, and always end on a positive note. Leave her wanting more. It’ll take time, but if you want her…the ban on Strawberry Valley girls is officially lifted.”

  A slow song spilled from the overhead speakers, and Thea and her date moved to the dance floor. Hillcrest put both arms around her, and Daniel cursed.

  “What in Sam Hill does Thea think she’s doing?” he grated. “She’s supposed to be a role model for the younger girls in town.”

  Jude arched a sandy-colored brow. “Role model, is she?”

  “Yes! She’s smart, kind, and that mouth…”

  “Gets sassy, does she?” Brock asked.

  If his friend only knew the half of it.

  Jessie Kay arrived at long last, minus West. She was a vision in a fifties-style dress. It was red with black polka dots, a halter top that veed between her breasts and a skirt that flared at her waist and ended just below her knees, revealing a single ruffle. “Hey, y’all. Your day just got made. I’m here!”

  Thea and Hillcrest returned to the bar. A smiling Ryanne handed Hillcrest a wineglass and Thea a copper mug. She was having a Moscow Mule without him, he realized. That was his drink.

  His date.

  Thea was all sunshine and light, chatting easily with Hillcrest and her friends. What were they discussing?

  She didn’t look like she was missing Daniel at all.

  “Maybe you could have won your girl’s heart…if you didn’t have a micropenis,” Jude said.

  “Or that horrifying problem with impotence,” Brock added with a shudder.

  “Or those hemorrhoids the size of the Wichita Mountains,” Jessie Kay said helpfully.

  “Ha ha. When’d you talk to Holly?” Daniel asked.

  “She called about an hour ago.” Jessie Kay took a drink—gulp—of his beer. “She was being a concerned citizen and thought I, as your best friend in the world, should get you in to see a doctor. I, of course, called your other, less important friends to discuss the best course of action for getting you help.”

  “Yeah,” he said. “I bet.”

  In the back of the bar, a band carted their instruments to a dais. Ryanne joined them and adjusted the mic while the rest of Thea’s group claimed a table in front to watch.

  “What do you say we join our girls?” Daniel asked, already marching across the dance floor. He’d told himself he would keep his distance. That he wouldn’t approach her until after the date, because he never wanted her to wonder what could have been. But staying away proved impossible. She drew him.

  Maybe he drew her, too. Those green, green eyes landed on him and widened. Electrical currents arced between them.

  Daniel picked up the pace.

  “Oh my gosh, y’all.” Jessie Kay clapped as she and the others caught up to him. In an exaggerated side whisper, she said, “Daniel and Dorothea are gonna burn the whole place down, namely because a fire just started in my panties. Someone call West and tell him to forget his work and get down here el pronto!”

  When he reached the table, he pulled a seat next to Thea, edging Hillcrest out of the way.

  “—getting notes of cedar, chestnuts and raspberry,” Hillcrest was saying as he sniffed his wine.

  “I’m getting wasted,” Thea muttered, draining her mug.

  “Mind if we join you?” Daniel asked.

  Finally noticing him, a slack-jawed Hillcrest shot out his arm to shake Daniel’s hand. “You’re Daniel Porter.”

  “I know,” he replied, “but thanks for the update.”

  The piece of shit didn’t take offense but nodded with enthusiasm. “It’s so great to see you again, man.”

  Daniel ignored him, while Thea glanced between them, clearly unsure how to proceed.

  Her nails were purple. She was determined.

  Determined to do…what?

  “I gotta admit I’ve got a bit of a man crush on you,” Hillcrest continued with an easy smile. First thing I’ll do is knock those pearly whites down his throat. “I was part of the armed guard, and you were something of a legend, even to us. I was so proud to tell everyone we came from the same town. I even—”

  Brock pulled a chair behind Daniel and wrapped an arm around the guy’s shoulders. “We don’t like to talk about military business in front of our women.”

  Our women, he’d said. Good boy.

  “Right, right.” Hillcrest ran his fingers over his mouth, miming a zipper, before saying, “My apologies. Oh! Where are my manners? Dorothea, have you met—”

  “Yes. She’s met everyone,” Daniel said. “She’s the reason we’re here. The reason I’m here.”

  “We’re friends,” Thea whispered. She cleared her throat. “He works at the inn.”

  “Oh, that’s right.
” Hillcrest laughed at himself, earning an encouraging smile from Thea. “I’d heard talk, of course, but hadn’t put two and two together.”

  “This is Jude Laurent and Brock Hudson,” she added, and Hillcrest clutched his chest as if he were having a heart attack.

  “I’m—I—This is…” Hillcrest looked at one, then the other, then the other again, stars in his eyes. “The names of those in your unit were whispered through the ranks and—Sorry. My tongue is running away from me again.”

  “You are in the presence of greatness,” Daniel said, his gaze hot on Thea. “There’s no denying that.”

  She frowned at him before mouthing, Stop it.

  Jessie Kay caught the exchange and sought to lessen the mounting tension—by sitting on Hillcrest’s lap. “Bet you didn’t know your hero Danny boy has a micropenis. We’re thinking about asking him to get penile enlargement surgery because we’re so embarrassed for him.”

  Thea choked on an ice cube, and confusion pinched Hillcrest’s features.

  Jessie Kay often had that effect on people.

  Soft, haunting music wafted in the background, claiming everyone’s attention. Ryanne belted out a shockingly soulful note that put goose bumps on Daniel’s arms. She sang about everything left unsaid, everything left undone, and what if there wasn’t a tomorrow, no, no, what if there wasn’t one, what would we do then?

  Had she chosen the song on purpose?

  Suddenly all Daniel could think about was everything he hadn’t said to Thea, everything they hadn’t done to and with each other. If there were no tomorrow, he’d want to spend every second of today with her. She was the person he longed to hold throughout the night; she was the first thing he yearned to see in the morning.

  “I mean it. Stop,” she whispered to him. “You’re making me uncomfortable, looking at me like…like…that. I’m on a date. With another man!”

  “End it.” Desperate to stake a claim, he almost yanked her onto his lap. “Problem solved.”

  Tremors of anticipation rocked her, but she shook her head no. “I… No. I won’t.” She licked her lips and turned to Hillcrest. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the restroom.” She stood.