Daisy Does It All (Clover Park, Book 2) Contemporary Romance (The Clover Park Series) (18 page)

“Glenn and I are setting up the shelter just as soon as the roads are clear from Main Street back to High Ridge,” Ry said. “I’ve got the keys to the school. Generator’s already on-site. Supply closet is well stocked. I’ll stop by on the way there to get you guys. We could use extra hands. Then we can split up to check on the seniors and transport those that need it over to the shelter.”

Trav lifted his mug in a toast. “Sounds like a plan.”

Ry ran down the list of seniors that he knew needed help, and Trav filled him in on who they’d already seen on their morning plow run.

One of the crew guys came in. “Any more muffins?”

Ry looked over to the empty plate of muffins. “Nope. There’s chocolate chip cookies in the freezer.”

“That sounds like the breakfast of champions.” The guy pulled the plastic container from the freezer and headed back to the living room. The noise level rose as the crew dug into the cookies. It sounded like a party out there.

“This coffee is making me feel human again,” Rico said, getting up for a refill.

Ry lowered his voice. “Wasn’t today supposed to be the day you got married?”

“Yeah. We’ll have to wait. The justice of the peace can’t make it through this mess.”

“It’ll happen,” Ry said reassuringly. His bro always could read him like an open book.

Trav’s voice came out hoarse. “What if she backs out?”

“She won’t,” Liz said, walking into the kitchen with some empty coffee mugs. “Daisy never breaks a promise.”

“Good to know,” Trav said.

“The guys are getting a little rowdy from all that sugar,” Liz said, looking worried. “You should’ve given them some fruit instead.”

Ry shrugged. Liz scowled and took a deep breath in and out. A ghost of a smile crossed his brother’s face for some reason. He should know better than to mess with an angry woman.

“I’d better check on Daisy and Bryce,” Trav said. “Thanks for breakfast, Liz.”

“Yes, thank you,” Rico said.

Liz smiled. “You’re welcome. It’s the least we can do after you cleared all that snow for us.”

“Yeah, thanks, guys,” Ry said. “I’ll stop by in a bit.” He snagged Liz around the waist and pulled her close. “C’mere, you.”

Liz giggled.

Trav left before he could witness the seduction scene. Rico followed close behind.

“Your brother’s got it bad,” Rico said once they were back in the truck. He took a bite of cookie he must have snagged on the way out. “I’ve never seen him like that.”

It was true. Ry couldn’t get enough of Liz. Now that Trav had been with Daisy, he knew exactly how Ry felt. Funny how that worked out—two brothers with two sisters. Too bad there wasn’t a third sister for Shane.

Trav revved the truck and blasted the heat. “The love stick hit him hard.”

“I’d say it knocked him out cold,” Rico replied.

Trav snorted. “It had to. He’s got a really hard head.”

~ ~ ~

Daisy woke to an empty bed and heaved a huge sigh of relief that she didn’t have to face Trav this morning. Last night was an impulse, a matter of circumstances throwing them together, and she should know better by now than to act on impulse. Her whole life was a train wreck because of her impulsive nature. A surprise pregnancy, a talk show interview based on a fictional blog, sleeping with Trav (again!)—impulse, impulse, impulse.

She slipped into Shane’s room, surprised she hadn’t heard Bryce awake by now.
Awww
. Shane was sleeping with one arm outstretched, his fingers through the bars of the crib; Bryce was holding his finger. She quietly backed out of the room.

She’d just grab something for breakfast really quick. She was starving.

In the hallway she passed Jessica wrapped in a towel, with another towel wrapped around her wet hair turban style.

“Thank God you had hot water,” Jessica said. “The trains
have
to be running this morning. Any word on when the power’s coming back?”

“I have no idea,” Daisy said.

“You might want to wait on the shower,” Jessica said. “I ran out of hot water at the end.”

Daisy bit her tongue over the harsh retort waiting there. Jessica
would
use all the hot water during a power outage in a house full of six adults and a baby.

“
Ciao!
” Jessica breezed past, went into her room, and shut the door behind her.

Daisy headed downstairs and ran into Max in the kitchen. Her heart slammed into her throat. She did
not
want to be alone with him. On the other hand, she didn’t want him to think she was bolting because of him.

Max held up his cell phone. “Still no signal. Where’s Travis?”

She shrugged, then remembered she probably should know where her husband was. “He’s out…shoveling snow. Plowing. His landscape business plows in the winter.”

Good job, Daisy, you remembered what your husband does for a living.

She peeked in the refrigerator, grabbed some cheese and bread. Cheese sandwich for breakfast. She should probably offer him food. “Want a cheese sandwich?”

“Sure.”

She made the sandwiches and joined him at the table. She wondered how long it would take Jessica to make an appearance. She’d even take that woman in the morning over breakfast alone with Max.

“Do you remember when I shoplifted from FAO Schwarz?” Max asked.

She rolled her eyes. “Yes. If you had ended up in jail for that stupid—”

“Don’t turn me in!” He grinned. “I wonder what ever happened to Holiday Sparkle Tiffany.”

She took a sip of water. “You didn’t throw that ridiculous doll out?”

“I didn’t want anyone to see me with it. I left it in the bottom of the dresser when I left for the summer.”

She shook her head, reluctantly smiling at the image of Max stashing Tiffany in his college dorm dresser. “The cleaning crew probably tossed it when they cleaned your room.”

He met her eyes. “You wore the just-for-you matching sparkle ring on a necklace for a while.”

She lost her smile. It had been her engagement ring. Now she was a single mother with another man’s child, and that ring was long gone. She went back to her sandwich, trying to shake off the unwelcome memory.

“I just wanted you to feel special since I couldn’t afford a ring,” Max said.

He pulled something shiny from his pocket. She slowly set her sandwich down. Oh. My. God. The sparkle ring—a giant fake emerald set on a sparkly snowflake. She’d loved it in all its gaudiness, until one day she hadn’t.

Her throat tightened. “You kept it,” she choked out.

“I did,” he said quietly. “When you threw it at me, I held onto it. I hoped one day our timing would be better.”

Dammit
. Her eyes watered. She closed her eyes for a moment, lost in old memories again. The day he’d ended their marriage.

Bryce’s wail carried from upstairs. Reality hit again.

She exhaled sharply. “Max, your timing sucks.”

She started to leave, and he grabbed her arm. “It’s not too late for us. I meant what I said last night.”

Hello? She was
married
. Sort of. She didn’t want to talk about her and Max again. She didn’t want to be tempted with what might have been.

Shane arrived with Bryce in his arms. The boy looked calmly around. “He’s hungry,” Shane said, handing him over.

“Thanks for getting him,” Daisy said. “I hope he didn’t wake you last night.”

“Not at all. I’m a deep sleeper.”

“Lucky.” She turned to Max before she took Bryce upstairs. “I hope we can still work together.”

“Absolutely,” Max said. “Call me in a few days after things are back to normal, and we’ll do lunch.”

She nodded and left to take care of Bryce. After he nursed, she changed his diaper and dressed him in a spare outfit she kept in the diaper bag. She did an abbreviated infant massage session, keeping him in his clothes. At home, she would’ve done the massage with almond oil on his bare skin, but it was too chilly in the room to do the full treatment. Starting at his forehead, she rubbed in small circles, onto the longer strokes on his arms, down his tummy, and onto his legs. They’d taken a mommy/baby class a few months back, and it had made a world of difference with his colic, dramatically decreasing his crying sessions.

When she finished, she brushed her teeth with one finger while holding Bryce on her hip, then returned downstairs. She walked past Max sitting on the loveseat, staring at his cell, and headed to the kitchen to find some baby food for Bryce. Shane was out back. Steam billowed out from the grill.

Max walked in. She tensed. She didn’t know what to say in the face of his declaration of love. He’d put her in a really awkward position. The fact was Trav didn’t love her. He stupidly thought love was made up by corporations to sell more cards. Was she giving up on having love in her life?

Before she had to come up with something to say to Max, Trav was back, his face ruddy from the cold. “Woo, it’s as cold as a polar bear’s ass.”

Daisy laughed, and the tension she felt from Max’s presence vanished. That was one good thing about Trav. He was always casual, taking things in stride. She didn’t have to worry about an awkward morning after with him.

“Morning, honey.” Trav gave her a smacking kiss on the lips and leaned over to buzz Bryce on the cheek.

“Morning,” Daisy replied, glad for his return. She didn’t want to be tempted by Max. The two men eyed each other.

Max took a step back. “We’ll talk soon, Daisy.”

She felt Trav’s sharp gaze. “Sure,” she said softly.

Chapter Seventeen

“What did Max say to you?” Trav asked.

She kept her focus on Bryce, settling him into his high chair. She couldn’t tell Trav that Max wanted a second chance. Trav would probably kick his ass. It was nothing. She wasn’t going to give Max a second chance, and that was that.

“Nothing,” she said.

Trav narrowed his eyes.

“Where’s Rico? I thought he’d be with you.”

He pulled off his hat and gloves. “He’s upstairs getting a shower. You sure it’s nothing? You looked upset when I came in.”

“I’m fine.” She fetched a jar of pears and a bib. “How’re things out there?”

“You don’t owe Max anything.” Trav’s voice was hard, and his hands were in fists. “If he’s harassing you, I’ll send him over to Ry’s place.”

Daisy shook her head. “He’s not harassing me. It’s just awkward is all. Don’t do anything, please.”

He exhaled sharply. “We stopped in at Liz and Ry’s place. Liz had hot coffee and warm blueberry muffins.”

Of course she did
.

Daisy raised her brows. “Guess you’re marrying the wrong sister.”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “I’m pretty sure I got the right one.” He grinned devilishly. “Besides, Ry got to her first.”

She pushed him away, but he didn’t budge. He tipped up her chin and gave her a tender kiss. Last night’s heat flooded through her.

He smiled. “Ah, I wish I could stay and follow up on that look in your eyes, but I have to head out soon with Ry to set up the emergency shelter. You gonna be all right sitting tight here?”

She pulled up a chair next to Bryce. “Sure.”

“Let me,” Trav said.

She handed over the bib and watched as he expertly attached it and popped open the jar of pears. The differences in Max and Trav were fresh in her mind. Trav worked hard, and got things done, but he’d never laid his feelings bare like Max had.

“How do you feel about me?” she asked.

He looked over his shoulder at her warily. “I feel good.”

“Good,” she echoed.

“Yeah.” He gave Bryce a spoonful of pears and turned back to her. “How do you feel about me, Miss Touchy-feely?” he asked, his eyes dancing with humor.

Always with the jokes. She never felt like she got through that facade. “I feel like you’re a goof.”

“A goof?” He set the baby spoon down and leaned close, his voice low and husky. “That’s not what you said last night.” His lips met hers, one hand sliding into her hair, holding her there as he kissed her, slow and tender. She let herself go, falling into the sensation, remembering the pleasure he’d brought her last night. He slowly pulled back, and she blinked.

One corner of his mouth kicked up. “I seem to remember some begging on your part.”

“I did not!”

He closed his eyes and said in a soft, breathy voice, “Trav, please,
please
, give it to me.”

She tossed her hair over her shoulder and shifted away. “You’re delusional.”

He turned her and pulled her into his arms. “I’m damn lucky.” He kissed her until she melted against him.

“Da-da-da-da!” Bryce screamed, pounding his spoon on the tray.

They straightened and looked at each other and then at Bryce. Did he really just say da-da?

Trav recovered first. “That’s right, Bryce. Da-da. What a smart boy! Did you hear that, Daze?”

She smiled and leaned against his shoulder. “Yeah, I heard it. His first word. Now we just have to work on mama.”

Trav stood and kissed Bryce’s hair. “We’ll get there. Right, Brycey boy?”

Bryce opened his mouth. “Ah-ah-ah.”

Trav took the hint, sat down, and spooned in more pears. He turned back to her. “I’ll reschedule the justice of the peace as soon as the power’s back up.”

She nodded, coming down from her momentary joy. She was tired of fighting him. And she knew it wasn’t fair to compare the two men, but Max had never been demanding. Her time with him back in college had been easy, fun, exhilarating. He was her first love. Everything had been perfect, except for the way it ended. It didn’t feel the same way with Trav. With him, she felt stuck. Tied by Bryce. A part of her longed for the freedom she feared she’d never have again.

She needed time to figure things out. It was easy to fall in lust, but that wasn’t enough for a marriage.

Trav glanced over his shoulder. “I see steam coming out of your ears from all that thinking. What’s up?”

“Nothing.”

“Okay.” He went back to feeding Bryce.

Trav was always so agreeable. It bugged her. She knew he used to be an angry rebel. Now he was all smooth surface.

“You ever get mad?” she asked.

He lifted one shoulder up and down. “Most things roll right off my back. And the stuff that doesn’t, well, I’ve learned to let that go too.”