Dylan: The Sons of Dusty Walker (10 page)

“It’s not so much that as me wishing I coulda been around.”

She twisted in his arms to face him. Her fingertips ghosted along his jaw. “That was my fault. I should never have deprived you of Hunter. I...I just didn’t see any other choice at the time.”

“And now?”

“I won’t keep you from getting to know him. It wouldn’t be fair to you. Or him.” She swallowed roughly, vulnerability evident in her eyes. “I just ask that you don’t half-ass this. If you don’t think you can be there for the long run please don’t give him—me—false hope.”

He returned her haunted gaze and a strong awareness splintered through him. The vulnerability was recognizable now, because it echoed the familiar ache he’d kept buried inside him for so long. “Which is it—your mom or your dad?”

She blinked. “What?”

“One of them checked out on you.”

Her fingers slipped from his face, but not before he caught their trembling state. He’d definitely hit the nail on the head. He cupped her nape, refusing to let her retreat from him. “Baby, I know. I understand. Believe me. For too many years I hated Dusty for doing that to me.”

A tear rolled down her cheek. “Have you forgiven him?”

“I’m workin’ on it. I know I have to in order to find peace. But it’s damn hard lettin’ go of a strong emotion that’s sustained you for the majority of your life. Even if it’s a negative one that slowly erodes your soul.” He smoothed his thumb across her skin, wiping away the tear. “Talkin’ about it helps me. Maybe it will for you too.”

Her gaze flickered away from his. His heart squeezed. He wanted her to open up to him. Share the things that hurt her deepest. If she couldn’t do that, couldn’t entrust him with her hidden pain, then what hope did they have of building a foundation for their future?

She released a broken breath. “When I was eight my school threw one of those daddy/daughter dances. I remember my mom bought me a pink dress. It was so pretty, like something Cinderella would wear. I even had these shiny patent shoes that matched. Probably the only outfit I’ve owned that was color coordinated.”

He smiled, imagining a pint-sized Zoe all dolled up. “Bet ya looked like a fairy princess.”

“My mom has a picture.” She chewed her bottom lip and trailed her finger across his breast bone. “She wanted me to have it.”

He smoothed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Why didn’t you take it?”

“Would you want a constant reminder of the night your dad was too wasted to show up for a dance you’d anxiously waited a whole month for?” A thin laugh escaped her. “I know that doesn’t seem like long, but for a kid that’s forever.”

Emotion balled in his chest. “Yeah, it is.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

“It wasn’t the first time he did something like that to me. And it wasn’t the last. Eventually I hardened myself to the fact that he just didn’t have it in him to be the father I needed him to be.” She took a deep breath and looked up at him. “I haven’t seen him in six years. I cut him out completely. Because it was the only way I’d stop hating him.”

He understood. Too well. “Does he know about Hunter?”

“Not unless my mom told him. And I seriously doubt it.” She grunted. “Gasoline and fire mix better than my parents. They don’t talk much if they can help it.”

“Take it they’re divorced?”

“Four months into their marriage.”

He winced. “That has to be a record.”

“If not, pretty close.” She continued tracing an abstract pattern across his skin.

Shit, no wonder she had a hard time trusting in promises of forever.

He tucked her to him and she wrapped her arms around his waist. A strong wave of love and protectiveness swept over him. Whatever it took, he’d convince her that he was in it for the long haul. She’d never have to deal with being abandoned by a man again.

CHAPTER NINE

“Girl, you are positively glowing.”

Wrinkling her nose, Zoe lifted her gaze to Callie. “Probably shoulda put my sun hat on.” That’s what she got for gardening without the proper protection. Lord knows she likely resembled a lobster now.

“I don’t mean
that
kinda glow. Ya look like you’ve been gettin’ properly fucked. About damn time too.”

Zoe slashed a quick peek sideways and breathed a sigh of relief that Hunter and Josh were occupied with burying their Ninja Turtle action figurines in the sandbox near Hunter’s swing set. She returned her squint to Callie. “If my child drops an F bomb his first day in preschool I’ll know who to blame.”

“Oh phooey. I haven’t damaged Josh yet so your boy is likely to come out unscathed.”

“Thank God for small miracles.” Using both hands, Zoe wrestled with a particularly stubborn weed, nearly dislocating her shoulder in the process. Finally she defeated the evil offender. Holding it up by its foliage, she stared at the mutant-length root system. “I think it was working its way to China.”

Callie plopped her butt down on the parched patch of lawn. “You intendin’ to spill the beans?”

“On what?”

Her best friend snorted. “Don’t even play innocent with me, missy. Town’s buzzin’ with the news that a certain SUV has been seen parked overnight in your driveway the last two days.”

Zoe groaned. “Do folks have nothing better to talk about?”

“Around here? Nope. Doesn’t help that you’re canoodlin’ with one of the infamous Walker boys. That’s like two scrumdiddlyumptious platters of gossip for the price of one.”

A particularly aggravating fly landed on Zoe’s arm. She swatted at the troublemaker but it zipped off before she could send it to its maker. Grumbling, she scrubbed at the flecks of dirt left by her garden glove, creating a bigger mess than she’d started out with. “I feel sorry for Dylan’s half- brothers. They have no idea what’s waiting for them when they get their week.”

Her pronouncement was an instant reminder of the approaching weekend. According to Dylan, Sunday was his last required day in Red Creek. He’d made a point of saying he’d be back after taking care of business in Nashville. And she wanted to believe him. God, did she ever. The sincerity in his eyes when he’d delivered that promise had been impossible to ignore.

So why did her stomach twist whenever she pondered his departure? Was she really that cynical that taking a man on his word seemed an impossible feat?

Yes.
No matter how much she wished it weren’t the case, assuming a man would eventually leave her had become the norm. The presumption had burrowed deep into her psyche and made a comfortable nest out of her fears and insecurities. She might never be able to rid herself of its corrupting presence.

“I wonder what they’re like?”

She snapped out of her worried musings and blinked at Callie. “Who?”

“Dylan’s brothers.”

She shook her head and smiled. “They’re Walker boys. That means they’re bound to be charming, too handsome for their own good, and professional heartbreakers.”

“Says the hussy lucky enough to be sleeping with one of ‘em.”

“Not my fault. He charmed the panties right off of me.”

Callie broke into a huge grin. “Aha!”

Aw damn it.
She glared at her best friend. “You little sneak. I’m never fallin’ for your bait again.”

“Well now ya did, no point hoardin’ the dirty bits to yerself.” Callie scooted closer. “Is he hung like I think he is?”

“You really need to get a boyfriend.”

“Why? You offerin’ yours for a night?”

“You wish.”

“Hell yeah I do.” Callie leaned back on her elbows and waggled her eyebrows. “We could tag team him. Give him a night he’d never forget.”

Well used to Callie’s outrageous comments, Zoe rolled her eyes. “I’m not sharing him with you, ya pervert. Besides, you have bigger boobs than me.”

Callie glanced down at her chest. “Yeah, the girls are fuckin’ outstandin’. Kinda gives me an unfair advantage.”

Rolling her lips together to keep from laughing at her friend’s banter, Zoe wiggled the forked end of her weeder beneath a clump of dandelions. Wiping her forehead with her free hand, she sent a look in Hunter’s direction. Satisfied he wasn’t eating sand or something worse, she concentrated on loosening up the root.

“Oh, that reminds me, my mom was wonderin’ if you’d be interested in takin’ in a kitten.”

She frowned at Callie. “How in the world could your boobs remind you of a kitten?”

“Boobs, pussies, kittens. It’s a natural progression.”

“Only in your mind.” She narrowed her eyes at Callie. “Wait a sec. Is this the same kitten that your mom tried to give Josh?”

Callie’s expression morphed from sheepish to pleading. “Help me out here. The woman’s already suckered me into enough kittens that I’m a recognized member of the Crazy Cat Lady Club.”

“Damn it, I don’t need a kitten.”

“But Hunter does. Think how happy it’d make him having an adorable bundle of fluff to play with. Why, I’m certain he’d love you for life for being such a caring, considerate mom who’d do anything for her child and her best friend.”

She pointed the weeder at Callie. “You are a vile, despicable beast.”

“Does that mean you’ll do it?”

Sighing, she speared her garden tool into the ground. “Fine.”

Letting out a whoop, Callie tackled her to the lawn with a hug. “I owe you.”

“Yeah, for life.” Swatting her friend off of her in a similar fashion as she’d done with the fly, Zoe scooted up onto her knees. Recalling the dwindling time she had before Dylan left for Nashville, she gazed at Callie consideringly. “But we can call it even if you babysit Hunter tonight.”

“Ah, got a hot date planned with your stud man?”

Not yet. But hopefully—with the assistance of Callie—that would be rectified soon. “We haven’t really had time for just the two of us.” Guilt immediately washed over her for that admission. “God, that makes me sound like a horrible mom.”

“No, honey, it makes you human. Parents need that reconnection once in a while. No kids around. Time for you and your man, with just some whipped cream, roller blades, and handcuffs for entertainment.” Callie exhaled wistfully. “Lord, I miss Tom somethin’ fierce.”

Despite really not wanting to know what the deal was with the roller blades and handcuffs, Zoe’s heart pinched for her friend’s loss. Tay’s party for her tomorrow couldn’t come at a better time. “I wish I’d gotten to meet your Tom.”

“You would have loved him. Everybody did.” Sniffling, Callie smiled through her tears. “But enough sadness. This is supposed to be a joyous time. With lots of sex for you. I tell ya what, how about if I take Hunter and Josh to an early matinee in Richfield and then the boys can have a sleepover? That’ll give you the whole day with plenty of time left over for some hot morning nookie.”

She squeezed Callie tight. “You’re the best.”

“Just remember that the first time that kitten coughs up a fur ball on your brand spankin’ new quilt.” Callie pushed to her feet with a groan. Hooking her fingers in her mouth, she whistled loud enough dogs were probably barking in response the next county over. “Boys, train’s a leavin’.”

Hunter and Josh reluctantly dragged themselves from the sandbox. The instant they discovered they were going to see a movie they morphed from sloth creatures to whirling tornados of energy. Acknowledging that the kitten was likely the lighter of the two punishments here, Zoe assisted with getting the kids packed into Callie’s minivan. Waving, she watched the vehicle cruise down the drive and make a left onto the dirt road.

The sound of birds chirping in the nearby cottonwood tree provided an idyllic soundtrack to her solitude. It felt odd having the place to herself, no screaming kids or noisy cartoons disturbing the peace. It was kinda...too quiet. Shaking her head at her own craziness, she hurried up the porch steps. After leaving her dirt-caked gloves and shoves on the mat, she rushed inside the house and upstairs to the bathroom. She didn’t linger over her bath. She was too anxious to set things in motion for her date night with Dylan. Besides, bathing wasn’t nearly as much fun without him there to scrub her back.

She rifled through her dresser drawer until she located the pretty pink bra and panty set she’d been saving for a special occasion. Once she’d slipped into her undergarments, she inspected her wardrobe for something that’d fall somewhere in the middle of respectable and
fuck-me-right-this-instant
. Her denim miniskirt and off-the-shoulder white peasant top should fit the bill.

Properly attired, she skipped downstairs and pulled on her cowgirl boots. Perfect. She snatched her cellphone and typed a quick message to Dylan.
Callie’s on babysitting duty. We have until tomorrow afternoon.

His replied winged back almost instantly.
Be there in ten minutes.

Giggling like a fool, she slapped her cellphone down on the console and went to grab a bottle of lemonade from the fridge before returning to the living room. Giddy anticipation stirring her restlessness, she journeyed from the couch, the chair, a speedy trek to the screen door to see if she could spot any dust cloud signaling an approaching vehicle, then back to the couch again.

Just when she thought she’d jump out of her skin with impatience, muffled music from a car radio drifted from outside. Forcing herself to stay put, she twiddled her thumbs and waited for the slam of Dylan’s SUV door. A moment later, the
clomp, clomp, clomp
of his boots on the porch steps, and then there he was, breath-stealingly gorgeous in his faded Wranglers and snug black T-shirt. God, she wanted to lick him from head to toe.

Judging from the focused way he was staring at her, similar thoughts cycled through his mind. He strode to her and pulled her up from the couch. She opened her mouth to greet him and he took the opportunity to turn her knees to putty by kissing her senseless. Squeezing her ass, he hiked her up into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he sucked her tongue into his mouth, his fingers splaying across her bottom.

Coming up for air, she nibbled his lip. “So whatcha wanna do?”

He started to glide his hand down the back of her panties and she gave him another warning nip. “No way, Bubba. First ya gotta woo me.”

“Darlin’, I was plannin’ on spending a minimum of an hour goin’ down on ya.”

Her pussy clenched at his admission. “Nice as that sounds—and I fully intend to hold you to it—I was thinking more along the lines of an early dinner someplace cozy and intimate.”

“Your bed?” His hopeful expression almost made her cave.

Instead she pinched him through his shirt. “I’ve wanted to check out the new restaurant in Mayweather for a while now. There’s also some really cute antique shops that’d be fun to poke through.”

“Know what else would be fun to poke?”

Fighting back a laugh, she smacked his chest. “Behave yerself.”

He settled her on her feet and rubbed his chin. “This sounds suspiciously like a date to me.”

A hint of doubt crept in. “We don’t have to call it that.”

“Why not?” He grinned. “I happen to like the sound of it.”

Relief swept through her. “Then you’re okay with us doing that? I wasn’t trying to be pushy or call the shots. It’s been a while since I’ve been out with a man, and I...kinda don’t know what I’m doing.”

He brushed the hair away from her cheek. “I’d love nothing more than to spend the day with you, baby. I truly don’t care what we do. I’m just happy to be with you and see you smilin’.”

Well damn.
Emotion tightening her chest, she hugged him. “Thank you.”

He draped his arm around her shoulder. “You ready, princess? Your chariot awaits.”