Fudgeballs And Other Sweets (9 page)

Read Fudgeballs And Other Sweets Online

Authors: Lori Copeland

BOOK: Fudgeballs And Other Sweets

4.6Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub

Read Book Download Book

FULL OF SPAGHETTI, cheese bread and salad, they convened to the couch around nine.

Jenny covered her stomach with her hands and moaned. “I ate too much.”

Settling back, Dave stretched out. “I'm glad you liked it. I enjoy cooking.”

He could feel her studying him. What was she thinking? Was she wondering why he wasn't still married? Good question. David knew he was solid, dependable, a smart businessman, he'd like to think a good father. Was she wondering what happened to break up his marriage? Was it him, was it her?

“You don't seem the domestic type. I had you figured for a man who eats at the finest restaurants, has dinner parties cateredâ”

“That's how it was when Nancy and I were married,” he admitted. “She never cooked, and I didn't know how, but after the divorce, I discovered the joys of eating at home.”

“Oh? That's a joy?” She laughed.

“I think so. During a blue funk period, I was lying on the couch, watching a chef on Oprah, and I thought, âI can do that.”'

“No kidding? One episode of Oprah, and you became a chef?”

“Just like that.” He snapped his fingers. “What about you? I'll bet you can whip up a mean meal.”

She shook her head. “Not really. Fudge is my specialty. In a pinch, I can throw a few things together out of a can and make a passable casserole. I'm mostly a breakfast person.”

“Omelets? Eggs Benedict?”

“Cornflakes.”

They burst out laughing. Their amusement disturbed Dory, and Jenny went to the bedroom and brought her out.

“Look who's here.” She pointed toward Dave. “Wave to Uncle Dave.” She picked up Dory's arm and wagged it back and forth. When the baby spotted Dave, she grinned and reached for him.

“Ah, women,” Dave sighed, “they can't leave me alone.”

Jenny made a face and handed Dory to him. “That's understandable. You have your moments.”

Cradling the baby in the crook of his arm, he tickled her under her chin. “You ever think about having kids of your own?”

Jenny sank down on the sofa beside him, leaning close to look at Dory's new teeth. Her bare arm brushed his. “I've thought about it, especially when I was with Brian Maybe someday. Right now I'm too busy to think about it.”

“The expansion?”

She nodded. “What's the old saying? When opportunity knocks, open the door.”

“Strike while the iron's hot,” he agreed, thinking she couldn't have struck at a more opportune time. It was a sheer stroke of luck that she'd decided to move without being forced. She was going to be upset enough when he got around to telling her he owned the building.

She tickled Dory under the chin and made her laugh. “Something like that.”

“Don't wait too long.” He watched her eyes light up as she played with the baby. “Having a child is the greatest thing that can happen to you.”

She smiled. “Heard anything about your daughter?”

He wasn't going to bring that up. He'd come here to have a quiet dinner with a friend, but he'd be lying if he said Sam Freeman's phone call hadn't been on his mind all evening. Now that he was holding a baby in his arms, and all he could think about was Megan.

“I got word today. Nancy remarried and they're due back from their honeymoon the first part of September.” When he glanced at her he was surprised to see her eyes were misty.

“Couldn't you have Megan flown home earlier?”

“I would if I could talk to herâor Nancy.” He felt his anger surface. “I have a few choice words I'd like to say to Nancyâlike, what in the hell runs through your brain, dragging Megan all over Europe, cavorting with God only knows who?”

“Dave.” She laid her hand over his. “I'm sure your ex-wife wouldn't do anything to jeopardize the well-being of your daughter. After all, Megan is her child, too.”

He held his breath, along with more angry words. She was right. Just the thought of Nancy set him on edge. Lifting Dory to his shoulder, he gently burped her. “Sorryâit's just so damn frustrating. I don't care that Nancy's married one of the richest men in France. All I can think about is Megan being hauled around the world, living a life I know she hates. Megan likes to sleep in the same bed every night. She craves security.”

She leaned back and rested her head against the sofa as she gazed at him. He wondered if that look meant she would be receptive to a kiss. Was she willing to see him as more than a helpful neighbor? Had Brian caused her to shy away from all men?

“Life stinks sometimes.” She took a deep breath. “I thought my life was over when it finally dawned on me that Brian was never going to commit to marriage. I had planned for seven years to settle down with him, have a bunch of kids and live happily ever after.” She sighed. “But, if it's any consolation, things have a way of working out. They did for me, anyway. What is it they say? God closes one door and opens another? Now things are going so well with Fudgeballs that I don't have time for marriage, children or happily ever after.”

He admired her outlook on life. Her eyes shone with promise of a brighter tomorrow, and he found himself wishing he had her faith. How he wished... Leaning over, he put his hand to her cheek and started to pull her closer when she whispered, “You're beeping.”

“Huh?”

“That beepingâeither it's my microwave or you're being summoned.”

He groaned and reached for the pager on his belt. Glancing at the number, he frowned. “Sorry. It's Freeman. I need to return his call.” He handed Dory to her.

“Sure.” She pointed toward the kitchen.

He found the phone on the kitchen wall. “Sam? Dave Kasada.” He braced himself against the kitchen counter.

“Dave, there's someone here who wants to talk to you.”

“Daddy?”

“Sweetheart?” Dave held his hand over the phone and called out to Jenny. “It's Megan!”

Jenny smiled at him through the open doorway and gave him a thumbs-up.

“Daddy, I miss you.”

He wanted to crawl into the phone and hug her. It had been weeks since he'd heard her voice. “Hey, Meggie, I've missed you, too. Where are you, honey?”

“On a big boat. That friend of yours, Mr. Freeman? Well, he rowed out here and told Mommy you wanted to talk to me.”

“I do. I've been looking all over for you.”

“You have?”

“I sure have.” He wanted more than this. Now that he had his daughter on the phone and was assured she was safe and sound, he wanted Nancy's hide. “I miss youâI want you to come stay with me.”

“I miss you too, Daddy. My new daddy...” Her voice dropped. “He's cranky sometimes. He says, âMegan, go to your stateroom while Mommy and I talk.”' She sighed. “I have to go to my room all the time, Daddy. I don't like it. I want to play with Duffer. He lets me fish.”

“Who's Duffer?”

“That nice man in the white coat that serves our dinner every night.”

Dave stiffened with resentment. Pharis was sending Megan to her room so he couldâ“Meggie, honey, where's Mommy?”

“Right here.”

“Put her on.”

“Okay. Mommy says she wants to talk to you, too. I love you, Daddy.”

“Love you, too, sweetheart.” His lips thinned. They sent her to the stateroom early every night? “Yes, Nancy, I'm here. Where the hell did you think I'd be? I've been waiting to hear from you. It's August. Do I have to remind you that August is my month to have Megan?”

“Sorry, Davidâwith the chaos of wedding arrangements and theâYou just wouldn't believe what we've been through, and now your Mr. Freeman shows up right in the middle of cocktailsâ”

“Cut to the chase, Nancy. I don't care about your chaos or your cocktails. I want Megan before school starts.”

“Dave, we need to talk about Megan's custody. Now that I'm married, I'll be traveling more, and Jonathan saysâ” She stopped abruptly. “This is hardly the time or the place to discuss this. I'll call you when I get back to the States.”

“And when might that be?”

“Sometime after Labor Day.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw. “What about my time with Megan, Nancy? I have visitation rights andâ”

“I said I was sorry. I have to go. We'll talk later.” The line went dead.

He held the phone out, gritting his teeth, staring at it for a long moment before hanging up. “
Damn
her.”

“Trouble?” Jenny walked into the kitchen carrying Dory.

The baby reached for him, and he took her and held her tightly to his chest. “Nancy wants to talk to me about Megan's custody.”

Jenny took a glass from the cabinet and turned on the tap. “What about it?”

“I don't know. That's the problem.” His features sobered. “If she thinks she's going to keep Megan from me, she's got another think coming. I'll fight her with every cent I have.”

“Dave.” Jenny touched his arm lightly. “Don't borrow trouble.”

She drank the glass of water and turned out the light as they left the kitchen. Settling onto the sofa, Dave held Dory as Jenny readied the baby for bed.

The genuine concern in her eyes affected him. Why couldn't Nancy have some of her compassion? Without thinking, he reached over and slipped his free arm around her neck, pulling her to him. He needed her and her strength. The gentle warmth of her breath fanned his lips.

“Don't borrow trouble,” she repeated, and they both knew she was talking about something entirely different this time.

Princess suddenly woke from a dead sleep, sprang to his lap, sniffed Dory, then licked him on the cheek.

He drew back and wiped his face on his sleeve. It wasn't the kiss he'd anticipated. No wonder the dog got on his nerves. Checking his watch, he realized he'd overstayed his welcome. “It's late. I need to be going.”

Jenny got up to walk him to the door. “Did you call Loyal about the lease?”

Frowning, he kissed Dory good-night, then handed her over. “I thought you did that.”

“I called him, but I wasn't sure about the length of the lease. I said you'd call him.” She adjusted the baby's lightweight blanket.

“Me?” He frowned. “Yeah, I can call him. What sort of lease did he offer?”

“The standard five years.”

“That would be all right, wouldn't it?”

“It would be for me.”

“Okay, I'll call him first thing in the morning and tell him to draw up a five-year lease.” He'd thought she was decisive. She seemed in control. Why was she leaving something as important as a lease up to him? Still, since she was inadvertently doing him a favor, he couldn't complain.

Pausing at the door, he thought about kissing her good-night but decided not to push his luck. Two aborted attempts didn't bode well. The night had been enjoyable, easy, no pressure. Why not keep it that way?

“Good night,” she whispered.

“Good night.”

As the door closed, he suddenly wished he wasn't so prudent. What would a kiss have hurt?

“LOYAL, draw up the standard lease on that floor space.” Through the window, Dave watched Jake wrestle with Princess. “Oh, yes, she wants itâI don't know why she's dragging her feet. Might be she doesn't have her finances in order. I do know she's been working on her books a lot latelyâJake! Get away from her!”

Dave tapped on the window. “I gotta go, Loyal. Dog trouble again. Just put a hold on the property. If you need earnest money, I'll send you a check myself. I can't get away this afternoon, but I'll drop it in the mail and collect from Jenny later.”

He hung up, stepped outside and walked to where Jake was tied. “Good boy,” he said as he untangled the chain from the tree and gave him a dog bone. Jake thanked him by licking his hand. Dave patted him on the head. “Learn to leave the woman alone, and you'll have it made.”

Princess strutted around her area. “You stop vamping Jake,” Dave warned her, shaking his finger at her. He grinned when she licked his hand.
Women
.

“Problems?” Jenny called from the door of her shop.

Dave turned and smiled. “Just trying to prevent some,” he said, walking toward her. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“How are you and Dory today?”

“We
both
slept like babies last night. Except for overindulging in Spaghetti Kasada, I'm great.”