His Kind of Wonderful (Sugar Bay #2) (2 page)

She shook her head and sighed.

The notes were sweet and made her smile. She wasn’t worried Tyler would turn psychotic. She tucked the latest note inside her journal with the others. Sometimes when the occasional writer’s block would hit her, she pulled out them out. They made her feel less alone because someone believed in her.

She made a mental note to ask Charlie if she knew of a sweet girl Tyler’s age that would be perfect for the shy boy. Playing matchmaker was the least she could do for the sweet encouragement he provided. Besides, Charlie swore she was a matchmaking genius and took complete credit for Derek and Anabelle getting together.

Dani sat at her desk and pulled up the invoices she wanted to finish before the end of the day.

“Hey. Esme okay?” Derek stood in the doorway. The bonus in working for your brother—you could take off in the middle of the workday for babysitting emergencies. The bad part in working for your brother—he could easily track your comings and goings.

“Yep. Came back to finish the invoices. Dylan sent cookies by the way. Help yourself.”

There was a slight pause as he studied the nearly empty plate. She focused on the computer screen and avoided eye contact.

“There’s only one left—along with a bunch of crumbs.”

She shot him a crooked smile and shrugged. “Sorry. I missed lunch and got hungry.”

“You’re lucky you have a fast metabolism, kid.”

She wondered if he would still call her kid when she was eighty-nine and he was ninety-one
.
At twenty-nine she wasn’t exactly in elementary school.

“Want to come for dinner tonight?”

Her fingers paused mid-stroke. “Sushi night?”

“Yep.”

Her inner foodie squealed. She loved eating but wasn’t adept at the cooking aspect of it. “Should I bring anything?”

“I’m not sure, but text Anabelle, just in case she needs any last minute items.”

“What time should I be there?”

“Come around six.”

“Did you happen to order from The Pickled Onion?” She wanted to confirm her hunch.

“I did
and
I ordered an extra chicken salad sandwich too. But since you ate my cookies, I’m not sure I want to share.”

She shot him a beady-eyed glare and he grinned.

“It’s in the frig, you cookie monster. You’re lucky I’m such a nice brother.”

He walked away and the little sister in her wanted to stick out her tongue but she refrained because it was mostly true. He was a good brother—when he wasn’t a know-it-all, over-protective, stick-his-nose-in-her-business, pain-in-the-ass alpha male.

She hadn’t mentioned the notes Tyler had left. Derek would get into protective mode and set up reconnaissance for confirmation. He’d probably scare the crap out of the poor kid.

Nah.

There was no need to tell Derek anything.

***

The smell of shrimp and vegetable tempura greeted her arrival at the loft Derek shared with Anabelle. There was something about vegetables dipped in batter and fried to crunchy goodness that made vegetables magically more appealing. Kind of like what marshmallows did for cereal. Of course it negated any benefit in eating her veggies but God had given her a healthy metabolism for a reason. So on behalf of the millions of girls who complained about their slow metabolisms, she happily ate deep fried goodness.

“Hey Dani. You look tired. Everything ok?”

She hugged Anabelle. “Fine. Working hard, that’s all.”

She followed her sister-in-law to the gourmet kitchen Derek had designed and built. In truth, she was on a deadline. Her research was done, she’d completed the outline and crosschecked historical facts. The only thing left was the writing.

The doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it.” Derek yelled from the living room.

“Who else is coming?”

“Derek invited Joe.”

Dani bit back a groan. A replay of today’s singing debacle ran through her mind.

“What? I thought you liked Joe? I thought all that bickering hid an undercurrent of sexual tension.” Anabelle wagged her eyebrows.

“Please.”

Anabelle chuckled, the sound low and husky. “Who doesn’t like Joe?”

True. Everyone loved Joe. He was a favorite around town, particularly with the female population yet Dani was the one female spared from Joe’s considerable charm.

“Hi Anabelle.” Joe hugged Anabelle briefly before he turned towards Dani. “Hey, it’s the brainiac.” He went to ruffle her hair but she ducked before he could make contact.

“Hands off the hair.”

“Hot date tonight?”

“Maybe.” She shot back, feeling the need to pretend she had a life.

“Who is it?” He demanded and suddenly twin towers of disapproval stood in front of her.

“Leave her alone, guys.”

Joe gave her a fierce look. Those golden eyes were mesmerizing.

“You’re not going out with that professor, are you?” Derek asked.

“Professor Higgins?” She turned to her brother.

“The one you’re spending too much time with.”

“I’m helping him with something.”

“With what? You’re not even in the same department.”

“It’s a personal project.” She looked away from Derek and met Joe’s gaze briefly before looking away. A girl was entitled to her secrets.

“Then do it during the day. No need for late hours alone together. It’s not proper, he has a reputation.”

Dani rolled her eyes and sat on the kitchen stool.

Her brother, the judge of all things proper.

How many times had she caught him and Anabelle being less than proper—and not behind closed doors either? It was a wonder she hadn’t gone blind yet. She grabbed a fried potato and munched along the edge, testing to make sure she wouldn’t scald her tongue once she bit into it.

“What’s this guy’s name?” Joe asked Derek.

“Professor Higgins.”

“I’m sitting right here, guys.” She took off her glasses and wiped the lens with the corner of her shirt without taking her eyes off the nosy duo.

“He’s a married Lothario with a penchant for young women,” Derek said with a raised an eyebrow. “Get this, they ‘model’ for him in his home studio while he paints them. Pervert stares at partially naked girls in the name of art.” Derek sent Dani a pointed look. “And lately the professor has been spotted around town with our girl here.”

“Still here, boys. And for the record, I haven’t sat as his model,” she paused with a glare, “
yet
.”

Joe gave her a hard look. Everybody’s favorite charmer was gone and Mr. Serious had taken his place.

“You’re not serious about this loser are you? I mean you’ve dated some doozies but this guy...” he shook his head. “You can do better.”

Dani stood and poked him in the chest. It was hard. He didn’t flinch. “We are
not
dating. It’s work. Derek is delusional. There. Is. Nothing. Going. On.” She stressed each word slowly so the numbskulls could grasp her meaning.

“It’s a feeling…” Derek shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest. “You know, I’ve had psychic premonitions before.”

“They’ve been spot on.” Joe stood by Derek’s side and nodded in agreement as if the conversation was in the realm of reasonable and hadn’t bypassed to the land of crazy.

“You remember the time I told Todd I had a bad feeling about his trip?”

“Yep. The loser should have listened instead of going out in the storm.
Never
saw him again.” Joe shook his head in regret. “Some sea monster probably dined on his sorry ass for weeks.”

“And when I told Clancy not to date that girl? You know, the one with the big—“

“Hell, yeah? Every time I think about that, my nuts shrivel. Beg your pardon, Anabelle.”

Anabelle giggled. “You’re fine.”

“Are you kidding me?” Dani felt her eyes bulge.

“Guys, I think y’all should leave Dani alone. She’s a grown woman and knows what she’s doing.” The oven timer pinged and Anabelle grabbed a pair of mittens.

“Grown woman, my ass. The girl still sleeps with a nightlight.”

“Derek!” Dani glared at him, tilting her head towards Joe.

“Sorry,” he said, although he didn’t look very sorry. He still glowered at her.

“For your information. It’s not a nightlight because I’m afraid of the dark, it’s to guide me to the bathroom safely.”

“If you cleaned your crap off the floor, you wouldn’t be in any danger of stumbling in the dark, now would you?”

“Messy floors are affective booby traps.” She mirrored his cross-armed stance.

“Ha. Do you hear this, Joe?”

“Food’s ready!” Anabelle placed a plate of baked mussels slathered in spicy wasabi sauce on the table in an attempt to distract the pair.

Dani took a shaky breath and walked away. “I’ll go wash my hands.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Anabelle hug Derek and whisper in his ear. The tyrant just ate it up and enveloped his wife in a full body hug. Dani watched her brother’s hand drift south and fondle his wife’s bottom.

Hmph
.

She shook her head.

Mr. Proper
, her ass.

Joe watched Dani walk away and forced his eyes from the long length of her smooth tanned legs emphasized by her sexy cowgirl boots and flirty skirt. Since she’d moved to town, he’d developed a sixth sense regarding her proximity, like he was one of those vampire characters the teenagers preferred nowadays except he didn’t fly or have pasty white skin. He only knew about the pale flying vampires because he’d been dragged to the movies on a couple of first and last dates.

It wasn’t that Dani bathed in perfume like so many women he knew, it was more like a feeling he got at the base of his skull, a sort of twitch. He was used to it by now and dealt with it like any other man lusting after his best friend’s kid sister, he ignored it.

To go hard after Dani like he wanted would go against his sense of honor
.
One did not bone one's best friend's little sister
.
It just wasn’t done. So as much as he wanted her, he’d encouraged her antipathy as much as he could.

He’d been successful, in that he was pretty sure she hated him. But at least she was safe from him and he could keep his friendship with Derek.

When Derek had moved to town and he’d been force to spend more time with Dani, he’d watched her flit and float in the company of other men. He discovered two things, one, she had crap taste in men and two, his frustration in not having her under him fueled his aggression in the boxing ring. He was getting pretty good.

“Derek, you need to stop pushing her.” Anabelle rubbed her husband’s back.

“Why can’t she see what the prick is doing?”

“You have to let it go. She’s a grown woman.”

Derek’s sigh was heavy. “You’re right, I’ll stand down.” He rubbed the scruff on his jaw in frustration before he pointed at Joe. “But you—you can watch her.”

“You better believe it.”

Anabelle sighed and shook her head, muttering something about the stubbornness of men. She sat at the table and they joined her.

“Make sure that guy doesn’t try anything with our girl. She’s too trusting and the guy has a wife for crying out loud. Whatever she’s helping him with—I don’t want her caught in anything unseemly.”

“Where do they usually meet?”

“Cuppa, Cuppa.”

“Got it.”

“Hungry, Dani?” Anabelle interrupted, effectively quieting them.

***

Dani joined the suspiciously silent group seated around the table. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Derek said quickly. “Anabelle was telling Joe why she couldn’t eat tofu.”

She turned to the only reasonable person in the room. “Why can’t you?”

“Studies have shown tofu hinders the ovulation process.” Anabelle said with a serene smile.

“So, you guys are finally going to provide me with another niece or possibly a nephew?” She clapped her fingertips together.

“We’re hoping, so fingers crossed,” Anabelle said.

“Yes. I’m loving all the practice we’re getting.” Derek grinned like a well-fed cat.

“No kidding. My eyes.” After one naughty afternoon when Anabelle and Derek had assumed they were alone in the studio, Dani had taken to making lots of noises so they’d be aware of her encroaching presence.

“Very funny, punk.”

“So are we hoping for a girl or a boy?”

“I like the idea of a little girl.” Derek said with a soft look in Anabelle’s direction. “A girl as sweet as her mom.”

“I heard too much caffeine makes sperm rocket fast. So men with a high intake of caffeine are more likely to have sons.”

Derek’s hand stilled on his half empty Mountain Dew. Slowly he lowered his beloved soda. Dani hid her smile behind the seaweed sheet she held. The one benefit of being the family brainiac was they believed the random facts she spouted regardless of whether they were true or not.

Revenge was sweet.

Anabelle chuckled and rubbed Derek’s neck. “Poor baby.”

“Sucks for you, man.” Joe took a chug of his root beer.

Everyone knew Derek had a fondness for Mountain Dew, a sugary caffeine filled drink if ever there was.

Derek got up. “Water anyone?”

“No, thanks. I’ll just finish yours for you.”

She ignored her brother’s glare and set down the seaweed sheet in preparation for her hand roll. Her appetite was back. She spread Japanese rice along the sheet, placed a shrimp tempura, crab stick and avocado on one end, then sprinkled chopped green onions and masago eggs on top. She squeezed extra spicy mayo along the center before rolling up the concoction and taking a bite.

“Delicious.”

In the next half hour, the four of them devoured the feast Anabelle had prepared. Dani was enjoying her last roll when Derek annoyed her again.

“Esme told me Thelma’s air conditioning hasn’t been working.”

In the process of chewing, Dani paused. Busted by a preschooler.

“Why don’t you get Joe to look at it?”

“Joe’s a fire fighter, not a mechanic, besides I’m taking care of it this weekend. My friend will look at it.”

“I can take a look tonight. Maybe it’s something I can fix.”

Derek nodded. “Joe’s a tinker.”