After showering, he took extra time fixing his hair. While not vain, there was little he could do with it. With it being a bit too long, it curled uncontrollably up in the back. He shrugged. It was what it was.
For some reason, choosing his attire became a challenge. He remembered his female cousins, while preparing for a date, had nearly everything in their closets spread across their beds and tried on damn near everything, before choosing something to wear. He laughed at the memories and how he’d learned they typically ended up in the first outfit they’d tried on. At the time, he’d thought their actions ridiculous. Now, not so much.
Since the date was at the coffee shop, he decided on casual. Jeans instead of slacks made the cut. Giving up the stupid worry about how she’d see him, he picked out a baby blue button-down and rolled the sleeves about a quarter up his arms. He’d be warm wearing it, but he couldn’t bring himself to wear a T-shirt on this first date.
Clasping on the Invicta Aviator watch his father had purchased for him for his twenty-first birthday, he exited the bathroom. The watch had been through a great deal, but he’d never wear any other watch. It’d been emulating his father that started him wearing the aviator sunglasses in high school. They’d become branded to him.
Nearing his front door, he halted and tossed his head back in frustration. “Cologne.” Turning back to the bathroom for something he rarely used, he reminded himself of what to expect tonight. Sugar described her as tall for a woman. At five foot eleven inches, he wasn’t overly tall for a man. But he could deal with that. Her being a brunette added a checkmark in her favor.
He stared at himself in the vanity mirror. Did he get her name? Racking his brain, he couldn’t recall it.
After adding his smell-good stuff—not the official name of the liquid, but what he’d dubbed it—he made a quick call to Sugar to get the woman’s name. All he recalled was she’d be wearing a baby-blue sundress.
“That little scheming matchmaker,” he muttered when Sugar didn’t answer his call. He hoped that meant nothing was wrong with her family, but something told him she refused his call, so he wouldn’t cancel. She should know that he’d never leave the woman waiting by herself.
Damn. He hated going in unprepared.
After checking to ensure he had cash and his credit cards in his wallet, he shoved the billfold in his right back pocket. He snatched up the keys and tossed them before catching them with a jangle. He wouldn’t allow something as simple as not knowing her name to stop what could be a good evening.
Even though the coffee shop was within a few blocks, he drove and braved snagging a parking spot, so he didn’t sweat to death on the walk. He’d prefer not to arrive with a sweaty stench and rings under his armpits.
With frustration at finding a parking spot and rethinking of his plan to drive, he’d been around the block twice before someone emptied a space near his destination. Checking his watch, he cursed as he hadn’t been as early as he’d planned. He wanted to be the first to arrive.
Forgetting her name, waiting to park, and arriving later than planned. The “three strikes, you’re out” sentiment yanked at his positivity for the evening. At least he had the comfort of his ankle holster. It was a different backup weapon, as the sheriff’s department still held his, but he’d never leave home without one.
Not one to leave a lady waiting, he turned off the ignition in his truck and whipped open the door to exit. Jaywalking, he approached the coffee shop and stiffened in surprise, then a damn burst and hatred flooded him. He knew the woman in the blue sundress approaching him.
Damn. He’d taken forever to get rid of her to include finally giving her the impression he’d moved out of state. Not one of his best moves to lie like that, but this woman clung like no other. She’d been a nuisance of biblical proportion.
“Danny,” Barbie—her shortening of Barbara, because no one would naturally acquaint her to a Barbie doll—whined. “It is you. I so hoped it was.”
Danny vowed the next time he saw Sugar, he’d wring her skinny neck for this and fire her as his dating service. Of course, she couldn’t have known. It wasn’t like he gave her a no-go list of women.
Wrestling with the demons inside of the torture of once having this woman in his life, he did something he shouldn’t be proud of, but he didn’t care at the moment. Without a word, he spun on his heels and walked away.
When she chased after him, calling out his name, he finally stopped and whirled to meet her. The smile that had once entranced him made him sick to his stomach. The woman was beyond psycho, and now she knew he still lived in the area. “I’ve said it before, Barbara—”
“Barbie, darling. Don’t you remember?” she purred and arched her back to push her breasts higher. Her rather large breasts.
Unfortunately, he did remember. But, all together, the move and voice did nothing but make him loathe her more. “Barbara,” he emphasized, “I’ve told you before to stay the fuck away from me. I haven’t changed my mind about that.”
At the stunned expression on her face, Danny turned and walked away without a backward glance.
That’s it, he told himself. I’m done dating. As he slammed his truck door, he knew that unless the right woman just fell into his lap, he’d remain off the market, and his dream of a family of his own would surely die.
Chapter Four
Dublin, Ireland
An unladylike snort slipped from Moira Gallagher, and she quickly looked around to see who might’ve overheard. Thankfully,
