“Whoa there.” He stepped back. “Okay?”
She nodded, mute.
“What’s wrong, Daddy?”
“Nothing, squirt. Marla stumbled. I caught her.”
“Can we go now? I want to play ball with Skippy.”
Dwayne carried the box and cooler to his truck. He lifted Amber then Skip to the backseat while Marla returned to unlock the house and retrieve a picnic blanket she’d forgotten. Was it any wonder? The shock wave that rolled over them when he’d pressed her to his chest still vibrated every muscle in his body. She’d felt it too. She could deny it all she wanted, but her face said it all.
“Got everything?” he asked when she reached the truck. He held the door open for her.
Her voice breathy, she replied, “Yes,” and stepped inside. He was rewarded with a great close-up of her butt in tight denim Capri’s. “Jesus,” he groaned.
“Did you say something?” Her suspicious brown eyes inquired from her flushed face.
“Nope.” Dwayne closed the door and rounded the front of the truck to the driver’s side. He started the engine and backed from her drive.
Marla looked over her shoulder. “Hold Skipper on your lap, honey, so he doesn’t fall if your dad has to stop fast.”
Dwayne shook his head and cast a sour look at her. “I know how to drive.” He slammed the brakes to avoid hitting a compact car that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
“I can see that.” Marla clutched the handle above the passenger window. She giggled. “Good job.”
Could this eight-minute drive to Lemon Tree Dog Park get any more awkward? At least Amber’s steady chatter to Skipper filled the truck with happy noise and gave him a chance to regain his equilibrium. It was a good thing Charlene and Donovan would also be there.
Marla pointed. “That’s Char’s car. I don’t see them, do you?” She leaned forward and craned her neck.
“They’re at the picnic table at the edge of the old lemon grove.” He tilted his head. “Over there.”
“Oh, good, they’re in the shade.”
He suspected the relief in her voice had more to do with the fact her sister and his brother were already here and less to do with the shade. “I’m going to park at the end. It’s a bit of a walk, but by the time we leave, this part of the lot will be in the direct sun. The seats will get hotter than a griddle.”
“Ah, good thinking.”
He parked and lifted Amber out of the backseat, then handed the sandwich box to Marla. “Hold on to that critter, squirt. He’s itchin’ to join those other dogs behind the fence.” Carrying the cooler in the direction of the tables, he reached for Amber’s hand and led the way.
“Wait, Dwayne.”
He stopped and looked over his shoulder. “What? Did we forget something?”
“No. I’m going to let Amber take Skip inside. I need to show her how to work the gate.” She motioned for Amber to join her at the fence.
Marla pointed. “See this thing? It’s the dog park tag scanner. You need to hold Skip still in front of it for a second and the gate will unlock. See? When you go in and out you must be very careful that no other dog gets out. As soon as you’re inside, make sure it latches, then let Skipper off the leash. He’ll run and join the other dogs, but soon as he works off some of his excitement, he’ll come back to play with you. Okay?”
Dwayne watched Amber nod her understanding of Marla’s instructions. His kid was smart and eager to please. He didn’t doubt she’d follow them to the letter. He couldn’t look at her without a big swell of love in his heart. God, she was beautiful, and she was his daughter.
“Have fun,” he said, “and come to the table when you get hungry.”
“Okay, Daddy.” She shut the gate tight and let the dog go.
Marla joined him. “You have a very special little girl.” She bit her cheek to suppress her smile. “Hard to believe you’re her father.”
He grabbed his chest. “That hurts.”
“Uh, oh,” Marla said. “Do you see what I see?”
“If you’re referring to the unmistakable afterglow of great sex on both their faces, then yes, I see it.”
“I was afraid that would happen. Charlene is relentless when she sets her sights on a good-looking man. Poor Donovan.”
“Why poor Donovan? He looks like a satisfied and happy man to me. Why not poor Charlene?”
Marla sighed. “She tends to love ’em and leave ’em. I’d feel bad if Donovan expected her to stick.”
“Give it a rest, willya? He’s a twenty-nine-year-old Marine combat veteran. She’s the one you should worry about, if that’s something you feel you need to do. Why not just smile and be happy they had a great time in the sack, which it’s obvious they did?”
“Go to hell, Dempsey.” She bumped his shoulder and stormed ahead of him.
“Most likely.” He shook his head. He’d managed to get her Irish up again. He couldn’t say anything without making her mad, but he was right, damn it. She should mind her own business. As adults, Charlene and Donovan were fully capable of making their own decisions.
They reached the table to the smiles and waves of Marla’s sister and his little brother. Dwayne set down the cooler and fist-bumped Donovan. “I’m hungry, how about you guys?”
His eyes bored into Donovan’s. Dwayne tilted his head and raised his eyebrows. His brother answered the unspoken question with a barely perceptible head-shake. No sign of Francine.
Charlene grinned from ear to ear and leaned into Donovan’s shoulder. “I’m starved. We thought you’d never get here, huh, Donnie?” She gazed into his eyes and without a hint of shyness. Donovan bent to kiss her.
“Yeah,” he said when he came up for air, “we’re starved.” He gave her a squeeze and grinned at Dwayne and Marla.
Dwayne got the full meaning of his brother’s grin. “Look what I bagged, bro.” He took the sandwich box from Marla, set it on the table, and whispered in her ear,
