Caviar and Covert Ops: Book 3 (Military Moguls) (4 page)

Even if he was interested in her – which he wasn’t – she didn’t have the time, energy, or inclination to do a damn thing about it. She was too busy simply trying to survive and to bring up her son to be a decent human being. Nicky’s health and well-being were all she could ask for.

It had just been so long since any men had been nice to her. Really nice, not creepy nice. That’s why she was still thinking about him. It wasn’t him specifically, it was her pathetic existence. It was kind of sad that she was obsessing about someone simply because he hadn’t acted like a jerk. It didn’t say much for the people she’d been meeting.

But it spoke volumes about her usual taste in men.

‡

“M
ommy, look! Ace!”

Nicky’s excited voice rang out and Lily’s attention swung from her son, Myra, and Amelia to the man and dog she’d seen almost every day for three weeks, then not at all for the last five days. Dane and Ace had become something of a fixture in the park, playing Frisbee and chatting with the other adults. He was friendly and genial and everyone seemed to like him. Lily liked him more than she was willing to admit. Nor was she going to admit she’d missed him and the park hadn’t seemed nearly as fun without him. Nicky, on the other hand, had asked about Dane and Ace every single day.

Myra’s eyebrow arched and a Mona Lisa smiled played on her lips. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Lily’s boyfriend. Finally. And he’s headed right for you. When are you going to give that man a break and go out on a date with him?”

Whenever Dane was around Lily found it hard to breathe normally. Her pulse pounded and her stomach felt like it was filled with hundreds of butterflies. This was bad.

“Never, because he hasn’t asked me,” Lily said smartly. “He’s friendly with everyone, not just me.”

Snorting, Myra brushed the sand off of Amelia’s cheeks. “Right. He’s friendly with me. He’s extra-special friendly with you and Nicky. And he’d ask you out if you just gave him a smidgen of encouragement. Throw the man a bone. You know you want to.”

That was the problem. She did want him to ask her out and then she prayed that he wouldn’t. She didn’t have time for this and face it—she had terrible taste in men. There didn’t appear to be anything wrong with Dane, but if she liked him he was probably secretly married with three children, a mortgage in foreclosure, and a criminal record of deviant behavior.

But it would be kind of cool if he really did like her. It had been so damn long.

Dane and Ace walked up to them, greeting Myra and Amelia as Nicky threw his arms around the dog’s neck and got sloppy kisses in return. Dane held out his hand and she stared at it for a moment before she realized he was offering to help her to her feet. Slipping her fingers into his, she felt the now familiar jolt of electricity whenever their hands brushed against each other. She rose to her feet and smoothed down her wrinkled shorts and t-shirt, wondering how he managed to stay so cool and unrumpled all the time.

“Hey Ace.” She scratched the lab behind the ears and got a wet kiss in return. “Hi Dane,” she said, not able to look him in the eye. His green gaze saw way too much and she didn’t want him to feel sorry for the single mom who had a crush on him. Myra was out of her mind. A man like Dane couldn’t be attracted to her.

Her clothes came from a consignment store. She hadn’t had a decent haircut in almost a year. And she never seemed to have time to put on any makeup. Getting a shower and shaving her legs were major accomplishments.

“Hi Lily. Did you and Nicky have a good Saturday?” he asked as they headed out into an open area to play Frisbee. Myra had politely declined, saying that she and Amelia needed to get home, but she’d given Lily a quick wink as she bundled her daughter into the stroller.

He didn’t say where he’d been the last week and she didn’t ask him. She didn’t want to look like she’d noticed. “It was okay. I worked the lunch shift again today. We were pretty busy with all the snowbirds back in town.”

She’d told Dane about her job at the day care where she could work and have Nicky with her, and also her part-time waitressing. He’d told her he was an attorney, which wasn’t a surprise. He was obviously well-educated and persuasive. He’d managed to get her out of her usual shell, hadn’t he?

Dane grimaced and tossed the Frisbee out so that Ace would take off after it with Nicky at his heels. “I can tell by the traffic on the roads. It’s terrible but I sure don’t mind the end to ninety-plus degree weather with worse humidity. The last few days have actually been pleasant.”

“November is always a beautiful month.” Now that they’d talked about the weather, Lily didn’t know what else to say. She’d always been careful to keep things on a superficial level. “So did you work today?”

Ace had the Frisbee in his mouth and Nicky was chasing him around, giggling and laughing. “I stopped by the office for a few hours but I’m sure it was nothing compared to what you did. Waiters and waitresses work hard.”

Her feet were killing her and her back ached from carrying heavy trays but he was the first person who had ever acknowledged her efforts. Tears pricked the back of her eyes and she swallowed hard, chastising herself for being so emotional all because some man was
nice
.

“It’s nice to be appreciated,” was all she said. “I bet you’re a good tipper too.”

He smiled and those pesky butterflies fluttered in her stomach. “I hope so. Hard work should be rewarded.” He tilted his head and gazed at her for a moment. “You look a little tired. If you want to go relax on that bench I promise I won’t let Ace eat Nicky.”

Laughing at the thought of sweet Ace doing anything of the sort, she shook her head. “I’m fine. Nicky only got out of bed twice last night so we’re making progress.”

“What gets him out of bed?” Dane asked, catching the errant Frisbee and tossing it smoothly but gently back at Nicky who managed to scoop it off the ground while Ace pranced around and barked. “The usual drink of water routine? I think I used it a few times.”

Lily shook her head and giggled. “Nope. Monsters. Despite living in the most boring neighborhood in Pinellas County, it somehow manages to have a severe monster problem. They’re everywhere. In closets. Under beds. Behind the shower curtain. Wait, I have to admit they might actually be behind the shower curtain.”

“It sounds like you need a can of Monster-Be-Gone. I can hook you up if you like.” A teasing grin had bloomed on Dane’s handsome face. When he smiled like this he looked ten years younger.

“Monster-Be-Gone? I know you’re not serious, so what the heck is that?”

“It’s something my aunt used when I would climb out of bed at night. I think she took a can of regular air freshener and covered it with a homemade label. It had a picture of a nasty monster and the words Monster-Be-Gone. She’d spray it around my bedroom, in the closets, and under the bed. I was completely convinced it kept the scaries away.”

“That’s fabulous. I may have to steal that idea. Were you raised by your aunt?”

She’d asked it innocently enough, but it was as if a dark cloud came out of nowhere and obliterated any traces of mirth or happiness from his face. His smile disappeared and his green eyes turned icy.

“No,” he finally said, his tone remote and his gaze looking somewhere out onto the horizon. “No, I was not.”

Not sure what to say, Lily didn’t say anything. As they played with Nicky and the dog the tension that had suddenly sprung up drained away and they were almost back to normal as dinnertime neared. Nicky’s cheeks were pink from running around and Ace’s tongue was hanging out.

“I think I better get Nicky home for dinner, Dane. Then right after it’s bath, story, and then bedtime.”

She was kind of babbling, but then he made her nervous. He probably didn’t give a rat’s butt what they were doing tonight but as usual he was unfailingly polite.

“Does he get to stay up late on a Saturday night?”

“If he doesn’t get enough sleep he gets cranky. So no.” She didn’t mention that she needed the sleep as well. She’d be crashed in front of the television by nine.

Dane rubbed his cheek and then looked at Nicky for a moment. “Since you’ve worked so hard today, how about having dinner with me?”

The blood roared in her ears and it took a few seconds for the words to work their way through her brain. “Dinner? With you?” she blurted. “Why?”

Lily wanted to dig a hole and hide in it. She was so out of practice with the opposite sex that she’d forgotten you didn’t just say the first thing off the top of your head.

Crap.

“Because I like your company. Nicky’s too.” Dane smiled gently, the once cold eyes now a soft green like the velvety moss in the forest.

“I’m not dressed to go anywhere.” She looked frantically down at her old shorts and top that had been laundered until they were soft and faded. A part of her desperately wanted to spend more time with him but that fearful part was calling the shots at the moment.

He crossed his arms over his broad chest and regarded her steadily. “I think you look fine, but if you like I could go to the store and pick up a few things. We could have a picnic right here in the park. The sun won’t be down for a few hours yet.”

“Picnic!” Nicky squealed. “Mommy, picnic!”

She lifted her son into her arms, needing to have him close. A shield perhaps between herself and Dane.

“I guess a picnic would be okay,” she finally said. Honestly she couldn’t think of one good reason not to. A picnic did sound fun and they’d be in a public venue. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Can I leave Ace with you while I run to the store? I won’t be gone long.”

He was already digging into his pocket for his car keys. “Sure. We’ll keep him entertained. He’s such a good boy.”

“That’s great. Any food allergies or stuff either of you simply won’t eat?”

“He doesn’t like green vegetables but I make him have a bite before he can have dessert.”

Dane smiled his approval. “Tough mom. I never had to eat my vegetables but luckily I grew to have a taste for them later. Okay, I’ll be back in a flash. One more thing, since we’re going to be dining together we should probably know each other’s last names. Mine’s Braxton. Dane Braxton.”

He suddenly seemed tense, but then she was nervous as well. Maybe he was regretting asking her to have dinner with him or simply reacting to her nerves. “Emery. Lily Emery. Don’t worry about Ace. I’ll take good care of him.”

Dane smiled and retreated to his car and she watched him drive away while Nicky led Ace around by his leash. It was absolute madness to spend personal time with Dane but she couldn’t help herself. He was the first man she’d found attractive since before Nicky was born. Until now she’d been happy enough not to date, eschewing relationships and all they entailed.

Was she really ready to do this? Did it matter if she wasn’t? Despite Dane’s impeccable manners she could see steely determination underneath all that civilized veneer. If he put his mind to pursuing her she’d be lost. She didn’t have the armor of sophistication to protect herself that other females took for granted.

She’d let Dane in a little and then firmly show him the door.

*

No reaction.

Lily had no reaction when Dane had told her his last name was Braxton. He’d been holding his breath, waiting for some sign but there hadn’t even been a flicker of recognition. Brandon obviously hadn’t mentioned his infamous family ties, or if he did so much had happened she didn’t remember. She also didn’t seem aware of the somewhat notorious Braxton family reputation. Thank God. That brush had tarred him too many times over the years.

Seeing her today after deliberately staying away had punched him firmly in the solar plexus. He’d forgotten the gold highlights that shone in her hair under the sun and the natural pink of her lips that owed nothing to makeup. Lily was beautiful all on her own.

And he was a fucking idiot.

He’d stayed away on purpose, determined not to let the pretty single mother get under his skin. Instead he’d concentrated on getting Nicky’s trust fund set up and all the work piled on his desk. But he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. Her innate goodness kept calling to him and finally he’d thrown in the towel and come to the park. Promising the entire way there that he’d play it cool. Just spend time with her. His feelings weren’t involved in the least.