Sasha’s Dad (17 page)

Claire groaned. Dutch laughed.

“You sound like you don’t love your sisters.” His grin revealed that he understood exactly what she feared. No doubt he’d felt the same when they had dinner in Annapolis with his family.

“Claire, it’s Jewel and Jenna!” Sasha squealed as only a preteen could.

The rare times Sasha had been at the farm when the twins stopped by they’d all gotten along famously. Claire hadn’t minded, as she knew the twins were so much closer in age to Sasha than she was. Sasha could relate easily to Jenna and Jewel. They’d all grown up in the digital age. Claire still remembered the day cable television was hooked up in their living room. The twins hadn’t been born yet.

Sasha skittered over to their booth. Claire saw Jenna slide quickly from her bench and into Jewel’s, placing Sasha between them.

Great.

She and Dutch had a bench to themselves. The benches weren’t that big and she knew that within a moment of sitting next to him her ability to focus would be gone.

Who was she kidding? It’d left when she’d gotten into Dutch’s truck.

She followed Dutch to their booth. She didn’t miss how the twins assessed Dutch from head to toe. Jenna was beyond obvious as she gave him a once-over, then raised her eyebrow as if to say,
So, I hear you like my sister.

Jewel was more subtle. She sent him a quiet smile that said,
Either treat her right or get lost.

“Good evening, Jenna, Jewel.” He greeted them as though they met here regularly for family meals. Claire had to give him points for going along with their jocularity.

“Hi, Dutch. Taking the ladies out for dinner?” Jenna smiled, and Claire bit her tongue to keep from saying something rude.

“Actually, Sasha and I are taking Claire out. As a thank-you, this time without the boat.”

The giggles that erupted from the twins and Sasha dissolved Claire’s determination to play it cool. “Can’t blame them,” she said. “I wasn’t much fun that day.”

“Sure you were, Claire,” Sasha insisted staunchly. If only that adoration would last. Chances were that, in a few years, Sasha wouldn’t see Claire so uncritically.

Claire slid into the booth and Dutch got in beside her.

“Did you ever hear about the time Claire dated a midshipman at the Naval Academy?” Jenna went on to tell the awful tale of how Claire had puked all over one of the academy’s sailboats. The mid was responsible for the condition of the craft when he returned it, so instead of taking her out for dinner he had to spend the evening bleaching it down.

Claire looked at the twins with what she hoped were shooting flames.

They made Sasha’s matchmaking attempts appear amateurish—and Claire had been impressed with some of Sasha’s manipulations over the past couple of months.

“When was this?” His lowered voice was solely for her ears. The twins and Sasha were gabbing away and didn’t even notice that Dutch and Claire were having their own conversation.

“On one of my spring breaks.” His expression made her laugh. “Dutch, it was a long time ago, and you were busy with your own life.” In fact, it had happened after he and Natalie had become engaged.

He sighed and picked up his menu. She did the same, even though she knew what she wanted. From the diner, anyway.

“What did you two ladies order?” The timber of Dutch’s voice and the heat of his thigh next to hers made Claire think of more than food.

“Dottie just took our order,” Jenna said. “We like to come here on Fridays for the crab-cake platter.”

“That’s what I’m getting,” he told her. “But I prefer the sandwich.”

Dutch turned to Claire. She hadn’t been in such close proximity to him other than the times they’d embraced. Heat crawled up her neck and she was sure her cheeks glowed.

Dutch laughed, a low and tantalizing sound. “Then crabs it is.” He smiled at her and she wanted to grab a water glass and splash his face. They’d agreed to be cordial, friends. Not flirt in front of her twin sisters. He knew
exactly
what he was doing. Despite her attempt to keep everything on an even keel, she felt her mouth twitching.

“So, Dutch, Claire told us she’s enjoying her time with Sasha, and that you all had a wonderful day in Annapolis.” Jewel opened the conversation with that fairly neutral remark.

“Except for the seasickness.” Jenna remained ever-practical.

Dutch turned back to the twins. Claire gave a silent sigh of relief at not being in his direct scrutiny for at least a moment. The pressure of his thigh against hers was enough intensity. She tried to scoot closer to the wall without being obvious, but Dutch pushed harder.

“Yes, she is, aren’t you, Sash?” He reached over to pull Sasha’s menu down and tweak her nose.

Sasha swiped him back. “Quit it, Dad!”

The whole table laughed. Claire loved hearing all their voices raised in such a joyful sound.

“Hey, Dutch.” Dottie put down a glass of water in front of Dutch and nodded.

Dutch looked up. “Why are you working on Friday night, Dottie? I thought you’d stopped weekends.”

Dottie blushed as if she’d been caught with the goods, but Claire wasn’t sure what the “goods” were.

“Let me guess, Mel needs to come in later to get the baking done for Sunday’s rush?”

At Dutch’s teasing, Dottie swatted him on the head with her receipt book. “You mind your own beeswax, Dr. Archer. You tend to your animals and let me tend to my diner, okay?” Dutch laughed and Claire smiled. Dottie put her hand on her hip. “You’ve decided to dine with these fine gals, I take it? The usual?”

“You got it, Dottie.” Dutch had dropped the subject of Mel. He understood that it was okay to tease Dottie a little, but he didn’t want to embarrass her.

“You want the sandwich, right?”

“Yeah, not like these wimps eating them plain.”

“Claire?” Dottie asked. “You want yours
plain?
”

Claire nodded, and Sasha said, “Me, too!”

As the twins laughed, Claire squirmed. She’d looked forward to a quiet night at home. Dutch’s presence put a meal in practically the same league as a White House press event. She breathed deeply and tried to stay grounded. Tried to remember that she ran her own life.

Problem was, Dutch had been part of her life for so long, whether directly or indirectly. Even in D.C., the biggest reason she hadn’t come back to see Natalie was her feelings for Dutch.

“Daddy?” Claire glanced over at Sasha. She usually called Dutch “Dad.”

“Yes?” Dutch heard the different tone, too. Claire felt the slight tightening of his muscles. He knew he was being set up.

“When are you going to take Claire on a
real
date?”

The twins each grabbed their drinks and sucked them through their straws, eyes downcast. Sasha stared at Dutch. Claire watched Dutch as he stared back at his daughter.

Claire held her breath.

How was he going to get out of this one? She’d have to talk to her sisters about not encouraging Sasha—and staying out of her business. It seemed a bit precocious, even for Sasha, to ask such a question in public.

Dutch surprised them all.

“Next Friday night when you’re on your school band trip.”

“I don’t ever do anything I don’t want to, Claire.” He stepped into the kitchen and held his hand out to her. “Leave the flowers for now. They’ll be fine. Let’s go.”

She placed her hand in his.

“You look beautiful.” Dutch spoke as they walked out to the car.

“Thank you.” She’d bought the pink spring dress especially for tonight. Casual but unmistakably feminine. It was sheath-style with a low-cut back, and the hem ended right above her knees. A lacy white cotton cardigan and strappy sandals made her feel elegant. Even sexy.

“Where’s your truck?” She blinked at the dark convertible parked in her driveway.

“At home.” He escorted her to the passenger door. The wind caught his aftershave and its clean crisp scent tickled Claire’s nose. Yummy.

“I didn’t know you had another vehicle.”

She slid into the black leather seat and he closed the door. “I keep it in the garage most of the time, especially in the winter,” he said as he got in, then started the engine. “But I need it for nights like tonight.” His eyes expressed the warmth of his mood.

Her awareness of him strung her nerves tight and they hadn’t even left the driveway.

“How old is it?” She couldn’t care less how old the car was. Whatever kept the conversation going—and away from more personal concerns—was fine with her. Anything to distract her from this close proximity to Dutch.

“I bought it for Natalie, but she never got around to driving it.” He said it matter-of-factly, without sorrow or remorse. Claire took the opportunity to look at him as they drove onto the highway toward Baltimore.

“That’s too bad. She would’ve loved it.” Claire glanced around the plush interior. It was incongruous with the Dutch she knew. But tonight he was dressed up, and together she imagined they looked more like a city couple than a fiber farmer and large-animal veterinarian.

Shivers ran up her forearms, but not from the wind that blew around in the windshield.
She’d thought of them as a couple.
Until now she’d been so careful to keep them separate and apart in her mind. To her credit she’d never allowed her fantasies to inhabit a world where she and Dutch got along and were maybe even friends.

Or more.

“Are you warm enough?” Dutch had to shout over the wind and the noise of traffic. Even though the air was still crisp, the heated seats kept her comfortable.

“Absolutely! This is so much fun.” Claire was grateful for the inconvenience of conversation at the moment. She needed mental space to get her thoughts in order.

And she needed to cool her body’s reaction to Dutch or they wouldn’t make it past the appetizers.

“Sit back and enjoy the ride,” he shouted and grabbed her hand. He held it under his on the leather upholstery.

Claire’s breathing sped up and she felt her heart quicken. This was going to ruin any attempts she made to distance herself emotionally from Dutch. The attraction that existed whether she acknowledged it or not. It simmered continually, and the tension kept her awareness of him constant. No matter where they were or what they talked about, it was there.

The silent promise that there could be something more between them if they could ever get past their emotional roadblocks.

She hoped she’d be able to enjoy the night and tried to pay attention to the evening sky.

They hit the Baltimore city limits and the water of the Inner Harbor spread out to their right.

The tension stretched Claire’s nerves further than she’d realized they could be stretched. Dealing with her emotions over Natalie’s life and death was hard enough for her. Trying to offer Sasha the support and love she craved added to the pressure, but time with Sasha gave her far more than she’d ever be able to give Sasha. It was her desire for Dutch that pushed her to the edge of her self-control.

Claire leaned her head back and sank farther into the heated seat. As she observed the brilliant view of the Inner Harbor, she vowed to let it all go, if only for tonight. The sexual tension with Dutch might reach a bailing point. As long as she didn’t forget that anything that happened between them would be just that—between them. And it wouldn’t mean anything other than two people acting out of perfectly normal physical need.

There’d be no going back if he took this too far, but he was tired of analyzing everything he did. The truth was that Claire had done a hell of a lot for him and Sasha. Especially for Sasha. He knew he was overprotective of his daughter, but he did know how to be a gentleman. He owed Claire a nice evening out, an adult thank-you. Even with their less-than-ideal past, he and Claire had been friends once. They could be again.

“Friends with benefits” is more like it.

He silently cursed himself for the thought and ushered her into the elevator. He put his hand on the small of her back and was thrilled to find that under her sweater her dress was open down to the base of her spine.

“Thanks.” She went to move away, but as the door shut he pulled her to him.

“Claire.” He rested his forehead on hers and was encouraged when she didn’t draw back. “Let’s put the knives away for tonight and just have a good time.”

She didn’t respond, but closed her eyes. He took the opportunity to touch her lips with his. She sighed against his mouth and he marveled at the softness of hers. He deepened the kiss.

The elevator dinged its arrival at the ground floor and the doors opened. Before Dutch could think straight enough to step back he heard a cough. He lifted his head and looked into Claire’s laughing green eyes.

“Excuse us.” He addressed the family that waited outside the elevator.

“You were kissing her!” A little boy he’d guess aged three or four pointed at him. The boy had a red balloon tied to his arm and it shook at Dutch.

“Yes, I was.” Dutch glanced at the boy’s parents, who didn’t meet his gaze as they ushered their son onto the elevator.

“Way to be cool,” he muttered in self-derision.

Claire grinned. “We’ll never see them again. Besides, if that little boy hasn’t seen his parents doing the same thing, then I’m sorry for all of them.”

Dutch took Claire’s hand and pulled her close to his side. The breeze had picked up, flattening her hair around her face. This was going to be a long dinner. Visions of all the things he wanted to do with Claire tormented him.

“What’s wrong?” Lines appeared between Claire’s brows.

“Wrong? Nothing.” He took the leap. “Only that we’re not alone right now.”

He felt the shudder that ran up her arm.

She felt it, too. Their desire was mutual and strong.

He came to a halt near a retail building and eased her under the awning. The shoe store was closed as the nightlife began.

He continued to hold her with one hand and cupped her face with the other. She looked up at him, and he’d never seen such a beautiful expression of trust.

“Claire, you can tell me to stop right now.”

She returned his gaze with a steady consideration that made him hard. Hell, everything about her made him hard.

“Let’s do our best to enjoy our dinner, okay?” The huskiness in her voice stoked his fire as if she’d physically touched him.

He leaned in to kiss her and stopped himself. They were on one of the busiest streets in Baltimore, but it didn’t matter. He wanted to push her up against the building and make love to her.

“Okay.” He breathed in and straightened. Claire’s face was neutral, but he didn’t miss the shine of need in her eyes. She hadn’t said no.