Her heart begged for her to move across the room and sit next to him so she could feel his body heat, smell his aftershave, see the little green specks in his gray eyes. “I definitely want to go out again. I just can’t.”
His eyebrows drew together in a sharp frown. “Why not?”
Because I’m pregnant.“I don’t want to talk about it.” Giving in to the compulsion, she went around the coffee table and sat next to him, angling her body toward him. “I have always wanted to go out with you.” As she spoke, he shifted his body to face her. She took advantage of the opportunity to reach out and take his hand. “I used to intentionally put myself in a position for you to notice me. Silly schoolgirl dreams.” His eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe what she said. “Wednesday night was an actual—no-kidding—dream come true for me.”
“Then—”
“But I am nowhere near a place in my personal life to consider dating anyone new for a while.”
He turned his hand so that her palm rested against his. She could feel the hard callouses on his skin. “I don’t understand. What’s stopping you?”
Maybe she could give him enough information, but not all the information. “I was in a serious relationship until very recently. He wooed me with words of love and our future. Then a few days ago, I found out he’s married. Happily married.”
“Happily married?” Ken raised an eyebrow. “Clearly not.”
She shrugged. “Well, whether he is or isn’t doesn’t matter to me anymore. But I’m just not in a good place right now. It’s too soon. I’m sorry.”
His hand closed over hers and completely engulfed it. She wondered if she should feel threatened instead of suddenly very safe. “Look, Daisy, I’m not married. In fact, I’ve never even come close. Heck, I’ve never even had a serious relationship. Truth is, I only casually dated when my brothers insisted it had been too long since I had.” He stared into her eyes, and she found herself mesmerized by the shift from gray to green and back again. “What I’m saying is I’m not the same as this idiot you were with. And I would very much like to take you out tonight and treat you like you deserve to be treated.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, if only to stop the hypnotism. After taking a deep breath in through her mouth and very slowly releasing it out through her nose, she opened her eyes and said, “Okay. Let’s go out tonight. Casual?”
The smile transformed his face, and his eyes lit up as if a light shone behind them. “Casual. I’ll be here at six.”
She walked him to the door and shut it behind him, leaning against it with her arms crossed over her chest. “And just what was that, Daisy?” she asked herself. “Just agreed to go out with Ken Dixon? Oh, sure. Keep it casual, Ken? Oh, man.”
Daisycarried the cupcakes through the back door and set them on the kitchen counter, making sure the red and blue frosting she’d piped on each one hadn’t gotten damaged too badly during transport. “Mamá? Papi?”
“In here!”
She found her parents in the hallway. Her father, Marcus, wielded a mop. He was tall and thin with salt and pepper hair. He wore red pajamas and a dark blue robe. Her mother, Rita, wore a pink house dress and fluffy green slippers. She still had thick, black hair that fell in waves to her shoulders. She glanced at her over her shoulder. “The bathroom sink had a moment earlier. Thankfully, your uncle knew exactly how to fix it and talked Papi through it.”
Daisy grinned. “I guess all those years with a plumber for a brother paid off.”
“Happy Fourth of July.” Her mom gestured with her hand, and they walked back into the kitchen. “Thank you for the cupcakes. Are you staying?”
In a couple of hours, her parents’ home would fill with teenagers for a backyard pool party celebrating the holiday. In every church he’d served as a youth pastor, he’d had this annual Fourth of July party. Daisy had never missed one. “Actually, I have a date.”
Her mom raised an eyebrow. “Jason?”
Trying not to shudder at the sound of his name, Daisy said, “No. We broke up last week. This is with Ken Dixon. Remember him?”
“Ken Dixon? Of course! Although I’m not sure which one was Ken. I do remember the Dixon brothers, though. I even remember one time they switched their names just to mess with your dad. It was rather funny.” She cupped her mouth and said in a conspiring whisper, “Your Papi didn’t think so.”
Daisy chuckled. “Well, apparently, his family is having a big thing at Ken’s cabin on Lake Oconee. So, I’m going out there. I think he’ll even do a big firework show from the water.”
Her mom grabbed two coffee cups and headed for the carafe. Daisy did not tell her mother she didn’t want coffee because she didn’t want to explain why she didn’t want it. “So, how did you end up on a date with Ken Dixon?”
“His company’s donating the materials and equipment to build the house we’re raising on Labor Day. Our paths just kinda crossed.”
Her mom handed her a coffee cup then toasted her with her own and said, “I love it when God does stuff like that. Don’t you?”
Thinking of the way she’d likely disappointed God and how she deserved no special arrangements filled Daisy with embarrassment and shame. Her cheeks heated, and a bitter taste filled her mouth. “I do. Especially when you can look back and see it.” She set the untouched coffee cup in the sink and said, “I have to run. I have barbacoa in the Crock-Pot, and I need to make some tortillas to go with it. I was telling Ken about it last night, and he insisted that I make some for him. I’m going to surprise him with it today.”
Her mom grinned. “Cooking for him already?”
“Mamá!” She kissed her cheek and breathed in the familiar smell of cinnamon. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Have fun with Ken Dixon. You have to tell me everything. Can’t wait to hear about it.”
