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“But that’s not the reason you hired her.”
“No, it wasn’t.” Pat leaned forward. “Do you know what happened to Dara’s parents?”
Jason frowned, shook his head. “I just know they passed away suddenly.”
“It was a car accident. Dara was in the car at the time.” Even though no one else occupied the room, Pat lowered his voice. “A DUI.”
The air left the room. “What?”
“The other driver was drunk.” Pat raked a hand through his hair. “He’d just left a bar – his third of the night – and swerved into their lane. He hit them head on. Miraculously Dara was unharmed, but her parents… my sister…” His voice stumbled. He looked down, cleared his throat and returned in a stronger voice. “I trust you understand the ending.”
Tragedy. No wonder Dara was so sensitive to Alan’s accident – and him. “That’s why she’s been so hostile towards me.”
A brief nod confirmed it. “She linked Alan’s accident to her own, but it wasn’t the same. You weren’t driving.”
It didn’t matter. His drinks. His car. His fault. “Yes, but–”
“I know what happened, son.” Pat cut him off. “You didn’t give Alan your keys. He stole them from you, then you jumped in the car to stop him. I know it wasn’t your fault. What I don’t know is why you’ve kept it to yourself.”
Guilt engulfed him like a fiery foe, as the accident replayed again. Then again. And again. “If I’d been more careful, he wouldn’t have gotten my keys. Wouldn’t have gotten behind the wheel. Wouldn’t have been paralyzed.”
“That’s not true.” Pat swiped the air. “Alan would’ve grabbed someone else’s keys. It might not have been that night, but it would’ve happened eventually. Alan – and only Alan – is to blame.”
Jason stood stoically. It didn’t matter how many people absolved him of the guilt, it didn’t change facts. A man was paralyzed because of him.
Pat sighed, then thankfully moved on. “I like you, son. A lot, and not just as a baseball player. You remind me of Dara, always striving to do the right thing, to make the world a better place. Now, of course, I can only do so much – the right things have to happen between a man and a woman on their own. But one thing I won’t stand for is Dara getting hurt. Do you understand?”
Jason regarded the older man, still strong despite his age. “You’re asking the question fathers have asked for decades. Are my intentions honorable?”
Pat inclined his head.
He didn’t even need to consider his answer. “Sir, I am serious about your niece. Very serious.”
“I see.” Pure satisfaction lit the man’s eyes. “Does Dara know?”
“Not yet.” Jason allowed a slow, dark smile. “I have a plan, although it might be a little devious.”
Pat held out his palm and gave a brisk handshake. “Then I wish you all the success in the world. You face quite the challenge, my boy, but I promise it will be worthwhile.”
Jason had no doubt. He would meet the challenge. And like he did with every opponent…
He would win.
The phone calls started at 7a.m.
They awoke Dara from a dead sleep on the morning after the lengthy road trip, her first good night’s sleep after spending every night in fatigued exhaustion, dreaming of Jason.
And yeah, he’d been naked in every dream.
It hadn’t helped that he’d stuck by her everywhere she went. He was like an ice cream sundae she couldn’t escape, all chocolate and fudge and whipped cream with a big cherry on top. What made matters worse was how nice he’d been. On the next plane ride, he’d brought her motion sickness arm bands and a soft pillow, and it had been all she could do not to kiss him. At the hotel, he’d surprised her with a lovely swimsuit, so she could enjoy the pool. Then he’d bought her a literal ice cream sundae. She was falling deeper and deeper for him, and even she didn’t know how far. She’d hoped a little separation would temper those feelings. Thus far, it hadn’t worked.
The first call was from her best friend Bella. “How could you do this to me?”
Dara sat up in bed. Her friend was always dramatic, but she sounded almost anguished. “Do what? Is everything all right?”
“All right? Of course, things aren’t all right,” Bella wailed. “My best friend has the most amazing news in the world, and I have to hear about it on TV. Why didn’t you tell me you’re the luckiest woman ever?”
On TV? Dara scooted to the end of the bed, pushed her legs over the side. “Did I win the lottery or something?”
