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Ryder starts to laugh. “He’s preoccupied with a curvy redhead.”
“I like red hair,” Dad comments, which earns him a glare from Mom.
“So do I.” I sigh, and admit, “She baked a couple of cakes today and took them into her uncle at the department. Damn good as well.”
“What’d she bake?” Ryder rubs his stomach.
“You can’t be serious? You’ve just eaten,” Dahlia laughs.
“There’s always room for cake!” He shakes his head at Dahlia, but grins at me. “I’m still waiting…chocolate?”
I roll my eyes, and put him out of his misery. “A red velvet cake and a chocolate one. The red velvet was delicious.” I lick my lips, and start laughing at the longing on his face.
Dahlia pats him on his stomach. “I’ll bake you one tomorrow, now stop with the grumbling. Everyone will think you’re starving.”
We laugh as Dad says, “He’s always starving…boy almost ate us out of a home when he was a teen.”
“I’ll go and start the coffee,” Mom offers as the laughter dies down, “and bring in the huge chocolate cake I baked this morning.”
“I’ll help.” Ryder jumps up and follows Mom out of the room.
I’m not usually into baked goods, but I could be if Savannah is the one baking them for me—in little clothing so that her delicious curves are on display for me—a nice fantasy.
Seeing her today in denim shorts and a soft-colored tunic had done things to me. I’d been so lost when I’d spotted Savannah pulling into the parking lot that I’d stopped in my tracks to follow her car. She always looks so fresh, and seeing her dressed so casually made me want to wrap her up in my arms. I wanted to keep her forever and it had been easy to follow her onto the elevator. It had been easy to come up with excuses to touch her.
I’d soon been brought down a peg or two when Richard had appeared. My attraction to Savannah was probably all over my face…hell, even all over my body, which was full of tension.
The scent of Savannah had teased my nostrils, which is why I’d bent closer so I could inhale more of her. I don’t know what the fuck had come over me with that move, but just being so close had given me an erection. One that she’d noticed. But she’d been aroused as well. I’d so wanted to stroke between her thighs to feel how wet she was for me.
Feeling a weight on my shoulder, I turn and return Dahlia’s grin as she snuggles against me.
“You really are distracted with her, huh?” Dahlia places her hand on top of her sleeping daughter.
“She’s really cute,” I grin at Dahlia’s snicker and I know that she’s not talking about Faith. “She’s cute, gorgeous, and so damn sexy that it kills me knowing she’s engaged to someone else.”
I stay silent and wait for Dahlia to comment. I’ve always been able to talk to her, from the first moment we met when Ryder brought her home to meet us all before he screwed up.
“From what Ryder has told me, she likes you, which doesn’t make sense if she’s already in a relationship that’s leading toward a wedding… Do you think she’s happy?”
Is she happy? I think of every time I’ve seen her with Richard and it doesn’t seem that way. “I don’t think she is. She always seems happy when I’m with her, but today I was introduced to Richard by her uncle, Ned. We’ve been asked to work together in getting a charity softball game arranged.” I shrug. “I’m sure her uncle knows I’m attracted to Savannah, so putting me with Richard doesn’t make sense.”
I indicate for Mom to place my cake and coffee on the coffee table in front of us. “Thanks.” She offers a wry smile before heading out of the living room.
“I think you need to trust your instincts, Jace. Take every opportunity to spend time with her, and see where it leads.”
“I’m not sure how wise that would be no matter how much I want to.”
Leaning down, I press a gentle kiss to Faith’s forehead before placing her in Dahlia’s arms. “I’m going to head out.” I quickly drink my lukewarm coffee, and leave the cake for Ryder to eat.
Before getting to my feet, I kiss Dahlia on the cheek. “I’ll see you soon, sis.”
Dahlia’s face always lights up when I call her sis. I like it.
After walking through the kitchen to say goodbye to everyone, I finally manage to escape to my truck.
At least when I get back home, my place will be tidy and clean with Maureen having been in today so I can just relax when I get home. There’s only me living there, so I only have her come in one day a week. There’s never a lot for her to do, but just enough to make her feel like she’s earning the money I pay her. Maureen is a widow and lives in the house next door. She’s close to seventy years old and struggles for money from what I’
ve heard. She’s too proud to take help or handouts, which is why I pay her once a week to come and clean.
