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Daniel’s chest vibrated in a suppressed chuckle. “I've never introduced a woman to my kids before.”
“Never?”
He shook his head. “I don’t...date...a lot.”
A warm feeling spread through her chest. “I’m honored you want me to meet them.”
More people entered the room, filling up the seats around them. She saw Jessica and David sit on the other side of the room, two rows back. Commotion on the stage drew everyone’s attention and within minutes things were getting started.
If she’d thought the women’s bathing suits were skimpy, the men’s were even more so. The strip of fabric didn’t hide much of anything. In fact, it hid nothing. As they flexed to show off their muscles, Ali was surprised certain parts of their anatomy didn’t fall out.
Then it was James’s turn on stage. To say he was the spitting image of his dad was an understatement. Add some gray and a few years and they could be twins. He even had his dad’s gray eyes.
In the end, James got third place. The two guys who come in first and second were bigger than he was, but that was the only difference she could see. Then again, she had no idea what she was looking for.
Like before, as soon as the contestants left the stage, people began to leave. Daniel stood and guided Ali into the hall. He moved them away from the entrance and leaned back against the wall, pulling her against him.
Jessica and David came to stand beside them, and she couldn’t miss the big smile on Jessica’s face. David stood next to her while they waited, his arm around her shoulders.
People milled around, going in and out of the room. Then, a door opened down the hall and Ali recognized some of the men who’d been on stage. They filtered out in groups of two or three. She had no idea how many men passed by them before the door opened and James walked out.
He saw them almost immediately and hiked the duffle back higher on his shoulder. “Hey.”
Jessica moved in. She pulled him into her arms for a hug. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom.” His gaze moved to his dad, then to Ali. He took a step toward her and held out a hand. “Well, hello there. I don’t think we’ve met. I’m James Ross, and you are?”
* * *
Daniel put a possessive hand on Ali’s back. “James, I’d like you to meet Ali.”
“Ali.” James took Ali’s hand and held it in both or his.
Daniel had never been jealous of either of his sons before, but he was now. It was stupid, but love did that to you.
Ali laughed. “Hi, James. Your dad’s told me so much about you.”
James looked at Daniel, then at Ali. He took in Daniel’s hand on her back and his grin grew even bigger. “Well, Ali, I hope you’re hungry because I’m starving.” He hooked his arm in Ali’s and tugged her down the hall with him. “So, tell me everything.”
Daniel sighed and followed behind them. He didn’t miss the laugher coming from Jessica.
“What do you want to know?” Ali asked.
“How’d you meet my dad?”
Ali glanced over her shoulder, meeting his gaze as they all entered the lobby. James tended to crave certain foods after his competitions. He’d often scope out the restaurants in the area and knew exactly what he wanted. “We met at a club.”
James stopped and Daniel almost ran him over. His son turned to look at him, shock on his face. “You went to a club?”
Daniel raised an eyebrow. “I may be old, but I’m not dead.”
His son chuckled, then continued on his way.
After a brief stop at James’s hotel room so he could drop his bag, they were off again. Outside the hotel, they took a left. The streets were bustling with traffic, but they only had to cross once.
James continued to ask Ali questions as they walked. Where had she grown up? What did she do for a living? It was an interview.
They stopped in front of a burger joint. Daniel had never been there before. He liked cheeseburgers, but he didn’t eat them very often anymore. If he was going to eat beef, he preferred steak.
