Blindsided (Indigo Love Spectrum) (25 page)

“You’re straight to the point, aren’t you?”

“I try to be,” she said, nibbling on a breadstick.

“I didn’t expect your question, but since you asked it, I’ll answer it. The simple answer is no, I don’t have what
you call a ‘thing’ for black women. But I do have a thing
for women. Beautiful women. And that runs the gamut of race, creed, and religious orientation. I have not been
a saint in my lifetime, and that’s mainly because of my
fascination with the fairer sex.”
That’s why your flirtation
worries me so much,
he wanted to say, but thought better
of it. “As for Ryan, he followed his heart. He fell in love with Lara, so he married her. Just like he fell in love with
his first wife, who was white, and married her. Race had
nothing to do with it.”

“So, Ryan’s motivated by love and you by lust. Is that
what you’re saying?”

Norris detected irritation in Reese’s voice. “I don’t
think I can answer this question without you getting
angry with me. What do you want me to say, Reese? I was
a heel back in the day? Okay, I was. I freely admit it.”

“
Did you love my mother, or was she one of many
conquests?”

Norris drained his glass. “I thought you were going to
ask Gail about that,” he said, twirling the misty, cold
glass.

“I never got around to it.” Reese sat back and folded
her arms. “So?”

“Is it my imagination or do I hear something in your
tone?”

“You hear curiosity in my tone. I asked a question
and I’m waiting to hear the answer. You’re beating around the bush, so I’m going to assume the latter is the answer.”
She shook her head, grunting in dismay. “I don’t get what
my mother saw in you.”

Norris bristled, as if slapped by an unexpected back
hand. “You really think a lot of me, huh?”

“I don’t know what I think of you. That’s just it. I barely know you, and what I do know leaves me with
more questions. You’re confusing.”

“What’s so confusing? I’m doing everything I can to
be as open and accessible to you as possible. What more
can I do?”

Mike took this moment to return with the food.
“Two fettuccini alfredos,” he said, placing steaming
plates before both of them. “Enjoy.”

Neither Norris nor Reese responded. Mike left.

They ate in silence for the next few minutes.

“I deserve some answers,” Reese said, halfway
through her meal. “My mother is gone, and she didn’t say
much. You can shed some light on things for me.”

“
Reese, there’s not much light I can shed for you. Gail
and I were together for a short while. I thought she was
a fantastic woman, and she made quite an impression on
my life.”

“But you didn’t love her?”

“I cared a great deal about her, and as the mother of
my only child, she will always have a special place in my
heart.” Anger flashed in Reese’s eyes. She wanted an
answer, and he had to give her one. “No, Reese, I wasn’t
in love with her,” he said after another bite of pasta. “If
it’s any consolation, she didn’t love me, either.” He con
tinued eating, hoping he’d appeased her and she would
end the questioning.

“It’s not.” Reese pushed back her plate and met his
gaze. “Have you ever loved any woman, or has it always
been about sex?”

Norris lowered his fork. Suddenly the pasta didn’t
taste so good. He wanted to tell Reese about his feelings
for Dahlia, but her hostility and Dahlia’s being upset
made him second-guess making the disclosure.

“Norris Converse!” Tawny Fisher, one of his many old
acquaintances, approached. He hadn’t seen the leggy
blonde since before he met Dahlia, but Tawny’s many
phone calls had left no doubt about her desire to see him.
“Have you been avoiding me?”

Yes!
“I’ve been busy,” Norris said, glancing nervously
at a very unhappy-looking Reese.

Tawny gazed at Reese. “She’s pretty enough, Norris,
but a bit young, don’t you think?”

“This is my daughter, Tawny.”

“
Daughter?” Tawny eyed Reese up and down. “That’s
a surprise.” She tapped Reese on the head. “Why don’t
you be a sweet little girl and run off and play while I have
a little fun-time with Daddy.”

Norris frowned. “Wait a minute!” He glared at the
nervy blonde. “Reese isn’t going anywhere, but you are!”

“No, I am,” Reese said, standing. “We have nothing
more to discuss. My question has been answered.” She
glowered at Tawny. “Thank you.”

“Reese, wait! If you want to leave, I’ll take you
home.”

“Fine. I’ll be outside.”

Norris dropped a fifty-dollar bill on the table, and
pushed past Tawny.

“Wait, Norris.” Tawny grabbed his arm. “You going
to call me later?” She smiled brightly, leaving no doubt in
Norris’s mind about what she had planned for later.

Norris jerked his arm away. Having his randy past
thrown into Reese’s face didn’t make the list of things he
wanted to share with her, and celebrating the event was
even further off the list. He said nothing to the woman
and continued on his way, praying he hadn’t lost his
daughter for good.

“Reese, talk to me. Tell me what you’re feeling.”

Dahlia pushed her bag of chips to the side and stood
from the sofa as an upset Norris followed Reese into the
house. “What’s going on?” she asked, looking from father
to daughter.

“Ask him,” Reese said, glaring at Norris. “I’m going to
finish studying.” She bounded up the stairs and locked
herself in her bedroom.

Dahlia turned to Norris. “You want to explain that?”
Norris shrugged. “She’s a teenager. I’ve yet to become
adept at deciphering teen.”

“Something caused her to react like this.”

“Me. I’m not the man she imagined her father to be.”

“Has she told you what kind of man she expected her father to be?”

“Not in so many words, but she’s made it pretty clear
I’m not it.” He looked toward the stairs and shook his
head. “I don’t know what more I can do.”

The hurt in Norris’s eyes said as much as his words.
Dahlia had never seen him so miserable. She ached to
bring him into her arms and comfort him, but realized
holding him would not be wise for many reasons. “Come
into the living room and sit down for a while,” she
offered instead. “I can make you some tea.” She smiled.

Norris smiled back. “Tea?” he said.

“I understand it’s very comforting.” She followed him
into the living room. “It’ll only take a sec to put on the
water.”

He gently tugged on the back of her jumbo T-shirt,
halting her trip to the kitchen. “Don’t bother with the tea, Dahlia. Just talking to you is comfort enough. Is
everything all right with you?”

“Me? Sure. Everything is great with me,” she lied, settling into the left corner of the couch and tugging on the
ends of her leggings.

“Really?”

Dahlia nodded.

“Then why are you eating these?” Norris asked,
retrieving the bag of chips from behind the pillow. “Your
comfort food. Grandma Flora didn’t help things?”

“How did you . . .” Dahlia sighed. “Reese?”

Norris nodded as he sat. “Yeah. She told me you went
to church and then had lunch with your grandmother. Is
everything okay? Are things better with your sister?”

“Leslie is better. My parents are with her.”

“Something’s wrong. You don’t eat chips for
nothing.”

Dahlia rolled her eyes. That’s what she got for
sharing. “I don’t really need an excuse to eat chips. They
aren’t my weakness for nothing.”

“Maybe. But you usually have a reason for diving
headfirst into a bag. You don’t want to tell me what it is,
do you?”

“
Not particularly,” she said, finding it difficult to
look at him as something other than misery flickered in
his eyes.

“All right. I won’t pry,” Norris said. “I hope it gets better soon, whatever it is.”

There’s no chance of that if I keep seeing you.
“Thanks,”
she said. “I’ll talk to Reese for you.”

“And say what?”

“Whatever it takes. A girl needs her father.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“No biggie.”

Dahlia followed Norris to the door. Their hands
brushed as each reached for the knob. Dahlia’s breath caught, the power of his touch awakening every nerve
ending in her body. Norris swallowed loudly, not unaf
fected. His thumb brushed her lower lip. Dahlia trem
bled, wanting more of his touch. Norris leaned forward.
His warm breath tickled her lips. Dahlia closed her eyes,
anticipating his tantalizing kisses, but heard only a
pained whimper. Her eyes opened just in time to see a
flushed Norris pull away.

“I’m sorry.” Norris opened the door and stepped out
side. “Tell Reese I’ll call later.” He dashed to his car
without looking back.

Sighing, Dahlia closed her eyes and pressed her back
against the door.
Would this ever get any easier?

“Is he gone?”

Dahlia jumped, startled for the second time today by
Reese’s voice.

“I scared you again?” Reese said.

“Surprised me. I thought you were studying.”

Reese shook her head, descending the stairs. “Just
wanted to get away from daddy dearest.”

“What happened at lunch today?”

“I saw the master at work.”

“The master?” Dahlia said curiously.

“Mr. Lover Man. Some blonde bimbo sauntered over
to the table and practically threw herself at him.”

Dahlia managed to maintain what she hoped was an even expression. “What was his response?”

“He made an attempt at outrage, but I wasn’t buying it.”

“Why not?”

“Because just moments before he admitted to being a
womanizer.”

“He told you that?”

“He said he had a thing for beautiful women, and lots
of them. He said he cared a great deal for my mother, but
he didn’t love her, and when I asked if he’d loved any
woman, he . . .”

“What?” Dahlia asked. “What did he say?”

“Nothing. That’s when the bimbo showed up. At that
point I’d had enough, and that’s when we left.”

“The whole time was bad?”

Reese’s shoulders slumped. “It wasn’t bad. It was actu
ally kinda fun, but that’s the problem. He’s too free, if
that’s the right word. He’s not the fatherly type.”

“But he is your father, Reese, and nothing is going to
change that. You really need to take it easy on him.”

“
I am, Dahlia, but I can’t pretend I’m okay with the
kind of person he is. He never loved my mother. She was
just a warm body for him.”

“Is that what’s really bothering you? The fact he didn’t
love your mother?”

“I guess. It was just a moment in time, and now he
wants to step into the parenthood role. He doesn’t have to do that, and I’m not up for it.”