Blindsided (Indigo Love Spectrum) (38 page)

“No, Leslie, I don’t,” Dahlia answered, refusing to lie.
“I’m trying, but we’re not there yet. I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry. It’s going to take some time, and I
understand that. I hope you find the happiness you
deserve. Maybe Norris can be that for you.”

“Maybe.” Dahlia checked her watch. “I need to head
to the airport. My flight leaves in a couple of hours, and
I have to turn in the rental car.”

Leslie stood with open arms. “Take care of yourself.”
Dahlia accepted her sister’s hug. “I do love you,
Leslie.”

“You just don’t like me the way you used to, right?”
Leslie shrugged. “It’s my own fault. I’m glad you’re
willing to try to get us back to where we were.”

“I am, and I’m going to keep trying.” Dahlia hugged
her sister. “You take care of Sammy, okay?”

Leslie nodded. “You know I will. And I’ll send lots of
emails with pictures.”

“Thank you. I would love that. I’ll visit when I can.”

“Will you?”

“We can’t get closer if we don’t see each other.” Dahlia
grabbed her purse and smiled down at Sammy. “Auntie
Dahlia loves you.” She kissed her finger and pressed it to
his cheek. “Bye-bye, sweetie.”

Leslie followed Dahlia to the front door. “This has
been good, right?”

D
ahlia smiled. “It’s been tense at times, but it’s been
very good.” She embraced Leslie once more.

“Be happy, Dahlia. That’s all I hope for you.”

Thoughts of Norris’s smiling face and gentle touch
filled Dahlia’s head. “I think I’m on my way, Leslie,” she
said, already counting the minutes until she landed in
Denburg. “I’m on my way.”

* * *

“Whoa!” Norris rushed over to the door as Reese and
his sister, Julia, stumbled inside loaded down with pack
ages. “Should I ask for my credit card or is it too hot to
touch?” he asked half-jokingly.

“You can touch it,” Reese said, “but using it might
prove to be a little embarrassing.” She smiled.

“Tell me you’re kidding.”

“I’m kidding.”

Norris tilted his head and crossed his arms.

“I’m kidding,” Reese repeated with conviction. “I used some of the ridiculous amount of cash you call
allowance. The operative word being
some
. I can still go
out and buy the Hope Diamond if I want.”

“So long as that’s still an option.” Norris laughed.
“You guys had fun?”

“Did we.” Julia plopped into the chair, expelling a
loud breath of exhaustion. “You’ve got a champion
shopper on your hands, Norris.”

“Considering her aunt is the reigning title holder, I’d say she got that skill honestly.”

“You hear from Lane?”

“Yeah. He should be here in a few minutes.”

“Oh.” Reese sat on the arm of the chair, her mouth
turned down. “I wish you guys didn’t have to leave.”

“Aww, me, too.” Julia gave her a squeeze. “But we’ll
keep in touch. And who knows, maybe before the
summer ends you can come visit me in Paris. That is, if
you can stand being away from
Jack
that long.”

Reese’s face lit up like a megawatt bulb. Norris
wanted to think excitement about spending time in Paris
with Julia had brought on her happy glow, but he knew
better. Reese could have found a worse kid to be inter
ested in, and in the last few weeks, Norris had found Jack to be a likeable young man, but he still got cold sweats at
the idea of some boy being interested in his daughter.

Julia tapped Reese’s cheek, laughing. “Looks like I’ll
have to come back to Denburg, ’cause this girl is going
nowhere this summer.”

Norris rolled his eyes, not finding the least bit of
humor in Julia’s teasing.

The doorbell rang. Norris jumped up, anxious to get
away from his daughter’s grinning and his sister’s gig
gling. “I’ll get that,” he said. “It’s probably Lane.”

Norris pulled open the door to find the brother he expected looking a lot like Dahlia. He blinked, believing
the beautiful vision in strawberry red to be a figment of his imagination, until the scent of her intoxicating, sen
sual perfume erased all doubt. Visions did not smell this
good.

H
e brushed his finger against her smooth cheek and
softly whispered, “Dahlia.” Norris gathered her into his
arms, kissing her softly, yet thoroughly, savoring the
sweetness of her ruby lips like a glass of vintage
chardonnay as his hands reacquainted themselves with
her soft, supple body.

“Mmm, mmm.” Dahlia moaned. “Norris,” she
mumbled against his lips. “Where’s Reese?”

He continued to kiss her, drowning her words with
his tongue. He didn’t want to talk. He wanted to touch,
to taste, to kiss, to hold her the way he’d wanted to for
months. Dahlia combed her fingers through his hair, her
touch an active accelerant to the fire stirring in his loins.
He held her closer, allowing her to feel his need. Her
body molded against his like a hand in a tailored glove.
She wanted him, too.

“Ahem!”

The exaggerated cough broke the kiss, but the Jaws of Life would have to pry his hands from her body. Norris
turned toward the sound to see Reese front and center
and his sister a few steps behind.

“Welcome back, Dahlia,” Reese said. “I can’t give you
the kind of greeting Norris did, but it’s just as heartfelt.”

Norris licked his lips, recalling Dahlia’s sweetness,
fighting the urge to taste those lips once more. He nuz
zled her neck, breathing in her delightful perfume.

Dahlia pulled back, eyeing Norris curiously. “Why
doesn’t she sound surprised by this?” she asked.

“Telepathy?” he said with a coy grin.

“Norris?” Dahlia frowned.

H
e chuckled. “Okay. I told her.” Norris ushered
Dahlia inside and closed the door. “Reese overheard me
talking about the woman I love, and when she asked I
confessed.” His fingertips trailed from her waist to her
hip. “You’re not angry, are you?”

Dahlia smiled. “No. I’m not angry.”

Julia made her way over with her right hand extended.
“Hi, Dahlia, it’s nice to finally meet you,” she said.

Recognition shone bright in Dahlia’s eyes. “You must
be Julia, Norris’s baby sister,” she said, taking Julia’s hand.
“I can see the resemblance.”

“See, that’s the highest compliment anyone can get.
Looking like me.” Norris grinned.

Julia gave his shoulder a sportive shove. “How do you
put up with this guy, Dahlia?” she said.

Dahlia shrugged. “I don’t know.” Her gaze met his. “He makes it hard not to.”

As always, Norris found so much more in Dahlia’s eyes than she ever allowed herself to verbalize. They
needed to talk. The sound of three quick raps turned his
attention to the door.

Lane popped his head inside. “No time for long
good-byes, Jules, we need to hit the road,” he said.

Norris waved him in. “Come inside for a second, I
want you to meet someone.”

Three inches taller and forty pounds heavier, Lane
personified the term ‘big brother.’ With straight black
hair and ice blue eyes he had a look that made many a
woman take a second glance. However, unlike his
younger brother, Lane didn’t suffer egocentric tendencies.

“
What’s up?” Lane rested his sunglasses atop his head
and walked in, smiling broadly when he spotted Dahlia.
“Uh-huh! Now I see,” he said. “You must be the amazing
Dahlia.”

Dahlia raised a brow. “Amazing Dahlia?” she said.
“Hey, this guy is talking love, that’s amazing.” Lane
kissed her hand. “It’s a pleasure.”

“It’s all mine. I see charm is in surplus with the
Converse men.”

“Some of us have more than others.” Norris grinned.
“Norris told us about your sister,” Lane said. “I’m
glad she’s doing better.”

“Thank you. She is so much better, and baby Sammy
is growing like a weed.”

“Glad to hear it.” Lane checked his watch. “I hate to do this, but we have to get going. You know these air
ports, and we can’t miss our connections at O’Hare.” He
pulled Reese into a big bear hug. “Favorite niece, don’t be
a stranger.”

Reese smiled. “I won’t, and I’m your only niece,” she
said.

Lane snapped his fingers. “That’s right.”

Following more hugs and kisses, Julia and Lane
departed for the airport.

“Your siblings are really nice.”

“I think so, too, but there are some new siblings I
believe you’ll think are even nicer.”

Dahlia smiled. “Lara’s babies.”

“They are something else.”

“The most darling little angels,” Reese added.

“Can we go see them?” Dahlia asked.

“Sure. You’re not too tired after the trip?”

“No, I’m great. I would like to drop my car off first.”

“We can follow you. Maybe after we see the babies,
the three of us can grab some dinner.”

Dahlia nodded. “That sounds good.”

“I agree,” Reese said. “I’ll need about five minutes to
take my bags into the room and freshen up.”

“Freshen up? You look great.”

“You’re stating the obvious, Norris, but it’s hot out, and I’m sure you can see your reflection in my face. It’ll
only be five minutes,” Reese said, grabbing her shopping
bags and dashing toward her room.

Dahlia laughed. “She is definitely your daughter.”

“She is that.” Norris smiled as he pulled Dahlia into
his arms. “Alone at last.” He kissed her neck, hugging her
close. “I missed you.”

“I missed you more.” Dahlia smoothed the hair along
his temples. “We need to talk.”

“I know.” He kissed her cheek. “After dinner?”

She nodded and settled back into his arms. Norris
held her closer, breathing her in, luxuriating in the feel of
her against him. Moments like this would fill his future, because tonight promised to be the night he’d longed for.
The night Dahlia would finally confess her love for him.

* * *

Dahlia brushed her finger against Christopher’s soft
golden cheek. His blue eyes fluttered open for the briefest
moment, and after a long yawn, they closed.

“Ahh,” she cooed. “Ryan, he is so handsome.”

“You won’t hear me disagree with you,” Ryan said.
“I’m a card-carrying proud papa.”

Dahlia smiled as Christopher’s tiny hand wrapped
around Ryan’s finger. “I can see. How are Justin and
Angelica taking their new siblings?”

“Very well. Justin’s offering to change diapers, and
Angelica’s chomping at the bit to play dress-up with a live
dolly. They really love their new little brother and sister.”

“That’s great.”

“Something else is great,” Ryan said, smiling. “Seeing
you here with Norris. I hope this means I’ll be seeing you
two together a lot more often.”

Dahlia smiled. “You just might.”

“I’m carrying a very dry and very beautiful little
princess,” Norris said, returning to the living room with
Lara following behind. “And Reese has Justin and Angelica
enthralled with the video game she brought over for them.”