Dance Like Nobody's Watching (Summer Lake 3) (28 page)

Leanne's smile transformed her face. “I
know! That's why I can't hate Olivia as much as I want to. Her plan
to snare you
and
Prometheus has backfired in her face. She
lost you, and I have to say, I hope she loses out on the company,
too. That you end up selling to Corey. But, Dan, I've never seen you
like this. Never thought I would. You, my friend, are a man in love.
It's written all over your face!”

“It is?”

“Oh, yeah, buddy! I need to meet the lady
who can do this to you. When are you going to bring her to town?”

“I don't know. You'll like her though, Lee.
She's amazing.”

“She must be.”

“Oh. I know. If nothing else, I'm going to
bring her to the Phoenix fundraiser this year.”

“She must be truly amazing! You just said
you're going to come to the fundraiser
and
you said it with a
smile on your face! Normally you run for cover at the mention of it.”
She sighed. “I guess that means the days of my representing
your ass are over.”

“No, way. That's what I'm saying, you'll
definitely meet her then, if we don't manage anything before.”

“But I'm guessing I have to buy my own
ticket, right?”

Dan shook his head. “Nope. I'll still get it
for you. In fact, I'll even snag you an escort, as well as a ticket.”

“An escort?!” she laughed.

Dan joined her laughter. “Not a paid one,
idiot. I mean a date.”

“And why would I want one of those?”

“Cos he's a great guy. He's a friend of Jack
and Pete's from Summer Lake. Sounds like he usually goes with them,
but since their table is turning into a couples table, he was going
to give it a miss this year. I said I'd ask if you wanted an escort.”

“Leanne's eyebrows knit together. “He
usually sits with Jack and Pete?”

“Yup.”

“What's he look like?”

“A bit taller than me. Dark blond hair.”

“Ooh!” Leanne's face lit up. “His
hair's a bit long, green eyes, big shoulders, big hands?”

Dan laughed. “I can verify longish hair and
big shoulders. Can't say I've noticed his eyes or his hands.”

“I guess I shouldn't have admitted that
either, but if he's the one I think he is, then yes, please! I'd like
him as an escort.” She gave him a raunchy grin. “In any
sense of the word!”

“Jesus, Lee! Down, girl!”

“Whatever,” she laughed.

Dan hoped he was doing the right thing with Leanne
and Ben. He had to check. He studied her face closely as he asked.
“Did you know Ryan is in town?”

She covered it well, but he saw her pupils dilate
and a tiny crease appear in her forehead in the second before she
smiled. “I didn't. How's he doing these days?” Her hand
trembled slightly, making the ice-cubes tinkle as she sipped her
water.

“He's great. I'm going to be working with
him, by the looks of it.”

“Oh. So, are you all set to close on the
house?”

Dan cocked his head. “You're not even going
to try for a
subtle
change of subject?”

Leanne shook her head vigorously. “I spent
years putting that man behind me, Dan. I can't go there. Don't make
me?” Her big blue eyes pleaded with him.

“Okay, but don't you think it would help to
talk about it?”

“There's nothing left to talk about. He's
the past. Now tell me about this house of yours. Is everything set to
close?”

“Yep.” Dan let it go. “The
appraisal was fine. It's all straightforward. A clean, easy deal.”

“Good. I hope you're going to invite me up
there soon? Not only do I want to meet Missy, but I also want to see
the place. I can't believe you got so much house for so little
money!”

Dan smiled. “It's a different world up there
Lee. We'll have to figure out when we can get you up.”

Leanne's phone rang. “What is it, Karen?....
Okay...tell them I'll be there in twenty.” She hung up and
stood up. “I've got to go. Are you going to talk to Steven, or
am I?”

Dan thought about it. “I'll call him and let
you know what he says. Either way, I'm going to turn it all over to
you after that.”

Leanne smiled. “Wise move. I'll see you
soon.” She bent down to peck his cheek.

Dan laughed. “Weren't
you
supposed to
be taking
me
out to lunch?”

She rolled her eyes. “I'll get it next
time.”

“You always say that.”

She laughed as she walked away. “Yeah, and
you always fall for it!”

Dan shook his head at her as she turned back to
blow him a kiss from the door.

***

Missy went to open the front door. She couldn't
get used to the ridiculous chime that played when someone pressed the
doorbell. She'd have to go to the hardware store to see if she could
pick up a straightforward bell. She smiled to herself, or maybe she'd
ask Dan if he would.

She was thrilled to see Ben standing there. “Hey,
you! Come on in.”

“Hey, Miss. I hope it's okay to invite
myself over, but it's quiet at the restaurant and I wanted to check
in with you about the party.”

“Of course it's okay. I've been wanting to
talk to you too. It's just that....” She looked over her
shoulder. It was that Chance was there and he still didn't seem to
want to see anyone.

Ben seemed to understand. He'd no doubt seen
Chance's truck in the driveway. “I know. I don't have to stay.”

Chance poked his head out of the kitchen. “Ben
Walton! How you doing?”

Ben grinned. “I'm good, Chance. How about
you?”

Chance nodded. “Happy to see our Miss doing
so well. Don't leave cos of me, will you? I don't bite.”

“I just needed to talk to Miss a minute.”

Missy decided to risk it. “Come on through.
Have you got time for a beer?” Chance could make himself scarce
if he wanted to, but she hoped he would stick around. He'd always
liked Ben.

“Yeah, come on in. Be good to catch up.”

Missy grinned and led Ben through to the kitchen.
She opened the fridge and smiled at the way Dan had the beers
arranged. They were lined up in alphabetical order, all the labels
turned to the front. It was just another of his quirks that she
loved. He left clothes wherever he stepped out of them—or threw
them! She'd ventured into his bathroom once, and had no intention of
returning any time soon. But the beers were neatly ordered and
displayed. To her surprise and amusement, he'd done the same thing
with her jewelry box one evening while they'd sat talking. She didn't
have much in there, but he'd organized it systematically and
logically—and beautifully!

She handed beers to Ben and Chance, and took one
herself. It was Friday night after all, why not?

“I wanted to check if you want anything
special for tomorrow night.”

“I'm fine with whatever you want to do, Ben.
I really appreciate it.”

“It's your birthday, Miss. And you deserve a
party. I've moved the band upstairs and we're doing the food up there
too.”

“Oh, hon. You don't need to do all that!”

“I want to. It's your birthday present.”
He grinned. “And besides, I'm looking forward to it, too. It'll
be like old times.” He looked at Chance. “Are you going
to come over?”

Chance nodded. “Yeah, can't miss her
birthday, can I?”

“I hoped not, but I wasn't sure,” said
Ben. “I didn't know how much of a low profile you were keeping.
I've had people in the bar asking after you all week.”

Missy hoped Ben would shut up. She didn't want
Chance to change his mind, and his face was hard now, eyes narrowed.

“And what have you been telling them?”

Ben shrugged. “You know me. I never know
anyone's business. Too busy working. I'd heard you were here. Hadn't
seen you though.”

Chance's face relaxed. “Thanks, Ben. I'll be
there.” He looked at Missy. “That's not saying I'll stay
for the duration though.”

Missy nodded, she didn't expect him to.

“What time's Dan back?” asked Chance.

“He should be here soon,” said Scot
who had just come downstairs. “I talked to him earlier.”

Missy smiled. Dan had only left yesterday morning,
but Scot had spoken to him several times. She missed him. That big
bed wasn't the same without him. She'd realized how right he was
about what made a home. This house had started to feel like home, but
she needed him to come back now, to keep it that way.

***

Dan turned the Jeep onto Route Twenty. It had been
a long time since he'd driven up here. He'd gotten used to flying. He
had enjoyed his time alone on the road though. He'd needed it after
his conversation with Ryan. He still wasn't sure what he should do,
whether he should talk to Missy first.

Ryan had told him that the vetting process was
complete and that they could get together next week to go through
everything else and get Dan read in so he'd be able to start work.
Ryan had also told him there had been two red flags raised in the
vetting process, and they both had to do with Missy. The first one
hadn't surprised him at all. He'd already known that Chance's past
might be an issue—because Chance had told him all about it. Dan
had decided immediately that he would back out of the job rather than
have the past raked up. When he'd told Ryan that, his friend had
reassured him that it wouldn't cause any problems; Ryan had simply
been looking out for Dan. When he realized that Dan already knew, he
was cool with it—in fact had said he'd be interested to meet
Chance someday.

It was the second issue that had him confused over
what to do. He'd known that Scot did have some contact with his
father. Scot had told him that he received birthday and Christmas
cards every year, and sometimes there was money in them. What he
hadn't known, and didn't believe Missy did either, was that the guy
had spent the last ten years in and out of prison and that now he was
living only half an hour away from them, just down Route Twenty.
Again, it didn't affect his security clearance, but Ryan had wanted
him to know. Now he did know, he didn't know whether Missy would want
to, or whether Scot should. He was approaching the conclusion that he
would talk to Chance about it and ask his advice. Chance was family.

Dan almost wished he didn't have the information
himself, but he had asked Ryan to tell him if anything came up about
Scot's father. Dan had decided that he wanted to talk to the man.
Following the road as it twisted and turned its way through the
mountains, he looked forward to his first view of the lake. Rounding
the corner, the water sparkled before him in the late afternoon
sunshine. Home. For the first time in his life, he felt like he was
coming home. To his family. He was hoping that before the weekend was
out, Missy would say that she would marry him, become his wife. He
was also hoping that Chance would help him to figure out what to do
about Scot's father, so they could become a real family, and he'd
have a son, and a brother-in-law, too.

“Dan, Dan, Dan, can you come to Ethan's with
me while Mom's getting her hair done?”

Dan ruffled Scot's hair. “Sorry, champ.
Uncle Chance and I have got a couple of things to take care of. I
could get there a bit earlier when I come to pick you up this
afternoon though?” Dan felt bad seeing Scot's face fall.

“Okay.”

“I'll get back as early as I can, Scotty.
Sorry.”

Scot smiled at him. “It's okay.”

Dan didn't like that he was spending less time
with the kid than he had been doing, but today's little outing with
Chance was important. He wanted to have everything in place by
tonight. Laura was bringing the ring with her. He still didn't know
how
he was going to ask, but he wanted to ask Missy to marry
him tonight, on her birthday. He wanted Missy to be his wife and Scot
to be his son.

Missy came into the kitchen. “We need to get
going, sunbeam.”

Scot scampered upstairs to get the textbooks that
Dan had bought. As he'd expected, Scot had claimed them as his own
when he'd found them in the RV, and now he was using them to teach
Ethan too. Missy came to Dan and stood on her tiptoes to plant a
sweet kiss on his lips. He closed his arms around her and breathed
her in.

“I love you, Danny.”

It took his breath away whenever she said it. He
still couldn't believe how lucky he was. “I love you more,
beautiful. Happy Birthday.”

“It is. The happiest birthday I've ever
had.” She smiled and touched the earrings he'd given her this
morning. They matched the necklace he'd given her last week. Three
little hearts sat at each ear.

He framed her face between his hands and rubbed
his nose against hers. “It's not over yet. Hopefully you'll be
even happier by the time we go to bed tonight.” He hoped she'd
be wearing another new piece of jewelry by then.

She rubbed her hips against him, making him hard.
“I'll definitely be happier once we're
in
bed, hero.”

As Dan held her against him, Scot came skidding
back into the kitchen and Chance let himself in through the French
doors. He let go of her reluctantly.

“Come on, Mom. Ethan just texted. He's
waiting. See you later guys.”

Dan smiled as he watched them go, loving this new
life they were building.”

***

“You want me to come in with you?”
asked Chance when they pulled in to the trailer park.

Dan shook his head. “No thanks. I've got
this.”

Chance looked around as they drove. “You
don't know what you're going into.”

Dan had a fair idea. Judging from the sofa he'd
seen in one yard, the various old cars, sitting on blocks, or just
rusting away, the gang of kids smoking on the corner they'd just
passed, and the pit-bull roaming loose, he wasn't expecting to be
invited in for tea! He bit his lip and looked at Chance.

“I appreciate it, but I need to do this
myself.” He shrugged. “Though I won't pretend I'm not
glad that you're going to be outside waiting.”