Sasha’s Dad (14 page)

“What are you going to have, birthday girl?” Dutch’s voice rumbled next to her.

“I want the Abe Lincoln.” The sandwiches at the diner were all named after politicians.

“Old Abe, eh? I think I might go for the Ronald Reagan. What do you want, Claire?”

The heat of his body against her right side put her on full alert. She’d slid into the booth, never thinking Dutch would try to share a seat with her. She’d assumed he and Sasha would sit together, or she and Sasha. But Sasha had claimed a bench all for herself and Dutch got in beside Claire.

“Um, I may get something light. I haven’t decided yet.”

Dutch’s expression changed from teasing curiosity to concern. “Are you feeling sick again?”

“No, I’m fine. I want to make sure I save room for all the food we’re going to have later. You did say ice cream and sushi, didn’t you?” Claire smiled over at Sasha, who responded with a grin.

“Oh, yeah. Definitely.”

Dutch’s eyes were still on her. She felt the heat of his gaze.

“Dutch, I’m fine. Today isn’t about me. Please don’t make a fuss.”

“Sasha and I did this you to thank you for staying on Friday night. If you’re not feeling well, we need to take care of you.”

“Claire, do you want some crackers?” Sasha sprang up and went to the waitress station. She obviously felt comfortable in the restaurant.

“Do you two come here often?” Claire wanted the focus off her and her darned stomach.

“Not really, but Sasha’s always loved this place. Who wouldn’t?” Dutch smiled as Sasha returned with a basket of individually wrapped crackers.

“That’s my girl.”

Sasha beamed at her dad’s praise. “Claire, do you want some ginger ale with these?”

Claire managed a chuckle. “Iced tea will be fine, thanks.”

Her hands shook as she tore the plastic off the saltines and put one in her mouth. The salt tasted heavenly on her tongue and she closed her eyes, taking a minute to savor it.

When she opened them, Dutch and Sasha were staring at her.

“What?”

“Nothing. You look like you still don’t feel that great.” Sasha tossed her head and leaned down to sip her cola. Dutch had allowed the caffeinated drink because it was Sasha’s real birthday and it was daytime.

His presence both warmed and infuriated Claire. She was grateful for his kindness when she’d gotten sick, but why couldn’t he keep the focus on his daughter and her birthday?

“I’m fine, really.” She threw Dutch a look that she hoped conveyed her boredom with the topic.

“Next time you get to pick what we do.” His voice was low, meant for her ears only in the noisy diner. Claire felt her color rise and had an immediate vision of straddling Dutch’s hips right here in the booth—no doubt exactly what he
wanted
her to think about.

“Dutch, please. Have some respect.” She nodded toward Sasha, who was reading her place mat. Or at least appeared to be—no way of knowing what those twelve-year-old ears were tuned in to.

His chuckle was all male and she became abruptly aware of his scent with its tang of salt air and clean soap…and masculinity. She had to admit it was an instant cure for her nausea.

“I owe you a real date, Claire.” Dutch’s soft proclamation jolted her and he felt it. But he didn’t look at her as Sasha started chatting again and his attention was back on his daughter.

Claire used the opportunity for some serious self-talk. Dutch was reacting to the joy of the day. His daughter was twelve, happy, and he and Claire were getting along well enough. His mild flirting was a natural part of who he was—when he wasn’t so guarded around her.

Take it for what it is, Claire.

Based on the past, Claire was not a woman he should ever trust. But he was tired of holding on to his resentments. They’d fueled an anger that had probably helped him get through the pain of Natalie’s sickness and death.

The results, however, were the same. He didn’t have anyone to blame for Natalie’s illness, and it had never been in his control. None of it.

Today had given him a chance to learn more about Claire and who’d she’d become since returning to Dovetail. He could dredge up all the reasons he owed Claire absolutely nothing, yet he couldn’t shake the growing conviction that indeed he owed her a lot.

He owed her for bringing Sasha back to him. Not that he’d lost his daughter, but she’d started to slip away emotionally in the last year. She’d needed a woman to guide her through the trials and tribulations of puberty. Even Ginny wasn’t the perfect mentor because they were closer in age than the usual mother and daughter.

Claire
had
changed. He’d witnessed it firsthand since he’d started taking care of her llamas. Since that first night in her barn she’d shown a side of herself he’d never imagined.

He didn’t want to look any deeper than that today. It was Sasha’s birthday and he’d save his own self-examination for another time.

“Dad?”

“Hmm, baby?” He was sitting on the edge of the wall that dropped from the fountain site to the running track that bordered the water.

“Claire looks like she’s having fun now, doesn’t she?”

He glanced over at the tulip bed where Claire lingered, a few feet off the path that led toward the Naval Academy Chapel.

“Yes, she does. This was a good call, honey.” He pushed his sunglasses up. “But it’s your day, Sasha. You didn’t pick this for Claire, did you?”

“No, Dad!” She punched him in the ribs. Not as gently as she used to, either.

“Ouch! Go easy on your old man.”

“When you stop bossing me around, I will.”

“Hey, you two, do I need to break this up?” Claire’s laughing tone carried across the courtyard and Dutch looked up to see her walking toward them, hips swinging in her snug-fitting jeans.

“Come on, Sasha, let’s head out. It’ll be time for sushi with Grandma and Grandpa before you know it.” Dutch lightly jabbed Sasha’s upper arm and stood.

“Can we go through the shops downtown for a bit?” Sasha never tired of shopping, whether she was actually buying anything or just looking.

Dutch groaned.

“Dad! It’s my day.”

Claire smiled at him. He felt as though he didn’t have a care in the world whenever she looked at him like that. He could get used to it.

“She’s got you, Dutch,” Claire murmured.

“Yes, she has. Okay, squirt. We’ll go
window
-shopping.”

As they made their way toward the academy gate that led back into town, Dutch took Claire’s hand. She glanced at their joined hands, then at him.

“Just for today, Claire. Let it all go and relax.” He swung on her arm lightly, and he felt her resistance melt.

“Okay, Dutch. Just for today.”

“C’mon, Sasha.” He held out his other arm toward his daughter.

Ginny had laughed and given her a hug as soon as she saw her. Claire was taken aback but quickly realized that Dutch’s family didn’t harbor any ill feelings toward her.

She surmised that he’d never told them the circumstances of their estrangement in senior year, or more importantly, in the years Natalie was sick. And why should he have? He’d moved on by then.

Keep the past in the past.

“How’s the wine?” Dutch leaned across the table.

“Lovely. Crisp and fruity.”

“Good. Their sushi is always great but sometimes the wine selection can be tricky.”

“Sounds like you’ve been here quite a bit.”

His eyes clouded. “A bit.”

So had he brought a date, or dates, here? Or had this been his and Natalie’s special place?

“Downtown Annapolis has changed a lot since you lived here, hasn’t it, Claire?” Joan smiled at Claire, and she smiled back at the woman who had the same blue eyes as Dutch.

“Yes, it has. I don’t remember this restaurant or the coffee shop down the road.”

“Well, this place opened fairly recently. Do you remember when, Joan?” Mr. Archer looked at his wife. “Two, three years ago?”

“More like three, I think.” Mrs. Archer sipped her wine.

So it hadn’t been Natalie and Dutch’s place.
Must be where he brings dates.
Claire hated herself for allowing her thoughts to go in that particular direction. It was none of her business what Dutch did with his social life.

“So, Claire dear, tell me how your parents are.” Joan wasn’t going to let her off the hook completely.

Claire smiled. “They’re doing well, thanks for asking. They spend a lot of time away, but with cruising and going on nature vacations. You probably know Mom had a heart scare a couple of years ago, but that’s all it was. She’s healthier than ever.”

“And your dad? I remember he had a bad go of it right after you left for college, didn’t he?”

Claire winced inside. He’d had heart problems then, but her parents hadn’t told her everything. They’d wanted to protect her after the fiasco of her senior year and the breakup with Dutch.

“He’s fine, too. Yes, he had heart surgery back then, but has been fastidious about his nutrition and exercise ever since.” Claire laughed. “He’s healthier than most men half his age.”

“That’s wonderful.” The next minute Mrs. Archer was distracted by Sasha, thank goodness. “Sasha sweetheart, what kind of sushi did you order?”

Dutch looked at the scene around him. His family acted as if Claire had always been there. No sign of any past disturbance.

Claire’s gaze caught his attention. She was seated across from him and the candlelight added to the glow in her eyes.

He could hardly breathe.

God, she was stunning.

“Are you bored?” He kept his voice subdued. Since they were at the end of the table and Ginny was engaged with Sasha and his parents, they had relative privacy.

“Not at all. I love being on the hot seat with your family.” She smiled as she spoke, though, and surprised him when she grabbed his hand.

“This is a special evening for your family and Sasha, and I’m honored to be part of it.” She knew him well enough to understand that he didn’t want her to feel like an outsider, or worse, an outcast.

Not many people in his life had ever read him so easily.

He didn’t reply. He couldn’t. A thought that he’d kept buried for many years whispered in his mind. But it wasn’t a soft lover’s whisper. It was the voice of his conscience.

Maybe you’re the one who doesn’t deserve to be forgiven. Not Claire.

He dragged his eyes from her and looked down the table at Sasha, who was animated as she told her grandparents and aunt about Claire’s getting sick on the boat.

Dutch groaned. “I’m sorry, Claire. Everyone didn’t need to know about that.”

“It’s okay, really.” She waved her hand. “Relax.”

Relaxing around Claire when he was so aware of her was difficult. He’d had to fight off his arousal all day. His daydreams were of being alone with her—soon.

“Tell you what,” he said. “I’ll make this up to you. I’ll take you out, only the two of us, and we’ll have a wonderful meal at, let’s see…” He pulled on his bottom lip as he thought. “Café Normandie or Yellow Fin, perhaps?”

Claire’s eyes widened and she raised an eyebrow.

Both restaurants fell into the “
real date”
category. “You owe me nothing, Dutch. Let’s enjoy this celebration.”

She might as well have thrown her glass of water at him.

It was sobering to have her remind him of the agreement
he’d
insisted on.

Dutch smiled as Sasha opened her gifts, including the charm bracelet he’d bought her. He hugged her when she ran up to him and squealed her thanks. But he couldn’t keep his mind from racing.

Until now, he hadn’t recognized a crucial element in their relationship. Claire had changed. And Sasha loved Claire.

So where did that leave him and Claire?