The Patriot Girl (12 page)

“Not at all.” His large grin showed off his dimples. “She just has good taste.”

“Thank you.” She stared at Melissa. “You’re very pretty too.” Melissa turned the book around so MaKayla could admire the big red dog. The cartoon made her smile. “I love this dog too. My son used to watch him all the time.”

Her hands slapped the table and her brows rose. “You have a son?”

The little girl’s excitement made MaKayla giggle. “Yes.”

“Where is he?”

“He left for college yesterday morning.”

“I know about college. It’s where big kids go to school. I want to go to college so I can help kids with no mommies or daddies. That’s what my mommy used to do.”

“That’s an excellent idea.” MaKayla wondered what the little girls’ mother’s occupation was now. What kind of woman was Dustin attracted to?

“Does your son still watch Clifford?”

MaKayla laughed. “Yes, he does. He believes as long as you’re a kid inside, you never have to grow up.”

She giggled. “I watch him all the time with Poppy. He acts like a kid sometimes too. I guess he’ll never grow up either. Did Daddy tell you Nana and Poppy are taking me to Florida tonight?” Melissa scurried off her chair and headed toward a leather recliner in the corner. She dragged a shopping bag larger than herself from behind the chair over to MaKayla’s side.

“No, he didn’t. How exciting for you.”

“Daddy bought me all new clothes so I can look pretty for my trip.” She dipped her little arm into the bag and pulled out a pink and white short set decorated with princesses. She tossed them onto MaKayla’s lap then reached her arm back into the bag.

“How pretty.” MaKayla’s lap soon became full of clothes, socks, a sun visor, and slippers. “Goodness. You’re going to make all the other girls jealous.” The two shared a giggle as Melissa stuffed everything back into her bag and then dragged it back across the floor.

MaKayla stood and came face to face with Dustin. “She’s adorable. I’ll bet her mother is too.”

“She was. Liz passed away a few years ago.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Now she understood why Melissa had used the past tense when referring to her mother’s occupation.

Dustin reached for her hand, but MaKayla pulled away. This time her rejection had nothing to do with him personally, only respect for his daughter. She didn’t want the little girl to feel as though there was any threat of her daddy being taken away.

“My sister’s waiting for Melissa. You could come for the ride and we’ll talk about whatever’s on your mind?”

If leaving his baby were as hard on him as Alex’s leaving had been for her yesterday morning, he’d want his privacy. “Why don’t you give me a call when you get back?”

“Okay.”

His eyes were dark and sad as he nodded. MaKayla bent down and met the small, round face. “I hope you have a wonderful trip. Take lots of pictures, okay?” Melissa’s dimples were a spitting image of her father’s. Her blonde hair had to have come from her mother.

“Thanks. When I get back I can show them to you and tell you all about everything.”

“I’d like that.”

Melissa tugged on Dustin’s hand. “Come on, Daddy. Aunt DJ’s waiting.”

Dustin allowed his daughter to drag him across the room. Looking over his shoulder, he jerked his head for MaKayla to follow.

****

Dustin needed his daughter to hold his hand or else he would have placed them somewhere on the woman following him. With everything that had happened, he hoped she wasn’t there to say goodbye. He switched off the light and then closed the door behind them. “Go say goodbye to Jesse while I talk to MaKayla.”

When they were alone, he caressed MaKayla’s cheek. “What’s happening between us?”

“What do you mean?”

He reached for her hand, and again she pulled away. He pointed at her arms pressed against her sides. “That? Not wanting me to touch you. Are you upset because—?”

“No.” She shrugged. “Handholding is an intimate gesture. The last thing a little girl needs is to feel threatened by another woman. First impressions are very important no matter what age or gender you’re trying to impress.”

“Fair enough.” He sighed, thankful her rejection had nothing to do with the accident.

Having her by his side gave him some hope things would be better. Her two-day silence had left him tired from tossing and turning at night.

There were many times he’d wanted to call her, but Dana had told him to give her time to come around. Sometimes listening to his sister paid off.

If MaKayla were here to keep the contract going, he didn’t want to scare her off by having octopus hands. He tucked his hands into his pockets.

“As your publicist, it’s my job to teach you things such as first impressions.”

“My publicist?” He rubbed his hands together. “You haven’t ripped up our contract?”

“No. I haven’t torn up anything.”

Yes!
Her words slowly moved the storm cloud hovering overhead.

“You know, I’m glad you popped in like this. I’m glad you and Melissa got to meet.”

A small grin crossed her lips. “You never know what you’ll find when you drop in on someone unannounced. I should have called first. I was nervous about seeing you again.” She shrugged then caressed his chest. “I’m sorry for the other night. I hope I didn’t hurt you.”

She pulled her hand away as Melissa came back yelling, “Daddy, Daddy. I’m ready.” The little girl smiled as she extended her hand up toward MaKayla. “Bye!”

“Bye. Have a fun trip.”

Dustin felt a familiar idiot grin as MaKayla walked beside him out to the parking lot. Besides the apple scent of her skin, he’d missed hearing her soft voice and admiring her sexy smile. He was happy for her mood-lightening company.

He buckled Melissa into her booster seat, slid the door of his minivan shut, and then stood in front of his publicist.

“One more thing…” MaKayla said. “Have you heard strange noises outside your home since the robbery?”

“No. But I live in a condo, so there’s always noise. Why?”

She shrugged. “Maybe it’s nothing. I’ve been a little jumpy since Alex left, that’s all.”

“MaKayla, they haven’t caught the third robber yet, you know.”

“I know. I’ll be fine. Call me tomorrow when you have a chance and we’ll go over a few things.”

“I will.” Dustin had no control over the hand that reached up and caressed her cheek. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“A second chance.”

****

At two in the morning, Dustin tossed the covers off when the sound of the ringing phone woke him. Maybe Melissa’d had a bad dream and needed to hear his voice.

He cleared his throat. “Yeah?”

“Hello?” The whisper was faint, but he recognized the voice.

“MaKayla?”

“Dustin, oh gosh, I’m sorry. I hit the wrong button.”

Her nervous tone made him sit up. “What’s wrong?”

“I was trying to call Duke’s partner. Remember I told you I heard noises at my house. Someone kicked my recycle bins a couple minutes ago, and the screen door on my back porch was squeaking.”

“Hang up and call the police. I’m on my way.” He pulled on his sweatpants. “Where do you live?” He memorized the address as he finished dressing. “Don’t answer the door until I get there.”

At this hour of the morning, the town appeared deserted in the darkness and Dustin didn’t pass another driver on the roads.

He passed his nightclub and searched the periphery of the wooded areas that followed for anything suspicious.

Pulling in front of her house, he blocked the driveway. Racing out of his minivan, he saw the interior light shining inside her car. It illumined rose petals sprinkled on the driver’s seat.

He made his way into the darkness of her backyard, pushing a recycle bin out of his path. A lit cigarette butt jammed the screen door from closing on her enclosed porch. He had a perfect view inside her home from the window above her sink.

His breath hitched as MaKayla headed toward him in her white silk spaghetti-strapped nightgown. She wasn’t as conservative in her nightwear as he would have expected.

His stomach knotted and his fist clenched knowing anyone else had the same view. Anger and guilt curled inside him. If he hadn’t been driving that night, she might still have a husband home protecting her. How could he prevent the past from sneaking up on him this way?
Forget about that now.

“MaKayla.” He needed to ease her mind and let her know she wasn’t alone.

Footsteps approached. His hands fisted, ready… Before he could take a swing, a police officer rounded the corner.

“Who are you?” The officer’s palm rested on the gun strapped to his hip.

Dustin thrust out his hand. “Dustin James. MaKayla called me over. Did you check out her car?”

The officer nodded and looked up as MaKayla turned on the porch light and opened the door. “Hey. Thanks for coming, both of you. Find anything?”

“There’s a lit cigarette butt here.” Dustin still remembered how evidence could make or break a case. “Do you need this for DNA?”

The officer slipped on a rubber glove then bent down and collected the item. “Sure. If we get a suspect, this could put him away.”

MaKayla waved them inside. “It’s cold. Come on in.”

They stepped into the kitchen and Dustin pointed to the window above the sink. “Whoever was out there had a full view of the inside of your house. You should keep that shade closed. MaKayla, there are rose petals in your car.”

“What?” She pulled down the shade. “What does that mean?”

The police officer walked to the front door. “How long have you been hearing these sounds, MaKayla?”

“Kids use my yard as a shortcut all the time. But since my son left Saturday, the noises have increased. Tonight’s the first time I heard someone on the porch. I’ve never seen rose petals before.”

Dustin placed his hand in hers. “I’m worried about you.”

“If you hear anything else, call me,” the officer said. “I’ll patrol the area the rest of the evening. Sleep well.”

“Thanks, Sam.” She locked the door behind him and then shivered. “I’m not comfortable having cops around.”

Dustin rested his backside against the counter as he pulled her into his arms. “Why do they make you nervous? Your best friend’s husband is a cop.”

“It’s the memories they stir up.” She shrugged. “When I was nineteen I was held hostage at gun point during a convenience store robbery. I was five months pregnant with twin girls at the time, Marsha and Meredith. They would have been the heirs to M & M Public Relations. The doctors believe the beating and stress from the robbery caused me to miscarry a week later. That might be why I’ve always been so watchful of Alex too.”

“I’m sorry.”

“So now you know why your protection at the bank was such a big deal to me.”

“I’m glad I was there.”

“Me too.”

****

MaKayla stepped back and saw that his eyes were full of passion and concern. She knew what they were asking and right now she couldn’t deny him.

Her hands rested on his shoulders as she leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against his. His mouth opened and his tongue slid past her lips and intertwined with hers as if they were reuniting lovers.

His hard chest pressed against her breasts as one hand glided through her hair and the other rested on her lower back, pulling her closer. Even harder was his excitement beneath the sweatpants pressed against her abdomen.

How could something so wrong feel so right? She shouldn’t be mixing business with—whatever this was. Pleasure was no longer a word she’d use to describe how the feel of his hand rubbing her bottom aroused her or how the soft moans escaping her throat could no longer be controlled.

His lips trailed down her neck. His fingers pushed aside the strap of her nightgown before his moist tongue teased the area. Her body had never felt so much passion toward a man. She’d never known a simple kiss could be this erotic. She fought to take her next breath as the throbbing between her legs intensified.

He paused and took a deep breath. “I couldn’t handle something bad happening to you.”

Her head leaned sideways and her cheek brushed against his hair. “Oh, Dustin, you’d only have yourself to blame.”

“Why’s that?”

“You keep suckling my neck that way and my heart is sure to pound out of my chest.”

When he looked up, their lips met. His tongue dove harder and deeper into her mouth and her brain fogged with only one thought on her mind. She wanted this man more than anything. “Make love to me, Dustin.”

He pulled back and swallowed hard. He took shallow breaths. “MaKayla, I’m having a hard time controlling myself. But we can’t go any further. Not now. Not until you’re comfortable with who I am.”

As much as she wanted him to stay, he did have a point. His lips tasted too good and his arms would be a safe haven she wanted after tonight’s events. If guilt replaced the passion in the morning, it would ruin their relationship. They couldn’t let that happen.

Hesitantly, she pulled herself out of his embrace. “You’re right.”

He rubbed her shoulder. “Do you want me to stay so you’re not alone? I promise to keep my hands to myself.”

She shook her head and smiled. “I can’t return the same promise if you stay. You should go. I’ll be fine.”

“Sure?”

She nodded.

His lips brushed her cheek before she opened the back door and watched him disappear into the darkness.

Chapter Ten

Sitting behind her desk at Columbus Bank on Friday, MaKayla pulled the phone away from her ear. Had she been disconnected?

She’d called WCMJ yesterday at break time and had been told to try back this morning. She couldn’t be kept on hold for much longer. It was almost time to leave to pick up her friends at the airport.

“WCMJ radio. How may I help you?”

“Mr. Peterson, please.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Peterson left the office a few minutes ago. May I take a message?”

She’d hate to leave a message and have him call back when she wasn’t around. “I’ll call back this evening. Thank you.” She shut down her computer, removed her purse from her bottom drawer, and then headed outside.