“At least he didn’t catch my ‘didn’t,’” Dixie admitted to her mother, the keeper of Perry’s books. Since Cash had revealed that her whole family was aware of Perry’s financial support, she’d called one of the only people she could discuss Brand with.
“That’s debatable. Maybe he didn’t want to push it right then.”
Dixie scoffed. “Maybe he’s lousy at grammar and doesn’t understand the difference between ‘didn’t’ and ‘don’t’.”
“That can’t be it. You wouldn’t fall in love with an uneducated, inarticulate man.”
Dixie wasn’t sure if she gagged or gasped but she did choke on what her mother had said.
“I never said I was in love with him!”
Her mother was quiet for a moment. Then she sighed. “You didn’t have to, honey. It’s in your voice. You’re still seeing a man who, you admit, hurt you. You wouldn’t do that unless you were in love with him.”
“Oh, geez. What am I going to do?”
“You’re going to go on seeing him, train his dog and avoid Perry at all costs.”
She took a deep breath. “Why should I stay away from Perry?”
“Honey, he set you up.”
“I know, Mom. He gave me—”
“No. He set you up with Brand. What kind of a name is Brand anyway?”
“Never mind his name, what do you mean Perry set me up?”
“Dixie Rose, don’t be dense. Perry meets a young man in a bar—sounds like the start of a bad joke, doesn’t it? Anyway, first chance he gets, he sends this young man to your kennel. Ta da! You, Brand, romantic moonlit nights…”
“The young man who explained he was taking care of his cousin’s untrained dog. Get it? Untrained dog? Dog trainer?” asked Dixie.
“Don’t you get it?”
“Oh, all right. I get it.” Dixie let snippets of Perry moments run through her mind and could find no fault with her mother’s conclusion. “You may be right.”
“Of course I’m right. And he dangled that kennel in your face for six months and suddenly his manager/trainer quits.”
Dixie sighed. “He reeled me in like a minnow.”
Her mother burst out laughing. “Oh, dear. You are more like an angry crab with claws clacking and pinching tender skin than a minnow!”
Dixie wallowed in a split second of feeling indignant…but her mother was correct. She had been crabby. Mostly because Perry had “rules” he wanted her to follow.
“You don’t have to laugh.”
“Oh, darling. I love you so much.”
Dixie’s heart ached. She missed her whole family but she missed her mother the most. “I love you too, Mom.”
“Now. Go wash your face because I know you’ve been crying, get changed and go after that man.”
Dixie sniffed. “Maybe. Probably.”
* * *
It took an hour to wash her face. And fix her hair, put on a touch of makeup, change her clothes and get her head together enough to talk sensibly to her next-door neighbor. Her lover.
Strolling down the driveway, she took advantage of the setting sun. Its rays warmed her face without making sweat drip from her eyelashes. Didn’t happen often in Florida.
Plenty of sweat dripped from the three men unloading the eighteen-wheeler parked next to Brand’s house. She frowned. All of them were shirtless. All of them wore shorts which hung dangerously low on their slender hips. All of them were prime examples of gorgeous manhood. Whew!
Brand stepped into the fading sunlight from the recesses of the truck. He put a hand down and jumped to the ground. Galli leaped out and all four men laughed as he stumbled. But Galli stood up holding a paw in the air. She kicked into high gear and arrived at his side at the same moment Brand knelt down and crooned to the dog.
“Don’t touch his leg.”
“No. I won’t, will I, boy.” He made a comforting noise while he held the dog against his chest. His broad, sweaty, muscled chest.
“Just let me…” Dixie started at the dog’s shoulder. She kneaded it carefully before moving on. Slowly examining his leg, she finally reached his paw. Holding it carefully, she manipulated it checking for any reaction from Galli. There was none. She sat back on her heels. “I think he’s okay.” She looked up into Brand’s eyes as he rolled them and looked deliberately at the tail wagging to beat the band.
Brand let go and Galli gathered to jump on Dixie.
“Down!”
Dixie raised her eyebrows at Brand’s forceful command. He’d finally mastered the I’m-the-human-in-charge voice. And Galli had mastered understanding. He sat. Tongue hanging out, a dopey grin on his face, he turned his head left to right, from Brand to Dixie and back.
“You’re such a faker,” Dixie said as she petted him. She and Brand grinned at each other over the supremely satisfied dog.
“Ahem.”
Brand looked up at the men surrounding them.
“Hey, fellas. This is Dixie Rose.”
“Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”
“Let me help you up,” said a suntanned blond. He held a hand out.
Dixie took it and stood. “Nice to meet you.”
“We’re working with Brand on some construction he’s doing. I’m Dallas.” He stuck out his hand.
She shook it, smiled at him then shook herself. Mentally. Get on the ball, girl.
“The ski shop?” she asked.
“And the Tiki training hut, the solar panels, the boathouse—”
She held a hand up and laughed. “I get it.”
“Is this the lady that’s against the ski shop?”
Brand shook his head. “Shut up, Joey.”
“Why don’t you collect the tools and stow them in the truck,” Dallas added.
“Sure.” A chagrinned Joey wandered off.
“Poor guy.”
“Don’t feel sorry for him, Miss Dixie. He lost his brains the minute you walked up.” Dallas gave a salute and followed Joey across the yard.
“Why don’t we go inside for a minute, Dixie? I’ll get you something cold to drink.” He opened his front door and gestured her in. “I have some sweet tea if you’re interested.”
She turned and looked him in the eye. She had something to prove and she was determined to get it done right away.
“Oh, I’m interested all right. Just not in sweet tea.”
He grinned at her. “Sounds good to me.”
They moved together.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. The passion flared immediately. The kiss deepened and, by mutual consent, they started exploring each other’s body.
Brand pulled away. As away as she let him, anyway.
“I’m all sweaty.”
“Yeah. I know.” She kissed him again.
He chuckled which didn’t bode well for her plans. “I need a shower.”
She pulled her head back. “Why? I’ll just get you all sweaty again.”
He looked pained. “This is work sweat.”
Grinning, she winked at him. “I’ll make you work, don’t you worry.” She wrapped her hands around his arms and licked from his collar bone to his mouth. He groaned and went back to kissing her senseless.
A knock on the door put a stop to their work.
“Damn,” she said.
He grimaced. “Hold that thought.”
* * *
Brand stepped outside to talk to Dallas.
“We’re done unloading the truck,” Dallas said, glancing at the closed door behind Brand. “You ready to get that beer?”
“No, sorry. Something’s come up.”
Dallas looked him up and down. He chuckled. “So I see.”
“Just a minute—”
“Sorry! Sorry. Joey wanted to know if Dixie Rose was available. I’ll tell him no.” Dallas slapped Brand on the shoulder as he turned to walk away.
“I owe you guys a beer,” Brand said.
“Next time, okay?” Dallas said with a grin. He was walking backward toward the truck.
Glad Dallas wasn’t mad or annoyed, Brand smiled. “Just, uh, wear your shirt next time, okay?”
Dallas stopped and gestured at himself. “And cover all this masculine beauty? Not a chance.”
“I’m prettier than you,” Joey yelled from the cab of the truck.
“And I’m smarter than both of you,” Stan, the suntanned blond, claimed while flexing his muscles and looking at the house.
Brand turned in time to see a blush cover Dixie’s face before she dropped the curtain and disappeared from view. “Get lost you idiots.”
“Idiots? We’re not idiots,” Dallas said as he got behind the wheel. “Get in here, smartass,” he said to Stan.
As the tall blond climbed into the cab, he smiled at Brand. “Nice place, boss.”
With Dallas, Joey and Stan on board, the truck backed up and drove off while Brand smiled and shook his head. They were good guys and hard workers. Brand was glad to know them.
“Coming inside any time soon?”
He turned. Dixie stood in the doorway. She leaned against the doorjamb with one hand propped above her head. Her body curved away from the jamb. She looked lean, lovely and lonely.
“I’m right here, sweetheart.”
She put on a pout. “But you’re so far away.”
He walked to her and brushed a knuckle on the tip of her nose. “Not so far now.”
Brand was impressed by his ability to stand upright as Dixie took him in hand. She gave him a caressing squeeze.
“I think I have an idea.”
“Yeah. What is it?” he asked.
She stuck a finger in the waist band of his shorts and tugged him inside. “I think you should close the door.”
Obedient to the end, he pulled the door closed and offered himself up to her imagination.