4

The clinking of a knife against a wine glass had everyone glancing toward the center of the room.

“May I have everyone’s attention?” Stacey stood there smiling excitedly. “It’s time to cut the cake. Can we all gather out on the patio to wish Eli a ‘Happy Birthday’?”

Dee refused to let her gaze seek Cohen out. She’d seen enough of him when he’d arrived. The air she’d been breathing had seemed to shift in the room, getting charged from his presence. She’d always thought Stacey’s brother was larger than life and tonight was no exception. He was tall, tempting and tantalizing.

She had been standing in the entryway between the kitchen and dining room when he had strode into the house. Although she’d had a good view of him, he hadn’t been able to see her. But she didn’t have to be standing directly in front of Cohen to be overwhelmed by his presence. Those whiskey colored eyes beneath a dark slash of brows, his creamy brown complexion, his short hair, perfectly sculpted chin, full lips and the signature sexy-looking, five o’clock shadow on his jaw were the same ones he had when he came to her in her dreams. All in all, he was just too handsome for words.

Forcing thoughts of Cohen from her mind, she tried focusing on what Midas Coronado was saying. They’d all sang happy birthday to Eli and were now eating slices of cake. Midas, a friend of Gannon’s, was nice enough, definitely good looking and was part of the mega-wealthy family that owned the international Coronado Tire Company. She wondered if, like the Greek King he’d told her that his parents named him for, he thought he had the Midas touch, turning everything to gold. One thing for certain, if he lacked the touch, he definitely knew how to wield the Midas charm. He was pouring it on thick tonight.

The fact that Midas was a ladies’ man didn’t bother her. The words were all but tattooed on his forehead for all to see. He was no different than his other friends who’d hit on her tonight. She could handle them. In fact, she was enjoying having them compete for her attention. She understood how the male mind worked. After all, she had two brothers, who for the longest time, had assumed they were God’s gift to women. At least Lawyer had come to his senses and settled down. Somehow though, she couldn’t see Justice getting serious with a woman anytime soon.

“So, how long will you be in Phoenix?” he asked as they, along with the others, began moving back inside.

Dee glanced up at Midas. “I fly out Tuesday.”

“So what are your plans for Memorial Day?”

She wondered why he wanted to know. “Eli’s parents host an annual cookout. I’ll be going with Stacey and Eli.”

“I heard about that party. Gannon invited me. Wasn’t sure I was going to go, but maybe now I will.”

Dee chose to ignore Midas’s insinuation that her presence at the Steele’s cookout was a deciding factor. “So how did you and Gannon meet?”

“Business deals. His family’s freight company transports a lot of our products to other states.”

Dee was aware that Eli’s father owned a huge shipping company and that Gannon was the only one of the six Steele sons who’d followed their father into that business. While Midas continued to tell her about his and Gannon’s friendship, she caught sight of Cohen out of the corner of her eye. He was talking to Eli’s parents.

“You know Dee, we can do something to get that guy in the dark slacks and grey shirt to notice us, if that’s what you want.”

Dee blinked at Midas. “Excuse me.”

A smile touched his lips. “I am a very perceptive man. Although you’ve pretended to hang on to my every word, I know that your attention has been elsewhere. Mainly on that guy Gannon introduced me to earlier, Dr. Cohen Carlson.”

Had she been that obvious? She could say she didn’t know what Midas was talking about, but she refused to insult his intelligence that way. If he had picked up on her interest in Cohen, then he was a very perceptive man. “I owe you an apology.”

“Not really. A person can’t always control the workings of their heart.”

His words gave her pause. It sounded like he spoke from experience. “Some things aren’t meant to be, no matter how we wish otherwise.”

“I agree. You’re a beautiful woman and he was a fool to let you go,” Midas responded.

She smiled up at him, tempted to admit that Cohen had never truly wanted her in the first place. “It’s not that big of a deal, honestly,” she said.

He chuckled. “You know one of the things I like about you Dee?”

“What? That I don’t lie very well?” she asked in a teasing tone.

He chuckled again. “No, I get the impression that you’re dedicated to any cause you’re excited about. Whether it’s the kids you teach…or a past love you’re trying to let go of.”

Past love she was trying to let go of? She could honestly say she’d thought she’d already managed to do that.

“Well, I’ve dominated your attention enough for tonight,” Midas said, reaching out and giving her hand a tight, affectionate squeeze before letting it go. “Hopefully once I back off, your guy will stop staring holes in my back and make his move.”

Make his move? Honestly. She’d given Cohen plenty of opportunities to do that. Still, what had Midas said about Cohen staring holes in his back? That couldn’t be right.

**

Out of the corner of his eye, Cohen saw the man who’d dominated Dee’s attention all evening walk away. Great! She was finally alone so he could at least speak to her. It had been over two years and there was no reason they couldn’t go back to being friends, now that they understood each other.

Without wasting any time, in case the dude returned, he swiftly crossed the room to Dee. The closer he got, the more he had to admit how good she looked in that outfit and those stilettos. Although he wished she wasn’t getting so much male attention… Still, he was forced to admit that seeing that outfit on any other woman probably would not have bothered him so much. The fact that it was Dee who was wearing it, though, did bother him…and that realization annoyed the hell out him.

Then there was her new hairstyle. In all the years he’d known her, she’d never worn her hair short. It would take some getting used to but he had to admit the style looked good on her, and those huge dangling earrings gave it a wow effect.

She glanced over at him and saw his approach. He could feel her apprehension. It bothered him that things were this way between them. She was erecting a wall around herself. But then, hadn’t he done the same with her? “Hello Dee,” he said.

“Cohen.”

“Nice party.” He was standing close enough to inhale her scent. He knew this particular cologne had been her favorite for years and he hoped she never changed it.

“Yes, Stacey did a great job.”

“I understand you helped out a lot.”

She smiled and the way her lips parted had his gut clenching. “Stace would claim that. I merely came up with ideas for the decorations.”

He glanced around. Anyone knowing Eli was aware of how serious he was most of the time. They also knew he loved football and his favorite team was the Arizona Cardinals. Cohen figured that was the reason behind the sports theme of the party. The only thing Eli loved more than the Cardinals was his wife. “Well, I think it’s a great party and I love the decorations, especially this,” he said, pulling a Cardinal referee whistle from his pocket.

Cohen couldn’t decide what had delighted Eli the most. Hearing the sound of the cardinals all over the house, or the sight of his frat brothers performing a two-step in the middle of the floor just after they all arrived.

He glanced back at Dee, studying her features. “I like your hair, by the way.”

“Thanks. It will be easier to manage over the summer while school is out.”

“You’re not teaching this summer?” He knew that even when the school term was over, she taught reading at a number of senior citizen centers around Memphis. She’d been doing so for years, even before graduating from college.

“No, I’ve decided to take a break and do something fun for a change.”

Do something fun? He wondered what that was. Before he could ask, even though he probably didn’t have the right, Stacey got everyone’s attention again.

“Hi everyone. I’m about to present Eli with his birthday gift. I hope he likes it.”

Eli leaned over and kissed Stacey on the cheek before accepting the huge box from her. Cohen and everyone else figured things out the moment Eli unwrapped the gift to expose a huge box of disposable diapers. Eli, however, just stood there, as if stunned. Then he turned to Stacey with a huge grin on his face. “Does this mean what I think it does?” he asked her.

Tears misted Stacey’s eyes as she nodded. “Yes. We’re having a baby, Eli.”

Eli let out a huge cheer before pulling Stacey into his arms, kissing her soundly in front of everyone. A lot of clapping and even more cardinal sounds from the whistles, followed. Cohen glanced over at Dee and saw tears in her eyes. “You knew already, didn’t you?” he said.

She nodded. “Yes. Stacey told me the minute I got into town. Just think Cohen. You’re going to be an uncle and I’ll be a godmother.”

He was thinking about it and he was so filled with happiness that he wanted to pull Dee into his arms, but knew he couldn’t. That’s how things had become messed up between them at his going-away party two years ago.

He glanced over. Eli had finally released Stacey. And just as Cohen had thought, his sister’s gaze sought him out. He crossed the room to give Stacey a huge hug. “The folks would have been ecstatic. Just think. You’re carrying their first grandchild,” he whispered.

Stacey wiped tears from her eyes. “I know and I am so happy about it.” Then in a quieter tone, she added, “You know, you should have done the honors. You’re the oldest.”

“It won’t ever happen,” he said quickly. But upon seeing that concerned look in his sister’s eyes, he added, “Besides, you’ll wear motherhood a lot better than I could ever wear fatherhood.”

He then pulled Stacey into his arms for another huge hug. But he felt a trickle of unease slide down his spine. Looking up, he soon saw the cause. Midas Coronado was back at Dee’s side.