“Good. Whose car is out front?”
“Your mother and sisters invited a friend over for breakfast.”
“How fun. That explains why Brindle and Sable beat me here. They never do that. Did Axsel come with Sable?” Axsel was staying with Sable while he was in town.
“No. I guess he stayed out too late last night.”
“Sounds like Axsel. Which friend did they invite over?”
“Let’s go see.” He whistled, and the dogs bounded toward them. Her father lavished Reno with attention as Amber loved up the puppies.
She pushed to her feet. “Reno, settle.” Her trusty pal came to her side as she stepped into the large kitchen, stopping cold at the sight of Dash sitting at their kitchen table in a white T-shirt and running shorts, bouncing Brindle’s giggling seven-month-old, Emily aka Emma, on his lap.
Dash lifted his brows, flashing a victorious smile.
Butterflies swarmed in Amber’s belly. Her mind scrambled to make sense of the handsome jock holding her frilly frocked niece in her parents’ kitchen. There was a plate of crumbs in front of him. How long had he been there? Brindle sat to his right, and their mother sat at the head of the table, both of them beaming at Amber with a glimmer of mischief in their eyes. Sable stood with her jeans-clad hip parked against the island, arms crossed, a scrutinizing gaze locked on Dash. She’d always been Amber’s most protective and untrusting sister.
“I had nothing to do with this,” her father said for her ears only as he followed her in and went to sit at the table.
Amber knew darn well who had invited Dash over for breakfast, her matchmaking mother and youngest sister. Merle ran around sniffing everyone, but it seemed Dash’s charm didn’t just reel in women. Patsy went paws-up on his thigh, inciting more giggles from Emma and a warm feeling in Amber’s chest as he kissed the pooch’s head.
“Let the fun begin.” Sable flipped her long dark hair over her shoulder, smirking as she bent to pet Merle.
“Hi, sweetheart. I’m so glad you’re finally here.” Her mother popped to her feet in her jeans and sweater and gave Amber a quick hug, whispering, “I tried to hurry you up. He’s the sweetest man.” Then, louder, as she went to make coffee, she said, “You remember Dash. When he told me about how much time he’s been spending on the road with his speaking engagements, I thought he might enjoy a home-cooked breakfast.”
Amber bit back her frustration and sat down across from Dash, taking in the homemade blueberry scones, pancakes, and plates of eggs, toast, and bacon on the table. “How nice,” she said as Reno lay down beside her chair.
“Your mom is a wonderful cook, and I really enjoyed getting to know your family and spending time with this little one.” Dash tickled Emma’s belly, earning more sweet giggles.
Amber melted a little despite her frustrations. Why did guys look even hotter when they held babies?
“I looked for you last night.” Dash held her gaze. “My dance card had your name written all over it, but you left me hanging.”
She couldn’t suppress an incredulous laugh and quickly cleared her throat to mask it. He’d probably danced with every single girl there. “Sorry. I had a few things to take care of at home.”
“You did? Like what, honey?” her mother asked.
Amber put a scone on her plate, scrambling for a response. “I had a book club chat I didn’t want to miss.”
“That’s okay, right, Emmie?” Dash made kissing noises at the baby, making him even more unfairly attractive. “I’m here until the signing.” He looked up, catching Amber watching him, and his gaze warmed. “Maybe you can fit me in for a dance another time.”
What was he doing there? Why was he so focused on her? She’d already agreed to host his signing.
“Look how much he loves babies, Amb,” Brindle said, sounding like a salesperson instead of the high school English teacher she was.
“I wonder if he has any,” Sable quipped.
Their mother glowered at her as she brought a pot of coffee to the table and began filling their mugs.
“That would be a no.” Dash looked at Amber again. “But one day I hope to have a house full of them.”
“Sounds like you and Amber have even more in common than we thought.” Brindle kicked Amber under the table.
Ouch! Amber was going to wring her neck.
Sable sauntered over to the table, and their father gave her a look that said, Please don’t start something. She’d been adept at ignoring those looks for as long as Amber could remember. “So, Dash, you said you were here for the next couple of weeks. Why Oak Falls? Should we expect a scorned ex to roll into town? A fiancée? Are you hiding out from a scandal?”
“Sable, he is our guest,” their mother snapped.
“Yes, a guest we know very little about. Everyone’s got dirty little secrets, especially sports figures.” Sable drummed her fingers on her forearm, narrowing her eyes at him. “I’m just trying to find out what his is.”
Dash didn’t even flinch. “I came to see Sin. We’re old college buddies.”
“Ah, maybe he’s your dirty little secret,” Sable teased.
Amber stifled a laugh.
Their father turned a sterner look on Sable.
Emma reached for Brindle, and as Dash handed her to Brindle, he seemed to take Sable’s taunt in stride. “Sin’s a great-looking guy, but we’re just friends. I am a little surprised that you’d think it would be a dirty secret if we were more than friends, considering your brother is gay.”
“Ohhh. He got you, Sable,” Brindle teased.
Their father nudged Amber. “I like this guy.”
“Why are you telling me?” Amber bit into her scone as everyone else chuckled.
“For what it’s worth”—Dash paused, and like metal to magnet, the heat of his gaze drew Amber’s eyes to his—“my only dirty little secret is that I accepted this breakfast invitation with the hopes of seeing Amber again.”
Amber’s cheeks flamed and she tried to look away, but she was too busy trying to remember how to breathe.
“I hate to eat and run, but I’ve got to.” Dash pushed to his feet. He was so broad and imposing, the kitchen that had always been spacious, even with all nine of their family members in it, felt far too small. “Marilynn, Cade, thank you for a delicious breakfast. Brindle, I appreciate you sharing your sweet Little Miss with me and, Sable, keep trying. You’ll figure me out one of these days.”
“You barely ate,” Sable said.
“Running on a full stomach is never a good idea.” Dash grabbed a faded Virginia State sweatshirt from the back of his chair, those dark eyes holding Amber captive. “I didn’t want to miss a chance to see Amber again.”
“You’re welcome anytime, honey, but before you go, let me get you that body wash I told you about.” Their mother hurried out of the room.
“Oh, yes, we can’t forget that,” Brindle exclaimed. “You’ll love it. It’s very…enlightening.”
Amber gritted her teeth. Their aunt Roxie lived in Upstate New York and had gained quite a reputation for her homemade lotions, body washes, shampoos, and other toiletries, in which she claimed to add special love potions. Their cousins swore by them. Amber did, too, which was why when her mother hurried back into the room with a basketful of those products and Lord knew what else, she vowed to avoid Dash for the rest of his time in Oak Falls.