“Here you are, sweetheart.” Their mother handed him the basket. “I threw in a few extra things I thought you might enjoy.”
“That’s very generous of you. Thank you. I look forward to using them.”
Her mother gave a little shoulder wiggle and grinned hopefully at Amber, who was sure she had smoke coming out of her ears.
Dash turned his attention to Amber, too, causing a whole different type of smoke. “I’m tied up this afternoon helping Sin with a football clinic, but maybe you can show me around town tonight and we can make up for that dance we missed.”
All eyes turned to Amber, and she felt her cheeks burn for the billionth time in the last twenty-four hours. “I…no…sorry. I’m really busy.”
“Another time, then.” Dash tossed her a sexy wink, thanked everyone again, and headed out the door.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Amber let out a breath she felt like she’d been holding for an hour, and the room erupted in chatter.
“Why did you turn him down?” Brindle practically shouted.
“He’s a wonderful man,” her mother said. “Persistent, too. I like that.”
“He’s a sports celebrity, Mom. They’re as bad as rock stars.” Sable said sports celebrity like it was a curse, and sat in the chair Dash had vacated.
“If anyone knows how bad rock stars are, it’s you,” Brindle pointed out.
“Exactly,” Sable agreed.
Sable might be tough as nails, but she was built like a Playboy bunny, and she wasn’t afraid to use all of her assets to go after what she wanted. Amber had no idea why Dash was even interested in her when Sable was more his type. She was single, gorgeous, and when she didn’t have her protective sisterly claws out, she was usually up for a no-strings-attached good time.
Sable arched a brow. “Dash probably has five kids by five different women that he doesn’t even know about because he’s hopping from one bed to the next without ever looking back.”
“Sable Marie,” their mother chided.
“What? Someone has to look out for Amber,” Sable snapped. “You and Brindle are practically offering the guy a dowry.”
“Don’t be so dramatic.” Their mother sat beside Amber. “Dash is kind, and he’s a gentleman, not some kind of sex-hungry pig.”
Sable sat back and crossed her arms. “You’re not this naive, Mom, which means you either have grandbaby-stars in your eyes, or you’ve lost your mind.”
“She has not. Sin has nothing but good things to say about Dash,” Brindle insisted.
Amber held her hand up. “Stop. I can’t believe you all blindsided me like that. I expect this kind of thing from Brindle. Every week she has the name of some guy she’s found online for me to chat with—”
“You’re welcome, even if you never do it.” Brindle fluffed her blond hair over her shoulder with a proud grin, speaking animatedly to Emma. “Your auntie is missing out, isn’t she? Your mama is a great matchmaker.”
Emma giggled.
Amber rolled her eyes. “Mom, you gave him a basket of Aunt Roxie’s love potions. Isn’t that a little desperate? And, Dad…?” She gave him her most serious look. “I can’t believe you fed me to the wolves.”
Her father placed his hand over hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze and an apologetic gaze. “If I’d warned you, you would have gotten right back in your car and driven away, and then they’d be shouting at me.”
“You did the right thing, Dad.” Brindle looked at Amber as she pressed a kiss to Emma’s forehead. “I don’t see what the issue is. You’ve been drooling over Dash for weeks. He’s the only guy you’ve ever gotten flustered over and the only man to pique your interest in years. He’s finally here, and he’s into you, Amber. It’s your turn to have some fun.”
“Our definitions of fun are very different.” Amber popped a piece of scone into her mouth.
“Thank God for that.” Sable pushed to her feet. “I have to get to the shop. I’m starting a rebuild on an engine today, and it’s going to be a beast.”
“Good luck, and thanks for having my back.” Amber got up to hug her.
“Always.” Sable narrowed her eyes. “And don’t let them talk you into doing anything you don’t want to do.”
Brindle said, “You act like we’re pimping her out for tricks.”
Sable arched a brow, and they both laughed. “Love you, Brin, but give her a break, will ya?” She kissed Emma’s head. “Take good care of my niece.”
Sable left, and Amber sat down to finish breakfast. Her mother apologized for being pushy, Brindle urged Amber to step out of her comfort zone, and their father listened with amusement. By the time Amber finished eating, they were all joking around again. She helped her mother clean up and played with Emma, filling up on her sweetness, until it was time to head into Meadowside for work.
Amber drove through town, admiring the fall decorations on the storefronts. She stopped at a red light just as Lindsay’s grandmother, Nina, who everyone called Nana, and several of her friends rushed out of the Stardust Café, pointing across the street, gaping and giggling. Amber followed their gazes to the park, where Dash was doing pull-ups on a tree limb…shirtless. All his muscles flexed as he effortlessly pulled his beautifully sculpted body up time and time again, his skin glistening in the morning sun. A group of young mothers stopped on the sidewalk with their strollers, blocking Amber’s view. She inched the car forward, catching sight of him again as he dropped to his feet and began stretching. Boy, he’d looked great in clothes, but nearly naked? Heat stirred low in her belly.
The blare of horns startled her out of her reverie. The light was green, there was a line of cars behind her, and Reno was on full alert in the back seat. Oh geez! She sank down in her seat, giving an apologetic wave to the people behind her as she drove away with her heart racing, images of a half-naked Dash Pennington searing into her mind.
“ARE YOU ALL set for tomorrow night’s Create Your Life podcast?” Shea asked over the phone late Saturday afternoon.
“Yeah.” The irony in his situation was not lost on him. He was motivating people to do more and follow their dreams, when he felt like he was a bystander waiting for a turn at the life he really wanted.
“Great. I rescheduled the Milas Corp’s speaking engagements for next Friday. I emailed you the schedule, and we’ve got you on a flight to LA Thursday morning. I’ll meet you for dinner, and we can go over the details for Friday.”
“Jesus, Shea. You expect me to miss watching the game?”
“Seriously? Do you have any idea how busy I am?”
He laughed. “Why do you fall for that every time I do it to you? You know I don’t care if I miss the game. It’ll be good to see you.” He grabbed a dark blue sweater from a drawer in Sin’s guest room, where he was staying. “What time is my return flight Saturday?”
“I wanted to talk to you about that. I know you don’t love celebrity events, but I really want to book you on He Said, She Said, We Said for Monday since you’ll be in town anyway.” He Said, She Said, We Said was an LA-based podcast featuring celebrities interviewing other celebrities. “And The Tonight Show had a cancellation. They can get you in Wednesday.”