The Summer of Sunshine and Margot(77)

“Dazzled seems strong.” He tugged at his collar. “This was a mistake. I should cancel.”

“You’re not going to cancel. You’re going to take Phoebe to dinner and you’re going to have a good time.”

Declan looked more miserable than confident. “I don’t think that’s a given. I barely know the woman. What are we going to talk about?”

“Ask about her work. Tell her about yours. You have lots of funny stories about the hotel clients.”

“Those aren’t funny, they’re disasters.”

She smiled. “To you. To the rest of us, they’re pretty humorous. If you get stuck, talk about Connor. Talk about his school, how the Rams are going to do next season, whether or not she likes ballet.”

“Don’t all women like ballet?”

“Of course not. That’s like saying all guys like basketball.”

“Do you like ballet?”

“I do, but that’s not the point. Get to know her. Don’t say anything about Iris except she got sick very suddenly and then she died.”

He sighed. “Even I know not to tell her about the affair.”

“You say that now, but in the heat of the moment, you could blurt out anything.” Sunshine told herself that however painful this was, sending Declan out with the kind of advice designed to make his date successful was just plain good karma. “Oh, and if I come up in conversation, be sure to tell her I’m in a committed relationship with a giant of a man who you find just a little intimidating.”

“What are you talking about?”

Sunshine shrugged. “She’s going to ask about me. I’m not saying I’m all that, I’m saying I know what other women think when they look at me. Boobs and butt. It’s not a good combination for a first date. If she asks, and she will, I’m in a relationship, and the guy scares you.”

Declan studied her and she had no idea what he was thinking. As long as it wasn’t pity, she didn’t care. Or so she told herself.

“Do I have to say he scares me?”

“No, but it will help.”

Connor ran into the bedroom and skittered to a stop beside Sunshine. She put her arm around him.

“Doesn’t your dad look good?”

Connor wrinkled his nose. “You do, Dad. Are you taking her flowers? Ladies like flowers.”

“Maybe next time.” Declan smiled at his son. “What are you and Sunshine doing for dinner?”

Connor started jumping up and down. “Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!” He wrapped his arms around Sunshine. “We have dough and sauce and cheese and pepperoni. I’ve never made pizza before. Did you know there’s a special stone for pizza? We’re gonna use that and watch it bake!”

“Sounds like you’ll be having a fun evening,” Declan said.

“It’s always fun with Sunshine.”

She laughed. “I’m the cool nanny. What can I say?”

“You are.” He glanced at his watch. “I should get going. We have reservations.”

Connor walked with his dad to the garage while Sunshine headed for the kitchen. Tonight, after pizza, they would watch a movie. Once Connor was in bed, she would retreat to her room and not come out until morning. She would distract herself with HGTV and not think about Declan out with another woman. Mostly because it wasn’t her business. And she didn’t care. Not in the least. Not even a little. Not her. Nope, she was completely and totally fine.



Chapter Nineteen


Declan walked into the kitchen a little after midnight. Sunshine had left on the under-counter lights, but otherwise the house was dark and quiet.

His son would have gone to bed hours ago. It was late so there was no reason to expect Sunshine to still be up, but he had wondered. Not that he should have. They were friends. She worked for him—nothing more. They didn’t have anything close to a relationship so it was ridiculous to wonder if she’d thought about his date at all.

He turned on the hall light, then flipped off the under-counter lights. After checking on Connor, he made his way to his bedroom. He crossed into the bathroom and stripped off his clothes, then stepped into the shower.

He’d had sex with Phoebe. He hadn’t planned on it, hadn’t considered the possibility, but once they’d gotten back from dinner, she’d made it clear she was more than willing and he’d...

He wasn’t sure what he’d been thinking, he admitted as he lathered his body. That it had been a long time and she’d been funny and nice and the idea of holding someone, of having sex with someone other than himself, had been appealing. Everything had worked the way it was supposed to, he’d made sure she’d come first, then he’d found his release in her.

He rinsed, then stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel. The mechanics had been fine, but now, he couldn’t escape the sense of regret. Nothing about being with Phoebe had been about making love with someone he cared about. Maybe he was too old, but getting laid was not the thrill it had been years ago. He wanted more. He wanted to engage more than his dick.

He wanted Sunshine.

He swore loudly, then pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms. After brushing his teeth, he walked into the bedroom and climbed into bed. He lay on his back in the dark and wished... What? That he hadn’t done it? That he didn’t have to deal with Phoebe now? That he’d met Sunshine another way and he could have asked her out and gotten to know her as a woman and not his nanny?