Hershey's Choice Page 6

  “The place looks great.” Not a shred of dust to be smudged or an item out of place. The living room was fairly small with a sofa, loveseat, television, and a bookcase being the main pieces of furniture. The top shelf of the bookcase held music arranged in alphabetical order, and the collection of Elvis and classic oldies spoke of her taste in music. The second shelf held a variety of mystery, romance, and biography books. The last shelf contained an assortment of movies and a stack of house design magazines.

  Britt pushed a wayward hair behind her ear.

  Had she been referring to her attire? Damn! He was so dense. How could she possibly think herself to be a mess when she was a vision? Ryan couldn’t take his gaze off her since the moment she opened the door. Countless strands of rebellious hair fell over her face and highlighted a natural, makeup free beauty. Her sweatshirt hung from one arm to reveal a bare shoulder, and the short-shorts gave a pleasing view of her tanned, long legs. Right down to her rose pink-painted toenails. Without the values of good manners and respect, taught by his parents, he may have ignored his stomach’s grumbling and instead fed his need to kiss this gorgeous woman.

  “You look great, too.” He voiced his last statement much too enthusiastically.

  A flush of pink stained her cheeks.

  “Can I ask you a personal question?” Ryan had to know about Mr. Wells.

  “Depends on how personal.”

  Her coy smile and raised brow stalled his pulse. “Patrick mentioned a Mr. Wells. You said you were unavailable, but I got the impression you weren’t married. Is there a boyfriend or ex-husband who might walk in and get the wrong impression?”

  “No boyfriend or ex.”

  Ryan wanted to fist pump the air, but he thought it best to hide his excitement.

  “Mr. Wells is my father.” She closed the pizza box and stacked their empty paper plates on top. “I live with my father. This is his house.”

  Her open palm stopped his response.

  “I know what you’re thinking. Why is a twenty-nine-year-old woman living with her father?”

  The question hadn’t entered his mind. Ryan was just content to know she lived with her father and not a boyfriend. “I’m not one to pass judgement. I’ve been living with my younger brother for the past nine months, and six months before that with my parents. We do what we have to do.”

  Britt laughed the sweetest giggle he ever heard.

  “I don’t have to live here. My dad is a trucker, so he’s on the road a lot. The upstairs is my space. Dad renovated the basement into his bedroom, bathroom, and den. My living here benefits us both. My rent is cut in half, and he has someone to watch the house while he’s on the road. A win-win situation.”

  She hadn’t mentioned a mother. Ryan didn’t want to discuss a topic that may cause sadness or bad memories.

  “My parents are divorced. My mother lives in Toronto.”

  Her volunteered information gave Ryan an understanding of her dislike of marriage. “Is that the reason why you’d rather shoot your foot than walk down the aisle?”

  Britt scrunched a paper napkin in her hand. “My parents shouldn’t have gotten married. They wanted different things out of life. An intense attraction isn’t enough to keep them together forever.”

  “So, why did they?”

  “Me.” She shrugged.

  “I’m sorry.” He didn’t know how else to respond to her blunt statement.

  “They were married a few months before I was born. We were a happy family for a while, until Dad receive a promotion to truck driver. He was away a lot. Mom liked the social life, meeting people, shopping, and dining out. She wasn’t content sitting home every day.” Britt patted the furry head resting on her knee. “They fought non-stop. Mom wanted to go out, and Dad opted to stay home. She believed family fun meant travelling, but Dad enjoyed being home with us. I understood both sides, but I agreed with my father. Being together and having fun at home meant the world.”

  Ryan wanted to pull Britt into his arms, to remove the sadness from her eyes.

  “My mother eventually grew restless and took a job as an event planner. She hauled me from one place to another.”

  Ryan couldn’t imagine the loneliness she felt as a child with fighting parents and no siblings. Growing up, there was never a dull moment in the Jerome household. Many heated discussions took place between him and his siblings, but their house was always filled with love. They did everything together as a family. Vacations weren’t elaborate destinations. Camping by the lake had been a favorite getaway. “Is that how your job as an event planner came to be?”

  “Yes, I learned at an early age the tricks of how to make a wedding perfect. Keeping the bride and groom together is a secret I’ve yet to discover.”

  Britt slid off the sofa and sat crossed-legged on the area rug.

  Hershey curled beside her and rolled on his back.

  Smiling, she rubbed his belly.

  Lucky dog. Ryan didn’t understand his dog. Typically, Hershey scared women, yet he couldn’t get enough of Britt’s attention. Is Britt Hershey’s choice? The dog’s fondness must be his way of telling Ryan the search for the right woman was over.

  ****

  Britt sighed, wishing she knew the key to happy-ever-after.

  “My parents have been married for over twenty five years. They’re happy.” Ryan’s gaze met hers.

  One happy marriage out of ten divorces doesn’t count. “So are mine.” Britt glanced down at the dog’s sleeping face. She wanted to believe in love and happy families. “Now that they’re apart.” Sad, but true. “Dad tried, but Mom wanted out. She moved to Toronto where she met and married a politician. She lives the life of the high-society wife she always wanted.”

  “How’s your relationship with your mother?”

  Britt hadn’t dated a guy who cared enough to ask about her family. Ryan’s interest touched her heart. “We’re good. She wants me to move to Toronto. She said job opportunities are better. Cream-of-the-crop clients.”

  “You mentioned you were handling Cara and Kevin’s wedding on the low-down.” Ryan’s gaze met hers. “Would your boss really fire you if he found out?”

  “In a heartbeat.”

  “Why?”

  Because he’s the scum of the earth. “He doesn’t like to be told no.” Britt didn’t talk about work much. “I wouldn’t date him or have sex, so my punishment is the jobs no one else wants.”

  “He can’t treat you so callously?” Ryan stood and paced. “Did you report him for sexual harassment?”

  “His word against mine.”

  “Why do you stay?” He joined her on the floor, sitting with his back against the sofa. “Cara and Kevin sing your praises. I’m sure there’s another company who would hire you.”

  Britt tore her gaze from Ryan’s, stroking her fingers along the soft fur on Hershey’s back. “I plan to leave soon. I’m biding my time. Saving money.” Her passion was interior design. Unfortunately, she didn’t have a degree to back her abilities, so getting someone to hire her wasn’t forthcoming. “Enough about me. I want to know more about why Hershey doesn’t like the women you date.” Talking about her family was easy. Talking about her dreams and desires wasn’t. No man was permitted within the perimeter of those closed doors.

  At the sound of his name, Hershey opened his eyes but didn’t budge a muscle.

  His head remained on Britt’s lap. Would his affection change if she and Ryan were to date? She enjoyed getting to know Ryan as a friend. Dating Ryan is out of the question. There’d be no fear of Hershey turning on her.

  “I got Hershey at eight weeks old. He filled a void in my life.” Leaning over, he nuzzled his nose in the dog’s neck.

  Maybe a dog was the answer to Britt’s loneliness.

  “Unfortunately, Hershey also got me evicted from my no-dogs apartment building.”

  The dog glanced at Britt, his brown eyes held innocence.

  She covered her mouth to muffle a giggle. “A be
ar can’t be easy to hide.”

  “The owner gave me a pass because he was a cute puppy and even as he grew, she looked the other way. Until, one day, she got too close.”

  A spark of jealous twisted her stomach. She raised a brow, curiosity winning. “Do tell more.”

  “I took a breather from the dating scene.”

  His pause gave her the opportunity to ask, “A bad split?”

  “I couldn’t sustain the social demands and the glitz-and-glamour woman who wanted more. I didn’t give her the attention she craved.”

  “A familiar situation. I’m sorry.” Not really. “She broke your heart?”

  Ryan shrugged. “I thought love could conquer the differences.” He reached for his glass of soda and swallowed the remaining mouthful. “Anyway, I took a breather for a while. After some time, my mother and Dylan decided I needed to start dating. They were relentless to the point of arranging blind dates. Their choice of my ideal woman, and mine, are quite different.”

  She imagined the type of women Mrs. Jerome would think proper for her son, which definitely wouldn’t include Britt. She uncrossed her legs and sat straight against the sofa, anxious to hear more.

  “Dylan went as far as hiring a lady of the evening to fulfill my needs. However, I didn’t know her profession until after dinner. I took her to a fancy restaurant, wined and dined her, and spent too much money on one evening. She was gorgeous and sexy, and said everything I wanted to hear. Too rehearsed.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I still didn’t clue into her intentions even when she requested a nightcap at my apartment. She then most graciously advised me of the actions she could perform.”

  Britt laughed so hard, tears watered her eyes. “Did you accept any of her offerings?” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

  “Umm, no.” Ryan chuckled. “I declined ever-so nicely, and Hershey guided her to the door. Now, he makes his presence known to any woman I date. If he spotted them on a second date, he chased them. I mean that literally.”

  Hershey sat, now wedged between Britt and Ryan.

  “How could anyone be afraid of this adorable beast?” She held the dog’s head in her hands and kissed his head. “She must be crazy.” Britt glanced over Hershey’s head and winked at Ryan.

  “I apologize for thinking badly of you.” Ryan reached behind Hershey, resting his arm on the sofa and twisting a strand of her hair around his finger. “Crazy you are not, but certainly quirky.” His finger slid along her jaw line.

  She couldn’t think straight. Ryan’s touch muddled her thoughts. She wished for a drop of soda in her glass. Anything to wet the lump in her throat.

  “But I like quirky. It’s an attractive quality.”

  Holy control! Thank goodness for Hershey’s presence between them. Britt’s willpower was slipping. “So, you haven’t gotten past a second date?” Her voice was a mere whisper.

  “Not really, but I’m okay with that. They weren’t the one.”

  “The one?” Another whisper. She gazed into his eyes.

  “I’m looking for my soul mate. The woman of my dreams. My happily-ever-after.”

  A pick-up line to have women falling at his feet. Dreamy.

  “He’s a strange one, this guy.” Ryan broke their stare to glance down at Hershey. “He has barked, growled, chewed shoes and purses, and most recently peed on a woman. All to run them off, but with you, he’s a big softy. He is putty in your hands.”

  Ryan’s gaze returned to hers, stalling her breath. “Maybe, because he has no reason to guard. We’re not dating.”

  “This sure feels like a first date. Pizza and cuddling on the floor.”

  His finger caressed her bare shoulder. Someone pinch me! Wake me from this dream before I fall.

  Ryan leaned closer, and instead of the dog defending his owner or the space between Ryan and Britt, Hershey slouched to the carpet and closed his eyes.

  Ryan’s gaze fell to her lips.

  Holy snap! He’s going to kiss me! And boy, how she wanted him to. Britt leaned in, anticipating heaven’s touch.

  “I’m home.”

  Barking, Hershey bolted to the door, his abrupt missing body causing Ryan’s and Britt’s foreheads to connect with a thud.

  Ryan scrambled to his feet, mouthed the words I’m sorry then ordered Hershey to sit.

  Britt rubbed a hand over her forehead. What’s going on? She followed the cause of Hershey’s bark. “Dad?” Why now? Tonight of all nights, her father had come home early.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company.” Dad bent on one knee to greet Hershey.

  “Mr. Wells.” Ryan held his hand out to Britt’s father. “I’m Ryan Jerome, a friend of Britt’s.”

  “Nice to meet you, Ryan Jerome, a friend of Britt’s.” Dad straightened and shook Ryan’s hand. “I’m Robert Wells, Britt’s overly protective father.”

  Irritation spiked her upright. “Dad.” She threw her father a please-don’t-go-there stare. “Ryan is Kevin’s fiancée’s brother. We met…” She wanted to say ‘through Kevin and Cara,’ but that would be too simple…and a lie.

  “You don’t remember how you met?” Dad frowned, tossing his duffle bag by the closet, near Ryan’s feet.

  “It’s complicated.” Ryan took a step backward.

  Dad stepped forward. “I’m all ears.”

  His strong stance of arms folded over his chest was daunting, and Ryan’s retreating backward step confirmed the intimidation worked. “Dad, stop.” Britt shook her head. “Ryan is a friend. We met at the park a few days ago, thanks to Hershey.”

  “And this must be Hershey.” Again, he bent to the floor and patted the dog’s back. “He’s a good-looking boy.”

  “He really likes Britt.” Ryan’s shoulders loosened their stiff pose. He explained their encounter at both parks.

  Britt’s father chuckled, rubbing Hershey’s belly.

  “Ryan is Cara’s brother.” She released a long breath, thankful her father focused on the dog than on the almost-kiss he walked in on.

  “You’re the dragon lady’s son?” Dad’s brows rose.

  “Dad!”

  “Yes, sir.” Ryan nodded.

  Her father straightened. “Call me Robert, and relax, I won’t grill you on what I interrupted.” He pointed to the coffee table. “The soda verifies you weren’t taking advantage of my daughter by getting her drunk.”

  “Dad!” Her cheeks burned. “Ryan and I are friends. He came to return my coat. We were just talking.” Britt wanted to place a hand over her burning cheeks.

  “Hmm, that’s what I thought.” Dad rolled his eyes. “By the way, I showed your designs to the woman in Winnipeg I told you about.”

  “I still can’t believe you took my portfolio without asking me.” For the past couple of years, Britt had created a non-professional interior design portfolio. Her visions were created on poster boards, and glued to the boards were swatches of fabric and pictures from magazines. She had gone into panic mode when they went missing, until she received a text from her father stating he had taken them.

  “If I asked, I would have received a no.” He passed her the large leather portfolio case he had left by the door and a business card. “She loved them. She’ll call you next week.” Her father’s gaze landed on Ryan. “If okay, I’ll take Hershey outside for some air.”

  Ryan nodded and pointed toward the leash.

  “You two can finish your date, or talk. Whatever you want to call it.” On his way to the back door, Dad tapped her arm. “You can thank me later.”

  For what? The possible business contact, or the alone time with Ryan? She was grateful for both.

  Ryan sighed after the door closed. “Your father is a lot like mine.”

  “If your dad is overbearing, overprotective, and the best dad ever, then I can’t wait to meet him. At the wedding, of course.” She tidied the coffee table, taking the pizza box, empty glasses, and soda bottle to the kitchen. Britt glanced out the window. The golde
n sun had set behind the large fir trees lining the perimeter of the back yard.

  Dad turned on the outside deck light to play ball with Hershey.

  A memory of being eight flashed through her mind. After stopping at a shelter on the way home from one of his runs, Dad had brought home a border collie. He couldn’t resist the dog’s sad eyes.

  Britt fell in love immediately, but her mother wasn’t easily influenced. “I owned a dog for two whole days,” she said, returning to the living room. “We called him Bolt because he’d fly after a ball.” The memory brought a tear to her eye. “My mother had a fit, saying dogs were too much work. Dad insisted I was responsible enough to care for him, yet Mom wouldn’t budge. Two days later, Dad and I found Bolt a new home. A friend of my father owned a farm.” She swiped a tear before it fell. “Bolt loved the farm. He had so much room to run, and he’d chase the chickens back into their pen when they got loose. The owners fell in love with him.” As I had. “They let me visit whenever I wanted.” Britt rubbed the leather strap on her portfolio case. “But leaving him each time became too hard.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Ryan placed his hand over hers.

  Goosebumps travelled the length of her arm. “I think Dad will get a dog once he retires, if he lets you have Hershey back.”

  “Hershey would love riding in a big rig.” He flicked the zipper of the portfolio with the tip of his finger. “So, what type of designs do you create? Can I see them?”

  Not a chance. “I tinker with interior design. Just a hobby. I don’t have any professional training.”

  “You must be good. Your father showed them to someone in the field.”

  “He didn’t ask permission.” She glanced toward the back door. “I’m so embarrassed to know someone specializing in this field saw my amateur work. I’m like a child learning how to color. I don’t color between the lines.”

  He tapped the handle of the case. “Please, can I take a look?”

  “Sure.” What was one more humiliation in front of Ryan, the engineer, who made designing his life’s work?

  He unzipped the portfolio and reached inside for the poster boards. Ryan sat on the sofa, studying the designs, one brow raised.