17
Deacon stoodin front of the mirror tying his tie and noticed his palms were a little damp. His heart rate was elevated. He was also slightly out of breath despite not having done any sort of physical activity. He could deny it all he wanted, but his body was showing signs of nervousness, and he knew the reason. He hadn’t heard anything from Jenna.
The Package, aka dress, shoes, and jewelry, was delivered three days ago, and it had been radio silence from her end. He knew she received The Package. He had the signature to prove it.
“Daddy! Can we watch Nemo?” Tabby called out from downstairs.
“Sure, if that’s what you and Blake decide to do.”
“And can Blake do my nails?”
“Yep, if Blake wants to do your nails.”
“And can Blake do Rocco’s nails?”
“If Blake wants to do Rocco’s nails, then yes, she can.”
“Rocco, we’re gonna get our nails done tonight and watch Nemo!”
Wow. Tabby really heard what she wanted to hear. He wondered if he suffered the same affliction with Jenna. She had made it very clear that nothing had happened between them and that nothing was going to happen in the future, both in private conversations with him and publicly at her salon, yet he was still pursuing her.
He knew she had walls up. He knew she’d been hurt. But he knew he could make her life better if she’d give him a chance. He knew he would never hurt her. He also knew it wasn’t his choice to make.
For a man who was used to being in control, to making decisions and people following his directives, that was a very…uncomfortable position to be in.
Deacon checked the time and saw that Blake was set to arrive in less than ten minutes. He wondered if she’d walk, like she had when she’d come over for the interview, or if she’d get dropped off.
He grabbed his jacket, and as he made his way down the stairs, he was still questioning whether or not the dress, the shoes, the jewelry, and the invitation were too much. He could have just sent a dress and a nice, polite invite…but that wasn’t reallythem.
The night they shared together was a side of Jenna he doubted many people saw, at least he hoped like hell many people hadn’t seen. Just the thought that other men might have had made his blood boil, which he might need to bring up in therapy because the fact that he felt so possessive, or that he felt he had the right to send over a dress, jewelry, shoes, and an NSFW invitation, might not be the healthiest of boundaries. He added debauchery to get her out of her head and remind her of the night they’d spent together. Maybe he overstepped. Maybe the entire thing was a miscalculation on his part.
He was halfway down the steps when there was aknock at the front door. His heart tripped over itself, even though he knew Jenna wouldn’t be on his porch. Blake would be, and she might give him a clue as to what his fate that evening would hold. If she was even aware of his invitation or the package’s arrival. He’d intentionally scheduled the delivery while Blake was doing Tabby’s interview for the paper because he knew how secretive Jenna was. But she was a teenager and snoopy, so, maybe she knew about it.
Had Jenna hated the gift? Had she loved it? Had she been indifferent?
When he reached for the door, he saw his hand was trembling. He also wasn’t alone. Tabby and Rocco had joined him as additions to the welcome party. The twenty-foot Spanish style, arched wooden door creaked open, and revealed Blake, bright-eyed, looking happy and excited about spending the evening with a five-year-old, bless her. He hoped she knew what she was signing up for.
“Blake!” Tabby launched herself onto the teenager.
“Princess Ninja Flower!”
Deacon smiled, loving that Blake remembered his daughter’s preferred moniker.
“And King Rocco!” Blake bent down to Rocco’s level, appearing equally as excited to spend time with the other royal in the family. Rocco ate up all the attention Blake poured onto him.
Deacon glanced out onto the street and saw that Blake had in fact been dropped off and that Jenna was driving away from his house. He didn’t get a good look at her face since the baseball hat she wore was pulled down so low she looked like she was in witness protection not attending the gala this evening, and he had his answer.
“My mom is in-sane.” Blake emphasized the two syllables as she stood up from greeting Rocco.
“What?” Deacon turned to her as he closed the door.
Blake shook her head and sighed. “I told her she’s crazy for not going tonight.”
“Oh.” Deacon blinked.
“I mean, that dress, come on!”
Okay, she knew.
