Page 27 of Home Body
“Oh, wow, thanks.” Kenyon put the card back in her pocket.
Jessa said, “Thanks, Bart. You’re a gem.”
They headed for the door, but Kenyon looked back. Bart was watching them walk away. She waved. He waved back and smiled. She smiled. Then she tripped. Jessa caught her arm to steady her. Kenyon looked at Bart again. He chuckled.
They left to be greeted by a gentle, warm rain.
Laughing, they twirled in delight, their wet coverups clinging to their bodies.
“What just happened in there?” Jessa asked as they headed for the pool.
Kenyon threw out her arms, lifted her face to the sky, and turned a circle on her tippy toes. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I, um, don’t know.”
“I think you do know.”
“Was Bart sort of flirting with me?”
“Ah hah. And you liked it.”
“Yes. Yes, I did.”
They giggled like schoolgirls and went on their merry way to swim in the pool. Maybe they’d return to the bar later. The girl hoped the boy would smile at her again.
CHAPTER 18
There he was. Brody McIntyre, looking all dashing and handsome in his jeans and tee shirt standing outside the front door of Babette’s Gentlemen’s Club. He stood there doing his job, checking out the parking lot and assessing the steady stream of men who entered the building.
Dalia pretended not to see him as she drove around the obnoxious building with its flashing neon sign and to park in the back. She pulled into the only spot and turned the key to kill the engine, ignoring the rattle as it settled down. K.D. Lang singingCryingfaded away.
“Huh. Crying. That’s for sure.”
She knew she should open the door, but she couldn’t make her hand grab the handle and pull on it. This would be awkward. Seeing him in this place jarred her, knowing he knew who she was, knowing he knew why she was there, knowing he knew way too much. Even though he’d promised to keep her secret, his presence here overwhelmed her.
She was attracted to him. She couldn’t deny that. He seemed to be attracted to her. But how could he take her seriously whenshe did what she did in this filthy place? Tears cropped up but she blinked them back.
Her life had taken a dramatic turn since that very afternoon when she’d learned she didn’t know who her biological mother was. Of course, she knew who she was as a person, she reckoned, but not where she came from. It left her feeling adrift.
Sobbing erupted unexpectedly. She couldn’t go inside. Not ever again. Her body, her mind, and her very soul all conjoined to refuse to let her enter that lurid place. Her goal of helping her beloved mom fulfill her dream of owning a bakery would never come to be. That shattered her heart.
On the way there she’d stopped at the gas station as usual to change into a flashy red dress and her signature red wig. Now in her car, she yanked off the wretched wig, pulled off the sparkly fake eyelashes, and used tissues to swipe at her overblown makeup, crying all the while. She reached behind her seat for her shorts and tee shirt, yanked off the dress her wore, and pulled on her “real” clothes. It felt fantastic to put on her comfy sneakers, too.
She jumped when a knock came at the window. Embarrassed, she swiped at her tears with the backs of her hands.
“Dalia, open up.” It was a request rather than a command, his voice gentle.
She rolled down the window. Brody took in her reddened face and impulsively touched her wet cheek.
“Dalia, I’d like to come sit with you for a minute. Do you mind?”
She shook her head; she didn’t mind.
He went around the vehicle, got in the passenger side, and immediately moved over to take her in his arms. Never having felt so vulnerable in her life, Dalia lost all control and cried piteously into Brody McIntyre’s shoulder. Silently, he strokedher hair as she let it all out. When she couldn’t breathe anymore, she backed away and rummaged in her purse for more tissues. She wiped her eyes, blew her nose, and leaned into her door, as far away from him as possible.
“Oh lordy. I’m so embarrassed. I’m a mess in more ways than one. It’s sweet of you to sit with me through this torrent of tears.”
