The Dating Dilemma (Book 1 - The Sweet Spot Series)

THE DATING DILEMMA

By

Laurie LeClair

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 by Laurie LeClair

All rights reserved. This work is not transferable. Any reproduction of this work is prohibited without the permission of the author due to the infringement on the copyright. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the creation of the author or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or people, living or dead, is coincidental.

Dedication page

To my readers. Thank you for your kind words, encouragement, all your support, and allowing me to write what I love to write.

To my husband, Jim. Thanks for believing in love at first sight and never letting go. And thanks for always being the sweet, loving, caring guy I met and married. You’re my hero.

Chapter 1

Nice view. A male voice from behind her penetrated her scattered brain.

Darcy Jenkins stilled in her hunched-over position, mauled papers clutched in her right hand, her too heavy bag she used for her paperwork, half upended, in her left hand. Glancing down, she realized her feet in pink three-inch heels were splayed apart, toes pointed inward, her knees met in the middle, and her once cute charcoal gray business suit was hitched up to just below her butt cheeks.

Oh crap, she whispered, heat whooshing up her neck and into her face like kerosene dumped on a flame.

Can I help?

Nope. Got it. Go away! Now!

Yep, you’ve got it alright, he mumbled under his breath.

She peeked over her shoulder. Her gaze met his impressive wide chest. White shirt, nice burgundy silk tie, and black suit…Slowly, she looked up and encountered his green eyes. On the way, she noted the square jaw, outdoorsy look, the impression of reddish-brown hair. Hi. How to look like an idiot in front of a cute guy, well, ruggedly handsome guy.

As much as I like this, I have to insist on helping you. He nodded to the mess strewn about her feet. "Rough day at the office, dear?"

Her knees actually wobbled as she rose. From the strain, silly. Nothing more. She let out a nervous giggle. "You could say that, honey." Turning toward him, she couldn’t brace herself for the full impact of the man. Whoosh! Hot! Little butterflies buzzed in her veins and fluttered in her belly.

Someone came in the glass doors of the community center. Excuse me, the sixtyish-year-old woman bellowed. I’m late here.

My bad. The man held up his hands and easily moved to the side of the small foyer.

Miss Permanently Marked With A Scowl shot Darcy a scathing look and stepped on her papers as she walked into the building. Dirty shoeprints remained on half a dozen once crisp white pages.

Thanks for helping, the man called out. A loud humph came from the woman fleeing down the hallway. She’s a real gem, isn’t she? Must be a hot date.

Shaking her head, Darcy smiled. A sense of humor. How rare!

In the next few minutes, he bent beside her, scooped up the wayward forms, and helped her tidy them before sliding them back in her oversized bag.

Being this close, nearly touching knees—there’s those pesky knees again—Darcy became highly aware of the man and his every movement. The subtle hint of his cologne tickled her senses and the brush of his hand had her nerves tingling.

Do you come here often? The grin in his voice made her smile.

First time. You? Who was this man?

Mine, too. Either you could say I’m a virgin or a rookie.

She heard her neck snap as she jerked her gaze to his. The twinkle in his green eyes melted her bones into a big puddle. Virgin, huh? Yep, she went there. She allowed her gaze to travel over him. As if this guy couldn’t get a lady. He probably had them at his feet. Ouch, like you, right now.

With her papers safely tucked away and her bag intact again, he touched her elbow, helping her stand. Branded a fool. The line went through her muddled mind as warmth spread up her arm.

And you? he baited.

Rookie all the way. She swallowed hard. Thanks. I owe you. Darcy turned to leave, giving him a little wave. A wave? Really? What, are you in high school again?

You can pay me back anytime.

I bet you say that to all the girls. With reluctance, she turned and forced herself to put one foot in front of the other to get to her meeting.

Thanks for the view. And you’re welcome.

Her grin grew. "Thanks, honey. See you at home." A wave of awe rushed through her. She hadn’t flirted in more than a year, well, even longer. Her ex-husband would certainly agree to that.

The guy’s chuckle followed her down the hall and lingered in her head.

God, he was so different than Ted.

Her ex was her ex for a good reason. College sweethearts, they’d ended up getting pregnant in her junior year. He was all for taking responsibility. Great! But his serious nature took the excitement out of her.

He worked two jobs and finished college. His idea of a night out was at the library studying the many how-to guides on expecting a baby and raising a child. There was no veering off the course or the expert’s advice. Ugh!

Emotion? The guy didn’t know the meaning of the word. Loving? He was a Type A personality and had to get the job done. He had a list and checked it off at the end of the day in his three-inch thick planner and in the app on his cell phone. A joke? The man couldn’t even laugh, not a full-out deep belly laugh. A grin? It would crack his stony expression.

Eleven years? And I still would have carried on… Darcy muttered as she arrived at her meeting room. If only I hadn’t have heard him tell our daughter how he really felt. Seriously? You tell an eleven going on twelve-year-old girl you never loved her mother and never would?

Another wave of shock hurled through her at that memory of walking in on them at the kitchen table. Her daughter’s pleas and soft cries wrenched her soul more than his agonizing declaration wounded her heart.

Couldn’t he see how much damage he’d inflicted that night and since? Oh, he delivered his support check on time every month like clockwork, did the obligatory asking their daughter how she was doing, and, once satisfied with the one-syllable answers, he’d depart to get back to his demanding corporate executive job. He was too busy to be a real dad. Too busy to give a damn that his daughter cried herself to sleep every night and ached for a father.

Memories of her doing the same when her own dad’s sales job took him away for weeks at a time rushed back to Darcy now, like a flash of pain, razor-sharp and quick, striking the broken pieces.

She’d do anything for her daughter now more than ever.

Darcy sucked in a sharp breath, grabbed the doorknob, twisted it, and yanked the door open.

Why else would she ever dare to attend a Single Parents meeting? And why else was she looking for a replacement husband and father?

***

Benjamin Evans whistled softly. Okay, what just happened? You didn’t even get her number. Of all the women who he’d encountered over his life, this one rattled his senses the most. Even more than when he’d met his wife. Ben winced at that acknowledgement.

Avoid that topic.

Focus. The woman’s image blasted him again. Five five, five eight with the heels, on the thin side, long blonde hair, heady perfume-lemony and flowers, and an unbelievable perfect butt.

Hot! Incredibly sexy legs—from the back as well as the front.

Trying to shake free of the whirlwind impression, he reminded himself of a few things.

He didn’t want to feel anything. Numb was the best condition to remain in. But his doctor’s mind prodded him to follow his own advice to his mourning patients. Get on with your life. Live your life, fully. Your loved one wouldn’t want you to wallow in grief.

Too bad they reminded him on an ongoing basis, especially Mrs. Sweeny this morning. She shoved the flyer at him, making him read it. If I can do it, so can you.

To see how she’d transformed over the years amazed him. Her husband and she were patients of Ben’s for years. Their fifty-year love story was legendary at his office. Then Abe got sick. The test results were hard to grasp. The day Ben broke the news, they sat huddled together and cried, he right along with the lovely couple.

They cheered him up, assuring him everything would be all right.

It wasn’t.

Devotion to each other followed. They wanted him to speak at the service. He still choked up every time he recalled those moments.

The legacy lived through Alice. After a time, she pressed on. Even dating. Now, approaching eighty and coping with an adult handicapped daughter, she’d founded this program and threatened him if he didn’t show up tonight.

She’d used his greatest weakness. For the twins. Do it for them. They should know their daddy loved their mommy enough to fulfill his promise to her. Love again.

Knife to the heart. Again.

He straightened his tie as he marched down the hallway, as if it would protect him like armor going into battle. Maybe worse.

Rounding the corner, he checked the room numbers. Not here. Can I go home now? He went back the way he’d come and stopped short. There was that damn flyer taped to one of the doors.

Something big and hard dropped to the pit of his belly.

Before he could turn tail, Ben reached out, opened the door, and entered the battle.

Maybe a half-dozen others were already there, some seated in the circle of chairs, some getting coffee and refreshments at a nearby table.

Where is she? He scanned the room and found Mrs. Sweeny near the front, chirping like a little bird to an elderly man. Ben smiled at her and waved.

She cried out in delight, excused herself and rushed to him. Once near, she hugged him tight. I’m so glad you finally got some sense in that thick skull of yours, my friend.

Nice to see you too, Mrs. Sweeny. He adored her and would gladly take her ribbing on occasion. Pulling back, he nodded to her new beau. Flirting again?

A pink blush came to her cheeks. How else can I have any fun?

How many does he make?

I’ll have you know, Doctor, I haven’t gone all the way with him or the others yet. She patted her silvery hair, perfectly coiffed.

Yet? His professional concern came into play. He didn’t want her to get hurt or suffer in any way. I guess it’s time I have that talk with you.

Birds and bees? She snorted.

STDs. Unprotected sex.

Her face fell and her mouth dropped open, making a large O. I never thought. Why, I’m older than dirt. I just thought I don’t have to worry about getting knocked up anymore. STDs? she whispered the last, shuddering.

He patted her on the shoulder. Don’t worry. Drop by the office tomorrow and I’ll get you some condoms.

Really? She looked intrigued. The glow-in-the dark kind?

He scratched his head. I’m not sure if we have the fancy stuff. Just standard fit, all natural.

Disappointment clouded her features. Oh, too bad. Her sigh made him reconsider.

I’ll see what I can do. A trip to the drugstore after the meeting may be in order. Would she agree to go with him? Condoms 101?

She brightened. Would you? Leaning in, she whispered, I would love to try it. Florescent green or pink, so I can see it. You know, my eyes are getting bad. I’ve got to see it.

Ben chuckled. Don’t get too creative. I wouldn’t want you to break a hip or anything.

Her gentle swat on his arm made him grin even more. I’m flexible. Yoga class.

My, my, Mrs. Sweeny, you are quite the woman. In his heart, he was glad she could get on with her life at this late stage. Maybe she could teach him a thing or two. He swallowed hard. Was he even ready, though? Just the idea of the whole getting to know someone, dating, introducing them to the twins, made him break out in a cold sweat.

I’ve just had this wonderful idea. You can teach a class to my senior group.

Frowning, he asked, A class? My schedule is pretty hectic. My patients, the kids, the house… What kind of class are you talking about?

Sex Ed for adults, she cried out.

The chatter stopped abruptly. The silence was deafening.

Wincing, Ben looked around the small group of people and his gaze landed on her!

With wide eyes, she stared back. You? she mouthed. Sex Ed?

What was the woman he checked out minutes ago in the foyer doing here in a Single Parents support class?

Chapter 2

Darcy ended up sitting directly across from him. It was difficult to look away as they went around in the circle so everyone could introduce themselves. Under her lashes, she’d sneak a peek. Large frame, hands loosely clasped in front of him, suit jacket open and revealing more muscles… Looking up, she stilled. He was staring back at her; a little sly grin inched up the corner of his mouth.

Jerking her head away, she concentrated on the woman sitting to her right. Her highlighted golden brown hair, makeup, and delicate gold jewelry were perfection no less. And her expensive navy blue pantsuit shouted business.

I’m Sandra Turner. Sandy for short. My rotten, SOB baby daddy shacked up with one of those stripper types. Well, wannabe stripper.

Pulling back, Darcy blinked at the words tumbling out of this woman’s mouth. Her words and her appearance contradicted each other. A big yawning gap between what you see and what you got.

She ain’t got it, she said, gesturing with her hands cupped in front of her boobs. "If you know what I mean. Anyhow, he left me when I was preggers.