Page 22 of Strike a Chord
“It’s van Camp.My dad’s family was Dutch.”He propped his head in his hand, resting his elbow on the bed.“Daxon Ewan van Camp.Nice to meet you.”
She side-eyed him.“Jennifer Marjorie Anne Baldwin.Nice to meet you.”
They both grinned at each other.
“Will you stay and cuddle for a bit with me Jennifer Marjorie Anne Baldwin?”
She nodded and rolled over to show him her back.“Yeah.I will.”
He tucked her ass in against his pelvis as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her shoulder.
“So … when the power comes on, what happens next?”she asked, lacing their fingers together.
“I turn off the generator.”
Her body shook with laughter.“And then what?”
“We check to see if the power is back on in Qualicum, too, and I drive you, Levi, Phil and Gloria home.”
She was quiet for a moment.The silent, “And then what?”settling between them.
“And then, I call you and ask to see you again.I take you on dates.I cook you dinner.I bring you flowers, and I court you.I date you properly, and we see where things go.”
She unlinked their fingers and spun around to face him.“You want to see where things go?”
“Don’t you?”
She nodded.“I-I do.”
“Good.Because I like you.I like your kid and I think we were meant to meet on that ferry.I don’t believe in coincidences.I think things happen for a reason.And I was meant to meet you.”
She cupped his jaw and brought her lips to his.“I’m so glad I met you.”
They kissed for a while but things never went past that.Then, he held her and it felt good to have his arms around somebody again.And when she fell asleep in his arms,thatwas the biggest compliment she could ever give him.To feel that he was safe enough for her to truly let go.
He didn’t want to push things, and he certainly didn’t want to upset Levi, so once he knew she was asleep, he pulled on flannel pajama pants and a white T-shirt, then headed downstairs to the couch.It was toasty with the woodstove right there, so he just needed a light blanket.He was asleep in minutes, dreaming about a beautiful blonde woman wearing nothing but his guitar and a smile.
Sixmonthslater…
“You’ve got the last one?”Jennifer asked him as they unloaded the back of his truck where it was parked against the curb in front of Block 9 gallery in Vancouver.
Dax closed the canopy and grinned at her.“Yep.”He had the big three-by-six painting that he’d been working on when they first met, covered in protective paper, while she had a bunch of prints and a few smaller originals in her arms.He rushed ahead.“I’ve got the door.”Then he tossed her a wink when she walked through.
“Ooohh, what have you brought me?”Amy cooed, coming out of the back room looking as chic and put together as ever with her charcoal pantsuit, white blouse, black bob, and bright red lipstick.
Dax grinned at her, set down the painting in his hand and gave her a platonic hug.“You know me.I save the best for Block 9.”
“I should hope so.”Her gaze flitted to Jennifer and her smile widened.
“Amy, this is Jennifer.Jennifer, Amy.”
Amy’s smile was genuine and the way her amber eyes glittered like whiskey in candlelight said she was delighted to see Dax with someone.“It’s so nice to meet you,” she said, extending her hand.
Jennifer did the same.“You, too.I’ve heard a lot about your gallery.”
Amy flicked her eyes to Dax and something quick, but poignant passed behind her natural sparkle.She knew Dax had told Jennifer more than just information about the gallery.
Amy glanced toward the back room where she’d come from.“James, Em, come see what our cash cow has brought us.”
