Sweet Heart (The Hearts of Sawyers Bend #2) - Ivy Layne Page 0,52

try to crush my fingers or overpower the handshake. He swung the door wide and stepped back, inviting me in.

“Daze is still getting dressed, but she'll be out in a minute. Taking her to family dinner?” He shook his head, an amused grin on his too-handsome face. “You like to jump right into the deep end, don't you?”

I gave a rueful smile. “I'm starting to wonder what I was thinking. But I guess if she doesn't run screaming, that's a good sign.”

The door across the living room opened. Daisy walked out, and all thought fled my mind.

Daisy was always beautiful to me. She had a spark inside her, an inner glow that shone through no matter what. Even after a long day, when she was exhausted, and sweaty, and her hair was all over the place, I still thought she was gorgeous.

I didn't know what gorgeous was.

I'd never seen her like this. She wore a creamy sheath dress that set off her warm skin, curving around her hips and dipping in front enough to show the tiniest hint of cleavage. She'd done something different with her hair, the wild curls strikingly defined, framing her face in shades of auburn, red, and hot pink.

I didn't think she wore much makeup usually, but tonight her eyes were deeper, her lashes longer and her lips pink. Instead of her sneakers, she wore cream spike heels that looked a mile high and made her legs even more unbelievable than they'd been in the first place.

“I don't think I want to share you with my family. You're usually gorgeous, but this is… Wow. All I can say is wow.” I shoved the bouquet at her, mouth a little dry. All my smooth compliments had deserted me. All I had was wow.

Daisy reached up to tuck a curl behind her ear and J.T. was there, smacking her hand away. “Stop touching your hair, or you'll turn it into a frizz bomb,” he ordered.

Daisy scowled at him and hid her hand behind her back. J.T. took the flowers from her other hand. “I need to talk to Royal for a minute. Why don't you run downstairs and get that chocolate cake you baked?”

Daisy raised an eyebrow and glanced between J.T. and me. Her eyes settled on J.T. “Are you going to be nice?”

J.T. turned her toward the door and gave her a gentle shove. “Of course, I'm gonna be nice. I just need to have a chat with Mr. Sawyer before he takes you off on your date. Indulge me and go get the cake packed up.”

Daisy followed orders, stopping at the door to look back at me. “Don't believe anything he says. I'll see you downstairs.”

She disappeared, her shoes clicking on the stairs and fading away. I shoved my hand in my pocket and turned back to J.T.

“So?” I asked, wondering if he was going to warn me off.

J.T. shoved his own hands in his pockets and leaned back against the kitchen counter. “I like the suit.”

“I don't usually wear one, but it seemed appropriate tonight.”

“Since you're taking her to a family dinner, I'm assuming this is serious. All the gossip about you and I've never heard of you bringing any woman home for dinner.”

I relaxed. I liked a man who could get straight to the point. And this was J.T.—as Daisy had said, more family than most of her family. Maybe it should have been annoying, but I liked that she had someone looking out for her. Since J.T. was being upfront, I wasn't going to waste time playing games.

“I think it's fair to say this is serious. And you're right, I've never brought a woman home to a family dinner. Hell, we haven't had family dinners since I was a teenager. Daisy isn't like anyone else I've been interested in. I can't make any promises. I don't think we know each other well enough for that. But I want to, and wanting to make promises is a new thing for me.”

J.T. considered my answer and nodded gravely. “Since accepting a date at all is a new thing for Daisy, I'd say you two are on the same page. I'm hoping that this is unnecessary, but I sent her ahead because I wanted to tell you this—I've been in your corner since you sent those flowers. Don't make me regret it. Understand?”

“I do. I won't be careless with her. That's one promise I can make.”

“Good enough. She's strong. A survivor. But her family is a