romantic ambiance, with secluded booths made in
soft white fabric that contrasted nicely with the black tables. They used
the same color scheme for the glasses that held their drinks and they were
embossed with gold around the edges. It was an amazing place. The man
across from her looked even more handsome by the dimmed lights of the
club.
“What do you think of the place?” Reese asked.
38
Baby On Board Dahlia Rose
“I like it a lot,” Ivy admitted. “I didn’t know there was a place like this
so close to Walter Reed.”
“You nurse types never get out to the fun spots?” Reese teased.
Ivy laughed and took a sip of her wine. “Not until a very handsome
detective comes in and forces us out from under the fluorescent lights.”
“We do what we can,” Reese said. “Did I mention you look utterly
amazing tonight? I don’t know how I’m talking when I’m so damn tongue
tied by you.”
“You mentioned it, but I don’t mind hearing it again,” Ivy replied.
“You’re also a charmer.”
“Only when there’s an amazing woman to charm,” he answered and
picked her hand off the table. “I’m amazed such tiny hands can control
my brother better than anyone else. The first time I saw you I figured I
should put you in my pocket to protect you.”
Ivy laughed. “I’m tougher than I look, though I hate being short. It
seems everyone is taller than I am.”
“I think you’re perfect the way you are.” Reese kissed the tips of her
fingers and her heart fluttered just a bit. “I’m a very lucky man to be
sitting across from you tonight.”
He’s sweet. He’s sexy. He’s attentive. So then why am I thinking about
Rafe right now? Ivy asked herself. She smiled at Reese as the waiter came
over to take their order. Put him out of your head. Focus on the guy who
really has feelings for you.
“I’ll have the sea bass with rice pilaf and steamed vegetables,” Reese
said and handed the waiter the menu. “What about you, Ivy?”
“I’ll go with what you recommended and have the calamari with the
spicy mayo,” Ivy said and the waiter took her menu with a bow.
“You like things spicy, huh?” Reese said.
“Everyone needs some heat now and then, don’t we?” Ivy replied.
“Then let’s see what we can create on the dance floor while we wait
on our food.” He stood and held out his hand to her and she took it
readily.
39
Baby On Board Dahlia Rose
He pulled her against him and together they found the rhythm of the
music. Ivy had to admit he was a great dancer and being close to him, she
could see the muscles of his chest beneath his shirt. She closed her eyes
and tried to get lost in the moment, tried not to wish it was Rafe holding
her.
“Have you always been a detective here in Maryland?” she asked as
they swayed.
“No, I transferred out from Michigan a few years back when Jon was
eighteen,” Reese explained. “He wanted to be a Marine from the time he
was in high school and I’m the only family he has. It was an easy choice
for me to move this way when he got stationed in Quantico.”
“No girlfriend to beg you to stay?” Ivy looked up at him, and for a
moment she swore she saw a spark of hurt in his eyes.
Reese shook his head. “No one worth mentioning.”
“Ah. One of those, huh?” she said.
“It wasn’t meant to be,” he replied. “What about you and Major Dad?
Is there something I should know there?”
Ivy laughed even though her heart flipped in her chest with the
mention of Rafe. “Nothing there. A party guy turned dad. The real ex-
wives of Strawberry Glen keep him occupied. I just babysat for him
once.”
Reese chuckled. “So it’s one of those neighborhoods where you’re
afraid a heat wave might make some of your neighbors melt away?”
Ivy giggled at the picture in her mind. “Yes, it is. I have some good
neighbors and some you just want to go spider monkey on.” She threw
him a look. “I hope you don’t
soft white fabric that contrasted nicely with the black tables. They used
the same color scheme for the glasses that held their drinks and they were
embossed with gold around the edges. It was an amazing place. The man
across from her looked even more handsome by the dimmed lights of the
club.
“What do you think of the place?” Reese asked.
38
Baby On Board Dahlia Rose
“I like it a lot,” Ivy admitted. “I didn’t know there was a place like this
so close to Walter Reed.”
“You nurse types never get out to the fun spots?” Reese teased.
Ivy laughed and took a sip of her wine. “Not until a very handsome
detective comes in and forces us out from under the fluorescent lights.”
“We do what we can,” Reese said. “Did I mention you look utterly
amazing tonight? I don’t know how I’m talking when I’m so damn tongue
tied by you.”
“You mentioned it, but I don’t mind hearing it again,” Ivy replied.
“You’re also a charmer.”
“Only when there’s an amazing woman to charm,” he answered and
picked her hand off the table. “I’m amazed such tiny hands can control
my brother better than anyone else. The first time I saw you I figured I
should put you in my pocket to protect you.”
Ivy laughed. “I’m tougher than I look, though I hate being short. It
seems everyone is taller than I am.”
“I think you’re perfect the way you are.” Reese kissed the tips of her
fingers and her heart fluttered just a bit. “I’m a very lucky man to be
sitting across from you tonight.”
He’s sweet. He’s sexy. He’s attentive. So then why am I thinking about
Rafe right now? Ivy asked herself. She smiled at Reese as the waiter came
over to take their order. Put him out of your head. Focus on the guy who
really has feelings for you.
“I’ll have the sea bass with rice pilaf and steamed vegetables,” Reese
said and handed the waiter the menu. “What about you, Ivy?”
“I’ll go with what you recommended and have the calamari with the
spicy mayo,” Ivy said and the waiter took her menu with a bow.
“You like things spicy, huh?” Reese said.
“Everyone needs some heat now and then, don’t we?” Ivy replied.
“Then let’s see what we can create on the dance floor while we wait
on our food.” He stood and held out his hand to her and she took it
readily.
39
Baby On Board Dahlia Rose
He pulled her against him and together they found the rhythm of the
music. Ivy had to admit he was a great dancer and being close to him, she
could see the muscles of his chest beneath his shirt. She closed her eyes
and tried to get lost in the moment, tried not to wish it was Rafe holding
her.
“Have you always been a detective here in Maryland?” she asked as
they swayed.
“No, I transferred out from Michigan a few years back when Jon was
eighteen,” Reese explained. “He wanted to be a Marine from the time he
was in high school and I’m the only family he has. It was an easy choice
for me to move this way when he got stationed in Quantico.”
“No girlfriend to beg you to stay?” Ivy looked up at him, and for a
moment she swore she saw a spark of hurt in his eyes.
Reese shook his head. “No one worth mentioning.”
“Ah. One of those, huh?” she said.
“It wasn’t meant to be,” he replied. “What about you and Major Dad?
Is there something I should know there?”
Ivy laughed even though her heart flipped in her chest with the
mention of Rafe. “Nothing there. A party guy turned dad. The real ex-
wives of Strawberry Glen keep him occupied. I just babysat for him
once.”
Reese chuckled. “So it’s one of those neighborhoods where you’re
afraid a heat wave might make some of your neighbors melt away?”
Ivy giggled at the picture in her mind. “Yes, it is. I have some good
neighbors and some you just want to go spider monkey on.” She threw
him a look. “I hope you don’t
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