Your Fierce Love (The Bennett Family)(27)

"Can I ask you two something? And you'll answer honestly?" Summer asks, standing straighter.

"Sure," Daniel answers.

"Do I give off non-dating vibes? I mean, is it something I do that makes men think, ‘oh, this one's just for fucking?'"

"What?" Daniel blinks. Yeah, Alice clearly didn't clue him in.

"Summer!"

"Sorry if the word "fucking" offends your brotherly ears, but I need some perspective."

Daniel and I exchange a look.

"Of course you don't give off any vibes-" Daniel begins, but Summer holds up her hand.

"I asked for the truth."

Well, since she asked.

"You wear your heart on your sleeve," I explain. "And you see everything through rose-colored glasses."

"So what you're saying is I should be bitter and mistrustful?" she asks, stricken.

"No, just...more careful."

"So it is my fault," she says miserably.

"What? No, I didn't mean that."

Daniel groans. "Fantastic job, Blake."

"Come on, help me out here." I place one hand on Summer's shoulder. "It's not your fault that a douchebag played you."

"Did you talk to Alice?" She narrows her eyes to slits.

I'm really winning this, but I give it a shot, though I can never lie to Summer. "No."

"Liar."

Daniel gestures with his head toward an empty space between two booths,  and we move the party there because we're standing in everyone's way.

"Can someone fill me in?" Daniel asks. "I feel like I'm missing half the conversation."

"In a nutshell, my dating life's a joke."

"Just putting it out there, but if you give us his name and address, we'll happily deck him," I offer, only half-joking.

"You know, brotherly duty and all," Daniel adds.

She shakes her head. "You both sound like Logan!"

I theatrically clutch my heart.

"No need to insult us," Daniel adds, faking offense.

"So, no glaring signs that I'm unlovable?" she insists. To my shock, I realize she's serious.

"Summer Bennett, you're the most lovable person I know."

"You say that because I'm your sister."

"Obviously. But that doesn't make it less true."                       
       
           


///
       

Daniel nods. "If you need help vetoing any candidates in the future, I'm at your service."

"Your Logan impression is getting scarily accurate. Come on, let's get started with the shopping or I'll never be done with it."

Fifteen minutes later, the three of us head to her car, arms loaded.  This is just the first round. Summer is barely halfway through the list.

"You're really going to wear us out, huh?" I ask on the way back to the market.

"Yep. That's why I asked you to come."

"Ah, and I thought it was just an excuse because you were missing us," Daniel says.

I scan the market again. Clara would love it here. Pity the market will  close before she returns. Then an idea strikes me. If I can't bring  Clara to the market, I can bring the market to Clara. Sort of. I can buy  her...what? I don't know what her favorite flowers or plants are, but I  know she likes them. She said something about wanting flowers on the  balcony.

"Summer, do you know what plants or flowers Clara likes? She said she  wants some for the balcony, but she didn't get around to buying any."

She cocks her head in my direction so fast I think I hear her neck give a little snap.

"You're buying her flowers? Oh, Blake, you're finally, finally on the  right track." She pokes my chest over the heart area. "And of course I  know what her favorites are. What kind of matchmaker would I be if I  didn't? I've done my homework."

"Good, because I have a plan, and I need your help."

I miss Clara. I haven't realized how used I am to knowing she's next  door. Somewhere at the back of my mind nags the thought that her condo  building will be ready in a few weeks, but I ignore it, focusing on the  now. And the now includes a truckload of flowers. I can't wait for Clara  to return and see what I've been up to.

More than once, I've been thinking about her scars. I knew she grew up  in a group home, but I haven't had a real sense of the hardships she's  been through. She's brave and bold, and I haven't met anyone like her. I  have the overwhelming need to make sure she never goes through  hardships again. Totally normal, right?

Summer talks our ears off about Clara while we shop for her, and she's slowly reverting to her usual cheerful self.

"Shit! It's getting late," Summer exclaims when we carry the last load  to her car. "I'm meeting Caroline later, by the way." She wiggles her  eyebrows at Daniel.

"How is she?" I ask. "Didn't have time to talk to her too much at the wedding."

Daniel throws me a look that says, You're supposed to have my back.

Whenever our sisters insinuate that Daniel and Caroline should try  dating again, I change the subject, even though I actually think the  girls are right. Regardless, I usually have his back, twin bond and all  that. But right now, I'm testing a theory. Also, payback for not having  my back at the ranch.

"She's great. She talked me into taking kickboxing lessons with her. I  went twice. It's actually fun," Summer says. "It's good for anger  release and keeps our booty in shape. Win-win. I tried to rope Pippa  into it too, but...."

"Bribe her with cupcakes," Daniel suggests.

"Tried. Failed. But Caroline's a pro at it. She's been doing it for a  year, and she looks better than ever." She bats her eyelashes at Daniel.  "Don't you think?"

"She's always looked great," he answers. When Summer ducks in her trunk  with a satisfied smile, rearranging some of the plants, Daniel holds up  his hands as if saying, Need some help here.

He's out of luck today because my theory is right. If Summer's busy  masterminding, she's gonna stop thinking about that douchebag, for now  at least. I'm going to run this tactic into the ground, even if it means  throwing both Daniel and me under the bus.

"Anyway, she's dating this gorgeous instructor," she says. "They're quite serious."

Daniel has a murderous expression. "What? She was alone at the wedding.  When did she start dating him? How serious can it be if she didn't bring  him to the wedding?"

"Yes!" Summer exclaims, straightening up, peeling away a leaf that caught in her hair, and grinning at Daniel from ear to ear.

It's official. Daniel's even more clueless than I am. He just dug his own grave.

"I made him up. To...err …  check your level of interest."

Once again, I marvel at my sisters' talent to get what they want. The  tactic is deceptively simple: subtract a helpful brother-me-add a  seemingly innocent remark that's sure to bring out a reaction. Simple  and brilliant, but no one except Pippa and Summer can pull it off.                       
       
           


///
       

My brother groans. Summer perks up, rubbing her hands in excitement.  She'll be plotting Daniel's downfall instead of drowning in self-doubt  because of her dating disaster. My job here is done.





CHAPTER NINETEEN

Clara

The week on set is riddled with mishaps, yet we still somehow managed to  finish two hours before the deadline-Thursday at midnight. I briefly  consider driving back to San Francisco the same night. I miss my bed,  and a certain hot and handsome neighbor who has become so much more than  a neighbor. In the end, I decide to stay the night and drive back in  the morning. It's too dangerous. I'm tired, and even with Blake's  anti-sleep alarm, I won't risk it.

I drive off early the next morning and wait until it's eight o'clock to  call Blake. I'm just about to dial his number when my phone lights up  with an incoming call from him.

"Hey! I was just about to call you."

"When will you be in town?"

Sighing, I tighten my grip on the wheel. His voice is a little rough,  like he just woke up, and my insides squeeze at the sound of it. How can  his voice alone affect me so much? I mean, the man's voice is sexy as  all get-out, but it's still a little ridiculous.

"Lunch, but I still have to go by the studio, drop some things off, and  send some e-mails. I'll probably be there the entire afternoon."

"Can you be ready at six?"

"Why?"

"We're going on a date."

I do a little happy dance in my seat, which probably looks crazy to  anyone passing by, but I couldn't care less. A date with Blake Bennett. A  date!

Since I am not well versed in the art of "no labels," I wasn't really sure how this would play out.

I clear my throat, trying to sound like this is no big deal. "When and where? Why didn't I know about this?"

"I was going to surprise you."