Broken Beats

by D. Kelly

“Yup, and we had snacks and stories and naps with the lights off. It was only scary for a little while.”

  “Daddy, I can walk now,” Cadence says with a giggle, and I put her down so I can hug Haddie.

  “Thank you,” I whisper in her ear.

  “You’re welcome,” she says, hugging me tightly.

  “Are you coming home with us?”

  “No, I’ll probably be here late tonight. I’ll text you later and let you know what’s going on.”

  I’m disappointed, but I understand. The students are going to need her more than usual today.

  “Okay, we’ll see you later. I’m glad you’re safe.”

  Her eyes light up at my confession.

  “Don’t be so surprised, Haddie. You’re a huge part of my world, you know.”

  She squeezes my hand and steps back inside the classroom. A few minutes later, she sends me a text.

  Haddie: It’s been a long time since someone has loved me like you do. You’re a big part of my world too.

  I can’t wait until you get home tonight.

  Haddie: Why is that?

  So I can show you exactly how much I adore you … all of you.

  Haddie: What did I say about getting me worked up?

  Incentive to come home as fast as you can.

  After dinner, I run Haddie a bath and open a bottle of her favorite wine for her before leaving her alone to decompress.

  Cadence has a hard time falling asleep, but once I’m sure she’s out, I join Haddie in the bathroom. Her eyes are closed and she’s covered in bubbles in my giant bathtub. It’s the size of a small hot tub—room to relax and more than enough room to fuck.

  “You look comfortable.”

  “Mmm,” she hums. “This is exactly what I needed.”

  “Can I join you?”

  She cracks open an eye. “Do you need to ask?”

  She watches my every move as I strip down and licks her lips at the sight of my cock as it springs free from my pants.

  “I think we should turn on the jets.”

  “Whatever makes you happy, Darren.”

  She sips her wine but sets it down quickly as I step up to the tub. Haddie reaches for my thigh and pulls me close before wrapping her lips around the tip of my dick.

  “Fuck, babe,” I hiss as I slowly move in and out of her mouth a few times before finally backing away and joining her. “Your mouth is a fucking treasure.”

  She giggles. “So is your cock.”

  “True story,” I smirk.

  I straddle her body as I lower my mouth to hers. She slides her hands up my back as we kiss, and my cock jerks against her stomach. I cup her cheeks and deepen our kiss. There’s no rush tonight. I want her to understand how much she means to me.

  She reaches for my cock, but I pull her hand away gently.

  “Darren, I want to make you feel good.”

  “I’m fine. I want to take care of you and help you release some tension. You had a rough day.”

  She sighs against my lips. “So did you. You must have been so worried about the kids.”

  “I was worried about all of you. Did you mean it? Are you moving in? Or were you reacting to the moment? I’d understand if you were.”

  I sit next to her and pull her body between my legs. She leans against me, and I kiss the top of her head and lower my hands to her breasts. As I caress, massage, and play with her nipples, she moans and sighs and relaxes into my touch. When I pause, she tilts her head and looks back at me.

  “The only moment I’m living in is now. I don’t know what to do with my house; I can’t give it up. Not because I doubt us—”

  “Because your grandpa left it to you.”

  She pulls my fingers back to her nipples, and I grin. I love that Haddie knows what she wants and has no problem directing me to what she needs.

  “Exactly, but we can … ahhh …” She loses her speech as I pinch her nipple.

  I slide my free hand between her thighs to her sweet spot. “We can what?”

  She hisses. “Talk about it later. Oh God, Darren, yes.” She writhes against my body trying to match the dance my finger is doing on her clit.

  I suck the skin of her neck into my mouth and then flick her earlobe with my tongue.

  “Enough, Darren … I’m about to …”

  “Oh, I know you’re about to come. I want to hear my name fall from your lips when you do.”

  Haddie pulls my hand away and flips around to straddle me. “I want you to come with me, inside me. I want to feel you fill me.”

  She lifts herself onto her knees, and I position myself at her entrance. Haddie lowers herself slowly, and I hiss as she takes me inch by inch.

  “Fuck,” I groan when I’m buried to the hilt inside her.

  Haddie throws her arms around my neck, and I bring my thumb to her clit as she begins to move. She grinds her hips slowly but with purpose, each thrust bringing her pleasure. I drop my hands to her hips and hold on to them.

  “Darren, I’m so close …”

  “Ride me, baby. Take what you need and I’ll follow.” I’m barely holding on as it is. There is nothing fucking sexier than a woman chasing her desire.

  The water sloshes over the side of the tub, and she chants my name again and again as she races toward her pleasure.

  “Darren!” she screams as she comes.

  Dropping her mouth to mine, she kisses deeply me as her walls pulse around me until I find my release and hug her body closer to mine. Our hearts beat against each other in a frenzy.

  “That was so fucking hot.” Placing my hand on the back of her head, I pull her to my chest as our breathing slows.

  She laughs. “And you never even turned on the jets.”

  “Next time we’ll see what that added stimulation will do to you.”

  “I can only imagine.”

  We lie together for a few moments before taking a shower to rinse off the sex and the bubbles. As we’re drying off, she looks up at me.

  “I was thinking maybe I could rent my house out for now.”

  “As like a security blanket?” I reach for my boxers and pull them on.

  “That sounds awful, like you think I don’t have faith in us. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

  I step behind her and squeeze her ass. “Then what’s the truth?”

  Haddie finishes putting on her pajamas before answering. “The house is sentimental to me,” she says as we head into the bedroom.

  “Okay …”

  When we crawl under the duvet, she sighs softly. “I was thinking maybe it would be a good starter place for Cadence when she grows up.”

  My heart stutters in my chest. “You’d give your house to Cadence?”

  “If she wanted it. I know it’s not fancy or anything, but the yard is pretty spectacular, and I feel like I found myself in that house. I wanted to be on my own, on my terms. It’s just an idea. I’m sure we could do something else with it.”

  “Haddie … I love the idea.” Pulling her close, I kiss her softly. “Even more so, I love that you’d be willing to give my little girl something so important to you. Why?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?”

  “I don’t want to assume anything.”

  Haddie traces her fingers across the skin over my heart. “I love her just as much as I love her father. I love when she asks me to do her hair in the morning. Or when she wants my opinion on her outfits. The look on her face when she learns a new drum solo and she has to show me right that instant. But it’s also kind of scary.”

  “How is loving Cadence scary?”

  “During the lockdown, she looked up at me with the saddest expression and asked if we were going to die.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t want to worry you. But in that instant, I knew I would have thrown myself in front of a thousand gunmen if it meant saving her. I’ve always known I would protect any of the kids in the school. It’s my job. But with her and your nephew
s, it was so much deeper than obligation.”

  I kiss her again. “Because you love them.”

  She takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. “More than I ever thought possible.”

  “Haddie …” I pause as I try to put my thoughts into words. This can make or break us. “Does this change how you feel about wanting kids?”

  “No, but it alters my perception of family.”

  “How so?”

  She runs her fingers through my hair and it feels so good.

  “Too many movies maybe? I always thought stepparents were more evil or distant in the lives of their stepchildren. In my line of work, a lot of the stepparents haven’t been the cream of the crop.”

  “So you thought you’d be an evil stepmom?”

  She rests her head on my shoulder. “More like resigned to accept a title. I figured I’d be fine watching from a distance, but I’m not okay with that. I need to be in the front row for everything. I’m going to cheer her on in whatever she does. I have to be more to her than just some woman her dad loves.”

  There’s a knock at the bedroom door, and I jump up to answer it.

  “Daddy, I’m scared. Can I sleep with you guys tonight?”

  Except for when she’s sick, this is a first. Haddie pats the bed next to her, and Cadence climbs into the middle of the bed and cuddles up next to her. Huh.

  Haddie runs her fingers through Cadence’s hair and she snuggles in closer to her. “I had a dream that the bad man got us.”

  “Shh, it was just a dream. You’re here and you’re safe with your daddy and me.”

  I reach out and rub Cady’s back.

  “Goodnight, Daddy. I love you,” she says through a yawn.

  I kiss the back of her head. “I love you too.”

  “Goodnight, Haddie. I love you.”

  Haddie’s eyes glass over, but she leans forward and kisses Cadence’s forehead. “I love you too, munchkin.”

  I pull the blanket up over us and turn on my side. There is no better feeling in the world than the one I have right now. Maybe this isn’t the life I thought I’d be living seven years ago, but it’s one I’m proud to have.

  I reach over Cadence and lace my fingers through Haddie’s.

  “Goodnight, Haddie. I love you.”

  She squeezes my hand, and I wonder if she’s testing her reality as much as I am.

  “Goodnight, Darren. I love you too.”

  Epilogue

  Darren

  One year later

  * * *

  “Daddy! You should see Haddie. She looks so pretty.”

  Cadence runs into the room wearing her flower girl dress and red ribbons in her hair.

  “I’m sure she looks just as pretty as you do. How are you feeling? Are you still okay with all of this?”

  She looks me straight in the eye. “You worry too much.”

  It takes all my self-restraint not to laugh. “Is that so?”

  She nods. “Yup, I love Haddie. I’m glad she’s going to be my second mom.”

  My heart aches just a smidge. Cadence is almost eight and will enter the second grade soon. Her baby face is gone, replaced by the beginnings of the pre-teen who will soon inhabit her body. My beautiful baby girl is going to be an adult before I can blink.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  I chuckle. “Sorry, munchkin, I was just thinking about how much you look like your mom.”

  Cadence smiles. “Mommy was very pretty.”

  “She was, and I’m sure she’s one of the prettiest angels in heaven.”

  “Hey, Uncle Darren,” Nate says as he walks into the room with Sawyer behind him. “My mom is throwing up again.”

  Sawyer laughs, “Nice ice breaker, Nate. Why don’t you and Cady go sit down before you mess up your clothes.”

  “Okay, Dad.”

  Nate’s tux matches Sawyer’s. He’s not in the wedding, but he’s officially Cadence’s date, or so I’ve heard.

  “Did Mel come?”

  Sawyer nods. “Oh yeah, she said she wasn’t going to miss this for the world. She was okay until she heard Anna vomit, and then it was over.”

  “I still can’t believe they’re both pregnant at the same time again.”

  “Me either. Wyatt and I are vasectomy bound. They’re both done and blaming us.”

  I laugh and pat his shoulder. “Never worrying about birth control again will be more than worth it.”

  Wyatt and Jordan enter the room with Jake and Sebastian. The three of them are my best men, and Marina is Haddie’s maid of honor while Mel and Anna are bridesmaids. At first, Haddie refused to ask them, but Mel and Anna ended up asking her if they could be in the wedding. Haddie was worried about Mel, and so was I, but Amelia Weston is nothing if not persistent. She insisted this is how Belle would want it, and I’m pretty sure she’s right.

  Wyatt pulls me in for a hug. “Man, it’s the end of an era. You’re the last man down.”

  Jordan steps forward and hugs me after Wyatt. “I never thought the day would come when all of Bastards and Dangerous were married off.”

  “It’s a sad day for all the fangirls who were holding out hope for you,” Sawyer quips.

  “Yeah, now they’re just hoping one of us will have …” I pause and look around the room for the kids before lowering my voice “… an affair.”

  “Isn’t that a sad truth?” Wyatt says. “Like, how awful must your life be to wish for something like that?”

  “Well,” Sawyer hedges, “sad or not, we’ve all seen it. We’ve traveled with bands and partied with bands filled with cheaters. It’s easier to name the ones who don’t cheat than the ones who do.”

  “It’s true, but I’m not a cheater, so let’s take some celebratory shots of tequila and get this wedding started right.”

  Jordan moves quickly to the bar cart in the corner of the room but pauses as he passes the kids. “Why don’t you guys carefully walk to the bridal suite and see if there is anything Haddie needs you guys to do. Don’t mess up your clothes on the way.”

  The kids leave in an excited rush, and Jordan pours our shots and passes them around.

  I lift mine in the air. “For everyone who couldn’t be here with us today.”

  Noah.

  Belle.

  Richie.

  “And for all the blessings they gave us when they were,” Sawyer adds softly.

  Wyatt clinks my glass. “To Darren and Haddie,”

  “May your love last till the end of time,” Jordan finishes, and we all take our shots.

  The sun has set and the outside lights are on and setting the mood.

  “Daddy, Grandmother says it’s time now,” Cadence squeals as she pops her head into the room.

  “Let’s do this,” the guys say in unison as they clap me on the shoulder and we walk outside.

  “My baby,” my mom cries as she kisses me on the cheek.

  “You look gorgeous, Mom. Looking pretty good there yourself, Pop.”

  My dad hugs me briefly. “Well you know you got your looks from your old man. Better take your place. Mom is giving you the look.”

  Sure enough, my grandmother is staring at me and taps her finger on her watch.

  “You look beautiful, Grandmother.” I kiss her cheek as the guys take their places.

  “Thank you, Darren, you look very dapper. Now take your place so we can start in a timely manner.”

  There’s the woman I know and love. I step up to the front of the aisle and take a deep breath.

  Sawyer leans over and whispers in my ear, “It’s different when it’s you in the spotlight, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, but it’s a good kind of different, you know?”

  He chuckles. “I know. I’d marry Mel every day if it were an option. That woman is my entire world.”

  Wyatt snorts and scoots in. “Remember how he used to make fun of me about Anna? How he used to call me whipped?”

  Jordan leans in. “Looks like we all belo
ng to that club now. You should be proud, Wyatt. You knew you had a good thing a decade before any of us had a clue. Showoff.”

  The music begins to play, indicating everyone needs to take their places.

  Sawyer claps my shoulder one more time. “You got this, D,” he whispers.

  My dad walks my mom down the aisle to their seats, and my grandfather escorts Haddie’s mom immediately behind them.

  Anna is next, followed by Mel. They look stunning in their sleek, red dresses. They both recovered quickly; you’d never know they weren’t feeling well.

  Marina follows, looking just as gorgeous.

  My heart begins to race the closer we get to Haddie. Brayden is the ring bearer and he’s such a little ham. He smiles the whole way down the aisle and high-fives Wyatt before taking his spot.

  When Cadence steps out, I flash back in time to Sawyer and Mel’s wedding and can’t believe how the time has flown. She’s beautiful, and when she finishes dropping her petals, she steps forward and hugs me so completely I’m nearly in tears.

  “I love you, Daddy,” she whispers as she takes her place with the women.

  “I love you too, Cady.” I don’t whisper, and the sound of our guests aww-ing carries through the yard. Mel flashes me a thumbs-up and I return it with a smile.

  The music changes, and everyone stands. Haddie and her father appear, and I can’t catch my breath. One of the things that shocked me most was that although she wanted a formal wedding, she wanted a non-traditional gown.

  Haddie’s wedding dress is black, form-fitting, and strapless. She holds a bouquet of red roses, and her hair cascades around her shoulders in big, bouncy curls. She’s fucking stunning. Her lips are painted bright-red like the night we met, and her red heels complete the look—she could be a pin-up girl.

  She smiles as she walks with her dad, but her gaze is locked on mine. It takes all my self-control not to pull her from her him and kiss her under the moonlit sky.

  Her dad places her hand in mine with tears in his eyes. One day, that will be me with Cadence. “Take care of her.”

  “Always.”

  Much to the dismay of my family and hers, Haddie found a non-denominational minister ordained online to perform the ceremony. It was a fucking brilliant idea.