Inwardly I growled at myself and my stupid crush on him. “I hope I meet someone even better tonight,” I told my reflection.
As we left the house, Dylan pulled his car into the drive. I worked to not look at him as he got out, but of course, I was helpless. I chanced a glance. His eyes narrowed as if he didn’t like what he saw.
I swallowed the pain at that and reminded myself that tonight, I’d be like a normal twenty-three-year-old woman. I’d dance and drink and flirt.
In the club, Corrine and I found a table not far from the dance floor and ordered drinks.
“Hello, ladies.”
That was fast, I thought, until I looked up at the voice and saw it was Matt.
“You stalking me?” Corrine asked teasingly.
“Yep.” He took a seat and waved his hand toward the bar. “Do you mind if my buddy Jared joins us?”
Oh God, was I being set up by Corrine and her new boyfriend? I looked to the man who was approaching. Okay, so he didn’t look so bad. In fact, he was actually really attractive in a boyish, clean-cut way.
He stopped by the table.
“Jar this is Corrine … she’s mine, so hands off. And this is Tessa, I don’t know if she’s spoken for.”
Jared quirked a brow. “Is this a set up?”
“I thought the same thing,” I said.
“It’s friends getting together,” Corrine insisted.
Jared sat in the empty chair next to me. “Well Tessa, I guess it’s you and me tonight.”
“Are you disappointed?”
“Hell no.” His eyes scanned my face and then lower. “Not at all. Do you want to dance?”
“Sure.”
“Behave,” Matt said as Jared and I stood to go to the dance floor.
“You heard him. Behave Tessa,” Jared said as he pressed his hand on my lower back to lead me to the dance floor.
“I’ll do my best, but no promises.”
He smiled. “I like your style.”
I would like to say that Jared totally made me forget Dylan, but that would be a lie, which was a disappointment. Jared was smart and fun and moved well on the dance floor. But I couldn’t help but compare him to Dylan. Even so, when he asked if he could call me some time, I gave him my number. I couldn’t expect to get Dylan out of my system in one day. He wasn’t going to leave it at all if I pined for him either. I needed to move on and live my life, and if Jared wanted to spend time with me, he seemed like the perfect solution to my problems.
That night in bed, I woke up in a heated rush, my body throbbing with sexual need. But it wasn’t Jared who had me all hot and bothered. It was Dylan. In my dreams, he was dancing with me, not in the club but in his living room. He was naked, showing off his eight pack abs, his sculpted chest, and fine hard ass. His dick was hard, thick, long, and I dropped to my knees wanting to taste him.
In the next second, we were in his room, and he was over me, pressing me into his sheets and entering me. There was no pain this time. Just the sweetest pleasure, building and building until the moment I would have come. Instead I woke. I punched my mattress in frustration. My heart was such an idiot.
10
Dylan
The laundry was done. The house was clean. I was a fucking mess. I missed Maisie like crazy and worried how she was being treated by Veronica and Leo. Then there was Tessa. I hated seeing her dressed up to the nines. How many men had hit on her last night? Had she let any of them touch her?
All day my brain was either worried about Maisie or ruminating about Tessa. Finally, late afternoon, a dark sedan pulled in front of the house. Thank God, I thought as I rushed out the door.
“Daddy!” Maisie hopped out of the car, making me wonder if she’d been belted in. She ran to me and I scooped her up.
“Maisie.” I held her. “I missed you a million times.”
Her arms held my neck, and for the first time in two days, I felt like maybe my world would tilt back to right.
“I missed you more.”
Veronica’s driver opened her door and she slipped out. Leo wasn’t with her. I walked over to the driver who was opening the trunk for Maisie’s bag. Along with the bag I’d sent with her were two other bags and a shit-load of toys.
I looked at Veronica. “We were going to keep them at my house, but she insisted she wanted to show them to you.”
“I got lots of pretty dresses, Daddy.”
“I can’t wait to see them,” I said.
While Maisie went to her room to try on a dress to show me, I offered Veronica a drink. I wanted to send her on her way, but she said she wanted to talk to me.
She toyed with her glass and wouldn’t look at me, which gave me a bad feeling.
“What’s going on, Veronica?” I took my drink and sat on the couch, ignoring the memory of having Tessa on it just two nights before.
She let out a long breath. “Leo and I are filing for custody of Maisie.”
My heart stopped. “What do you mean? I’ve never stopped Maisie from seeing you. That won’t change.”
She took a long gulp of her drink. “I want her to live with me now.”
“No.”
The nervous expression evaporated, replaced by anger. “I knew you wouldn’t let her, so we’re filing for custody.”
I laughed derisively. “Do you really think a judge is going to take her from the only parent who’s been there since the day she was born and give her to the one who couldn’t be bothered to see her for nearly a year? Who missed her birthday?”
Her jaw tightened. “I’m in New York full time now. I’m ready to be a mom. Leo and I can offer her things you can’t.”
Fuck you, I thought but didn’t say, as Maisie was in the other room. “And what would that be?”
“The best schools. Opportunities. We have the resources—”
“Just because I don’t live like a king doesn’t mean I don’t have money.”
“We can offer her two parents.”
I shot up. “He’s not her parent. So, help me, Veronica, if you try to take her from me—”
“I don’t want to take her from you, Dylan. We just switch the plan. She lives with me and visits you.”
“What do you think, Daddy?”
I turned to see Maisie coming into the living room. She looked tentatively at Veronica and then me.
“You’re lovely, baby.” I smiled, even though the dress looked like something a doll would wear with a million frills.
“It’s scratchy. Can I show you another one?”
“I’d like that.”
She rushed off and I turned back to Veronica. “I’m not going to let you take her full time. She has a life here.”
“We can offer her more.”
“What does she need that I don’t give her?”
“Like I said. Great schools. Opportunities. Leo has already picked out a nanny who can teach her to speak French.”
“Nanny? You’re not going to raise her yourself?”
“You have a babysitter, Dylan. Don’t get on me for needing a nanny.”
“But you just said she’d have two parents with you. That means you don’t have to work and can raise her.” I knew that sounded sexist, but I’d be an at-home dad in a minute if I could.
“I still want to work some. But I’m not going to travel as much. And when I do, she’ll come with me.”
“So, you take her out of the fancy school?”
“We’ll get her tutors.”
I frowned. “A nanny and tutors? Who is going to really raise her? Who is going to read to her before bed and sing to her while she’s in her bath? Who’s going to push her on the swing at the park?”
Her lip curled up in a snarl. “I will.”
Deciding this was going to get worse, I worked to pull in my anger. “Listen. You’ve just returned home with a new husband. Why don’t you settle in and have visits? What happens if in a month or even six months you find you don’t like being settled?”
“I
’m married now, and the lawyer said that would give me a good chance of winning.”
“Did you tell him you’ve only seen her a handful of times since you left? That it’s been nearly a year since the last time?”
“You’re being a dick.”
“And you’re being selfish.”
“Oh, and you’re not?” she scoffed.
“I am selfish. I want full and total custody of Maisie. But I also want what’s best for her, and that means having her mother in her life. That’s why I’ve never, not once, refused visitation. What about you Veronica? Have you considered what the impact of what you’re asking will be on Maisie?”
“She’ll adjust.”
“That’s how it always is with you. The whole world has to conform and adjust for you. You’re not the center of the world. Maisie is.”
“Daddy …”
Fuck. She didn’t need to hear this. I turned with a big smile. “Oh, that one is pretty.” I said as she stood in what looked like a school uniform.
“Do you want to see my favorite?”
“Absolutely, I do.”
She looked at me and Veronica as if she knew something was up, but then turned back to her room.
“We can’t do this now,” I said to Veronica. “She shouldn’t have to hear this.”
“I’m done talking anyway. We’re going to file for custody, Dylan, so you’ll just have to deal with it. You’ve had her all this time. Now it’s my turn.”
I wanted to fucking throttle her. “I’ve had her all this time because you left. Christ … do you really not see that?”
Her jaw tightened. “Maisie,” she called. “Maisie, I have to go.”
Maisie ran out in her underwear and t-shirt. “Bye, Mommy.”
“Come give me a hug.”
Maisie complied, and then ran to her room calling, “I’ll be back, Daddy.”
I walked Veronica to the door. “All I ask is that on the drive back, you put Maisie first. And if you can’t, think about what it really means to be a full-time parent. If you’re doing this to be with her, then you can’t leave her with nannies and tutors all the time so you can wine and dine and party.”
“You’ll hear from our attorney.”
“Be sure to tell him to let the judge know how little time you’ve actually spent with your daughter.” Yes, I was a dick, but where Maisie was concerned I didn’t care. I’d fight to the death for her.
“Sure, when he comes over for dinner. Leo has lots of judge friends.”
Fuck. I stared at her. “Why are you doing this? Did I do something that made you want to hurt me?”
“As you said, Dylan, this has nothing to do with you. It’s about Maisie and how she’s at an age where she needs a mother.”
I thought of Tessa, who was more of a mother to Maisie in the last year than Veronica had ever been.
“She does need a mother. She needs one who will be there, not treat her like a doll or pawn her off to nannies and tutors.”
“You pawn her off to a babysitter.”
“I don’t. I’ve never missed a school meeting or function. I’ve never missed a soccer game or dance recital. It takes a lot of time. Think about that. There’s no going out every night when you have to check homework. When she’s sick, you have to cancel everything to care for her. Can you put her needs before yours? That’s what she needs.”
“Do you really think so little of me?”
Yes, I did. “I only know that you put your needs first for the last few years.”
“I’ll be in touch.” She stormed down the walk toward the waiting car.
“Daddy?”
I turned and shut the door. “Oh, I like that one.”
“These are my jammies. I was tired of changing.”
“And what pretty jammies they are,” I said picking her up.
“Are you and Mommy mad?”
I sighed. “Mommy and I are having a discussion.”
She wrapped her arms around me. “I’m glad I’m home.”
“Oh? Did you have fun?” I carried her to the kitchen, thinking for once we could indulge in something unhealthy. I’d break out the ice cream I hid in the back of the fridge.
“Yes, but I missed you. Can you come next time?”
“How about some ice cream to celebrate your being home?” I said not wanting to answer her question.
Her eyes lit up. “I love ice cream.”
We had ice cream and then played a game. I read her books in bed, and then tucked her in to sleep. If Veronica took this away from me, I don’t know what I’d do. I couldn’t let that happen. I found it difficult to believe she’d win given her track record, but if her husband had friends in high places, that could be a problem.
The next morning, I woke early, showered, and dressed, skipping the rest of my usual morning routine. I called my lawyer, who wasn’t happy about being woken up at the crack of dawn, but seemed to understand my urgency when I told him my problem with Veronica. He referred me to a lawyer who specialized in family law.
“She says her new husband is connected,” I finished explaining my situation.
“Up here? Because they’ll need to file at the local court.”
“I don’t know. I suspect that someone they know might know someone here.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Call Stephen. He’ll let you know what to do.”
When I was off the phone, I got Maisie up and made her breakfast. At the knock at the door I’d remembered Friday night and fucking Tessa on the couch. Guilt and regret filled me, but it couldn’t overcome the fear and anger over losing Maisie.
“I’ll get it,” Maisie said jumping down from her chair.
A few minutes later, Tessa followed Maisie into the kitchen. She looked at me with hesitancy. The awkwardness that had been there Friday night hadn’t dissipated. At least for her. Not for me either, but I had to push that away and focus on Maisie.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” I asked Tessa.
Her brows lifted in surprise. “Yes. Of course.”
“Mais, finish your breakfast and then get dressed, okay?”
“’Kay.”
I motioned for Tessa to follow me to my office. Once there, I shut the door part way to keep our voices from going up the hall.
“Veronica is going to sue for custody.”
Tessa’s breath hitched and her expression was pained. “What?”
“Maisie doesn’t know at this point. I’m going to fight—”
“Well, yeah. What can I do?”
“Keep an eye on her. I don’t think Veronica would do anything crazy, but right now I have sole custody, so if she comes when I’m not here, she’s not to take Maisie. Call the cops and me if that happens, okay.”
“Yes, of course. God, Dylan, I’m so sorry. If you need me to testify or anything I will.”
It was another reminder at how important Tessa was to me, as a friend, not a lover. “Thank you.” I didn’t want to mention the other night, and yet I couldn’t not check on her. “Are you okay?”
She flinched. “Yes.”
I studied her, wishing I hadn’t crossed the line that put this awkwardness between us, and at the same time wishing I could have her all over again. “You looked lovely the other night when you went out.”
She looked down. “Thank you.”
“I hope you had a good time. I suspect that opportunity presented itself … maybe even desire.”
She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I met a nice guy … but so far, just opportunity.”
“Daddy, can I wear one of my new dresses?” Maisie called from outside the door.
“Ask Tessa. I don’t know what fun plans she has for you.”
“I’ll go help her,” Tessa said moving to the door.
Feeling like I dodged a bullet, I finished getting ready for work. On the way, I called the lawyer referred to me.
“She seems to think now that she’s settled in New York and married, she can
take custody,” I finished explaining to him.
“From what you say, a judge would have concerns about her lack of involvement,” he said, but there was a hesitancy. “With that said, there is still often a bias where moms are concerned, especially ones who are recommitted, settled, and secure.”
Fuck. “The fact that I’m the only parent that has been a constant in Maisie’s life doesn’t matter?”
“It matters. It matters a lot. I suspect at best she’ll get joint custody if she’s successful because of her history and due to you being the sole parent for so long. But like I said, many judges have a soft spot for moms and want to give them a second chance. Her being married and settled will be in her favor.”
“So, my being single hurts me?”
“Can you meet me at one today, and we can go over everything?”
“I’ll be there.” I hung up the phone and gripped the steering wheel like it was the only thing keeping me from drifting into nothingness. A week ago, I had the perfect little family. Me and Maisie and yes, Tessa too. Now I was at risk of losing it all.
11
Tessa
When I knocked on Dylan’s door on Monday morning, I was relieved when Maisie answered even though I knew I’d still have to see him. I wanted to act normal like nothing happened, but inside I was an emotional mess, worried that he’d look at me with regret. When he seemed to be indifferent, I felt angry. I knew he didn’t like what had happened, even if he said he enjoyed it. But had he really forgotten it?
Then he told me about Veronica suing for custody and I felt like an idiot. My ego wasn’t important compared to Dylan’s being able to keep Maisie. I could only imagine the worry he felt. Of course, it seemed unlikely Veronica could win considering how little she’d been in Maisie’s life, but I’d been around long enough to know that crazy things could happen. Veronica was famous and that could be used in her favor. Her husband seemed rich, which meant maybe he had connections that could be used in her favor as well.
When Dylan left, I helped Maisie get dressed. She wanted to wear one of the dresses she’d gotten during her visit with her mother. The dress was cute, but I felt like it was betraying Dylan to wear it. Of course, it wasn’t Maisie’s fault. I felt bad for the little girl that was about to become a pawn between her parents.
Heart of Hope: Books 1-4 Page 54
