Rory

by James, Nicole

  Her eyes traveled around the street, not lingering on anything, but not meeting his. “He’ll have time. Its mid-afternoon.”

  “Baby.” He waited for her to look up. “I’ve got this. Don’t worry. It’ll go well.”

  “My dad is… since my brother died, he—”

  “Rayne, it’ll be fine.”

  She nodded and he led her inside.

  The place had character with a polished cement floor, old wooden tables and booths, and a counter with a sign above saying, ORDER HERE and PAY HERE. The aroma of barbeque carried to his nose. Rory sucked in a lungful. “Smells good.”

  “It is good.”

  He studied her face. “Does it bother your stomach—the smell?”

  She shook her head. “Not so far.”

  They walked up to the counter. A man in his late fifties was in the kitchen chopping meat. He yelled out without looking up. “Be right with you.”

  “Hi, Daddy.”

  The chopping sound stopped, and he looked over. He wiped his hands on his apron. “Rayne, I didn’t expect you.” His eyes shifted to Rory. “Is this him?”

  Rory extended his hand. “Rory O’Rourke, sir.”

  He shook it. “Galen Connor.”

  “I’d like to talk to you, but first I think we need to get some food in your daughter.”

  Galen’s eyes moved to Rayne. “How are you feeling, baby girl?”

  “I’m doing okay. Just tired all the time.”

  He lifted his chin. “Sit, I’ll bring you out the lunch special.” His eyes moved to Rory. “Come on back. We can talk while I fix her food.”

  Rory put a hand to the back of Rayne’s head and pulled her to him, planting a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “Hurry up, I’m hungry.”

  He grinned. “When are you not these days?”

  “My morning sickness is pretty much gone, and I’ve got my appetite back. So, you two need to hurry up and feed me.”

  He smacked her butt as she turned to walk away. Then he followed her father back to the kitchen.

  Galen took two red plastic baskets down and lined them with paper. Then he began making two sandwiches. He looked up and started chopping pork with a cleaver. “So, you’re the musician.”

  Rory’s eyes fell to that cleaver whacking that chopping board. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. “Yes, sir.”

  “What’s your plan? What are you going to do about the baby?”

  “Love it. Raise it. Be the best dad I can be.”

  “And Rayne? Where does she fit into your big-time rock-star dreams?”

  “I love her. I want to ask you’re permission to marry her.”

  The chopping stopped. He scooped the meat up with the flat of the cleaver and piled it on the sandwich buns. “That what she wants?”

  “Yes. We still have a lot of details to work out, like where we’ll live.”

  “And what happens to her and that little baby when you’re riding around the country in a tour bus?”

  “They’ll come with me.”

  “Life on the road… That’s what you have to offer her?”

  “What I have to offer her is all my love. Sir, I can provide for her. I’ll give her a good life. I promise you. She won’t ever have cause to doubt that.”

  “I’ve heard what happens on the road. The booze, the drugs, the women—what do you call them—groupies?”

  “I won’t let it be like that.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Give us a chance. Give me a chance. That’s all I ask.”

  Galen stared at him a long moment, leaning his palms on the prep table. “You hurt her, I’ll make your life hell. The media will have a field day with it, and when I’m through, you won’t have a career left. We clear?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Galen added sides and put the baskets on a tray. He held it out to Rory. “Good. Then go feed my daughter and granddaughter.”

  Rory smiled and stole a fry. “Yes, sir.”

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  March—

  Rayne sat on the balcony couch and flipped on the fireplace. It was her favorite spot in the entire condo. She wrapped a fur throw around her against the morning chill.

  Sasha followed her out with two steaming mugs. She was still in her pajamas, as was Rayne.

  “Here you go.” She held the mug of tea out to Rayne.

  “Thank you.”

  Sasha curled up next to her. “I love Saturday mornings here.”

  Rayne grinned behind the rim of her mug. “Me, too. I could stare at that view all day.”

  “We need to get some more creamer.”

  “Put it on the list. I’ll stop and get some on the way home from work Monday.”

  “How are things at the shop going?”

  Rayne shrugged. “Business has picked up since that paparazzi story broke. Thankfully they’re long gone, but it did stir some interest. Some just come in to buy shirts and stuff, but hey, every little bit helps.”

  “Are you still thinking of moving to Grand Junction and opening there?”

  “I don’t know. We’ll see how things go.”

  Sasha nodded, looked to the view, and sipped her coffee.”

  Rayne studied her. “Are you happy living here?”

  “Are you kidding? I’m livin’ the life…at least pretending to. This place is the bomb.”

  “I know it is, but even still, you’ve put your social life on hold to be here with me.”

  She shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I haven’t been real social lately anyway.”

  “I do worry. I don’t want to take advantage.”

  Sasha’s brows rose. “I have a shower bigger than a walk-in closet. I’m really being taken advantage of here.”

  Rayne giggled. “True.”

  “Besides, I owe you Rayne, after what I did.”

  Rayne shook her head. “You absolutely do not owe me. You had good intentions, and it all worked out.” She reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m so glad you’re here. What would I do without my girls?”

  “Speaking of that… We’re starting to make plans for the ride next year. Are you in?”

  “I’ll have a baby, Sasha.”

  “I know. But promise me you aren’t going to give up riding all together. It’s what we do. We’re the Moto Girls.”

  Rayne smiled. “That we are.”

  “And when little Danielle grows up, she can be a Moto Girl, too.”

  “Absolutely!” Rayne put her arm around Sasha and hugged her. “I love you.”

  “Love you, too, babe.”

  The unit phone rang.

  “I’ll get it,” Sasha said and got up.

  Rayne took a sip of her tea and gazed at the view, wondering who would be calling the landline.

  Sasha poked her head out, a big smile on her face. “You have a delivery. Wally is sending Jason with it.” She waggled her brows. “He’s sooo cute.”

  Rayne laughed and shook her head. “Oh, Lord. Have you set your sights on him?”

  “Maybe.”

  “He doesn’t stand a chance, does he?”

  “Nope!” she said, dragging out the end of the word with a popping sound.

  The doorbell rang, and Sasha fluffed her hair and plumped her breasts in her spaghetti-strap tank top. “How does my ass look?” She turned in her matching yoga pants with the word luscious across the butt.

  “Hot.”

  She hurried off.

  Rayne could hear the door open and Sasha hitting on Jason. She had to admit, the guy was good-looking in a clean-cut way. Not Sasha’s usual type, but maybe she was broadening her horizons from her usual muscle-bound men.

  A few minutes later, she heard the door close, and Sasha came back out on the balcony. She carried a floral arrangement in her hands.

  “Look! You got flowers!”

  Rayne straightened taking in the big bouquet of lavender roses.

  Sasha set the vase on the table. “Read
the card.”

  Rayne plucked the tiny envelope and pulled the card out.

  Rayne—

  I love you, sweetheart, and I miss you.

  —Rory

  Sasha peeked over her shoulder. “Aww.”

  Rayne smelled them. “They’re so beautiful.”

  “And the exact shade of your hair. How the hell did he manage that?”

  Rayne picked up her cell phone and took a picture of herself holding the flowers, then texted it to him with the message, I love you, and I miss you, too.

  A moment later her phone rang with a video chat from Rory.

  “Hello, sweetie.”

  “So, you got them.”

  “Yes, and they’re beautiful. Thank you!”

  “You’re welcome, baby. How’s your morning going?”

  “Good. I slept in until 10:00am. How about you?”

  He looked over his shoulder, lifting the shades on the bus window. “We’re somewhere between Omaha and Chicago, so nothing but cornfields out my window right now.”

  “So what are you doing?”

  “I’m trying to write a song. Know anything that rhymes with corn?”

  “Haha…don’t be a thorn in my side.”

  “Good one.”

  “How was last night’s show?”

  “Fantastic. Place was sold out. They loved the show.”

  “Of course they did. They love you.”

  “This is a fickle business, babe. I can’t get too cocky.”

  “I won’t let you.”

  “Good. Hey, I have a couple of days off middle of next week. I’m going to try to fly home.”

  “Isn’t that when your album drops? Won’t they want you to do press?”

  “Yeah, probably, but I’m going to try to get out right after.”

  “I can’t wait. The baby and I miss you.” She rubbed her ever-expanding belly.

  “How’s it going at work?”

  “Okay.”

  “Are you taking it easy? I don’t want you pushing yourself too much or stressing out over bullshit.”

  “I’m not. I pretty much do the payroll and bills. Charlie’s been handling the schedule, deposits, and parts orders.”

  “Great. How are the numbers?”

  “We had a good week. The boys have been doing repair specials, and we had a cookout Thursday night with free hotdogs and music. We had a good crowd.”

  “You need some advertising and publicity?”

  “We’ve had enough of that. The boys don’t want any more photographers or reporters around anytime soon.”

  “When you have the baby, they’ll probably be coming back—at least for a while.”

  “Oh, joy.”

  “Sorry, babe. I guess I come with baggage.”

  “That you do…an entire tractor-trailer full.”

  “More than you can handle?”

  “Never.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “I had lunch with Daddy yesterday.”

  “How is he?”

  “He said to tell you he’s keeping his cleaver sharpened, and you’d better keep your word to him. I asked him what he meant, but he wouldn’t tell me.”

  “I promised him I wouldn’t hurt you, and that I’d give you a good life.”

  “Oh.”

  “Is he going to kill me in my sleep if I screw up?”

  “Are you going to screw up?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Then I guess you don’t need to worry about it.”

  “Guess I don’t. Still, it’s kind of unsettling the way he slings that thing around.”

  She giggled. “Are you scared of my father?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Good.”

  Sasha leaned into the shot. “Would you two stop being cute?” She nodded to Rayne. “Sweetie-pie here has a hair appointment and Carmen doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

  “Hair appointment?” Rory asked. “You’re not cutting your hair, are you?”

  Rayne picked up a curl and looked at the ends. “Well, maybe just a trim.”

  “Sasha, do not let her cut her hair, I’m warning you!”

  “You’re a thousand miles away; what are you going to do about it?”

  “When I get back to town, you’ll see what I’ll do about it.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m not scared of you.”

  “You better be!”

  “She’s got split ends. Do you want her to give birth with split ends?”

  “She’s not giving birth yet.”

  “Details, details.” She got up and headed inside. “This train’s leaving in thirty minutes, missy, so you better get dressed.”

  After she went inside, Rory whispered, “Is she gone?”

  Rayne nodded.

  “Good. Now show me your tits, pretty girl.”

  “Rory!”

  “Come on, I miss them—I mean, you.”

  “Good catch. Fine. Here.” She pulled her stretchy tank top down. “Satisfied?”

  “With you, never, darlin’. I love you. Goddamn, you’re pretty. I ever tell you that?”

  “Not nearly enough,” she teased.

  “I will, if it takes me the rest of my life to do it.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Nine days later, Rayne bribed Wally the doorman to call her when Mr. O’Rourke arrived. She got the call just after 9:00pm on Monday night.

  “Hello?”

  “Miss Connor? Mr. O’Rourke is on his way up.”

  “Thank you, Wally.”

  “Of course, ma’am. My pleasure. Have a good night, ma’am.”

  She hung up and hurried to the door. Sasha was out for the night. The lights were dimmed and candles were lit in the bedroom, where she hoped this would end up. She heard the elevator ding softly and then his key in the lock. When the door swung open she was standing there with nothing but a long white silk robe on. She opened it and posed sideways, showing her belly and swinging the end of the belt in a slow seductive circle.

  “Hi, baby,” she said in a breathy voice.

  His eyes moved over her, he dropped his bag on the floor inside the door, and in two steps, he pulled her into his arms. His mouth came down on hers in a ravishing kiss, and his hands slipped under the silken material to pull her close.

  When he finally broke free of the kiss, he stared down at her and ran a palm over her belly. “From now on that’s how you should always meet me at the door.”

  She giggled. “You’ve got it.”

  “How are my two girls?”

  She patted his hand on her belly. “We’re fine but lonely and hoping you could do something about that.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He scooped her up in his arms and carried her down the hall to the master suite. He took in the candles lit around the room and the soft music playing. “Mama did miss me, didn’t she?”

  “She did, oh so much.”

  He cupped her jaw, tilting it up for his kiss, then trailed his hand down over her collarbone and inside her robe. He edged the silk aside and off her shoulder, baring her breast to his gaze. Her nipples were hard and aching for his touch.

  He swallowed, and with a glide of his thumb, he stroked her tight nipple, back and forth. She sucked in a breath and shifted closer to him.

  Sweeping the robe off her other shoulder, he completely bared her. She curled her body into him and lifted her mouth for a kiss. He gave her one, then stepped back, holding her at arms length to drag his gaze over her body.

  “This is how I’ve dreamed of you—totally, spectacularly naked. My body is strung so tight for you, baby.”

  She lay on the bed and held her hand out to him, her invitation blatant.

  He stripped with urgency and came down on her side, propped on one elbow. His eyes traveled over her body, and his hand drifted along her thigh. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Rayne.” He picked up a lock of her hair and tickled her nipple with it. She tried to swat his hand away but he grabbed her wrist. “Let me
play.”

  He teased and tormented her, first with her hair, then with his fingers and mouth until she was trembling with need.

  “Please, baby.” Spreading her legs wide, Rayne drew in another ragged breath as Rory took in the view of her pussy.

  “Tell me that’s mine.”

  “It’s yours. Only yours.”

  He slid his hand between her legs. “My baby is so wet for me.”

  He stroked her with his musician fingers until she was rocking against him. “More, baby. Please.”

  He moved between her legs and, in one thrust, sank inside.

  “Yes,” she cried, wrapping her arms around him. “I need you. I need this. So bad.”

  “I’m here, baby. I’ll give you everything you need. I promise.”

  And as he began to move, thrusting slowly at first, she smiled, knowing he’d keep that promise.

  ***

  Afterward, they lay cuddled in bed.

  “How was your flight?” she finally got around to asking.

  “Too long.” He toyed with her hair. “I’m glad you only trimmed this. I would have been pissed if you’d cut it all off.”

  “Duly noted.”

  “The album is doing well.”

  “I know; we’re celebrating in case you didn’t notice.” She indicated the candle.

  He chuckled. “My kind of celebration.”

  “If you’re extra-nice I might let you celebrate twice tonight.”

  “Not sure my body’s up to that.”

  She rolled against him. “You better be, mister. I’ve been lonely.”

  “I see that.” He rubbed his hand over her ass. “Got something to talk about.”

  “What’s that?”

  His face had gone serious. “So the tour is selling out.”

  “That’s fabulous. I’m so proud of you.”

  “And the money is rolling in. Got a big royalty check.”

  “That’s great.”

  “I talked to my brother. Jameson agreed to sell me this condo. What do you think about that?”

  “Can you afford it?”

  “It costs a mint, but he’s going to give me a deal on it. Would you like that?

  “Yes. I’d like that very much.”

  “Good. So, you can pick a room and start setting up a nursery. Order anything you don’t get from your shower.”