He grabbed it and set it beside her. “You got more or is this it?”
“This is it.”
“I’m impressed.”
She would usually make some smartass comment or say something about how women can pack lightly too, but after what had happened, she realized it might not be a good idea. Dani shifted Reece over to her other side and shouldered her backpack.
“I think I can get it from here. Thank you so much for all your help.”
“You sure?”
“Yup.”
“Nice to meet you, Dani.”
“You too, Charles.”
After he’d left the area, Dani pulled her suitcase over to a bench and took a seat with Reece still dead to the world. The girl slept through everything. Dani reached into her pocket and pulled her phone out. She decided she’d call Austin instead of text. She hadn’t found a position to shift Reece around where she could use both hands, and texting one handed would take forever.
It hadn’t even rung twice when he picked up the phone. “Hey, what’s up?”
“I’m here, but I’m in a pickle.”
“What’s wrong?” Austin asked going on high alert.
“Get your panties out of a wad. It’s nothing serious. Reece fell asleep, and I haven’t got situated to text nor can I get a car.”
“Say no more. I’ll come get you.”
“Shh, he’ll hear you!” Dani scolded. She’d worked hard to pull off this surprise for Nate, and if her brother ruined it, she would have to hurt him.
“I stepped outside, so chill out. I can be at the airport in twenty minutes.”
“Or maybe call me a car that will be here in five.”
“Dani, don’t argue with me.”
“Just call the damn car.”
“You’re always so bossy.”
“But you love me.”
“Be safe.”
“If anyone comes near me, I’ll shove a screaming toddler in their face.”
“You’re not making me feel better.”
“Love you too.”
A few moments later a text came in from Austin. Thankfully she’d gotten Reece moved around so she had use of her hands.
Austin: ETA 7 minutes. Red Honda CRV. Driver’s name is Trina. Make her show you her license. Don’t get in the car with anyone else.
Dani: Sure sure.
Austin: Don’t make me cancel this car and come get you myself.
Dani: I know you only act this way because you care.
Austin: I also paid for it already. Don’t scare the poor girl off because you’re blowing a gasket. Just say thank you and live with it.
Dani: I have money to pay for my ride. I don’t need you to do shit like that for me.
Austin: I know, but I don’t care. I like taking care of you.
Dani: I must be hormonal because I think that’s sweet.
Austin: NO! TMI! Don’t tell me about your hormones. Shelby told me I’m never supposed to mention them again.
Dani: Smart girl you have there. You should listen to her.
Austin: She’s the best.
Dani: Guess I’ll go wait for Shawna. Promise not to go Hulk on her. Love you, bro.
Austin: Love you too. Don’t you forget it.
As she stood, Reece started to fuss. The timing sucked, but she would have to wake up anyway. There would be no good way to get her buckled if she didn’t wake up.
“Hey, baby. You ready to go see Unc Nate?”
“Unc Nate?” she asked as she rubbed her eyes.
“Yeah, you want to get in the car and go see him?”
Reece’s face lit up, and she nodded. Dani couldn’t wait to see Nate when they showed up at the hotel. She was nervous too. It had been more than a month since they’d been face to face, and what if he realized that being saddled with not only a woman but her kid was too much?
As soon as the thought entered her head, she pushed it aside. Nate hadn’t given her any reason to think that. They needed to get this tour over with so life could move on, whatever it meant for them. When Dani thought about Nate getting whisked off, it scared her.
She shook off the bad thoughts. She was determined to have fun for the time she had. She didn’t need to get worked up over something that hadn’t happened. Easier said than done, though. She had to believe things between them would be okay. She had too much invested in them now. Not only could her heart get broken, but her daughter’s too.
3
Are you watching the guys of Innominate as they make their way across the country? Fans everywhere took to social media this week when the app they’d been using to track the guys went down. Reactions ranged from outrage to relief. A spokesperson for the group commented saying, “It’s about time they shut that app down. These men deserve to live their lives as peacefully as they can, and they shouldn’t have to look over their shoulders every time they’re out, wondering if someone is alerting all their fans.”
* * *
“Hey, where’d you take off to?” Nate asked as Austin made his way back into the boardroom at the hotel they’d taken over while in Ohio.
“Had a call. It was hard to hear ‘cause you jokers are loud as fuck.”
KT rolled his eyes. “We aren’t that loud.”
“I bet you were being kissy and knew we’d make fun of you. You’ve lost your edge since Shelby came back into your life,” Wil teased.
“And I give a shit?” he shot back.
Nate could relate. He’d do anything, give anything for Dani and Reece.
“Tell me again why we don’t have anything on the schedule for today.” Wil commented. “It would have been nice to at least go do an interview or something.”
“We haven’t had a break since we started the tour,” Austin told him. “I told Nate it might be nice to take a breather.”
“Then why the powwow? We don’t get a chance to sleep in much, and you’ve taken it away from us.”
Nate had wondered the same thing. Austin didn’t usually take the lead on things like this, but he had been adamant that today be clear. He had also asked to meet for breakfast.
“I wanted to see your face. I wouldn’t have known how to start my morning without it.”
KT barked out a laugh. “No, really. What’s going on here?”
“Oh, shit. We are breaking up. Aren’t we?” Wil asked with big eyes.
“No, we aren’t breaking up,” Austin said as he looked down at his phone. “I asked you all to be here because I have a surprise for one of you. I didn’t want to spoil it, so that’s why you’re here.”
Nate couldn’t be sure what might be happening, but the last time Austin surprised them, he got married. He was a go big or go home kind of guy, and who knew what he had up his sleeve.
“Unc Nate!”
The little voice shocked the hell out of him. Nate turned just in time to catch the little girl who flung herself at him. He wondered if he was dreaming.
“Hey, kiddo, what are you doing here?”
“I come see you!”
Pulling her into a hug, he felt the world righting itself again. The last few weeks seemed to be off. When he wasn’t with Dani and Reece, part of him was missing, and now that they were here, it felt like he could breathe properly again. He sounded like one of those sappy guys, but he didn’t care. Not when it came to Dani.
Reece wiggled around, but Nate got her situated in one arm and grabbed Dani so he could pull her into a hug. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Surprise.”
She smiled up at him, and he leaned down kissing her on the corner of the mouth. “I was worried because you hadn’t called or texted,” Nate said.
“I knew if I talked to you, I’d spill the beans.”
“As if. You’re a vault.”
A throat clearing reminded Nate they had company. He saw Austin standing back with a satisfied smile.
“This was you?” Nate asked.
He shrugged. “I might have helped.”
“You’d do it for any of us. Now, I’d like to take my niece. I’ve rented the aquarium for a few hours and you can meet us at the bounce park after lunch. These assholes and I will give you some time alone.”
There were no protests. Every one of the guys loved Reece and would do anything with her and for her. Nate hated that he would miss out on time with her, but he was thankful Austin had thought of everything.
Reece wiggled in his arms. “Unc Nate? I wanna go see fish.”
“What am I? Chopped liver?” he asked as he tickled her sides.
“I love fish.”
“All right. Fish win. You have fun with Uncle Austin.”
When Nate set her down, she ran over to Wil. “Unc Wil, can I see Pooper?” Reece had taken a liking to Wil’s dog, Cooper, and always asked to see pictures of his dog. She couldn’t seem to get that his name was Cooper, though, and had always called him Pooper.
Nate watched as Dani went over to talk to Austin and then kissed her daughter. Then when they’d all left, he wrapped his arms around her from behind and pulled her in against his body. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
Turning in his arms, she smiled up at him. “I can’t either. It was totally last minute, and I don’t know why, but I’m glad I’m here. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too. What would you like to do?”
“I can think of a lot of things, and if you don’t get me to your room in the next five minutes, I’ll do them to you here.”
Nate couldn’t agree more. He might have been a virgin when he and Dani started their relationship, but he’d more than made up for it since then.
“Is that so? I guess we better go then.”
“I mean your ass in the tabloids isn’t exactly news worthy.”
Nate groaned. He’d recently done a short roll in a film. What his manager failed to mention was that he’d be flashing his ass on camera. He’d wanted to quit, but Dani had talked him off the ledge.
“I have to say, I thought you’d be jealous having your boyfriend’s butt out there for the world to see.”
Dani shook her head. “Not at all. This way they all see what’s mine. They can look, but they can’t touch. They can want, but they can’t have.”
Pushing her against the wall, Nate kissed her hard. Hearing how she claimed him after how hard they had to work to be together turned him on. His tongue traced along the seam of her lips, seeking entrance, and she didn’t just open for him, she gave as good as she got.
“Room. Now,” he bit out between kisses. Thankfully they were right down the hall because he wasn’t sure he could make it much farther.
Nate pulled her behind him. He got the door open, and as soon as it shut, he pushed her against it, taking her mouth again.
As he ran kisses up her jaw, Dani whispered, “I missed you. So much.”
Things like that didn’t come easily for Dani, and he knew just how much it meant for her to say something like that to him.
Nate pulled his hands down her legs, reached behind her knees, and she jumped up, locking her legs behind his waist and lining his cock up with her core. He rocked into her as their mouths fused together again.
“Bed. Now,” she demanded.
“Bossy,” he said as he carried her through the suite and into the bedroom.
Laying her on the bed, Nate looked down and saw his whole world staring back up at him. “I’m going to show you how much I missed you.”
As Nate reached for his shirt, Dani pulled hers off too. He’d protest, but he needed her too much. He needed to be inside her, and at the rate she was removing clothes, he knew she felt the same.
Nate came down on top of her and kissed her softly. “I’m so glad we ditched the condoms,” he groaned as he entered her.
Nate worked himself in and out of her tight channel as Dani pulled him closer. Her hands roamed his back and then ventured down to his ass. Pressing his forehead on hers, he looked into her eyes as they moved in harmony.
“I love you,” Nate told her as he ran his thumb over her cheek.
“Me too.”
For Dani, that was as good as it got sometimes. Some people might get upset. Others would even call it quits. But Nate understood Dani couldn’t handle too much emotion. The fact that she’d flown all the way to Ohio to surprise him showed how much she cared. Dani’s love came out in actions not in words, and as long as they were together, he’d take her any way he could get her. It also made the times she said it mean that much more.
“I’m close,” she whispered.
Running a hand between them, Nate found her clit and rubbed as they both found their release.
As he lay there with Dani in his arms, he knew there was no one else for him but Dani and Reece. He would have to figure out how to make them a permanent part of his life… if Dani would have him.
4
@EllieChell: Traveling all the way to Texas to see @TheWilHarris. Can’t wait to see the Mr. to my Mrs. again. #FutureHubs
@TheWilHarris: @EllieChell can’t wait to see you again. Are you bringing me those cookies again? #CookingIsTheWayToAMansHeart
@EllieChell: Do you think I’d show up empty handed? #IGotYou
* * *
Dani grabbed Nate’s hand as he drove her through the streets of Ohio. It seemed so normal to be there with him, doing family things. They’d been living together back in Nebraska off and on since before Christmas, but being out of the small town Dani called home was new and different.
Austin had sent pictures of Reece all morning while they spent time at the aquarium. It looked like she’d had a great time, and part of Dani wished she had been there to experience it with her.
Mom guilt was a real thing with Dani. Being a single mom made it hard for her to do everything she wanted for Reece. She was never sure if she’d have time to get everything done. At first she tried to make it all happen, but she soon realized it was all a pipe dream. Now if the two of them ended up in PJs all day on a day off and ate cereal for dinner, whatever. But Dani still didn’t feel comfortable leaving her child with others, so again, mom guilt.
She had played the “what if” game a million times over in her head. Being a teen mom had been one of the hardest things she’d done. Then Chris’ death, and not having Reece’s father added to the heartache of it all. She’d decided long ago that she wouldn’t mourn the loss of her early years, but she’d still mourned the loss of Chris.
After having Nate in her life, she knew what she and Chris had wasn’t really love, but the man who fathered her child held a special place in her heart. Not having him around to see Reece brought her sadness. With how excited he’d been, for the short time he’d known about the pregnancy, and him not getting to experience any of it would depress Dani if she thought about it too long.
“You okay?” Nate asked, squeezing her hand.
“Good.”
“Uh oh. Did I do something wrong?”
“No? Why?”
Nate flashed her a small smile. “I thought when a woman said they’re good, it meant the guy was in the dog house.”
“It’s fine.”
“Sure?”
Dani laughed. “No, if a woman tells you she’s fine, that’s when you have to worry.”
“So we’re okay?”
“Yeah. It’s just mom guilt. Reece is getting older, and soon she’ll realize that her life isn’t like her friends’. It’s stupid. We have a good life. I just wish things had been different.”
“Do you ever think things had to happen the way they did to lead us where we are right now?”
Dani thought about that for a second. She looked over at the man who’d been so patient with her, who’d walked beside her even when she hadn’t been sure she wanted him there. Nate showed her what it meant to be strong, loyal, and faithful—all qualities Dani knew she possessed. However, Nate embodied them and outshined her in spades.
“It’s a work in progress. Chris
would be so in love with Reece, and I hope he’d be happy with the way I’m raising her. Sometimes I wonder if I take too much for granted.”
“Whatever’s going on in that head of yours, you need to let it go.”
Nate was right. Most of the time she didn’t dwell on it, but this time of year, close to the anniversary of Chris’ death, everything flooded back.
“You’re right. We’re going to Jump Jump, and we’ll have a blasty blast.”
“A what?”
Dani smiled. “When Mom first said that, I thought it was the stupidest thing I’d ever heard. Then I said it just to make fun of her. Now it’s grown on me. It has a nice ring to it.”
“Austin’s going to kill you all.”
“Try it,” she told him. “Say it and see if you don’t smile. It’ll make you laugh and improve your mood.”
Nate shook his head. “Don’t think I can do it.”
“You wouldn’t do it for me?”
“Maybe for the right motivation.”
“I bet I can think of something you won’t say no to,” she said as she wagged her eyebrows.
“Do I look like I’m easy?”
“No, but I know better.”
“We’re here,” Nate said without giving in to her.
“Spoil sport.”
Getting out of the car, Dani met Nate at the front and reached for his hand. There was a time when she didn’t want to be seen in public with him. To be fair, it was all of them, not just Nate. Ron and Georgia, Chris’ parents, were always out for their next payday, and Dani feared as soon as they caught wind of her being related to the famous Austin King, they’d milk it for all it was worth. She’d kept it quiet for years, and when it came out, they acted exactly as she’d predicted. Now that the cat was out of the bag, they were more open about their relationship. It hadn’t always been that way, but Nate had convinced her that everything would be okay. Dani wouldn’t go that far, but at least things were manageable.
As they walked into Jump Jump, Dani spotted Reece on a trampoline in the middle of the facility surrounded by Austin, KT, and Wil. They were all playing Ring around the Rosie and laughing when they fell down bouncing.
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