by McCoy, SJ
“And as well as you know me, Miss, I know you too. I know that you have the biggest heart in the tiniest body. That you laugh a lot and you work too hard. I know that you're bossy and you talk too much.” She wrinkled her nose at him, but she was smiling. “I understand who you are, and you understand me, we just work. It's faster than normal, yes. But when you know something is right, time doesn't matter. If you want to look for worst case scenario—and you know I have—the worst that can happen is that we discover we don't match each other in everyday life. That we get on each other’s nerves and that our blend of perfect isn't so perfect when reality sets in. But we both care about each other too much as friends to let it deteriorate into anything horrible. And we both love Scot too much to put him through any misery. So worst case is we discover we don't work, and we go our separate ways. I'm moving up here anyway. I want this life, I want this house. Most of all I want you. If you decide you don't want me, I'll survive, but I'm hoping you'll decide you do want me. My relationship with Scot will continue either way. The two of us have our own thing. I hope it will be as part of our family, but if not, nothing is going to break the bond we share.” He could see tears shining in her eyes now, but he was hoping they were happy ones.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips. “You're right. I am bossy, I do talk too much, but I'm better when I'm around you. I don't need to make everything happen when you're with me. I can relax and just be. I don't know what it is about you, hero, but you make everything feel better. You make me feel better.” She made him feel better too, and they both knew it.
“Is that a yes? Are we going to do this?”
She nodded. “We'll have to think about how it will work, talk to Scotty, but yes. I think we should try it.”
He held her tight, feeling happier than he'd known it was possible to feel. “We'll make it work, Miss. It's going to be great. I know it.” He buried his face in her hair, breathing in the beachy scent of her, knowing this was one of the most important moments of his life.
***
Missy snuggled in Dan's lap. For something that sounded so crazy, this couldn't feel more right. They needed to talk to Scot—though she doubted he'd be able to see anything beyond the fact that he'd get to spend more time with Dan. Well, that and living on the lake and having a pool. She reached up to touch Dan's cheek. Looking into his eyes, she really couldn't believe how lucky she was. “I love you, Danny.”
His smile was so soft and sweet. “Now I know you do. Only the people who love me call me that. And I love you, my little Missy.”
She drew his head down to her and playfully nipped at his lips. He closed his hand around the back of her neck and rubbed his nose against hers. She lifted her lips to him as his mouth covered hers in a long, sweet kiss.
“Come on, then,” he said when that kiss finally ended. “Let's go explore our house, shall we?”
She slid off his knee, hoping their exploring might lead them upstairs soon. When he kissed her like that, she found it hard to think of anything else.
His eyes twinkled as he took her hand. “Let's finish off downstairs first, shall we? I've got a feeling the bedroom may take a while.”
He led her back through the living room and into a formal dining room where a beautiful oak table was set for ten with china and crystal. Dan rolled his eyes. “I don't see that getting much use, do you?”
Missy smiled. “It'd be nice to have the gang over for dinner.” She'd love to cook for them all sometimes, but she couldn't even fit everyone in her house, let alone seat them.
“Oh.” Dan grinned. “That would be quite cool. I can help—if we want to feed them pizza? Or you train me as your sous chef?”
She laughed. “Don't worry, hero. I'm not going to try to domesticate you. I love you just the way you are.”
She especially loved the way his eyes shone when he smiled like that.
“I'd like to get the hang of some of the domestic stuff, though. I don't want you to be landed with all of it.”
She smiled to herself. She appreciated the thought, but she could no more see Dan making dinner than she could see herself writing computer programs. It may not be 'politically correct', but she knew herself and she knew Dan. She loved to play house, he didn't. It was fine by her. “We'll work it out,” she said. “Now let's see...Oh!” She'd opened the door to what used to be Mr. DeWinter's library. It certainly reflected the changing times. Where once there had stood beautiful bookshelves, filled with leather-bound books, there was now a full media room. A giant TV screen covered one wall and theater seating for twelve was set up in front of it.
“Wow! She exclaimed. “This will give a whole new meaning to movie night.”
Dan grinned at her. “We can sit in the back row after Scot's gone to bed.”
She laughed. “Can you see him ever going to bed when he's got this place?”
“Hm, maybe not. Especially once we rig up his game systems to play on it.”
“Oh, no! I'll never see either of you again!”
He waggled his eyebrows. “Oh, you will. From what I saw online.... Come on.” He took her hand and led her back to the entrance hall and up the grand staircase.
Missy looked around. “How many bedrooms are there? I never knew, it seemed like there were dozens of them.”
“Six.”
“Six bedrooms? That's a lot of space we're going to waste, Dan. Are you sure you need a place this big? You could just move in with us and save a fortune.”
Dan stopped and turned to her. “I'd love that too. We don't need to do this, if you don't want to. I love your house, you know that. I thought you'd like this better, though. It's your favorite house. Everything it's got for Scotty. But if you don't want it, we don't have to live here. Can I show you something first though?”
She nodded and followed him up the rest of the stairs and into the master bedroom where she stopped dead. The whole room shimmered with light reflected from the lake. A balcony ran the entire length of the room, beyond sliding glass doors. Dan slid them back and it was like having an indoor/outdoor bedroom. She followed him onto the balcony, the view was spectacular.
“Look.” He pointed at a hot tub.
“Oh, wow! I love those things.”
“Me too. Skinny dipping and star gazing. Come back inside, though.” He led her to the king sized bed that stood on a raised platform.
She laughed. “I hope I don't fall out. It's a long way down.”
“You won't, I won't let you. Come on up.” He climbed onto the bed and lay down. She lay down beside him and he rolled over to kiss her. Wonderful as this house was, she forgot all about it when his lips met hers. She was lost in his kiss, in everything he awoke in her. When he lifted his head she sighed. She wanted him, so badly.
It seemed he felt the same way. “I should probably sign on the dotted line before we christen the place, beautiful.” He touched her cheek, “Don't look so disappointed, I can have the paperwork done within the hour.”
She laughed, relieved. “Yes, please!”
“Okay then, but for now, close your eyes.” She closed them and he lay back down beside her. “Now, when you open them, imagine that you're waking up in the morning and this is what you're seeing.”
Missy opened her eyes and gasped. The way the bed was set up at this height made it seem as though it were floating on the lake. All she could see was sparkling water. She turned to Dan. “It's amazing! But you know the best part? What I'm looking forward to most?”
He shook his head. “What?”
“Waking up next to you.”
His beautiful smile spread across his face. She felt her heart swell in her chest. Yes, this house was wonderful, but it was Dan she wanted. She'd happily stay in her own house, or go live in a tent if it meant she got to wake up with him every morning. The love shining in the big brown eyes smiling back at her told her he felt the same way.
“That's how I feel too, Miss. I just want to be with you. This house is
awesome. I think we can make it a real home, the three of us. But what matters most is that we're together, not where we are.”
She nodded happily.
“But,” he continued with a smile, “since we're lucky enough to be together and be in a great house, there are a couple more things I want you to see.” He got up from the bed and beckoned for her to follow. He opened a door off to the left. There was an enormous walk-in closet and dressing area. Beyond that was a bathroom with a double steam shower and a huge corner Jacuzzi tub, surrounded by picture windows.
Missy wandered around the bathroom and wrinkled her nose. “It's gorgeous, but considering this bathroom and closet space is bigger than the entire upstairs of my house, you would have thought they'd have put in his and hers sinks.”
Dan grinned. “They did.”
She looked around. “Where? There's only one sink.”
“In here there is, yes. What they put in are his and hers bathrooms. Come see.”
She followed him back out through the dressing area, then the bedroom. He opened a door off to the right to reveal another closet, dressing area and bathroom that mirrored the first.
“Oh, my God!” She laughed. “I guess this is the his side?” she asked, looking at the silver toned tile.
“Yeah,” agreed Dan. “If you don't mind, I'm not going to fight you for that peachy colored one. It's yours.”
Missy wandered back out into the bedroom, a little overwhelmed at the thought that that would be her bathroom. She sat down in one of two armchairs beside the fireplace, caught up in a storm of emotions. She wanted him. She was in love with him, no question. She was so happy and excited at the thought of moving in here with him. She was thrilled that Scot's life would change so much. He'd have a guy in his life who loved him and could guide him. He'd have a pool and live on the lake. She didn't quite believe it was all real.
Dan came and sat on the floor at her feet. He picked up a remote and pressed a button. The fire sprang to life.
He grinned at her. “I love a real fire, but these imitation logs are so realistic.”
She nodded, they were. And made for a lot less cleaning.
“And,” he looked up at her through lowered lashes. “I thought maybe we could get a big sheepskin rug for in front of the fire...and after the hot tub.”
The thought of writhing naked with him on a rug in front of the fire set her body alight. He ran his hand up her leg. “You know, I guess we don't really need to wait ’til the papers are signed.” He tugged at her hands and she slid down from the chair to join him on the floor. They didn't need to wait ’til they had a rug either.
Chapter Sixteen
“Have you told Mom?” asked Jack.
Dan shook his head. “I haven't had chance to turn around yet. After we left you guys at the restaurant, Missy and I came to see the place. Then she went to get Scotty from Michael's. We thought it best if she talked to him first. I went back to see Ben, signed a rental contract for two weeks so we can move in right away while the sale goes through. Then I went to get the RV, brought it over here. Then you showed up.”
“It's all happening fast, Danny. Are you sure about this?”
Dan nodded. “I remember asking you the same question when you first met Emma. My answer is the same as yours was then—Never been more sure of anything in my life.”
Jack grinned. “That's what I was hoping to hear, little bro. I'm thrilled for you. I'm thrilled for me too. It's going to be awesome having you living up here. I know Mom will be over the moon, too. Call her when you get chance. She loved it here when she came for the wedding. Maybe with you here and bringing Lexi out here when I get the offices set up, we could persuade her to move here.”
Dan cocked his head. He hadn't considered that.
“I guess the possibility of grand-babies would seal the deal too,” grinned Jack.
Dan frowned. “Well, the grand-babies will be down to you. What do you think she'll make of a ready-made fourteen year old grandson?”
“Scot? You know she'll love him. He couldn't be more like you if he was your son!”
That made Dan smile. “He couldn't, could he? You know I've never wanted kids. When you brought me up here to meet him, I wanted to be like a mentor.” He looked at Jack, “Hell, I'll say it, I thought if I could be half the big brother you are, then I'd be doing something great. But now, Jack, I want to be his dad. I know he's got a real dad somewhere, but I want to be a dad to him. Is that crazy?”
“It's not crazy, Danny. It's awesome! You're the best dad Scot could hope to find. And don't kid yourself that he already has one. He doesn't. There's a guy out there somewhere who is his biological father. Anyone can be a father.” Jack stopped and looked at him. “Sorry bro. Any asshole can be a father, we know that better than most, but it takes someone special to be a dad. In Scot's case it would take someone very special indeed. You really are the best dad that kid could ever hope to find; you're perfect for him.”
Dan smiled. He felt that it was true. “I'm going to work hard at it, Jack. I really want to be.”
“You already are. There's no need to try. But tell me how you're managing to swing this. What's going on with Prometheus, are you really selling out? What are you going to do up here?”
Dan filled him in on the developments with the merger.
“You know I dislike Olivia, but I'm grateful to her. I think she's done you a huge favor in a roundabout way.”
“I do too. It's like all her manipulating finally pushed me over the edge and I woke up to the fact that I've been sleep-walking through a life I don't want with a woman I don't even like. Now I get to come up here and a live the kind of life I really want, with the woman I love.”
Jack grinned. “It's a great feeling, isn't it?”
Dan nodded. “And I even get to do new and challenging work that I'm looking forward to.”
“What's that then?”
“Do you remember Ryan from Berkeley?”
Jack nodded, “Yeah, he's a good guy. Where is he these days?”
Dan told him about Ryan's visit and job offer.
“Wow, that's pretty cool. When do you start?”
Dan frowned. He was still waiting to hear back from Ryan. “Whenever they get done with the whole security vetting process. Ryan said it should only take a couple of weeks.”
“So, soon you'll have a new job, a new house, and a new son. I have to ask, is Missy going to be your new wife?”
“I hope so. It's just that the whole getting married thing had never occurred to me before.” He looked at Jack. “Should I have asked her to marry me first? I didn't think. I just want to be with her. Have us all move in here.”
Jack smiled. “I don't think it makes any difference which way ’round you do it. You're made for each other. When I think of the two of you as individuals, you don't make any sense as a couple. When I see you together it's so obvious, you're perfect for each other.”
Dan grinned. “That's something I've had to learn since I met Missy. Logic and reason don't take intangibles into account. Just because things don't make sense, it doesn't mean they don't make sense.”
Jack laughed. “That is so true. But I never thought I'd hear you admit it.”
“Me neither. But that little lady is making me realize a lot of things I would never have believed before.”
“I'm glad. Missy is good people.”
“The best,” agreed Dan. “And I want to give her the best, of everything.”
“Well, you're making a good start with the best damned house in town!”
“You like it then?”
“I love it! Em's place is special. It's growing on me, and I do love being up at North Cove, but this place is something else. And for you, it couldn't be better, being right here in town and on the lake as well.”
“I know. Miss has lived in town all her life. And can you believe this has been her favorite house since she was a kid? She knew the family and used to come to play with their niec
e.”
“Wow! That makes it even more perfect.... And here she comes.”
Dan looked up the driveway to where Missy was parking her minivan behind the RV.
“I'm going to get out of here, leave you guys to it,” said Jack.
Dan nodded. It had been great to spend this time with Jack, but they'd be able to do that whenever they wanted and right now he wanted to show Scot their new home. Get a feel for what he thought about the whole idea.
“Thanks Jack. I'll call you.”
“Sure bro. You can have us over for dinner when you're all settled in.”
Dan smiled. Just like Missy had said, and he liked the idea.
“Hey Uncle Jack!” called Scot as he ran past Jack and flung himself at Dan.
Dan wrapped his arms around the kid. “Hey, champ.”
“Dan, Dan, Dan! Mom says we can come stay with you here for a while!”
Stay here? For a while? Dan was thinking of it as live here. For good. He looked up at Missy who had been saying goodbye to Jack. She smiled as she came to join them.
“So you two are going to stay here for a while?” he asked pointedly. He relaxed when he saw her smile.
“Yeah. I told Scotty it's like when you and me were testing out hugs before we decided to go out with each other.”
Dan understood. She needed to be cautious for Scotty's sake. Scot grinned up at him, still hugging his waist. “And we know how well the hugging turned out, huh, Dan? So, you gonna show me round our new house?”
Dan laughed as he led them through the front door. He had the feeling this was going to turn out really well.
***
Missy slid the tray of sweet potatoes into the oven with a smile. It still tickled her that Jack had told her his secret to making the best sweet potato fries she'd ever tasted. Emma had tried and tried to wheedle it out of her, but Jack had sworn her to secrecy. Emma prided herself on being the best cook of all of them, but she couldn't match Jack's fries. He claimed he kept his secret because she wouldn't need him anymore once she knew it. Missy knew how ridiculous that was. Despite a rocky start in learning to trust him, Emma was completely besotted with Jack and seemed to become more so with every week that passed since they'd gotten married.
