One More Time (MMG Series Book 3)

by Hilliard, R. B.

  I was on cloud nine. That is, until we sat down with the realtor and started discussing numbers. Then reality set in. The asking price was too steep which meant the down payment would be too steep. I had a house in South Carolina and no job. Dillon and I weren’t married. In fact, we hadn’t even discussed the status of our relationship. What are we? What does he want us to be? Not even a week ago, I had his ex-girlfriend in my face telling me they were still together. Who’s to say he doesn’t get sick of us in a week, like my dad did, and just leave? A myriad of disturbing thoughts flashed through my head and suddenly, all I could think about was getting the hell out of there.

  “You okay, babe?” Dillon asked.

  I realized I was gripping the side of the table and breathing heavily. Scooting back my chair, I stood. “Excuse me,” I said and bolted for the closest exit.

  “Can you watch her?” I heard Dillon ask the realtor. By the time he got to me, I was in a full bore panic. Grabbing both of my shoulders, he jerked me into his chest and said, “Talk to me.”

  “It’s too much money, Dillon. I don’t have a job. I have a kid and a house which I already can’t afford in South Carolina.” My eyes burned like they always did right before I cried. Pulling back, I looked into his beautiful face. “What are we doing here? You’re not my husband or…or even my boyfriend for that matter,” I stammered. “You’re the father of my child, but other than that, what are we?”

  “Ibby,” he said, but I wouldn’t let him finish.

  “What if you buy this place and it doesn’t work out between us? What then?” I threw my hands in the air in exasperation. “Can you even afford this place?” His eyes narrowed and I realized I had just insulted him. Bursting into tears, I buried my head in his chest. “I didn’t mean it like that,” I cried. He held me tight and soothingly rubbed his hands up and down my back.

  “I need you to listen to me, okay?” I nodded my head. “I have more than enough money for this place. In fact, if it makes you feel better, I was planning on purchasing a house before I met you. As for what we are? Well, I didn’t quite plan on defining our relationship in the backyard of a house I might purchase, but what the hell? You are mine. Amelia is mine. I admit I was hesitant at first, but I’m not now. I want you both with me. I haven’t thought out all of the logistics, but for now just know the two of you, and that big-ass dog, belong to me.” My shoulders slumped in relief and he pulled me in tighter. “I’m crazy about you, Ibbs. Can’t you see that?” I could see that. I really could. “As for you not working, would it make you feel better if I promised to train you tomorrow night? You and Sally can alternate shifts. That way one of you can always watch Amelia. I need you both on Saturday nights but we can find a regular sitter for Amelia and make that your night to gig? Does that sound good?”

  I pulled back and wiped my eyes. “Promise you’re not just saying what you think I want to hear?”

  “Swear it,” he said. He opened his arms and I stepped into them. Wrapping them tightly around me, Dillon kissed the side of my head. “Now, how about I go and buy us a house?” he asked.

  I looked up into his eyes and gave a watery smile.

  When we got back inside, Amelia was awake and unhappy. I took her out of her bucket and showed her around the place, while Dillon talked numbers and signed papers. Given the owner had already relocated for his job, we would be able to take possession once inspections cleared and we were ready to close. That could be in as little as ten days.

  After saying goodbye to the realtor, Dillon took us to lunch to celebrate. While there, he got a call from Kurt. I could tell by his facial expression, the call was not a good one. As soon as he hung up he sighed.

  “Joss’s pregnancy is turning out to be a bad thing for me.”

  Kurt apparently didn’t want to leave Joss so sick, so had asked Dillon to cover his shift. Not wanting to end our time together, I came up with the perfect solution. Before I announced my plan, though, I had to make sure Sally could watch Amelia. Luckily, she was game, as was Dillon. I was going to join him at Dragonfly that night and he was going to train me.

  Dragonfly wasn’t at all as I remembered it. It was so much better. As Zac Brown’s Keep Me In Mind serenaded us, I took in the atmosphere. The dark wood bar and matching stools were gorgeous. There was a separate elevated area with pool tables and dart boards. There was also a section with booths and tables and a small stage area. I could just picture my cute rug on the floor under my coffee table and decorative lamp. Dillon and I were greeted by two beautiful women. One had wild curly blonde hair and huge boobs, the other had beautiful dark skin and incredible eyes. They both wore black shorts and black T-shirts with the name of the bar and a beautiful dragonfly on the front. I made a mental note to hit the boss man up for one of those T-shirts later.

  “What are you doing back here?” blonde boobs asked.

  “Joss is sick and Kurt didn’t want to leave her alone,” Dillon told them. Reaching over, he slid his hand into mine and pulled me closer. “I want you both to meet someone special. This is Isabella. Ibbs, this is Polly and Lena. They have both been working here with me since Dragonfly opened its doors,” Dillon explained.

  Both girls were super sweet and very helpful. A couple of times, Dillon had to check on things in the back. Both times the girls stepped up and helped me behind the bar. Polly was a little nosy, but I didn’t mind. I knew they were curious about who I was and what I was doing with Dillon. As far as the bar went, it was the same old same old. Serving drinks wasn’t the difficult part, it was familiarizing myself with where everything was that slowed me down.

  By eleven thirty, the place was empty. Dillon let Polly and Lena leave before us. While he was finishing up some paper work in the back, I wiped down the bar. Thank goodness I had thought to bring my breast pump tonight. I was exhausted, but at least I wasn’t leaking milk everywhere. I could even enjoy a beer, which I fully intended to do as soon as I wiped down the tables. Natalie Merchant’s voice echoed through the bar and I couldn’t help but sing along. “These… are… days… to remember.” I felt a warm, tall, body press against my back and inwardly smiled as I sang the next line. We stayed that way through the rest of the song and into She Talks to Angels by The Black Crowes.

  “Have I ever told you how sexy you are when you sing?” Dillon asked. The growl in his voice as he whispered in my ear called to something deep inside me. His hand touched the back of my leg, directly below the hem of my skirt, and seductively inched up my leg.

  I turned my head and his lips were a mere breath away from mine. Making sure not to touch, just to tempt, I said, “I don’t believe you have.”

  He lightly brushed his mouth across mine. “You are the sexiest woman I have ever seen and you’re all mine.” Without warning, his tongue swept in and took control. I felt one of his hands on my neck and the other in my panties. “What have you done to me?” he asked. His finger rubbed across my slit and I gasped at how good it felt. “All I think about…every fucking second…of every fucking day… is being inside you. I don’t want to go to work because I don’t want to be away from you.” My pulse wildly raced. I was captured by his hands and captivated by his words. “What have you done to me?” he asked, again. His finger rubbing back and forth against my clit was about to cause irrevocable damage.

  In a fog of lust, I blurted the first thing that came to mind. “I’ve loved you. That’s all.”

  His finger froze in mid-motion and I dropped my eyes to the bar and closed them. I just told an emotionally stunted man that I love him. What in the world am I thinking?

  I expected him to pull away and run. Instead, he whispered, “Say it again.”

  I lifted my eyes to see if I’d misunderstood him.

  “Say it,” he urged.

  “I’m in love with you,” I bravely admitted.

  In one fluid motion, he yanked his hand from my panties and the other off my neck. Then using a sumo-he-man-move, he ripped my panties from my body and lifted me o
nto the bar. I watched him reach into his back pocket and snag a condom from his wallet. It all happened so fast. One minute I told him I loved him and the next he was deep inside me.

  “Again,” he commanded, as he slowly pulled out and plunged back in.

  My back arched in ecstasy and my eyes rolled in my head. The man was a sex god.

  “I love you,” I breathily repeated.

  Out and back in, he thrust. This time he added his thumb and forefinger to the mix. I was close to detonating.

  “One more time,” he panted, as he stroked his thumb across my clit. Boom! It hit me and I was done.

  “I love you!” I screamed out as I came apart around him.

  He let out a long guttural moan as he came with me. Still deep inside me, he kissed the side of my head and whispered in my ear, “I love you, too.”

  * * *

  “I think I might puke.”

  “Do you normally have stage fright?” Piper asked. We were back stage, or since Dragonfly didn’t really have a backstage, we were leaning against the wall in an adjacent hallway waiting for Dillon and Gage to get my amp and microphone in place before I took the stage.

  The past two days had flown by. Ever since Wednesday night, Dillon and I had been inseparable. I had never felt anything like it before. It was all consuming and I never wanted it to end. That’s why I felt sick. All of his friends had turned out to watch me sing. Half of them I hadn’t even met yet. What if they hate me? What if I flub my lines or play the wrong chord?

  “How do I look?” I asked, pushing off the wall and standing up straight. I had on a flowered baby doll dress with hot pink and black platform heels. My hair was hanging in waves down my back. It was vintage simple, yet elegant.

  Piper snorted. “You’re gorgeous, as always.” When my eyes filled, she pulled me into a big hug. “Hey, they will love you. I promise.”

  “I don’t want to disappoint him, Piper.”

  She grabbed my face and made me look at her. “That man is nuts about you. I have never seen him act this way about anyone before. You and that precious little girl color his world. Do you hear me?” I nodded my head. “Good, now go kick ass,” she said, swatting me on the butt.

  Straightening my shoulders, I pulled my guitar in tight and took the stage. The place was packed from wall to wall. Pretend this is The Shot Glass, I thought, as I made my way over to the stool and sat down. Just as I asked, the lights were turned off. Taking a deep breath, I plugged the amp into the bottom of my guitar. My set list tonight was all over the place. Most of the songs, people could dance to. A few, though, were meant specifically for Dillon. Closing my eyes, I rolled my shoulders and took a few deep breaths. I could make out Piper and Gage to my right. Max, Ellie, Kurt and Joss stood directly behind them. Dillon walked on stage and over to me, where he leaned down, gave me a big kiss and took the microphone. He nodded his head and I turned on the lamp. The stage lit up and the crowd went wild. Dillon looked back over his shoulder at me and winked. This is what it’s all about.

  “Hey guys. Tonight Dragonfly has something really special in store for you. Are you ready?” The crowd cheered. “You sure?” The crowd cheered louder. “Well, all right then. Let’s give it up for Miss Isabella Fisher!” While they were catcalling and screaming, he made his way back to me. As he handed the microphone over, he mouthed, “Love you,” and my heart soared.

  Sucking in a deep breath, I began playing Hand In My Pocket by Alanis Morissette. Every time I came to the chorus, I sang it acapella. When I was done, the crowd was dead silent. I closed my eyes, held my breath and started counting to ten. Please let them like it. Right as I hit five, the cheering started. It was so loud, it made my eyes water. Once they started to wind back down, I shot into my version of Second Hand News by Fleetwood Mac. Since everyone was on their feet dancing, I followed it with an all-time favorite Cranberries song, Zombie. Acoustically, it was paired down and simplified, but was still an awesome song. I played a few more up-beat tunes before slowing it down a bit. I had been fiddling around with a song since returning to Charlotte with Dillon. Taking a deep breath, I blew it out. Here goes nothing.

  “This next one is by a newer artist to the scene, Avicii.” The crowd cheered and I couldn’t help but smile. “The song is called Addicted To You and it’s for Dillon.” My version was as sultry as Avicii’s, but I decided to slow it down and drag out the chords a little more. By the way the crowd cheered when I finished, I’d say I’d made a good choice. “Enjoy yourselves tonight. I’m going to grab a beer.” I leaned my guitar against the table and made my way to the hall where Dillon was waiting.

  Picking me up, he carried me into the office, where he closed and locked the door.

  “That was so fucking hot. You are so fucking hot,” he said. “You make me crazy, Ibby.” I had never seen Dillon at warp speed before. It was sexy and at the same time, humorous. “Feel this.” He pressed my hand to his rock hard cock and I couldn’t help but moan. My panties were instantly wet. “I want inside you right this second,” he said, giving me a scorching hot kiss. Loud banging on the door interrupted whatever crazy thing he was going to say next. “Fuck off!” Dillon yelled and started unbuttoning his pants.

  For some reason I found this immensely funny. Yes, I was turned on, but he was acting like a horny lunatic.

  “Dillon! We all want to see Isabella!” Piper shouted through the door.

  “Later!” Dillon shouted back. Not able to hold it in any longer, I broke into gales of hysterical laughter.

  “That doesn’t sound like sex,” a man’s voice said through the door. This made me laugh even harder. Dillon buttoned back up his pants, stormed over to the door and flung it open.

  “That’s because it’s not!” he all but shouted. The perplexed look on Gage and Piper’s faces had me howling with laughter.

  “You! Were! Brilliant!” Piper shouted. She pushed Dillon aside to get to me. Ellie and Joss were right on her heels.

  Dillon looked completely railroaded and I felt sorry for him. Before I was swallowed by the girls, I told them to hang on for a second. Dillon was staring at me and I motioned for him to come over. When he got to me, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled his head down so I could whisper in his ear.

  “I promise later to show you just how much I love you, okay?” His head shot up and his silver grey eyes captured mine.

  “I’m holding you to that,” he said. Then he gave me a kiss girls only dream about.

  One of the girls sighed and I hesitantly pulled away and asked, “Who wants a beer?”

  Later that night, I made good on my promise.

  Chapter Ten

  Dillon

  ‡

  She has no clue how incredible she is. That makes her even more so. I stared down at Ibby’s sleeping face and smiled.

  There is no other word for tonight, except amazing. Isabella’s performance was simply amazing. The last song dedicated to me was so sexy-hot all I could think about was getting her naked in the office. I was so caught up in making this happen I almost punched Piper in the face when she interrupted us. I let out a chuckle and Ibby stirred beside me. As I stroked my hand soothingly across her back, she instantly settled and I went back to my thoughts.

  Luckily, just as I’d predicted, Piper, Ellie and Joss had taken Ibbs under their protective wings, while Max, Gage, Kurt and I stood off to the side and watched. Poor Ibbs was beyond overwhelmed by my friends. Cas, Garrett and Bobby were there. Hell, even Benny, Tut, Twon and Harry showed up and by the time Ibby went on stage, we had a full house. At one point, I thought I spotted Dana across the bar, but when I went to check it out she was gone. The MMG-Dragonfly crowd was a lot to take in. I remember how I felt when I first met them all.

  I couldn’t wait to show off my girls tomorrow at Kurt and Joss’s place. My chest constricted and I rubbed my hand over it. I’d never felt this way about anyone before. Well, that’s not exactly true. I loved my mom and brother. I even loved my dad before it a
ll went to shit. I especially loved my aunt. This, however, was different. My feelings for this woman consume me. She was like a fire in my veins burning all the way to my soul. There is no cure for this. Even if there is, I wouldn’t want it. Is this what my dad felt for my mom? Was death the only way out? Most of the time, I tried not to think about my parents. Every now and then, though, thoughts of them and our lives from before seeped in and I found myself remembering.

  I must have drifted off because suddenly I was jerked awake by Isabella shouting. Amelia was wailing in her Pack ‘n Play and Sally was standing beside the bed staring down at me.

  Shaking the sleep from my brain, I noticed I was covered in sweat. That’s when it hit me. I was dreaming again.

  “I’m awake,” I told them.

  “It’s about time,” Sally harshly retorted.

  “How bad was it?” I asked, glancing over at Isabella.

  “Talk to me, babe,” she whispered. The tears in her eyes turned me inside out. Sally gathered Milly from the Pack ‘n Play and rocked her back and forth. Shit!

  “Sorry,” I said.

  “You need to get a hold on whatever the hell has you by the nuts,” Sally warned. Then she turned and stormed out of the room with Milly.

  “She’s right. You need to talk about whatever it is that’s bothering you. If not to me, then talk to someone,” Ibby said. “This is the third time since we’ve been back that you’ve woken up yelling, and by far the worst.”