“And you didn’t call her.”
“We didn’t raise our daughter to be dependent. If she didn’t call us, we figured she had her reasons or needed time. We knew you wouldn’t leave her alone.”
“You did?”
“Without a doubt,” he confirmed.
“She’s staying with me. Permanently, I hope.”
“Did your dating coincide with her moving in?”
I had a feeling I knew what he was getting at, and I didn’t want to be kicked out of the family right after he’d rolled out the welcome mat. “In a soulful way, sir, I feel like we have dated all along.”
He surprised me by laughing. “Good save.” He quickly sobered. “Now about that fire. What happened?”
As much as I didn’t want to rehash the fire again—especially when it seemed as if I’d just made it to the top of a very large mountain—I knew they deserved the truth. I told him bits and pieces, enough to let him know that there were serious concerns, but I emphasized he didn’t have to worry about Teagan because she had a bodyguard. And she had me.
“Where is this bodyguard? I want to meet him.”
Evidently, I was not due even a single break today. I exhaled. “I wanted to give Teagan a day away before we got on the road. Starting tomorrow, the bodyguard will be with us every minute. Possibly even when we pee.”
“What happens if you have to go at the same time?”
I stared at him blankly until his face creased in a smile. “You’re too fun to mess with. I bet you were a serious young man, judging from your demeanor and with your background.”
“I was. Until she came into my life and changed me for the better. I’d like to think I changed her too. She didn’t eat pickles before we met, and now they’re her favorite.”
Right. There was a huge life shift. All thanks to me.
I’d have to stop having important conversations on little sleep. I couldn’t be trusted not to be a jackass.
“You’ll find that happens often in a marriage. Teagan’s mother kept after me until I learned to enjoy square dancing. We go twice a week.”
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. Good for you guys though.”
Mr. Daly chuckled as his study door opened and Teagan stuck her head inside. “Daddy, stop hassling him. Come have some bread.”
“Twist my arm, why don’t you?” Mr. Daly got to his feet while I did the same. He clapped me on my back again before he left Teagan and I alone.
“They already knew about the fire.” She frowned. “I should have called right away, but they understand why I didn’t. At least Mom does.”
“Your dad does too. Come here.”
She crossed the room to circle her arms around my waist. “Did he harass you? He likes to do that with people.”
“A little. Father’s prerogative. He loves you a lot.”
“Yeah, the feeling’s mutual.” Her gaze searched mine. “You must miss your dad. You never mention him.”
“I do miss him. Miss my mom and Jenny too. I hate losing time with them. At least there I have a chance to make some of it up, I hope.” I wrapped one of her curls around my finger. “I want you to meet them. They’re going to love you.”
Her brow wrinkled. “They know about me?”
“Babe, everyone knows about you. One of these days, I may take an ad out in the Post.”
She grinned and took my hand, tugging me with her to the door. “Sweet talker. And for that, I have a present for you. Two words: cheerleading pictures. Including the game where they ordered me a sweater a size too small, and I had no choice but to wear it until the new one came in.”
I quickened my step. “Who needs bread?”
Twenty
Our free day went by too fast. And Cole—nor Lila or Noah when we called—was not placated by our fervent apologies. He wolfed down the steak though.
Now Monday evening had arrived, and we had a new frontier to explore.
And a decision to make.
“How are we going to do this?”
Cooper dragged the back of his knuckles lightly down my cheek. “Pretty sure we figured that out days ago.” He coasted down my neck where I knew there were a few bruises. “Lots of sweat and marks.”
“I’m being serious.”
“You really think they’re not going to figure it out? According to half our band, they already did. I was the idiot.”
I twisted our fingers together on the seat between us. “You? At least you knew you were interested in me. I was clueless.”
“To be fair, I’m a soldier trained to keep my emotions in line.”
My laughter filled the car.
“What?”
“Emotions in line. Please. You’ve been growling at me for months. I just didn’t realize why.”
He leaned into me and nipped my ear, his voice low. “Because I kept picturing ways to pin you down and fill you up until you couldn’t imagine a day without me inside you.” His tongue flicked over my pulse. “So there was no possible way for another man not to know you’re mine.”
I gave him a little more room to nuzzle along my neck. He knew it drove me crazy. “I am yours.”
“Damn fucking right.”
“But we have to live with our band.” It wasn’t as hard to say ours instead of the band. Knowing I had a space there and truly belonged was getting easier to believe. But if Pat was involved with the threat to the band, would they still think that way?
Losing them would be like losing a limb.
Losing Cooper would be so much worse.
He curled my hand in his and brought it to his chest. “We’ll play it by ear, all right? But I’m not going to lie.”
“I don’t want you to.”
“Good. Because being in close quarters on the bus is going to be—there’s no way I’ll be able to resist getting my hands on you.” His voice lowered. “Or inside you where I belong.”
I swallowed hard. My pussy instantly clenched at the thought.
