Page 50

“What the fuck, Danielle?” Hendrix is the first to speak, and I don’t even scold him for swearing.

Raven pulls his arm, but it’s basically what we’re all thinking.

Allie’s fingers tighten on my arm, and I cover her hand with mine, giving her a reassuring squeeze. This woman doesn’t bother me.

“Danielle?” I walk over to where she’s standing. “What are you doing here?”

“Jack…” She blinks rapidly, seeming nervous.

Her blonde hair is big and wavy, and she’s wearing light-blue jeans and a matching denim vest over a long-sleeved, white shirt .

“We were just passing through town, and I couldn’t believe it.” She looks up and around the space. “The famous Cooters & Shooters. I had to stop the bus.”

“Okay.” I’m not convinced, but I’ll accept her explanation.

“Sorry, it looks like I caught you at a bad time.” She gives me a wink.

My lip curls.

I feel absolutely nothing at all toward this woman—other than wishing she’d get back on her tour bus and keep driving.

“Actually, you caught me at a very good time.” I straighten. “You caught me at the best time of my life, not counting the day Kimmie was born.”

My daughter chooses this particular moment to march up to me. I assume whatever she was pouting about has finally boiled over.

“Daddy…” She grabs my hand in both of hers. “You have to stop being married to Miss Allie right now.”

Danielle’s eyes flicker to the seven-year-old spitfire with the bouncing brunette curls. “Is this?”

I take a knee beside my little girl. “What’s wrong, baby?”

“Edward says I can’t marry Austin anymore because you married Miss Allie.” Her face is scrunched up like she might cry. “But I have to marry Aussie! He’s my handsome prince, and he makes me pancakes on Friday because it’s T-G-I-F!”

I’ve been ignoring her crush on Allie’s son for obvious reasons—she’s seven, and I figured she’d eventually outgrow it. “Kimmie, Austin’s about to leave for college.”

“So?” Her voice goes high.

Danielle smiles as she watches us, and I wonder if she ever regrets giving up all her rights to this perfect little miracle she somehow helped me create.

I wonder if she realizes what she walked away from without even looking back.

Her loss.

“It’s okay, little lady.” As if she possesses some maternal instinct, she leans down to put her fingers lightly on Kimmie’s shoulder.

“No, it’s not,” Kimmie snaps. “I love Aussie. He takes care of me, and he’s the best quarterback like my daddy, and I’m going to marry him.”

Danielle nods like she knows anything. “Take it from me, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Don’t fall for the first one to make you breakfast.”

I’m about to say something when Kimmie crosses her arms, frowning up at Danielle.

“Who are you?” she demands.

“I’m ahh…” Danielle’s eyes flicker to mine briefly. “I’m a friend of your dad’s.”

“I know all my daddy’s friends.”

“Okay…” Danielle nods. “You’re very pretty.”

Kimmie’s eyes narrow, and she’s a handful. She’s also smart as a whip. “Thank you.”

Allie walks up at this point, reaching for Kimmie’s hand. “Come on, baby.” My wife’s voice is a soothing balm to my insides. “We can talk about it, okay?”

Kimmie’s little lips pout, and she shakes her head. “It’s not okay, Miss Allie.”

“I know,” Allie concedes. “I’m going to miss him, too.”

“Is this the new wife?” Danielle smiles, holding out her hand.

“Yes, I am.” Allie lifts her chin, looking straight into my ex’s eyes and ignoring her hand.

“Congratulations. You’ve got a good man here.”

I’m not sure where this is coming from, but Allie’s tone is sharp.

“Yes, I do. He’s the best man. He’s an incredible dad, and… well, he’s pretty incredible in every way, if you know what I mean.”

Danielle’s brows rise, and I can’t help a smug grin.

“Speaking of every way…” She turns to me, lowering her voice. “I ah, I wanted to apologize. I said some things when we we re together, and well… I’m sorry. I was harsh and ignorant, and I guess… I’m just saying, I’m more open now.”

My eyes narrow. “That door is closed.”

She blinks up at me as if she’ll say more, but Allie steps between us, adding, “And locked. Now you’d better get going.”

Danielle exhales a laugh, looking down. “Well, anyway, I apologize.” Looking over at my daughter, she smiles. “Kimmie, good luck with Austin, and Jack, I’ll be seeing you.”

“No, you won’t.” Allie takes a step closer. “You’re all done here, understand?”

Reaching out, I catch my feisty wife’s wrist. “Have a nice life, Danielle. I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for.”

She lifts her chin. “You, too.”

“I have.” My tone is final.

She holds up both hands. “Okay, then. That’s all I wanted to say.”

She nods at my siblings, who are all giving varying degrees of death glares. Turning on her booted heel, she struts to the doors and out of our lives forever.

“Damn, Allie!” Raven cries when the doors close. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”

Allie holds my arm, grinning at her friends. Kimmie is still at her side pouting, and Dylan holds out a hand.

“Come here, KJ.” Kimmie marches over to my sister, who puts a hand on her waist. “Daddy and Miss Allie need a little not-so-quiet time tonight…” I cut her a look, and she continues, grinning up at me from where she’s nursing her baby boy.

“You’re going to stay with Uncle Logan and me, and we’re going to talk about this Austin situation, okay? ”

Kimmie nods forcefully, and Allie mouths a Thank you to her. Dylan waves her away, mouthing back I got this. Considering my little sister has been Kimmie’s backup mom since I came back to Newhope carrying a six-month-old, I trust her.

I pull Allie to my chest. “Is it honeymoon time yet? ”

Her lips press into a smile, and she tilts her head. “We’ve got to cut the cake.”

My head falls back with a groan, which makes her laugh. I actually feel surprisingly lighter myself. Danielle’s unexpected appearance has left me feeling intensely grateful I got out of that situation without any lingering ties.

Walking over to my daughter, I lift her off her feet, giving her a firm hug. “I love you, Peanut.”

She relents, putting her arms around my neck. “I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you, too.” Allie puts her hand on my little girl’s back.

Kimmie’s head pops up, and she reaches for Allie. “I love you, too, Miss Allie. You make Daddy smile.”

“Oh… okay?” Allie blinks fast, and I can tell she’s fighting tears.

She puts my daughter on her feet, and I hold her hand. I’m so ready to sneak out, but Clint is some kind of psychic mindreader. He holds up a large knife with a chiffon ribbon around the handle.

“Cake!” Kimmie jumps up and down. “I want cake!”

She takes off at top speed to where Craig’s boyfriend is waiting, and I put my arm around my wife. “After cake.”

The orgasm twists tighter in my stomach, and a bead of sweat slides down my cheek as I fight the urge to come. Allie is on my lap, her back to my chest. A red satin blindfold covers her eyes, and her wrists are bound with a matching satin bow behind her back.

It forces her back to arch, and her sexy tits bounce as she rides my cock faster. She’s so fucking hot. Her juicy apple scent is driving me wild.

Her nipples are little points, deep red from the time I spent sucking them. Salt is on my tongue from all the places I’ve licked, bit, and kissed her, and she emits moans and whimpers with every rock of her hips.

“You’re so fucking sexy,” I groan, and her breath comes in trembling gasps. “Take my cock, my beautiful wife.”

My hand goes between her thighs, and I hold the bullet vibrator to her clit once more.

With a scream, she erupts into sensual shudders, gasping and jerking on my lap, her pussy pulling my erection. I release with a groan, letting her pull me over the edge with her as she goes.

Closing my eyes, I ride out the tidal wave of pleasure, shooting through my body with every pulse.

Allie’s trembling, leaning forward, and I slip the satin off her wrists. I reach up to take the blindfold off her eyes, then I wrap her in my arms, easing us down into the soft linen sheets.

Hours later, we’re sexy and sated. I’m holding my wife in my arms and we’re sharing a glass of champagne from the oversized gift basket that was waiting in the refrigerator when we arrived.

“Maybe we could go skinny-dipping after while.” Allie taps my glass with hers. “Miss Gina’s pool is heated.”

“I’d rather go skinny-fucking.” I take a sip of wine, and she snorts a laugh, putting her hand over her nose.

It makes me smile. Everything she does is adorable.

“You almost made me spit-take.”

“Just being honest.”

She scoots around to lean her back into my side, and I slide my hand over her waist and stomach, wondering how she’d feel about having another baby with me.

“You never told me Danielle was a famous country singer.”

My brow lowers, and I set my glass to the side. “I didn’t know.”

“How did you feel about seeing her?” She turns her head, glancing up at me .

I press my lips to her head, inhaling green apple. “I felt like the luckiest man in the world.”

That makes her laugh softly, and my chest expands with warmth. I take her glass and put it on the nightstand, turning her to face me.

“I am the luckiest man in the world.” Our eyes meet, and she blinks up at me. “I have my daughter, my family, a job I love… And now I have you.”

Her full lips spread into a happy smile, and she reaches up to trace her finger along my jaw. “I love you, husband.”

“I love you, my dirty little wife.” She lifts her chin with a laugh, and I bend down to kiss her neck. “My sexy librarian…” Another kiss. “My beautiful lady…” Lifting my head, I catch her eyes again. “The mother of my baby?”

Her eyes light, and she grins adorably. “You never know what the future holds.”

“Perhaps another Bradford?”

“Tell me a poem.”