Abby hopped down from the vanity, flushed the toilet, and stalked into the kitchen only to discover Layne talking to the guys and her mother nowhere to be found.
“Hey, Abs,” Layne said with a smile. “Did you get the text?”
“What text?” Abby asked as she was only half listening to her friend.
“Sydney has invited us over. She has a new line of clothes for us to look at. The guys are invited, too. I thought we could ride over together.”
Abby didn’t bother looking back. If it was in a text, Dylan would know where they were and she wasn’t in a cooperative mood right now. “Let’s go.”
* * *
Dylan looked down at the map of town and the surrounding area he’d marked up. “Just make sure they don’t tell Abby,” he said, hating that he was keeping this from her. However, he knew her well enough to know if she found out she would insist on coming. It would be one thing working in a dangerous situation with her, but it was completely different when she was the specific target of the situation.
“You know my daughter well,” Ahmed said reluctantly.
“I do and I can’t put her in danger. She’s a professional and I trust her ability to get missions done, but I won’t use her as bait. I’d rather die than see her hurt.”
Ahmed was quiet for a moment as Dylan looked everything over one last time. It was a solid plan. “Okay, you’ll pass if Aniyah shoots someone above the knee instead of limiting it to the chest.”
Dylan’s lips tugged into a smile. “I knew you liked me.”
“Don’t let it go to your head. My daughter isn’t safe yet, and I’m still willing to bet even if a person had a massive red target on them, Aniyah would still miss.”
Red target. Dylan knew what to do. He knew how to teach Aniyah to shoot.
“Call in the brothers, but I want Chet to myself. Have them set up perimeters to protect the town in case anyone gets by me. In the meantime, I’m going to win your permission to marry your daughter.”
“Whoa, wait a second!” Ahmed yelled after him. “That wasn’t the deal! Dating only!”
But Dylan was already heading into the empty living room. Where was everyone?
“This is lovely,” Sophie said of the dress she was wearing. Sydney beamed as she pinned and tucked little things on the bright blue dress. “I can’t believe I can fit into it.”
Sophie’s baby bump was noticeable now. And while the dress was beautiful, the cut made it surprisingly accommodating to the bump.
“Here, try this outfit,” Sydney said, handing Sophie a pair of black pants and a red top.
“Shouldn’t someone else be trying these on?” Sophie asked, looking around the room at all her cousins. The guys were with Deacon, helping him put something together.
“You’re glowing, Soph,” Sydney said as she unzipped the dress.
“It’s the constant need to pee,” Sophie joked.
“Just try them, please.”
“Okay, but they’re not going to fit.” Sophie disappeared into the bathroom and a couple minutes later walked out with a surprised look on her face. “This isn’t possible. I’ve been in maternity clothes for the last couple of weeks. There’s no way regular clothes can fit me.”
Sydney’s smiled widened. “I told you, it’s my new line. Did I forget to mention it was a maternity line?”
“You made a maternity line? For me? I love it! I love you!” Sophie said, checking herself out in the mirror.
“Not just you,” Sydney said with a laugh.
“Well, and Mila. But she’s not showing yet,” Sophie said as she turned and looked at the outfit from the back and everyone looked at a still flat-stomached Mila.
“In a couple months, someone else will need it, too.”
“Whoa, someone else is pregnant?” Piper asked as everyone started looked at each other with suspicion.
“Riley?”
“Reagan?”
The twins asked each other at the same time, but then shook their heads. Slowly all the cousins looked to Abby.
“Me? I’m not pregnant. I’m barely dating someone.” Abby looked down at her stomach. “You think I look pregnant?”
“Don’t look at me,” Veronica said, holding up her hands. Veronica was Zain’s right-hand gal and if Mila were a jealous wife, Veronica would be fired because she was a blonde knockout. But more important than her looks was the fact that she was a professional through and through. She ran the diplomatic office with military precision. She also happened to be a lesbian and was the kind of person who would never dare to go after a person, man or woman, already in a relationship. “Although, I think if I were dating Dylan, just looking at him naked would get you pregnant.”
Everyone snickered and Abby hoped to distract them because they would want every detail and those details were hers and hers alone.
“If it’s none of you, then who is it?” Abby asked.
“You forgot to ask someone,” Sydney said as they all stared at her. Abby saw it. The light bulb went off over everyone’s heads, including hers.
“You’re pregnant?” Sophie asked Sydney.
Sydney’s eyes teared up and she nodded. Abby was lost in the sounds of shrieks and Sydney disappeared under the arms of all her friends and cousins. Abby waited her turn and hugged a now crying Sydney.
“Praise Jesus!” Aniyah shouted as she kissed her cross necklace and lifted her hands up in the air.
“Have you told Marshall, Katelyn, and Wyatt yet?” Sienna asked about Sydney’s family.
“Yes. We told them this morning and Deacon told the guys while we were in here. He’s having them help put the crib together.”
“Oh, Syd. This is such great news,” Piper said hugging her cousin.
Abby and Sloane put their arms around a crying Mila. “I’m sorry. Hormones. I’m just happy for you. I know your struggle.”
“I don’t mean to pry, but what about the adoption?” Reagan asked. Her red hair was pulled into a ponytail that matched her twin sister’s. Riley nodded as if they had been thinking the same thing.
“It was never a sure thing, and unfortunately we haven’t heard anything else since we were put on the list. I was all out of hope and then I thought I had the stomach flu. I went and saw Dr. Ava before she went down to Moonshine Hollow, Tennessee, to visit Luke. She called me from there when the blood test came back, telling me the upset stomach was really a baby.
The door opened and Deacon stuck his head in and was instantly swamped by the women. “I guess you told them.” He laughed as he hugged them all. “The crib is assembled. Do you all want to see it?”
Abby followed the group of chattering friends out of the room. Veronica fell into line next to her. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” Abby replied automatically. She was used to hiding her feelings, and while she was friends with Veronica, it wasn’t like they were besties. Honestly, for the past few years, Abby had kept everyone at arm’s length. She was beginning to realize how lonely it truly had been for her and for the first time was questioning whether or not it had been worth it.
“We both know that’s not true. But you and I are similar, so I understand.”
Abby looked over at Veronica and her perfect makeup, bright red lipstick, fitted navy slacks with a fitted white cashmere sweater and realized it was a shield. When she thought back, she didn’t really know much about Veronica and she certainly didn’t know anything about her private life.
“You want to grab drinks sometime? I have a feeling we’ll understand each other.”
Veronica smiled. “I’d like that. It might be a while before that man lets you out again, though.”
Abby looked to where Veronica was looking. Her stomach clenched with desire and her heart flipped with love as Dylan stared across the celebration at her. His hazel eyes narrowed with displeasure, his jaw set, and his muscled arms were crossed over his chest where he was leaning against the wall. He was part of the celebration, but not. Just like her.
<
br /> Dylan uncrossed his arms and strode across the room, never taking his eyes from hers. “Sometimes I worry about Lucas,” he said instead of scolding her for leaving and not telling him where she was going. Dylan slid his hand to the curve of her hip and pulled her against his side as he looked at Lucas playing with a stuffed teddy bear.
And then, just like that, the circle of friends opened. With Dylan at her side, they were part of the celebration and it felt good. It felt so good Abby would do anything to make sure these people—her friends, who were so close they were more like family—were never in danger because of her.
While Abby had been keeping them at arm’s length, they had been pulling her closer—making sure she was always welcome, always in on the latest news, always a part of their lives even as she shut them out. She looked at Dylan as he joked about Mommy and Me class and understood exactly what he was doing with his plan. In fact, she understood it all too well because she felt it, too. And because of that love and overriding need to protect not only her friends but their babies, she was going to get Chet herself. Not because he was her mission, but because she’d do anything to protect the people in that room.
24
Dylan walked Abby out to the SUV Talon had driven her over in. Cars were leaving as he waved to his friends and cousins. He was happy for Sydney and Deacon. He’d always been on the outside of the family. He was the quiet one, the one who didn’t gossip, the one who left and hadn’t come back to Keeneston to settle down. But during that trip home with Abby by his side, he could see the appeal of coming home more, of raising a family there. He looked at Abby next to him as she waved goodbye to Veronica. Someday maybe they would move back and do just that.
“I love you,” he whispered in her ear as she returned the goodbyes of some of his cousins. Ignoring the whistles from his brother and cousins, Dylan spun Abby around, backed her up against the side of the SUV and kissed her. It felt like home. His heart, while occasionally racing with passion, was calmer more often now. He was centered. And it was because of her.
He pulled away and looked into her face. Something had changed. They were more aware of each other and the fact they might lose each other if the mission went wrong. It wasn’t a secretive game anymore. “I love you, too. Everything I am doing is because I love you.”
“And what are you doing?” Dylan asked.
“Right now? Right now I’m going home with my protection detail.”
“Thank you,” Dylan said with sigh of relief. “I know it’s hard for you not to go after Chet. Thank you for trusting me to protect you.”
“I’ve always trusted you, Dylan. And with far more than my life.”
Dylan knew what she was talking about. They’d been dancing around each other their whole lives. Sometimes coming close together, then running far apart. But it had always been her. Always.
Dylan’s hands grasped the curved part of her hips, holding her as close as possible. They were forehead to forehead as they looked at each other. Neither one said a word as they shared each other’s breath for a second before he kissed her with his whole self.
“Lordy,” he heard next to them as he broke their kiss and looked to where Aniyah was fanning herself. “I might have to rethink your tiger-kitten status ‘cause that was some straight up, alpha male Discovery Channel action.”
Abby laughed and Dylan was right there with her. “You ready for me to turn you into an alpha female?”
“You bet your fine ass I am.”
“I’ll meet you at the firing range,” he said to Aniyah before turning back to Abby, who was shaking hard with suppressed laughter. “I’ll see you at home?”
“I’ll see you there. If I’m not there, I’m probably at one of the houses on the farm. Ariana is back and mentioned getting together with Mila, Sloane, and me.”
“Don’t let her lead you into trouble,” Dylan warned with a quirk of his lips. Ariana might be a princess, but she’d never acted like one in her life. Ariana was headstrong, compassionate, and never backed down. The combination was dangerous.
“I won’t. Any trouble I get into will be of my own making.”
“That trouble better involve me,” Dylan said, kissing her quickly one more time.
Abby smiled, and Dylan thought twice about meeting Aniyah. He just needed an hour with Abby alone, but he knew that wouldn’t be enough. Maybe nothing short of a lifetime would be enough.
Dylan kissed her one more time before he opened the door for her. Talon, Lucas, and Jackson had waited patiently inside the SUV to give them privacy, but now it was time for Dylan to put Abby back into their care.
He closed the door and began to walk away when Abby called out to him. “Dylan!” He turned around to see Abby had opened her car window. “I love you with my all my heart.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart. I’ll see you for dinner.”
Abby nodded and rolled up the window. He had one woman to teach to shoot and another to plan his future with. Plus, a criminal organization to take down. He was a man in love and nothing would stop him from sharing his life with Abby.
* * *
Nothing but Aniyah’s complete lack of aim. Two hours and she was farther away from hitting the upper body than ever before. She’d actually gotten worse. Dylan stared at the target. It was time to bring out his surprise for her, but now his faith in it was dwindling.
“Hold on, Aniyah,” Dylan called out as he pulled out his phone and sent a message. “We’re taking a twenty-minute break.”
“I’m awful. And I’m not getting better. I’ll never be a badass,” Aniyah said with a sniff. Uh-oh, she was going to cry.
“You’ll be a badass. I promise.” Dylan patted her shoulder. “I have a plan and my plans always work.”
* * *
“You’re right,” Doctor Emma said as she pulled out a bag from the back of her car. “After you called, I grabbed the most common prescriptions and I think I have the perfect one.”
“Thanks for coming so fast. I know you’re wanting to slow down,” Dylan said to Doctor Emma. Her daughter, Doctor Ava, was currently in Moonshine Hollow, Tennessee, visiting her boyfriend. When Dylan was growing up, Doctor Emma took care of the whole town while practicing in Lexington. She was still the same except her curly hair was now streaked liberally with gray, and she was mentioning the word retire quite often.
“Anything for my neighbors,” Doctor Emma told him as they walked over to where Aniyah was sitting. “Try these.” Doctor Emma handed Aniyah a pair of black-framed cat-eye glasses.
“I don’t know, Doc Emma,” Aniyah said, taking the glasses as if they might blow up. “I don’t see how these will make me a badass. Maybe if I add some bling . . .”
Aniyah slipped the glasses on and blinked.
“Now, try to shoot the man on the range again,” Dylan told her as he and Emma put on their ear protectors. Aniyah shrugged and then looked down range. Her eyes got wide and Dylan crossed his arms over his chest. He was as nervous as if Aniyah were his own child. Maybe more because his future rode on her ability to shoot.
Aniyah aimed, let out her breath as he’d taught her, and squeezed the trigger.
“I shot his pecker!” Aniyah squealed as she put her gun down. Her eyes were wide with disbelief. “I gotta call my Sugarbear.”
Dylan swallowed hard as Emma clutched her stomach laughing. Aniyah had her phone on speaker as DeAndre answered. “How’s my baby?”
“I shot his pecker clean off!” Aniyah screamed excitedly as Emma clutched Dylan’s arm, nearly collapsing in laughter.
“Oh, baby. You shot someone again? Where’s his pecker? Can you put it on ice? I don’t know how to smooth this one over,” DeAndre said worriedly.
“Dylan’s with me. Can you believe it? Wham! It went flying a good twenty feet.”
“Oh Lord. You shot off Dylan’s pecker? Call 911!”
“DeAndre,” Dylan said, feeling for the poor guy. “It’s Dylan. Aniyah is with me doing target practice at the
range. She shot the dummy.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” DeAndre said with an audible exhale. “How did you teach her that? You’re like a miracle man.”
“She needed glasses. Doc Emma brought some over, and we’re working our way upward.”
“Good job, baby!” DeAndre called out over the phone. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Sugarbear. I’m so excited. I’m going to be a badass. I’ll see you tonight and we can celebrate. I’m going to see if I can do even better.”
“I’m sure you will, baby. Love you, my sexy badass.”
Aniyah replied with something that made Doc Emma blush and Dylan’s eyes widen. He cleared his throat. “I have one more surprise for you. Let me see your gun; this will just take a minute.”
Aniyah handed over Thor and took off her glasses. “I got something in the car to spruce these up.”
Doc Emma went with Aniyah as Dylan headed over to his SUV and opened up the trunk. Five minutes later, he had the gun put back together as the women made their way to him. Dylan looked up and smiled. In five minutes, he’d reconfigured her gun and she’d reconfigured her glasses. A strip of pink and black cheetah print sticker ran along the top of the frame and filled the cat-eye part of the glasses. Over the top of the cheetah print were hot pink crystals.
“I blinged out my glasses,” Aniyah said proudly.
“I blinged out your gun,” Dylan said, handing it to her.
Aniyah looked at it in confusion. “It’s heavy. And what’s that on top?”
“I’ll show you,” he said, indicating Aniyah should follow him to the range. The light was fading, so it was the perfect time to test out the new bling. He reached down and turned it on. A pink light shot out the end of it and Aniyah gasped.
“A pink laser!”
“Just put the laser where you want to shoot and pull the trigger,” Dylan instructed.
Forever Notorious: Forever Bluegrass #11 Page 19