by Nikki Ashton
Luke grinned. “Let’s get this tour over first.”
Dirty Riches had been touring small arenas, for the last month with Martha, Stacey and their children joining them. Each of the families had their own luxurious tour bus with bedrooms rather than bunks while Jake and Tom shared what was known as the ‘Sex Bus’. The two of them were usually joined by a pack of ‘lovely ladies’ that they managed to pick up each night.
“Hey guys.” Skins joined them, smiling widely and clutching a bottle of water. “Did you see those mini guitars that the sponsors left for Ethan and Rocco?”
“I saw them,” Martha replied. “There’s a whole new generation of Dirty Riches to take over when you all decide to retire.”
Skins put his arm around Martha’s shoulder and pulled her to him.
“Now we’ve managed to get Luke back on stage I’m not so sure that we’ll ever get him off again.”
“Don’t know about you man,” Luke said gazing down at his son. “But I think tours should be limited to summer holidays once our little guys start school. Some things are just more important than music, I get that now.”
Luke inhaled the sweet scent of his son and marvelled at the enormity of love that he felt for the little bundle in his arms. When Martha had told him that she was pregnant, Luke had to admit that he was petrified. It was a huge responsibility and he wasn’t sure he was the right person to be guiding another human being along the path of life. Once Rocco was placed in his arms, however, all that fear and insecurity disappeared and all he felt was overwhelming love. As for Martha, watching her bring their son into the world just made him fall in love with her even harder. She was amazing and she was his, and he was hers and always would be.
Martha’s face broke in to a huge grin as Jake and Tom appeared at Luke’s side. They were both pushing each other out of the way, desperate to be the one to prise Rocco from his father’s arms. Jake, Tom and Skins were Rocco’s godfathers and all took their role seriously. Martha knew Skins would be the one to provide the advice and common sense, but she had no doubt that Dumb and Dumber would provide Rocco with a lot of fun and laughter throughout his life.
Shaking his head at their antics, Luke tutted and sighed.
“You need to get a shower before you hold my boy.”
“You stink worse than us,” Tom cried trying to peer at Rocco over Luke’s shoulder.
“Well, I’m allowed, I’m his Papa.”
“No offence Martha,” Jake said draping an arm around her shoulder. “But are you sure that Luke’s his dad?”
“Jake!” Martha poked her finger into Jake’s ribs.
“Oi dickhead,” Luke cried. “Don’t accuse my wife of being fast and loose with her favours.”
Jake rubbed his side where Martha had poked him. “Sorry dude, but that kid is seriously handsome; and while your wife is beautiful, I don’t think even she has enough gorgeous genes to make a kid that cute. So,” he said running a finger gently along Rocco’s tiny nose, “it must come from his father too, and you aint that pretty.”
Skins and Martha looked at Luke’s face and both started to laugh. Luke was pouting like a toddler who’d just been told that Santa didn’t exist.
“Oh shit,” Tom said. “I think I’ll go before Volcano Luke erupts.”
“He looks just like me, you dick wad,” Luke said half turning his back on Jake. “And who was it that made the top three of the hottest men on the planet in Heat Magazine, not you Jake?”
Jake held his hands up in the air. “Just saying, and I made number six, so suck it up pretty boy. Hey, you can stop laughing Ballard,” he said turning to Skins. “I think the same applies to your kid too. Ethan is far too good looking to belong to you.”
Skins laughter that had been mingling with Martha’s suddenly stopped. He stared at Jake and pointed a finger at him.
“That’s not funny, Jake. Ethan is the spitting image of me.”
“Oh dear, oh dear,” Luke laughed. “Not so funny now is it, Mr Ballard?”
“Where is my beautiful wife anyway, Martha?” Skins asked while glaring at Luke, who was biting his bottom lip, trying to stop himself from laughing in his friend's face.
Martha smiled gently at him and nudged Luke to warn him to stop giggling.
“She went back to the bus. Ethan was tired.”
Skins nodded. “Okay, I’ll go and do a quick circuit of the all the press and guests and then I’m gone.”
“Ah don’t sulk, Skins,” Jake said. “I was only joking.”
Skins couldn’t help but smile. “You’re a complete tool you know that, but you’re our tool.” He pulled Jake to him and gave him a great bear hug. “Come on, do the rounds with me and leave Luke to ponder whether he’s handsome or not.”
Luke grinned and punched Skins against the arm. “Pair of idiots,” he said as Jake and Skins moved over to where Tom was talking to some competition winners.
Martha smiled widely, she loved the crazy family that she’d become part of. She adored them all. She and Stacey had become best friends and the boys were like brothers to her. Admittedly Jake and Tom were like naughty, younger brothers, but they’d proved how much they cared about her and Luke by helping to find out what Rachel had done.
“So,” Luke said breaking her thoughts, “have you been alone back here for a while, baby?”
“No, not really,” Martha replied. She nodded her head towards Brad, one of the roadies, and he opened the door to the dressing room. “Look who kept me company.”
Luke turned to follow her gaze and a huge beam spread across his handsome face.
“Betty Boo, when did you get here?”
Betty ran over and threw her arms around Luke’s neck, then dropped a kiss on her baby brother’s head.
“Hi Papa, I’ve missed you.”
Luke puffed up with pride as Betty called him Papa. She was too old to be adopted by Luke, although he’d tried, but she had changed her surname officially to Mahoney and from that day called Luke ‘Papa.'
Grinning a mile wide, Luke passed Rocco to Tom, who had just wandered over, and then pulled Betty into a tight hug.
“Is Noah with you?” he asked holding her at arm’s length.
“Yes of course, he’s just calling Gabriella,” she said moving back in for another hug.
Betty was in her third year at university in London, studying English while Noah worked as a trainee producer at Luke’s record company. They lived together, in an apartment bought by Luke for Betty’s birthday. When Luke told Martha what he’d done, she hadn’t spoken to him for two days, but Luke figured that it was what any father would do for their daughter. When Martha did finally speak to him it was loud and angry, but as usual Luke’s sexy grin and whispered dirty words calmed her down.
“Are you coming back home with us tomorrow and how long are you staying for?” Luke asked tucking Betty’s hair behind her ear.
“Yes, we’re going to drive back tomorrow after the show, and we’ll be with you for a whole two weeks, while you have your tour break.” Betty kissed Luke’s cheek. “Obviously I want to see Uncle Graham and Sally, and Em and Ruby too, but most of all I want to spend time with you three and Nonna. It’s going to be amazeballs with Gabriella and Dom coming for Christmas too.”
Luke laughed softly and gave Betty another hug. “I’m so glad you’re here, Christmas wouldn’t be the same without you,” he said.
“We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” Suddenly Betty’s gaze moved over Luke’s shoulder. “I’ll be back,” she said. “I just want to catch up with the guys.”
Betty moved over to the rest of the band, who were all cooing over Rocco, and Luke’s heart warmed as he watched his daughter laugh and joke with his best friends. Martha moved over to him and took his hand in hers, squeezing it gently.
“Was that a nice surprise?” she asked looking up at him with a smile, knowing that he loved Betty as if she were his own child.
Luke threaded his arms around Martha’s waist
and pulled her closely to him.
“The best, thank you.” He dipped his head and kissed her, not gently but full of passion. He had never loved anyone like he loved Martha, she was his everything and being with her had made him a better person. She had given him two beautiful children and a life that he’d only ever dreamed of – one full of laughter, happiness and unconditional love, some fierce arguments too, but definitely mostly love.
“Hey,” he whispered against her ear. “How about we get out of here for a few minutes, I do believe there’s an empty dressing room next door.”
Martha shivered with longing. “Hmm, but what about Rocco?”
Luke looked across at Jake, who now had hold of Rocco and was singing, and rocking him while the baby looked up at him with a smile, or possibly wind, Luke wasn’t sure.
“I think he’ll be okay for fifteen minutes.” Luke pulled Martha closer, showing her how much he needed some alone time with her.
“Ooh, Mr Mahoney I do believe that Luke Junior is fighting to be released.” Martha’s breath caught in her throat as she envisaged what Luke could do to her within fifteen minutes.
“Well, Mrs Mahoney, there’s only one person who can help with that.”
Luke kissed Martha again, and with a groan decided that he couldn’t wait any longer. He linked his fingers with hers and dragged her away, determined to show her the best fifteen minutes of her life – well until they got back on the tour bus at least.
More Books By Nikki Ashton
Guess Who I Pulled Last Night?
No Bra Required
Get Your Kit Off
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