by J. K Harper
Her stomach tied itself in a knot. She was sure her cheeks had burst into flames.
Oh my God. It’s him.
* * *
Tyla barely had time to compose herself before the object of her stare looked around and saw her too.
Their eyes locked together. Tyla felt a lightning jolt in the very center of her being.
Quinn.
The man she’d never gotten over.
The man who had left her without a backward glance, pregnant and broken-hearted. Even though he hadn’t known she was pregnant, so that part wasn’t exactly his fault.
Him.
And damn, he was still really hot. Really, really hot.
She swallowed and forced herself to look straight ahead. She could still feel his eyes burning into her. Warmth pooled inside her, to her shame.
Cool it, she ordered herself. This is April’s special day. Don’t allow any drama to spoil it.
The bride and groom took each other’s hands at the front at the front of the church, and the wedding service began.
That was the end of the bridesmaid’s duties, for a moment. Tyla picked up Louella and placed a kiss on her head.
She sat down to the left of April, arranging the little girl’s wriggly legs straight on her lap.
Surely she could hold it together long enough to get through this day?
Without meaning to, her eyes darted back to Quinn, standing head and shoulders above all the other people on Noah’s side of the church.
Once again, he looked around at Tyla at the exact same time. The crinkle of his eyes when he half-smiled at her made her stomach turn cartwheels.
Then he looked down at Louella.
Oh, man. Is he going to start doing the math?
This was the moment Tyla had always dreaded.
The resemblance between Tyla and Louella was obvious. She was Mommy’s girl, that was for sure.
To her relief, Quinn didn’t look like he’d started working out dates. He just raised his eyebrows and gave a slight smile and nod, as if to say “That your kid? Cool.”
He hasn’t even considered that she’s his. Thank God.
He showed no particular curiosity about Louella, beyond that small acknowledgment of her existence.
So far, so good.
She just had to get them through the reception, and she was home free. Hopefully.
Watching the bride and groom taking their vows, she tried not to let her attention stray to the man she’d loved, and lost.
She hugged Louella closer and tried to calm her racing pulse.
* * *
The reception room was crowded, so Tyla managed to avoid Quinn pretty well. Her feet ached in her fancy shoes, but she was a lot more at ease than she had been this morning.
The photographer took April and Noah for a set of couple shots. April had somehow managed to arrange things so Tyla and Quinn never had to be in the same photo. She was so grateful for that.
Once the happy couple had finished their photo shoot, the band started playing the first notes of April’s favorite song.
Immediately, the floor cleared. It was time for the first dance.
Tyla thanked her lucky stars that April had decided not to follow all the usual wedding traditions. Otherwise she and Quinn would be expected to dance together right now, and that’d be pretty awkward.
Applause rippled across the room as the bride and groom made their way down the steps. Noah supported April as she navigated the stairs in her killer heels. They were both smiling like they’d won the lottery.
They kind of have, Tyla noted to herself. The lottery of life.
She looked around for Louella and saw her playing gleefully in the corner with the other kids, ignoring the whole thing.
Leaning on the railing, Tyla watched her friends spin around the dance floor. Mr and Mrs Bishop. They looked so fine together. They always had.
She basked in the reflected glow of their happiness. It was adorable.
But Tyla’s peace didn’t last long. Before the band had reached the first chorus of the song, she felt warmth at her shoulder. Someone was standing there.
“Mind if I book you for the next dance?”
That voice.
That deep bass rumble. It sent a shiver through her bones.
Oh, shit.
It’s him.
Tyla looked up and came face to face with Quinn.
“Hey,” he said.
Chapter 4
“Hey, you. Uh— I don’t think I can dance in these shoes.”
Quinn leaned in to kiss her cheek. “That’s a shame. You look incredible, by the way.”
Tyla froze. For a moment, she couldn’t think of a single sensible thing to say.
“Oh. I mean, thanks. You too.”
Boy, he still smelled so good. Clean, and fresh, and manly. She inhaled the air around him as discreetly as she could.
“So how have you been? You’re a mom now, right? That cutie’s yours?”
“Yeah.” She stole a quick glance at him. Was he sizing up her daughter for traces of Darbyshire DNA?
But he wasn’t even looking at Louella. He was still looking at Tyla.
“You’ll have to introduce me to her dad. Are you guys married, or…?”
“No.” Tyla jumped in too quickly, in her haste to appear calm. “No. Uh, we’re not together any more. It didn’t work out.”
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.” The smirk on his face told a different story. “So you’re single? Do you have a date for tonight?”
It looked like April had been right. He was trying to hook up with her for a one night stand before he headed back to the city.
On the other hand, it could have been an innocent question, but he wasn’t an innocent kind of guy.
“Oh, I’m pretty busy with my daughter. I don’t have a lot of time to date.” She forced a cheery smile. “Anyway, enough about me. How’s life as a superstar athlete?”
“Pretty great. Yeah. Pretty great.” He looked all around them both. “Wait, do you have a drink? Let me get you some champagne.”
“No, thank you. I’m good. I don’t drink.”
She was being really frosty, and she knew it. She didn’t want to be rude, but he needed to get the message soon. There was no way she was going to be his playmate for tonight.
Even though her body craved him just as it always had, being his one night stand would be too much to bear. Her heart was still too raw for that.
The song was just drawing to a close. Down on the dance floor, Noah lifted April off her feet and spun her around.
“And now,” said the singer, “it’s time the maid of honor and the best man showed us all how it’s done! Come on down, Tyla and Quinn.”
“What?”
Oh no.
Blood drained from Tyla’s face as she realized all eyes were on her and Quinn.
“April said we weren’t doing this,” she protested weakly.
He held his arm out to her. “Come on. We may as well give the people what they want.”
“Yay Mommy!” She heard Louella’s little voice cheering her on. “Go dance, Mommy!”
She had no choice. She was going to have to dance with Quinn, in front of everyone.
This was so unfair. She looked pleadingly over at April, who shot her back an apologetic “I tried to stop this” shrug.
Before she knew what was happening, Quinn pulled her into the spotlight. His hand grasped her waist and he began to lead her around the floor.
Everywhere he touched her, she felt little sparks of desire. It was like she’d been switched off for five years and he’d just fixed her circuitboard.
Her heart pounded against her ribs. God, he was still so sexy. It took all her willpower not to fall into his arms and let him do whatever he wanted with her.
Bad idea. Keep away.
Her body tried to convince her otherwise, but she ignored it with all her might.
Could he tell how attracted to him she still wa
s? Did his cheetah senses tell him how swiftly her body still responded to his touch?
Damn, she hoped not.
He guided her confidently across the floor. She was no dancer, but he made it effortless with his agile grace. They swept back and forth with ease. Years of athletic training had given him perfect coordination, so not even Tyla’s clumsy stumbling could throw them off balance.
The firm touch of his hand on the curve of her lower back made her skin tingle with need.
“You’re doing great,” he murmured into her hair. “And it’s nice to have you in my arms again, Tyla. Just like old times.”
“Knock it off, Darbyshire,” Tyla whispered. “I’m not there for the taking any more. Sorry, but I have responsibilities now.”
He said nothing, but his eyes glinted with something that looked like passion.
When their song finished, the dance floor began to fill up with other couples and groups. They weren’t alone in the spotlight any more. Tyla was grateful.
“Look, I’m going to have to bail now,” she said. “My feet are killing me in these shoes. It was lovely to see you again, but please excuse me.”
Before she could make her escape, Quinn grabbed her hand.
She turned around. “Quinn—“
“If the shoes are an excuse and you really want to go, I won’t stop you. But if you’re genuinely in pain walking in those heels, then allow me to help you out.”
Before she could object, he scooped her up in his arms and strode across the room. A few people nearby clapped. She blushed deeply.
Then he set her on a chair, right by the corner where the kids, including Louella, were playing.
“Here you go. Right by your daughter, Let me know if you need a lift anywhere else.” He winked at her, sending pangs of longing through her.
“Wow. Uh, no thank you. I’ll be all right now.”
Quinn paused for a moment to watch the children’s game. It was getting a little rowdy, and he smiled as he watched them.
“Your daughter looks exactly like you, y’know. She’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Tyla wondered idly if she should change Louella out of her dress, so her little tomboy could roll around the floor without ripping it.
“What’s her name?”
“Louella.”
“That’s a pretty name.”
“Thank you, again.”
Before she could think of a better reply, one of the little boys got so excited that he shifted. His clothes tore, and a lion cub took his place.
Oh hell, no. “Louella, don’t you even—“
In the blink of an eye, a second kid shifted. One of April and Mindy’s many nieces turned into a panther cub.
The two little cubs leaped on each other, tussling and tumbling. Their discarded clothes were quickly flicked under a chair.
Quinn roared with laughter. “They look so cute when they’re cubs, don’t they?”
Louella jumped up and down as though something brilliant had occurred to her.
“No, Louella, don’t—“
To Tyla’s horror, Louella didn’t hear her mom over the noise of the party. Or — most likely — she heard her, but chose to ignore her.
In two seconds, she joined her friends, shredding her chiffon bridesmaid dress into rags.
There, where the little girl had been, stood her animal form.
A cheetah cub.
Quinn’s eyes grew wide. He seemed to loom even taller over Tyla as he stared at Louella.
“She’s a—“
Oh God.
“Quinn, I can—“
“No. No way.” He spun around, frowning. ““She’s a cheetah?”
Tyla rubbed her eyes, not caring if she smudged her eye makeup.
“Yeah.”
“The only cheetah family in Rocky Falls is mine.”
“Yeah.”
“Did you move away after we broke up?”
Tyla held eye contact and stayed very still. “No.”
She knew what was coming.
Quinn locked his hands behind his head, clearly overcome.
“Fuck, Tyla. She’s mine?” He turned back to the frolicking cheetah cub, then back at Tyla. “Your girl. Your Louella. She’s my daughter?”
There was nothing she could do about it now. He knew.
Tyla was going to have to be honest, and just hope for the best.
“Yes.”
Quinn’s expression was thunderous. “She’s mine? She’s my… I’m a dad?”
Weariness hit Tyla like a truck. The last four years of secrecy had been so hard. It was almost a relief to admit it to him.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t say anything before now, Quinn. But yes. I admit it.”
She looked at her little cheetah cub, and back at him.
“Louella is your daughter.”
Chapter 5
Tyla skipped down the few steps back onto the dance floor. She ignored the sharp pain in her feet from the crazy-ass spike-heel shoes April had made her wear.
“Louella, we have to go.” She picked up the cheetah cub, who swiped playfully at her hair.
“Tyla—” Quinn called after her.
Carrying Louella back up the steps, Tyla hurried toward the door.
But Quinn was too fast.
Figures. He’s a cheetah, after all.
“You can’t just walk out of here, like nothing happened. This is huge.”
“I have to.” She tried to sidestep him, but he blocked her.
“No, Tyla. Not this time.”
Not this time? What the hell was he talking about?
“I need to take my daughter back to April’s house. Her spare clothes are there. Otherwise she’ll shift back and be cold. I—“
“I’ll take her,” came Mindy’s voice. She stepped forward, arms outstretched. “I’ll take Louella home and get her changed. Don’t worry about a thing. Do what you gotta do.”
Reluctantly, Tyla handed over the mewling cub. She planted a kiss on her daughter’s furry head.
Mindy raised her eyebrows encouragingly. “Go talk. We’re good.”
“Okay, baby. Mommy will see you in a little while. Go with Mindy and shift back soon, okay? There’s my good girl.”
Quinn watched Mindy and the tiny cheetah leave the room.
Tears filled Tyla’s eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Mindy’s right. We need to talk,” Quinn said curtly. He grabbed her hand and marched her through a side door, flicking the light on as he passed the switch.
They seemed to be in a large closet, rather than a room, but he shut the door behind them anyway.
“Seriously, Tyla? Seriously?”
She could hardly hear him over the sound of her heart, which hammered violently in her chest.
“I know I should’ve told you before.”
Quinn shook his head, with an incredulous look on his face. “You think?” He paced up to the edge of the closet and back. “Who does that? Who keeps a child away from their father, for no goddamn reason in the world?”
“No reason?” She heard the catch in her voice, and forced herself to stay calm. “You never wanted a kid, Quinn. Especially not at that time in your career. You made that very clear. Don’t pretend you would’ve been happy about it. I set you free so you could follow your dream. You didn’t need me screwing things up for you.”
“You’re nuts. I would’ve loved it.”
“What? What?” Tyla felt dizzy and lightheaded all of a sudden. “That’s not true.”
“Oh, it isn’t? Oh, right. Great. Please, you tell me how I feel about this.” The sarcasm and anger in his voice made her feel guilty.
But Tyla knew she’d done the right thing.
Hadn’t she? She wasn’t even sure of that any more.
“There’s no way you would’ve loved being a dad at eighteen. You had all those dreams of being a track star. You were so disgusted with Susie at school, when she got pregnant with Theo’s
baby. You said she was a gold digger who did it deliberately, or something.”
“Okay. Yeah.” Quinn looked embarrassed. “Yeah, I might have said that. I was a stupid asshole at high school. I said a lot of crap I didn’t mean, just to sound tough. It’s what guys do. Especially in my family. I’m not proud of it.” He stood right in front of her, close enough to reach out and touch her. “Actually, I remember that. And you really want to know what I thought when Theo found out he had a kid on the way?” His face blazed with something she didn’t recognize. “I thought he was a lucky bastard. And I wished my girl wanted to make a life with me, the way Susie obviously did with him. You sure as hell didn’t like the idea of settling down and I knew you weren’t going to do that with me.”
Tyla stared at him. Words were too difficult right now.
“Nothing you’re saying makes any sense.”
He cupped her face in his hand, gazing down at her. She licked her lips, unable to take her eyes off his beautiful lips.
“You never wanted to settle down, Tyla. You were from that boho family in the big old house, not even bothering with magic any more. So cool, you couldn’t care less for our primitive supernatural ways. You people weren’t like us. You didn’t care about tradition, or the old knowledge. You wanted to be an artist. Not to be tied to domestic slavery. You called marriage “that fated mates bullshit”. And you made your love of independence pretty clear.”
“Huh?” Tyla could just about manage words of one syllable, but that was all. “But I don’t—“
“Tyla, if you had told me you were pregnant, I wouldn’t have gone to Los Angeles. It’s as simple as that.”
Tyla groaned. “Then you would have been miserable. Stuck with your first ever girlfriend and a screaming baby, in a dead end town, with no career? Please. Your whole dream over at eighteen years old? Your career meant everything to you. You would’ve hated every second of fatherhood in those circumstances.”
“Is that how you feel about motherhood? Like your dream died the moment you gave birth?”
“No! I love being a mom. She’s everything. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened in my entire life.”
“Then don’t tell me being a dad would’ve made me miserable. People can have families and ambition, you know.”