Take A Chance

by Micalea Smeltzer

“Of course, but it’s already pretty,” I assured her.

  I stood and lifted her in my arms.

  I set her down on the bed she’d slept in and went in search of our bags. They’d been left in the foyer so I grabbed Mia’s and rolled it into her room. I unzipped it and let her pick the dress she wanted to wear. The top was a light purple and it fanned out in the bottom with a tutu type material. I’d packed her a pair of tights to wear under it so that she wouldn’t get too cold.

  “Do I look pwetty, Momma?” She spun in a circle, her giggles filling the room.

  “Beautiful.”

  I looked up at the sound of Hayes’ voice and found him standing in the doorway, still shirtless, with a pair of jeans hanging loosely on his hips. He held a cup of coffee in his hand, the steam billowing in the air around him. He was oblivious to my scrutiny, though. His eyes were glued to Mia who was dancing around the room in her dress with a pair of black converse on her feet. My girl was equal parts princess and tomboy.

  “Hey, Ms. Mia?” He called and she stopped twirling, looking up at him with interest.

  “Yeah.”

  “Why don’t we go do something and let your mommy get ready?”

  She frowned, pursing her lips in thought. “But my hair?”

  “I can do your hair.” He shrugged.

  “Really?” I asked at the same time Mia squealed in delight.

  Hayes nodded. “How hard can it be?”

  He had no idea.

  “Okay. Well here’s her brush, and hair ties.” I pointed to the items on the bedside table. As I passed him I patted his bare chest. “Good luck.”

  He snorted like he wasn’t going to need any.

  Poor Mia. Who knew what kind of mess Hayes would make with her hair. I’d have to have my camera ready so that I could have photographic evidence of this.

  Back in the bedroom I’d shared with Hayes I saw that he’d carried our bags in here and set them in the corner. I rifled through mine, procuring one of my nicer pairs of jeans, a white billowy top, and my favorite Aztec print cardigan.

  I took a quick shower and styled my hair back in a ponytail.

  By the time I finished my makeup I was starving and hoped that wherever Hayes wanted to go for breakfast was nearby.

  In the living room of the penthouse I found Hayes and Mia sitting on the couch watching cartoons.

  My mouth dropped open when I spotted Mia. She had two, perfectly braided, pig-tails tied with purple ribbons.

  Hayes got a look at my face and laughed heartily at my shock.

  “You really didn’t think I could do it, did you?” He tried to hide his grin behind his hand.

  “Nope.”

  “Two sisters, remember?” He winked.

  “Remind me to thank them.” I laughed, still amazed that he’d done her hair so beautifully. Even the middle part was perfect and not skewed.

  He hopped up from the couch. “I’ll be ready in five minutes.”

  “Good, because I’m starving.”

  “Me too.” His eyes narrowed, raking down my body. “But not for food.”

  My whole body tingled with those words as my imagination ran wild. The promises that sparkled in his eyes were enough to excite any girl.

  While he was getting ready I sat with Mia while she watched Doc McStuffins.

  Hayes emerged from the bedroom a few minutes later with a white t-shirt on and a light denim shirt overtop. As he walked he fiddled with the sleeves of the denim shirt, rolling them up to his elbows. On his head he wore a dark gray beanie that hid his hair.

  He shrugged into a black coat and then clapped his hands together. “Are my ladies ready to go eat?”

  “I am! I am!” Mia jumped up and down on the couch, waving her hands in the air.

  “Don’t jump on the couch, Mia,” I scolded lightly.

  She stopped jumping and hopped off the couch. She ran over to Hayes, nearly falling over her own two feet in the process.

  She batted her eyes up at him and asked in her sweetest voice, “Will you carry me?”

  “Of course, sweetheart.” He bent down and scooped her up.

  I followed them to the elevator and when we exited the building Hayes turned to his right.

  “It’s only a few blocks away.”

  I looked down at my boots, silently grateful I’d worn them and not heels.

  When Hayes stopped in front of the restaurant I was surprised to find that it was a little hole in the wall of a place. He opened the door and ushered me inside first.

  There was only room for three booths and two tables. All of which were occupied. But there were two stools open at the counter.

  “I can hold her on my lap,” he assured me.

  We seated ourselves on the stools and menus already sat on the counter ready. Before I could pick mine up, Hayes said, “The egg sandwiches here are amazing, and you can’t go wrong with the pancakes.”

  “I’ll have the egg sandwich then.” I smiled over at him, amazed at how perfectly at ease I felt here with him. “What do you want baby girl?”

  Mia scrunched her nose and pursed her lips. “Pancakes!” She finally declared with an exuberant flick of her arms.

  “Whoa, there,” Hayes warned her, moving out of her way, “you almost hit my nose.”

  “Sowwy.” Mia appeared sheepish.

  “It’s okay.” Hayes was quick to assure her. “I know you didn’t mean it.”

  A frazzled waitress popped up behind the counter in front of us. Blowing a piece of stringy brown hair from her eyes, she asked, “What can I get you to drink?”

  “Orange juice and coffee,” I replied. “She’ll have milk.” I pointed at Mia.

  “Orange juice for me as well.” Hayes told her.

  “Are you ready to order?” She eyed the menus we weren’t looking at.

  Hayes nodded and gave her his order.

  “I’ll have the same, and she wants a pancake.”

  “It shouldn’t be too long.” She grabbed the menus off the counter and stowed them away.

  “How did you ever find this place?” I asked, looking around our dingy surroundings. “I’m sure there are a lot nicer places around here.”

  “I’m sure there are,” he agreed, bouncing Mia up and down on his knee while she giggled, “but I like this place.”

  “So, what’s on the agenda for today?” I tapped my fingers restlessly against the countertop. I hated not knowing what Hayes had planned for our stay, but at the same time it was freeing not to have to be the one in control all the time.

  “After breakfast I thought we could take Ms. Mia to Toys-R-Us.” He tickled her stomach and her laugher bounced around us. “What do you say to that?” He asked her.

  She nodded her head eagerly. “I say yes!”

  “You’ve gone and done it now,” I warned him, trying to fight a smile.

  “I think I can handle it.” He winked.

  The waitress set down our drinks and disappeared.

  I sipped at my orange juice, completely astounded that I was in New York Freaking City with none other than Joshua Hayes—guitarist for Willow Creek. It sounded like the opening of a movie. Normal girl gets sucked into the whirlwind life of a rock star. Only this wasn’t a movie.

  It was one hundred percent real.

  Weighed down with shopping bags—all full of stuff for Mia, since that girl could bat her eyes and sweet talk Hayes into anything, because the man had no willpower—we made our way towards Central Park.

  “I’m going to have someone come get our bags and take them back to the penthouse,” he told me as he struggled to hold on to all of them.

  “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea…wait, you can have someone get these from us?” I tightened my hand around Mia’s when a group of rowdy teenagers passed us. I glared at them as they passed. Shouldn’t they have been in school anyway?

  Hayes chuckled, fumbling to get his phone out of his pocket. “Yeah, there are people who do that. At least when you’re me.” He
winked, his grin tugging up his lips in a crooked smile.

  I rolled my eyes and laughed under my breath. “Of course, how could I forget. You’re Joshua Hayes.”

  “Keep saying my name like that, baby, and I’ll have to spank you later.” His eyes twinkled with his threat.

  “Momma,” Mia tugged on my hand, “spanking is for bad girls. Are you bad?”

  “Yeah, Arden, are you bad?” Hayes couldn’t hide his grin. He was clearly enjoying putting me in an awkward position.

  “Everybody is bad sometimes,” I answered Mia as diplomatically as I could, “but we should all always strive to be our best.”

  Mia nodded and I took a deep breath, pleased that my answer had sufficed.

  Luckily Hayes said nothing else and made his phone call.

  He hung up and pointed across the street at a coffee shop. “We’ll wait there for Greg to meet us.”

  “Sounds good. Come on, baby girl, this way.” I guided Mia towards the crosswalk where we waited for our turn.

  The coffee shop was packed with people waiting in line, but Hayes was large enough that he was able to push through the crowd and locate an empty table in the back.

  “You want anything?” Hayes asked, tossing his thumb over his shoulder.

  I helped Mia into a chair and pursed my lips in thought. “Anything mocha is fine.”

  “Coming right up.”

  With a clap of his hands he went to join the line.

  A few people eyed him in recognition and one girl asked for an autograph. Others stood a few feet away, taking his photo like they were afraid to approach. I felt bad for the guys sometimes. It had to suck feeling like a zoo animal stuck behind a glass partition while people leered at you.

  When Hayes sat down at our table with drinks and a cake pop for Mia the interest in him was renewed when people realized he was with me. I’m sure they were wondering who on earth I was.

  Another girl approached our table, jutting out her chest and smiling down at him seductively.

  “Hey, you’re Hayes, right?”

  “I am, and you are…?” He smiled up at her, but not in a flirtatious way, just friendly. If it had been flirtatious I might’ve kicked him.

  “Melanie.” She twirled her hair around her finger like she actually thought that was sexy or something.

  “What can I do for you Melanie?”

  She shrugged and bent forward so that her large chest was practically shoved in his face.

  “A few of my friends and I are going to a club tonight. It just opened a few weeks ago. We thought you might want to join us and we could show you a good time.” She threw in a little hair flip and lowered her voice. “We’re very…adventurous.” She nodded in the direction of two other bimbos taking residence at a nearby table.

  “I’m sorry but I’ll be unable to join you. I’m here with my girlfriend, and you see that little doll there?” He motioned to Mia. “I’ll be tucking her into bed tonight and reading her a story. But I hope you ladies have a wonderful time at the club.”

  Melanie’s mouth popped open and her gaze slid to Mia. “I didn’t know you had a kid,” she sneered.

  “Well, now you know.” He grinned at her retreating back.

  “Hayes…” I started.

  “I deal with people like that all the time. It’s no big deal and comes with the territory,” he said warningly, like he thought I was about to snap his head off.

  “I know, it’s okay…but…”

  “Yeah?” He prompted with a raised brow, lifting the white plastic coffee lid to his mouth.

  “You made it seem like Mia was your child. Why would you do that?” My voice grew soft and tentative. I really didn’t know what to make of his gesture.

  “We’re dating, right?” He tilted his chin down, giving me the full force of his icy blue gaze.

  “Y-yes.” My voice shook with a sudden case of nerves.

  “Therefore I feel that Mia is very much mine. Yeah, maybe she’s not my biological child, but as long as we’re together she’s my kid. And I’ll take care of her just as much as I will you. I promise you that.”

  Tears swam in my eyes.

  “Shit, Arden, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

  “It’s okay,” I assured him, wiping away a stray tear, “they’re happy tears. You’re too sweet. You know that?”

  He smiled widely. “I do now that you told me.”

  I leaned over and kissed his cheek. My lips lingered against his cheek a little longer than necessary, but I hated to break the contact.

  “Ahem.”

  I sat back at the sound of a man clearing his throat.

  The man stood in front of our table, towering above us. He was huge, and so tall that if Hayes was standing I think even he would look short. He looked young though, definitely not in his thirties yet, with a mop of curly blonde hair that reached his shoulders.

  “I’m your bodyguard, not an errand boy. And seeing as how I’m your bodyguard I should be guarding you while you’re in the city. You were supposed to call me this morning before you left, but nooooo, you had to go on out by yourself. At least you weren’t mobbed, but if you think I’m leaving your side now you’re sorely mistaken.”

  Hayes glanced from the man to me and said simply. “In case none of his gibberish made sense, that’s Greg, my bodyguard, not my errand boy.”

  I laughed.

  “Don’t laugh,” Greg growled, but not in irritation, “you’ll only encourage the idiot.”

  “Hey, I might be an idiot, but I’m alive.”

  “Not good enough,” Greg declared. He reached for a pile of bags on the floor. “Hurry up, let’s go.”

  Hayes picked up his coffee and stood. “He’s so bossy.”

  “Only because I’m stuck babysitting you.” Greg muttered under his breath.

  To me, Hayes said, “He loves me.”

  “You wish.” Greg smiled. They seemed to have an easy banter, born of people who had to spend a lot of time together.

  Hayes reached down to Mia. “Wanna ride on my shoulders?”

  “Yes!” She clapped her hands together and let out a little giggle-scream when he lifted her up.

  He headed for the door with Greg trailing behind. Somehow Greg had managed to grab all of our bags so I had to do nothing but follow.

  Outside, Greg opened the trunk to a Chevrolet Suburban and began piling things inside.

  We walked the few blocks over to the park with Greg keeping a close eye on us.

  A few people stopped Hayes for pictures. Even so, he refused to lift Mia off of his shoulders. I smiled up at her. Her happiness was infectious.

  We finally managed to make it into the park and snagged a patch of grass in the sun. The November air was chilly and I was thankful for the blanket of warmth the sun provided.

  Hayes set Mia down and she ran in circles around us, at one point falling to her knees and promptly jumping up before either of us could make a move to check on her.

  Hayes sat down in the grass, stretching out his long legs, and patting the space beside him.

  I curled my legs beneath me and sat down, leaning my body slightly against his. He reached for my shoulder, pulling me more fully against him so that I all but fell into his lap.

  “Hey, Greg,” Hayes called to his bodyguard.

  “Yes?” A single brow rose on Greg’s forehead.

  “Why don’t you go fetch Ms. Mia some bubbles or something?” He pointed to Mia who was now dancing around us.

  Greg scoffed, crossing his arms over his massive chest. “I’m your bodyguard. Not a Golden Retriever.”

  Hayes chuckled. “You look the same to me.”

  Greg sighed in disgust. “How did I get stuck with you?”

  Hayes grinned, completely unfazed. “Stuck? I’d argue that it was luck that landed you with me. I’m a delight.”

  Greg chuckled. “More like a pain in my ass. I’ll call Casey to bring some kid stuff, okay?”

  “Who’s Casey?” I a
sked, confusion rippling through me.

  “My other bodyguard,” Hayes supplied. “Unlike this one,” he pointed at Greg, “Casey will actually leave me alone.”

  “That’s because Casey is lazy and would rather watch The Real Housewives than deal with hunting down your sorry ass.”

  “Language,” I warned.

  “Oh, sorry.” Greg smiled sheepishly, glancing at Mia.

  Hayes’ phone began to buzz in his pocket and he pulled it out, frowning at the name on the screen.

  Before I could ask who it was, he said, “Sadie’s calling me. That’s odd. Hello?” He held the phone to his ear. “Ah, I see.” He smirked. “Yeah, that’s fine. We’re in Central Park…mhmm, okay. We’ll wait here.”

  He hung up the phone, grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  “The girls are kidnapping you.”

  “Oh, dear God,” I groaned. “What do they have planned?”

  “Shopping.”

  Well, that wasn’t too bad…except for the fact that I could barely afford to buy a water here.

  “The guys and I will watch Mia.”

  “You will?” I lifted a brow.

  “Hey, we’ve kept ourselves alive for twenty-plus years, therefore I think we’re more than capable of handling a three-year-old for a few hours. Besides, Mathias is a dad now, and Maddox is going to have a kid soon, so I think it’s about time we all learned, right?”

  I laughed, shaking my head. “Knock yourselves out. Just don’t give her a lot of sugar or we’ll all regret it.”

  “So, that’s a no on the twelve cupcakes I was planning to feed her, then?”

  “A definite no.”

  “Well, there goes that plan.” He snapped his fingers together.

  “So, what do you think you guys are going to do while we shop?”

  He shrugged and smiled as he watched Mia. “Probably just head to the hotel and hang out there. We’ll get mobbed if we try to go somewhere and Mathias is so worried about something happening to Liam that I know he won’t want to risk it.”

  I nodded.

  “Oh, and I made reservations for us to get dinner.”

  “And by us, you mean…? I prompted.

  “The two of us. I’ve already arranged it with Maddox and Emma to watch Mia…if you’re okay with it, of course.”