by Katee Robert
While she’d been chatting, Daniel’s father had come to stand next to them. “Lori, you’re manhandling her.” He’d always seemed more biker than rancher to Hope, with his burly build and long graying hair and beard, but the fierce exterior was matched by an equally fierce love of his family. He hugged her, too, lifting her off her feet. “We missed you, Hope.”
“I missed you, too.” Against all reason, her eyes pricked, and she sniffed. She’d forgotten how much she loved the Rodriguezes—and how much they adored her.
Rodger set her back on her feet. “I hear you’ve decided to give our boy another shot.” He gave Daniel a significant look. “It’s a shame it took this long for him to pull his head out of his ass.”
“For God’s sake, Dad.” Daniel crossed his arms over his chest. “You know there were extenuating circumstances.”
Extenuating circumstances like him blaming himself for her brother’s death and wallowing in his guilt.
Lori wiped her eyes, still beaming like it was Christmas morning. “None of that matters now that you’re back.”
I don’t know if I’m back. She couldn’t force the words out. Every time she said them, they felt more and more like a lie. She wanted to be back. But every time she was in danger of falling completely under the spell Daniel and Devil’s Falls wove, something would happen to jar her back to stark reality. She wanted to believe. She just couldn’t help waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Hope was saved from answering by the arrival of Jules and Adam. He didn’t look particularly happy, but then, he hadn’t every time she’d seen him recently. Jules, on the other hand, was grinning, just like her aunt. “Hope!”
They went through another round of welcomes, and then another when Quinn and his girlfriend, Aubry, showed up. Apparently she was Jules’s best friend or something. The energy of the room was great, everyone smiling and chatting.
Which was when Hope’s parents showed up.
They stopped just inside the doorway, their faces expressionless. Just like that, she knew exactly how things were going to go down. There would be no happiness here. No joy. Nothing but more guilt, filling up the room until she was liable to choke on it. She broke away from talking with Quinn and crossed to meet them, her heart in her throat. “Mom. Dad. I’m glad you’re here.” She wasn’t, though. She kind of wished she’d saved this news to be shared privately, so it wouldn’t tarnish the Rodriguez family’s happiness.
“What’s going on?” Her dad put his arm around her mom’s shoulders, as if she would break apart if he didn’t hold her tightly enough. Ever since Hope graduated, her mom had become almost…brittle. As if she’d managed to put a good face on things and hold it together until she was sure her one remaining child would be okay. It was only then that she’d fallen apart and never quite seemed to put herself back together again.
Now, in the room full of John’s old friends and the Rodriguezes, she looked like she was about to burst into tears.
Hope cleared her throat. “I, uh, we have something to tell you.”
“Oh, God, don’t tell me you’re pregnant.”
The room fell silent, the harsh words seeming to take up physical space, creating an atmosphere that no one was willing to break. The seconds ticked by—five, ten, fifteen, twenty.
She jumped when Daniel’s arm slipped around her waist, a comfort she hadn’t been aware she needed until it was there. His expression gave nothing away, but his dark eyes weren’t happy. “Yes, you’re going to be grandparents.”
Hope’s mother swayed like she might faint. She pinned Hope with a look. “How did this happen? You said you weren’t seeing anyone, let alone him. You said nothing about seeing him when you were here for John.”
She had to say something, but she couldn’t push the words past her closed throat. Daniel didn’t seem to have the same problem. His arm around her tightened, a slight tremor the only indication that he was as unsteady as she was. “It might not have been planned, but it doesn’t matter. We’re having a baby.”
Her mom made a face like she was going to say something to cut straight to the bone, but her dad cut in. “I think now isn’t the best time to talk about things. We all need some time and space to calm down so we can talk rationally.” He nodded at Hope, pointedly not looking at Daniel. “We’ll call you, honey.” And then they were gone, sweeping out the door and leaving awkward silence in their wake.
Well, that’s a great sign of things to come.
…
Daniel could feel the tension in Hope’s body, even if none of it showed on her face. They’d known there was a chance the people in their lives wouldn’t react positively to the news, but he’d expected reactions more like Adam’s—shock and anger and then acceptance. He hadn’t thought that the Moores would actually turn around and walk out the second they heard they were going to be grandparents.
He squeezed Hope’s hip, trying to tell her that even if every other person turned their back on them, he would stand by her side no matter what. He owed that to both her and the memory of John. They shifted to take in the shocked expressions on the faces of every single person in the room. For one eternal second, no one said anything.
Then his mom moved forward, her dark eyes shining. “A baby?”
Hope gave a jerky nod. “I’m due May seventeenth.” They’d calculated her due date using some internet site, but she had a doctor appointment in about a month to confirm it.
May 17. That’s going to come up so fucking quick.
“Oh, honey, that’s wonderful.” She hugged Hope again, meeting Daniel’s eyes over her shoulder. There was so much there—too much to readily decipher. It was like he’d offered his mom a lifeline in the middle of a hurricane when she’d given up hope of a rescue. It was too much for the news they were giving her. He didn’t deserve that look for what had started as yet another fuckup in a long line of fuckups. Daniel might not view it that way now, but it wasn’t like he and Hope had planned it out. The damn condom broke, and this was where they ended up.
Then there was no time for him to focus too closely on that, because it was hugs and congratulations and more than a few tears. The only faces not happy were Adam and Quinn, and he knew he was going to catch more than a little shit about it before too long.
It didn’t matter.
He was here with the people he cared most about in the world, with the woman he’d never gotten over next to him, and the entire future laid out before them, full of possibilities.
As if the last thirteen years hadn’t happened.
As if they really had a chance.
Really, he should be over the moon right now—and part of him was. The other part, though? The other part couldn’t get the betrayed looks Hope’s parents had given him out of his head. They’d wanted him to know he’d already done enough and he was a selfish piece of shit to be taking this, too. He shouldn’t care. The only person who mattered was Hope. But then, Hope hadn’t agreed to staying beyond this week. He’d done his damnedest not to push her, and so they hadn’t talked again about her staying in Devil’s Falls. For all he knew, she was still planning on heading back to Dallas.
He knew what side of the argument her parents would side with.
Growing up, the Moores had been like second parents to him. Adam’s mom did her best, but she was a single mother with a little hell-raising asshole to bring up. Quinn’s parents had never really approved of any of his friends, the exception maybe being John. As a result, their group split their time equally between the Moores and Daniel’s parents’ place. He’d never thought he’d live to see the day they looked at him like he was shit on the bottom of their shoe.
But then, he’d killed one of their kids and crippled the other.
“Are you okay?”
He blinked, finding Hope’s hand on his arm, a worried look in her brown eyes. Daniel dredged up a smile from somewhere. “I should be asking you that.”
“Yeah, well, it’s been a hell of a day.”
&nbs
p; And it wasn’t over yet. He forced a smile and mingled with his family, though they could have been speaking Greek for all he registered it. His mind kept going around and around, bouncing around like a pinball as he tried to come up with something—anything—to convince Hope to stay.
They ate, the food tasteless in his mouth, and as soon as it was cleared away, his mother stood. “I think that’s more than enough excitement for one day. Hope, I know this wasn’t planned, but never doubt for a minute that we consider you a daughter and we love both you and the baby unconditionally.” She reached over and squeezed Hope’s hand. “If you need anything at all while you’re here, don’t hesitate to call.”
“Thank you.”
She sank into the seat next to him and leaned down to rest her head on his shoulder. They watched the Rodriguez clan clear out in record time. Adam nodded at him as Jules towed him through the door. I’ll be hearing from him sooner rather than later.
Quinn and Aubry stopped in front of them. The little redhead gave Hope a considering look. “I don’t really like kids. Disgusting creatures, and I’m pretty sure they were put on this earth with the sole purpose of destroying everything within reach.” Quinn cleared his throat and nudged her, and she sighed. “But, as you’re going to have Daniel’s spawn and said spawn will be related to Jules, I’m willing to make an exception to my no-kid policy.”
Hope’s lips twitched. “I very much appreciate that.”
“Quinn, stop nudging me. I know I’m an ass.” Aubry rolled her eyes. “The man should know by now that I’m untrainable in polite society.”
Daniel coughed to cover a laugh, but the chuckle broke free when Quinn cursed and tossed Aubry over his shoulder. “Peaches, we’re going to have to talk about your bedside manner.”
“I don’t have a bedside manner.”
“Exactly.”
The door closed behind them, and Hope visibly slumped. “That was something else.”
“Yeah.” He didn’t have the words he needed. Any of them. He didn’t know what to say to fix this thing that had been broken between them for half their lives. He didn’t know if he could fix it.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.”
He’d been so busy brooding, he’d missed both those important things. Hard to convince her to stay so I can take care of her when I’m doing such a stand-up job. “Let’s get you home, then.” A strange look passed over her face, and he paused. “What?”
“Nothing. It’s just funny how things work out, you know?” She accepted his offered hand and let him pull her to her feet.
He knew what she meant, but he still said, “Certain things are meant to be.”
Hope shot him a look. “Fate, Daniel? Really?”
“No.” Fate was too broad a term, and it took away personal responsibility. He didn’t believe in fate. There was no way that something like John’s death and Hope’s mangled leg would be preordained. That was human error of the most unforgivable nature at work. He kept hold of her hand as they walked out of the diner. “But you and me, darling? It doesn’t matter if it’s a day or a decade—we’re going to find our way back to each other again and again until we get it right.”
“I don’t know if that’s depressing or reassuring.”
“Both.” For all appearances, she’d moved on before that night when they’d lost control and put themselves on their current path. She had a life, and it was on hold until they determined if this was a second chance or just another opportunity to fall apart. Which made it doubly important that they figure out their shit once and for all this time around.
He held the door open for her, that thought circling round and round in his head as he got in the driver’s seat and headed for home. He knew damn well that things weren’t perfectly fine between them. There was too much unsaid, too much that had to remain unsaid because they didn’t see eye to eye on it. He wasn’t willing to fight with her over his guilt, or the fact that he’d fucked up beyond belief thirteen years ago.
So how to prove that he was truly willing to go the distance now when he’d dropped the ball so spectacularly before?
Daniel tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He didn’t know, but he was going to have to figure it out fast. Neither of them said anything until he pulled up in front of his house and shut off the engine. “I’m sorry about your parents.”
“Don’t be. I’m not going to pretend I’m not upset by how they took the news, but I’m hoping they’ll come around. They have eight months to figure it out.” She didn’t sound any more hopeful than he was about it.
He got out and moved around to open her door, well aware that she sat there and let him. They were both trying so fucking hard, it was almost painful. Once upon a time, being with her had been the most natural thing in the world. He wanted to get back to that point. Tonight. Now.
Daniel maintained his hold on her hand as they crossed to the front door and walked into the house. He had to let go long enough to refill Ollie’s water and food, but Hope waited in the doorway. It was almost like they both knew that this could be the turning point that either made or broke them, and neither was willing to do or say something that would fuck it up.
He knew who was most likely to be the one to push them over the edge.
Finished, he stood and took her hands. “I’m going to make love to you now.”
She opened her mouth, seemed to reconsider, and shut it. Instead of saying anything, she leaned forward and delivered the single sweetest kiss of his life, one filled to the brim with innocence that he’d thought long gone and buried for both of them. There were so many fragile possibilities there that he fought to maintain the gentleness she’d used to set the tone.
It didn’t use to be a fight. He’d always touched Hope like she was the most priceless thing in his life—because she had been.
She still was.
And, suddenly, it was the most natural thing in the world to cup her face and smooth his thumbs up over her jaw and across her cheekbones. He picked her up, sweeping her into his arms in a way that made her laugh. “No laughing. This is serious business.”
Her dark eyes sparkled. “Serious business, huh?”
“Fuck, no, darling. Keep laughing. I’m addicted to the sound.” He laid her on his bed and propped himself up next to her, immediately returning to the soft touches he’d started with. They’d had sex recently, but it had been rough and frenetic. That wasn’t what tonight was about.
Tonight was about finally putting both feet forward into the future.
He slowly undid her dress, pressing a kiss to the skin exposed by each button. Her breathing was already ragged, but he was nowhere near finished. He was going to properly reacquaint himself with her body—and drive her crazy while he did it. Daniel reached the last button and smoothed his hands down over the fabric covering her hips and thighs, knowing damn well that she’d picked an outfit that was designed to play down her scars so she didn’t make anyone uncomfortable.
Well, fuck that.
He urged her up so he could finish getting off the dress and then palmed first one breast and then the other. “You’re beautiful.”
“You’ve always said that. Even when I was a gangly teenager.”
He pinched her nipple lightly, relishing her harshly indrawn breath. “It was true then. It’s even truer now.” He peppered her breasts with light kisses designed to torment and moved down her body, licking along the edge of her panties. “The first time I realized you weren’t a kid anymore was that summer when you were thirteen.”
“The pool party at Quinn’s.” The words came out breathy, making him grin.
“The very one. You wore that blue bikini, and I felt like a dirty old man because my cock wouldn’t calm the fuck down.”
Hope laughed. “You were sixteen. A stiff wind made it impossible for your cock to calm down.”
He liked this, revisiting the good memories. Daniel worked her panties down her hips, stopping when they hit the tops of
her thighs and she tensed. To distract her, he kept talking. “I knew John would kick my ass, so I stayed the hell away from you.”
“And ended up making out with Christie Jenkins, if I remember correctly.”
Now it was his turn to laugh. “Yeah, well, you had a point about my being sixteen.” He kissed the sensitive skin below her belly button. “You want to know something?”
“Sure.”
“That day had nothing on when I saw you at my birthday party seven weeks ago.” He licked her hip bone until she squirmed. “All I wanted was to haul your ass out to my truck and bury my cock inside you.”
“Didn’t even make it to your truck.”
He inched her panties down farther, kissing the point where thigh met hip. “Nope. And my cock hasn’t calmed down since, either.”
Her laugh cut off when he finished pulling her panties off, leaving her naked. He feathered his fingers across the top of the scar, forcing himself to really look at it for the first time since she’d walked back into his life. When his car rolled, the passenger door had caved in, impaling her leg with pieces of metal. It caused the scar to be jagged, an ever-present reminder of the trauma she’d gone through.
More importantly, the trauma she’d survived.
“Danny—”
“Do you trust me?”
She propped herself on her elbows, looking down her body at him. “You don’t have to be at peace with my scars to have sex with me.”
No, he didn’t. But he’d been fucking up when it came to this injury since she walked back into his life, and he was done. Hope had hurt herself to spare him a situation where she thought he might be uncomfortable, and the thought of her doing it again… Over his fucking dead body.
But if he pushed too hard, she’d get up and walk to the bedroom she’d claimed as hers and shut the door on him and his attempt to truly start new with her.