Chapter Ten
D ante wasn’t sure what he expected but the middle-aged black guy at the wheel and the pretty brunette in the passenger seat weren’t it. Holden’s earlier amusement regarding her parents flashed through his mind.
That son-of-a-bitch. He laughed to himself. His buddy had known but never said a thing. At least Dante was spared the initial surprise from taking place during introductions.
“Come on,” Amanda said, changing direction without releasing his hand. “They spotted us.”
Having never had to “Meet the Parents” before, he was a little unprepared for the sudden panic attack that squeezed his chest.
Dante wasn’t the type to panic. Ever. So, the experience was completely new, and he didn’t like it.
As if knowing, she gave his hand a slight tug as they continued to walk back toward the house. And when he glanced at her, she smiled.
“Don’t worry. They’re going to love you.”
He smiled back and squeezed her hand.
“But I should warn you.” She wrinkled her nose. “My dad is the typical ‘Bad Dad Joke’ dad.”
“Got it.” He winked at her, and together they walked hand in hand to the smiling couple, who stood waiting in front of Holden’s front porch.
She released him to kiss her father’s cheek and then her mother’s but then returned right back to his side.
“Amanda, who is this fine young man who has put such a beautiful smile on your face?” her mother asked.
“This is Dante Williams,” she replied. “Dante, these are my parents, Urban and Izabelle Harrison.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Harrison,” he said, kissing her mother’s hand before shaking her father’s. “Mr. Harrison.”
“Dante?” The man released him and scratched his jaw. “You’re Holden’s buddy from Phoenix. The policeman.”
He nodded. “Yes, sir. Although, I’m no longer on the force. I work at ESI.”
“For Mac.” Mrs. Harrison smiled. “His mother and I went to college together.”
Amanda slid her palm across his and entwined their fingers. “My mom is a middle school English teacher, and my dad is a high school math teacher.”
“Yes,” her father said. “Do you know the difference between a numerator and a denominator is a short line?”
Dante smiled and nodded.
“Good for you,” the man said. “Only a fraction of people get it.”
He snickered. “Ha! Good one.”
“Oh, no. Don’t encourage him, Dante.” Mrs. Harrison winced.
Mr. Harrison waved a hand at his wife. “Don’t pay any mind to her, Dante. Why did the farmer decide to try a career in music after an unsuccessful harvest? Because he had a ton of sick beets.”
He laughed while both women groaned.
“Speaking of sick,” Mr. Harrison said, continued, “I only seem to get sick on weekdays. I must have a weekend immune system.”
Amanda inhaled. “Dad!”
“Well, which days are the strongest?” her father asked.
“Saturday and Sunday,” Dante replied, completely getting into the sick beet . “Because the rest are weekdays.”
“Yes!” The man smiled. “See? At least someone here has a sense of humor.”
“Hey, I have one too, Dad,” Emily said, and Dante turned to see the woman walking hand-in-hand with Holden while he carried a smiling Noah.
“Daddy! Miss Amanda!” He squirmed out of Holden’s arms and rushed toward them.
Amanda released Dante’s hand, and he gathered his son into his arms.
“Hey, Noah,” he said. “Say hi to Miss Amanda’s mother and father.”
“Hi to Miss Amanda’s mother and father,” Noah repeated, waving to the smiling couple.
Holden, Emily, and Amanda chuckled.
“Hey.” Noah pointed to Mr. Harrison. “Your skin is like mine and daddy’s.”
The man nodded. “Why, yes, it is, Noah.”
“Wow.” Mrs. Harrison smiled. “You are very observant.”
Noah frowned. “What’s servant mean?”
“That you notice things,” she replied.
His son straightened his shoulders and nodded. “Yeah. I do. Oh, you have eyes like Miss Amanda.”
Mrs. Harrison grinned. “See how observant you are?”
Noah turned to Dante and pointed to his little chest. “Daddy, I’m servant .”
Sometimes too observant.
“You sure are,” he said. “So, tell me, what did you do while I was gone?”
“Fed da pigs and da kitties,” his son replied, excitement bright in his gaze. “But not da goats, cause I like when dey jump on Miss Amanda’s back.”
She laughed and tickled Noah’s belly. “I like that too.”
He giggled. “But when I get bigger, dey can jump on my back.”
Smiling, she nodded. “Yes, they can.”
“Ah, now I know why you get my jokes.” Her father grinned.
He nodded, returning the grin. “Yes, it’s a dad thing.”
***
I t was the last day in March, a Friday evening, and Amanda wondered where the month had gone. The old adage about time flying was true, because she’d had fun since meeting Dante and Noah, and now four weeks were gone.
But the fun wasn’t over.
The day after she had dinner with her sisters, Amanda had noticed a change in Dante, for the better. It was as if he’d made up his mind about something and knew what he wanted…her.
Amanda’s heart swelled and a thrill shot through her chest, upping her heartbeats with that knowledge. He didn’t keep his feelings for her a secret from his son anymore. No, Dante held her hand and hugged her in front of Noah, and even kissed her—not one of his mind-blowing kisses—but he did kiss her on the cheek and sometimes quick ones on the lips.
Like now.
She sat in one of his patio chairs next to Christa as her son played with Noah in Dante’s backyard.
The gorgeous man approached and set a hand on the back of her chair, kissed her quickly on the lips, then took a drink from his bottle of water on the table before he returned to play Falcon and Captain America with mini-Ironman and mini–Black Panther.
They’d all just finished another amazing barbecue with Dante at the grill. Tonight was chicken and barbecued ribs. Amanda currently wondered how the men were even able to move after the feast.
Christa smiled at her. “It’s nice to see you two settling into each other.”
Amanda bit her lip and lifted a brow.
The woman laughed. “Not that way. I mean relationship-wise. I remember the beginning days with Hunter. I was afraid to involve Dillan because I didn’t want him to be disappointed or hurt. But it turned out I had no reason to worry. They took to each other immediately, and Hunter loves Dillan as much as I do. And I can tell you’d do anything for Noah.”
She nodded. “Absolutely. He’s something special.”
Over the past week, Noah had insisted she be a part of his bedtime ritual with his father. Amanda hadn’t wanted to take anything away from Dante, but he was just as enthused about the idea as his son.
And twice this month, the little cutie had fallen asleep on her lap as they watched his favorite animated show about first responder puppies. Noah had looked so innocent and sweet, his arm around her and head on her chest. Her heart had burst and now the little dude was forever tucked safely inside there.
“I’d say they’re all special.” Christa’s voice brought Amanda’s attention back to the yard, and the fathers and sons laughing and interacting together.
“Yes.” Amanda nodded. “Very special.”
“Hunter and the guys said there’s been a huge change in Dante since his days in Phoenix.”
She watched the man, noting his easy smile and warm, gorgeous chocolate gaze. “I think having his military buddies around has helped a lot.”
Christa set a hand on Amanda’s arm, and she glanced at her. “But it isn’t just them. It’s you , Amanda. The guys all say you are the reason they have their old brother back. Actually, Hunter told me he’s never seen Dante this happy. This content.”
Amanda’s throat was hot, and her eyes burned as emotions ran rampant. “I…he makes me feel those things, too.”
Christa patted her arm again. “I can tell. And believe me, I know exactly how you’re feeling. Amazing—scared to death—but amazing at the same time.”
“Yes,” she whispered, trying not to be overheard. “That’s it exactly.”
Her friend sighed. “Afraid the other shoe will drop.”
She nodded, too afraid to say it out loud lest it jinxed their happiness.
Christa patted her arm a third time. “Say no more. I just wanted you to know I understand. And you’re not alone.”
Amanda inhaled and smiled as she blinked back another round of emotions. “Thank you.”
Then Mac walked in through the back gate, his face serious.
She straightened in her seat. “Hi, Mac. Is everything okay?”
“Hi, Amanda, Christa,” he said. “Could be better.”
Dante and Hunter spotted their boss at the same time. Their postures immediately straightened. They said something to the boys, who nodded and continued to play as the men headed over.
“What’s going on?” Dante asked, his gaze dark with concern.
Hunter frowned. “Trouble in Houston?”
Mac let out a breath. “Maybe. We have a slight situation. Two possible targets. Carter has them on surveillance. Sinjin is in pursuit. I can’t pull RJ or Dean, because I need them at the door. Hate to ask, but I’m calling in anyone who can QRF. I can’t have my guys with no back-up.”
Hunter glanced at Christa, who nodded. “They do now.”
She had no idea what QRF stood for but understood the word backup and the fact Mac was asking for some for the guys currently in Houston on a job.
Dante glanced at his son and then at her.
Amanda nodded. “Go ahead. I can stay with Noah until you get back.”
“You sure?” he asked, but she could tell by the strain on his face that he needed to help his buddies. “I know you were going to work on your lesson plan.”
She stood and set a hand on his chest. “I’ve got this. Noah likes my bedtime stories better anyway. And I can bring my laptop over here and work on the plan when he’s asleep.”
Hopefully, it would keep her mind busy and off worrying about him and the others in Houston.
Dante smiled. “Thank you.” He kissed her quickly before trotting over to Noah. The little boy looked at her and nodded, a big smile on his face.
“I’d say that’s an affirmative on the bedtime stories.” Christa chuckled.
“Thanks, ladies,” Mac told her and Christa, then gave the men a curt nod. “Wheels up in fifteen. Dex and Cooper are already at the hangar.”
A second later, he was gone.
“Got your go bag with you?” Dante asked Hunter.
The man nodded. “Yeah. In my trunk.” He walked over to Christa, who slid her arms around him and gave him a rather hot kiss.
Amanda glanced at the kids, but they were too busy playing to take notice.
“I’m not sure when we’ll be done,” Dante said, stepping to her.
She set her hands on his chest and smiled. “No worries. I can crash on the couch if I get tired.”
“Or in my bed,” he said, his low voice sending a tremor through her body.
She hadn’t been in his bed since that glorious day his attitude had changed. But she understood his words to be an invitation to change that.
“Or in your bed.” She smiled, lifting up on tiptoe to kiss him, another thrill shooting through her when he took the embrace up a notch from a quickie to a hard promise for more to come later.
She liked later.
“Be careful,” she told him when he released her.
Dante nodded, glanced at his son who was still too busy playing to pay the adults any mind, then followed Hunter through the gate that led to the driveway.
Amanda glanced at Christa. “Wheels up?”
“Mac flies a chopper he keeps in the big hangar on his property,” Christa answered.
She blinked. “He flies a helicopter? How did I not know this?”
Christa smiled. “It’s not an everyday thing.”
“And what in the world is QRF?”
“Quick Reaction Force. Means ready to react.” Christa laughed. “I had to ask Hunter to explain that one to me, too.”
Christa insisted on helping her clean up, and Amanda only conceded because she knew the woman was just trying to keep busy so she didn’t think of the guys in Houston. They even allowed the boys to play outside a little longer than normal, but it was getting dark, and bedtime was fast approaching.
“Okay, boys,” she said, pointing to her phone. “I’m setting the ten-minute warning alarm.”
Twin groans echoed in the yard.
“You know the drill,” Christa said, holding her phone up as well.
Both boys knew that it meant when the alarm sounded, it was the end of the playdate and time to clean up. They didn’t like it, but they understood and for the most part, complied.
“Yes, Mom,” Dillan said dejectedly to Christa.
“Yes, Mom,” Noah said to her.
Amanda’s heart rocked, and swelled, even though she knew he’d said it in more of a repetition fashion.
“Miss Amanda isn’t your mom,” Dillan said to Noah. “But she could be.”
Noah’s little face brightened. “She could? How?”
“Well, my dad wasn’t always my dad.”
Noah blinked at Dillan. “He wasn’t?”
“No, but once he started sleeping in my mom’s bed, then he started living with us and became my dad.”
She glanced at Christa, whose face was bright red. Amanda bit her lip. She knew all too well some of the crazy things that came out of children’s mouths.
“Kids are more astute than you think,” she told the woman. “That’s nothing compared to some of the things I hear from other kids.”
“So, all you have to do is wait until Miss Amanda starts sleeping in your dad’s bed.”
Heat rushed into her face faster than she could blink.
“Yay!” Noah came running to her and climbed onto her lap. “Miss Amanda, you want to sleep in my dad’s bed?”
What she wanted was to crawl into a hole.
“Yeah, Miss Amanda,” Dillan said. “I’ve seen Mr. Dante’s bed. It’s big. You’ll like it.”
Christa ducked her head, and her face was still red, but now it was from trying to keep from laughing.
“Yeah, my dad liked my mom’s and now he’s my dad, so if you like Mr. Dante’s, then you can be Noah’s mom,” Dillan said with all the conviction of a soon-to-be-four-year-old.
“Then, you can be my mom.” Noah hugged her tightly. “Wouldn’t that be great?”
It would.
She hugged him back, her heart squeezing as she tried to come up with words that he’d understand to explain that it wasn’t that simple.
Then twin phone alarms echoed around them.
Saved by the proverbial bell. In stereo.
Later that night, Noah was sound asleep, and Amanda sat on the couch in Dante’s living room, thinking about the evening.
Christa had watched the boys as they cleaned up, so Amanda scooted next door for her laptop so she could work on those sample lesson plans once Noah was asleep. She wanted to be prepared and have a few made out if, no— when —she got a call from the school.
Blinking, she glanced down at the computer sitting open, but as of yet, unused on the coffee table. She’d tried for two hours but couldn’t concentrate. Between Noah wanting her to sleep in his dad’s bed so she could become his mom, and Dante out possibly dodging bullets while she sat comfortably on his couch, she didn’t have the capacity to think creatively.
It was no use. Sighing, she powered down her laptop, and shoved it back into her laptop bag on the coffee table.
And thought she heard a car door. But then things were quiet again.
Probably wishful thinking. She yawned.
“Amanda?” Dante all but burst into his own home.
She jumped so high that when she came back down, she missed the cushion and fell to the floor. “Jesus, Dante,” she said, hand over her bouncing heart as she scrambled to her feet.
“Are you okay? Is Noah?” he asked, rushing over to crush her close.
She frowned up at him. “Yes. He’s asleep and I was staring at my laptop all night. Why? What’s wrong? Did something happen in Houston?”
“No. Everyone is home,” he replied. “No issues.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
He drew back but continued to hold her. “The front door of your house is wide open.”