Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
MILES
“ Y ou slept with her, didn’t you?” Lyla doesn’t waste any time getting straight to the point once Olivia is out of earshot.
“I didn’t know she was your friend.”
“You didn’t know she was my friend,” she slowly repeats, throwing her hands up in the air. “She’s a mother, Miles. She’s not just some random girl in a bar who you can toss away the next morning.”
“To be fair, I didn’t know until today that she had a child. She never told me.”
“She’s been hurt in the past,” she sighs. “She doesn’t need any more pain in her life, neither does her daughter.”
“Why does everyone think I’m going to hurt them?” I rake my hands through my hair in frustration.
“Your track record isn’t exactly the poster child for commitment.”
“Have you ever thought that maybe that wasn’t by choice?
I see the way my brothers look at their wives.
They all knew the second they laid eyes on you girls.
I’m not about to settle just because I want what they have.
I have a past, yes, but I never gave them all of me.
I made that perfectly clear to them from the beginning. ”
“Did you make it perfectly clear to Olivia?” She arches her eyebrow and waits for my answer.
“No, I didn’t. She made it perfectly clear to me .”
“I see.” Her lips start to twitch, and I roll my eyes.
“Go ahead and laugh. My brothers certainly find it funny.”
“I’m not going to laugh.” She tries to look serious, but fails. “Okay, maybe a little,” she laughs before sitting down next to me. “You really like her, don’t you?” She asks softly.
“Yeah, I really do,” I sigh. “But apparently until I can be trusted, I’m good ole pal , Miles.”
“She’s protecting herself and Bee, which is what any good mom would do. If you like her the way you say you do, then you need to prove to her that she can trust you. She needs to know she can rely on you to be there for her and her daughter.”
I nod, knowing she’s right.
“Just promise me one thing, though.” She turns, so she’s facing me.
“What’s that?”
“Don’t insert yourself into their lives if you have any doubt in your mind about wanting them for your future.
It’s one thing to involve the heart of a woman, but that little girl out there,” she says, pointing to the window, “doesn’t need to get her heart involved just for you to decide it’s not what you want.
They are a package deal, and if you’re not ready to step up and be a father, then you need to let them both go now before it goes any further. ”
“I promise I won’t involve Bee’s heart until I know for sure.”
“Good.” She pats my legs and stands up. “I need to get back out there. Your sister has probably got poor Olivia agreeing to adopt a whole litter of kittens by now.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it. She can be very persuasive when she wants to be,” I chuckle. “I should know. I have a one-eyed gremlin sleeping with me.”
“That’s because under all those tattoos and muscles is a guy with one of the biggest hearts I know.” She leans down and kisses my cheek before walking away.
Putting my hands on the back of my head, I lean forward with my elbows on my knees as my thoughts race about all that was said.
She has a daughter.
I knew she was hiding something from me, but never in a million years did I think I would run into Olivia at my brother’s house today. And Bee…God, she’s the most adorable little girl I’ve ever seen. Except for the dark hair, she looks just like Olivia with her light hazel eyes and dimples.
I always knew I wanted to be a dad one day.
I love my nieces and nephews with all my heart.
I just never pictured it happening so soon.
It should scare me, but for some reason, it doesn’t.
It feels like I’ve found two missing pieces of my life, and we fit perfectly together just as it was meant to be.
Lyla is right, though. This wouldn’t be just casual dating if a little girl’s heart gets involved.
It makes more sense now why she’s been so guarded with me.
We would have to keep our relationship separate until Olivia feels ready to let me into her daughter's life. For now, I’ll just be Charlie’s fun uncle.
Feeling better that I have a plan in place, I walk back out to the party, grabbing a beer from the cooler on the way.
The kids are running around in the grass with the sprinkler as I head over to all the dads lined up watching them.
I spot Ryder at the swing set pushing his youngest son, Levi, on the swings.
He’s never going to believe the girl I have my eyes set on is a single mother. I still can’t believe it.
I glance over at Olivia, and she’s laughing at something Sophia said. I’m glad she’s getting to know them. I want her to know that side of me and see how amazing my family and friends are.
“Where the hell have you been hiding?” Travis asks when he sees me walking up.
“Don’t ask,” I mutter, taking a sip of my beer.
I watch my oldest nephew, Max, throw the football to his little cousin, Mason.
I can tell he’s being gentle with the pass because of the eight-year age difference.
Even though he’s only fourteen, he’s got an arm like nothing I’ve ever seen.
Football is his life, and he’s damn good at it.
“Wouldn’t have anything to do with the beautiful single mom that just joined our group, would it? I saw you two talking and could feel the sexual tension from across the pool,” Jake laughs. “I thought you were hooked on the girl who friend-zoned you.”
“Turns out she’s also a mother.” I watch Bee jump over the spray of water that rotates her way. Her dimples flash as she laughs. A small smile plays on my lips as I watch her joy in that moment.
“Oh shit,” I hear Noah’s brother-in-law, Maverick say, his vivid green eyes go wide.
“You slept with a single mom? That’s like rule number one of things not to do when you want some company for the night.
” He bends down and picks up his three-year-old son, Holden, who appears at his legs.
His long blond curls frame his face as his bright blue eyes follow his older sister around the yard.
Even though he has his momma’s eyes, he looks just like Maverick and every bit of a surfer boy, just like his dad. He even acts like him. The kid is literally a fish in the water and already learning to surf at just three years old.
“Thanks for the rule book rundown,” I glare at him. “I obviously didn’t know it at the time.”
“Just be careful, brother. I was a single dad when I met Sophia, and things get a lot more complicated when kids are involved,” Travis reminds me.
“I already got a lecture from Lyla. She cornered me in the bedroom and let me have it. I don’t need to hear it again from you guys. I’ll be careful.”
“That’s my wife,” Jake grins.
“I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it later. No one seems to be able to keep their mouth shut in this family.”
“It would appear that way,” Noah says. I follow his line of sight and see all the girls talking with their heads together.
A couple of them glance my way and give me an if you hurt her, I will murder you in your sleep look.
“Good luck, Miles. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes if you fudge this up,” he laughs, and the others join in.
Welcome to dadhood, where fuck becomes fudge.
There always seems to be at least one kid in the mix, so we try our hardest not to corrupt them at a young age.
The one time we did slip, Ryder’s youngest picked it up right away and was running around saying shit for two weeks straight. Eve about killed us.
“Who gave Savi wine? You know how she gets when she drinks. She can’t keep a secret to save her life when alcohol runs through her veins.” I can only imagine what she’s telling Olivia right now.
“Don’t look at me,” Jake laughs. “My wife isn’t drinking.”
“Uncle Miles! Come play with us!” I smile at Travis’s six-year-old daughter, Quinn, and Maverick’s daughter, Maven. The two are the same age and inseparable, just like their moms.
Sophia’s brother Maverick married her best friend, Bella. To make things even more interesting, Bella is Noah’s younger sister, and Maverick is his best friend. Somebody really needs to put this in a book because it sounds just like one of the romances Savi reads.
Thankful for the distraction, I get busy playing with the kids. I always get a good workout in because they love to hang from my arms or sit on my feet with their legs wrapped around me while I try to walk.
“Do me!” Bee laughs and holds her hands up to me as I set another monkey down.
“You get the best seat, Bee.” I pick her up and set her on my shoulders. She giggles and digs her little fingers into my hair to hold on.
“I’m high as a bird!”
I laugh at her excitement as I walk around like a human jungle gym.
Glancing up, I catch Olivia watching me.
Even from across the yard, I can feel the turmoil of emotions that surrounds us both.
It’s hard to decipher what she’s thinking, but her eyes tell me all I need to know right now.
She wants this just as badly as I want it.
I just need to prove to her that I’m worth taking a chance on.
“The kids are whipped,” Jake chuckles, closing the sliding door and sitting down next to Lyla. He pulls her close and wraps his arm around her, resting his hand on her round belly. It’s nice to see my brothers so happy. They deserve every bit of love in their life.
My eyes gravitate toward Olivia sitting on the outdoor couch across from me. She’s curled up next to Savi, and the two are looking at pictures and videos of today on my sister’s phone. Her eyes meet mine, and she smiles softly before going back to the screen.
Noah and Maverick had an hour-long drive back, so they left with their families a couple of hours ago. Since Travis and Sophia are staying with me and Savi for the weekend, it’s just our family that’s left lounging by the pool .
Olivia almost left, but Lyla insisted she stay so the girls could watch a movie together. I’ll have to thank her later for that one because I’m enjoying my view immensely right now.
I spent the whole afternoon tempted by honey colored hair and pale green eyes.
I’ve had thoughts running through my head that probably shouldn’t be at a kid’s birthday party.
It took everything in me not to throw her over my shoulder and get just fifteen minutes alone with her so I could taste her again.
At this rate, I have no clue how I’m going to be able to restrain myself.
“Thank God for Max and Ryland. They sure know how to round up the others and get them settled in for a movie,” Jake pulls me from my thoughts, and I shift uncomfortably as my dick inconveniently decides now is a good time to join the party.
“We pay them more than I made at my first job,” Travis laughs. “Max makes bank every time we get together.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” Ryder chuckles. “At nine, Ryland has more saved in her piggy bank than I ever had growing up.”
“That’s because all your money went to gas and auto parts,” Eve giggles.
“True,” he laughs. “But all those drives we did were worth every penny I had.”
Eve’s face gets warm as she looks lovingly at her husband. “I couldn’t agree more.”
He whispers something in her ear, and desire flashes briefly in her eyes. I can only imagine what he just told her. I know my brothers and their Montgomery women are very well taken care of in every aspect of their marriage, just like it should be.
Olivia giggles at something Savi said, and I watch her full lips deepen into a smile. Needing a second to compose myself before I physically combust, I say something about using the bathroom and quickly head inside.
I see Max on the couch when I walk in, absorbed in a football game on his phone.
Ryland is curled up next to him, watching a movie that’s playing on the TV.
The younger kids are lying on blankets in the living room in various sprawled-out positions.
I spot Bee’s dark hair next to Charlie. She has her arm around Gizmo, who is happily snoring against her little body.
I smile at the scene before I walk down the hall, just needing a moment to get it together.
“Miles?” I hear Olivia’s sweet voice in the dark and turn to see her standing there.
She hesitantly steps forward until she’s standing so close to me that I can smell her sweet honey scent that I’ve been missing.
It reminds me of those warm summer nights as a kid when honeysuckles would bloom so thick that you felt like you were swimming in their sweet vanilla fragrance.
I can’t stop myself from running my fingers through her soft blonde waves.
She closes her eyes at my touch before blinking them open and searching mine.
My heart pounds like a steady beat of a drum as I notice the need shining in those hazels.
I feel it deep in my soul because I have the exact same need.
“Talk to me, Olivia,” I say quietly. “Tell me what you’re thinking right now.
” I can tell she’s feeling the effects of the wine coursing through her body by the way her eyes have a little glossy look to them.
I’ve been watching her all afternoon, and the girls were not shy about filling each other’s glasses up.
She’s obviously gotten a little liquid courage going, judging by the way she’s looking at me.
I know it well because it’s the same damn look I got on my face every time I looked at her today.
“I think I want to be selfish just one more time,” she whispers. “Maybe just one kiss before I leave tonight?”
“I can do a whole hell of a lot better than that. You really need to learn to be more greedy,” I grin, backing her up against the wall.