Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Delilah was all out sobbing,her red face stained with tears. “Where is she?” Her breath hitched. “I need her.”
“I don’t know,” Pres said softly, trying to soothe his daughter. He brushed her hair from her face. “Try to go to sleep. We’ll find her in the morning.”
“I can’t sleep without Lola,” she wailed. “What if she’s hurt? What if she’s in pain? She needs me.”
That fucking giraffe. He’d wring that stuffed toy’s stupidly long neck when he found her.
“Try to think again,” he murmured. “When was the last time you saw her?”
“I don’t know.” She clutched at the covers like they were a lifeline. She’d only noticed Lola was missing when she’d come up to bed. It had been one of those overwhelming evenings – he’d had a customer demand to meet him at six, so he’d been late picking Delilah up from his mom’s. And of course she’d wanted nuggets for dinner and he had none in the house.
So they’d had another battle about that before she finally took a shower and pulled her pajamas on, pouting all the way.
And now here they were, one giraffe missing, one little girl in tears. Damn, he needed a drink. Or about a hundred night’s sleep.
“I had her at dance class,” she whispered.
“Okay…” Well that was something. “And did you take her to Grammy’s?”
“I think so.”
Relief washed through him. “Don’t move. I’ll call her now and see if she’s there.”
Five minutes later the relief was gone.
“She didn’t have her when I picked her up,” her mom said. “I just assumed she’d left her at home.”
And yeah, sometimes she did. Delilah was attached to Lola, but not as much as she used to be. After Jade died, she’d been practically glued to the stuffie. Everywhere she went, Lola went too. Her school principal had given her permission to take the giraffe with her to class when she needed the extra emotional support.
But he thought it was getting better. Maybe it was.
Until now.
“Shit.” What a mess this was.
“I told you to buy a second one,” his mom said, her voice light.
Yeah, but he’d known that Delilah would never be convinced by a brand spanking new giraffe, even if he’d been able to track one down.
“She’s probably at the dance school,” he said. “I’ll call them tomorrow.”
“Well, good luck, sweetheart.”
He smiled grimly. “I’m going to need it.”
It was another twenty minutes later before he couldn’t stand it anymore. Not because Delilah was openly wailing but because she was trying so hard to get to sleep but she couldn’t stop the sobs from coming. It hurt him to the core.
She was such a good kid. She didn’t ask for much. Just one damn giraffe to sleep with when she got a little scared or upset.
Fuck it.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” he whispered to her. She nodded, her face turned to the side.
Grabbing his phone from his pocket, he walked into the hallway and dialed the one number he never touched. But there was nobody else that could help, he knew that. Not until morning when the school was open.
And it was a long damn time until morning.
“Hello?”
He swallowed hard as he heard Cassie’s soft voice. The band had all exchanged numbers a few weeks ago. At the time, he’d thought it was a bit much, but he was glad now.
“It’s Presley Hartson.”
“I know. I have this magic screen where your name appears when you call.” Her voice was light. Teasing. Any other time she might have made him smile.
“I need your help.” There it was. Another admission that he couldn’t do this thing alone. He knew people said it took a village to raise a child, well it took a whole small town to help with his kid.
“What’s up?” she asked, her tone changing. He had the feeling that she was good at helping. She certainly didn’t sound surprised.
“Delilah’s giraffe is missing. Do you know if she had her in class today?”
There was a pause, like she was thinking. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure she did.”
Well that was one mystery solved at least. “Okay. Thanks. I’ll let her know. She’s kind of missing her.”
“I could check if you’d like?” she offered. “I have a set of keys and it’s not far away. I know how attached she is to Lola.”
Weird how his chest tightened at the fact that his kid’s dance teacher knew her giraffe’s name. If Marley was listening in he’d laugh right now.
“It’s okay, we take up enough of your time.” There was no way he could ask this of her.
“Honestly, it’s fine. I was feeling bored anyway. I’ll let you know if I find her, okay?”
He swallowed down his pride for his daughter’s sake. “I really appreciate that.”
“It’s not a problem. I’ll speak to you soon.” He heard the jingle of keys. Damn, the woman was fast. “Tell Delilah to hang in there.”
“Thanks. I will.”
It felt strange walking through the dance school’s corridors at night. The whole place was silent and it sent a shiver up Cassie’s spine. During the day it was full of life – music spilling out of rooms, children running to classes or to meet their parents.
But now it was just Cassie and her thoughts as she pushed open the door to her studio and flipped one of the light switches.
The overhead light flickered for a moment, the pitch black room looking like some kind of horror movie. Then it came to life, and she laughed at the way her heart was hammering against her chest.
Damn, her imagination was way too good.
Turning around on her feet, she scoured the room for Lola. There was no sign of her on the floor where Delilah had sat waiting for her grandmother to pick her up, or by the hooks where they hung their coats.
But as she turned to look by the dance mats, she saw a flash of orange underneath the piano. A little leg was sticking out. She walked over and hunched down to pull her out.
It took a little tugging. It was like somebody had deliberately pushed the toy under there. Cassie frowned. Had one of the other kids done it to play a trick on Delilah?
“Come on,” she muttered, taking care because there was no way she wanted to rip the giraffe’s fur. With a little twisting and turning the toy was finally free.
Elation rushed through her. She felt like she’d just delivered a baby, not freed an inanimate object.
When she stood she pulled her phone from her pocket and navigated to the last call, clicking the phone button.
Pres answered within seconds.
“I’ve got her,” she said, a smile pulling at her lips.
“You’re a fucking miracle worker,” he said. “Ah shit. Sorry for swearing.”
It was impossible not to laugh. It was stupid how giddy she was feeling. “Give me your address and I’ll drop her off on my way home.”
“You don’t need to do that.” His voice was low. She wondered if he was in the room with Delilah but then she remembered the swearing. He may have a dirty mouth, but she was pretty sure he wouldn’t swear in front of his daughter.
“It’s not a big deal,” she told him. “Honestly.”
He took a long breath. “I’ll owe you big time if you do.”
“It’s just a giraffe, Presley.”
He chuckled.
“What?” she asked, that smile still pulling at her lips.
“The only person who calls me Presley is my mother.”
“Do you prefer Pres?” she asked him.
“No, I like it when you say my name.”
Oh. Her heart did a weird flutter thing. “Then Presley it is. So are you going to give me your address or will I have to hunt you down? Because Lola is looking mighty angry right now. She needs her owner.”
There was that laugh again. She wished she was there to see it. But somehow it was easier to talk with him over the phone than face to face.
She got too discombobulated when she could see him. That was the problem. Men like him shouldn’t be so attractive.
“I’m the next street up from my parents’ place,” he said, reeling off the address. “Take the left before their house. We’re about halfway along the road. You’ll see my truck in the driveway.”
“The Beast,” she said. She’d heard Delilah calling it that.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Okay then. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” She disconnected and took a deep breath. She shouldn’t feel this excited from just talking to him.
But that didn’t stop her from smiling as she locked up the dance school and headed back toward her car.
“Is that her? Is she here?” Delilah ran over to the living room window, pulling open the curtains and pressing her nose against the glass. When he’d told her that Cassie had found Lola, his daughter had insisted on coming down to wait for them. Pres walked behind her, looking over her head at the headlamps sweeping over the driveway.
Yeah, it was her. He ran his tongue along his dry bottom lip.
Cassie climbed out of the car. She was wearing a pair of black yoga pants and a cropped hoodie, her hair loosely tied back from her face. She looked like she’d been dressed comfortably to hang out and watch tv at home, not perform a rescue mission for a stuffed animal.
She still looked good though. He had a feeling she’d look good in anything.
Or nothing.
He blinked that thought right out of his head.
“I’ll open the door,” Delilah shouted, running into the hallway.
“Wait!” Damn, he needed to teach her about stranger danger. “Don’t open it until I’m there.”
But she was already opening it and shouting out Cassie’s name. The poor woman was only halfway up the driveway by the time Delilah was jumping up and down in the doorway.
“Hey. Look who’s been missing you.” She wiggled the giraffe in her hand.
“Lola!” Delilah looked over her shoulder at him. “Daddy look, Cassie brought her home.”
“What do you say?” he prompted, because they hadn’t quite gotten the politeness thing right yet.
“Thank you!” Delilah took the proffered toy and hugged her. Then hugged Cassie.
“No problem.” Cassie stroked her hair then looked up at Pres. She smiled softly at him.
And yeah, he smiled back. No big deal. “Hi,” he said.
“Hi.”
Delilah released her death grip on Cassie and stepped back.
“And bye, I guess.” Cassie ruffled Delilah’s hair. “It’s past your bedtime, right?”
Delilah frowned. “Daddy, can Cassie read me a story? Please?”
Cassie looked at Pres and back at Delilah. He lifted a brow, and she shrugged.
He was okay with it if she was. It felt churlish to send her away after she saved his ass, anyway.
And she didn’t seem to baulk at the idea either. She looked kind of pleased.
“Just one story. That’s it,” Presley warned Delilah, because he knew what she was like.
“Yes!” Delilah did a fist bump and stepped aside so Cassie could walk in. Pres leaned around her to pull the door closed, his arm brushing her chest.
“Sorry. Old habits.”
“It’s okay. No harm done.” She sounded almost breathless. Weird how he felt the same.
He pressed himself back against the wall as she stepped inside and looked around the hallway, as though taking it in.
It was painted white with warm wooden floors, photos of Delilah and his family – along with a few of Jade – fixed to the wall. Mostly taken by his mom.
“You have a big family,” she said, her gaze washing over them.
“Yeah. They’re a lot. Family get-togethers are a blast.”
She smiled softly.
“Come to my room,” Delilah urged, tugging at Cassie’s hand. “It’s a princess room.” She was grinning from ear to ear. “It’s pink. To make the boys wink.”
Pres rolled his eyes. “Did Gramps teach you that?”
“He might have,” Delilah said. “It rhymes. Like a poem.”
Cassie laughed, and he grinned too. “Come on then,” he said. “Let’s get you into bed and ready for a story.”
“Not you. Just Cassie,” Delilah said.
And fuck if that didn’t feel like the softest of knives to the heart.
“You okay if I go up with her?” Cassie’s eyes met his.
He nodded. “Have at it.” Delilah blew him a kiss, and that softened the blow a little, as she led Cassie up the stairs while he stood at the bottom.
Not looking at Cassie’s ass at all.
Nope.
When they’d disappeared from view he sat on the bottom step. When was the last time a woman he wasn’t related to was in this house? He frowned, trying to think. His mom came over all the time, of course. Occasionally bringing along one of his aunts.
And his girl cousins would come over to spend time with him and Delilah, too. Grace was his oldest female cousin, but there was Sabrina, his younger, wilder cousin, too. He had the worrying feeling that Delilah took after her.
Or she would. When she was grown up.
“See, it’s pink,” he heard Delilah saying to Cassie.
“It’s beautiful.”
“And I have a heart cushion. And I can pull the curtains closed around the bed if I want. But I don’t because it scares Lola. She likes to see what’s going on.”
“Why don’t you climb into bed?” Cassie said. “I bet Lola’s exhausted after all her adventures today.”
“Where did you find her?”
“In the studio. I get the feeling she crawled away to play hide and seek but forgot to find you after class.”
“Cassie?” Delilah piped up.
“Yes?”
“You know Lola isn’t real, right? She can’t actually crawl anywhere.”
Presley smothered a laugh. Damn, his kid had sass.
“You and I know that,” Cassie mock whispered. “But Lola doesn’t.”
Pres stood and walked into the kitchen, so aware of the two of them upstairs. He put the last of the dishes into the dishwasher and wiped up the counters. He’d let them have some girl time. It was what Delilah wanted.
And he was a damn sucker for his kid. Always.
It took him ten minutes to get the kitchen clean. He ran his hands under the faucet, washing them with some dish soap before he dried them on the towel.
It was silent when he walked into the hallway at the base of the stairs. He tipped his head, his brows knitting, before he climbed up them to make sure everything was okay.
Delilah’s door was ajar. He looked through the gap, to Delilah’s bed. It was just as she’d described to Cassie. A princess bed, with four posters and a roof, voile curtains hanging down and tied to each bedpost.
He’d made it himself. It had been an easy design for somebody who knew what they were doing with a jigsaw. The hardest part had been hiding it from Delilah as he worked. In the end, he’d made up a story about the garage being dangerous and that she couldn’t go in there without asking.
He’d spent nights sanding, priming, and then painting. More getting the curtains right. And then she’d spent the weekend with his mom while he and Marley had built it in her room for a surprise.
He smiled at the memory. It had been good spending time like that with his brother. The same way it was good spending time with him at rehearsal.
Delilah was asleep, her eyes closed, her rosebud lips slightly opened as she inhaled rhythmically. Her head was resting on Cassie’s lap and her hands were clutching Lola against her chest.
His breath caught in his throat, because damn, they looked like they were supposed to be laying like this. Like Delilah was supposed to have somebody soft and feminine to take care of her.
He knew she missed her mom. Or at least the idea of her.
Of having something all the other kids at school had.
Sure, some of them didn’t have dads. But that was normal, if there was any such thing. But no mom. That was tough.
Cassie looked up, and a soft smile pulled at her lips. “She went out like a light,” she whispered. “I’m scared to move in case she wakes up.”
“She’s a pretty deep sleeper.” He kept his voice low, walking into the room. “Let me help you.”
Cassie nodded, and he slid his hands beneath Delilah’s head, his knuckles pressing into Cassie’s thighs. Their faces were close as he held his daughter while her dance teacher wiggled off the bed.
Once Cassie was out from under Delilah, he gently lowered Delilah’s head to her pillow. She muttered something he couldn’t quite hear and rolled onto her side, her giraffe still tight in her arms.
Cassie was waiting for him outside Delilah’s bedroom when he softly made his way out of her room, closing the door behind him.
“Thanks,” he told her. “I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me anything. I was glad to help.”
She was close enough for him to smell the citrus on her skin. Was it her shower gel? Perfume?
He inclined his head at the stairs and she went down first, him following behind her.
“Can I get you a coffee or something?” he asked her when they reached the bottom.
She stopped walking and turned to look at him. He hadn’t expected the sudden slow down, and he was inches from her, looking down.
Right into her eyes.
Her lips parted. And fuck, he wanted to kiss them. A rush of desire went through him. Strong enough to make him blink.
When was the last time he’d been this close to a woman?
He wasn’t sure. But his body liked it, he knew that much.
It was like a drug he’d taken so long ago that he’d forgotten the effect it had on him. His muscles tightened, his teeth clenched.
And his dick, yeah, that was paying attention, too. Way too much.
Step back, he thought. He wasn’t sure whether he was talking to himself or her. One of them needed to, though. And he wasn’t sure he had the willpower to do it.
She tilted her head, and he could see the sweet tenderness of her neck. He wanted to scrape his teeth over her skin until she gasped. Wanted to bury his face in the curve where her neck met her shoulder.
Cassie’s breath hitched. And yeah, he knew she was feeling it too.
Whatever it was.
A little bit of fucked up magic in a world where he’d been lost for too long.
“You have fuzz on your cheek,” she whispered. And before he could stop her, she reached out to brush it away.
With that one touch, he was gone.
His hand covered hers until her palm was flat against his rough jaw. Her gaze flew to his. She looked surprised, but something else, too.
Something darker. The same thing he felt.
“Pres…”
“Come here.” His voice sounded like a stranger’s. Rough and needy.
She didn’t hesitate, and he loved that. One graceful step forward and her chest was brushing against his. Her head tipped further, her cheeks pink.
Everything about her was so soft, and it made him ache for her.
Without thinking, he traced the line of her cheek with his rough fingertip. She let out a sigh, and he traced her pink lips, too.
But it wasn’t enough. He needed more. So much more. His hand slid down her jaw, angling it until her lips were a breath away from his.
And yeah, he had to dip down to close that gap because she was short and he was tall, but damn it only took a second before his mouth was against hers. She was as sweet as he knew she would be. Her lips tender, as his mouth stole what it needed. His tongue swept along her seam and she parted her lips. Her own tongue grazing his.
Hot blood rushed straight from his brain to his dick as he moved his hands down her sides, pushing at her hoodie until he felt her warm skin.
Cassie’s arms looped around him and he slid his palms further still, over her hips, beneath her behind, lifting her up and turning so her back was against the wall.
Her breath was hot and short against his mouth as he pressed his hardness against her. Her fingertips were tugging at his hair, her lips stealing his kisses. And as his tongue caressed hers again, he imagined the sweetness of her mouth around his cock.
Jesus. It had been too long. Way too long.
Cassie rolled her hips against his and he was mentally calculating how quickly he could get her naked when a bolt of sense rushed into his brain.
This is happening in your hallway. In your home. Where your daughter is, motherfucker.
And this is her teacher. Your band mate. And if you fuck this up your brother will be pissed.
He never knew thoughts could be like cold water, but he felt icy as he pulled back, gently releasing his hold on her until Cassie’s feet met the ground.
Oh.
Shit.
What the hell had he just done?
His skin was still electric. His body still pulsing. Like an addict looking for its next fix. He stepped back, putting distance between them, all too aware of the thick swell of his dick still pressing against the seam of his jeans.
“I should go,” she whispered.
He nodded, because that’s what he wanted, wasn’t it? For her to leave and forget that this ever happened. No coffee required.
“Thank you for bringing Lola home,” he said roughly.
She ran her tongue along her bottom lip. It fucking hypnotized him. “No problem.”
Tugging at the hem of her hoodie, she covered the sliver of flesh he’d revealed with his touch. “I guess I’ll see you at rehearsal.” There was a flash of a smile and then it was gone.
He walked over to the door, pulling it open, then stepping aside so she didn’t touch him as she passed.
Say something, motherfucker.
But what could he say that wouldn’t make everything worse?
She was on the porch now, her keys in her hand. She pressed the button on them and her car lit up. Then she turned and walked down the steps to his driveway.
“Cassie?”
She turned back to look at him. “Yes?”
“Drive carefully.”
“I will.”
He stood in the doorway until she’d gotten safely in her car and started the engine, the headlamps illuminating his beast of a truck.
And then she reversed out, and he closed the door, frowning as he realized his dick was still semi hard.
Jesus Christ, he needed to get a life. Or touch himself until he stopped thinking about the way her ass felt in his palms.
Why was it everything he touched turned to shit? His band, his marriage, his kid’s dance teacher?
The only good thing he’d done was keeping that little girl upstairs happy.
And that’s the most important thing, he reminded himself.
Nothing else mattered. Just Delilah. And that’s why he wouldn’t kiss her dance teacher again.