Chapter Four
Nick
A fter I leave my sister’s, I drive to the hotel where I am staying.
The Meridian NYC is a part of the group of hotels my siblings and I bought from Robert Dare, an ostracized family member.
We saved the business from bankruptcy and added to their holdings.
I am responsible for checking out the hotels, travelling often, and putting out fires where necessary, while Jade is based in New York, where she takes on the role of lead Event Coordinator.
She oversees events and budgeting for all the hotels, but she is hands on at the Meridian NYC.
I head to a suite I co-opted for my visit and settle onto the bed, pulling out my phone.
I don’t know what time Leah goes to bed, but I give calling both my girls a shot.
My stomach twists in unfamiliar knots at the thought.
Neither of them is my girl. Leah won’t be mine until she knows she can call me ‘daddy’.
And Aurora? Hell if I know what she is to me. But I need to find out.
Calling her is a start, and Facetime will let me see them both.
When Aurora answers, it is obvious she’s been asleep.
Her hair falls across one cheek, and the other shows a sleep line on her fair skin.
Though I feel bad for waking her, I can’t deny the intimacy inherent in seeing her with her guard down, almost as if we’ve woken up together in bed.
My dick hardens at the thought, something I’ll have to take care of on my own.
Though I’ll use my own hand, it will be Aurora I envision gripping my cock and the sudden desire to reach through the screen and touch her is almost overwhelming.
“Nick?” She shifts positions and sits up, resting her back against the headboard and pillows.
“Hi.” I clear my throat. “Is this a bad time?”
She shakes her head, pushing several long strands away from her face. “No. It’s okay. I dozed off after Leah’s long bath and bedtime routine.”
“Tell me more.” I want to hear everything about my daughter.
Aurora laughs, the melodic sound not helping the desire for her already pulsing inside me. “She’s something else.” Her eyes light up as she describes Leah’s antics and I find myself laughing along with her.
Aurora grins at me and our gazes lock and hold.
My breath catches and my heart pounds hard in my chest. Something passes between us, reminding us of the day I first laid eyes on her.
It had been an indefinable connection—something I can’t put a name to—but I never felt it with anyone else.
It was a deep yearning that pulses between us.
“Are you coming to Leah’s party? It’s in just over two weeks.” She breaks the silence first. “I know she put you on the spot and you might have plans.”
I raise my eyebrows. Does she really think I would miss it?
“Even if I had something on my calendar, I’d reschedule.
Don’t worry. I’ll be there. Which reminds me…
what can I get her for a gift?” I don’t know anything about five-year-old girls and though I can ask my mother…
Shit. I haven’t told my father and Serenity they have a grandchild yet.
I need to call them before the family text chain handles it for me. If they heard already, they’d have called me by now.
“Well, Leah told her grandmother that she wants a pony.” Aurora’s eyeroll tells me what she thinks about that idea. “When I said no, she requested a puppy. I nixed that idea immediately, too.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and swipes her tongue over her lips.
I do my best not to groan, wishing it was me tasting that sensual mouth.
“I told her we were too busy to deal with any living being at the moment.” Aurora’s lips quirk in a smile. “ As for you, anything from a toy store in her age bracket will work.”
“I want it to be something special.” I don’t know when Aurora will agree to tell Leah about my place in her life, but in the meantime, I intend to make an impression.
“Hmm. Well, she wants an outdoor playhouse. There are quite a few brands and some can run a lot of money. But you don’t need to spend a fortune. They make adorable plastic ones. She just wants a place to play with her friends in the backyard. She’d be thrilled if you picked out one of those.”
“I can do that,” I say, my excitement palpable, now that I have something concrete in mind. “Okay, so we’ve talked about Leah. What about us?”
Her eyes open wide. “What about us?” she asks in a husky voice.
“I want to take you out on a date.” The words hang between us, along with all the years that have passed.
“Nick, I don’t know…”
“I want to learn more about Leah. Her favorite foods, maybe see some baby pictures. All the things I missed.” Yeah, I am not above using my daughter to get what I want when the truth is, I need to know.
“And I want to learn the same things about you.” A hole settles in my chest and only Aurora and knowledge about my little girl can fill it.
“You make it impossible to say no to you,” she says, that mouth I want to kiss pursed in thought.
I grin. “That’s the point. I’m going to come up with something we can do that will let us talk and do something fun. And don’t worry. I’ll give you plenty of time to get a babysitter.”
“You’re trouble, Nick Dare.”
I wink at her pretty face. “I’ve only just begun to turn on the charm.”
Although my sister warned me it won’t work on Aurora, I know of no other way to reach her other than to be myself. “Get some rest and we’ll talk tomorrow.”
She opens her mouth to reply but I wave and hit end before she can come up with an argument. I am ahead and intend to stay there.
I call my father and ask if he and Serenity can come into the city for lunch tomorrow. I have something important to tell them.
***
Aurora
The next morning, I take Leah next door to play with Mimi. Mark opens the door and smiles at the sight of me. Wearing a pair of khaki shorts and his typical collared short-sleeved shirt, hair combed and slicked back, he looks like he’s been waiting for me to arrive.
“Well, if it isn’t my two favorite ladies,” he says, stepping back so we can come inside.
I’m not comfortable. Until yesterday, Mark was a good neighbor who’s always come across like a platonic friend. A single dad, we often help each other out with babysitting, play dates, and the like. His sudden interest feels awkward for me.
“I’m sorry, but my sister is coming over. I need to get home. What time should I pick up Leah?” I ask.
He frowns, disappointment evident on his face. “I was hoping we could share lunch.”
“I’m sorry. I’m in a rush.” I bend down to talk to Leah. “Are you excited to play with Mimi?”
Leah nods. “I have my Barbies!” She holds up the case she stuffed her dolls and their clothes into.
“Okay, I’ll see you in a few hours.” I kiss her cheek and rise to my feet.
Mark steps aside. “Mimi is in her room. You can go find her.”
Leah runs inside and I take a step back. “Thanks, Mark. I’ll text you when I’m on my way back to get her.”
Before he can attempt to coax me inside, I turn and walk back home.
Chloe arrives a few minutes later and we drive to a local restaurant for lunch. A little while later, we are sitting at a window seat, drinking mimosas and waiting for our lunches.
“Okay, girl, spill it,” Chloe says. “I’ve waited long enough for you to bring up the subject of Nick Dare on your own. I already know he’s Leah’s father. What I don’t know is the whole story. Even Mom doesn’t know everything.” Chloe points to her glass. “So drink up and explain.”
I take a long sip and fill Chloe in on yesterday’s events. “All he had to do was take one look at her and he knew,” I say. When I realized he figured out that Leah was his, my heart nearly stopped.
“What happens now?” Chloe asks as the waiter places our meals on the table.
“He wants to go out on a date. To get to know me again.” Oh, I know he used wanting details about his daughter as an excuse to get me to agree. The man is smooth and isn’t above using my daughter against me.
“Are you going to go?” Chloe picks up the ketchup, then pours some on her plate so she can dip her French fries.
“We are…”
Chloe narrows her gaze. “But? I can hear the hesitation in your voice. ”
Ignoring my hamburger, which means I have to be upset about something, I glance at my sister. “Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I went out on a date?” My stomach twists at the thought.
Chloe picks up a fry and dips it into the ketchup. “Umm…I guess I hadn’t given it any thought. I know you’ve been busy with Leah and your charity but—”
“Nick,” I say, interrupting Chloe. “That night with Nick was the last time I had sex,” I blurt out.
I went out on a date—once—since Nick. The guy and I went back to his place and made out, but when he realized I had a kid—courtesy of a babysitter’s phone call with a question—he couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.
And my first time? That was with some guy from high school in the backseat of his car. I wasn’t even one hundred percent sure he’d gotten all the way inside me before he came. Eew . Why am I thinking about that now?
Chloe drops her French fry back on the plate. “Oh jeez.”
“Right. And now I’m supposed to go out with the father of my child, who has made it pretty damned clear he’s interested in me.
” I sigh. “I’ve been on my own my entire life.
It was hard enough to let you guys in. How in the world can I trust Nick?
” I finish off my mimosa and let out a long breath.
“Did I mention he doesn’t even have a home?
Forget a house, but not even an apartment.
He travels from city to city and stays in family hotels. ”
Chloe winces. “That’s hard.” She signals for the server and the woman walks over. “Can I help you?” she asks.
“Two more mimosas, please.” Chloe asks.
“Of course.” The server walks away.