Danielle
I glanced up at Austin and raised an eyebrow. He shook his head and gave me an “I’ll explain later” look. I took Lily’s hand and rose to my feet. “How about we find somewhere a little more private to fix your jeans, hmm?” She gripped my hand and I handed Austin my wine as I narrowed my eyes at him. “Glue.”
He smiled and gave me a chin lift in response.
I walked Lily to a little alcove behind the pool table where computers were set up along the window, and helped her with her tiny little motorcycle boots (seriously adorable) then I removed her jeans and helped her put them on the right way. “How did they get off you, baby?”
“I was going potty and I took them off,” she said, as though it was obvious.
“Good job,” I said. “Did you go potty by yourself?”
She nodded her head. “I can go like a big girl.”
“I bet you can. But if you need to go potty again, how about you come find me if you can’t find your daddy, okay?” I smiled. “That way we can make sure your jeans fit right.”
I led her back out in the common area, just in time to see Tiff walking into the room, her body wrapped around a really good-looking man who looked to be in his early thirties. He was tall and lean, had dark blond hair, deep green eyes, and a handlebar moustache that covered full lips. I had never been one to find the meth dealer look appealing, but this biker rocked it.
“Daddy!” Lily squealed, and pulled away from me to make a run for him.
Tiff looked somewhat put out as the man caught his daughter, scooping her up in his arms and kissing her, but she schooled her features and made a good show of looking interested in the little girl.
“Where have you been, little girl?”
“The pwetty wady helped me,” Lily squeaked, pointing at me.
The man followed her hand and raised an eyebrow at me. “Did she?”
“I had to go potty, Daddy, and I went all by myself, but my pants didn’t fit.”
His eyes swept the room. “Where’s Sally?”
“I don’t know, daddy. She leff.”
I heard the exchange as I made my way back to Austin. He slid his hand around my waist and kissed my temple. “That’s Hawk,” Austin whispered. “His old lady bailed on him three years ago, leaving him with Lily.”
I frowned. “Seriously?”
He nodded and gave me a gentle squeeze. I focused back on the conversation, but found my hand gripped again by a familiar little one. I hunkered down beside Lily again. “Hi, honey.”
“Hi, wady. I fugot you name.”
I smiled. “Dani.”
“Fank you for hepping me, Dani.”
“You’re welcome, honey.”
“That goes for me, too,” a deep voice said, and I looked up… way up, to see Hawk standing in front of me.
I stood and smiled. “No problem.”
I was pulled tightly against Austin again and I had to grab his waist to keep from falling into him.
“Hawk,” he said.
“Booker.” Hawk gave him a chin lift and then turned to me again. “What’s your name, babe?”
“She’s with me,” Booker said.
I reached out my hand. “I’m Dani.”
“Dani.” Hawk took my hand and gave me a sexy smile. “You’re good with kids.”
“Thanks. I love kids.”
“What’s your story?” he asked.
“I don’t have a story.” I smiled. “I’m pretty boring.”
“I doubt that,” he said, still holding my hand.
Austin stepped in front of me, effectively forcing me to step back.
Hawk dropped my hand and Austin scowled. “What are you doin’, Hawk?”
“Just makin’ conversation, Book.”
“Fuck off.”
“Austin,” I hissed, glancing down at Lily. “Language.”
“Yeah, Austin,” Hawk droned with a shit-eating grin. “Watch your language.”
“Daddy, can I have a cookie?” Lily asked, and Hawk scooped her up.
“What kind ya want?”
“Tocket Tip.”
“One chocolate chip cookie comin’ up,” he said, and carried her toward the kitchen.
Austin grabbed my hand and tugged me away from the group, pulling me into the alcove I’d been in with Lily just minutes before. Pushing me against the wall, he covered my mouth with his and kissed me like his life depended on it. I kissed him back, but didn’t let myself lose focus.
“Hey, what was that all about?” I asked after I broke the connection.
“Hawk can be an asshole.”
“Okay. But he wasn’t being one just then, honey.”
“He was.” Austin took a deep breath. “In his own way.”
“There’s obviously a story there.”
He nodded. “Later.”
“Are we going to hide here for a while?”
Austin chuckled. “I’d rather take you upstairs.”
“Me too, honey… but it’s not gonna happen tonight.”
“Dani, Dani,” Lily squealed as she rushed into the alcove, chocolate covering her face.
“Someone has a shadow,” Austin grumbled.
I grinned and knelt in front of Lily. “How was your cookie?”
“I got you one.”
“You did?”
She nodded and slipped her hand into her pocket, pulling out the crushed remnants of a cookie and holding out her palm. “Oops.”
I laughed. “It’s okay, baby. Let’s get you cleaned up and find your dad, okay?”
“Glue, babe,” Austin said as I stood.
I rose up on my tiptoes and kissed him quickly. “Glue, honey.”
Walking Lily to the kitchen, I lifted her onto the counter next to the sink and turned on the water. The room was empty, so I found soap and paper towels in a cabinet above the sink. At least whoever stocked the kitchen had the forethought to keep things like this out of reach of little hands.
“Let’s wash those hands.” I helped her with the water and then wiped down her face, before setting her on the ground again. Her jeans would need to wait for the washing machine, but for now, she was good to go.
“You could have found me,” a deep voice said.
I started a bit and turned to find Hawk lurking near me while I dried my hands. Lily had skipped off somewhere else, obviously perfectly comfortable in her own skin.
“She found me,” I said, and smiled. “I didn’t mind.”
He crossed his arms. “She likes you. She doesn’t typically like women. Used to men, ‘suppose.”
“You’re raising a really sweet little girl.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.