21. Dani

21

Dani

I can't stop smiling. My heart is so full. Conner loves me. I love him. It might have taken us many years to get here, but we made it. A part of me is very sad. Alec hurt him deeply. He hurt me too. There's a part of me that's still not sure he actually loved me, and in my moment of weakness and vulnerability, Conner assured me he did. He's a good guy like that.

Did he also tell you he loved you because you were sad and broken?

No, no, no. Conner is not that guy. He'd never do something like that. He cares about me, has always been there for me. I might not have known who Alec really was deep down inside, but I know who this man is, inside and out. Lord knows I can't be wrong twice, right?

"Oh la la."

As I stand in the mirror, putting my earrings in, I spot Conner coming toward me, hunger in his eyes. My entire body heats up and my heart swells with the love I have for him. "Is that all you've learned?"

"No, but that's the perfect way to describe what I'm feeling right now." I arch a brow as he puts his hands on my hips and shapes my curves. "You look so beautiful, I think I should tear this dress from your body, toss you on that bed, and have my way with you."

"While I love that idea, I don't want to keep the girls waiting, and you…" I turn, and the second I see him, I melt a little inside. "You have a pool game and beer to get to."

"That beer won't taste nearly as good as you," he assures me.

I put my arms around him. "Funny you should say that. I was thinking no matter what I order tonight..." I slide a hand between our bodies and cup his thickening cock. "…it won't sate my appetite, like you do." He thickens in my hand and I chuckle, loving what I can do to this man. I haven't gotten pregnant yet, but knowing he loves me, knowing he isn't looking to move on with his life, takes a bit of the pressure off to get it done fast. Besides, we're both enjoying the process.

"Can't we stay in and have sex?"

He pouts and it almost makes it hard to say no. "No. That doesn't mean we can't have sex later, though." I step away from him, walk to my phone, take a boob shot, and send it to him. Honestly, I can't believe who I've become with him. He really brought me out of my shell, made me more confident in myself. His phone pings and he pulls it from his pocket.

A wide grin turns up the corners of his lips as he opens the message. "Oh la la."

I laugh hard. "That'll give you something to look forward to."

"Sporting a boner all night while with the guys isn't going to be fun."

I tap the air. "Maybe not, but what we're going to do later is."

His shoulders slump. "Babe, you're killing me."

I walk back to him, go up on my toes, and throw my arms around his shoulders. "Aww, I'm sorry." I kiss him, and he deepens it, moving his hard cock against my body. By the time we break the kiss, I'm flushed and breathless and when I take in his mischievous grin, I realize what he's doing.

"Not fair."

"Two can play your game," he tells me with a wink.

I fan my face and pick up my brush, needing the distraction. He steps up behind me and kisses the side of my neck. "Cut it out, Conner." I moan, and lean into him, my words saying one thing while my body tells an entirely different story.

His phone pings again, and he groans. "That better be another picture of you."

"Nope."

He inches back, and reads the message. I watch him in the mirror as he furrows his brow, and messages something back. "I gotta run. Ash asked if I'd pick him up."

My ears perk up. "Oh, good. Get all the deets on him and Gina."

"No, I'm not doing that."

"Come on, for me."

He groans. "I'd do just about anything for you, but we are minding our own business and not playing matchmaker." I'm about to protest. "Isn't Gina going to be there tonight? Ask her yourself."

I lift my chin. "Maybe I will."

"Good, do it." He holds his hands up. "I am not getting involved in your scheme."

I laugh, turn to him and point my brush. "Are we having our first fight?"

He grins. "It's not much of a fight." His lips land on mine. "I'll see you later. You're good getting to the restaurant?"

"Yes, you go have fun with the guys, and we'll have fun talking about all you guys."

He laughs as he walks out of the room, and I stare at his cute buttocks. When it comes to personalities, the man is a cinnamon roll. Not that there's anything soft about him or his butt, but his backside is sweet, like him. How the heck did I get so lucky to have this man in my life for so long?

I listen to his footsteps on the stairs, and the downstairs door opens and closes. I lean against the dresser and glance around his bedroom. He might be a bachelor, yet everything about his place is cozy. Will we live together someday? Raise a baby together? Heck, if you have love, you have everything, right? I'd much prefer to stay here, where old memories didn't haunt us and we can make new ones. Am I getting ahead of myself? I mean, love is love and that's great. There's no talk of marriage, and yeah, okay, I am getting ahead of myself. I've just never been so happy or giddy before.

The bed sheets are still a bit mussed from earlier, when we were snuggling, and I walk over and fix them. As I trail my fingers over the pillows, I imagine all the ways we'll mess the bed up tonight.

With that in mind, I head downstairs, grab my purse and walk outside. I jump into my car and drive to the downtown restaurant and as I approach, I once again hope Summer isn't joining us. Is that awful? Ugh, it probably is. Everyone took me in and accepted me, and I should do the same for her.

After parking, I hurry into the restaurant and quickly glance around. I spot Brighton, and scan the table as the hostess comes up to me. "I'm with them." I point to the WAGs at the big table. Will I be a real WAG someday? God, girl, get it together.

"Dani." Brighton jumps up and gives me a hug. "I'm so glad you could come out tonight. I know it's a work night, but if the guys are having fun, we should be having fun too."

I drop down next to Brighton and glance around the table. I greet Melanie, Josie, Gina, Maeve, and Harper, who is Korbin's wife and doesn't get out much because she has so many kids at home. "Is everyone here?" I ask as my gaze lands on the empty chair.

"I invited Summer. She wasn't sure she could make it, though."

"Oh, okay."

She nudges me. "Hey, you look really happy."

I can't stop a big smile from spreading across my face. "I am."

"I wasn't sure whether to invite Summer or not. I know she and Conner have a history. Everyone seemed okay at the pool party, and I hate to leave anyone out."

"Oh, it's fine." Actually, it is fine. I'm secure in myself now, and I believe in Conner.

"Good, because you don't have anything to worry about. Conner is totally into you, believe me."

"You think?" God, why am I fishing for compliments and information. I'm completely secure in our relationship.

Ah, but there's a small part of you that wonders, isn't there, Dani?

Ugh, I hate that it's true. I hate that I'm still not sure Alec actually really loved me and that Conner might have been holding back the truth to spare my feelings.

Stop.

I take a fast breath and push that thought out of my head. I do not want to go there. I am going to focus on the future and the future only.

"Of course I think," she says as the server comes to take our drink order. Since I'm driving, I only order a water with lime, and the pregnant and nursing women at the table go non-alcoholic too.

The server leaves and Maeve, who announced her pregnancy at her party, grins as she picks up her menu. "Does someone have news?"

Since I'm sure she's not talking to me, I open my menu and scan it. Maeve clears her throat and I glance up to find her looking at me, her brows raised in question.

"What?" I ask, and note the way all eyes are on me.

"You ordered water with lime. Is there a reason you're not having alcohol?" She rubs her belly and that's when I get a clue.

"Oh." I laugh. "No, no. It's just that I'm driving, and I'm a lightweight."

Brighton laughs and nudges me. "I thought you might have been joining the SUV team."

When I don't say anything, Brighton reads into it. "Ohmigod, are you trying?"

I close the menu and take a breath. I don't want to lie to these women, although haven't Conner and I been doing that all along with our fake dating? That turned out to be real so if I tell them, will it jinx it or will it happen? Could I possibly overthink this anymore than I already am?

"You don't have to tell us anything you don't want to," Josie pipes in and reaches across the table to give my hand a squeeze.

I've always felt a part of this group, but more so now than ever, and they've all accepted me, which is probably why I find myself saying, "We're trying." Claps and cheers and smiles erupt around the table. "We're keeping it low key, though. I've had complications in the past, so we're keeping this quiet, and trying not to make a big deal out of it."

"Of course." Brighton gives my arm a squeeze.

Gina sets her wine down. "Okay let's talk about all this trying , and big deal."

Everyone laughs and when it dies down, Brighton glances at Gina, compassion in her eyes. "Are you still on a dry spell?"

Gina glances down, her lashes shading her eyes, and I can't help but grin. Oh, that girl is definitely getting some and I'm pretty sure I know who's giving it to her.

She lifts her head slightly, a playful grin on her mouth. "I thought we were talking about Dani."

"Oh, hell girl, we want all the deets," Melanie blurts out, all attention turning to Gina and her sex life and I'm grateful all eyes are off me. I probably shouldn't have said anything about trying. That wasn't fair to Conner. I'm going to have to speak to him about this. I don't want to be telling secrets behind his back, and while I asked for this to be between us girls, I know they're going to tell their husbands. It's what married couples do.

The server comes back with our drinks and we put in our orders. We talk about work and books and upcoming vacations. The night is lively, the conversation interesting, and I'm so happy to be a part of this amazing group of women.

By the time we're done eating and the dishes are cleared, Brighton looks at us all, a gleam in her eyes. "What do you say we crash the boys party and beat them at a few games of pool?"

I laugh. "I don't know much about playing pool."

"Oh, don't worry about that." Josie winks at me. "We have the goods…" She stops talking and fixes her blouse around her breasts. "To throw them off their game enough that we don't need to be good."

I cock my head. "Isn't that cheating?"

"Damn right it is," Maeve agrees and drops her napkin. "Let's go bust some balls, so to speak."

Laughing, we all stand, pay our bills and head outdoors. Since I came alone, I hurry to my car and hop in, a sense of giddiness inside me. I drive the short distance to the bar, and we all meet up at the door.

"Ready?" Melanie asks, and pushes open the door like she owns the place, and I do love the woman's confidence. Squaring my shoulders, I walk in full of confidence too. The guys all turn our way as we storm the castle, and I look for Conner, but don't instantly see him. Perhaps he made a trip to the little boys room. I glance down the hall, and find it empty. Scanning the room my gaze zeroes in on the blonde making a fast exit, and that's when I see Conner coming my way.

But the blonde is the one holding my attention. Was that…Summer?