22. Conner

22

Conner

I pull in behind Dani at my place and kill the ignition. I was thrilled to see her and the girls tonight. I love that they crashed the party and won the rest of the pool games. Honestly, we were all ready to call it a night when they came, but stayed a little longer to have fun with our women.

She steps from her car and I hurry from mine to catch up to her. She stifles a yawn. Maybe that's why she was quiet tonight. I realize it's a work night, and she doesn't usually go out for dinner when she has to get up early, but I'm glad she joined the women tonight. Although I do think it wore her out. Then again, she was worn out before she left. I've been keeping her up too late at night.

"Hey." I put my arm around her when I reach her and give her a kiss on the top of the head. "You tired?"

"I am." She stifles another yawn. "I'm not usually out this late on a work night."

"Then let's get you to bed."

She smiles, and we head to the front door. I unlock it and usher her inside. She quickly kicks off her heels and moans in delight. Her job doesn't require heels and she sure looks happy to be out of them.

She walks up the stairs ahead of me, her body tight, and I can't help but think something is wrong. Is she having second thoughts? Did she find something else out about my brother? I hurry behind her, and follow her into the bedroom. "Is everything okay? You had a good time tonight, didn't you?"

She peels off her dress, and I fight to keep blood in my brain. "I sort of told the girls that we were trying to have a baby. I ordered a water with lime, and that made them curious and the conversation snowballed from there. I probably shouldn't have done that." She crinkles her nose and I relax a bit.

"It's okay. When it happens they were all going to know anyway."

Her lashes slowly fall and lift again as her eyes move over my face, assessing me. "You're not upset?"

"No, babe. Did you think I would be?"

"It's just, I mean, we were going to say it was an accident, right? Now they know we're actively trying, and you and me, we're just so new."

"We're not that new, Dani. We've been pretty much attached at the hip for a couple years now."

"Even before that, really. In high school and even when I was married." She glances down, and after a moment of silence, asks, "Conner, do you think Alec was jealous, or thought something was happening…" She waves her hands back and forth between us. "Between us? I'd never cheat. Things might not have always been great between us, but people who cheat are…are…"

"Assholes," I offer, and she nods. "No, I don't think he thought that at all. He knew who we were." We just didn't know who he was.

Her shoulders settle in place. "Are you going to say anything to the guys about us trying for a baby?"

"I don't have to. I'm sure there are no secrets between husbands and wives and this is kind of juicy information."

"Juicy?" she asks with a grin. "Now there's a word I don't hear often."

I take off my shirt and kick off my pants. She stifles another yawn, and as much as I want to put my cock inside her, I think she needs a good night's sleep. "Let's go wash up."

She follows me into the bathroom. We brush our teeth, wash up, and she stays behind to put on face cream. I head to the bed and pull the covers down for her, and a moment later she joins me. She slides in and once again goes quiet.

I go up on my elbow, and face her. Lightly touching her chin, to turn her face toward me. "Is there something else on your mind?" From the wrinkling of her brow to the worry in her eyes, I can tell there's something bothering her.

"Was that Summer at the bar tonight?"

Oh, I didn't even realize she'd seen her. "Yeah. She came to see Knox for a second."

"She didn't join us for dinner." She shifts to face me. "I guess I just thought it odd to see her at the bar."

"She said something to us about not being able to be out late. I don't really know. I barely spoke to her."

"Oh." She averts her eyes.

I put my hand on her bare arm, and lightly run my fingers up and down her soft flesh. "Hey, what's going on?"

"Nothing."

Okay, she said that fast, too fast for me to believe she means it. "It's you I love, Dani. You know that, right?"

Her body softens beneath my touch and she smiles and puts her palm on my cheek. "When I got to the bar and didn't see you but saw Summer leaving, then I spotted you coming my way from the same direction she had…"

"First, I'm glad you're telling me this, and second, I think Alec did a number on us both, and his betrayal has left us both very leery." Jesus, she can never see the letter, never know what he really did behind her back. I took it out of my pants that night, and stuffed it between the mattress and box spring until I can dispose of it properly. I make a mental note to do that tomorrow.

She snorts out a laugh full of sadness. "You're not wrong."

"I rarely am."

She whacks my chest and laughs. "Ego much?"

"Come here." I lay on my back and pull her to me. Her cheek rests against my heart, and a soft moan escapes her lips. I close my eyes and the next thing I know, morning is upon us, and I'm the little spoon to her big one. While I love having sex before bed, there's something very nice and profound about falling asleep with my arms around her and waking up with hers around me.

I shift, and try to slip out without waking her so I can have her coffee waiting for when she gets up. Moving slowly, I inch forward, only for her arm to tighten around me. Is she awake? I move again, and she holds me to her, and a soft chuckle reaches my ears. I spin and grin when I catch the playfulness in her eyes.

"Been awake long?" I smooth her hair back and kiss her forehead.

"No, is it the weekend yet?" she asks and groans.

"Afraid not, and you, my sweetness, have to get up and get to work."

"You can't make me."

She rolls over and I throw my arm around her, working to get a grip on my morning wood. I guess my nickname is accurate in more ways than one. I curse under my breath.

"I can't, but I know you're looking forward to taking Lucy to the nursing home today."

She pushes the covers off. "Ugh. You don't play fair."

"Go shower and I'll get coffee and breakfast ready."

"Oh, I thought you'd be joining me." She glances at me over her shoulder. "I think I know a way of helping you with your morning wood."

I burst out laughing. "You felt that, did you?"

"Nearly bored a hole in my back, Wood. But if you want to get lucky, it will have to be a quickie. I can't keep my dogs waiting." She crooks her finger and I jump from the bed, panting like one of her dogs as I follow her into the bathroom. She bends to turn on the shower, and the second I get a glimpse of her sweet, naked backside, I grip her hips, shift her until she's bent over the sink, and slide all the way inside her.

"Oh my god, Conner."

I fuck her fast, sliding my cock deeply into her body. In no time at all, she shudders around me and I throw my head back and groan as I fill her with my seed. I lean over her body as we both pant, and put my mouth near her ear. "Maybe we'll get lucky with this one."

"I'm feeling lucky," she murmurs and I lift her from the sink, put my arms around her body and walk her into the shower. Closing her eyes, she lifts her face. "Feels so good. Best thing I felt this morning." She opens one eye to peek at me, a grin tugging at her face.

"You'd better be talking about my cock and not the rain shower."

She throws her arms around me. "Maybe…maybe not."

I just shake my head at her antics. I fucking love it when she's happy like this. I soap up my hands and wash her and once done, she does the same to me. Ten minutes later, we step from the shower, dry off and go back to the bedroom to dress. I tug on sweats as she grabs her clothes from her side of the closet.

I love that she's occupying the side that never got used before. She should just move all her stuff over. It's ridiculous that we have two big homes but one step at a time. I don't want to rush anything and scare her off. Heck, last night she was questioning me about Summer. This is all so new and scary, so baby steps it is.

She stares at me and moans in appreciation, and I love the way she admires my body. "I'll run down and start breakfast."

"Thanks. I need a minute to dress and dry my hair."

She heads back into the bathroom and I stare at her sweet backside until she's out of sight. Everything is so damn good between us and while I love it, it scares the shit out of me too. You know what they say, when things are too good to be true.

I shake my head to push that thought to the recesses of my brain. It took us far too long to get here, and nothing is going to come between us now. Nothing. In the kitchen I go to work on making coffee and drop some bagels into the toaster. I fix Dani's coffee just the way she likes it and coat her bagel in that awful cream cheese.

The scent of her warm skin, and whatever it is she spritz on her hair reaches my senses and I know she's at the door watching me. I grin as she stays silent, and bend forward jokingly. A small sound fills the air.

"Like what you see?" I tease and turn to face her.

"Yes, coffee and bagel all ready for me. I love what I see."

"I never knew you were a comedian." I cross the room and pull a chair out for her. "Sit. Eat."

"Oh, bossy." She drops into her chair and as she moans over her first bite, I roll my eyes and drop next to her diving into my own bagel, with plain cream cheese, thank you very much.

"I hope the residents at the nursing home take to Lucy the same way they'd taken to Buster. They really adore him and he's such a big teddy bear."

"He certainly has you wrapped around his paw." She sticks her tongue out at me. "Aren't most little dogs yappy and aggressive, though?" I remember when Bear, her chihuahua, didn't like someone, he was a super aggressive ankle biter.

"They can be. Lucy went through certification, though. She's got this. I sometimes just think big dogs make better companions, though."

"Do you want a male or female dog?" I ask.

"I don't know. Bear was male, so maybe it would be nice to have a female. Either sex will be protective."

"What do you think of a name for a female chienne ?"

"Look at you, knowing the difference between masculine and feminine word for dog."

"I've been practicing." I lift my chin an inch then lean into her. "Our teacher is kind of scary. I don't want to get on her bad side."

"You're actually doing great, Conner."

"Did you know that Korbin's wife Harper used to be an elementary school teacher?"

"I think I remember something about that. They don't get out much, so I don't know her well."

"Right. Well, at the pool tables last night, I chatted with him." She arches a curious brow as she takes a sip of coffee. "I mentioned my dyslexia and how I could talk about the struggle and the support available in the schools."

Her eyes go wide and I love how this makes her so happy. Heck, it makes me happy too. "He's going to look into it for me."

She stands, and throws her arms around me. "I am so proud of you, Conner."

Warmth and love well up inside of me as I hug her back. She presses her lips to mine for a sweet kiss and I tap her ass. "Okay, we'd better get moving. Don't want to keep the dogs waiting or we'll end up in the doghouse." She groans at my corny joke. "Maybe I should leave being the comedian to you," I tease.

We tidy up and head outside. Dark clouds have moved in and I suspect a good downpour. We hurry to her bus, and I take my usual seat. Of course, I'll have to move when Trixie boards. She's pretty possessive of her front row spot on the bus and I don't enjoy the stare down until I move.

We travel and pick up all the dogs and by the time we're done, I'm at the back of the bus. Dani parks and unloads them and I follow her inside. I spend an hour or so playing with the dogs until it's time to take little Lucy to the nursing home. Back on the bus, Lucy sits on my lap, and for a little dog, she's quite snuggly and quiet.

"She likes you," Dani tells me, as she glances over her shoulder.

"What's not to like?"

She rolls her eyes and I pet Lucy as she drives us to the nursing home. I carry Lucy off the bus, and Dani puts on her special vest. Inside, Marta greets us in her usually flirty way, and we make our way to the lounge. As I walk in, I find myself glancing around and listening, remembering the first time I was here. Not that I expect to hear that familiar laughter again. That would be a crazy coincidence, right? Although it is the same day of the week, and close to the same time of day.

The guests laugh and clap when they see little Lucy, and Dani casts me a happy smile as she picks Lucy up and carries her over to one of the ladies. She oohs and awws over the little dachshund, and I follow along behind. I glance over and see a freshly made pot of coffee.

"Is that for anyone?" I ask and Dani nods.

"Want one?"

"I'm good, thanks."

I make my way over to the table at the other side of the room. I pick up the carafe, and fill a paper cup. Just when I'm about to add a splash of milk, that familiar laugh filters down the hall. I go still for a second, waiting. When it doesn't come again, I glance over my shoulder and find Dani busy. Heart beating a bit faster, I step into the hall and look left and right. The laughter comes again and I start toward it, stopping outside one of the resident's rooms.

I take in the woman standing over an elderly lady in her bed, her back to me. I can't see her face, but I'd know that body and long blonde hair anywhere. My heart thuds so hard, I can barely hear. I grip the door to hold on, and just when I think things can't get any worse, a little boy, who can't be much older than one, runs around the bed, coming to halt when he sees me. His big blue eyes—eyes so similar to mine, it's eerie—lock onto mine. Air leaves my lungs in a whoosh as every possible scenario races through my mind. Legs weak, I falter backward, move away from the open door, and brace my back against the hallway wall.

What the fuck is happening?