I chuckle as Nell hastily buttons her jeans back up under the blanket.
“Did you have fun, lass?” George asks Danny from the front as he dismounts and helps her down. I don’t catch her response because it’s so high-pitched and excited her words run over each other. I’m pretty sure she’s trying to convince him to hire her when she’s older. I help Nell out of the carriage and slip George another hundred as a ‘thank you’ before ushering my girls back to the car.
I’m silent during the drive back into the city, a sense of contentment I’ve never known before settling deep in my bones. Nell and Danny chat easily about horses and carriages and history and plans to go back and meet the other horses George owns. And when Nell slides her hand into mine over the steering wheel, I know this is how it was always meant to me. I never thought of myself as a family man growing up. I was inherently selfish and angry at the world. My only example of marriage was toxic as hell.
But this? This woman in the passenger seat, delicate hand threaded in mine, a small, happy smile on her lips, and the chattering, excitable child in the back seat? All I can think of is how much more I want them. I want them all the time. I want to wake up with them and take them on happy outings like thisevery weekend. I want to bicker about dumb things and tease Nell and watch her cheeks turn pink. I want to teach Danny how to ride a bike or throw a punch. I want it all with them. A family.
A real family.
When I pull into their driveway an hour later and Nell kisses me goodnight in front of Danny, I can see it all laid out before us.
I just have to be patient.
Chapter twenty
Penelope
Danny invited Daniel to family dinner, the next day. To his credit, Daniel looked to me for confirmation. I was instantly unsettled by the idea of introducing Daniel to my family, but I also know it’s an inevitability. I owe it to him to be transparent about the complexities of my life; of our life. I owe it to him to show him the other reason I’m dragging my feet about being with him.
Of course, he knows I have Danny’s best interests first, but he doesn’t understand the situation at home.
But it’s Sunday now, and whatever is about to happen is going to happen.
I’m making chicken parmesan tonight, a family favorite, but I keep accidentally knocking the ladle over and spilling the sauce. Danny’s watching me like a hawk from her stool at the island where she’s coloring while I cook. I’ve been struggling to act normal, but she’s an intuitive kid and knows something’s different with me. I just pray she doesn’t ask why, because I’m not sure I have the words.
Either Daniel’s going to see the mess at home and decide we’re not worth the drama, or he’ll understand why he can’t be a priority in my life right now. The worst-case scenario, and the one causing my stomach to burn with acid, is that Chastity and Grace will get a sense of his net worth and make a move on him. I’d like to think this is the least likely scenario because we’re sisters, but deep down I think I know they don’t value that word as much as I do.
I throw Danny a brittle smile that I’m sure doesn’t reach my eyes as I put the noodles in the boiling water.
Just then, the doorbell rings.
“Oh, no,” I whisper, eyes widening. He’s early. My hair’s a sweaty mess from cooking, and I’m still wearing yoga pants and an oversized T-shirt. I was going to change once the chicken went into the oven and make myself presentable.
Running my hands down the front of my apron, I let out a defeated breath. This is real life, Nell. Not glamorous. Not put together. More often than not, I skip showers altogether because someone needs something. I guess this is the first test to see if he is genuinely into this life with me, or if he’s just in love with the idea of me.
“Would you go get the door, sweetheart? I’m sure that’s your father,” I say, stirring the pasta so it doesn’t stick. Sure enough, a few moments later a deep masculine voice joins Danny’s.
A few moments later, an explosion of color sneaks into my peripheral. I turn and tense when I see another huge bouquet. Oblivious to my turmoil, Daniel rests his other hand on my shoulder and drops a chaste kiss to my cheek.
“Evening, beautiful. Smells great,” he says as I take the flowers from him. I look up to see Danny holding her own bouquet. I wish he wouldn’t spend money on us and such frivolous things, but I also understand my frustration with him is misplaced.
And when Danny drops her face into her bouquet and inhales deeply, my frustration simmers.
I gave him the wooden spoon to stir while I find vases and add these flowers to the ones that he’s already given us. When I turn back, vases in hand, I’m struck by the scene before me. Daniel’s in a crisp dark blue suit that hugs his frame decadently. And he’s stirring pasta and asking Danny silly questions, just to get a giggle out of her. I’m starting to suspect that he researches silly questions before he sees her, just to have an easy way of getting to know each other without the pressure of an interrogation. It’s wildly domestic, and in an instant, I see a possible future with him, where this is every night before he goes to The Club.
I shake my head, not allowing myself to get carried away with a future I can’t have right now.
I take the spoon back from him with a quiet ‘thanks’ before adding the flowers to the vases. We’re going to run out of vases if he keeps this up.
“I figured I’d come early so I could help cook. It’s the least I could do,” he says before leaning close and saying low, “... and hopefully make a good impression on your family.”
I fight a smile. Of course, he would make light of everything. He doesn’t know what he’s about to walk into. And maybe that’s my fault.
“Did I hear the doorbell ring? Is Baby Daddy finally here?” Chastity says loudly and crudely as she comes down the stairs. I wince at Daniel being reduced to simply my baby daddy.
If he’s offended, he doesn’t show it. Daniel straightens, a wide smile spreading across his face before he turns to her and extends his hand in greeting. “Hi. I’m Daniel King. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” His greeting is friendly but formal, and I can tell Chastity is stunned for a moment. I doubt she was expecting someone like Daniel. And my suspicions are confirmed with her response.
“Oh, Daniel. I’m Chastity. The pleasure’s all mine,” she purrs in that practiced half-seduction voice she uses with wealthy men. “Please excuse my appearance. I was just coming down to see if I could help my sister with dinner.” Again, that word is like venom in her mouth. I can feel Daniel’s smile slip even if I can’t see it from my position at the stove.
