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“I’m not following.” She claimed she had a hard time in California and didn’t have the means to get home. Something felt off. “Are you saying you didn’t leave with that much money in your account?”
“Right. I would have actually stayed on my feet rather than ending up the way I did.” Tiana blew out a breath. “My parents helped when they could, but they wouldn’t blindly deposit money.”
“What about Tatum?”
Tears pooled in her eyes, and it was as if something clicked in her brain as she thought about it. He had been riding the circuit with Luke for quite a few years before he quit. Luke’s injury made him reevaluate his life, and even though it was a terrible experience, the two of them were changing the lives of young women, empowering them to ride and win at competitions. It wouldn’t surprise me if Tate had shared some of his wealth with his twin.
“Tate won that huge event a year or so after I left! He must have given me some of his winnings and the interest certainly helped. Why the heck didn’t he say anything?”
“You mentioned not always making the best choices, darling. I’m not happy you struggled, but perhaps it was better this way.” I hope she didn’t think I was judging her, or worse, thinking it taught her some sort of lesson.
“It’s enough money to get me on my feet when all of this is over.” She turned around in the chair. “Now I can pay you back for all the stuff you’ve bought me.”
That wouldn’t do. If she had it in her head that she owed me something, it would only be a matter of time until she was running out the door. “No, darling. Those were gifts.”
“But I can pay you back now,” she insisted, as if I didn’t hear her. “For everything.”
“I don’t care how much money you have in your account. You are not giving me money for things that I wanted to buy for you. We’re not having this discussion again.”
Tiana bit down on her lip, studying my face. She seemed to understand that I was serious, but she’d had a lot thrown at her over the past few weeks. Hell, she’d had a lot of shit raining down on her head the past few years, according to the stories she shared. I didn’t want her to worry about anything. I finally had the means to spoil her, and I planned on doing it for a long time. I kissed her, claiming her tongue and tasting her. We made out and some of the tension in her shoulders relaxed.
“So, what if I just buy lots of presents for you, Sir?”
I leaned into her personal space and cupped her cheek. “I have everything I could ever want right now.”
“It’s more than just presents. You do everything for me and Dane. Who takes care of you?”
“You both fulfill my needs, Tia. I promise being with the two of you helps me balance. If it didn’t, you’d be the first to know.”
“If you ever get overwhelmed, will you promise to ask for help, Daddy?”
She kissed my cheek, and I picked her up in my arms, moving us to the window seat. Placing her on my lap, I swallowed hard, thinking about the bigger implications behind her question. “I don’t anticipate anything happening to me, but I promise.”
“Thank you, Daddy. I love you.”
“I love you, buttercup.” I shifted so that we could look out the window. It was a quiet, tranquil calm that enveloped us as I held her against me. If I could have assured my twenty-something year old self that my little buttercup would come back to me after all this time, things might not have been so hard the past few years. I finally had the relationship of my dreams. Two amazing partners, the woman I’d loved all my life, and my sexy, rebellious cowboy who taught me as much as I taught him when it came to balance. I truly had the perfect life.
No matter what life threw at us, the three of us, along with our friends and family, would handle it.
Dane
Tanner had a rare night off, followed by a three-day weekend. It felt like it had been forever since he’d had more than a day or two off. I was excited for him to be home and relaxing for once. Catching him frowning at his phone, suddenly frustrated me. I knew his job was important, but it wasn’t fair if he had just been called in. I didn’t brat often, but I couldn’t let the moment pass.
“You’re supposed to be off, hotshot. Can’t they leave you alone for one minute?”
“It’s not the firehouse, rebel.” He raised an eyebrow. “We’ll talk about whatever is bothering you before we go to bed tonight.”
Shit. I didn’t want that reaction, but he knew me better than I knew myself some days. I selfishly wanted him to be home, ignoring anything and anyone other than myself and Tiana. “Sorry, Sir. I’ve just been looking forward to having you here.”
Tiana had been curled up on the couch between us and she shifted, glancing up at me before directing her gaze to Tanner. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure.” Tanner answered. “My brother’s outside, so we’ll find out in a minute.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Tiana protested. “He can’t be here for me!”
Despite the potential serious reason that Jesse was here, and whatever else Tanner had in mind for me later, I couldn’t hide the smile that broke out across my face. I nuzzled the side of her head, but she stiffened. “Do you think he drove all the way over here without telling one of us because his to-do list included punishing you, sunshine?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” she said matter-of-factly.
