Hero of Mine (12 page)

No, it's you having all the fantasies about the three of you living happily ever after.

The thought wasn't completely off base. She had to admit, the big Marine holding her baby in his arms as he cut up a stack of pancakes for him was one of her favorite images. The ease with which Tyler fit in, even briefly, left her nearly floating with hope, and it was exhilarating but terrifying at the same time.

Especially since she was pretty sure she'd already fallen for him.

She opened the door without looking through the peephole, excitement radiating through her body as she expected to find Tyler and Duke on the other side.

Instead, Angel stood on her porch step, his red-rimmed, watery eyes looking back at her under the pale porch light.

Shasta stood behind her; she could tell by the dog's guttural growl.

“Hey, Dani. You miss me?” he asked.

“What are you doing here?” Panic made her voice squeakier than usual. “How did you get my address?”

“Oh, I got a buddy who can find just about anyone. Relax, why are you so tense?”

“Maybe because you're showing up at my house unannounced?” A thousand thoughts ran through her head, but the one that was truly alarming was that this wasn't the Angel she'd known three years ago. He'd been a jerk, no doubt, and had smoked a little weed and drank, but she'd never been afraid of him.

After recalling his explosion at the theater, though, she started inching the door shut.

He laid his hand against it, stalling her movement. Shasta's rumblings intensified, and Angel's gaze narrowed on the dog for a second before returning to her. “Now, why are you trying to close the door? I just want to have a talk with you.”

“Fine, talk.” Giving Shasta an “okay,” she wasn't surprised that the dog quieted but refused to leave her post.

“Is my kid here? Can I meet him? Or her?” Angel was craning his neck to look past her, but she stepped back into his line of vision.

“No, he's at my parents' house,” she lied smoothly. “They take him for me every other weekend.”

“Him, huh? So I got a son? Well, that's really nice. You know, my mom has been so excited to meet him ever since I told her I saw you. Maybe sometime we could come over—”

“No, Angel, I don't want you coming back here. If you want visitation, you're going to have to go through legal channels to get it, because the way you are now . . . showing up here, obviously high, there's no way I'm letting you around my son.”

His face screwed up in a menacing glare, and he pressed harder on the door, widening the opening. Shasta lunged past her legs, snarling and snapping at him until he stumbled back. She caught Shasta's collar just as Bella flew out the door, circling Angel with a series of high-pitched barks.

He kicked out at the fat pug, who was surprisingly fast for her size, and Dani, afraid he wouldn't miss again, snapped, “Bella, inside. Now.”

The dog hesitated before bouncing back in. Probably not the brightest move in the world, Dani stepped outside and shut the door on both dogs. The last thing she wanted was Shasta to bite him while protecting Dani. She didn't need to give him any leverage against her, like saying that she owned a dangerous animal.

Angel, who'd seemed to get his bearings back, got in her face. “Who are you to judge me, huh? You were nothing but a little slut who was willing to spread her legs for anyone who'd buy you a drink. Yet you're going to stand there and preach to me? You're looking down your nose at me and telling me you're gonna keep me from what's mine?”

And like that, Dani's temper snapped in two, all common sense and fear fleeing with every insult, every dig. “You didn't want him! Don't you remember that?” She hissed the words angrily, stepping into him so he either needed to move or she'd run over him. “Don't you remember telling me to get rid of ‘it'? That I shouldn't count on you to help because you were leaving? And I kept up my end. I never tried to find you. Never pressured you or sued you for child support. Nothing. Because I don't want your money, Angel. I want nothing from you.”

“You've got a real brass set on you. Especially since you've all but admitted you're alone here.”

“Except she's not alone.” Tyler's deep, angry voice made them both jump, and she glanced toward the top of the driveway with relief. He seemed larger in the shadows, taking up the entire entrance to the walkway with his broad shoulders, and she watched Angel visibly swallow.

Whatever apprehension he'd felt was obviously fleeting, because the next second he sneered, “Well, if it isn't the hero.”

Tyler had a pizza box in one hand with a plastic bag on top. Duke sat by his side calmly, watching the humans as if they were discussing tea and crumpets.

“It's Mr. Hero to you.” Tyler's tone was devoid of his usual good-natured humor as he approached. Handing her the pizza box and movies with a kiss on her cheek, he whispered in her ear, “I want you to take this and Duke inside. I'll come in a few minutes.”

Dani didn't like leaving Tyler alone with Angel. As she gripped Duke's leash, she warned, “Thirty seconds, and then I'm calling the cops.”

As Tyler opened the door to let her back inside, Angel's cheerful good-bye sent a shiver down her spine. “I'll see you soon, sweet pea.”

Please, Tyler, make those thirty seconds count.

T
YLER TURNED TO
face Dani's ex, trying to appear casual when all he wanted to do was pound the guy's head into the wall of the house. He'd parked at the end of the drive, noticing the Chevelle next to Dani's car, but he'd figured it was a friend or that the babysitter had come through after all. But when he'd heard Angel practically threaten her, he'd been about to drop everything, including Duke's leash, and tear the guy apart.

What really pissed him off was that the arrogant little fuck was either too high or too stupid to realize the danger he was in.

“Here's the deal. You're going to get into that piece of shit car, and you're going to drive away. And you aren't going to come back here ever again. You got it?”

Angel sniffed at him. “You think you can tell me what to do? She's got my kid, and I want to see him.”

“Then I suggest you hire a lawyer. But if you show up here again, it's not going to end well for you.”

“What, are you threatening me now? Ain't you a cop or something? You got that look that screams
pig
. I'll report you.”

Tyler smiled coldly, and he knew it'd had the right effect on Angel when some of the puff went out of his chest. Stepping into the shorter man, Tyler said, “I'm not a cop. I'm a Marine.”

The door swung open behind him.

“I said thirty seconds, and I gave you forty. I'm calling the cops.”

Angel glared between the two of them a few times and finally turned away with a noise filled with anger. Tyler didn't take his eyes off his retreating form until he'd climbed into his car and started it up.

While Angel was backing out of the driveway, Tyler suddenly found his arms full of a trembling Dani.

“Oh my God, I have never been so glad to see anyone in my entire life.”

Wrapping her up tight against him, he resisted the urge to shake her. “What the hell were you doing on the porch with him? Actually, why did you answer the door in the first place?”

“Because I thought he was you. I didn't even look out the peephole because I . . . I was so excited to see you.”

Well, how could he be mad at that? “When I came up the walk and heard what he was saying, I wanted to pound him. But now, all I really want is to get you inside and give you a proper hello.”

She looked up at him from the circle of his arms, and damn, nothing had ever seemed so right. “I like the sound of that.”

Unable to wait, Tyler took her lips, coaxing them open with a slow sweep of his tongue. This had been what he'd been missing. Even if he'd kissed another girl, it wouldn't have been like this, sweetly fulfilling.

Because the only one who made him want like this was Dani.

“Mmm.” She was the one to break away, taking hold of his hand from her waist and bringing it to her mouth. “Come on.”

Tyler followed her in, and as she closed and locked the door, he asked, “Are you hungry?”

She turned to face him, her back against the door, dogs sniffing around her legs and feet.

“No. You?”

He didn't answer. Instead he stepped into her, moving the dogs out of the way and burying his fingers in her hair.

“I'm not much for pouring my feelings out, but this, what's happening with us, is something . . . ”
Special.

She leaned up on tiptoe, her mouth so close he could feel the warmth of her breath mingling with his. “I know exactly what you mean.”

“Oh yeah?” His words were soft, pressing her to say more even though he couldn't find the words.

“Like you just . . . fit. It's effortless, like you belong with us, and I . . . shit.” She pulled back a little, her eyes heavy with worry. “I shouldn't have said that. Now you're freaking out, afraid I'm thinking about marriage, and I swear I'm not. I just like spending time with you, and you're nice to my son and—”

“I'm not freaking out.” And weirdly, he wasn't. Because ever since the day at the park, he'd been feeling the same way. They fit together, as if Dani and Noah had been placed on Earth just for him. They were his . . . his to protect and care for. What he had been waiting for; what he needed to make a change.

Although the hard-on in his jeans was proof he wasn't
completely
changed. With Dani so close, he could see the rise of her breasts beneath her shirt, the valley of her cleavage making his mouth water.

He might care about Dani, but he was still a man. A man who hadn't had sex in nearly six weeks, and with her staring up at him with those beautiful eyes shining, her lips swollen from his kisses, he wanted to mold her body to his.

“What
are
you thinking?” Her question broke into his thoughts, and this time, he was the one scared to answer, afraid she'd kick his ass out.

“How much I want you,” he said honestly.

“Want me like . . . ”

“I don't know if you can handle it.”

The soft teasing did the trick. Her eyebrow rose, and her chin kicked up a notch.

“Why? Because you think I'm just a mom? That I don't think about
my
needs?”

He trailed a finger across her cleavage, and he heard her breath catch. “Tell me about what you want, what you need, and we'll see if we're on the same page.”

“Why don't you go first?”

“Dani . . . ” His voice came out as more of a growl.

“Okay.” She held onto his shoulders, sliding her palms down his arms until the muscles were tight with tension. “I want these arms to stay around me, to never leave my body while you kiss me.” He complied, his heart hammering against the wall of his chest as she stretched her body up against his. “I want to feel every part of you touching me, to know by the way you move that you want me.”

“God, Dani, I—”

Her finger came up and rested against his lips. “I'm not quite finished yet.”

Opening his mouth, he licked the tip. “I'm sorry; please continue.”

“Thank you,” she said huskily. “As I was saying, I don't want to talk or think . . . I just want to lose myself in you.”

This time, the kiss they shared wasn't sweet in the least. It was explosive. Their lips and tongues played and danced, retreating and returning with a fervor. His hands slid down until they cupped her ass, bringing her up against his erection, rubbing her against him until it was almost painful.

She released a soft cry between kisses, and he wanted to rip her jeans off. To unbuckle his belt and drop everything to the floor. To nail her against the wall and plunge into her hot, wet passion until they were both spent.

Something vibrated between them, and Dani pulled her mouth away, her hands pushing against his chest. “My phone.”

Taking a deep breath, he stepped away, flexing his fingers as he tried to pull himself under control.

Dani fumbled with her phone, her cheeks flushed pink as she pressed it to her ear. He had put that glow there, and he'd have been lying if he didn't admit how good it felt.

“Hello. What? No, I can't. I'm on vacation for another week. Is she okay?” Dani paused, her brow furrowed as she listened to the person on the other end. “That's awful. Can you call in Paula or Naomi?” More waiting. “You know I would do anything to help you guys out, but I don't even have a sitter.”

Without thinking of what he was doing, he tapped her shoulder. “What's going on?”

“Hang on a second.” Hitting mute on the call, she said, “My coworker was in a horrible accident on Eighty and is on her way to the hospital. They tried to call in one of the other techs, but they can't get ahold of anyone else.”

Don't do it, man. What do you know about little kids?

“How long will you be?” he asked.

“If they can get ahold of someone else, a couple of hours, but if not, I won't get home until three or four in the morning,” she said.

“Noah will sleep, right?” She nodded. “I can sit with him if you need to go.”

She bit her lip, and he could read the uncertainty in her eyes. “I don't know . . . ”

“I promise to keep him in one piece until you get home.”

He could tell she was considering it. “It
is
double time because I'm on paid vacation. But what about us?”

He gave her a hard, fast kiss. “Oh, I intend to pick up right where we left off when you come home.”

Laughing, she got back on the phone. “Okay, I'll be right in, but if you get ahold of one of the other techs, call me, please.”

She ended the call and gave him a searching look. “Are you sure you're okay to sit with him? He probably won't wake up, but if he does, he might freak if I'm not here.”

With more confidence than he actually felt, he assured her, “Trust me, I've got this covered. I can handle a sleeping kid for a couple of hours.” His arms snaked around her waist, and he nibbled her neck. “Plus, I'm expecting an awesome reward for my selfless act.”

“Okay, easy there, you're not volunteering to take my place in the Hunger Games.” Kissing him quickly, she pulled away with an all-business expression. “Emergency numbers are on the fridge, including my cell, which you have. Fire extinguisher is over there”—she pointed to the wall next to the oven—“cookies are in the squirrel jar, and diapers are under the changing table. Sometimes, if he does wake up, warm milk in a sippy cup will help him go back to sleep, but not
too
—”

“Dani!” His loud whisper made her stop long enough for him to say, “He's a kid, not a bomb I need to defuse. We'll survive while you're gone, but if you don't get out of here, I'm going to have to find another way to quiet you down.”

The way she pursed her mouth at him was just asking for him to do just that. “Fine, I'm going to change.” She got halfway up the stairs and turned toward him with her mouth open—

“One more word, and I'm coming after you. And if I do, there is no way you're leaving tonight.”

Her chin did that defiant little jut that drove him crazy. “I was just going to say that when I get home . . . it's your turn to tell me your needs.”

His dick flexed painfully as he realized what she was saying.

Fuck, he was going to be counting down the hours.

T
YLER YAWNED AND
checked the time on his cell phone again. Dani had been gone several hours, having rushed out the door with a piece of pizza in one hand and a swift kiss for him. He'd actually thought for a second she was going to tease him into following through on keeping her home, but she'd left, giving him one more speech about what she'd do to him if anything happened to her baby.

Tyler had assured her again, and as soon as he'd made sure she was safely in her car, he'd closed and locked the door behind her. Since then, he'd watched several episodes of
Prison Break
as he munched on three slices and two cookies. He'd checked on Noah a few minutes ago, and he was still sound asleep.

Tyler had been tempted to lie down and get some sleep himself but was afraid he wouldn't hear Noah if he cried, so he'd been fighting it. Thinking about work and wondering how his guys were doing. Kline had them for the weekend, and Tyler had warned him to watch out for any bullying. So far, no calls, but then again, it was only Friday.

Then there were his friends. They'd been bugging him to go out this weekend, but he'd said he was busy. Although they'd seemed to accept that he was actually into Dani and this wasn't just a play, he wasn't ready to talk to them about her yet. And going for beers at Mick's would lead to just that.

Dani. He smiled just imagining Dani walking through the door and kissing him. How he'd pull her down over him on the couch and run his hands over her back lightly, learning the curves of her body . . .

He hadn't even realized he'd dozed before he sat straight up. Tyler heard a tiny voice crying, “Mama.”

Tyler jumped up from the couch and went into Noah's room. Flipping on the light, he saw the tear tracks on Noah's flushed face.

“Hey, Noah, you okay?”

“Ma . . . Mama?” The kid was sucking in air as he spoke, and Tyler held his arms out to him.

“Mama had to run out for a minute, but I'm here. Did you have a nightmare?”

The toddler let him pick him up, and he felt something wet on his hand. Noah's sleeper was soaked through with pee.

“I think I know what the issue is. Your diaper exploded.” Noah was still sniffling, and Tyler bounced him as he walked over to the blue dresser on the opposite wall. Opening the top drawer, he found a set of pajamas with bears on them. “How about these ones?”

Noah shook his head, stuffing his thumb into his mouth.

“No, huh?” Duke stood under them, pressing his nose into Noah's butt, and Tyler snapped, “Duke, get your nose out of there.”

Tyler could have sworn he heard a giggle and saw the corners of Noah's mouth were lifted into a smile around the thumb.

“You think that's funny, huh? Well, how about a little less giggling and more pajama picking.” Catching sight of blue feety pajamas with Mickey on them, he grabbed them. “How about these?”

Noah nodded enthusiastically.

“We have a winner.” Carrying Noah over to what he hoped was the changing table, he laid him on his back on the boat-shaped mattress covered in soft blue terry cloth. Unsnapping his soiled pajamas, he gingerly removed them, and the diaper went with them.

“Okay, what do I use to wipe you down?” Spotting a pack of wipes on the edge of the table, he pulled out several and cleaned up Noah as best he could.

Now the diaper.

“Little man, you are going to have to bear with me, as this is my first diaper change. You've been through probably a million of these, right?”

Awkwardly, Tyler got it on, and when he had Noah set up in the Mickey pajamas, he went to lay him back down, but it occurred to him that the kid's bed might be wet. His bed felt surprisingly dry, though, so he attempted to put him back in the crib.