Love Renewed (Entwined Hearts #3) (36 page)

“Dane,” I pant as he drags me into the cold air. But he doesn’t say anything, just continues pulling me along until we reach the fancy hotel on the corner. There he stops, opens the door and tugs me inside and straight to the reception desk. The receptionist appraises him and smiles seductively.

“Can I help you sir?” she asks her eyes flicking over to me but dismissing me almost instantly.

“A room, please. A suite would be better.” His answer is clipped.

“Of course. Just for tonight?” she asks with a grin. I expect she thinks he’s just picked me up and I’m a one night stand. To be fair, that’s what I would think if I were her. I mean I don’t even have a coat and my jumper is now, hopefully with Soph or Pea.

“Just tonight,” Dane replies.

“Okay, I have a junior suite available but its four hundred and fifty-nine pounds, sir. You could have a standard room for two hundred,” she tells him and her eyes glance over to me then back to Dane.
Charming.

Dane looks between the woman and me, then back to me smirking. He turns his head to her and says, “No that’s fine. I’d prefer a suite, more room for what I have in mind. Plus, there’s more options for diversity.” The woman blushes and I smile wrapping my hand up his arm and curling it around like a snake. Dane pays and the woman says nothing else, just occasionally glaring at me as I try really hard to stifle my giggles. When it’s all done, he passes me the key.

“Hold this baby,” he drawls and the woman’s eyes narrow. Suddenly he sweeps me up into his arms and strides toward the elevators and I look over his shoulder and wave to her and she crosses her arms over her chest. When we get into the elevator, I dissolve into a fit of giggles but Dane says nothing.

“Dane.”

“Quiet. You teased me and told me you wanted to eat me. Now I’m going to have what you offered. I smile knowing that I’ll get exactly what every woman dreams of when they cast eyes on this man.

Everything.

“I still can’t believe we’re having a fucking barbecue in the winter. Shit.” I follow my complaint with a swig from the beer bottle, which Saul just slid to me from his side of the kitchen worktop to mine.

“Stop bitching. For a tough guy you’re such a pussy,” he tells me smirking.

“Fuck you. It’s two degrees outside. You may like your dick to look like a walnut, but I sure as fuck like mine the way it is and so does Nova,” I grumble back. I’m not good with cold. I never have been. I don’t explain it’s because some of the foster homes I lived in as a kid didn’t have heating, or that one particular family would punish me when I was naughty by making me stand outside in nothing but pants. Even in winter. I was only six. I lived with them for a year. Even with Kurtis and Shelly and the beatings it was still a better place to live than the other hole.

“You okay, bro?” Saul asks nudging my arm. Worry lines appear around his eyes so I smile and say, yeah, just the cold is making my brain freeze. Damn fucking barbecues in winter.” I chuckle and pass off my momentary lapse. Saul lets it go and we walk back outside into the hyperthermia inducing weather. I move straight over to Nova and wrap my arms around her from behind. Tucking her into my side, I pull my coat open and wrap the side of it around her.

“T-thank Y-you,” she stutters, a big smile across her face.

“Are you okay? We can go inside, fuck what they say,” I tell her pointing to the others. All except Pea, who’s in the warm with Eleanor.

“N-no, I’m h-happy here. P-promise.” She shivers and I kiss her forehead but grind my teeth. This was a stupid idea and I will not be happy if Nova gets a fucking cold because of this shit.

“Grubs up,” Con calls and we’re finally allowed to huddle closer to the barbecue. He told us before to get away from it as he needed room to cook.
Burn more like.

“Next time you want to do this shit and it’s not summer let me know and I’ll buy everyone their own fucking outdoor heater,” I growl at Saul.

“God, I’ve never known you to whine and swear this much. But yeah, in that case, let’s have another one next week.” He winks at me and I groan.

“Y-you asked f-f-for that,” Nova says grinning. I shrug off my coat and wrap it around her. “N-no, you’ll f-freeze,” she mumbles.

“You’re trembling. Not happening, Nova. Keep the fucking coat on,” I insist.

She sighs and burrows back into me.

As everyone starts grabbing food, the music which was low in the background gets louder, and I notice Eric sauntering back from the iPod just as Rich groans. I also catch him rolling his eyes. “Fuck me,” he says shaking his head. “Not again.” I look at Rich intrigued.

“What?” I ask him, as Eric swings his hips walking until he’s in the centre of our group.

“Watch me,” Eric says and Rich groans again.

“Seriously, what Rich?” Tink says.

“You know that
Nae Nae
song?” he asks Soph and she nods, then her eyes widen in recognition. I have no idea what song it is or what the fuck they’re talking about, but then suddenly Eric starts dancing—kind of—to the music. It seems to just be a
‘tell all’
of dance moves.

“I’m fucked if I know what’s going on,” Saul says standing next to me.

“I can’t not look…shit,” Con says joining us. We all just stand transfixed until the song ends and the spell is lifted.

“Yeah. I put up with that twenty-four fucking seven,” Rich says his arms solid across his chest and all at once Saul, Con and me burst into laughter.

“Fuck that shit was funny,” Saul says and Eric flips his non-existent hair and struts over to Soph. Nova wiggles out of my hold and joins them. They giggle and I can see the genuine happiness in Nova’s face. That, right there, is what I strive for. To make her happy.

“Aren’t you cold?” Saul asks looking at my coatless chest. I cock my eyebrow at him but say nothing. “Right yeah, stupid question.” He snorts his laughter and turns to everyone. “Now the food’s cooked it’s probably a good idea to go inside.”

Everyone shuffles in and we sit in the back room talking, eating and drinking. Everyone is so relaxed. We love each other and so everything is easy.

“Eric, Rich, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but I was wondering about the surrogacy thing? You mentioned it earlier this evening but didn’t elaborate. If you don’t want to talk about it with me I totally understand,” Nova says from beside me. I hear the hesitancy in her voice and it concerns me. I don’t want her to feel guarded.

Relief fills me when her body relaxes as Eric replies, “Don’t be silly, precious. Family can always ask.” I’m glad he confirms that with her. She already knows where she stands with everyone else. Now the last puzzle piece is in place. Hopefully, she understands how this family works. It’s all for one and one for all. Like the fucking musketeers.

My thoughts are broken as I listen to Eric explain their plan. “So we’ve only just started looking into it, but there are like professional services that will help us with finding a surrogate, and then we can meet and chat and see if we gel. We don’t know much. There’s a lot of stuff we have yet to find out. We have a meeting booked for a month’s time. Just to get the basic knowledge and we’re going to start researching online. We haven’t even decided if we actually want to do it. We just thought it’s something we should look into. We love baby Ellie, but honestly, if she hadn’t have come along, I’m not sure whether we would have even thought about it. So we’re taking it slow. One day at a time, sugar cheeks.”

Nova giggles at his term and I look down at her lean over and whisper in her ear, “You’ve been giggling a lot tonight baby. Are you a little tipsy?”

She stares up at me and a dirty look passes over her face making me chuckle.

“Right, I need to use the little girl’s room,” Eric announces and walks off.

“Where’s Pea gone?” Nova asks Con.

“She’s trying to settle Ellie upstairs. Actually I better go check she’s okay. If she doesn’t settle we usually take it in turns, but because I’ve been cooking—”

“Burning,” I cut him off with a grin.

“Fucker. Cooking,” he states again with a smirk. “She’s had Eleanor all night. I’ll be back,” he tells both Nova and I and walks off.

“Libby, could you help me bring the cakes and plates from the kitchen, please?” Soph asks and Nova nods.

“Of course.” She detangles herself from me and follows Soph.

“So, a baby?” Saul asks Rich.

“Yeah. That’s what he says. I’m good either way. Whatever makes him happy. I wanted kids, but you know—being gay—I hate to sound clichéd, but more often than not kids don’t even factor. You lot are surprised if you find a woman who doesn’t want kids. Gay men are surprised when they find a man who
does
want kids. I hate to say it, but it’s true. I’m not going to push him. We’ll take it slow and see where it goes. As long as I have him. As fucking crazy as he is. I swear sometimes I think it would have been easier being straight,” he tells us pulling his hand down his face.

“Nope.”

“Wishful thinking,” Saul and me both comment at the same time and the three of us laugh.

“Erm, guys.” Eric is standing in the doorway, his voice is filled with concern and that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“What is it?” Saul questions. I stand up, bracing, knowing something isn’t right. Saul and Rich copy me.

“Saul, Dane.” The figure appears from behind Eric.

“Looks like the Wicked Witch of the West found us,” Saul barks crossing his arms.

“Saul. That’s no way to speak to your mother,” she snaps.

I hear Saul growl and so I step in. “What do you want.” My voice is devoid of warmth. It’s the dark side of me that she encounters and her eyes widen. Having not spoken to me for sixteen years, I surprise her.

“Dane…I…I want to get to know you. I want Saul in my life again,” she replies. Her voice is stilted and I narrow my eyes at her.

“You want to get to know me. What a joke. You dismissed me when you had the chance to know me. That kid needed you. I don’t.”

“But…Saul?” She turns to him.

“What? Did you think that barging into my home, when I haven’t answered any of your letters, was going to help solve whatever situation you’ve created in your head?” he snaps at her. “How the fuck did you find my house anyway?”

“Saul! Watch your mouth,” she snarls and the real mother starts appearing, her cracks getting wider.

“Don’t fucking tell me to watch my mouth. You’ve come into my home. Uninvited. Do you not understand we’re done? I thought I made it clear, but just in case here’s round two. I fucking hate you. You were a bitch of a mother, completely worthless. You didn’t like me when I was a kid, which you made abundantly clear. When I was an adult, you only wanted me when I was useful. So tell me, what is it,
Mother
?” He spits the word at her, his jaw working, and I wonder if he really will go for her whether I’ll need to hold my brother back.

“Well. There is no need to speak to me like that Saul.” She looks at me ready to start.

“Don’t.” My one word is shot at her.

“Dane,” she whispers and looks like she’s going to cry. Anyone who didn’t know her would feel bad for her. I can see the evil behind her eyes. It’s hidden, but it’s there. A few words and it will come out. Saul’s dug in his knife, now it’s my turn.

“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. There is nothing in my life for you. Including me. You don’t realise it, but you gave me more than you ever gave Saul. You know why? Because you gave me away. Anything was better than being raised by you.”

Soph and Nova come around the corner. Cakes and plates in hand. They both drop them on the sideboard and walk to us. Nova stands in front of me, her body slightly covering mine. My chest swells, I couldn’t love this woman more. Standing to protect me. It’s too late, though. I’ve already said my piece and I can see the wicked witch’s eyes change.

“You,” she spits at Soph. “After all these years you still ended up with that piece of trash.” Saul goes to move, but I grab his arm.

“Fuck you. Get the fuck out of my house,” he roars at her.

Her eyes glimmer. She loves the reaction her words are creating. “You want to know how I found you. It wasn’t hard. I hired a private investigator to get all the dirt he could find. There wasn’t a lot, granted. But when you suddenly moved he came in handy.” An evil smile spreads across her face. My pulse picks up speed as blood whooshes in my ears when I see her gaze is aimed toward Nova. “You! I know a lot about you, Elizabeth.” She smirks.

“Don’t say her fucking name,” I grind out, my body going solid even though I still have Saul’s arm.

She laughs humourlessly throwing her head back for effect. “You are his precious
Nova
. Hmm. You’re not good enough for my son. He doesn’t need a gold digging whore,” she spits and Soph grabs my arm as I jolt ready to pounce.

“I don’t give a shit what you think about me,” Nova’s voice rings out and it’s like an angel in the dark. It’s a strong, confident, steady voice. She means what she says and I see my mother’s eyes widen slightly. She didn’t expect Nova to be strong. I feel my mouth twitch. Proud of my little warrior.

“Okay, well you know he’s a manwhore, right? He’ll be fucking someone else within two months. He’s cold, like his father. One day you’ll wake up and realise you wasted your life with him. That he’s a waste of a lifetime of love. He’s worthless—”