Reckless Redemption: A Bad Blooded Rebel Novel (Bad Blooded Rebel Series) (37 page)

Danni

Seven
Months Later

“Hurry
up, Beau! Everyone will start arriving any minute!” I yelled out.

“Just
a minute, I’m just pulling on my shirt!” Beau called back from our room.

I
looked down at Harlowe, lying on her changing table, as I put a fresh diaper on
her.

I
rolled my eyes and said, “I swear your Daddy takes longer to get ready than we
both do combined.”

I
was already dressed and had my hair and makeup done, plus had Harlowe bathed
and her blonde curls pinned out of her face and was just finishing getting her
all cleaned up and ready.

I
tickled her little feet and she squealed. “Dada?” she babbled, her big brown
eyes scanning the room looking for any sign of Beau. That little girl loved her
daddy so much and she had him twisted and tied around her little pinky finger.

I
smoothed out her little dress and lifted her off the changing table into my
arms.

“Yes,
Dada.”

I
bit my lip and internally pouted. I knew Harlowe loved me but it seemed like
whenever Beau was in the room all of her time and attention went to her daddy.
That’s the way it should be but it still made me a little sad to know she’d
chosen him over me most days.

Harlowe
must have seen the look on my face and wrapped her chubby little arm around my
shoulder, laying her head down.

“Mama,”
she cooed. I smiled. I loved these moments when it was just the two of us and
she showed me as much affection as she showed Beau. I soaked up the moment with
her, snuggling her close to me. I started singing her favorite lullaby but she
pulled back and stared at me with this face and I fought to keep from laughing.

“What’s
wrong? You don’t like my song?”

She
shook her head and looked at me like the answer should be obvious.

“Dada.
Dada
!” she insisted, letting me know in her own way that I sucked as a
singer and no one could sing her a lullaby except Beau.

“Did
I hear someone calling my name in here?” Beau asked, peeking his head in and
smiling.

“Dada!”
Harlowe squealed, holding her arms out to him.

I
sighed and admitted defeat as she struggled to wiggle out of my grasp. Beau
walked to us and took Harlowe from me, lifting her into the air and kissing her
belly until she squealed with delight.

“Traitor,”
I teased her, tickling her leg. “I hope she pulls your hair, Beau.”

He
chuckled and grinned at me as he lowered her to his hip.

“She
won’t, she loves me.”

I
smiled at them and kissed him.

“No
question about that. I tried to sing her song to her and she pretty much told
me in baby talk to shut up.”

Beau
barked out a laugh and kissed Harlowe’s cheek.

“Mommy’s
pretty bad, huh?” I nudged him and he winked at me. “Do you want me to sing it
to you?”

“Dada!”
she exclaimed, clapping her hands. He walked over to the glider in the corner
of her room and she laid her head on his chest right over his heart as he began
to sing.

Baby Mine don’t you cry,

Baby Mine dry your eyes,

Rest your head close to my heart,

Never to part,

Baby of Mine…

My
heart melted as I watched my husband, the long-haired and tattooed guitarist of
one of the world’s most famous rock bands, holding our little baby girl and
singing her a song from a Disney movie. I was so lost in the moment that I
hadn’t even realized he’d stopped singing to her until he cleared his throat.

“Danni,
did you hear the door bell?”

I
jumped back. “Oh sh-I mean, crap! They’re here, let’s go!”

I
left the nursery and quickly walked through the house to the front door. I
opened it and grinned as Everleigh, Ryder, and Max were waiting outside. Behind
them I saw Sadie walking with Jude, and behind them was Kris escorting a very
pregnant Jessie up toward the door.

“Hey
everyone, come on in! I hope you weren’t standing here long, I got lost in thought.”

“Hey,
it’s okay, you’re blonde. I’m sure it happens frequently throughout the day,”
Ryder teased, bumping my arm as he walked inside.

“Shut
up,” I nudged back as Max giggled at me.

“Hey
buddy, how’s my little rocker man today?”

Max
was eight months old and the spitting image of Ryder in almost every way, right
down to his little baby faux hawk and tiny rocker tee shirt.

“Dee-Dee!”
he squealed, reaching his arms out to me. Everleigh handed him to me as I
hugged him close.

Max
didn’t pay attention to me for long because as soon as Jude walked in and said
hi to everyone, Max was practically jumping out of my arms to get to him. What
was it with me and these babies? I laughed it off; I didn’t take it personally.
There was just something about these Rebel men that drew attention from
everyone, even babies.

As
soon as Jessie was inside, I walked over to her and gave her a hug.

“Hello
gorgeous, how are you feeling?”

“A
little uncomfortable but all in all pretty damn good,” she said happily.

Jessie
really did look amazing for a woman that was nine months pregnant. The only way
you would know she was expecting was the round basketball-shaped belly
protruding out in front of her. From the back she looked like her usual thin-framed
self. I guess we all couldn’t be that lucky; I looked like a hippo right before
I had Harlowe.

“Well
you look beautiful,” I answered. “One week left of this, are you ready?”

“I’m
beyond ready to be a mother. I can’t wait.”

“I
still can’t believe you didn’t want to know the sex of the baby,” I laughed. “I
had to know.”

Jessie
grinned and ran a hand over her belly. “Well, the way I see it is that there
are very few surprises in life anymore, and it took Kris and me so long to have
this baby, so we both wanted to enjoy every minute of it and be surprised.”

“I
can understand that. You have more will power than I did,” I answered.

Everleigh
laughed as she moved toward us.

“Tell
me about it. Ryder drove me absolutely crazy until we found out what Max was. I
was actually nervous that Dr. Mitchell was going to tell us it was a girl,” she
answered.

“You’re
lucky Kris hasn’t been as neurotic as Ryder was.”

Ryder
walked up behind Everleigh and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her
cheek and said, “You still love me though, don’t deny it.”

“Oh,
I’d never do that, rock star.”

I
looked and saw Max pulling at Jude’s Mohawk as Sadie watched on, laughing, and
Harlowe started fussing in Beau’s arms. There were only two reasons she ever
wanted Beau to put her down; she needed to be changed or she was hungry. I had
just changed her diaper so I was pretty sure my baby girl was ready to stuff
her little face.

“Well,
let’s let this shower underway,” I said. “It sounds like I have a hungry little
girl over there.”

“Let’s
do it. Thanks again for agreeing to a joint baby shower. I know people usually
don’t do things this way, but the only thing we both wanted was to share this
with everyone. I’ve grown up with these guys for almost my whole life and
they’ve been there for me through everything, so it was just as important for
them to be here as it was to have you girls too,” Jessie said as we walked into
the kitchen. We had a huge spread of food set up that I’d had catered and it
all looked delicious.

“I
completely understand, Jess, and I was happy to do it. We really are a family
and I’m glad we can do this one last time before you deliver next week. Ev and
I didn’t have this with our babies so I’m glad we get to do this right.”

I
pulled out a chair for her at the table and got to work making her something to
eat.

Soon
everyone was sitting around the table eating and laughing and as I looked
around at my family, I truly felt blessed. If you’d told me two and a half
years ago that I wouldn’t only know and be friends with the members of Bad
Blooded Rebel, but that I would be married and have a child with the lead
guitarist (who I’d had a huge crush on for years) I’d never have believed you.
Buying those VIP tickets to their show was the best decision I’d ever made in
my life because it led me to my fate and my happily ever after.

The End…for now!

Once
again, I am writing my acknowledgements with no idea how I am going to thank
everyone that has been behind me in this journey I have been on since
self-publishing last year. One year ago I took that scary leap into indie
publishing and even though it’s been incredibly difficult, it’s also been so
rewarding. I have made some incredible friends and met some truly wonderful
people.

First,
I have to thank my husband…I’ll keep it short and sweet. Good or bad,
everything you’ve done or said has pushed me that much harder and for that I
thank you.

To
my daughters…I am so blessed to have three such beautiful and unique little
girls in my life. No matter how far I go in life, you three will always be my
greatest accomplishments; never forget that.

Thank
you once again to one of my literary idols and friends, Terri Anne Browning.
Your friendship is something I never expected when I first picked up “The
Rocker That Holds Me” and fell in love with Nik and Emmie. You have been one of
the most supportive friends and it’s truly an honor to have a bomb-ass girl
like you have my back! Special thanks to Mike Browning; love you too, Big
Daddy! :D Thanks for giving Terri Anne inspiration to write such hot ass
leading men, heehee.

To
Jennie Wurtz and Sammy Campos…oh ladies! There are absolutely no words I can
write to describe how much you both mean to me. You’ve been my shoulders to cry
on (A LOT), you’ve laughed with me (and sometimes at me, lol), you’ve listened
when I bitch, you make me laugh and cry (both in good ways), you’ve encouraged
me when I’ve wanted to give up…hell, y’all make me sound like Superwoman! I
have said it before and I will always say it…you both aren’t just my dear friends,
you are my SISTERS. “Nellie” loves you both so, so much, and I can’t wait to
tear up Nashville with you two!

To
my Rebels…thank you to each and every one of you!!! I love how you all have
rallied behind me and supported me and pretty much lit a fire under my ass to
get this book finished. Special shout out to Heatheranne for all the SMOKING
hot man candy pics! They truly brighten up my day for sure! Thank you to Monica
Boada for letting me pick your smarty-pants brain; it’s wonderful to have a
professional to ask when you have medical questions about a character! Thank
you to Kim Merow Lewis for being AMAZING enough to help admin my author page.
You’ve really went above and beyond helping me get my name out there and it was
a lucky day when I met you! Also, thank you to the amazing readers and
pimpettes I interact with on a daily basis…Heatheranne, Kim, Monica, Carrie,
Jenni, Kerrisha, Twanisha, Krystal, Olivia, Maria, Jenn, Shauna, Deborah,
Taneesha, Danielle, Sarah, Shona, and Melanie.

Special
thank you to my kick-ass Beta team-Jennie, Melanie, and Shona…thank you ladies
for everything!!!!!

To
my fellow authors/friends…Danielle Taylor (I love you so hard you don’t even
know) for all the amazing covers, being an ear when I’m frustrated or crying,
letting me be someone you vent to, and for all of your help and support! I
didn’t do too bad on this cover, did I? ;) Thank you also to all of the
countless authors that are doing it indie style and inspiring me every single
day!

To
my salon family…you know how much I love you all. Thanks for being you and
making me smile (especially Tiffany…you know how you’ve inspired me, girl,
haha. Love you!).

Special
thanks to all of my readers! I am beyond humbled by how much you’ve loved my
Bad Blooded Rebels and hope you love Beau and Danni as much as I did. There are
more awesome things to come from our Rebels and their ladies…stay tuned!!!

Beau’s
battle with alcoholism isn’t just a made-up story…many people all over the
world struggle with alcohol dependency on a daily basis. It can destroy
families and take lives, I know this first hand. My uncle and aunt, Danny and
Brenda Thomas, were killed on June 6, 1993 by a drunk driver. Luckily Beau was
able to break his habit, but many aren’t able to and it leads to not just
health issues for them, but endangers the lives of countless people if they get
behind the wheel intoxicated. If you or someone you know is struggling with
alcohol dependency, I encourage you or your loved one to get help before it’s
too late!