Dance Like Nobody's Watching (Summer Lake 3) (22 page)

She nodded; he knew she understood.

“And as well as you know me, Miss, I know
you too. I know that you have the biggest heart in the tiniest body.
That you laugh a lot and you work too hard. I know that you're bossy
and you talk too much.” She wrinkled her nose at him, but she
was smiling. “I understand who you are, and you understand me,
we just work. It's faster than normal, yes. But when you know
something is right, time doesn't matter. If you want to look for
worst case scenario—and you know I have—the worst that
can happen is that we discover we don't match each other in everyday
life. That we get on each other’s nerves and that our blend of
perfect isn't so perfect when reality sets in. But we both care about
each other too much as friends to let it deteriorate into anything
horrible. And we both love Scot too much to put him through any
misery. So worst case is we discover we don't work, and we go our
separate ways. I'm moving up here anyway. I want this life, I want
this house. Most of all I want you. If you decide you don't want me,
I'll survive, but I'm hoping you'll decide you do want me. My
relationship with Scot will continue either way. The two of us have
our own thing. I hope it will be as part of our family, but if not,
nothing is going to break the bond we share.” He could see
tears shining in her eyes now, but he was hoping they were happy
ones.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed
his lips. “You're right. I am bossy, I do talk too much, but
I'm better when I'm around you. I don't need to make everything
happen when you're with me. I can relax and just be. I don't know
what it is about you, hero, but you make everything feel better. You
make
me
feel better.” She made him feel better too, and
they both knew it.

“Is that a yes? Are we going to do this?”

She nodded. “We'll have to think about how
it will work, talk to Scotty, but yes. I think we should try it.”

He held her tight, feeling happier than he'd known
it was possible to feel. “We'll make it work, Miss. It's going
to be great. I know it.” He buried his face in her hair,
breathing in the beachy scent of her, knowing this was one of the
most important moments of his life.

***

Missy snuggled in Dan's lap. For something that
sounded so crazy, this couldn't feel more right. They needed to talk
to Scot—though she doubted he'd be able to see anything beyond
the fact that he'd get to spend more time with Dan. Well, that and
living on the lake
and
having a pool. She reached up to touch
Dan's cheek. Looking into his eyes, she really couldn't believe how
lucky she was. “I love you, Danny.”

His smile was so soft and sweet. “Now I know
you do. Only the people who love me call me that. And I love you, my
little Missy.”

She drew his head down to her and playfully nipped
at his lips. He closed his hand around the back of her neck and
rubbed his nose against hers. She lifted her lips to him as his mouth
covered hers in a long, sweet kiss.

“Come on, then,” he said when that
kiss finally ended. “Let's go explore our house, shall we?”

She slid off his knee, hoping their exploring
might lead them upstairs soon. When he kissed her like that, she
found it hard to think of anything else.

His eyes twinkled as he took her hand. “Let's
finish off downstairs first, shall we? I've got a feeling the bedroom
may take a while.”

He led her back through the living room and into a
formal dining room where a beautiful oak table was set for ten with
china and crystal. Dan rolled his eyes. “I don't see that
getting much use, do you?”

Missy smiled. “It'd be nice to have the gang
over for dinner.” She'd love to cook for them all sometimes,
but she couldn't even fit everyone in her house, let alone seat them.

“Oh.” Dan grinned. “That would
be quite cool. I can help—if we want to feed them pizza? Or you
train me as your sous chef?”

She laughed. “Don't worry, hero. I'm not
going to try to domesticate you. I love you just the way you are.”

She especially loved the way his eyes shone when
he smiled like that.

“I'd like to get the hang of some of the
domestic stuff, though. I don't want you to be landed with all of
it.”

She smiled to herself. She appreciated the
thought, but she could no more see Dan making dinner than she could
see herself writing computer programs. It may not be 'politically
correct', but she knew herself and she knew Dan. She loved to play
house, he didn't. It was fine by her. “We'll work it out,”
she said. “Now let's see...Oh!” She'd opened the door to
what used to be Mr. DeWinter's library. It certainly reflected the
changing times. Where once there had stood beautiful bookshelves,
filled with leather-bound books, there was now a full media room. A
giant TV screen covered one wall and theater seating for twelve was
set up in front of it.

“Wow! She exclaimed. “This will give a
whole new meaning to movie night.”

Dan grinned at her. “We can sit in the back
row after Scot's gone to bed.”

She laughed. “Can you see him ever going to
bed when he's got this place?”

“Hm, maybe not. Especially once we rig up
his game systems to play on it.”

“Oh, no! I'll never see either of you
again!”

He waggled his eyebrows. “Oh, you will. From
what I saw online.... Come on.” He took her hand and led her
back to the entrance hall and up the grand staircase.

Missy looked around. “How many bedrooms are
there? I never knew, it seemed like there were dozens of them.”

“Six.”

“Six bedrooms? That's a lot of space we're
going to waste, Dan. Are you sure you need a place this big? You
could just move in with us and save a fortune.”

Dan stopped and turned to her. “I'd love
that too. We don't need to do this, if you don't want to. I love your
house, you know that. I thought you'd like this better, though. It's
your favorite house. Everything it's got for Scotty. But if you don't
want it, we don't have to live here. Can I show you something first
though?”

She nodded and followed him up the rest of the
stairs and into the master bedroom where she stopped dead. The whole
room shimmered with light reflected from the lake. A balcony ran the
entire length of the room, beyond sliding glass doors. Dan slid them
back and it was like having an indoor/outdoor bedroom. She followed
him onto the balcony, the view was spectacular.

“Look.” He pointed at a hot tub.

“Oh, wow! I love those things.”

“Me too. Skinny dipping and star gazing.
Come back inside, though.” He led her to the king sized bed
that stood on a raised platform.

She laughed. “I hope I don't fall out. It's
a long way down.”

“You won't, I won't let you. Come on up.”
He climbed onto the bed and lay down. She lay down beside him and he
rolled over to kiss her. Wonderful as this house was, she forgot all
about it when his lips met hers. She was lost in his kiss, in
everything he awoke in her. When he lifted his head she sighed. She
wanted him, so badly.

It seemed he felt the same way. “I should
probably sign on the dotted line before we christen the place,
beautiful.” He touched her cheek, “Don't look so
disappointed, I can have the paperwork done within the hour.”

She laughed, relieved. “Yes, please!”

“Okay then, but for now, close your eyes.”
She closed them and he lay back down beside her. “Now, when you
open them, imagine that you're waking up in the morning and this is
what you're seeing.”

Missy opened her eyes and gasped. The way the bed
was set up at this height made it seem as though it were floating on
the lake. All she could see was sparkling water. She turned to Dan.
“It's amazing! But you know the best part? What I'm looking
forward to most?”

He shook his head. “What?”

“Waking up next to you.”

His beautiful smile spread across his face. She
felt her heart swell in her chest. Yes, this house was wonderful, but
it was Dan she wanted. She'd happily stay in her own house, or go
live in a tent if it meant she got to wake up with him every morning.
The love shining in the big brown eyes smiling back at her told her
he felt the same way.

“That's how I feel too, Miss. I just want to
be with you. This house is awesome. I think we can make it a real
home, the three of us. But what matters most is that we're together,
not where we are.”

She nodded happily.

“
But,
”
he continued with
a smile, “since we're lucky enough to be together
and
be
in a great house, there are a couple more things I want you to see.”
He got up from the bed and beckoned for her to follow. He opened a
door off to the left. There was an enormous walk-in closet and
dressing area. Beyond that was a bathroom with a double steam shower
and a huge corner Jacuzzi tub, surrounded by picture windows.

Missy wandered around the bathroom and wrinkled
her nose. “It's gorgeous, but considering this bathroom and
closet space is bigger than the entire upstairs of my house, you
would have thought they'd have put in his and hers sinks.”

Dan grinned. “They did.”

She looked around. “Where? There's only one
sink.”

“In here there is, yes. What they put in are
his and hers bathrooms. Come see.”

She followed him back out through the dressing
area, then the bedroom. He opened a door off to the right to reveal
another closet, dressing area and bathroom that mirrored the first.

“Oh, my God!” She laughed. “I
guess this is the
his
side?” she asked, looking at the
silver toned tile.

“Yeah,” agreed Dan. “If you
don't mind, I'm not going to fight you for that peachy colored one.
It's yours.”

Missy wandered back out into the bedroom, a little
overwhelmed at the thought that that would be
her
bathroom.
She sat down in one of two armchairs beside the fireplace, caught up
in a storm of emotions. She wanted him. She was in love with him, no
question. She was so happy and excited at the thought of moving in
here with him. She was thrilled that Scot's life would change so
much. He'd have a guy in his life who loved him and could guide him.
He'd have a pool and live on the lake. She didn't quite believe it
was all real.

Dan came and sat on the floor at her feet. He
picked up a remote and pressed a button. The fire sprang to life.

He grinned at her. “I love a real fire, but
these imitation logs are so realistic.”

She nodded, they were. And made for a lot less
cleaning.

“And,” he looked up at her through
lowered lashes. “I thought maybe we could get a big sheepskin
rug for in front of the fire...and after the hot tub.”

The thought of writhing naked with him on a rug in
front of the fire set her body alight. He ran his hand up her leg.
“You know, I guess we don't
really
need to wait ’til
the papers are signed.” He tugged at her hands and she slid
down from the chair to join him on the floor. They didn't need to
wait ’til they had a rug either.

“Have you told Mom?” asked Jack.

Dan shook his head. “I haven't had chance to
turn around yet. After we left you guys at the restaurant, Missy and
I came to see the place. Then she went to get Scotty from Michael's.
We thought it best if she talked to him first. I went back to see
Ben, signed a rental contract for two weeks so we can move in right
away while the sale goes through. Then I went to get the RV, brought
it over here. Then you showed up.”

“It's all happening fast, Danny. Are you
sure about this?”

Dan nodded. “I remember asking you the same
question when you first met Emma. My answer is the same as yours was
then—Never been more sure of anything in my life.”

Jack grinned. “That's what I was hoping to
hear, little bro. I'm thrilled for you. I'm thrilled for me too. It's
going to be awesome having you living up here. I know Mom will be
over the moon, too. Call her when you get chance. She loved it here
when she came for the wedding. Maybe with you here and bringing Lexi
out here when I get the offices set up, we could persuade her to move
here.”

Dan cocked his head. He hadn't considered that.

“I guess the possibility of grand-babies
would seal the deal too,” grinned Jack.

Dan frowned. “Well, the grand-babies will be
down to you. What do you think she'll make of a ready-made fourteen
year old grandson?”

“Scot? You know she'll love him. He couldn't
be more like you if he
was
your son!”

That made Dan smile. “He couldn't, could he?
You know I've never wanted kids. When you brought me up here to meet
him, I wanted to be like a mentor.” He looked at Jack, “Hell,
I'll say it, I thought if I could be half the big brother you are,
then I'd be doing something great. But now, Jack, I want to be his
dad. I know he's got a real dad somewhere, but I want to be a dad to
him. Is that crazy?”

“It's not crazy, Danny. It's awesome! You're
the best dad Scot could hope to find. And don't kid yourself that he
already has one. He doesn't. There's a guy out there somewhere who is
his biological father. Anyone can be a father.” Jack stopped
and looked at him. “Sorry bro. Any asshole can be a father, we
know that better than most, but it takes someone special to be a dad.
In Scot's case it would take someone very special indeed. You really
are the best dad that kid could ever hope to find; you're perfect for
him.”

Dan smiled. He felt that it was true. “I'm
going to work hard at it, Jack. I really want to be.”

“You already are. There's no need to try.
But tell me how you're managing to swing this. What's going on with
Prometheus, are you really selling out? What are you going to do up
here?”

Dan filled him in on the developments with the
merger.