One More Time (28 page)

“With everything that has happened, I wanted to throw it out there, just in case.”

Dillon ran his hands through his hair and blew out an exasperated “Fuck!”

If it had been two weeks ago, I would have comforted him. Now I was totally gun shy where he was concerned. I didn’t know whether he would welcome it or reject it, so I left it alone and did nothing.

Thirty minutes later, everyone was gone except for Dillon, Adam and Sally. Sally and Adam were off playing with Amelia, while Dillon and I quietly sat in the office.

“I want to stay here with you until this shit with Jimmy is cleared up,” he announced.

Whoa, what?

A big part of me wanted to jump at the chance to have Dillon back in the house and in our lives, but I knew it wasn’t real. He was worried about us and, while I appreciated his concern, it wasn’t enough.

“That’s probably not a good idea,” I replied. “You heard Bobby and Cas. Now that Jimmy has much bigger problems, he won’t be focused on me. Also, we don’t need to confuse Amelia.” Afraid to look at him and risk the chance of breaking, I stared out the office window.

“I fucked up, Ibbs,” he quietly confessed. “Please, let me make it right. Let me protect you and Milly.”

My jaw clenched to the point of pain. As I released it, I took in a deep breath and stared him directly in the eyes. “Are you ready to tell me why you left? Are you ready to be a father to Amelia and to discuss the possibility of having more with me?” His slight hesitation told me everything I needed to know. “You are Amelia’s father, Dillon. I will never keep her from you. However, I need for you to leave now.”

“Ibby,” he pleaded, “Let me explain.”

I stood from my chair. “You can see yourself out,” I told him, and quickly left the room. I made it to the master bathroom before my heart shattered into a million tiny pieces.

*     *     *

Thursday morning Piper
called. Apparently Gage and Max were needed at the last minute in Kentucky. They were gone for the night and weren’t due back until late the next day. Kurt had to work at Dragonfly and, according to Piper, so did Dillon. With this being the case, Ellie and Joss decided it would be a perfect time to throw an impromptu bachelorette party for Piper. Tonight sounded great to me. I had done nothing but mope around the house all week and think about Dillon. I was in serious need of libation and entertainment. Since Sarah was coming with us to Whisky’s, she arranged for her friend Kaitlen to stay with Amelia for the night.

Sally and I spent the afternoon doing our nails and planning what to wear. It was hotter than hell outside, so I chose a sleeveless orange dress with a white lace overlay that fell right above my knees. Paired with a white and gold jeweled belt and some strappy gold heels, I looked classy but sexy. In order to see even a glimpse of color from my tats, I had to twist my hair up on top of my head. I was hurt. Dillon wanted to protect me. He wanted to sleep with me, but he didn’t want to
be
with me. I was also angry.
Who did he think he was?
I decided tonight would be a new beginning for me. No more dwelling on Dillon.
Time to have fun with the girls.

Bobby dropped off a company car for us to drive while both of our cars were at Max’s garage for inspection. Sally and I were sharing the giant Suburban for the time being. Whisky’s was all the way across town and then some. We almost took a cab, but I wanted to be able to get home to Amelia if need be. Piper and Ellie were waiting for us when we pulled into the parking lot. Techno music poured from the building. After giving us both a hug, Piper led us upstairs to a killer rooftop bar. It was empty except for Joss, Sarah, Lena and Polly who occupied a large booth in the middle of the patio and were conversing with three men.

“Isabella, Sally!” Joss screamed, “Get your asses over here and meet Zane, Blake and Hunter!” One of the three men leaning over the table straightened up and held out his hand.

“Hi, I’m Zane, welcome to Whisky’s,” he announced. Sally hastily shook his hand before scooting in beside Ellie. As I slipped my hand in his, he gave it a little squeeze. Instinctively, I looked up and into a very attractive face. He had longish brown hair, a close cropped beard and hazel eyes. I could tell by his tan skin and sun streaks in his hair that he enjoyed being outdoors. This guy screamed manly man in a big way.

“Zane owns the place. Blake manages the downstairs bar, and Hunter manages the rooftop bar,” Piper explained.

“Hi, I’m Isabella.” Zane’s eyes flared with interest but I brushed him off.
Not going there.

“Another one bites the dust,” Sally murmured and the table erupted in laughter. I, however, did not.

“I don’t get it,” Sarah replied.

Piper was kind enough to enlighten her. “Isabella’s raspy voice is like catnip for men. They hear her speak and are entranced.”

Zane laughed and finally let go of my hand. I hated when Sally did this. My face flamed with embarrassment and I contemplated leaving. Sensing how uncomfortable I was, Sally pulled me in beside her. I pretended to play with my napkin to give everyone a minute to focus on other things, such as drink orders.

After dinner, we rolled downstairs to what Zane called the dungeon. I could easily see why. The only lit spot in the whole place was above the bar. Everything else was dark.

Loud techno music accosted my ears. I grabbed Piper’s arm and yelled, “What is this place?”

“Welcome to The Dungeon!” she screamed. Then she handed me a shot and said, “Just wait! You’ll see!”

Strippers were not our entertainment for the evening like I expected. We were the entertainment for the evening. Place seven women on a dance floor, add alcohol, loud music and watch them go.

As soon as we made our way to the bar, the techno music stopped and the real show started. I downed the first shot right as the beginning notes to
It takes two
rang through the room. When Rob Base’s voice took over, the entire floor lit into a million multi-colored polka-dots and the crowd went nuts.

Five shots and three drinks later, I was a stumbling, bumbling idiot. “Weeeeeee!” I squealed, as I tried to focus in on the bouncing dots at my feet. Zane, who had been dancing with me, steadied my hips with his large hands. I couldn’t deny it felt good. Piper and Ellie tried to step in several times but I wouldn’t let them. In my wasted brain I was just fine pretending it was Dillon’s hands on me, and I wanted to enjoy the fantasy. They could go find their own big hands. Then I remembered Dillon didn’t want me and got pissed. The alcohol fueled my anger and made me bold, so bold I decided to do something about it. Iggy Azalea’s
Fancy
blasted through my core as I turned to face Dillon.
Not Dillon, Zane
, I reminded my inebriated brain. Zane’s eyes ate me up and I knew he was putty in my hands. His big hands slid from my waist up my torso and I pressed the lower half of my body to his. As we swayed back and forth to the beat, I could feel how hard he was for me. If I closed my eyes, I no longer saw Zane, but Dillon pressed tightly against me. I let out a slight moan when his thumb grazed under my left breast. My heart pounded inside my chest.
Will I let him touch me? Should I?
I felt his warm breath on my lips for a split second and then…nothing. I opened my eyes and staring down at me was a very angry Dillon.
Uh-oh.

“What the fuck, Isabella?” he shouted over the music. Before I could answer, he had me up and over his shoulder and we were marching for the door.

“Let me down!” I screamed.

“No!”

“Dillon! I was having fun with Dane!”

“His name is Zane!” he yelled.

“That’s what I said!”

As soon as we got to the parking lot he set me down and a wave of dizzy nausea hit. As if sensing what was about to happen, Dillon flipped me around, lifted my hair and I puked everything in my stomach onto a poor unsuspecting bush. Then I promptly passed out.

Dillon

‡

“F
ucking great,” I
muttered, as I leaned Isabella over so she could christen the bush with vomit.

The second she finished, she straightened up and said, “I’m pished at you.” Then she passed out cold. I muttered a few choice words as I lifted her into my arms. The sound of heels clicking across the pavement got my attention and I turned to see which of my so-called friends had the cojones to tangle with me right now.

Piper and Zane, fucking great.

“Is she okay?” Piper inquired. The concern in her voice made me swallow my nasty reply.

“I didn’t know she was yours man,” Zane said. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have given her a second look.”

“Why in the hell did you let her get so hammered?” I directed at Piper.

“Me?” she squeaked. She wisely took a big step back. Then, squaring her shoulders, she gave it to me. “The last I checked, she is a bone-a-fide adult.” When I didn’t reply, she gave me more. “I gave her a shot, Dillon. That’s all. The next thing I knew, she had downed five more and was out on the dance floor dirty dancing with Zane. Don’t you dare blame me, buddy. You’re lucky I even bothered to call you.”

“And you didn’t think to inform Zane she was mine?” I coldly asked.

Her bold expression collapsed into one of guilt. “Every time we tried to get near them, she shooed us away. No one got the chance to tell him.”

“We good here?” Zane asked.

I fought the urge to set Ibby down and pummel him. “The next time you hit on a woman, make sure she’s not taken first,” I warned.

Zane’s jaw tensed, but instead of giving me lip, he simply gave me a half-nod and walked away.
Good move
. I did not want to have to kick his ass right now. I also didn’t want to discuss it with Piper anymore. I needed to get Ibby home. Shifting her to a more comfortable position in my arms, I turned away from Piper and headed for my jeep.

“Where are you going?” Piper shouted after me.

“Where do you think I’m going? I’m taking her home.”

“Are you mad at me?”

“I’m fucking furious, Piper.”

“You can’t be mad! I called you!”

Ignoring her plea, I strapped Ibby in and headed for home. I would deal with Piper later.

A girl I’d never seen before met me at the door with a concerned look on her face.

“Is she okay?” she stared uncomfortably at Isabella in my arms.

“You the sitter?” I asked her.

“Yes, Uh, I’m Kaitlen.”

“Can you watch Milly for a few more minutes while I get her mom settled?”

“Milly?” she questioned.

“Amelia,” I clarified. Before she gave me an answer, I headed for the bedroom.

“Oh! Sure!” she yelled after me. “I-is she going to be okay?”

“She’s going to be just fine,” I tossed over my shoulder as I entered the bedroom.

Closing the door with my foot, I carried Ibby to the bed and checked her pulse. It was normal. I lay her down and carefully stripped off her clothes. Just to irritate her and make me feel better, I found one of my old T-shirts and yanked it over her head. As I turned her onto her side, I pulled the sheets up over her and thought about how much pain I had caused her. I knew I messed up, but until Sunday I hadn’t realized how badly. Her words had followed me around all week.

“You are Amelia’s father, Dillon. I will never keep her from you. However, I need for you to leave now.”

As I reflected back on Isabella’s icy tone and cold eyes when she told me to leave on Sunday, I realized how much damage I had caused. Someone had tried to hurt my girl and I couldn’t protect her because she wouldn’t let me. Watching her walk away and knowing I was leaving her unprotected was the hardest thing I’d ever done. I knew, though, if I was going to get her back, it wasn’t going to happen then. I needed to regroup and come up with a game plan.

Instead of following after her, like I wanted that day, I went in search of Adam. I found him with Sally in Milly’s room. My baby girl smiled at me when she saw me come through the door of her room and my heart squeezed.

As I took her from Sally, I placed her on my shoulder and whispered in her ear, “I love you baby girl. If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to make this right. I promise, one way or the other, we’ll be a family again.”