One Reckless Night (22 page)

like she was a moment away from having an anxiety attack.

“Bayleigh?”

She sighed. “It’s complicated, Dane.”

“Not as complicated as you’re making it.”

Bayleigh gasped. “How am I making it complicated?”

Dane pulled away from her then sat up. She missed his warmth instantly.
Damn her blasted

weak body
.

“I don’t understand, Bayleigh. We have something incredibly special between us. It only gets

better the more time we spend together.”

She wanted to refute his words but her tongue wouldn’t cooperate. Lord, she wanted so

badly to believe him, but it would be much worse for her this time if she let herself fall. Bayleigh

could really care about him. More than she already did. She could fall madly in love with him. Her

emotions teetered on the brink as it was. When he grew bored, he would move on like her other ex’s

had. It was bound to happen and she wouldn’t survive when it did.

Bayleigh rolled over to look at Dane with a pleading look. “I don’t want to hurt you Dane.

Just give me some time to think, to work this out. All of this is new for me.”

Dane studied her a moment before exhaling deeply. “I’ll try to remain patient, Bayleigh, but

it would help if you would talk to me. Sometimes I just wish you would go with it and let me show

you the way it can be.”

The pleading tone in his voice made her heart ache. Tears sprang into her eyes. He opened

his arms and she fell into them. A few heartbeats later, he lay back down, pulling her with him.

Bayleigh didn’t know what else to say. Deep down she knew there was nothing left to be said right

now. Eventually she would have to tell Dane how she felt. Hopefully when that time came, she

could find the right words.

“Why are you so quiet tonight?”

Dane made a noncommittal sound as he looked over at Bayleigh. “Hmm?”

“And distracted.”

“Sorry,” he replied. “I was lost in my thoughts.”

“I hope you’re more focused at your parents tonight. I will kill you if I have to do all of the

talking.”

Dane laughed. “You have no reason to be embarrassed or uncomfortable around my family.

How many times have you come to dinner before now?”

She smirked at him. “As many times as you have been to dinner with mine. Still, this is the

first time as, you know…”

“As boyfriend and girlfriend,” he teased.

“Just be on your best behavior,” she said, and laughed.

“As long as Madison is on hers,” he retorted.

Bayleigh groaned and he chuckled. She was the most intriguing woman he had ever met and

she was his, permanently if he had his way. Last night had been one more episode that had blown

him away. Personally, he was amazed at his stamina. Dane had always had a strong sexual appetite,

but never as insatiable as he was with Bayleigh.

Without a doubt, he knew she was the reason behind it. He was also sure being in love had

something to do with it. Bayleigh was solely responsible for the tension strumming through his

veins. They had been together for over a month but he had yet to come up with a way to bypass her

issue of combining their friendship and relationship.

Dane had to figure out a way to get around her fear and soon. It was starting to feel like to

more time they spent together the more reasons she came up with as to why their relationship

wouldn’t work. Bayleigh extended so much trust to him with her body. He wanted the same

entrustment with her emotions. She had him at a slight disadvantage because this was new for him

as well. Dane never wanted permanency with another woman. Their relationship might have started

out as a trial run but there was much more at stake now. Including his own emotions, his heart. He

needed to come up with a plan to bring them closer.

Something was up with Bayleigh. The more time he spent with her, the more he saw it. She

deliberately avoided emotional related topics. In some ways he felt as though she was going to cal

their trial relationship off any moment. Bayleigh was right when she said that once they crossed this

threshold the dynamics of their friendship would change. There was no way he could go back to just

being friends with her. Not when there could be so much more. Dane would never be satisfied just

being friends. His stomach was in knots just thinking about it.

In spite of what they shared last night he awoke anxious and edgy. The insecurities he saw in

her eyes last night had tugged at him. Unfortunately her past was a major obstacle. One he didn’t

think would disappear in five more months if he didn’t keep pushing. The good thing was, he wasn’t

a quitter. Bayleigh was worth putting everything on the line. She was a unique woman who never

ceased to amaze him. With her he was always left guessing, anticipating what her next move would

be. Two things no other woman had ever managed to do. Bayleigh was one of a kind. She also had

feelings for him. Dane knew she did. Emotions she tried to hide, unsuccessfully. There were times

when she looked at him with her heart in her eyes but she would shield the emotion as quickly as it

appeared.

His friendship with her came in handy a lot more than Bayleigh like for it to. There wasn’t

much she could hide from him. When it came to her he tried to pay attention to every little detail.

Bayleigh was a woman he respected on an intellectual and physical level. He hated that she was still

in denial in her feeling for him, choosing to cling to her insecurities and fears. It was just a matter of

time before she conjured up what she considered to be a logical excuse to brush him off. One thing

he knew for certain, time was his enemy.

Dane pulled up to his parents’ home then looked over at Bayleigh. She was so lost in her

own thoughts she hadn’t notice. He couldn’t blame her since he wasn’t being sociable himself.

“We’re here.”

Dane turned off the ignition before getting out of the car. She took the hand he extended

when he came around to get her. “You ready.”

“Yes I am.”

He tightened his grip on hers before leading her up the walkway. His mom had the door

open before they were on the porch. “Dane. Bayleigh.”

Dane relaxed when his mother’s arms encircled him. Her touch always had that effect on

him.

“Come on in. Madison, Don and the kids just made it.”

His mother took Bayleigh’s arm leaving him to follow behind but Bayleigh stopped, holding

her hand out to him. The gesture lifted his spirits. Dane took her hand, lifting it to his lips to place a

kiss on it before walking with them into the dining room. His father was sitting down a platter of

freshly grilled steaks on the table. He smiled when he saw them. “The two of you are right on time.”

His father hugged Bayleigh before kissing her on the cheek. “Glad you can join us.”

Bayleigh smiled brightly. “I’m always happy to.”

He stood back and watched him family greet Bayleigh. She had always fit in well, from the

first family dinner he brought her to. Even his niece and nephew adored her. They surrounded her

as soon as they could. Bayleigh knelt to give them hugs and he automatically thought about her with

her own children—possibly their children. A prospect he looked forward to.

Several moments later they were all at the table enjoying the food his parents prepared

together. It had been that way forever. Even as a child his memories of his parents in the kitchen

together were plentiful. Dinnertime was together time for his family. Dane looked over at Bayleigh

who was involved in a conversation with his mom and sister about their trip to the
Stockyards

yesterday.

The way she talked about their outing made him realize how much she had enjoyed herself.

Her excitement confirmed what he already knew. He half listened to his father and Don talk about

the proper technique to refurbish an oak desk. Dinner was soon over and his mother, sister, and

Bayleigh insisted the men leave the kitchen after all the dishes had been cleared from the table.

It was fine by him. From what he could tell the women were itching to have alone time to

speak freely without the men around. Still, he hadn’t left Bayleigh alone until she assured him she

was fine. He on the other hand wasn’t. A subject his father was quick to bring up when he and Don

entered his study.

“What has you so down in the dumps, son?”

Dane shook his head at the beer his father offered before sitting down. There was no need

to waste a beer. He did that often enough with Isaac. Don gave him a scrutinizing look.

“Yeah, you’ve been a little distracted tonight.”

His father frowned. “Everything seems to be alright with Bayleigh. It isn’t work, is it?”

Dane didn’t want to be rude and tell his father and brother-in-law that he didn’t feel like

talking about his problem with Bayleigh. He had already hashed over his dilemma enough tonight,

not to mention the amount of time it would preoccupy his mind in the days to come. However, with

both of them having successful marriages they might be able to offer him advice he hadn’t thought

of yet.

“Actually dad, it’s the opposite. Work is great. Things with Bayleigh are fine right now but

trouble is brewing on the horizon.”

A look of surprise appeared on his father’s face, even Don looked a little shock.

“Are you sure?” his father questioned. “She seemed pretty happy at dinner tonight.”

Dane sighed. “Dad, it’s hard to explain. The best—the only way I can put it is to say she is

happy but she’s afraid of the happiness. Almost like she doesn’t believe it’s real.”

His father gave him a sympathetic look. “Sometimes people carry their past with them even

when they don’t want to…don’t intend to.”

Dane made a sound of frustration. “I know. So how do I get her to understand she is my

equal in every way?” Dane smiled. “She’s intelligent, beautiful, and funny. I can’t wait for the times

when we are alone together. She radiates happiness and I like knowing I’m responsible for it.”

Don shook his head. “She knows it. Trust me, Bayleigh realizes how happy she is.”

Dane made a sound of agreement. “Which only proves my point. She is afraid, but why with

me? I’ve never hurt her.”

His father chuckled. “Sounds like that’s the problem. From our past conversations we both

know she’s been hurt by the men she has been with in the past.”

Don shrugged. “You are her greatest fear. If your relationship doesn’t work out, where will it

leave the two of you?” Dane exhaled. “I don’t know, but I do know it takes two to make it work. If

she is focused on us not working out we don’t stand a chance.”

His father smiled. “You are right. I also have confidence in your ability to find a way to

convince Bayleigh.”

His father was right. It had taken a lot of courage for him to admit his attraction to Bayleigh.

He wanted her for years and he’d finally gone after her. Now he had to do whatever it took to show

her he wasn’t like the men in her past. Dane half listened while his father and brother-in-law talked

more about the desk Don was trying to refinish. When they were done with their drinks his father

stood.

“We should go see what the women are into.”

Don stood as well. “It is getting late. The kids have school tomorrow.”

Dane stood and followed them back to the kitchen. When they entered, the women looked

up. His heart skipped a beat at the smile Bayleigh gave him. Her genuine smile made him want to be

on the receiving end of many more.

Dane watched as his father walked over to his mother, leaning down to whisper something

in her ear. His mother smiled before whispering her response. There was no mistaking the love his

parents had for each other. They were the perfect model of a good relationship, everything that was

right in a true partnership. He also knew Bayleigh’s parents’ connection was just as strong, just as

loving. Two examples he could use to his advantage. Dane could use their interactions as examples

of what trust, commitment and being equal partners, along with the willingness to compromise in

the bad times and good could do to make a relationship survive. He was willing to put everything on

the line to prove to her how special she was to him. Bayleigh was unique and complimented him in

all the ways a woman could. Dane would show her how much he wanted her in his life and how

much she wanted him in hers as well.

* * * *

“So how was dinner with the Wheelers? You haven’t mentioned a word about it yet.”

“Could it be because we just sat down?” Bayleigh murmured, her voice full of amusement.

Patience never had been a word associated with her sister. If Jarvis weren’t so apt at handling Tasha

she would feel sorry for him. She should have cancelled lunch with her sister when her mom called

to tell her she wouldn’t be able to make it because of a function she had to attend with their father.

Instead she kept the Saturday lunch date with her sister because she enjoyed it. Her sister had a busy

life. So did she. Their weekly lunch was the one day she knew she would get to see her sister if only

for a few hours.

“Dinner was fine. How was the play?”

Tasha smiled. “If you think you’re going to change subjects that easily you are mistaken big