One Reckless Night (7 page)

mother’s mouth fell open and Bayleigh laughed. “Do both of you have to look so shocked?”

Tasha nodded. “You never shop. I swear you have clothes in your closet you’ve worn since

college.”

Bayleigh might have been offended if the statement weren’t true. She still gave her sister a

warning look. “The exact reason why I want to shop for new clothes.”

Her mother put down her fork. “What brought on this need for change?”

Bayleigh shrugged. “I think it’s time for a new me.”

Tasha frowned. “What’s wrong with the current you?”

“Other than the fact that I’m out of style…nothing.”

“What’s wrong with having your own style?” Her mother questioned.

“There isn’t anything wrong with that Mama, but I want to add to my current style.”

Tasha’s frown deepened. “This isn’t because of Erwin is it?”

Bayleigh rolled her eyes. “This has nothing to do with Erwin. This is for me.”

Her sister studied her for a moment. “Okay then. Do you mind if I go with you? I promise

not to pester you. I have a few things I want to look at myself.”

“I’d like that. I could use your opinion anyway.”

Bayleigh watched her mother reach across the table and take a sip of her soda before putting

it back down. “Just making sure you didn’t spike your soda when I went to the bathroom.”

Bayleigh laughed. “Why would I need to sneak, Mama? I have been the legal drinking age for

a while now.”

Her mother smiled. “Well I did just hear you say you want to go shopping with your sister.

Words I never thought I would hear, by the way.”

“I’m reinventing myself a little.”

Tasha shrugged. “Nothing wrong with a little revamping.”

“So you will go to the mall with me after lunch?”

Tasha gave Bayleigh an amused look. “As if you have to ask.”

Bayleigh looked at their mother. “Do you want to join us?”

“No. Having lunch with you two is enough action for one day. I’ll let the two of you have

your fun without me.”

Tasha chuckled. “Good. We won’t have to hide our naughty girl purchases from you.”

Their mother laughed and Bayleigh wanted to die from embarrassment. “Tasha meant to say

her
naughty girl purchases.”

Her sister grinned. ”We’l work on
yours
starting today. Men like it when Christmas comes

year round.”

Bayleigh groaned. “What was I thinking? I’ve changed my mind. You’re no longer invited.”

Tasha giggled. “You can’t take back the invite. Besides, your new boyfriend will like it.”

Bayleigh groaned again. For the first time in the last week she had gone two whole minutes

without thinking about Dane and her sister had to ruin it. “I don’t have a boyfriend, Tasha.”

Tasha smiled brightly. “You would if you gave your admirer a chance.”

Bayleigh gave her mother a pleading look. “Mama.”

Her mother’s eyebrows rose. “I can’t stop Tasha when she’s right.”

Bayleigh shook her head. What had she done to deserve this torture? At some point she

would have to face Dane and give him an answer. Maybe by then she’d have one.

* * * *

“Dane, you aren’t paying attention to a word I’m saying.”

Dane gave his mother an apologetic look. “Sorry, Mom. What did you say?”

His mother shook her head. “I won’t repeat myself until you tell me what has you so

preoccupied.”

Dane felt bad about being distracted, but he couldn’t help it. Having dinner with his family

was one of the rare occasions when everyone came together. His family was small but they all lead

busy lives. Besides his parents, there was his older sister, Madison, her husband, Don, their children,

Elizabeth and Gabe. Having dinner with his family was an event he looked forward to.

Unfortunately he wasn’t enjoying himself fully tonight. His thoughts were still on Bayleigh. It was

maddening. If he could find a way to get her to talk to him, everything would be different.

“Dane?”

He groaned under his breath when he realized he had zoned out again. “Sorry, Mom. I’m

not with it tonight.”

“So we see,” Madison replied before their mother could say anything. “Our mother was

saying how happy she is to have everyone together tonight for dinner.”

Dane smiled at his mother. “I’m glad to be here. Dinner is delicious in case I haven’t already

said so.”

A gentle smile appeared upon his mother’s rounded face. “I’m glad, dear. Now tell me what

has you so distracted.”

Dane looked at his mother before glancing around the table. All eyes were on him. He was

glad his niece and nephew were in the playroom, or their eyes would have been on him as well. At

the age of six and four, they wouldn’t understand, but they were at the age where they were good at

mimicking adults.

Dane fought back a sigh, wondering if he were going to come out of this unscathed. Right

now it didn’t seem like it.

“It’s no big deal, Mom. I’ll get it figured out.”

Madison gave him a skeptical look. “Are you sure?”

He glared at his sister. “Yes I am, besides family dinner isn’t the time to discuss personal

issues.”

His father chuckled. “Must be a woman.”

Dane put down his fork, and groaned.

Madison laughed. “So it is a
woman
.”

He gave his sister a warning look. She was happy to ignore it.

“Who is she?” she asked with a wide grin.

“When are we going to meet her?” his father added.

“Does she want kids?” his mother questioned. “I want more grandbabies.”

Dane wanted to get up from the table and leave. Was he the only sane person left in his

family? A quick glance around the table told him he just might be. Dane rubbed his temples. He

needed a stiff drink.

“Come on, Dane, spill it. You can’t leave until you do.”

Dane shook his head at his sister’s singsong voice. “And you wonder where my niece and

nephew get it from.”

Don laughed. “My wife says they inherited it from you.”

Dane knew he wasn’t going to get out of this. His family was persistent. He would know

since he had the genetic trait himself. “Yes, you know her…it’s Bayleigh.”

The confused looks they gave him were amusing. His mother was the first to recover. “Is it

that Erwin character again?”

“No, Mom. Her relationship with him has been over for several months now.”

Madison’s expression became more perplexed. “Is everything okay with her?”

He smiled at his sister’s concern for Bayleigh. His family had met her a few times and they

liked her. From what he could tell, she liked them in return. He shrugged. “I don’t know. She hasn’t

talked to me for most of the week.”

A look of surprise fell over his father’s face. “Haven’t you seen her at work?”

“Yes, I have but she isn’t talking to me.”

His mother put her drink down. “Did the two of you have a fight?”

Dane hesitated. “Yes and no.”

Madison gave him a puzzled glance. “Yes and no? You have to come up with a more

decisive answer.”

Dane looked down at his plate. “I told her how I feel about her.”

Complete silence met his statement. He looked up at his family. Everyone was staring at him

with utter shock.

“You told Bayleigh you’re attracted to her?” Madison clarified.

“Yes, and she freaked.”

He left out the juicy details about how the discussion came about. It was private and he

would never embarrass Bayleigh like that.

“Now she’s avoiding you?”

Dane smiled at his mother. “Sort of. She talks to me at work.

Yet she won’t talk to me about anything but work.”

A thoughtful expression appeared on Madison’s face.

“Bayleigh is still speaking to you so she isn’t mad.”

His mother nodded her agreement. “Has she said anything at all about what you revealed to

her?”

He released a pent up breath. “She said she needed time to think about it. She’s afraid of

losing our friendship.”

His father’s eyebrows furrowed together. “Nonsense. The two of you are too compatible.”

Dane smiled. “Thanks dad. I told her the same thing. But I know with Bayleigh that I have

to show her. She can’t refute concrete evidence.”

His mother laughed. “Sounds like you have come up with a plan.”

“I have a few ideas.”

His sister leaned closer to him. “So your secret is finally out.

Bayleigh knows you like her.”

Dane chuckled. “Why is it like being back in high school when you’re around?”

His sister smiled. “I have to stay young at heart to keep up with your niece and nephew.”

Don laughed. “Is that your excuse?”

Madison elbowed Don playfully. Dane smiled when Don caught the elbow as if he expected

it. Don placed a kiss on the back of Madison’s hand. Dane’s thoughts went to Bayleigh. He

wondered what would happen if they shared a moment like the one between his sister and brother-

in-law. Would Bayleigh become embarrassed? Return the affection? Both?

Dane was dying to find out. There was no doubt in his mind that the distance Bayleigh had

put between them bothered her just as much as it ate at him. He caught her giving him looks of

longing when she thought he wasn’t paying attention. What was Bayleigh so afraid of? Dane knew

she had a few bad relationships, the last one being the worse. He’d been there for Bayleigh when it

ended. The breakup with Erwin had been bad. He didn’t know the details, but when Bayleigh called

him, he went to her

He could still recall the way she collapsed into his arms after she opened the door. Dane had

swept her up into his arms, carried her to the couch, and held her the entire time she cried. When

the tears disappeared, he continued to hold her until she fell asleep. It was the first time her held her

in his arms for an entire night. Her breakup with Erwin increased the feelings he had wanted to keep

under control. At that moment he knew he could no longer stand back and let Bayleigh continue to

choose men who would end up hurting her. Not when he cared for her the way he did.

“She’s a good woman,” his sister murmured before giving his hand a quick squeeze.

Dane smiled. “I know. I’m just afraid I won’t have the chance to show her that.”

His father winked at him. “She will come around son. Bayleigh is crazy about you.”

His mother nodded. “You have the right idea. Show her how she should be treated.”

Dane grinned. “You’re just ready for more grandbabies,” he teased.

His mother’s face lit up. “I couldn’t think of anyone better for you than Bayleigh, if it were

to happen.”

Dane gave his mother an amused look. “Let’s get her to agree to date me first.”

It was his biggest obstacle. A complication he still pondered as dinner ended. He kissed his

family goodnight, already looking forward to the next time. The drive home was a quiet one. He had

more time to think about Bayleigh. When he walked into his home he wondered if he made the right

decision. If he hadn’t admitted his feelings for Bayleigh, she might still be talking to him. Then again,

there was a chance she wouldn’t be.

The one thing he wouldn’t ever regret was making love to her. His experience with her was

one he would never forget. One he looked forward to repeating and soon. Dane had his work cut

out for him. When he stepped under the warm spray of the shower, he smiled. Tomorrow was the

beginning of a new work week. His mission was to make Bayleigh understand that the night they

shared together was only the beginning.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Deidre yelled.

“No, the music is too loud,” Bayleigh shouted.

Deidre laughed at her. “It’s supposed to be loud. We are at a club.”

Giselle and Maylea were on the dance floor trying to keep away from most of the people

who crowded it.

“Lea and Giselle want us to join them.”

Bayleigh almost said no. She wasn’t having a good time. How had she allowed the girls to

talk her into this? She never went to clubs. This was Deidre’s idea. This was her one thing she

wanted to do that was out of the ordinary.

Deidre would never normally step foot inside of a club. Yet she had suggested it, and here

they all were, there to offer support to their somewhat delusional friends. There was safety in

numbers, after all.

When Deidre suggested going dancing yesterday, shock was Bayleigh’s first response,

curiosity the second. She had heard a lot about Club Onyx. When she walked through the door, the

euphoric expressions on everyone’s face, made her think the club might just live up to its name.

After an hour, she wasn’t so sure. There were bodies everywhere, too many and too close for

comfort.

At least she had the opportunity to wear one of the new outfits Tasha helped her pick out

last Saturday. The sky blue silk chiffon dress had put her on the receiving end of compliments all

night. Complete strangers were coming up to her, telling her how much they liked her dress.

“Come on, Bayleigh, let’s go.”

Bayleigh allowed Deidre to pull her to the dance floor. She liked to dance, but wasn’t used to

dancing while in crowds like this though. The last time she danced in public was at her sister’s

wedding. Not with people bumping into her, not to mention her poor toes. Thankfully the club

didn’t allow drinks on the dance floor. It helped keep her dress stain free and the floor hadn’t been