“Why are you staring at my underwear?” He asks with a laugh.
“I was picturing what you look like in them.” I smirk and throw them in the bag. “You
have hot underwear.”
“What’s up with your obsession with underwear?”
“I just like it.” I shrug.
He shakes his head and makes his next call. I run downstairs to grab his computer
and anything else he might need down here when I spot a notepad on the couch. The
top sheet is covered in half-finished song lyrics. I read them and grin. This is definitely
not a ballad, badass or otherwise.
I flip to a fresh sheet and scribble a note, fold it in half, and carry the rest of
his things to the bedroom to add them to his bag.
“I think I’m about ready.” He frowns as his eyes move around the room and over to
me. “Will you drive me to the airport?”
“Sure, but I don’t have my car.” I remind him. “I’ll have to drive your car.”
“I’ll drive to the airport, and you can drive it home, if you promise to be careful.”
“Are you insinuating that I’m a reckless driver?” I ask and plant my hands on my hips,
feigning annoyance.
“No, I just want you to be careful with my car. It’s new. And really cool.”
“It’s okay.” I shrug and laugh when his jaw drops in disbelief.
“Did you just disrespect my car?”
“Get over it.” I roll my eyes and zip up his bag. “You’re packed.”
He takes the bag from me and sets it on the floor, cups my face in his hands and kisses
me, not gently and softly, but passionately, like the thought of being away from me
is killing him.
I wrap my arms around his waist and lean into him, pressing my belly against his erection.
“No time for this,” I murmur against his lips and smile as he growls in frustration.
He kisses me again, and then pulls me in for a tight hug.
“Be good,” he whispers, making me smirk.
“I’m always good.
You
be good.” I lean back and push my cheek into his hand, enjoying his warm touch. “Seriously,
tell Lori I’m thinking of her. Be safe.”
“Let’s go.”
***
“Where is my wife?” Gary demands as we approach the ER desk at Sinai Hospital in L.A.
“Uh, who are you?” The plump brunette asks, her voice bored. She’s reading a magazine
and gossiping with a co-worker.
“Gary Hovel,” he states impatiently, tapping his hand on the countertop. “My wife
is Lori and she’s having a baby.”
“She’ll be up on four, in the maternity wing. Are you all together?” She asks with
a frown, eyeing all of us.
“Yes,” Gary calls to her, already halfway down the hall to the bank of elevators.
He’s been a mess and a pain in the ass since we left Seattle.
Poor guy.
The elevator delivers us to the fourth floor and Gary charges over to another nurse’s
station. “Where’s my wife?”
“Which one would she be?” A petite blonde asks with a grin. She’s way too chipper
to be working at this time of night.
“Lori Hovel.”
“Room four oh nine, down the hall.” She points and Gary is off like a greyhound after
a rabbit.
The rest of us aren’t far behind him.
“Oh thank God,” Gary breathes and rushes to his wife, taking her in his arms and burying
his face in her neck, then kissing her face. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. We’re both fine.”
“Where is Maddox?” He asks.
“With my sister. Everything is okay, babe.” She smiles at him and rubs her belly.
There’s a belt strapped around it with thick wires leading to a monitor.
“Hey, handsome!” Cher leaps from her chair next to Lori and launches herself at DJ.
“Welcome home.”
“Thanks.” He grins at her and kisses her hard. The rest of us plop down in chairs
around the room and grin at Lori.
“So, how much longer do we have to wait?” Eric asks.
“Well, my labor stopped,” Lori responds with a sigh.
“What?” Gary frowns. “How is that possible?”
“Oh, it’s possible. Trust me.” She shakes her head and sighs. “They won’t let me go
home because my water broke, and they don’t want to risk infection, so here I am.”
“Can’t they make it start up again?” I ask with a frown. “I’ll make a call.”
“Even your contacts can’t make the baby come faster than it wants to.” Lori laughs
at me. “If the labor doesn’t start again by tomorrow morning, they’ll induce me, but
we could be looking at days, I guess. I’m not really sure.”
“Jesus,” I whisper and swallow. What the fuck am I going to do for a couple days in
L.A., besides go crazy from wanting Sam? And then it occurs to me. I grin and pull
my phone out of my pocket, find the number I want and dial.
“What’s he doing?” Cher asks.
“Hey, Kat, this is Nash.” I grin. “I’m in town and need a favor.”
“He’s doing what Leo always does when he’s bored,” DJ answers and kisses her cheek.
“He’s gonna get another tat.”
“We should all go and let you guys sleep,” Eric mutters as I end my call.
“Thanks, man.” Gary hugs me and slaps my shoulder. “I owe you.”
“Fuck that.” I frown at him like he’s nuts. “This is what we do.”
“Thanks for getting him to me so quickly.” Lori’s eyes have tears in them. “I can’t
do this without you guys.”
“You’re gonna be fine, pretty face.” I kiss her cheek and follow the guys out of the
room.
Chapter Twenty-Three
~Samantha~
“It could be
days
?” I ask incredulously and sit up in my bed, scoot back to lean on the headboard,
and raise my knees up to my chest, my phone pressed to my ear.
“That’s what she said, but I hope she’s wrong.” Leo sighs. I love his voice.
“Poor woman, I hope she’s wrong too, for her sake.” He chuckles in my ear and I smile.
“What are you doing now?”
“I just got to the house a little while ago. I’m unpacking.” His voice sounds flat
and unhappy.
“Have your feet frozen off yet?” I ask with a grin. Levine jumps up on the bed, head-butts
my hand and begins to purr as I stroke his back.
“No, smart ass, not yet.” He chuckles.
“Well, wear socks, or they will. What’s on tap for tomorrow?” I lean my head back
and close my eyes, listening to him move about his bedroom, trying to picture what
he looks like.
“I’ll probably be up at the hospital most of the day. Gary…” he stops suddenly and
goes quiet.
“What’s wrong?” I ask and frown.
“I just found something tucked in my clothes.” I hear the smile in his voice.
“What is that?” I try to sound nonchalant, but can’t help the grin on my face.
“A note,” he murmurs. “I love you too.”
“I don’t usually do mushy stuff like that, you know,” I remind him with a laugh, and
my stomach clenches when I hear him chuckle.
“Yes, I know. You’re very anti-mush.”
“Damn straight.”
“You know, I always knew this house was cold and uninviting, but I didn’t care because
I was hardly here. Now that I’m here without you in it, it’s even worse.” He whispers
the last few words.
“Sounds like you have it bad, Nash.”
“I’m having my assistant put it on the market tomorrow. I’ll have my personal stuff
sent up north. I’m not staying here again. How’s my car?”
“Well, the tow truck guy told me that it would be just fine in a few weeks,” I slap
my hand over my mouth so he can’t hear the laughter.
“That’s not funny.”
“What?”
“I will spank your ass when I see you, Samantha,” he warns.
“Promises, promises.”
“Tell me it’s safe in your parking garage.”
“It’s safe in someone’s parking garage.” This time I don’t hold back on the laughter.
“Samantha Williams!” He’s laughing too and I hear rustling around like he’s getting
undressed.
“Are you naked?” I ask.
“Yes. Climbing in bed. You?”
“No, I’m not naked, but I’m in bed.”
“Which shirt are you wearing?”
“Cyndi Lauper,” I lie.
“Liar,” he whispers.
“Journey,” I lie again.
“Try again, sunshine.”
“I might be wearing a signed Nash shirt that my sweet boyfriend gave to me.”
“That’s better.” I hear him yawn and I scoot back down to lie under the covers.
“You should go to sleep. We had a long day.”
“You should sleep too.”
“We have to hang up.” I laugh.
“You hang up,” he mumbles.
“Are we sixteen?”
“Get some rest, baby. I love you.”
He hangs up and I turn on my back and think back on the day. The song, the dancing,
the cliffs where we’ll build a house someday.
If this is a dream, I don’t want to ever wake up.
***
“I don’t know why you wouldn’t let me take you out to lunch.” I complain to Luke when
he opens the door to his house.
“Maybe because you’re not making any money, so how would you be able to buy lunch?”
He takes my coat and evades when I try to punch him in the arm.
“Don’t be a douche.” I scowl at him. “I have savings. I’m not about to be homeless
or anything.”
“Gee, I’m so glad to hear that.” He rolls his eyes and walks ahead of me into the
kitchen.
“Where are Nat and Liv?” I pull myself up onto a barstool and lean on the breakfast
bar. I’m in an oversized sweatshirt and leggings, opting for comfort today.
I have no one to impress.
“They’re out with Jules.”
“They didn’t invite me.” I frown.
“They knew you were going to be here with me,” he grins and shakes his head as he
pours me a glass of iced tea. “Don’t get all offended, sis.”
“Well, okay then.” He passes me the tea, pours his own glass and then leans against
the counter and sips his drink, contemplating me over the rim.
“What?”
“You and Leo work things out?”
“Just cut to the chase, Luke.” I roll my eyes at him but he just lifts his eyebrow.
“That doesn’t work with me either. I’m your sister, not your wife.”
“Boy, that’s the truth. You are definitely not my wife.”
“I’m never going to be anyone’s wife.” I shrug and take a sip of tea.
“Why?” He asks with a frown. “I thought things were going well with Leo.”
“They are. That doesn’t mean I need a ring on my finger. We’re not even moving in
together for a while. I know you don’t understand that concept given that you and
Nat went from a mugging to a baby in about twelve minutes.”
“Fuck off.” He smirks.
“You don’t need a contract to be in a committed relationship.”
“Okay.” He frowns again and then shrugs. “To each her own.”
“Yep.” I agree.
“Why didn’t you tell me your job was giving you grief because of me?” He asks, his
eyes sad.
“Because I didn’t want to see that look on your face.” I sigh and rub my hands down
my face.
“C’mon, Sam, this is always going to be an issue, and I’m sorry for it, but you need
to stop being so stubborn and let me help.”
“How are you going to help, Luke?” I jump off the stool and pace over to his floor-to-ceiling
windows that look out onto the Sound. “There’s nothing to do.”
“You can at least talk to me about it.”
“And then you’ll feel guilty and I’ll have to kick your ass because it’s not your
fault.” I shrug and turn around to face him. “Luke, it’s not your fault. I’m so proud
of you and all that you’ve accomplished. You’ve earned it.”
“I know you are, but I also know that being related to me isn’t easy. And now you’re
romantically connected to someone even more famous than I am, and that makes me worry
about you.”
“I’ve already discovered that it’s different with thirty-something rock stars than
it is with heartthrobs.” I grin as he scowls.
“I’m no fucking heartthrob.”
“Anymore.” I shrug. “We don’t have young girls following us around. The groupies are
interesting.” I concede and then laugh.
“There will be more photos printed,” he reminds me. “That didn’t seem to thrill you.”
“It surprised me that Melissa, the publicist.” I clarify at his raised eyebrow. “Let
it leak after Leo specifically told her not to. It pissed me off more that he told
you guys about my job.”
“You should have told us.”
“I know, but I didn’t want you to worry. Leo reminded me that that’s what family does;
they worry.”