Chapter Twenty-Four
Tasha reveled in the feel of Daniel, in the words falling from his lips, in his scent, in his taste as he gave himself up to climax. Then he hauled her across his body, resting with his face buried in the crook of her neck.
“What you do to me,” he whispered, his breath warm against her skin.
She’d felt every second of what she’d done to him. And it was more delicious and magnificent than anything else in her life. Ever.
It was more than sex. It was even more than lovemaking. It was Daniel letting go completely. For her.
It felt so good to drift in lazy, heavenly languor, her eyes closed, knee bent, foot between his spread legs, their fingers laced together. The sheet thrown aside, they were naked, skin against skin, deliciously sweaty.
It was sublime, like nothing she’d ever known. There was an ease to being with him she hadn’t thought possible. She could have lain there forever.
Until his phone rang.
She wanted to beg him not to answer it, but she wasn’t the only person in his life. What if his mother or one of his brothers was on the other end of that line? What if they needed his help?
He slid from the sheets to get his phone, and the frown on his face as he read the caller ID made Tasha’s heart turn over.
“Is it your family?” she asked.
“No.” He put the cell to his ear, answered, listened. Then he hit the mute button, holding the phone a long moment, looking at her. There was something in that gaze, his sweet, gentle eyes. “It’s yours.” He said it so softly she couldn’t quite process what he meant until he added, “It’s your brother. My investigator found him and gave him my number.”
Tasha sat bolt upright, pulling the sheets around her, as though they could provide some sort of shield around her heart.
“Do you want to talk to him?”
Her chest squeezed tight, her stomach twisting as she said, “Yes.”
Daniel’s frown etched deeper. He sat on the bed right beside her, his warmth surrounding her. “I’m right here. I won’t leave you.” Then he handed over his phone.
“Hello.” Her greeting didn’t sound quite right, too scratchy and hoarse, too pained.
“Tash, it’s Drew.”
She knew his voice like it was her own. “I’ve missed you.” Regardless of what her brother had done, she’d missed him like she would have missed a limb.
“I’ve missed you too.” Drew gulped air. “It’s Dad. He’s had a heart attack.”
“A heart attack?” Even after the anger and pain and betrayal, her heart plunged to her stomach, slamming so hard she doubled over. “Is he dead?” Her heart was screaming, No, no, no.
Before her brother could answer, Daniel’s arms wrapped around her, like a cocoon protecting her as she cried soundless tears that felt like petals on her face. She collapsed into his embrace, his comfort as immense as the moon and stars.
“He’s in the hospital. We’re in LA. I need you to come, Tash. The old man wouldn’t say it, but I know he wants you here.”
She didn’t have to think about it, especially with Daniel’s arms around her, his body rocking hers. “I’ll be there as soon as I can book a flight.” There was no question but that she would go to her father, despite everything he’d done. Drew needed her too. “Text which hospital and the room number and any other information to this phone. I’ll call you as soon as I know when I’ll be there.”
“Okay. Love you, Tash.”
“Love you too.” The automatic words came unbidden, as natural as they had been once upon a time.
“I have to go to Los Angeles,” she told Daniel as soon as the phone went dark. “I have to book a flight.”
“We’ll fly down on my jet.” He cupped her face in his powerful, gentle hands and tenderly wiped her tear-streaked cheek. “My pilot can get us out within an hour.”
She was too grateful to be intimidated by the fact that he owned a jet. And so glad she didn’t have to go alone. Her back-and-forth emails hadn’t found her family, but Daniel, with all his resources—and most especially his love—had accomplished the impossible for her.
But then she realized, “The puppies. We can’t leave them. You should stay here with them.”
“No,” he replied, the one short word fierce. “I want to be there for you. And I’ve got an easy solution—we’ll take the puppies to Matt in Morgan Hill. It will be faster to drive there and have my pilot meet us in San Martin. There’s a small airport he can fly into.”
Suddenly overwhelmed by everything that had happened in the last few days, by everything this gorgeous, wonderful man had done for her, she could only nod, unable to speak. Unable to adequately express her emotions, her gratitude.
Daniel held her still. “Look at me,” he whispered. “Everything will be okay.” He kissed her with a sweet, wondrous brush of his lips across hers. “I’m here.”
With a muffled cry, she threw her arms around his neck.
How could she possibly deserve this man?
* * *
Despite everything her family had done, it was obvious Tasha would have crossed mountain ranges through deep snow to get to her father’s side.
She had a purity of love and spirit. She was loyal. Her caring had no limits.
Daniel had never had a doubt that she was Maverick material, and her reactions today only solidified that knowledge. This was what she needed—to find her family. After his phone call with his mom, he’d been more determined than ever to help Tasha forgive herself, even if in his own heart, he didn’t believe she’d done anything wrong.
Just as his mom had done nothing wrong. She’d been young and scared and had handled the crisis the best she could. Daniel was the one who’d turned their love story into one of perfection instead of something real.
At last, he’d learned that real was so much better.
Real was loving Tasha. Real was helping her through this difficult reunion, helping her deal with her past. Helping her find forgiveness for both herself and her family.
With rush hour over, they made it to Matt’s house in an hour and a half. In the backseat of the truck, the puppies fell asleep to the thrum of the tires on the highway. Daniel held Tasha’s hand the whole way, offering her comfort, even as he made several phone calls, arranging for his private plane to meet them, for a car and hotel in LA, and to let Matt know his plans.
Tasha’s eyes widened as they pulled into Matt’s driveway, the gates standing open for them. It was like something out of a plantation in the Old South. Except that instead of a stable, there was a six-car garage.
The front door blew open before they’d had time to climb out of the truck. The whirlwind that flew down the front steps was Noah.
“Uncle Daniel!” Matt’s son ran with his arms held wide, and Daniel scooped up the little boy, hugging him tight.
“Hey, bud. You’re bigger every time I see you.” He was six now and would be entering first grade in the fall.
Noah squirmed in his arms. “Can I see the puppies? Please, please, please, can I, can I?”
His smile spreading, Daniel opened the back door and let Noah climb inside. The child fell silent, in awe of the puppies that he would be taking care of for a few days.
Hand in hand, Matt and Ari followed Noah at a more sedate pace. “Thanks for helping out,” Daniel said as he gave Ari a hug.
She was sweet and caring and absolutely right for Matt and Noah. Matt and his son were a package deal, and Ari had fallen hard for both of them. As hard as they’d fallen for her. Daniel couldn’t say he’d ever seen a more loving mother, except his own.
As Tasha rounded the hood of his truck, he said, “Tasha, this is Ari.”
She went to shake Ari’s hand, but the other woman hugged her instead. “It’s so nice to meet you, Ari. Matt was so helpful at my cabin.” She smiled shyly at him. “I really appreciate everything you did.” Though she seemed a little nervous, she hugged him too.
“Believe me,” Ari said, “he was delighted to dig into some hard physical labor. All the guys were.” She turned, tucking Tasha’s arm in hers. “I’m so sorry about your dad’s illness. If you can spare five minutes, I’m putting together some things in the kitchen for you to take with you if you get hungry later. We all know how bad hospital food is.”
After Tasha nodded and said that would be great, they headed inside, leaving Daniel and Matt with Noah and the puppies.
“Are you sure Ari’s okay with taking care of three puppies?” Daniel asked.
“Are you kidding? She wanted to dash out here with Noah.”
Going to retrieve the puppies, they found Noah seated on the floorboards, fingers clutched in the bars, his face plastered to the crate hard enough to put lines on his cheeks. Daniel unhooked the seat belt he’d laced through the bars of the crate to keep it stable, pulled it out, then carried it up the steps, Noah scurrying alongside.
“They’re pretty much housebroken,” he told Matt once they were inside the foyer, “as long as you let them sleep in their crate and remember to take them outside every couple of hours. But they make it through the whole night.”
“Which one is mine, Uncle Daniel?” Noah asked. “Can I hold him?”
“It’s this little guy here.” He didn’t give a name, because Noah would need to pick his own for the puppy.
Of course, once Daniel opened the crate, all three rushed out, running around maniacally after having been cooped up and sleeping for so long. Noah joined the melee, happily chasing them.
* * *
Tasha had felt lightheaded since Drew’s call, her heart beating wildly with fear and dread. She couldn’t believe her father might actually die. He’d always been larger than life. Impervious to the colds and broken bones that had felled lesser men.
The only thing that had gotten her through was Daniel’s hand wrapped around hers as he drove. His warmth had flowed into her, calmed her, wore down the sharp edges of fear.
Now bright, sweet, kind Ari was taking over, pulling Tasha along into the kitchen where she was putting together the fixings for what looked like a feast to take on the plane.
“Here,” Ari said, handing her a glass of Chardonnay. “I know it’s the middle of the day, but sometimes gulping a glass of wine is exactly what we need to take the edge off.”
Grateful beyond measure, Tasha did just as she suggested, and warmth immediately flowed through her veins. “You have a lovely home.”
“The first time I walked in here,” Ari said, “I thought it was a palace. I’m sure the guys told you I was Noah’s nanny. I didn’t come from much, so I assumed someone this rich was going to be stuck up and arrogant and bossy.”
“But Matt isn’t like that.” Tasha knew firsthand. “None of the Mavericks are.” They’d all been sweet to her. And so normal. Money had never gone to their heads; it was just another tool in their belts.
“Exactly.” Ari beamed, her smile as bright as sunshine.
Her straight, silky blond hair didn’t look salon dyed and styled, and her flowery sundress, though very pretty, wasn’t haute couture. And her eyes shone with adoration whenever she said Noah’s name. And Matt’s.
The wine Tasha had gulped made her bold enough to say, “You’re telling me I shouldn’t be intimidated by Daniel’s wealth and that he’s just a normal guy, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know if normal is the word I would use,” Ari said with a grin. “But definitely one of the nicest guys on the planet, that’s for sure. I adore him.” Her grin widened as she said, “Seems like you do too.”
“I do.” Tasha adored every part of him. But—“We haven’t known each other that long.”
“Sometimes it only takes one look,” Ari said with perfect certainty. With that, she put the last container into the insulated bag. “That should keep you from getting hungry for a good long while. And now I know you’re anxious to get on your way.”
The front hall was a madhouse, with three puppies and a little boy chasing each other. Daniel stood talking to a tall guy with short, dark-blond hair whom Tasha assumed was Gideon Smith, Ari’s long-lost brother. On the drive down, Daniel had told her a bit about him, that he now worked for Daniel and lived with Ari and Matt. Gideon didn’t smile much, not like his sister.
Noah ran to Ari as soon as he saw her, Spanky in his arms. “Can I have this one, Mommy? Daddy said I had to ask.”
Ari flashed a smile at Matt. “Your daddy and I have talked about it, and yes, it’s okay with me.” She got down on his level. “But we’ve got to train him and take care of him and clean up after him too. That’s a huge responsibility. Are you sure you want to do it?”
“Yes!”
Ari squeezed his hand. “Then let’s take them all outside for a little bit so they don’t make any messes in here.”
Tasha’s heart ached with the love she saw among the three of them, a family unit. It didn’t matter that Ari had been the nanny, that she wasn’t Noah’s birth mother. They made a beautiful, loving family.
Tasha wanted to believe Daniel when he said it was time to forgive herself. That she could have a life again, a good one.
But could she really deserve all this? Not the money, but the happiness that was a shining halo around Ari. It was in the light of her eyes when she looked at Noah, the sweetness of her hand in Matt’s.
Could Tasha ever truly deserve a man like Daniel and a family like the Mavericks?