* * *

Tiffany is lying between me and Lane on the blanket. We are looking up at the stars, a fire going next to us.

“It’s so peaceful.”

“Amelia, can I do your hair tomorrow?”

She wants to see me tomorrow! I smile at her. “You sure can, honey, I have a cookie recipe that I haven’t gotten to try out yet.”

Her eyes widen. “Can I help?”

“You sure can.” I tuck stray hairs that escaped her braid behind her ear. Lane is watching us, and what I really want right now is to hug her. I have been dying to hug her all evening, ever since I heard about her childhood.

I don’t even know her mom but I hate her—I hate her so much. I want to track her down and beat the shit out of her then come back the next day to do it all over again.

“I guess we need to head back. Tiffany, I am going to put your bike in the back.” Lane leaves us alone.

“You’re nice.”

Her statement stuns me. “Of course I am, Honey.”

She stares at me for a few seconds. “My daddy cares about you, and I know you care about him. Will you care about me too?”

My heart shatters into a million little pieces. She craves a mother figure. “I already care about you, Tiffany. I will always be a part of your life.” I touch her cheek, and she looks down at my hand.

“Promise?”

“I promise, Baby.”

She smiles and falls into me. I wrap my arms around her and close my eyes. “I think we need to have girls’ day together, if your dad lets us.”

“I will ask him and he will let me.”

I laugh because she’s right. It would be hard to turn her down.

“Are my girls ready?”

Tiffany lets me go and we stand up. I grab the blanket off the ground and walk over to the Rhino. Tiffany hops in the middle of the front seat. I put the dirty blanket in the back and grab another one from under the seat. The air is slightly chilly now, so the ride back will be pretty cold.

I climb in beside her and put my arm on the back of the seat, behind her head, to have more room. Lane climbs in and Tiffany moves closer to me then lays her head against my side.

My heart. She is so sweet. Lane starts driving toward home and, as I expected, it’s cold. I bring the blanket up to shield her face from the air.

Lane pulls to a stop and climbs out. He reaches under the seat, pulling out another blanket, and hands it to me. “Here, Doll.”

He is so sweet; Lane is just perfect. I cover myself and Tiffany. I feel her breathing steadily; she is fast asleep.

Once we arrive at Lane’s house, he pulls to a stop in the garage and the door closes behind us. I take the blankets off me and Tiffany; she is still out.

“Want me to wake her?”

“Yeah, she needs to shower before bed.”

“Tiffany.” I gently nudge her shoulder, and her eyes flutter open. “We are home.”

She sits up and raises her arms above her head, stretching.

“Go shower, Tiffany. I need to tell Amelia goodnight.”

“She’s not staying? We are making cookies tomorrow.” Her eyes are wide with near-panic.

“I will come back tomorrow. I promise.”

“Daddy, why doesn’t she stay here? She’s your girlfriend—isn’t she supposed to stay?” She is determined; I’ve got to give her that.

“We can spend the day tomorrow watching movies,” she suggests and I know I am not going to tell her no. I didn’t want to leave in the first place. Lane sighs loudly. “Alright, miss sassy pants. Go shower.”

She kisses him on the cheek. “Thanks, Daddy.”

She walks through the door, and I burst out laughing. “Lane, you don’t have a chance!”

He glares at me and I quit laughing. I slowly slide off my seat, and he takes a step closer. Oh boy. I slowly back away from the Rhino, and he slowly moves closer.

I am the prey.

Once I am in front of the Rhino, I look behind me to gauge where the door is. Seeing that it is directly behind me, I turn around and make a break for it. I run into the kitchen and slam the door shut, and I place something in front of it to give me a few seconds’ head start.

I remember that under the sink there isn’t anything in the cabinet. I open the doors and stuff myself inside. I cover my mouth to try to hide my laughter. The basement door in the kitchen wiggles when he tries to open it.

A second later I hear a slight bang, and the door swings open with a creak. He walks through the kitchen, and I let my hand drop as I giggle slightly.

I can hear his heavy footsteps as he walks through the house trying to find me. I hear him walk back into the kitchen. I cover my mouth once again. “Amelia?”

Don’t laugh, Amelia.

A thought pops into my head: what if I scared him? I grin and throw open the cabinet, yelling. Lane jumps and glares at me.

I slide out of the cabinet and stand, holding my stomach as I laugh. I can’t believe I scared him. I scared the big bad Lane, and I will never let him live this down.

“Ha, ha, ha funny.” He rolls his eyes.

Since I am spending the night, I need to change into something more comfortable. “Lane, you have a pair of sweats and a T-shirt I can wear?”

“Yeah, just go grab something.”

I hurry and change so I can go back downstairs with Lane and Tiffany. I turn the corner to the living room, but when I hear Tiffany say my name I move back, hiding from view.

“I like Amelia, Daddy.”

“I’m glad, sweet girl.

“I can’t wait to make cookies with her.” I hear the excitement in her voice.

I take that moment to walk around the corner.

“Amelia, sit by me!” She pats the couch next to her, putting herself between me and Lane.

Lane smiles at me and wraps his arm around Tiffany, who is lying on his chest. I love seeing him like this with Tiffany. I love that he is such a caring father. It’s a refreshing thing because a lot of men aren’t like this. They don’t contribute.

Is it wrong of me to picture Lane holding our baby in his arms? I can imagine myself having a kid with him, because he is such an amazing father. Lane with Tiffany is enough to make my ovaries explode.

I sit down on the couch beside her. “What are we watching?” I ask. I look at the screen. Supernatural?

She grins at me. “Dean is cute.”

Lane looks down at her in horror. “What did you say?”

I smother my laugh and she rolls her eyes.

“Dad, Dean is so cute. He is so tough.” She sighs and hits play on the TV. Lane continues staring at her in horror.

I can’t resist. “What can you do, Lane? We girls love bad boys.” He glares at me and mouths, “You are getting it later.”

I just smirk and turn to the TV.

I absolutely can’t wait to get it later.

* * *

“Lane!” I moan as quietly as I can as he pounds into me, my arms held above my head. I am totally at his mercy, and I am loving every single second of it.

“So fucking hot,” he growls, lowering his head to capture my mouth. His teeth drag against my bottom lip. I shiver, tightening my legs against his hips.

“I need to come,” I plead, my legs shaking as my impending release gets closer.

“Yeah?” he whispers. He softly, lazily drags his lips across my face, but the pounding of his hips is anything but sweet. I am loving every second of it; I love driving him crazy.

I squeeze my inner muscles and he groans, falling on me. A hand sneaks between our bodies and he flicks my clit, sending me over the edge. My whole body tightens, my fingernails dragging up his back, as I shudder from my release.

Lane slides out of me and reaches down to take off the condom. I follow his hand and that’s when I notice the same thing he does.

The condom broke.

And guess fucking what? I am ovulating.

I blink and Lane blinks before he smiles. What the fuck?

“Doll, if a baby comes from this I wouldn’t mind one fucking bit. You’re my woman, and that isn’t going to change.”

My body relaxes at his words. I sit up in bed and wrap my arms around his middle, laying my hand on his chest. “Okay.”

“Okay?” He kisses my head. “Let’s go shower, shall we?” He picks me up bridal style and carries me into the bathroom, where he proceeds to fuck me again, but this time much more slowly and tenderly.