Loving Dallas(72)

“I just . . . I thought you’d met someone. I thought you and Wade—”

“No,” Robyn says, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. “There’s never really been anyone else for me, Dallas. I kind of thought you knew that by now.”

That feels so damn good to hear, I feel like I could sprint to Mexico.

“Dallas!” Mandy barks again. “Time to go!”

“Wait,” I say more to Robyn than Mandy. “Then how’d you know I punched him? Wade tell you?”

“She mentioned it,” Robyn informs me, nodding at my manager, who’s growing more impatient by the second. “When she dropped by my place to tell me to stay away from you.”

The f*ck?

“She what?”

“She’s also the one who told Dixie to sit out the encore at the showcase in Nashville. Said she was holding you back. You might want to discuss that with her.”

My blood pressure rises so high I can feel it. Dixie’s hang-up about holding me back makes so much more sense now.

“Dixie tell you this?”

Robyn nods. “I’m happy for you, Dallas. I am. And I meant what I said about being here when you get home. Regardless of what you decide. But one thing is for damn sure. You need a new manager. Like yesterday.”

She glances around me to glare at Mandy.

“You can say that again.”

“Okay, I will.” Robyn leans up and brushes her sweet little pouty lips past mine on her way to my ear. “You. Need. A. New. Manager.”

God her voice does it for me. I let my hands fall to her hips. “Message received, sweetheart.” I wink while simultaneously lowering my head to give her a kiss.

She pulls back before I make contact. I squeeze her hips firmly in protest.

“Let’s not do this here right now. Just take some time and think about what you want, okay? I love you, you know I do. But things are different now. We can’t do the casual hook-ups anymore. We’re going to be parents.”

“I’d argue we can hook up all the time since technically you can’t get any more pregnant.” I grin and she slaps me playfully on the chest.

“I’m being serious, Dallas. I mean it. I don’t want you in our lives because you feel obligated or something. I want you to think long and hard about what you want. Okay? Promise me?”

“I promise. But I want you, baby. I’ve always wanted you and I will always want you. I already know that. I’ve known that for a long time now.”

Robyn makes a sound like I’ve kicked her and there are tears forming in her eyes.

“It’s not just me anymore, okay? And it’s one thing to say that and another to mean it.”

I can already picture her growing round with my baby in her belly and f*cking hell, I’ve never really had a hard-on for pregnant women, but this one, this one being round with my baby is about to push me over the edge in a crowded airport.

“I love you, Robyn Breeland. And I’ll come home as soon as I can so that I can show you just how much I want you and all that comes with you. Or . . . tell me to stay. You need me to stay, pretty girl? Say the word and I’ll tell them to go on without me.”

And now she’s crying.

“Dallas!” Mandy has lost her patience and marched over into our moment. “We have to go right now.”

“No, Dallas. I couldn’t live with myself if this held you back from your dream. Go. I’m fine,” Robyn says through her tears. I wipe them with my thumbs and kiss her gently.

“There. She said go. Let’s go,” Mandy demands.

“I’m on my way.” I turn my attention back to my girl. “You’ll text me every update?”

“I will. Promise.”

I steal one last kiss. And then another. And then one more, until Robyn pushes me toward the escalator.

The numbness wears off and reality settles in as I make my way through security check.

I’m having a baby.

With Robyn.

I’m going to be a dad.

I couldn’t be more ill-equipped if the pilot announced we had to jump from the plane.





36 | Dallas

“WHAT IN THE EVER-LOVING HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM, DALLAS?” Mandy’s shrill voice greets me as soon as I step foot offstage. I’ve barely pulled my in-ears out when she starts in on me. “You’ve been avoiding me since this leg of the tour began and now you’re performing like a brain-dead zombie out there. Care to tell me what exactly is going on with you?”

I rub my throbbing head for a solid minute while she waits for my response. What exactly is going on with me, she wants to know. I can only imagine her face if I gave her an honest answer.

“Not particularly,” I tell her while pulling out my phone to see if Robyn’s sent any more updates. Nothing since last night. I frown at the screen.

“So help me, God, I will have your phone cut the f*ck off if you don’t put that away and give me a straight damn answer.”

“Easy, Lantram. Damn,” Jase Wade calls out from behind her as he approaches. “This is a chill zone and I need to get in the right head space before going onstage. Give the kid a break, will you?”

She glares at the both of us before pointing a finger at me. “Get your shit together, Dallas Walker. I mean it. You are replaceable. Keep that in mind.”