Play for Keeps (The Devil's Share #6)(25)

He nodded. “Twelve weeks today.”

I started to smile, and was sure I looked as goofy as they did. “Oh my God, congrats, guys.” I put my arms around both of them. I was going to be a big brother. I was only kidding before. Never in a million years had I thought they wanted a baby. I knew it sounded stupid, but I was so damn happy. “Why didn’t you tell me? How are you feeling? Is it a boy?” I released them then sat back down on my bed.

My dad went back to his chair and pulled M Kat down onto his lap as he said, “We wanted to wait until you were home so we could tell you in person.”

She nodded. “Your dad wanted to call you right away, but I wanted you to be here, to be home. And it’s a girl, we just got the results in from our blood test yesterday.”

My smile grew. “It’s a girl.” I was going to have a tiny little baby sister. My heart swelled, which was entirely unexpected. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life helping you protect her from assholes like me.”

And an asshole I was. I wasn’t really what you could call a one-woman kind of man. I’d had starlets throwing themselves at me since I was thirteen.

And let me tell you, I partook.

A lot.

My dad’s face turned serious. “She’s not allowed out of this house until she’s thirty.”

“You two are going to be ridiculous. My poor daughter isn’t going to find a guy alive that you would approve of.” M Kat got to her feet. “Who’s hungry?”

“Me.” My dad stood up and guided her out of my room with his hand on her ass. Horn dog. “I’ll help.”

I followed them out. “Since when does Dad help in the kitchen?” This I had to see.

M Kat laughed. “He hinders more than he helps, but he’s learning.”

I spent the rest of the day hanging out with my dad and M Kat. We ate brunch and then lay out by the pool.

I missed the Texas heat. I knew that sounded insane, but I really did. New York had four seasons, which were beautiful, but I was used to two. Hot as hell and cold as fuck.

Why Texas when my dad was a totally top A-lister? He wanted to raise me away from Hollywood, which was about the only parenting skill he got right. I grew up near South Padre Island on a badass, fully functioning ranch.

Dad traveled a lot for work, and when he was on location somewhere cool, he’d bring me with. After seeing the biz from the inside, I never wanted to follow in his footsteps. Although I had plenty of offers to give it a shot, not to mention more than one modeling request.

But that just wasn’t who I was. I picked up a guitar on the set of some rock and roll bio pic when I was six, and I hadn’t put it down since.

I used a made-up last name and threw myself into my music. I wanted to get to the top on my own, not for who my parents were. And after thirteen years of playing, I finally got my big break. I’d signed with Riffraff Records, and they were the cream of the crop.

It was just me, my guitar, and my amp. That’s how I played live. I worked with different lyricists, but all the tunes came from my brain.

I was damn proud of where I was and of how I got there. I was a sexy twenty-year-old musician with money coming in and a trust fund the size of the thousand-acre ranch I grew up on.

Life was good.





Chapter Two





Mason





Before

“You guys are still planning on coming to my show, right?” I was dressed and about to head out the door. I’d been touring this year, mostly smaller venues. But this was the first time I was playing in my hometown as a paid artist.

As a kid, I’d been to more concerts on the pier than I could count. And now, I was the headliner. Not to sound too sentimental, but it was awesome.

“Of course we are. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.” M Kat was wearing short shorts and a tank top that showed lots of skin with a pair of expensive-looking cowboy boots. She looked hot.

“You’re going to get hit on all night, you know that, right?” I pointed at her legs that were on full display.

She lifted her tank. “You see this?” She rubbed her hand on her slightly protruding stomach. “This is your baby sister and she’s only going to get bigger. I’m going to wear what I want while I still can.”

“I like this new little accessory of yours. I can’t wait until you’re huge and ready to pop.” My dad walked into the room and covered her hand with his, kissing her neck sweetly.

I shook my head. “By huge, I’m sure he means beautifully pregnant with his child.”

“Of course that’s what I meant. Is that not how it came out?” He winced and looked between the two of us.

“I love having you home, Mase, you keep your father out of so much trouble.” M Kat stepped away from him and grabbed her purse off the entryway table. “Can we ride with you? I’d rather be backstage than in the crowd tonight.”

They’d been to dozens upon dozens of my shows, since before my big break and after. They were supportive as hell. My dad always had been, but until he met M Kat he was pretty much a workaholic.

“Of course, let’s rock and roll.”

Playing in my hometown with both my parents watching side stage, I couldn’t really think of a better way to spend my evening.