Tumble (Dogwood Lane #1)(82)

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

NEELY

You’re going to have to let go of me at some point.” I giggle as Dane tries to shut the door behind us without releasing my hand. “I swear I’m not going anywhere.”

“Oh, I know that. Trust me. I just spent more time than necessary in a cab in New York. I’m pretty sure that has you owing me for the rest of our lives.”

I’m glowing. I know it. If the light were on or if it weren’t already dark outside, I’d look at my reflection and laugh, I’m sure. I can feel the joy oozing from my pores. It’s weird, but it’s so wonderful.

Dane sweeps me into his arms and kisses my neck. “Welcome home.”

“Don’t say that yet,” I warn. “I need to talk to Mia.”

“Yeah. Like she’s gonna kick you out. She’s the one who made me come get you. And her too,” he says, nodding toward someone approaching us from the kitchen. “Hey, Haley.”

“Hi.” She gets closer and I can see her giant smile. “Hi, Neely. Welcome home.”

“Thanks. And thank you for insisting Dane come to New York. I was on my way back, but he made quite the scene in my office. I’m pretty sure we’re legends there now.”

“I wish I could’ve seen that,” Haley gushes.

“It was epic.”

“Now that you’re back and, I’m guessing, moving in here,” she says, “I want you to know I can give you my key.”

I look at Dane before glancing back at her. “Why would you do that?”

“Yeah, crazy lady,” Dane says. “Why are you giving us your key?”

“I said I would. I don’t know how Neely feels about some woman she doesn’t really know having a key to her house, and with all the energy we’ve put into getting you two back together, I’ll be damned if I cause any ripples.”

“Keep your key.” I laugh. “If for no other reason than so Dane can call you and you can come over and talk sense to him. I hear he listens to you.”

“Not enough or you wouldn’t have been in New York to start with.” She heads to the couch and picks up what looks like a giant pink bag. “I’m going back to my house now so you two can have some time alone. Well, with a child upstairs. On second thought, want me to take her with me?”

Dane finally releases my hand. I shake it to get some blood back in my fingers. “That’s really sweet of you,” I say, flexing my hand, “but I need to talk to her.”

She nods. “I think that’s an awesome idea.” She heads to the door. “I’ll just play the next few days by ear. If you guys need me, call. If not, enjoy your time together.”

“Thanks, Haley,” Dane says. He walks over to her and they share a few quiet words before he closes the door behind her. “You ready to go upstairs?”

“Can I ask you a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Can I talk to Mia alone? I know you might not trust me yet, but—”

“Really?” He laughs.

“Well, the last time we talked about it, you said you’d filter through what you wanted her to know, and I get that. She’s your child.”

He takes my hand again and leads me up the stairs. “The last time we talked about this, I was pretty pissed at you. You were basically breaking my heart, and I was in Daddy Mode.”

“I get that.”

We stop outside Mia’s door. Dane takes my hands and turns me to face him. There’s a serenity in his eyes that I’ve never seen before, but it’s a look I never want him to lose.

“I want us to go forward together,” he says. “As a family. The three of us—that is, until you let me knock you up.”

I swat his shoulder. “Don’t say that out here,” I whisper. “I need to go in there, and my ovaries are now screaming, ‘Open for business,’ and that’s going to be distracting.”

He growls, pressing a kiss to my neck. “Go talk to her. Say what you need to say . . . but hurry the hell up, okay? I need you.”

I kiss him lightly, not giving him much of an opening to work with. He narrows his eyes.

I open the door. Dane pokes his head inside, checking on Mia, and smiles. “She’s all yours,” he whispers to me, retreating across the hall.

Taking a long, deep breath, I go inside.

A night-light shines next to her pink-and-white desk. She’s lying on her side, her little lips puckered like an angel’s. She’s so precious, and my heart aches thinking I hurt her feelings.

I kneel at the side of her bed and brush her hair off her forehead. “Hey, Mia. Can you wake up for a minute?”

“No,” she mumbles, tucking her hands under her pillow.

“Mia.” I shake her gently on the shoulder. “It’s Neely. Can you wake up and talk to me for a minute?”

I barely get the words out before her eyes shoot open. “Neely!” she exclaims, sitting up. “Are you really here?”

“I am.”

She throws her arms around my neck. I hold her close, feeling her little back shake as she cries. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she says.

“Oh, girl. I’m so glad to be here too.”