Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 13338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
Even if he cut back on touring, he’d still have to do the occasional set of concerts that would involve travel. But the days of long international and entire US trips were over because he’d prefer to be home. He’d rather see what the guys in the band wanted to do, maybe collaborate with other artists, write songs… There was a lot they could do.
He glanced at Cass. She’d curled up in her seat, a pillow between her face and the wall, her legs extended on the reclining seat. Across from them, Axel snored, causing Dash to choke back a laugh.
Kids, he thought, mulling over the prospect. Of course, if she was pregnant and wanted to keep the baby, end of discussion. If she didn’t? His stomach knotted. The idea of not having their kid hurt like hell. He had sisters. One who’d been alone, scared, and pregnant until Linc had found her. If she’d had their support and money, maybe she’d have made a different decision. And he wouldn’t have wanted anyone pressuring Jade into something she wasn’t ready for. Dash was a firm believer in her body, her choice. But the possibility for him and Cass? He didn’t want to think about it.
Well, he had his answer, knew how he felt. Now he had to pray Cassidy wanted the same thing.
* * *
Cassidy hugged her brother, and he nodded at Dash and exited the limousine that had driven them home to the Hamptons from Teterboro Airport. He had one suitcase. The rest would be delivered during the week. Grabbing the handle, he headed inside.
Dash squeezed her hand and she squeezed back. The flight had been a weird replay of their current dynamic. She’d fallen asleep not long after takeoff, and when she woke up, they ate and the three of them talked about Peyton and how they hoped everything would work out for her. Cassidy knew she’d keep in touch with her because she was worried and the young girl seemed to need a friend. Then Dash fell asleep and Axel watched a movie with noise-canceling headphones on, leaving Cassidy to her own thoughts.
Once again, she and Dash were on opposite schedules. Even when in each other’s presence. Not that it would have mattered. With Axel on board, they couldn’t talk about anything personal and private. Which left her alone with her thoughts. She placed her hand on her belly and knew she couldn’t put off the conversation once they were alone. Finally, late in the afternoon, they strode into their Hamptons home together.
Dash dropped his bags where he stood, disabled the beeping alarm, and locked up behind them. “About fucking time,” he muttered, turning to face her. “Those cross-country flights are a killer.”
“You are so right,” she said as she kicked off her shoes.
He did the same. “Know what I want to do?” He met her gaze, a sexy grin lifting his lips.
“What?”
“I want to lie in my bed with my wife.” He took three steps toward her, bent, picked her up, and carried her into their bedroom. With more care than he’d ever used before, he laid her on their California-king-size mattress that had felt like the entire width of the United States while he was gone.
As if he’d read her mind, he reached out and pulled her into his arms. With her head on his shoulder, they lay in comfortable silence, and she let him absorb the feel of being back home, in his safe place. In their space, while she savored the feel of his strong arms, the scent of the hotel soap and shampoo that barely lingered, she let out a satisfied, happy sigh.
But soon the thoughts that had been swirling inside her since the hotel room wouldn’t be contained. “Is it bad that I’m not sorry?” she blurted out. “About the broken condom, I mean.”
During his absence, she hadn’t thought about the future. Not at first. But in the two weeks since he’d surprised her in New York, she grew more certain she wanted more together than they currently shared.
He propped himself up and she did the same. They sat facing each other and he stared at her, his expression serious. “You’re ready for kids?” He reached out and curled her hair around his finger, his calm demeanor telling. He’d had the entire flight to work himself up to tell her he didn’t want a family, but he wasn’t frazzled or freaked out, and she breathed more easily.
“I can’t say I’d thought about kids in any real way before this happened,” she said honestly. “All I know is that I missed you. Like there was a hole in my chest when we couldn’t talk or touch base. I don’t want to take you away from your career but I want more. I wouldn’t have known what that is… until the condom broke.”