Captive Films: Season One (29 page)

“I loved the pictures, Daddy. Hey, who is that? She’s pretty.”

I look up and see Vanessa.
 

And she looks pissed. Hand on her hip. Lips pursed. And even though she has sunglasses on, I can feel the daggers coming from her eyes.

“Why don’t you go play some more. I need to go talk to her.”

“Okay, Daddy!” she yells, running off.

Keatyn & Aiden’s home - Asher Vineyards, Sonoma County

VANESSA

I watch Dawson cheer on an adorable little dark haired girl, who kicks a soccer ball into a goal. She runs straight to him and leaps into his arms. He gives her a kiss on the cheek and they have an animated conversation.
 

Soon, another beautiful girl, taller and older, sits down next to him. They seem to be having a more serious conversation, and I’m mesmerized by the way he looks.
 

You can feel his love for his daughters all the way across the soccer field.
 

I’ve been pissed the entire trip here, but seeing him with the girls—who look just like him—softens me. I can tell he’s a good father.

He gets up and walks toward me.
 

“Can we go somewhere and talk?” he asks. “Please.”

“I suppose,” I say, irritated that he wants me away from his kids.

He takes my hand and leads me to a Gator. I sit down and he drives us up the hill. If I weren’t so pissed, I’d be enjoying the scenery.

As soon as he stops, I tear into him.
 

“Why didn’t you tell me you have children? After all that we’ve shared these past few days. I opened up and told you things I haven’t told anyone else! Is that why you didn’t invite me to come with you?”

“Vanessa, calm down,” he says.
 

Which I hate.
 

I don’t fucking want to be calm right now. I can’t be calm right now.
 

“I was going to tell you the other night,” he says, softly. “But then you told me about your miscarriage and how you can’t have children. I could tell how devastating that was for you. It just seemed like a really bad time to tell you about my girls. Like I was throwing it in your face.”

“You had plenty of other chances.”

“I wasn’t keeping it from you. It’s just . . .”

“It’s just what?!”

“Well, first of all, you told me you had plans with your dad all weekend.”

“And what else?”

He runs his hand through his hair and sighs. “I’ve been nothing but a dad for the last two years. The last few days, you’ve made me feel like a man. And, honestly, I was afraid to tell you.”

“Why?”

“I overheard my aunt telling my mom that I’d probably never find someone because of my—and I quote—
baggage
. I know you want children. We haven’t been together long enough to talk about if you only wanted yours, or if you could open up your heart to someone else’s. I’m a package deal, Vanessa. And I don’t even know if you are interested in
me
long-term, let alone the rest of the package.”

“Why wouldn’t I be interested in you?”

“Riley told me that since Bam, you haven’t wanted a relationship. I don’t know if I’m just a notch in your belt or if there could be more, and I’ve been in California for all of five days.”

My heart sinks.
 

And I hate the feeling.
 

I feel desperate. I know it’s only been a few days, but I want more. I want everything with him. My heart wants it all, but my head thinks I must be crazy.
 

“Do you want more?” I say quietly, half hoping he won’t hear me.

“I want to get to know you better. It’s important I do. I need to be careful about who I bring into my children’s lives.” He stops and looks into my eyes. “And I know it sounds crazy because, on one hand, it feels so fast, but the answer is yes, because, on the other hand, it feels like it’s been a long time coming.”

Tears flood my eyes.

I don’t want to cry, but I do.

“Why are you crying?”

“Because it feels like it’s been a long time coming for me too.”

He wraps an arm around my waist, pulls me close, and gives me an epic kiss. A kiss so full of emotion, it sends the tears streaming down my face.
 

He looks at me and chuckles. “That kiss was way too good for you to be crying.”

“I’m just happy,” I say, turning into a pile of mush around him.
 

“I have to admit, the other night when I wished that you would find big love, happiness, and children, I was hoping you’d find those things with me. Because if you got all your wishes, I’d get mine too.”

His admission takes my breath away.
 

And I can’t stop crying.
 

What is with all the crying?

“Would you like to meet my girls? Can you stay for dinner? Stay the night?” he asks.

Stay for the rest of my life
is what I wish he’d say.

I give him another kiss because he’s so damn sweet.
 

“I’d love to meet them. And I most definitely can stay.”

Driving to Sonoma

RILEY

I apologized to Jennifer for being an ass in Vegas.
 

I try not to be a jerk, but on the rare occasion I am, I usually make it up to the girl with sex. But since I’m stranded on second base with Jennifer, that wasn’t really an option.
 

I try not to think about the last time I felt stranded on second base, way back in high school when I was dating Ariela.
 

Jennifer makes me feel like I’m an awkward teen, who isn’t completely sure what to do. But she makes me feel alive in ways I haven’t felt in a long time.
 

And that makes it worth it.
 

I’ve fucked a lot of women, but none of them made me feel anything in my heart.

When Jennifer cried in Vegas, I felt it in my heart.
 

I hurt her.
 

And it didn’t feel good.

I knew how I could make it up to her. Instead of flowers and an apology, I showed up at her house unannounced, handed her my keys, and told her she could drive my car. I said the Hamptons were a little far, but we could go up to Keatyn and Aiden’s house in Sonoma County. Dallas had mentioned that I should join them earlier this week. And if we timed it right, we’d be there for one of Marvel’s wonderful dinners.

Jennifer jumped into the air, threw her arms around my neck, and kissed me.

Making things feel right again.
 

“Shit,” she yells, hitting the brake as the radar detector goes off and we fly by a highway patrol car.

“How fast were you going?” I ask her.

“A hundred and thirty. Shit. Shit. Shit. Look behind us. Is he coming after us?”

“We’re almost to their house. Speed up.”

She turns and looks at me. “Are you freaking nuts?”

“It’s not like he can catch you if you speed up.”

“No, but he can call ahead to all his patrolman friends. Then I’m fucked.”

“It’s about two miles. He can’t get any one here that fast. And he sure as shit can’t catch you.”

She beams at me as she drops the pedal. “If you’re wrong, you’re bailing me out of jail.”

“Deal,” I say.
 

“Shit! One fifty! This is nuts!”

“The road splits up ahead, get ready. You’re gonna go to the right. Nice easy curve. Slow it down. You’re doing awesome. Only about another half mile.”

She slows down to ninety.
 

“Okay, see that street light up ahead? Turn left there.”

She brakes hard and makes the corner.
 

“Okay, now I need you to go really slow. Dallas’ kids are here and they may be running around playing Ghost in the Graveyard.”

“Oh, I used to play that with my friends! Was Keatyn excited we are coming?”

“I didn’t tell her. She loves surprises.”

After we park in the driveway, Jennifer pulls me into a kiss.
 

A good kiss with lots of tongue.
 

“That was so much fun, Riley! And, for the record, I forgive you.”

“I was going to bring you flowers, but I thought you’d like this better.”

“You already know me so well. Will we have a place to stay?”

“Yeah, but we’ll probably have to share a bedroom.”

She gives me a wicked smile. “I’d like to share more than that tonight, Riley.”

“Really? Hell, I should have let you drive my car sooner.”

“You’re bad, Riley Johnson,” she says, playfully slapping my arm.

Knowing it’s going down tonight, I flirt, “You have no idea just how bad I can be.”

Saturday, October 4th

Keatyn & Aiden’s home - Asher Vineyards, Sonoma County

KEATYN

The front door bursts open and Riley and Jennifer bound into the dining room, causing all of us to stop our conversation.

“What's up?” Riley says. “We were in the neighborhood. Thought we’d stop by.”

“Riley let me drive his car up here and, ohmigawd, I was freaking out,” Jennifer says animatedly. “I cruised by this cop doing well over a hundred. Riley’s radar detector blared and I hit the brakes. I figured he was turning around and coming after me. But Riley told me to go faster! That there was no freaking way he could catch us! And I did! And he didn't! And, yay! We're here!”

I stand up, being polite, wondering how in the hell this is going to work out. I purposely didn’t invite Riley because Ariela would be here. “That sounds like quite the exciting trip,” I say to Jennifer, giving her a quick hug. “We’re so glad you joined us. Let me introduce you to everyone.” I turn back toward the table. “Everyone, I’m sure you all recognize Jennifer Edwards. She and Knox are going to be working together in a Captive Films project.”
 

Jennifer sees Knox and waves excitedly at him.
 

“Jennifer,” I continue, pointing around the table. “This is my fiancé, Aiden Arrington. This is Logan and Maggie Pedersen, they’re our friends from school and run the vineyard. These are my grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa Douglas.”

“You're on the Captive Films board of directors, aren't you?” Jennifer asks Grandpa.

“Well, yes, I am,” Grandpa says, standing up to shake her hand.
 

“I did some research on the company,” Jennifer says with a grin.
 

“And this is Dawson Johnson, Riley's brother and Captive’s newest executive. He’ll be working closely with the lovely lady to his right, Vanessa Flanning, on the campaigns for
Daddy’s Angel
. And you already know Dallas McMahon.”

“I was probably your easiest actress,” Jennifer says, then covers her mouth. “Whoops, sorry, that didn't sound right. I mean, I was a breeze to negotiate with.”

“Yes, you were,” Dallas replies. “It’s good to see you again.”

“And this is Ariela Ross. She’s, um, planning our upcoming wedding.” Jennifer’s look falters when she hears Ariela’s name, making me wonder if she knows about her.
 

Knowing that Jennifer doesn’t have a filter, I quickly follow the introduction with, “And, of course, you know Knox.”

“So, did we miss dinner or time it just right?” Riley asks without skipping a beat and completely ignoring the fact that Ariela is here.

“You are just in time,” Marvel says, bringing two more chairs to the table. “I will set more places.”

“Jennifer,” I say. “Would you do me a big favor? All the kids are in the kitchen, and I know they'd love to meet you.”

“Of course,” she says, but when we get into the kitchen, she grabs my arm. “Holy shit, is that
the
Ariela? The girl who broke Riley's heart like a decade ago?”
 

“Uh, yeah,” I say.