Forever Rockers (7 page)

Lucy swallowed hard but put a small smile on her face. She was so strong. “Thanks, Aunt Emmie.” She reached for the door, still smiling, but I could see the tears in her eyes. “That’s something I’ll really have to think about.”

I watched from the back seat as she walked toward her house. Roger didn’t dare move until she was safely inside. Damn it, I hated that she
had
to be so strong, that her innocence to the evils of the world had been stripped away. It wasn’t fair, but I of all people knew just how unfair the world really was.

Roger cleared his throat and my head snapped up, only then remembering his presence. Realizing that he’d driven the two hundred yards or so to my own house, I grimaced. I needed to pay better attention to my surroundings. He stood with my door open, waiting patiently for me to move. Shaking away my thoughts, I climbed out. “Is it time to pick up Mia?”

Roger shook his head. “No, Mrs. Armstrong.”

I grimaced again, wishing that Mia could just be homeschooled, but that would only make my life that more chaotic. Not that stressing over her being gone most of the day was making it any easier.

“But I’ll head over and be the first in the pick-up line if you don’t need me.”

Some of my tension at the thought of Mia and her safety dissolved and I was able to find a smile for the bodyguard Charles Seller had been so good to find for me. “Thanks, Roger. I’d appreciate that.”

The giant inclined his head, the barest traces of a smile on his face. “That’s what I’m here for.” I nodded and hurried inside knowing he would wait until I was inside before getting back into the Escalade.

As soon as the front door shut behind me, I could hear Nik with Jagger and I followed the sound of them playing. They were in the living room, both of them lying on their stomachs on the carpeted floor. Matching sets of ice-blue eyes gazed up at the flat screen as Ohio State football players took the field.

“That’s the quarterback, son. You need to remember what he looks like if nothing else,” Nik explained to Jagger as he stared wide-eyed up at the television. “Stop drooling, dude. The cheerleaders aren’t
that
important.”

All the stress of the day seemed to evaporate—for the moment at least—as I stood there watching them, trying hard and failing not to laugh as my baby boy kicked his legs and grunted happily at the mention of cheerleaders. Damn, he was going to be just like his father when he got older. A small giggle left me and Nik’s head snapped around.

Like our son’s had at the mention of cheerleaders, Nik’s eyes widened and he jumped to his feet. “Watching an old game with the boy,” he muttered as he dropped his head and brushed his lips over mine in a kiss that was soft and over way too quickly, but still had my heart jumping and my legs going soft as Jell-O.

Instinctively my hands gripped his shirt, using him as my anchor. “Teaching him the important parts of the game, I see.”

Ice-blue eyes twinkled down at me. “Of course. Notice, I did try to tell him that the cheerleaders aren’t important.”

I smirked up at him. “I believe you said they weren’t
that important
. There is a difference, but I guess in guy speak it’s the same thing.”

He chuckled. “See, you’re learning. I knew you would.” He kissed me again, this time deeper, slower. My fingers tightened on his shirt as my thighs clenched in an attempt to ease the ache between my legs. “Missed you,” he breathed at my ear when he could bring himself to lift his head.

“Missed you more.”

“Ma-ma-ma.”

I glanced down at the sound of Jagger’s voice to find him crawling toward me. Once he got close enough, he got a little unsteadily to his feet and walked the last two feet over to me, his chubby little arms lifted in my direction. Heart melting, I dropped down to lift him into my arms, kissing his cheek. “I missed you too, Jags.”

“Dude, she loves us both. You don’t have to hog the lovings.” Nik brushed another kiss over my lips, making Jagger grunt angrily at his father. He was definitely his father’s son in more than just looks, and I loved it.

When Nik lifted his head Jagger glared at him, as if saying ‘she loves me more’.

I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing while Nik moved to get the remote to the television and turned it off. “Guess there’s no use in trying to teach him the rules of football when he’s gonna be a damn momma’s boy for the next few hours.”

“He’s not a momma’s boy. He just adores his mother. Nothing wrong with that.” I gave Jagger a little squeeze, one more kiss on his cheek, and then set him on his feet. “What would you like for dinner?”

“Gail left some stew simmering on the stove and she made some Mexican cornbread to go with it,” Nik assured me as he dropped down onto the couch and I followed suit, snuggling closer. These days I always felt like I couldn’t get close enough to him, and even when I did my chest ached more than a little because it didn’t feel like it was enough, but I refused to think about it right then. Examining how needy I’d become in recent months wouldn’t get me anywhere but depressed and pissed.

Our housekeeper was becoming my new favorite person. I honestly hadn’t wanted to cook that night. When Felicity had worked for us she’d taken care of Jagger and Mia plus she’d made dinner for us every night—something I hadn’t asked of her and never expected—but she still did it anyway. That girl had been our saving grace.

My heart clenched, still feeling the loss of my children’s nanny and the woman who had become one of my closest friends. But Felicity was happier where she was, and I would never begrudge her that. That fucking biker had better not break her heart again, though, or I would show him exactly how many connections I had made over the years.

C
HAPTER
T
HREE

Shane

I could hear the baby crying when I pulled into the driveway. Shaking my head, I pocketed my keys and headed for the front door of Drake and Lana’s new beach house. I knew Lana had loved the condo the two had lived in up until last May, but with a second baby there hadn’t been any extra room for them all in the condo. This house, just a mile from my own house, was plenty big enough with seven bedrooms and a guest house that Drake and Nik were contemplating turning into a recording studio so we could work on our new album.

I wasn’t sure if turning my brother’s guest house into the recording studio was wise though. For one, I didn’t think Lana would appreciate us over all the time to jam, for another I was hoping to put a proposition out to the guys and Emmie about getting a floor or two in the same office building she was currently looking at and possibly starting our own label.

That wasn’t the reason for my visit today, however. I’d come in aide of my big brother’s text for help. It wasn’t every day that Drake sought out my help when it came to the kids. Layla was normally his first call, but with Jesse and Layla still at odds over having their own baby, I knew that Drake was reluctant to put any more stress on Layla. Emmie was the second choice, but she was out ruling the music world and Nik definitely had enough on his plate.

I was happy to help my brother out. I adored Neveah and always got a sharp kick in the chest when I got to hold baby Arella Faith, my newest little niece—who looked so much like her mother I pitied my brother when she got to her teen years.

Instead of knocking I used my keys to open the front door and followed the sound of the baby wailing to find Drake. They were in the downstairs playroom, which was really supposed to have been an office, but was quickly turning into a toddler’s dream playground with all the plastic toys set up in it.

There was a log cabin in one corner that Neveah had turned into her secret hideout, or so she called it. A tiny plastic slide with only two steps to climb to reach the top, a lawn mower that was supposed to blow bubbles when you pushed it, but Lana had put her foot down when the carpet and walls had started getting sticky with all the bubbles that father and daughter had been making in the room. A small table with four matching chairs was by the window where it looked like Neveah had been playing tea party with her favorite dolls earlier.

Along with all the tot toys there were also some baby-friendly ones as well. A swing that I’d quickly learned in the last few days was Arella’s favorite. A small, colorful activity set that had a blanket for the baby to lay on with teddy bears dressed as rockers hanging from the thing that sang different lullabies when Arella swatted or tugged on them. A bookshelf took up one wall with all of Neveah’s favorite books. From princesses to first word books that had pictures of the words that Neveah got a kick out of reading to me and anyone else who was willing to listen.

At the moment Drake was sitting in the rocking chair close to the little log cabin where Neveah was playing with all her stuffed animals, reading them one of her favorite first words book. In my brother’s arms was a screaming baby who refused to take the bottle that her father was coaxing her to take.

“What’s up?” I asked quietly as I stepped farther into the room.

“Hi, Un-ca Shane!” Neveah called from her log cabin.

“Hi, princess.”

Drake got carefully to his feet. “She’s has colic, or so that stupid doctor said when Angel took her in this morning. We were up all night with her, walking the floors and singing to her, but nothing seems to be working. Angel is exhausted and still feeling the effects of the delivery. She’s anemic again.”

The strain on my brother’s face cut like a knife to my chest and I crossed the room to take my screaming baby niece out of his arms. “Let me take her, bro. You look exhausted yourself. Go take a nap with Lana. I got this.”

Blue-gray eyes the same shade as my own looked toward the ceiling as if he could see his wife through the floor. Lana had suffered from anemia after Neveah’s birth too. It had taken her months to recover and get back to her normal self. Drake had done his best, keeping the baby happy while his wife rested as much as he could make her. Neveah had been an easy baby, though. Arella, not so much.

Drake turned his eyes back to me, his gaze lingering on his angry baby girl. “You sure?”

“I’m sure, bro. I got this.” I readjusted Arella on my shoulder and took the bottle from him. “Go get some sleep. What do you feel like having for dinner? I’ll order in. I’m sure Lana doesn’t want to cook.”

His gaze went to his oldest daughter who was back to reading to her stuffed animals once again. “Whatever you can get Nevi to eat.”

“Gotcha.” I nodded and, when it looked like Drake wasn’t going to leave, pushed at his shoulder. “Go. Cuddle with Lana, and sleep. You look like a walking corpse.”

“I feel like one,” he grumbled as he finally left the room.

Once he was gone I went over to the door to the playroom and shut it to offer the tired parents a little more peace. Arella still screamed and wiggled in my arms so I returned to the rocker where Drake had been sitting and carefully sat. Turning the little angel in my arms, I adjusted the blanket around her and offered her the bottle of what I could only assume was breast milk since that was what they had given Neveah when she was that age.

Arella turned and twisted her head, trying to get away from the bottle. Shrugging, I placed the bottle on the small table beside the chair and lifted her back to my shoulder. I rubbed her back for a few minutes, but that didn’t seem to calm her any. Remembering when Mia had been colicky, I kept one hand on my niece’s back and started patting her on her bottom. Mia had always liked that and would calm down after a few minutes of it, but stop and she would be back to screaming the house down.

I patted and patted. Arella’s cries slowly started to fade until she was only making little shuddering hiccup noises. I didn’t stop patting and with the next little hiccup was rewarded with a burp that would have done her father proud. Grinning, I brushed a kiss over the back of Arella’s sweet-smelling head and started rocking, never once stopping the patting to her little bottom.

Eventually, the baby tired herself out and fell asleep. I didn’t dare stop the patting though.

Neveah got tired of reading to her bears after an hour or so and asked if I would play tea party with her. If I hadn’t had her baby sister in my arms, I would have gladly sat at her table with her dolls and let her dress me up like a fairy princess or any other character her heart desired, but I couldn’t risk putting Arella down just yet. The tiny little thing needed her sleep and the house was actually quiet for the moment.

“How about I order you some dinner, precious?” I offered instead.

Her blue-gray eyes brightened and she offered me her sweet smile. “Mac and cheese?”

“If that’s what you want, baby doll.” I lifted my phone and clicked the app for the restaurant up the road from my own house. Thank gods for that damn app. I didn’t want to talk too much and wake the baby.

I ordered a ton of food and then shot a text to Harper to let her know I was going to be at Drake’s house most of the evening.

K, babe. Working late anyway. Love you.

I grimaced at her return text. She was working late again. I knew she had work to catch up on, but she didn’t need to be stressed with long hours at work. Gritting my teeth to keep myself from calling her and asking her to just come home at her normal time, I sent her a text that told her I loved her too and put the phone back on the little table where the still-full bottle of breast milk continued to sit.

By the time the food arrived, I had to chance putting Arella down. Carefully I placed her on the little activity set’s blanket and covered her with a pink receiving blanket. Taking Neveah’s hand, we got to the door before the delivery guy could ring the bell. I gave the cash to Neveah to hand to the teenager because she liked feeling like a big girl, and took the box of food from him.

I had the baby monitor in my back pocket so I could listen for the baby, even though I knew I would probably hear her without it the instant she woke up. With Neveah right behind me, we went into the kitchen and I put a plate together of mac and cheese and organic chicken nuggets. Lana would have beat my ass if they hadn’t been organic. A sippy cup of apple juice to drink completed her meal and I finally made myself a plate of mashed potatoes, green beans, some of the mac and cheese that I’d ordered for Neveah, along with two pieces of fried chicken. I wasn’t sure if Lana would appreciate the food I’d ordered, but I knew Drake sure as hell would.