Everything Page 15

  “What’s he got to be afraid of?” I spat.

  “I don’t think he’s afraid for him, he’s afraid for you. He busted his ass making sure you got every opportunity you could. He knew how much you wanted that stage, and he was going to do everything in his power to make it happen.”

  “But then I kept the baby.”

  “He loves Angel, though.”

  “I know, but...” I held my breath for a beat, not wanting to ask a question that had been flickering in the back of my mind since the day I’d seen that line turn blue on my pregnancy test. “Do you think he worries I’m going to turn into my mother?”

  “You’re not your mother,” Ella whispered fiercely, but we both knew that wasn’t the total truth. I was so like my mother it wasn’t even funny. Same big blue eyes, same blonde hair, same singing voice, same hopes, same dreams! The list was endless...and terrifying.

  I swallowed, my jaw working to the side as images of Dad’s heartbreak filtered through me.

  “You don’t have to be like her,” Ella murmured. “You’re stronger than her, and you love Leo. I don’t know if your mom ever really loved your dad. It’s different for you, right?”

  I nodded, running my fingers into my hair and trying to believe her. It was different. I did love Leo, like seriously loved him, and... “Leo loves me.”

  Ella jerked, popping up onto her elbow and flicking my arm out of the way. “He told you that?”

  Her dancing smile made me grin.

  I nodded. “Pretty much, after we made...”

  Ella gasped, her lips parting with glee. “When? Where? Tell me everything!” she squealed.

  My face scrunched. I could feel my cheeks burning as I admitted, “On the kitchen counter and then the floor. It was...” I sighed. “Ella, it was amazing, like nothing compared to...you know...and he was pretty good.”

  “Oh my gosh!” Ella threw her head back. “You little vixen, the kitchen counter!”

  I slapped my hand over her loud exclamation.

  “Sorry.” Her giggling reply was muffled.

  “Anyway, apparently the night I got totally wasted at Sean’s party, I came home and blurted that I loved him, and he said he felt the same way.”

  “Awww.” Ella pulled my hand off her mouth. “That is so sweet...and he’s so good with Angel.”

  “I know.” I smiled, my heart feeling like Play-Doh.

  “I’m happy for you, Jo-Jo. You deserve it.”

  My smile grew tight and eventually faded with my sigh. “Why can’t my dad say that?”

  Ella shrugged, her expression full of sorrow. “Maybe one day he will.”

  I shook my head, gazing back up at the ceiling. I couldn’t imagine it.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Leo

  Marshall barely said two words to me while he was here, and the look he threw me as he was leaving was pretty black, too. I felt bad for him, actually. Jody had ripped him a new one, that’s for sure. It was so out of character for her that it made me think there must have been a heck of a lot more going on under the surface, stuff I had yet to learn.

  Jody never really spoke much about her father, and now I knew why.

  I finished sweeping the floor and popped the broom down the edge of the fridge where Jody kept it. Wiping my hands on my backside, I turned to see her walk into the room. She’d exchanged her skinny jeans for her PJ bottoms and was looking adorable as per usual.

  “Angel asleep?”

  “Yeah.” Jody nodded, rubbing her forehead and giving me a sad smile.

  “Come ‘ere, foxy.” I pulled her against me, kissing her head and leaning my cheek against her hair.

  “I’m sorry about today. I should have kept my damn mouth shut.”

  I rubbed her back. “Hey, you obviously needed to get it off your chest.”

  “But not in front of everybody!” Her voice was muffled against my shirt.

  I squeezed her back and led her over to the couch. Plopping onto it, I pulled her into my lap and snuggled her against me.

  “What happened with your dad?”

  “We used to be so close, but then I...” Jody sucked in a ragged breath. “My mom left when I was ten. She moved to Vegas to pursue her dreams of becoming a singer, said she’d given everything she could and...” Her blonde curls tussled against my shoulder as she shook her head. I could feel the pain rippling off her. “She couldn’t take it anymore. It kind of threw our house into turmoil. Morgan kept us all together with her practicality and strength.”

  I hummed the chorus from “Titanium,” unable to help myself.

  Jody grinned. “Nailed it.”

  I chuckled, tucking a curl behind her ear so I could see her face better.

  “I think Dad always blamed himself. They got pregnant unexpectedly with Morgan, and when she was born he proposed and she’s impulsive, like me. She said yes and locked herself into a life she never wanted.” Jody’s forehead crinkled. “I think when I got into theater in high school it was a redeeming chance for Dad. He’d denied his wife everything she wanted, and he wasn’t going to let that happen to his little ray of sunshine.” A tear slipped down her cheek and her lips wobbled. “That’s what he always used to call me, and he hasn’t said it once since I told him I was pregnant.”

  I used my thumb to wipe away her tears.

  She sniffed and gave me a shaky smile. “I think he feels like I sold myself short by keeping Angel, and even though he loves her, he can’t get past the fact that I’ve given up my dreams...just like Mom did.” Jody shrugged. “He’s afraid that in ten years’ time I’m going to abandon my daughter.”

  “Hey, you’re not gonna do that.”

  “What if I do?” Jody’s blue eyes filled with fear.

  I held her face in my hands, making sure her eyes were locked on mine. “You won’t.”

  She swallowed.

  Brushing my lips across hers, I tried to wipe away the look of tension marring her pretty features.

  It didn’t really work; her fears were still there. I couldn’t help feeling like maybe they’d been buried deep all this time, and her snap earlier in the day had unlocked a dusty box of emotions hidden in her psyche.

  “I still crave the stage, Leo. What if it overwhelms me one day? What if I can’t be a mom anymore?”

  “You can have both, Jo.”

  She blinked, looking unconvinced.

  I smiled at her. She was so cute. “You had it the other day, singing in the studio. We can make that happen for us. I’ll write, you sing. We’re the perfect pair, foxy.”

  Her grin was delicious. I kissed it. It was impossible not to.

  She shuffled around on my knee so we were facing each other, her legs either side of mine. Her fingers ran through my hair, her gaze drizzling over me like sweet honey.

  “Why do you keep calling me foxy?”

  A grin teased my lips as I traced one of the orange cartoon foxes on her pants. “It’s these blimin’ PJs.”

  “My pajamas?”

  “Yeah,” I breathed. “You’re like a little sex nugget in these things. If I had my way you’d wear them all the time, just so I could keep taking them off you.” I gently tugged at the tie holding her pants in place.

  She giggled, her warm breath kissing my skin. “You like my foxes.”

  “I like my foxy lady in these foxes.”

  The expression in her eyes grew warm and soft. “Your foxy lady,” she whispered. “I never thought I’d get so lucky.”

  My lips rose at the edges.

  “When you told me you’d been divorced, I figured you wouldn’t be interested in another relationship, but here you are, sitting underneath me, talking like we have a future.”

  I pulled in a sigh, not wanting my answer to be flippant. “It’s different this time around. Gerry and I left each other because it was wrong from the start.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “She never looked at me the way you do.” My eyes searched hers, my heart expan
ding in my chest. “I never wanted her like I want you.”

  “How did you get together then?”

  I shrugged, giving Jody a sad smile. “I liked her, it was an instant attraction and everyone thought we were this perfect couple. We got caught up in the moment. When you’ve got every person you know asking you when you’re gonna get married, it’s hard to not believe it’s the right thing to do. She never stopped to think past the wedding, and I never stopped to think past the honeymoon.”

  Jody’s expression crumpled. “It’s so easy to make mistakes, isn’t it? Life-changing ones that you can’t take back.”

  I ran my fingers into her hair and cupped the back of her head. “Life-changing ones that can lead to better things.” I pulled her toward me, gently kissing her.

  “Would you take it back?” she whispered. “If you could have those years over again.”

  I brushed my lips against her cheek, smelling her sweet scent before shaking my head. “I never would have come here if I hadn’t been trying to get away. That crisis sparked something inside of me. It gave me the courage to break free and now I’m here, sitting underneath you and talking like we have a future.” I grinned.

  Her cheeks rose against my lips and I closed my eyes, feeling her smile.

  “So, you don’t mind having a future with a single mother who totally ruined her daughter’s first birthday party?”

  I licked my bottom lip, my smile growing. “I don’t mind having a future with a girl who makes me smile every time I think about her. One who laughs at my jokes and my pig shit expressions.”

  Jody giggled against me and then sat back with a gasp.

  “Smile!” She grinned, jumping off my lap, her pants nearly running down to her ankles. Much to my disappointment, she quickly retied them as she walked to the bookshelf. “I heard this song the other day, and I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to play it to you...which this just happens to be.” She picked up her phone and checked the volume on the speaker beside it before pressing play.

  “Smile” by Sheppard started up.

  Jody spun to face me, her white teething flashing me a jaw-dropping smile before she winked and dipped her hip, singing softly as she swayed toward me. I tried to reach for her, but she nipped out of range, jumping onto the coffee table and doing a little dance.

  Her voice blended with the main singer beautifully. The sound was magic, as was the body swaying before me. It only got better when my little minx gave me a playful grin and slowly took off her shirt.

  My pants grew tight instantly, my body wanting to lurch straight off the couch.

  Jody wagged a finger at me, making me stay put as she unclasped her bra and threw it at me. I caught it but was too distracted by Jody’s fingers as they flirted with the drawstring of her foxy pants. I threw her pink bra over my shoulder, saliva filling my mouth as my gaze lingered on her perfect breasts then started travelling down her body. Jody’s grin was wicked. She did a slow spin, dropping her butt right in my face before standing up again and jumping out of my grasp. Her pants were still tied up tight, and my leg began to bob in anticipation.

  Jody’s tongue skimmed her lower lip, her fingers finally tugging at that string. The foxes folded together as the pants dropped to her ankles, and Jody stood before me in all her naked beauty. Raising her arms above her head, she kept swinging and swaying, her voice taking on a sexy timbre as the lyrics shifted. Her eyes hit mine when the song started talking about getting under the sheets, and I couldn’t take it anymore.

  Jumping up, I grabbed her against me, swinging her over my shoulder with a growl and carrying her down to the bedroom. Her melodic laughter followed in our wake and didn’t cease until I dropped her onto the bed.

  Her smile was sunshine and her lips were heaven as the clothes were yanked off my body and we quickly got lost beneath the sheets.

  Chapter Thirty

  Jody

  I could hear Angel crying, but couldn’t move my butt out of bed. My body felt as useful as a plate of Jell-O. My limbs were elastic after a night of lovemaking with the oh-so-talented Leo Sinclair.

  An instant grin stretched across my lips.

  He was something else. I had tried to lie next to his naked body and sleep, I swear, I really had, but the sparking inferno inside me would have none of it. A loved-up high had carried me through the night, and I couldn’t believe I had to face a day and actually get dressed and live like a normal person.

  With a groan, I forced myself up, scrambling for a shirt on the floor.

  Angel’s crying stopped.

  I paused, frowning as I slid the tank top over my head. She never stopped like that. If anything, her cries grew to an all-out wail until I poked my head in the door and reminded her that Mommy hadn’t abandoned her.

  Jerking a look over my shoulder, I noticed the left side of the bed was empty.

  He hadn’t...had he?

  “Good morning, Mummy,” Leo sing-songed as he walked into the room with my contented one-year-old nestled in his arms.

  They both stood at the edge of the bed grinning down at me, and I thought my heart was going to melt. The breath was sucked out of my lungs as Leo pressed his lips to Angel’s forehead before flying her toward my arms.

  “I’ll go make a bottle.” He kissed my cheek and left for the kitchen.

  Angel snuggled her head against my chest, her fuzzy hair tickling my chin. I was struggling to find words. Not only had the hottest Australian I’d ever met spent the night in my bed, he’d also gotten my baby girl up—I patted Angel’s diaper—changed her and was off making her morning bottle. Had I fallen into the Twilight Zone? Was I still dreaming?

  “Da-ba-dah.” Angel rubbed her nose against my chest, her soft little fingers wrapping around my curls.

  “Did you like Leo getting you up this morning?”

  “Bah-bah.”

  “I kind of liked it.” I kissed her fuzz, unable to fight my grin. “Do you think I should let him sleep over again?”

  The idea was thrilling and comforting all in the same moment. I wanted to pinch myself. I’d screwed up, made a life-changing decision that I thought would land me in no-love-city for the rest of my life, but it was happening with a really amazing guy that I still didn’t think I deserved.

  I nibbled my lip, a nervous chuckle escaping as I hugged my baby girl and let myself dream for the first time since I found out I was pregnant.

  “Woohoo!” A shout came from the kitchen, and two seconds later Leo rushed in. His smile was so wide it took over his face. “Yes!” He started a happy dance that had me giggling.

  Angel spotted her bottle in his hand and sat up, reaching for it.

  Leo was too busy celebrating whatever it was to notice.

  She let out a loud squawk, making him jump.

  “Oh, sorry, blossom. Here you go.”

  She snatched it out of his hands, leaning against my chest and guzzling down the liquid. I kissed her head and smiled at her before looking back up at Leo.

  “What’s got you all happy dancing around my bed?”

  “Aw, Jo, you’re not going to believe it.” He perched on the bed beside me, his eyes alight. “Bobby’s contact in New York just called me. He loved the song. He’s having kittens over the thing!”

  “Really! Oh my gosh, that’s awesome!” My squeal disrupted Angel. Her face puckered into a disapproving frown, which I made a funny face at.

  Stroking her forehead, I let her get back to drinking and threw my attention onto Leo.

  “So? What does that mean?”

  “Well.” Leo licked his bottom lip. “He’s invited me to New York to perform the rest of the pieces for him and his backers. If he likes what he hears, then he’ll invite me to stay and work with his team on completing the show...and then it’ll hit Broadway!”

  “Holy crap! That’s so amazing!”

  Leo grinned and planted his lips on mine. “It’s happening, Jo.”

  “I know.” I rested my hand on his ches
t. “And you so deserve this.”

  Reality nipped at my heels as the news of what he had planned really sank in.

  New York.

  Invited to stay.

  Oh, shit, I was going to lose him!

  I swallowed, forcing my lips to remain in a grin. I didn’t want to ruin this moment for him. I could cry my tears later, once he’d left.

  “So, um.” I cleared the wobbles out of my throat. “When they buy it, will you get to be a part of producing it?”

  “I don’t know.” Leo ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, I guess if I’m writing it they’ll let me have some say, I suppose. I hope that’s the case. I’d love to direct it, but I doubt they’d let me go that far.” He chuckled. “I’m sure there’s some other superstar director who could do much better than me. I’ll need to work my way up to that dream.”

  I crossed my fingers for him. Having worked with him on perfecting “I Want The World,” it wasn’t hard to see what a great director he could be. I would have loved to work with him one day.

  But that wasn’t going to happen.

  Tears burned at my eyes. I distracted myself by focusing back on Angel. Her bottle was done, and she’d want food soon. Taking the bottle off her, I placed it on the bedside table and lifted her in my arms before propping her against my chest and squeezing tight.

  Her soft, pudgy cheek against mine was a small comfort. At least I wouldn’t be losing her to New York.

  “Jo.” Leo’s tender voice forced me to look at him. I prayed my eyes weren’t glossy. I blinked a couple of times to fool him into thinking I just had something in my eye.

  His smile grew as he placed his hand on the side of my neck and gently caressed the edge of my jaw.

  Shit, don’t do that, Leo! I’ll totally dissolve!

  “I want you guys to come with me.”

  Okay, heart attack.

  What did he just say?

  “You—what?”