“You’re right, he’s a wonderful man. Thanks for letting me come, Laney.” Dane leans over to kiss the top of my head.
My father actually gets up to grab him and Dane another beer during dinner and there’s not a break in the conversation and laughter. The boys get way too much enjoyment over my father’s retelling of all my major childhood incidents. I can feel my cheeks heat at some of the more telling ones, like the time I accidentally sat in the minnow bucket! It took way too long to discretely dig all those squirming suckers out of my bathing suit bottom, information Dane did not need to know.
“I’m gonna turn in, I’ll see you both in the morning.” Dad leans in to give me a kiss goodnight. “Guest room’s all yours, Dane, nice to meet you, son.”
Son?! “Night, Daddy, I love you.”
“Good night, sir, thank you for having me.”
“You’re welcome...and quit calling me sir,” he laughs, shuffling down the hall.
When I hear his door close, I snap my head to Dane. “Spill.”
His face lights up in a smile, his eyes smoky as he pulls me to sit on his lap. “You worry too much, baby. Your dad adores you, just like I do, so it was easy for us to find common ground. I actually like him a lot, he’s great.” He runs his nose along mine, ending with a kiss upon it.
“What did you guys talk about while I was gone?”
“Well...” His hand inches up my thigh, his lips grazing my throat. “We talked about you, mostly. How wonderful you are.” He moves to placing kisses along my jawline. “My vow to take care of you.” His next words are mumbled through a tugging kiss on my lips. “And to always ask please before I see your boobies.”
“Dane!” I pull back and shove him in the chest, sending him toppling back into the couch. His body shakes with his laughter, his happy face glowing. He’s beautiful, positively mesmerizing, when he’s silly. Two can play the teasing game. I take his hand and move it over one of my t-shirt clad breasts. “Do you want to see them now?” My voice drops, sultry and suggestive.
“Mmmmm,” he groans.
I lean in, kissing up his throat to his ear, moving his hand harder against me. “Such a shame, you didn’t say please.” Jumping off his lap, giggling, I tug him up. “Come on, Dad Whisperer, I’ll show you where you’re sleeping.”
When we head back to school on Sunday, I feel fresh as a daisy; rejuvenated. My dad had been wonderful, Dane had been fabulous. I’d gotten the house clean, two meals cooked and frozen and all of Dad’s laundry done while he took Dane fishing! I’m pretty much on cloud nine now, forcing Dane to jam to my rap flava’ on the drive. He laughs every time I throw my deuces or strike my gangsta pose. Positively giddy— that’s what I am.
Chapter Thirty-Six
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WRECKAGE
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Laney
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“I need a job,” I blurt out over lunch. Eating in the Rotunda with Zach and Sawyer as has become a habit these days. It’d been worrying me lately that the holidays are fast approaching and I don’t have one dime to buy presents for my dad or friends. We’re all going to Bennett’s big show the last night of school before break, followed by a celebration/Christmas party to which I am not arriving empty handed.
“Why do you need a job, Gidge?” Sawyer asks.
“Um, for money? I gotta buy for Christmas. Plus, it’d be nice to have cash sometimes, in case I need anything.” My scholarship doesn’t cover everything, especially the biggies, gas and food, and I’m getting older; I have to lay off my dad’s wallet, which isn’t deep.
“Do you have time for a job? You have class, ball,
Dane...” Sawyer laughs. Jerk.
“Oh my God, Zach, do you hear him?”
Zach is engrossed in his phone, paying us no attention.
“Zach, hello?” I reach across the table and punch buttons to interrupt him.
“Sorry, what?” he finally looks up.
“Laney wants to get a job man, keep up. You talking to Ave or Kirby?” Ooooh, my ears perk up.
“Both, keep up,” he cocks off, “you’re in the message, fool.”
“I forgot my phone this morning. What are they saying?” As much as I’d love to hear exactly what they’re talking about, I feel skeezy. The twins would tell me if they wanted me to know their business, so I knock the devil off my shoulder and interrupt.
“Guys, focus. I need a job.”
“You do realize you’re dating a millionaire, right? I think you should make up a price list for sexual favors. Problem solved.”
The sad part is, Sawyer is completely serious and sees nothing wrong with is idea. Even sadder, you simply cannot get mad at him about it. I’m not sure how he pulls it off, but he does.
“Sawyer Beckett, did you just call me a hooker?”
Zach scoots away, obviously scared he’s about to be in the line of fire from my fists of fury.
“Hell no, woman, I was kidding...kinda. Seriously though, Dane owns like, well, lots of shit. Why don’t you ask him for a job?”
I just stare at Zach, willing him to help me reason with this lovable jackass.