Page 50 of Rockstar Baby Daddy

I flashed an innocent smile. “Would I do that?”

“You would,” she grunted and shook her head. “It won’t fit in my place, and I don’t need something else to baby proof.”

Zola laughed but it died quickly when Granddaddy and Drew arrived with the food.

Finally, dinner got under way, and as the minutes ticked by, my shoulders relaxed. Suzie was mostly quiet, trying desperately to hide her yawns behind napkins and food. “It’s all so good, Granddaddy. But I’m afraid I might embarrass myself.”

Granddaddy smiled wide and sat up a little tired. “No reason to be embarrassed, a woman who eats is damned sexy.” He winked and scooped another mountain of mashed potatoes onto her plate and then his. “Eat up, honey. Make an old man feel good.”

“All you do is feel good, Granddaddy. I don’t know any old people like you.” Zola smiled affectionately at him and it made me feel good that I was able to give her some of the same normalcy I had growing up.

“First of all, I’m not old. I’m wise. And if you think I’m bad, you should visit the community where I live, I swear it’s rowdier than when I was on tour with the Rusty Nails.”

“No kidding?” Drew spoke up, his interest finally piqued. “I love them!”

Granddaddy frowned. “A little before your time, aren’t they?”

“They’re classic, old man, and classics never go out of style.” Drew reached for another piece of lamb and Granddaddy pulled the platter away.

“Old man? Don’t think I won’t knock you one just because you save lives.”

Drew laughed. “Don’t think I’ll let you get over on me just because you’rewiseand my niece or nephew’s grandfather.”

That seemed to please the old man, who slid the platter back to the middle of the table. “Glad we settled that, then.”

Drew nodded. “So, were you really on tour with the Rusty Nails?”

“Oh, yeah. It was all sex, pot, and music.” Granddaddy laughed and shook his head. “It was good time. You should’ve been there.”

“I was still in my dad’s nuts back then.”

Granddaddy exploded with laughter and pointed at Drew. “You’re not the stuffed-shirt I thought you were, Dr. Drew.”

Drew’s lips twitched. “Don’t call me that.”

Zola laughed and soon, Suzie joined in, and I had no idea why. Neither bothered to fill us stupid men in on what was so funny. Drew’s lips twitched and soon he was laughing, too.

It was a great moment, one of those moments that would sustain me on the road, thinking about our crazy families having dinner together for the first of what I hoped to be many dinners. Everyone smiled as laughter filled the dining room.

It was perfect.

“Who wants to fill me in on the joke?” At the sound of Alex’s voice, the laughter died slowly. “Gavin,” he said as if he hadn’t noticed the revelry his presence had broken up. “We need to talk. Right away.”

My heart stopped and I slid a look toward Suzie. She did her best to appear unaffected by Alex’s presence when I knew damn well that she knew what it meant.I was leaving.My heart started up again and kicked against my chest like a bull in a rodeo.

“All right. After dinner.”

“Now,” he said, his tone serious.

“After. Dinner.” I stood and pointed to the seat beside Drew. “Sit and eat or wait for me in the office. Or outside. Somewhere else.”

“We need to go over the schedule, Gavin. No time to waste.”

“No time, really?” I folded my arms and glared at my agent. “So, the first thing on the schedule is tomorrow morning?”

Alex blinked. “No.”

“Then I can damn well finish my dinner.”

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