Page 60 of Love Songs

I took in the large house painted an inviting yellow with bright white shutters bracketing the windows as we walked up the stone pathway to the front door. The lush green front lawn, trimmed with obvious care, followed a wave of flower beds bursting in a riot of colors. A large oak tree stood in the yard with a rope swing tied to a thick branch, and I pictured Conor climbing as high as he could, laughing the whole way and daring his sisters and best friends to join him.

We climbed the front steps together and stopped on the porch. I took a deep breath, and Jaylin gave my hand a squeeze.

“You’ve got this, Dad,” she assured.

The smile that tugged at my cheeks warmed me all the way to my toes, and I wished, not for the first time, that I’d known Jaylin her whole life.

I knocked on the door and a few seconds later it swung wide to reveal an older version of Conor with gray eyes instead of blue, and a smile just as big and infectious.

“Well, you must be Dallas and Jaylin,” he boomed enthusiastically. “I’m James, Conor’s dad.” He stepped back, sweeping an arm in welcome. “Come on in.”

“Thank you,” I said, nerves freezing me again until Jaylin elbowed me in the ribs and raised her eyebrows.Right! I thrust our host gift toward him. “This is for you and Mrs. Holliston.”

“Oh, you didn’t need to bring anything but yourselves,” James said even as he reached for the bottle. “Thank you.”

He led us through a large kitchen that would be the envy of any Michelin Star chef, and out sliding glass doors into a huge backyard that I could only describe as happy chaos.

I knew Conor had three sisters, but that those sisters would be there with their significant others and their children hadn’t registered in my mind. I counted five kids—two boys maybe eight or nine years old, and three girls, two of whom were identical, about Jaylin’s age—running around the yard tossing a ball for a large golden retriever or splashing in the pool. Five women who I guessed were Conor’s sisters, his mom, and grandmother, sat in lawn chairs around a fire pit, drinking from orange, red, and yellow tumblers and chatting animatedly, while two men stood with Conor at the barbecue, laughing at something he’d said—no doubt tales from work—while Conor flipped burger patties and smokies. Tantalizing aromas of rich, sweet smoke rose from the grill and made my mouth water.

A sharp whistle rent the air too close to my ear, making me jump.

Every head turned toward us, but the only one I had eyes for was Conor. He glowed with happiness and the smile he sent my way weakened my knees. Pretty safe to say I was gone for that man.

“Listen up,” James bellowed, and everyone turned their attention to us. “This is Conor’s friend Dallas and his daughter Jaylin.”

A hearty chorus of welcomes, waves, and how ya doings greeted us.

“Alright,” James said to me, his voice was serious, but he had a mischievous glint in his eyes. “There will be a test later.”

That earned some chuckles and hoots from the rest of the family as he introduced me and Jaylin to every member of the Holliston clan. I hoped James had been joking about that test, because no way would I remember everyone’s names and who belonged to whom.

Conor’s sisters and their husbands came forward to shake mine and Jaylin’s hand or give us a hug in the case of his grandmother and his mother—who gave us a kiss on the cheek—and any nerves I’d had about meeting them disappeared into the air like the smoke from the barbecue.

Last in the welcome line was Conor, holding a microbrew in each hand.

“Thank you for coming,” he said, standing close enough for me to smell the fruity sunscreen on his lightly tanned skin and the underlying scent of fire. “Both of you.”

“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” I said in a low voice.

I wanted to reach out and pull him into my arms so badly just then. Feel that muscular body pressed against me. Kiss him senseless.

The youngest of the girls, Hazel’s daughter, who was about Jaylin’s age and whose name I couldn’t remember, approached. She smiled up at me, then to Jaylin said, “Come hang out with us.”

Jaylin looked up at me, a question in her bright eyes.

“Go ahead.” I grinned. “Have fun.”

The two ran off and joined up with Emma’s twins, their animated expressions and brilliant smiles warming my heart.

“You have a big family,” I stated the obvious, taking the beer bottle Conor offered me.

Our fingers touched, sending a wave of desire cascading through me, and Conor’s smile, as he slowly lowered his hand, said he felt the same.

He snickered. “Be glad all the extended family members and friends aren’t here, too.”

Conor led me to a couple of lawn chairs set back from the patio, where we sat and watched the goings on. I’d never felt so relaxed in a crowd of people I didn’t know before. I’d always been Dallas Blade, the rock star, and had had to portray a celebrity image that, while it hadn’t been totally fake, had never been truly me either. I’d always been “on”. But here, with Conor and his family, I didn’t feel the need for putting on a public face. I could chill and simply be Dallas, Jaylin’s dad.

And just maybe Conor’s boyfriend.

---