Page 24 of Nightclub Surprise
“Why don’t you two move in with me?” His eyes danced and glittered as he smiled atme.
Now, I knew most women would fall all over themselves over such a request. But again, I wasn’t most women. So, when my answer came out, the frown I got wasn’t unexpected. “No.”
One solid huff forced a burst of air out of him as he stared at me with a questioning expression. “Well, you won’t let me stay the night here with you. You’ve said it’s too small, and Calum would hear everything. I think my idea is great, if you askme.”
“Look, Calum is a large part of why I can’t move in with you. He gets up almost every night and climbs into bed with me. That would be a problem if you and I slept together eachnight.”
With a roll of his eyes, his reply was blunt, “You’re grasping at straws,Tawny.”
“I am not,” I said as I got off his lap. “I’m getting a cup of coffee. You wantone?”
He nodded and followed me to the kitchen. What I really needed was a glass of wine to soothe my nerves, which had grownjagged.
“I don’t see why he can’t learn not to get out of his bed at night, is all I’m saying. Maybe Leila can give you some tips on that. That shouldn’t be something that keeps us apart, Tawny, surely you can see that.” Coming up behind me, August ran his arms around my waist, leaning his chin on top of myshoulder.
Turning in his arms, I wrapped my arms around him and told him a bit more of the truth. “Another reason is for our safety and privacy. I know you live in a high-profile neighborhood—not to mention that your lifestyle must be wildly different from what we’re used to. If we were to move in with you, I think we’d need to be protected—by a bodyguard or security, at least. I get that you don’t need anyone to protect you, but your philanthropy and the opening of your club are turning you into a household name in this city. People will be curious about us, and Calum and I would have to have protection. I don’t think I’d like living thatway.”
Sadness filtered into his hazel eyes. “Baby, what are you saying? Are you telling me that we can’t ever move forward? Are you saying this is all we’ll everhave?”
“I don’t know what I’m saying, August. This has all happened very quickly, and I’m just a little confused.” I kissed him. “The only thing I’m not confused about is the fact that I love you. But everything else needs a little sorting outstill.”
His chest swelled with a deep sigh. He was not a happy man at that moment. But I knew I could take his mind off things, at least for a littlewhile.
Running my hands down his arms, I took his hands. “Let’s skip the coffee and go tobed.”
“No,” his word came out sternly. His eyes moved up to meet mine. “If this is all we can ever have… I don’t think I can takethat.”
“August, we haven’t even been seeing each other that long,” Iargued.
“We’ve known each other forever, Tawny. I want to share my life with you. So what if I have to hire a couple of bodyguards to watch over you and Calum when I can’t? I don’t care about that. Shit, more than half the kids in Los Angeles have them, and most of the wives and girlfriends do, too.” The pad of his thumb ran over my lower lip as he looked at me with adoringeyes.
How could I say no to him when he looked at me that way? His hold on me had my body vibrating with more than just lust—love shook me, and I wanted so badly to make himhappy.
But I just couldn’t move in with him—not with my secret still hanging betweenus.
It wouldn’t beright.
My cell rang. It was in the living room, so August let me out of his embrace, and I went to answer it. “It’s Calum’s school,” I told August, who loomed just behind me. “Hello.”
“Miss Matthews?” a woman askedme.
“Yes, this isshe.”
“You were aware of the field trip your son’s class took today, right?” she asked me, her tonetense.
Chills ran through me, my gut telling me something was wrong. “Yes, the trip to Big Bear. I packed him a special lunch for it. Is everythingokay?”
“Um, have you watched any news today, MissMatthews?”
August’s arms encircled me, as I must’ve begun looking a bit pale. “I haven’t watched any news. Please just tell me what’s goingon.”
August let go of me to grab the television remote, and he turned it on, changing the channel to one of the localstations.
And there it was. A yellow school bus, along with some other cars, trapped between two lines ofwildfire.
I collapsed onto the sofa as the lady finally filled me in, “There are fifteen people in total on the bus with your son—three adults and twelve children. Evacuations are underway, but with the fires moving and the winds picking up…well, it’s a very dangeroussituation.”
August took the phone from my hand, as I couldn’t find the strength to say a word or move a muscle. He spoke to the woman on the other end, “We’ll handle it, thankyou.”
