Page 29 of Nightclub Surprise
“Yes, sir!” he jumped up, nearly knocking the empty ice cream bowls off the coffee table. “Oops!” He grabbed them up, taking them to the kitchen then ran to August, grabbing his pants leg. “Hey, can I call you Dadnow?”
“You better,” August said then messed up his hair. “Son.”
My heart was on overdrive. I’d done it. I’d managed to tell the truth, and now we were going to be a happy family. I still had to tell my parents, which I was not looking forward to, but they’d be easy now that the two who really mattered knew thetruth.
My world was shaping up rather well. No matter what happened between me and August, my son would always be taken care of. I knew August would see to that—he was a hero right down to hiscore.
As we left the apartment, August asked, “So, what in that apartment is yours, and what belongs to theowners?”
“Well, we’ve got all of our clothes and personal things. That’s really all that’s ours. The place was furnished, all the way down to the dishes and the towels. Except for a few cleaning supplies, everything else belongs to the owner. There’s really nothing left for us to do,” I told him. “But it’s going to feel weird not to have my own place. I mean, I lived with Mom and Dad up until I moved to Los Angeles. This was the first place I’d had on my own, and I was really enjoyingit.”
“I think you’ll like your new place in Hidden Hills,” he said with a chuckle before taking my hand. “And for the record, I love the idea of having a family to fill what’s been an empty home for way toolong.”
So that was it. My life had officially been turned upside down—by the father of my child—and in record time,too.
ChapterSeventeen
August
Bringing Tawny and Calum home had me on cloud nine. I couldn’t recall a time I’d been so happy. It was like I was on love overload, and I couldn’t quit thinking about our future. “So, that little death trap of a car you drive can be sold, Tawny. I’ve got plenty of cars for you to choose from. Not to mention the town car with mydriver.”
“August, you’re doing too much for me already. And my car’s not a death trap—I’ll have you know that the ’o5 Nissan Sentra is exceptionally designed to withstand a head-on collision or being rear-ended. There are two crumple zones in the framethat…”
I gave her a sideways glance before interrupting her. “Tawny, forget about it. The thing’s an ancient piece of crap. And what’s mine is yours nowanyway.”
The laugh that came out of her didn’t make sense. “August, we’re not married. What’s yours isn’t mine atall.”
“Well, you’re the mother of my son—that makes you something to me. And if I say what’s mine is yours, then it is, Tawny Matthews. Fight it all you want, but you’re my baby’s momma, and I’m going to take care of youboth.”
“Jesus, I hate being called that,” she mumbled. “That makes me sound like some woman from the Jerry Springershow.”
“Okay, I’ll come up with something better then. But you’re important to me, and I’m going to treat you that way. Like it or not, I love you. And now that I know you carried my child inside of you and raised him all on your own for six long years, I oweyou.” The entrance to my place was just ahead, and when I turned into the area in front of the twin gates, Tawny and Calumgasped.
“August, you live behind gates?” Tawny asked me then shook her head. “That sounded so hickish. Ignore me, please. I’ve never been around any wealthy people before. I don’t know how toact.”
“Act like yourself,” I toldher.
Calum took off his seatbelt to get a better look at the house, leaning up on the back of my seat. “Wow!”
“I know, right?” The grandeur of my home wasn’t lost on me. I’d grown up in a modest three-bedroom house back in Sebastopol; I knew the home I’d bought was a thing ofbeauty.
The driveway wasn’t as long as some, but it was surrounded by lush vegetation, making it appear jungle-like. “August, I had no idea,” Tawnygushed.
“You knew I lived in Hidden Hills; what do you mean you had no idea?” I asked her as I pulled to a stop at the frontentrance.
“I mean I had no idea how huge this place would be, or how wonderful,” she replied with asmile.
“Yeah, it sure is,” Calum chimed in as he got out of the car. Tawny and I followed his lead, getting out, too. “I can’t wait to see theinside.”
Standing in front of the house, I pointed to the right side. “Okay, this home is divided into three sections. Right in the middle is the entrance room, also called a foyer. The staircase is located there. Behind that room is the main living area—it’s huge. Off to the right, you’ll find the indoor pool, the bar, the game room, a media room, and another sittingarea.”
“All that’s just on the right side?” Tawny asked withcuriosity.
“All of that is just on the ground floor. Upstairs are three bedrooms, all with their own private baths, enormous walk-in closets, and sitting areas,” I informedher.
“And on the left?” she asked as she turned to look at the other side of thehome.
“On the left, you have the kitchen, the breakfast nook, the informal dining room, and the formal dining room, the theater room, plus a sitting area. And above them on the second floor are four more bedrooms with all the same amenities of the rooms in the other wing. My bedroom is located in the left wing, so I’d love it if you two chose rooms in that wing, too. I’d like to be close to you guys.” Wrapping my arm around Tawny’s waist, I pulled her close to me, whispering, “Especially you,baby.”
