Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 74122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Was fate why they met? Were they destined to be together? Did she even believe in that kind of stuff?
She couldn’t imagine what happened with Lily came about so that she’d meet the man lying next to her.
That didn’t make any sense. Because if it was, the fates were twisted.
Chapter Fourteen
Dawg felt bad for what happened to Lily, but like he said, if it hadn’t happened this woman never would have walked into his life, never would’ve given him a second look.
But it was more than that. Her calling him for an audition set things in motion he never would have expected.
“Gotta thank you, Em.”
“For what?”
“If it wasn’t’ for you showin’ up at my club, forcin’ your way into my life ‘cause you were so damned determined to get your girl back, I mighta never thought ‘bout my own daughter. Mighta let it go. Fuckin’ missed out on knowin’ my own flesh an’ blood.”
“Dawson,” she whispered. “We still don’t know what’s going to happen with that. Even if you prove she’s your daughter, you might have a bigger fight on your hands than me. I don’t want you to get your hopes up to only have them dashed because her mother can afford to fight long and hard over keeping you away from Caitlin.”
“Can’t keep her out of my life forever.” He waited fourteen years, he could wait four more if he had to.
“Right. Once she’s an adult, she can choose for herself, but still...”
“Em...”
“Yeah, baby?”
Her simply calling him “baby” made him happy. Something as simple as that. “That’s why I need to talk to you. ‘Bout us. ‘Bout what’s gonna happen from here on out. Need to make some decisions.”
“What decisions?”
“Important ones.” He rolled until he was over her once more, and he tried to keep the worry off his face. “Need to know how we stand.”
“Dawson, I’m not even divorced, and Lily isn’t even home yet.”
“Will be soon,” he said, his eyes sliding to the side as he thought about how she would never need that divorce. Then they pinned back on her. “It’s because of Lily an’ Caitlin we gotta have this talk now. Not later. Gotta know if you’re in this all the way.”
“You want us to continue,” she murmured.
“Yeah. I do. Do you?”
Emma sucked in a deep breath and he knew why she hesitated. If it was just her, she’d probably have no problem with being with him. But it wasn’t just her. Her decision would affect more than just the woman beneath him.
“Said you love me. Figured you weren’t lyin’.” For fuck’s sake, he hoped she hadn’t lied. Or even been mistaken. His chest got tight at that thought.
“No, I wasn’t lying. I wouldn’t lie about something like that.”
“You weren’t confused ‘bout it, either, right?”
“No. You’re an easy person to love,” she admitted.
No, she was wrong. So fucking wrong.
“Think you got that backward, baby girl. Gonna lay my balls out on the table an’ say, never been in love with anyone before. Never. So, I’d like you to stick, Em. Wanna make this work, make a family. You, me, Lily, an’, hopefully, Caitlin, too.” She opened her mouth to speak, but he raised a hand to let him finish. “Before you tell me that you can’t raise your little girl above this club, I got it. Believe me. Definitely decided to let the club go. Talked to Z an’ Hawk. Made some decisions to move forward with that.”
Her blue eyes widened. “What?”
“Yeah, gonna move on to another DAMC business an’ also find a decent place to live.”
“Dawson, I told you before, you can’t give up everything for us!”
He could, and he would if he needed to, but... “And like I told you, ain’t just for you, Em. Doin’ it for Caitlin, too. Keeks confirmed that my chances will be better to get visitation if I ain’t livin’ above this club an’ not managin’ it, too.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?”
“Yeah. Even if you decide not to stick, gonna do it no matter what. You made me see how important my daughter should be to me. An’ if you do stick, you three girls will be my number one priority. Got me?”
“Dawson.” The way she let his name escape on a breath caused his stomach to flip and not in a good way.
He shook his head. “No. Gonna do it no matter what, baby girl.” He braced himself because what he was about to say was the hardest shit he’d said in a long time. “So don’t feel like you’re obligated to stick.” Fuck! “You need to go, you go.” But don’t fuckin’ go. “Do what’s best for you an’ Lily, got me? I’ll be okay either way.” Probably would flay me open an’ rip my fuckin’ guts out, but, yeah, I’ll be okay. Eventually.