Sorry it's been a few days, but work called me out of town. Good thing the flight was long enough to work on the next chapter.
The Santino family is going to be a bunch of tough nuts to crack, even for Nico.
Nico leaned up against the sleek black Lincoln waiting for football practice to be over. With his arms crossed and with his sunglasses on to shield his eyes from the strong afternoon sun, he watched the players scrimmage and with the familiar sounds in the background let his thoughts wander back to the meeting with Dani's family the night before.
Well the kids were the kids. He hadn't been too surprised and if truth be told he probably would have reacted the same way finding out your Mom was having a baby with some guy they had only met once.
But her Mom's reaction had been a surprise to say the least. He had expected some questions. But when Dani told her, her first question was where Matt stood in all this.
And when Dani had explained that he was only a friend since Colorado, Nico could still hear her mother's loud voice asking if Dani knew for sure that it was, as she put it looking at Nico, "this guy's kid?"
"After all Danielle, hasn't Matt spent the night before?"
"Ma!" Dani had yelled at her. "Of course it's Nico's, what kind of woman do you think I am?" When Danielle's Mom had hesitated, Dani had stormed off, leaving Nico to finish the very strained conversation.
As Nico walked her to the front door, Dani's Mother waved one of her well manicured fingers in front of Nico's face.
"Just so you know, I KNOW people and if you hurt her for any reason, you will have to answer to me." With that she had left the house and driven off in her new mustang.
Nico knew the people she knew and had to work at keeping his expression neutral. He found it ironic that he might have to watch his back from the same people that he had worked with to "convince others" from time to time that it may be a good idea to "disappear" for a while.
With a headache starting, Nico had been putting on his coat to leave when Dani had come back into the room.
"You don't have to leave Nico. Stay and least have coffee." Dani's offer had been tempting; he asked to take a rain check.
"I'm in enemy territory here Dani, and sometimes the best thing to do is to retreat for a bit."
Dani came up and wrapped her arms around his waist and looking up at him whispered in her sexiest voice.
"Is there anything that I can do to convince you to stay?"
Nico was tempted. Being with Dani was like a drug to him, but with her kids in the house, he wasn't going to make it worse.
"Another time, promise. Now lock the doors before you go upstairs." Kissing her long and hard, he said goodnight and walked back to his car where he waited until the lights went out. He was used to fixing things. And he would fix this too. Dani might be the people fixer, but had skills of his own. He just needed to figure out his game plan.
The Coach's voice announcing that practice was over brought him back to the present. As he waited, the quarterback began walking towards the car, only slowing down when he realized who was waiting for him.
"What are you doing here?" Ray Jay had just finished practice for his high school's football team and didn't se Nico leaning on the car next to his until it was too late.
While part of him wanted to run the other way, as the man of the family since Dad left, he felt like doing that would make him a wimp or a kid, neither of which was a good option.
"I thought you and I could talk."
"I don't have anything to say to you. You and Mom, I don't get it. I've seen her with Dr. Aldridge and Matt, but never with you. And now all the sudden you are her boyfriend and she's having a baby? C'mon seriously?"
As Ray Jay went to move past Nico to get to his car, Nico put his hand on Ray Jay's arm to stop him.
"Look, give me 5 minutes. You can do that, can't you? If not for me, than for your Mom?"
When Ray Jay didn't answer, Nico continued.
"It's 5 minutes okay?"
"Fine, 5 minutes."
With that Ray Jay walked towards a bench about 10 feet away and sat down, his Helmut in his hands. Nico watched him and had to remember that he was only 17 years old. He could barely remember when he was 17. He had joined the Navy and ended up in the Seals by the time he was 18 and had grown up way too fast.
But Ray Jay was just 17 and had to deal with a lot, including his Mother's divorce and then getting caught in the stadium by the same guy who was now with his Mom. Nico would have to tread lightly. How did you treat someone who wanted to be an adult but at the end of the day was just a scared kid, trying to protect his Mom and not really knowing how to do that.
Nico went and sat down by him.
"Do you remember when I told you at the stadium that I didn't lie, as lies are very hard to keep track of?"
Ray Jay didn't say anything, but since he seemed to be listening, Nico continued.
"Well, your mom and I told you the truth about the baby, even though we knew that it might hurt both you kids. We told the truth because I would rather deal straight on with your anger and hurt and whatever else you are dealing with, than lie.
The fact is Ray Jay that I care about your Mom very much and have for a very long time. I didn't mean for this to happen this way, with the baby and all and if I could have, I may have done this differently.
But I didn't and I'm not ashamed nor do I regret what happened. This baby, while not planned is very important to me and something that we wouldn't trade for the world.
"Are you guys getting married?"
"Well, it's definitely something I want and I've told your Mom that. But she's been through a lot this past year so I'm giving her some time to figure a few things out. Not much time, but some time. I'm asking you to trust me."
"You busted us at the stadium, how are we ever supposed to trust you? You turned us in. We don't even know you."
"You're right, we don't know each other, but we can start to. And Ray Jay, I had no choice. What you did was wrong, and deep down I think you know that. I was doing my job, and protecting TK from TK is one of them.
Ray Jay, TK trusts me with his life. Not a bad reference and I know that you and TK are friends, so maybe you get his opinion while you are thinking of what your opinion of me is.."
"Does he know, TK? About the you and the baby and Mom?"
"No, I think that your mom is going to tell him tomorrow and the others later this week so I would ask for your discretion until she can do that.
If this got out before she was ready, she would be embarrassed and hurt. And I would never intentionally hurt your Mom; I don't think you would either."
"And what about Lindsey and I, where do we fit in to this picture?"
"Where you feel comfortable fitting. I know this is a package deal and I'm willing to do what it takes. You guys come first with your Mom and I'm okay with that am now and always will be. I can only ask that you give me a chance"
He could tell that Ray Jay had just about reached his limit with this conversation and to be honest, he wasn't sure he had done any good.
"Look Ray Jay I'll let you go home." As Ray Jay got up and walked to his car Nico said his name causing him to turn around.
"Just think about what I said, please?"
Ray Jay got into car and rolled own the passenger window as he pulled away.
"I'm not happy about this, whatever this is with my Mom, but I will try to think about. If you ever hurt her though, you will be sorry."
Nico looked in his eyes and knew he was serious, dead serious. Like Grandmother like Grandson….
"Then I will just have to be careful to never hurt your mom."
Before Ra Jay pulled away Nico stopped him and asked him where his sister was. She was next on the list and she was to have much more to say than that Ray Jay.
He was too old for this; maybe he should get a nap and a drink, before he talked to Lindsay and not necessarily in that order.…..
Standing at the front door. Lindsey was looking at him like he had broken some horrible law that was punishable by death – his.
"Mom's not here."
"I know, I was coming to talk to you. Do you mind if I come in?"
Nico could tell she didn't want to let him in, but years of training from her mom on manners finally won out and she opened the door enough to let him in. Lindsey backed up a good 5 feet, keeping as much distance as possible between them.
"Lindsey, maybe we can sit down? I was hoping we could talk a little about what happened yesterday."
Lindsey turned and walked into the den, leaving Nico to follow. Plopping herself on the far end of the couch, she curled up one the couch and held a pillow I front of her as if using it against protection against him. She looked so small and so unsure.
And this was going just as well as it had with Ray Jay, Nico sighed.
"Lindsey, I know this is a lot for you to take in. I'm sure you are confused and …"
Lindsey didn't let him finish.
"You don't know anything. You don't know us, we don't know you and then you show up here and you tell us you and Mom are having a baby which is gross enough and then you say that you know how I feel? How am I supposed to go back to school once everyone finds out?"
"Lindsey, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you haven't had time to get to know me slowly. I'm sorry this was sprung on you but most of all I'm sorry that we got off on the wrong foot. Maybe we could start over?"
"Start over how?"
"From the beginning. I could go back and knock on the front door and introduce myself and then we could go from there."
For the first time, Lindsey smiled a real smile that made her look so much like her mother that his heart melted, oh these Santino women.
"That's silly. You would be willing to do that?"
"For a second chance, I would be willing to do just about anything."
Nico stood up, reached out and offered her his hand.
"Ms. Santino, I'm Nico Careles. I'm wondering we could go out for pizza sometime and maybe get to know each other a bit."
"I'll think about it, is that okay?"
Nico knew it was as start. "Yes it's okay."
Not meaning to eavesdrop, but wanting to hear what was going on in case she needed to step in, Dani's heart swelled with pride for her daughter and love for this man. So that they wouldn't detect her, she backed quietly out of the room and went back to the kitchen.
Much later that night, Dani was getting ready for bed when the knock on the door brought her downstairs. When she opened the door, Nico stood on the other side of the door leaning on the door jam.
"Nico, you know you can call me now, right? Or Text, and I'll let you in."
"Habit I guess. Besides I like when you come down looking like that."
Dani grabbed his hand, pulled him in and closed the door behind him.
"Come with me." Leading him up the stairs, she took him into her room and closed the door quietly behind her being sure to lock it.
"Dani, are you sure? The kids…"
"Won't hear anything I promise. They sleep with their Ipods anyway. Besides, I have a confession about earlier that I would like to get off my chest."
Nico kissed her and pulled the t-shirt over her head. She wasn't wearing a bra and her breasts, bigger now with the pregnancy were magnificent. "You mean like that off your chest?
She giggled. "No Nico, I just wanted to let you know that I..."
Nico finished for her. "That you were listening in the hallway when I was speaking with Lindsey? Really Dani, I'm not that much of an armature. I knew you were there. So how did I do?"
Pushing him down on the bed, she began to unbuckle his belt.
"You were great. I don't know how to thank you for what you are doing with Ray Jay and Lindsey."
"Oh I can think of a few things….."
With a smile on her face, Dani slowly unbuttoned his pants and gently pulled them down. Already aroused, Nico lay fully on the bed while Dani took him slowly into her mouth. With her tongue and her hands, she moved in fast and slow movements until Nico felt like he was about to come undone.
"Dani, you keep that up, I'm not going to last much longer."
With one last pass, Dani crawled up Nico and straddling Nico, lowered her self until he was fully inside.
Nico placed his hands on her hips and set the pace, moving into a faster rhythm until their breaths were coming in short breaths. Using one of his fingers, he reached in front of Dani and started to pleasure her so that she would come at the same time.
Just when he thought he couldn't take another minute, he felt Dani start to shudder and he took his release at the same time. She fell on time of him and he rolled her over so he was on top of her and still inside her.
"Oh Nico, you do have a way with the ladies, don't you?
Completely satisfied, Dani was almost asleep and when Nico whispered into her ear.
"Dr, Santino, you have been stalling long enough. I'm losing patience.
When are you going to marry me?"