Page 65 of Second Chance Baby
Then she swooped in and maneuvered the ball away from me, aiming for the basket and seeming to fly in mid-air to dunk the ball. I was so amazed I stopped running after her just to clap and scream for her, which made her grin and dunk again, just to see how I’d react.
“You do realize we are on opposite sides, right, Mom?” But her flushed cheeks and lively eyes told me she was so happy I was cheering for her.
How could I not?
“But I want you to always win, baby girl.” I drew her against me in a giant hug, kissing the top of her hair. “You’re so freaking good. I’m so proud of you.”
“Me too, Care Bear.” Gruffly, Moose ruffled her hair before leaving us alone in the backyard.
“I like you being here with us, Mom. Can you…” Carrington clutched the ball against her side, scuffing the toe of her sneaker along the asphalt. “Can you please stay like for good? Please? I know you and Dad had issues, but I like you both being here. Being together. I know he wants that too, but that doesn’t mean you do too for sure.” When she looked up, her blue eyes shone wetly in the overhead lights. “I won’t even make disgusted noises when you make out and stuff. You’re kinda, like, overdue..”
The sound of someone clearing their throat behind me made me glance over my shoulder to see Travis watching us. “Damn smart kid. She’s right, you know, Brig. We arewayoverdue for all of this stuff.”
Saying nothing, I turned to go into his arms, gripping his waist tightly as I buried my face in his shirt. “I want to stay. I don’t even want to go back home long enough to pack or anything.”
“This was always your home. And we’ve been waiting for you to come back to take your place since the day you left.” He tipped up my chin and laid his lips on mine. “Please stay.”
FIFTEEN
The soundof my phone going off had us breaking apart. Seeing my agent’s name on the readout had me letting out a groan.
“Reality had to descend sometime. My fault for turning my phone back on like a responsible adult.” I held up a finger to my girls. “Just give me a minute and we’ll continue this conversation, okay?”
“Sure thing.” Bridget cupped her arm around Carrington’s shoulders. “We will wait right here.” Her eyes locked on mine. “We aren’t going anywhere, promise.”
Swallowing hard, I clicked accept on Daphne’s call.
“Yeah, yeah, yell all you want at me.”
“Yell?Do you have any idea how many bookings I arranged for you today? True, a lot of them were due to the stills of the shoot Drake released to some group of his of industry professionals, but trust me, you’re about to have more work than you can handle.”
“What? How? Why?” I was so dumbfounded I could barely speak.
Even Elaine’s call to Bridget hadn’t clued us in that things had gone to that level. I waggled my brows at Bridget, and she smothered her laugh in Carrington’s hair.
“Do you have any idea how hot that shoot was? We have to reshoot some of it because, hi, we can’t put up that much skin in a charity calendar, but I think we can use some of it just as is. It would be a waste not to. In fact, I think Rita has a lot of plans for you two.”
“She does?”
Daph went on as if I hadn’t spoken. “We will need another shoot. Hopefully, one almost as hot, but maybe more on PG-13 side–if you two can handle that.”
I nodded quickly, although she obviously couldn’t see me.
Getting my hands on Bridget for the first time in too many years to count had pushed me far too close to the edge.
“Rita Savage is rebranding and wants you two for her upcoming book cover. A bit more sedate for that one, preferably outdoors. So yeah, we will need both of you back for a location shoot first thing tomorrow. Can that happen?”
Half dizzy from what she’d just said, I blindly agreed. I had no intention of going back on the road just when I’d committed to sticking close to home for my little girl. Especially since the holidays would be here in a flash. I was looking forward to working with Gideon, as well. Photoshoots were mind-numbing in the worst way.
And Bridget was here now. Maybe she’d even stay.
“Did you say both of us?”
“Yes. Your chemistry is off the freaking charts.”
“I’m trying to get out of the business, Daph. I told you that.”
“Not when you’re this hot you’re not. Don’t make any decisions yet. Make sure you make it to this shoot. I’ll text you details.”