I dissolve into a fit of laughter. “I think I need to get on some clothes.”
“Oh, fuck. Right,” he replies, forgetting that we are still buck-naked. “I’ll take care of him while you get dressed.”
I crawl off him and stand up from the bed. JD follows and wraps me in a hug from behind, kissing my shoulder. “I love you, Aurora.”
I angle my head, my right arm circling the back of his neck. “I love you more.”
“Not possible.” He smiles and smacks my ass. “Off you go, sexy.”
I grab my overnight bag and walk to the bathroom as JD pulls on some sweats and a T-shirt. The man is a work of panty-melting art that I could ogle all day. As I close and lock the bathroom door, I hear Connor’s laughter and JD telling him good morning.
Rushing through my shower routine, I dress quickly. I don’t have any meetings this morning so the pair of dress slacks and silk blouse I brought with me should be fine for today.
I hear JD and Connor talking as I approach the kitchen, the smell of pancakes, bacon, and coffee making my stomach rumble.
Connor spots me immediately and comes hurtling at my legs. “Rora! Daddy said you were here!”
I lift him up and hug him to me. I can have this every morning, I think. “Good morning, little man. I smell pancakes.”
Connor wraps his tiny arms around me and hugs me back. “You like pancakes, too?”
“Of course I do! Who doesn’t like pancakes?”
“Want some coffee?” JD asks, a smile gracing his face as he watches me and Connor.
“Yes, please.” I put Connor down and he crawls back onto the stool he was sitting in at the counter island.
I grab the coffee mug JD hands me with a grateful sigh, taking a sip and then choking on it when Connor innocently asks, “Are you my mommy now?”
JD rushes over to pound on my back. “A little help here,” I implore him once I stop coughing.
“Hey bud, I need you to eat so we can get ready to go. Weren’t you supposed to bring in a favorite book for Miss Peterson to read during story-time?”
“Can I take my new book about boats?” Connor asks, looking at me.
“That sounds like a great idea,” JD answers for me since I’m still stuck on Connor’s question.
My phone rings from the bedroom and I quickly excuse myself. Finding it on the bedside table, I notice that Austin tried to call me. I press the callback button.
“Hey, did you just try to call me?” I ask when he picks up.
“Where are you? Trevor and I have been trying to reach you.” Austin sounds a bit flustered.
“I’m at JD’s. Why?”
His voice rises. “You spent the night with him? What the hell, Rory?”
“Yes, I did. I’m not going to apologize for it. Knox and I broke up. I want to be with JD. End of story. So what did you and Trevor need to reach me for? You’ll see me in a couple of hours anyway.”
“Rory, someone broke into the youth center and trashed it. Trevor and I are here now talking to the police. We need you here.”
Shock has me rooted to the floor. How is that possible? Fallon increased security in order to stave off the unwanted paparazzi that had started coming around because of JD being there. People are curious as to why he just suddenly quit his career in the NFL to work at a youth center. I’m curious as well, and I hope that it’s something he’ll be willing to tell me tonight when we talk.
“What? Austin, how in the hell could this happen?”
His voice becomes garbled for a second, but I’m able to make out, “That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”
“I’m on my way. Give me fifteen minutes. How bad is it?”
