“Are you okay?”

“Yes,” he answered, trying to force a smile. His head was killing him. “Baby girl, do you still love me?” he asked.

“Of course, Daddy.” She walked over to him. He picked her up and kissed her cheek loudly. “Good. At least one woman still does.”

*******

Dana had one hell of a morning. First, she received a call from her father who screamed at her for embarrassing the family, again. He wouldn’t even allow her to explain herself before he hung up, but not before he told her she should consider herself disowned. That was special. It hurt, but not as much as it would have if they were even a little bit close. Then her ex-husband’s grandmother called, she was always close to her. She wanted to make sure Dana was okay. After Dana explained it wasn’t her and promised her everything was okay they said good bye.

Sebastian, the little boy she saved on the bridge, well the young man now, called. He'd been sent home early from school after getting into a fight with someone over the video. She explained it wasn’t her. She had to calm him down before he got himself in more trouble. He was very protective of her, always had been.

When Jeff started to treat her badly it was Sebastian who told him off. She promised he was still coming in a couple of weeks. He lived with his Grandmother and she couldn’t do much with the kids. They were well provided for, but she was too old to keep up with three teenage boys. So, Dana took him several times a year for a couple of weeks to help make up for it.

She drove home and walked around the property for a while. Her sheds were completely gone. Everything inside of them was toast. The yard was singed beyond repair. After seeing all the damage she couldn't help but feel happy that no one was hurt.

Needing a distraction from what could have happened and the drama with Edward, she decided to clean her house. She cleaned the house from top to bottom. She even put Edward’s things away and broke down the boxes. After four hours she took a shower and threw a fresh outfit on. Subconsciously she grabbed her favorite motorcycle outfit, a white long sleeve tee shirt and jeans. It wasn’t bad ass, but it was the most comfortable outfit she owned when she rode her motorcycle.

“The hell with it,” she said out loud, she was taking her bike out while she still could. First she called her doctor and ran it past him. He okayed it as long as she was careful.

She pulled on her helmet and went for a drive. She rode around the beaches, loving the feeling of the open road. Her phone went off while she was stopped at a red light. She pulled over and answered it. It was Amy telling her the meeting she had to have with Eric and Rick was in one hour at Rick’s office. There was no time to go back and grab Amy’s car or hers so she proceeded on bike. She was glad she did. It was a nice relaxing ride. That is until she pulled off her helmet and saw Edward’s horrified expression.

She rolled her eyes and ran a hand through her hair and walked past him still carrying her helmet. He went to the elevator, looking at her expectantly. She walked past him to the stairs and went the back way to the Rick’s office.

Dana strolled through the chaotic minefield that was Rick’s floor. People were hurrying here and there frantically. Rick’s office was dead ahead and she aimed for it.

“Dana!” a man said.

She looked up, surprised to see Nick. He was a handsome man, always joking, and flirting with her and a real sweetheart, well in his own way. He always read her books just to see what she was doing. “Nick!” She hugged him. “When did you get back?”

He lifted her off her feet and spun her around. “Yesterday. I read your new books, not too bad.” He set her down on her feet. “What’s this I hear you’re not only with Edward Pierce, but pregnant and engaged? Not my Dana. Not miss ‘I’m never going to date another man as long as I live,’ ” he said the last part mocking her Boston accent.

“Oh great, are you going to harass me now, too?” she asked, teasing him.

“No, I’m just wondering why you turned me down so many times….broke my heart, Dana,” he said, giving her a puppy dog expression that made her laugh.

“I’m sure I did. I’m sure it’s my fault you had to distract yourself with mindless sex and bimbos.”

He put an arm around her. “I’m glad you’re taking responsibility. They say that’s the first step to admitting you have a problem.” He chuckled, taking her helmet from her. “You still have the Interceptor?” he asked, making a face of disgust.

“Hey, don’t make fun of my bike, snob.” she said, elbowing him in the ribs.

Rick stepped into the hall with Eric and Edward behind him. He smiled at Dana. “Someone’s been naughty.” His eyes were shining with humor.

“Oh, what’s this now?” Nick asked, looking down at Dana. His arm still hung around her shoulders.

“Nothing you haven’t done a thousand times I’m sure.”

“Hmm, you’re going to have to narrow it down for me, sweetheart.” Nick said, he looked deep in thought, earning a giggle from Dana.

“Let’s take this in the boardroom so I can catch up with my girlfriend,” Nick said to Rick.

“I figured as much. You have been gone for six months,” Rick said, leading the way to the large boardroom.

Dana felt Edward’s eyes bore into the back of her head and winced. There was no getting out of the doghouse now, especially with Nick here. She knew he was trying to egg Edward on. That was his style, but saying anything would make it a thousand times worse.

A large table with twenty chairs took up the middle of the room. Nick guided her to the table and paused. “Well, I guess there aren’t enough chairs for all five of us. I guess you’ll have to sit on my lap, munchkin.” He sat down and opened his arms for Dana to join him. She gently pushed his head and walked around him to her own seat. Edward sat across from her. She could see he was pissed. His jaw was ground shut and his hands were clenched hard into fists.

Nick turned to face her. “So, you got knocked up. I guess those sex talks we had didn’t work.”

“They weren’t so much sex talks as they were offers if I remember correctly,” Dana said flatly.

“You’re splitting hairs here, Dana.” He chuckled.

Edward’s eyes focused her way. A change in topic was needed. “So, tell me how was Paris and when I ask how Paris was I don’t mean some girl named Paris that you slept with,” she clarified.

“That knocks about an hour off my answer. It was good, it was fun, and you should have come with me when I offered to fly you out for the weekend back in March.”

“You’re incorrigible,” she said, looking past him to Rick. “What are we waiting for?”

“Amy, she had to get a ride.”

“Oops, that’s my fault. I borrowed her car. Sorry, guys.”

“No problem, watching you get caught up with Nick is payment enough,” Rick said, grinning. He loved the fact that Dana was the only woman to ever turn Nick down. It tormented Nick to no end that he couldn’t have her and he loved every minute of their playful banter.

“So helpful, Rick,” Dana shot back.

“I do what I can.” Rick grinned. Eric seemed amused as well.

Nick reached over and flicked her hand, getting her attention. “So, tell me why you said yes to Edward Pierce when you said no to me like a thousand times.”

Dana gestured to Edward. “He’s right there. Stop talking about him like he’s not even in the room.”

“Yes, but clearly he’s either pissed at you or crazy,” Nick pointed out.

“What makes you say that?” she asked cautiously.

“Well,” he turned now to face a very pissed Edward, “besides the fact that he looks like he wants to kill me every time I touch you. He’s sitting across from you, not next to you. So either he’s pissed or he’s an idiot, because I sure as hell wouldn’t do that pissed or not. You’re too cute to stay away from,” he said, turning back to her to squish up his face when he called her cute.

“Is there anything I can say that will make you drop this?” Dana asked.