Page 27 of Flirt Away

“I totally understand.” She tossed her purse in the passenger side of his truck.

“It’s my mom.” He glanced at Dixie, tucking his hair behind his ears. “Hey, Mom. What’s going on?”

“Oh. Zane. It’s not good.”

“Mama. What happened?”

“We don’t exactly know. Gayle was having a difficult delivery, and they decided to do a C-section. Something happened. They took the baby to the NICU, and Gayle is in surgery. Your brother is beside himself. They won’t let him see his child, and we have no idea how Gayle is doing.”

“I’m ten minutes from the hospital, Mom. I’ll be right there.” He shook out his trembling hands. “I have to go. My brother needs me.”

Dixie circled her arms around his waist and kissed his neck. “Of course. And you need me.”

“No. You go and be with your friends.”

“I’m not leaving your side.” She took his hand. “You’re trembling.” Reaching into his pocket, she snagged his keys. “I know what your family means to you, especially your brother. Now get in the pickup. I’m driving.”

“What would I do without you?” He pulled her in for a warm hug, pressing his lips to her forehead. “But no one but me drives Bessy.”

She tipped her head back and blinked. “Bessy? You couldn’t come up with a better name?”

“My last truck was Stella.”

“Now that’s sexy.” Dixie jogged around the hood of his truck.

He stood there with his hands on his hips and shook his head. “Um. Didn’t you hear what I said?”

“I did. But I’m not just anybody. I’m the woman you love. Besides, I let you drive Jack.”

“Who the fuck is Jack?”

“My car.” She slipped behind the steering wheel and patted the cushion on the passenger seat. “Get your ass up here. Your family is waiting for you.”

“I love it when you boss me around.”

“Don’t I know it.”

He buckled himself in and stretched out his arm, taking her hand. “My mother has been dying to meet you.”

She groaned. “I didn’t think this through.”

Zane laughed. “Too late now.” He tightened his grip. “I hope everyone is okay by the time we get there. Xavier might be a dom at the club, but his wife wears the pants at home. They’ve been wanting a family for a while now.”

“Try not to let your mind start going down the worst-case road,” Dixie said as she maneuvered his truck into traffic with ease.

Impressive.

But, of course, she washisgirl so he shouldn’t be surprised. Dixie could do anything she put her mind to.

“Easier said than done. My mom doesn’t panic easily, and she sounded scared.”

“Hospitals can be scary places in general,” Dixie said. “My mom works there. Let me give her a call and see if she can get us some information. Okay?”

“That would be great, but I know you don’t talk much, and I don’t—”

“This is different. I’ll call her as soon as we get there.”

“I love you, Dixie. I really do.”

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