Chapter 9 Gone

Anushka's P.O.V.

"Can I get back on your shoulders?" Dakota asks Jordan as we head out the hotel's back door that leads to the beach. We kick off our shoes as soon as we reach the sand, and I put them into the bag I brought. Jordan lifts Dakota, and she sits in her new favorite spot. He looks at me while linking his fingers with mine.

"Don't leave me." He says softly as we begin walking. Something in the way he says it makes me think he's talking about more than just right now. I squeeze his hand and kiss his cheek.

"I have no intention of going anywhere." Don't ask me if I'm talking about just while we're on the beach or later, but it seems to make him happy, even though there are so many unanswered questions between us. I try not to let the fact that someone broke into our rooms get to me, but I just can't wrap my head around it. Why would someone break into our rooms? It had to be random, and we were on the first floor, so it made it easy for them. I can't imagine anyone targeting us. We probably should have called the police, but the guy didn’t take anything so I doubt there’s much they would do.

As we reach the festivities, we look at all the booths and pick up a few souvenirs. Dakota gets a pair of New Year's glasses and a tiara. Jordan insists that I get a tiara, too, and he gently places it on my head around my bun.

"There, now I have my princess and my queen." Yes, the cheesy lines are still affecting me.

"Where's your crown? You have to be the king," Dakota says. I reach for a tiara, and Dakota laughs. Jordan reaches for a top hat instead.

"How about this? I'm your faithful servant." He says, placing it on his head with the elastic band under his chin. Dakota giggles as she tries to look over the top of it.

"I can't see anything." Jordan slides the hat slightly to the side of his head.

"How's that?" He asks her.

"Better. Where are we going to go now?" She asks as we get to the end of the booths. I look at my phone, and we only have about an hour and a half before the fireworks start. This is the latest Dakota has been up, but I think the excitement from today has her adrenaline pumping. She'll crash when we get back to the hotel.

"Let's find a spot on the beach to lay our blanket so we can get ready for the fireworks," I tell them. It looks like others have the same idea. When we find a nice spot, I spread the blanket onto the sand and anchor the corners. Jordan sits down first, and Dakota sits next to him, pulling out a few of her toys. There's not much room left for me. While I try to figure out where to sit, Jordan holds his hand out and spreads his legs apart.

"I'll be your chair," he says with a smile. I take his hand and sit between his thighs. I wasn't planning on leaning against him, but he pulled me so his front was against my back.

"This is perfect," he whispers in my ear. I shiver slightly but don't answer. Yes, it's perfect, but will it last? Are these feelings that we're all having sustainable? What if we get to New York and everything changes? We haven't talked about New York. We haven't talked about anything other than Jordan saying he likes us. We both have such busy lives. If we take the plunge, will the relationship survive?

His arms circle around me, and I sigh. As hard as I'm trying to fight it, this feels right. Should I throw caution to the wind and believe that something as wonderful as this could happen to Dakota and me? Can I allow myself to trust a man when it's not only my heart involved but hers as well? Dakota leans against us, and Jordan moves one of his arms to hold her, too. Maybe I can.

"When we go home, will we still get to see you, Daddy?" Dakota asks softly. I don't turn around as I wait for Jordan's response. His hold on me tightens.

"Is that what you want? Do you want to see me when we return to New York?" I know he's asking me as much as he's asking her.

"You make us happy. Me and Mommy were happy, but you make us more happy." I giggle as she looks up at us.

"Is that true? Do I make you more happy?" His question is directed at me as his lips brush my ear. I turn slightly so I can look at him.

"Yes, you make us happy. What about you? Are you sure you'll still want this when we get to New York? We're not always this calm and easygoing. You've only been around us for a few hours." Jordan kisses my forehead and looks at Dakota with a smile.

"I wouldn't give the two of you up for anything. I want both of you here, and when we go home." Dakota jumps up and tackles us. Jordan falls backward, and I'm on top of him, with her on top of me. We laugh hysterically as we get covered in sand, trying to get up.

"Yay, I have the best Mommy and Daddy in the world," Dakota says, kissing each of our cheeks once we sit back up. Jordan looks at me, then his watch. When he stands, he holds his hand out to me.

"It's almost midnight. Let's seal this year with a kiss. We met on the last day of the year so we can begin the new year together, the three of us." I take his hand and stand up. I'm going to do this. I'm really going to do it. It's fast, just like it was with Harrison, but this is different. Jordan isn't Harrison. Dakota takes our hands as everyone begins counting down.

I keep my eyes on Jordan's. When the fireworks begin, he pulls me into his arms and kisses me. He was right about this kiss being better than the first two. I melt further into him with every stroke of his lips and tongue. Dakota lets go of my hand as Jordan and I pull apart. I look down, but she's not there. I look around but don't see her anywhere in the crowd. Jordan and I run through the dozens of people searching for her frantically, but she's nowhere to be found. We scream her name as we run, but there are too many people and too much noise. My heart feels like it's being ripped from my chest as each second passes. Where's Dakota?