by Deanna Chase
“No, no,” Yvette forced out, her insides churning with raw emotions. A lot had occurred to her in the past few moments. Sienna, his ex-fiancée, and their daughter were spending the weekend with him. Is that what he’d wanted to tell her over lunch? Why hadn’t he told her about Skye before now? Had he just been playing her the entire time? He’d told her all about his breakup with Sienna, but he’d conveniently left out anything about the little girl locked in his arms. She wanted to ask why. Wanted to demand to know how he could spend the day before kissing her while knowing all along that his ex was coming to spend the weekend. “I should go. You two… um, enjoy lunch. I’ve got a meeting I have to get to.”
“Yvette!” Jacob called after her.
She paused at the front door of the restaurant and glanced back at him. He hadn’t moved, but his eyes were full of guilt and were silently pleading for her to understand. She shook her head once and then rushed out of the restaurant. Her chest was tight, and she was having trouble breathing. It took her a moment to realize it was because a sob had gotten caught in her throat and frustrated tears had started to roll down her cheeks.
“Dammit.” She forced out the sob she’d been holding back and tried to suck in air. She couldn’t go back to the bookstore like this. And she wasn’t even sure she could go home. The thought of being in her house where she’d been with Jacob the day before was too much at the moment. She needed to be somewhere she wouldn’t have to see or even think about Jacob.
Yvette pulled out her phone and hit Abby’s number.
Her sister picked up on the first ring. “Hey, you,” she said when she answered. “Did you miss me?”
“Are you up for a golf cart ride?” Yvette asked.
Her sister hesitated for a moment then asked, “Are you okay?”
“No. Not even close.”
“Got it,” Abby said. “I can be ready in ten minutes.”
“I’ll be there.” Yvette ended the call and headed for her Mustang parked in front of the store.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jacob stared after Yvette and knew he’d just completely messed up. He’d been intending to tell her about Skye at lunch, but it was clear he shouldn’t have waited. The smart thing would’ve been to tell her right after he’d gotten back from Los Angeles, to explain why he was so distant and had decided they shouldn’t date. But he’d been far too messed up to think rationally.
“Looks like Yvette is a lot more than just your business partner,” Sienna said, not bothering to hide the derision in her tone. Her lips were twisted into the crooked scowl she wore when she was angry.
“Does it matter?” he asked her, wondering how she could possibly care.
“It does if she’s going to spend time around my daughter.”
If it hadn’t been for the precious little girl in his arms, he would’ve stalked right out of the restaurant and never looked back. “Sienna, cut the crap. Yvette and I are friends.” That was the truth. Sienna didn’t need to know that he was falling for her, especially because he was certain he’d just messed up whatever it was they’d gotten back the day before. “And even if we were a couple, you should count your blessings Yvette might be in Skye’s life. She’s a wonderful, loving aunt. You don’t have anything to worry about there.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.” She sat down in Yvette’s empty seat and took a big swig of the untouched wine. “What’s for lunch?”
He sighed and sat across from her, still cradling Skye in his arms. She smelled of baby powder and a sweetness he couldn’t put his finger on. “Crab cakes and salmon salad. Or you can just order something else.”
“Crab cakes will do,” she said and placed the linen across her lap.
“Fine,” he said as Skye wiggled in his arms. He pulled her away from his chest and stared at the smiling, squirmy baby. She was gorgeous with her huge amber eyes and sweet-as-pie dimples. “You’re a pretty little thing, aren’t you, Skye?” he said softly.
“You’re not telling her anything she doesn’t already know,” Sienna said and tipped the wine glass to her lips again.
He raised one eyebrow. “Careful, Si. You sound a little jealous.”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m just tired of all the conversation revolving around the baby.”
Jacob frowned. He’d been wrong. Sienna didn’t sound jealous. She sounded resentful, and he started to wonder what Skye’s daily life was like. He bounced the baby on his knee and said, “Why don’t you tell me what you’ve been up to this last year? Are you still working ten- to twelve-hour days at Enchanted Bliss?”
“At least twelve,” she said, leaning forward now. “We’re turning the Aspen property into the flagship store, so it requires my constant attention. I want to get every detail right.”
“I’m sure it will be perfect,” Jacob said. When they’d been opening the L.A. store, everything she did for the business was well thought out and well received. As long as she didn’t flake out and leave the daily operations to a teenager again, the store would likely thrive.
“Thanks for that.” Her shoulders relaxed, and she sat back in the chair, draining Yvette’s wine glass. She raised the glass in the air and signaled the waiter for a refill. “And thanks for not immediately asking ‘what about Skye.’ I swear to the gods that if I get that question one more time I’m going to scream my lungs out. It’s as if no one can fathom how a woman can possibly shove a baby out of her vag and have a career.”
Jacob stared at her, wondering if she’d always been so crass. No, he didn’t think so. In fact, she sounded a lot like Brian. His friend had always said inappropriate things, only he’d done it for the laughs. Sienna wasn’t trying to entertain anyone; She was venting. “Um, I hate to be that guy, but in the interest of knowing how my daughter is being raised, where is she while you’re working?”
Her eyes flashed with anger. “I make sure my daughter is taken care of, Jacob.”
“Obviously,” he said, not buying into whatever fight she was trying to start. He held the baby up as if showing her off. “Look at her. She’s perfect. I’m just wondering who she spends her days with.”
She sighed heavily. “If you must know, my mother has been taking her. Is that acceptable?”
“Of course it is,” he said, more than a little annoyed at her hostility. “You don’t have to get defensive. I’m just asking questions so I can understand how my daughter is being raised. Don’t you think that’s reasonable?”
She shrugged. “I guess.”
The food arrived, and Sienna dug into the crab cakes with abandon. Jacob ignored the salad in front of him and spent the entire lunch making faces at Skye and feeling his heart nearly split in two from all the love filling him up. He knew the moment he’d laid eyes on her that he’d change his entire life just to be near her, to watch her grow up and be a part of her life.
“I assume this means you’ll be raising Skye in Aspen then?” Jacob asked her.
She shoved in the last bite of crab cake and gave a noncommittal shrug.
“You’re not honestly thinking of leaving the flagship store under someone else’s management, are you?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“Of course not.” She pushed the plate away and started nibbling on his untouched salmon.
“So why wouldn’t Skye grow up there?” he asked, suddenly concerned Sienna was going to pawn their daughter off on her mother, who had a small two-bedroom apartment in Long Beach.
“Jacob, can we talk about this back at the house? I’m trying to enjoy my wine.”
He stared at the selfish creature sitting across from him and just felt sad. She seemed very unhappy with her life. She’d been much happier when they’d been together, he noted.
“Stop staring at me like that,” Sienna said. “You’re making me nervous.”
“I’m just trying to understand what’s going on with you, that’s all,” Jacob said.
“What’s going on is that I was just cleared to drink
, and since we’re here in a restaurant with a bar, I’m having one or three. You should learn to lighten up.” She flashed him a fake smile. “You should have a couple too. Then it won’t hurt as much when she starts screaming at the top of her lungs.”
“You wouldn’t do that, would you, little lady?” Jacob asked his daughter.
“Just give her five minutes,” Sienna said. “Then you’ll be running out of here as fast as humanly possible.”
Sienna’s mood didn’t improve as the afternoon wore on. After her lunchtime wine binge, Jacob had insisted on driving her car as he took them both back to his place. She hadn’t been crazy about the idea, but when he’d said there was no way he was letting her behind the wheel with his daughter, guilt flashed over her features and she agreed.
“I can’t believe you live here,” she said as they were winding their way up the mountain.
“Why not?” He’d always preferred dramatic views. In his mind, his choice of home wasn’t much different than the beach house they’d shared. The houses were a similar style, but instead of a view of the ocean, he had one of the gorgeous redwoods.
“It’s just so… isolated. And the town—" She shook her head. “I know you said you loved it here as a kid, but honestly, Jacob, it’s just so… I don’t know, basic.”
She meant there wasn’t an entire street of designer shops and multiple Michelin-starred restaurants. He wanted to scold her for being a snob, but he held his tongue, not wanting to fight. “I like basic.”
“I guess that’s why we were never really all that compatible,” she said with a shrug.
He gave her a disgusted side-eye glance. They weren’t compatible because she’d apparently been in love with his best friend for years. “You know I was willing to live wherever you wanted.”
“That’s true,” she said, nodding. “But it’s hard to enjoy something when your partner is apathetic all the time.”
He hadn’t been apathetic, had he? Hadn’t he taken her on every vacation she asked for? Made the reservations at all her favorite restaurants? Helped her open the spa she’d always wanted? Sure, he hadn’t always been excited about her trips that seemed to be more centered around socializing with the rich and beautiful people of southern California than on actually exploring and enjoying new places, but he’d gone.
“Stop looking at me like that,” she snapped. “You and I both know you hated my friends and the parties I made you go to. You might have been there physically, but you were almost never there mentally. All you wanted to do was hike or surf or some other outdoor thing.” She visibly shuddered. “I’ve always been more of an indoor girl.”
He couldn’t argue with her on that one. She’d never pretended to be anything other than who she was. But then neither had he. “I guess the same could be said for you, Sienna. You only tried surfing once, and I never did get you out on a hiking trail.”
“Like I’ve always said, I don’t do the sun unless it’s by the pool.”
“Right.” Jacob glanced back at the little girl sleeping in her car seat. Her sweet face made his heart burst all over again. And while he really wanted nothing to do with Sienna ever again, he’d endure her drama until the end of time if it meant he could have a place in his daughter’s life.
“Now we’re talkin’,” Sienna said as the house came into view. “You always did have great taste in real estate.”
“Thanks.” He parked her Lexus in his garage and then fumbled around until he freed Skye from the car seat. He eventually emerged from the garage with Skye and the diaper bag to find Sienna on the phone, arguing with someone.
“Yes, I’m with Jacob. That was the entire point of coming here,” she said into the phone.
Jacob started to make his way up the steps, wanting to get the baby out of the cold, but he froze when he heard her next words.
“Come on, Bri, give me a break. I’m doing what you asked. What more do you want from me?”
What he asked? Was Brian the reason why she’d told Jacob about his child? Had she only come clean because Brian had forced her hand? Jacob hadn’t spoken to his ex-friend since Sienna had run off to be with him. But Jacob had to admit that if Brian knew Skye was Jacob’s child, he’d insist Sienna tell him about it. He hated lies. It had been part of the reason the betrayal had been so brutal. He’d never have expected his friend to behave toward him in such a way.
“No, I haven’t. I just got here. Fine. I’ll call you tonight.” She ended the call. When she turned around, she jumped as if she hadn’t expected to see him there. “Were you eavesdropping?”
“Not on purpose.” At least it hadn’t started out that way.
“Well, I guess you figured out that was Brian,” she said as she swept up the stairs past him.
“Yes. I got that impression.” He handed her the key to unlock the door while he continued to cradle Skye.
She got the door open and strode in, letting out a small gasp when she spotted his view. He followed her and set the diaper bag down on his coffee table.
“It’s lovely, Jacob,” she said softly, sounding for the first time that day like the woman he’d once known and loved. “I can see why you love it. Still a little remote for my taste, but it’s much better than what I was imagining.”
He refrained from rolling his eyes. Her snobbery knew no bounds. “It’ll do.” He reluctantly lifted the baby off his shoulder and started to hand her to Sienna, but she took a step back and shook her head.
“This is your weekend, Jacob. That means you’re the primary caregiver.”
He frowned at her. “So you’re not even going to hold her while I unload your car?”
“Nope. I’ll take care of the car. You just do your dad thing.” She swept back outside and strolled down the front steps, leaving Jacob with his mouth hanging open. He couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. Sienna, as far as he knew, had never voluntarily carried a suitcase in her life. She was a big fan of being pampered and was willing to pay for it.
Being pampered was the basis for Enchanted Bliss and why that business was so successful. Sienna had taken every expectation she’d ever had of being catered to and had folded them into the business to create the ultimate luxury experience. For her to grab her own bags when someone else was willing to do it was just bizarre.
But as Jacob sat in his recliner making faces at Skye and bouncing her on his knee, Sienna hauled in bag after bag and a mountain of baby supplies without complaint. When she was done, she headed straight for his kitchen and poured herself another glass of wine. Finally, she took a seat on his couch, raised her glass, and said, “Welcome to parenthood.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Are you okay with stopping at Dad’s?” Abby asked Yvette as they cruised by the river that ran through town.
“Absolutely. We need to check on him anyway and make sure he’s taking it easy. Did you know he’d started treatments again?” Yvette asked as the golf cart puttered along at the top speed of eighteen miles an hour.
“No.” Abby scowled. “Do you know why he passed out? Was it the chemotherapy or something else?”
“He just overdid it and let himself get dehydrated, that’s all.”
“Right.” She turned down the road that led to their childhood home. “I’m positive it’s because he ran out of the energy potion I was making for him, and he didn’t want to ask me to make more right before the wedding. Then he continued to push his limits anyway. Can you believe him?”
Unfortunately, Yvette could believe her father would do such a thing. He’d always been the one they all leaned on. Now that he had to lean on them, he was having trouble accepting his new circumstances. “Yes. He’s a stubborn old bird.”
“Okay, tell me what happened,” Abby said.
“When dad passed out? He was in his office and—”
“No. I already heard about all of that. I mean what happened to provoke this emergency golf cart ride.”
Yvette shrugged, suddenly not at all interested
in talking about Jacob. The image of him with Sienna and their child was making her nauseated.
“Vette, come on. Something happened. You need to spill; otherwise, I’m going to just start guessing. Like did you walk into the coffee shop and find Isaac groping Jake? Or did you lose a cash deposit on the way to the bank, and now the shop is in danger of going under? How about you hit on a twenty-two-year-old college guy in the department store, and his mother happened to be a few feet away picking out his new underwear?”
Yvette let out a bark of laughter. “No, no, and oh my goddess, that would’ve been hilarious, but no. Not even close.”
“So, it really doesn’t have anything to do with Isaac?” she asked, her expression serious now.
“No, nothing like that.” Yvette took a deep breath. “Okay, you’ve been gone for the past two weeks, so you’ve missed a lot.”
“Noel filled me in on some things, like how you took Clay’s friend home with you the night of the wedding.” She pumped her eyebrows then glanced at Yvette’s abdomen. “Oh, jeez. You’re not pregnant, are you? Tell me you used protection.”
Yvette rolled her eyes. “No, I’m not pregnant, and yes, protection was used.”
“Okay, that’s good. One crisis averted anyway.” Abby grinned at her sister. “I also hear that Jacob is your new business partner. Is that the problem? Has he decided he can’t keep his hands off you, and now you’re stuck with fending off a gorgeous guy on a daily basis? I mean, I can see how that could get annoying after a while.”
“Uh, well, I wouldn’t put it like that, but we did sort of start something.”
“Oh? Are you two getting it on in the stacks at the bookstore?” Abby teased.
“Good goddess, Abby. Is this what you and Clay did on your honeymoon? Get in on in public all over the place?”
She giggled. “No, but there was this one night when—”
“Never mind. I don’t think I want to hear this,” Yvette said. “If you must know, Jacob and I only had the one night together, and then we were trying to keep it professional.”