by Lacey Black
Called it.
“Kate and I are friends, Ashley. Not that I owe you any explanation, but we’ve only hung out in public once and that was the festival.” I decide to gloss over the time we invited her to join us for pizza.
“She won’t replace me,” she bites, her eyes burning with anger.
“Of course she won’t. You’re Max’s mom, Ash. I’d never try to replace you in his eyes,” I reassure, trying to calm the storm brewing across from me, though it is true.
“Just in your eyes, huh?” she sasses, the hurt and anger still very much alive and well.
Exhaling, I close my eyes for a moment. What the hell am I supposed to say that won’t piss her off further? Our relationship has been more of a ticking time bomb than anything else, especially in the last year. I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want to fight or argue or anything anymore. I’m just…tired.
“Ash, what’s done is done. We weren’t right for each other. We tried. Maybe it was doomed from the beginning or maybe it happened somewhere along the way. I don’t know. What I do know is we’re tied together for the rest of our lives. We have an amazing little boy who needs both of his parents. We need to let go of the past so we can move forward and be the best we can for our son.”
She snickers at me and throws her purse over her shoulder. “Sure, move forward. Easy for you to say when the one you’ve always wanted returns to town, huh? Should be no problem for you to move forward. Anyway, I’m not kidding about the dating thing. I don’t want you to bring dates around our son.”
I rub my temples as a full-blown monster headache starts to spread. “Ash, I won’t bring random women around Max, but I won’t keep Kate from him. She’s my friend and the few times they’ve interacted, she’s been great with him. He likes her.”
My ex-wife snorts and rolls her eyes. “She bought him with money. Of course he likes her.”
I know this conversation needs to be done, and the only way to accomplish that is for me to quit engaging. Kate didn’t buy him, at least not the way Ashley is referring to. A few quarters in the dirt isn’t like she bought him a new gaming system or a bike just so he’d like her. She was entertaining him while I was on the phone. Four quarters does not equal buying someone, but there’s no reasoning with Ashley when she gets like this.
Stepping back to the door, I grab Max’s bag and walk onto the porch. “Call my phone later when you’re ready to speak with him. I’ll make sure he’s nearby.”
“You do that,” she replies as she follows me onto the porch, closing and locking the door behind her as she goes.
Heading to my truck, I find Max kneeling on the driver’s seat, wheel in hand and pretending to drive. “Did you obey all the stop signs?” I ask my happy four-year-old.
“I wasn’t really driving, Daddy,” Max laughs, the sound a balm that soothes my soul.
“Well, that’s good. I don’t recall you getting a license,” I say opening up the door to the back seat. “Climb over so I can get you strapped in.”
“Bye bye, Maxi. Mommy loves you,” Ashley sings over my shoulder as I get our son buckled into his booster seat.
“Bye, Mommy! Love you!”
Ashley doesn’t acknowledge me, and that’s okay. I’m more than ready to get out of here. Max and I have the day together, and I know just what we should do. We’re going to grab the tee ball stuff and head to the park. I can pack a small cooler with a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and bottles of water. We’ll make a morning out of it, swinging, sliding, and running the bases. Then, after lunch, we can head back to my place so we can get cleaned up and maybe relax a bit before I have to pick up Kate.
This day is definitely looking up.
Chapter Fourteen
Kathryn
I’ve almost worked myself into a frenzy. I talked myself out of going with Jensen and Max at least a dozen times. There’s no reason for me to be in the mix of his family time on a holiday, right? Exactly! I’ll just be in the way. Plus, his mom probably doesn’t even want me around; you know, considering I broke her son’s heart and all.
My heart is pounding in my chest when I hear his truck pull through the gate. I’m just going to politely tell him I’m not going. Maybe that I have a headache or something. Or a stomach bug! Those are contagious.
Before I can finalize my way out of this afternoon’s festivities, the doorbell rings, startling me. Since I’m standing in the foyer, I take the couple of steps to the door and pull it open.
And my heart melts.
There at the doorway is Max Grayson, smiling up at me with a wide, toothy grin on his face, and holding a bouquet of handpicked wildflowers. “Hi, Kate! These are for you,” he says as he thrusts the treasures in his hand at me.
“Oh, thank you so much, Maximo,” I coo, reaching for the buds.
Max giggles before me. “It’s not Maximo, silly! I’m just Max!” he hollers through his laughter.
“Well, Just Max, these may be the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever received,” I assure him, taking a step back and allowing them to enter the house.
“Daddy helped me cutted them,” he says as he quickly kicks off his shoes at the doorway.
“Cut them, and we’re not staying, Max. We’re just here to pick Kate up and take her with us to Grandma’s,” Jensen says, standing in the doorway with a grin on his face.
“Oh, about that,” I start, glancing his way. I’m prepared to give him my I don’t think I’m going speech, when Max comes up and takes my free hand.
“Come on, Kate. We’ll put the flowers in water and then go see my grandma. She maked me some cookies!” Between the twinkle in his baby blues and the warmth spreading up my arm from where our hands are joined, I know there’s no way I could ever tell him I’m not going now. I quickly realize I’d probably go anywhere with this little boy.
I smile down at him as I lead him toward the kitchen. “She made you some cookies,” I correct, like I heard Jensen do, and ask, “What kind of cookies?”
“Chocolate chip!”
I gasp with a dramatic hand on my chest. “My favorite are chocolate chip,” I tell him as I pull out one of the stools under the island.
Max climbs up on the stool and crawls on the counter. I don’t say a word, just head over to where I think I put the vases. Fortunately, I find one in the second box I check and return to where I left my handsome little helper. I fill the vase about three-quarters of the way with water and step back while Max arranges the blooms in the vase.
“Perfect,” I tell him when he places the last flower and turns my way.
“Looks good, huh? Do they smell good, Kate?” he asks and watches, waiting expectantly for me to take a big ol’ whiff.
I make a dramatic show of inhaling. “They smell amazing,” I insist, grabbing the vase. “I have an idea. Why don’t we put them in the center of the dining room table?”
“Okay,” he says, shrugging his shoulders and crawling off the counter.
It’s the first time I notice Jensen leaning against the doorway, a small smile playing on his lips. The look he gives is part amusement and part longing. It makes my heart rate kick up a few thousand beats. “How about over here?” I ask when we reach the formal dining room. No, I’m not exactly a formal dining person even though I grew up eating most of my meals there. I’d much rather sit in the kitchen, around a small table where you can reach over and touch the people around you. Not some big, formal monstrosity of a table where you can’t even pass a bowl of potatoes to the person next to you.
“Daddy, do you like it?” Max asks his father as I place the vase in the center of the table and turn it until the best side is facing the entrance.
“I love it. You picked great flowers, Max.”
His son gives him a cheeky grin. I bend down and place a kiss on Max’s forehead. “Thank you for the flowers, Just Max. I love them.”
“I picked them, but Daddy had to cut them with his knife.”
“Smart to let Daddy do all
the cutting,” I tell the four-year-old. “Now that we have the flowers taken care of, are you ready to go?”
Max nods feverishly and turns to head back to the foyer. His little hand slips into mine as we make our way to the front door. I can feel Jensen behind me, but he doesn’t say a word. Instead, he just locks the door and follows us out. When we reach his truck, he helps his son climb up into the back seat and get buckled in. I watch, transfixed by the simple task of father and son securing a seat belt, until they’re done and the door is closed.
Jensen reaches around me and opens my door. “Thank you,” I tell him.
“For what?” he asks. It’s the first time I realize we’re standing close. Very close, actually. I could set my hand on his chest or maybe even step forward and feel his arms wrap around me. Our lips would be dangerously close too.
“For the flowers.”
“They were Max’s idea,” he says, glancing to the side to where his son sits in the back seat. “They were growing wild in the ditch down the road and he thought we needed to stop and pick some.”
“That’s a sweet thing to do. Did you teach him that?”
Jensen shrugs. “Yeah. Last year, we stopped once on our ride home and picked some flowers for his mom.”
“That’s nice.”
He nods.
There’s a several second pregnant pause and my anxiety starts to kick up a notch. “I was going to try to get out of it,” I blurt out.
He takes that half step in my direction, and suddenly, I can feel his body heat radiating against me. “Out of what?” he asks, though I think he already knows the answer.
“Today. I wasn’t sure it was wise I come,” I confess.
He toys with a strand of hair before moving it behind my ear. “I know we have some things to talk about, but I’m really glad you’re coming with us. Max enjoys spending time with you, and frankly, I’d love to hang out with you too.”
“He’s an amazing little boy,” I tell him, though I’m sure it’s nothing he doesn’t already know.
Jensen smiles softly before releasing my hair. His hand is suddenly cupping my cheek and running his thumb along my jaw. “Thank you for being so awesome with him,” he whispers.
I start to lean forward before I even realize what I’m doing. “It’s easy to do when he’s such a great kid.” My words are whispered, my breath bouncing off his lips.
And then those lips I’ve been longing to kiss since he left yesterday slide softly across mine. It’s a tender kiss, yet one that packs quite the punch to my ovaries. I don’t know if it’s the kiss or the man with the magical lips and the fact he’s an astounding dad, but something deep inside me pulls hard and it’s like my biological clock actually starts to tick.
“Let’s go! Grammy has chocolate chip cookies!” Max hollers from the back seat, making us both laugh.
“We better get going,” I mutter. Though, I wouldn’t mind exploring more of that kiss.
“We better or he’s liable to climb behind the wheel and drive himself to Grandma’s,” Jensen quips. He takes a step back, putting a little distance between us, and helps me climb inside the truck. Before he pulls away, he leans forward and places a gentle kiss on my forehead. Without a word, he moves back and shuts the door.
Max chats the entire ride to Grayson Bed and Breakfast, so I don’t even have another opportunity to get nervous. It’s surprisingly comforting to sit there and listen to father and son chat about playing at the park earlier today. Apparently, Max wanted to go down the big slide, but the only way he would do it was if Jensen went with him. I only wish I would have been there to capture the moment with a photo.
When we pull off the road and onto the shaded lane that leads to his family’s bed and breakfast, I start to break out in a sweat. All those nerves I wasn’t feeling on the ride are now alive and well, furiously causing some major sweaty pits under my shirt.
Glancing around the property, I see it’s in much of the same shape as I remember. The yard is lush and green and the shrubbery hedged perfectly, no doubt at the hand of the man beside me. The blooms are vibrant and colorful, even as we approach the end of summer, and the old garage looks freshly painted. The Grayson homestead sits proudly in the center of it all, a spacious house turned bed and breakfast.
There are a handful of vehicles here, but I don’t see any sign of Jensen’s family or of the guests who are staying. I’m glancing around the homestead, taking in the few changes they’ve made and pretty much lost in my thoughts, and don’t even realize we’ve parked and the truck is shut off until Jensen appears at the passenger door.
“You okay?” he asks as he opens my door.
“Yeah.”
Warm hands slide against my cheeks as he turns me to face him. “Breathe, Butterfly. No one’s going to bite you. Don’t look so scared,” he says with a lopsided grin.
“I know that,” I reply as I unbuckle my seat belt, but I’m not really sure that’s the truth. I’m terrified one of them might actually bite me (figuratively, that is) for all of the heartache and damage I caused Jensen.
“Stop thinking about that,” he insists, his thumb now caressing my bottom lip.
“I can’t,” I whisper, my tongue slipping out and tasting the tip of his thumb. His eyes flare before narrowing in on my mouth.
“You’re making it real hard not to just throw you back in this truck and take you to the nearest bed,” he whispers, careful the young ears behind him don’t overhear.
“That wouldn’t be so bad,” I confess, not really minding at all if Jensen were to strip me naked and have his wicked way with me again.
“Naughty girl,” he replies, leaning in and placing a tender kiss on my lips. “Don’t worry about anyone else. No one is going to be upset you’re here.”
“I guess I’ll believe that when I see it.”
Jensen exhales. “It’ll be fine. Besides, I’ve already talked to my mom about you.”
Okay, I wasn’t expecting that. “You have?”
He nods. “Saturday morning, before our date to the festival.”
After a few long seconds, he doesn’t elaborate. “And?”
“And she’s happy you’re back in town and can’t wait to see you again.”
“Even after…everything?”
“Yes, Kate, even after everything. There was a force keeping us apart, but it wasn’t one of us, and frankly, we’re the only ones who matter anyway. Just you and me,” he replies with a shrug.
“And me! Don’t forget me!” Max hollers behind his dad.
I can’t help but giggle. “Yes, and Just Max. We can’t forget him.”
“Of course,” Jensen says, smiling over his shoulder at his son. “You ready to go back and see Grandma?” he asks, resulting in Max jumping up and down and practically running toward the backside of the house. “As you can tell, he loves coming here.”
With my hand tucked in his, Jensen helps me down from his truck and shuts the door. “I can see that.”
He stops us before we get too far away from the truck and pulls me into his arms. I glance around, afraid someone might be watching. “It’ll be okay, Kate. I promise.”
Deciding to put all of my faith in this man, I give him a quick nod in agreement and go up on my tiptoes, placing a kiss on his lips. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asks, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“For just being you.”
“That’s easy,” he says, bringing my hand up to his mouth and kissing my knuckles. “You bring out the good in me. I’m my best me when I’m around you.”
I feel the slightest blush and can’t fight the grin. As far as compliments go, that’s a pretty damn good one. Hand in hand, we head in the same direction Max went, eventually emerging in the backyard of the Grayson Bed and Breakfast. The backyard is almost the exact same as I remember it, except for the updated flower gardens. The small cottage out back has been repainted too, and now boasts a welcome sign with sunflowers.
“That’s where I live now.” Even though it’s been twelve years and she’s a woman now, I recognize the youngest Grayson immediately. I always loved spending time with Marissa. We had a lot of things in common, from our love of books to our art. She was an artist with a whisk in the kitchen, while I was one with a paintbrush.
“Marissa,” I reply, taking in the lovely young woman before me. My arms move, but I hesitate for a second. If she notices, she doesn’t say. Instead, she pulls me into the biggest hug I’ve had in forever. “It’s so good to see you,” I tell her honestly.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispers, pulling back and giving me a warm, friendly smile. “We all have.” She glances to where her brother stands beside me, talking to the tall, built man with sandy blond hair. “This is Rhenn, my boyfriend, but I believe you’ve already met. He lives with me in the cottage,” she adds.
Rhenn sticks out his hand. It’s huge, wrapping around my hand and almost swallowing it whole. “We’ve met, Angel. I’m almost finished with her electrical job,” the big guy says with a smile.
“Good to see you again, Rhenn. You’ve done an outstanding job at the house,” I assure him.
“I’m glad you like it,” he says, taking a pull from his beer bottle.
“The new outdoor lighting is wonderful. I can’t wait for it to all be finished so I can go out back and use it all.”
“I’m sure with the pool, spa, and outdoor barbeque area, it’ll be amazing,” he adds.
“The pool guy will be here tomorrow. He’s going to inspect the waterlines, foundation, and the pump of the pool, as well as repair the fountain out front. As long as there’s nothing seriously damaged, both will be operational and filled by end of week,” Jensen states.
“I heard you put a lot of work into the kitchen. I’d love to see it sometime,” Marissa says, her eyes lighting up at the prospect of visiting the big, gourmet kitchen that’s almost complete at my house.
“Anytime. In fact, when the pool is done, we can have a pool party and you can check it out,” I tell her.
“Pool party? I’m in,” Harper says as she comes around the corner and joins our group.