Love Disregarded

by Rachel Blaufeld

  This was all still taking place in my tiny hallway. The four of us in a standoff—a motley crew—trying to make sense of what we meant to one another and how we all fit together.

  “Whatever.” Tyler shrugged, scowling. “I’m fine. You have a new dad, Piper. Good for you.”

  Piper moved close to her brother and wrapped her arm around him. She was such a giving soul. If Aston hurt her, I’d kill him.

  “Tyler, listen to me,” Piper said softly. “We’re in this together, okay? If Aston’s not going to be nice to you, then I’m not going to spend time with him. Yeah, Dad isn’t always nice, but now you can share with me. ’Kay?”

  Tyler nodded but refused to look up.

  Aston didn’t look up either, too busy watching his daughter with equal parts adoration and wonder.

  I couldn’t blame him. She was pretty freaking amazing.

  Aston

  Back then

  As my body slid in and out of Bexley’s, my blood had never felt so heated. My skin prickled from being near her, on top of her, inside her, everywhere.

  I wanted her for forever, but I’d take this one weekend. It was the fix I’d been jonesing for.

  I’d had a lot to drink by the time Bexley arrived at Milly and Mike’s engagement party. Mike and I had started the evening with a round or two of shots, and then I switched to my old standby, Jack and Coke.

  She’d shown up by herself, sexy as fuck in a skimpy black dress and matching heels. It was probably some bargain-basement special, but on her it looked like couture. At least to me.

  They’d told me to bring a date because Milly expected Bexley to bring some loser, Seth. Unlike her, I couldn’t convince myself to bring someone who wasn’t important to me. For the last four months, all the someones in my life were nothing more than a warm body and a release. I was beginning to hate every woman I met.

  When Bexley showed up alone, I knew I’d made the right choice. Although it might have been the alcohol talking. My dad had just signed me on as a full-fledged partner in the business as an early Christmas gift. Not saddling myself with a poor girl like Bexley had been my dad’s demand before promoting me, in addition to insisting I go to business school now that I was weeks away from getting my bachelor’s degree.

  A few cocktails in, my dad’s requests were nothing but silly semantics.

  Who the hell was he to tell me who I could love?

  Bexley looked gorgeous. The sides of her dress had these cutouts, revealing tanned skin and subtle curves. Her long, lean legs looked fucking delicious in those pumps. As I downed my fifth or fifteenth drink of the evening, I imagined running my tongue up the back of her calf, making my way to the inside of her thigh.

  It didn’t help that she ignored me for most of the evening, drinking champagne and laughing with her friends. But I caught her near the bar.

  “Aston Prescott,” I said with my hand extended.

  A million emotions flashed across her face—disbelief, anger, confusion, lust, and finally, happiness.

  “Bexley,” she said, slipping her hand in mine like when we first met.

  “Nice to meet you, Bexley . . . ?”

  She laughed. “Stop. You already know me, Aston.”

  I pulled her into my side, and her head dropped on my shoulder, her hair cascading all around her face and mine.

  “I was just remembering when we first met,” I said as I kissed the top of her head.

  “Aston,” she whispered.

  “It’s good to see you.” And it was better than good.

  “I thought you were moving on. You said it yourself—your dad needed your full focus, and that included not being with some washerwoman’s daughter.”

  “I hate that you heard that.” I couldn’t stop breathing her in, with her cherry lip gloss and drugstore perfume.

  “I thought you were driving me back to school. I waited and waited, and you never showed. What else should I have done? I came to your office—”

  “Enough. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. You look too gorgeous tonight to be sad. Plus, I’m a partner at Federal now. Nothing my dad can do.”

  That was definitely the alcohol talking. When it came to my dad, nothing stopped the power-hungry, money-grubbing man.

  “You are?” Her eyes lit up like the buzzers on top of slot machines.

  I had no clue how she could be so excited over something that had led to so much pain for her.

  “Yep. Come on, let’s have a drink and celebrate.”

  We did a little more than that.

  I ended up back at her mother’s house, fucking Bexley on her small bed. It was the skin-slapping, aggressive, it’s-been-too-long kind of fucking, not the languorous making love we’d once done. I assumed she was still on the pill, and I didn’t ask any questions before diving into what I still considered to be mine. What would always be mine.

  I marked her neck, and she bit my nipple, running her tongue along my chest. My skin smelled like her when we were finished. Afterward, when I dragged my clothes back on, I decided not to shower.

  I had to go . . . her mom couldn’t find me there. Not after I broke her heart.

  Bexley called a cab for me, and I was gone before the sun came up or I could question my actions. As I dragged myself into the carriage house behind my dad’s mansion, he sat waiting for me, questioning enough for both of us.

  Of course he’d been watching me. He knew what I’d done, and threatened to take away what was mine—my partnership at Federal, and any chance at ever taking over the company.

  When he demanded that I end it with Bexley, once again, I agreed. I owed it to my mom. She hadn’t endured all his bullshit for me not to get that damn company. No way in hell was he going to give it to his new kids.

  A month later, I heard Bexley had married Seth, the jerk she’d been seeing. They’d gone down to City Hall and made it official. At least she didn’t go to Vegas.

  Aston

  Present day

  “I have another daughter,” I said to Aidan, sitting across from him at his overpriced law firm.

  “We know this already, Aston. We’re taking care of all the paperwork you requested, setting up a trust fund and college-saving accounts. But we really do need to talk about the case. You’re wanted for some very serious crimes. The fact you’re walking around a free man is a small miracle, a gift of having money and status—”

  Kicking my feet out in front of me, I stared at him. “Look, I didn’t do anything. We’ve been over this. Someone planted that shit there and then called in the Feds. I’m out on bail because they don’t have a case against me, and they fucking know it.”

  My hair tickled the back of my neck, and I reminded myself for the millionth time to schedule a haircut.

  “This new piece of evidence definitely helps. Do you think you can get them to testify?” Aidan asked, still talking in vague terms because it was a delicate situation.

  “Yes. I’ll handle that. More importantly, I have a kid. A daughter. I want the prick to give up his rights, and I want visitation. I’ll pay whatever Bex wants.”

  Aidan shook his head. “I’m pretty sure Bexley isn’t going to limit visits. I’m not even sure we need to be so formal with all the paperwork, which is odd for me to be saying. Do you need to really poke the bear when it comes to this Seth guy? He could take you for a ride.”

  Leaning forward, I squinted. “Give him whatever he wants. Get him out of my daughter’s life.”

  “Pardon me for saying this, Aston, but you knew she existed. You could have waded in a long time ago. What’s the big push now?”

  “Because she’s mine and the time is right. I had to wait. My life was a mess.”

  “And it’s not now?” Aidan stared at me, and this time it was his turn to squint.

  “You know I’m working on all that other shit. But I’m free of Cass, and it’s time for me to be with Bexley.”

  “You’re a piece of work, Aston.”

  “Yep.” I stood
and gave him a salute before walking out.

  Snatching my phone out of my pocket, I saw a missed call from the star witness in my case. I texted that I would call later, when I had privacy, and made my way to my car.

  Aidan knew I’d wrap this up in a bow for him. Christ, look what I’d done with Piper. I had everything wrapped up tight before meeting her.

  Speaking of her made me think of her mother, and I swiped my finger across my phone.

  “Aston, I’m at work.”

  “We’re going to have to work on how you answer the phone, Bex.”

  “Unlike you, I don’t have a family business.”

  “I might not soon either.” Smiling, I leaned against the driver’s door of my car.

  “Not funny.”

  I could sense her glaring at me through the phone. That’s how it used to be with Bexley. Easy. She said what she meant with no care for who I was or the differences between us. We were two equals. These days, though, I could see a line that divided us. My dad made me painfully aware of that, but I let him. Now it was my time to erase it for good.

  “How’s Piper?” I asked.

  “She’s okay, more worried about Tyler than herself. That’s Piper. Also worried she’ll hurt Seth’s feelings.”

  “Fuck that shit,” I grumbled into the phone.

  “Aston, he raised her. When he didn’t have to, mind you. You have to let her come to terms with this. She’s only thirteen.”

  I felt my brow furrowing and ran my palm against my forehead, staving off a headache. “I know. Don’t you think it haunts me?”

  “Look, this is all new, and she’s a kid. I know you want to make up for lost time, and I’m sure you will. But you have to let her decide how and when.”

  Thinking about what Bexley said, I nodded.

  “Are you still there? I have to get back to work, so I can grab the kids. Tyler has karate.”

  “Yeah, I’m here. Leaving the lawyers. If it matters, Piper is going to be well taken care of.”

  Bexley sighed. “I’m not sure she even knows what that means. She might think it means a limitless budget for makeup. Which I don’t let her wear, for the record, so don’t get any ideas.”

  Of course she didn’t, because she was a good mom. The best. I wished my other kids had someone like Bexley, but Cass was still their mom. She’d done her best. Which reminded me . . .

  “Oh, my kids are having a visit with Cass later. Denise is going to take them and stick around. Any chance we can get dinner?”

  “Um, Tyler has karate. I’d have to see if I can find someone to stay with them. Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, I’m fucking sure, Bexley. If I hadn’t made it clear yet, I want you back. All the way back. I should’ve never lost you, but that’s on me. This time I’m doing shit my way.”

  “Okay. I need to text a neighbor to look after the kids.”

  “What?” I ran a hand over my face. “I don’t like a random neighbor coming over. Why don’t I have Denise send a friend? Someone she knows.”

  “Aston, if you want to have dinner with me, we have to do it my way. I’m not going to bend to your rich ways. My kids have stayed with plenty of neighbors. They’re fine.”

  Slipping into my car, I decided to take what I could get, which was a dinner out with Bexley. I’d worry about taking over matters with my kid later.

  Kids. Piper and Tyler were a package deal, and I was okay with that.

  “Your way, Bex, I’ve got it. But I’m making a reservation somewhere decent. How’s eight?”

  “Eight’s fine. I’ll deal with all of this while I’m waiting at karate.”

  “Looking forward to it. Be prepared for a good time. You know I don’t disappoint.”

  I disconnected before she could respond. Knowing this version of Bexley, she wouldn’t so easily accept a five-star steakhouse, or my paying, or whatever else I decided to do.

  Bexley

  Present day

  Aston knocked on the door, skipping the doorbell, and Piper ran through the house shouting, “I’ll get it.”

  When I’d mentioned my getting together with Aston, an avalanche of questions had spilled from her mouth.

  Is it a date?

  Are you going to marry my dad?

  Do you still love him?

  Will we be rich?

  I assured Piper it was just a dinner between two friends. I knew Aston didn’t think of it that way, and we’d already had sex, but I wasn’t ready to go there with him again yet.

  Am I?

  Tyler, worrying his lower lip, looked at me while Piper ran to the door. “What about my dad?”

  “Like I said, this is a friendly dinner. Your dad is still your dad. I promise, no one is going to take that away from you,” I said, pulling him in for a hug.

  “Do you love me?”

  For a beat or two, I considered not going to dinner. This whole situation was ripping my son apart.

  “Mom? I know you do. I just want to hear it, ’kay?”

  “Baby boy, of course I love you. And you’d better know it. Never forget it. You hear me?”

  He nodded.

  “And you need a shower. Rosalie can smell you all the way at her house.” My neighbor from two doors down was going to come over as soon as she cleaned up from dinner.

  “Mom, Aston’s here!” Piper yelled from the hallway.

  “Wanna come say hi?” I asked Tyler, but he was already on his way.

  “Hey, Aston,” I heard him say.

  “Hey there, buddy. Little A said to ask when we can all go to the arcade again.”

  “Really? Can we?”

  “Of course. Maybe over the weekend . . . if your mom says it works.”

  He put the last part in there for effect. I knew this because he looked up and winked while saying it. I also knew Aston and the way he loved to be in charge.

  “Sunday. You’re staying with your dad on Saturday.”

  Tyler nodded, looking somewhat disappointed. I’d have to talk with Aston about not trying to buy his affection.

  “Ready?” This time it was me rushing to go.

  “Where’s your neighbor?” Aston asked, looking around.

  “Oh, she’s coming as soon as she cleans up from dinner.”

  “When is that?” Aston’s eyes narrowed, a good sign he was about to dig in his heels.

  “Soon. Five or ten minutes. She’s a nursing student, so she’s going to bring her work over. Kids don’t need too much.”

  Aston blew by me and sat down on the sofa. “We’ll wait. Come on, Piper, tell me about school today. You too, Tyler.”

  “We can stay by ourselves for five minutes,” Piper said, her gaze darting between me and her newly discovered natural father. My fierce little protector.

  “We do it all the time,” Tyler said, not knowing he wasn’t helping.

  “Well, not anymore,” Aston said sternly.

  Lifting my palms, I tried to reason with him. “Aston—”

  “No, this is unacceptable.”

  “I’m thirteen. Old enough to babysit,” Piper said, undeterred by Aston’s firm tone.

  “We’ll wait,” Aston said, digging in. “Tyler, do you have a game system? I want to get a new one for Little A to keep at my place. Do you have a favorite?”

  Out of nowhere, Piper said, “Aston, you’re my dad, right?”

  “Yes, but can I ask Tyler a question?” Aston took off the sport coat he had on and laid it over the back of the chair behind him. Most people looked uncomfortable in a crisp white shirt, but not Aston. He looked comfortable as fuck.

  “That’s not what I meant.” Piper dug in equally as hard, crossing her arms stubbornly over her chest. “Well, I know you just met me, but I’m old enough to babysit. I passed my certification at school. Mom has Rosalie come over for her own peace of mind, but you don’t have to worry too. I’m good.”

  Sometimes in the past when I looked at Piper, I’d find myself thinking, Where the hell did she come from? N
ow I knew.

  Nodding thoughtfully, Aston said, “Okay, if you say so.” Then he stood and put his jacket back on.

  Pretty certain he would have debated the issue with anyone but his own daughter, I picked up my purse as Aston turned back to my son.

  “Tyler? Do you want to think about it some more?”

  Tyler shook his head. “No. Xbox. Definitely Xbox.”

  “Thanks, buddy. Let’s go, Bex. Piper, you’ll call if there are any problems?”

  “We have a landline,” I said, answering for her.

  “She needs a phone.”

  Giving him a warning look, I said, “Later, Aston.” I kissed both kids on their foreheads and walked toward the front door. “Okay, ’bye.”

  This isn’t awkward or anything.

  “You look gorgeous,” Aston whispered for my ears only as I started to lock the door.

  “I’m here, Bexley,” Rosalie called from behind us.

  We both turned and found my neighbor making her way up the walkway.

  “Oh, hi,” she said as she took in Aston.

  “Aston Prescott,” he said, and then he went and did it. As soon as he extended his hand to Rosalie, she was Jell-O for him. The guy got everyone with his charm.

  Including me, even watching him give it to my neighbor. I was such a goner.

  “Okay, we shouldn’t be late,” I told Rosalie. “Tyler has to shower. You just need to remind him.”

  “Have fun.” She took in the two of us, her gaze darting between Aston and me as if she were trying to put the puzzle together.

  Certain she recognized him from his recent bout of publicity, I tried not to squirm. In my heart, I didn’t think Aston could do what they said he did. He might be power- or money-hungry, but drugs had never played a role with him. But there wasn’t time to dwell on that.

  There we were—me in a red sundress, sleeveless, but not spaghetti straps. I needed a bra these days. Aston in jeans, white shirt, sport coat, and loafers. He looked like money, and smelled like it too.