Trouble in Loveland (The Loveland Series Book 1)

by Jennifer Peel

  “You know, I’m risking my life for you.”

  “My dad is all talk.”

  He kissed my head. “Maybe, but I can’t think of a better way to go.”

  “That may be the sweetest thing anybody has ever said to me.”

  He pulled me closer to him, and I easily fell asleep with him holding me.

  I stayed asleep until a little past five when Ryan woke me up by kissing my forehead. “I hate to go, but I better.”

  My head still pounded, but I felt a little better. “Okay.” I peered into those eyes of his. I wanted to wake up to that every morning. I wondered how he felt about eloping. “Thank you for everything.”

  “It was my pleasure.” He sat up. In the process, I sat up, too.

  He put his shoes on while I leaned against him. “I don’t think I’m going to make it in to work today.”

  He laughed. “I don’t think so, either. I’m only working half the day. Josh starts school today.”

  “Don’t forget to give him my gift and tell him I can’t wait to hear all about it this weekend.” I found him the cutest little fireman outfit and fire truck to go with it. I thought it was perfect. He loved his fire truck book and always got excited if he saw one while we were driving.

  Ryan didn’t say anything, he just turned and kissed me once on the lips. I hope I didn’t have morning breath. I’d never kissed anyone first thing in the morning. It must have been okay because he smiled sexily when our lips parted. “I’ll call and check on you later, and then I’ll come by tonight.”

  I nodded, but even that hurt.

  As soon as he left, I laid back down and thought, I’m the luckiest woman in the world.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  That night not only solidified my feelings for Ryan, but it also carried me through the lingering doubts the next few months would bring as we tried to make it work as a couple. But we weren’t just a couple, there was a third and fourth party. The third party I loved more than anything, the fourth party not so much. That night also helped me with another member that had joined the party.

  My dad woke me up before he left for work. He was all smiles when he touched my head like he was checking for a fever.

  “Dad, I don’t have the flu. I think this is what they call a hangover.”

  He laughed. “Your mom could never hold her liquor, either.”

  I knew that from experience, but didn’t mention it.

  “So where were you last night? Do you have a girlfriend you’re not telling me about?”

  His smile dropped, and he fidgeted next to me.

  “Dad?”

  “Baby girl.” He stared at the wall. He took a deep breath and let it out. “I wasn’t sure how to tell you, but Felicity and I …”

  “Felicity? As in your secretary Felicity?”

  He reluctantly turned his attention back to me. “Yeah, that Felicity.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? How long have you been seeing her?”

  “For a while, on and off.”

  I sat up slowly. My dad leaned back, and I rested on him.

  “You could have told me. I’m not a child.”

  “No, but you’re my child, and I wasn’t sure how you would feel about it. I can tell you don’t like Mark, and I didn’t want to rock the boat with you. You’re the most important person to me, honey.”

  “Daddy, I’m happy for you. And I really like Felicity. I guess I know why Felicity has been so friendly to me.”

  “That’s not the only reason. She thinks you’re the best.”

  “I guess I was the complication she told me about when I asked if she was dating anyone.”

  My dad wrapped his arm around me and laughed.

  “So, do you love her?”

  There was a long pause before he answered. “Yes, I think so. She’s quite a bit younger than me, but I’ve known her for a long time. I think we’re a good match.”

  “Does Ryan know?”

  “No, but I suppose he will soon.”

  I kind of laughed. I still felt horrible, I wasn’t up for real laughter yet. “Yeah, I don’t know if I could keep this juicy secret to myself.”

  “I don’t want to advertise it in the office, I think we have enough inter-office dating going on as it is. So how’s it going with you and Ryan?”

  I sighed dreamily.

  “That good, huh?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, don’t go losing your head.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Do you need me to stay home with you?”

  “Remember? Adult.”

  “I know, but sometimes I wish you were still my little girl.”

  I felt the same way sometimes. In the coming months, I would feel like that more often than I liked.

  Don’t get me wrong, there were so many things that were terrific about Ryan’s and my relationship. Like I loved how he supported me. He finished the 10k in a beautiful time of just under thirty-five minutes and came in second place over-all. I ran it in forty-eight minutes, which was a respectable time, but nowhere near his level. But that didn’t matter to him. He was the first one there to greet me when I crossed the finish line. He even had enough strength to pick me up. I loved our sweaty kisses. The look of pride on his face was priceless.

  The day of the race was also the first time Felicity entered our world outside of work. She came to the race, and she and my dad watched Josh while we ran. I liked having Ryan with me as I got used to my dad being with another woman. I liked Felicity, a lot more than I ever liked Mark, but it was still weird. I mean, she was only seventeen years older than me and eleven years younger than my dad. Ryan was quick to remind me that I was also dating an older man. In a way, it was weird that my life and my dad’s life were paralleling each other that way. I never thought we would be dating at the same time and to top it off, both co-workers.

  When I saw Felicity with Josh, it got me thinking. What if my dad and her married and she wanted kids of her own? Would my dad want to? I mean, he was fifty-three.

  Ryan laughed at me. “You could have kids at the same time,” he teased.

  I almost asked him if he wanted to be the dad, but I felt it was too forward and I was a little put out with him. The day before the race I found out from Josh that his dad hadn’t given him my gift on his first day of school, but waited until he picked him up that day for the weekend. After Josh went to bed that night, I questioned him about it because he was really uncomfortable when Josh mentioned it at dinner that night. I was proud of myself for not lambasting him right there.

  “Why didn’t you give Josh my gift on Tuesday?” I asked as we were curled up on the couch together watching Pretty in Pink.

  “Honestly?”

  “No. Please lie to me.”

  He paused the movie and paused himself for a moment. “I was planning on it, but Victoria was in a mood when I went to pick them up. She had been talking to Trixie that morning about the night before and it was over-exaggerated.”

  “You’re kidding me, right?”

  “I set her straight. I told her you weren’t drunk, well at least not on purpose.”

  “Not that I would ever, but even if I was, that isn’t any of her business. I wasn’t driving and I’m an adult.”

  “An adult that spends a lot of time with her son.”

  I sat up and stared straight at him. I saw a touch of ‘maybe I said the wrong thing,’ in his eyes. “And when have I ever been anything but responsible and loving with Josh?”

  “You’ve been great with Josh, but she’s his mom and she worries.”

  “Well, you’re his dad. Do you worry about me being with your son?”

  “No, never. You’re amazing with him.”

  “She’s never going to believe that unless you help her to see that.” I turned back around and faced the TV, which hung above the fireplace.

  “You’re right.” Ryan pulled me to him. “I’m doing the best I know how to keep everyone happy.”

&n
bsp; “I’m sorry for the pressure this causes you. And just so you know, it’s not your job to make me happy. That’s my job.”

  “Really?” He kissed my neck. I felt his warm breath against my skin. “Because you make me happy.” He worked his way up to my ear. “Very happy.”

  I was in my happy place. I sighed deeply. “Ryan …”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m happy we’re together.”

  “Me, too.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  As the next couple of months progressed, I tried not to let the fourth party get in the way, but it was hard at times. It wasn’t anything big, more like minor annoyances, like the way she sneered at me anytime I saw her, or when she threw a fit with Ryan because he placed me as one of Josh’s emergency contacts at school.

  Felicity became my sounding board. She knew a thing or two about waiting for a man and dealing with an ex-wife. Not that my mom and Victoria interfered in quite the same way, but I guess my dad’s love for my mom lingered over their relationship for a long time. They had been seeing each other for a lot longer than I knew at first, like two years on and off. I was surprised Felicity had stayed working for my dad. It sounded like an emotional roller coaster. It made me like her more. She was patient and understanding, but she was no doormat. I loved how she didn’t push my dad, but she held her own ground. I tried to follow her example with Ryan.

  We were well in the throes of autumn, and some days it felt like winter as we headed into November. The holidays were fast approaching, and so was Josh’s fourth birthday. He was beyond excited. Not only was his birthday going to be at one of those places where they had a variety of bounce houses, but his Grandma Kaye was coming in honor of him. I was looking forward to it too. I hadn’t seen Mrs. Carter in forever, and it felt kind of big that Ryan was introducing me as his girlfriend now to his mom, even though she already knew me.

  Ryan and I weren’t professing our love to each other, although I really wanted to. I was straight up in love with him, but I wasn’t sure how he felt. At times I thought he was in love with me, too, but it was as if there was this nagging question in the back of his mind about me. Like how he was nervous that he was taking me to Josh’s birthday party with his ex-wife there and her friends and family. He never came outright and said it, but I could tell he was uncomfortable with it. He kept giving me warnings about them. I even asked him if he was trying to scare me off, but he denied it.

  I wasn’t going to miss it. I promised Josh I would be there, and I bought the best birthday present ever for him. A Nugget’s jersey and three center-court tickets to see them. The Nuggets were my all-time favorite professional team, and I had been priming Josh to follow in my footsteps. I had even bought one of those standing toy basketball hoops so we could play inside when it was cold and dark out. He was getting pretty good at making baskets. His dad and I used it after he went to bed. I loved kicking Ryan’s butt at hoops, and I loved the way he tried to distract me from making my shots. We ended up kissing way more than shooting.

  I was also excited about Josh’s birthday because that was the day I was going to tell Ryan I made it into grad school again. It took some finagling on my part and some evaluations, but CSU finally agreed to let me enter their Master’s in Psychology program. I had been such a stress case about it, but Ryan kept encouraging me to keep pressing forward and not to take no for an answer. He even helped me craft some of my correspondence with the school. More reasons to love him. I had wrapped up my acceptance letter when I wrapped Josh’s gifts. I also included two ski-lift tickets for Thanksgiving, as a gift for Ryan. This was the first year he wouldn’t have Josh for that holiday, and I knew it was hard for him. I figured a day on the slopes and some fireplace and hot chocolate action were in order.

  Kaye arrived on Friday, the day before Josh’s party. Ryan asked me to come to the airport with him and Josh to pick her up and take her to dinner.

  There Kaye stood at Denver International Airport, with her designer luggage, waiting for us at arrivals. She still looked fabulous. It was like she hadn’t aged at all. She exuded elegance and grace as she stood there in her long woolen black coat, with perfect shining, bobbed, black hair.

  Josh recognized her immediately and yelled out, “Grammy,” before Ryan even stopped the car.

  Ryan and I both got out; Ryan to retrieve the luggage and hug his mom, me to move to the backseat, but before I could, Kaye happened upon me and hugged me. “You are a vision and more beautiful than ever.” She held me to her.

  I loved this woman and was about ready to name her my mother-in-law. “I was thinking the same thing about you.”

  She stepped back and touched my cheek. “I think we will be the best of friends.”

  I nodded. I thought so, too. Or at least I really, really hoped so.

  I held the front car door open for her and motioned for her to take my place.

  “No, no. I want to sit in the back with my grandson.”

  I liked her even more.

  Ryan smiled over at me and held my hand before he drove off. All felt right in the world.

  I was even hopeful the next day when we headed to the party. Josh chatted nonstop on the way there. He was excited about all aspects of the party from the bounce houses, to the cake and ice cream, to the presents, and his friends. He had made a few friends in preschool, and he had a cousin close to his age coming.

  I will admit I was a little nervous, but having Kaye there made me feel better. She was pretty anti-Victoria. She made sure not to say anything in front of Josh, but after he went to bed last night, she opened right up. Kaye wasn’t thrilled with Victoria at all. She thought she took too much of Ryan’s money and that the custody arrangement favored her. But for me, she had nothing but praise. I was apparently smart, beautiful, and charming, and not even the annoying kind that Ryan claimed me to be. She told me privately while Ryan was in the kitchen last night that she always wished I was older, so one of her sons could date me. I guess if you wait around long enough, we all get older. She was tickled Ryan and I were together. “There’s this light about him now that you’re in his life,” she said.

  I hoped so.

  Ryan was fidgety on the way there. I reached over and rubbed his neck. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” He nodded.

  “Good, because I have some exciting news.” I was going to wait until after to tell him, but I was already bursting.

  He glanced my way and smiled.

  “CSU admitted me into their Master’s in Psychology program. I start in January.”

  I could see him smile as he kept his eyes on the road, but he reached over and placed his hand on my leg. “I’m proud of you.”

  I placed my hand on top of his. “Thank you.”

  “That’s wonderful,” his mom said from the backseat.

  Ryan and I retrieved the gifts from the back of his car while his mom tried to reign in Josh, or at least tried to keep him from getting ran over in the parking lot. With our brief moment alone, I tugged on his shirt until my lips pressed against his. He joined in by wrapping his arms around me and kissing me deeper.

  He grinned after our brief, yet passionate, kiss. “I’ve been missing your lips.”

  “Yes, I was thinking our lips should get together more often.”

  “It’s a date,” he said playfully.

  “By the way, I have a surprise for you later.”

  “Like after my mom and Josh go to bed kind of surprise?”

  I raised my eyebrow at his seductive comment, even though I knew it was innocent, at least mostly. “If you want it to be.”

  He winked at me.

  I took that as a yes.

  We walked in loaded down with gifts. I had fun shopping with Ryan for them. I hoped someday we would be buying the kind of gifts that were from both of us. Regardless, I had a lot of input, so I guess in a way they kind of were. But I was taking all the credit for what I bought for him. I wouldn’t even let my dad go in on it. I made
him purchase his own gift for Josh. Or more like I shopped for it and my dad paid for it. I was surprised he didn’t have Felicity do it for him. Those two were like teenagers in love. I was kind of jealous. My dad seemed so sure about Felicity now that he knew he had my blessing. I wished Ryan would tell me he loved me like my dad told Felicity all the time, except at work. They were trying to be covert there, but believe me, people were talking.

  Once we entered the fun zone, it was anything but fun for me. Right off the bat, there was this horrible tension when we walked into the party room. Victoria greeted her son with hugs and kisses and then was glued to her friend Trixie (yes, that dear showed up) and her sister-in-law, #wickedwitchOsanna. Osanna was married to Jonathon, Victoria’s brother. Jonathon and Alec were semi-decent to me, but you could tell it made them uncomfortable, just like Ryan. I couldn’t figure out what this hold was that Victoria had on everyone.

  Ryan was good to me, but he wasn’t as affectionate as he normally would have been. And I guarantee, those women were talking about me. They were all dressed to the nine’s and I was dressed nice, but casual. This was a kid’s birthday party after all, not the Academy Awards. I looked down at my vest, scarf, jeans, and boots and thought I looked cute and stylish.

  My saving grace was Kaye. She never left my side. I had a feeling she had a diatribe on the tip of her tongue for her once-upon-a-time daughter-in-law. She kept looking at her and tsking. I could tell Ryan was torn on how he should behave, or should I say who he should be with. I figured it was his son’s birthday, so I didn’t make a fuss when it seemed like Victoria needed his help with everything. Apparently, lighting candles is a tricky business, as is moving chairs.

  My heart had a little twinge of pain when we sang to Josh. He was flanked by his mom on one side and his dad on the other. They looked like the perfect little family. As soon as my favorite four-year-old blew out the candles on his Spiderman cake, both his parents kissed him on the cheek. They both looked at each other afterward, and there was this weird tension. Victoria gave Ryan this look. You know that look that sometimes wives give husbands. The one that says how you really feel about that person. Ryan didn’t reciprocate, but it was awkward for me.