by Gina Azzi
This Time Around
Finding Love in Scotland Series Book Two
Gina Azzi
Contents
A Note About This Time Around
1. Aaron
2. Everly
3. Aaron
4. Everly
5. Aaron
6. Everly
7. Aaron
8. Everly
9. Aaron
10. Everly
11. Aaron
12. Everly
13. Aaron
14. Everly
15. Aaron
16. Everly
17. Aaron
18. Everly
19. Aaron
20. Everly
21. Aaron
22. Everly
23. Aaron
24. Everly
Your Country News
Epilogue
Rescuing Broken
Also by Gina Azzi
Acknowledgments
About the Author
This Time Around
Copyright © 2019 by Gina Azzi
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
A Note About This Time Around
Disclaimer: This Time Around is a second chance, single dad romance. It contains sensitive topics including domestic abuse and sexual assault. It is intended for mature audiences.
1
Aaron
“Is your goal in life to be celibate forever?” My brother Finn’s eyes gleam with amusement. The irritating kind because it’s at my expense.
“What are you talking about?” I slice Olivia’s apple into pieces, adding it to the third compartment on her kid’s lunch plate.
“That’s what you’re wearing to the Fringe?”
“What’s wrong with this?” I glance down at my jeans and white button-down, the sleeves rolled up on my forearms.
“It’s worse than I thought.” Finn directs his observation toward his girlfriend, Daisy, as she and my daughter race into the kitchen for lunch.
They’re giggling and swatting at each other, and some of the anger binding my ribs and oozing into the cavity of my chest lessens with Olivia’s smile. Seeing Livvy laugh again is healing, like a salve to the guilt I’ve been carrying around since Kate and I divorced six months ago.
“Here you go, Livvy.” I place her lunch plate and water bottle in front of her place setting, taking an extra moment to appreciate that she’s here, in my kitchen, with me. Her mother had her in Paris for the entire month of July, and between Kate’s narcissistic tendencies and her lover’s apathetic life outlook, my daughter returned home a different person.
In one short summer, Olivia transformed from a bubbly, energetic seven-year-old into a withdrawn, uninterested stranger. One glance into Liv’s sad eyes has my blood pressure spiking, my anger toward Kate clouding all rational thought. Why the hell did she have to ruin our family? Why is she putting Olivia through this much heartache at such a tender age?
I can’t allow Kate’s shortcomings to affect Olivia any more than they already have. Now that my daughter is back in Scotland, I need to make sure she knows she has one parent she can count on; that she’s my top priority and sole focus.
“Thanks, Daddy.” She gifts me a sweet smile, her pigtails falling forward as she drops her head to bite into the sandwich I prepared for her.
“What’s worse than you thought?” Daisy asks Finn, and he turns, gesturing toward me.
Daisy bites back a chuckle, her gaze sweeping over me. “Aar, you know I think you’re pretty amazing, but you can’t wear that to the Fringe.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“It’s too serious. This is a music festival for creatives, a celebration of individuality. We’re taking Olivia to see the street performers, enjoy some kid shows. Don’t you have anything more… fun?”
“Fun?”
“Yeah, you know… like a T-shirt?”
Finn snorts his laughter, loud and obnoxious.
I glare at him, and he holds up his hands for a second before wrapping an arm around Daisy’s waist and tugging her against his frame. “Don’t get ornery, mate. We’re trying to help you.” He glances at Olivia before mouthing to me, “Get laid.”
“What does Daddy need help with?” Olivia asks curiously, missing nothing.
“His fashion sense,” Finn tells her seriously.
“Oh.” She looks at me. “I like how you look, Daddy.”
“That’s good, Liv, since your opinion is the only one I care about.”
“Just… a T-shirt, okay?” Daisy tries again. “More casual.”
Blowing out a deep breath, I yank on the back of my neck. I know Finn and Daisy have my best interests at heart, at least what they think are my best interests. They want to see me going out to blow-off steam, open to dating, maybe even actually dating. They want to know that I’m moving on from my divorce, letting go of some of the anger and bitterness that eats at my stomach like acid.
But fuck, it’s hard. Everything reminds me of Kate. Songs on the radio, ties I wore to special occasions, an Italian restaurant I pass on my way to work each morning. And every single thing I connect to her causes the swell of fury over the destruction she caused to expand. And the anguish I feel over my own failures to multiply.
When the hell is the growing bubble of disappointment going to pop?
Kate ruined too much. She stole a piece of my heart, a chunk of Olivia’s innocence, and ground them between her fingers until they disintegrated into nothingness.
And now, there’s nothing left for me to give to any female, unless her name is Olivia.
Meeting my brother and his girlfriend’s expectant gazes, I blow out a breath, like air leaking from a balloon, defeated. “A T-shirt.”
“Thank God,” Finn mutters as Daisy lets out a “Hallelujah.”
“Today is going to be fun,” Daisy calls after me as I leave the kitchen and walk down the hallway to my bedroom to change.
I raise a hand in acknowledgement, unsure if I even know how to have fun anymore.
The Fringe is a pretty big deal.
With more than 50,000 performances spanning three weeks on stages all across Edinburgh, The Fringe is a massive celebration of the arts in all forms—dance, theater, comedy, music, etc. Tourists and festival-goers flock to the city, overwhelming Edinburgh with traffic and litter in addition to individuality and creativity. It’s a pretty awesome time and it reinvigorates my perspective as a marketing executive at one of the biggest firms in the UK.
Walking down the Royal Mile, Olivia’s attention swings frantically from one street performance to the next. Bright colors, vivid patterns, and loud noises wrap us up in a creative bubble buzzing with energy.
“Look, Daddy,” She points at a dragon, the mask twisting and turning in beat to a thumping bass.
“That’s pretty awesome.” I squeeze her small hand in mine.
“I’m going to grab a program for the c
hildren’s shows. Maybe we can catch one while we’re here.” Daisy points to an information booth.
“Okay, we’ll be around here.”
It’s hot today, the sun pounding on our backs. Frowning, I shift Olivia’s hat on her head. Does she need another coat of sun cream? Did I even remember to bring the sun cream? “Olivia, drink some water.” I shake a water bottle under her nose, relieved when she takes a few sips before squealing as the dragon breathes fire.
Patting her head, I drop her water bottle into my backpack and falter, my gaze landing on a beautiful woman. A thousand memories slam into me as I take her in, my heart galloping in my chest.
Is it her?
She’s stunning, effortlessly so. The type of lovely one reads about but rarely experiences. Unassuming yet ethereal. Clad in cut-off denim shorts, fringes dangle several inches down her tanned, toned thighs. A flimsy, light pink tank top shows off her shoulders as strands of silver and gold necklaces decorate her slender neck, throwing the sunlight like a prism.
Something about the way she moves, languidly yet purposeful, like all five of her senses are engaged, soaking up the energy pulsing around her, has me stepping in her direction.
Everly Pierce.
Her petite frame, her shiny brown hair falling in waves around her shoulders, and her sun-kissed skin fills the space of my chest up with awareness, a familiarity that brings more hope than it should.
Is it her?
Why is she here?
She glances up then, as if she heard my silent question, and her eyes slam into mine.
Green—a mixture of sage and moss and olive—a shade so unforgettable, it’s imprinted in my mind, even though nearly fifteen years have passed since I’ve seen her.
Her mouth drops open, full lips I once kissed, parting in shock as confusion ripples over her expression. She shakes her head the slightest bit, and the jewelry around her neck shimmers. Wide eyes bleeding with recognition scan my face, searching for confirmation that it’s me, here, now. She takes a step forward, as if on auto-pilot, and stumbles, the ground rushing up to meet her.
“Everly.” Placing Olivia’s hand in Finn’s, I bolt toward her.
2
Everly
One glance into Aaron Anderson’s cerulean eyes shocks my system, causing me to literally trip over air.
My heart rate spikes, each beat tripping over the last, like a sprinter who’s taken too many months off. The sticky heat coating the back of my neck spreads, slow and thick, like molasses moving through my veins. My palms grow clammy, my eyes widen, and I freeze. But really, how could I not?
It’s Aaron freaking Anderson.
The first boy to properly kiss me.
Not sweet and safe like the other boys, but thoroughly and with intention. Like he’d consume me if I tried to pull away.
The first man to break my heart. Not slowly, chipping at its edges, but suddenly and all at once, so it shattered.
I haven’t seen him in nearly fifteen years, but, if I’m being honest, he crosses my mind a hell of a lot more than an ex-boyfriend should. Just watching him move closer, mouthing my name, has my heart scrambling up my throat and my stomach flipping in anticipation. Clearly, my body hasn’t forgotten the touch of Aaron, even though my most recent ex, Corey, toiled tirelessly to erase any trace of him during our four years together.
As if I could ever forget Aaron Anderson.
As if I’d want to.
“Everly?” Aaron’s voice jolts through me and warms my chest, as if from muscle memory. “Is it really you? Are you all right?”
Dragging my eyes up slowly, I know what’s coming. Yep. Once my gaze collides with his, the music festival, the hundreds of people and rowdy street performers, and the swatches of blinding color fades away and Aaron Anderson—the concern shadowing his irises, his muscled, corded forearm leading to his strong hand that gently touches my ankle as he crouches down beside me—consumes me.
God, he’s still perfect.
His strong, unyielding jawline, clean-shaven and smooth, tightens as concern deepens the color of his bright, blue eyes. His dark blond hair is freshly cut and neatly styled with a touch of grey starting at his temples. I grin, the ridiculous amount of time separating us becoming too apparent as I drink in his subtle changes. A tiny scar underneath his left eyebrow, the starker angles of his face, all man now. Does the dimple in his left cheek still pop when he chuckles?
Stop it! He’s probably married by now. He must be. There’s no way his ass wasn’t snapped off the market about five seconds after he ended things with you.
“Daddy?” a small voice hovers near his shoulder, drowning out my mental musings.
My eyes swing toward the voice, landing on an adorable little girl with large blue eyes and two neat braids, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.
“Livvy, this is an old friend of mine. Everly Pierce,” Aaron answers, tucking the little girl under his arm, even though his eyes never leave mine.
“You’re a father?” I blurt, smacking my palm against my mouth in embarrassment.
Aaron chuckles, his dimple flashes, and I grin. “Sorry.” I shake my head, turning my attention to his daughter. “It’s nice to meet you Livvy.”
She tilts her head, her eyes growing even larger. “I know you.”
“You do?” I cock my head to the side, squinting against the blinding sunlight. Apparently, I managed to lose my sunglasses in my tumble. #Winning.
Her face grows solemn as she nods.
Oh God, did Aaron tell her about me? About us?
No, that makes no sense. Why would he do that?
Gah! Did he tell his wife?
But what would she say? Back in college, your dad had an American girlfriend.
Girlfriend.
Is that all I was? No, we were so much more. Together, Aaron Anderson and I were… #relationshipgoals.
Weren’t we?
He has a family now, Everly. Move on.
“Aye. You sing that song Daisy likes.” Livvy hums the tune to my most recent single, “Mending Broken.”
Aaron whips his head toward his daughter.
“You’re right,” I laugh, clapping. “I think your friend Daisy has pretty good taste.”
“Daisy is Uncle Finn’s girlfriend. She always lets me try on her perfume and nail varnish.”
“She sounds awesome.”
Livvy nods, glancing at her father. “You’re friends with her? She’s like, famous.”
I chuckle as Aaron’s eyebrows bend in surprise, the corners of his mouth ticking up at his daughter.
But when his eyes swing back to me, they’re a raging storm of complicated mixed with skepticism heated with desire. The cerulean has been stamped out by sapphire, the edges of his irises blazing like the hottest part of a flame.
His mouth curves into the shadow of a smile and I nearly groan, pinching myself to stay in the present. Aaron is a family man now, not still living in the memories of a college relationship like a crazy person.
Ahem, me.
But, be still my beating heart, his eyes. They’re shipwreck eyes and Jesus, it scares me how desperately a part of me wants to drown in them.
Standing from Livvy’s side, he offers me a hand and tugs me upward.
“Oh fuck. God, I’m sorry!” I wail, bending to grip my ankle as pain rips through my leg.
“Where does it hurt, Lee?” His voice is low and commanding and the effortless way my nickname, the one that only he ever called me, rolls off his tongue soothes the part of me that never got over him.
“Ankle. I think I sprained it.” My ankle throbs now that I’m upright with all of my blood pooling to my feet. Balancing on my right foot, I lift my left off the ground and teeter until Aaron wraps his large hand around my upper arm.
At his touch, my skin burns and chills, a shudder radiating throughout my body. His breath catches, but I don’t look at him, knowing if I do, it will be too much. Too overwhelming. He was always too much for me to handle.
Once upon a time, hell, even five seconds ago, I wanted nothing more than to drown in the deep blue pools of his gaze. Now, I know better, and you better believe I’m reaching for that life preserver—my sanity depends on it.
Stay strong, Everly. Stay the course.
“I got you.”
Gah! I waver. “Is your wife here too?”
Glancing up at him, a thousand unspoken words between us, I watch as his lips press into a thin line, his Adam’s apple bobbing once. He shakes his head, “Not in the picture.” He murmurs, his eyes bleeding with too many emotions for me to decipher. He looks away quickly and gestures to someone over my head.
“Hey, there you are.” A friendly voice with a Scottish brogue nowhere near as thick as Aaron’s, calls out. Moments later, a tall guy with the same bright blue eyes as Aaron’s and Livvy’s arrives and places a hand on Livvy’s shoulder. “Everything all right?”
“This is Everly. She’s a singer Daisy likes. And Daddy knows her. And she sprained her ankle,” Livvy summarizes, her eyes darting from her father to me to the newcomer who can only be Aaron’s brother, given the resemblance between them.
“Woah, Olivia! You run away from me and meet a famous singer? How is this going to teach you not to run off?” Finn grins down at his niece.
“You ran away from Uncle Finn?” Aaron scowls.
“Sorry Daddy.”
Finn clears his throat, earning an apology from Olivia that causes his grin to widen. “All good, little love.” Cutting his gaze to me, he lifts his chin slightly. “Hey, Finn Anderson. You okay?”