Chapter Three Audrey
Chapter Three
Audrey
Being placed in one of the two honeymoon suites at Silver Ridge Retreat, which my ex-husband owned, was probably the epitome of irony. Nothing like spending the night alone in a room designed for romance, especially after a break-in at my home where my ex had to come to my rescue.
Thank God for him being there in the nick of time. Thank God for a lot of things. Including the fact I had a safe place to stay and could be near my son, even if safe also meant a little awkward thanks to sharing a roof with Trevor.
The guest rooms were tucked in one wing of the house and away from Trevor’s living quarters, so I wasn’t sleeping right next to him, at least.
His sister, Eden, had a cute cabin at the back of the property, where their parents had lived when they ran the place. Her boyfriend often bunked with her. He was the sheriff and the first to arrive at the scene of the crime last night when Trevor had called him.
I took a seat on the edge of the four-poster bed, which would remain unused for its intended lovemaking purpose, and clutched my phone to check my last text.
Trevor had unlocked my cell using Face ID while I was asleep. He’d warned me to switch to a numerical password, and I’d dismissed his advice. I should have listened. He’d contacted my brother despite my wishes.
Ryder had enough on his plate. The last thing I wanted was to add to his burdens.
I pressed my free hand to the side of my head where that bastard last night had clocked me with his gun, sending me into unconscious no-woman’s-land for a few minutes, only to wake up with Trevor shaking me and no bad guys in sight.
The ibuprofen the doctor had insisted I take after Trevor forced me to see him to rule out a concussion hadn’t done much to help. The dull, pulsing ache was even worse this morning.
But I’m alive. I wasn’t seriously hurt and hadn’t been taken. Chase was safe and hadn’t lost his mother. And my home wasn’t haunted. That eerie sensation I’d felt hadn’t been a ghost. More like my instincts warning me of real danger.
Ryder: I’ll be there tomorrow with Seraphina and Reed.
Ryder: In the meantime, Alex will watch you until then. I’m sorry I won’t be able to come today myself.
I stared at the screen, fingers hovering, unsure how to respond. How to convince him not to come.
Me: Someone broke in. Burglary gone wrong. Just bad luck. Story of my life.
I wanted to believe that, at least.
The nagging chill crawling up my spine from knowing those men had bypassed Trevor’s advanced security measures told me otherwise.
I decided to delete the story of my life line before hitting send. No need to give Ryder more fuel for questions I didn’t want to answer. He barely knew my story. Just bits and blurry pieces.
We’d only seen each other a few brief times since Christmas, and my baggage wasn’t something to unload over a short weekend or a phone call.
I kept telling myself I was waiting for the right moment to share more, but maybe I was afraid to open up.
Me: All that matters is Chase is fine.
His reply came instantly.
Ryder: And That You Are Fine, Yes?
I snorted softly.
Me: Easy with the caps. I can hear you from . . . wherever you currently are.
Ryder: Unfortunately, I’m in Wyoming freezing my ass off. And sorry, this brother thing is new to me.
Me: Same, but as a sister.
Me: Also, I think we both inherited the worry gene. That’s a thing, right? I’m an overthinker and worrier. You too?
Ryder: 100%
The corner of my mouth tugged into a near smile. It felt strange, even a little wrong, to smile after last night.
Ryder: Are you okay? I should have already asked that. Like I said, I’m still learning.
Ryder had a grounding effect on me. No pressure. No drama. Just this quiet presence—even with the caps lock.
I supposed we’d get the chance to learn more about each other now that he’d be coming. Of course, the idea of my brother and Chase’s father together sounded more like a Navy SEAL versus Delta Force showdown than anything cozy or comforting.
Who was stealthier? Who had the bigger ego? Who could shoot tighter groupings at two hundred yards? I more than likely had those discussions to look forward to.
I shook my head, rubbing my temple again. That only made it worse.
Me: Doctor wasn’t too worried about the bump on my head. So, yeah, I’m fine.
Ryder: And how is Chase? I should have also asked that. Fuck, I suck.
I laughed. Actually laughed. That hurt to do, but still.
Me: You’re a great uncle. Chase adores you. But yes, he’s okay. Thanks to Trevor. He calmed him down last night. Made him feel better. Safe. He’ll still need to talk to someone since he did hear me scream, but . . .
Ryder: I’m going to find who did this. They’ll pay, I promise.
Me: Great. Now, my brother and ex are vying for who gets dibs on the burglar.
Me: Teamwork makes the dream work.
Ryder: You’re hilarious.
Ryder: Please read that with a sarcastic tone.
Ryder: But I’ll try to get along with Trevor.
Ryder: As long as he’s never hurt you, then I have no reason to hurt him.
Me: You might be a natural at this whole brother thing.
Ryder: Funny enough, Alex said the same thing this morning, right before he caught a flight out your way.
Alejandro, not Alex. That was how he’d introduced himself at Christmas. Alejandro Rodriguez. Even his name had swagger.
I sighed. Heaven help me. All the sighs from thinking about him.
Shitttt. I was not allowed to feel warm and fuzzy about men.
I wanted cold, sterile, and avoid-at-all-costs reactions.
It wasn’t just that I felt it’d be too soon to feel anything for anyone as a widow (even if I’d been trying to get divorced)—it was that I never wanted to have romantic anything again.
Period. End of story. No questions asked (pretty please).
Yet there I was, about to crawl under the covers and hide at the fact I had noticed another man. More than that, I may have exchanged a few embarrassing texts with my best friend, Hollis, about him, including how funny and hot he was.
Her great advice, which I’d actually taken, had been: Since you never plan to date again, at least have him star in your fantasies on lonely nights.
And now he was on his way, at my brother’s orders, and planned to share a roof with us. Kill me now. I needed to do damage control to prevent him from coming without raising the alarm as to why.
Me: How about Jason Reed instead?
Ryder: Too late. Alex is already on his way. Should be there any minute. But why don’t you want Alex there?
Oh, I could think of a hundred reasons, but I made up a lame excuse.
Me: I just figured Alex has a girlfriend at home he should be with instead of spending time babysitting me.
Ryder:
Ryder: Are you okay? You got hit on the head, right?
You know what? I was absolutely going to run with that excuse as to why my brother’s best friend did something strange to my pulse. Like elevate it.
Me: You’re right. I’m a little off. Don’t mind me.
More than a little, since Alejandro “Alex” Rodriguez kept infiltrating the part of my brain reserved for “do not think about that” outside of what was supposed to be a few innocent fantasies here and there.
Me: Just focus on whatever it is you’re doing. We’ll talk when you get here tomorrow. Chase will be happy to see you. We’ll tell him you were planning a visit with Seraphina anyway, so he doesn’t worry about why you’re really coming.
Ryder: Okay. Stay safe. Get some rest. Later.
I tossed the phone onto the bed and went out into the hallway, nearly colliding with a couple heading to the second honeymoon suite. How nice for them.
After apologizing, I continued toward the stairs to the first floor.
The house’s centerpiece was a beautiful stone fireplace.
It crackled with flames and cast a warm light across the wood-beamed ceilings of the main living room.
A small kid was off to the side, playing with superhero figures while his parents chatted and sipped mimosas.
Being surrounded by so much life after having my home broken into was somewhat comforting, I supposed.
I followed the aroma of cinnamon and cocoa down the hall and stopped outside the kitchen at the sound of Eden’s voice rising.
“Are you sure you can handle this? I know you said you’re over her, but I’m just worried that her being here might be confusing. For everyone.”
I backed up against the wall, hoping no one would see me lurking.
“It’s temporary.” Trevor’s tone was low and tired. “But what was I supposed to do? Send her to a hotel? She’s the mother of my child. I need to keep her safe, plus Chase needs to be near her. And I . . .”
“You what?” Eden asked him, speaking on my behalf as well, especially since he hadn’t answered her original question.
Did he think now that I was single, my move to Colorado might amount to a second chance for us?
“We can’t be together. She knows that. I know that. And you do too.” I could hear the gruff, measured breath he took afterward all the way in the hall. “But I’m never gonna stop lovin’ her as family, and if something had happened to her last night, I’d never be able to live with myself.”
I couldn’t hear her response, just a murmur passing in the air, as if she was hugging him, trying to erase his worries.
“Mom?” Chase called out, exposing the fact I was creeping outside the kitchen.
Shit.
Trevor stepped into the hall almost immediately, his gaze volleying between Chase approaching and me standing awkwardly, a statue of red embarrassment.
“I was just coming to find you. Everything okay?” I lifted one shoulder, attempting to pull off innocent, but based on Trevor’s tight mouth and pinched brows, he called bullshit.
Trevor’s blue eyes cut to our son’s, and with a tip of his head, he motioned for Chase to give us a moment.
“Cocoa in the kitchen. Go ahead,” Trevor encouraged when Chase looked him up and down, holding his ground in a firm, protective stance in front of me. My little guardian.