Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Ayden
I’m still in shock about the news of Serena.
I’m a father.
I didn’t see that coming.
Though at one point I dreamed of having a family with Laney, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a dad. Considering the relationship with my parents, I wasn’t sure being a good one was in my DNA.
Regardless, I can’t wait to meet her and see what she’s like.
If she likes the same things I did at her age.
If she looks like her mama. Or my grandmother.
Nerves surface in my stomach, and a realization that she might not like me hits home.
I didn’t like my parents.
Although I’d never treat her the way mine treated me, I’ve already missed the first nine years of her life.
Once Laney and I sit at a table to eat, she gives me complete access to her phone’s photo albums. There are tons.
“She looked a lot like you when she was a baby,” Laney says as I scroll. “I hated it.”
Chuckling, I beam at the images on the screen. Several have Howie in them too.
“There’s a lot of you in her, too,” I reassure.
I stare in amazement. Serena Mae has brown hair like me and emerald-green eyes like her mama.
I dig into my food and eat while Laney shares stories about each milestone and Serena’s first days at school. Guilt hits me full force when I think about everything I’ve missed.
My brain is still spinning.
“Do you think she’ll like me?” I ask when we grab dessert.
Laney nods. “She had a close relationship with Howie, and he showed her all of your yearbooks. She loved it.”
“Oh God.” I shake my head with laughter. “Hope he didn’t let her read the messages people wrote me.”
“The ones about your tight end?” She chuckles when my eyes widen. “He let her have them, and now she keeps them in her room. Our homecoming photo is her favorite, though she loved the ones of the parade floats, too.”
King and Queen of Homecoming.
The football star and head cheerleader.
Childhood friends turned high school sweethearts.
We were the epitome of a Texas country song.
“Hard to think that was only ten years ago,” I say, inching closer. Her hair falls to the side, blocking her face, and the urge to brush it back so I can stare at her rosy cheeks is almost too strong to fight.
She sighs, shifting slightly so her eyes come back into view. “Feels like yesterday and a lifetime ago all at once.”
Before I have the chance to warn her, Wilder and Waylon walk up to our table. They’re in their filthy work clothes and covered in dirt.
“Well, howdy.” Wilder flashes a shit-eating grin, twisting his ball cap backward.
“What’d ya want?” I ask dryly, hoping they’ll get the hint and go away.
“Aren’t ya gonna introduce us to your friend?”
“Leave them alone,” Waylon scolds, nudging his shoulder.
“I’m not doin’ anything. He’s the one who doesn’t have manners. But since I’m the polite one, I’ll introduce myself...”
Rolling my eyes, I wait for the Wilder Flirt Special.
“I’m Wilder Hollis. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss...” He holds out his hand, smirking.
“Laney Bennett,” she responds, shaking his in return.
“Wow, that’s a beautiful name.” He flashes her a wink.
“Thank you.”
“I’m Waylon, the less obnoxious twin.” He nods at her with his arms crossed, and she smiles in return.
“Nice to meet you,” Laney replies, glancing between the twins and then me.
“Sorry,” I mouth, and her face reddens.
“How do you know Ayden?” Wilder asks.
“That’s none of your business,” I bark, then stand from my chair. “We were just leavin’.”
Laney gets to her feet and grabs our empty plates.
“Too bad.” Wilder’s gaze lowers down her body, and I’m tempted to remove his eye sockets so he stops eye-fucking her. “Maybe I’ll see you ’round later, then.”
Laney places the dishes in the tub, then I guide her toward the exit. When she’s ahead, I slam my shoulder into Wilder’s.
“I was just being polite,” he offers.
“Well, don’t,” I grind out, keeping my voice low so Laney doesn’t overhear.
“Wilder hates when a hot girl is off-limits to him. You just put a bounty on her.” Waylon chuckles. He’s well aware of his brother’s antics.
We all are.
“Well, he better get used to it. Laney’s leavin’ soon, but either way, she’s not available.”
“To anyone or just me?” Wilder waggles his brows like the shit starter he is.
“Especially you.”
I shove him out of my way once again, then meet Laney at the door.
“I take it you don’t like them,” she whispers.
Opening my truck door, I motion for her to get in. Then I round the front and hop in my seat.
“They’re fine, but Wilder’s a womanizer. He sees a woman and thinks she’s a hot piece of ass for him to play with until he gets bored and moves on to the next. I had to put him in his place before he got any ideas.”
She snorts, and I reverse out of my parking spot.
“What’s funny?” I ask.
“Just thinkin’ how nothing’s changed with you.”
When I get onto the main road, I glance at her. Her hair’s pulled off to one shoulder, exposing her delicate neck—the one I used to cover in hickeys just to tease her.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“You were the same way in high school.”
“How so?”
“Always actin’ like my big protector as if I couldn’t have put that James Dean wannabe in his place.”
Chuckling at her description of Wilder, I think about how she’s not wrong.
“Perhaps, but he would’ve counted that as foreplay. Wilder is exactly what his name implies.”
“And what about you?” she murmurs.
“Me what?” I pinch my brows, turning down the gravel road toward my house.
“Um, nothin’. Never mind.”
“Are you tryin’ to ask me if I’m wild like Wilder?” I ask with amusement.
She rolls her eyes, then looks out the window. “Drop it, please.”
The desperation in her voice makes me wonder if she’s embarrassed she asked or scared to find out, but I have no issues telling her the truth.
“Well, let’s get this outta the way. I’ve slept with three women in the past decade,” I admit, waiting to see if she’ll look at me. When she doesn’t, I continue. “One I dated for six months. The others were casual hookups and weren’t serious.”
She finally turns toward me. “When was the last one?”
“Two years ago.”
Her brows lift to her hairline. “If I’m being honest, I’m surprised you’re single.”
“I’m not.” I shrug. “You’re not married, but are you seein’ someone?” My heart pounds as I wait for her answer.
“I got divorced five years ago and have been single for four.”
“So you dated after?”
She fidgets with her fingers in her lap, looking down at them. “Yeah, a guy I met shortly after, but it only lasted a couple months.”
“Serena would’ve been five? How’d she take that?” I ask, pulling into my driveway and turning off the engine.
“Fine, actually. She’s always been a resilient kid.”
We get out and meet at the front door. Before we go inside, I ask, “Do you wanna take a ride on the four-wheeler? We can go on a trail up the mountain and watch the sunset.”
“Really? I thought maybe you’d have to get back to work or something.”
“Nah, Noah’s covering for me, and Tripp’s doin’ my night checks.” I take her hand and lead us toward the nearby shed.
“Here.” I grab a helmet and place it over her head, then fasten it underneath her neck. “Feel tight enough?”
She wiggles and smiles. “Yep.”
After I put the other on and secure it in place, I jump on one of the ATVs. Once it’s started, I nod for her to slide in behind me.
Laney plasters her chest against my back, and it’s a feeling I never want to let go of. Her arms wrap around my waist, and she locks her fingers together.
“Ready?” I ask over the engine, tapping her hands.
She squeezes tighter. “Let’s go, cowboy.”
I laugh at the amusement in her tone and reverse out of the shed. The ride on the trail is peaceful, and the view is one I’ve become accustomed to. We have another hour until the sun sets, but the golden hour hue bathes the pastures in yellows, oranges, and reds like a scenic watercolor painting.
As we ride farther up, I wave to a couple hiking down and use it as an excuse to brush my hand over hers.
“Doin’ okay?”
“Great.” She squeezes tighter.
Less than ten minutes later, I park off the trail, and we hop off. We remove our helmets, and then I weave my fingers through hers and lead her to my favorite spot.
“Okay, almost there. I want you to be surprised.” I stand behind her, covering a palm over her eyes.
“Ayden! Is this really necessary? I’m gonna trip and fall on my ass.”
“I’d never let that happen,” I whisper above her ear. “Trust me?”
She blows out a breath, shuddering against me. “Okay.”
My other hand squeezes her hip and directs her to keep walking straight ahead. The thin material of her shirt has my fingers itching to touch her bare skin.
“Just keep goin’. Almost there.” I keep my chest pressed to her back so we walk in sync.
“This better be an amazin’ view,” she chastises, and I chuckle.
“Trust me, it’s already good from here.”
She playfully elbows my gut, and I grunt.
“Ready?” I finally ask when we stand in the perfect spot.
When she nods, I drop my hand but don’t step away. Glancing at her face, I watch as her eyes widen and her lips part.
“Wow...you can see so much of the ranch up here.”
“Look behind us,” I say, and we shift. “The retreat cabins are over there.”
“Damn. I wish I hadn’t seen this. Now I’ll never wanna leave.”
“I was lucky to find this place when I did,” I admit, thinking back to when I was desperate to find a job.
“Maybe we can bring Serena here before she goes back to school in the fall.” Laney turns and asks.
“I’d love that. Could you take off work?”
“If I have coverage, yeah.”
Taking her hand, I lead her to the decorated rocks Mallory and Noah painted a year ago, and we sit.
“Can you tell me about Howie’s life? Did he stay workin’ at his dad’s garage?” I ask when we settle in next to each other.
“Yeah, he practically took over by the time he passed. Jimmy was gettin’ too old and tired of the long hours in the heat. Serena and I stopped in a lot to bring them lunch. She adores Jim.”