Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Laney
The moment his rearview lights are out of view, I exhale and lean back against my headrest.
Being that close to Ayden brings back too many memories of when we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. He used any excuse to touch me, and I’d let him.
A part of me wanted him to kiss me, but the other part knew I couldn’t handle it.
I’m not staying, and he can’t leave his safe place.
We’d be two ships in the night passing each other, but neither willing to stick around.
He’ll visit his daughter but never plant roots in Texas again, not as long as his father’s alive.
My mom and job keep me there. It’s where Serena grew up and all she knows, plus all her friends.
And now, it’s where Howie’s buried.
Uprooting our lives would be a risk.
But why do I want to risk it all for a second chance at a life we were supposed to have together?
Once I return to my hotel room, I shower and change into clean, comfy clothes. Then I FaceTime Serena and my mom to tell them good night.
“Did you find him, Mommy?” Serena asks.
“Yeah, sweetie. I did.”
Her face lights up, filled with hope and excitement. “Did you tell him about me?”
My mom’s expression behind her stays impassive. She’s worried we’ll get hurt again.
“Sure did. Showed him lots of photos, too.”
“Is he gonna visit?”
“Yes, in a few weeks.”
“Not for the funeral?” my mom asks.
I shake my head. “He has to work,” I tell her, but she can read between the lines.
“I’m so excited!” Serena squeals.
When I explained that I’d be leaving for a couple of days, she wanted to know why.
She knew Ayden’s name and overheard me talking about him to my mom, so when she asked if I was going to find her daddy, I couldn’t lie.
She’s old enough to understand some of it, but I kept the details of her paternal grandparents out of the story.
Although Bryant Carson isn’t the mayor anymore, he’s still a powerful figure in Beaumont.
Everyone knows the Carsons and that Serena is Ayden’s, but no one dared to ask why he left or why I married Howie.
Rumor mills spread like wildfire, but we pretended they didn’t exist. It was no one’s business, but people had their theories.
“You be good for Nana, okay? I’ll be home tomorrow for supper.”
“Okay, Mommy. Love you!”
“I love you, too.”
We blow kisses until my mom ends the call. If it were up to Serena, we’d say good night for hours.
After my divorce, I was ready for a fresh start, and even though dating afterward didn’t work out, I never had the urge to get close to another man. However, it took one touch from Ayden for goose bumps to cover my skin and heat to build between my legs.
A part of me was relieved I wasn’t broken.
The other part was too damn close to begging him to touch me again.
Just as I’m tossing and turning, struggling to fall asleep, my room phone rings.
I nearly scream at the unexpected loudness.
“Hello?” I sit on the edge of the bed, waiting.
“Laney, it’s me.”
I chuckle. “You scared me.”
“Sorry. I forgot to get your number and wanted to make sure you made it there safely.”
“I did, but wait...how’d you know where I was stayin’?”
He blows out an amused laugh. “I’m about to admit something very embarrassing.”
Chuckling low, I snuggle under the covers with the phone pressed to my ear.
“I’m listenin’.”
“I may have called five other hotels before someone directed me to your room.”
My brows rise. “Isn’t that a violation of guests’ privacy?”
“Well...I might’ve used my Southern charm to sway the receptionist.”
I snort. “Still insufferable, I see.”
“Am not! Persistent,” he counters.
“Mm-Hmm. What’d you say?”
“Explained to them someone at the retreat had left their passport. I only knew you were stayin’ at one of the hotels in town but wasn’t sure which one and that it was urgent I found you before you got to the airport.”
I wrinkle my nose at his lame story. “And she bought that?”
“Well, sweetheart...” He emphasizes his drawl. “I can be very persuasive.”
Rolling my eyes, I laugh because I know firsthand how convincing Ayden Carson can be.
“I guess we better exchange numbers so you don’t have to charm any more receptionists.”
“Is that jealousy I hear?” His mocking tone has me biting back a smile.
“No, it’s concern. You could’ve gotten that woman fired for seducin’ information out of her.”
He bellows out a laugh. “Fuck, I’ve missed you. Even when I devoted every minute of my life to you, that little hint of jealousy would still come out.”
“I hate you.” I pout, leaning against the headboard.
“You don’t,” he murmurs.
He’s right. I could never hate him, even when there were times I wanted to.
I force out a yawn. “You ready for my number? I’m fallin’ asleep.”
“Yes, please.”
I ramble off the digits, and moments later, my cell vibrates with his message.
“Now you have mine.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you in the mornin’ then,” I say.
“Sweet dreams, Laney.”
“G’night.”
I hang up the phone and blow out a breath to slow my racing heart.
Years later, he still flusters me.
In the bathroom, I look at my flushed face and shake my head. I’m being a silly teenage girl all over again.
I brush my teeth, wash my face, and grab my phone to set my alarm.
It’s then I read his message.
Ayden
You’re still so goddamn beautiful.
My fingers itch to type out a response, but I know we’ll stay up texting, and it’ll lead to something we can’t have. My heart is already on edge with suppressed feelings I’ve spent years pushing away, but after one day with Ayden, they’re fighting their way back in.
After a restless night, I finally slide out of bed at eight and get ready to meet Ayden.
Then I pack up my bags and check out. My flight is at two, which means I need to leave at eleven thirty to get to the airport on time.
As much as I wish I could spend another day with him and spill the secrets I need to share, I miss Serena like crazy.
I know she’ll ask for all the details, and we’ll spend the next few weeks anticipating Ayden’s arrival back in Texas.
She’s going to fall in love with him.
Inevitably, he will with her as well.
It’s not only my heart on the line. Now it’s our daughter’s, too.