Chapter 2
TWO
ROSEBUD
RYAN LEE
My lips twitched, thinking back to the childish game we used to play. Who could break the silence first? Cindy lost every time.
“Well, this is awkward, but it’s only ten minutes to town. I’m sure you can survive being quiet that long.” I dared her.
Then again, I sure as hell had questions on the tip of my tongue I needed answers to. Why didn’t you keep in touch? Do you always make promises you can’t keep?
“Wow, is that the Hopewell farm?” She pointed out her window at the new Par Three golf course recently built on what used to be a prime dairy farm in the area.
I smirked. Yep. Every time. “I think you’ll find a lot has changed in Glendale Falls, if you keep your eyes open.”
Cindy sighed and slumped into the truck seat. “Look, I’m only here a few days, okay? If we could please keep things civil?”
“Civil?” I snickered. “That assumes our current relationship status falls somewhere in the friend zone. Then again, I was used to that.”
That sent her back into the quiet game. I snuck a glance at her and regretted it instantly. Goddammit, this woman took my breath away with her long red hair flowing in curls down her back.
I hadn’t thought of Cindy in years, er, months—aw hell. There wasn’t a day where I hadn’t played the what if game, torturing myself over things that couldn’t be. She chose the city and left me behind. Time marched on—and fuck me, turned her body into one curvaceous woman.
The way her arms folded beneath the swell of her full breasts and tilted those perky babies in the air? Shit, I suddenly needed to adjust myself in the worst way.
Okay, Ryan, forget the woman of your dreams, your old best friend, suddenly walked back into your life and remember how she left you years ago. Or better yet, how she laughed at you on prom night when you poured your heart and soul out to her.
Or recall the kisses . . . Nah, fuck them.
“Not going there,” I muttered under my breath.
“Excuse me?” Her head whipped to mine and for a moment, our eyes met. God, kill me now with those emerald eyes.
I cleared my throat and sat up straighter. “Nothing.”
A few minutes of uncomfortable silence later, I pulled into the gas station and backed her car up to the service bay door.
“I’ll have a look at it in the morning. Hopefully, it’s just a starter or something.”
“You? But isn’t this old Red’s place?” She asked.
“It’s my place now. Bought it off of Red Jenkins when he retired. Like I said, lots of changes around here.” My voice came out pretty snarky, but then again, her face looking at me like I was dirt under her fancy New York City shoes didn’t sit well with me.
After I unhitched her car, I was about to be civil and say goodbye, but I found her standing on the curb with luggage at her feet, studying her phone.
“Shoot. Where is everyone? Why can’t I get a hold of them?” She shouted.
I squeezed my eyes closed and counted to ten. Don’t do it. But I ignored my warning. “I can give you a ride out to your old farm, but I have to stop somewhere first.”
“Old Bessie. My God. If your old truck doesn’t bring back memories…” she started, running a hand along the gray dashboard. Finally, a sweet smile crossed Cindy’s face as we drove down the road. I knew every single memory, too. My fucking heart might as well break again now.
“Yep, I just can’t part with her. Some old things are worth keeping around.”
“Look, it’s been years and you could have left by now. So don’t go blaming me or anyone else because you never dared chase your dreams of leaving this town. You are the entire reason you stay.”
“Nice speech.” I clammed up until we pulled alongside a building down the road.
Cindy Hale had me seeing fire. The kind where I was pissed. The kind where I wanted to strip her, take her hard against a wall, and make her come on my—
The door flew open, and all I viewed in the middle of seeing red was a flash of hot pink and turquoise. I hopped out of the truck quickly.
“Dada!” My little girl jumped into my arms.
“There’s my rosebud.” I hugged my three-year-old tight, all thirty-one pounds of her, while the heat flaring off Cindy’s eyes seared my back.
“Hey, Rita,” I greeted the sitter. “Same time in the morning?”
“Rose was a very good girl today. Used the potty nicely. We colored and played outside in the sandbox. I’ll see you tomorrow, honey.” She turned to go back inside, but not before her eyes glanced over at the occupant of my truck, then back at me.
“Thanks again for watching after the most precious thing in my life.” I headed toward the truck. “I have someone for you to meet, little bud.”
“Truck,” she said with her cute little girl voice, and pointed.
“That’s right. We’ll make a stop, then go home.” In the backseat of my double cab, I put my girl in the car seat. “Rose, meet Cindy.”
“Dee?” She pointed.
To her credit, Cindy turned in her seat, pulled her jaw up off the floorboard, and painted a smile on her face. “Well, hello. Aren’t you the cutest thing? The spitting image of your daddy. And how old are you?”
My daughter held up three fingers like I’d been teaching her.
“She just had a birthday last month. I gave her a huge stuffed unicorn pillow to sleep with because she’s my unicorn, one of a kind.” I couldn’t help but gush over my kid. Safely harnessed into the seat, I kissed the top of her pale blonde head.
At the wheel again, I drove on while my girl babbled behind me. Cindy stared straight ahead.
“It was a one-night stand that turned into more. She’s the reason I stay.” I didn’t know why I felt the need to explain myself, but the situation reminded me of what’s important in my life.
Not Cindy, who would be long gone again in a few days, but my daughter, who I vowed to love and protect the rest of my life.