2. Jenny
Chapter two
Jenny
I took a deep breath to quell the butterflies whirling in my stomach. God, it’s been so long since I had first date jitters. I forgot how overwhelming it could be.
“Nervous?”
I glanced up at the man seated across from me at the table.
Greyson Scott was nothing like my ex-husband—Harvard educated, financially affluent, and the founder of his own law firm in Aurora, Colorado.
He knew how to dress well, too, with a snug-fitting black turtleneck, pressed slacks, and sleek wire-rimmed glasses that made him look like he was ready for a GQ fashion model photoshoot.
He was miles and miles out of my league. I cleared my throat, reaching for my glass of red wine in the hopes it would loosen me up.
“I’m a bit rusty, remember?”
Greyson hummed and nodded.
“Right. Two kids and an ex-husband have kept you busy.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek, gauging his reaction. When my sister, Tessa, gave me Greyson’s number, I didn’t hide anything about the baggage I would be bringing into a potential relationship. Wasting my time with someone who couldn’t tolerate my kids would be pointless.
So, Greyson had the full layout of what he was agreeing to by going on a date with me. And he didn’t even bat an eye.
“Despite everything going on in your life, I’m glad you were able to meet me tonight,” he said, his voice a rich, smooth timbre.
A familiar tug of need coiled tight in my lower belly.
I wasn’t starving for sex, since I still found myself tumbling into bed with Simon more often than I should after our divorce. The attraction between us was a habitual comfort, like the embrace of a favorite old sweater. Soft, familiar, and well-worn, easy to slip into without thinking about it.
Every single time, I swore it wouldn’t happen again.
But I still ended up turning to Simon when life became too heavy to bear on my own. When I needed to be held.
Greyson took my hand, brushing his thumb over my knuckles. I couldn’t deny how handsome he was—with a strong, square jawline, a hint of silver at his temples, and a lean, muscled figure indicating he was in good shape.
The attention was flattering and…exhilarating. I knew dating would bring a new set of challenges at this stage of my life, compared to my twenties, when I first met Simon. I’m a plus-sized curvy woman in my mid-thirties now, with the stretch marks of a body forever changed by two pregnancies.
After more than ten years of my life wrapped up in Simon, I wondered if I knew how to navigate this dance of attraction with another man. Someone who wasn’t my ex-husband.
Greyson made it so easy though, with his gentlemanly manners, his compliments, and his unwavering eye contact.
On Saturday night, the Old Spruce Pub was packed with people.
Every table was claimed, and every seat at the bar was full.
The scent of beer, steak, and fried food filled the air, delicious and mouthwatering.
The buzz of conversation and clattering silverware created a crescendo of noise swelling toward the ceiling.
The wood panelled interior and low light created a cozy, intimate atmosphere, providing the perfect excuse for Greyson to shift his seat closer.
He watched me with piercing blue eyes that made my heart skip a few beats.
“I should be the one thanking you,” I said, leaning in to be heard. “I’m sure you have plenty of options to date in Aurora, and yet you came all the way to my humble little Juniper Creek to have dinner with me.”
Greyson brought my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles as he held my gaze.
“It’s worth the trip for a woman like you.”
My cheeks warmed at his praise. I had prepared myself for an awkward, disastrous first date as I got back into the swing of things. But this was going well—very well.
“Oh, I bet that silver tongue and those pretty words open all kinds of doors for you, don’t they?”
Greyson chuckled and dipped his head, bringing his mouth close to my ear.
“Sometimes. Is it working?”
A thrill zipped up my spine. I sucked in a sharp breath of surprise as a rush of heat flooded through my body. Then his lips met the curve of my neck and I melted with a sigh, my eyes fluttering closed.
My phone rang, slicing through the moment with a jolt of alarm. I gave a disappointed whimper and broke away from Greyson reluctantly.
“I really need to just check that. It could be my kids.”
“Sure, no problem,” he replied. “I understand."
I cast a grateful glance at him, rummaging around in my purse until I found my phone. The caller ID showed Simon’s name. If he was sabotaging my date out of jealousy, I would kill him.
“Don’t freak out,” he said as soon as I answered.
My heart lurched and a thousand worst case scenarios flew through my mind.
“That’s not how you start a conversation if you intend to keep me calm, Simon. What is it? What’s wrong?”
“I took the kids to the park to burn off some energy. And Casey fell from the monkey bars.”
A lump formed in my throat. I pinched the bridge of my nose, willing myself to think clearly and not panic. Simon wouldn’t call me for a minor accident like a playground tumble. Casey must have been injured. I just needed to know how bad it was at this point.
“He broke his wrist, but he’s fine,” Simon added in a rush. “I’ve got it covered. We’re at the hospital and the nurses gave him a round of painkillers already. He’s a little fuzzy now."
“I’m on my way,” I said, pushing my chair back as I rose to my feet.
“Jenny, honey, you don’t have to do that. Everything is okay. I promise.”
Simon’s reassurance made me sink down into my seat again. I was so relieved that I didn’t even think to scold him for calling me honey. Greyson watched me, eyebrows raised in a silent question.
All I wanted to do was get to my little boy. A broken wrist wasn’t a life threatening injury, but he was my son and he was in the hospital and my parental instincts were hitting overdrive.
“I knew I shouldn’t have called,” Simon said, his voice tinged with regret. “You’re supposed to be enjoying yourself tonight. I didn’t want you to worry.”
“I’m a mother, Simon. I’m always worried.”
Guilt gnawed at my stomach as I glanced at Greyson. This was going to distract me. I wouldn’t be able to focus properly with the knowledge simmering in the back of my mind that my son was in a hospital bed and I wasn’t with him.
After interrogating Simon on Casey’s condition for a few more minutes, I reluctantly hung up.
“Let me guess,” Greyson said. “Family emergency?”
“I’m so sorry,” I said, gathering my wrap and my purse. “I hate to bail on you. But my little boy—he broke his wrist. And my ex-husband said he’s handling it, but I just…I need to be there with my son.”
“Of course. Please don’t apologize. Your kids are top priority.”
I blew out a breath of relief, patting Greyson on the chest.
“Thank you for understanding. Can we schedule another date in the future?”
He gave a small smile and leaned in to kiss my cheek.
“I’m looking forward to it already.”
Greyson walked me out to my car and waited while I drove away.
I glanced back in the rearview mirror, wondering if I would actually see him again or not.
No matter how transparent I was about my situation over the phone before our date, it was an entirely different ball game to experience the reality of a divorced mother firsthand.
Just because Greyson seemed sympathetic didn’t mean he would actually stick around for the long haul.
I couldn’t worry about that now. Putting Greyson out of my mind, I headed to the hospital. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot, I spotted Simon standing by the double doors to the waiting room, cradling Mia in his arms as she rested her head on his shoulder.
My heart squeezed at how good he looked—strong and masculine, a protective father. With his dark curls, dark eyes, and black leather cut, the bad boy appeal that first got me hooked was still there.
“I knew you would ignore me and get here in record time anyway,” Simon said.
“Well, I felt terrible just sitting there at dinner, flirting and drinking wine, while my little boy was hurt. Where’s Casey? Can I see him?”
“He’s getting X-rayed at the moment. Then the doctor will call us back in when he puts a cast on. The only thing we can do right now is wait.”
I sighed and petted Mia’s hair. She gave a tired murmur, adjusting her arms around Simon’s neck.
Ever since she was born, Simon spoiled her too much.
I tried to tell him that he needed to stop being such a pushover around her, but my advice fell on deaf ears.
She would always be Daddy’s little girl.
“Your date didn’t come with you?” Simon prompted, glancing past me toward the parking lot.
For some reason, it never occurred to me that Greyson might tag along to the hospital. Should I have invited him? That seemed…too much for a first date.
“No. Why would he?” I replied.
Simon frowned, shifting a dozing Mia in his grip.
“If this guy likes you, he should be by your side. No questions asked.”
I opened my mouth to protest then snapped it shut, gazing out at the parking lot. As if I hoped to see Greyson striding out of the dusky twilight.
But he was nowhere to be seen. Why did I feel a pinch of disappointment lodge between my ribs at that? I couldn’t reasonably expect Greyson to just waltz into every aspect of my life right away.
“This is a family emergency, Simon. And besides, it’s a little early to be making demands on Greyson’s time after one date.”
A muscle twitched in Simon’s jaw.
“It’s never a demand on his time if he really wants to be there for you and the kids.”
I groaned and rubbed my temples.
“Simon, can we please not argue about this?”
“I’m just saying that if some son of a bitch is going to take you away from me—”
“Simon,” I snapped. “We’re not together.
No one is taking me away from you because we are divorced.
And it’s been that way for seven years. I don’t care that your club rules claim we’re still husband and wife just because neither of us have remarried yet.
In the eyes of literally everyone else, I’m not yours anymore. ”
Simon said nothing, stone-faced and silent.
I groaned and turned away, chastising myself. Normally, I didn’t lose my temper like that.
But being with Simon had taught me he was capable of bringing out aspects of myself that I never knew existed. Sometimes, it was fun, especially when it came to exploring and experimenting in the bedroom.
Then there were other times when I wasn’t proud of what I uncovered. Simon could just be…so infuriating. Especially when he talked about me like I was still his wife. I wanted to move on and he was making it so damn hard to do that.
The agonizing silence was finally broken by the rumble of motorcycle engines. Three members of The Reckless Order MC turned into the parking lot, riding up to the curb—Tarzan, Psycho, and Bruiser.
My misgivings about Simon’s club affiliation did not extend to its members or the company he kept. Sure, some of them had criminal records, and a questionable history of morally gray deeds swept under the rug.
Despite all of that, they were good people.
Brave, selfless, generous, and loyal to a fault.
For a long time, Simon didn’t have anyone like that in his life.
Growing up dirt poor in Texas pushed him to desperation.
At first, he stole cars and stripped them for parts to sell.
Until things took a dark turn and he found himself as the leader of a gang.
Ironside, The Reckless Order's VP, pulled Simon out of that life and convinced him to start over in Colorado as a Prospect. Simon had nothing left to lose and everything to gain, so he packed up and hitched a ride across the border.
Over the years, I had become well acquainted with the members of Simon’s club, along with their girlfriends and wives.
Tarzan’s wife, Keely, and I would often spend afternoons over tea and cookies while our kids played together.
Ironside’s wife, Lena, surprised me on my birthday last year with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from her flower shop.
Next week, I volunteered to bake the wedding cake for Psycho and his fiancée, Bobbie, when they got married.
I didn’t hate Simon’s club. But I couldn’t stomach the chances that it might make me a widow one day.
“How is the little man doing?” Bruiser asked, climbing off his bike.
“We brought him a few get well presents—toys, mostly,” Tarzan added.
“And enough candy to give him a sugar high that should last a couple days.”
Psycho pulled out a giant sack of Casey’s favorite blue gummy spiders from his bike’s saddlebags.
“You know I hate those things,” I said. “They’re disgusting.”
Psycho hid the candy behind his back, feigning a chastened expression.
“Sorry, Mama Bear.”
I snorted and waved him off.
“Don’t pretend like you won’t be feeding them to Casey when I’m not looking. His blue tongue gives him away."
Psycho chuckled and hugged me.
“You’re a saint, Jenny.”
“Damn straight,” I replied.
Simon’s gaze dragged over me slowly with the same look that he’d given me before my date with Greyson.
The tortured longing of a man who knew he had lost something precious to him, and he could never get it back.