Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
The next morning, Skye woke to a tangle of covers in Spencer's bed.
He’d talked. She’d listened and come to a conclusion about life.
To have a family, she didn’t need the perfect man.
What she wanted was a happily ever after, and Spencer offered the possibility.
It was as close as she was going to get.
But that kiss she’d shared with Ash had been beyond wonderful. Maybe all she needed was good for now.
In the end, did it really matter? Life was messy and full of compromise. Spencer wasn’t perfect, but neither was she. He had her mind spinning and her heart in free fall.
She rolled over to find his side of the bed empty, and there was a note on his pillow. Sometime while she’d been sleeping, he’d slipped his ring back on her finger.
My darling Skye,
I love you more than life itself.
You make the day worth living, each breath worth taking.
You are the light to my darkness.
I forgive you.
Your truest love,
Spencer
P.S. I have to leave on business. I’ll be out of the country for a week. I left the prenup papers on the breakfast table. Sign and send them to my lawyer. I’ll see you next Tuesday. XOXO.
She clasped the note to her chest and stared at the ceiling. His ring twisted around her finger. One week? He’d told her that they’d spend the next few days away from the distractions of work and celebrating their engagement. What was she supposed to do now? Head to the mountains alone?
She pressed a hand to her head. The clunky ring banged against her forehead. The thing needed to be resized.
It didn’t fit on so many levels.
With a groan, she climbed out of bed. Perhaps it was best that he’d been called away. A solo retreat might be exactly what she needed to decide, once and for all, if Spencer belonged in her future.
She showered and dressed, pulling on a fresh pair of scrubs from her backpack.
On her way out the door, she grabbed Spencer's prenup and set out to walk to the coffee shop.
The arctic blast of yesterday had warmed to a more reasonable winter chill.
Nevertheless, the crispness of the air had her cheeks burning while the wind whipped at her chapped lips.
Overhead, a brilliant sun blazed, and stray wisps of clouds laced a clear deep blue sky.
A short time later, the wonderfully rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee tickled her nose. The warmth of the store enveloped her and banished the chill from her invigorating walk.
She adjusted her backpack and waited for the barista to finish the previous customer’s order.
“Hiya!” Kandi’s bubbly personality always brought a smile to Skye’s early mornings.
“Good morning. Can I have a—”
“Hot cocoa?”
“Um, yes, please.”
The girl laughed, and her ponytail swished. “You’re later than usual today.” She flashed a row of perfect teeth and pointed to Skye’s favorite corner spot. “Cocoa’s waiting on you.”
“Waiting?” Knowing her favorite drink was one thing. Having it waiting was kind of creepy.
The blonde jerked her chin toward the couch.
“That sexy guy has been hanging out for over an hour, hoping you’d show.
” She flicked her fingers in the direction of Skye’s usual spot.
“He’s had me make a fresh cup whenever the previous one gets cold.
I just walked the fifth one over. It’s piping hot. ”
Skye twisted toward the fire, and sure enough, someone was sitting in her spot. He had on a familiar ball cap and goofy mirrored sunglasses. His head bobbed to whatever music filled his earbuds, and two cups sat on the coffee table.
She covered her mouth, surprised. “Oh my God.”
The barista lowered her voice to a whisper. “It’s so romantic.”
“Did he pay?”
The door opened, and customers filed in line behind her.
The barista’s face pinched with confusion. “He’s running a tab.”
Skye did a quick calculation and slapped down some cash. “Here.” She couldn’t let a stranger pay for such a large bill.
“I don’t really think—”
“I don’t care.”
Spencer's ring slipped around her finger.
She stared at it and all the possibilities it represented.
He loved her, and despite their problems, she cared deeply about him.
But, if she was going to live the rest of her life with him, she needed to know he was the right choice.
She slipped the ring off and zipped it into the inner pocket of her backpack.
With a deep breath, she went to greet Ash.
He sat with an ankle kicked over the opposite knee, hands clasped and head bowed, rocking to his own beat.
He wore black jeans, well-worn hiking boots, and another faded T-shirt stretched tightly over his chest. A black leather jacket was draped over the arm of the chair.
With the hat and glasses, only his lips and jawline were visible.
It was a shame because he had the handsomest face.
In fact, the glasses covered much of his cheekbones, and she couldn’t make out the cut under his eye. Had he taken care of it, like he’d said he would? It would scar otherwise, and it would be a shame to mar such perfect features.
She swallowed away her nervousness, remembering how he’d held her, the way his lips had felt against her skin, the way her insides had melted, and how her body had responded to him, like it never had with Spencer.
“Hello,” she said.
He didn’t react, probably because he had the noise turned up too loud.
She nudged his shoulder, shaking gently.
His attention shifted from his hands to her. His entire body stilled, except for the smile sweeping across his face.
While she couldn’t see his eyes, the intensity of his gaze pinned her in place. He stole all the oxygen from the room, and she could barely catch her breath.
He lowered the sunglasses, revealing the iridescent deep hue that matched the scales of the dragon tattoo wrapping up his neck. He regarded her with a look of wonder. His pupils dilated as he devoured her. Two Steri-Strips held the wound closed beneath his eye. Someone had taken care of him.
“You’re here.” The awe in his voice rushed over her in waves. In one fluid movement, he moved to his feet. “After you stood me up, I thought I’d never see you again. I know this is a little stalkerish, but…I just had to see you again.”
“I didn’t stand you up. You weren’t there.”
“No way in hell would I stand you up.” He pulled her down onto the couch and settled beside her. He leaned forward, grabbed two cups resting on the coffee table, and handed her one. “Your drink.”
She took the steaming cup, her hand a bit shaky. Hell, her entire body trembled in his presence. “The barista told me that you’ve been waiting.”
He hung his head and chuckled softly. “Damn, that makes me look pathetic.”
She put a hand on his arm. “No, it’s really sweet.”
She loved the way his hair hung down to his shoulders and curled around his ears. The dragon tattoo on his neck peeked out between the strands, as if it were measuring her and not the other way around.
“Where were you last night?” she asked.
“Waiting out front.”
“I didn’t see you.”
Bob had relieved her a few minutes early. Maybe, if Spencer hadn’t been waiting, she and Ash wouldn’t have missed each other.
Ash’s brows pulled together, and a mischievous grin curled the corners of his mouth. “We didn’t get to finish that kiss.” He traced a line over her thigh.
She cocked her head and suppressed the shiver running down her spine as his thumb pressed against the outer seam of her jeans. They would have more of a connection if he’d run his finger along her bare arm where there was no clothing to get in the way.
“Um, I’d say we finished just fine.” That was a lie, and if he wanted another go at kissing, she was ready.
“No, we got interrupted by the Asshat. Did he steal you away from me?” He huffed a laugh. “I’m assuming that’s the case because I’m not the kind of guy that girls stand up.”
She took a sip of cocoa. “You’re a bit cocksure, aren’t you?”
Now, why wasn’t that irritating, like it was with Spencer? Maybe because Ash’s confidence was so sexy and stemmed from harmless egotism instead of a need to control others.
His lips curved into another smile. “Ah, but you like me, and you’re dying to know how last night would’ve gone.”
“I think you’re dying to tell me how it might have gone. I hate to break it to you, but I’m not that kind of girl. A kiss is as far as you would have gotten.”
Please don’t be a man-whore. She desperately wanted there to be more to this man than his looks.
He reached out and toyed with a strand of her hair, curling it around his finger. “I find that oddly exciting. Now, tell me what happened last night.”
He found that exciting? That she wouldn’t put out? What happened to the “I want to be buried deep inside you until you can’t think” comment?
Rather than ask, she answered his question, “It got complicated.”
“It sounds a bit more than complicated.”
They sat in silence, watching the fire in the hearth crackle and burn.
She grabbed one of his earbuds and pulled it to her ear. “What are you listening to?”
He tried to yank it back, but she held on and settled it in her ear.
“I want to know. You were really engrossed in whatever it was when I walked up.”
The warbling sound of an Angel Fire song kicked in.
The frenetic rhythm filled her head along with the vocals of their lead singer—“a man who could sing his ass off with blissful yet devastating melodies without losing his balls.” At least, that’s what her brother would say. Angel Fire was Forest’s favorite band.
She tilted her head back, rocking in time with the underlying drumbeats.
The song ended, and she looked up. “I’m not familiar with that song.”
He shrugged. “That band has lots of songs.”
“I guess so.”
“Did you like it?” His question held more than a hint of interest.