Chapter 23
HUDSON
After grocery shopping, we went to a winter festival I found on a nearby farm. We paid the entrance fee and wandered the tables where there were craft items for sale and hot chocolate to sip.
There was even an ice-skating rink and horse-drawn carriage rides. I wished that Ayla could be with us too, but we could take her when it was her weekend to be with us.
We were going to be a unit. A family. I might be jumping ahead a little bit, but I was hopeful that Angela would get on board with the idea of us.
"You want to take a carriage ride?" I asked her.
"I've never gone on one before."
I grabbed her gloved hand, throwing my hot chocolate cup out. "Then we have to do it."
She laughed as she hurried to catch up with me. I paid for two tickets for the ride, then got in line with other couples and families waiting for the next carriage to arrive.
The landscape was covered in snow. In the winter, the white stuff tended to stick around with the cold temperatures. In spring, the melting snow, and growth of plants was a welcomed sight.
The next carriage arrived, and we waited for everyone to disembark. Then the line started boarding. We sat in the back, and I placed my arm around Angela. She snuggled close, still cradling her hot chocolate.
The carriage moved forward, the horses snuffling in the cold air. The other people talked quietly among themselves, but the snow gave the air a peaceful quality.
Angela rested her head on my chest. "This is nice."
I squeezed her shoulder. "I'm glad I found this place."
"Me too." Flurries fell from the sky, and Angela held her hand out to catch one. The flakes fell on her lashes, making her look like a snow angel.
In my head, her name made me think of angels, and her lingerie only reinforced the idea. She was angelic and sexy. A mix of sweet and vixen.
She was perfect, and I couldn't believe that no one else had claimed her for their very own. Her ex was obviously an idiot. Angela was the best kind of pressure. She made you want to be a better man for her.
I wanted to rise to the occasion. To be a man she could be proud to call hers.
The snow fell harder, coming down sideways. Angela rested her cheek against my chest to avoid the sting of the flakes.
I kissed her hair. "You want to head back after this?"
"Let's go through the stables. I want to see the horses."
The cool thing about this outing was that I was getting to know her, her likes and dislikes. So far, she was open to trying new things and going somewhere on a whim. She seemed to like animals.
"You should stay in my place." Suddenly, I wanted Ayla to have the dog she'd always wanted. I wanted them to be in a home, one with a yard, space for a Christmas tree, and year-round lights to admire.
Her head snapped up. "When the repairs are done, I thought we'd move back to my place. I don't know what the rent is on your house."
"It's the same as yours."
Her eyes narrowed. "How can you possibly know that?"
"I don't want to charge you any more. You could rent with the option to buy."
Her eyes narrowed. "I thought you wanted the property as an investment? If I'm not paying market price, how does that help you?"
"I was dragging my feet on renting it. I didn't want a stranger living there, but you're not a stranger." My long-term plan was a bit different, but she wasn't ready to hear that I wanted to move in together. It was too soon for talk like that.
I'd always run from anyone who hinted at commitment, but now I was running toward it.
She let out a breath. "I'll have to think about it."
"I was thinking you could get a dog for Ayla. The yard is fenced. There's no space for a smaller dog to squeeze out."
"You've thought this through."
"It's the perfect solution. I trust that you won't trash the place, and I want you and Ayla to have a home. Isn't it what you want too?"
She looked away. "Yeah, I just didn't think it would happen so soon."
"Life doesn't have to be hard. Sometimes you get what you want." I had a feeling she thought she needed to work hard, and I wanted to disavow her of that notion. She was already deserving.
"That doesn't seem to work out for me," she finally said as we turned around and headed back to the line of people waiting for a ride.
"I think your luck is changing." I wanted her to desire more for herself and for Ayla. Everything was possible for them. And I wanted to be there to ensure she got everything she wanted.
A slow smile spread over her face. "I hope so."
"You don't have to decide today. It's not like I have anyone else lined up to move in." I had no intentions of letting anyone else rent it. The place was hers.
She leaned against me again. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
We disembarked, holding hands as we crossed the snow-packed path to the stable. Inside, the horses huffed and puffed, their heads hanging over their stall doors. I grabbed an apple and a few mini carrots, handing them to Angela.
She opened her hand, placing a carrot on it, and presented it to the first horse with a white blaze on his face. "Aren't you a pretty boy?"
The horse's eyes flared wide as he lowered his mouth to her hand, baring his teeth.
Angela jerked back into me.
I touched her shoulders. "Relax. Keep your hand flat, and he'll take it without biting you."
She let out a shaky breath. "Easy for you to say. You're not offering your hand up to a horse with huge teeth."
"It's smart to be cautious." I rested my hand under hers, to give her confidence and this time she stayed still when the horse lowered his mouth, snatching the carrots out of her palm.
She leaned against me. "He likes it."
"They love carrots."
She petted the side of his face, and he leaned in to her touch. "Aren't you a sweetie?"
"I'm a little jealous of a horse right now," I grumbled.
She huffed out a laugh. "You got plenty of attention last night."
"Yeah, but I want more."
She elbowed me playfully before moving on to the next horse. "You can wait."
I pretended to pout, and she laughed again. She took her time with each horse, offering each one a treat. When we were walked out of the barn, the snow was coming down harder.
She pulled out her phone. "I missed a few calls from Gus."
Concerned, I said, "You'd better call him back."
She dialed his number.
This was my chance to get inside knowledge on their relationship. I hadn't met him or heard that much about him, except for the little she shared about the demise of their marriage.
"You called?" Angela held her phone to her ear. "Yeah, I was on a carriage ride, and I didn't hear the phone. Is Ayla okay?" She fell silent for a few seconds. "Yeah, I can be home"—she checked the time—"In thirty minutes. Can you bring her to the house? I'll send you the address."
"Gus is bringing Ayla back?"
She tucked her phone into her pocket, leaving her hands there. "Yeah, he said we're supposed to get more snow, and he didn't want to be snowed in with her."
My brow furrowed. "He wants to avoid being snowed in with his own daughter?"
"He said she has everything she needs with me.
He doesn't like keeping her for too long.
I think it has something to do with those expectations he doesn't like.
Will he have to make her food, have a room made for her, that kind of thing?
From what Ayla has said, she stays in a guest room that's not decorated for her. "
"We should paint her room then. Make it hers."
She bumped her shoulder against mine. "I haven't decided to stay yet."
I smiled. "You will. You love that house."
She nodded. "I do love that house."
She didn't want to leave. "You should make it yours. Paint if you want. Hang pictures."
She looked up at me. "Are you going to help me do that?"
I stepped closer to her. "Are you asking for help?"
She lifted her gaze. "I am."
I brushed a strand of hair out of her face. Despite the chill, the air between us was charged. "I would love to help you."
She licked her lips, and my gaze snagged on the movement. "We should get home so we can meet Ayla."
When we arrived, a car was already parked in the driveway.
I was more than a little annoyed that he'd parked in my spot.
I hung back as Angela talked to him at his car. He was on the shorter side, maybe five-foot-nine, barely an inch taller than Angela.
Ayla got out of the car and ran over to me. "Do you see the snow?"
"There's sleds in the shed if we get enough."
"We can go sledding?" she asked as if she hadn't been able to do much of that over the years.
"Sledding is mandatory. We'll have to make a snowman and maybe even take the snowmobiles out." I loved outdoor activities.
Gus narrowed his eyes on me. "You don't think that's a bit dangerous for a kid?"
"What? Snowmobiling? She'll ride with me. I'd never do anything to put her in danger."
He looked at Angela as if waiting for her to back him up, but she asked, "Do you have her bag? I'm sure you're eager to get home before there's too much accumulation on the road."
He sighed, as if he realized he didn't have any say in Ayla's upbringing. He'd wanted it to be this way, and he didn't get to butt in now. Not that I had a say in anything either. But I was more involved at this point than he was.
He reached into the car and handed Angela Ayla's bag.
"Thanks for bringing her back."
He nodded, appearing like he wanted to say something. I kept my gaze on him, not giving him the privacy he obviously wanted.
"Ayla, why don't you run inside," Angela finally said, handing her the key.
Ayla took it and ran to the porch, where she put the key into the door and opened it. The door closed.
"You dating this guy?" Gus said it with a sneer.
Angela huffed out a laugh. "Not that's it any of your business but yes."
"Don't you think I should know these things if he's going to be around my daughter?"
"I have full physical and legal custody of Ayla. That's the way you wanted it. You specifically said you didn't want to be responsible for any decisions, and that includes who I spend time with."
His jaw tightened.
"We have to get dinner ready. Enjoy the rest of your weekend." Angela moved toward the door, and I smiled at him.
Gus scowled at me. He didn't have a play. Angela wasn't his concern anymore. I was going to hold on tight and never let her go.
I followed Angela inside, then patted my pockets for my phone. "I must have left my phone in the truck."
Angela nodded, and I went back outside to retrieve the rest of the groceries. Gus was backing out when I walked past him.
He rolled down his window. "I don't like you hanging out with my daughter."
Eager to have this discussion with him, I doubled back to talk to him. "I don't think you have any legal rights in this situation. But know that I will always take care of Angela and Ayla. I'd never hurt them or cast them aside."
His face pinched, because he knew that's exactly what he'd done.
"I'll take good care of her daughter and be the father figure she needs." As long as Angela was on board with that plan. But it was my intention to take care of both of them.
"That's not—"
I held up my palm. "You lost the right to have a say when you walked away from them.
You might be regretting that decision now.
But it's too late. You lost them, and they're mine to win.
" With that parting shot, I walked away.
I opened the door and grabbed my phone while he backed out of the driveway. His tires squealed as he pulled away.
I let out a breath of relief. I hadn't wanted to have a confrontation, but he'd given me no choice when he opened his window. I hoped that was the end of his objections.
I wouldn't disparage him in front of Ayla. I had a feeling that she'd know who he was eventually. She was a good judge of character, and I'd be the man she could count on going forward. I'd be at every school activity and game, as long as Angela was okay with me being in their lives.
Gus had already solidified his position with those two, and it wasn't a good one. He could improve his relationship with his daughter, and I wouldn't stand in the way of that. But I had a feeling he wouldn't.
I walked inside, setting my phone on the counter.
Angela's forehead creased. "I saw you talking to Gus. Everything okay?"
I rolled my shoulders back. "Yeah, I don't think he'll question my place here again."
Her eyes widened.
"We prove to people who we are through our actions. I intend to be here for you and Ayla."
Her expression softened, and she came around the counter to wrap her arms around my waist. I let my arms close around her, lowering my head and closing my eyes. It felt so good to have her in my arms. I never wanted to let her go.