Back to You

by Lauren Dane

  In the face of so much adorable he was hard-pressed to say no and he nearly relented, but Kelly knelt in front of their youngest. “We all have jobs in the family, remember? Right now your most important job is to go to school and train your brain. Your sister’s job is to get better first. Your dad and I need to do our jobs, which is taking care of you two. Everyone’s going to be all right, but we need to cooperate and do our jobs.”

  Kensey nodded and hugged Kelly before she scampered off to finish her homework.

  “Nicely done. I’m the baby, too. It’s hard sometimes.”

  “She’s good at it, though.” Kelly’s smile belied the annoyance in her tone.

  “She is. It’s hard to say no to her.”

  “I want them to be resourceful and independent. Those things will serve them far better than big eyes.”

  “True. And it’s good to teach them their brains are more important than their looks.”

  Kelly shrugged. “Also an important life lesson. I was going to give you a set of keys, but the locksmith is going to be here in about twenty minutes to change all the locks. We’ll get you a set then.”

  He put a hand on her arm. “Is everything all right?”

  “It’s fine. I might as well tell you that I broke my engagement with Ross today.”

  “Did he hurt you or scare you?” Vaughan was the least punch happy of his brothers but the need to hurt someone to defend Kelly surged through him.

  “Oh, no. Not like that.” She shook her head firmly. “He’s unhappy. He gave me my keys back, but I thought it would be easier if I stopped wondering if he had another set and just changed the locks.”

  Vaughan didn’t think it sounded easier at all. But if that’s what she needed to have happen, it would. And he’d be extra sure to keep an eye out for Ross.

  “Was it about me? You breaking the engagement I mean,” Vaughan asked her.

  “It was about him and me.”

  He wanted to say more, but Kensey was just around the corner so it wasn’t the time. “All right. Well, I’ve got some stuff to put away in the guest room. Maybe tonight after dinner you could go over the schedule with me. I meant it when I said I wanted to help. I’m trying to be a better dad.”

  “We’ll talk about it later. Settle in. I’ll get you the network password. If you need a space to work, there’s a desk in the guest room, and my office has a printer in it if you need one.”

  He nodded as she spoke and followed her as she showed him where everything was before telling him to make himself at home and disappearing into the laundry room.

  Alone, he headed to the guest room and began to unpack his things.

  “Hi, Daddy!” Kensey bounded into the room and hopped onto the bed. “I can’t believe you’re going to be my neighbor! You have your own bathroom, though. That’s good because now Maddie takes too much time in there so when I have to pee Mom lets me use hers if I’m upstairs.”

  Vaughan let the steady stream of talk from his youngest smooth around him, tucking him in. She never told a story without a great deal of dramatic emphasis that he found himself at turns charmed and exhausted by.

  “Will you walk me to the bus tomorrow? Mom usually walks us both but you never have. I would like for the other girls to see what my dad looks like. You already made my teacher last year ask about you all the time.”

  He wrestled back a smile. “That so?”

  “I finished my book report. Want to see it and make sure my penmanship is nice?”

  He opened his arms and she leaped into them as he hugged her tight, kissing the top of her head before he set her on her feet.

  * * *

  “WE WATCHED MOVIES and read books and she napped a few times. Maddie can’t eat solids, but she’s awake and lonely. Would it be cool with you if we all ate together up in her room?” Vaughan stood very close to Kelly and she felt like a horrible person because this morning she was going to marry someone else but right then, Vaughan looked so good her hormones did a slow roll. Like onto their back, belly and all the good parts exposed.

  “That’s a great idea. I’d considered bringing her down here, but keeping her in bed is better. Kensey, can you get the trays out? I made shrimp pasta salad for you.”

  Kensey pumped her fist with a shouted “yes!” as she brought out the trays they used when they had snacks in the family room and watched movies together.

  Kelly put some warm chicken broth in one of her to-go coffee cups and slid a lid on. “She can have broth, they said. I had some in the freezer. I hope you like shrimp pasta salad. I should have asked. If you don’t, there are still leftovers from yesterday in the fridge.”

  “Shrimp pasta salad sounds great.” Vaughan’s agreeable smile was handsome and she realized this had been the longest it had been just the four of them in her house. No Hurleys. No Ross or Stacey. Just Kelly, Vaughan and their daughters.

  A long time ago she’d dreamed of normal moments like this one. And she’d given up on them. Or so she’d thought.

  Hope was a tiny ember in her belly. Fear lived there, too. Because he’d broken her heart. That had sucked and it had taken a long time to get over. But hope wasn’t backing down and Kelly thought maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing to let it stay as long as she kept her expectations low.

  Right?

  Kelly instructed Kensey and Vaughan as they loaded their dinner up on the trays and headed up to Maddie’s room.

  “We should listen to music, Momma,” Maddie murmured sleepily. Kelly pressed a hand to her belly for a moment, attempting to massage away the bittersweet ache.

  Maddie had been calling Kelly “Mom” for a year or so by that point. Every once in a while when she got sick or was upset or tired she’d revert to the days where she’d hug Kelly’s neck and let Momma fix everything with kisses and a cup of hot chocolate.

  Kelly pulled her phone from a pocket. “What do you want to hear?”

  “Star Is Born!” Kensey chimed in.

  “Yes. Guess which one I want.”

  They’d watched the edited-for-television version of A Star Is Born with Kristofferson and Streisand at least three times that winter and spring so the soundtrack had become a favorite around the house.

  “I think I might know.” Kelly connected to the wireless system in the house and found the song. She went to her knees to kiss Maddie’s forehead before settling on the floor again.

  As the piano began Vaughan grinned. “‘Everything.’ I love this song.”

  Maddie sang along softly. Normally she could belt this one out but as the kid had just been sliced open the day before yesterday, Kelly thought it could be excused.

  Kensey joined in and Vaughan came along, harmonizing, and Kelly sat back, watching these incredibly talented creatures, singing together because they were all born for such things. And because they all had that basic joy they took into most situations.

  She was still smiling as she turned off the light in Kensey’s room after tucking her into bed. Maddie was fast asleep already. Vaughan stood a few feet away at the top of the stairs.

  “She’s waiting for you to come in to kiss her good-night,” Kelly said on her way past.

  “Awesome.” He headed down the hall, a smile he wore just for his youngest daughter on his face.

  CHAPTER SIX

  KELLY OPENED THE DOOR to her bedroom to find him there. He’d changed into sleep pants and a T-shirt.

  “Hi.”

  She gave him a look. “Hi.” And then she let him in. Like an idiot.

  “Can we talk awhile?”

  “I was thinking about having a glass of wine. Do I need one for this conversation?”

  His grin was slow and sexually charged. “Maybe.”

  Being alone and in close quarters with Vaughan was an iffy proposition.
But as she was already taking the express train to bad-decision town, she may as well relax on the trip.

  “Okay, then, I’ll be right back. You want a glass?”

  He nodded.

  “I’ll be right back.” She waved at the room in her wake. “Make yourself comfortable.”

  In just a few minutes she’d returned to her room with a bottle of wine and two glasses.

  Avoiding the bed and anything bed-related, she settled on the love seat and poured two glasses of red before settling in.

  “How are you feeling?” Vaughan asked at last, after draining half his glass.

  “Tired. Like I could sleep three weeks.”

  “And the broken engagement?”

  She blew out a breath. “How do you feel about it?”

  “I’m sorry his feelings got hurt, but I’m not sorry the engagement is broken. Is this...? You changed the locks. It’s for sure, then?”

  “He and I had some elemental differences in parenting styles. It wasn’t a sacrifice I was willing to make. He was upset today, but I believe in time he’ll see my point and know I was right. I’ll miss his daughters.” Probably more than she’d miss Ross.

  “He didn’t like me much.”

  Kelly snorted. “You didn’t like him much.”

  “We both wanted the same thing.”

  She slammed her lips against the first reply she’d thought of giving. And then the second. By the third she was better able to get her thoughts together.

  “And what was that?”

  He smiled and her toes curled.

  He was a human churro. He smelled good and she knew for damn sure he tasted good. She’d gorge herself on him and in both cases, she’d end up sorry later that she’d lost her control.

  But she never missed a chance to attend an event where churros would be available.

  And there he sat, in her bedroom, with a boner. Oh, holy shit he had a hard-on.

  She blushed and looked down to her wine.

  “He and I wanted you.”

  Still blushing, avoiding looking anywhere but his face, Kelly waited for the rest.

  “I’d like for you to give me a chance to prove myself. And once I do, I want you back.”

  Kelly waited for more. This was a good start, but it wasn’t anywhere near enough.

  He put his glass down, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. “I let you go before. I shouldn’t have. And then I waited too long to come to my senses and get you back. But I’m here now and ready to prove how much I’ve changed. I never stopped loving you.”

  “Is that it? Because if it is, my next words are going to be fuck you.”

  Surprise and then pleasure slid over his features. “You’re pissed.”

  “Why does that make you happy? Did you hit your head on something?” She did such a bad job of picking men. Jeez.

  “You’re sexy when you’re pissed. Course, you’re sexy when you’re not pissed, too.”

  “Keep it up. See where cute gets you.” She frowned. “You’ve been gone nearly eight years by this point. A lot has changed. I’ve changed. Just because I’m not with Ross anymore doesn’t mean anything as far as you and I are concerned.” Which was a lie. At least she didn’t feel guilty when she’d thought about licking sugar and cinnamon off his abs just now, though.

  He did have the good sense to be chagrined. “I know you’ve changed. I’ve changed, too. I’m not the same young, cocky asshole who let his whole life slip through his fingers.”

  “And what does all that bullshit mean?”

  “You’ve gotten hard.” He tried for saucy and she wanted to flick him in the nose for it.

  “You haven’t said anything much more than that you still loved me and wanted a chance to get me back. What does that mean to you? Why should I give you a chance? You haven’t even articulated an actual apology for any of what you did.”

  “I said I made mistakes. And I did. I let you go too easy.”

  She’d been right about one thing. Just because she’d broken things off with Ross didn’t mean she had to run to Vaughan. Even if he was living in her house. Even if for years she’d wanted to hear the sincerity in his tone that night.

  But it wasn’t enough. Kelly couldn’t begin to trust him enough at that point. He not only had a lot of proving himself to do, he also had to make some genuine apologies for what he’d done.

  She had her own stuff to handle and she was way too busy to do this for him, even if she’d wanted to. And she didn’t. If Vaughan really wanted her back, he had to work for it. She could only let the hope remain that he’d actually open up and own what he did.

  And, if he really wanted to be a more involved dad, she’d take him at his word. “Kensey needs to be up at seven. I’ll handle Maddie tonight. I’m going to sleep in her room.”

  “Are you worried?” He shifted closer, concern on his face.

  “No. But I’m her mom.” She shrugged. “I just want to be close if she needs me. As for Kensey, I suggest you get up at least half an hour before she does. You’ll need the time to wake up, get dressed and have coffee.” Their youngest was an absolute horror to get out of bed in the morning. “You need to be out the front door by five after eight or you’ll have to run.”

  She stood and went to the door, opening it up. “Good night, Vaughan.”

  “Wait, you’re kicking me out? I thought we were going to talk.”

  “So did I. You can try again in the future. When you’re ready to really open up and talk.” She put the bottle of wine and her now-empty glass in his hands and pushed him into the hallway. “See you tomorrow.”

  She closed the door, leaning against it to keep herself from opening it and inviting him back inside. A little roll between the sheets could work out a lot of energy. But it would be a supreme mistake.

  She headed for the shower instead. A detachable showerhead was a girl’s best friend.

  * * *

  VAUGHAN LAY IN his bed, a yellow, lined legal pad at his right hand as he scribbled things here and there. The lyrical beginnings of a new song.

  He found, even though he’d hoped she’d let him back into her life that night, that he wasn’t down that she’d kicked him out of her room.

  That she’d snapped at him and kicked him out of her room had only underlined to him that she did care. She hadn’t tolerated him, or been barely interested in him. Not at all.

  No longer remote, this Kelly was going to demand that he work for his redemption.

  He could have said the words. But they taunted him. Just out of reach. Like if he said them, if he came out and said he’d betrayed her and violated her trust and his sense of honor and he’d ruined everything because he’d been a selfish asshole that she’d say, you’re right, get out.

  And it would be over and done.

  He had done those things. And yes, she’d made mistakes, too. But she’d come here to this suburban wonderland to build a life for their children. She’d given up nearly all modeling and put her focus on them.

  And what she’d built was amazing. Their girls were lucky for it.

  He rolled to his belly and began to write again.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  KELLY FLIPPED THE SIGN on the door and unlocked it to admit Stacey.

  “I brought you a smoothie. It’s got that powder you like.” Stacey’s lip curled. “I have to be in court soon, but you’re on my way and I really need to get all the details about yesterday.”

  “I don’t even know where to start.” Kelly took the smoothie with her thanks.

  “Biggest news, then. Go with that.”

  They hadn’t been able to really have enough time the day before to get the whole story out. All Kelly had been able to say was the engagement had been broken so she took a moment to
get her friend up to speed.

  Stacey’s mouth dropped open. “I get that he’d be a little jealous. Vaughan is one of those people everyone likes to be around. But this?”

  “Right? I know they don’t like one another. That’s normal, for God’s sake. He sounded like a stranger yesterday. The words he used made me believe he meant them. I just feel nothing for him now. He killed it all. I don’t hate him. My overwhelming reaction is relief I’m not marrying him.”

  “Well, jeez. You know my opinion of the engagement, but I’m sorry it was painful for you both. And yes, you can’t respect a person who’d do that to those girls.”

  “How could he have trusted me if I’d have gone along with it? He’s got kids, too. How could he have wanted me to do that to my children?”

  “Because he wouldn’t have asked his ex to do such a thing.”

  “And I wouldn’t have asked. The world is full of parents who walk away. Vaughan didn’t walk away from them when he left me.” Kelly rubbed her hands up and down her arms a moment.

  “What did Vaughan say when you told him?”

  “I didn’t tell him any details, really. He asked if he was the reason. I said Ross and I were the reason. That we’d had a disagreement about something important and weren’t going to get married after all.”

  “Did he believe that weak-ass response?”

  “It’s true! Even if Vaughan...”

  “Even if you weren’t still in love with him, you mean?”

  “I’m not an idiot. I can’t help loving him, but I know what he is. Or maybe what he was. But I can have feelings for him and still not fall for his crap. Anyway, the last thing I want is for Vaughan to think I did it for him.”

  “And why is that?”

  “He told me he still loved me and wanted another chance. And I need to have it be apart from the Ross situation. I can’t run from one man to another. It’s a bad lesson for my kids and it’s stupid.”

  “You’re not running anywhere. He said all those things and you said what back?”

  “He said lots of things.” Kelly shrugged. “None of them was enough. He’s dancing around what happened. I get it. He doesn’t want to admit it out loud. But there’s no way I could even consider letting him close enough to maybe work things out unless he does.