The Persistent Groom (Texas Titan Romances)

by Jennifer Youngblood

  Ace mentally inserted what his mother must be saying from how Silver was responding. Then it occurred to him that he hoped his mother could talk Silver into going to Ariana’s party. Silver and Ariana had been friends. Maybe that counted for something.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Sanchez. I’ll think about it. I’m sure Gracie would love to try fried ice cream,” Silver said.

  At that Gracie lifted her head. “Ice cream?”

  “It’s delicious,” Ace said, grinning at Gracie. “You’d love it.”

  “I want ice cream,” Gracie said, standing up and going to Silver’s side. She leaned in, practically throwing herself on top of Silver.

  Silver gave Gracie a gentle but firm enough nudge to stand her up again. Then she held up a finger and mouthed to Gracie. “Okay, just a minute. We’ll talk about it when I get off the phone.”

  Gracie’s face twisted like she was about to put up a fuss, Ace got down on the floor. He reached for one of the dolls and held it up. “Show me your Barbies, Gracie.”

  Gracie let out a squeal and sat down cross-legged. Silver gave Ace a look of appreciation for diverting Gracie’s attention. It was astounding how that one simple gesture from Silver had the power to warm him through to his bones. What was it with Silver? She’d always had some pull over him he couldn’t explain. He drew his attention away from Silver and back to Gracie. “Here, let’s put the dolls on the coffee table.” Ace scooted the magazines and TV remote aside to give them space as Gracie put her dolls on the table.

  Ace held up one with brown curly hair, wearing a yellow dress. “What’s her name?”

  “Beauty,” Gracie said, her light eyes sparkling. “She go to a birthday party with ice cream.”

  Ace realized that Gracie was saying she wanted to pretend Beauty was going to a birthday party. “Okay, and they can have chocolate cake,” he added.

  “Mmm,” Gracie hummed, pressing her lips together. “And blue candles.”

  “Do you like blue?”

  She nodded vigorously, her hair bouncing on her shoulders. “Purple too,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “I like blue and purple,” he said, the comment earning him a brilliant smile. There was a pure innocence about Gracie that tugged at Ace’s heartstrings, and he suspected it wouldn’t take much for him to get attached to the little cutie. He played with Gracie, all the while keeping an ear trained on Silver’s conversation with his mother. Judging by the firm set of Silver’s mouth, the conversation had taken a more serious turn. His heart dropped. There was no telling what his mother was saying to Silver. This was a bad idea.

  Very bad.

  After what seemed like an eternity, Silver ended the call, a strange expression on her face.

  “What?” he said, bracing for the worst.

  She shook her head absently. “Nothing.”

  “What were you and my mother talking about?” he pressed, scoping Silver’s face for clues.

  “Oh, just chit-chat,” she said nonchalantly.

  The corners of his lips turned down. “That’s not what it looked like.”

  Silver grinned, wrinkling her nose. “Just women talk.”

  “Should I be worried?”

  She let out a half-laugh. “About what?”

  He drove the conversation right back to the heart of it. “What you and my mom were talking about.”

  She clucked her tongue, pinning him with a look. “Ace Sanchez, do you really think everything’s about you?”

  He rocked back. “Well, no … I just.” He shifted tugging at his shirt. “I mean, you were talking to my mom, so I just assumed …” His voice trailed off, heat crawling up his neck.

  “Look at you, you’re blushing,” Silver taunted.

  “Am not,” he countered, feeling like they were back in junior high.

  She laughed, then winked. Ace was confused at her change in demeanor. What in the heck had his mother said to her? His mother knew how he felt about Silver. Surely she hadn’t mentioned that. A full-on heatwave blasted over him, and he knew his face was blaring like a beacon. It was obvious that Silver was enjoying watching him squirm.

  “So,” Silver said, turning to Gracie, her voice laced with enthusiasm. “Would you like to try some fried ice cream?”

  “Yes,” Gracie practically shouted, jumping to her feet.

  Ace scrambled to keep up. “Does this mean you’re coming to the birthday party?” He couldn’t keep hope from sounding in his voice.

  Silver brought her hands together. “Yep,” she said like she’d just now reached a decision.

  For a second Ace thought he hadn’t heard her correctly. “Really?” he squeaked.

  Silver frowned, tipping her head. “Unless you don’t want us to come.”

  “Of course I want you to come,” he shot back. “I think it’s great. Gracie will love the ice cream, and everyone will be excited to see you.”

  Silver looked thoughtful. “I haven’t seen Ariana since high school. It’ll be great to see her.”

  “She’s as mean as ever,” Ace joked as he stood. Eighteen months his junior, Silver and Ariana had been in the same grade, whereas he was two grades ahead. Ace couldn’t believe the sudden turn of events. Not that he was complaining, but he couldn’t help wondering what his mother said to Silver. Whatever it was seemed to have swayed the balance in his direction.

  “Okay, sweet pea, let’s go fix your hair and put on some clean clothes.” Silver turned to Ace. “I think I’ll put on some nicer clothes too. It may take us a few minutes.” She motioned at the remote on the coffee table. “You can watch TV if you’d like.”

  “Sure.” Excitement buzzed through his veins as he watched Silver and Gracie walk out of the room. The evening was turning out much better than he expected. So much better that he had to pinch himself to make sure he was awake.

  He reached for the remote and flipped on the TV, even though he was way too keyed up to watch anything. A minute later, the doorbell rang. “Someone’s at your door,” he called.

  No answer.

  It rang again, this time more insistently.

  Figuring Silver couldn’t hear it, he went to the door and opened it. Ace’s heart lurched when he saw who was standing there. “Riley,” he managed to say.

  Chapter 4

  The first thought that raced through Ace’s mind was that Riley looked nothing like his picture on the billboards around town. Those photos depicted a good-looking professional with a keen nose for business—a go-getter who could get the job done. Basically, the same Riley he remembered from high school. The guy standing in front of him looked more like a jock has-been with receding dusty-blonde hair and the beginnings of a gut. His cheeks were puffy with a faint network of spidery blood-vessels, and his jaw was starting to collect flesh. Time had certainly not been good to Riley Coulter. Ace felt a measure of pity for Riley who’d always been the golden boy in high school, but that vanished the moment Riley opened his mouth.

  “What’re you doing here?” Riley demanded in a surly tone, a deep furrow denting his forehead.

  “Hey, Riley,” Ace said pleasantly, “good to see you too.”

  Without waiting to be invited, Riley barged into Ace’s personal space so that he had to step back to allow Riley to enter. Riley scoped the room, then shot Ace an accusing glare. “Where’s Silver?”

  An icy amusement prickled over Ace. “What’s it been? Six … seven years since we’ve seen each other, and that’s all you can say to your former best friend?”

  Riley grunted. “You’re no friend of mine. That hit home the day you showed up at my wedding and begged Silver not to marry me.”

  The comment was a punch in the gut. “Did Silver tell you about that?” He should’ve figured she would have. After all, she chose Riley instead of him. But for some reason, it felt like the ultimate betrayal. He’d laid everything out, opened his heart to Silver, and she rejected him to marry this buffoon. In the old days, Riley reminded him of the outlandishly brazen cartoon character
Johnny Bravo. Because Riley came from money and influence, he expected everyone to bow down and give him whatever he wanted. Unfortunately for him, in the real world outside the walls of Riverside High, it didn’t quite work that way.

  “Silver didn’t have to tell me you came groveling,” Riley sneered. “I know you and your kind.” Riley strolled into the living room, plopped down on the couch, and propped his feet on the coffee table like he owned the place.

  “What do you mean my kind?” Ace asked, his jaw tightening. Even though they’d been close before, Riley never let Ace forget he was the top dog and Ace’d been given the lofty honor of sidekick. On several occasions, Riley made offhand remarks about Ace being Hispanic, when he thought Ace was stepping out of line.

  Riley waved a hand. “Take it how you want, man.”

  Ace was still standing next to the door, trying to decide if he should march over and punch Riley’s lights out when Silver and Gracie reentered the room.

  “Daddy,” Gracie squealed, bounding into Riley’s arms.

  “Hey, sweetheart,” Riley said, lifting her in his lap.

  Silver’s face drained as she looked at Riley before her gaze settled on Ace. For a split second, the years peeled away and they were all back to how they were right after high school. A month after they graduated, Riley and Silver decided to put their relationship on hold and date other people. Then Riley went away to a prestigious football camp for the summer. In those days, Riley’s parents were still holding onto the illusion that if they threw enough money at Riley’s training, he’d become a star collegiate quarterback. Riley had rubbed it in Ace’s face that he was getting trained by the best of the best at camp, but Ace didn’t mind. In fact, he welcomed Riley’s absence. It gave him the chance to get close to Silver and act on the feelings he’d had for her since junior high. It didn’t take long for a relationship to blossom between them. But everything came to a screeching halt when Riley returned.

  The day it all happened was seared into his mind—he could still smell the scent of hamburgers cooking on the nearby grill. Ace and Silver had met at a diner, trying to figure out how they would break the news of their relationship to Riley. Neither of them expected Riley to waltz in and sit down at the booth with them, but he had. Then he looked at them with accusing eyes and asked, “Is there any reason I should be worried about the two of you?”

  Ace was about to tell Riley about them until he saw the look of horror on Silver’s face. Then he saw the sickening guilt in her eyes. He could almost read Silver’s thoughts as she looked pleadingly at him. Riley was the man then—a bright, secure future ahead of him. And Ace was drifting aimlessly—still reeling from his cousin’s death, still trying to decide what to do with his life. The only thing he could promise Silver was his love. But it wasn’t enough, he could see it on her pinched face, felt it oozing from the walls around them. Time seemed to pause as Riley awaited their answer.

  “There’s nothing to be worried about,” Ace had said, giving Silver a blistering look before he got up and left. He didn’t see Silver again until the day he came to her wedding and begged her not to marry Riley.

  Looking at Silver now, Ace was relieved to see defiance on her face, without the slightest trace of guilt. It’s about time.

  “What are you doing here?” Silver asked Riley.

  Riley ruffled Gracie’s hair before planting a kiss on the top of her head. “Can’t a man stop by to see his wife and daughter without getting the third degree?”

  “Ex-wife,” Silver clarified.

  “Whatever,” Riley mumbled.

  “Daddy, we’re getting fried ice cream,” Gracie said, excitement zinging in her voice.

  “Oh?” Riley said, his snow-white brows knitting together as suspicion formed in his light eyes. “Where?”

  “At Los Tios,” Silver said matter-of-factly. “And we’re running late.” Her lips clamped together in a tight line as she looked him in the eye. “So, you need to leave.”

  Ace’s first reaction was to jump to Silver’s defense, but instinct prompted him to hold back and let Silver handle this. He knew that if he tried to fight Silver’s battles for her, she’d resent it.

  Riley let out a harsh chuckle. “So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh? You’re with Ace now?”

  Silver lifted her head, her hair spilling over her shoulders like iridescent moonbeams. She’d changed into a form-fitting, red shirt, jean skirt, and matching sandals—her hair and makeup perfect. “What I do with my personal life is no longer your concern. Other than our mutual concern for our daughter, you and I have no further dealings.”

  Patches of red blotched into Riley’s cheeks as he removed Gracie from his lap and stood. He pointed at Ace. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with, boy.”

  Ace rocked forward on the balls of his feet, locking eyes with Riley. “Oh, I have a pretty good idea, Riles,” he taunted, calling Riley by his old nickname—knowing it would tick him off. Riley hadn’t like to be called that then, and he certainly wouldn’t appreciate it now.

  Fury burned in Riley’s eyes. “This isn’t over.”

  Ace chuckled. “It never is with you. Grow up, Riley. High school ended years ago.”

  Riley jerked and his lower lip jiggled like he was trying to think of a good comeback. But all he could manage was to swear under his breath.

  Gracie’s eyes widened as she brought both hands to her mouth. “Ooh, Daddy … bad words.”

  Riley skulked to the front door, shoving Ace’s shoulder as he went past him. Had Ace not been at Silver’s home with Gracie, he might’ve retaliated. When Riley got to the door, he turned. “Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. Congrats on Gracie getting accepted into The Wexton Academy. I just stopped by to see how the meeting went today.”

  Silver rocked back, concern filling her eyes. “H—how did you know about that?”

  A triumphant smile wormed over Riley’s lips. “You know how impossible it is to get into The Wexton Academy … without the proper connections.”

  “Your mother,” Silver muttered.

  “Bingo,” Riley said forming a gun with his fingers as he pointed at Silver and cocked the trigger with his thumb. He shook his head. “And if I were you, I’d tread lightly. We wouldn’t want anything to go wrong with Gracie’s acceptance.” He brought his hand to his forehead in a salute as he looked at Ace. “Adios, amigo,” he said mockingly before opening the door, stepping out, and closing it behind him.

  Silver glanced at Ace’s profile, noting the firm set of his jaw and tight grip on the steering wheel. He’d said very little since the incident with Riley. Silver could only imagine what Ace must be thinking—probably wondering how she could’ve been stupid enough to choose Riley over him. She would’ve been thinking the same thing if she saw it from Ace’s perspective, but the truth was infinitely more complex. She’d done what was necessary to save the one she’d loved more than the world. And even though things hadn’t worked out like Silver hoped, she had Gracie, who was now her world, so it all turned out okay. Ace felt her gaze and offered a fleeting smile. They were in his Infiniti, heading to the party at Los Tios.

  “Are you doing okay?” Ace asked.

  She clutched her hands, looking out the window at the restless clouds churning like a stream roller in the leaden sky. It felt like the bottom might drop out any minute. “Yep.”

  “Liar.”

  She whipped around, eyes widening. “What did you say to me?”

  The tiniest of smiles tugged at the corners of his lips. “You’re a terrible liar.”

  She pressed her lips together in a defiant line. The fact that Ace was right didn’t help matters. Riley’s visit had rattled her, which was no doubt his intent. Riley was a pompous jerk, only thinking of himself. After several painful years of trying to make her marriage work, Silver finally came to the sad realization that all she’d been to Riley was a feather in his cap. In fact, she often wondered if part of the initial reason Riley wanted her so badly was because Ace had
liked her first. Riley was fiercely competitive. She’d seen the malice in his eyes when he interacted with Ace tonight … noticed how Riley straightened his shoulders and sucked in his stomach. She chuckled inwardly. Poor Riley didn’t stand a chance. While Riley’s looks had diminished with age, Ace’s had done the opposite. In high school, Ace was gangly with a thin face that hadn’t yet grown into his features. Now he was every bit the celebrated athlete and eligible bachelor with his olive skin and ripped physique. Ace had always been into fitness, but Silver could tell he’d taken it up several notches—probably to remain competitive. The Ace she’d known in high school had potential but was unsure of himself, not the ultra-confident man she saw today. She wondered what happened to bring about his transformation. In the past, Riley ruled the roost. Tonight, however, Ace had exuded a quiet strength that intimidated Riley. She got the feeling that Ace could’ve chomped Riley down to size without the slightest difficulty had she and Gracie not been there. She was sure Riley felt it too. Unfortunately for her, there would be ramifications. Riley would run to Dinah like he always did and she’d start spinning her web, trying to trip Silver up.

  “What was Riley talking about?” Ace asked, interrupting her thoughts.

  Her expression turned grim. “Which part?”

  “The school.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about that right now,” she said quietly, looking back meaningfully at Gracie.

  “Oh, got ya.” Ace looked in his rearview mirror at Gracie, a smile curving his lips. “How ya doing back there?”

  “O-kay,” she chimed in a bored tone. She let out a long, dramatic sigh. “We there yet?”

  “Yep,” Ace said with a chuckle. “Just a few more minutes, and then it’s ice cream time.”

  “Yay!” Gracie exclaimed, clapping.

  Ace looked at Silver, his dark eyes probing like he could somehow compel her to open up to him. She only smiled and shook her head. She’d been going at it alone and was doing okay. Ace couldn’t just waltz back into her life and assume she’d spill her guts to him. It didn’t work that way.