Love Disregarded
Page 22
They didn’t even hear me shout, “Quiet down, you punks,” so naturally, I gave up and let them be too.
Then there was my beautiful Piper—the real reason tonight was different. My baby girl was upstairs in her room, crying over Jensen Danvers. God, I hated the little prick. I did not want to let him be. Never had I wanted to beat the crap out of a tenth-grader before.
The little jerk had wooed her all goddamn year, even when I told her not to fall for his shit, and invited Piper to the homecoming dance. Of course, now the cocksucker was shacking up with some senior and had ditched Piper for the dance.
I had every reason to head over to the Danvers’ house on the sixteenth hole and give those parents a talking-to. The only thing keeping me home was Bexley. She’d given me a death stare that clearly told me if I crossed her on this, I’d be jacking off from here to eternity.
Unable to control myself and my mouth, I’d retreated to the deck. Of course, Bexley thought she should handle Piper on her own.
Feeling helpless, I texted Mike and checked in. He and Milly were heading out on a date, like I should have been. They had a nanny, though, and we didn’t.
Denise’s husband took retirement right after Bexley moved in with me, and they took off to explore the country in an RV. Most recently, they fell in love with an area along Cheat Lake in West Virginia, said they would be back for Christmas to see the kids.
I explained to Mike that Piper, who was supposed to have been watching the other kids tonight, was out of commission. Plus, Mike and Milly were setting things straight and needed the night out. Even though I was pretty certain that our date wasn’t happening any fucking time soon, I had what I needed—Bexley. Forever.
And I couldn’t fault Mike for putting his marriage back together.
Taking in deep breaths, I was trying to remember what it was like when I had my first crush, my first love, when I heard the sliding door open. I braced myself for whatever type of catastrophe might interrupt my Scotch and me.
“Hey.”
Thank God it’s Bexley.
She slipped into my lap with something hidden behind her back.
“What you got there, young lady?” My lips brushed her temple as I breathed all of her in.
“Kiss me, and I’ll show you.”
For the record, she didn’t need to bribe me to kiss her. I set my drink on the ledge and covered her mouth with mine, my hand wrapping behind her neck, pulling her as close as she could be. I wanted to devour her.
Trying to distract her with my tongue, I tugged on her arm, pretending I wanted her to wrap it around me.
“Huh-uh, no way,” she said before breaking free with a smile.
“Come on, Bex. I’ve been sitting out here by my lonesome. I deserve some happiness,” I said with a wink. She knew I was happy as fuck.
“It’s nice out here,” she said, tilting away from me as she stalled.
“Yep. That’s exactly why I’m out here. Inside, it’s a loony bin, and I want to grab Piper and drive her over to Jensen’s house and let her slap the asshole across the face. But somehow, I don’t think you’d like that idea.”
“That’s not a solution. And you love the craziness. You never had anything like this, and neither did I.” Speaking the truth, she smiled even bigger.
“I do love it, but I still think we should hire someone to help.” What I didn’t add was that I planned to hire someone full time to run the house, not these part-time housekeepers. This I knew she didn’t agree with me on.
Proving me right, she said, “We don’t need anyone. The kids are happier when we’re here, or just being together themselves.”
“I feel ya, Bex, but what I want is to really feel you inside and out. Feel you up, if you didn’t know what I mean. Feel myself buried deep in you.”
She laughed, her giggle rising into the night sky. “That’s how we got Olivia.”
“So? We love Olivia. We could have one more kid. We’re already outnumbered.”
“Okay, enough of that crazy talk. Look what I brought you.” She pulled a fat cigar out from behind her back and ran it under my nose.
I breathed in the bold cinnamon and nutmeg scent. “Mmm.” I moaned, a Pavlovian response. “You’re too good to me.”
“I know we’re supposed to celebrate tonight, but Piper’s not doing great, and I feel bad leaving.”
“I know. Don’t worry. Rain check?”
Bexley nodded, touching her forehead to mine. “Remember that night we sat out on the seventeenth hole and shared a cigar?”
It was my turn to nod. “Feels like a lifetime ago, and maybe yesterday, all wrapped up in one.”
“Sometimes I wish we could get the years back. The ones I wasted not being with you.”
“Don’t, Bex.” I ran my hand through her hair and pulled her tight to my chest. I knew this haunted her. I didn’t like thinking of all the time she spent with Seth either, or the years I wasted on Cass. But all of that was behind us now. “Don’t ruin today with that crock of shit.”
“I know. Today’s awesome.”
“Pretty much.” I kissed her, this time not letting her pull away. We stayed like that until we couldn’t breathe.
“Wanna share this?” I waved the stogie in the air.
“It’s all you, AP. On to the next. Time to celebrate.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Me either,” Bexley said, snuggling into my chest.
For a moment, I’d forgotten the reason for our date night. With Bexley, the why never mattered when it came to celebrating together. I’d been biding my time, but I’d finally penned a deal this morning to buy another small resort in Tahoe, and now it was all mine.
Well, ours. We planned to add a luxury spa to the five-star gaming hotel we’d already started. It was a little slice of perfection for travelers who wanted it all.
Federal Stars Hospitality Supplies was no more, and my father was alone to stew about it all by himself. Together, Bexley and I were making a new family legacy. Now the Bexley Brand was quickly becoming a well-regarded line of small luxury resorts.
The thought made me grin as I snagged a lighter from by the grill and lit up my cigar.
It might have felt like a hundred years since we first sat on the seventeenth hole together, but my heart always knew there was only one love for me.
Read other books by Rachel Blaufeld
These are increasingly difficult to write. With every book, I realize the effects of the romance world on my daily life. There is no separation between who I am in my daily life and when I step into Romancelandia. These people are my family.
Thank you to my fabulous betas: Michelle, Jenn, and Virginia. I’m sure you have me on Do Not Disturb at this point. Queen V—when are we going to another signing again? I hope soon.
As always, Sarah Hansen created this beauty on the cover. This time around, I said work your magic. I didn’t say one thing. This is what she gave me on the first try.
Pam Berehulke, where would I be without you? Together since the beginning, we have gone through so many of life’s ups and downs. I appreciate your editing expertise more than you know.
Emily Tippetts and gang, without you, I can’t upload a thing. Thanks for making it all work.
Jenn Watson and everyone at Social Butterfly, thanks . . . times a million. Jenn, thank you for standing up for this community and your advocacy to make it a better place.
Nic, my PA. Three babies and a sprained tailbone, and you’re still better organized than me.
Christy Pastore. My daily text, call, yell for help—you always answer me, and if you don’t, I find you. Thank you for being part of my personal and professional life.
Fabi, glad you’re back after disappearing into the social media black hole. Our lives are better with you in it. Thanks for channeling my inner cowgirl.
To my family. Just thanks for being you.
To THE ELECTRIC READERS, I love you eternally.
And to YOU, for readin
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Rachel Blaufeld is a bestselling author of Romantic Suspense, New Adult, Coming-of-Age Romance, and Sports Romance. A recent poll of her readers described her as insightful, generous, articulate, and spunky. Originally a social worker, Rachel creates broken yet redeeming characters. She’s been known to turn up the angst like cranking up the heat in the dead of winter.
A devout coffee drinker and doughnut eater, Rachel spends way too many hours in local coffee shops, downing the aforementioned goodies while she plots her ideas. Her tales may all come with a side of angst and naughtiness, but end as lusciously as her treats.
As a side note, Blaufeld, also a long-time blogger and an advocate of woman-run anything, is fearless about sharing her opinion. To her, work/life/family balance is an urban legend, but she does her best.
Rachel has also blogged for The Huffington Post, Modern Mom, and USA TODAY, where she shared conversations at “In Bed with a Romance Author” and reading recommendations at “Happy Ever After.”
Rachel lives around the corner from her childhood home in Pennsylvania with her family and two beagles. Her obsessions include running, coffee, basketball, icing-filled doughnuts, antiheroes, and mighty fine epilogues.
When she isn’t writing, she can be found courtside, tweeting about hoops as her son plays, or walking around the house wearing earplugs while her other son, the drummer, bangs away.
To connect with Rachel, she’s most active in her private reading group, The Electric Readers, where she shares insider information and intimate conversation with her readers:
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