Meant for You

by Layla Hagen

  “Thin walls, cousin,” Blake explained.

  “And you weren’t exactly whispering,” Jace added. “So... what was that all about? I’ll tell you right off the bat, I’m siding with Paige.”

  I rubbed my hands up and down my face, sitting on a barstool. Jace joined me, and Blake poured bourbon in a glass, threw in some ice, then slid the drink to me.

  “It’s five o’ clock in the afternoon,” I pointed out. “Early for hard liquor.”

  “Said no one ever. Besides, you just let that woman walk out of here. Clearly you need this,” Blake countered.

  Jace nodded. “Keep them coming. Maybe he’ll get smarter once he’s drunk. Or we’ll be able to knock some sense into him.”

  Blake had taken out the good stuff. Two glasses later, I was already feeling every muscle in my body relax, and I wasn’t drunk.

  “Cousin, I heard everything you’ve said, and it still doesn’t make sense,” Blake concluded after I explained my reasoning.

  Jace jerked his thumb in Blake’s direction. “I agree. Sounds to me like you jumped the gun.”

  “You two are driving me insane.”

  Jace shook his head. “No, you drove yourself insane all on your own. We’re just pointing out the crazy.”

  Blake’s phone buzzed, and he excused himself, walking in the back to answer it.

  I spun the empty glass, eyeing the bottle.

  “You can’t control everything in life, Will,” Jace said quietly. “I know you’d like to, we all would, but most of the time you just have to trust that things will work out.”

  It was easy to rebuff my brother when he was being loud and obnoxious, but I knew he was speaking from a place of concern right now. When Jace dished advice, I paid attention.

  “In soccer, we train and prepare, but when we go out on the field, all we can do is play the game. Paige is one hell of a woman. She’s smart, and she’s crazy about you. Don’t let her go.”

  Blake returned and made to pour me another drink, but I shook my head, moving the glass out of his reach.

  “On a scale from one to ten, how sharp are your groveling skills?” Blake inquired. “Because I’m the Bennett expert at it, and I don’t mind sharing my knowledge to help out a brother, or a cousin. I’m happily married, but I stuffed up royally before I got where I am.”

  “I don’t need—”

  “Minus fifteen. He’s clueless,” Jace filled him in. “Actually, so am I, so shoot. I’ll be taking mental notes for later. I’m sure I’ll be needing them at some point.”

  I squinted at my brother. “I thought you were happy with your bachelor status.”

  “Some habits just get old,” Jace said with a half smile and a wink. “Wait until Lori, Val, and Hailey arrive. They’ll hand you your ass. And I’ll be cheering them on.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Will

  I resisted precisely twenty-four hours, and then I headed to the inn. I was still vacillating between Fuck, that was stupid, and The point is worth considering. But I wanted to talk things out with Paige. I felt her absence like a physical punch in my gut. Not listening to her soft breath at night and her slight snores in the morning was killing me.

  The inn was quiet when I arrived, which meant all workers had left for the day. I gritted my teeth when I saw the front door open. What was the point of a state-of-the-art alarm system if she left the door open?

  I went inside and found her in the kitchen, which was being remodeled to fit the new purpose of the inn. The fridge door was open, and Paige was rummaging in one of the lower drawers, her ass sticking up proudly into the air.

  “Paige—”

  She yelped, straightening up and spinning around in one move, nearly backing into the fridge.

  “Oh my God. You scared me. What are you doing here?”

  She rearranged her shirt, pulling at the hem. Her body language tipped me off that something was awry. Her movements oscillated between too quick and too slow, like she couldn’t control her reactions. I swept my gaze across the counter and found the culprit: a bottle of wine. It was open, but she couldn’t have had more than one glass.

  “Are you... drunk?”

  “No, just a little... out of sorts. Luna is coming here tonight, so I brought out a bottle of wine. I only had one glass, and I haven’t eaten all day. I’m fine, just... balance issues.” She’d also pulled at her T-shirt too much, and now her breasts were practically spilling out and she wasn’t even noticing, but I didn’t see how that could earn me points, so I kept the observation to myself. “What are you doing here?”

  “I thought we could talk.”

  She licked her lips, sighing, then looked at the floor. She was so damn cute that I just wanted to back her against the fridge and kiss her, sink inside her.

  “I don’t know, Will. Maybe you’re right.”

  “What?” I croaked out, my voice raw.

  “Well, if you think I’m some emotional whacko... if you can’t even trust that I know who I want, that I know what’s best for me, then maybe you’re... not right for me.”

  “I don’t think you’re an emotional—”

  “And if you want to pull out of the project, I understand. I just ask you for a little time so I can find another source of funding,” she went on, as if I hadn’t said anything at all. Panic was unfurling inside me now.

  “Paige, of course I don’t want to pull out of the project. Look at me.” I walked up close and took her face in my hands, but she tugged at my wrists. I let go.

  “No, you’re not allowed to do that eye thingy.” She emphasized every word with a wiggle of her forefinger.

  “What eye thingy?” I asked, bewildered.

  “That thing where you look at me until you make me all hot and bothered and I can’t help squirming.”

  I saw my chance and leaned in, but Paige placed a firm hand on my chest, pushing me away.

  “Oh yeah, really? You think you can kiss me if I don’t even want you to do the eye thingy? No kissing.”

  “Okay.” I held my hands up in surrender.

  She was talking very fast as she shifted her weight from one leg to the other.

  “I think you should lie down, Paige. Come on, I’ll help you to the couch.”

  She shook her head. “No. You don’t get to come here and be all nice and caring.”

  “So you want me to be a jerk and uncaring? I can’t do that. I love you.”

  She swallowed and looked at her hands, twiddling her thumbs. “Then you should trust my judgement. You should trust my feelings.”

  “Paige—”

  She was right in front of me, but it felt as if she was far away.

  “Please leave. Luna will be here soon, and I can’t vouch that she won’t throw whatever she finds at your head.”

  I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to hold her in my arms and talk to her until neither of us sputtered nonsense and we focused on the important part: that we loved each other. I’d had my proverbial come-to-Jesus moment sometime since I walked in tonight. Paige knew who she was and what she wanted. But I understood that she needed to process everything, talk things out with her best friend.

  “I’ll go. But I’m walking you to the couch first. It’s nonnegotiable.”

  She huffed, wiggling her forefinger at me again. “Fine. But no touching me.”

  “And no kissing, no eye thingy. Got it.”

  I just walked a few steps behind her, and once she was safely on the couch, I left. I had my work cut out for me. Luckily, I had Blake’s instructions.

  I fashioned a plan as I left the inn. My first stop would be at the house of Paige’s parents. That wasn’t in Blake’s instructions, but I was adapting it. As a family person myself, I knew how important it was to talk to her parents. I knew they’d be at her house because Paige had commented last week that they had movie night every Sunday. On the way there, I tried to play out in my mind her parents’ reactions, as well as what I’d tell them.

  When I arr
ived, I rang the bell and waited with my hands behind my back. Several seconds later, I heard feet shuffling through the door. A second later, a voice called through the house. “Harvey, it’s Will.” After a pause, she added, “Yes, yes, Will.”

  I kept my fingers crossed that her dad wouldn’t open the door pointing a gun at me.

  When the door finally swung over, I took in Greta and Harvey Lamonica. Her mom had a hand over her chest, looking at me apprehensively. Her dad didn’t have a gun, but looked as if he’d do anything to point one at me.

  “What are you doing here?” Harvey asked.

  “Will, come on in. Tell us what this is about.”

  Her parents reminded me of my parents. My dad had always been something of a hothead, like me, and Mom had been calm and patient, balancing everything out. “I am assuming Paige has talked to you,” I said as I stepped inside.

  “Damn right she has,” Harvey growled.

  “Harvey,” Greta hissed. “Hear the boy out. Why do you think he’s here? It means he loves our daughter.”

  I stared at her. She could tell that... just like that? Women’s intuition had always been a mystery to me.

  “Is that right?” Harvey asked.

  “Yes, sir. And I know I handled things wrong.”

  “And he’s here because he wants to make them right.” Greta clapped her hands, then put them over her chest. “Oh, this is romantic.”

  Harvey glared at me, then at his wife. She elbowed him, not too gently. “Oh, don’t pretend like you never screwed up. And I don’t remember you showing up at my parents’ house. Momma would’ve told me.”

  That shut Harvey up.

  Greta patted his arm. “Let’s go in the backyard and you can tell us what’s on your mind.”

  Greta was smiling at me. Harvey at least looked like he wasn’t planning to shoot me anymore.

  We sat outside at the wooden table, and I explained my reasoning to both of them, and that I wanted to right things.

  Mrs. Lamonica was smiling and then went on to give so much groveling advice that she’d make Blake proud.

  “You know what? I’m going to bring us all some of our homemade cherry liqueur,” she said eventually.

  When she’d disappeared inside the house, Harvey said, “You still have something on your chest.”

  Well, yes, and it was weighing on me. “I know Paige is strong, but I don’t want her to have to be strong. Or to worry. Does that make sense?”

  I didn’t want her to have to be strong for our children, or to have to pretend.

  Harvey smiled at me for the very first time today. “You’re talking to someone who used to be in the Army. Of course it makes sense. Let me ask you something. Why did you join the force?”

  “Because I wanted to make a difference.”

  “And do you feel that your current position is the only way you can make a difference?”

  I knew what Harvey was getting at because I’d given it a lot of thought as well lately.

  “No, sir. There was a time I used to think that, but not anymore. There are alternative pathways in the LAPD where I could bring things forward without risk.”

  I’d always thought I’d needed the action... and well, in the very beginning I had. It had been a way to work out that residual anger I still held over the unsolved case of my parents. But lately, I’d moved on to other types of cases, which hadn’t required as much action. And since Paige had entered my life, I’d learned there were more dimensions to making a difference than my narrow definition. A few months ago, I wouldn’t even have thought about the change, but now I wanted it. The conversation with Mr. Lamonica had just solidified it.

  “I will talk to my superiors as soon as possible.” I was excited to explore all options, especially those that would leave me more time to focus on the foundation.

  “Well, son, just make sure my daughter knows you’re not making this decision only for her sake, or she’ll hand you your ass, just like her mother did with me when I told her I’d retire early. She gets the stubborn from Greta.”

  “Are you badmouthing me?” Mrs. Lamonica inquired, appearing out of nowhere.

  “No, dear,” said Harvey on a slight wince.

  I smiled, taking the glass she handed me. They were both happy and relaxed, but there was just one more thing I wanted to ask them before I left. One very important thing.

  ***

  Paige

  I was so proud of how I’d handled things. So proud. I’d stood my ground. I hadn’t let those sinful eyes or lips sway me, or that sweet way in which he wanted to look after me. I’d wanted to say more, but I’d swallowed my words before I made a fool of myself. It pissed me off that he’d just jumped to conclusions because I’d had a mini-meltdown at the hospital.

  It reminded me of Greg, who’d labeled me as an emotional nutjob because I was fighting for the educational center.

  Truthfully, it had been because of Will that I’d become comfortable with expressing my emotions, whether they were happy or not.

  My chest had ached since I’d seen Will, and it didn’t seem to be fading. I wished I’d been sober when he’d arrived. I still wasn’t sure why I was so unsteady... then I remembered that I’d only had a smoothie this morning, because I hadn’t had time for a sandwich. So my last meal had been yesterday evening. That would explain it.

  I had my phone on me, so I shot Luna a text, asking her to bring some food too. I wasn’t in the mood for a girls’ night in, but she’d insisted. I wasn’t a quitter, damn it. What I wanted was to shake some sense into Will, make him understand that while I appreciated his concern, I needed him to trust me. If he didn’t... how could things work out between us?

  Over the next week, we threw ourselves into working on the education center. There was a lot to be done, and since I’d divided tasks once I’d quit my job, we barely saw each other.

  On the first day, I found chocolate mousse in the fridge. Huh? I hadn’t ordered it. Then I realized Will must have ordered it for me. Something tugged at my heartstrings as I ate it.

  I shot him a quick message.

  Paige: I found the chocolate mousse. Thank you.

  Then a second one.

  Paige: I hope it was for me. I ate it all.

  Will answered a few minutes later.

  Will: It was for you. Best energy shot, remember? Thought you’d need it.

  This man. Did he really remember every detail about me?

  On day two, I found a flyer from the Griffith Observatory on my bed. There were two tickets and a card next to it.

  No meteor shower this time, but they do have a special viewing next week. I’d love to take you.

  You don’t have to answer right away.

  (Take your time until the answer is yes.)

  I smiled from ear to ear. I was still frustrated with him, but that frustration receded a bit every day. I couldn’t lie, the little thoughtful gifts helped. On the third day, I realized this was probably his exact intent. He had an agenda. Yeah... I was slow to catch up, but hey, I had a lot on my mind. Also, realizing he had an agenda absolutely did not stop me from enjoying the gifts. The current one was a DVD of a movie I’d told him I want to see.

  I hadn’t texted him yesterday, but couldn’t help myself today.

  Paige: Just found your DVD. Wondering with whom I should watch it...

  Will: With me, of course.

  I imagined the growly sound he would have made if he’d said this in person and laughed. When was he even doing these things? I hadn’t stopped to think about that, but surprising me required a lot of planning and some stealth maneuvers.

  Oh, this lovely and infuriating man. Why had he upset me? I’d calmed down enough to see things from his perspective, though, and I could sort of understand it, considering everything I’d told him about growing up as the kid of an Army man.

  On day four, I searched in vain for my gift. Instead, I received an impromptu visit from Luna, who informed me Will was treating us to a dinner out
.

  I’d actually thought it meant Will was joining us, but I was quick to hide my disappointment when it became clear that he’d just treated me and Luna.

  “Tell the truth, did Will charm you?”

  Luna made a sign as if to indicate her lips were sealed. “All I know is, he said this is a hectic week and you could need a distraction. So... ta-da, here is your distraction. He’s quite thoughtful, isn’t he?”

  Hmmm, Luna had avoided my question, but by the way she was singing Will’s praises—instead of considering which shoes would do more damage if she threw them at him, as she’d done during our dinner at the inn—I had my answer.

  The next morning, I woke up to the sound of a door closing. I was in the only room of the inn that still had bedroom furniture. I patted the floor in search of my smartphone. I groaned. It was eight thirty. The workers would arrive in a few minutes, and I felt as if my bones weighed a thousand pounds. Luna and I had talked until the early hours of the morning. I’d had about four hours of sleep. But wait... who’d closed the door? I tried to remember if I’d set the alarm last night. Probably not. Will would have a thing or ten to say about that. Before I could panic, I noticed the tray of food on the empty half of the bed. All of my breakfast favorites were there. Fresh orange juice, cheese omelet, and blueberry pancakes.

  How...?

  I startled when I heard voices outside and scrambled to my feet, looking out the window. The workers were there. And a few seconds later, so was Will, coming out of the house. As if feeling my gaze on him, he looked up, straight at me, and gave me a devastating smile. I’d never eaten and gone through my morning routine so fast in my life.

  When I made it downstairs, Will was already in action, ordering the workers around. Those jeans clung to his ass like their sole purpose was to tempt me. And that shirt, huh? It showed off his muscles—all of them. Even what the fabric covered was still visible—the shape at least.

  “Good morning,” I said.

  The workers greeted me, and Will turned around slowly, watching me with a bemused expression. It was the first time we were seeing each other in days.