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“No matter what happens, remember what I said. You’re the love of my life, and that’ll never change. If I need to wait a decade for you, I will.”
The image of Laney with tearstained cheeks and sad eyes will forever be ingrained into my mind. She’s never looked so hopeless. It breaks my fucking heart.
I look at the house with more bad memories than good and say goodbye to eighteen years of pain. Half of those years were spent loving her, and still, our love wasn’t enough to stay.
Laney’s always been drop-dead gorgeous, but she’s matured over the past decade. Fuller lips, thicker hair, rounder hips. Absolutely stunning.
“I’m sorry I had to start over without you. Not a day goes by that I haven’t thought about you. Wonderin’ how you were doing. If you were happy and safe. If a man was treatin’ you right. My biggest regret in life was havin’ to walk away from you.”
I hate that I’m not strong enough to keep my emotions in check, but when it comes to Ayden—the boy I never stopped loving—his words shoot straight to my heart.
Ayden’s touch is something I’ve been dreaming of, and just like always, it gives me comfort and hope. I inhale the scent of his cologne, and years of memories flash through my mind.
We’d be two ships in the night passing each other, but neither willing to stick around.
it took one touch from Ayden for goose bumps to cover my skin and heat to build between my legs. A part of me was relieved I wasn’t broken. The other part was too damn close to begging him to touch me again.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you. Even when I devoted every minute of my life to you, that little hint of jealousy would still come out.”
My heart is already on edge with suppressed feelings I’ve spent years pushing away, but after one day with Ayden, they’re fighting their way back in.
She’s going to fall in love with him. Inevitably, he will with her as well. It’s not only my heart on the line. Now it’s our daughter’s, too.
Ayden approaches and swarms me in a hug. His thick arms envelop my body and press me to his chest as if I were a puzzle piece made to fit perfectly into his.
Ayden I was being a gentleman this time, but when I see you next, I might not have the willpower to keep my lips off yours.
The heart that was in my throat moments ago sinks to the pit of my stomach. I’m battling whether to guard my heart or allow myself to open it back up to the man who tore it apart before. Am I strong enough to give Ayden another chance?
Laney I want to trust you, Ayden. I really do. But you broke my heart, and I’m scared you’ll do it again. Ayden I know, sweetheart. I have a lot of making up to do, and I promise I won’t stop until I do.
For the past three weeks, I’ve felt like a new man. A new reason to get up in the morning. A new reason to smile. And it’s due to two ladies who have my heart in a chokehold.
My nerves spiked the entire two-and-a-half-hour flight, and when we finally land, I inhale a deep breath and prepare for my entire life to change.
“Thank you.” Then I cup her cheek and mold my mouth to hers. I warned her I wouldn’t be so polite next time,
He texted me every night since I visited the ranch—some sweet and some dirty. Now he’s here, dangling his charm and hotness in my face but not giving in to what we both want. He’s going to make me fucking beg, isn’t he? Well, I won’t. Yet.
I’ll do whatever it takes to rebuild that trust so you know that I’ll be here for you and Serena no matter what. I don’t care how big or small. If it involves either of you, I wanna know. I’m not goin’ anywhere. I promise.”
Laney Bennett has always been mine, even miles apart and a decade later. She always will be.
“You seem to have forgotten, Laney Bennett, you’re the love of my life. My soulmate. My forever. I’ve never stopped lovin’ you, sweetheart, and nothin’ you could do or say would ever make me resent you.”
“I’m never leavin’ you again. I want nothin’ short of a lifetime with you.”
“There’s nothin’ to discuss because I’m never lettin’ you go. I’m movin’ here to be a family. Not only as a dad to Serena. I’m here for us, too.” A grin forms on my face. “Like...as my boyfriend?” Ayden releases an amused laugh. “I guess we can say that—for now.” “Or would you rather use the infamous baby daddy term?” He cups my chin, his mouth inches from mine. “Sweetheart, you call me whatever you please as long as you’re still screamin’ my name when I’m inside you.”
“I want everythin’ with you. The highs and lows. The ups and downs. The good and bad. I wanna be here for all of it. Whatever that is, just the three of us, or if we add more to our family, I’m ready for it. I’m here. I wanna give you everythin’ you’ve ever wanted.”
I want to reach over and tell her how much I love her, that it means the world to me that they’re moving to Tennessee, and how badly I want to give her everything she’s ever wanted. Her dream house. A husband and another baby. The perfect family dream.
Laney wraps her arms around my shoulders and holds on tight. “I think you just like takin’ care of me.” I lean in and press my lips to hers. “For as long as I’m alive on God’s green Earth, I always will.”
