Hearts at Play(34)

“Bree.”

She felt completely off balance. She wanted to crawl into his lap and stay there, safe and sound, but what if safe and sound really meant only a few weeks each year of safe and sound?

“Bree,” he said again.

“Yeah?”

Sitting beside him like this, his hands on her arms, his dark eyes telling her he’d never hurt her, made her worries fall away, but one glance down the hall to her daughter’s bedroom tripped her up again.

“There are plenty of guys who bring their families with them when they travel. They bring tutors for the kids. Some have a home base and they travel back and forth. If that’s where we’re headed, we’ll figure it out together and do what’s best for Layla.”

What’s best for Layla. His constant commitment to Layla’s well-being and the way his thoughts repeated Mack’s about how things might work out brought the word fate to the forefront of her mind.

He tucked a wayward lock of hair behind her ear, and she closed her eyes and just breathed for a minute. “Okay. Thank you.”

“Stop thanking me.” He put his arms around her again. “What are your plans for the week?”

She cringed. “Back to real life. I work from ten to ten Monday and ten to five on Wednesday. And I’m working with Claude Tuesday and Thursday morning from eight to one, and then I’m at the tavern from two until ten Tuesday and two to five Thursday because I have Layla’s birthday party late Thursday afternoon. Normally I’d be there until nine or ten. Then I’m back at the tavern again Friday from nine to five.”

Hugh arched a brow. “You’re working almost fifty hours Monday through Friday?”

“That sounds about right. They didn’t have any hours for me Saturday. So unless Claude comes through with something, I’ll have that day off, too, which right now would be a blessing.” She leaned against the couch, watching worry lines travel across his forehead.

“When do you have time with Layla during the week?”

She lowered her eyes. “I never have enough time with her, but we fit it in. We have breakfast together, and I’ll spend time with her in the evenings, just not much time.” Familiar guilt knotted in her stomach. “What are your plans for the week?”

“I’ve got a few things to take care of before I leave Friday morning. I was hoping to see you at some point, but you have so little time with Layla that I don’t want to interfere.”

“I don’t go into work until ten on Monday and Wednesday. We could see each other before work if it fits with your schedule.”

“I’ll make it work Monday, but Wednesday I have a meeting with a sponsor. Are you talking to Layla about us tomorrow?”

“I think so, but I can’t do it before school in case it upsets her. She’ll be exhausted Monday night, but that’s probably the best time. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“If things go well, and if you feel it’s appropriate, can I take you and Layla out on a double date Wednesday evening?”

“She’d really like that, but don’t feel pressure to do it.” The idea of it sent a thrill through her.

He inched closer. “I’ll tell you what. You talk with her and let me know what you think. In the meantime, where do you want to meet tomorrow morning? Do you want to have breakfast together? Do you have any errands you need to run during that time? I can tag along. I don’t care what we do as long as I’m with you.”

She’d be damned if she’d waste the little time they had together running errands. “Nope. I’m good.”

“Okay, then why don’t you come over after you take Layla to school and I’ll make you breakfast?”

“Sounds perfect.” She mentally ticked off each of her sexy undergarments.

Pink. Definitely pink.

Or maybe…none at all.





Chapter Twenty-Eight


THE NEXT MORNING, Layla sat on her knees on the kitchen chair, stabbed a piece of her pancake with her fork, and shoved it in her mouth. “I had fun last night. Can I go to your work again tonight?”

“I’m sorry, sweetie, but children really aren’t supposed to be at Mommy’s work. Mack made an exception last night, but he can get in trouble if we do that too often. Besides, Grandma rented Tangled to watch with you tonight.” She took a bite of her pancakes and watched Layla crinkle her nose. “Is something wrong with your pancakes?”

Layla shook her head and stuck her lower lip out in an adorable pout. “I wanted to see Prince Hugh again.”

Brianna’s body tingled with the anticipation of seeing him. I don’t blame you. “Did you have fun with him, or was it just fun because you were at my work?”

“I had fun with him. He’s nice and he’s just like the prince in the play I saw with Grandma. He played with me and made up stories and some girl asked him on a date and he said no so he could play with me.” She flashed her tiny Chiclets teeth—and the gap where one was missing—as she put another piece of pancake in her mouth.

Since they were on the topic of Hugh and Layla appeared to hold him in a positive light, Brianna decided not to wait to discuss their relationship with her. “I wanted to talk to you about him.” She set down her fork and folded her hands under her chin, weighing Layla’s reaction. Of which she had none. Zero. Not even a modicum of interest that would dissuade her from the pancakes as she speared another piece with her fork. “Hugh is a friend of mine. A special friend.”

“I know.”

Brianna lowered her hands to her lap. “You know?”

Layla shook her head. “Uh-huh.”

“How do you know he’s my special friend?” I’m going to kill my mother.

She shrugged.

Brianna’s pulse sped up. She lifted her eyebrows. “What do you think a special friend is?”

Layla took a drink of her juice, then speared another piece of pancake. “Someone who you like a lot. Like Kat. Kat’s a special friend.”

Brianna smiled. “You’re right. Kat is a very special friend.”

“And Mack. Mack’s a special friend.” She shoved the pancake in her mouth.

“Yes, Mack is too. But Hugh is a little different kind of special friend,” Brianna explained. How the hell was she supposed to do this? She had no idea how to differentiate between one kind of special friend and another.

“Marissa’s mom has a special friend, and she said they kiss. Do you kiss Hugh?”

Brianna blew out a breath. I guess that’s how I differentiate. “Would it bother you if I did?”

Layla puckered her lips and wiggled her mouth from side to side. “Do you really like him? Because Grandma said girls should only kiss boys who they really, really like. And she said you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince.”

“Grandma is right.” And she has a big mouth. “You should only kiss boys that you really, really like, and yes, I really, really like Hugh.”

Layla sat back on her heels and put her fork down. “I like him too.”

“That’s good, Layla, because he likes you as well. He’d like to take us out Wednesday night. Would that be okay?”

She bobbed her head up and down with a toothy grin. “Where will we go?”

Brianna’s heart soared. “I’m not sure yet. Someplace special.”

Layla furrowed her brow. “Anywhere?”

“I think so. Where did you have in mind?” Brianna began clearing the table.

“I don’t know. You decide.” She jumped off her chair and ran to the table in the living room. “Do we have time to play Drama Queen?”

And just like that the conversation was over. She’d stewed all night over telling Layla about Hugh, and thirty seconds after hearing it, her child brain had already switched gears. If only it were that easy for adults. “Not before school, but you should know that Hugh is the one that bought that for you.” She checked her watch. In thirty minutes she’d be at Hugh’s house. In thirty-one minutes she’d be in his arms.

Layla bounced up and down. “Hugh bought this for me? How did he know I wanted it?”

Brianna smiled at her daughter’s enthusiasm. “I don’t know, but we’d better get your shoes on or we’ll be late.” She had decided to swing back by the apartment after dropping off Layla at school to change before going to see Hugh. Her stomach flipped and dipped.

In the foyer, Layla slid her blue-stockinged feet into her blue sneakers. “I know how he knew, Mommy. He’s magical. All princes are magical.”

He has magic hands, but I’m not sure he’s magical. “I think he’s just a really good guesser.”





Chapter Twenty-Nine


HUGH PORED OVER the race schedule for the following year. He ran his hand through his hair, trying to figure out the best way to navigate a relationship with Brianna and still maintain his rigorous schedule. He’d been staring at the damned thing for more than an hour, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t focus. It was a good thing he’d lessened his schedule. If he was having this much trouble with an abbreviated race schedule, there was no way he’d have been able to manipulate his way around the heavier competitions and fit in a relationship. Damn it. The thought of Brianna working fifty hours in five days killed him. She needed more time with Layla, and certainly Layla needed more time with her mother. He pushed away from the table and paced.