“Austin?”
His smile grew wide. “Yeah,” he said. My smile now matched his, because there was absolutely no way I could refrain from feeling the pride he did when he thought about his son. “So was last night cause for hitting the brakes?” he asked. “Because I have no intention of not continuing to explore what’s been building between us for far too long.”
“But—”
He stopped my question by placing his lips against mine. He trailed his hands from my jaw down my neck, then combed his fingers into my hair and fisted it. “Don’t get cold feet on me, Alena,” he whispered against my lips, not pausing long enough to allow me to respond.
When his tongue touched my lips, I opened up to accept him and sucked on the tip. A deep moan ripped from his throat as he pulled back and placed his forehead against mine. He took a deep breath.
“I was worried you would change your mind,” I confessed.
“Not a chance,” he said, pulling back to look me directly in the eyes. “I may have freaked out about your interest for a few months in the beginning, but I’m done living in the past. I’m ready to try this with you, and I hope you are too.”
“I am,” I said in a rush, and he chuckled.
“That’s good, darling. That’s real good,” he whispered before he kissed me again. Before it grew more intense, he broke the kiss and stepped back. “I’m gonna spend the day with Austin at the ranch, but tonight I was hoping I could see you.”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Six, my place?”
I nodded as he took my hand and pulled my body against his. “After I figure out how this all is gonna work with Austin, I want you to meet him. I just need the time with him alone right now.”
I nodded once more, because I completely understood.
“Stacey may be in my life because we share a son, but I can assure you that’s as far as it goes,” he said, and I had no choice but to believe him.
Chapter Four
Noah
I sat on the back porch of my parents’ place. It will always be my parents’ place, despite the recent loss of my father. It was a quarter until ten, and I couldn’t stop my nerves from flipping all over the damn place. My leg was bouncing nonstop, and I had no nails left to bite.
I had already confirmed Stacey and Austin were staying at her parents’ place. Apparently L.A. wasn’t what she hoped for, and after Liam tossed her aside, she no longer had a home there. So returning to the dreaded town of Livingston was apparently her only choice.
“Noah, if you’re acting like this when they get here, you’re gonna scare the hell out of him.” The screen door creaked as my mother exited the house. She took a seat in the empty chair beside me and tapped my knee with her foot.
“What if she doesn’t show?” I’d been worrying about it since the moment I walked away last night.
“She’ll show. She’s still in town. You should know that. You’ve had Burt watching her the entire time.” I took in a deep breath, trying to calm down. “Also, if she doesn’t show, I plan on tracking her ass down.”
I turned to look at her in surprise.
“What?” she asked. “She’s kept my grandson away from us long enough. She took away the chance of your father ever meeting him, and that pisses me off to no end.”
“Ma,” I said, my voice cracking as I too felt the loss of that opportunity.
“I know, I know.” She cleared her throat. “But you better bet that girl will eventually get an earful from me.”
I knew she meant it too. My mom was loud, proud, and stern. But after my dad passed, she became a distant and quiet version of herself. As time passed, though, I was slowly seeing the spitfire that was once my ma return. Tammy Sawyer was a badass when she felt the need to prove a point. I didn’t feel even an ounce of guilt for the knockdown I knew Stacey would face when my ma cut loose. I’m sure she would never forgive Stacey for keeping Austin from us all.
I turned toward the driveway at the sound of tires crunching against the gravel. A red, four-door sporty car that didn’t belong here in Montana was approaching with caution. I could see Stacey through the windshield, wearing a pair of sunglasses that where almost as big as her entire face. My mother groaned with distaste, and I knew exactly what she was thinking—here we go.
I stood from the chair and tried not to come off as too eager, but my need to see Austin was overpowering.
As Stacey’s car slowed to a stop, I walked toward it and stopped just beyond the hood. Placing my hands in my pockets, I rocked back on the heels of my boots and concentrated on breathing calmly.