Without Limits: A BWWM Collection of Passion and Desire, page 98
“But what?” Rita said, staring intently at me.
“I like him a lot. Much more than is wise, given our situation.”
“I think you may be much further along than you realize.”
Wrinkling my brows, I asked, “Why d’you say that?”
“You seemed so happy texting with him.” Rita patted my hand and showed me a smile bright enough to rival the sun. “Matter of fact, you look like someone in love.”
Chapter Fifteen
I’d stayed up half the night talking to Scott and Saturday morning descended like a flood. I got up early, made breakfast for Mom and the girls, laundered Angel’s uniforms and completed housework Mom said she hadn’t managed to do—although I told her it was okay not to do anything. Then, I dropped off Mom and Renée and did my shopping with Angel in tow.
We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and now she was doing homework while I flipped through a magazine. At least, that’s what I was doing before Scott called.
He’d been working since early this morning and then drove to Ocala—a four-hour trip—to see his brother and parents.
We’d now been talking for fifteen minutes and I wondered what his brother was thinking about him coming for a visit and then settling in for a video chat.
I paid attention when Scott called my name. “Where did you go just now?”
“Sorry, I’m back.”
“Good thing.” His mouth quirked and his eyes smoldered. “You know what I want to do right now?”
I laughed, “With that look in your eyes? Yeah, I think I can make an accurate guess.”
“What d’you want to do Uncle Scott?”
I sucked in a deep breath that turned into a cough. Angel had been to the kitchen and was now leaning over the back of the sofa.
“Hey, Angel. I just wanted to give your mommy a hug.”
“Maybe I can give her one for you until you come back.”
“That sounds like a good idea. Give her a kiss for me too.”
Angel grabbed me around the neck and smacked me on the side of the face. “I love you, Mommy.”
I stroked her cheek. “I love you, too, honey.”
Scott’s eyes were soft when I looked back at him.
I waited until Angel got back in the chair, picked up her pencil, and lowered her head. Smirking, I said, “You'll learn that when you have kids around you have to be careful what you say.”
He threw back his head and laughed. Still chuckling, he said, “Stop acting as if she didn't take you by surprise too.”
My answering grin said all he wanted to know. “Yeah, but that's your fault for chatting me up and taking my mind off what's happening in the room.”
Someone spoke to Scott and he looked away from the phone. “Olivia, come and meet Vaughn.”
His image shifted on the screen and in the next moment a cute, olive-skinned girl with huge brown eyes waved at me. Her wide smile revealed a gap where her front teeth should have been. “Hi, Vaughn.”
“Hey, Olivia, how are you today?”
“I'm good.” She wrapped one arm around Scott's neck. “Uncle came to see me and Mommy and Daddy today. He said you're in Jamaica.”
“That's true.”
“He said you have a little girl just like me.”
“That's true too.”
“Can I see her?”
Scott shrugged and I took it to mean it was okay with him.
“Angel, come here a minute.”
She came and sat next to me. I explained what was happening and she squished closer on the seat. Angel waved at Olivia. “Hi, Olivia. You should ask Uncle Scott to bring you back with him so we can have a play date.”
“Uh, that sort of arrangement is higher than my pay grade.” He laughed and spoke to someone else in the room. “Plus, Rhys and Maggie would never allow me to take their baby out of the state much less out of the country.”
“That's right,” someone yelled from somewhere in the room. “Not without us.”
“Stop yelling and come over here. Meet Vaughn and Angel.”
The screen shifted as Scott changed position to stand next to another man, who had the same deep-blue eyes. “Shevaughn, meet Rhys. Rhys, Shevaugn.”
Rhys smiled, revealing crow's feet at the corners of his eyes. I put his age at late thirties. “Nice. You're a looker,” he said, “How did my little brother get this lucky?”
His words were said in a good-natured way, which put me at ease.
“You're free to ask him.”
“Well, what happened was...” Scott’s words trailed off and the two men laughed.
“You know what?” he continued, “stop trying to get into my business. Maggie, come and meet Vaughn.”
A woman with smooth milk-chocolate skin smiled into the camera and greeted me. “Hi, Vaughn. Hey, sweetie.”
Angel cheesed at her as we exchanged greetings.
“You're going to have to invite us down to Jamaica some time for that delicious food and several trips to the beach.”
“Any time you're ready,” I said, charmed by her dimpled cheeks. “Just ask Scott to arrange it and we'll do our part on this side.”
I saw Olivia reflected in Maggie’s eyes and friendly smile. “I'm holding you to that,” she said.
I don't know what I expected when Scott started the introductions. His race didn't bother me, but I unwound a bit more when I saw the make-up of his family. I was happy he even thought about introducing us to them. I respected him for that, which underscored how much I missed him. If he was on the island, we would have been doing something this evening.
Angel left me, and my thoughts settled when Scott called my name. “You're on roaming again, Vaughn.”
We laughed at that and it amazed me, how attuned he was to my moods. “Sorry. I had a hectic morning and I was talking to you-know-who until the wee-hours. I guess I'm tired.”
“You should get some rest early tonight, but wait, didn't I say I was calling you later?”
“We don't have to stay up all night yakking, you know.”
“I know, but I miss you.” He sounded forlorn as his gaze pierced mine,
My response was soft. “I miss you too.”
If was really going to be truthful, I'd admit feeling kinda lost without Scott, as if part of me was missing. That wasn't me and it told me I was in a place I hadn't been before. My dates before Scott had been just that, casual arrangements limited to a night out.
Only one man had appealed to me enough for me to think about a relationship and even then, it hadn't been sexual in nature. I'd cut that off before it developed into anything deeper. He'd reminded me too much of Nolan. Possessive and full of commands, veiled as requests. I'd been down that road once before and didn't need another trip to jog bad memories or lead me back into a bad situation.
“Hey, you've left me again,” Scott said.
“Sorry, maybe we should break now and catch up later.”
“Yeah,” he said, his eyes intense as he studied me. “Get some rest.”
I hadn't put the phone down for five minutes before another one started ringing. It was Angel's cell phone in her room.
She scampered off her seat and ran to get it. When she didn't come back, I assumed it was Renée or one of her other friends calling. I continued flipping through the lifestyle magazine until she came to me with the phone in her hand. “It's Daddy.”
Weird that I'd just thought about him and his special brand of nonsense, but he was on target since he usually called on a Saturday. I put the phone to my ear. “Hello, Nolan. How are you?”
“Great, and you?”
“Good, you already wired the money for Angel, so apart from that...”
Of course, I wondered what he wanted because we both knew since our divorce I avoided talking to him as much as possible.
He cleared his throat, which was usually a sign that he was in control-freak mode. “Angel mentioned someone named Scott. Who is that, exactly?”
I was tempted to say, none of your business, but it would sound childish and petulant so I decided against it.
“Scott is someone I'm seeing.”
“Is he someone that should be around our daughter?”
I took a deep breath and smiled at Angel, who was chewing her thumbnail. My smile was reassuring but her eyes remained wide.
“Sweetie, can you bring my tablet from the bedroom. I left it on my bedside table.”
She nodded and walked away, giving me the space I needed.
“Nolan, in case you've forgotten, we're no longer married and you don't have the right to ask questions like that.”
“We have a daughter in common. You're forgetting that.”
“And she's in capable hands.”
“I'm not denying that.”
“Then perhaps it would be more profitable if you kept your focus on Nadia and Christopher.”
He stuttered, I guess because of my straight shooting, but I wasn't taking any of his crap. I was a different woman today and wasn't up for any of his nonsense. He could save it for his new wife and their one-year-old son.
Angel returned and handed me the Kindle. I took it, giving her a sweet smile. “Thanks, honey. Nolan, I have to go. Say goodbye to Angel.”
They wrapped up their call and then Angel wriggled onto the seat and looked up at me. “Are you upset with me, Mommy?”
“Or course not.” I pulled her closer. “Come here.”
When she snuggled against my side, I kissed her forehead and looked into her eyes, which had the same almond shape as mine. “There's nothing your dad can say to make me mad with you, okay?”
She nodded. “I thought you were mad because you sent me out of the room...so you could cuss out, Daddy.”
I couldn’t help laughing. “I wasn't doing anything like that.”
She pulled back and looked up at me, as if I was lying to her.
We broke out laughing at the same time, because she used to witness me trying to be polite to her father when all I wanted to do was scream at him for being unreasonable. I pitied the poor woman he'd married. Better her than me though.
“Mommy, you like Uncle Scott, right?”
Nodding, I said, “Yes, he's a good person. Why d'you ask?”
“Well, I think so because he makes you laugh and he's nice to me.”
“Those are good reasons to like him, huh?”
She nodded. “Yes, and everybody needs someone to love.”
I leaned away and looked into her eyes. Hiding a smile, I asked, “Where did you hear that?”
Since I didn't watch much television, I figured that had to be Mom's influence.
“On television. Cindy said that to Jane in the movie...um.” She scrunched up her brows as if thinking hard. After a moment, her face cleared. “The movie was For the Love of Mason. And I believe it, because Daddy found Aunt Nadia to love.”
“Okay, but not everybody is meant to marry and have kids.”
Angel looked at me as if I'd insulted her. “I know, but Grandma said you and Scott looked good together.”
I didn't correct her because I figured she was referring to Scott the way Mom did. I pulled one of her plaits. “That's nice, but for now Uncle Scott and I are just friends.”
Angel raised one brow and then shrugged. “Okay, but I like him for you.”
My eyebrows arched and I wasn't sure Angel knew what her words meant, so I hedged. “That's all well and good, but how about we have some dinner and talk about something else?”
“Can I help you make it?”
I got to my feet. “Sure, how about we fix some hamburgers.”
“Yay!” Angel grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the kitchen.
As I removed the mince from the fridge and gathered the other items we'd need, my thoughts went to Scott and what we'd started. My conversation with Angel was exactly why I was reluctant to introduce them.
Angel now had ideas that might disappoint her, especially since Scott and I had no plans for permanence in each other's lives.
Chapter Sixteen
Scott
“She's the one,” I said, handing my phone to Mom.
She took a look and then handed the phone to Dad. She hid her disappointment, but it was there. I knew from the way she wouldn't look me in the eyes. She wore that same expression when Rhys had introduced Maggie to her and Dad.
“Son,” Mom said, “Isn't it too soon? You met this woman how many weeks ago?”
“Six.”
“And you think you're in love with her?”
I scraped a hand over my hair, while my father watched me with eyes the same shade of blue he'd passed down to me. Up to this point, he hadn't said anything.
“No, Mom, I know I love her.”
So, I hadn’t told Vaughn as yet but it didn’t matter. Just thinking about her increased my heart rate. I must have been out of my mind when I asked Lucy to marry me. I was attracted to her and we were comfortable together, but I wasn't madly in love with her. On the flight to Miami, I admitted to myself I’d felt pressured into proposing, figuring it was the right thing to do. So much for that.
Lucy had her own agenda and like a fool, I’d fallen for everything she was selling. We’d known each other for years, as we grew up in the same community, but we’d lost touch and connected again in the last two years.
As if she could hear my thoughts, Mom asked, “But what about Lucy? I thought the two of you would get back together. She's called several times in the last few weeks.”
“To say exactly what?” I asked with a bite in my voice.
Mom ran a hand through her salt-and-pepper hair and shifted in her seat.
I watched her over the coffee table, with my face twisted in a frown as I waited.
“Well, she wanted us to talk to you to see if...”
My deep frown stopped her in mid-sentence.
“Did she tell you why our relationship ended?”
Mom shook her head, then in a reproachful tone said, “You didn't tell us either. You just said the wedding was off.”
“Because I don't believe in blasting my business around.”
The wrinkles in her forehead showed up and she looked at my father, who cleared his throat. “Please tell us why you cancelled the wedding. Just so we’re on the same page.”
I got up and walked away, shoving both hands into my pockets as I walked around their living room. Every time I thought about what Lucy did, the memory of it was like a knife twisting in my gut. This time was different though. I realized I wasn’t as cut up about her cheating and her dishonesty as I’d been weeks ago.
“I met Vaughn at the right time,” I said, with no point of reference for them to grasp what I was saying. “What Lucy did, doesn’t matter anymore.”
“But, isn’t she pregnant?” My father asked with disappointment coloring his words. “She said—”
“It isn’t mine.”
“Are you sure?” Mom asked, with a hand pressed to her chest while her cheeks flushed.
“As sure as I am that night follows day,” I said.
“So why is she—?”
“Dad, I don’t know and I don’t care. What we had is finished. I told her so months ago and in the weeks since she’s kept calling.”
My parents seemed deflated, as if what I’d told them was the last thing they expected or wanted to hear.
“How will it work when you return home?” Mom asked. She blinked rapidly, as if she feared what my answer would be.
“I haven’t figured it out yet. When I do, you’ll know.”
“When will we get to meet her?”
I shrugged. “That, I don’t know either. Let’s go with the flow.”
If their reaction had been different, I’d have thought about doing what I’d done yesterday at Rhys’s place. I didn’t want Vaughn to get a hint that anything was off, so an introduction could stay for another time.
When Mom and Dad nodded in agreement, I asked, “So what else has been going on around here in my absence?”
“Let’s talk while we eat,” Mom said, getting to her feet. I’ll put the food on the table while you two talk.”
Dad waited until Mom walked into the kitchen before saying what was on his mind. “I know when you make up your mind, that’s it. All I’m going to wish you is good luck. I trust your judgment, so you should be fine.”
Running a hand over my hair, I grinned. “I’d think my judgment would be in question after that fiasco with Lucy.”
“We all make mistakes, the important thing is to learn from them.”
“True. This whole thing turned me upside down. Vaughn changed things for me. She wasn’t looking for anything long term and neither was I. I’m hoping I can change her mind.”
“Take your time. Life has taught me that things work out for the best, even when we think they won’t.” He let a moment pass before he asked, “Are you sure you’re not running into something with this woman because you’re on the rebound from Lucy?”
Slowly, I shook my head. “When you meet Vaughn, you’ll see she’s a wonderful person. Now isn’t the right time though.”
“I understand and I’d caution you to take things slow.”
“Yeah. That makes sense.”
Mom called us to the table she’d spread with roast beef, her special herbed potatoes, and tossed salad. While we ate, I entertained them with stories about what I’d done in Jamaica.
After dinner, Mom refused my help with clearing the table but I moved our used plates and dishes to the kitchen anyway. I chatted with her while she washed up and afterward, she told me she had baked a coconut cake. I was touched, since she had done it on such short notice, and I tried to thank her. Mom told me not to be silly and added that she had ice cream waiting.
As I knew she would, Mom needed reassurance that I knew what I was about to do with Vaughn. She cupped my cheeks and stared into my eyes. Her hazel ones were soft and searching. “Honey, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
