Intent(53)

If Margot expected to get a shocked reaction out of Layne with her declaration, she failed miserably. Layne’s expression remains impassive, unimpressed, not intimidated in the least. I can only imagine this is the result of her legal training and the cases she’s worked on. If Layne’s ex-boyfriend had spoken to me like that, his ass would have been out cold on the ground.

“If you’re her ‘momma,’ as you say, then you know what her favorite book is, right? What toys does she like to play with in the bathtub? What time does she want to go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning? You may have given birth to her, Margot, but you are not her ‘momma’ in any sense of the word.”

Layne’s voice is even and controlled, but the fire in her eyes is anything but. She nonchalantly releases my hand and squares her shoulders. If Margot makes a move, Layne is prepared to take her down. “And if Ace is your man, then why has he been wrapped around my body every night in bed? Do you not know how to satisfy him?”

It’s probably inappropriate to tell her how turned on I am at this very moment. Maybe I should save that admission for when we’re alone later.

“Get out of here, Margot,” I demand. “You’re breaking the terms of the restraining order, so I’m calling the police to report you right now.”

“Don’t think that piece of paper will keep me away from my daughter, Ace.” Margot storms off on foot up the driveway. After a couple of minutes, I hear a car door shut and the engine start. She floors the gas pedal and flies off in the direction heading toward town as Layne and I watch the taillights disappear into the night.

The first thing I want to tell Layne is how my chest is bursting with pride over how she stood her ground and staked her claim on me. When I turn to face her, the pained expression in her deep blue eyes paralyzes my ability to speak for a moment. She looks down at the ground, covers her face with her hands, and releases a humorless chuckle.

“Margot?” She drops her hands and looks up at me. “That was Margot? River’s mother, Margot?”

“Uh, yeah,” I all but stutter. “I thought you knew that.” I’m so damn confused.

“No,” she says flatly. “No, I didn’t know that at all. I didn’t catch her name earlier, so I had no idea.”

“Who did you think she was?” Have I missed an entire conversation? I feel like I’m trying to catch up on all the details of an intricate movie that’s already halfway over.

“Just Zoe’s cousin. Damn, I feel like such an idiot.” She shakes her head.

“I’m glad to hear that,” I admit. Her eyebrows furrow in confusion. “Because I feel like a completely lost idiot. Can we start this conversation all over? What are you talking about?”

“After everything I’ve heard about Margot from you and River, I thought she had died. River said her mom watched over her, like a guardian angel. You said she had a bad case of postpartum depression and was gone. I put two and two together and just assumed she committed suicide. It never occurred to me that she was still alive and would show up out of the blue one day.”

“When you put it like that, I can see how you would’ve thought that. If I’d known earlier you thought that, I would’ve corrected it. Does her coming back change anything between us?” Translation: will I lose you now that my ex-psycho-bitch-baby-momma is back in town?

“No, Ace, she can’t change my feelings for you, regardless of where she is,” she replies sincerely. “I have to admit, though, I’m glad I walked up when I did. I heard what you said to her, and I couldn’t help but feel good when you let her know I’d be here with you.”

“I know a million ways to make you feel good. Better than good,” I reply. “Putting her in her place doesn’t even make the list. I didn’t realize it until you walked up, but she pulled that shit because she knew you were watching. She thought she could cause trouble between us.”

I draw her into my arms, her body flush with mine, her breasts pressing against my chest. “I was so f*cking turned on when you stepped up to fight for River and me. It took all my willpower not to throw you over my shoulder and carry you off to have my way with you.”

“It just so happens that you don’t have to expend your willpower reserves at the moment,” she purrs seductively.

“You make an excellent point, counselor,” I reply calmly. Then I pick her up, throw her over my shoulder, and carry her into my lair. Her shrieks of laughter echo off the mountains and I playfully smack her ass. “Shhh, you’re wasting your breath. You’ll need it for the screams I’m about to give you.”

“I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

The zipper of my jeans was already about to bust open before she admitted that. Now it’s painful to f*cking walk. “That does it, woman. You’re about to meet my inner caveman.”

“Don’t tease me then fail to follow through,” she challenges with that saucy, sassy tone that she knows riles me up even more.

“My follow-through will leave you sore for a solid week,” I warn as I kick the door closed behind us.

After I pop her ass one more time, I put her down and my hands immediately slide under her shirt to find her warm skin. For a heartbeat, our eyes lock and the current between us is so strong I can almost hear the buzzing of electricity. Our mouths clash together in a rush of frenzied need, and just like that, I can’t wait another second. Between tastes of her luscious lips, I remove her clothes one article at a time, all too eager to taste the rest of her. Within seconds, she’s standing completely bare before me and my own clothes are flying haphazardly across the room as fast as I shed them.