Intent(61)

“I hope you’re right.”

“Don’t worry, babe. We’ll make it right.”

“You are too good to be true,” she says and turns to face me. “How did I get so lucky to find you?”

“I’m the lucky one. Out of anywhere in the world, you came here. My hot little sexy lady who wasn’t afraid to put me in my place. You saved my daughter’s life and now she loves you with all her heart. And you also have all of my heart.”

“You sure are a sweet-talker when you want to be.”

“Just one of my secret reserve moves, babe. Want to hang around and help me with Frankie for a little while today?”

“Thought you’d never ask. I’d love to.”

When we finish for the day, Layne mentions that she’s going by the cabin to talk to Zoe before coming over to my house. I follow behind her, lost in my daydreams of the afternoon I spent with her, until she turns into her driveway. The strange car waiting at her place pulls me out of my reverie.

I slow to a crawl before just stopping in the middle of the road to watch. Layne parks but doesn’t immediately get out of the car. The driver’s door of the stranger’s car opens and a blond-haired man steps out. He stands stock-still, staring at Layne while she remains in her car. When she finally gets out, I immediately recognize the stance she takes. She’s not happy to see him, she’s ready to fight, and she’s cautious about being around him.

She won’t do this alone. That’s for damn sure.

After parking my truck behind her car, leaving plenty of room for this guy to leave, I walk up behind her and lean against her car while never taking my eyes off him. A show of solidarity and an open threat against him if he gets out of line. The first word I hear him actually speak tells me exactly who he is.

Bobby.

“Laynie, please just talk to me.”

“Don’t call me that. Don’t call me at all. And sure as hell don’t just show up unannounced and uninvited. I’ve made this very clear to you before.”

So that’s why she cringed when River first called her that.

“I f*cked up in the worst way possible. But we can fix this. We can be happy together again.”

“No, we can’t. I’ve accepted that the seven years we were together are over, and there’s nothing that can change that now. I’ve moved on. It’s time for you to do the same. You need to leave now.”

“I’m staying nearby in Summerton for a while. There are things I need to tell you, Layne. Things you need to know. But I understand that you may need time to mentally prepare to speak with me about them. Call me any time of the day or night. It doesn’t matter what time. I’ll come running when you do.”

Without ever making eye contact with me, he climbs back in his car, obviously a rental, and leaves. Layne wordlessly turns to me and buries her face in my neck. Her arms wrap around my waist, and she clings to me for several long moments.

“Are you okay?”

She nods. “Yeah, I’m okay.” She pauses to collect her thoughts. “One of my friends from elementary school died a couple of years ago. I hadn’t seen or heard from her in years, but I was still very sad over her death. But I realized it wasn’t because I missed her, we weren’t even friends anymore. It was more like the death of an era in my life. That’s what this feels like.”

“Layne, baby. Do you think you should hear what he has to say? Get it over with once and for all so you can both have closure?”

“It looks like it’ll have to be that way, doesn’t it?”

“He came all this way and is staying long enough to give you time to accept it. Look, I don’t like the thought of you being around him at all, but he sounded sincere when he said there are things you need to know. If nothing else, use it to put the whole ordeal behind you once and for all.”





Chapter Twenty





Layne



I’ve been standing outside the door of Bobby’s hotel room for the last five minutes. Ace and I had a long talk the night after Bobby showed up, and we both think this is for the best. My hesitation in hearing what he has to say is simple. I’m not sure I care enough to want to know what it is. Would not knowing what he wants to tell me be better than knowing? I’ve been able to move on without knowing, and I have something much more with Ace than I ever did with Bobby. More love. More openness. More happiness.

Is there anything Bobby could possibly say that can give me more closure than that?

Time to woman up and knock on the damn door.

Within seconds, the door swings wide open and the hope in Bobby’s eyes almost makes me feel sorry for him. “Layne, I’m so glad you decided to talk to me. I would’ve come to you so you didn’t have to drive all the way out here.”

“It’s best that we do it here.” There’s no way I’d have this conversation anywhere in Oak Grove with all the prying eyes and bionic ears.

“Come on in and have a seat.” He steps back to give me room to walk into his suite.

The sitting area has a chair and a small couch, so I choose the chair. He sits on the couch in the seat closest to me, rubbing his palms together to expel some of his nervousness. “You said you have something to tell me. I’ll listen to what you have to say, and then I’m leaving. Understand this up front: I’m not here to reconcile with you.”