Lacey

“NO, MOM, I AM not free just to hightail it down to your house to watch Rhodes,” I whined into my cell phone.

“Lacey, please. Ethan just called from the hospital. Carey is in established labor and Dad isn’t back from work yet,” she pleaded. How my brother had managed to impregnate his ex-girlfriend again I had no idea; last count they weren’t even living back together. Poor Rhodes, his parent’s relationship was off and on like a bride’s nightie.

“Mom, I’m thirty minutes away. Surely he will be home by then,” I sighed.

“Lacey, get here now, I insist,” she yelped and then the damned woman hung up on me. I’d moved back to the lake house in Wisconsin six months before for some peace and quiet and to write the book I had been commissioned for. My time at Peterson and Tyson Associates had made me infamous in the business world. I had been inundated with private clients since I left and had been headhunted to write a book on how to make stocks work for you. At first, I laughed it off and ignored the calls but then I started to think it was a good idea. The money they were offering was ridiculous.

So I gave up my lease, and I bought a glass-fronted lake house on Lake Michigan a half hour into the countryside near my family and Jessa. If I’m honest, it was an impulse buy and sufficiently far enough away from my old life to start afresh. Unfortunately, it was close enough to my mom for her to pop by most days and also close enough for her to expect me by for Sunday dinner and to babysit the evil child that is Rhodes... my nephew.

My life had changed from fast-paced to the slowest of slow. Some days I didn’t get dressed, and it didn’t even bother me. My mom... she was bothered. I think she’d used the term spinster more than once and there were mutterings of on the shelf between her and Dad that made my eyes roll. The only saving grace was my awesome best friend Jessa being nearby and lots and lots of wine. I tried to hike a few times a week to get some exercise, but my body was far from where it had been when I didn’t eat carbs and actually gave a shit what I looked like. My bank account was full to bursting as all I seemed to do, without much effort, was earn more and more with my many clients. I didn’t spend hardly anything as I didn’t have a life.

The last man I had slept with was Alex Miller—even his name made my heart stutter. I got hot and bothered if ever we spoke on the phone about the farm or his investments, but I was careful not to let it stray to anything other than work. That was what he wanted. He needed to be able to move on and get on with his life without me. I was an additional complication that the man did not need.  I had selfies of us on my phone that I looked at fondly from time to time and when I needed to remember. He was the best guy, and it was hard after him to get with anyone else.

I pulled on my sweats and headed out to Richmore to watch Rhodes.

“You’re late,” Mom scolded me as she stood on the doorstep waiting for me and passing two-year-old Rhodes to me, who instantly fisted my hair.

“Hey, evil genius,” I said to him and he smiled. The little guy was cute, I’d give him that.

I sat with him on my lap and watched Moana as he snuggled into me. “Acey,” he said, placing his hand on my cheek. “Baby,” he grinned.

“I know Rhodes, you’re gonna be a big brother,” I said, kissing his head.

“Big brova,” he repeated, and I had to admit, he was adorable but that didn’t make him any easier to handle.

His baby brother, Beck, was born around midnight. I stayed with Dad and helped him get Rhodes to bed. We drank beer and watched TV, ordered pizza and sat chatting until the news rolled in.

I shook my head as Mom screeched down the phone and Dad smiled, “Ethan needs to try harder to make it work with Carey,” I told Dad, “those boys need a good dad.”

Dad nodded solemnly, “You do realize that Carey is bat-shit crazy, right?” he asked seriously.

“You do realize your son is one bad move away from the penitentiary,” I responded, and he laughed.

“Thank God for my good girl,” he sighed, pulling me into a hug. “Staying in your old room?” he asked. “I’ll make pancakes tomorrow morning,” he added to sweeten the deal.

“Okay,” I nodded. Pancakes reminded me of Logan and my time in Celebration Falls. I smiled at the thought. Sara still messaged me from time to time and I was happy to see on Facebook that she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying her high school experience these days.

 

A few weeks later I got an email from Alex that said he had been to the bank and secured a loan to buy back the farm. I hadn’t been back out there since I left over a year ago. I assumed the bakery was still going as the profits had continued to climb but I left him to run the place. I trusted him and felt my meddling there was done. I needed him to buy Bishops back, so I could draw a line under the whole thing and finally move on.  It hadn’t been too easy to move on. I still felt like part of me remained there with him, with them.

I replied to agree to the sale, and he said his lawyer would be in touch. It was so formal and so distant that sometimes I had to question if we’d ever told each other we loved each other at all. It was the deepest of deep summer romances with loads of turmoil mixed in. Most days I hoped that he was good—that they were all good. In my whole life I had never had to admit defeat on anything. My relationship with Alex had been my ultimate sacrifice, and I hated it.

The lawyer asked me to sign some paperwork. She said she would FedEx it and I could sign and then FedEx it back, but I made a snap decision. “Um, I’m in Montana next week, can Alex meet to sign then?”

I bit my lip, waiting for her response and she sounded a little distracted, “Yes, that can work, I’ll tell Mr. Miller the date.”

I agreed a date and immediately Googled a plane ticket and booked a hotel. Holy shit. What had I done?

 

“You’re going to Montana?” Jessa asked that Friday night as we drank wine in her huge kitchen, the one her perfect yet obsessive husband had built with his own fair hands. Douche.

“Just to sign some papers,” I added with a shrug.

“That’s one hell of a journey to sign some papers,” she smirked.

“Shut the hell up,” I pointed my glass at her, “it’s been twelve months since I got laid okay.” I snapped.

“So you admit you’re going over there to seduce him?” she needled and widened her eyes.

“I admit that you are the nosiest, most twisted best friend anyone could have to suffer and if you don’t pour me some more wine, I may walk out of here and never come back.” I gave her a wry smile. 

“Oh Jeez, get laid already,” she laughed.

 

The following week I was on a plane to Montana. My nerves were shot. I was shaved, freshly dyed, poured into some designer jeans that used to fit me, and tightly coiled like a spring. The lawyer's office was at the biggest town near Celebration Falls, Fort Adele, and I had booked in for two nights at the local Ramada. It was pretty cool. It had a gym and a restaurant and if everything went tits up, I could treat my two days as a spa break. I needed civilization. It had been a while since I stayed anywhere other than my old bedroom, my lake house, and Jessa’s spare room.

I arrived late on the Wednesday, checking in and ordering room service. I ate watching TV and working on Chapter Seven – Flip but don’t be flippant. We had an appointment at one the next day and I wondered why Alex hadn’t tried to contact me if he knew I was in town. I tried to not over-analyze but did wonder if this was all too much. He knew I didn’t have to come, I knew I didn’t have to come and perhaps his silence meant that he didn’t want me to come. Perhaps he and Amber had made a go of it or perhaps he saw what we had before as a mistake. I was unusually vulnerable where Alex was concerned, and it killed me.

In the morning I slept late, worked out at the gym, swam in the small pool, and then ate lunch in the sunshine. I chose a fitted shift dress to look equally sexy and business-like to sign the paperwork; my hair was loose and my makeup was natural. I swallowed hard as I pushed the door open to the lawyer's office just before one and a pretty receptionist saw me immediately, “Hey there,” she grinned, standing from behind her desk, “you must be Miss Davenport.” Her Montana drawl was welcoming and friendly.

“Yes,” I nodded, and she stuck her hand out to take mine in a quick shake.

“Dawn will be right out,” she said with a smile, “can I get you a beverage?”

“I’m good thanks.” I wrung my hands together nervously and took deep breaths, I didn’t see him, but I was early.

“You staying local?” she asked excitedly, “it’s so beautiful round here this time of year.”

“Um just the Ramada on Butler Street,” I nodded. “It’s nice.”

“Oh it is,” she sighed, dropping her head to get back to work.

Dawn joined me five minutes later, and we shook hands. She led me down a white corridor to her office where I sat, and she laid the paperwork in front of me. “I trust you’ve had time to digest the agreement?” she asked, and I nodded.  I looked behind me and then down at the paperwork. Alex’s name was on it.

“Are we waiting for Alex?” I asked, and she looked confused.

“Erm,” she gave me a concerned look, “is there a problem with the deal?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.

“No,” I shook my head, “I just thought...” my heart dropped, he wasn’t coming.

“Sorry,” she shook her head, “when you said you were in town I just assumed that it worked and didn’t know you expected Mister Miller to be here,” she looked stricken. “I can call him.” She grabbed at her desk phone.

“No,” I cut the air with my hands. This was ridiculous, it wasn’t meant to be. “No,” I grabbed the pen and scribbled my name. I pulled each page and signed next to the yellow tags she had stuck to the paperwork.“I’m happy to sign, just please...” I sighed and held back my emotion, “please wish him all the luck in the world.” I added. “And please give him this,” I slid the bottle of champagne with a red bow I had brought for him over the table.

“Will do,” she looked gutted for me and I smiled quickly to hide any disappointment.

“Thank you, Mrs. Monroe,” I said standing.

“Dawn, please,” she insisted and stood with me.

I grabbed a cab back to the hotel, stripped out of my clothes, wiped away all my makeup and decided to work off my energy on a second visit to the gym for the day. I was an idiot. Jessa had messaged, and I felt even more of a fool.

Jessa: You hot and sweaty yet? ;-)

Me: Yes... in the gym. He was a no show... it’s for the best.

Jessa: ;-( come home let’s get shit-faced xxx

So fate had dealt its final card. Bishops Hill was officially Alex’s, and I had played my part in helping him get it back and hopefully making his life that bit easier. I ran 5k and pounded the treadmill like it had wronged me, poor bastard. There was no way I could turn up at the farm like a lunatic after all this time and I felt like a complete dickhead for thinking this had been a great idea. I hit the bike and pedaled my frustrations away. I knew I had to take charge, to get Lacey back. I needed to hit the gym more, finish my book, find a man to fuck and just get on with it.

Alex Miller was not my future.

Wiping sweat from my forehead I left the deserted gym. I thanked the gym receptionist and walked through the doors that led to the rest of the hotel. I had already planned chapter eight and tonight I’d get it down as well as a bottle of red. I placed the towel round my neck and popped my head up to look at the reception area as I heard a commotion.

“Look, I know she’s staying here,” I heard a voice say angrily, “all you need to do is tell me her room number.”

“I’m afraid that is against our policy, I can get a message to her?” the girl was saying politely.

“Is she even still staying here?” It was Alex. He had his hands placed on the counter, his strong arms bulging out of his t-shirt as he leaned, and his voice sounded pissed. 

“She is!” I yelled from where I stood at the side of the reception area and both their heads turned to see me.

Alex stepped back. His eyes found mine and mine roamed down his body. He looked super hot in jeans and a faded t-shirt that was sculpted to his toned body. He took large strides to where I stood, and I swallowed hard. I must have looked like hell. “Lacey,” he uttered, and I couldn’t hide my grin.

“Alex,” I said softly.

“You are here,” he said in amazement. “I wasn’t sure ...”

“I’m here,” I lowered my head shyly, “I’ve no idea why.” I laughed nervously, and he reached out to lift my chin back up.

He shook his head, “When the receptionist said you were here I had to ask her again and again and when she described you. I... hot-footed it down here,” he laughed, and his eyes watched my face in wonder. “You came back,” he said quietly.

I shrugged, “I came back.” I whispered.

“Can I take you to dinner?” he asked.

“Yes,” I answered quickly, fuck chapter eight. I couldn’t control how hard my heart began to beat in my chest. “Yes,” I nodded.

“Go get changed?” he ordered.

“What now? Is it even near dinner time?” I scrunched up my nose.

“I haven’t seen you in a year so we’re going now, and we’ll get dinner at some point.” I nodded obediently, and all but ran off to my room.

A half hour later we were walking out into the late afternoon sunshine and Alex instinctively took my hand as he led me to his black truck. “Where to?” I asked as I buckled up.

“I know a great place,” he grinned.

Alex took me to a little seafood restaurant where we ordered cocktails and took our time ordering food, “So I moved back to Wisconsin,” I told him, sucking up my Margarita through a straw.

“Yeah?” he raised an eyebrow, “you left New York?”

I shrugged, “It didn’t feel like home anymore. I got commissioned to write a book on investment for beginners and I bought this killer lake house but it’s a bit close to my mom for my liking.”

He nodded knowingly, “Well,” he took a sip of his beer, “my mom moved to Florida.”

“What?” I almost spat out my drink in shock.

He grinned at my surprise, “She met some dude online, ten years younger, Lincoln.” He blew out a breath, “as you can imagine I was... concerned but he’s a recovering alcoholic too and they go to AA together. She still takes her meds, and they started going to church and she’s... happy.”

“What about the kids?” I asked quickly, my eyes blazing into his.

“They’re with me,” he smiled shyly, “we all thought that was for the best.”

I grinned widely. When he said that my heart fluttered a little. He was right, they were better off with him. “So what, you made it official?” I asked.

“Nah,” he sighed, “they’re old enough to decide, and I didn’t want them to move away and Mom agreed so it’s unofficial but permanent.”

“Right,” I nodded. “I still miss them.”

“How about you come back for a visit?” he leaned forward in his chair and grabbed my hands eagerly. His touch sent zings of electricity through my body and I took a deep breath to ward it off.

“When?” I asked simply.

“Now,” he squeezed my hands and smiled crazily, “now.”

I opened my mouth and closed it again, “but I have my stuff at the hotel,” I protested.

“Let’s go get it. Stay with us tonight and I’ll drive you to the airport. When do you fly home?”  he asked.

“Tomorrow,” I said glumly.

“I’ll bring you back,” he rubbed his thumbs over my hands and I couldn’t stop the grin from owning my face.

“Let’s go,” I said, and we both shot up from our chairs.