The first thought that raced through Ace’s mind was that Riley looked nothing like his picture on the billboards around town. Those photos depicted a good-looking professional with a keen nose for business—a go-getter who could get the job done. Basically, the same Riley he remembered from high school. The guy standing in front of him looked more like a jock has-been with receding dusty-blonde hair and the beginnings of a gut. His cheeks were puffy with a faint network of spidery blood-vessels, and his jaw was starting to collect flesh. Time had certainly not been good to Riley Coulter. Ace felt a measure of pity for Riley who’d always been the golden boy in high school, but that vanished the moment Riley opened his mouth.

“What’re you doing here?” Riley demanded in a surly tone, a deep furrow denting his forehead.

“Hey, Riley,” Ace said pleasantly, “good to see you too.”

Without waiting to be invited, Riley barged into Ace’s personal space so that he had to step back to allow Riley to enter. Riley scoped the room, then shot Ace an accusing glare. “Where’s Silver?”

An icy amusement prickled over Ace. “What’s it been? Six … seven years since we’ve seen each other, and that’s all you can say to your former best friend?”

Riley grunted. “You’re no friend of mine. That hit home the day you showed up at my wedding and begged Silver not to marry me.”

The comment was a punch in the gut. “Did Silver tell you about that?” He should’ve figured she would have. After all, she chose Riley instead of him. But for some reason, it felt like the ultimate betrayal. He’d laid everything out, opened his heart to Silver, and she rejected him to marry this buffoon. In the old days, Riley reminded him of the outlandishly brazen cartoon character Johnny Bravo. Because Riley came from money and influence, he expected everyone to bow down and give him whatever he wanted. Unfortunately for him, in the real world outside the walls of Riverside High, it didn’t quite work that way.

“Silver didn’t have to tell me you came groveling,” Riley sneered. “I know you and your kind.” Riley strolled into the living room, plopped down on the couch, and propped his feet on the coffee table like he owned the place.

“What do you mean my kind?” Ace asked, his jaw tightening. Even though they’d been close before, Riley never let Ace forget he was the top dog and Ace’d been given the lofty honor of sidekick. On several occasions, Riley made offhand remarks about Ace being Hispanic, when he thought Ace was stepping out of line.

Riley waved a hand. “Take it how you want, man.”

Ace was still standing next to the door, trying to decide if he should march over and punch Riley’s lights out when Silver and Gracie reentered the room.

“Daddy,” Gracie squealed, bounding into Riley’s arms.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Riley said, lifting her in his lap.

Silver’s face drained as she looked at Riley before her gaze settled on Ace. For a split second, the years peeled away and they were all back to how they were right after high school. A month after they graduated, Riley and Silver decided to put their relationship on hold and date other people. Then Riley went away to a prestigious football camp for the summer. In those days, Riley’s parents were still holding onto the illusion that if they threw enough money at Riley’s training, he’d become a star collegiate quarterback. Riley had rubbed it in Ace’s face that he was getting trained by the best of the best at camp, but Ace didn’t mind. In fact, he welcomed Riley’s absence. It gave him the chance to get close to Silver and act on the feelings he’d had for her since junior high. It didn’t take long for a relationship to blossom between them. But everything came to a screeching halt when Riley returned.

The day it all happened was seared into his mind—he could still smell the scent of hamburgers cooking on the nearby grill. Ace and Silver had met at a diner, trying to figure out how they would break the news of their relationship to Riley. Neither of them expected Riley to waltz in and sit down at the booth with them, but he had. Then he looked at them with accusing eyes and asked, “Is there any reason I should be worried about the two of you?”

Ace was about to tell Riley about them until he saw the look of horror on Silver’s face. Then he saw the sickening guilt in her eyes. He could almost read Silver’s thoughts as she looked pleadingly at him. Riley was the man then—a bright, secure future ahead of him. And Ace was drifting aimlessly—still reeling from his cousin’s death, still trying to decide what to do with his life. The only thing he could promise Silver was his love. But it wasn’t enough, he could see it on her pinched face, felt it oozing from the walls around them. Time seemed to pause as Riley awaited their answer.

“There’s nothing to be worried about,” Ace had said, giving Silver a blistering look before he got up and left. He didn’t see Silver again until the day he came to her wedding and begged her not to marry Riley.

Looking at Silver now, Ace was relieved to see defiance on her face, without the slightest trace of guilt. It’s about time.

“What are you doing here?” Silver asked Riley.

Riley ruffled Gracie’s hair before planting a kiss on the top of her head. “Can’t a man stop by to see his wife and daughter without getting the third degree?”

“Ex-wife,” Silver clarified.

“Whatever,” Riley mumbled.

“Daddy, we’re getting fried ice cream,” Gracie said, excitement zinging in her voice.

“Oh?” Riley said, his snow-white brows knitting together as suspicion formed in his light eyes. “Where?”

“At Los Tios,” Silver said matter-of-factly. “And we’re running late.” Her lips clamped together in a tight line as she looked him in the eye. “So, you need to leave.”

Ace’s first reaction was to jump to Silver’s defense, but instinct prompted him to hold back and let Silver handle this. He knew that if he tried to fight Silver’s battles for her, she’d resent it.

Riley let out a harsh chuckle. “So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh? You’re with Ace now?”

Silver lifted her head, her hair spilling over her shoulders like iridescent moonbeams. She’d changed into a form-fitting, red shirt, jean skirt, and matching sandals—her hair and makeup perfect. “What I do with my personal life is no longer your concern. Other than our mutual concern for our daughter, you and I have no further dealings.”

Patches of red blotched into Riley’s cheeks as he removed Gracie from his lap and stood. He pointed at Ace. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with, boy.”

Ace rocked forward on the balls of his feet, locking eyes with Riley. “Oh, I have a pretty good idea, Riles,” he taunted, calling Riley by his old nickname—knowing it would tick him off. Riley hadn’t like to be called that then, and he certainly wouldn’t appreciate it now.

Fury burned in Riley’s eyes. “This isn’t over.”

Ace chuckled. “It never is with you. Grow up, Riley. High school ended years ago.”

Riley jerked and his lower lip jiggled like he was trying to think of a good comeback. But all he could manage was to swear under his breath.

Gracie’s eyes widened as she brought both hands to her mouth. “Ooh, Daddy … bad words.”

Riley skulked to the front door, shoving Ace’s shoulder as he went past him. Had Ace not been at Silver’s home with Gracie, he might’ve retaliated. When Riley got to the door, he turned. “Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. Congrats on Gracie getting accepted into The Wexton Academy. I just stopped by to see how the meeting went today.”

Silver rocked back, concern filling her eyes. “H—how did you know about that?”

A triumphant smile wormed over Riley’s lips. “You know how impossible it is to get into The Wexton Academy … without the proper connections.”

“Your mother,” Silver muttered.

“Bingo,” Riley said forming a gun with his fingers as he pointed at Silver and cocked the trigger with his thumb. He shook his head. “And if I were you, I’d tread lightly. We wouldn’t want anything to go wrong with Gracie’s acceptance.” He brought his hand to his forehead in a salute as he looked at Ace. “Adios, amigo,” he said mockingly before opening the door, stepping out, and closing it behind him.

* * *

Silver glanced at Ace’s profile, noting the firm set of his jaw and tight grip on the steering wheel. He’d said very little since the incident with Riley. Silver could only imagine what Ace must be thinking—probably wondering how she could’ve been stupid enough to choose Riley over him. She would’ve been thinking the same thing if she saw it from Ace’s perspective, but the truth was infinitely more complex. She’d done what was necessary to save the one she’d loved more than the world. And even though things hadn’t worked out like Silver hoped, she had Gracie, who was now her world, so it all turned out okay. Ace felt her gaze and offered a fleeting smile. They were in his Infiniti, heading to the party at Los Tios.

“Are you doing okay?” Ace asked.

She clutched her hands, looking out the window at the restless clouds churning like a stream roller in the leaden sky. It felt like the bottom might drop out any minute. “Yep.”

“Liar.”

She whipped around, eyes widening. “What did you say to me?”

The tiniest of smiles tugged at the corners of his lips. “You’re a terrible liar.”

She pressed her lips together in a defiant line. The fact that Ace was right didn’t help matters. Riley’s visit had rattled her, which was no doubt his intent. Riley was a pompous jerk, only thinking of himself. After several painful years of trying to make her marriage work, Silver finally came to the sad realization that all she’d been to Riley was a feather in his cap. In fact, she often wondered if part of the initial reason Riley wanted her so badly was because Ace had liked her first. Riley was fiercely competitive. She’d seen the malice in his eyes when he interacted with Ace tonight … noticed how Riley straightened his shoulders and sucked in his stomach. She chuckled inwardly. Poor Riley didn’t stand a chance. While Riley’s looks had diminished with age, Ace’s had done the opposite. In high school, Ace was gangly with a thin face that hadn’t yet grown into his features. Now he was every bit the celebrated athlete and eligible bachelor with his olive skin and ripped physique. Ace had always been into fitness, but Silver could tell he’d taken it up several notches—probably to remain competitive. The Ace she’d known in high school had potential but was unsure of himself, not the ultra-confident man she saw today. She wondered what happened to bring about his transformation. In the past, Riley ruled the roost. Tonight, however, Ace had exuded a quiet strength that intimidated Riley. She got the feeling that Ace could’ve chomped Riley down to size without the slightest difficulty had she and Gracie not been there. She was sure Riley felt it too. Unfortunately for her, there would be ramifications. Riley would run to Dinah like he always did and she’d start spinning her web, trying to trip Silver up.

“What was Riley talking about?” Ace asked, interrupting her thoughts.

Her expression turned grim. “Which part?”

“The school.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t talk about that right now,” she said quietly, looking back meaningfully at Gracie.

“Oh, got ya.” Ace looked in his rearview mirror at Gracie, a smile curving his lips. “How ya doing back there?”

“O-kay,” she chimed in a bored tone. She let out a long, dramatic sigh. “We there yet?”

“Yep,” Ace said with a chuckle. “Just a few more minutes, and then it’s ice cream time.”

“Yay!” Gracie exclaimed, clapping.

Ace looked at Silver, his dark eyes probing like he could somehow compel her to open up to him. She only smiled and shook her head. She’d been going at it alone and was doing okay. Ace couldn’t just waltz back into her life and assume she’d spill her guts to him. It didn’t work that way.

“It looks like we’re gonna get more rain,” Ace said like he was searching for something non-confrontational to say.

“Uh-huh,” she murmured absently.

Ace turned on the radio and began humming along to a popular song. Silver’s thoughts went to Riley’s comments about the school. Hearing that Dinah was the one who orchestrated Gracie’s acceptance into The Wexton Academy was a bitter pill to swallow. And yet, she didn’t know why it had come as a surprise. Her ex-mother-in-law was intolerable—still trying to control Silver’s life, even though she and Riley had been divorced two years. Riley’s veiled threat made it clear that if Silver stepped out of line, Dinah would destroy Gracie’s chance of going to the school. It was ludicrous! As Gracie’s grandmother, one would think that Dinah would have her best interest at heart. But everything was a power play for Dinah, and she’d do anything to save face in front of her high society friends. Shortly after Silver divorced Riley, Dinah kept dropping hints that it would be in everyone’s best interest if the two patched up their differences and got back together. When that didn’t work, Dinah pulled Silver aside and flat-out told her to put on her big-girl panties, realize all men strayed from time to time, and that Silver needed to forgive Riley for his indiscretions and move on. The crazy part was that Dinah didn’t even like Silver, but getting her back together with Riley was a pride thing. Silver knew Dinah well enough to know that if she thought, even for a second, Silver was entertaining the idea of dating Ace there’d be the devil to pay. Her hand flew to her neck as she processed her thoughts. There was no way she could date Ace. She couldn’t run the risk of getting hurt again. It had taken her years to get him out of her system. Heck, if she were completely honest, a small part of her still longed for Ace. She glanced at the clean line of his rugged jaw and firm set of his chin. Then her eyes trailed up to his thick, unruly hair. She clutched her hands, ignoring the impulse to run her fingers through it. Geez! Who wouldn’t be attracted to him? But attraction was just that … attraction! If she ignored it long enough, it would fade. Right? Right! she answered for herself. She was a mother now with grownup responsibilities. She had to think about Gracie … put her needs first. But Ace seems like a natural with Gracie, her mind argued. He’s no longer a rebel without a cause. He’s focused with a career. What harm would it do to spend time with him? Gracie could use a good, strong male role model in her life. No! She had to be strong and resist temptation. Silver didn’t want to bring Dinah’s wrath down on her head by dating Riley’s former best friend. Gracie needed The Wexton Academy. The orientation meeting today went better than Silver had hoped. The Wexton Academy would give Gracie a firm foundation and start her schooling off right. Silver had no doubt that Dinah would close that door in a heartbeat if Silver crossed her. When and if Silver ever started dating again, it would need to be someone Dinah and Riley didn’t know. And it would have to be after more time passed … maybe after Riley moved on and found someone else.

“We’re here,” Ace announced as they pulled into the restaurant lot.

Nestled at the end of a busy strip-mall, it looked the same as Silver remembered with the sunshine-yellow painted bricks and red and orange striped awning. A passel of butterflies let loose in Silver’s stomach as she reached up and tucked both sides of her hair behind her ears. Seeing Ace again … coming back to this place that held so many memories … the prospect of reconnecting with Ace’s family … it was all coming too fast. Not to mention the things that Ace’s mother, Fabiana, had said to her over the phone. When talking to Fabiana, Silver thought for a split second that perhaps things could be different and she could make a go of it with Ace, but then Riley showed up and reminded her how things really were. It had been reckless to usher Riley out of her home and come here with Ace. What had she been thinking? Obviously she wasn’t thinking clearly. She’d been too dazzled by Ace’s charisma and stunning good looks. Riley would find a way to make her pay for that lapse in judgement, Silver was sure of that. Her thoughts ricocheted in the other direction. Maybe she should just enjoy the evening—stop fretting over what the future would bring.

Ace took her hand and gave it a slight squeeze, sending a dart of electricity shooting through Silver. Then a crooked grin overtook his lips as he winked. “You’ve got this.”

Silver felt an unexpected wave of warmth. For a second, she got lost in the depth of his dark eyes—reveled in the fact that he’d picked up on her feelings. Then she remembered that Ace had always been tuned in to her emotions. In the old days, they could merely look at each other and know what the other was thinking.

She took in a breath, bolstering her courage. “Okay. It’ll be good to see Ariana and your parents again.”

Ace grinned. “And Gracie will love the fried ice cream.”

“Ice cream,” Gracie yelled.

“Hoorah for ice cream,” Ace yelled, letting go of Silver’s hand and raising his fists in the air.

“Hoorah … ice cream,” Gracie mimicked, also lifting her hands in the air.

Silver chuckled, her mood lightening. Then she realized Ace and Gracie were both waiting for her to follow suit. She half-lifted her fists. “Hoorah for ice cream,” she said without enthusiasm to humor them.

Ace clucked his tongue in mock disappointment as he turned to Gracie with a conspiratorial grin. “We’ll have to keep working on your mom, huh?”

“Yeah,” Gracie giggled, looking happier than Silver had seen her in a long time. Even though Riley was only mildly interested in Gracie, mainly when it benefitted him, Gracie idolized her dad and eagerly scarfed up whatever crumbs of affection Riley would give her. It pained Silver to see it. Silver could tell that it wouldn’t take much for Gracie to get attached to Ace, more reason to end whatever this was before it got out of control.

“You ready?” Ace said, motioning with his head.

Silver squared her shoulders. “Let’s do it.”