“I do. Usually for work. Here or the club. My dad still lives over there, on the golf course.”
“Oh. Good for him,” I said, unable to hide my sarcasm.
“He’s not going to bother you. I made sure of it. I swear, Bex.”
“Whatever. I got over him a long time ago. Right about the time he judged me, thought of me as being a lesser person, all because I didn’t have seven figures in the bank. Long before he tried to buy my silence over Piper. I didn’t need his money to raise her.”
“No, you didn’t, and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. You did what any decent, good mother would do to protect her daughter. Her child.Look,” he said, taking my hand in his palm, his smooth, well-manicured hand enveloping mine. “I was an ass. I can’t deny that. But I’ve lived for years being miserable. Other than the kids being born, my smiles were all fake. I’m here to make this right. For you. For Piper.”
“And Tyler.”
“Absolutely, he’s part of all this. And my dad doesn’t get to be a part of any of it.”
“Does he even want to meet Piper?” I swallowed the lump in my throat.Why did I ask that?
“It’s off the table, even if he wanted to. I wouldn’t permit it, Bexley, you have to know that. The company is mine in a few short months. And no, don’t bring up this bullshit charge against me. I’m about to get out from under it. My dad is done, retiring soon. I fulfilled my duty, and now Federal is mine to do with what I want. And what I want is for him to be out of there and out of my life.C’est la vie, finito...”
Aston flicked his wrist in the air, signaling the end of this conversation. “Now, we’re here to have a good time. What do you want to drink?”
“Wine? White, please.” My head hurt from trying to keep up with all the nuances and major changes that had come into my life in the last few weeks. I needed wine more than ever.
“Good. Let’s get a bottle.”
“You’re going to drink white wine?”
“No, you’ll drink what you want, and then we can leave the remainder for our server. The bottles are better selections.”
“That’s a little crazy. I’m fine with a glass.” I eyed Aston, and he dismissed my judgy perusal by burying his face in the wine list.
Our silence was interrupted by a young brunette, all cheery and bubbly. “Hi, I’m Janie. Welcome to Saddlebrook’s. Have you been here before?”
Aston said, “Yes, you know I have, Janie.”
Feeling out of place, I simply shook my head.
“How about this bottle of chardonnay? Bin number forty-three,” he said, glancing at her as he pointed to a line on the wine menu. “And a Lagavulin, straight up, for me.” Turning toward me, he asked, “Are you good with the chef selecting our dinner and sending it out in courses, so we don’t have to be interrupted anymore?”
In absolute disbelief that this was my current life, I nodded.
“Great. Now we can get on with our evening.” His full attention and blue eyes on me, Aston took my hand and kissed it. “Aston Prescott.”
“That doesn’t work on me anymore.”
He leaned close, his thigh singeing mine, his lips tickling my ear. “If I stuck my hand inside your panties, would you be ready for me? My guess is you’re dripping for me.”
As I squeezed my legs together, I shook my head, smirking.
“Yeah, you would.”
“Aston,” I whispered. “We’re two grownups now, with four kids and two marriages between us. We have to act like it.”
Tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear, he said, “We can have some fun, Bex. An evening out. You look so beautiful, even more so than when we first met.”
“Older, maybe a little wiser?” I said, but considering where I was sitting and the fact I’d already slept with Aston, probably not so much.
Janie appeared with the bottle of wine and poured it quietly, then served Aston his Scotch. She’d obviously received theDO NOT DISTURBmessage.
“Tell me what I’ve missed when it comes to you, Piper, and Tyler.” Aston held his glass in the air and waited for me to clink glasses with him.
