May 10th
10:39 A.M.
It was weird because she hadn't known Grant long, but she felt a gaping hole in her chest where he was supposed to be.
Romantic that she was, Ashlyn had already started to dream about what their future would look like. They’d go out on romantic dates, fall in love with each other one date at a time, his kids would get to know her, like her, accept her as another person in their lives who cared about them, and they’d all become one big happy family.
Only they’d never even crossed the start line, let alone gotten to the finish.
When her elevator dinged to let her know someone was coming up, Ashlyn couldn’t even be bothered to drag herself out of her chair to see who it was. Only her parents and brothers had the code to get up to her penthouse, so it wasn't like she needed to worry about some guy with a knife getting into her secure home.
“I don’t like finding out that you were attacked through the grapevine at my wife’s work, Ashlyn,” Donovan's booming voice called out a moment later as he and Jessica came striding into the living room.
“Sorry,” she whispered, unable to muster up much enthusiasm for the apology when it felt like her dreams had just been shattered.
Her big brother’s gaze zeroed in on the bandage on her neck, and she saw fear flutter through his eyes as he stormed over to her and dragged her off the armchair she’d sat in with Grant less than twenty-four hours ago, and into his arms. A small sob came out as she leaned into her brother’s embrace, and she knew she should explain to him that it had nothing to do with the attack and everything to do with the man who had saved her life.
“You okay?” Donovan asked, his voice a little gentler now.
“It’s not that.” She wept, unable to stop the tears now they’d broken free.
“Then what’s wrong?” he asked, thoroughly confused.
“It’s Grant … the wedding … we … one night … couldn’t stop thinking … yesterday … the knife … he showed up … we talked … we both agreed … only his kids … it didn't work out … I know I shouldn’t be this upset but … felt like it could have been the real thing,” she said through her tears, aware she was making little to no sense.
“Didn't get a word of that, Ash,” Donovan said, a little amusement coming through his concern.
“Why don’t you sit down and tell us, or just your brother, I can go,” Jessica offered, but Ashlyn shook her head.
“You can stay,” she said, rubbing her fingers at her temples where a headache was brewing.
“Sit. I’m making you tea and getting you some painkillers, then you can explain to us what that rambled monologueactually meant,” Donovan teased, making her crack a small smile.
Sinking back down into the armchair, Ashlyn took the blanket Jessica grabbed from the back of the couch and tucked it around herself. By the time Donovan returned with the tea and pills, she’d managed to get her tears under control.
“At your wedding, Grant Bull and I hooked up,” she told them. Before now, she’d always kept that one-night stand to herself. Not because she was embarrassed, but because it felt special and she hadn't wanted to share it with anyone.
“You did?” Jessica asked, looking surprised.
“Did he hurt you?” Donovan growled, making her smile again.
“No, at least not how you mean. It was meant to be one night, but I couldn’t get him out of my head. Then yesterday he showed up, saved my life, and brought me home afterward. I thought it would never happen because he’s a widower with two kids, I didn't think he was looking for anything, but it turns out he couldn’t stop thinking about me either,” she explained.
“So what’s wrong?” Donovan asked.
“His daughter hates me. We wanted to be honest from the beginning, let them know we were dating, so I could get to know them as well. Grant said that’s how he wanted to do things, and they’re his kids, so I agreed. I went over this morning to meet them, and Kevin seemed okay with it, I think, but Lindsay wasn't.”
“She probably just needs time,” Jessica said.
“I don’t think so. She was pretty adamant she didn't want me to date her dad, and well, he’s her dad. Grant has to pick her over me. I mean, I want it to be that way. If mom had made us feel like she was choosing a man over us, we would have hated it. Grant is a good dad, and I want him to be one. I just wish it wasn't a choice. That he could have us both.”
Her experience with life and her mom’s dating was vastly different than Lindsay’s. The teen’s mom had died, she wasn't a deadbeat, like Ashlyn’s biological father was. When her mom started dating her boss, their entire lives had changed for the better, maybe that had been why it was so easy to accept him into her life.
“Did he tell you that was what he was doing?” Donovan asked. “Choosing his kids over you?”
Ashlyn shook her head. “No, he just asked for time to talk to them, said he’d call me. But what other choice is he going to make? Of course, he has to choose his kids. I mean, they’re his kids, and he’s the only parent they have left.”
The thing was, she really didn't want there to be a choice. She wanted Grant to keep being the amazing dad he was to Lindsay and Kevin and also date her. She would never try to take those kids’ mother’s place. That relationship was special, sacred. But she could still be part of their lives, part of their family, and love them in a different way.
