“Kevin, Lindsay, this is Ashlyn.”
The boy eyed her with curiosity, and she started to let her guard down a little, until she noticed how Lindsay had curled her nose up.
“You guys remember Jessica, with little Freddie from the station. Remember how I went to her wedding a few months back?” Grant continued. “Well, Ashlyn is Jessica’s husband’s little sister.”
“Are you dating her?” Kevin asked.
“Dating?” Lindsay shrieked, shoving her chair back and bounding to her feet. “Have you been dating her for months and didn't even tell us?”
“No,” Grant hurried to assure his daughter. “I mean, yes, Kevin, I have asked Ashlyn out on a date, and she said yes, butno, we haven’t been dating each other for months. We hadn't seen each other since the wedding until yesterday.”
“Your superhero dad saved my life,” she told the kids. While Kevin’s eyes lit up with interest, Lindsay whirled on her, anger seeping out of every pore of the teen’s body.
“Dad doesn’t date, he loves my mom,” Lindsay snarled.
“Of course, I love your mom, Linds,” Grant soothed. “I’ll always love your mom. Ashlyn and I talked about it, and she knows that, but your mom is gone, and I like Ashlyn, a lot,” Grant said firmly.
“Well, unlike her,” Lindsay yelled. “I don’t want a new mom.”
“Oh, sweetie, no,” Ashlyn quickly assured the girl. “I don’t want to be your new mom. You had a mom who loved you very much. If things work out with your dad and me, then I just want to be another person in your life who cares about you. I swear I would never try to take your mom’s place.”
“Good, then get out,” Lindsay shrieked.
“Lindsay,” Grant rebuked. “We don’t talk to people like that, especially someone I’ve told you is important to me.”
“I don’t care,” Lindsay shot back. “If she won't leave, then I am.”
The teenager ran up the stairs, leaving all three of them staring after her. Ashlyn didn't know what to say or do, or what Grant was going to say or do, but when he turned to look at her, she knew.
It was over.
His daughter couldn’t accept her.
“Would it be okay if you gave me some time to talk things through with my kids?” he asked her, at least sounding apologetic about it.
“Sure,” she said, already knowing how that talk would go. If Lindsay wasn't on board with this, it wasn't happening.
“I’ll call you later,” Grant promised, but as she turned and headed back the way she’d only just come, Ashlyn knew how that call would go.
Chapter
Eight
May 10th
9:05 A.M.
That was not how this was supposed to go.
Not how he’d expected it to go.
It wasn’t like Grant had expected his kids to embrace Ashlyn into their lives with open arms, but he hadn't expected his daughter to be so outright rude and angry at the idea of him dating. He’d thought the kids would take it more like Kevin had, vaguely interested, and allow bonds to form naturally over the next few weeks and months.
Seemed like that wasn't happening.
As Ashlyn disappeared back into the hall, and he heard the front door close behind her a moment later, he felt his heart drop. She was the first woman to spark life back into him, and he wasn't going to let her go without a fight.
If things didn't work out between them, that was that, but he wasn't waving the white flag of defeat before they’d even gotten a chance to get things started. She was a beautiful woman, bright and smart, kind and funny, sweet and caring. He knew she hadstarted up her own line of jewelry, which she sold to the rich and famous, and was also active in several charities run by her stepfather’s family. She’d wanted to make a good impression on his kids today, and he was angry with his daughter for not even giving her a chance, even as he understood there must be a mess of emotions tangled inside Lindsay right now.
