Leland, who was a bit shorter than Miles, looked up at Miles with his cocky attitude that saidwhat are you going to do about it?
Miles wasn’t intimidated at all. “Aspen and I have places to be, so state your business and move on.”
Leland wasn’t used to being pushed back. I reveled in watching his face redden and him taking a step back. Unfortunately, that meant his sights were back on me. “I want to see Chloe.”
“Where’s your wife and daughter?” I asked.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Actually, it is. How long are you going to be in town?”
“For a while, so get used to it. I’m crashing at Mike’s in Edenvale.”
“Chloe will never be allowed to go there.” My skin crawled at the thought.
“You can’t keep me from her.”
“Probably not forever, but until you can prove to me that you aren’t the same man who left her and didn’t bother to contact her for years, I will do just that.” I shook my head, disgusted at him. “But I don’t see that happening. After all this time, you’re still sneaking around with Kylie and cheating on your wife and little girl,” I choked out.
“What the hell do you know?” Leland spat.
Miles stepped in between Leland and me. “It’s time for you to go.”
Leland’s fists clenched, but they remained by his sides. “I’ll be calling you, Aspen,” he hissed my name. “You can’t hide behind your boyfriend forever.”
I stepped around Miles and faced the jerk. “I’ve never been the one to run and hide. That’s your job. And not that it’s any of your business, but Miles isn’t my boyfriend.” I turned toward Miles who was taking a protective stance. “He’s my b—”
Miles’s eyes pleaded with me not to say boss. I wasn’t sure why it was so important to him, but this weird sensation came over me and I found myself not wanting to disappoint him. “Friend,” I whispered at first. I stood a little taller and owned it. “I mean, friend.”
For that I got a warm smile from Miles.
“Right,” Leland sneered. “I’ll leave you to yourfriend.”
As soon as Leland walked off, the adrenaline coursing through me drained out of me. I wasback to shaking and tears. This time, though, I found myself in my friend’s arms. Miles wrapped me up so quickly I didn’t have time to react or reject the gesture. I stood stunned for several seconds. I hadn’t been in a man’s arms other than my father’s or Brad’s in a long, long time.
Miles wasn’t deterred by my stiff posture. He ran his hand down my hair. “I’m here for you,” he whispered.
I believed him and sank into him. Um . . . oh . . . wow, did it ever feel nice.
Chapter Twenty
“CanIaskyousomething?” Miles whispered across the bed from Henry who was out like a light after only one bedtime story. I should take the kid to the Ranch every day.
“Sure?” I whispered back.
“Why did you feel the need to tell your wanker ex we weren’t a couple? We could have had some fun with that. Used it to your advantage.”
I sank down on my knees and thought about what to say. As far as Leland knew, I worked for Taron Taylor, not Miles Wickham. For a split second, the abandoned young woman in me wanted Leland to think I had moved on to much greener pastures. I wanted Leland to think I was wanted. But I didn’t want to be ruled by that abandoned girl anymore. “I don’t ever want another pretend relationship. I felt like that was all my marriage was. If I decide to be in a relationship again, I want it to be all real.”
Miles lowered his head. “You deserve that and more,” he sounded melancholy.
“I’m not even sure I’m brave enough to attempt one again.”
Miles lifted his head. “But you’re open to the idea?”
I stood up and tiptoed toward the door. “I don’t know about that. Right now, all I can think about is that I have to go tell my daughter that her sperm donor is back in town.”
Miles met me at the door. “I don’t envy you that task.”
