When I step back into the large space in the front which can easily be turned into two large dance spaces, Ace is still looking around curiously. It makes me smirk because he’s so damn clueless.
“A dance studio,” he says the words slowly as if he doesn’t quite understand what they mean.
“Yep,” I pop the p. “This room can easily be split into two while being big enough for a class or practice space outside of class times. She could bring someone else in to teach as well and use both rooms.”
Ace studies me intently. “You’ve really thought about this,” there’s no accusation in his words, just an acknowledgement of fact.
“I have,” I admit with a nod.
“Isn’t it too much?”
When I tear my eyes away from the space, seeing the ghosts of dancers twirling in the room, I find Ace watching me with a furrowed brow.
“Hell no,” I bark. “I need to get my woman out of Elysium. I can’t stand watching her dance and having any other man witnessing it.” I rub my hand over my face and huff out a breath. “I realize it makes me sound like an asshole, but I can’t stop the way I feel. If she has this then I won’t be tempted to commit murder on a nightly basis.”
Ace chuckles, his eyes sparkling with mischief and a little bit of understanding with my confession. “I see,” he teases me, “it all makes sense now. This isn’t about her dream; it’s about you missing a murder rap.”
“No,” my voice is firm, “this is about her dream. I can give her what she wants, what she really needs, and there’s a benefit to me beyond knowing I’m making the woman I love happy.”
“You love her?” Ace presses his hand to his chest like he’s clutching his non-existent pearls. “Woah,” he breathes out.
“I’ve always loved her,” I admit, “and I never stopped. Life just took us in different directions and we couldn’t stay together. I kept an eye on her over the years, though.” He looks at me with wide eyes, but I’m sure as fuck not going to apologize for it. “Just updates, nothing invasive. I wanted to make sure she was safe.” I grunt, “Didn’t know she was moving to Vegas, so there’s that.”
“Oh, okay,” he mutters. “For a moment there it sounded like you were stalking her.”
“No, just got updates now and again.” Now I’m wondering if I should have kept a closer eye on her, but I shake off the feeling because it’s not something I can change now.
“And then she just showed up in your town and starts working for your club’s casino?”
I eye Ace because I don’t like the suspicion in his voice. He’s dangerously close to me punching him and I’m barely holding myself back. Seeing the look in my eyes, he holds his hands up in surrender.
“Sorry, brother,” his voice takes on a serious tone which is not normal for him. He tends to be the brother who always finds the joke and spends most of his time with a smile on his face. That’s who he is but seeing him take this seriously stops me from throwing the punch. “I don’t mean to question your woman, her loyalty, and why she’s here. I’m glad she’s come back into your life; it’s just a shock. I’ve never seen you give any attention to the women throwing themselves at you.”
I chuckle low, “I learned my lesson after Shania.”
“That’s Rian’s mom, right?” He watches me closely while asking, but I can tell he’s only curious.
I don’t blame him. He came around after the drama with Shania, and I avoid mentioning her and seeing her if I can, but everyone knows the story.
Why would I bring that vile woman up? She’s only interested in her daughter when she thinks it can gain her something; that’s not someone who deserves my attention or my thoughts.
“Yeah,” I breathe out. I look at the room around me without really seeing it. “You want to know something?”
“What’s up, brother?”
“When Shania told me she was pregnant?” I look at Ace and he nods, encouraging me to continue and I swallow hard before saying something I’ve never said out loud before. “The first person I thought of was Brielle and how she wouldn’t be the woman carrying my child, if the baby Shania was pregnant with was mine.”
Ace stares at me for a beat before blowing out a breath. “That’s heavy, man.”
“I know,” I shoot him a wary look, “but it’s true.” My shoulders drop slightly, “I’ve never regretted Rian coming into my life, I love her more than I can even express, but that was still my first thought.”
“It’s obvious you love your daughter,” he tries to placate me.
“I know,” I sigh. “But I can’t be a mom for her, never could be.” The laugh I let out is self-deprecating, at fucking best. “The best I’ve been able to give her is a clubhouse full of uncles whowould burn the world down for her and a family a few hours away who love her fiercely.”
“Doesn’t sound so bad to me,” there’s something vulnerable in his voice that has me looking at him.
The mask is completely gone; the jokester he always is has given way to a broken boy with the shadows of his past written all over his face.
