“Oh, you’ll leave one way or the other. Of your own volition, from me kicking your ass to the edge of my property, or by a police escort to jail where you belong.” Clearing the rail with a swing of my legs, I march determinedly toward her. So help me God, I’ve never hit a woman before in my life, but I’m not responsible for my actions around this one.
“Ace, you don’t scare me, so you can cut the macho shit out,” she taunts. “This doesn’t have to cause a lot of problems. Be reasonable.”
“You can’t be fucking serious. You’re telling me to be reasonable?” I’m shocked beyond any capacity to make sense of this conversation or her visit. She walks past me, taking in what she can see of the backyard in the moonlight.
“You’ve done a lot out here,” she says with a nod and turns back to me. “Bet it really looks good during the day. I can’t wait to see it.”
My jaw drops open from her complete stupidity. How can she possibly think I want her within five hundred miles of me? Before I can reply, she surprises me again, but this time, it’s with her lips crushed to mine and her arms around my neck. The warmth of her tongue glides across my lips, asking for permission to deepen the kiss. Years melt away and I’m right back in the same place as when she was here before. The familiar feel of her skin under my hands as I grasp her arms adds fuel to the fire.
With my fingers firmly gripped around her upper arms, I forcefully push her away and hold her at arm’s length from me. “Have you lost your fucking mind?” I release her and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, trying to erase the remnants of her impromptu kiss. “That was disgusting. I have no idea where your mouth has been! Now I have to go gargle with bleach before Layne comes over.”
The menacing glare and daggers flying from her eyes leave no doubt about what she’s thinking. She definitely wants to hurt me. “There’s no need to deny you want me, Ace. Honesty is the best policy.”
“What do you know about honesty?” I retort with a sarcastic laugh.
I feel her presence before I hear her footsteps fall directly behind me. Of course. It all makes perfect sense now. Layne walks up and stops beside me. Instinctively, our hands lock together and I admire her beautiful profile while she issues a threat with her eyes and her words.
“You again? You aren’t a very quick learner, are you?” Layne asks. “Zoe isn’t impressed with your tactics, and apparently, neither is Ace. You’ve already worn out your welcome and you just got back in town today. Your future here doesn’t seem very promising.”
“You don’t even know who I am, you stupid bitch!”
“I know you’re Zoe’s cousin and even she doesn’t like you. It’s pretty bad when your own family members can’t stand you.”
“Oh, honey, I’m much more than Zoe’s cousin. You think you have it all figured out, don’t you? Think you can just waltz in here and take over my family, my man? That ain’t happening. Yeah, I know all about how you’ve been babysitting her, but River is my daughter. You’re nothing to her. I’m her momma.”
If Margot expected to get a shocked reaction out of Layne with her declaration, she failed miserably. Layne’s expression remains impassive, unimpressed, not intimidated in the least. I can only imagine this is the result of her legal training and the cases she’s worked on. If Layne’s ex-boyfriend had spoken to me like that, his ass would have been out cold on the ground.
“If you’re her ‘momma,’ as you say, then you know what her favorite book is, right? What toys does she like to play with in the bathtub? What time does she want to go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning? You may have given birth to her, Margot, but you are not her ‘momma’ in any sense of the word.”
Layne’s voice is even and controlled, but the fire in her eyes is anything but. She nonchalantly releases my hand and squares her shoulders. If Margot makes a move, Layne is prepared to take her down. “And if Ace is your man, then why has he been wrapped around my body every night in bed? Do you not know how to satisfy him?”
It’s probably inappropriate to tell her how turned on I am at this very moment. Maybe I should save that admission for when we’re alone later.
“Get out of here, Margot,” I demand. “You’re breaking the terms of the restraining order, so I’m calling the police to report you right now.”
“Don’t think that piece of paper will keep me away from my daughter, Ace.” Margot storms off on foot up the driveway. After a couple of minutes, I hear a car door shut and the engine start. She floors the gas pedal and flies off in the direction heading toward town as Layne and I watch the taillights disappear into the night.
The first thing I want to tell Layne is how my chest is bursting with pride over how she stood her ground and staked her claim on me. When I turn to face her, the pained expression in her deep blue eyes paralyzes my ability to speak for a moment. She looks down at the ground, covers her face with her hands, and releases a humorless chuckle.
“Margot?” She drops her hands and looks up at me. “That was Margot? River’s mother, Margot?”
“Uh, yeah,” I all but stutter. “I thought you knew that.” I’m so damn confused.