Page 52 of Guarding Over You
She nodded her head. “You know all of this, so we’ll move on. To answer your question, we’d still be divorced. There were enough things in our lives that weren’t working out. I can’t say if things would be different because they aren’t and they didn’t work that way and I know trying to waste time on what could have been isn’t healthy for my past, present and not my future. And the fact I’ve got this fear in me, whether it’s justified or not, meant we could never make it work again.”
“I’m glad to hear that and probably shouldn’t have asked. Guess I just wanted to get it out in the open.”
Her smaller hand reached across the space between them, brushing his before settling on top.
He caught her fingers instantly, turning his palm upward until hers fit against it, skin to skin. The warmth of her touch spread through him like a slow current. He threaded their fingers together, holding on just enough to let her feel he wasn’t letting go.
The air shifted, thicker now, almost charged. Her thumb brushed his, tentative at first, and that single touch lit up every nerve he’d tried to keep calm. His pulse thudded hard enough he was sure she could feel it through his hand with the extra thump his heart just let go.
Yeah… this was exactly what he’d been hoping for.
Not just the contact, but the meaning behind it. Her choice was to push forward and let him in.
She didn’t have to say a word. The soft tremor of her fingers said it all as she examined his face for his reaction.
He squeezed gently, his eyes on hers. For a second, the rest of the world fell away. No noise, no distance, just the quiet, electric hum between them.
And he knew that if either of them moved even an inch closer, there’d be no going back.
But to do it right, to do it the best for them both, the air had to be cleared. The hard conversations had to be said.
“It’s out there,” she said. “Just like this is.”
She squeezed his fingers, then let go sooner than he would have liked, but probably for the best. “Now will you share what happened earlier? Even if it’s just to get it off your chest so you feel better?”
“I’ll tell you because I want to. I should. And trying to keep it inside wasn’t right of me when I brought you up.”
He lifted an eyebrow, “Now I really need to know.”
She put her palms up, fingers spread wide. “Not your name. Let me explain.”
“Go on.”
“Billy got there early, which isn’t like him. He knows I get a few minutes with Julie first so that I can go over anything that might need to be shared. I don’t have a problem telling Billy things, but to keep it on the up and up, we have a third party around most times.”
“Okay. Did you talk to him alone?”
“I did. Outside the cars. He was parked one over from me, a space between us. Gracie stayed in the car with the AC running. Billy apologized for the call the other day. That he hadn’t meant to yell at me, but he’s frustrated. Seems he’s in love.”
“Good for him,” he said drily. One less thing he’d have to worry about. That the guy wanted his ex back. Not that he thought that, but he didn’tknoweither.
“Tina is a bit skittish. She wants to believe him. Believe that he’s got a decent relationship with his daughter now and not just go by his word.”
“Sounds smart to me.”
She shrugged. “It’s not for me to say. But she wants to move in with him.”
“Ahh, so then she’d be in the house for visits if they are there?”
“Yes. I told him Gracie isn’t ready for this. He had to keep her in mind too. And I want to meet anyone before they meet Gracie. That is part of the custody agreement. There is a list of people he can have around Gracie and it’s only family. No friends, nothing. No new girlfriends. Because of his past and who may or may not pull him back into that cycle.”
“Which happens a lot. You have to distance yourself from the people who you developed poor habits from.”
Arden laughed, not a funny sound. “You make it sound so neat and tidy. Almost easy, but it’s not. And that is how and why he struggled. Do I think he still sees those people who encouraged his drinking? I don’t know, but on paper to cover Gracie, they aren’t allowed to be around her.”
“Smart.”
“If I’ve learned anything in my career it’s putting yourself in a situation that always protects the vulnerable.”
