Page 65 of The Rival (Looking to Score 2)
My heart gives a painful lurch.
She looks beautiful. Her long hair is loose and wavy, and while she’s dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a fleece sweater, she still takes my breath away.
“Aspen,” I say, nodding once in her direction.
“Hi, Alex,” she says, her tone even and reserved.
“What’s up, buddy?” Saint asks. “You come out to have a cigar?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Just wanted some air.”
He nods. Aspen looks contemplatively out at the backyard, not acknowledging my presence.
It’s quiet for a minute, and the air around us is seasoned by the pungent aroma of tobacco.
“Hey, have I ever shown you the painting I bought at auction?” Saint says, looking at Holt.
Holt gives him a confused look. “No?”
Saint stands and gestures for him to follow. “Oh, it’s sweet. Come see.”
They head inside, leaving Aspen and me alone.
“So,” I say awkwardly, turning to face her.
Aspen gives me a weak smile. “So.”
It’s the first time we’ve been alone together in so long. My hands itch to reach out and touch her, to hug her warm body to mine so I can press my lips to her hair.
“How have you been?” I say instead.
“Fine. You?”
I nod. “Good.”
“That’s good.”
Fuck, this is so awkward.
“The season’s been going well,” Aspen says.
“Have you been watching the games?” I’m not sure why, but the idea that maybe she’s been watching me play is a nice thought.
“Some of them,” she says, quickly meeting my eyes before looking away again.
I inhale and straighten my shoulders. “Listen, I never wanted things to be strained between us. Can we just . . .”
“Just what?” she asks.
“Be friends.” The words are literally painful leaving my mouth. It’s the last thing I want.
“Of course,” she says.
She doesn’t look nearly as affected as I feel. Her posture is relaxed, and her tone is even. Meanwhile, I feel like I’m drowning, unable to get enough oxygen into my lungs.
“So, you came to the party alone?” I ask. It’s a leading question, and Aspen knows this.
“So did you,” she says. ”Although, I figured you would have moved on by now.”
Her words slice through me. That may have been my reputation before, jumping from one woman to the next, but it’s not who I am anymore.
“Well,” I say slowly, “some things you just don’t get over.”
When Aspen’s eyes lift to mine, understanding flashes through them.
“And another thing . . . the reason I didn’t tell you about the lawsuit,” I say, my voice tight. “I was afraid of letting you down.”
“Alex, you wouldn’t have—”
Not letting her finish that sentence, I take a step closer and lift her chin before fusing my mouth to hers. Emotion flares inside me, but I can do nothing but stand here, tasting her mouth as her fists curl into the front of my shirt.
“I missed you. I missed us,” I murmur between kisses.
“I can’t,” she chokes out.
And then she’s gone—turning and heading inside before I can even process what just happened.
• • •
Standing at my ex’s front door the next morning, I glare at her. “What the hell did you tell Aspen about me?”
Eden’s expression is wary. “Good morning to you too.”
Seeing how quickly Aspen shut me down last night when I admitted I missed her had me thinking there must be more to the story. Which is why I’ve driven over to my ex’s house this morning in search of answers. And I’m not leaving here until I get them.
“I’m serious, Eden. I need to know.”
She swallows hard. “You’d better come in and sit down.”
“Coffee?” Holt asks, appearing from the kitchen.
“Sure,” I say.
Once he’s poured three mugs of coffee, he joins us in the living room. They settle onto the sofa together while I take a chair across from them.
“Well?” I ask impatiently.
Eden takes in a deep breath and then lets it out slowly. “You know Aspen worked with me back when you and I were ending things. And I may not have always painted an accurate picture of you. I was hurt, and I didn’t hide my feelings from my assistant.”
Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I take a sip of coffee instead.
Giving me a curious look, Eden asks, “Did she say something, or . . .”
I rake a hand through my hair and sigh. “Not really. She’s barely speaking to me right now. And she seems to have a bunch of shit in her head about why we’d never work.”
“You like her,” Eden says softly.
I don’t hesitate. “Very much.”
Holt watches us silently as Eden’s mouth twitches with a smile.
“It’s probably my fault,” she says. “I’ll talk to her. Okay?”
I shrug. This whole conversation is just weird. Talking to my ex in front of her fiancé, and telling her I like her assistant. It’s like a soap opera.
“Would that help?” Eden leans forward, meeting my eyes. And I can tell, she really does want to help. It’s something, at least.
