AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ex-husband,” she corrected automatically. “Why? You don’t like twenty-four year old beauty queens?”
“Who doesn’t,” I snorted. “They’re nice to look at but have you ever talked to a twenty-four year old at this age? It’s exhausting. Even Michelle, and she’s a med student.” I shook my head thinking about what an old man I must sound like, complaining about kids these days. “With the slang and the constant social media, I feel like I’m in a different century.”
Lacey’s feminine laugh echoed in the kitchen. “My youngest brother is thirty-five but he’s a rock star which makes him about twenty-four in maturity so I do know what you mean. But he says he loves her and he’s gone, and I’m actually fine with that. Now.”
“The elusive growth we were warned about as kids?”
“Nope,” she laughed. “After I went through my stages of grief I realized that Martin had it right. We liked each other well enough, but sharing a life with someone is too difficult, too complicated for like to be enough to get you through all the ups and downs. I’m not condoning his cheating but he did the one thing I probably wouldn’t have, filed the divorce papers.”
“Stevie?”
She nodded. “Yes. I would have put up with it for another few years just to give her the childhood she deserved.”
“Now you don’t have to.”
“Exactly.” She flashed a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “What about you?”
“Been divorced for longer than I was married. We married too young and for all the wrong reasons. Maybe it could have worked, but my career made it impossible to try.”
“You’re retired now, aren’t you?”
“Maybe, I am. Maybe I’m just temporarily benched for the foreseeable future.”
“Won’t be so temporary when Daddy offers to make you Editor-in-Chief.” Her words were meant to be flippant, I could tell that much even though they came across as bitter. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I have no interest in running a newspaper, no offense. But I don’t. It’s too much of all the things I don’t like about journalism.” I wasn’t cut out for administrative tasks, advertising and leading meetings. I preferred to chase the story.
“None taken. I don’t enjoy it much either, but I’ve earned it. And if I haven’t well.” She shrugged and refused to finish whatever thought she’d been about to share. Lacey groaned and turned to me slowly. I turned to face her, up close for the first time since we started working together. Her eyes were big and blue, but they were a swirl of rainbow colors. Green and gold and even some brown transformed her blue into something ethereal, stunning.
“Levi,” she sighed and I saw her pulse flutter at the base of her throat, a sure sign she was turned on. Heat and appreciation darkened her eyes and I sucked in a breath.
“Lacey.”
I don’t know who took the first step forward, Lacey or me, all I knew was that our arms circled each other, our pulses throbbed with the heat of desire. Closer and closer until our lips almost touched.
Until a scream sounded upstairs followed by the hurried footsteps of a teenage girl. “Mom. Mom, you are not going to believe it!”
Lacey took a step back, her gaze still fixed on my face, a mix of confusion and disbelief swam in her eyes. “What is it, Stevie?”
“Uncle Roman has the number one album in the country! It’s official, he’s a solo success!” She squealed as if her uncle’s success was her own and I couldn’t help but smile at her excitement. “I’m gonna text him,” she said and rushed off.
The moment was gone and we both knew it but I knew it would happen for real and soon. She hadn’t pulled back, hadn’t glared at me and so far, she hadn’t kicked me out. “Congratulations?”
Lacey shrugged. “I’m proud of him but it’s nothing to do with me.” Her lips curled into a grin. “You want an autograph?”
She was teasing I was sure. “Michelle might love it, actually. I can’t say for sure.”
“Find out and let me know,” she said sincerely. “In the meantime, you’ve got a passed out little boy who should probably be sleeping in his bed.”
“Of course.” I knew she wasn’t kicking me out but Lacey needed space. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Definitely. Thanks again, Levi. I had a good time with you and Mickey.”
“Yeah, me too.” I had better than a good time.
Far better than I expected.
Chapter 7
Lacey
After my conversation with research into taking the newspaper online and my conversation with Levi, I felt better about pretty much everything. At least until I arrived at the newspaper office this morning. “Mornin’ Daddy.” I breezed in like nothing was wrong, as if there was nothing on my mind, and made a beeline towards my office before Daddy could ruin my day.
“Lacey, we need to have a talk.”
