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“Well, she seemed really sorry at the auction. I heard the way she spoke to you. I heard the desperation in her voice.” Desiree stood next to him and leaned on the fence also.
“Yeah, well, I don’t know what to do.” Adler gazed out over the hills. Was it just a few weeks ago that he realized his feelings for Leila? That they rode across those hills and got caught in the rain? “She wants someone who will not only love her but also be a good role model and father figure for Skylar. I don’t fit the bill.”
“Well, I don’t think that’s true. I bet she’ll figure things out sooner than you think.”
“Yeah, right.” He could only wish.
“I know she misses you terribly. She knows she made a mistake and wants to fix things. She just doesn’t know how. She’d love to talk to you, but she thinks we’re a thing and you aren’t interested in her anymore.”
He stood up straight. Did he just hear her right? His heart stopped and his pulse picked up. “What? How do you know all that?”
“Well, let’s just say I was with the girls, and you and her came up in conversation. She was also upset that you wouldn’t accept her apology at the auction.”
“Yeah, I was rude, but to back up myself, I was still hurt. She said some shitty things.”
“You’re right, she did, and she knows it.” Desiree laid her hand on his shoulder. “Look, I think you two have something special. Go to her. She’s at her house.”
“What if she doesn’t want to talk?”
Desiree laughed. “The ladies’ man is nervous and insecure. Youarecrazy about her.” She walked to his motorcycle and handed him his helmet. “Go and talk with her.”
His pulse picked up speed. He wanted to see her more than anything. Boy did he want to, but Desiree paid for these lessons. He couldn’t just leave her. “You paid good money . . . well, ridiculous money for this date. I can’t just walk away from you.”
“Be honest with me. Do you really want to spend time with me today, or would you rather go and try to work things out with Leila?”
He looked at her, and her green eyes pulled him in, but not like they used to. He started getting antsy.
“I don’t know what’s really between you two, but I know how you look at her. I saw it at the auction. I know how you react when she’s around, and I know you and I don’t have that connection. You love her.” Shock oozed from her words.
He looked away. “I don’t know what I feel. But I know I feel something. I’ve never wanted to be with someone this much before.” He glanced at Desiree.
“Wow. The bad boy has fallen hard for the good girl.” Her face hardened with disappointment. Her gaze fell to the ground. “Good luck. I hope you find what you’re hoping to.”
“Thanks Des. We can still do this date. You did pay good money for me.”
She laughed a laugh deep from her gut. “Look,” she said. “Even though I did pay ridiculous money for this date, it wouldn’t be worth my time. It was a donation for a great cause.” She pushed her hands against his chest and pushed him toward his motorcycle. “Go to her.”
“What if it’s too late?”
She gave him a shove toward his bike. “Just go. Make this right. Like I said, you’re both crazy about each other, and everyone can see that.”
“Thank you, Des.” His heart raced, and he kissed her cheek as a silly grin ticked up his mouth. He put on his helmet and jumped on his bike.
He rode like a bat out of hell toward Leila’s house, his thoughts going back and forth like crazy. Three months ago, he was just having fun. Having sex with a beautiful woman, doing what he wanted. Now here he was, stressing over whether a woman—a single mother—was really interested in him, and surprisingly he needed her to be interested in him more than he could admit.
Chapter 29
Adler pulled to a stop on the road in front of Leila’s. There were trucks and cars parked along the street, some of which he recognized. Tristan, Jacob, Chad, and a couple others were there. Leila’s father had “bought” their services at the auction. They were building a back deck for him. Great. He’d have an audience. Just what he needed.
He turned off the engine and took off his helmet. Suddenly his stomach started churning.Dammit. What the hell!Adler couldn’t believe how his heart reacted at the thought of seeing Leila.
Leila had burrowed deep beneath his skin, and even after she got rid of him, here he was, still always thinking about her, not able to keep his eyes off her when she was around. He pictured her in his mind. Her sweet personality. Her long brown hair, those hazel-green eyes, and soft skin. Her adorable daughter. Ever since he saw her at the wedding, she’d filled his everythought, and ever since he saw her last at the auction his heart was empty, alone, and lost.
The banging of hammers and buzzing of saws traveled in the air as he walked down the driveway. He sucked in a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves. The last time he was here, she didn’t want him around. He wasn’t good enough.
What if Desiree was wrong, and she still thought that? Or even worse, if something could be worse than that, what if she was with someone else, someone she thought was good father material?
The crazy thing was, why should that bother him? He’d never thought of being a father, let alone being married.
