AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It’s a gallant gesture on my part, designed to show her how I’ve matured over the years. I’m not the same wet-behind-the-ear lad she fell in love with. I’m a man now, and I’ve learned quite a bit about women over the last few years.
The two of us being thrown together like this is a godsend as far as I’m concerned. I’m not going to waste this opportunity because I’m determined to win her back.
But first things first. I can’t jump the gun here because she’s already on the defensive. I need to remind her why we fell for each other in the first place. I need to remind her of the spark between us, the chemistry we shared. The chemistry I hope we can rekindle. I don’t think it’s too late. Seeing her in person has made me realize just how much I want that to be true.
After Hamish and I get the pleasantries out of the way, I lean back in my seat and remain silent for the remainder of the car journey. Occasionally, I’ll look out the window and point out something of interest to Kennedy.
Although I remain relatively reserved and passive on the outside, inside is a different story. I’m thrilled just to be sharing the car ride with her.
Thanks to the evening rush hour traffic, it takes half an hour to reach Skye and Will’s home outside of Cincinnati. In the midst of rolling green hills, we exit the motorway, and soon we’re on a rather quiet country road that meanders through lush green meadows. Being that it’s summer, the sky is bright blue with the occasional white cloud floating by overhead. Horses graze on gently-sloping grassy hills. It’s actually quite lovely.
Hamish slows the car and turns onto a private lane. Just a few dozen meters later, we reach a wrought iron gate marked PRIVATE. He pulls the car up to an electronic keypad and punches in a code. When the gates promptly swing open, we proceed along a tree-lined paved drive.
The landscape is decorated with a colorful variety of flora, from the more subtle pastel colors to more vibrant reds and yellows in meadows populated with a variety of wildflowers. The property is what I would expect from Will and Skye, something similar to their country estate back in Bibury, England.
We drive another five minutes before a big white farmhouse comes into view, perched on a slight rise.
Will and Skye’s home on this side of the pond is soAmerican—a two-story white farmhouse with black shutters and a wraparound covered porch that extends across the front of the house and all the way around one side to the back. The rear porch overlooks a charming guest cottage and beyond that is a sprawling lake.
To the right of the house is a large red barn and a small white building, which I know is home to a bunch of hyperactive chickens. Will does enjoy his fresh farm eggs. The breeze carries the sound of soft whinnying of horses coming from the paddock behind the barn.
Kennedy turns to me suddenly, her perfect little nose just inches from mine. Her dark eyes widen as she sucks in a breath, and I figure it’s in surprise at our sudden closeness. How easy it would be to lift my hand and brush a lock of her hair behind her perfect shell of an ear. Her gaze drops to my lips for a moment before returning to my eyes. She looks as mesmerized by our physical closeness as I am.
I want nothing more than to tell her it’s not too late for us, that everything’s going to be okay. But I don’t, because I’m afraid if I do reach out for her, I’ll just push her even farther away. I can see the sadness and uncertainty lurking in her gaze.
I break eye contact and move back, giving her the space she desperately needs. Kennedy has her pride, and that’s something I can’t damage if I want to stand a chance of winning her back.
The car comes to a halt as Hamish pulls up to the front of the house. The front doors open, and Will comes outside holding the hand of a very pretty, brown-haired, blue-eyed little girl. Ah, Penelope, my—our—goddaughter.
I turn to Kennedy just in time to see her features transform instantly at the sight of the little girl.
“Penny!” she cries as she unbuckles her seatbelt, opens her car door, and jumps out.
I follow at a more sedate pace trying not to feel slighted that she’s showing far more interest in Penny than she did in me. She’s treating me like an acquaintance, not like the man she once gave her heart to. I’m staring at the woman I love, havealwaysloved, and she’s keeping her distance.
Penny releases her father’s hand and rushes forward to greet us. “Aunt Kennedy! Uncle Connor!”
I step aside as Penny launches herself at Kennedy, who swings the little girl up in her arms. Penny wraps her slender arms and legs around Kennedy, hugging her tightly.
“I’ve missed you, sweet pea,” Kennedy says, kissing the side of Penny’s head.
“I missed you, too,” Penny says. Then she sets her sights on me. “Hi, Uncle Connor.”
“My goodness, Penny,” I say, reaching out to muss her hair. “You’ve grown since the last time I saw you. How old are you now?”
“Four,” she says proudly, holding up the right number of fingers.
I pretend to be shocked. “Four years old! I thought you’d be fifteen by now.”
Penny giggles. “I’m four, silly. But I’ll be five soon.”
Kennedy laughs as she sets the little girl on her feet. “Yes, you will.”
“Speaking of your birthday,” I say, as I reach into my hand luggage. “I brought you an early present.” I pull out the colorfully wrapped package and hand it to her.
Penny looks up at Will. “Can I open it, Daddy?”
Will nods. “Sure, go ahead.”
