Last Chance: A Second Chances Novel (23 page)

“No worries. I look forward to it.”

We hung up and Luke lifted his brows. “Everything okay?”

I bit my lip and grinned. “Looks like you’re staying here tonight. We’re babysitting my niece. And be forewarned, she likes to throw food.”

He burst out laughing. “Emma-Grace loves me. She would never throw food at me.”

“Wanna bet?” I challenged.

“Gladly,” he said, holding out his hand. “If she doesn’t throw food at me, then you have to spend a whole day at my house, doing everything I say . . . naked.”

“What?” I shrieked.

He moved his hand closer. “You afraid, cupcake?”

Grabbing his hand, I squeezed it as hard as I could. “Fine, I accept. If she does throw food at you, then you have to spend the day here, doing everything I say.”

“Naked?”

“You’re damn right.”

We shook hands and the deal was set. Now I just had to pray Emma-Grace was on my side.

With Luke gone, and an hour left before Emma-Grace came over, I picked up my notebook and found the number to
Physique Sports and Fitness.
I doubted Shelby was in the office on a Saturday, but I could always leave her a message. Most of the time with big name journalists, you had to leave a message in hopes they would call back.

I called the number and the phone rang. “Physique Sports and Fitness, this is Rachel, how may I help you?”

“Hi Rachel, I’m calling for Shelby Reynolds. Is there any way you can connect me to her, please?”

“She’s not in today, but I can send you to her voicemail. She’ll be in on Monday.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.” The line went silent before Shelby’s voice came over the line. When it beeped, I took a deep breath and left her a message. I made sure to tell her all about Luke’s accomplishments and how it’d be a great market for her magazine to tap in to. All I could do now was hope for the best with a return call.

The doorbell rang and I rushed to get it, thinking it would be Luke, but when I opened the door it was neither.

“Grayson,” I gasped. “What are you doing here?”

He put his hands in his pocket and glanced down at the ground. “I’ve missed you, Lara. You haven’t been by the tavern in days.” His gaze lifted and I could see his pain.

“After you stormed away from me, I didn’t think it was a good idea,” I replied in all honesty. “We don’t need our customers feeling the tension.”

Sighing, he agreed with a nod. “I know, but I hate not seeing you. I’d rather us be friends than be nothing at all.”

“Do you think that’s possible after everything that’s happened?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know, but I want to try. Not only for our sakes, but for the tavern and our friends. So many people have been asking about you.”

“If you think it can be done, I’ll be more than happy to come back to the tavern. But in doing that, you know Luke will be coming around. I can’t have you two fighting all the time.”

His jaw clenched, but I could see the determination in his gaze. “I promise I’ll keep my temper in check.”

Reaching up, I tousled his hair and smiled. “Must be the red hair. You have a fiery temper to match it. I can totally see you as a fighter.”

For the first time since I’d been around him, he smiled. “I would’ve been a good one. It’s a shame I never tried out for the UFC.”

“Maybe one day you will.”

His lips pulled back in a grin. “Maybe.” He glanced down at his phone and sighed. “I should probably head back to the tavern. With Summer gone tonight, I’m taking over.”

“And I’m babysitting.”

He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “Friends?”

Nodding, I hugged him tight. “Friends. Now go before you’re late.”

I watched him walk out the door, feeling better by the minute. For once, everything was finally starting to look up.

W
hen I pulled up to Lara’s house, the last thing I expected to see was Grayson strutting out to his car with a goddamn smile on his face. His grin only got wider as I jerked my motorcycle into the driveway. Anger coursed through my veins; the need to punch that look off his face, growing by the minute.

Ripping off my helmet, I glared at him. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

He shrugged. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I came here to see a friend.”

“Bullshit,” I growled, storming over to him. “Don’t you think you’ve made a big enough fool of yourself? You lied to her and she knows it.”

“And I explained myself to her. I just wanted her to know I missed her, and she needs to come back to the tavern.” He stepped forward, his smile fading. “Because we all know that if she’s with you, she’ll need a shoulder to cry on. I plan on being there when you fuck up.”

My whole body shook with rage. “You’ll be waiting a long time, cocksucker. When her memories come back, she’ll realize once and for all what a lying bastard you are.”

His eyes gleamed. “Funny you mention that. I’ve been reading up on her condition. With her not remembering anything after all this time, the chances of her recovering the memories are slim to none. You’re on shaky ground, Collins. I’d be careful if I were you.”

I didn’t like threats, especially when they came from someone like him. Fists clenched, I was ready for a fight, but a horn blew down the street, catching my attention. It was Summer and Evan, dropping off Emma-Grace.

“If you so much as try to come between Lara and me again, I’ll break your neck.”

He chuckled. “I’d like to see you try.”

Then, as if a switch had been turned, he waved at Summer and Evan, as if nothing had happened. He was playing them all, and it pissed me off. Taking a deep breath, I watched as Grayson conversed with Evan and Summer, before getting in his car and driving away. Summer took Emma-Grace inside, and Evan stayed outside with me. I was too fired up to see Lara yet.

“What happened?” he asked.

“He’s trying to come between me and Lara. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to control myself.”

He sighed and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Didn’t you try to do the same thing when he was with Lara?”

I knew that was going to be thrown back in my face. “It’s not the same. Lara didn’t want anything to do with me, but he’s her friend and co-worker. She’ll actually be spending time with him every day. What has me even more concerned is what he just said to me.”

“Which was?”

“I don’t think he wants Lara to get her memories back.”

Evan snorted. “Of course he doesn’t. If she remembers, she’ll know the truth. I’ve known this from the beginning.”

“Have you talked to Summer about it?”

He waved me off. “She thinks Grayson is a saint. There’s no way she’ll believe it. All I can say is, try to let it go. Lara chose you and it’s obvious she has no intention of leaving you for Grayson.”

I was confident in that, but something didn’t feel right. Grayson was too sure of himself. “I don’t trust him, Evan. He’s desperate, and we all know what that can do to a man.”

“I know,” he said, squeezing my shoulder. “But Grayson loves Lara. He’s not going to do anything to hurt her.” I wanted to believe that, but I couldn’t. We started toward the door and I could see Lara giggling with Emma-Grace inside. “Are you going to talk to her about this?” Evan asked.

I looked at her again and sighed. “No. She doesn’t need the stress; and if I do, it’ll just make me look like a jealous boyfriend. I don’t want to drive a wedge between us.” Evan stared at me. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

He chuckled. “Just shocked at who you’ve become. You’ve really changed this past year.”

I focused back on Lara. “I had no choice; she makes me want to be a better person.”

He patted me on the back and we walked inside.

“You ready to have some fun?” Lara laughed, bouncing Emma-Grace on her hip. The little princess had her fingers in her mouth, drooling with a smile on her face.

I had to make sure she didn’t throw food on me tonight. Winning the bet against Lara was my top priority. Lara didn’t realize I’d spent lots of time around her little niece. “Definitely,” I answered with a grin.

When Summer and Evan said their goodbyes, Lara announced. “You know what time it is?” With a mischievous grin, she turned to me and winked. “I think it’s dinner time. Want to feed her, while I get ours started?”

I rubbed my hands together. “Glad to.”

Lara placed Emma-Grace in the high chair, and dug around inside the diaper bag for her baby food. Evan had told me since Lara babysat all the time, they’d just invested in a high chair for her house so they wouldn’t have to transport one back and forth.

While Lara went to heat up Emma-Grace’s food, I pulled up a chair in front of the little rascal. She clapped her hands and giggled, looking so much like a miniature version of Lara. If we had a daughter, she would probably look exactly like her.

“Hey,” I whispered low. “Do you think you can maybe not throw your food on me tonight? I know how messy you can get since you get it from your dad, but I’m counting on you to be nice to me. Can you do that?”

She giggled again, and Lara walked back into the room with two jars of baby food and a bottle of milk. “Are you talking to yourself?”

“Nope.” I pointed at Emma-Grace. “Your niece and I were having a discussion. She’s going to be nice to me tonight.”

Lara set the food down and handed me a spoon. “Oh God, I’m gonna have so much fun watching this.” She pulled up a seat and sat beside me with the biggest grin on her face.

I spooned up a small portion of sweet potatoes and Emma-Grace opened her mouth wide. Once she ate the bite, she opened her mouth wide again. “Girl, you must be hungry.” I laughed.

Lara giggled. “Oh, she can eat.” I went back and forth between the sweet potatoes and green beans and so far so good. “Have you ever thought about having kids?”

A smile passed across my face. “Sometimes. I’d like to have a boy, so I can teach him to ride. But I won’t do what my parents did to me. I’ll be there every step of the way.” She rubbed a hand soothingly up and down my arm and it felt good. I leaned over and kissed her head. “I’d also love to have a daughter. It’d be fun to wait on the front porch with a shotgun in my hands when her boyfriend arrives.”

She burst out laughing. “Poor girl, but at least she’d know her daddy loves her.”

I would take care of my family and be there for them no matter what. “We’re getting to the last of the food and guess who still has a clean shirt?” I stuck my chest out.

Lara rolled her eyes. “You’re not done yet. Emma-Grace is a super sleuth. You never know when she’s going to strike.”

There was only one bite of sweet potatoes left. I scooped them onto the spoon, and looked over at Lara. “Give me a victory kiss.”

“No,” she squealed. “You haven’t won yet.”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to be a sore loser. I thought you were stronger than that.”

She scoffed and crossed her arms across her chest. “Fine, but only to prove I’m not a sore loser.” She leaned in and I closed the distance, pressing my lips to hers. I loved the way she always tasted, like honey mixed with strawberries.

We pulled back and Emma-Grace clapped her hands wide, smacking my arm, only to send that last bite of sweet potatoes flying in the air. Lara gasped as it splattered directly across her chest.