I chuckle to myself as I head back toward the garage, trying to focus on the work I need to get done on this engine, but my thoughts are making plans for Lucy and me.
Lucy still loves me; I can see it in her eyes every time I get close to her. I hurt her, and I own that, but I need her in my life. The only problem is Colt’s father. I need to know more about him and if he is even in the picture.
Once I have all the information, I can work on a plan to get back my girl. Because even with little Colt by her side, Lucy belongs with me.
Chapter Ten
Lucy
“Come on, buddy.” I grip Colt’s hand and lead him toward his bedroom as the doorbell rings. Shit. The one time I need someone to be late, Tyler arrives ten minutes early.
“Who dat?” Colt questions as he releases my hand and runs toward the window. “It’s Tywer!” The excitement is clear in his voice as he runs toward the door, throwing it open and jumping into the arms of his new friend.
“Hey, Colt!” Tyler responds with equal enthusiasm before pulling a small wrapped present from behind his back. “I brought you a present, but you need to ask your mom if you can open it.” Tyler places Colt back on the floor before he rushes back in my direction holding the small box.
“Can I, Momma?” He looks up at me with hope in his eyes. I sigh as I look over his shoulder toward Tyler standing sheepishly in the doorway.
“Okay, but you are going to bed right afterward,” I say sternly, making sure he understands that this won’t change our nightly routine.
“Do I still get a story?” He looks back and forth between me and his present, trying to decide if it will be worth losing out on his story.
I smile before leaning down to his height. “Of course you will still get a story.”
Colt immediately drops to the floor and begins ripping the brightly colored wrapping paper to shreds. “A tool kit!” He spins around showing me his new toy from Tyler.
“I thought you could bring it with you to the track when you come. Then you will have your own tools to work on the cars with.”
I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. Colton and Rylee have tried to be there for both of us, but there is nothing like the love a father has for his child.
Too bad he has no idea he’s Colt’s father.
“What do you say to Tyler?” I prompt Colt and he says a hurried thank you before scurrying off to his room. “I’ll be right back,” I say over my shoulder to Tyler before following Colt to his room.
I find Colt snuggled into his bed with his new tool set sitting in a position of honor on his nightstand. He even moved the race car he got from Colton for his birthday.
I take a seat on the bed beside him grabbing a book off the top shelf, checking the cover. “Pirates Don’t Take Baths.” I read the title out loud to Colt before placing my right arm on the pillow above his head.
I read a few lines before he stops me. “Momma?”
“What is it, baby?” I wait patiently as he plans his response.
“Will Colton still love me?” There is fear in his voice. “I just love my present from Twler.” He snuggles into my side, hiding his face from me.
I kiss the top of his head. “It’s okay. Colton won’t love you any less because you have a new toy from Tyler.” I stop for a moment, contemplating the right way to explain things to him. “Colton and Tyler are best friends. I know he would love that you like Tyler just as much as he does.”
“Really?” He perks up slightly, excited at the chance to have both men in his life.
“Yes, really.” I bop him on the end of his nose before I lift the book and continue reading. I only get a few more pages before I hear Colt quietly snoring. I manage to slip out from underneath him and place the book open on the end table holding my place for tomorrow.
“Good night, sweet boy,” I whisper before placing a gentle kiss on his head. I check that his night light is on before switching off the light and heading out of the room.
I hesitate for a few seconds in front of my bedroom door, wondering if I should freshen up a bit before getting this meeting started with Tyler. “You’re a mom and this is not a date,” I mumble to myself before I continue down the hall toward the living room.
The light in the living room is on, filling the room with a soft glow. However, I don’t see Tyler anywhere. I turn to the left and head into the kitchen, immediately finding Tyler with his arms deep in my sink up to his elbows in soapy bubbles.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” I mumble. “You didn’t need to do the dishes; I would have gotten to them before bed.”
He turns a panty melting smile in my direction, heat rushing through my body igniting my libido. There has been no one since Tyler left, not for lack of trying. I wanted to move on from him, but no one could, or can hold, a candle to him
“I wanted to help. Besides, if I would have sat still for much longer, I was afraid I was going to fall asleep.”
“I can make a pot of coffee if you want.” I stand on my tiptoes, reaching for the coffee in the cabinet.
“Allow me,” his deep voice startles me, knocking me off balance and I fall right into his hard chest. “Wow, sorry, Lu. I didn’t mean to scare you.” His breath tickles my neck, sending a shiver down my spine, caging me between his
