Midlife Valentine: A Later in Life Single Mom Romance

“You’re not easy or convenient, Valona. You’ve made me work for every smile, every kiss, every amazing moment of your attention, and I have. Because I think you’re pretty damn wonderful, and I want to know more. I want to know you better.”

She wanted that too, I could see the longing in her eyes and it tore me apart. “And when you get sick of playing house?”

“Who’s playing?” I took a step back, literally and figurative and stared at the woman who’d snuck past my defenses and made me fall for her before I even realized it was happening. “Ah, I get it. You. You’re playing. It’s you who isn’t ready to get serious. After spending nearly a lifetime with the love of your life, you don’t want to get serious. I was just a distraction.” I let the words settle in the air between us, each syllable a stab to the heart and nodded. “Got it.” Truth was I didn’t get it at all, but I understood. Sort of.

“Trey, please.” She reached out to me again and though it killed me to do it, I stepped out of her reach. “That’s not it, I promise.”

“You said it’s my age. It’s about you not being what I want even though you never bothered to ask, and worse, you assume you know what I want simply based on what? How old I am? My former career?” I couldn’t stop the anger from seeping into my tone.

She sucked in a breath and wrapped her arms around herself in a protective gesture. “I guess it’s a good thing you’re not saddled with a know-it-all, then.”

I laughed. I had to, because she was so damn transparent. “Right, because that gives you an easy out and you get to pretend you were right all along. Think again, Val. I don’t frighten so easily, and I will get you to open your eyes and see me for the man I am, not the one you’re determined to paint me to be.” I crouched down and removed a small black velvet bag from my handpiece. “I saw this in a window, and I thought it was perfect for you.” I dropped the bag on the coffee table and turned towards the stairs. “Keri, it’s time to go!”

Our gazes locked for just a brief moment before I had to turn away. It hurt to look at Valona, so I waited for Keri on the porch.

Chapter 19

Valona

I stared down at the black velvet bag like there was a snake inside waiting to lash out and bite me. With Trey and Keri gone, the girls were quiet, giving me plenty of time—too much time—to stare at the bag, to think about the look on Trey’s face when he walked away. No, when I pushed him away. To question whether I’d made the right decision, forcing Trey out of my life.

I didn’t want to send Trey packing, but I did. I did it out of self-preservation, which was stupid, but seeing him again, inhaling his deeply masculine scent had thrown me off. He looked even more gorgeous than I remembered, smelled even better, and his smile was, impossibly brighter. And I’d known, then and there, that things couldn’t work out between us.

“You are an adult, a grown woman responsible for two little lives, Valona. You’re not afraid of a little velvet bag.” Even if it almost certainly contained jewelry.

With shaky hands I reached for the bag and tugged on the velvet rope drawstring and gave it a gentle tug. The bag opened and I reached inside, feeling the familiar cool sensation of jewelry between my thumb and forefinger. I pulled it out and gasped at the sight of the ring. It was gorgeous, no it was stunning. A silver band, probably white gold, held a teardrop shaped ruby at the centerpiece with two smaller black gems on either side. It wasn’t just beautiful or thoughtful, it was also perfect. Perfectly me. Just perfect. Just what I would have chosen for myself.

“Trey,” I whispered into the empty room, suddenly feeling the weight of what I might have lost for good crash down on my shoulders.

This was a situation where it was good to have your best friend close by. “Hey Pippa, are you busy? I need you.” The text was short and to the point and she responded immediately.

“Be there in five, maybe seven. Depends on my bladder.”

I smiled and went to the kitchen, pulling out the lemonade I’d made yesterday to distract me from thoughts of ending things with Trey, and Pippa’s favorite pregnancy snack, chips and salsa.

Five minutes later I ushered in Pippa and Lacey with a smile. “Lacey was visiting when you texted, checking in on me because Ryan is out of town actually, and I figured three heads are better than two for whatever you need.”