Page 48 of Can’t Let You Go (Ivy Ridge #3)

JASON

October

“ H ey, sunshine.” I sneak behind Fallon as she strides across the reception hall, wrapping her up in my arms.

She spins into my embrace, a cheeky grin on her face. “Hey handsome.”

I lean down, pressing a kiss to her soft lips. “I missed you,” I tell her.

“It’s been like three days, Jase.”

I shrug, pulling her closer. My arms band around her waist as I hold her to me. “So? I can’t miss you in three days? Admit it, you missed me too.”

With another kiss to her pink lips, she sighs. “Alright, fine, I missed you too.”

“I knew it,” I murmur against her lips. “How’s today going?”

“Really well. Everything is on schedule, and the bride is happy.”

“Good. I thought I would say hi.”

“Do you work tonight?” she asks.

“Nope.” I point back to the bar where Laila is training two new employees. “I stopped by to check in with Laila and my new hires.”

Fallon nods. “Where’s Lennie?”

Lennie pops out from behind the bar, running toward us. “Fallon!” she yells, squeezing between us to wrap her arms around Fallon’s waist.

“Hey, sweetie,” Fallon says, picking her up and giving her a hug. “How’s your day so far?”

“Really good. Daddy and I went out for breakfast, and then he got me a new bookshelf for my room, and then we came here to say hi,” she rambles.

“Wow,” Fallon says. “Sounds like a fun day to me.”

“It is. Laila said that one day she’s going to teach me how to make beer.”

“I bet you’ll be amazing at it.” Fallon smiles warmly at her.

“Not for a long time,” I tell her. “At least until you’re twenty-one.”

“How many years is that?” Lennie asks, and I can see the gears turning in her mind as she tries to figure it out.

As far as I’m aware, first graders don’t learn subtraction, so I don’t think she will get it.

It’s hard to believe I have a first grader, but with the school year starting a few weeks ago, it’s official.

“Sixteen years,” Fallon supplies.

“That’s so long,” Lennie gripes.

“It will go by fast, I promise,” I tell her.

I expect Fallon to say something in response, something witty or cute like she does since she’s so good with Lennie, but she doesn’t.

She’s focused on the door to the reception hall, where a man has entered with a woman on his arm.

He’s wearing a black suit, and his dirty blonde hair is slicked back with what appears to be an obscene amount of gel.

There’s a woman clinging to his side, an almost bored look on her face.

“Hey, what’s going on?” I ask Fallon, but she doesn’t reply. Her face is pale, eyes hollow as she looks at the man. “Sunshine. Talk to me.” I take her chin between my fingers, purposefully taking her eyes from the man.

When her eyes focus on me, there’s a sense of fear in them. My daughter is still in her arms, and I can tell she’s starting to get scared. “Lennie, go back to Laila, please. Tell her I need her to watch you for a few minutes.”

“Okay, Daddy,” she quickly agrees, sliding down Fallon’s body and running back to the bar.

“Eyes on me, sunshine,” I tell Fallon. “What’s happening?”

Finally, the dead look in her eyes disappears, replaced with anger. “That’s Brad.”

“Brad?” I ask, confused, looking back at the man. He’s walking around with the woman, and he looks lost. Then, it clicks. “Your ex-husband, Brad?”

Fallon nods, and I snap into action. I take her hand in mine, watching Brad as he turns in the opposite direction, then I lead Fallon down the hall to her office.

I sit her in her chair, and rub my hands on the tops of her shoulders.

“How do you want to do this?” I ask her.

“Do you want to talk to him? Do you want me to talk to him?”

“Why is he here?” Fallon asks absentmindedly. “He’s never reached out to me before, why is he here? Why now?”

“I don’t know, sunshine. I really don’t, but I can find out for you.”

She shakes her head vehemently. “No. Who knows, he’s probably here for the wedding or something. It’s fine. I need to get back to work and pretend like everything is normal.”

“Is that really what you want?” I ask. “Because if it’s not, I won’t hesitate to go ask him why the fuck he’s here, and kick him out.”

“No. Please don’t, Jase. If he’s here as a guest, that will reflect poorly on the company, and we can’t have that,” she pleads.

While I see her point, I can’t help but be irritated. I don’t want that man within a seventy mile radius of her or Presley if I can help it. He’s done nothing to deserve a spot in their lives. He gave them up.

“Fine,” I grumble. “But I’m not leaving. Lennie and I can stick around until you’re done.”

“Jase, you can’t stay that late. It will be midnight or later by the time I’m done. Lennie can’t stay up that late.”

“I’ll figure it out. Maybe I’ll call Andrew. He’s been wanting to have her over for another sleepover.” I use my thumb to swipe across her cheek, pushing away the few stray tears that have fallen.

She shakes her head. “I’ll keep my head down, and keep to the edge of the crowds. I want nothing to do with him, but I’m not going to run from my job, or cower from him.”

“I don’t like this,” I admit. I mean really, what are the chances he knows the bride or groom? Fallon told me he grew up in the Cities, though I suppose some people are willing to travel for the perfect wedding venue.

“It’s fine,” Fallon says, pulling out of the embrace. “I can do this.” She stands, adjusting her clothes and smoothing her hair. She takes a few tissues, dabbing gently at her cheeks. Her makeup is still perfect, and despite her eyes being slightly red, she looks flawless.

I watch as she dons a metaphorical mask, and strides out of her office. She doesn’t even look back to me. I’m left jaunting to catch up with her, finally taking her hand in mine when I reach her. I don’t say anything, not wanting to crack the facade she has placed, only squeezing her palm in mine.

I don’t care what she says, Lennie and I are sticking around for a while. When we reach the entry to the reception hall, I pull her into my chest.

I bend down, kissing her deeply. Cupping her cheeks, I hold her close for an extra moment.

Her arms are wrapped around my neck as we hold each other.

I rest my forehead against hers as we break apart, catching our breath.

“You are the strongest woman I know. I’m so proud of you.

Watching you be amazing at your job, be an amazing mom, all by yourself, makes me so proud to call you my girl.

Sunshine, you are so much stronger than you think.

You did this. You built yourself a life without him, and I get to stand by your side and watch you thrive. Don’t let him take away your shine.”

“Thank you,” she murmurs, stretching up to take my lips one more time.

She unwraps her arms from my neck, trailing her hands to rest her palms on my cheeks.

“I…” She stops herself, but I have a feeling I know what she was going to say.

I’ve been feeling the same. I just don’t know if I’m ready to put those emotions into the world yet.

“I’m so thankful I get to have you at my side,” she says instead.

I kiss her nose. “Go, be amazing.” I turn her toward the reception hall. She heads on her way, and I skim my gaze through the crowd, searching for Brad. I don’t see him, but I know I’m going to do everything in my power to keep an eye out for him the rest of the night. I’ll stay as long as I can.