Page 60 of Power Play

“Not at all. I’ll call you beforehand to make sure you’re home. Plus, that way I can drive our car back, so it’s all good.”

We talk some more about the things I want them to do with my G-Wagon, and then we say goodbye. As we are about to head to the exit, the door of the office opens, and the girl who came in earlier storms out.

“Thank fuck—I’m so going to be late now,” I hear her mumble as she fishes for something in her purse. “Where’s my damn phone?”

“Do you need a ride?” Dominic calls out to her, and she pauses for a second. Her gaze meets his, and it dawns on me. These two have a history together. It’s so fucking obvious, I wonder how I didn’t figure it out from the start. The longing, the unasked questions. It’s all so familiar to me.

“Not from you,” the girl deadpans. She straightens her back, lifting her chin up. She walks past Layla and Maya, sending them a little smile on her way, then she’s gone.

I clear my throat, trying to ease the tension because Dominic is looking damn near ready to run after her. “Bye, Dom.” We shake hands.

“Bye. And sorry again.”

“It’s totally fine,” Layla chimes in and opens the door, letting Maya walk out first. “It was nice to meet you, Dominic.”

“You too.” A crooked smile grows on his face, then instantly disappears when he looks away.

I follow Layla and Maya outside, carrying a car seat in my right hand. We head to the black SUV Dominic loaned me for the ride back. Once I set up the car seat and put Maya into it, I make sure her seat belt is on and comfortable for her. Then I climb into the driver’s seat and start the engine.

“Interesting dynamic those two have, don’t you think?” I ask Layla, driving away from the shop.

She sighs, glancing at me sideways. “You’re too nosy, Clay.”

“I’m curious, Mama. There’s a difference.” Her cheeks flame, and she turns to look out the window, twisting her Tinker Bell ring around her finger. “Thank you for agreeing to come with me. I would’ve been bored out of my mind otherwise, but with you”—I pause, checking Maya in the rearview mirror—“and your little girl, I had the time of my life.”

“Thank you, Clay. We had a great time too,” Layla murmurs, sneaking a glance at me. “But I think you’re exaggerating. We were just there?—”

“You were there for me, and that’s what matters.” Instead of holding myself back, I reach out and catch Layla’s hand in mine. “Every minute with you and Maya makes me a little bit happier. I don’t need anything else.”

A shy smile graces her beautiful features, and she intertwines her fingers with mine.

Justin Bieber’s “Baby” is playing on the radio, and Maya sings along, laughing happily. My hand cradling Layla’s is lying on her knee. And honestly? I’ve never felt better.

They are my destiny…they just don’t know it yet.

Chapter 21

Can I Touch You?

LAYLA

Now, September

I closethe door to Maya’s bedroom and gingerly tiptoe down the hallway. She fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow, exhausted from the eventful day. I still waited for twenty minutes to make sure she was asleep and wouldn’t wake up the second I tried to open the door.

Nervous, I run my hands down my hips as I head to the kitchen, where Clay is waiting for me. The tangle of emotions twists tighter in my chest, making it hard to concentrate on what I’m doing and how right it all is. With how I couldn’t stop thinking about our kiss, I’m not sure I can trust my judgment. The feelings I still have for him mess with the rational side of my brain so fucking bad—I barely held myself back from reaching out to him today in Monterey. I’m desperate in my desire to feel his hands on my body, and that’s not a good sign, considering it’s late and Maya is asleep.

Sex with him was always fantastic, and I’m starving for it. Oh my God, I shouldn’t have asked him to stay.

My goal for tonight is to not jump Clay Rodgers’s bones no matter how tempted I get.

I can do that.

I hope I can.

“Want some coffee?” I ask as I walk into the kitchen and find him sitting at the table. He’s playing a game on his phone, but the moment he hears my question, he locks the screen and puts it down.

“Yeah, I’d love some.”

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