Page 77 of Captivating Mr. Second Chance

“What’d she say?”

Ethan read over the short response three times before reading, “Hello, Ethan. I’ve always wondered if or when you would try to reach out, and I admit I’m not as calm about it as I thought I would be. I would love to stay in touch and look forward to getting to know you. Marcela.”

He let out a breath he felt like he’d been holding his entire life.

“Holy shit,” he murmured to himself then downed almost all his beer. “Marcela, that’s her.”

Justin patted his back. “You all right?”

“Yeah, but it feels like…” He blinked a few times and shook his arms out as if he could get rid of the nervous energy.

“One step at a time,” Justin said. “Take it one step at a time.”

Ethan nodded, trying to rein in his imagination. He had been so afraid to reach out to end up with the same results as Justin, but now that he had and she’d responded, his brain was off and running about what he wanted to say and ask, what she might have to tell him.

“Why don’t you go get the girls? These are done.” Justin began piling up the cheeseburgers on a platter, and Ethan started away, waving to Laney, Leah, and Trace.

“Food’s ready,” he said, closing in on the play set, and Laney slowed Trace down so he could hop off the swing. He ran off toward his father, and Leah followed, leaving Ethan alone with Laney.

She wrapped her arms around his waist. “Do you feel okay? You look a little pale.”

He ran his hand through his hair then dropped his arm around her shoulders, holding up his now-empty beer bottle. “Maybe a little dehydrated,” he lied, not wanting to tell her the truth of his digital exchange. As Justin had said, he needed to take it a step at a time, and he wasn’t quite ready to let anyone else in on his situation, still wary of what the outcome might be. “Could use some water.”

Laney narrowed her eyes the tiniest bit at him, as if examining him, and he bent his head to kiss her temple. With the fundraiser right around the corner, and this new, yet amazing relationship, he needed to keep that his focus. He couldn’t worry about what may or may not happen in the future with Marcela.

“Your birthday is next weekend,” Laney said after a few moments. “You want to do anything special?”

He hugged her closer as they walked back to the patio. “Doanything special? We could try out that other vibrator I saw you had.”

She smacked at his stomach, laughing. “I meant for you. What do you want to do? It’s your birthday.”

He nodded. “Yeah, and that’s what I want to do.”

“Okay.” She pursed her pink bee-stung lips at him. “Then what I bought from Seraphina’s party might be of interest to you.”

He pushed his glasses back with his knuckle, his brows rising. “As it happens, I amveryinterested.” When they reached the table, he whispered, “We could try it tonight. Early birthday present?”

His little tease didn’t answer, only dragged her hand down his back, patting his ass before taking a seat, launching into some animated story with Trace.

Cruel woman.

23

Unlike Ethan’s parents, Laney and Dean’s parents didn’t “hang out” with them. Closing in on retirement, Dr. Aaron Hargrove spent most of his days at a hunting cabin or golfing with pals, while Katherine Hargrove was still going strong at her company, keeping a tightly packed schedule that Laney often thought even Bronte would be jealous of. Which was exactly why Laney found herself in a pedicure chair on Wednesday afternoon, meeting her mom at one of her biweekly nail appointments. “Have you looked over the sponsorship packages yet?”

Katherine nodded distractedly, her eyes on the TV screen above them as a couple hunted for a vacation home in Bali. “Yes, I have a check from your father for the bronze package.”

Laney forced her mouth into an appreciative smile. Dean and Laney had never lacked for anything, lucky enough to come from a family with wealth, both of their parents very successful in their respective careers. So, she had no reason to complain. Except that the Hargrove pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps method of thinking didn’t, couldn’t, and shouldn’t always apply to everything, including when Laney was heading up a fundraiser. Her father had more than enough money to part with. He could afford more than the $500 sponsorship package.

“What about Wynmann?” Laney asked, referring to the firm her mom worked for.

Katherine faced her daughter, a barely there frown creasing the left corner of her mouth. “I didn’t think it would be appropriate for me to ask.” She nodded as if Laney should know that. “It’s a conflict of interest.”

Laney hid her eye roll but couldn’t contain her huff. “What’s the difference between asking for a donation to a really good cause and a parent of a Girl Scout selling cookies?”

“Nothing,” her mother answered resolutely. “There is no solicitation. It’s company policy.” Then she gave Laney an impatient smile. “It’s nice you’re doing this for your friend, Delaney, but shouldn’t you be focused on getting a job?”

“I am focused on that. I can do two things at once.”

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