Read Online Ask Me to Stay (Honky Tonk Angels #4) by Ciana Stone - Free Book Online

a real job. And then I kept trying.”
    “And had Lily.”
    She felt the way her spine stiffened and hated it. She had to learn not to react that way whenever someone asked something about her having Lily, or about Lily’s father.
    “Yes. I had Lily.”
    Jayce angled a bit toward her. “I get the feeling that’s a sore subject.”
    Callie shrugged. “Let’s just say that’s a story for another day.” She sipped the coffee. “What about you? What happened with your wife?”
    “She took off one day and haven’t seen her since. I got some divorce papers in the mail just before Carson turned three, signed them and that was that.”
    “She didn’t want him?”
    “Nope. Thank god. I’d never have let him go.”
    “You’re a good dad.”
    “Don’t know that I’m all that good, but I love my boy.”
    “And he thinks the sun sets on your shoulders.” Callie smiled at his reaction. “You can’t be surprised.”
    “Just curious how you know.”
    “I’ve run into him a couple of times when he’s come into town with his cousins, JD’s sons, Briggs and Dawson and once when he was with your father. He joined me and Lily at the park one day while he was waiting on your father and we talked a bit.”
    “He never mentioned it.”
    “Maybe he didn’t think it was significant.”
    “Or he was vetting you. He did tell me I needed to ask you out.”
    “Oh?”
    “Yeah, apparently the verdict is that you’re hot, nice and a really good mom, so you scored high on the dateability scale.”
    “Well, I’m flattered.”
    Jayce smiled and leaned back, watching Lily. “You can tell me to mind my own business, but I need to ask. Are you married?”
    “No.”
    “So, there’s no chance some angry husband is gonna show up trying to drag you back to Nashville or take Lily Belle?”
    “There is no husband. Lily’s father and I weren’t married.”
    “Well, that’s good.”
    “It is?”
    “From where I sit, it is.”
    Callie smiled and turned her attention to Lily. For a few minutes, they just sat there. Jayce finished his coffee and set the cup on the bench. “I bet your folks hate not watching Lily grow. Kids change so much and so fast at her age.”
    It hurt to even say the words, but Callie didn’t want to be dishonest. “I know they would have loved to, but they’re gone.”
    “Both of them?” He looked at her.
    “Yes.”
    “How long have they been gone?”
    “My dad died when I was seventeen. He was a long-haul trucker. His rig overturned in Pennsylvania when he tried to avoid hitting a herd of deer.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Me too. He was a good man.”
    “And your mother?”
    “She died when Lily was three months old.”
    “Callie, I’m sorry.” Jayce touched her hand for a brief moment.
    “I am too.”
    “So, you don’t have any family left in Tennessee?”
    “No. I was an only child and all of my grandparents are gone.”
    “I guess that’s why you decided to leave.”
    Callie was saved from having to lie by Lily, who screamed and dug at her eye. Both Jayce and Callie jumped up and ran to her.
    “Oh, she’s got sand in her eye.” Callie struggled to keep Callie from rubbing her eyes.
    “I’ve got water in the truck.” Jayce ran to the truck and came back with bottle of water. Together they managed to get the sand out of Lily’s eye, but by the time they did, she was cranky.
    “I guess I better get her home,” Callie said. “Thanks, Jayce. This was nice.”
    “Thank you. And I guess I’ll be seeing you over at the Honky Tonk.”
    “If you come by Wednesday or Friday night, I’ll be there.”
    “I’ll stop in.”
    “Then I’ll look forward to seeing you. Have a good day.”
    “You too, Callie.”
    Callie watched as Jayce walked to his truck, got in and drove away. She carried Lily to her car, thinking about the conversation. Why couldn’t she just be honest with Jayce and everyone here? She’d done nothing wrong, and yet she felt she had to hide her past. What did