Read Online Come Home to Me by Brenda Novak - Free Book Online

her that he could.
    She’d made the right choice, she decided. Wyatt could take all the love she had to give—and he had the ability to love her back.
    “So why’s he still interested?” Cheyenne asked. “You’ve always said he doesn’t really care about you. Is it that he suddenly sees you as a challenge and that excites him? Or is he trying to save face? Maybe he wants to prove he can get you back in the sack—or he’s out to show Dylan and me that he’ll do as he damn well pleases.”
    “I thought you liked Aaron.”
    “I do. I love him to pieces. But you know how contrary he can be.”
    “I can’t imagine he’d be willing to work that hard just to get me back in bed. He’s more of a take-me-or-leave-me kind of guy. That was the Aaron I used to know, anyway.”
    “So, to be on the safe side, you’re going to reiterate that you’re not interested?”
    “Of course.” She had no choice, not with the secret she was guarding.
    “I hope you’re more effective than you were when you said he couldn’t paint your studio,” her sister grumbled.
    “Riley was there, helping out. I didn’t want to tell Aaron he couldn’t do the same. What reason could I give? Why would it be more acceptable for Riley to help me than Aaron?”
    “Riley’s not Wyatt’s father.”
    “Exactly my point. That’s something we don’t want him to guess.” She rolled a ball over to Wyatt. “Speaking of Riley, you don’t sound surprised about finding him there.”
    “I was surprised. At first.”
    Presley leaned back. “And then?”
    “He told me he wants to take you out, and it made sense.”
    “Was Aaron there when he said that?”
    “He was standing about ten feet away. I actually got the impression Riley was announcing his intentions for Aaron’s sake, to stake his claim or...or put him on notice.”
    “You sound pleased.”
    “I am. I loved it. After the way he took you for granted, don’t you?”
    She supposed it did feel good that someone else might want her, and that Aaron was aware of it. She’d always suffered from low self-esteem. She couldn’t feel good about herself while making the kinds of mistakes she’d made. “How did Aaron react?”
    “He dropped his brush,” Cheyenne said with a laugh.
    “That’s it? He didn’t say anything?”
    “Not a word.”
    Of course he wouldn’t. Why had she even asked? Aaron wouldn’t feel threatened. He’d only befriended her in the beginning out of pity. He understood what it was like to be lost and alone; they both did. “I know why he’s helping,” she said, finally figuring it out.
    “Why?”
    “He feels bad about how he acted the night Mom died. This is his way of apologizing.”
    “You think so?”
    “That’s my guess. He can be sweet. Sometimes.” He could also be tender, especially in the wee hours of the night after making love, which was why sex with him was more fulfilling than with most men. Just thinking about the deep-down satisfaction he could provide made her feel bereft without him.
    Don’t focus on that. He’s like smoke. There’s no way to grab hold of him for more than a few minutes, no way to keep him close....
    “How can you let him off the hook so he’ll go on about his business?”
    “By accepting his apology and assuring him that I have no hard feelings.”
    “Fabulous. Do it right away.”
    Wyatt was getting sleepy. Presley could see him rubbing his eyes. Thank goodness. She needed a nap herself. “If you’ll watch Wyatt later this afternoon, I’ll go over to the studio, thank Aaron for his help and tell him I don’t hold anything against him. That should do the trick.”
    “What if Riley’s still there?”
    “I’ll walk Aaron out.”
    “Perfect. Of course I’ll babysit.” Her sister didn’t ask why she didn’t want to take her son along; she understood that Presley was afraid for Wyatt to be around Aaron. She’d seen Aaron’s baby pictures. They both thought Wyatt resembled him at that age. “How much