CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Paige wanted to kick herself because she’d known Brian and his ex-wife would find their way back to each other. She should’ve known better than to let that man into her heart. As the tears welled up in her eyes, she knew home was the last place she wanted to go. The last thing she needed to see was Brian and Olivia’s reunion. She headed down a one-lane country road and pressed the gas pedal down to the floor. Hot tears fell from her eyes and she drove faster. Brian had lied to her, telling her there was no chance he’d reunite with his ex-wife. But there was no mistaking what she’d seen. A few more seconds and Brian would’ve kissed her. They’d only been alone together for five minutes. Paige had to give Olivia credit for being dead on when she’d called her a place warmer. All of his promises meant nothing now that Olivia had returned. Paige’s speedometer hit 100 as she took a sharp curve. She felt the car fishtail and slowed down to 95. The road was clear and she dropped the top of her car to let the fresh air blow through her afro. She wasn’t going to waste any more tears on Brian. She muttered a list of profane names that she’d love to lob at him, and the nastier the names, the better she felt. As she headed back for town, she slowed down and decided to go home, pack a bag and drive to Nashville. She wasn’t going to watch Brian and his ex-wife rekindle their fairy tale romance. As far as she was concerned, Brian and Olivia could have each other. She was fine before she met him and she would be fine without him.

Her plan was set in stone when she pulled into the driveway. She’d slide down to Patrick’s place, even if it meant driving all night. And when she got to Nashville she’d dress in her tightest, shortest, low cut black dress, hit some clubs downtown and flirt until it hurt.

It still isn’t going change your feelings for Brian, a voice in the back of her head said as she got out of the car. “To hell with Brian,” she mumbled.

She heard the door across the street open. “Paige,” Gabrielle called out. “Paige, Brian’s looking for you.”

Tell him to keep looking!” she shouted back as she slammed into her house.

When she entered the house, Paige picked up the phone and called Patrick.

Hello, Paige,” he said. 


I’m coming to Nashville,” she announced. 


Why? I thought you had your hands full with Kelvin.”


His name is Brian and he’s a piece of sh—.”


Paige,” Patrick said, cutting her off. “What happened?”

She sighed as she recounted what she’d seen in the hospital. “And don’t tell me that I’m overreacting this time.”


It doesn’t sound like it. But I don’t want you to drive tonight. Get some sleep and come when you are a little less emotional. The first round of drinks at Lava Lounge is on me,” Patrick said.

Thanks,” she said. “And I am driving today. You forget, I live across the street from this man and I don’t want to look out my front window and see him and his wife playing with their son. It would just hurt too much.” Tears sprang into her eyes and she blinked rapidly to keep them from falling. “Look, I have to go pack. I’ll call you from the road.”

Paige, I’m sorry,” Patrick said. “I actually thought this was going to work out for you.”

So did I,” she said before hanging up the phone.

Paige walked into her bedroom and turned her stereo on as she packed. The smooth sound of Boney James filled the air but the sound of his sax made her think of the slow and sensual love making she and Brian had shared. Snapping the radio off, she began stuffing clothes into her suitcase. “How could I let myself fall for that man?” she muttered. “His divorce was still new and he wanted to have a whole family for his son.”

Zipping her suitcase, she resolved to find another place to live as soon as she returned to South Carolina. Just as quickly she changed her mind. She wasn’t going to give up her quiet neighborhood just to run away from Brian. Damn him.

Paige picked up her overstuffed suitcase and headed outside to her car. As she looked across the street, she saw Brian pulling into the driveway. Then another car pulled in behind him, a black Nissan Maxima with a Georgia license plate. Paige knew that was Olivia. She slammed the trunk of her car and headed for the door. She heard Brian when he called her name, but it didn’t matter. He had made his choice.

Paige,” he called out again.

She decided that her leaving wasn’t a sign of defeat. She wasn’t some crushed schoolgirl who had lost the star quarterback to the head cheerleader. Grabbing her Ray-Ban sunglasses, she confidently walked outside to face Brian and his wife head-on. No one played with Paige Grayson’s emotions and got away with it. Yes, she was angry and they were going to know about it. Finding Brian standing in her driveway didn’t surprise her because she’d known he’d try to pass off some lame excuse as the truth.

Paige,” he said. “I know what that looked like back there, but—”

But what, Brian?” she snapped, cutting him off. A deep scowl darkened her face, causing her eyes to narrow like a cat’s before springing on a mouse. “You don’t know what you want and I’m not going be a part of your funky little triangle.” Paige’s voice was like a hissing cobra. “Why don’t you take your ass back over there to your wife and maybe the two of you can finish what you started last night.”

What are you talking about?” Brian asked. Confusion clouded his handsome face.

What am I talking about?” she repeated. “Do I look like a fool to you? You want your wife back, go get her, but leave me the hell alone. I don’t want to see you, I don’t want to hear your voice. I want anything to do with you!”

Paige, there’s nothing going on with Olivia and me,” he attempted to explain. “What happened in the hos—”

What happened in the hospital was you got caught. I wasn’t supposed to see your little reunion with Olivia. Well, go kiss her and welcome her back into your life.” Paige’s rage, disappointment and hurt feelings exploded in her voice. “Better yet, just kiss my ass.” She opened the driver’s door, got in and started the car up. Brian stood behind it.

You’re not leaving until we talk,” he said, placing his hands on the trunk of the car. Paige revved her engine, imagining Olivia standing across the street, laughing her head off.

Move, or I swear I will roll right over you,” she hissed.

I understand you’re angry and you have a right to be. But this isn’t the way to handle this,” Brian said, reminding her of the days when she thought of him as Robocop. He was talking down to her and he was the one who was wrong. It wasn’t as if he were chastising her because she was speeding again. She was the one who’d caught him about to kiss a woman he said he was over. A woman who’d walked out on him and left him heartbroken. A woman who he said had no chance of coming back into his life. Paige turned the ignition off, got out of the car and stalked over to Brian.

You’re right,” she snapped. “This isn’t the way to handle this.” She hauled off and slapped him as hard as she could. “Now I feel so much better.”

Brian grabbed her arm. “Paige, don’t do this. You’re giving Olivia what she wants. I wasn’t with her last night. I don’t know where Olivia was last night. That’s why I went to get my son. That’s why he was with me at my house this morning. I told you that I want you and I’m over her. But she is the mother of my child and she’s going to be a part of Mickey’s life. I know I was wrong, but I’m not going to take this,” he said.

Paige snatched her arm away from him. “So what do you expect me to do? Sit on a fence until you decide what you want?”

Brian shook his head. “Do whatever the hell you have to do. I’m not trying to keep another woman in my life who doesn’t want to be here. But let me ask you this. Have I ever lied to you or given you a reason not to believe in me?”

Paige looked away from him, knowing the answer to that question was no. Brian had always been up front with her. Why would he stop now? He was going to kiss her and I walked in on that. To hell with him, get in this car and leave.

Paige turned to Brian. “Move,” she barked, then got back into the car and started it up. Brian stepped aside and she tore out of the driveway, leaving black tire marks in her wake.



A cold feeling settled in the bottom of Brian’s stomach as he headed across the street to his house. Olivia leaned against the car, looking at him with a smug look on her face.

Why are you here?”

I came to get Mickey some clothes and such,” she said casually. “Does it hurt?”

What?”

Your jaw. She smacked you kind of hard. Isn’t that against the law or something, assault on a police officer?”

Brian absentmindedly rubbed his cheek. Paige’s blow did sting, but the pain in his heart was much more pronounced. Why didn’t she believe him? What had Olivia said to her? “What did you say to Paige in the hospital?” Brian demanded angrily.

Olivia feigned a look of innocence. “I only told her that I was Mickey’s mother and she could never take my place,” she said.

Brian narrowed his eyes at her. “This not a competition between you and Paige. If you came back here for your son, why are you so worried about my personal life? Didn’t you say you had a life in Atlanta?”

Olivia folded her arms across her chest. “Do you love her? I mean, how can you love some one you barely know? I’ve dated a few guys and learned that I should have never left what I had”

Before Brian could reply, Gabrielle interjected. “Why don’t you stop worrying about my brother and go sit with your son!” She jumped off the edge of the porch and got in Olivia’s face. “What kind of mother thinks toys and phone calls make up for her being there for her son?”

You don’t know a thing about motherhood or being in love,” Olivia snapped.

Gabrielle put her hands on her petite hips. “Neither do you, because you suck at both, bitch.”

Look!” Brian said. “I don’t need this right now. Olivia, Mickey shouldn’t be alone at the hospital. Go there and I’ll bring him his overnight bag. Gabrielle, go home.”

As Gabrielle and Olivia exchanged ugly looks, Brian walked into the house and closed the door. He held his throbbing head and released a sigh as he plopped down on the sofa. This was too much to handle.