One Reckless Night (26 page)

wouldn’t be attracted to him? But I was never tempted to act upon it. I just wrote it off as him being

a man, and me a woman. To know he was having the same inner struggle—”

Bayleigh released a pent up breath. “Well I was dumbfounded. I mean what could Dane see

in a woman like me?”

Tasha dropped her fork. “
What
do you mean a woman like you? There is nothing wrong

with you. You’re a good person, you’re smart, and you’re beautiful. Any man would be lucky to be

with you.”

Bayleigh looked at her sister and smiled. “Your opinion is slightly biased don’t you think?”

Tasha gave her a hard look. “No, I don’t. Not at all. Bayleigh, you gave finally found a guy

who isn’t a pompous ass. He sees beyond the external crap. Dane took the time to get to know

you.”

Tasha smiled. “He has protected you, taken care of you, most importantly, made you feel

like a woman, when other jerks have done the complete opposite.”

Tasha paused taking a sip of her tea. “Don’t get me wrong, Bayleigh. Love requires sacrifice

sometimes. It is about give and take. Not like it was with Erwin, when all he did was take.”

Tasha was right. It was no secret that her relationship with Erwin had been damaging to her

self-esteem. In several ways she had loss her independence and self-reliance. While dating Erwin, she

found herself caught up in a domineering, one-sided relationship that stripped her of the little

confidence she had at the time. Her independence had taken a hit as well. By the time she realized

what was going on it had almost been too late. Thankfully he had given her an easy ultimatum to

choose between.

Tasha shook her head. “I still can’t believe Erwin demanded that you quit your job and end

your friendship with Dane.”

Bayleigh sighed. “Yeah, well he did. And when I chose Dane, he ended our relationship.

Believe me, I suffered the consequences.”

Bayleigh still was since her relationship with Dane was at risk again. She wanted to cry.

Tasha sighed. “I hate to think you’re going to let your relationship with Erwin, keep you

from exploring the one you should have with Dane. Because believe me, I have been there and I can

tell you it would be the biggest mistake you will ever make.”

Bayleigh gave her sister a wry smile. “What about Erwin?”

Tasha shook her head. “Still bigger.”

Tasha reached across the table and took Bayleigh’s hand in hers. “Bayleigh, Dane is the

home you have been looking for.”

Bayleigh closed her eyes and dropped her head as her sister’s words sunk in. Tasha knew her

dreams of a husband, children, and the home to go with it all. It was a dream she and her sister

shared. Seeing her sister more than halfway there left her with an empty feeling. Dane had started to

fill that void when she hadn’t been paying attention.

“You have a decision to make, Bayleigh. Dane has stood aside for years. I know the saying

goes ‘anything worth having it worth waiting for’, but in this case your time is running out. Dane is a

patient man, Bayleigh, but he isn’t a saint.”

“I know, Tasha. But I can’t rush this. If I say yes to this, it has to be one hundred percent.

Because I know Dane will want a full commitment. Possibly for a lifetime.”

Tasha laughed. “Did you hear what you just said? Dane is offering you what you want, what

a lot of women can only dream of having.”

Bayleigh groaned. “He’s offering me those things based on the woman he thinks he knows,

Bayleigh the friend, not Bayleigh the woman. What if in a few months he made a mistake and wants

to go back to being friends, or worse?”

Tasha’s jaw went slack. “Are you kidding me, Bayleigh? Dane has done nothing but accept

you for the person you are. He hasn’t tried to change you in any way.” Tasha shook her head. “I

know Erwin tried to break your spirit, make you do things you didn’t want to while giving up things

you enjoyed. Where Erwin tried to smother you, Dane has given you the freedom to be who you

want to be. To be who you are.”

Tasha laughed. “If I’m not mistaken Dane has even encouraged you when you wanted to do

anything. If that isn’t a part of love, I don’t know what is.” Tasha inhaled deeply. “Do you love

Dane, Bayleigh?”

Bayleigh could no longer hold back the tears she had been fighting. “Yes, I love him and I

miss him.”

“And Dane loves you.” Tasha’s voice shook. “And you would be the world’s biggest fool to

let him go. Talk to Dane about your fears he will understand. I’m even willing to be he’ll work with

you through them—together.”

Another tear slipped down Bayleigh’s cheek. She didn’t bother to wipe it away.

Tasha sighed. “Have you thought about how Dane felt through all of this?”

Bayleigh stared at her sister through watery eyes. “What do you mean?”

Tasha released Bayleigh’s hand and sat back. “Dane took a big risk by telling you the truth,

but he thought you were worth it. According to you he has done nothing but make every effort to

make it work between the two of you. You on the other hand have fought him the entire way.”

Tasha gave Bayleigh a small smile. “In a way, I feel sorry for Dane. Because if you keep

acting the way you are, you’re going to hurt him. You already have by stacking the odd against the

two of you.”

Bayleigh wiped her tears away, shaking her head. “No, I haven’t.”

Tasha nodded. “Yes, you have. I lived with you long enough to know how you are. From

day one you have been giving half your effort with Dane because you were banking on the

relationship not working out.”

Bayleigh gasped but Tasha continued. “Don’t bother denying it. You said yourself, you fear

Dane will wise up one day and leave, so you figure if you don’t put anything into the relationship it

won’t hurt as bad if he leaves.”

Bayleigh hated her sister’s insightfulness. The last thing she needed was more guilt. She

already had enough to last her a lifetime.

“You said you love Dane, Bayleigh. When you love someone, you believe in them. You love

him for who he is. You give your heart freely. Commit yourself for better or worse. The most

important thing is you have faith in him and in your love.”

Bayleigh dropped her face into her hands, her tears flowing freely. “I don’t deserve him,

Tasha.”

Tasha got out of her chair and went around the table to hug Bayleigh. “Oh, Bayleigh. Of

course you do.”

Bayleigh accepted her sister’s embrace, clinging to her like a lifeline. “I’m scared.”

“So was I,” Tasha whispered.

A heartbeat later, she pulled back and Bayleigh looked up at her younger sister. “This wasn’t

supposed to happen,” she whispered.

Tasha smiled. “But it did and you should be happy. A wonderful man cares about you.

Wants to be with you.”

Bayleigh sighed. Her sister was right. So was Dane when he said it was more than good sex

between them. The depth of her feelings for him couldn’t be denied. Nor could she deny his. Dane

had supported her over and over again, even when she didn’t deserve it. No man she had been

involved with had ever gone out of his way for her like Dane had. Here she was about to throw it al

away. What was wrong with her? Dane wasn’t the rich spoiled playboy that Erwin was. Dane was

down-to-earth, gentle and unselfish. Everything she ever wanted in a man. She loved Dane but she

also needed him.

All of it terrified her. Bayleigh was scared of Dane, afraid to give her heart to another man,

so capable of breaking it. She squeezed her eyes shut and an image of his gentle smiling face

appeared before her. God, he made her want to believe, to trust, so badly. How could she let a man

who knew her so well, slip through her fingers?

Dane loved her.

She loved him.

What if it didn’t last?

What if it did?

Surely a man like Dane was worthy of her risking her heart for the possibility of a lifetime of

happiness. Bayleigh smiled. Yes she could. Dane cherished her, with his every gesture, his every

touch, his every word. It wasn’t just passion between them. Bayleigh felt loved. More loved than she

ever felt before.

Becoming intimate with Dane, the man she cared about for so many years, had forced her

eyes open about the feelings she had for him. The unfamiliar sensation that swelled inside of her

every time she looked at Dane was proof enough of her feelings for him and how deep they ran. Up

until now she had been missing out on something incredible. The question was did she trust him not

to hurt her? He hadn’t so far.

Did she honestly want to give him up so another woman could wake up with him every

morning? Share his life, his love, his babies?

Definitely not.

Dane was every woman’s fantasy and he would belong to her if she let him. Tasha laughed

drawing her from her inner thoughts.

“It looks like you’ve made up your mind.”

Bayleigh smiled. “Almost. I’m starting to believe we might have a chance.”

Tasha shook her head. “Listen to me. There is no
might
to it. You have the kind of chance

you have dreamed of. It’s time to stop bailing. I also know you can be the master of avoidance and

it’s time to stop that as well. If you want a future with Dane you are going to have to start believing

you have one.” Tasha paused. “You have to decide whether or not you are going to get over your

lack of self-confidence. Your lack of faith in things you can’t control.”

Bayleigh stiffened as Tasha nailed her ultimate issue.
Her
inability to trust
.
Her insecurities
. It

was simple really. Either she trusted Dane or she didn’t. Either she believed in herself or didn’t.

Bayleigh had been an insecure person most of her life. Before she was careful to avoid situations

where she didn’t have control. Unfortunately the only area where she did, were innate. Like when

she was in school. She had thrown herself into learning everything she could when it came to

school. Bayleigh had excelled greatly. Yet, her social life had remained awkward with a few dates

here and there. Then there was the short relationship she had with Daniel. A relationship so

awkward it fizzled out before it got started. Then Erwin had come along, sending her life into a

tailspin. One Dane had helped her out of when she hadn’t been paying attention.

Bayleigh straightened her shoulders. Her decision was made. She’d worked too hard and

had come too far not to believe in her friendship with him…her relationship with him. Bayleigh

smiled before looking at Tasha. “I need your help.”

Tasha’s eyebrows rose high on her forehead. “And just what do you think I have been doing

all this time?”

Bayleigh laughed. She loved her sister.
She loved Dane.
Now she just had to show him.

“So you like the idea?” Isaac asked. “This is the best one in my opinion.”

Dane looked at the information in front of him trying to figure out what it was he was

looking at. Maybe if he could pay attention to what Isaac was saying. A familiar wave of sadness

washed over him but he tried to refocus his thoughts on the computer screen.

“She still hasn’t called you.”

Dane sighed at Isaac’s question. “No, she hasn’t.”

Isaac pushed back from the kitchen table. “This sounds like a conversation requiring a drink

to accompany it. What would you like?”

“A Jack, neat,” Dane responded without hesitation.

Isaac paused in mid-step. “Oh
hell
. This is more serious that I thought. Are you driving?”

Dane rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes.”

Isaac gave him a warning look. “In that case, you only get one so make it last.”

Dane heard Isaac release a pent up breath as he poured their drinks. When he came back to

the table he sat the drink in front of Dane. Isaac retook his seat and moved the laptop aside. “Now,

tell Dr. Isaac about your problems.”

Dane tried not to smile but he couldn’t help it. “This isn’t a joke, Isaac.”

“I know. It never has been.”

Dane exhaled heavily. “What am I supposed to do?”

When Isaac remained silent Dane looked up from the drink in his hand. “Are you going to

say anything?”

“Why? We both know what you are going to do regardless of what I say.”

Dane sat back in his chair. “Are you going to help me or not?”

“How am I supposed to help you? I have an aversion to relationships. Remember?”

Dane groaned. “I keep waiting for you to say what I want to hear. What I need to hear.”

Dane took a sip of the whisky and felt the liquid burn all the way down to his stomach. He

grimaced, remembering why he usually stuck to beer and the occasional glass of wine. Even the

bourbon he had in his home had been brought over by Isaac.

Isaac spoke in a low tone. “Sounds like you are final y growing impatient.”

Dane gave Isaac a hard look. “I haven’t given up on Bayleigh. I just didn’t think it would

take so long.”

Isaac looked at him with amusement. “It took you three years to admit to yourself that you