One Reckless Night (27 page)

had a thing for Bayleigh and another two for you to admit it to her.”

Dane glared at Isaac. “You still aren’t helping right now.”

“Have you tried talking to her?”

Dane shook his head. “No. I mean I say hi to her, speak to her about work, but nothing

else.”

Isaac took a sip of his drink. “Well, you are giving her what she asked for.”

“Yes, but is it working?”

Isaac’s eyebrows rose. “Do you think it is?”

The problem was he didn’t know. Dane had been keeping his distance from Bayleigh. In a

way he’d hoped that the less he saw her, the less it would hurt. So far the plan wasn’t working. He

felt like kids who dropped his ice cream cone on a hot summer’s day, and couldn’t get another. All

he wanted was for Bayleigh to open herself up to him—open her heart.

“Well while you contemplate your thoughts I would like to say this is why I avoid love.”

“There is nothing wrong with being in love,” Dane growled. “Especially when it’s with

Bayleigh.”

“Then why is it you look so miserable right now?” Isaac questioned.

“I said there is nothing wrong with being in love, not that it’s easy,” Dane muttered.

Isaac raised his drink. “You’re right my friend.”

Dane groaned and closed his eyes. He had never been one at a loss for words, but the past

three weeks had been tough on him. Seeing that he was at Isaac’s table on a Saturday night instead

of out with Bayleigh was solid proof.

Dane was confused about the entire set of circumstances before him. When Bayleigh walked

away from him it felt as if he had been shot in the heart. The showdown with Erwin only added to

it. He now knew there was more to the breakup then Bayleigh had told him. His blood heated to the

boiling point when Erwin called her frigid then insulted their friendship. Dane wanted to knock a

few teeth out of Erwin’s mouth. But Bayleigh had held him back. It was probably a good think in

hindsight. Erwin wasn’t worth an assault charge. Still, he wished Bayleigh had let him help her.

“Why does she have to be so damn stubborn?”

Isaac chuckled. “I thought it was one of the traits you liked about her.”

He scowled at Isaac. “You
still
aren’t helping.”

“Yes I am. You just don’t want to admit it.”

Dane frowned at the sore point. “I’m not the one who has a problem with admitting things.”

Isaac shot him a sympathetic look. “You did tell her to take her time.”

Dane sank down into his chair making a sound of frustration.

“I knew those words would come back to haunt me.”

“I hate to admit it, but you are doing the right thing by Bayleigh. You’re giving her what she

asked for so if it doesn’t turn out well, it is to no fault of your own.”

“Why won’t she let me be there for her?” Dane complained. “We can work through this

together.”

“She will when she is ready. Although I have to admit seeing you so infatuated with her is

scary.” Isaac shuddered. “Makes me wonder what I looked like when I was in love.”

Dane looked across the table at his friend. “I would have to say you handled it pretty well

because I had no idea you were even in love. Or suffering from heartbreak for that matter.”

Isaac smiled but remained silent. Dane sighed. Nothing was going the way he wanted. He

would do anything to be with Bayleigh right now. To have her sitting next to him while he held

her…comforted her. His temples began to throb. For once his patience was wearing thin. Right now

he wanted nothing more than to drive over to Bayleigh’s apartment, sit her down and make her

listen. Then again who was to say she would answer the door. To his dismay, he had no choice but

to give her the space she asked for even if it killed him.

“So what are you going to do?”

Dane shrugged, his shoulders tense. “Continue to love her— miss her. Bayleigh and I aren’t

over. I saw it in her eyes. She loves me even if she hasn’t said it. She will come back to me—back to

our relationship.”

Isaac looked at him, his expression full of empathy. “I hope you’re right because I know

what it’s like when they don’t.”

* * * *

Bayleigh inhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm of nerves fluttering in her stomach. She

was getting ready to address Dane about their relationship—their future together. If he still wanted

her in his life after the hell she was sure she had put him through the last three weeks. Trying not to

dwell on the horrible possibility she picked up her cell phone. Dialing his number she took a deep

breath, holding tight to her courage. He answered before the end of the first ring.

“Bayleigh?”

“Hi, Dane.”

“Hi.”

“I hope your parents don’t mind me interrupting your dinner but I have something

important to say.”

“No…um…hang on a sec.”

She waited while Dane muffled the phone, saying something to his family that she couldn’t

make out. A second later she heard his chair scrape the floor then his voice came back over the line.

“I won’t be long,” she promised.

“I was hoping you would be.”

Bayleigh heard the hope in his voice and had to fight back tears. She had a lot to say and she

needed to keep herself together while she said it. “Over the past five years with you, I have

discovered the true meaning of friendship between a man and a woman. We have shared so much

with each other. In the last two months I have learned stuff about dating, sex and myself that I

didn’t know before then. I now know how attraction to the right person can open you up to some

of the most wonderful experiences once could ever have. I experienced emotions and physical

desires I didn’t know existed. I found out that anything is possible with a partner who put her needs

before his own.”

Bayleigh paused to collect herself, then continued. “I now understand that relationships can

be as fun and satisfying as a friendship. Then there is love. For some people it’s an emotion, an

intimacy, which comes easily. For others it’s a struggle to deal with, accept those feelings, when they

have been hurt in the past or when it has been given with ultimatums.”

She stopped speaking to let her words sink in for a few moments. His steady breathing told

her he was still with her. Remaining silent. Listening to what she had to say. “The first time we slept

together, I freaked. Needless to say, I had never been in that situation before. So, I didn’t know what

to do or how to respond. Then you admitted your feelings for me and I panicked more. Then you

suggested we become an item. I agreed, but by then I had a whirlwind of emotions racing through

me. Feelings I tried to avoid, didn’t want to deal with. I soon realized things would never be the way

they should be, if I didn’t deal with my reservations. So I asked you for time and you gave it to me.

Which brings me to the reason I called you.”

Bayleigh took a deep shaky breath, pushing her insecurities, uncertainties and doubts aside.

Her next words would be the most important. She needed him to comprehend them, too

understand what she was trying to say. “You have always given me some of the best advice when I

needed it. What should I do when old fears get in the way of a great, new relationship?”

Bayleigh paused when her voiced threatened to break. Clearing her throat, she continued on.

“I know I’m not the only woman in the world with past hurts from a bad relationship but mine run

deep, Dane, deeper than I ever admitted to you out of fear and shame. Without noticing, I closed

off my heart, feelings, trust and faith. In the process I ended up hurting the one person who gave

me everything he had and never asked anything of me in return.”

Her voice did tremble now. She reached for her car door handle and stepped out of the car.

“How do you make it up to someone you love when you have screwed up in a major way? How do

you prove to him that you want a second chance to make the relationship work? How do you

convince him you are finally willing to meet him halfway? Most importantly, how do you prove to

him that he isn’t only your best friend, boyfriend and lover, but your best
everything
?”

Dane remained silent for so long she paused in mid-step wondering if Tasha had been right.

If she had taken too long and his patience had actually run out. When he spoke she almost collapsed

in relief.

“It’s simple, Bayleigh. Just be honest and tell him.”

Her pulse began to race and the ache in her heart began to grow. As it always was with

Dane, she could hear the tenderness, understanding, and affection for her in his voice. Bayleigh

knew right then, he still wanted her despite her stupid obsession with avoidance. He still cared for

her. She exhaled shakily. “You’ve always had the best advice.”

“It’s the truth. You have taken a big step tonight, Bayleigh, but there is something I still need

to hear.” Dane paused. “Tell me what’s in your heart.”

Bayleigh stopped walking and squeezed her eyes shut. This was a life changing decision. It

was a moment she wanted to share with no one else. For the first time in a long time she trusted

someone with her heart. She responded to him openly. “I hate that I pushed you away. I regret

hurting you. I’m sorry I doubted you.”

“Do you want me back in your life?” he asked.

Bayleigh smiled. “I realize now, I never wanted you out of it.”

“Do you believe in us?” he asked, his voice husky with emotion.

Oh yes.

“I believe in your support, your encouragement, and the way you know me better than I

know myself at times. I believe you are willing to be patient with me if I get scared and remind me

that fear is normal. I also believe you will continue to be there for me like you always have been.

Yes, Dane, I believe in us.”

“Am I the kind of man you could love?”

Tears gathered in her eyes as she raised her hand to ring the doorbell in front of her. “Yes,

Dane, I
love
you. I now know I always have and I plan to show you.”

“When?” he rasped.

The front door swung open and Bayleigh smiled at Iris, through her tears. Bayleigh walked

in the direction Dane’s mother pointed her in. She stopped a few steps later.

“Starting now,” she whispered, while disconnecting the call.

Dane turned to face her, a mixture of shock and astonishment coloring his expression.

Disbelief settled onto his face as he slipped his own phone into his pocket. He stepped toward her

closing the distance between them. Bayleigh sighed when he pulled her into his arms before

lowering his mouth to hers.

His kiss was long, slow and deep. Dane pressed his aroused body against hers and she

welcomed the familiar feel. She slumped against him lost in the spark of his kiss, the warmness of

his touch. He was hers and if she had anything to with it he always would be. Someone behind them

cleared their throat and she heard a giggle or two. Dane finally let her up for air and she saw his

family was behind them. However his eyes never left hers.

“Your family is watching,” she whispered.

Dane grinned. “I know and you might want to get used to it. You know how nosey they

are,” he murmured.

She laughed and he brought his hands up to frame her face. “I love you, Bayleigh.”

Looking deep into his eyes she smiled. “And I love you, Dane .”

“Good, because I plan to hold you to that for a lifetime.”

Dane lifted her up into his arms, sealing his words with a long, lingering kiss—a promise of

the adventures to come.

The End

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephanie Morris enjoys creating a story that combines a sensual energy with a captivating

storyline. Sometimes her heroines have an edgier persona to them and sometimes they are of a

softer essence. But all the time, her heroines are like real women, just trying to make a living and

keep on going no matter what challenges life brings them. In Stephanie’s opinion, there is nothing

like curling up with a good book that you can’t put down, and she is addicted to writing them.

http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com

And Coming Soon

The second book in the

It Happened One Night series

Best Kept Secret

Two years ago, Maylea “Lea” Ogawa made the worst mistake of her life. To her

mortification the sole person that witnessed it is her co-worker and pain in her backside, Knole

Driscoll. However, after the pact she makes with three of her best friends, Maylea is determined

to leave the past behind. Accepting a new promotion at work seems to be a good way to start.

The problem is she will have to work closely with Knole, and the man is a distraction—a drop

dead gorgeous, sexy-as-sin distraction.

Knole Driscoll can’t get Maylea Ogawa out of his head. Not since that one night that

happened between them two years ago. He saw a side of Maylea he never knew existed. A side

of her that he wants to get to know better. If only he could get her to take his proposition

seriously. When he and Maylea are paired together for a two-week work related road trip, he sees

his chance. Now all he has to do is show Maylea that what’s occurring between the two of them