Seduced The Unexpected Virgin - By Emily McKay Page 0,60
one. Not a cheesy one like your others.”
“First I sound like a sleazebag, and now my songs are cheesy?” Why was he even talking to this kid? “Wait a second. I thought you hadn’t heard any of my music.”
Ricky shrugged. “I downloaded some of your songs.”
“You didn’t even pay for them? You’re insulting my music and you didn’t even—”
“Hey, I paid for them. My grandparents gave me an iTunes gift card for Christmas. I’m poor. I’m not a thief.”
Mollified—just slightly—Ward pressed, “But you thought they were cheesy.”
“I guess you play guitar pretty good.”
“Yeah,” he said drily. “I guess.”
It was a good thing he had those multiple walls full of platinum albums to fall back on, because this kid was kicking his ego’s butt.
“I just thought your lyrics were… I don’t know. Sappy.” Ricky studied him with his head tilted to the side. “Do chicks usually dig that?”
“Yes. They usually do.”
“Maybe you’ve been dating the wrong kind of girl.”
Ward blew out a long breath. The kid had sure said a mouthful there. “This is crazy. I’m not going to take romantic advice from a kid.”
“Whatever.” Ricky gave another little shrug. “But I’ve known her longer.”
“Okay, then. What’s your point?”
Ricky leaned forward, gesturing sharply. “A woman like Ana, she’s tough, man. She’s not gonna fall for some guy just ’cause he’s smooth. She’s too smart for that.”
“Okay, mister fourteen-year-old-expert-on-women, what do you suggest?”
Ricky held up his palms in a sign of innocence. “Hey, I’ve lived with a single mother my whole life. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve seen The Notebook?”
That was actually a good point. Ward lowered himself into the chair opposite Ricky. “So what do you suggest?” he asked seriously. And then mentally kicked himself. Because if he was legitimately going to follow the advice of a fourteen-year-old boy, the situation was truly desperate. And then he realized, desperate or not, he loved Ana and she was worth fighting for.
“All I know is that at the end of the movie, Rachel McAdams doesn’t end up with the rich, charming guy. She ends up with the guy who really loves her.”
Well, that was the kicker, wasn’t it? Ward sat back in his chair.
“I do really love her,” Ward mused aloud. “But she sees through all my tricks.”
Ricky gave him a well-duh look. “You don’t use a trick.”
The most obvious solution, but also the most painful. And still a long shot.
Thirteen
Part of her expected Ward to show up again on her doorstep. Or at least come into the office. But when one hour passed and then another, she realized she had to accept a grim reality. She’d asked him to leave and he’d taken her at her word.
It didn’t matter that she knew she’d made the smart choice. It didn’t matter that she knew their relationship had come to its logical end. Her heart still ached for what might have been.
No. Not even that. Her heart ached for what she imagined might be possible.
The honest truth was, she’d known going into it that they had no future. She’d known he still loved Cara. She’d simply let herself ignore the obvious. For a little while.
Of course she couldn’t bring herself to regret anything she’d done. She’d gained too much by knowing him. Obviously, there was the mind-blowing passion to consider. But even more, there was the insight into herself.
She felt as though she’d barely known herself until now.
Ward, for all his flaws—if loving his wife could truly be a flaw—had seen her more truly than she’d ever seen herself. He’d pointed out the lies she’d told herself to hide her deepest fears. And if she loved him at all, then the least she could do was respect the memory of their relationship enough to honor that.
Which was how she ended up parked on the street outside of Lena’s house just before noon. Just in time to see Ward leaving. She’d recognized his Lexus parked on the curb and so had parked her own sedan a few doors down, crouched low in her seat and waited.
Biting down on her lower lip and cupping her hand beside her sunglasses, she watched as Ward shook hands with Ricky. He gave the boy an attaboy slap to the arm. Then Ward walked out to his car, climbed in and drove away without even glancing in her direction. Which she supposed was to be expected. It was a miracle he’d ever glanced in her direction to begin with.
She waited five minutes to make sure he