Come Home to Me Read Online Free Page A

right. He hadn’t been the best for Presley. But he’d never hurt her intentionally. And he wasn’t the same person he used to be. Why did they think only she could change?
    When Cheyenne grabbed a sweater off the hall tree instead of following him toward the living room, he stopped. “Where are you going?”
    “Nowhere.” She waved a hand. “I’m just taking Wyatt for a walk.”
    “It’s cold and dark.” It had also been raining an hour ago and could rain again. Spring usually came early in Gold Country, but the first week of March had been a week of full winter.
    “We won’t go far.”
    A dark-headed little boy toddled out of the living room, holding a rubber block, the corner of which he had stuffed in his mouth.
    “This must be Wyatt.”
    There was another pause on Cheyenne’s part, but he understood why. She didn’t want anything, or any one, to come between Presley and her recovery, and that included him. “Yeah. That’s Wyatt, her pride and joy.”
    It was motherhood that’d changed Presley. Aaron felt certain of it.
    Wyatt stared up at Aaron with round eyes the color of melted chocolate—just like his mom’s.
    “Cute little bugger,” he said. “Seems big for his age. Kind of surprising coming from a half-pint like Pres.”
    “Presley says his father was tall.” Cheyenne moved as if she planned to sweep the baby into her arms and head outside, but Aaron was closer and stooped to pick him up before she could.
    “Hey, you,” he said. “What a chunk you are. Doesn’t look like you’ve ever missed a meal.”
    The baby pulled the block out of his mouth and gave him a gummy smile that revealed several Mini-Chiclet teeth. “Ma-ma-ma!” he chanted, hitting the block with his free hand.
    Aaron shifted his attention to Cheyenne. “Doesn’t seem to be afraid of strangers.”
    “No. He’s a happy, trusting little guy.”
    When Aaron used the baby’s own fist to tap his nose, Wyatt gave an infectious belly laugh and tried to shove his toy into Aaron’s mouth.
    “That’s okay, dude,” Aaron said, twisting his head. “That block’s got more than enough spit on it already.”
    “Aaron? That you?” Dylan called, and Aaron let Cheyenne take the baby.
    “Yeah, it’s me.”
    “How’d it go in Reno? You find the right location?”
    Aaron walked into the living room to see Dylan sprawled on the couch, his hair wet. He’d worked late and must’ve just showered. They were slammed with business, which was another reason Aaron thought it was time to open a franchise. “Nothing I’m in love with. I’m considering Placerville instead.”
    “I wouldn’t go there.”
    “It’s closer, only forty miles away.”
    “But it’s a smaller market. When’d you get back?”
    Aaron fell into one of two leather side chairs and propped his feet on the coffee table. The L.A. Lakers were playing the Miami Heat, and it looked like a close game. “Couple of hours ago. I promised Mr. Nunes if he gave us another day to finish his Land Rover I’d get Ted’s new book autographed for him.”
    Dylan sat up. “You went to the signing?”
    “For a few minutes.” He hadn’t gotten the book. The line had been too long. Then he’d spoken to Presley and ended up walking out. But he could go over to Ted’s later and pick up a copy.
    “How’d it go?” his brother asked.
    Why did Aaron get the feeling that this was a loaded question? Was there some underlying concern about him attending the book signing? “Fine. Why wouldn’t it?”
    His brother forwarded through a commercial break. “No reason.”
    “Because Presley was there?”
    “Chey’s been nervous about the two of you running into each other,” he explained.
    “Why?” Aaron asked. “What’s going on? Everyone’s acting as if we should be enemies. As if I’ll do something terrible if I get the chance. But I’ve never mistreated Presley. I mean...I wasn’t always as nice as I could’ve been, but I was never seriously out of line. We were