Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
“And she landed in Switzerland.” It’s so ridiculous I have to laugh. “I guess you can afford to do that when you conveniently forget you have a kid, even if I was adopted.”
“I’m sorry this had to happen. Did you talk to her?”
“Oh, yeah. She knows exactly how I feel now.” Does she ever. In fact, part of me wishes I could’ve said more to her, but I was angry, so upset.
“That’s a good thing. You deserved that chance to tell her how you felt about her disappearing. And now you know she is alive and well. I know that weighed on you.”
“But did she have to look so well without me?”
He sighs. “I know. It’s not easy imagining her jet-setting around the world like that.”
“It’s like she just forgot. How could she do that unless she never loved me at all, which would make total sense.”
“You know feelings and things like that aren’t my forte, but I do know some things about the world. And I’m pretty sure her running around and living her life now has nothing to do with the way she felt about you. You don’t raise a child all those years and then stop caring about them overnight. Don’t put that on yourself.”
I frown. “We were having such a good time, too.”
“Don’t let this ruin anything. You deserve to have fun. Your holiday shouldn’t be ruined because of her.”
I know he’s right, but that’s harder than you’d think. “I’ll do my best. Thanks for talking with me.”
“Hey. I wasn’t able to be there for you all those years before, but I’m here now. You need anything else, just let me know.” I promise I will before ending the call and taking a big, deep breath.
Now I’m sorry for running out of the store the way I did. I owe Q more than that. He’s probably looking for me, too. Pretty soon, I bet there’ll be sirens going off somewhere and police swarming the village. The idea would make me smile if it wasn’t so realistic. Maybe not for most people, but definitely for somebody like Quinton. He makes being possessive and protective a full-time job. One minute out of his presence, and he’s having a panic attack.
I start for the lodge. My feet are heavy, but I force myself through one step after another. The dread that spreads through me when I imagine running into her at the lodge is almost enough to stop me in my tracks, but I push through it. I vow that I’ll handle it better if I see her again. I can only hope I don’t dissolve into tears and beg her to explain when she stopped loving me and why if that time comes.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Quinton
She’s not in the suite.
I expected her to be there when I returned to the lodge, but the room was empty. Where else would she be?
By the time I make it back down to the lobby, I’m seeing red. What a way to ruin what was otherwise a perfect holiday. It’s a shame that bitch was left alive now that I’ve seen what her presence has done to Aspen.
I know her. She wouldn’t do anything drastic. It’s just the thought of her being alone, even in a beautiful place like this, when she feels the way she does that threatens to tear my heart from my chest. She’s alone and probably hurting, and I want to stop that hurt. I have to. I made a promise long ago that I’d never let anyone hurt her again, and I’m half tempted to go murder her adoptive mom and bring her still beating heart to Aspen as an offering of forgiveness, but of course, I can’t do that.
I’m about to approach the concierge desk and see what can be done about locating her when I spot her entering through the main doors across the lobby. I’m almost weak with relief as I charge across the crowded space and gather her up in my arms. “You scared the fuck out of me.” I hold her tighter to my chest, pressing my nose against her head, breathing her unique floral scent into my lungs. “Don’t do that to me again. I almost committed murder and burned the entire place to the ground.”
“I’m sorry. I had to get away from her.” She pulls back, and it’s clear she’s been crying. Her pretty green eyes are puffy and red. “And I called Lucas. That’s what took me so long. I had to know if he knew, which thankfully, he said he didn’t.”
“I believe him.” Lucas spent copious hours searching for her adoptive mom. He wouldn’t have wasted all that time only to turn around and know where she was the whole time.
“Oh, Aspen!” A woman’s voice pierces my ears. “It’s good to see you again! I wanted to introduce you to—” I shoot a puzzled expression toward a brunette holding the hand of a tall man who scowls once he catches sight of my wife.