Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Her words gut me. I lean my head against her belly and take a deep breath. “I’m a fool.”
She cuts me off by putting her hand on my chin and bringing my face up. She covers my mouth with her hand. “Don’t say that. You’re not a fool. I understand more about you now than I ever did, Beau, and even though it hurts—I won’t lie, it hurts—I understand why you did what you did. I can’t act like I know everything you went through, but I’m here, Beau, and I’m not leaving.”
I grab her hand and take it off my mouth. “I love you, Nat.” I slide up her body and kiss her lips. “It’s you and me now. You are what matters to me.”
She slides her arms around my neck and changes the subject. “So there’s something I need to tell you.”
I lie down next to her and throw a leg and arm over her and pull her so I’m cocooned all around her. “Let’s hear it.”
“Lilian invited me to Ollie’s soccer game Monday night.”
I can’t hold back my yawn. I’m starting to wear down now, but at least tonight I’ll be able to sleep since I’ll have Natalie in my arms. “Okay, sounds good. Or do you not want to go? We can do whatever you want to do.”
Her voice is unsure, and I know it’s because of our past and the way I made her feel. “Do you want me to go?”
I hold her tighter. “Yes, I want you to go. Anywhere and everywhere I go, I want you to be by my side.”
She sighs and smiles. “Okay, we’ll go together then.”
I thread our fingers together and kiss her on the forehead. “Night, wife. I love you.”
She burrows her naked body into mine. “I love you, too.”
I’ve wasted so much time, and I’ve been given a second chance. I won’t waste a second of it. From this point on, I’m doing everything I can to be exactly what Natalie needs.
Chapter 16
Natalie
“You guys, I’m not going to the sex club.”
All of my friends laugh, but Jilly is the first one to answer. “Yeah, yeah, we got it. You don’t want to go to the sex club. You’ve told us that at least ten times since we left Whiskey Run.”
Chloe chimes in. “Plus, it’s book club night. We have to save the sex club for another night when we’re not talking books.”
I turn around in my seat and look at the car full of my friends. Chloe, Jilly, Abby, and Olivia are all with me, and they are not good at hiding things. They’re up to something, and by the way they’re acting, I don’t think I’m going to like it.
“So where are we going?”
Chloe, who’s driving, looks in the rearview mirror. “Yeah, Jilly, where are we going?”
I gasp. “You’re driving. You better know where we’re going.” I turn in my seat to look at Jilly, and she’s making faces. “Jilly, where are we going?”
She scrunches up her nose. “To The Imperial.”
I put my hand on the dash and turn farther in my seat. “The Imperial? The hotel in Jasper? Why would we be going to a hotel? Oh my gosh, you guys, how do I explain this to Beau? Hey Beau, by the way I’m going to a hotel in Jasper. I’m not sure he’s going to like me hanging out in hotel restaurants.”
Jilly rolls her eyes. “Call him and tell him. If he says no, we’ll go somewhere else.”
I pull my phone from my purse. “You guys, we’re doing so well right now, I don’t want to mess it up. I need to at least tell him what we’re doing so he doesn’t think I’m keeping anything from him.”
Olivia cuts in. “Girl, are you kidding me? You don’t need to ask permission.”
I knew Olivia would give me shit. Ever since she caught her ex cheating, she’s been fed up with all men. I try to placate her. “I’m not asking for permission, but I do know that if he was having a night out at a hotel, I’d want to know. I’m just giving him the same respect I would want from him.”
I no sooner get the words out than he answers the phone. “Hey, baby.”
Shit, why didn’t I just stay home? Honestly, I forgot all about book club until Jilly called me this morning to remind me. Hearing the huskiness of his voice, I wish I had backed out. “Hey, so I just wanted to let you know that we’re having book club at The Imperial downtown.”
“Okay, baby. Have fun.”
I pull the phone back from my ear and look at it before putting it back against my ear. “Uh, you don’t mind?”
He laughs. “Why would I mind?”
Oh I don’t know, I’m scantily dressed and going to drink at a hotel. That’s what I think, but I don’t say it. “No, you’re right. You shouldn’t. I was just letting you know.”