Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“Let’s not forget about all the benefits you’ve reaped with this marriage,” she rebukes mildly. “Your education has been paid for and you drive an expensive car most kids your age could only dream about.” Her blue gray eyes turn stormy. “You have no idea what it’s like to hustle for a couple bucks.”
Those comments are like a punch to the gut because she’s not wrong.
“The love I have for Crawford has nothing to do with the monetary things he provides for me,” I whisper, needing her to understand that we’re not the same. I would never stick around for someone’s money. “He’s been a wonderful father. The only one I’ve ever known. He’s kindhearted and dependable.”
“Yeah, and his bank account certainly doesn’t hurt either,” she says before downing her margarita in one thirsty gulp.
“I don’t love him because of his money,” I grit between clenched teeth.
“Oh, Carina,” she says with a weary sigh before her expression turns sympathetic. “You really need to stop deluding yourself. Everything has to do with money. Everything. Money is what makes the world go around and Crawford has more than Midas.” She angles herself closer as her voice sobers and she drops the pampered princess act. “If you had any brains whatsoever, you’d sleep with Ford and get pregnant. Then he’d have no other choice but to marry you. Or, at the very least, support you in a comfortable manner for the next two decades. One day in the not-too-distant future, he’ll inherit a multi-million-dollar company. It would be a mistake to let that slip through your fingers.”
Her calculated plans curdle the contents of my stomach.
Is that what she did?
Got knocked up in an attempt to force someone to take care of her?
Except…it didn’t work out that way. My father took off before I was even born.
The little bit of enchilada I’ve managed to choke down threatens to make an unexpected appearance.
Heat floods my cheeks. “How can you say that? Ford is like a brother to me.” I wince as the lie slips easily from my lips.
She blinks as if she doesn’t understand why I’m getting so upset. “What? You know damn well that someone will snap him right up. Might as well be you. It probably wouldn’t even be that hard. He’s always had a soft spot for you.”
“No, he hasn’t,” I mumble, only wanting to put an end to this disturbing conversation.
“You need to be smart, Carina. Think about your future. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
I’ve always suspected that this was how Pamela operated, but to hear the words fall so bluntly from her lips disgusts me.
When I remain silent, she picks up the fajita and takes a dainty bite. “Eat up, darling. It’s really quite delicious.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Carina
“Are you sure we can’t cancel dinner tonight?” I ask as Ford pulls the Corvette into the long stretch of weathered brick drive.
He flicks a confused glance my way before throwing the car into park and cutting the engine. A sprinkle of rain hits the windshield. In one swift movement, he swivels in his seat so we’re facing each other before reaching out and stroking gentle fingers along the curve of my cheek. In a matter of weeks, sinking into his touch has become second nature.
My gaze reluctantly settles on Pamela’s shiny new Audi parked near the garage. The knowledge that she’s just using him for expensive gifts makes me sick to my stomach. It’s mortifying to realize that all of the people who whispered about her being a gold digger behind her back were correct.
That’s exactly what she is.
And she makes no bones about it.
One of these days, Crawford will wake up and see Pamela for the conniving woman she really is. He’ll realize that she never cared about him.
Then what will happen?
Fresh nerves explode inside me as the question circles viciously through my brain.
Will he kick me out of his life?
I’m not concerned about the money.
What terrifies me most is that I’ll lose the one person who has always been there for me. I’ll lose that stability.
And I’ll end up losing Ford.
“Carina?”
It’s only when his soft voice penetrates the thick haze clouding my brain that my attention snaps back to him. He searches my eyes for a long moment as if he’s capable of picking through my private thoughts.
I force my lips into a smile. “Sorry. Guess I spaced out for a second.”
“It seems like something’s bothering you. Why won’t you tell me what it is?”
“There’s nothing.” Even though I hate lying to him, the fib slips easily off my tongue. There’s no way I can admit that my mother is just using his father. “I’m just thinking about the test I need to study for. It’ll probably take me a couple of hours.”
“Does that mean I can’t crash at your place tonight?”
The growled-out question makes my panties dampen with need.