Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
The truth was, I had feelings for her that weren’t just going to go away when our marriage was no longer necessary. But something was holding me back from admitting that to her.
Rising from the chair, I wandered to the window and looked out. The chairlift taunted me, silent and still. Lexi had taken it up with the contractors several times, always making an excuse for me that hid the real reason I couldn’t go up.
I looked down at my hand and twisted the ring around my finger. Funny how used to it I’d gotten. I took it off and studied the plain gold band. The inscription on the inside.
Beloved.
I pictured us walking down that Vegas avenue looking for a quickie wedding chapel. Lexi in my Two Buckleys sweatshirt. Me in my jeans and ball cap. I remembered how she’d told me this wasn’t her real wedding. Someday she was going to descend the staircase at Snowberry wearing a white dress and her grandmother’s veil, and speak her vows in front of all the people that mattered to her.
I wouldn’t be there.
Because I was a leaver.
Wasn’t I?
When I left the office a couple hours later, I ran into Tabitha in the hallway outside the employee break room.
“Look at you working late on a Friday,” she cooed.
“Hey, Tabitha,” I said. In my opinion, Lexi’s cousin continued to act like a spoiled brat, but for Lexi’s sake, I was always friendly. I tried to imagine that little girl on her grandfather’s lap. “How’s it going with plans for the spa?”
“Great.” Her smile was more of a smirk. “Coming along just fine.”
“Good. I hear you’re going to join us for Thanksgiving at my dad’s house.”
“Yes.” She shook the ice in her plastic cup. “Any chance your brother Dash will be there?”
“I doubt it. He doesn’t get home too often, but I’ll ask.”
“Are you guys close?”
“We were close growing up. It’s harder now, living across the country.”
“Mm.” She took a sip from her straw. “If you get that job in Santa Monica, you’ll see him more. That will be nice.”
I froze. How did she know about the interview in Santa Monica? Lexi and I had agreed not to say anything about it. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Oh, come on, Devlin.” She gave me a poke on the shoulder. “You can be real with me. Gran might be fooled by this whole marriage scam, but I’m not. You married Lexi so she could inherit. You’re not actually in love with her. And you’re not going to stick around.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Believe me, I know all about guys who get married and don’t stick around. You’re telling me you didn’t have a job interview last week in California? Because my source says you did.”
“And who is your source?” I asked, although I already knew.
“Does it matter?”
“What did Bob Oliver promise you?” I hitched my laptop bag higher on my shoulder. Shifted my weight to one foot as I appraised her.
“I only want what I’m owed, Devlin.”
“And how is Bob Oliver going to get you anything? The sale to Black Diamond didn’t happen.”
“Yet,” she said, a gleam in her icy blue eyes.
“It won’t ever happen. Lexi’s marriage enabled her to inherit. Us to inherit,” I corrected.
“I know. Well done you.” She patted my chest three times. “I just hope you guys can keep this up.”
“Keep what up? What’s that mean?”
She sucked on her straw again, then smiled. “Guess we’ll find out. See you around.”
Turning around, she ambled off down the hallway and out the back door.
What the fuck?
“I think we just have to ignore her,” Lexi said that night during dinner. “She’s trying to get a rise out of us, maybe scare us into paying her off.”
“I could fucking pummel Bob Oliver,” I seethed, cutting my steak with more force than necessary.
“You already did that.”
“I enjoyed it. I’d do it again.”
“It’s not necessary.” Lexi’s voice was soothing. “He’s just pissed that you won. So he knows about the interview—big deal.”
“But if your grandmother finds out about it—”
“I’ll talk to Tabitha, okay?” She reached over and patted my arm. “Let me try just leveling with her. Sometimes that works.”
“Okay,” I grumbled.
“She can be awful—believe me, I know—but she can also be nice. Not all my childhood memories of her are bad.” Lexi picked up her wine glass and took a sip. “There’s a heart in her somewhere.”
“Fine. I’ll let you talk to Tabitha instead of beating Bob Oliver’s ass again.” I put down my fork and picked up my beer, taking a long swallow.
“Thank you.” Then she laughed. “Hey, this is kind of funny. I’m talking you down from your feelings. You must be rubbing off on me.”
“I do love rubbing off on you.”
That earned me an eye roll. “You’re such a boy sometimes. Can’t you just let me have a nice moment? I’m trying to tell you that you’ve been good for me.”