Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 50828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
My father nods. “If it’s any consolation, when Nate drove away, he looked as if he was leaving his heart at your feet. He may have pursued you for revenge, but I don’t think payback was top of mind anymore.”
“Are you advocating for him?”
“No, but I can admit that you’re not seeing him at his best, and I’m at least partially to blame. Maybe now that this revenge business is behind you two, you’ll get to talk this out with the real Nathan Price. Then you can decide what’s best for you. I’ll support you either way.”
“I wasted six years on a man who wanted me for reasons other than love. I won’t put up with another. We’ll talk, but if I’m not enough for Nathan, then it’s time to move on.”
Even if I have to do it alone.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Nathan
Just before sunrise, I let myself in the house, juggling coffee and donuts, and praying like hell that Isabella is still here.
The minute I step inside, I know she’s gone. I can’t smell her. I can’t feel her.
Fuck. I have no idea where she spent the night or if she’s coming back. And it’s killing me.
Cursing, I set everything on the dining room table, plop into the nearest chair, and wonder where she’s gone. Even if she left the city—hell, the country—I’m not giving up on her. On us. She’s the woman I want to spend my forever with.
How do I convince her of that?
I pour myself a steaming mug and glance around my house. I bought it cheap after my divorce. Crappy place in a good neighborhood. I fixed it up, and I’ve loved living here. It’s been quiet, peaceful. A modern promise on a fresh start.
Now when I look around all I see is Isabella. I’ve gotten used to her living with me. To seeing her brush her teeth at my sink, to watching her bop to a silly pop song while she cooks, to cuddling her on the sofa with a blanket and a smile.
My sanctuary feels horribly empty now. Hell, I feel empty.
How did I fuck this up so badly? I should have changed course when I realized I was in love with her.
Suddenly, I hear the clinking of the lock. In the silence, the jingling and rustling sounds magnified. Then the door whooshes open.
My heart lurches as I leap to my feet. Isabella charges in bare-faced, dressed in leggings and a ponytail. She’s still wearing her mother’s pendant. Her ring finger is bare.
That observation guts me.
Her eyes meet mine. They’re red rimmed. I stop breathing. She looks as exhausted as I feel. But she’s more beautiful than ever, and I’m worried this is the last time I’ll ever be alone with her.
“Morning.” It’s not the wittiest greeting, but it’s neutral. I need to gage her mood before I say more.
Has she decided to divorce me?
“Morning.” She stops in the foyer, shuts the door behind her, and stands rooted, staring back.
Slowly, I approach her. I give her plenty of time to back away. I don’t want to spook her. “I’m glad to see you. Can we talk?”
Isabella hesitates, swallows, then nods. “That’s why I came.”
I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. If I didn’t already know the truth, that alone would tell me how critical my new wife has become to my heart and my happiness. But I’m painfully aware. All night, I thought of nothing but her, wondering miserably what I’d do if she couldn’t forgive me and walked out of my life for good.
“I was hoping you’d be here. I brought coffee and donuts,” I offer.
“I could use some caffeine. Jen doesn’t have any at her place, and I didn’t sleep.”
“I can tell.” I lead her to the kitchen and pour her a hot cup, trying to calm my shaking hand. “I didn’t, either.”
A soft smile lifts the corners of her lips I’m dying to kiss as she takes the cup. “I can tell.”
“Did you and Doug talk?”
She nods, then sips her java. “It was…eye-opening. He apologized, said all the things I’ve waited a decade to hear.” She shrugs. “We’ll see. One thing he told me? Julia finally decided she wanted kids, and now she can’t have them. Dad says she’s devastated. They both are.”
Once upon a time, I would have fist-bumped karma for repaying my ex-wife and my former friend with such a permanent kick in the teeth. Now I just feel sorry for them. “I figured she’d change her mind someday. She’s going to carry that regret forever. And I wish…”
“She’d realized it sooner?”
“That I could spare her the pain. I lived it for the last half of my thirties, the deep ache for a family of my own. I still have a shot. Maybe someday it will happen for me… But Julia—”