Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
As soon as Thatch was done, he came over to us and smiled. Like it was the most natural thing in the world, he slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me close as he lowered his mouth to my ear. A chill ran up my spine as he whispered, “Do you ever do what you’re told?”
“Guess that depends on what I’m being told.”
I glanced over at Mia, and she looked positively heartbroken as she stood watching us together. I still had no idea why she’d come here to see Thatch, but it was clear some things needed to be said between them. I leaned into Thatch and closed my eyes. It was just for a moment—just long enough to soak him in, then I gazed up at him and said, “Cat and I should get going.”
“What?”
“It’s getting late, and I need to get Cat home.”
“No,” Mia interjected. “I’m the one who should go. I’ve intruded enough.”
“You’ve been great. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you, but you came here tonight to see Thatch. I’m sure you have things to discuss with him.” I wasn’t exactly lying when I said, “Besides, Cat has a skating party tomorrow with her friends, and I don’t want her to be tired and all that.”
“You’re really gonna go?” Thatch asked, sounding surprised.
“It’s not that I want to.” My eyes skirted over to Mia and then back to him. “But I need to. You know I do.”
“All right.” He studied me for a moment, then said, “I don’t like it, but if you gotta go, then you gotta go.”
I gathered up Cat and her new dolls and then Thatch followed us both to the door. I gave her hand a little tug and said, “Say thank you to Thatch for your gift and your nice dinner.”
“Thank you, Thatch.”
“You’re welcome, kiddo.”
I could feel Mia watching us from the kitchen as I eased up on my tiptoes and quickly kissed him. “Thank you for everything. It was very sweet of you.”
“Well, I had ulterior motives, but ...” He snickered, then kissed me once more. “Maybe some other time.”
“Hopefully, that’ll be sooner than later.” I smiled warmly. “Bye, Thatch.”
“Bye, babe.”
I raised my hand and waved at Mia. “Bye, Mia.”
“Bye, Rebecca. Drive home safely.”
“Will do.”
With that, I led Cat out to the car, and we both got inside and buckled up. As much as I didn’t want to leave, I put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway, leaving Thatch alone with another woman—something I never thought I’d do—and wouldn’t have with any other man.
I knew Thatch was different.
I could trust him—with my safety, my daughter, and most of all, with my heart—which was one of the many reasons I’d fallen in love with him. I just hoped he felt the same way about me.
17
VIPER
“Why did you come here tonight?”
“I came to tell you that I’m moving.” She slightly shrugged, then sighed. “I guess there was a piece of me that hoped when you heard that I was leaving you’d try and talk me out of it, that you’d reconsider things between you and me, but then I saw you with Rebecca. I remember a time when you looked at me the way you look at her. Right now, that seems like a lifetime ago …”
Her voice trailed off for a moment, and then she looked up at me with a soul-searching stare. “Anyway, seeing you together made me realize I was hoping for something that wasn’t going to happen. Or am I wrong about that?”
“No, Mia. You’re not wrong.” I didn’t want a life with Mia, not anymore, but that didn’t mean I didn’t care about her. I cared a great deal. “Where ya going?”
“Not far. Just back to Murfreesboro.” There was a hopeful tone to her voice as she continued, “I’m going into business with an old sorority sister of mine. She’s got the cutest little bakery in town, and she’s offered to let me partner with her.”
“All right, that sounds good.” I crossed my arms as I leaned against the back of the sofa. “What does Camden have to say about it?”
“Actually, he’s been very supportive about the whole thing. Not that he has much choice in the matter,” she scoffed. “I told him right off the bat that I was leaving him and that I wanted a divorce.”
“And how’d he take it?”
“He wasn’t exactly surprised. I mean, seriously. After everything he’d done, he had to know it was coming, but overall he was amicable. Pretty much exactly the way you’d expect Camden to be. He offered to give me the house, the car, and whatever else I could possibly want. He never did get it.” Her eyes met mine. “I liked having nice things, but I liked feeling loved more.”
“I get that.”