AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Can you forgive me, babe?” he said. “I never meant to stray. It was just the stress of what I’m going through. I can hardly function.”
He hadn’t looked as though he was too stressed last night.
“Maybe you’d rather be with her,” she said woodenly. “Have you asked yourself that? It might be she’s a better fit.”
“No! God, no,” he said. “You’re the one for me. I know I could never find a better person to share my life with, to start a family with.”
Once again, she thought of how excited she was every time she saw Bo. That was a form of cheating, too. She could forgive Remy, couldn’t she? They’d have to forgive each other. Except...she couldn’t tell him that she was attracted to Bo. If she did, Bo could lose his job. Remy wouldn’t want him around anymore, especially if he couldn’t be on the island to defend what he believed was his.
Considering what Remy had done, she hadn’t done enough to worry about confessing, she decided. But before she could even suggest that she might be able to get beyond this, she needed to know that what she’d found in his closet wasn’t anything to worry about. Shehadto have that reassurance. “There’s something else,” she said.
“What is it?” he asked right away.
“The night of the storm? That first night?”
“Yes...”
“I found something hidden in the wall of your closet.”
“Did you sayin the wall of my closet?” he repeated incredulously.
“Yes.” She drew a shaky breath. “The power was out, so I was looking for some matches. There was nothing on the shelf except an old notebook of your drawings. But then I felt something unexpected—a loose board—and when I pulled it away, I discovered a duffel bag filled with women’s panties, some cheap women’s jewelry, and a picture of Lyssa Helberg.”
“No way.”
“You think I’d make that up?”
“I guess not, but... I have no idea what you’re talking about. I didn’t even know there was a loose board up there, let alone put that stuff in the wall.”
Was he telling the truth? Could she convince herself to believe him?
“And how doyouknow Lyssa?” he added.
“I was curious about who she could be so I did a little digging,” she replied. “I also learned you were at the party the night she died.”
“I knew her, but... I’m speechless, have no idea where that stuff could’ve come from.”
“You didn’t put it there—”
“Of course not!”
“Who else could’ve done it?”
“Honest to God, Bastian is the only one I can think of. He loved Lyssa. He’s never gotten over her. But... I’m not sure what the underwear could mean. Maybe they were hers?”
“I doubt it. They’re different sizes and styles,” she pointed out.
“Then I don’t know what to say.”
She let her head fall into her free hand.Damn it!This was exactly what she’d been afraid of—that telling him would only introduce more doubt. Was he playing dumb? Could she freaking trust him?
“Babe, I know you must be hurt. But I promise you, things will be different when I get there. I’ll make it up to you, prove my love. Just...just hang on that long, okay?”
Another tear slid down her cheek.
“Will you answer me?” he said.
She was staying in his family’s cottage. And now she had her brother on Mariners with her. It wasn’t as if she could just buy a ticket and fly home. She had to be here for Jack. And what she’d had with Remy was at least worth digging through the embers to see if the flame was really dead, wasn’t it?
