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“I will.” I smooth my hand up her back, her skin so fucking soft beneath my palm. Wrapping my hand around the back of her neck under her hair, I slide my free hand up along the silky material covering her side. Up close, I can see the glimmer of shadow she put on her eyelids, the dusting of blush on her cheeks, and the stain of color on her full lips. Nothing hides the freckles I’ve grown obsessed with.
Lowering my mouth to hers as she starts to lift on her toes, I stop when I hear her cell phone ring—something it rarely does, and not because it’s constantly on silent like my own.
“That might be Kandi.” Her fingers dig into my sides.
I don’t kiss her like I want to. Instead, I brush my mouth over hers, then let her go and follow her into the bedroom. When she grabs her phone from the top of the dresser, I can see her expression change to one filled with unease before she clicks the button on the side, silencing the call.
“Who was it?”
Her eyes come to me. “Tyler.”
“Your ex?”
“Yeah.”
Ignoring the jealousy that wraps around my throat, I grab my shirt and shrug it on. “You don’t want to talk to him?”
“The last time I took his call, he was drunk and wanted to explain all the reasons I ruined his life. That talk didn’t go too well.”
“Why did things end between you two?”
“Because he told me that if I left to take this trip, we were done. He obviously didn’t think I would call his bluff, and he clearly didn’t realize an ultimatum would just push me further away.” Picking up a slim green bag that was brought up with the dresses and shoes, she tucks her cell phone inside. “But hindsight is always twenty-twenty, and looking back, I can see there was a multitude of reasons between us that had us ending. Me leaving was just one of them.”
She looks at me as I slide my belt through the loops of my pants, then continues, “The truth is, I shouldn’t have agreed to marry him in the first place. Especially when one of the biggest reasons I did was because I knew my mom was worried about what would happen to me after she was gone, and saying yes to him would give her a sense of relief. Which it did. It was one less thing for her to worry about.”
She studies me for a long moment, then asks softly, “Have you ever had a serious relationship?”
“I had someone in my life on and off for years, but that’s a conversation for another time.”
She doesn’t push for an explanation, which is good, because I’m not ready to explain Molly to her. Not yet. After putting on my shoes, I grab my cell to check the time and find a text from Jace waiting for me. Judging by the time, he and Penny should be here any minute.
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah.” She picks up the clutch, and I take her hand. When we reach the area downstairs where the restaurant is located, I spot Jace immediately. Like me, he stands a foot taller than most of the people around, and his tattoos are visible with the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up. My eyes go from him to the woman tucked protectively under his arm. Her head is tipped back as he talks to her, saying something that’s making her smile.
As we get closer, his head turns our way, and he grins. “Roman.”
“Jace.” I don’t let Elora go as he wraps one arm around me, bumping his chest against mine. “It’s been a long time.”
“Too fucking long.” He looks from me to the woman I curl into my side. “You must be Elora.”
“I am. Nice to meet you.” She takes his outstretched hand.
“You too.” He jerks up his chin, then dips it down to his woman. “This is my wife, Penny, and our daughter.” I watch him move his hand to Penny’s stomach.
“Or son.” She rolls her eyes at him, then looks at me. “It’s nice to finally meet you two.”
“You too, and congratulations,” Elora says softly.
“Thanks.” Penny smiles, covering her husband’s hand with her own.
“Should we go in and get our table?” Jace asks, looking toward the podium inside the restaurant.
“Yeah.” I slide my hand from where it’s wrapped around Elora’s hip and take her hand.
When we’re seated a few minutes later, Jace’s eyes meet mine from across the table. “I know I told you over the phone, but I’m really fucking sorry about Val. He was a good guy.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, feeling Elora move her hand to my thigh, and the tension that had instantly wrapped around me at the mention of Val loosens.
