AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His kiss was my answer. Things were going back to normal—whatever that was. We needed more time to get settled, established. Based on his reaction to this news, this weekend would be too early to tell him what I actually had done. I needed him to trust me more before I could apologize for how I’d hurt him. I needed to be sure he’d believe how truly sorry I was.
Leaving his office with a flush in my cheeks from the kiss, I realized I’d just been on the receiving end of a rush to judgment, and it sure sucked. I’d have to admit I’d done the same to him, and that wasn’t going to be easy.
Leaving him behind was my other alternative, but he was too good to walk away from, and after what we’d shared, the guilt would eat at me anyway. I needed his forgiveness, and I had to find the right words to ask for it.
* * *
Dennis
The door closed behind her.I could still feel her on my lips, but the taste in my mouth was one of regret.
She’d called me on my shit this time, just as she had before. There was no doubt this woman was different in several ways, the most important of which was her honesty in dealing with me. She was a refreshing change.
I’d wronged her, and I intended to rectify that by showing her how I felt this weekend. The first step, however, was one I had to take at the office. I opened my door.
“Please ask Ed to come up,” I told Cindy.
He arrived a few minutes later. “What can I do for you?” he asked as he closed the door behind him.
I asked him to take a seat, which he did.
“Is there anything else you want to tell me about Jennifer Hanley? Anything else I should know in relation to the report you gave me about her meeting with somebody from Cartwright?”
His eyes flashed fear. “I don’t know what you mean.”
I spoke slowly so there would be no misunderstanding. “Did you date her?”
He swallowed and nodded. “For a while.”
“And you didn’t think that was relevant?”
He sat up straighter. “No. What I gave you was factual. Did she say she didn’t meet with the Murtog lady?”
I took in a breath. “No, but that’s not the point. Have you been texting her since you…since you stopped seeing each other?”
He nodded. “Yes, but that has nothing to do—”
“Even though she asked you to stop?”
He didn’t respond to that, but I knew the answer. It had everything to do with his accusation against Jennifer.
I pointed the door. “Next time you bring me something having to do with her, I want to be certain it doesn’t have even a hint of your personal feelings attached to it. Are we clear?”
He stood. “Perfectly.”
“Ed, I still want you putting a full-court press on this Cartwright thing. Just don’t bring me anything half-baked.”
He nodded. “Got it.” He left without another word.
Chapter 32
Jennifer
(Three Weeks Later)
Dennisand I walked back along the beach path after a late dinner Sunday night. This was our fifth weekend together, and it seemed like so long ago that I’d been surprised by the kiss in his office meant to piss off Melissa.
All had been quiet on the Melissa front since the fountain incident, and Dennis thought perhaps that night had used up a month or two of her anger. He’d also confided in me that our relationship would likely cost him in his upcoming court battle with her.
