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“That’s too bad, because once he’s done with you, he’ll leave and he won’t look back,” Dina said, waving her off.
“Actually… he’s asked me to move with him to New York.”
Dina’s eyes widened, then she blinked. Then, with a shake of her head, she sighed. “Are you that dumb, Natalie? You’re going to leave your life here behind, go to New York with him, then what? When he doesn’t want you anymore, and you’re in a strange place, all by yourself.”
“I…”
“Did he ask you to marry him?”
“No,” Natalie said in a small voice. Could she lie? He had asked her to go with him, but hadn’t offered that type of commitment.
“Then you’re traveling across the country to be his shack-up honey? Why don’t you think he’s offered anything more concrete for you?” Dina asked, with a touch of concern in her voice.
Crap. She wished Dina’s point didn’t ring in her ears so loud, and so quickly. “Because you can’t touch love. Just feel it.”
Dina sighed. “Well, good luck with that, sweetheart. He didn’t think twice before leaving his wife and child, why would he be any more honorable to you?”
“And isn’t it funny that with all his terrible flaws, you still wanted him?” Natalie said, regretting the words a second too late. She never expected Dina to take the news well, but she didn’t need to snap back either.
She walked toward Dina ready to apologize, when Dina clamped her lips and, rightfully so, scolded her. “Go home, Natalie. We’re done here.”
* * *
Natalie opened the door,then closed it behind her. No sign of Vincent around. He’d told her he’d gone to the hardware store. Funny how she could tell when he was home or not, without seeing him—she felt his presence, his manly scent, the decisive way he strode across the floor.
She headed for the bathroom, took off her clothes and took a long, warm shower. Tears streamed down her face. Hurting Dina had sucked, but she couldn’t blame her mother-in-law for what she’d said either. What guarantee did she have that Vincent wouldn’t leave her when he grew tired of her?
Natalie had thought during the weeks they’d shared together, she’d come to know him—to fall for him. Maybe she hadn’t left Suarez because she needed that push, that fire under her ass. It wasn’t about being rescued, but having a partner to share that big moment of her life. Could she trust him enough to say good-bye to life as she knew it and move across the country?
When she heard him downstairs, she stepped out of the shower, wrapped herself in a robe, tying the knot at her waist. She opened the closet, and motioned to grab the first piece of clothing she found.
“Hey,” he said, walking into the room. She almost jumped.
She closed the closet door and turned to him.
Vincent slowly walked up to her, as a smile formed on his lips and sparks lit his eyes. “Hey.”
She stood a little straighter. “Vincent, we need to talk,” she said, fumbling with her knot. “I talked to Dina today, and I had to tell her about us,” she said, adamant about protecting what Dina had told her about getting back together with Vincent. Even if Dina didn’t want to see her anymore, she owned it to her. She’d take the secret to her grave.
He shrugged. “Figured. Did she go all nutty on you?”
“A little bit. I’ve been thinking though. I don’t think I can go to New York with you.”
