Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Hardly,” he said disdainfully, taking another sip of his water before walking away toward some of his cousins, who were yelling at him over the music.
Watching Sam, I saw that he was nodding and smiling even as he’d let go of Hannah’s hand and now had his arm around her shoulders as she leaned into his side.
“This is just like your wedding,” I said to Beverly, turning to her. “You were worried then that Amanda would steal Michael from you, and you were worried now that the same thing could happen even after all the years you’ve spent with the man.”
She took a breath. “He slept with other people when we were separated.”
“I know, you told me,” I sighed. “But you guys decided to get back together, and you had that lovely vow renewal ceremony.”
“Yes, but—this is Amanda we’re talking about.”
“And so you told her Sam was bi to have her focus on him and also to let her know that years ago, he wasn’t just attracted to men, but women too.”
Her gaze met mine.
“You wanted her to think that if she’d known then what she does now, that he could’ve been hers.”
Her eyes filled quickly, and I turned and drew her into my arms.
“It’s hard with people we have history with,” I told her, rubbing circles on her back, “to resist twisting the knife into their back when you have the opportunity.”
She clutched at me as she fell apart in my arms. I understood. There were years of fear and self-doubt that her frenemy represented. Beverly was a stunning woman who felt like a worn-out old shoe when Amanda was around.
Easing back, she sighed heavily. “I’m so sorry, Jory.”
I made a face, shaking my head. “Please. No one takes anyone away from anybody else. It takes two. Always. You know that.”
She nodded.
“But maybe 2019 is the year that you put all this crap behind you. We have to all live well inside our skins.”
“I’ve always worried about the outside, and getting older has been a real bitch.”
I laughed, and after a moment, so did she.
“I mean, letting myself go isn’t me, but maybe this is the year I quit worrying about every wrinkle and gray hair.”
“That’s not what I mean,” I assured her, smiling. “Looking your best helps you feel like your best, so I say bring on the Botox if it makes you feel good, but do it for you, and how you want to be seen, not for anyone else.”
“I think that’s a marvelous resolution, to be the best me I can be.”
I waggled my eyebrows at her as Sam crossed the floor toward me, dragging his daughter behind him. When they reached us, I realized that he was laughing and Hannah’s jaw was clenched and her eyes were murderous.
“Uh-oh what happened?” I said, chuckling, taking her hand and drawing her close to drape my arm around her shoulders.
“Ohmygod, that woman,” Hannah growled, turning to me. “Could she have flirted with Dad anymore? Holy crap!”
I leaned her into me, put my other hand around her face and kissed her cheek. “I told you; your father gets hit on all the time. He gives everyone on our street heart palpitations when he runs every morning.”
Sam grunted. “Hardly.”
Now I knew where Kola had picked up using that word. “It’s true,” I assured him, looking up into his beautiful slate-colored eyes.
“And why do you do that, Sam?” Beverly asked him. “Why work out and run?”
He squinted at her. “You have to be able to run down the bad guys when you’re a marshal, Bev. It’s sort of a job requirement.”
She nodded. “So then when you retire, you’ll quit going to the gym?”
“You need a strong body as you age,” he told her. “Look at my father,” he said, tipping his head toward his parents, who were still dancing. “He’s in great shape, which keeps him healthy, and as a bonus, he can keep up with Mom.”
“Sure,” she agreed as Michael joined us, putting an arm around his wife and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Besides,” Sam said as he bent toward me. “When you’ve got a husband this hot, you’ve got to be ready to kick the crap out of someone.”
I was chuckling as he kissed me, his hand sliding around the side of my neck, keeping me there, close. When he lifted his lips from mine, I saw how dark his eyes were, that fast clouded with want. I was certain mine looked the same.
“Did you see that kiss?” Hannah yelled, and both Sam and I turned to look at her. She was a study in contrasts, elegant in her evening jumpsuit and at the same time ready to throw down. “My parents go at it like bunnies, lady!”
“Hannah!” Sam scolded her, trying really hard to keep a straight face. “The hell kind of manners are those?”