Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
I tried to calm myself. “What’s that?”
He grinned although it wobbled. “I loved you before you were hot.”
I blinked a second before a stunned laugh shot through the sorrow I felt.
Connor chuckled and this time when his lips touched mine, I was ready for it. We kissed frantically and I tried to make it last, thinking this would likely be the last time I’d feel Connor’s warm lips on mine.
That single thought was so depressing that my eyes blurred with unshed tears. “You need to go. Now.”
“Okay,” he spoke against my lips but made no move to leave.
I kissed him back a moment before trying to pull away. Connor’s lips took chase, stealing another peck then another.
This was ridiculous.
We were ridiculous.
When I took a step back, Connor took a step forward and held his arms out to me. Cheeks flushed, I uttered a firm, “No. No more.”
I took a long, hard look at him—my husband—knowing he wouldn’t be for much longer. And everything inside me shattered.
Connor’s arms fell to his sides and he sighed deeply, nodding. He licked his lips, held my eyes and said meaningfully, “I love you, Emily Clash.”
My stomach dipped almost painfully.
Emily Clash.
Damn it. He was already fighting dirty.
Dipping my chin, I opened the door. “Get out of here, Connor.”
He left without a fight but when I shut the door, I heard Connor yell out, “I love you, baby.”
A small smile fought to be freed. I touched my fingers to my swollen lips.
Another shout, louder this time, apparently directed at the entire neighborhood. “I love my wife!”
That time, I couldn’t fight the urge.
I smiled and, for the first time in months, sadness was the second strongest feeling inside me.
Chapter Thirty-One
With or Without You.
Emmy
Mediation was going to be difficult. On top of that, I secretly despised myself for my eagerness to see Connor again. Just before I walked into the conference room with my lawyer, Lauren, I saw Connor from the open window, swinging from side to side in his swivel chair, his knee bouncing hard and his face drawn. Rita sat next to him, talking to him in complete seriousness, and it looked like whatever she was saying was important. He seemed to snap at her and when she responded, he nodded but he did it scowling.
Lauren knocked on the door before entering. “Morning, all.”
Connor’s head snapped up and the moment his eyes landed on me, his face softened. “Hey, baby.”
My heart thawed somewhat, the thick layer of ice protectively surrounding the organ cracking ever so slightly.
Why, oh, why did he have this effect on me? It was utterly infuriating.
Also, why was I suddenly shy? “Hello, Connor.” Then I twisted to Rita. “Hi, Rita. This is Lauren.” Our lawyers greeted one another courteously and I followed Lauren around the table to sit opposite them.
Rita smiled politely. “Shall we begin?”
Lauren inclined her head. “Yes, I think we’re ready.”
“Okay,” Rita began and her confidence was worrying. She read from her notes. “Emily and Connor married approximately seven months ago. Parted soon after marrying. Emily now wants a divorce. Is that fair to say?”
Rita’s eyes held mine. I glanced at Connor a moment before I answered, “Yes.”
From across the table, Connor spoke. “You look beautiful.”
Sweet Jesus. What was the matter with him?
I had the insane urge to laugh and bit my lip to stop myself from smiling.
Rita spoke to Connor. “Is that how it went, Connor?”
Connor seemed less interested in talking about the divorce and more interested in praising me. “Yeah, I guess so.” He leaned into Rita and stage whispered, “Doesn’t she look beautiful?”
“That she does. Now…” Rita was all business and spoke directly to Lauren. “…Connor does not want to proceed with the divorce. In fact, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to see this marriage survive. Connor admits he made mistakes but he wants to fix this.” She paused. “He insists he loves Emily very much.”
“I do,” he piped up.
It was Lauren’s turn. “My client wants it to be known that although she continues to have feelings for Mr. Clash—”
At that, Connor pulled his chair up to the table. “Aw, baby.” He flattened his arms across the mahogany, stretching, reaching for me, his eyes watching me tenderly.
A bubble of laughter threatened to escape my mouth. I covered it with a delicate cough.
“—the emotional damage she has sustained in this short marriage is enough to last a lifetime.”
“I know.” Connor sounded woeful. “I fucked up.”
Rita leaned down to whisper something in his ear. It sounded a lot like, “Shut the fuck up.”
Lauren continued, “Not only has Mr. Clash continuously humiliated Ms. Aldrich—”
“Mrs. Clash.” Connor scowled. He enunciated each word with a hard tap of the tabletop. “Mrs. Clash.”
Lauren stared at him a long moment. “May I continue?” At his dejected nod, she went on. “Let’s be honest here. Mr. Clash married a woman he barely knew, terribly regretted that decision and then resented that woman enough to write an insulting and offensive song about her, which he released to the public in hopes that she would leave him. And she did. So, why are we still talking about this?” She lifted her hand and offered, “Let’s cite irreconcilable differences and be done with it.”