Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 70185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
I don’t plan to rush her into anything, but I’d already made up my mind to use the time between now and the divorce to woo her. I won’t date her, not in the conventional sense. I want our beginning to be free of anything to do with her marriage and that whole mess. Her ex is lucky I’m feeling magnanimous, and that’s only because he’s the father of her children.
I’ll wait and see what she wants to do about him going forward because that’s her duck to pluck. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to fuck with him in the process.
I know, I know, all of that happened before we met, and I didn’t even know her when it was going down, but that’s never stopped me before. I don’t like to see anyone harmed in this way; I have too many raw memories and have seen firsthand what that kind of betrayal can do to someone.
The thought of her feeling that pain fucks with my head, so I’m doing all this, moving at warped speed so she doesn’t have time to dwell. That would give me time to find a therapist for her and the kids so that once she really does crash, there’d be someone there to help soften the fall.
I came up with the idea of having her work with me for two reasons. One, it would fuck with her ex and Melanie, seeing her at the office all day, and two, since I don’t plan on dating her until after the divorce is final, I need a way to keep her close to me, and that’s the only thing I could come up with.
I know if I don’t see her for long periods of time going forward that I’d lose my damn mind, so it’s for kind of a selfish reason, but I’ve never claimed sainthood.
I’d already laid everything out for her father and brothers, who didn’t seem to believe that I was who I said I was until they got on the plane, I’d sent them, and even though they’ve been assured they don’t give a damn about my name or money, they only cared about her. We’ll keep them.
If they had shown more interest in me and my money than they did in her and her situation, I’d have paid them off to fuck off somewhere. That damn Monique is always claiming that I’m more Machiavellian than Tupac, whatever the hell that means, but sometimes that’s the only way to be.
“Whose shit you planning to fuck up now?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve got that mean mug on.”
“Oh, I didn’t know when I invited her family; they were going to steal her away from me.”
“You invited them? I thought this was their place?”
“Yeah, but if I hadn’t called them, they wouldn’t be here now.”
“Stop pouting, you overgrown man-child. This is what you wanted, isn’t it? For her to be surrounded by her loved ones.”
“I guess.”
I kicked at the sand with my foot and pouted some more. Yes, I pout. I haven’t done it since I was about five, but this situation seemed to warrant it. Bunch of woman stealing hogs. I heard the door slam and perked up when I saw her coming towards us.
Act like you got some damn sense and put your tongue back in your mouth, you ingrate.” Monique walked away after scolding me but I wasn’t listening. I was fixated on my girl, who had changed into another one of the outfits I’d bought her.
This time, it was a cute pre-summer dress that was perfect for this weather, and I’d remembered to pair it with a shawl to help stave off the ocean breeze, which could get pretty cool in the evenings this time of year.
“Hi, baby, what’s up? You okay?” She just stood there staring at me before nodding her head.
“Wanna go for a walk on the beach?”
“Sure, that sounds good.”
“You warm enough, right.” I reached out and pulled the shawl a little snugger around her shoulders and neck and caught her looking at me with an odd look on her face.
“What’s the matter?”
“I’m trying to figure out why you’re so good at this. Why, you seem to know all the right moves.”
“Beats me; I’ve never gone to these lengths for a love interest before. I guess it comes easily when it’s your person. You don’t have to second guess or overthink; you just go with your gut.”
“I’m your person?”
“Damn straight.” It’s been a long time since something as simple as holding hands made me smile inside. But when she slipped her hand in mine, I could’ve sworn the moon got brighter.
JUSTINE
This is unbelievable and unlike anything that’s ever happened to me before. Even my Dad, the person I trust most in my life, has been sold. I guess I should take his word for it since he was the only one who saw through Paul years ago and never liked him.