Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 151044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
“No, he wouldn’t.”
“Yes, Rayne, he would. That man… He loves you. He’s going to take care of you and be there for you the way a real partner should. He sees it as his duty to keep you physically and emotionally whole. And while this credit card shit isn’t what anyone would ask for, it’s not like it’s something Hale can’t handle. He had it straightened out in a matter of minutes last night.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I was there. His only concern was finding you and making sure you were okay.”
“But he doesn’t know it was my dad.”
“And when you tell him, or when the police do, his only concern is going to be you.”
With a soft creak, the bedroom door whispered open and Hale stood in the opening. Startled, I sprang back and wiped my eyes. “Hale.”
His brow pinched with tension. He glanced at Tyler. “Can we have a minute?”
Tyler sprung off the bed. “Yup.” He quickly gathered up the magazines but several slipped out of his arms and landed on the bed. He looked at me apologetically. “Sorry. I’ll just… see myself out.”
Hale waited for him to leave and then shut the bedroom door. How much had he heard?
He turned, the manila folder in his hand, and a pen in the other one. “We need to talk.”
Let’s John Hancock this Bitch
AND CALL IT A DAY
My stomach rebelled as Hale closed the distance. He stopped at the edge of the bed, looking down at the sea of tabloid pictures strewn across the blankets. Tossing the manila folder in front of me, he swept up the magazines and carried them to the bathroom, where he dropped them in the trash.
“Trash goes in the garbage, Rayne. I told you not to read that rubbish.”
“Tyler brought them.” I scooted back, folding my feet below my knees as he sat down.
He studied me for a long moment then said, “Tell him not to do that anymore.”
“Okay.” I agreed, no good came from looking at that trash.
He gently rubbed my foot through my sock. “How are your feet?”
That little touch helped me breathe a little easier. Small talk was good. “Better. The stuff the doctor brought helped. So did the aspirin.”
“Good.” He pushed the manila envelope to the center of the bed and fully faced me. “Rayne, you could have told me about your dad.”
I dropped my gaze. “I guess you heard.”
His hand moved to my knee. “Why wouldn’t you come to me?”
“I was ashamed. He’s my dad." Then I realized how that sounded so I looked up and blurted, “I wasn’t trying to protect him. I only wanted to protect you. I’m so sorry he did what he did, Hale. It was my fault. I left the card out when I went to the bathroom during one of our lunches. You trusted me and I should have been more responsible. If I had the money to fix the damage, I’d pay it back—”
“Enough. That man is not your responsibility.” He lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his stare. “But you’re mine. Baby, I can only imagine what this did to you.” He took my hand and squeezed. “That’s a lot to handle, especially right before a wedding. And I know how much you were looking forward to him walking you down the aisle.”
I scoffed. “Not anymore. I never want to see or hear from him again.”
Hale sighed. “I wish I would have had the chance to be there for you when you needed someone. All week I sensed something bothering you. You should have told me.”
“I was scared.”
“Hey, you don’t ever have to be scared about coming to me. We’re a partnership. We’re going to be husband and wife. Forever. Whatever comes, good or bad, rich or poor, sickness or health, we face it together. Understand?”
I nodded. “I’m sorry I worried you.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. I just chalked it up to jitters. I should have known something was up the moment you started avoiding me.”
I was done avoiding things. I glanced at the ominous envelope. He followed my gaze and unwound the seal. My heart beat wildly.
“I thought this might cheer you up.”
I frowned, a boulder rolling in the pit of my stomach. “Why would that cheer me up?”
“I just want to say one thing about parents before I give it to you.” He gripped the envelope. “After I learned how my dad betrayed me and discovered Jasmine was pregnant, nothing was the same. My whole world shifted. We assume parents are these infallible beings, but they’re just human. This is their first time living as much as it’s ours. Realizing that a day will likely come when I do something to disappoint Elara has helped me work toward forgiving my own father.”
“You would never purposely hurt her, Hale.”
“No. Never purposefully.” He smiled sadly. “And I’m not sure my dad would either. It was one thoughtless action that changed all of our lives forever.”