Lifestyles of the Witch & Famous by Mimi Riser

appalled, but her body said “Wow.” It had said even more about Tyler, hadn’t it?
    Molly stifled a groan. Her body was becoming a big, big problem. Disgusted, she squeezed the water out of her hair and wrapped the towel, turban-style, around her head.
    Carlotta held out a fleecy white robe even softer than the towel. “You won’t like my advice, but I think you should go ahead and marry him without argument.”
    “You’re right. I don’t like it.”
    Considering the bargaining chip he was holding to her head, like a gun, she might have to give in, but why the hell make it any easier on him than necessary. If you had to go down, do it swinging.
    Girding her loins for battle, Molly slipped into the robe and tied its belt at her waist with a sharp yank, then snatched up her top and skirt and stalked through the dressing room into the saccharine-sweet boudoir.
    With breezy elegance and swaying hips, Carlotta followed. “Trust me on this, I know Tyler. He’s not going to back down, and digging in your heels will only make it worse. If you don’t bend, he’ll break you. But either way, he’ll get what he wants. He always does.”
    “That’s pathetic.”
    “No, that’s Tyler. He can’t stand to lose.”
    Her knees suddenly feeling like jelly, Molly sank down into one corner of a pink satin settee with a back shaped like – why not? – big butterfly wings.
    Carlotta eyed the thing with distaste, then perched gingerly at the other end, as though afraid whatever it had might be catching. “He loses eventually though – with women, I mean. Every time. That’s what is pathetic, that he never keeps what he wins. His victories all turn to dust in his hands.”
    Her gaze slanted to Molly. “But that is why you can marry him without any real fear. I guarantee it will be only…shall we say, a temporary inconvenience for you. His marriage to me lasted a year, but only because I’m the sort who considers murder before divorce. His other wives have gone easier on him and left after a few months. You will, too. And he’ll let you go then without a fuss. Tyler burns hot at the beginning, but he cools quickly. It’s the one thing about him you can depend on. He doesn’t feel anything for long. The poor man can barely feel at all.”
    Molly’s stomach clenched. So did her jaw, making her voice tight. “Carlotta, why do I find no comfort in any of this?”
    A knowing laugh sounded. “Because you worry what you may feel for him?”
    Defensiveness rose at the question. “And what would that be? Anger? Contempt? Pity?”
    Carlotta shook her head and sighed. “Molly, you’ve just made love with the man. You’d have to be made of stone to not be feeling something more than pity right now. But believe me, that will pass. Look at me.”
    She spread out her arms. “I sit here as proof that there is life after Tyler James. A good life. I’m happier now than I’ve ever been. Married to him, I could never have had a career beyond being his wife. That was one of the things we fought about. After the divorce, he actually helped me start LFF. Why, I’m not sure. Perhaps it was his way of apologizing. Perhaps he simply viewed it as a good business venture. Whatever.”
    Her shoulders lifted in an eloquent shrug. “What you must think of are those three sweet muchachos . Tell me, do you truly want custody of them?”
    The clenching in Molly’s stomach moved into her chest, squeezing her heart like a fist. “They’re the only reason I’m here. But if I marry Tyler to keep them, and then divorce him…” The fist squeezed harder. “He could still cut me out of their lives, couldn’t he?”
    “Quite possibly, yes.”
    Carlotta seemed frighteningly unconcerned about that. But then, those sweet muchachos weren’t her responsibility, were they? Molly huddled deeper into her robe, shivering as cold dread chilled her blood. A no-win situation. Tyler would toy with her till he grew tired of the sport, then cast her off like