of her mind. The lip lock. Ryan’s hands gripping the woman’s shoulders and drawing her closer. A shudder went through her, and she tried to force the image away. It refused to shift, hovering like the smell of a putrid egg.
It wasn’t Ryan’s fault he’d come last in the line of rotten bad-boys. It wasn’t fair to cast him in the same group as the others who’d kicked her down when it suited them. Cheated, lied and given her an STD. Her mind froze at the last thought, jagged pain hacking at her psyche.
“We always attend those parties in full disguise, using our masks instead of our stage makeup. How do you know it was me?”
She puffed out a hard breath, struggled to regain her equilibrium. “Please. You think I can’t recognize my husband when I see him?”
A little of the devil shone in his eyes again. “Good to know.”
“Besides, you all have your initials on the masks. I saw the D.”
“Oh.” The teasing left him, a trace of frustration coming to the surface. “The photo might have been manipulated or taken out of context. Some of the women test our boundaries.”
“Maybe.” Oh, he was quick. She turned away, unable to watch his expression. He said he hadn’t done it on purpose while she’d thought the suggestive photo was a sign he wanted out of their marriage.
He didn’t say anything of an accusatory nature, yet her lack of trust must have cut deep. An apology—it wouldn’t be enough. “I’m sorry. It was hard to hold onto trust when you were incommunicado. When you’re alone your mind starts twisting everything.”
“Don’t. Don’t, sweetheart.” He went to her, pulling her into the circle of his arms. She pressed her cheek against his chest, the ache in her chest so painful she wanted to cry out. She’d gone into her marriage with the intention of forever. But this—this showed her how little she’d invested in their marriage, how easily she’d given up on her husband.
“It’s all right,” Ryan murmured.
She lifted her head to stare at him. “How can it be?”
“We have a second chance,” he said. “Most people don’t get this opportunity, and we shouldn’t waste it.”
Chapter Seven
A new tension slithered through Julia’s veins now. Ten at night, and she and Ryan had arrived back at her apartment a few minutes ago. They’d stopped at the flat Ryan and Caleb shared in order for Ryan to pick up some of his gear. Now that the door closed behind them, her apartment seemed too intimate. Ryan’s scent ghosted around her, enticing and seductive. He took up space, the air in her kitchen.
“I’m knackered,” he said, holding his hands in the small of his back and leaning back. “I swear the painting prep was more exhausting than anything I’ve done this year.”
“You’ve used different muscles. Go and have a hot bath while I clear the spare room for you. The bathroom is down the passage on the right.”
“No, I’ll help.”
“Go and have a bath.” Sharp and terse. She bit her lip at the appearance of Bitch Julia . Consciously lowering her voice, she tried again. “If you use the bathroom first then I can jump into the shower straight away.”
He nodded, his sexy lips perking up into the beginnings of a smile. “You’ve seen me naked before.”
“Bathroom.” The sudden need to laugh tugged at her, and she pointed. “Go.” To her relief, he went and she waited until his footsteps faded before she sagged against the kitchen counter. She didn’t know how he did it. Yesterday morning she’d been so certain she wanted a divorce. Ryan was muddying her thoughts, confusing her. Now she didn’t know what she wanted, what to do for the best. He’d sounded sincere about the photos—she didn’t think he was lying.
With a sigh, she strode down the passage, paused to grab clean linen, and continued to her spare bedroom. He was splashing around in the water already, his husky voice singing a classic Jackson song. She smiled before she could stop
It wasn’t Ryan’s fault he’d come last in the line of rotten bad-boys. It wasn’t fair to cast him in the same group as the others who’d kicked her down when it suited them. Cheated, lied and given her an STD. Her mind froze at the last thought, jagged pain hacking at her psyche.
“We always attend those parties in full disguise, using our masks instead of our stage makeup. How do you know it was me?”
She puffed out a hard breath, struggled to regain her equilibrium. “Please. You think I can’t recognize my husband when I see him?”
A little of the devil shone in his eyes again. “Good to know.”
“Besides, you all have your initials on the masks. I saw the D.”
“Oh.” The teasing left him, a trace of frustration coming to the surface. “The photo might have been manipulated or taken out of context. Some of the women test our boundaries.”
“Maybe.” Oh, he was quick. She turned away, unable to watch his expression. He said he hadn’t done it on purpose while she’d thought the suggestive photo was a sign he wanted out of their marriage.
He didn’t say anything of an accusatory nature, yet her lack of trust must have cut deep. An apology—it wouldn’t be enough. “I’m sorry. It was hard to hold onto trust when you were incommunicado. When you’re alone your mind starts twisting everything.”
“Don’t. Don’t, sweetheart.” He went to her, pulling her into the circle of his arms. She pressed her cheek against his chest, the ache in her chest so painful she wanted to cry out. She’d gone into her marriage with the intention of forever. But this—this showed her how little she’d invested in their marriage, how easily she’d given up on her husband.
“It’s all right,” Ryan murmured.
She lifted her head to stare at him. “How can it be?”
“We have a second chance,” he said. “Most people don’t get this opportunity, and we shouldn’t waste it.”
Chapter Seven
A new tension slithered through Julia’s veins now. Ten at night, and she and Ryan had arrived back at her apartment a few minutes ago. They’d stopped at the flat Ryan and Caleb shared in order for Ryan to pick up some of his gear. Now that the door closed behind them, her apartment seemed too intimate. Ryan’s scent ghosted around her, enticing and seductive. He took up space, the air in her kitchen.
“I’m knackered,” he said, holding his hands in the small of his back and leaning back. “I swear the painting prep was more exhausting than anything I’ve done this year.”
“You’ve used different muscles. Go and have a hot bath while I clear the spare room for you. The bathroom is down the passage on the right.”
“No, I’ll help.”
“Go and have a bath.” Sharp and terse. She bit her lip at the appearance of Bitch Julia . Consciously lowering her voice, she tried again. “If you use the bathroom first then I can jump into the shower straight away.”
He nodded, his sexy lips perking up into the beginnings of a smile. “You’ve seen me naked before.”
“Bathroom.” The sudden need to laugh tugged at her, and she pointed. “Go.” To her relief, he went and she waited until his footsteps faded before she sagged against the kitchen counter. She didn’t know how he did it. Yesterday morning she’d been so certain she wanted a divorce. Ryan was muddying her thoughts, confusing her. Now she didn’t know what she wanted, what to do for the best. He’d sounded sincere about the photos—she didn’t think he was lying.
With a sigh, she strode down the passage, paused to grab clean linen, and continued to her spare bedroom. He was splashing around in the water already, his husky voice singing a classic Jackson song. She smiled before she could stop
Similar Books
