was a—”
She raised her hand. “Stop. You knew the woman?” she said, incredulously.
“Yes.”
She rolled her eyes. “How could you, Jake? Never mind. Don’t answer. I know the answer. You needed to prove your dick could still get hard for someone else.”
Jake flushed darkly, not liking the way that sounded, but slowed his anger. Sheila knew more about his past association with women than anyone.
“I’m telling you nothing happened. Damn. I’ve done a lot of inexcusable things in my lifetime, but I couldn’t go through with it.” He was silent for a long moment. The only sound was the warm wind swaying through the trees on the property. “I love her, Sheila.”
She sighed deeply. “I know you do, but damn if you don’t have a funny way of showing it. You messed up big time.”
“How do I fix it?”
He wasn’t surprised his voice cracked on the words. Vulnerability wasn’t something he was used to.
“I don’t know. You let your pride, ego and Melissa’s ex-husband throw you into a cesspool.”
“Sinclair has nothing to do with it.”
“Don’t lie to me, Jake Sorensen! You were afraid Melissa was going back to Brent Sinclair. You decided to cover all bases and beat her to home plate.”
“Damn, Sheila. You always go for the jugular. I’ve made a mess of my marriage. I don’t need you to keep throwing gas on the fire. It’s already a blaze.” He rubbed his jaw to loosen the tightness. He hadn’t realized he had been clenching his teeth. “I need your help on this.”
“You’re destructive, Jake. Melissa is the best thing that ever happened to you.”
He inhaled deeply and released it. “I know.”
“You changed when your mom died. You’re a hard man and can be a cold son-of-a-bitch. Now you’re letting it destroy your marriage.”
“You have a nasty mouth. When did you start cursing so much?”
“You forget I grew up with only men in the house.”
He almost smiled.
“She’s running, Sheila. The only road block I have is to deny her the divorce.”
Her eyes widened with shock. “What? A divorce? Damn. Damn. This is bad! If she asked for a divorce, she’s given up on the marriage…and you.”
“Melissa didn’t ask for the divorce. She said she was divorcing me. There is a difference.”
“You’re grasping at straws.”
“I’m desperate. I need you to talk to her…Please.”
“You are my cousin. She’s my best friend. I’m not going to take sides.”
“Will you call her?”
“Damn. Jake, don’t put me in the middle of this.”
“I’m desperate, Sheila.”
“I won’t call her because she’ll know I’m calling to talk about you. But, if she calls me, I’ll try your case.”
“Okay. At this point, I’m grateful for what I can get.”
“You need to make the first move toward her.”
“How can I when she won’t answer any of my texts or calls?”
“This is major. Real serious shit. You need to be careful and figure out how you’re going to get her back.”
“I must find her.”
“She’s wounded, Jake. Give her some time.”
“I can’t. I’m afraid I’ll lose her.”
“That’s a chance you may have to take.”
Chapter Twelve
Jake slammed his hands on the desk, knocking over the glass paperweight. His usual self-control had been distinctly lacking in the last few months.
“What the fuck am I paying you for? It’s been two months. You haven’t given me anything substantial.”
Jake stood and came around the desk. Cold, hard logic told him he was dealing with men who couldn’t begin to understand his wife’s way of thinking. If she wanted to disappear, she would. He glared at the two private investigators. Right now he was pissed and frustrated. His entire life was unraveling and he couldn’t stop it. These men were supposed to be the best but at the moment he doubted it.
His friend, Matthew Connor sat quietly slouched in a chair nearby not saying anything but watched him as he ranted at the men. Every now
She raised her hand. “Stop. You knew the woman?” she said, incredulously.
“Yes.”
She rolled her eyes. “How could you, Jake? Never mind. Don’t answer. I know the answer. You needed to prove your dick could still get hard for someone else.”
Jake flushed darkly, not liking the way that sounded, but slowed his anger. Sheila knew more about his past association with women than anyone.
“I’m telling you nothing happened. Damn. I’ve done a lot of inexcusable things in my lifetime, but I couldn’t go through with it.” He was silent for a long moment. The only sound was the warm wind swaying through the trees on the property. “I love her, Sheila.”
She sighed deeply. “I know you do, but damn if you don’t have a funny way of showing it. You messed up big time.”
“How do I fix it?”
He wasn’t surprised his voice cracked on the words. Vulnerability wasn’t something he was used to.
“I don’t know. You let your pride, ego and Melissa’s ex-husband throw you into a cesspool.”
“Sinclair has nothing to do with it.”
“Don’t lie to me, Jake Sorensen! You were afraid Melissa was going back to Brent Sinclair. You decided to cover all bases and beat her to home plate.”
“Damn, Sheila. You always go for the jugular. I’ve made a mess of my marriage. I don’t need you to keep throwing gas on the fire. It’s already a blaze.” He rubbed his jaw to loosen the tightness. He hadn’t realized he had been clenching his teeth. “I need your help on this.”
“You’re destructive, Jake. Melissa is the best thing that ever happened to you.”
He inhaled deeply and released it. “I know.”
“You changed when your mom died. You’re a hard man and can be a cold son-of-a-bitch. Now you’re letting it destroy your marriage.”
“You have a nasty mouth. When did you start cursing so much?”
“You forget I grew up with only men in the house.”
He almost smiled.
“She’s running, Sheila. The only road block I have is to deny her the divorce.”
Her eyes widened with shock. “What? A divorce? Damn. Damn. This is bad! If she asked for a divorce, she’s given up on the marriage…and you.”
“Melissa didn’t ask for the divorce. She said she was divorcing me. There is a difference.”
“You’re grasping at straws.”
“I’m desperate. I need you to talk to her…Please.”
“You are my cousin. She’s my best friend. I’m not going to take sides.”
“Will you call her?”
“Damn. Jake, don’t put me in the middle of this.”
“I’m desperate, Sheila.”
“I won’t call her because she’ll know I’m calling to talk about you. But, if she calls me, I’ll try your case.”
“Okay. At this point, I’m grateful for what I can get.”
“You need to make the first move toward her.”
“How can I when she won’t answer any of my texts or calls?”
“This is major. Real serious shit. You need to be careful and figure out how you’re going to get her back.”
“I must find her.”
“She’s wounded, Jake. Give her some time.”
“I can’t. I’m afraid I’ll lose her.”
“That’s a chance you may have to take.”
Chapter Twelve
Jake slammed his hands on the desk, knocking over the glass paperweight. His usual self-control had been distinctly lacking in the last few months.
“What the fuck am I paying you for? It’s been two months. You haven’t given me anything substantial.”
Jake stood and came around the desk. Cold, hard logic told him he was dealing with men who couldn’t begin to understand his wife’s way of thinking. If she wanted to disappear, she would. He glared at the two private investigators. Right now he was pissed and frustrated. His entire life was unraveling and he couldn’t stop it. These men were supposed to be the best but at the moment he doubted it.
His friend, Matthew Connor sat quietly slouched in a chair nearby not saying anything but watched him as he ranted at the men. Every now
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