Okay, that was the stupidest question. I knew his fiancée had left him at the altar.
Derek’s expression changed. He went from relaxed and playful to serious. I didn’t want to push him about his ex, but I was curious why a woman would toss aside this kind, sexy, and genuine man.
“Maybe I’ve been waiting for someone like you to do the honors.”
Oh, melt me.
I shook my head. “A pregnant woman? I’m not buying it.”
“A gorgeous pregnant woman.” His gaze dropped to my lips again.
“Come on. Be serious. We both have a past.”
“I’d rather leave the past in the past and look toward the future.”
Sounds good to me.
“Deal.” I bit my bottom lip to stop myself from pouncing on him.
“Deal.” He nodded, his eyes on my lips again.
I wished he would kiss me, but I had a feeling he was the type of guy who took it slow, given his previous failed relationship. I couldn’t fault him. I shouldn’t want to rush anything either, but I was drawn to Derek’s stable, strong, morally ethical personality. He was a soothing balm to my wounded soul.
Having dinner with the Watsons last night showed me they were exceptional people, caring with strong values. After what I’d been through with Will, they were the kind of people I wanted in my life.
And Derek was someone I desperately wanted to spend time with, and maybe a lot more.
I just hoped my heart would eventually forget Will. I knew he’d always be in my life because of our baby, but I didn’t want to love him anymore. I didn’t want to miss him. Not his touch, his decadent lips, or the way he looked at me and spoke to me with the most tenderness any man had ever shown me.
And more than all that, I wanted to forget the way he’d made passionate love to me. Will never just fucked me for his own self-gratification. He’d always focused on my needs, put me first, and loved me completely.
Dammit! Stop thinking about Will!
“Would you like to take a drive before we go to dinner?” Derek lifted my hand to his lips. I melted like warm butter, dying to slather myself all over his rugged body. Jeez, these pregnancy hormones were doing a number on me, or maybe Derek was just that irresistible. Definitely the latter. “I could show you around since you’re still new to the area.”
“I’d love that.”
17 Will
THE DAYS BLENDED together like a watercolor painting. It reminded me of the one I’d bought in Carmel when I’d taken Miranda there last December. It was mostly gray in various shades and a smattering of gold. It very much mirrored life as I knew it. My gray mornings became afternoons, then evenings. It was nearly impossible to make out what time of day it was because it all felt the same… gray and gloomy. Occasionally, a dash of hope seemed to be on the horizon, shining among the dreary, only to be dashed by more bad news.
That painting oddly had captivated Miranda. In turn, she mesmerized me when she became lost in the image. I’d bought it on the spot. For the life of me, I couldn’t see what spoke to her when I studied the muted piece. Foreshadowing perhaps? Hell, I may never know.
Nah, that was stupid. We had been happy and so in love back then. Though neither of us had revealed our hearts during that trip and we’d only been dating a month, Miranda and I had fallen for each other seemingly overnight. It was why I’d asked her to move so quickly.
A single knock on my office door jerked me out of my thoughts. “Come in.”
Simone entered, a bleak expression on her face. I had an idea of why she was here. I rose from my leather executive chair and approached her. She’d been avoiding me the past week, furious over Miranda leaving and the fake affair. I could have gone to her loft after she’d ignored my calls and texts but thought better of it. Simone needed time to deal with her anger.
Face to face with her, I hated myself just a little more. Her eyes were bloodshot, her perfect skin blotchy from probably crying an ocean’s worth of tears… all because of me.
I reeled her into my arms and hugged her. Her body was hard as steel at first, then she relaxed, and the gentle vibration in my embrace said she was crying again—my dear, sensitive Simi.
“You were everything to her. She gave you everything and you destroyed her.”
Fuck, her words sliced me in two.
“She was everything to me too, Simi, still is. I’m going to get her back.”