Page 20 (1/2)

Unfortunately, his track record with the two closest women who’d once been in his life—his mother and ex-wife—had proven differently, but Re to discuss the first woht Rachel was different, that she’d accepted all of hiive her everything she wantedbut clearly she’d found hi, as well

“How long were you hts

“Seven years I rounds,” he said, not stating that Rachel had also been through foster care and had been searching for acceptance and love And for a while, they’d had that bond, had shared siether or else Remy never would have married her

“When we graduated, we got married, and she worked as a secretary at a law firm while I started round up,” he went on while Teled for a few years, as most need couples do, but eventually the co really well financially Except the more money I made, the h to keep her happy”

Finished with his burger, he wiped his fingers on his napkin, tossed it onto his plate, and pushed the dish aside before leaning back in the booth and finishing his story “Seven years into thea fa an affair with an attorney in her office, while I was out workingI thought she deserved”

Teave hi he wanted was for her to feel sorry for him

“So, after clailect, Rachel filed for divorce,” he said, unable to keep the bitter tone out of his voice as he recalled that shocking and false accusation “And with the help of the law firs, and I was forced to liquidate all the equipht for the construction company to satisfy her settle over”

“What a bitch,” Tempest muttered “I hope I don’t ever meet her in person because I’d scratch her eyes out”

Reh I appreciate you co to my defense, she’s not worth the time or effort,” he said, and meant it

The waitress carateful for the interruption While he took care of the bill, Teo to the ladies’ rooht that he wished he’d o Maybe then his future would have turned out differently Maybe then he wouldn’t be so jaded and da mother and a selfish, narcissistic ex-ho’d destroyed any hope heunconditionally loved by someone

Chapter 9

As Tempest left the restaurant with Remy and they strolled back toward his place in companionable silence, she was very es between theuarded people alls around their es-attached affair and ended up trusting each other with some of their most painful, intimate secrets and memories

Two people didn’t just share deeply personal things like that and not come out the other side unaffected

Now, they were leaving the eatery with a different view and understanding of one another Tereatest insecurities or her need to be self-sufficient so she’d never let her brothers down So they’d know she was capable and they could now, especially, devote their time and attention to the women in their lives who needed theht was that wishful, romantic part of her that wanted to be loved just as unconditionally as her brothers adored Arabella and Elle To be the center of someone’s world and for hi

m to be the same for her