Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
He stage-gasped. “You’re kidding.”
She shook her head. “The club has one that Darcy puts things on, and I had to show him how to like stuff and comment.”
They both looked at me with similar expressions, like I was sad.
“You know what—”
“May I have a quick word with you?” Luke asked me, still holding my bicep.
“We have to go,” Cami whined, taking hold of my hand.
“You do have a party to go to, do you not?” Dawson asked softly, flashing Prue’s father his megawatt smile that made you realize exactly whom you were looking at. Not only did the man have a silvery voice—that could be both low and husky, heartbreakingly soulful, but also silky and filled with yearning—but he was drop-dead gorgeous. “I saw your lovely wife when I came in, and she seemed to want to get going.”
Luke let me go like I had the plague and darted back into my office for his daughter.
“Why are you here?” I asked Dawson.
“Because Georgine said I could help you babysit the kids tonight.”
I shook my head.
“See, she doesn’t know me, only knows what I confessed to her and Simone and Darcy and Xola earlier today.”
“What was that?”
“I told them I returned because this was my home, because you’re my home, and I want to make amends for the pain I caused and win you back.”
“I—”
“Aww,” Cami said softly, leaning into his side like she normally did with me.
“You have a soft heart, love,” he whispered, giving her a squeeze.
Then they were both looking at me with big puppy dog eyes.
I cleared my throat. “I need to speak with Simone real quick. Start getting the stuff loaded.”
“The accoutrement,” Cami said, giggling.
I nearly ran down the hall to the front, where Simone was leaning on the bar.
“Hi,” she greeted me cheerfully.
“You let him sublet your apartment?”
“It’s like Christmas came early. And I’m going to gather up all that money and give it to you in probably six months with what I already have saved, and then you won’t be tied down to the club anymore.”
“I like being tied down to the club.”
“I know, but you also need to travel and see the world, and you can do that when you have a partner, and now you have someone to go with.”
I scowled at her. “I thought you hated him.”
“I did,” she said flatly. “He hurt you terribly, but it turns out, he hurt himself too. And he learned a lot, and rehab was not easy, and as soon as he could, he came right back here.”
“And you’re prepared to take all this, him, at face value.”
She tipped her head. “He bared his soul to the four of us. It was painful to listen to. It was like watching a TV show that makes you so uncomfortable, you have to leave the room, not for blood or gore or too much bad sex, but because you can put yourself in the character’s place and you just wanna die.”
My sigh was long.
“Will I be watching him like a hawk?” she asked me, smiling. “You know I will. But I remembered when he was talking to us earlier—and holding my hand right before he said he wanted to catch up with you—that I used to be terribly fond of him myself.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah. That’s about it.”
“And why isn’t he singing tonight?”
“Because I need to make a big deal and pack this place starting tomorrow.”
“That’s smart.”
“Mmmm-hmmm.”
“And Georgine was fine just letting him watch Cami with me tonight?”
“Georgine is an excellent judge of character, as you know, and again, he is—” She stopped suddenly, her voice going out on her as her eyes filled. “He’s absolutely aware of his failings. I think they teach you how to articulate all that in rehab.”
I wiped a tear off her cheek. “Boy, has he got you fooled.”
She scoffed. “When have I ever been fooled? By anyone?”
Good point.
“Speaking of, what’s with Nicole’s husband, he of the roving eye?”
I had to smile. “No, he didn’t.”
“He was very complimentary of my boots and leggings while he checked out my ass.”
“Good God.”
“That was always one of Dawson’s best qualities—his inability, like my Michael, to see anyone but the person he loves.”
“Loved,” I amended.
“Loves,” she corrected. “Don’t be dumb. I can see you being careful and making him wait, but a man who repents and will jump through whatever hoops you require, that’s a pretty good start.”
It was.
“Over there,” she said suddenly, and when I turned, Merle and Conner were putting up our summer fans.
“What is happening? We just put those all away.”
“Yes, I know, but Luther’s coming by to sage everything, so we have to move the air around, otherwise the smell will linger into tomorrow and that’s all I need after the gospel group is this place smelling like a Catholic church.”
“You can’t sage in here.”
“Not me, Luther. Are you listening?”