Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Renn’s eyes are clear and concerned. Even though the answer is obvious, he’s not pressuring me to do what’s best for him.
“Oh, that I’m a little punk. That I probably just cost myself my job and him two years and a deal worth three-quarters of a billion dollars. I’m careless and selfish. You know, the usual.”
I don’t know Reid Brewer, but I hate him. Fuck that guy. Who says that to their own son?
My hand shakes as I run it over my head. “Renn?”
“Yeah?”
“What happens if we stay married?” I ask. “What does that look like? I’m not saying I want to do that, because I really don’t, but theoretically …”
“I’ll be honest—I don’t know. We’d have to play it off and look convincing. Otherwise, it would bite us in the ass even worse.”
Play it off. Look convincing.
How the heck do we do that?
And how do I ensure I don’t get my ass handed to me in the end?
Brock clears his throat. “It’s obvious I think you two just fucked all the way up, and I’m pissed about it.” He swallows. “But I’m going to back away and let you figure it out.”
“Thank you,” I say.
He turns to Renn. “I want to say one thing.”
“Go for it,” Renn says.
“Blakely is more important to me than anyone else on this planet,” Brock says. “She trusts too easily and sees the good in people. It gets her in trouble.”
My heart lodges in my chest.
“I expect you to protect her,” Brock says. “I don’t want to see her go through this all over again. You got her into this; you get her out of it. But if you do anything to hurt her, Renn, so help me God—”
“I won’t.” Renn squares his shoulders to Brock. “You have my word. Whatever happens, I’ll do everything I can to ensure she’s as unaffected as possible. I love you, man.”
Tears cloud my vision.
Brock’s jaw tenses as he pulls Renn into a hug. I don’t breathe until they part without throwing punches.
My brother steps back. “Okay. Let me know if I can help.”
“I love you, Brock,” I say, my voice wobbling.
He crosses the room and wraps his arms around me. “I love you, B. No matter how many times you fuck up—”
I laugh through the tears falling down my cheeks.
“I’ll always be here.” He pulls away. “Always.”
“Thank you.”
He rubs the top of my head before giving Renn a final stare. Then he heads for the door.
Reality fills the room again. It’s just me and my now husband—and a million unanswered questions.
If we file to end this mess, we’re handing ammunition to the tabloids. But if we play it out, will the injuries be less? Or worse?
“I feel like we need to talk this through—you and me,” I say. “There’s a lot to consider and my head is scrambled.”
Renn nods. “Agreed.”
“I don’t want to stay here. We’ll be held captive in this room since everyone in the world knows we’re here. And I really want to get away from my brother and Ella.”
“If I really married you, I’d take you on a honeymoon. If we went away somewhere for a few days, that would give us some time to work it out without confirming or denying anything. And the optics would be good if we decide to play this out.”
Makes sense. “Can you get away from here for a few days?”
“I don’t have anything I can’t move around until late next week. You?”
“I have next week off. My new boss is gone, so they told me to enjoy the break.”
“Nice.”
I laugh softly, remembering how excited I was to lie around and do nothing. I didn’t expect to be negotiating a divorce.
The more I sit with the options, the more it’s obvious that we really have only one viable choice on the table. But we can’t make a spur-of-the-moment decision. That’s what got us in this mess.
“Renn?”
“Yeah?”
“Can you find us a place with an ocean?”
“Absolutely.”
I take a deep breath. “Then do it. Let’s go somewhere and … figure this out.”
Renn’s shoulders fall as he crosses the room. He holds his arms out, and I collapse into them. I fist his T-shirt in my hands and press my cheek against his chest.
“Are you sure about this?” he asks.
“No, I’m not. Not even a little. But I’m as sure as I’m going to be.”
He chuckles, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “We’ll sort this out, cutie. Trust me.”
I dip my chin and pull back from him. I hope I can trust you, Renn. I really do.
At that, he walks out of the room, and I’m left alone. Finally.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
CHAPTER 12
Blakely
Aren’t electronics supposed to crash the plane or something equally catastrophic?
Renn paces the center of the aircraft, his phone glued to his ear like it has been for a good part of the past hour.