Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
After we throw away our trash, we head to Brielle’s studio. When she unlocks the door and walks in, I wait with bated breath for her response. I ended up paying triple for the contractor to get it done in time, and since I was in Russia while they were finishing, I haven’t had a chance to do a walk-through.
“Holy shit,” she gasps, her hands covering her mouth as she takes the place in.
“What do you think?”
She whips around to look at me. “Did you do this?”
“That depends. Is it how you envisioned it?”
“It’s exactly how I envisioned it.” She walks through the main area and into the side rooms, a look of shock and awe in her features. “I can’t believe you did this in a month’s time.”
She runs her hands over the state-of-the-art equipment I had shipped on rush order and smiles. “Thank you.”
She throws herself at me, and for the first time since my wife walked out on me, I breathe a bit easier. With her face against my chest, I take a moment to inhale her sweet scent. She hasn’t let me anywhere near her since I showed up in Russia, and before that, I spent two weeks avoiding her. It’s been too long since I’ve felt her body against mine, and like an addict, I’m craving my next hit.
“I would do anything for you,” I tell her honestly as I wrap my arms around her. “Whatever it is you want or need, Princess.”
“I just need time, Kane,” she whispers against my chest. “Just a little bit of time.”
“Is it okay if we go by Dominick’s house?” Brielle asks, glancing up from her phone. “Matteo and Dani are there, and they know I’m back and want to see for themselves that I’m okay.”
“Of course, but if you want to go alone, I can drop you off, or Giani can take you.”
I glance over at Giani and Kiril, who are standing guard on either side of the front door to Brielle’s studio.
“I’d rather you go,” she says. “You can be my buffer. I haven’t seen them since they found out I’m pregnant.”
“And what do you think they’re going to say?” I quirk a brow.
“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Sometimes, they forget that I’m a grown woman.”
“They care deeply about you.” I slide my arm across her shoulders. “Let’s go. I’m sure they’ll be so busy threatening to kill me that they won’t even remember you’re pregnant.”
Brielle chuckles. “That works for me.”
We slide into the back of the town car, and Giani heads to Dominick’s house. When we arrive, Peyton and Daniella swarm Brielle, and Dominick extends his hand to shake mine.
“Brielle told us why you had the divorce papers drawn up,” he says. “You’re a better man than me. When I found out Peyton had my baby, I forced her and our son to come live with me.”
“Yeah, well, I’m done forcing Brielle to do shit she doesn’t want to do.” I sigh, glancing at my beautiful wife.
She’s holding Dani and Matteo’s baby girl, and she looks so natural with a baby in her arms. It’s crazy to think that before this year ends, she’ll be holding our baby.
“Now, I just have to hope she chooses to stay married to me.”
“Thank you for bringing our sister back,” Matteo adds. “I still don’t like you, but … I don’t hate you as much.”
“Matteo.” Brielle glares at her brother.
“What?” Matteo shrugs. “It’s progress. Besides, we don’t even know if you’re going to stay married to him. I’m not about to welcome him into the family, only for you to divorce him. Let me know once you decide.”
Brielle rolls her eyes and then goes back to rocking the baby while I think about all the ways I can convince her not to sign those damn papers.
“If you want, I can just move the mattress into the hall, and then you don’t have to decide where to sleep.” I chuckle, leaning against the wall.
I was in my office, working, and clicked on the camera to check on Brielle. I didn’t know what she was doing, until I checked on her again and found her in the same spot, her gaze bouncing between the master bedroom and guest room.
“I like sleeping with you,” she admits softly. “But I don’t know if it’s because I don’t want to be alone or if it’s because I like you.”
“Can’t it be a bit of both?” I ask, pushing off the wall so I’m standing in front of her. “Isn’t that why people go in search of someone to spend their life with? Join dating sites and go to bars in hope of meeting someone? Because at the end of the day, nobody wants to be alone.”
Brielle looks at the guest room, and my stomach drops. If she chooses to sleep in a separate room, I’ll have to accept it. I did this. I put us in this situation, and now I have to give her space while she sifts through her feelings.