Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Looking down at me his eyes drag from my cleavage to the top of my thighs. Earlier at my doctor’s appointment he made a comment about loving the mid-thigh babydoll dress with a tight bodice and flowy skirt I wore today, but I get the feeling that he doesn’t like it very much anymore.
Squatting down inside my open door he bites down on the lid of the sharpie and pulls out the pen with a pop.
“What are you doing?” I whisper when he slowly lifts the hem of my dress, exposing more of my thighs.
Ignoring my question, he scribbles the word mine in black marker on my upper thigh, it’s small but there in permanent ink and I stare at it in disbelief with my breath caught in the back of my throat. After sliding his thumb over it, like he’s checking that it won’t come off he puts the cap back on the pen and pulls back down the bottom of my dress.
“He’s not going to see that,” I tell him softly.
“No, but you and I will both know it’s there.” He hands me the marker, then wraps his hand around the back of my neck and pulls me forward. I wouldn’t say the kiss is punishing, but it does feel like he’s trying to make a point, and between the mine in permanent marker on my thigh and the kiss he hits the mark. He’s letting me go on my own to see my ex-husband, but I still belong to him. When he lets go and pulls away, it takes a second to get my breath back and my eyes open.
“Message when you get there and then when you are on your way back to me.” His thumb smooths along my jaw as I scrape my teeth over my bottom lip.
“Okay,” I whisper, and he touches his lips to mine once more before he stands and closes my door.
A little under twenty minutes later, I reach Matthew’s office building and dial his number as I drive into the parking garage under it. It rings until it goes to voicemail, so I call back again, and the same thing happens.
“Seriously.” I sigh, pulling into a parking spot
Getting out I grab PJ from the back seat and put him on the ground. I type out a message to Dayton letting him know that I’m at Matthew’s office then I try to call Matthew again, and it once more goes to voice mail.
Grabbing the stuff from the trunk I carry everything with me to the exit and walk around the corner to the shipping store. Luckily, it’s pretty empty so it only takes me a few minutes to get a few documents I have notarized, and the packages mailed off. When I’m done, I try to call Matthew again as I walk to his building but this time the call goes right to voicemail.
“Come on, you can explore on the way back to the car,” I tell PJ, picking him up. When we get inside the building, I bypass the information desk on the first floor and go to the elevator. It’s been well over a year since I visited Matthew at work, but when the doors slide open, nothing has changed. The elegant carpet, expensive wallpaper, and art on the walls all still scream money, but then again, this is one of the best injury law firms around, and they bring in millions of dollars a year.
Placing PJ back on his feet, I walk up to the front desk and the older woman sitting behind it smiles at me then blinks before she lunges out of her chair.
“Franny.”
“Hey, Terry.” I laugh as she rushes around the desk, wrapping me in a hug.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so happy to see you.”
“You too, how are your boys?” I ask as she lets me go.
“Great, giants, gross, so all the G’s.” She laughs.
“So nothing has changed?” I laugh along with her.
“Not much.” She reaches out and grabs my hand, holding it towards her. “You look amazing. How have you been?”
“Really good,” I tell her quietly, and her face gets soft.
“I’m happy to hear that.” She shakes her head then tips it to the side. “What brings you here?”
“I’m just picking something up from Matthew.”
“Oh, are you two…” she trails off.
“No.” I shake my head, knowing what she’s asking.
“Darn.” I have no reply to that.
“Is he around? I tried to call, but he’s not picking up.”
“That’s odd, he was just in his office.” She walks back around the desk and picks up the desk phone putting it to her ear. “Hey, Franny’s here are you available?” She asks then smiles bright and gives me a thumbs up. “Alright I’ll send her back.” She puts the phone back down. “He’s in his office you can go on back.”