Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
There was nothing.
When I looked back up and our gazes met, I saw it in his eyes. The moment he realized I wasn’t over Colt.
A soft smile appeared on his handsome face. “I always knew you were still in love with him, Ensley. That he was the reason we broke up.”
I frowned.
“No, you never said that…but I knew. I remember how the two of you were together, and how you would look at one another. The crazy thing is, he still looks at you like that.”
I let out a bark of laughter. “I don’t think so.”
He let go of my hand and leaned back. “I think so. You didn’t see the daggers he was shooting at me when he realized I was there for you.”
When I didn’t say anything, he went on.
“Is he back for good?”
Shrugging, I replied, “I’m not sure. I haven’t spoken to him about anything.”
“Let me ask you something, Ensley.”
I held my breath as I tried to brace myself for whatever he was about to ask me.
“If Colt stays in River Falls, do you still want to go out with me?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
But even I could hear it in my voice. The answer was no.
Damn, you, Colt! Damn. You.
He raised his brows. “Because I saw the way you looked at him, too, sweetheart. You’re just as much in love with Colt Owens now as you were ten years ago.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“Am I? Being silly? Or am I just stating the obvious? You couldn’t commit to us before because of Colt—and don’t say he wasn’t the reason, because you’d be lying to yourself and to me.”
I closed my eyes and dropped my head back against the booth seat. “Fuck,” I whispered. “Why can’t I move on with my life? I’ve tried so hard to forget that asshole.”
Doug chuckled. “The heart wants what the heart wants.”
Lifting my head, I met his gaze. “I’m so sorry, Doug. I didn’t mean to lead you on again, and I really thought I was ready to move forward. I want to move forward. I want kids and a family.”
His eyes went wide. “Kids?”
I tilted my head. “You don’t want kids?”
“God, no!”
The weight pressing down on my chest lifted slightly. “Oh my gosh, you just made this so much easier for me.” I laughed slightly. “Thank you.”
He looked confused. “I did?”
“I want kids. Desperately. I was even thinking about IVF. So if you don’t want kids, then we clearly weren’t meant to be.”
It was his turn to laugh. “So now you can say we didn’t work because you want kids and I don’t. Nothing to do with Colt Owens.”
When he winked, I smiled. “That’s exactly right!”
“So, back to this IVF. Are you being serious? You’d want to have a baby without a father?”
A sudden wave of sadness washed over me, despite my immediate reply. “I am being serious. Are you saying I shouldn’t do it unless there’s a man in the picture?”
He rolled his eyes. “You know I’m not saying that, Ensley. If anyone can do it, it would be you. You’re the strongest, most intelligent woman I know.”
Again, why no feelings for this man?
“But you have to explain this to me. Why the rush?”
“The rush?” I replied. “I’m thirty years old, Doug. My clock is slowly ticking away, and a family is something I’ve always longed for. My sister is married and has kids. Now Caden. At the rate I’m going, Gatlin will be married and having a kid before me. It’s not fair, and I’ve wasted so much time on…”
“Colt?”
I sighed. “Yes. If I’m honest. It’s pretty damn clear that I can’t move past him, which really pisses me off.” I shrugged a shoulder. “If I can’t have the marriage, I’ll have the kids.”
“And you think that will fill the void in your heart?”
My eyes widened. “Holy shit, Doug. Way to hit the bullseye.”
He held up his hands and shook his head. “I’m not trying to hurt you. I care about you. I want to see you happy, and if having a child will do it, I’ll support you—as a friend—one-hundred percent.”
A warmth spread through my chest, and I reached out and took his hand. “I really, really wish things had worked out between us. I care about you, too, Doug. If it’s worth anything, you were the only man whom I truly thought could get me over Colt.”
He smiled. “Life has a funny way of working out the way it should. Maybe things didn’t work out between us because fate knew Colt would be coming back to River Falls.”
I shook my head. “No matter how much I still love him, I don’t think I can forgive him for what he did to me.”
“Never say never, Ensley.”
I sighed. “Let’s change the subject, please. Tell me what’s going on in your life.”
We talked easily over dinner, and Doug even had me forgetting about Colt for a short time. I’d forgotten how easy it was to talk to Doug. He was going to make some lucky woman very happy one day.