I honestly don’t know what I would have done without him. He’s patient and attentive. He supports my ideas and vision for the future. And for the first time in a while, I think the bar might actually make it through the long haul.
Perhaps we could too.
It’s late, and we’re the last two left in the bar. We’ve closed out the register, and Hollis is putting up the chairs so he can sweep the floor. In a few minutes, we’ll be done and heading home.
I don’t think I want to sleep alone tonight.
I think I’m ready to step off that ledge. To take that leap. To make this marriage…real.
Every day we’re together, we grow closer. Our bond strengthens. Our friendship deepens. And this yearning I have for my husband never wavers.
If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.
I don’t want to live my life with regret.
Before he sees me standing there, watching him, I turn and head to the back, eager to finish up now that my mind is made up. I grab the trash and push the door open, not bothering to look as I prepare to chuck the bag into the dumpster.
That turns out to be a dire mistake.
Someone pushes me, and the door slams shut behind me, locking me out instantly. A sudden wave of dread washes over me as I turn to see Jace looming over me with malice in his eyes.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, and at the same time, he knocks the bag out of my hand. Trash goes everywhere.
He doesn’t even flinch and instead reaches up to brush a stray hair from my face. “Paying my girl a visit, of course.”
I bat his hand away. “I am not your girl, Jace. We broke up months ago.”
“Yeah, but we had such a good thing going.”
I try to step back, but the corner of the dumpster digs into my hip, pinning me in place. Jace uses this to his advantage, getting into my personal space. He smells like pot and cheap cologne.
I can’t remember a single reason why I liked this man.
He looks the same as when I last saw him, but there’s a desperation in his expression that scares me. I once wouldn’t have thought him capable of violence, but that was before he broke in and emptied my stockroom.
“You mean, good for you? Tell me, when exactly did you decide to start stealing from me? Was it before or after I gave you the job? Just trying to decide how calculating you are.”
“Can’t blame a guy for taking advantage of an opportunity.” He shrugs.
“I trusted you,” I seethe.
He ignores me as a cold smile appears on his face. “When I met you at that concert, I thought you were a little shy. Kind of boring. But then I looked you up and realized who your family was, and I thought I’d go for it. Plus, you were hot, so it wasn’t like it was a hardship, you know?” He winks, and my stomach turns. I try to sidestep, but he blocks me. “With your family’s connections, I thought I’d have no trouble getting into thehottest clubs and exclusive parties. But then I actually met your family. And you know what, Pres? They’re just as boring as you.”
“They’re not boring,” I argue. “They’re just normal.”
He laughs. “I got news for you. Normal people don’t grow up where you did, princess.”
“So are you mad at us for having money, or not having enough to benefit you?”Shut up, Pres. Stop antagonizing him.
“I’m mad because, thanks to you, I’m in serious debt. And you’re gonna get me out of it.”
I blanch. “What do you mean?”
“I needed that cash to pay someone off,” he says through gritted teeth.
“Who?” I press.
“It doesn’t matter!” he explodes, his face just inches from mine. I try to figure out how I used to look at this man with love and affection.
