“I’ve had no reason to believe that anything ever works out, so you may find me to be a tough convert on that philosophy.”
“I wish I didn’t have to leave you when you’re having doubts.”
“They’re not doubts so much as realities.”
He tipped her chin up to receive his kiss.“My reality suddenly and totally revolves around you, so keep the faith, okay?”
“I’ll try.”
“Get some rest and text me when you wake up.”
“Okay.”
He kissed her once more, with all the passion and heat he’d shown her from the second they’d arrived at his home earlier and seemed to be tearing himself away from her when he let her go.
“I’ll walk you to the door.”
“No, I’m fine.Go on home and get some sleep.”
“I’ll wait until you’re inside, then.”
“If you must.”
“I must.”
“Thank you for tonight.It was amazing.”
“Yes, it was.Thankyou.”
Isla leaned across the center console for one more kiss before she got out of the SUV and headed for the breezeway door, where she punched in a code to get into the house.She waved and turned off the outside light.
After checking on her sleeping babies, Isla got into bed and exhaled a deep breath as she tried to calm her racing heart.Her body was still tingling from the aftereffects of epic orgasms with a man who clearly knew his way around the female body.While she might’ve been jealous to think of him with countless other women, if all that experience had shown him how to bring her the most pleasure she’d ever known, then she supposed she could forgive him for his past.
It would take days, if not weeks or months, to process what’d transpired in his bed.
That her body could respond that way, that a man would tell her to relax and let it all go and think of nothing but her own pleasure… What world was she living in all of a sudden?Every pleasure point pulsated in response to the memories that played on repeat, the most sensuous, delicious movie she’d ever seen.
She turned onto her side, hugging the pillow and wishing it was him.If only she could bottle the way it felt to be wrapped up in his arms so she could have a dose of it any time she needed it.
Mrs.V had made her promise not to fall in love with a man who’d avoided relationships for his entire adult life, but here she was, falling deeper by the minute into the sort of thing that couldn’t be undone or unlearned once it had seeped into her heart and soul.The euphoric feeling that came with him was heady, addicting stuff that had her already yearning to see him again.
Her last thought before she drifted into sleepy dreams of him was that she hoped it would happen soon.
She woke in the morning to a text from Gabriel’s mother, letting her know there’d be a wake for him in Santa Barbara on Thursday afternoon.No pressure to attend,Maggie had written along with the address for the funeral home where the service would take place.He didn’t want anything religious, so we’re just doing the wake and a private burial for the family.We know how busy you are with the children.Hopefully, we can find a time to get together in the next few weeks so we can meet our grandchildren.We’d so love to know them—and you, of course.Gabriel spoke so highly of you in the short time we had together.
Isla thought about what she wanted to say before she replied.Thank you for letting me know.I’ll try my best to be there, and of course you can meet the children.They’d love that, too.Thank you also for letting me know he was remembering me fondly at the end of his life.That’s nice to hear.Our time together was challenging and very difficult, especially toward the end, but I’m trying to remember that much of what happened was because of his illness.
As she reread the message before she sent it, she decided to strike that last sentence.There was no sense in revisiting things that couldn’t be changed.What difference did any of it make now?Gabriel had done what he’d done, he’d refused to seek the medical care that might’ve saved his life and their marriage, and now he was gone forever.
She had to live in the present rather than the past, and the present was looking rather lovely with a text from Julian that popped up after she’d replied to Maggie.
Morning, beautiful.Hope you slept well.I had dreams of you and was sad when I woke up and you weren’t here.I wish you were here.
Isla smiled as she typed her reply.I dreamed about you, too, and wished you were here.Hope your busy day isn’t too awful.What’s first on your agenda today?
Attending the arraignment for my client who shot and killed her ex-husband when he broke into the home where she and her kids were staying.I need to figure out what’s up with her kids and who has them.
Isn’t her case self-defense?
