Chapter9
Lola dabbedsome cold water on one of the gold monogrammed hand towels from the wicker basket. A couple of elegant women joined her in the restroom and a few exited, the hustle-bustle a simple detail in her hectic night.
Disentangling herself from Jack had been the right thing to do. She pressed the towel on her neck and cheeks gently. Who was she kidding? An entire gallon of Icelandic water wouldn’t cool her ardor.
“Are you okay?” said a familiar voice behind her, and she raised her head to meet the reflection in the mirror. Mel leaned against the wall, hands crossed over her chest.
“Yes,” she lied and swung on her heels to face her… rival? No. Being catty to Mel was too daytime soap opera. “Hoyt didn’t tell me you’d be here aswell.”
Mel wore a beautiful gold gown, which gave her lithe body a regal vibe. If Lola watched her carefully, she’d see the resemblance to Hoyt. They both shared the same high cheekbones and fiery eyes. “He mentioned he ran into you,” Mel said, letting out a sigh. Then, she rolled her eyes as if she just figured something out. “God. That’s so much like my brother.”
“Whatis?”
“He wanted me to see you and Jack. Together.”
Lola bit her inner cheek, and wished she could throat punch Hoyt just about now. Yes, he was a sneaky jerk. Or was he just too protective? Either way, she didn’t want to hurt Mel. “Listen, Mel, I’ve been meaning to talk to you but never found the right moment. I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s going on between you and Jack, but…” The words trailed off. But I can guarantee we’re over? No. They were over as spouses. But, how could she omit the fact they still had a sexual pull he so pragmatically proposed to address? I can’t tell her. Any woman would be beyond hurt. God. How could she accept his fuckfest proposal, knowing if she slept with him, she’d be hurting someoneelse?
Maybe Mel picked up on her conundrum, for she waved her off. “Jack talked to me. We’re okay. We’re friends who tried to make more thanthat.”
Friends. A shudder ran down her spine. What was it with that word lately? Lola shook her head. Turned out, Mel was a lot nicer than she was. Resentment lodged in her throat. “I’m sorry about how we met. Now I feel even worse about avoiding you lately.”
Mel chuckled, and the contours of her striking face softened. She was gorgeous, generous, and uncomplicated. Why wouldn’t Jack make things work with someone like her? She’d be perfect for the kind of marriage he wanted. “I know, which is why I followed you into the restroom. You don’t have to. Jack and I tried to give it ashot.”
Lola cleared her throat. “And you weren’thurt?”
“Jack and I want a lot of the same things. We both love this town, and want a family of our own. Because we’ve both been burned before, we thought it was best to keep volatile emotions out of theway.”
“So you didn’t… lovehim?”
Mel looked at herself in the mirror, as if coming to terms with her own truth, then faced Lola. Mel ran her fingers over her blonde tresses that cascaded around her face like a Pantene commercial. “I loved the idea of building something withhim.”
Makes sense.Wasn’t it easier to walk into a relationship knowing what to expect? When she married Jack, she’d been infatuated. And the lust didn’t hold any of the ingredients needed to keep the marriage alive. “And why didn’t your ideawork?”
Mel lifted her shoulders. “Because it turns out, he needs the emotions. Even if he hasn’t figured it outyet.”
He needs the emotions.The words rang in her ear like a musical instrument. Jack needed a whole lot more than emotions, and that’s why she couldn’t keep him as a husband. She didn’t know if she’d ever be ready to take on the challenge. Motherhood—being a parent—required commitment. And so far she hadn’t been stellar in that department, but she hoped she’d change. For herself, not for any man. Not even forJack.
Right now, essentially, she and Jack were still the same people despite her efforts to change and grow independent. If she went ahead and accepted his crazy proposal for a farewell fuckfest, she had to keep reality in mind. “How about you? Will you be okay?” she asked, wishing she could give her a hug or something. Anything. Maybe she could bring her a drink.
Mel walked up to her, with a genuine smile playing on her lips. “I’m fine. I’m not the delicate flower everyone makes me out tobe.”
“You’re not.” Lola glanced at the beautiful blonde next to her. “I’m glad we had this talk. Thankyou.”
Mel nodded. “You’re welcome.”
“I’d like to be friends with you one day, although to be honest, envy would be a problem. You have flawless skin and even with heels on I still feel like an old dusty ottoman next to Candace Swanepoel.”
“I’d like to be friends.” Mel blushed. “And you have my blessing to continue with Jack if that’s what you two are doing. Not like you ever neededit.”
Lola left the bathroom. Was having an affair with her husband on paper a sophisticated and modern arrangement? Or just plain stupid?
She sauntered into the ballroom again, and little currents of electricity sparked into her belly. When her eyes found him, pure fire blazed in her stomach. She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat thickened. Damnit.
He talked to someone, a much older gentleman, and smiled. For a moment, she enjoyed watching him, and how much more relaxed he seemed when interacting with someone else. Lola stepped toward him, and at every inch she closed between the two of them, the decision solidified. She still wanted him. Why deny herself the pleasure? In a few months, she would prove to him and, most of all, to herself, she could run the bed and breakfast. And she wasn’t going anywhere after that happened. She’d sign the divorce papers and he’d move out of the ranch.
When his gaze found hers, she sucked in a breath. He said something to the gentleman and strode herway.
“Done some thinking?” he asked, his baby blues sparkly and hopeful.
