Page 12 of Promise You Forever

“I’m not the one to be worried about.”

“Linda told me you used to date Eli.”

“Linda has a big mouth.” Somehow those two have become best friends in the year that Jasmine has lived in town. I suppose it makes sense, they’re both from the south and work in the healthcare field, but they gossip together all the time.

Jasmine flashes a quick grin before turning serious again. “It might be time to start thinking of next steps for Paul.”

“What do you mean?”

“Before Jo passed away, we had started researching nursing homes that specialize in caring for those with dementia. She would have kept him home as long as possible, but she wanted a backup plan just in case.”

“I don’t think Eli is ready for that conversation.” Hell, I don’t even know who’s going to be making the decisions from here on out. It’s not something that comes up in casual conversation with your boss.

“I can stay overnight tonight if you need me to.”

“No, I think I can handle it. Especially now that he’s been violent. I’ll be more vigilant.”

“Okay, we’ll table it for now. But at some point, before Eli goes back, you’ll need to talk to her. I’m guessing her parents won’t be much in the way of help.” She turns and walks off down the hall when Paul calls out for help.

Her parents hadn’t even crossed my mind. Surely Paul and Jo wouldn’t leave decisions in their hands. Not when they couldn’t be bothered to visit in the past ten years.

Just another thing to worry about.

After I get my boots on and grab a ball cap, I’m out the back door and headed toward the barn. With it being the weekend, everything is on me. I get the dogs and barn cats fed first, then fill their water bowls. Then make sure the sheep have everything they need. A quick glance at the round feeder in the cattle pasture confirms that they’re good for now.

The crunch of gravel behind me alerts me of someone’s presence. Eli’s swollen cheek and black eye greet me as soon as I turn around. A wince slips out before I can school my features.

“That bad, huh?” She gives me a grim smile.

I clench my fists in order to keep from reaching out and cupping her beautiful face. This is a million times harder than I thought it would be. Relentless waves of remorse and regret crash over me.

“It adds character,” I finally manage to speak.

That gets another half-hearted smile from her. “I was hoping you’d have something for me to do to keep busy until Amber gets here. I can’t just sit around alone.” She looks out over the grounds. “It’s too hard to be in that house without Grams.”

“Of course.” I start walking toward the goat pen. “How about adding some straw to the goat shed? Anytime I go in there, Blanche head butts me the whole time. Makes everything take twice as long.”

“She still loves you,” she teases.

I huff out a chuckle. “At least someone does.”

Her smile falls as soon as the words pass my lips. She brushes past me without another word. I watch her cut through the yard and disappear inside the pen. We lost Sophia, one of the goats, last winter, but she’ll know the other three. She really took to caring for them the summer she stayed here so I make my way back into my office.

The unfortunate thing for me is that having Eli so close again brings back all the memories of the places we’d sneak off to. As I sit at my desk, I can’t help but think about the time I bent her over it and sank my teeth into her ass. It was the first time I marked her, but it wasn’t the last.

Part of me refuses to acknowledge her engagement. I don’t want to meet the lucky asshole she’s fallen in love with. The thought of her in white walking down the aisle to another man makes my blood race with anger. If I was a better man, I would make myself scarce once he arrives.

Guess it’s a good thing no one ever accused me of being the better man.

Five

ELI

Brandon presses a quick kiss to my lips and greets me as he pulls his phone out of his pocket and starts scrolling through text messages and emails that came through during the flight. He must have come straight from work because he’s still in his suit and tie, but his blond hair is just a bit messy. I shouldn’t be surprised that he doesn’t wrap his arms around me in the big, comforting hug I need right now. That’s not his style at all.

Sometimes I think that’s why I’ve ended up with him. What he lacks in warmth and passion, he makes up for with sensibility and stability. He’s a lot like my parents in that respect. You would think that they would love him for it, but I actually think they hate him. That fact alone makes me want to cling to this relationship.

He grabs my hand absentmindedly while we walk to my car, his eyes still glued to his phone while he taps away. I should be angry that he’s ignoring me. It should hurt, shouldn’t it?

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