Page 79 of The Bitter Rival

Taking my hand, she heads to her room, and I begin unbuttoning my shirt. I drape everything over a cozy chair in the corner of her room and take in the small space. The room is easily a third of the size of mine. Austin’s is the larger of the two bedrooms. There’s no en suite bath, but she has a queen-sized bed, and the furnishings are nice. Again, multiple prized family photos adorn her dresser and nightstand. The room is everything I would expect from Isabella. Beautiful, functional, no fuss. Turning back to Bella, I notice she’s removed her robe and sits on the edge of the bed wearing only her dusky pink nightgown. It has thin spaghetti straps and cascades over her beautiful skin loosely. Her breasts are full against the confines of the top of the gown, and her firm nipples are evident through the material. But her beauty is all I see. Her body doesn’t elicit lust but love. I’m totally and completely in love with this woman. I’ve never been more sure of anything.

Holding her hand out to me, she says quietly, “Come to bed, Sebastian.”

Entering the far side of the bed wearing only my boxer briefs, I slide in until I’m curled against her. She leans to her side, clicks off the lamp, and reclines back into my chest.

We lie still in the dark for a while until my curiosity gets the best of me.

“GG?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I ask you something without upsetting you?”

“Yes,” she answers timidly.

“Is Austin on the spectrum?”

“Yes.”

“Is it Asperger’s? I don’t have a lot of experience, but he’s so smart.”

“No. He has Autism. He’s very high functioning, so I can see why you’d think that.”

“How did he learn to paint like that?”

“He’s been painting since he was small. The sketching started later. I had him enrolled in a private Christian school where the art teacher had a real fondness for him. She found ways to help him, despite his limitations.”

“Well, I don’t see any limits now. He could go anywhere with his talent. I’d be honored to have an Austin Potter original hanging in my home.”

“Lind.”

“What?”

“Austin’s last name is Lind. I took my maiden name back after the divorce, but his father’s last name is Lind.”

Why does that name sound so familiar?“That name. I’ve heard it before. It’s not common.”

“You may have worked with him. His dad. He’s a cardiologist. He worked at St. Luke’s briefly after college before moving to New York.”

“Your ex-husband is Richard Lind?”

“Yes. He’s great with hearts… unless it’s his wife or son’s that’s on the line.”

“Bella, I’m sorry.” I’m acutely aware mine is breaking. This girl has suffered so much heartache already.Why did I come here?

“We were high school sweethearts. I put him through medical school. Then he left.”

“Did he run off with his nurse?” So cliché, but I need to know.

“No. He didn’t leave for anyone else. He just didn’t want us.”

What the hell?

“I think he fell out of love with me before Austin came along. He may have thought a baby would bring us closer, but he wasn’t interested in parenting a unique child. I’m glad he walked away. We’re better off without him.”

A dull ache develops in my chest. She’s the strongest woman I know. She deserves so much better than this.

“Sebastian, about this afternoon-”

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