Page 66 of Guarding My Love

When the phone rang, she jumped, then looked down to see it was Amanda.

“Hi,” she said.

“I thought I’d call you,” Amanda said. “Harper just went down for a nap and so did Liam. The house is quiet and I’m on the deck soaking up the views.”

“That’s wonderful,” she said. “Are you resting up like you should be? Getting enough sleep?”

“I feel great,” she said. “I really do. We are in a nice routine on top of it.”

She debated for a few seconds if she wanted to unload on her sister and when the first tear fell she had to. “I just found out who Foster is and I’m so mad.”

“Who is he?” Amanda asked. “I thought you knew and were getting along so well.”

“His name is Foster Carlisle. Foster Mitchell Carlisle.”

“So he lied?”

“No,” she said. “That is the funny part. I played it back in my head and realized he told me the truth. That he was named after his father’s friend, the names were reversed. So I’m assuming that guy was Mitchell Foster. I just assumed.”

“How did you find out?” Amanda asked. “And why are you upset?”

“Landon showed up here an hour ago all but begging me to go back with him. That is until he got a look at me in my normal attire now.” She started to laugh hysterically. “He was conceited enough to think I looked like hell because I was grieving him.”

“You looked fine when I saw you,” Amanda said.

“He didn’t like the fact I was in shorts and a T-shirt. He was in a suit. It’s almost ninety out and he’s standing in my front yard in a suit as if he was getting ready to go kiss some client’s ass.”

“You’re swearing,” Amanda said. “You don’t do that often. Back to Foster.”

“He’s West Carlisle’s brother. Billionaire West Carlisle.”

“Oh,” Amanda said. “But it’s his brother, not him.”

“I know,” she said. “But he still has money. Here I told him all my sordid dating past and he probably thinks I’m after him for his money.”

“First off,” Amanda said, “you didn’t know who he was so you couldn’t be after him for anything other than what you know and have told me. What you feel for him. Just remember that.”

“I’m trying to tell myself that.”

“Then keep doing it,” Amanda said.

“I feel as if he played me,” she said. “That it was some game. I know he’s guarded. I get it.”

“Maybe you should ask him why he is,” Amanda said. “Didn’t you tell me before that he doesn’t like people or crowds? He doesn’t like going into the City either.”

“Yes,” she said. “All those things.”

“Did you stop to think that maybe if people know who he is, they’d look at him differently?” Amanda asked. “I’m not trying to make excuses for him. I don’t know him like you do. But I know what it’s like to be married to a man who is known by his last name.”

“I know,” she said. “That is why I called you. Give me advice.”

“I’m not sure what to tell you other than to hear him out. Ask him the hard questions. Don’t go light. Don’t let him off the hook, but listen too. To me, if you brush this off like it’s not a big deal, it will set the tone for future issues. Just saying.”

“Good advice,” she said. “Something I’ve learned in the past too. The same reason Landon came back. Because I always waiver and never stand my ground.”

“Now is your chance to show you have changed.”

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