Page 43 of The Lilac River

"Funny," I bit out. "All that about not wanting to be tied down. And then you did."

"It was years later," she said. Her voice cracked.

"Still seems like a betrayal, Lila."

She pointed at me, her finger inches from my chest. "You had a child not long after I left. You didn’t hang around."

"What did you want me to do? Mourn you for the rest of my life?" I stepped closer, voice low. "And I’m not with Bertie’s mom. Never was. But you—" My voice dropped. "You vowed to love another man till death do you part. But does he know you’re here with me? Does he know I used to kiss that exact spot on your neck when you moaned my name in the dark?"

Her eyes flared.

"Was he who you left town for?"

"Now you’re being ridiculous. Did you hear me say it was years later? That was because I loved you. I would never do that to you."

That broke something in me.

I didn’t think. I didn’t breathe.

I just grabbed her, hauled her against me and crushed my mouth to hers.

And she kissed me back like her life depended on it.

Our tongues tangled, desperate, messy. Her hands fisted in my shirt, my fingers in her hair. She tasted like red wine and memory, like heartbreak and home.

"God," she moaned, when I pressed her back against the wall, our hips grinding.

When I cupped her breast, she arched into me, gasping.

And then I ruined it.

"Hubby not doing it for you, Lila?"

She froze. Pulled back. Ice in her eyes.

"You piece of shit," she whispered. "What do you think I am?" She shoved me away, furious and trembling. "I would never cheat on my husband."

I laughed bitterly. "Hate to break it to you, but you just did. And don’t pretend you don’t still feel it between us. Not the actions of a happily married, loyal wife.

She raised a hand to slap me. I caught her wrist.

"You are one hateful man."

"Maybe. But I can still get you off. Want me to make some Cliff Notes for the hubster?"

Her face twisted with disgust.

"There is no husband, asshole. I divorced him because he was a dick too. But maybe not quite as big a dick as you."

And with that, she shoved past me and disappeared into the bathroom.

The second she was gone the floor fell out from under me.

No husband.

She wasn’t married. She was free.

And I had just destroyed the one fragile thread still connecting us.

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