Page 57 of Dirty Money
He treated her special after he realized they were actually dating. And when he took her virginity, he made it special for her. Weston realized he was that man. He was that guy who wanted to rescue women.
And then he knew that was going to be his downfall. He needed to be with a woman who didn’t need him to fix her or help her. Aulora had never asked for his help, yet he’d given it to her in every way he could think of.
She was mad at him for buying up all her artwork at that show. Even though she needed the damn money, she had been mad and asked him not to buy any more of it.
Aulora wanted to make it all on her own and he had gotten in the way of that. Trying to fix things for her, instead of being by her side and helping her to deal with the outcome, whatever that might be.
“Thank you, Hayley,” he said as they pulled into the busy LAX airport.
“For what?” she said then sniffled.
“For showing me what I’ve been doing wrong all these years. I’ve been trying to help women.”
“That’s not a bad thing, Weston.”
“But it is if you take away from them to do it. When I saw you crying, I just wanted to stop it. And what I did was unintentionally make you think of me as the go-to guy to ease your mind, your fears, your loneliness.”
“And you’re great at doing that, Weston. Not every man cares that much,” she told him then ran her hand over his cheek. “That’s a great attribute.”
Taking her hand, moving it back to her own lap, he left it there and she noticed that he no longer wanted her to touch him. But she thought it might stem from how he was reacting to her touch. It must spark something in him or he wouldn’t bother to get away from it.
He saw her bite her lower lip and reach out to him again. “Stop that,” he warned her. “I can see what you’re trying to do. I don’t want to hurt you. Don’t make me.”
“She doesn’t want you anymore,” she told him as they sat in the long line at the airport.
“She’s just mad and that’s what she does when she’s mad.”
“Shuts you out? That’s not healthy,” Hayley said, pissing Weston off.
“You did that too, so don’t go judging her!” he shouted at her. “You know what, just be quiet. For now, be quiet.”
He picked his cell back up and tapped in a message to Aulora.
-I’ll take my chances. When I get back, I’m coming over to explain everything to you. I’m done hiding things.-
Aulora was quick to text back.
-Don’t!-
-I am going to talk to you. Don’t even try to avoid me. I will find you and if you’re at work or school or any place public, it won’t stop me from talking to you. I know how you hate scenes, so you should make sure we’re someplace private when we talk. Your place or mine?-He texted back to her.
A long time went by. He was able to move up a lot before she texted back.
-Fine, it’s your funeral. I’ll be home. I’ve already called into work. I feel sick. Sick and tired!-
“You should heed her warning, Weston. Why fight with her? She’s not going to take you back. You lied to her and went off with your ex-wife. Who you kissed.”
Weston looked at her with a frown on his handsome face. “She doesn’t know that.”
A sly grin curled her lips. “You will need to tell her that, you know. In the spirit of honesty.”
He looked at the cars ahead of him. The way they were all in long rows of what seemed to be endless lines told him he’d be there a while. And he felt the heaviness begin to form in his chest.
Honesty meant he’d need to tell her about the kiss. He’d need to be honest about it all. No more hiding anything. He felt like he may get defeated then he smiled as he thought about things.
Aulora hadn’t told him a damn thing about her past!
How could she fault him? She’d been as closed off with her past as he had!Loophole!
