Page 15 of Bear's Midlife Bridesmaid
“So, you were using each other?” The conclusion was a hard one to swallow. How was that a marriage? How was that love and happiness? How was that any way to live? Erin simply couldn’t envision a relationship like that continuing for any length of time without some sort of resentment building up.
“Until you ruined it.” A bit of spit came flying out of Gretchen’s lips. “Your little charade embarrassed the hell out of him, and Hugo isn’t the kind of man who takes that well. He wants the dignity and respect that a man of his stature has earned. He’s not going to pretend to grovel to me just for appearances. Yes, we had an agreement, but it was aprivateone.”
“I see,” Erin said quietly. She didn’t know what else to say.
“If you say so, but I doubt it. This wasmylife to live the way I wanted it, and you just shit all over it.” Gretchen hurried past her and out of the cabin, slamming the door behind her.
Erin sat for a moment in silence. She really couldn’t understand why Gretchen would want that for herself, but it hadn’t been her place to judge. Erincould try to lay the blame at Gretchen’s feet for not explaining it all to her in the first place, but it was far too late for that now. Guilt swept over her once again. What a horrible trip this had turned out to be!
The engines had cut completely now, and a quick glance out the window told Erin that they’d docked. She gripped the handle of her suitcase and waited. If they all hated her anyway, she’d give them space to leave before she stepped out.
She wished that things were still the way they used to be with Gretchen. Even once their lives had turned in opposite directions, Erin had been able to spill her heart out to her friend. She longed to tell Gretchen what was happening between herself and Jace and ask her for advice. They weren’t young kids with their whole lives ahead of them. She had a life, a shop, and a coven in Salem. He had a home, a job, and a son in Truro. Neither of them could be expected just to drop all of that. But there would be no asking Gretchen about that today, and maybe not ever.
After a few minutes, she carefully opened the door and glanced left and right down the hall. No one was in sight. With her suitcase bobbling along behind her, Erin made her way up the stairs to the deck. She stood right where she’d been when herstupid overnight bag had split open and embarrassed her. That should’ve been the first sign that this trip was going to be a bad one. Frowning at the deck boards, she hurried across them.
“You’re not sneaking off, are you?” a deep voice said behind her.
Erin jumped. She dropped the handle of her suitcase, and it fell to the deck with a bang. She cringed, waiting for it to explode and cause a whole new scene, but it lay silent.
Jace grabbed the handle and righted the suitcase, but he didn’t hand it back to her. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted a chance to talk to you.”
“That’s fine. Perfectly fine.” She fought to catch her breath. Anxiety over Gretchen had already made her lungs a bit uncooperative, but running into Jace had completely driven the air out of them. “I’m glad you stopped me, actually. I was too focused on avoiding everyone else.”
He tipped his head as he watched the other passengers hurry down the pier to where their vehicles waited for them. “I think you’re safe.”
Shefeltsafe. Something about him made her all soft inside, a cozy feeling she’d never had with anyone else. It was one of the reasons she knew they belonged together, but the knowledge once againreminded her of the difficulties that lay ahead. “I wanted to talk to you, too. I had a nice time with you last night.” It was a start.
“So did I,” Jace said with a nod. “I was actually wondering if you’d like to continue having a nice time.”
“How is that?” She found a smile growing across her face, one that reflected his. How could she be smiling at all after that conversation with Gretchen? She didn’t know, but she pushed all that negativity away.
His shoulder rolled slightly under his epaulet as he gave a reserved shrug. “I’ve got some extra time on my hands now that we’ve docked earlier than expected.”
That was a nice way of putting it.
“We’re not all that far from where I live, and I thought I’d see if you wanted to spend the rest of the week with me.” The sunlight picked out all the little flecks of color in his hazel eyes.
“I, um, I’d have to see if I can get a hotel.” The logical part of her brain was fighting with her instinct to just jump into his arms.
“No. You can stay with me at my place. If you’d like,” he added.
Oh, yes. Erin’s bobcat shuddered with pleasure.A handsome man who resonated with her soul, who looked at her as though she were the only woman in the world, who knew precisely how to please her in bed, wanted to spend more time with her? “That sounds nice.”
Erin still didn’t know how they’d manage to continue on after this week, but that would be a problem for another day.
8
Erin opened her eyes.Early morning sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the navy bedsheets around her. She blinked at them for a second, knowing her bed sheets were absolutely not dark blue. Then she remembered where she was.
She rolled over, but the other side of the bed was empty. His scent lingered behind him, seducing her even when he wasn’t in the room. Experimentally, Erin ran her hand along the flat sheet under the covers. When she reached his side, it was still warm from his body. This guy was obviously an early riser.
That was pretty impressive since they’d had such a late night.
Stretching and wiggling a bit in the large,comfortable bed, Erin smiled to herself. How wild of her to just stay with a guy for a few days when he’s practically a stranger! That’s not the sort of thing she did, not ever. But her thoughts about getting a hotel had fled quickly when he’d assured her she could stay with him. There was no place she’d rather be. Jace might be a stranger, but he was no stranger to her soul.
The scent of something delicious had made its way into the bedroom, beckoning her to the kitchen. Her stomach rumbled, eager to obey, and she slipped out from between the sheets. Erin picked through her suitcase, looking for something appropriate to wear. She didn’t want to jump out of bed and get fully dressed. That wasn’t who she was, and if she and Jace were going to truly get to know each other, then why pretend? In a t-shirt and comfy flannel shorts, she stepped into the hallway and down the stairs.
He was at the stove with his back to her, but he turned as soon as she came into the room. “There you are. I was just about to come and wake you up. I wouldn’t want your eggs to get cold. Actually, I hope you like eggs.”
