Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Is it a breach? I signed the paperwork about two years ago. At the time, the last thing on my mind was dating and I definitely didn’t think that my soulmate would wander into my station with her bright blue eyes and that fiery red hair.
“I bet you think you’re in love with her,” Lincoln says. “But love is about doing what’s best for her. Putting her first even when it means you don’t get what you want.”
His words hit me in the gut. What am I going to do? Turn Wynter into some dirty little secret? Have her over to my apartment so we can get it on in the middle of the night but the rest of the time, we have to pretend we’re nothing more than co-workers?
The thought of not getting to take her on dates and show her off, of not telling the whole damn town how proud I am to have her on my arm is too much. She deserves better and that means I need to stow away these feelings. Maybe later I can think up a solution. But for now, I have to let her go.
The fake smile on my face feels like it’s stuck there. I want to turn it off, but I can’t seem to find the strength. Instead, I smile while giving my sister away. I smile while I stand next to my best man and try to pretend my heart isn’t breaking at the hopeful expression in Wynter’s eyes.
I need to do this soon. Need to make it clear to her that we can’t be together. That’s why the moment my best man duties are done, I’m pulling her into a little alcove in the hallway. All of our friends are in the reception room, getting drunk and dancing and celebrating.
Gray, the lodge owner, wanders through the lobby. Poor guy looks as heartbroken as I feel in this moment. Weird because I was pretty sure he hooked up with a guest last night. The two of them looked pretty cozy.
Wynter beams at me, her expression so full of trust. What the fuck have I done? I’ve taken her beautiful heart and held it in my hands. Now, I’m about to give it back like it meant nothing to me. A wave of bile rises in my throat and I remind myself that this is what’s best for her.
I clear my throat. “About last night…”
Her expression instantly changes to one of wariness and distrust. “What about it?”
“It was a mistake.” The words are acid on my tongue. The lie burns with every syllable and I embrace it. I deserve every moment of coming misery, every beat of my splintered heart is a reminder that I’m an asshole.
She flinches and fuck, why didn’t I send her away from my room last night? Why didn’t I tell her we could never be friends instead of admitting the raw truth?
“It never would have happened if we weren’t here. The wedding stuff got to our heads,” I say. It’s lame, even to my own ears. We’ve been ignoring the spark between us for months, both of us pretending it’s not there.
She jabs a finger to my chest. “Yellow roses.”
“What?” I scramble to keep up with her thought process.
“When you’re ready to come to your senses and realize I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you, I like yellow roses.” She nods to herself and spins on her heel, moving back to the reception without waiting for me.
There weren’t tears, only anger. Somehow, that’s worse. There’s a sinking feeling in my gut now. Like I fucked up when that’s exactly what I was trying to avoid.
6
DEREK
Seven weeks. It’s been seven weeks since I let Wynter go and I’ve wanted to kick my own ass every day since. I kept trying to convince myself I’d done the right thing, but my heart wouldn’t let me. Watching her walk away gutted me.
But Lincoln was right. I came home and looked over the paperwork. Dating Wynter would give Strickland every reason to fire me and destroy her career. Since messing up her career wasn’t an option, I started searching for a new job.
Problem is that most stations are in a hiring freeze. I finally managed to find a place three hours away that’ll take me. The commute will be hell but it’s worth it to have the chance to finally be with my woman.
“Shit, this is your new pay amount?” Cam questions as he glances at the paperwork on my kitchen table. I took him for a run while Journey stayed in with Lucy.
Apparently, my little sister kicked him out of the house because he’s always hovering over her. Since the pregnancy, he’s become over the top about keeping her safe to the point that it’s almost comical.