“Why didn’t you say something sooner? Why didn’t you say anything when we first came over to L.A.?”
“Because I was pregnant, Joe. I was getting used to the fact that I was about to give birth to another human being, to your child. I was getting used to the fact that you and me were together, believe me, that was enough to get my head around.”
“So, why now?”
“Because Noah turning up like that – everything coming out the way it did … I don’t know, I guess it just pushed me to a point where I was suddenly seeing everything much more clearly. And don’t get me wrong, this house, it’s stunning. It’s incredible, it’s just – it isn’t ours, Joe. It’s yours. And it might sound stupid, but that in turn makes me feel like I’m still living your life, when I want to live ours. Does that make sense?”
The corner of his mouth inches up slightly, and he nods. “It makes sense. And I get the house thing, I understand. I do. But, you also said this life was too much. And I don’t want you to feel that way, Kari. I don’t want to lose you.”
I look at him, and I know that we’re still on that knife edge, still trying to work things out, get past all the crap that’s gone on, we’re nowhere near a fairytale ending. We’re not even close. But I’m not giving up. Not yet. And maybe he doesn’t deserve another chance, he lied to me. And what he did … what we all did … So many mistakes were made, and I don’t want us to be another one, so, yeah, I’m staying here, with Joe. And maybe I shouldn’t still want him, but I do.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
He briefly drops his gaze, and when he looks back up his eyes meet mine and I know without a shadow of a doubt that making this work isn’t going to be easy. I thought we were settled, that everything was moving on, but I was wrong. Everyone has emotions they’re still battling to cope with. People we can’t forget. People who betrayed us. Lied to us. Played games with our lives. Trust is an issue we’re still dealing with, but the one thing I know more than anything is that I love Joe Millar. And I didn’t want to love him. I didn’t want to be a part of his life, I fought it, I tried, but in the end, I lost.
“I’ll make this right, Kari. I promise.”
“Don’t make me promises, Joe.”
I turn back to what I was doing, folding Hollie’s baby clothes into a neat pile on the counter top.
“I’ve taken the day off work.”
That gets my attention, and I turn my head to look at him. “Really? You sure the entire company won’t fall apart without you there?”
He ignores my obvious flippancy.
“I thought we could go look at some – I dunno – slightly smaller beach houses? If you still want to live by the sea, that is. I thought we could go find a house that can become our home.”
I don’t want to smile, but I can’t help it. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Okay?” He raises an eyebrow, and I move a little closer.
“Okay.”
He slides an arm around my waist and I grab onto his belt. We haven’t been this close for days now. Haven’t slept in the same bed, haven’t touched, haven’t kissed each other, for days.
“I’ll make this better.”
“I said no promises, Joe. Let’s just play this by ear, all right?”
He smiles that smile and I step back from him. I still feel like we need a little space, but then he looks at me, and I want to believe that the regret in his eyes is real. He’s sorry, we all are. It’s over.
“It’s time to move on now, Kari.”
“I know.”
He holds out his hand and I take it; let him pull me back against him. I look up into his eyes and I know this is going to be hard, but nothing good comes easy, right?
“Things will get better, baby. You just need to trust me, okay?”
Trusting him again is going to be the hardest thing of all, but I need to try, or this isn’t going to work. And I want it to work, I do. “We have such a long way to go, Joe.”
“I know. And I know you don’t want me to promise you anything, but I’m promising you this – things will get better.”
I clutch his hand tight and I drop my gaze, I watch as his fingers curl around mine. And I think I believe him.
“Yeah. Maybe they will.”
*
There’s no ‘maybe’ about it.
I didn’t do what I did, put us through all of that for her to walk away from me; for me to lose her. I put a lot on the line, to make sure she stayed where she is. With me. I risked everything – and I’d risk it all again, if need be, but she can never know that.
All she ever needs to know is how much I love her. And that I’m sorry, for everything.
I need her, and that’s not a weakness I’m prone to admitting to – needing someone. But I need her. I’d stopped believing in happy-ever-afters, stopped caring about love and commitment, I wasn’t willing to go back there, after Maria. But Kari, she made me believe again.
So, yeah, we’re going to make this work. There’s no ‘maybe’ about it…
About the Author
Michelle Betham is an ex-media technician turned author of sexy, edgy, gritty romance, usually involving rock stars, sports stars, hot businessmen, and bikers. But not usually all in the same book. Yet. She is both self-published and published through HarperImpulse, a division of HarperCollins Publishers.
Addicted to binge-watching TV shows she struggles to think of a life before Netflix or Amazon Prime, loves rock music, tattoos – of which she has many – spicy food, superheroes (she’s a slightly obsessed Avengers fan-girl who harbors a particularly unhealthy obsession with Captain America), and Keanu Reeves – a crush that’s lasted well over twenty years, and one she blames entirely on ‘Point Break’. The original. She refuses to acknowledge any remake exists.
Her dream is to ride a Harley, visit Las Vegas, and be able to eat any amount of chocolate without putting on weight.
She lives in County Durham, north-east England, with her husband and West Highland Terrier, where she can be found most days drinking tea and making up stories.
Michelle has also written a psychological thriller – ‘The Wife’ – under the name ML Roberts, published by HarperImpulse.
Also by Michelle Betham
Titles published through HarperImpulse (A division of HarperCollins Publishers)
Striker – The Striker Trilogy Book #1
Extra Time – The Striker Trilogy Book #2
Final Score – The Striker Trilogy Book #3
The First Christmas Without You
Shirley Valentine Goes to Vegas
Writing as ML Roberts for HarperImpulse
To Have and to Hold (The Wife – Part One)
For Better, For Worse (The Wife – Part Two)
In Sickness and in Health (The Wife – Part Three)
Till Death Do Us Part (The Wife – Part Four)
The Wife – The complete ebook and paperback.
Self-Published titles
No Matter What (All that Glitters… Book #1)
Illusions of Love (All that Glitters… Book #2)
Too Much Trouble In Paradise
Bon Voyage
See You At The Show (A rock star romance)
Unbreakable
Revolution – The Lone Riders M/C Series Book #1
Retribution – The Lone Riders M/C Series Book #2
Resurrection – The Lone Riders M/C Series Book #3
Allure – The Forbidden Series Book #1
Obsession – The Forbidden Series Book #2
Surrender – The Forbidden Series Book #3
Broken – Soldiers of Darkness M/C Series Book #1
Betrayed – Soldiers of Darkness M/C Series Book #2
Bound – Soldiers of Darkness M/C Book #3
Lawfully His – The Dirty Business Series #1
Willfully Hers – The Dirty Business Series #2
Breathe Into Me (An emotional, sexy Hollywood Romance)
Protection (A Death Knights MC Novel
)
Tainted Love
Contact Michelle
Keep up-to-date with what Michelle’s up to over on her blog: bit.ly/1Gz1d5w
Sign up to her mailing list for all the latest news on new releases,
special offers, giveaways, etc. http://bit.ly/1j2Vi2K
Or check out her website: michellebetham.co.uk
You can also keep up-to-date with all the news on her books over on her Facebook author page - on.fb.me/1M5w76G or connect with her on on.fb.me/1wunXmC
Follow her on Twitter at bit.ly/185oeRk @michellebetham
Find her on Instagram - michellebethamauthor
And over on Pinterest at https://uk.pinterest.com/writerchelle/
And all of Michelle’s books can be found over on Amazon - amzn.to/1DcmEqt
You can also find books written by Michelle Betham as ML Roberts here - http://bit.ly/TheWifeBookSeries
And find out more about Michelle’s alter ego ML Roberts by following her on Twitter - https://twitter.com/AuthorMLRoberts @AuthorMLRoberts
Or ‘liking’ her Facebook Author Page - www.facebook.com/MLRobertsAuthor/
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