Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Hardy hated the truth, and yet that was all he was going to get.
“I asked for that.”
“I’m not going to lie and pretend something isn’t happening. We spent a lot of time when we were younger avoiding conversations.”
“Did you want a banker? Someone with a nine-to-five job?”
“That was something I thought I was going to get. Please don’t think that I don’t love you. I do, and that’s the problem. I met you, fell in love, and we both moved faster than either of us anticipated. We should have taken our time, gotten to know each other.”
“My only regret is not coming home that night to you. If I’d come home, I wouldn’t have been where I was, and it wouldn’t have escalated the way it did.”
Tears filled his own eyes, startling him.
“Hardy, are you crying?”
“Yes, I am.” He rubbed his eyes, and forced himself to look away. Rose caught his face, forcing him to turn to face her.
“Don’t hide from me.”
Staring into her eyes, Hardy grasped her face, holding onto her chin. She didn’t hold him too tightly, just enough so that he could look at her.
“I love you with all my heart and soul, Rose. You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted. The one woman I’ll only ever fight for. I don’t want anyone else. I don’t love anyone else, and you’re my heart.” He pressed a kiss to her lips.
“We need to stop this,” she said, tapping his chest. “We need to move on with our lives.”
“I don’t want to lose you.” The thought of never getting to hold her in his arms scared him. He didn’t want to ever let her go.
“I’m not talking about losing me. I’m talking about us finally getting together and putting this crap behind us.” Rose stroked her hand down his face. “I can’t keep living like this.”
“I love you, Rose.”
“And I love you, Hardy, and I think it’s time for us to start again. To give ourselves a chance.”
Hardy wanted to take her into his arms, but he held back. He tugged the necklace he’d been wearing ever since Rose had taken off her wedding ring. He’d placed her wedding ring on the chain. Now, he removed the ring, and slid it on her finger.
“This doesn’t change anything though, Rose. I’m going to make sure you fall in love with me again. This is something I need to do, and something you deserve.”
“Then I guess we’re both in for a treat.”
****
Rose fluffed up her hair as the doorbell rang. Hardy and Baker were outside talking, and Rose made her way downstairs. She was in a pair of jeans and white shirt, but they were her smart ones, the ones that showed off her ass and tits. She wouldn’t be fitting into them very soon.
Opening the door she saw Millie was holding a cake.
“Hi, I, erm, I baked a cake. A chocolate cake with a ganache style frosting.” Millie looked at the cake then at Rose. “I hope that’s okay. I don’t get invited out much to dinner parties or a dinner of any kind.”
“You’re a charmer, Millie.” Rose took the cake, inviting her inside. “Hardy and Baker are here. I hope that’s okay. It’s hard to turn those men away. They love my cooking.”
She kept on talking seeing how nervous Millie was.
“It’s okay. I’m surprised about the invite.” Millie removed her coat and held onto it. Rose entered the kitchen, placed the cake on the counter, then took Millie’s coat.
“Come on. We’ll head outside and see what the holdup is,” Rose said, taking her hand.
Baker and Hardy were around the barbeque pit talking.
“Guys, this is Millie. I’m sure you’ve met her before,” Rose said.
Baker’s eyes lit up when he saw her.
“Toy lady,” Baker said.
Rose winced. He was really out of practice right now, and Rose was pleased she and Hardy were there to help steer the conversation.
“I guess that’s me,” Millie said, looking scared.
“Baker, help me.” Rose didn’t wait around. She walked back into the kitchen, and turned to face him. “Toy lady? What the hell was that?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I don’t know what to do when I’m around her. She’s different.”
“Well, she’s brought a cake as well. I’ll bring them both out at dinner. Be nice, and not scary with the whole toy lady thing. It’s a job, nothing else.”
“Okay, I’m sorry,” Baker said, holding his hands up.
“Good, let’s go out there.”
They entered the garden, and Millie had her arms folded over her chest, listening to Hardy talk about the rose bushes.
“You have a beautiful garden, Rose.”
“Thanks, honey. It was just an overgrown jungle a few days ago. Baker and Hardy worked to get it like this.”
“They’ve got a good touch.” Millie leaned forward to scent a flower. Glancing back at Baker, Rose’s heart went out to him. The look of longing on his face took her by surprise. Losing his wife had affected him in ways she couldn’t even begin to imagine.