Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Eagle is my new lawyer’s preferred name, although, in court he’s known as Mr. Jones. He filed an emergency protection order after I told him about Dane’s threats. Thankfully, I used a recorder on some of our phone calls. I know Dane thinks I’m too stupid to do something like that. The only time I’ve been stupid was when I agreed to marry him and believe his lies. He sure as hell cured me of that.
One of the biggest changes Eagle has made recently is that there is now a restraining order against Dane and Serena. They must stay five hundred feet away from me. He’s allowed only supervised visitation with Cammie for now. He’s pushing to have that changed, but Eli did the strangest thing. After I mentioned to him and Drew that Dane and his whore had dinner with the circuit judge, he somehow had the tech guy from the Devil’s Blaze to hack into the judge’s security cameras at his home. Getting that information, he petitioned the court system for a change of judge and venue. I wasn’t there for that hearing. It was privately held between the lawyers and the judge. I don’t know what’s said, but my case was transferred to London, Kentucky and the judge stepped down. Dane was irate because he called me screaming and berating me. I taped that too and handed it to Eagle.
There will be a court date soon. I’m trying to prepare myself for that. Eagle warned me that Drew would most likely get visitation of some sort with Cammie. There wasn’t much I could do about it. I’ve tried to accept it, but knowing my sweet baby girl would have to spend time with her cold-hearted father and his mistress tore something inside of me. I was helpless, and that did nothing to ease the ache inside me.
I sit on my front porch, a cup of hot chocolate in my hand to help ward off the cool October morning. The monitor for Cammie’s room is sitting on the table beside me. She didn’t sleep well last night, so I’d just put her down for her nap a few minutes ago. I’m on paid leave from the bakery. It’s unusual, but Ruth—the owner—doesn’t want to lose me. The problem is Serena has been causing issues in our small town about not being able to shop where she wants, claiming I’m a bitter woman who is mad her husband moved on after I cheated on him. There are many times, late at night, where I’d just like to kill her. I don’t know if I have the ability to do it, but the need to put the bitch in her place gets stronger every day.
Breath stills in my chest as I see Eli’s truck pull up into my drive. Awareness floods my body with anticipation. This feeling began the first time I saw Eli standing next to my brother. It’s only grown the more time I spend with him. There are days I’m afraid that the heat he builds inside of me will finally consume me. I feel silly. It’s not like Eli has once been inappropriate with me. He treats me like a friend. I try to drive that into my head, but for some reason when I look in his eyes, I feel hope for more—which is insane. I am dealing with Dane. The scars my marriage left on me are real. I don’t want another man. I’m not ready for it, and I may never be. I repeat that over and over to drum it into my head. Instead, I remember the early days with Dane. I recall how good it felt to know someone had my back. A man to be firm when I stood facing whatever life threw my way and let me know that I wasn’t alone. I’d love that feeling again. Just once … Yet, I didn’t want it with any of the men who had made passes at me since the divorce became public knowledge. Only one ever stood in my mind. It wasn’t because he was making it clear he’d want to pursue a relationship with me either. If anything, he was doing the opposite. He was the quiet, strong but gentle, presence in my life that never asked for anything, never demanded. Eli was steady, and God, I needed that. Still, I wanted more from him, but I’m beginning to think he only views me as Cap’s kid sister. I’m a duty to him–little by little that’s killing me.
Wanting more from Eli is a secret that I’m prepared to drag to my grave. I’ve had enough instability for both me and my daughter. So, I bury those feelings he causes to swirl inside me, lean back in my chair—legs kicked out over the porch rail and wait as he walks toward me.