Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 112884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
A spin-off from the This Is Series.
Lexi
Falling for a famous hockey player? I would have laughed at you.
I was trapped in a marriage-caged with cruelty.
I wasn’t ever going to be free.
Until I found a way to escape.
Before him, I thought love was a nightmare.
Now I dared to dream.
Kirby
First time I met her I was drawn to her light.
Then I saw the fear in her eyes.
Fear I’ve seen before.
Our chance encounter turned into two.
If she ever needed me, I’d be there.
I never dared to want her.
But I lost my heart to her anyways
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
one
Lexi
“Good class,” the Pilates instructor, Chelsea, says as she claps her hands. “You guys did great!”
I smile at her and get off my Pilates reformer, walking over to grab the spray bottle; my legs buckling a bit after the workout I just did. I spray the disinfectant on my machine before wiping it down.
“Thank you again, Chelsea,” I say, picking up my water and returning the spray bottle near the front of the room.
Snatching my keys and phone from one of the wooden cubbies at the front door, I head out into the Arizona heat. The sun is already scorching even though it’s just a little before 7:00 a.m. I press the unlock button and slide into my champagne-colored Bentley, a birthday gift two months ago.
I start the car and pull out of the parking lot to head home. The soft music plays in the background, a classical number, something I never thought I would come to like, but with time it grew on me. The mountains in the distance fill up my view as I make my way into the gated community my husband and I live in.
Driving past the golf course, I pull in front of my black garage door and turn the car off, grabbing my stuff before walking past the four other garage doors, which are all closed with no cars parked in front of them. The first garage door holds Trent’s everyday Land Rover. The second one holds his BMW, which he drives on occasion. The third has the golf cart he takes when he’s going to play golf, and the fourth is the Rolls-Royce he bought himself as a gift. That one he only uses when he wants to show off. Walking past the windows I know are in my dining room, I see the shades are still drawn. I look down at my running shoes as I turn and walk down the white bricked walkway toward the front door.
I open the front door and put my keys on the glass table by the door next to a green-colored vase with fresh white roses. Something that is replaced every couple of days. I untie my shoes before kicking them off and placing them in the sliding door closet on my right and slip on my indoor slippers before walking toward the kitchen.
I pass the formal dining room on my left, where we entertain all of Trent’s friends. The brown table with ten chairs looks more like it’s a conference room than someplace where you would have your meals and enjoy time with friends.
The whole house has a museum-like feeling to it, something I’ve come to live with. I’ve grown used to the lack of warmth from both the house and our marriage. I turn left when I get to the big open space, going toward the kitchen and stopping in my tracks when I see Trent sitting on one of the stools. My pulse speeds up a bit not expecting him to be up at this time, let alone dressed and sitting at the island. The long marble island off to the left holds six stools. Two chandeliers hang over it with gold wiring. It’s a dream kitchen. Beautiful, opulent, a façade...
“Morning,” I greet him softly. “I didn’t know you would be up so early.” I walk over and kiss his cheek. He’s already dressed in black dress pants and a white button-up shirt, the smell of his aftershave lingers. His black hair is cut perfectly since he goes every two weeks to have it trimmed. It’s also styled perfectly without a hair out of place.
“Is that why you snuck out of the house?” he asks, picking up his cup of coffee from beside him as he scrolls on his massive iPad, reading the news.
“I didn’t sneak out of the house.” My hand moves over the top of the granite island counter gently, feeling the coolness of it, before I pull open one of the fridge doors. I grab the fresh pineapple and strawberries before walking to the butler’s pantry behind the wall of the kitchen. I make my protein shake, adding in half a banana, before walking back out and taking a sip of it.
“Where did you go?” he asks me, not taking his eyes off the iPad.
“I went to the six a.m. Pilates class,” I tell him and his eyes look up at me, before giving the top half of me a look up and down. The frown on his face telling me what I already know. The outfit is going in the donate pile as soon as I wash it.
“Dressed like that?” he asks me. I look down at the white workout T-shirt I have on that shows my black sports bra underneath it and matching black tights. “You’re just giving it away for free now.” He shakes his head.