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“Good answer. I just... I can’t stand to see the two of you suffer. I know she did wrong and you did wrong.” I never told him exactly what happened, only that Marina kept something very important from me as well. The both of us weren’t perfect in this situation. I probably overreacted, but I’ve been with some bat-shit-crazy women in the past who would’ve probably used a sex tape against me to get whatever they wanted.
Meaning I’ve dated some pretty awful women, women who weren’t worthy of cleaning Marina’s toilet, let alone be in the same league as her.
“You can’t keep this up,” Archer continues when I don’t say anything. “It’s killing you both. You’re a wreck without her. Throwing yourself into your work, fixing up her bakery as some sort of homage to her? I mean, what the hell are you doing?”
“I want to do this. For her, whether she appreciates it or not.”
“Right,” Archer deadpans. “You’re crazy.”
Slowly I nod, knowing I sound crazy, but I’m not changing my mind. “This bakery belongs to Marina. It’s hers, no questions. And if she doesn’t want it, then I fully plan on giving it to Gina. This place needs to stay in the Molina and Knight family. It belongs with them.”
A smile spreads across Archer’s face. “You do have a heart, don’t you?”
“Shut up.” I shove at his shoulder. “Don’t tell anyone. I don’t want it getting out.”
I miss her. My body, my mind, my heart, they all ache without Marina in my life. I refuse to go to her, though. Not until I have something to show her. Something that will prove my love to her and let her know without a doubt that I will do anything, and I meananythingfor her.
Like revamp her business. From the kitchen to the front end of the store, to the new computer and ordering systems that are going to be installed within the next few days, everything’s state of the art. Top-notch.
My girl deserves the absolute best.
“You’re also a sap. You still plan on presenting the bakery to her, right?”
“As long as Ivy’s still bringing Marina to the grand reopening, then yeah. I’m doing it.” No one can say I didn’t go for it with this, now can they?
“She is. Ivy told me. Marina’s thrilled that Ivy’s pregnant,” Archer informs me.
“I bet,” I murmur, not sure what to think. Why does he tell me stuff like this? Only makes me miss her more.
And damn, do I miss her. It’s only been a few weeks but it feels like years. I miss her voice, her smile, the way she yells at me when I make her angry. The whispery little moans that escape her when I make her come. I miss her scent, the wayshe likes to cook my dinner, how she snuggles up against my back when we sleep together.
I miss everything about her. I want her back in my life.
Within the next two weeks, I’m hoping like crazy I can make it that happen.
Once and for all.
Chapter 15
Marina
Two weeks later
Idon’t want to go,” I moan, hiding my head beneath the pillows. It’s way too early for me to have to deal with this. Ever since Ivy’s become pregnant, she’s been on a tear. She turned into a total bossy little thing who has no problem pushing people into doing stuff they normally would never do.
“Tough shit.” Ivy yanks the sheet off me, making me shriek. Damn, the air is cold. Almost as cold and unfeeling as she is. “We’re going to this all-day spa and we’re going to love it, even if it kills us.”
That she’s forcing me to go to a spa shows how ridiculous I am. I’m the biggest baby ever. Since I shut down the bakery and café, I’ve become a total recluse, barely getting out of my pajamas, let alone going to see anyone. I’d rather wallow in my misery.
“I don’t want to be buffed and pampered,” I whimper as I slide out of bed, shuffling toward my bathroom. Ivy’s already dressed and looks adorable, her growing baby belly so cute everyone wants to touch it, which drives her nuts. She’s not a big fan of complete strangers touching her and asking whenthe baby is due. I’ve even witnessed her pretending she has no clue what they’re talking about.
That always freaks them out.
I force myself into the shower, perking up considerably once I stand beneath the hot spray of water for a solid ten minutes. I emerge from the bathroom a little over twenty minutes later to find the smell of coffee calling to me.
Dang. I should ask Ivy to move in with me.
We sip coffee and talk, Ivy telling me about Archer wanting to take her to Hawaii before the baby is born and how she really doesn’t want to go. I tell her she’s crazy, they need to savor all the alone time they can get before that baby comes and totally changes their lives.
