Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
She paused in grabbing the wine bottle, a confused smile on her face. “Oh no, that’s okay. I have it all organized.”
“Yes, don’t trouble—”
“In my family,” Austin interrupted Matt, rolling up first one sleeve and then the other, showing off his muscular forearms, “food is a love language. I love to cook, especially for my m—partner. I’d be honored to cook for her extended family. How can I help?”
“Be that as it may, I think we can give the girls time to get to know each other,” Matt said, raising his voice to reclaim the group’s focus. His nerves were starting to fray, I could tell. “It’s much more fitting if we head out for a scotch. Leave them to gossip. I’m sure they would thank you for it.”
Staying calm was not easy with Ivy House drumming power through me, muttering about flames and rope and closets. Why she wanted him thrust into a small space while lit up, I couldn’t say, but she wouldn’t let it go.
“I’m fine where I am,” Austin said. His demeanor, the strength of his stare, and his rush of intensity made it clear he would not be backing down.
Matt flinched, bowing his usually straight posture just a little. In a moment, though, he lifted his chin in indignation. Frustrated anger made his shoulders tense. This man could bounce back on a dime. Likely it meant he’d zeroed in on someone to kick around until he felt in control again.
“Here, I’ll just get that scotch.” Camila hurried to a cabinet at the side of the kitchen. “I can get it right here.”
“Jacinta, might I have a word?” Matt’s tone was ice.
My stomach rolled.
I knew how he could hurt me. It was worse than a knife wound, worse than injuries sustained in battle, because this was personal. He would hold up the most vulnerable aspects of me—the parts only a loved one would know about—and use them to cut me to the quick.
“Yeah, sure.” I caught Austin’s wary look as I followed Matt out into the front room.
Keep your head above the bullshit.
He stopped in the center of the space with his hands on his hips like he was surveying a pothole that might damage his Lexus.
“You’ve sure got him fooled, huh?” he said.
“What do you mean?” I asked guardedly.
“How else would you find someone so forgiving? Then again, you haven’t been together long. If he really knew you, like I know you, he’d know how erratic you are. How incapable of living on your own. You can’t provide for yourself. You didn’t even to go college.”
He’d gone for the throat right out of the gate.
I balled my fists, because he wasn’t entirely wrong. Not finishing college was one of my biggest regrets, and yes, I’d had no idea what I was going to do with myself after the divorce. If it weren’t for Ivy House, I had no idea what sort of career I could’ve put together. How I would’ve paid the mortgage on a house after using the divorce settlement for a down payment. Austin had given me half of his estate, but I had nothing solidly my own, not without Ivy House.
Struggling with self-doubt, I pushed back. “You were the reason I didn’t finish college, and you know it,” I gritted out. “Remember? You convinced me to drop out after two years, saying it was time for marriage and a family. That I could go back later. But then later, when I could’ve gone back, you said we didn’t have the money and I was needed at home. I sacrificed for this family, for what you wanted. Holding it against me is—”
“Yes, because I was supporting you. You wanted to go to school when you should’ve wanted to get a job and help with the bills. But no, you were more than happy to spend my money, and now you’re blaming me for your life’s choices.”
“What are you even talking about? First of all, it was our money. Second, you wouldn’t let me get a job! Not to mention being at home was a job. A very demanding job.”
“Being a wife and mother was somehow more demanding than being a husband and father who worked sixty hours a week? You got to stay home all day while I put a roof over your head and food on the table.”
“All you did was work. That’s it! I took care of literally everything else in your life. Food was bought and made for you, your social engagements planned, your errands run, your child—”
“Jacinta, I have given you the courtesy of listening to your wild opinions. Now you will listen to what I have to say. I find it incredibly disrespectful that you would change my plans with Jimmy on a whim. Even more disrespectful that you would allow someone else to drop him off. Someone clearly unhinged. Do you know that person was wearing a cape and talking about being a butler? You allow this character to hang around our son?”