Jules #2
“That.” He motioned his hand toward the black gift bag on my dresser as he asked, “Is it your birthday or something?”
“No,” I answered with panic. “It’s Caroline’s.”
“Oh? What is it?”
Knowing what was hidden inside, my heart started to race when Quinton took a step toward the bag. I thought back to days earlier when Caroline came waltzing merrily into the gift shop with an annoyingly wide smile on her face.
She sashayed over to me and held up the black gift bag as she announced, “I got you something.”
She handed it to me, and I immediately peeked inside as I asked, “What is it?”
“Just something every girl on the planet should have.”
“Oh really?” I pulled out the box, and my mouth dropped when I saw the image of a hot, pink vibrator plastered on the side. “You didn’t!”
“I did,” she replied proudly. “I know you have been seeing Q, but you’ve seemed a little tense lately. I thought you might need a little sexual healing.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I won’t be needing this.” I tossed the box back into the bag, then pushed it over to her. “You can keep it.”
“Does that mean that...” I wasn’t going to say anything, but my facial expression gave me away. “You dirty little slut! You banged the biker.”
“Don’t be an ass, Caroline. I’m just saying I don’t need your gift. You can keep it for yourself.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” Caroline picked up the gift bag and shoved it under the counter. “I was hoping things with Hayes would start heating up, but no such luck.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. I think he’s just not that into me or something.”
“He seemed pretty interested in you the other night when we played pool.”
“I thought so, too, but he hasn’t even tried to call or text. So, I guess he’s not that interested after all.”
“I’m sorry. I know you liked him.”
“I did, but someone else will come along soon enough.” She patted the countertop as she teased, “And I’ve got my good friend BOB here to keep me company until they do.”
I thought she had taken it with her, but when I started to shut down for the night, I discovered it was still under the counter.
I didn’t want MJ to find it, so I brought it home.
It had been sitting there for the past couple of days, and I silently cursed myself for not getting it back to her sooner.
Quinton was about to look inside when I gasped, “It’s nothing!
Just something she forgot to take home the other day. ”
“Hmm. Okay.” He leaned over and peeked in the bag, and his eyes grew wide when he saw what was hidden inside. “Is that a...”
“Yes, Quinton. It’s a vibrator.”
“And it’s Caroline’s?” he asked sounding disappointed.
“Afraid so.”
“But we could have a lot of fun with that.”
I was tempted, but after what she’d said about Hayes, I didn’t feel right taking it. “I’m sure we could, but it’s hers. Not mine.”
“We could always get her another one...”
“You’re definitely persistent.”
A sexy smirk crossed his face as he replied, “Only when it matters.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint, but I think she needs it more than I do.”
“So, it’s a no go with Hayes?”
“It’s looking that way.”
“Hmmm. Well, damn.”
With that, he let it go and headed back to the bathroom. Once he’d turned out the light, he came back over to the bed and crawled in next to me. I was expecting him to make a move. Instead, he simply slipped his arm under me and waited as I curled up next to him.
We spent the remainder of the night tangled in each other’s arms.
We spent the next night together and then the next.
One night rolled into another, and before I knew it, a month had passed, and we’d spent every night together.
We went back and forth between his place and mine, and to my pleasant surprise, things were going really well.
Quinton was everything I’d prayed for. He was kind, thoughtful, and attentive, and he had yet to lose his temper—even when I gave him every reason to.
Without me even realizing it, Quinton had claimed my heart, and I couldn’t have been happier. But old habits die hard. I couldn’t help but wonder what he would do with it.
I tried, but I still struggled—not with trusting him, but myself.
I kept thinking I should see a red flag or some sign that things weren’t what they seemed, but I hadn’t found anything.
And I’d tried. I tried really hard, but I hadn’t found a single thing.
While it concerned me, I wasn’t going to let my insecurities or anything else come between us, which was one of the many reasons why I’d gone to talk to MJ.
We were both cleaning up in the barn when I asked, “Can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure.” She continued raking straw as she asked, “What’s on your mind?”
“It’s kind of personal.”
“O-kay.”
“And a little embarrassing.” I let out a breath. “So, I’m going to need your word that you’ll keep this between you and me?”
“I can’t make any promises.” She turned to face me, and when she saw my expression, she promised, “But I’ll do my best.”
I nodded, then took a cleansing breath before telling her, “I really don’t know how to sugarcoat this, so I’m just going to say it. I need help getting a divorce.”
“A divorce?” Her eyes widened with surprise. “You’re married?”
“Afraid so.”
I hated seeing that doubtful look on her face, so I quickly filled her in on everything that had happened between James and me.
Then, I told her about our last colossal fight and how I’d left without so much as a goodbye.
MJ sounded both surprised and concerned when she asked, “So, you haven’t talked to him since you left? ”
“Not a word.”
“And it’s been three years?”
“Give or take.” I’d tried to keep it together, but the more I thought about the situation I’d put myself in, the more I started to panic. “I don’t want to talk to him. I don’t want to see him or even think about him. I just want to put that part of my life behind me.”
“To do that, you’re going to need to get a divorce.”
“I know. That’s why I came to you. I was hoping you could help me out with that.”
Relief washed over me when she replied, “Yeah, I can definitely help out with that.”
“Oh, thank you, MJ!” I rushed over and wrapped my arms around her, hugging her. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” She gave me a pat as she said, “We have to see how he’s going to feel about getting served with divorce papers. Something tells me he won’t be too happy about it.”
“Probably not.”
“Have you talked to Q about all this?”
“No, as far as I know, he doesn’t have any idea. I just need to work up the courage to talk to him.”
“Q’s one of the good ones. He’ll understand.”
“I really hope you’re right about that.”
A warm smile crossed her face as she asked, “You really like him, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Then, talk to him.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Good.” MJ went back to raking as she told me, “I’ll start drawing up the papers tomorrow.”
“Sounds great. Thanks.”
I left work with mixed emotions. I was relieved that MJ had agreed to help, but I was terrified that James would do something stupid like refuse to sign the papers or try to find me. I was even more terrified that my freedom from James might cost me Quinton.
And that wasn’t a price I was ready to pay.