I don’t know if I should support this idea or be very afraid. Doesn’t matter. I’m Team Lauralee all the way.
We reachthe bottom of the staircase to find Mrs. Goodman coming from the living room. Her eyes are set on Lauralee when she says, “I want to apologize for what happened.”
Shock ripples through Lauralee’s expression. “Why would you do that?” Disgust coats her words, and she glances at me. I have no fucking clue what’s going on, but I think there’s more to the story of why we’re leaving based on the interaction between them. “He’ll never change. Why would you stay?”
“Because not everything is black and white.” She clasps her hands in front of her and puts on a smile. “You’re young and in love. One day, things could change.”
“Don’t pass your failed blessing onto me. We’re nothing like you or your husband.” Lauralee turns so fast that her hair flies over her shoulders. Her heels clack against the marble, and she pulls the large door open.
I don’t know what I’m supposed to say, feeling caught in the middle of who knows what. I glance at Mrs. Goodman, who doesn’t seem fazed or bothered by the harsh words. There seems to be acceptance instead.
She’s my boss’s wife, though, so walking out seems ominous for my future at the company. But my wife matters more to me. So I walk to the door but stop when Lauralee turns back again, and says, “I once heard that when you marry for money, you will earn every dime. That’s the difference between us. You married for security. I married for love. Enjoy your money.”
I want to ask what happened between them, but I’ll wait until we’re in the car and away from the house. I open the door for her, then load the suitcases into the trunk of the rental. When I slide into the driver’s side, I close the door and look at my wife. “What was that about?”
“Nothing.” Her voice is so casual like nothing just fucking happened inside.
I start the engine. “That wasn’t nothing. I’ll defend you to the ends of the earth, Shortcake, but can you fill me in since I’m going to be facing her husband on Monday?” I stare at her as she chews the inside of her cheek. When she peeks over at me, I can tell she actually thought this would be dropped. It won’t. “I’d like to have the story straight so I know what I’m walking into.”
She reaches over and touches my cheek so lovingly with a smile to match on her face. “It was handled, so there’s no need to worry about it.”
“I’m worried.” I’m not really, but I am intrigued.
“You sure you want to know?” Her hand returns to her lap, the sweet smile disappearing with it. “It’s going to upset you, and I don’t want you upset.”
“Well, now you have to tell me.”
She reaches the gearshift in front of the console and shifts it in reverse. “I’ll tell you back in Manhattan.”
My foot doesn’t leave the brake. “Tell me now, Lauralee.” The effort she’s making to keep this from me has me gripping the steering wheel tighter.
“Mrs. Goodman’s husband propositioned me.”
I shoot my gaze ahead, staring at the brick wall in front of us. I hope this steering wheel is made of steel under this plastic coating. If not, it’s about to be destroyed. When I look back at her, her brown eyes are fixed on mine. Those same eyes that usually calm me have concern riddling through them. She reaches over and rests her hand on my forearm as if to reassure me. “I handled it, Baylor. So we can leave and pretend this day never happened.” Her expression softens, and she says, “We’ll make love all night and?—”
“When you say Mrs. Goodman’s husband, you mean Bob, my boss, right?” She murmurs something, but I can’t hear her. “What was that?”
“Yes.” Throwing her arms up, she sinks against the seat, giving up. “Yes, it was Bob. I told him that he crossed a line, and I’m married. That didn’t stop him.” That. Didn’t. Stop. Him.What the fuck?“He’s the kind of asshole who thinks his money impresses me, so he invited me out on his yacht. When I said I’m married?—”
Anger rushes through my veins. I shove the car door open, reaching the house before I hear her calling my name. “Baylor, don’t. Stop.”
The conversation with Mrs. Goodman makes a lot more damn sense now. Cutting through the house, I swing the back doors open and rush onto the back lawn, searching for him. My arm is caught. When I look to my right, Lauralee says, “You don’t need to do this. Come with me. We’re leaving. Together, remember. Just the two of us.”
“Just the two of us.”
“Yeah.” She smiles.
I don’t respond because I see that wife-fucker at three o’clock. I charge forth, not giving a shit. I’ve put up with enough for too fucking long anyway.
He sees me coming, his hands coming out as if it’s possible to stop a charging bull. “Women lie, Baylor. She’s lying. Are you really going to throw away your career for a woman who came on to me?”
“Don’t you ever fucking talk about my wife, or I’ll make sure you can’t utter a fucking word again.” I stand in front of him, this frail little man whose ego is bigger than he is. I know the damage I could do to him and the repercussions that would follow. Jail. Charges filed against me. Losing my reputation. Destroying my hard-earned career.
Lauralee stands just behind me, and says, “He’s not worth it. I promise you.” As much as I want to believe her, I also want to obliterate him. “I love you, Baylor.” Hearing those words from the voice of an angel calms me down.
I take a breath, knowing this is not who I want to be with her. “I quit.”
“You quit?” He laughs. “I was just about to announce your promotion to the entire party.”
