Page 199 of The Reason I Married Him
I turn to Laurel and say, “Before you give me the concerned friend speech, I just want you to know that I like Rhonda a lot, and I approve.”
Laurel shyly smiles. “I like her a lot too. I’m glad you guys get along.”
“Now”—I fold my arms over my chest—“tell me about how you’re concerned for me.”
She tilts her head to the side. “I’m not concerned. I’m actually relieved.”
“Relieved?” I ask.
She nods. “Yes, because she likes you.”
My heart stutters in my chest. “What do you mean she likes me? Did she tell you that?”
“No, but I could see it. I know the difference between acting and when someone is truly infatuated with another person, and she’s infatuated with you. She didn’t leave your side all night. Any time you touched her, she leaned into it. And the way she’d look at you from across the room when you were apart, it was like she was hoping you’d find her again.”
“Stop, that’s not true.”
Laurel presses her hand to my forearm. “Do you really think I’d pump you up like this if I didn’t think it was real?”
“No,” I answer.
“Exactly. There’s something there, Wyatt. I think after the wedding, you talk about it. Get this over with first, and then approach the subject of dating your wife.”
I chuckle and push my hand through my hair. “Shit, this is so backward.”
“It is, but I kind of like it. But I want to make sure you’re ready for a relationship. You were with Cadance for a long time.”
“I was with the wrong person for a long time,” I say.
“And you’ve hesitated to talk to Aubree about how you feel. Is it because you’re unsure of how she’d react, or you’re not ready? If it’s the latter, do not let her know how you feel. You have to be ready for her. She’s been hurt and damaged, so if you can’t be the mansheneeds, don’t say anything.”
“I’d never hurt her,” I say. “She’s been hurt too much. I won’t be the one who does that to her.”
“Good, then weigh your options. If you’re ready to open your heart again, go for it. But if you don’t think you can risk it, please . . . please don’t pursue her, okay?”
I nod. “I understand what you’re saying, Laurel.”
“Good.” She pats my chest. “Now, I’ll see you early in the morning. You’re coming to the inn?”
“Yup, I’ll bring coffee and muffins.”
She pats my cheek. “That’s a good boy.”
She hugs me, and I help her into her car, then wave at Rhonda one more time before shutting the door and heading back to the guest house. When I step in, I notice right away that Aubree is in the bathroom, so I switch out of my clothes and slip on a new pair of boxer briefs just as she opens the door and walks out in one of her large Almond Store T-shirts. The more she wears them, the more they turn me on.
“Everything okay with Laurel?” she asks.
“Yup. She’s great.” I move past Aubree, dragging my hand over her stomach as we squeeze by each other, and head into the bathroom, where I take care of business, wash my face, and brush my teeth.
Once done, I turn off the light and check the locks as Aubree slips into bed. When I feel comfortable that everything is secure, I slip into bed with her and turn toward her, immediately placing my hand on her stomach to roll her toward me.
“Hey,” I say as her makeup-free face stares back at me.
“Hey,” she says, curling into the pillow.
“You good?”
She nods. “I’m good.”
