A Constant Attraction (Attraction #2) by A. J. Walters Read Free Book Online Page A

him to come to bed. He wasn't bothered. Eventually, I was glad he didn't come up to me, as the stench of booze filled breath stank the bedroom out, it was oozing out of his pores and the uncontrollable snoring was a nightmare. So when I think back, I was grateful that when he did get into bed, it would only be a couple of hours before I was to get up again. We didn't sit down to eat together as a family, so it wasn't long before I didn't eat properly. I'd go without breakfast and occasionally lunch, but only when hungry, I would eat and drink the wrong type of food.”
     
    I hear her giggle to herself and she shakes her head before looking down at our adjoined fingers. The radio is on in the car with music playing in the background. My ears prick up at a song I know Isabel loves. Boyzone's, Love Will Save The Day is a tune I'd never heard of. Heck!
     
    I'd not heard of Boyzone, but because of Isabel's constant humming of it around the hotel room, I do now!
     
    “It was a vicious circle. In my comfort I put on more weight, his words cut deeper within and so I'd seek the comfort again. It sounds ridiculously stupid now when I think about it or tell folk, but it meant I had his attention. The words were cruel and bruised within, but it was the only attention I had off him. I tried my best to keep it away from the children, but I had no doubt that in reality, they saw and heard what was going on. I just hoped that he wasn't the same towards them. I craved for physical contact, but as time went on, I became numb to it all. He would never want to make love with a fat, ugly cow like me.”
     
    I can't halt the words from spilling out from me. “You are not that Isabel. Don't ever say those words. He was blind and a complete motherfucking bastard, not to see you for who and what you really are. Your body is just a part of us that conceals and protects the important parts of a person. It's a shell to house all of the beautiful contents; emotions, laughter and caring nature you offer to others, so I don't ever want to hear you say that about yourself again, understand?”
     
    She hesitates before slowly nodding her head. The anger I'm feeling right now, as to how anyone can be so callous and heartless is making my blood boil. It's making me nauseous to ask what I want to, but I have to know the answers to the questions that are impatiently waiting to be asked. Making sure my voice is as calm as possible I go for it.
     
    “Izzy, did he harm you in any other way?” My stomach rolls and churns just thinking about it. I know she says that he didn't want her sexually, but what if the bastard had a power trip...
     
    She slowly shakes her head, “If you're asking did he rape me, no. He did that elsewhere to other people.”
     
    Fuck! What on God's earth did that, I know I've said it before, but that motherfucking bastard do? I've not thought so many expletives in such a short space of time, but it's the only way I can contain the slow burn of outrage I have for a man I have never met. I don't want to ask her any more questions on that. If I'm being honest with myself, I don't think I really want to hear the sickening disclosures that may come back as a response. However, it's these unanswered questions that are telling me everything I need to know. I quickly try to find somewhere to pull over in the car, so spotting a dirt track further down the road I drive into it and come to an abrupt stop. Taking my seatbelt off, I turn towards her. Wiping the tears that are rapidly running down her cheeks, I then take her into my arms. The only sides to Isabel I have seen are the fun loving and passionate sides. So seeing her like this is generating an ache inside, an ache I have never felt as a result of another woman's heartbreak. Resting my chin upon her head, I close my eyes and release a long slow breath. Even though there is no sound coming from her, I can physically feel Isabel shaking as she sobs into my chest. She puts an arm around