Broken Illusions (His Agenda Volume 3) by Dori Lavelle Read Free Book Online

notice we’re there.”
    “There’s always someone to notice. It’s a happy event and some might not think I deserve to enjoy it.”
    “It’s not for them to decide. You have as much right to be there as anyone else.”
    I rested my head on my arm and bit my lip. It was so much easier to keep a distance. I had gotten used to some people still giving me funny looks. “And there are some people who kind of like me, right?”
    “And the ones who don’t, do not matter.” He tucked a stray lock of my hair behind my ear. “Tell you what. We can take one of my boats. We’ll sail as far away from prying eyes as possible. We’ll throw our petals on the water in peace and no one will be there to judge us.”
    “Judge me, you mean?”
    He shook his head, meeting my gaze. His eyes were filled with love for me. Sometimes I wondered what I’d done to deserve him, especially after everything I had put him through. Would any other man have stuck with me through all the mess I’d made of my life? I doubted it. Now he was asking me in not so many words to allow us to move on—to live our lives, to enjoy our time together. How could I say no?
    “I think that’s a sweet and romantic idea. Let’s take a boat out. I’d like that very much.” I got out of bed. “I better head to Patty’s Petals then, before all the flowers are gone.”
    “Get back into bed and relax. It’s all taken care of. I’ve ordered a few blooms from out of town. My girl doesn’t stand in line for flowers.”
    I smiled wide. He must have known I was going to say yes. No matter how much he gave me, he never made me feel guilty for taking it. His love and his heart were free for me. I knew deep down that I’d never have to pay him back for making me feel loved. Our relationship was a breath of fresh air, and tonight would be wonderful. Who cared what everybody else thought of me? The only person whose opinion mattered was Dustin.
    “I can’t go back to bed. I have to meet some clients for lunch.” I kissed him hard on the lips. “You are the most wonderful boyfriend ever.”
    “Another wedding?”
    “A double wedding that will take place in Tennessee in four months.”
    “What do you mean by a double wedding?” Dustin threw down the towel and walked buck naked into his walk-in wardrobe. I stared openly at his lean, well-defined body before I turned to head to the bathroom.
    “Twins getting married to another set of twins. Should be fun,” I said over my shoulder.
    “Sounds like loads of work.” Dustin was back in the room carrying a pair of jeans and several shirts.
    “They’re willing to pay well for it.”
    “They better. Your work is amazing.”
    I often showed my work to Dustin before handing it over to my clients. He was always willing to look at the final photos and give me his opinion, and never had anything negative to say about them. He was so impressed that he often carried my business cards around to hand over to his business partners looking for a photographer. Since most of the people he rubbed shoulders with were loaded, I always made good money off them, and in turn they recommended me to their own friends and relatives. Quiet months were rare for me these days.
    Dustin was the perfect partner. He didn’t want me to remain the small person Jude had made me. He wanted me to be the best I could be. And being my best for Dustin helped me see past the weak person I had once been and embrace the strong woman I had become.
     

Chapter Fifteen
     
    Before heading over to the lake, we had a late dinner at the Lux Hotel restaurant. It was a somber event; my mind was running wild with thoughts of my past.
    How would my life have turned out if I hadn’t agreed to have sex with a client that night? Which course would I be on now if I had not chosen to work for Bruno at all? Would I still have ended up here, with Dustin? Would Jude still have found me and destroyed my life?
    So many unanswered questions. In the end, I forced