Fallen for Her: Book 2 by Ava Armstrong Read Free Book Online

relationship was just fine.  It was, for him. 
     
    No longer could she put her feelings on hold.  She needed to be held and wanted; she felt a loneliness far worse than what living alone would produce.  She was living a life, in a world, she didn’t want to be in - with a person she used to say she loved.  That was the first time she admitted that to herself.  Maybe she should be giving Bob another chance.  It wasn’t that he was a bad guy, he just didn’t seem to be her guy.  If Ray hadn’t come along when he did, she might have married Bob on the spot.  But her father’s death changed everything.  It was an awakening, it seemed.  She wanted to talk to Bob about her feelings, but he was the source of her dilemma.  She needed to talk to Ray, get his advice, from a man’s point of view, about marrying Bob and all that would entail financially. 
     
    Cassie would think she was crazy for even refusing the nine-carat diamond.  On the outside, Bob appeared to be the perfect catch.  But Cassie didn’t know what it was like to live with him.  The demands, the insults, the passive-aggressive behavior.  Bob had to have it his way -- always.  One thing Ella knew she needed to do was talk to Bob, heart to heart.  But she also knew she was one of those people who sought to avoid conflict whenever possible.  This didn’t help the situation.
     
    One other thing weighing heavily on her mind was the obligation she felt regarding the promise she had made to her father.  It was his wish that she marry Bob.  But right now she couldn’t see that far ahead.  Since her father’s death, something inside her had changed.  It was as if she was living in a protective bubble while he was alive.  She worried about nothing.  But the moment her father died it was as if her force field disappeared and she was raw and exposed to the harsh realities of the world.  Even her attitude about life became different.  She had serious doubts about Bob being the guy she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.  She knew she wanted a loving relationship and children.  She just didn’t know if Bob was capable of participating in one.  At this point, he didn’t even want a dog.
     
    When she got upstairs Bob was asleep and she turned off the television.  She brushed her teeth and slid into bed, trying not to disturb him.  He had to be exhausted.  Maybe she didn’t have a loving relationship with Bob because she didn’t appreciate him enough.  Yes, he could be demanding, but she constantly wondered if she was living up to his expectations.  She must be.  He asked her to marry him tonight.  She was raw right now with grief and loneliness.  She needed to give this time.  Maybe things with Bob would change for the better once she got past this horrible feeling of loss.  Then again, she wondered if the horrible feeling would ever completely go away.  She could not imagine laughing, enjoying life, looking forward to things as she did before. 
     
    Ella slept fitfully and woke in the morning to a long list of showings.  Bringing Boomer with her was a big hit with potential clients.  Everyone wanted to pet him and he was no bother at all.  In fact, he ate and slept in his dog bed underneath her desk at the end of the day for two hours while she caught up on paperwork and returned phone calls.  The last call of the day was a surprise.  Ray called her cell phone and she picked up on the first ring.
     
    “Hey, how are you?” his deep voice resonated over the speaker of her phone.
     
    “Great, and you?”  She asked politely. 
     
    “All set for Friday?” he asked. 
     
    “Yes. And you?”  She asked back.
     
    “I can’t wait to see you again.” He said the words she was longing to hear.   A shot of anticipation ran through her as she thought about kissing Ray.  And in a second all of the sweet messages on Facebook filed through her mind. There was a pregnant pause before she said anything back, but