THAT MAN 5 (The Wedding Story-Part 2) by Nelle L'Amour Read Free Book Online Page B

face and called me an asshole.”
    He bowed his head. “She was right. I was an asshole. A stupid fucking asshole.”
    “Blake, look at me.” Slowly, he lifted his eyes. “You’re not an asshole.”
    My heart was cracking. This story explained so much of Blake. His fear of relationships. And his baby-phobia. My mind flashed back to the lunch we had last year with Jaime and how uncomfortable he initially was with his twins. And then to his uncomfortable reaction to my pregnancy test. The story wasn’t over.
    “After the burial, Kat had a breakdown. Maybe from a hormone imbalance, depression, or guilt. Or a combination of all three. She tried to commit suicide and her parents institutionalized her. A year later, she was released, and the first thing she did was show up at my UCLA dorm and tell me how much she loved me. One night, she even managed to break in, and I found her naked in my bed. I had to get a restraining order. Fortunately, she went to live abroad but returned to LA last fall. Jen, to make a long story short, she hasn’t stopped stalking me. The girl is sick. Poison. I just wished I’d told all of this to you sooner.”
    “Why didn’t you?” My voice was tender, my eyes compassionate.
    “I wanted to. She stalked me in Vegas and threatened to tell you herself.”
    My blood simmered. Did she hit on him?
    “I wanted to tell you the minute I came back, but I couldn’t with the way you were feeling. Then, the day you went to see Marcy, she fucking assaulted me again at Saks. I thought she’d gotten to you when I couldn’t reach you. That’s why I flew to Boise. But when I found out about your dad, I just couldn’t bring myself to tell you. I didn’t need to lay this heavy shit on you and upset you more.”
    I held his face in my hands and gazed lovingly into his remorseful eyes. He had made the right decisions.
    “And then I was going to tell you last night at dinner. And the psycho bitch fucked me over again.” His eyes burnt into mine. “Can you forgive me, tiger?”
    “There’s nothing to forgive, my love. It wasn’t your fault. It was a nightmare you had no control over. We just can’t hide things from each other.”
    Silently, he nodded in my palms, and I acknowledged him with a smile on my lips and in my eyes.
    “Blake, baby, I love you so much. Do you believe me?”
    He drew me tight against him, and the hot, passionate kiss he planted on my lips was all I needed.
    *
    Fraught with emotion, I lay in bed with Blake until he dozed off. Quietly, I slipped away and booted up my computer. It was time to take the sick bitch down. For all the pain she’d caused me. And for all she’d caused my Blake. I typed away.
    To: Katrina Moore
    From: Jennifer McCoy
    Subject: Meeting/URGENT
    Dear Kat~
    I am writing you with tears in my eyes. I am completely devastated by the photos you sent me of you and Blake.
    You were absolutely right. Blake is still into you. How could I have been so blind? And so foolish for trusting him with my heart and my life?
    I have no choice but to end our engagement and call off the wedding. I’ve already given him back his ring . With all due respect for his family, I would very much like to meet with you discreetly tomorrow to discuss how we can best break the news to all involved. I am temporarily staying at a bungalow at The Beverly Hills Hotel, which, at least, Blake had the decency to put me up in. I would appreciate if you could meet me there.
    I never thought I would thank you, but I owe you my deepest gratitude. Though sadness fills every crevice of my being, it is better to know now where I stand with Blake than to have had my heart broken by him after our union. I can only hope he does not do the same to you.
    With my sincerest appreciation~ Jennifer
    I reread my e-mail. I loved writing every single word. With a wicked smile, I hit send. Just like I thought…I instantly got a response.
    To: Jennifer McCoy
    From Katrina Moore
    Subject: Meeting/URGENT
    Dear