Page 95 of Tame Me

My decision to break up with Billy was the right one. I knew that. I’d probably known it for a while. My judgment had been clouded by the incredible sex and his wonderful company.

But I want more than that.

I want a man who I want to spend the rest of my life with. I want us to share dreams together and set about making those dreams come true.

I want everything about our life to be perfect. I want to fall asleep in his arms every night, knowing that each day we’d shared something special, something that I couldn’t experience with any other man but him.

Was I asking too much?

I decided the answer was no. I wasn’t.

I, Jane Nichols, would find the man of my dreams.

I flipped my diary closed and stood with my wine in my hand.

I eased against my railing and listened to the crashing waves. The loss of Billy meant I was down to just two of my regular men—Henry, my suave tutor, who melted both my body and my heart, and Hunter, who captured me in so many ways but didn’t even know my real name.

I tried to picture my future with these men, and it was Hunter who popped into my mind. I could see my future with him. I pictured the two of us living by the ocean and traveling to exotic corners of the world together.

My heart swelled but two seconds later deflated at the brutal realization that he didn’t know me at all.

Wonderful visions of Hunter danced across my mind as I finished off my wine.

Would he forgive me?

Was there any hope that the two of us could have a life together?

There was no way to answer those questions. But what I did know was that the next time I saw him, I had to tell Hunter about all my rotten lies.

My heart crumbled at that horrible but necessary decision.

Chapter Twenty-Six

It had been years since I’d put up Christmas decorations, and I was amazed at how long it was taking. Tania, Marjorie, and I had been at it since my shift ended two hours ago. Luckily, we were only doing the bar area as we still weren’t finished.

To fit into most of the staff’s work and life schedules, the Christmas party was due to start at five o’clock and would go for just three hours.

We could have forgone the decorations, but it was the first Christmas party the Hot Horizon Hotel had had in two years, and the staff were excited, so I wanted to make it a little special.

Tania had cranked up the music the minute we’d started decorating, and even though both Marjorie and Tania were on duty, I allowed her to pour the three of us a drink to get into the party mood. It was fun, we laughed a lot, and it wasn’t long before both ladies started voicing their opinions on John. It seemed Needledick hadn’t just picked on me.

“He was always perving at my ass. Gave me the creeps,” Tania said as I climbed the ladder to reach the top of the Christmas tree. I tugged the golden angel into position at the top of the tree, and for the hundredth time, I scowled over my annoying gel nails.

I climbed down the ladder and frowned at her. “Why didn’t you say something?”

She shrugged. “Who was I going to tell? It doesn’t matter now, anyway. He’s gone.”

“I’ll drink to that.” Marjorie held her cocktail up, and the colorful Tequila Sunrise looked spectacular in the red bar lighting. We clinked our glasses and toasted the demise of Needledick.

I glanced around at the decorations. Tiny fairy lights flickered along the glass racks above the bar. Alternating gold and red tinsel were draped from the far wall to the bar, and the ten-foot Christmas tree was decorated from top to bottom with ornaments and colorful lights.

“Okay, I think we’re ready. I’m going to head upstairs to change, and I’ll see you back here in half an hour.” I pointed a finger at each of them. “Don’t refill your drinks. You’re both on duty, remember?”

“Yes, boss.” Marjorie saluted me, and I shook my head and chuckled as I walked off.

As I rode the elevator up to my room, I smiled at myself in the mirror. It was good to know I’d brought some sunshine to the Hot Horizon Hotel staff. I quickly changed into the red dress Lolly had helped me choose the other day during our post-Billy retail therapy.

The dress was fire engine red with a fitted bodice that came in at the waist and flared out into a classic 1950s retro style. I spun in a circle, and the skirt billowed around me. It was fun and sassy and perfect for a staff Christmas party.

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