Page 76 of His Curvy Distraction

I laughed again. “I did. And I get it. My car was always the only place I felt like I didn’t have to put on a show. Before I moved up here, I had a job my ex wanted me to have. I worked in town politics, but I wasn’t doing anything I really believed in. My drive to and from work was the only time when I felt like I could breathe. When I could relax.”

“She had no idea what she was throwing away when she cheated on you.”

My chest swelled with gratitude. My throat tightened. “Thank you.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“I’ve never been told that before,” I confessed.

“Why not? She’s the one who cheated. Why would you be to blame?”

“Men cheat all the time. When they do, it’s dismissed as the woman’s fault. She wasn’t doing all the things he needed. It’s bullshit. The only one to blame when someone cheats is the one who cheats.”

“I agree, but I would also guess your marriage wasn’t great before then.”

I shook my head. “No. It wasn’t. But I never stepped out on her. I was faithful.”

“Which says who you are.”

“That’s not what others have said. She was cheating on me, but I was blamed for it. Told I was the problem. I had people ask if I was gay or just a shitty lover who never pleased her. Every single person said it was my fault she felt the need to go somewhere else. Not one person said she was the problem.”

“She was the problem,” Natalie whispered. She moved closer to me. “She should have seen the amazing man in front of her and realized what a gift she had in you. She was blind, and she didn’t deserve you. She doesn’t deserve your anger now, or your time or focus or regret.”

“I don’t regret divorcing her.”

“But you regret marrying her.”

I nodded slowly, agreeing reluctantly. “I do.”

“You can’t do that. It helped you become the man you are. The man who took over as mayor of this town and made it a place where everyone has a place.”

“Someone’s trying to take that from me.”

“We’re not going to let them.”

“We?”

She raised an eyebrow and took a step back. “Unless you don’t want me to help you.”

I grabbed her before she could get farther away. My arm slid around her waist and tugged her to me.

Her hands went to my chest, smoothing over my shirt and wrapping around my neck.

“I don’t want you to feel obligated to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

She laughed. “Everything makes me uncomfortable.”

I leaned down and kissed her neck. “Does that make you uncomfortable?”

She hummed and tilted her head to give me better access. “No.”

I licked her throat. “How about that?”

A groan slid from her throat.

I nibbled her ear, slicking my tongue around the shell. “Does that make you uncomfortable?”

Her grip on me tightened. “I think I’d be more comfortable in your bed, Omar.”

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