Page 115 of Wilde Abandon

“Don’t you want the house?”

“Why the fuck would I want this nightmare when I have a whole other life in Boston?”

“I just always thought…this is where I’d die.”

“Why?You certainly didn’tlivehere.”

Her head tilted.“Why are you being like this?”

“Because I don’t want to be here anymore, doing this.I want to be in Boston, taking care of my business and moving Melody into our home.I want to wake up happy and kissing her, and go to bed each night the same way.I want the past to be the past and the future to be the dream we share.”

Tanya frowned.“And I’m not part of that.”

“You’ve made it clear how you feel about her.And me.I’m just a means to an end.”

She shook her head.“That’s not true.”

“Whether it is or not, that’s how you make me feel.So take your trip.Have fun.Send pictures.I’d like to know you’re okay and the time away is doing you good.”She only had a few months left.He hoped she found some happiness and joy while away.“Other than that, I really have nothing else to say, except take care of yourself.”

“I will, so long as you make sure I have the money to do so.”

“Like I said, I’ll sell the house and the money is yours.”

Time spun out for a long minute.

“Thank you, Fox.”

And on that note, he turned and left the house, wishing it was the last time he had to return, but knowing it wasn’t.He’d get her on that ship first, then make sure she had a place to go when she returned.That would satisfy his conscience.

As for his heart…it belonged to one dark-haired, blue-eyed beauty who should be about done with her class and ready for their lunch date before she headed to the bar tonight.

Chapter twenty-eight

FoxwalkedintoMelody’sclassroom and grinned at how many students were still in their seats, asking questions and working on their ideas for their online shop.

“This looks great,” Melody praised Danny, who was working on a logo.“The company name stands out.It’s unique.The color scheme highlights what you’re doing with your art.Fantastic.”

Danny beamed with pride.And maybe a little love for the woman who’d taken the time to help him sell the art he loved to create.

“Now, you’ll need to add a description and details for each piece you put up.Make sure to include the dimensions.If you can display the piece with something that can also show the size in proportion to something else, that will help people to see the scale.”

Melody moved on to the next person in the row.

Amy turned her laptop to show Melody her new logo.

“Hmm.”Melody studied it.“Amy’s Cookies.It’s simple.Based on the founder and baker.What do you think about putting a chef hat on the A?And maybe instead of the logo being a rectangle, you make it round.Like a cookie.It could even be a cookie.Like your signature cookie.Then the Os in “cookies” could also be cookies.”

Amy frowned as she studied the simple name on a mint-green background.It had a pretty font, but wasn’t really anything special.

Fox waited to see what she’d say to Melody’s suggestions.

Melody didn’t wait.She made another suggestion.“I think it would be cute if you had a cartoon version of you in a chef’s hat.Perhaps you could commission Danny to draw something for you.”

Pride made Fox’s heart swell.What a fantastic idea.

Danny leaned over.“I could totally do that.You in an apron with a spatula that’s like a magic wand that looks like cookie sprinkles or chocolate chips or something coming out of it, raining down on the Amy’s Cookies words.”

Amy’s smile took up her whole face.“That would be amazing.”

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