Page 36 of Second Chance Husband

I didn’t want to think about her naked in there, water sluicing down those beautiful curves of hers. But here I was, being the maker of my own mistakes.

I dropped the towel, and pulled on my clothes, figuring jeans and a Henley would have to do for the day. I could work, I could look at lesson plans, I could read a book, I could go on a fucking hike. I could do anything but stand in this room that smelled of sex and Paisley and wonder exactly what I was going to do once she got back here.

I didn’t have any other answers.

What was I supposed to be thinking in this moment other than the fact that I had just slept with my ex-wife.

Multiple times.

And part of me, most of me, wanted to do it again.

The logical part of me that knew that nothing good could come of this knew I should probably run. Head home and make up an emergency.

No good could come from sleeping with my ex-wife again.

As the water turned off, I let out a breath, knowing my time had run out. Only she didn’t open the door. Instead I heard her moving around in there, probably getting ready, probably putting on the shield that she wore so well so nobody could see beneath it.

Once I had had the pleasure of doing so. The responsibility of being that person.

Now she was hiding. Just like I was.

I moved out to the living room, and looked for my shoes, figuring I should leave before she got out here.

Then her bedroom door opened into the living room, and Paisley stood there, her hair wet but scrunched into her natural waves.

She hadn’t put on makeup but had put on linen pants and a soft peach-colored shirt along with a cardigan that covered most of her up.

She looked gorgeous, younger, and hesitant.

And I had put that look on her face.

“I am going to head down, find something to eat. Then see what the family’s up to.”

There, I sounded like a human. Like I knew what I was doing. I found my shoes and stuffed my feet in them, but Paisley didn’t move forward.

“I can go pick up something in a bit. I’ll let you leave first.”

I held back a smirk at that, because of course we couldn’t be seen together after what happened the night before. Even though everyone knew we’d shared the suite together, I was afraid they’d know exactly what we’d done once they saw us together for the first time. And while I didn’t care, or at least I told myself I didn’t care, I did.

I didn’t know why I was annoyed at the concept. It wasn’t as if I wanted anything more from her. I needed to be the one who left. And I was grateful she didn’t want to come with me. Because then we would have to talk.

And on that note. “We’re not going to talk about it.”

My back was to her, but I still heard the intake of breath, but not surprise. No, that was anger. Good. Be angry with me. Hate me.

That would make all of this so much easier.

“Never again then. Got it. We won’t talk about it.”

My shoulders tightened, and I finally turned to her, seeing a familiar anger on her face. I had done that to her before, and I seem to be good about doing it now. But this was to protect her. She was already going through enough hell, and sleeping with me, being near me, wasn’t going to help anything.

“Fine,” I bit out.

“By the way, I was on birth control. And I’m clean. I had to do multiple checks after I found out Jacob was cheating.” Her left eye twitched slightly, her jaw tightening, and I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“Fuck. I didn’t even think.”

“No. You didn’t. I did, but then I realized that I was clean, and I was on birth control, and we were just going to wing it because that’s what we’re good at doing. I hope you’re clean.”

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