Page 106 of Billionaire Temptations

I slowly nodded my head. “This place.”

“I’m going to get you some water. Sit tight.”

She left the room, and I looked at Alex.

“What the hell just happened?” he asked.

“I could ask you the same thing,” I replied.

A man walked in and introduced himself as Dr. Malone.

“Are you his wife?” he asked.

Why the hell does everyone keep asking me that?

“No. I’m his houseguest.”

“Then I’m going to have to ask you to step out of the room.”

I glanced at Alex.

“I’ll call Phillip to come and pick you up.” I stood up from my seat and walked out, practically running out like a bat out of hell. I pulled my phone from my purse and sat outside on the bench.

“Phillip, it’s Emerson. I took Mr. Parker to the ER, and I need you to pick him up.”

“Is he okay?”

“I think so.”

“I’m on my way.”

I climbed into my car and gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white as I stared at the hospital building. The last place I wanted to go was back to Alex’s house, so I drove to the one place that held many special memories for me.

Sittingin the sand on Venice Beach, I watched as the surfers surfed, the kids played in the water, and the teenagers who skipped school hung out and had some fun.

“Can you believe I’m back here, Emily? It’s been so long. The nightmares are back, and I had my first panic attack today in eight years. It’s this place and the trauma of what happened here.”

I looked over at two little girls who were building a sand castle and smiled as tears sprang to my eyes. Pain filled my heart as I thought of my sister. I was living my life for her. Doing all the things we talked about since we were kids. I took my phonefrom my purse. It was already five o’clock. Feelings of guilt crept over me for leaving Alex the way I did. Getting up from the sand, I dusted myself off and drove back to his house.

When I walked through the door, Jenna was getting ready to leave for the day.

“Where have you been?” she asked in a whisper.

“Is he home?”

“Yes. He’s upstairs resting. I wouldn’t go up there if I were you. He’s in a foul mood.”

“What else is new? I’ll just wait until he comes down.”

I made myself a sandwich and took it outside on the patio with a bottle of wine. Finishing up my sandwich, I took my glass and the bottle down to the beach. As I sipped my wine, I heard Alex’s voice behind me.

“It’s about time you came home. Where have you been all day?”

“How are you feeling?” I asked as I turned around and looked at him. He was shirtless and wearing the pair of sweatpants I had helped him into earlier.

“Answer my question,” he commanded as he sat beside me.

“Answermyquestion.”

---