Page 189 of Those Who Are Bound

Honestly, Elliott hadn’t given a lot of thought to Jonah’s ex-wife, the woman he’d married in college. He’d mentioned they were still friends, but… “Her husband didn’t care that the two of you took off to… hang out alone… together?”

He shook his head. “He knows us.”

“That’s a lot of trust.”

Jonah smiled. “He knows us.”

“Okay?” she asked, genuinely confused. Then, “Advisor for what?”

“This, that, life. We’ve known each other a long time. Even though she and I didn’t make each other happy in matrimony, we’re still there for one another. She’s the pastor at her church—”

Elliott grunted. Jonah’s look reprimanded.

“I mean, of course, she is,” Elliott said.

“Why are you bothered?”

Rolling her lips, she shook her head and returned to him a look of innocence. But she could pretend all she wanted. They’d been staring at each other longingly, neither of them being good at masking their feelings, while making small talk about plastic cheese. Or ex-wives. Well, his ex-wife.

They were doing it now, even as they—she—acted aloof, distant. Calm, cool, and collected, and not about to combust from his closeness.

He leaned in closer. In some other universe, she imagined her lips parted slightly as she anticipated him closing the distance.

His gaze dropped to her mouth. “Elliott—”

She licked her lips, drawing in a breath. She’d been wanting this since the moment he’d sat down.

“Hey, can we go before the sparks between you two set the sprinklers off?”

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