Page 56 of Final Chance At Love (Chance At Love Duet 2)

My cell phone rang and interrupted my drafting of the agreement.

“Hello?” I answered. There aren’t many people in Croatia that had my cell number. And the ones that do, usually only text.

“Gemma,” Betty’s familiar voice reached my ear. “Is that you?”

“Betty,” I exclaimed in surprise. “Is everything ok? You are still coming, I hope?” They were all scheduled to come in a week.

“Yes, absolutely! Nothing could keep us away,” she stated firmly. “I just wanted to tell you something. Are you sitting down?”

“Yes, I am. I’m out on my terrace.”

“Ah, good. Maybe it is good that you are outside when I tell you this.”

“Betty, now you are worrying me. Is it something bad?”

“Hmmm,” she started hesitantly. “I guess it depends how you look at it.”

“Spit it out, Betty!”

“Kristoff called me,” she announced and my heart dropped into my belly. I remained silent, not sure what to say and waiting for her to continue. “Gemma, are you still there?”

“Yes, I’m here,” I answered, my voice trembling a bit. “What did he want?” God, I missed him. I missed hearing his voice every day.

“He wanted to know where you were and how to get in touch with you.”

“You didn’t tell him, I hope,” I questioned her. I knew if he found me in my current state, I’d cave in to whatever he wanted. Darn, maybe I would beg him to love me. And that would not be good. I needed to get over him, get to a better place before I see him again.

“No, of course I didn’t. You told us not to tell anyone. He said he had some business to discuss with you and that it was rather urgent.”

“What business?” I asked not quite sure if maybe he was referring to my keeping that bonus payout.

“He wouldn’t say.” Her voice was gentle and I knew the next thing she said, I would not like. “Gemma, he seems pretty adamant that he needs to speak with you. When I wouldn’t tell him, he called Rick next.”

“What? After what he did to him, he actually called Rick?” I asked in shock. I couldn’t even imagine that conversation. “I hope he didn’t tell him either.”

“No, he didn’t but you know Rick. He couldn’t lie and told him he cannot tell him because he made you a promise he wouldn’t share where you are. I don’t know, Gemma. But I got a sense he won’t give up.”

“He won’t have a choice but to give up. Only a few people know about this place. Actually I could count those people on my one hand, and none of them even know how to get here.”

“Do you think it is ok that we still come?” she asked.

“Absolutely! I’ll pick you up from the airport,” I replied with certainty. “Don’t worry about him. It will be great!”

“Ok, if you are sure. We are looking forward to coming so much.”

“Great, then I’ll see you all in six days. We’ll catch up when you get here. Love you guys,” I told her and all my girls were yelling from the lower terrace to send their love as well. “And the girls say hi and send their love.”

“Tell them we love them too,” she chimed happily. “See you in six days! ” And with that she hung up.

I glanced down at my phone and I wondered what business Kristoff wanted to discuss. Maybe he was referring to it as business but he actually meant my text about the pregnancy. Or maybe it was about the bonus that I kept?

I probably shouldn’t have blocked his number. It was immature and my only excuse was that I really needed this summer to get over him so that when I go back, I could handle seeing him with someone else. I had to get him out of my mind and heart. As I stared out at the sea, my thoughts were thousands of miles away, in the fancy office building of W&W with Kristoff Baldwin.

I could picture him standing in his expensive tailored suit, in his office, straight and tall, looking like a million dollars. I missed his smell, his hard body against mine, his deep green eyes, that were always hooded as though he just emerged from the throes of climax. I missed his touch, and those few little tender moments we’ve had.

Sitting here, with the sea breeze in my hair, it felt like I knew him many lifetimes ago, a faraway dream. But then on the other hand, it was as if I just felt his touch yesterday.

You felt his touch when you were dreaming, you dolt!

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