Page 38 of Now and Forever

I made a melancholy sigh. It was just as well. He had no idea how close he was to the truth. But everyone knew he liked his dark-haired women.

Me: You’re right. I don’t see him that way anymore. The fog’s been lifted and gone for good.

Wyatt: You won’t regret it, Gi. I promise to treat you well.

Me: Promises. Promises…We shall see, Wyatt Rinaldi.

Wyatt: I’ve wasted time with others waiting for you. No woman can hold a candle to you, Gisele.

That was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to me. Was he drumming all these sweet nothings to sweeten me up, or was he truly being genuine about his intentions?

Me: Friday. Be seeing you.

Wyatt: Take care, beautiful.

My thumb scrolled to the very beginning, rereading our messages again. Wyatt, it seemed, wanted to continue where we left off three years ago. Time would tell.

“What’s making you smile like that?” Jared had entered the room with an inquisitive look about him, as if he expected me to tell him the truth as his eyes flickered from my phone to my face several times.

He still hadn’t worn a shirt to cover his sculpted pectoral muscles. Although, he didn’t appear sweaty any longer. Why had he showered before coming in here?

God…Why did I want him so much? Swallowing my denial, I shrugged before peeling my eyes away from his perfection. “Nothing…nothing really.”

“You’re quite terrible at lying. I won’t bite, but I do expect your honesty. I’ve done the same with you. If you tell the truth…well, it saves me time from hacking into your phone to find out the truth.”

It was my turn to panic. WTF! “You wouldn’t!” God, Wyatt referenced me being Lexi. He’d flip his shit if he realized I tricked him into sleeping with me.

“That bad, huh?” Jared’s testing me and how I hated him for it.

Damn him. “No, I was texting Wyatt. I’m seeing him again on Friday.”

“How was the Italian food last night?”

OMG.

“How’d you know that?”Was he psychic now too? SHIT.

“How’d you think I found you in Croatia, Gisele? You’re tracked wherever you go.” He pointedly gazed at me, not letting me off the hook just yet. “And even if your father hadn’t had one for you, I could easily access anything to make sure you’re okay.”

My heart lurched. It nosedived and skyrocketed at monumental speeds. “What do you mean access anything?” I asked, feeling lightheaded all of a sudden.

“Anything connected to the internet…”

“You were spying on me? That’s fucking insane!” What was my father thinking marrying me to this man? God. What the hell!

But to Jared, it seemed, it wasn’t a huge deal because my outburst did nothing to faze him. “Your well-being comes first. You’re my responsibility now. I take that obligation seriously.”

“And my father allows this crazy stalking?”

“How do you think he gave your mother a wide berth, hm? Besides, you’re always going to be a target for kidnapping. I’m not going to let that happen.”

My father, too? Like two peas in a pod. They were alike, weren’t they? I had no idea just how closely they resembled…Even their crazies were the same. Dear God.

Eyeing him warily, I accusingly glared at him. “How often do you spy on me?”

He grinned as if he found my panic-stricken expression amusing. “Twice in the past week. Before that? Never.”

“I didn’t realize I married a stalker.”

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