Read Online Dangerous Intentions by Dori Lavelle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Dori Lavelle
Ads: Link
live a normal life.”
“Normal life is more fun.” He moved out of the way to let a toddler run by, chased by his exasperated mother. “Money doesn’t have to be the evil some people think it is. It doesn’t have to change you unless you let it.”
“So what do you do with all of it?” It was clear what Jude did with his money. It had been hard to miss.
“I do spend it on nice things. I have houses and the jet, and other toys, but I don’t let riches define me. I use the rest of my money to do good.”
“Like?” I just couldn’t stop. He fascinated me. I wanted to know everything about the man he had become.
“I recently built a second school in Nigeria. And I have an adopted daughter in South Africa, an orphan. I send money to give her the best shot at a life.”
I looked at him with renewed awe. “You do? What’s her name?”
“Malika.” He halted in front of a small restaurant with a meat and spice aroma wafting out of it. “Should we eat here?”
“Sure, why not?” I didn’t care where we had dinner. I just wanted to sit with Dustin, to talk to him.
We got a small, round table in the back and gave our orders.
“I love this town. I come here when I need a break from the big world. People here treat me like a resident. They don’t care what I own.”
“Do they know who you really are? About your firm?”
“Many do. They just don’t bring it up in conversation. They like me. I like them. They give me my privacy, and I help many of them out financially.”
“No wonder they look at you with so much respect.” I folded my arms in front of me. “You’re a wonderful person. I knew that from the moment I met you. There was just something about you.”
Dustin leaned forward and whispered, “And yet you didn’t stay with me.”
“You know why.” I leaned back in my chair. “My life was complicated.”
“I loved you. I wouldn’t have given a shit. I’d have been there for you. You didn’t have to do it alone.”
“I wish I’d believed that at the time. Too late now. I wish I could undo all of it.”
“We would probably have been married by now,” he said with a tiny smile. “You were the girl for me. But you wouldn’t take my calls or return my letters.”
“I was hurting.” I paused. “And I was doing things…”
“It’s okay.” He took my hands. “Let’s forget all that. Let’s fix what can be fixed.”
What could be fixed? My heart, my life, my sanity? “Okay.”
The food arrived then, and we shared the large plate of potato chips with sausages and salad. It wasn’t pork chops, but it was delicious.
We moved on from talking about us—or the lack of us. Instead we talked about the small town, Dustin’s brothers, and his mother, who was still waiting for him to tie the knot with someone. And we talked about life in high school.
We returned to his truck, hand in hand. He escorted me to the passenger side and I thought he would open the door for me, but instead he spun me around and kissed me. His kiss was familiar and strange at the same time, sweet and sour, the past and the present. It knocked me off my feet, turned my knees to mush. I kissed him back and then I came to my senses, even as my lips still ached for his.
“You know…” I started but he placed a finger on my lips and moved it down my chin. He moved it away and pressed his forehead to mine.
“I know your life is still complicated. I just wish we didn’t let complicated stand in the way.” He sighed and closed his eyes, and I did the same. “I know you’re married. But to the wrong man. I wish you were married to me. Maybe…”
“Shhh.” I swallowed the sob inside my throat. A heartbeat passed between us and then I spoke. “Don’t say it.” The words were cracked around the edges. They shattered between us as soon as they exited my mouth.
I was in no position to make relationship decisions or promises right now. Not when I wasn’t sure who I would be a few days, weeks,
“Normal life is more fun.” He moved out of the way to let a toddler run by, chased by his exasperated mother. “Money doesn’t have to be the evil some people think it is. It doesn’t have to change you unless you let it.”
“So what do you do with all of it?” It was clear what Jude did with his money. It had been hard to miss.
“I do spend it on nice things. I have houses and the jet, and other toys, but I don’t let riches define me. I use the rest of my money to do good.”
“Like?” I just couldn’t stop. He fascinated me. I wanted to know everything about the man he had become.
“I recently built a second school in Nigeria. And I have an adopted daughter in South Africa, an orphan. I send money to give her the best shot at a life.”
I looked at him with renewed awe. “You do? What’s her name?”
“Malika.” He halted in front of a small restaurant with a meat and spice aroma wafting out of it. “Should we eat here?”
“Sure, why not?” I didn’t care where we had dinner. I just wanted to sit with Dustin, to talk to him.
We got a small, round table in the back and gave our orders.
“I love this town. I come here when I need a break from the big world. People here treat me like a resident. They don’t care what I own.”
“Do they know who you really are? About your firm?”
“Many do. They just don’t bring it up in conversation. They like me. I like them. They give me my privacy, and I help many of them out financially.”
“No wonder they look at you with so much respect.” I folded my arms in front of me. “You’re a wonderful person. I knew that from the moment I met you. There was just something about you.”
Dustin leaned forward and whispered, “And yet you didn’t stay with me.”
“You know why.” I leaned back in my chair. “My life was complicated.”
“I loved you. I wouldn’t have given a shit. I’d have been there for you. You didn’t have to do it alone.”
“I wish I’d believed that at the time. Too late now. I wish I could undo all of it.”
“We would probably have been married by now,” he said with a tiny smile. “You were the girl for me. But you wouldn’t take my calls or return my letters.”
“I was hurting.” I paused. “And I was doing things…”
“It’s okay.” He took my hands. “Let’s forget all that. Let’s fix what can be fixed.”
What could be fixed? My heart, my life, my sanity? “Okay.”
The food arrived then, and we shared the large plate of potato chips with sausages and salad. It wasn’t pork chops, but it was delicious.
We moved on from talking about us—or the lack of us. Instead we talked about the small town, Dustin’s brothers, and his mother, who was still waiting for him to tie the knot with someone. And we talked about life in high school.
We returned to his truck, hand in hand. He escorted me to the passenger side and I thought he would open the door for me, but instead he spun me around and kissed me. His kiss was familiar and strange at the same time, sweet and sour, the past and the present. It knocked me off my feet, turned my knees to mush. I kissed him back and then I came to my senses, even as my lips still ached for his.
“You know…” I started but he placed a finger on my lips and moved it down my chin. He moved it away and pressed his forehead to mine.
“I know your life is still complicated. I just wish we didn’t let complicated stand in the way.” He sighed and closed his eyes, and I did the same. “I know you’re married. But to the wrong man. I wish you were married to me. Maybe…”
“Shhh.” I swallowed the sob inside my throat. A heartbeat passed between us and then I spoke. “Don’t say it.” The words were cracked around the edges. They shattered between us as soon as they exited my mouth.
I was in no position to make relationship decisions or promises right now. Not when I wasn’t sure who I would be a few days, weeks,
Similar Books
